Branding Matters

Ever wonder why some stories just grab you by the heart? Want to know how you can connect with customers on a human level?

Today I’m sitting down with my friend Christine Gillies—she's not only one of the Globe & Mail's Best Executives for 2023 but also the CMO at Blackline Safety. This Calgary-based company specializes in revolutionary wireless, wearable sensors designed for industrial or remote work environments.

This...

Today I’m sitting down with Chris Kneeland co-founder of Cult Collective and The Gathering.

Chris is the first guest to come on my podcast a second time! I’m super excited to have him back to get an update and hear what it takes to build a business people actually care about!

During our chat, Chris and I take a deep dive into cult brands.

Some things we cover include the 8 cult brand principles, how to es...

Today I’m sitting down with Deondric Royster; Managing Director at Webby Media and the Signal Awards - a podcast-focused awards program that honours excellence in podcasting.

Before joining Webby Media, Deondric worked for some of the world’s most recognizable brands including Spotify and I Heart Radio. And with his 13+ years of experience in the industry, it’s fair to say he’s now on a mission to propel the podcast industry to stra...

Ever wondered why some brands, like Kleenex or Apple, become so ingrained in our lives that they feel like part of the family? Curious about the secret sauce behind such unforgettable brands?

In this episode, branding experts Bill Petrie and Kirby Hasseman sit down with me to dive into the intricacies of building iconic brands, the importance of brand consistency, and how to establish a unique brand. Trust me, when it comes to strat...

My guest today is Paige Velasquez Budde, Partner & CEO at Zilker Media - one of Austin’s most reputable and fastest growing agencies that specializes in building people-driven brands.

Paige has been featured as a keynote speaker on people-driven marketing and has led workshops for organizations such as Ernst & Young & Harvard Medical School to name a few.

I’m not kidding when I say you’re going to want to grab a...

My guest today is the one and only Mark Graham; Founder & CEO of commonsku - a software company specifically designed for the promotional products industry. 

During our fun conversation Mark and I discuss everything from building communities to building connections.

Other topics we cover include:

The value of story telling

How to give people a reason to buy from you

When to incorporate a mascot into your branding

And so muc...

My guest today is Seth Godin - THE branding guru and renown author of 21 international bestsellers. His books have been translated into 38 languages and include Tribes, Purple Cow (one of my favourites) Linchpin, The Dip and This Is Marketing, just to name a few. His latest book “The Song Of Significance - a new manifesto for teams” is out now.

Seth also writes one of the most popular marketing blogs in the world, and two of his Ted...

My guest today is Irina Sidorina; Head of Creativity at CANVA - a 3 billion dollar company that has disrupted the design industry as we know it.

During our conversation we cover everything from creating a brand to creating magic.

Other topics include:

• The importance of having a strong culture
• How CANVA gives you simple tools to be more creative
• Why consistency builds trust with your brand

I hope you enjoy our conversation as muc...

My guest today is Jeremy Picker, Founder and Creative Director of AMB3R Creative - a fashion-forward business focused on bringing fashion to the people.  

Jeremy's also the co-founder of ÉSTAINE, a company that designs luxurious accessories and apparel to help raise funds and awareness for cancer research. Which you'll discover, is a cause near and dear to Jeremy's heart.

Most recently, Jeremy was ranked #1 on PPAI’s O...

My guest today is Darren Bondar, Founder of Spiritleaf - Canada's largest recreational cannabis brand, which he sold in May of 2021 for $131 million dollars.

Not one to sit still, it didn't take long for Darren to start a new company called HEMPALTA - an agricultural technology company focused on innovative hemp processing and product creation. 

During our fun conversation, we cover everything from building brands...

My guest today is Kevin Maney - a bestselling author, award-winning columnist and Founding Partner at CTA- a consultancy that helps investors, startups and Fortune 500s become category leaders.

Kevin’s critically-acclaimed book Play Bigger, introduces business to the idea of category design and has sold more than 150,000 copies worldwide.

During our conversation we discuss everything from creating a new brand to creating a new busine...

My guest today is Diane Young, the CEO and Co-founder of The Drum - a leading global publisher for the marketing and media industries.

During our conversation we cover everything from learning about good marketing to learning from your mother.

Other topics include:

The difference between branding and marketing

Things you can do to  become a better leader

How to sell value to your client...

My guest today is Jessica Janzen, the Co-Founder of The Love for Lewiston Foundation - a charity focused on treatments and finding a cure for Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

Jessica is an advocate for rare diseases, mental health, women empowerment and most of all joy. She’s also a Keynote Speaker, Author and Coach.

During our conversation we cover everything from pity parties to policy changes.

Other topics include:

How t...

My guest today is Megan Golightly, the CEO & Founder of GoSimplified - a professional organizing business that changes lives by changing environments.

During our fun conversation we cover everything from building a brand to building connections with celebrity clients.

Other topics include:

Why it’s great to reinvent yourself

How fear cripples us

Why it’s important to ask lots of questions

The value of brand advocates

How to make your ...

My guest today is Dr. April Elliott  - an award-winning medical doctor, executive coach, consultant, writer, and speaker. 

Dr. Elliott has been the Section Head (and program founder) of Adolescent and Emerging Adult health in a leading Canadian hospital for the past 21 years. And last, but definitely not least, I am proud to say she is one of my oldest (in years not age) and dearest friends.

During our conversation we cover...

On today’s episode of Branding Matters I’m sitting down with world-renowned comedien Kevin Bozeman. 

You might recognize the name, as Kevin was a semi-finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing”.  He has also appeared on Comedy Central, NBC, CBS and FOX.

During our fun conversation we cover everything from parenthood to cancel culture.

Other topics we discuss include:

How speaking your truth makes you more rel...

My guest today is Lavender Morantz - Bestselling author, international TEDx speaker, successful business woman and proud mama to two spirited daughters. 

During her 20 year career, Lavender has founded multiple start-ups. She’s also a certified nutrition and wellness specialist who educates children and families about the importance of the mind, body, and soul connection. One way she does this is through her latest project which is ...

My guest today is Adam Rodricks - an award winning keynote speaker & bestselling author who is known as Canada's top expert at growing brands through digital marketing & social media. 

Adam is also the best-selling author of Trigger Fingers (#1 on Amazon in 5 categories) And his work as a social media influencer has been featured on CBC, CTV, Yahoo, BNN, and nintendo.ca just to name a few.

I invited Adam to be ...

On today's show we talk about what it means to get NAKED. That is, Emotionally naked! My guest is William Branum - a Navy SEAL veteran who shares how the challenges of military training helped him change his life by changing his mindset and how he has turned this mindset into a business. 

William talks about why is it important to have a purpose when building a brand, and how exposing your fears is one of the best ways to conqu...