Cover Brand

How can your brand stay authentic when AI is generating your content? In this engaging episode of Cover Brand, Ethan Decker sits down with Carl Roose—founder of MindTeam AI—to talk about bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and lasting brand identity. Using real-world examples, witty banter, and deep insights from both biology and branding, they discuss how brands (from local garages to global icons) can uphold their re...

Are you struggling to communicate the unique value of a ground-breaking B2B product? In this episode of Cover Brand, Ethan Decker speaks with Billy Otteman from Scythe Robotics—a company redefining commercial landscaping with fully autonomous, all-electric mowers. Hear how Billy faces the classic innovation challenge: how do you convince a skeptical market to see value beyond the price tag? Learn about the power of simple, sticky b...

Ever feel lost in a sea of marketing jargon? In this episode of Cover Brand, Ethan Decker and special guest Guillermo Saenz take the complexity out of branding and make it accessible for everyone, especially self-starters, side-hustlers, and entrepreneurs in underserved communities.

Drawing on Guillermo’s experience teaching small business owners at Mi Casa Resource Center and Ethan’s deep background in brand strategy, they discuss ...

Are you struggling to figure out whether it’s time to refresh your brand—or go all-in on a full rebrand? In this episode of Cover Brand, host Ethan Decker chats with Arissa Kirkland, AVP of Marketing at Bishop Fox, about the real-world triggers that should drive your branding decisions. Arissa shares how Bishop Fox evolved from the ambiguous “Stack & Lou” to an edgy, human-focused brand, and why internal vision and external mar...

How do leading brands like Oreo, KFC, and Sephora manage to surprise and delight customers while remaining instantly recognizable? In this episode of CoverBrand, host Ethan Decker welcomes brand strategist Josie Ellerbee to explore the art and science of balancing stability with innovation. Josie shares insights from her 15+ year career, discussing the importance of a strong brand foundation amid the rise of AI, rampant templating,...

What makes a brand unforgettable? In this value-packed episode of Cover Brand, Ethan Decker sits down with Drew Bonder, CEO of Focus Energy, for a deep dive into the world of branding, messaging, and organizational success. Starting with a memorable story about rallying a crowd at an Eve 6 concert, Drew shares how his background in mental health shaped his approach to building sustainable, supportive environments—both for people an...

Aug 5-24: Head over to panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote for my talk: The True Cost of Being a Boring Brand

Think being a great writer is enough to get published today? Think again. In this episode, host Ethan Decker welcomes Melanie Jennings, a novelist on the cusp of publishing her first fiction book, to talk honestly about what it takes to build an author brand in a crowded market. If you’ve ever wondered how to grow your audi...

Aug 5-24: Head over to panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote for my talk: The True Cost of Boring Brand.

Ready to energize your nonprofit branding? In this episode of Cover Brand, host Ethan Decker is joined by Chris Barge, the creative force behind the Boulder Library Foundation. Discover why reputation is everything (the "Big B" brand), how nonprofit organizations can move beyond logos and colors, and why a little bit of flash isn'...

Aug 5-24: Head over to panelpicker.sxsw.com/vote for my talk: The True Cost of a Boring Brand.

Ever wondered why B2B buyers often seem to make emotional decisions—despite all that rational reputation? In this engaging episode, Ethan Decker welcomes Priscilla McKinney of Little Bird Marketing to the Cover Brand podcast for a deep-dive into cognitive science, branding strategy, and real-world marketing pitfalls for businesses.

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Are you a consultant, agency owner, or founder whose business is synonymous with your own name and reputation? This episode of Cover Brand is packed with actionable insights on how to break that bottleneck and scale your company’s brand. Special guest Lindsay Sutula shares her firsthand experience rebranding from Satula Marketing to Top Fox to escape the “founder’s trap.” Host Ethan Decker explains how and why to create a brand suc...

In this episode of Cover Brand, Ethan sits down with Eric Forsyth—a seasoned marketing strategist and agency leader—to unpack the real challenges facing creative teams today. Whether you’re working on mega-brands like Oreo and Star Wars or turnarounds for unsexy products, Eric explains why building strong internal dynamics and nurturing honest client partnerships is now more important than ever.

Discover how agencies can thrive ...

Struggling to unite your many passions under one compelling brand? You’re not alone! In this episode, Ethan Decker welcomes Amelia—an innovator, storyteller, and founder of The Z Tasty Life—who shares her journey from the structured world of corporate and academia to launching a soulful, multifaceted personal brand. Discover actionable strategies for clarifying your brand identity, finding your “icebreaker” focus, and transforming ...

Struggling to get your B2B brand noticed by the right people without a huge marketing budget? This episode is your blueprint! Host Ethan Decker sits down with Jack and Justin from The Caisson Company to address every small business’s million-dollar question: How do you break through the noise to reach the real decision-makers—especially in specialized industries like construction?

You’ll learn why 95% of your audience isn’t ready to...

What is the real financial impact of branding? In this episode of Cover Brand, Ethan Decker welcomes Rocky Longworth of Equilibrium Advantage to unpack the misunderstood role of brand in business growth. Too often, business owners focus on easy-to-measure metrics like daily sales, missing the long-term value that true brand-building delivers.

You’ll learn how to reframe the conversation with stakeholders (and even the CFO!) to r...

Struggling to get your current customers to buy more? Wondering if a clever campaign can boost visit frequency—or is that just marketing wishful thinking? In this episode of Cover Brand, Ethan Decker sits down with research consultant Carol Kauder to peel back the curtain on the true power (and limitations) of advertising and brand communications. They unpack why well-intentioned campaigns often fall flat and why “reminding” beats ...

What does it really mean to build a "personal brand" when you’re the business? On this episode of Cover Brand, Ethan Decker and Jeff Leitner dig into the sometimes-cringey world of personal branding and offer an empowering alternative: focus on your reputation. They break down why memorable individuals—like Steve Jobs, Anna Wintour, or even a local blacksmith—stand out not just for their skills, but for the simple, symbolic traits ...

Are you struggling to define your brand’s voice in a competitive market? This episode is your roadmap. Nikki Nagy, founder of Las Olas Luxury Living, joins Ethan Decker to unpack her journey from frustrated shopper to innovative business owner—building a pool furniture brand that bridges the gap between luxury and affordability. Discover how Nikki leveraged clever design innovations (like a two-piece pool lounger!) and a smart ship...

Confused about branding or think it’s only for consumer giants? In this episode of Cover Brand, Ethan Decker welcomes Perry Maughmer, an experienced Vistage chair, to break down the real-world impact of brand science for leaders of growing organizations. Discover why your first brand campaign should always be internal, how to translate your company’s core beliefs into concrete behaviors, and why even B2B businesses can’t overlook t...

If you’ve ever wondered how to differentiate your brand in a crowded (or even overlooked) market, this episode of Cover Brand is a must-listen. Ethan Decker sits down with Lili Siegelson, founder of Gelt+Glow, a bold new brand shaking up the Hanukkah gift-giving scene. Lili shares how spotting a gap in the market—lackluster Hanukkah wrapping paper—sparked her entrepreneurial journey, as well as the realities and rewards of launchin...