On Brand with Nick Westergaard

On Brand with Nick Westergaard

On Brand helps you tell stronger stories and build better brands. Each week, host Nick Westergaard, author of Brand Now and Get Scrappy, interviews marketing and communication thought leaders and innovators from brands like Ben & Jerry’s, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Meta, Crayola, Beats by Dre, Southwest Airlines, Reddit, Spotify, and MailChimp. Watch the full, in-depth conversations and get actionable insights to help you and your brand stand out in a crowded, distracted world. For show notes and more, please visit http://onbrandpodcast.com.

Episodes

September 29, 2025 33 mins
Few business thinkers have shaped customer experience and marketing as profoundly as Jay Baer. A 7th-generation entrepreneur, best-selling author, and creator of six multi-million-dollar companies, he’s helped more than 700 brands, from Nike to the United Nations, grow and connect with customers in ways that matter. Now, he’s challenging everything marketers think they know about “owned” digital land, AI, and the future of content ...
Mark as Played
In this episode of On Brand Taylor's Version, we're joined by Stephanie Burt, poet, critic, and professor of English at Harvard University. Stephanie made headlines when she created and taught one of the very first college courses on Taylor Swift at Harvard, Taylor Swift and her world. We discuss what it means to study Taylor seriously at Harvard, why her storytelling resonates so widely, and what we can all learn from her profound...
Mark as Played
September 22, 2025 32 mins
What do Hot Wheels, Disney, Burton, and WWE have in common? They’ve all had Mark Michaylira driving their brand forward. With two decades of creative leadership behind some of the world’s most beloved names, Mark knows how to make work that’s not just bold and joyful but rooted in culture—and powerful enough to move business. What You’ll Learn in This Episode - How to build authentic brands by starting with humanity and understand...
Mark as Played
September 18, 2025 43 mins
In this episode of On Brand: Taylor’s Version, we’re joined by Emily Campion — Henry B. Tippie Fellow and Associate Professor at the University of Iowa’s Tippie College of Business. Emily’s research explores how organizations hire and develop talent. But today, she’s here to talk about something decidedly more human: Taylor Swift’s relentless work ethic, authentic leadership, grit in the face of setbacks, and her ability to balance...
Mark as Played
September 15, 2025 32 mins
Few platforms have changed culture as quickly—or as globally—as TikTok. Khartoon Weiss, VP and GM of North America and Global Business Solutions, is at the center of it, helping brands and businesses connect with audiences in ways that are creative, authentic, and impactful. From scaling Spotify to leading top agencies, she’s built a career on turning bold ideas into cultural movements—and now she’s shaping the future of TikTok. ...
Mark as Played
In our first episode of On Brand: Taylor’s Version, we’re joined by Sinéad O’Sullivan — aerospace engineer turned business strategist, former head of Strategy at Harvard Business School, professor, and co-founder of a global investment fund. She’s advised everyone from NASA to prime ministers … and she also happens to be in the top 0.01% of Taylor Swift fans worldwide. Her new book, Good Ideas and Power Moves: Business Lessons from...
Mark as Played
What makes an idea—or a person—truly remarkable? Guy Kawasaki has spent decades evangelizing some of the world’s most influential brands—from Apple to Canva—and helping ideas spread in ways that stick. In his new book, Wiser Guy, he shares the lessons, stories, and wisdom he’s gathered along the way, showing how to think remarkable, lead with purpose, and make an impact that lasts. What You’ll Learn in This Episode - Why Wiser ...
Mark as Played
September 4, 2025 1 min
On Brand: Taylor’s Version is a 4-episode mini-series exploring Taylor Swift’s brand brilliance — from storytelling and community to cultural hitmaking and reinvention. Guests include bestselling authors, top CMOs, and academic experts who break down what businesses and leaders can learn from the world’s ultimate hitmaker. New bonus episodes drop every Thursday through October 2nd, leading up to the release of The Life of a Showgir...
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September 1, 2025 29 mins
What makes a brand experience unforgettable? Laura Parkinson, Global Head of Brand Experience at LinkedIn, has created standout experiences at Apple, Google, and now LinkedIn. She leads the team behind the company’s most influential moments—online and in person—and knows how to turn bold ideas into connections that inspire and stick. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why the most iconic brands focus on making people feel somet...
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What happens when the women who helped build Microsoft finally get their story told? In her new book, The Women of Microsoft, Miri Rodriguez—Senior Storyteller at Microsoft, CEO of Empressa.ai, and award-winning author—spotlights the pioneers who shaped both the company and the future of tech. Along the way, she shares powerful insights on storytelling, leadership, and how empathy and purpose can transform the way we work. What ...
Mark as Played
August 18, 2025 30 mins
How did Google become one of the most powerful forces in advertising—and what happens when that power crosses the line? Ari Paparo, ad tech veteran, Marketecture founder, and author of Yield: How Google Bought, Built, and Bullied Its Way to Advertising Dominance, takes us inside the deals, innovations, and strong-arm tactics that reshaped the industry. From behind-the-scenes stories of the “Rocket Docket” antitrust trial to the com...
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Noel Massie is the former Vice President of U.S. Operations at UPS and author of the new book Congrats, You’ve Been Promoted. Over a decades-long career, Noel rose from part-time college employee to leading 200,000 people with a focus on values-based leadership. Today, he mentors rising leaders and serves on the boards of organizations like the Annenberg Foundation and the Los Angeles Urban League. We talked about leadership at sca...
Mark as Played
Dani Dufresne is the Founder and Executive Producer of The Auxiliary Co., a creative execution firm known for bringing bold ideas to life—efficiently and without the red tape of traditional agencies. Trusted by top brands, Dani’s built a reputation for flawless production and assembling world-class creative teams. We talked about all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast. About Dani Dufresne Dani Dufresne is the ba...
Mark as Played
July 28, 2025 31 mins
Jason Keath is a creativity keynote speaker, digital strategist, and co-founder of Social Fresh — a long-running marketing conference and agency trusted by brands like HubSpot and Anheuser-Busch. A pioneer in paid social, Jason launched some of the first Facebook ads back in 2004. He’s also the author of The Case for More Bad Ideas, where he makes a compelling case for embracing messy thinking to spark better ideas. We discussed al...
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Richard Shear is Founding Partner and Chief Creative Officer of Invōk Brands and a founding faculty member of SVA’s Master’s in Branding program. With a five-decade design career and a passion for visual history, he explores how global consumer culture shapes today’s brands in his new book A History of Brands. This week on On Brand, he joins me to discuss the evolution of retail, the enduring impact of packaging, and why the future...
Mark as Played
July 14, 2025 27 mins
Corin Mills is the Brand Marketing & E-Commerce Director at MOO, where he leads data-driven strategies that connect standout design with authentic brand experiences. With global experience at Google, Tesco, Currys, and more, Corin brings a sharp, cross-industry perspective to brand transformation. This week on the On Brand podcast, he joins me to talk about balancing data and emotion, leading meaningful change, and what it takes to...
Mark as Played
Ryan Hamilton is an associate professor of marketing at Emory University and co-author of The Growth Dilemma. As co-host of The Intuitive Customer podcast, he brings behavioral science to life through real-world brand strategy. This week on On Brand, Ryan joins me to explore why customer decisions aren’t as rational as we think, how brands can grow without losing their soul, and what he’s learned working with companies like Walmart...
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David Aaker is Vice Chairman of Prophet and Professor Emeritus at the Berkeley Haas School of Business. Often called the “Father of Modern Branding,” David has authored 18 books and over 120 articles, shaping how marketers understand everything from brand equity to purpose-driven strategy. This week on On Brand, David returned to the show to discuss the updated edition of Aaker on Branding, what’s changed (and what hasn’t) in the w...
Mark as Played
How do you stand out on LinkedIn and build a personal brand that truly works? Regina Dowdell, Content Solutions Consultant at LinkedIn, shares her insights on personal branding, thought leadership, and creating content that drives business impact—drawing on 15+ years of experience across nonprofits, tech, and startups. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to craft a digital-first, creative content strategy Practical tips...
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June 16, 2025 27 mins
Nicole Johnston is a former global marketing leader turned transformational coach, with a career spanning Procter & Gamble, Hershey, and Newell Brands. Today, she helps women overcome career challenges as founder of innatePOWER™ and author of Taboo Topics: Things Women Should Talk About, But Don’t. This week on On Brand, Nicole joined me to talk leadership, authenticity, and the power of brave conversations. About Nicole Johnsto...
Mark as Played

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