Theories of Celebrity Branding, Hosted by Bob Batchelor

Understanding Parasocial Relationship Theory
In this illuminating episode of Theories of Celebrity Branding, host Bob Batchelor—cultural historian, bestselling author, and assistant professor at Coastal Carolina University—dives into one of the most profound psychological forces driving celebrity culture: Parasocial Relationship Theory.

First introduced in the 1950s by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl, parasocial relat...

In this episode, we peel back the layers of modern fame to understand one of the most powerful—but often invisible—forces shaping celebrity culture: media framing. Whether you’re scrolling through social media, watching a red-carpet interview, or catching a headline on your news app, you are seeing more than content—you are seeing carefully constructed narratives. These narratives don’t just reflect celebrity—they create it.

Host Bo...

“Dramaturgy and Celebrity Branding”
What if every celebrity moment you see—on the red carpet, on social media, in a press interview—isn’t spontaneous, but instead part of a carefully managed stage performance?

In this episode of Theories of Celebrity Branding, we dive into the concept of Dramaturgy, a sociological theory developed by Erving Goffman, to explore how celebrities craft and manage their public personas. Goffman’s insi...

Symbolic Interactionism and Celebrity Branding

What if we told you that every time you scroll through Instagram, watch a movie trailer, or listen to a celebrity interview, you’re participating in a deeply sociological process?

In this episode of Theories of Celebrity Branding, we dive into Symbolic Interactionism—a foundational sociological perspective that explains how we assign meaning to people, objects, and actions through our ev...

Episode Title: Branding Archetypes and Symbolism

What do Nike, Lady Gaga, and your favorite influencer on Instagram have in common? They all rely on timeless symbols and archetypes to communicate who they are—instantly and emotionally.

In this episode of Theories of Celebrity Branding, host Bob Batchelor explores the fascinating world of branding archetypes and symbolism, drawing from Jungian psychology, cultural studies, and brandin...

What if the way we understand—and even become—a brand could be broken down into three essential movements?

In this episode of Theories of Celebrity Branding, cultural historian and branding expert Bob Batchelor introduces listeners to the EAT Model—a powerful theoretical framework for understanding how people and ideas evolve through visibility, strategy, and transformation.

This model—Engage, Adapt, Transform—has been used by celebr...

Why does celebrity branding matter—and why should you care?

In this kickoff episode of Theories of Celebrity Branding, host and cultural historian Bob Batchelor sets the stage for the entire podcast series by diving deep into the cultural, professional, and personal stakes of branding in today’s media-saturated world.

With wit, insight, and years of experience studying the rise of modern celebrity, Bob walks listeners through how bra...

Welcome to Theories of Celebrity Branding — the podcast that explores the powerful collision between fame, identity, marketing, and modern life.

Why do some people become icons while others struggle for attention? What makes Robert Downey Jr. one of the most recognizable faces on the planet? And how did we arrive at a cultural moment in which politicians, CEOs, influencers, and even everyday people are expected to build, manage, and...