Unchartered Territory Podcast

Unchartered Territory, hosted by Oli Russell-Cowan

Unchartered Territory: The Global Brand Builders Podcast Welcome aboard Unchartered Territory. The podcast where branding meets bold exploration. Hosted by Oli Russell-Cowan, co-founder of global brand building agency Unchartered Territory, each episode dives deep into the journeys of founders, creators and culture-shapers who are turning their ideas into household names. From cult beverage brands to beauty innovators and wellness disruptors, this show explores the strategy, resilience and creative ambition behind scaling internationally. Tune in for candid conversations with celebrity founders, industry leaders and entrepreneurs navigating uncharted waters in business and brand building.

Episodes

  1. BLASKO of Liquid Death on Loud Marketing, Heavy Metal, Personal Brand & Standing Out

    FEB 18

    BLASKO of Liquid Death on Loud Marketing, Heavy Metal, Personal Brand & Standing Out

    In this episode of Lessons in Brand Building with Unchartered Territory, Oli Russell-Cowan sits down with Blasko bassist for Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie, artist manager and entertainment marketing overlord at Liquid Death. Blasko shares his journey from growing up in Venice, California to touring the world on the biggest stages in heavy metal and how those lessons now shape how he thinks about branding, performance, leadership and building brands.  We get into: Growing up in Venice and how skate & punk culture shaped his mindsetWhat playing with Ozzy taught him about pressure, preparation & performanceThe reality of touring life & what founders can learn from life on the roadTransitioning from artist to manager & seeing the music business from both sidesWhy Liquid Death isn’t a water company, but a lifestyle brandThe concept of “loud marketing” and why average brands disappearPersonal brand, authenticity & building something people obsess overAI, creativity & the future of culture-led businessesWhether you're a founder, marketer or creative, this episode is a masterclass in standing out, proving that the same obsession, identity & energy that fills stadiums is what builds modern cult brands. You can follow BLASKO on Instagram and LinkedIn Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds and it really makes a difference. The Unchartered Territory Podcast comes out across all podcast players with a new episode every month.

    55 min
  2. Sam McGregor on Building Signature Brew: How Music & Craft Beer Created a New Kind of Brewery

    12/10/2025

    Sam McGregor on Building Signature Brew: How Music & Craft Beer Created a New Kind of Brewery

    In this episode of Lessons in Brand Building with Unchartered Territory, Oli Russell-Cowan sits down with Sam McGregor, co-founder of Signature Brew, the London based brewery redefining what happens when music meets beer. Sam shares how Signature Brew evolved from a bold idea about fixing terrible beer at gigs into a nationally recognised craft brand powered by culture, collaboration and community. We get into: Founding Signature Brew & how music became the brand’s purposeWhy early artist collaborations set the tone for everything that followedThe turning point of launching their core range & building their own breweryLessons in saying no, staying focused & scaling with intentionTeam culture, leadership & what drives growth inside a modern breweryHow the craft beer landscape is shifting Sam’s advice for founders navigating uncertainty, creativity & the long gameWhether you're a founder, marketer or just love stories about building something original from the ground up, this episode is a masterclass in how culture, strategy and persistence can brew a movement, not just a beer. You can follow Sam McGregor on Instagram and LinkedIn Connect with Signature Brew Website: signaturebrew.co.uk Instagram: signaturebrew Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds and it really makes a difference. The Unchartered Territory Podcast comes out across all podcast players with a new episode every month.

    43 min
  3. The Shnack Founder Story: How Kelsi Boocock Built the World’s First Dairy-Free Canned Protein Shake

    11/17/2025

    The Shnack Founder Story: How Kelsi Boocock Built the World’s First Dairy-Free Canned Protein Shake

    In this episode of the Unchartered Territory Podcast, host Oli Russell-Cowan sits down with Kelsi Boocock, founder of Shnack, the world’s first dairy-free canned protein shake and one of New Zealand’s fastest-rising wellness brands. From launching a healthy food blog during lockdown to building two companies before turning 25, Kelsi shares how her journey in content, community and plant-based living led to creating Shnack: a fun, flavour-driven protein brand now stocked nationally across NZ. We dive into: The founder story behind Shnack and how a viral smoothie, a cookbook deal and a food blog sparked the ideaThe transition from Second Nature (her first protein brand) to launching a ready-to-drink shake that took off “a thousand miles an hour”Shnack’s playful brand world from mascots to dad-driven road-trip marketing helped it stand out with almost no budgetBuilding a social-first brand: consistency, storytelling and letting the community shape the productThe realities of scaling a CPG business in NZ: retail, manufacturing, reformulation and navigating fast growthWhy flavour matters, what’s coming next, and how Kelsi is balancing entrepreneurship with pregnancy and real lifeWhether you’re a founder, marketer, or simply love hearing how modern brands are built from the ground up, this episode is a masterclass in turning creativity, grit and community into a movement. You can follow Kelsi on healthykelsii Connect with Shanck Website: shnack.co.nz TikTok: drinkshnack Instagram: drinkshnack Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference. The Unchartered Territory Podcast comes out across all podcast players with a new episode every month.

    44 min
  4. Lessons in Global Brand Building with Unchartered Territory

    07/01/2025

    Lessons in Global Brand Building with Unchartered Territory

    Welcome aboard the Unchartered Territory Podcast. In our maiden voyage, Captain of Cult Indoctrination Oli Russell-Cowan (ex-Director of Lifestyle Marketing at Liquid Death) drops anchor with none other than Ben Dando, Admiral of the Fleet at UT and former MD International at Liquid Death. Together, they chart the wild waters of global brand building. From Liquid Death’s explosive international expansion to the creative chaos behind its most talked about marketing moves. From launching in new markets and navigating cultural nuances, to creating viral creative campaigns and building a fearless brand identity, this conversation dives deep into what it takes to make a brand cut through globally. Ben shares stories, lessons learnt and actionable insights on brand development, strategy and consumer engagement, all through the lens of Liquid Death’s rise and the formation of Unchartered Territory. Whether you're a founder, marketer, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with takeaways on storytelling, risk-taking and creating culturally resonant brands that scale. You can follow what Ben Dando is up to on LinkedIn Connect with Unchartered Territory Website: Unchartered Territory LinkedIn: Unchartered Territory Instagram: unchartered_agency Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference. The Unchartered Territory Podcast comes out across all podcast players with a new episode every month.  This episode reflects personal experiences and public information only. It does not represent the views of Liquid Death or any affiliated company. No confidential or disparaging information is shared.

    1h 2m

About

Unchartered Territory: The Global Brand Builders Podcast Welcome aboard Unchartered Territory. The podcast where branding meets bold exploration. Hosted by Oli Russell-Cowan, co-founder of global brand building agency Unchartered Territory, each episode dives deep into the journeys of founders, creators and culture-shapers who are turning their ideas into household names. From cult beverage brands to beauty innovators and wellness disruptors, this show explores the strategy, resilience and creative ambition behind scaling internationally. Tune in for candid conversations with celebrity founders, industry leaders and entrepreneurs navigating uncharted waters in business and brand building.