Stay StarryEyed

Liz Seelye
  • 5.0 (12)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

Stay StarryEyed is where visionary brand and business leaders go to stay creative and ready for what’s next. Each episode delivers real-world strategies, bold ideas, and new inspiration to help you move your brand and business forward faster. Hosted by Liz Seelye, founder of StarryEyed Strategy, you’ll hear candid conversations with some of the world’s most creative CMOs, founders, and innovators. Together, we reveal the insights, trends, and tools that turn brand potential into lasting impact. From breakthrough brand positioning to industry-altering innovation, Stay StarryEyed gives you the inspiration and information you need to make your big ideas reality.

  1. Aug 6

    How to Build a "Damn Good" Recognition Culture with Paul Macaluso (Torchy's Tacos)

    What separates leaders who talk about culture from leaders who actually create it? Paul Macaluso is CEO of Torchy's Tacos, the Austin-based brand known for its award-winning queso and "Damn Good" tacos. He brings 30 years of experience, most recently as president and CEO of Another Broken Egg Cafe. He also held senior leadership roles at Go To Foods across McAlister’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and more. Paul's path started three decades ago as a general manager at Taco Bell, a role he still credits as the foundation for everything that followed. Paul shares how he planned his rise from restaurant front lines to president and CEO with disciplined goal-setting, and how that same discipline now shapes how he improves the unique culture at Torchy's. He shares inside info about their recognition program, why he added "service minded" as a core company value, and how a simple shift in the corporate office changed how teams are supported. He also opens up about how he sets and achieves his greatest goals. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨How to make big dreams reality by breaking them into a plan of small steps ✨How to turn tough feedback into the growth that gets you promoted ✨What it takes to make company values feel real instead of just words on a wall ✨How little recognition moments can have an outsized impact on team culture ✨Why cross-functional experience makes marketers better brand leaders Whether you're early in your career or leading a company, this is an inspiring reminder that the goals you set for yourself can become the culture you build for everyone else. Paul's Creative Inspiration Book: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruis Brand: Nike Beverage: Old Fashioned with Woodford Reserve

    How to Build a "Damn Good" Recognition Culture with Paul Macaluso (Torchy's Tacos)

  2. Jul 23

    How to Make Sustainability a Business Advantage with Saloni Doshi (EcoEnclose)

    Doing the right thing and protecting your margins don't have to be opposite goals. You just need to know where to start. Saloni Doshi is CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer at EcoEnclose, an industry-leading provider of sustainable packaging for leading e-commerce brands. She shares how she helps brands like Crocs and Chö Chocolates create packaging that strengthens sustainability impact with a North Star that guides every decision she makes. Before acquiring EcoEnclose, Saloni worked in regenerative agriculture, co-founded Fresh Takes Kitchen to expand healthy food access, and held leadership roles at Teach For America. She also offers practical advice for leaders who want purpose and profit, and why the boldest sustainability innovations often come from the smallest brands. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨Why defining your North Star early makes decisions easier and growth faster ✨How to evaluate sustainability investments through both business and brand impact ✨Why circular design is the next frontier for packaging innovation ✨Where to start if you want to make your brand more sustainable ✨How purpose-driven brands create stronger loyalty, engagement, and growth A must-listen for leaders who want a clear filter for hard decisions, and proof that purpose and profit can grow together. Saloni's Creative Inspiration Book: Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert Brand: Cotopaxi Beverage: Tequila soda with Lalo Tequila Song: "Start Me Up" by The Rolling Stones

  3. Jul 10

    How to Turn AI into Action with Tammy Billings (Signal Flare AI)

    What if the real advantage of AI isn’t the model, but the context you give it? Tammy Billings is Vice President of Business Development at Signal Flare AI and one of the most knowledgeable leaders in restaurant technology. After a career spanning entertainment, restaurant marketing, and technology, Tammy has become a trusted translator between tech and the leaders who need to use it to make better decisions. Tammy shares how AI is changing the way brands bring together sales, customer feedback, pricing, market conditions, and operational data to make smarter decisions. But her advice is refreshingly simple: start small, keep experimenting, and never underestimate the context and human judgment to turn information into action. In this episode, you’ll learn: ✨Why context, not just data or AI, is the key to making better business decisions ✨How to distinguish true decision intelligence from just another dashboard ✨Why AI should augment judgment, not autonomously make decisions ✨How to start small, experiment with tools, and build stronger AI capabilities ✨ Why helping people and making connections is a powerful way to lead A conversation for brand leaders who want to move beyond AI experimentation and make smarter decisions that truly move businesses forward. Tammy’s Creative Inspiration Book: Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson and Influencer by Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, David Maxfield, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler Brand: YETI Beverage: Vodka soda, Aperol spritz, or bubbles Song: “Joan of Arc” by Madonna

    How to Turn AI into Action with Tammy Billings (Signal Flare AI)

  4. Jun 25

    The New Luxury in an AI World with Sam Torgerson (Viceroy)

    What if the most powerful thing a brand can offer isn't a product or a price point, but a moment you will never forget? Sam Torgerson is Vice President of Global Sales for Viceroy Hotels & Resorts, an independent lifestyle luxury brand with properties around the world. With 20+ years in high-end hospitality spanning Vail Resorts, Marriott International, and Ritz-Carlton, Sam has built a career on trust, deep listening, and experiences guests never forget. Sam shares what luxury hospitality has always understood that other industries are still catching up to: the most memorable moments aren't the most expensive ones. And in an AI-driven world, human connection isn't a nice-to-have. It's the new luxury. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨ Why the brands winning right now are investing in what AI can't replicate ✨ How deep listening is the foundation of world-class sales and marketing ✨ Why the simple moments make big impressions and how to create them ✨ How empowering front-line team members inspires enduring customer loyalty ✨ How following your passion can lead to a career, a team, and a life you love A conversation for brand leaders who want to borrow from the best in hospitality, and bring luxury thinking to create memorable customer experiences in any category. Sam's Creative Inspiration Book: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara Brand: Nordstrom Beverage: Paloma Song: "Confident" by Demi Lovato

    The New Luxury in an AI World with Sam Torgerson (Viceroy)

  5. Jun 18

    If You Think of It, You Can Do It: Lessons on Purpose, Adventure, and Service with Dr. Alexander T. McCulloch

    Most people spend their lives trying to find the right path. Dr. McCulloch continues to find the perfect ones. Liz’s dad is an adventurer, doctor, entrepreneur, rancher, investor, husband, father of six, grandfather of 24, and volunteer physician for 30+ international medical missions. His story began in the woods of Ohio, where a love of nature sparked a fascination with biology. That curiosity led him to medicine, becoming a talented plastic surgeon, and the founder of the Aesthetic Surgery Center of Colorado. Along the way, he met and worked with his true love, Carole, built a 25,000-acre cattle ranch, raised a family, and spent decades exploring the world, pursuing opportunities many only dream about. The common thread is a simple philosophy: “If you don’t think of it, you can’t do it.” In this special father-daughter conversation, Dr. McCulloch shares lessons from life following curiosity, embracing opportunity, and creating impact with work and service. In this episode, you’ll learn:✨Why finding work you genuinely enjoy matters more than chasing a title ✨How mentors can help shape your future long before you realize it ✨Why the most successful people create opportunities instead of waiting for them ✨Why choosing the right life partner is the most important decision you’ll ever make ✨How a philosophy of “If you think of it, do it” can guide every chapter of life Whether you’re beginning your career, making a change, or deciding what’s next, this is a reminder that a meaningful life is created with honesty, curiosity, and courage. Dr. McCulloch’s Creative Inspiration Book: Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes Brand: Apple Song: “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake; also songs by Jerry Jeff Walker, Willy Nelson, Garth Brooks, Maná, Carlos Vives, and Bad Bunny Beverage: Sidecar

    If You Think of It, You Can Do It: Lessons on Purpose, Adventure, and Service with Dr. Alexander T. McCulloch

  6. Jun 11

    How to Rebrand Yourself and Land Your Dream Job with Marita Swift (The Big Biscuit)

    Most people only apply for jobs they're already qualified for. But what if you're meant for more — or something completely different? Marita Swift knew what she wanted to do next. She just wasn't qualified. Yet. Marita is the VP of Strategic Growth at The Big Biscuit, a Kansas City-based breakfast and lunch concept where she leads franchise development, market expansion, and growth strategy. Her path there was anything but conventional. She started as a fine dining chef, cut her teeth in scratch kitchens, and spent a decade building culinary expertise before making a deliberate, methodical pivot into brand strategy and growth. Marita shares the three-step process that made her personal rebrand work, and how the same discipline shapes the way she builds and protects her business today. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨How to rebrand yourself when you’re ready for what’s next ✨Why the best leaders study the role they want before they step into it ✨How to differentiate in a crowded category by knowing what you do best ✨How to balance short-term execution with long-term strategic vision ✨How brand architecture helps teams make smarter decisions as they grow For rising and established leaders alike who are ready to define where they’re going, and build the skills, story, and strategy to get there. Marita's Creative Inspiration: Book: Ego Is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday Brand: Whole Foods Beverage: Pinot noir Song: Anything by Rihanna or Billie Eilish

    How to Rebrand Yourself and Land Your Dream Job with Marita Swift (The Big Biscuit)

  7. May 29

    How to Use Setbacks to Build What’s Even Better with Katrina Markoff (Violet Flame Chocolate)

    What if crisis and conflict can be the beginning of your most meaningful work? Katrina Markoff, founder of Violet Flame Chocolate and Vosges Haut-Chocolat, has spent her career building brands that are impossible to replicate. Long before “immersive experiences” became a marketing trend, Katrina was blending storytelling, global ingredients, rituals, craftsmanship, and imagination to create the most distinctive luxury chocolate brands. She has been named one of the Top 10 Chocolatiers in the World by National Geographic, Top 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company, Food Artisan of the Year by Bon Appetit, and more. But after profound personal and professional upheaval, Katrina found herself rebuilding from the ground up. And instead of recreating what already existed, she created something entirely new. In this episode, we explore how creativity became part of her healing process and why some of the strongest brands emerge after disruption, reinvention, and loss. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨ Why the strongest founders use disruption to carve out new territory ✨ How setbacks can become the catalyst for better, more meaningful creativity ✨How sensory experiences and ritual create deeper emotional brand connection ✨ Why brands that are emotionally resonant stand apart in an AI-driven world ✨ Why the future belongs to brands that create truly immersive experiences This conversation is a powerful reminder that the best brands and versions of ourselves are not created by avoiding hardship, but by overcoming obstacles to become stronger, more intentional, and more original. Katrina’s Creative Inspiration Book: Coction: The Alchemy of Food Brands: Ulla Johnson and Flamingo Estate Beverage: Toffee and Scotch whiskey Song: Florence + the Machine

    How to Use Setbacks to Build What’s Even Better with Katrina Markoff (Violet Flame Chocolate)

  8. May 14

    The Secret to Leading Brands That Never Go Out of Style with Paul Damico (Perkins/Huddle House)

    How do you ensure 60-year-old brands last another 60 and beyond? Paul Damico is the CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management, parent company of Perkins and Huddle House, two breakfast brands that have been serving guests for generations. Paul brings more than four decades leading brands from Moe's Southwest Grill and Cinnabon to Fuzzy's Taco Shop, NAF NAF Grill, and Global Franchise Group. Paul shares what it truly means to lead iconic brands that can outlast pandemics, recessions, labor shortages, new concepts, and more. He shares advice about what to protect, what to evolve, and how to create teams that drive long-lasting results. In this episode, you'll learn: ✨ How to protect and leverage legacy brand equities to continue success ✨ What to look for to create and motivate high-performing teams ✨ How to introduce brands to new audiences while retaining loyal guests ✨ Why the best franchise systems scale people and not just new stores ✨ How servant leadership drives better teams, stronger culture, and lasting results A conversation for leaders ready to revive legacy brands, build top-performing teams, and create what truly stands the test of time. Paul's Creative Inspiration Book: The Monday Morning Emails by former Focus Brands CEO Russ Frith Brand: Steak 48 Beverage: Classic Negroni (Monkey 47 gin, Italian sweet vermouth, Campari) Song: "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire

    The Secret to Leading Brands That Never Go Out of Style with Paul Damico (Perkins/Huddle House)
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Stay StarryEyed is where visionary brand and business leaders go to stay creative and ready for what’s next. Each episode delivers real-world strategies, bold ideas, and new inspiration to help you move your brand and business forward faster. Hosted by Liz Seelye, founder of StarryEyed Strategy, you’ll hear candid conversations with some of the world’s most creative CMOs, founders, and innovators. Together, we reveal the insights, trends, and tools that turn brand potential into lasting impact. From breakthrough brand positioning to industry-altering innovation, Stay StarryEyed gives you the inspiration and information you need to make your big ideas reality.

Information

  • Creator
    Liz Seelye
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © StarryEyed Strategy
  • Show Website
    Stay StarryEyed

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