JUST Branding

JUST Branding - by Jacob Cass & Matt Davies
  • 4.8 (46)
  • DESIGN
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

The JUST Branding Podcast, hosted by Jacob Cass & Matt Davies, is the only podcast dedicated to helping designers & entrepreneurs grow brands. Each episode goes deep into the details of the brand building process, with professional insights, actionable tips and resources to help you build better brands. The focus is on helping designers & entrepreneurs bridge the gap between strategy and design. Branding professionals from around the world join Jacob & Matt in discussing the benefits of brand strategy, top tools, how to sell strategy, brand purpose, brand positioning, neuroscience, brand personality, messaging, storytelling, brand naming, tag lines, logo design, brand identity design and brand experience. ABOUT JACOB CASS Jacob Cass is a Sydney-based designer & strategist who runs JUST Creative, an award-winning branding & design firm that doubles as an industry leading blog. Jacob helps brands grow & get results by crafting distinctive logos & brand identities that are backed by a solid brand strategy. He recently rebranded San Francisco and Puerto Rico, and also branded New York's Digital District. Other clients have included the likes of Disney, Nintendo and Jerry Seinfeld. Jacob has spoken at TEDx, been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur and has been awarded LinkedIn’s “Best of” for branding. For him, design is a lifelong journey of continuously honing his craft, as well as educating other fellow designers & business owners to build on theirs, which has allowed him to build a large and loyal following, including his website which has been been viewed over 50 million times. Jacob is an avid traveler and has traveled to 87 countries. ABOUT MATT DAVIES Matt is a brand strategy specialist working with leaders to align around their brand and get it ready to connect deeply with those inside and outside of their organisations. His work enables you to grow your business faster and easier. Matt solves a variety of brand challenges, from strategy and positioning to naming and identity right through to company culture and product innovation.

  1. S07.EP1 - Beyond Personal Branding: Debbie Millman on Character, Symbols, and Brand DNA

    1D AGO

    S07.EP1 - Beyond Personal Branding: Debbie Millman on Character, Symbols, and Brand DNA

    We sit down with Debbie Millman, one of the most influential voices in design and brand thinking, to talk about what endures when trends fade and platforms shift. Learn more at https://justcreative.com/podcast Debbie is the host of Design Matters, the longest running podcast on design, launched in 2005. She is the co founder and chair of the Masters in Branding program at School of Visual Arts, and spent two decades at Sterling Brands leading work for global icons like Burger King and Tropicana. She is also the author of multiple books, including Why Design Matters and Brand Thinking. We go beyond surface level branding to unpack why personal branding can quietly trap creatives, how to define real brand DNA without freezing your identity, and how meaning is built honestly rather than manufactured theatrically. We also explore why big redesigns so often fail, how to separate non negotiable DNA from executional style, and the fastest way to create meaning without faking it. Along the way, Debbie shares what hundreds of interviews have taught her about creative careers, patience, and long term reputation. This conversation is for designers, strategists, founders, and creators who want their work to compound with integrity rather than perform for attention. And yes, we also touch on symbols, objects, and why the most powerful brands behave more like living systems than campaigns.

    54 min
  2. S06.EP21 - Best of 2025 (Season 6)

    12/29/2025

    S06.EP21 - Best of 2025 (Season 6)

    We’re closing out 2025 with a highlight reel from Season 6 of JUST Branding. This year we sat down with some serious heavy hitters, including Mark Ritson, Rory Sutherland, Marty Neumeier (round two), David Aaker (round two), Laura Ries, plus guests like Simon Dixon (DixonBaxi), Michael Bungay Stanier, Jay Clouse, and more. In this best of episode, Jacob and Matt pull the sharpest clips, biggest lessons, and most repeated themes that matter if you’re building a brand that lasts. What you’ll hear in this episode Branding basics that still win: meaning, relevance, relationshipsPositioning that actually works (and why “positioning” isn’t the goal)Strategic enemies and the power of contrastLeadership and alignment (yes, including the uncomfortable honesty)Culture as brand, not a side projectCustomer truth and the discipline of saying “not everyone”Problem framing and why the first answer is rarely the bestBrand fame vs hype and playing the long gameExecution realities, including SEO getting tougher in an AI driven worldCommunity vs audience, and what participation really costs Featured clips in this highlight episode Branding earns its keep through meaning, relevance, relationships (Ep. 6.11, Simon Dixon)Positioning is not the end, it’s the start (Ep. 6.05, Mark Ritson)One page brand strategy thinking (Ep. 6.05, Mark Ritson)Strategic enemy creates value through contrast (Ep. 6.17, Laura Ries)Leadership endorsement is non negotiable (Ep. 6.01, Steve Noss)Brand alignment requires honesty (Ep. 6.03, Brandon Coleman Jr.)Culture is the brand, internally first (Ep. 6.15, David Aaker)Brands need a real relationship with culture (Ep. 6.08, Cyril Louis)Go wide on problem solving, don’t accept the first frame (Ep. 6.09, Rory Sutherland)Stay curious longer when coaching (Ep. 6.10, Michael Bungay Stanier)Not everyone is a customer (Ep. 6.11, Simon Dixon)Talk to your customers, find your core group (Ep. 6.02, Brandon Kim)Play drives innovation (Ep. 6.06, Melissa Dinwiddie)Hype vs fame, and why the long game wins (Ep. 6.19, Dan Cushing and Diego Borgo)Complexity happens for a reason, learn the client’s world (Ep. 6.18, James Greenfield)Influence matters (Ep. 6.02, Lida Citroën)Be careful entering politics and bandwagons (Ep. 6.04, Jeroen Reuven)SEO is harder with AI, so brand matters more (Ep. 6.14, Mordy Oberstein)ABM works when sales and marketing actually align (Ep. 6.07, Jennifer Mancusi)Audience is not community (Ep. 6.12, Jay Clouse) Season 7 kicks off late January 2026. Until then, hit follow, share this episode with a brand builder mate, and if you’ve got 30 seconds, a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts helps the show reach more people.

    1 hr
  3. S06.EP20 - From Kickstarter to Cult Brand w/ Brandon Kim, Brevitē

    12/19/2025

    S06.EP20 - From Kickstarter to Cult Brand w/ Brandon Kim, Brevitē

    From Kickstarter to thriving brand, Brevitē is a case study in how a challenger wins without a war chest. Learn more at https://justcreative.com/podcast In this episode of JUST Branding, we sit down with Brandon Kim, co-founder of Brevitē, to unpack how a scrappy Kickstarter project became a beloved camera bag brand for photographers, creators, and everyday explorers. We get into the real strategy behind their early momentum, including how they positioned in a crowded category, what they got right about their audience, and how they balanced instinct, research, and creative direction to build a brand people want to be part of. Brandon also shares what bootstrapping taught them about pace, priorities, and protecting the “soul” of the brand while scaling operations. If you’re building a DTC brand, growing a challenger business, or trying to create genuine community instead of empty reach, this one’s packed with practical lessons you can steal. In this episode, you’ll learn: How Brevitē found whitespace in a saturated marketWhat made their Kickstarter campaign resonate earlyHow they approached positioning, identity, and brand voiceThe tradeoffs of bootstrapping versus outside investmentHow they built community and creator advocacy without chasing vanity metricsWhat’s next as Brevitē evolves from product to lifestyle

    57 min
  4. S06.EP19 - Make Your Brand Famous with Dan Cushing and Diego Borgo

    11/20/2025

    S06.EP19 - Make Your Brand Famous with Dan Cushing and Diego Borgo

    In this episode, Jacob and Matt sit down with Thumbcorp’s co-founders Dan Cushing and Diego Borgo to unpack what brand fame really looks like in the worlds of blockchain, Web3 and frontier technology. Dan brings decades of creative and planning experience from Levi’s to Stella Artois to Vogue. Diego has helped global giants like adidas, Prada and Salesforce translate complex tech into stories the mainstream actually cares about. Together, they’re building Thumbcorp: an agency that sits at the intersection of visionary technology and the real world.

    54 min
  5. S06.EP18 - Transforming Amazon: Behind the Brand Overhaul with Koto (James Greenfield)

    11/04/2025

    S06.EP18 - Transforming Amazon: Behind the Brand Overhaul with Koto (James Greenfield)

    How do you reimagine one of the world’s most powerful brands? Over 18 months, across 15 global markets, and with 50+ sub-brands, Koto partnered with Amazon to deliver one of the largest brand transformations in recent history. In this episode, James Greenfield, CEO and Founder of Koto, shares the inside story — from simplifying a sprawling brand architecture to modernising the iconic “smile.” Matt and Jacob dive into how to design at scale, build internal alignment, and create systems that drive consistency without killing creativity. A must-listen for anyone managing complex global brands.

    36 min
  6. S06.EP17 - The Strategic Enemy: Why Great Brands Need a Villain with Laura Ries

    10/21/2025

    S06.EP17 - The Strategic Enemy: Why Great Brands Need a Villain with Laura Ries

    In this episode, global branding expert Laura Ries joins Matt and Jacob to unpack her provocative new book Strategic Enemy: How to Build a Brand Position by Fighting Someone Else. Together they explore why great brands need a clear adversary, how to choose the right one, and how this approach sharpens focus, storytelling, and growth. Expect iconic examples, practical frameworks, and fresh inspiration for your next brand strategy session.

    44 min
  7. S06.E16 - De-Positioning: A Bold New Playbook for Brand Strategy with Todd Irwin

    10/02/2025

    S06.E16 - De-Positioning: A Bold New Playbook for Brand Strategy with Todd Irwin

    What if the key to standing out wasn’t finding your niche… but attacking the norm? Learn more at https://justcreative.com/podcast In this provocative episode, we sit down with Todd Irwin, Chief Strategy Officer at Fazer and author of the new book De-Positioning (Amazon), to challenge the status quo of brand strategy. Drawing on decades of experience with both global giants and venture-backed startups, Todd reveals why traditional positioning frameworks are falling short—and how De-Positioning flips the script. You’ll learn: Why most brand positioning fails to drive real impactHow to win by challenging category conventionsWhat CMOs and founders get wrong about brand-growth alignmentHow to put De-Positioning into practice in your own brand today Whether you’re a strategist, creative, or founder, this episode will give you a sharp new lens to rethink how your brand competes. 🎧 Tune in and get ready to play offense.

    42 min
  8. S06.EP15 - What Smart Brands Do Differently with David Aaker

    09/01/2025

    S06.EP15 - What Smart Brands Do Differently with David Aaker

    Branding legend David Aaker returns to JUST Branding to unpack what separates truly strategic brands from the sea of sameness in 2025. We also spotlight the updated edition of Aaker on Branding and wrap with a fast-paced quickfire round you won’t want to miss. If you care about building brands that actually matter—this is essential listening.

    55 min
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4.8
out of 5
46 Ratings

About

The JUST Branding Podcast, hosted by Jacob Cass & Matt Davies, is the only podcast dedicated to helping designers & entrepreneurs grow brands. Each episode goes deep into the details of the brand building process, with professional insights, actionable tips and resources to help you build better brands. The focus is on helping designers & entrepreneurs bridge the gap between strategy and design. Branding professionals from around the world join Jacob & Matt in discussing the benefits of brand strategy, top tools, how to sell strategy, brand purpose, brand positioning, neuroscience, brand personality, messaging, storytelling, brand naming, tag lines, logo design, brand identity design and brand experience. ABOUT JACOB CASS Jacob Cass is a Sydney-based designer & strategist who runs JUST Creative, an award-winning branding & design firm that doubles as an industry leading blog. Jacob helps brands grow & get results by crafting distinctive logos & brand identities that are backed by a solid brand strategy. He recently rebranded San Francisco and Puerto Rico, and also branded New York's Digital District. Other clients have included the likes of Disney, Nintendo and Jerry Seinfeld. Jacob has spoken at TEDx, been featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur and has been awarded LinkedIn’s “Best of” for branding. For him, design is a lifelong journey of continuously honing his craft, as well as educating other fellow designers & business owners to build on theirs, which has allowed him to build a large and loyal following, including his website which has been been viewed over 50 million times. Jacob is an avid traveler and has traveled to 87 countries. ABOUT MATT DAVIES Matt is a brand strategy specialist working with leaders to align around their brand and get it ready to connect deeply with those inside and outside of their organisations. His work enables you to grow your business faster and easier. Matt solves a variety of brand challenges, from strategy and positioning to naming and identity right through to company culture and product innovation.

Information

  • Creator
    JUST Branding - by Jacob Cass & Matt Davies
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    130
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2020 justbranding
  • Show Website
    JUST Branding

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