Brand & Banter

Amanda Shuman
  • 5.0 (9)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Where bold ideas meet brilliant execution—Brand & Banter is the podcast that dives deep into the genius behind today's biggest branding wins. Hosted by branding and marketing expert Amanda Shuman, Brand & Banter goes beyond the polished pitch decks and news headlines to uncover the heart of the creative process. Think of it as your chance to eavesdrop on the conversations happening behind the branding curtain.

  1. How Authentic Community Leadership Becomes Your Competitive Advantage

    MAR 24

    How Authentic Community Leadership Becomes Your Competitive Advantage

    What if the real reason people trust your brand has nothing to do with your marketing? For Tori Clark, founder of Spa Luxe, community involvement wasn't a business strategy. It was personal. It started with a childhood shaped by the people who showed up. Raised by a single dad, she grew up surrounded by a community that stepped in, supported her family, and helped guide her path. Years later, when she found herself inheriting a struggling company headed toward bankruptcy, those early lessons about relationships and community suddenly became the blueprint for how she built her brand. In this episode, we get into how Tori built Spa Luxe around genuine community leadership and why that relational approach has become one of the brand's greatest strengths. She shares the difference between transactional giving and real involvement, how she chooses which causes to support, and why showing up with time and talent often creates a deeper impact than simply writing a check. We also talk about how that trust translates into brand awareness, referrals, and a retention rate far above the spa industry average. This conversation walks through what it really looks like to build a business people want to support. From community relationships and team culture to retention, referrals, and long-term brand trust, Tori shares how authentic leadership can create the kind of business growth that no ad campaign can buy. Links Mentioned Spa Luxe Spa Luxe Instagram: @thespaluxetx Ready to build a brand that actually works for you? Leave a Review: If you loved today's chat, please leave a review. It helps us to not only keep the banter going but bring even more incredible guests to the mic. Join the Banter:  If you are ready to create a cult brand that turns heads and starts conversations, head over to carrylovedesigns.com/podcast to sign up for our email list. You will get fresh marketing insights, bold ideas, and maybe even a little sass delivered straight to your inbox. Thanks for listening and remember, behind every bold brand is a story worth bantering about. Substack → https://theamandashuman.substack.com/ Instagram → https://instagram.com/theamandashuman

    54 min
  2. What This Salon Learned After Spending $150,000 on Marketing Last Year

    MAR 10

    What This Salon Learned After Spending $150,000 on Marketing Last Year

    How does a business go from chaotic cash flow to spending six figures on marketing?   For Chelle Neff, owner of Urban Betty Salon, it started with eight years of barely surviving, hoping payroll would clear, and realizing that hustle alone was not a strategy. In this episode, we get into how Chelle transformed Urban Betty from booth rental chaos into a three-location, experience-led brand doing $6.3M in revenue. She breaks down exactly what she spent on marketing last year, what actually paid off, and what she would never do again. We talk about the operational structure that changed everything, the level system that created stability and career paths for her team, and the marketing lessons every service-based business needs to hear, especially if you are investing money without tracking what is actually driving new clients. This conversation walks through the real work behind scaling a service business. From rebuilding culture and systems to treating marketing like a strategic investment instead of a guessing game, Chelle shares what it really takes to grow a brand that people trust, talk about, and keep coming back to. Links Mentioned Urban Betty Salon Urban Betty Instagram: @urbanbetty Ready to build a brand that actually works for you? Leave a Review: If you loved today's chat, please leave a review. It helps us to not only keep the banter going but bring even more incredible guests to the mic. Join the Banter:  If you are ready to create a cult brand that turns heads and starts conversations, head over to carrylovedesigns.com/podcast to sign up for our email list. You will get fresh marketing insights, bold ideas, and maybe even a little sass delivered straight to your inbox. Thanks for listening and remember, behind every bold brand is a story worth bantering about. Substack → https://theamandashuman.substack.com/ Instagram → https://instagram.com/theamandashuman

    45 min

  3. MAR 3

    Season 2: Why We Pressed Pause (And Why We're Back)

    After an abrupt end to Season One, I wasn't sure this podcast would come back. It's been almost a year since our last episode aired, and to be honest, I put off recording this opener for a while because I wasn't sure how I wanted to frame this next season. Season 1 didn't end with a big announcement. It ended because something inside the business shifted, and I had to choose where my energy went. The podcast (as much as I love it) wasn't the thing that could stay at that moment. In this episode, I'm sharing what changed and what ultimately made me come back to it. Season 2 (or Issue Two) is built differently, with a biweekly rhythm and a Substack companion that lets us go deeper and stay in conversation beyond the mic. It feels more aligned. And more intentional. And I'm excited to build it with you! Substack → https://theamandashuman.substack.com/ Instagram → https://instagram.com/theamandashuman

    9 min

  4. 04/25/2025 ·  BONUS

    Marketing Brief #10: How I Booked Two Speaking Gigs Without Pitching, Posting, or Paying

    In this bonus episode, I spill how a single, no-agenda coffee chat landed me two speaking gigs with no funnel, no fancy pitch, just showing up as myself. If you need a reminder that the best opportunities don't come from your inbox, but from being in the right room and making genuine connections, this one's for you. Want more behind-the-scenes, high-impact marketing moves? Join my insider email list at carrylovedesigns.com/podcast.

    6 min

  5. 04/22/2025

    How to Get Seen, Shared, and Sold Without a Marketing Budget

    What do you do when you're launching a product in a saturated category with no budget, no team, and zero brand recognition? You get scrappy—and that's exactly what Michael Franco is doing with Carne Shabu, a new Mexican-style beef jerky brand out of Austin, TX. In this episode, Michael shares how he's building buzz with content-first marketing, behind-the-scenes storytelling, and saying yes to every opportunity (even random bookshelf pickups that turn into influencer collabs). We talk about what's actually worked to drive sales, what hasn't panned out, and why content is his not-so-secret weapon. If you're building a product-based brand and figuring it out as you go, this episode is full of real talk and practical insight—plus a reminder that the best ideas often start in your own kitchen.   Links mentioned: Try the jerky: carneshabu.com TikTok that caught Amanda's eye: Watch here Follow Carne Shabu on Instagram: @carneshabu

    32 min

  6. 04/08/2025

    How Motorcar Parts of America Boosted Their Stock from $2 to $38 Through Strategic Rebranding

    What does a $2 stock price, a brand crisis, and the auto parts industry have to do with brilliant branding? Everything. In this episode of Brand & Banter, Jamie Schwartzman, founder of Flux Branding, unpacks how a rebrand of Motorcar Parts of America (MPA) took them from rock bottom to a $38/share comeback. We go beyond logos and color palettes to talk about the strategy behind brand perception, the power of subtle shifts, and how storytelling (yes, even in the automotive world) can change everything. 🔗 Learn more about Jamie's work at fluxbranding.com 🧪 Try the free Brand Decoder tool: https://fluxbranding.com/brand-personality-quiz/ 💌 Want a 1:1 Brand Blueprint? Email jamie@fluxbranding.com and mention Brand & Banter.

    41 min

  7. 04/04/2025 ·  BONUS

    Marketing Brief #9: Taco Bell's "Keynote" + Creator Car Washes

    In this week's bite-sized bonus episode, we're breaking down a fast food launch that looked a lot like an Apple event—and racked up tens of millions of views in the process. Plus, what brands like Will Smith (yes, the actor) are doing with creators that you need to steal. If you're looking for smarter ways to launch, partner, and create buzz without a mega budget, this one's for you. 📅 Want our team to help bring that idea to life? Book a free consultation at carrylovedesigns.com/contact. Let's build your next brand moment.

    5 min

  8. 04/01/2025

    How Casaléna Turned a Dining Room Into a Story-Driven Brand Through Strategic World-Building

    In this episode, Chloe Makhani of Casaléna dishes out how she transformed a space into an immersive, character-driven experience that guests want to return to again and again. We talk about experiential hospitality, evolving your marketing with your brand, and why storytelling isn't just a vibe—it's a revenue driver. From streetwear-level fandom to lavender cocktails and personalized postcards, Chloe proves that every detail matters when you're building something magnetic. This one's for the founders blending soul with strategy. Follow along: Instagram & TikTok – @casaelena.la Learn more about Avondale Equities – avondaleequities.com

    39 min
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About

Where bold ideas meet brilliant execution—Brand & Banter is the podcast that dives deep into the genius behind today's biggest branding wins. Hosted by branding and marketing expert Amanda Shuman, Brand & Banter goes beyond the polished pitch decks and news headlines to uncover the heart of the creative process. Think of it as your chance to eavesdrop on the conversations happening behind the branding curtain.

Information

  • Creator
    Amanda Shuman
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2022
  • Show Website
    Brand & Banter

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