488 episodes

The On Brand podcast helps you tell stronger stories and build better brands. Each week host Nick Westergaard, author of Brand Now and Get Scrappy, interviews marketing and communication thought leaders or those working for innovative brands like Adobe, Ben & Jerry’s, HBO, Mastercard, Maker’s Mark, the Minnesota Vikings, Salesforce, and Whole Foods. For show notes and more, please visit http://onbrandpodcast.com.

On Brand with Nick Westergaard Nick Westergaard

    • Business
    • 4.8 • 86 Ratings

The On Brand podcast helps you tell stronger stories and build better brands. Each week host Nick Westergaard, author of Brand Now and Get Scrappy, interviews marketing and communication thought leaders or those working for innovative brands like Adobe, Ben & Jerry’s, HBO, Mastercard, Maker’s Mark, the Minnesota Vikings, Salesforce, and Whole Foods. For show notes and more, please visit http://onbrandpodcast.com.

    The Language of Brand Strategy with Jay Mandel

    The Language of Brand Strategy with Jay Mandel

    Jay Mandel is the author of the book Brand Strategy in Three Steps, as well as an entrepreneur, professor, consultant, and coach. In all of his work, he leads with his core values of candor, curiosity, and collaboration. We discussed all this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.

    About Jay Mandel
    Jay Mandel, a multi-faceted entrepreneur, professor, consultant, and coach, is not only the author of the book Brand Strategy in Three Steps, but also an embodiment of core values such as candor, curiosity, and collaboration. His transformative journey from corporate America to coaching reflects his commitment to infusing meaning and authenticity into the business world.
    With two decades of corporate experience, including a notable role as the former social media and content lead for Mastercard's global team, Jay's brand methodology is honed through a diverse range of corporate, entrepreneurial, and academic experiences. Armed with a Masters's in strategic communications from Columbia University, Jay is dedicated to guiding individuals in their pursuit of clarity, strategy, and finding their unique market niche. Embrace growth, explore with purpose, and embark on a transformative journey with Jay Mandel today.

    Links from the Show
    Jay’s new book, Brand Strategy in Three Steps, focuses on the three aspects of brand strategy he broke down at the top of the show: Identity, Intent, and Implementation. More on Jay’s book.
    What brand has made Jay smile recently? “I struggle with Dr. Squatch,” Jay shared. The brand delivered great humanity in their customer service, however, he’s not been super impressed with the product.
    Connect with Jay on his website and via LinkedIn.
     
    As We Wrap …






    Listen and subscribe at  Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.






    Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.






    Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.






    On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.




    Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 30 min
    Fractional CMO Karen McFarlane on Inclusive Marketing

    Fractional CMO Karen McFarlane on Inclusive Marketing

    Karen McFarlane is the founder and CMO of Kaye Media, a fractional marketing firm for startups to enterprises. With over 25 years of experience, Karen is renowned for her transformative purpose-driven brand strategies and has been recognized for her leadership and deep commitment to equity and belonging. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.

    About Karen McFarlane
    Karen McFarlane, the founder of Kaye Media, is a seasoned marketing executive with over 25 years of experience. Her expertise in shaping compelling brand narratives and strategies has guided businesses toward transformative growth and market clarity. Karen's role extends beyond her company, as evidenced by her impactful tenure as President of the New York chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA), where she earned eight Chapter Excellence Awards and now champions equity as the Chair of DEI Innovation.
    Additionally, Karen serves on the Board of the Hudson Valley Credit Union, New York's fifth-largest credit union. Her influence is also felt nationally as the President-Elect and DEI Co-Chair for the AMA’s Professional Chapters Council and through her work with Momentum and Value for People of Color, where she champions equitable opportunities for young people of color. Recognized as a thought leader, Karen frequently speaks on inclusive marketing and conflict resolution, and her contributions to the field have earned her recognition as one of the most notable figures in marketing and PR by Crain’s Business.
    Karen's commitment to advancing racial and gender equity in Corporate America is evident through her passion project, Colossal Work, underscoring her dedication to driving meaningful and sustainable change.
    Links from the Show

    Karen was recently President of the New York chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA).

    She also is the incoming chair of AMA’s Professional Chapters Council.

    Keep an eye on Karen's passion project Colossal Work (coming in January).

    What brand has made Karen smile recently? Karen was our first fractional CMO guest and she was also the first guest to smile over her own brand. “I didn't want it to be about me. I wanted it to reflect me,” Karen shared of the new work done for her new brand Colossal Work coming in January.
    Connect with Karen on LinkedIn.
     
    As We Wrap …


    Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.


    Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.


    Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.


    On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.


    Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 28 min
    Scaling Brand Experience with Robert Felder

    Scaling Brand Experience with Robert Felder

    Robert Felder is the founder of Bearbottom Clothing, a one-for-one clothing manufacturer. Felder is an expert in DTC, growth, social entrepreneurship, and, of course, brand building. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.

    About Robert Felder
    Robert Felder founded Bearbottom Clothing in 2012, launching it in 2014, after visiting Bangladesh as a high school student. Felder saw firsthand the need for quality jobs and basic necessities like clothing within the community. Felder returned home with the mission to make an impact on the people of Bangladesh, and Bearbottom Clothing was born. As one of the largest apparel manufacturers in the world, Felder could provide jobs while donating back to the community through the one-for-one business model. Since then, Bearbottom has expanded not only its clothing line but also its impact on the people and communities they work with.
    Felder is an expert in DTC/E-commerce supply chain, product development, fulfillment/warehousing, social entrepreneurship, bootstrapped business growth, international partnerships, and team-building. Bearbottom has been featured in Forbes, Business Insider, and Reader's Digest.

    Links from the Show
    What brand has made Robert smile recently? “We're gonna be making some graphic tees in 2024 so I've been shopping a lot of brands,” Robert shared. “One I love is a company called Takeout Order.”
    Connect with Robert on LinkedIn and learn more on the Bearbottom Clothing website.
     
    As We Wrap …


    Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.


    Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.


    Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.


    On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.


    Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 27 min
    Positioning by Distancing with Jackie Bebenroth

    Positioning by Distancing with Jackie Bebenroth

    Jackie Bebenroth is a positioning expert and founder of the agency Muse. She and her team help transformative leaders with positioning through their unique Productive Distancing approach. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.

    About Jackie Bebenroth
    Jackie Bebenroth is an award-winning positioning expert and agency founder who draws from two decades of experience as a brand strategist and entrepreneur to help visionary leaders achieve transformation inside their businesses and beyond. Jackie has shaped some of the nation’s leading brands. Using her own Productive Distancing techniques for brand strategy, she helps businesses evolve and define their true purpose – the WHY – so they can march forward with unwavering clarity and confidence.
    At her agency, Muse, she leads a team of strategists and creatives who are dialed into the needs of clients in nutrition and wellness segments, where behavior and lifestyle changes are prerequisites to success. She’s picked up a few accolades along the way, most notably a SXSW Interactive finalist award and Content Marketing Institute’s Content Marketing Leader of the Year.

    Links from the Show

    Jackie's agency Muse has positioned over 80 brands!

    A question we need to be asking ourselves more: How is your brand showing up in the world?


    What brand has made Jackie smile recently? “I'm gonna bring up a brand that you shouldn't search for at work,” Jackie began. “Shinesty has such a unique brand voice. Someone should give the copywriter a high five.”
    Connect with Jackie on her website, her agency website, and LinkedIn.
     
    As We Wrap …


    Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.


    Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.


    Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.


    On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.


    Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 27 min
    Story as a Leadership Tool with Pam Sherman

    Story as a Leadership Tool with Pam Sherman

    Pam Sherman is an actor, writer, leadership consultant, and recovering lawyer. Her work helps leaders, law firms, and Fortune 500 brands with the tasks of finding and sharing their unique stories. We discussed all of this and more this week on the On Brand podcast.

    About Pam Sherman
    Pam Sherman is an actor, writer, leadership consultant, and recovering lawyer who was profiled in People Magazine about her transition from lawyer to actor. Today, she speaks, facilitates, and coaches leaders all over the world about how to ignite their audiences with who they are and their stories, and to find their EDGE: Explore, Dream, Grow, & Excite®. She works with Fortune 500 companies, law firms, and advertising agencies, and is a highly rated global resource for the leadership organizations, EO, Vistage, YPO, and Tiger 21. Her nationally syndicated column, The Suburban Outlaw was published in the USA Today Network for 15 years. Sherman also starred in Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End breaking box-office records around the United States.

    Links from the Show

    Pam shared a great definition of a story: “A narrative that feels real to the teller and the listener.”

    Pam also shared some story wisdom from George Saunders.


    What brand has made Pam smile recently? Pam shared that whenever she's traveling and is close, she stops at a Nordstrom when she can.
    Connect with Pam on her website.
     
    As We Wrap …


    Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.


    Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.


    Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.


    On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.


    Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 32 min
    Cooking Up Effective Content with Melanie Deziel

    Cooking Up Effective Content with Melanie Deziel

    Melanie Deziel is an award-winning branded content creator and author of the books The Content Fuel Framework and Prove It. She also is the Co-Founder of The Creator Kitchen mastermind group. We discussed all of this and more — with cooking metaphors aplenty — this week on the On Brand podcast.

    About Melanie Deziel
    Melanie Deziel is a keynote speaker and award-winning branded content creator who is passionate about helping individuals, teams, and organizations unlock their creative potential and organize their creative efforts.
    She is the Co-Founder of The Creator Kitchen mastermind for creatives, and the author of both The Content Fuel Framework: How to Generate Unlimited Story Ideas and Prove It: Exactly How Modern Marketers Earn Trust.

    Links from the Show

    Check out The Creator Kitchen mastermind.

    And here are links to Melanie's two books we discussed — The Content Fuel Framework and Prove It.

    Looking for more smarts from Melanie? Check out her previous appearances on the On Brand podcast back in 2016 and 2020.

    What brand has made Melanie smile recently? “You can tell me whether or not this counts ...” Melanie began before sharing the regular smiles she gets from the Australian children's show Bluey. She's not alone.
    Connect with Melanie on her website.
     
    As We Wrap …


    Listen and subscribe at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon/Audible, Google Play, Stitcher, TuneIn, iHeart, YouTube, and RSS.


    Rate and review the show—If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to head over to Apple Podcasts and click the 5-star button to rate the show. And, if you have a few extra seconds, write a couple of sentences and submit a review to help others find the show.


    Did you hear something you liked on this episode or another? Do you have a question you’d like our guests to answer? Let me know on Twitter using the hashtag #OnBrandPodcast and you may just hear your thoughts here on the show.


    On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.


    Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
86 Ratings

86 Ratings

Rob’s Take ,

A Virtual Branding Bootcamp

Nick assembles terrific guests who share their wisdom in a manner that is interesting, educative, and highly entertaining. When ever I listen to one of his many podcasts I leave a bit smarter. The personal branding module is particularly interesting as I navigate honing and refining my own narrative.

M Gladieux ,

Loved guesting in this pod!

Thank you, Nick, for your warm, sincerely thoughtful and inquisitive communication style. I’m listening to previous episodes and enjoying the range of experts you’ve hosted. Great job.

mee235679 ,

Great guests!

Nick has great guests with an easy-to-listen-to voice! His content is useful and inspiring😀

Top Podcasts In Business

WaitWhat
Ramsey Network
Money News Network
Dan Fleyshman
NPR
Boston Consulting Group BCG

You Might Also Like

Phill Agnew
The Futur
Fergus O’Carroll
WaitWhat
Michael Stelzner, Social Media Examiner
Eric Siu & Neil Patel