Responsibly Different™

Campfire Consulting

We started this channel in 2020 exploring how to best use business as a force for good utilizing our B Corp certification journey as our lens. Now, in 2025, we’re taking what we’ve learned and applying it more deeply to our industry of strategic media planning and buying. Tune in to our new Fireside series which are candid conversations amongst our team about the latest news in the industry, explore our upcoming Impact Chats episodes to uncover the power and role of media in shaping culture and examining the social and environmental impacts of our industry. 

  1. Why Bold Ideas Still Matter: Authentic Storytelling with Words From The Woods

    NOV 21

    Why Bold Ideas Still Matter: Authentic Storytelling with Words From The Woods

    In this episode of Fireside, Campfire Consulting’s Founder & CEO Chris Marine and Head of Strategy David Gogel sit down with Meranne Behrends and Luke Behrends, founders of Words From The Woods — a Portland, Maine creative agency known for bold ideas, human-centered storytelling, and work that resonates far beyond the algorithm. Together, we explore why bold creative thinking still matters in a world obsessed with metrics, dashboards, and constant optimization. We dig into what happens when you return to the heart of storytelling, lead with curiosity instead of ego, and protect the human element that often gets lost when everything becomes a data point. We also reflect on nearly eight years of growing alongside each other — from early shared clients to the trust, honesty, and no-nonsense collaboration that has shaped our work ever since. It’s the kind of advertising partnership that reminds you why this industry can be meaningful, and why the relationships behind the work matter just as much as the work itself. If you’re interested in creative strategy, brand storytelling, media planning, or simply what it takes to build genuine partnerships in this industry, this conversation is one worth pulling up a chair for. You can learn more about Words From The Woods and explore their work at: https://wftw.me Enjoying this content? Text us your thoughts! (if you want a response please include an email address in your text) Learn more about Campfire Consulting Visit the Responsibly Different™ Shop where 50% of all profits go back to nonprofit organizations. Wear your spark on your sleeve.

    30 min
  2. Beyond Resistance: Crafting Messages That Move People to Action

    AUG 12

    Beyond Resistance: Crafting Messages That Move People to Action

    Discover the science of persuasive messaging with communications expert Anat Shenker-Osorio in this compelling archive episode from Benn Marine's former podcast, Ocean of Organizing. While the Campfire team dives into 2026 planning, this conversation from 2019 remains strikingly relevant for anyone crafting messages that move people to action. Anat, whose research has appeared in The Atlantic, Boston Globe, and The Guardian, shares game-changing insights about how progressive campaigns can craft winning messages. She breaks down the fundamental flaws in typical progressive communication—what she calls the "Boy, have I got a problem for you?" approach—and offers a powerful alternative framework that starts with shared values rather than problems. Beyond specific messaging tactics, this episode explores the deeper philosophy of movement building. Anat emphasizes that effective campaigns focus on what they're for rather than what they oppose, noting that "what we fight, we feed." She shares examples from successful campaigns around the world—from New Zealand's election of Jacinda Ardern to Minnesota's defeat of Islamophobia—showcasing how positive, values-based messaging transforms outcomes. Whether you're planning a campaign, crafting organizational messaging, or simply curious about how language shapes our political landscape, this conversation offers invaluable tools for communicating with impact. Listen for practical frameworks you can immediately apply to your own work, and discover why creating hope through positive messaging remains essential even in challenging times. ASO Communications – This is Anat’s website and where you can learn more about her and her research. If you want to go straight to her research you should follow this link. https://asocommunications.com/ Brave New Words Podcast – You can go behind the scenes on different political campaigns and efforts with Anat and listen in on how different tactics in messaging were used and their outcomes. You can also find this podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. https://bravenewwordspod.com Enjoying this content? Text us your thoughts! (if you want a response please include an email address in your text) Learn more about Campfire Consulting Visit the Responsibly Different™ Shop where 50% of all profits go back to nonprofit organizations. Wear your spark on your sleeve.

    39 min
  3. Celebrating Media's INTERdependence for Responsibly Different's 5 Year Anniversary

    JUL 2

    Celebrating Media's INTERdependence for Responsibly Different's 5 Year Anniversary

    On the five-year anniversary of Responsibly Different™, we're diving deep into why healthy media ecosystems matter—not just for brands, but for the very fabric of our communities and democracy. Our Founder Chris and Impact Director Benn reflect on the last 5 years of the podcast and the next chapter of the Responsibly Different™ podcast. Did you know counties that lose their local newspapers see a 2-3% drop in voter turnout? Or that 75% of Americans trust local news compared to only 58% who trust national outlets? As these vital information sources struggle financially, the ripple effects touch everything from civic engagement to community health outcomes. The podcast explores how programmatic buying, while efficient, often delivers just pennies on the dollar to publishers compared to direct relationships. This financial reality has forced newsrooms to stretch resources dangerously thin, cutting staff and replacing local content with syndicated material. Host Chris Marine shares firsthand experiences from his early career in journalism, painting a vivid picture of what happens when newsrooms lack adequate funding. We're examining the tension between efficiency and responsibility in media planning. While direct publisher relationships require more time and human interaction, they create stronger partnerships, better placements, and support vital community resources. However, the traditional marketing timeline—where media is treated as the last box to check—makes this approach difficult to execute effectively. The conversation shifts to how AI and technology advancements are enabling more relevant, contextual messaging that respects audience mindsets throughout their day. Rather than viewing these tools as replacements for human judgment, we see them as opportunities to free marketers to focus on the ethical dimensions of their work. Listen now to join our exploration of media's role in society and how brands can leverage their advertising investments as a force for good while achieving business objectives. Subscribe to Fireside for more conversations about responsible media practices that strengthen rather than deplete our information ecosystem. Enjoying this content? Text us your thoughts! (if you want a response please include an email address in your text) Learn more about Campfire Consulting Visit the Responsibly Different™ Shop where 50% of all profits go back to nonprofit organizations. Wear your spark on your sleeve.

    34 min
  4. Pride Edition: Maine's 43 LGBTQ+ Newspapers and the Fight for Visibility

    JUN 10

    Pride Edition: Maine's 43 LGBTQ+ Newspapers and the Fight for Visibility

    Hidden among the pages of Maine's queer history lies an extraordinary treasure most people don't know exists: 43 different LGBTQ+ newspapers and newsletters dating from 1974 to 2016, all preserved and digitized at the University of Southern Maine. As Megan Mac Gregor reveals in this intimate Pride Month conversation, these publications weren't just news sources—they were community lifelines when mainstream media either ignored queer existence or reduced it to harmful stereotypes. Journey with us through decades of underground publications that range from radical activist newsletters to mainstream-style newspapers complete with event calendars and classified ads. Discover how the very first issue of the Maine Gay Task Force newsletter launched with a call to action against negative media portrayals, showing how queer media has always been intrinsically tied to activism and resistance. The story of the Wildstein Club at UMaine Orono offers a powerful window into student activism of the 1970s. As Maine's first university LGBTQ+ student group, they faced significant opposition yet persevered to organize the first Maine Gay Symposium—an event expected to draw 100 people that ultimately attracted 300. Through media controversies, legal challenges, and societal pushback, these young activists created enduring spaces for authentic representation. Perhaps most moving is Howard Brown's reflection when speaking to these student activists: "They fight not for themselves, but for those coming to UMO in the future who will know pride, not shame. My generation knew only the shame and not the pride." This generational perspective reminds us how each wave of activism builds upon the last, allowing the next generation to dream bigger and reach higher. The digitization of this historical collection preserves voices that might otherwise be lost to time. Dive into these archives to explore a rich tapestry of community-building, resistance, and self-determination that continues to shape Maine's LGBTQ+ community today. And if you're in Maine, come meet us at Brunswick Pride (June 14th) or Portland Pride (June 21st) to learn more about preserving these vital stories for future generations. The collection is accessible to anyone in the public, we often get the question of 'is it only for USM students?' and the answer is a resounding no! It is for everyone! You can learn more and explore the digitized materials here. Enjoying this content? Text us your thoughts! (if you want a response please include an email address in your text) Learn more about Campfire Consulting Visit the Responsibly Different™ Shop where 50% of all profits go back to nonprofit organizations. Wear your spark on your sleeve.

    38 min
5
out of 5
20 Ratings

About

We started this channel in 2020 exploring how to best use business as a force for good utilizing our B Corp certification journey as our lens. Now, in 2025, we’re taking what we’ve learned and applying it more deeply to our industry of strategic media planning and buying. Tune in to our new Fireside series which are candid conversations amongst our team about the latest news in the industry, explore our upcoming Impact Chats episodes to uncover the power and role of media in shaping culture and examining the social and environmental impacts of our industry.