Episodes
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From the godfather of gangsta rap to the golden boy of the Olympicsâhow did Snoop Dogg manage to reinvent himself so completely? In this episode, we dive deep into Snoopâs incredible brand evolutionâculminating in his surprising and unforgettable presence at the 2024 Summer Games.
Snoop's transformation isnât just a change in sound and style; it's a masterclass in branding. How does an artist go from glorifying the gritty streets of Long Beach to become a cultural ambassador with massive, broad appeal? From music to movies, cannabis to cookbooks, weâll explore his moves and how each pivot builds upon itself.Snoopâs been dropping it like itâs hot for decadesâand proving that the coolest move in branding is staying true and taking risks.
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Is Nike's latest ad campaign for the Olympics too honest? In this episode, we delve into the controversial spot that has everyone talking.
The sportswear giant has blown up the internet with its "Winning Isn't for Everyone" campaign, challenging the feel-good narratives that dominate the sports world. Nike's bold move is more than just an adâit's a manifesto. Anchored by the haunting voice of Willem Dafoe, it tackles the darker themes of athletic ambition: obsession, lack of empathy and the relentless pursuit of victory.
Is this a celebration of the competitive spirit, or does it glorify a ruthless mentality?Are we witnessing a return to Nikeâs classic roots, or an audacious rebrand?Does Nike's unapologetic approach redefine what it means to be a winnerâand if so, does it cross the line?
You might just find yourself asking, "Am I a bad person for loving it?"
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Episodes manquant?
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In advertising, the next big idea is sometimes just a green initiative. So in this episode, we ask: Is regenerative branding the future, or just a recycled trend?
From Patagoniaâs activism to Microsoftâs ambitious carbon goals, we explore brands that aim past profit to champion real societal value. But are brands actually committed, or is it all greenwashing? Whoâs authentic, and whoâs just looking to score points? And how do regenerative initiatives ladder up to almighty brand storytelling and identity?
Ian has statistics. Josh has agita. Letâs get into it.
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Spend just a few minutes on your favorite social platform, and it feels like every other post is a sponsored ad from yet another influencer. So, is this the pinnacle of customer engagement, or just a phase weâre destined to swipe past?
From Instagram's inception to TikTok's trendsetters, we're dissecting the rise, reach, and real impact of mega- and micro-influencers. Are brands poised to pivot? Does influencer authenticity matter? And is Josh actually optimistic for a change?
Join us as we dive into the evolution, saturation, and future of the influencer ecosystem, exploring whether we're over the influenceâor just getting started.
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It wasnât so long ago that if you wanted to do the best work, you went with the big shop. Larger agencies always had the upper hand. More budget. More resources. More three-martini lunches.
But as tools and technologies are increasingly democratized, smaller teams are leveling the playing field. And brands are shifting dollars to engage more niche agencies who arenât necessarily full-service, but fully capable of getting the job done.
So while we donât expect big agencies to go anywhere, when it comes to opportunities for the âlittle shopâ, we suddenly see more.
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Yes or no, can brands stay authentic in the era of AI?
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Itâs okay. Take your time. Weâve got nowhere to be.
Come along as we ponder the intersection of AI and genuine substance.
Are brands that are built on a perceived platform of ârealnessâ at a disadvantage?
Do consumers actually care if AI is used in branding and marketing efforts?
Josh maintains his trademark optimism as we explore what it means to be âauthenticââand if it even matters.
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The times they are a-changin.'
Bob Dylan said it, so weâre gonna talk about it. Welcome to the AI era.
The rise of large language models, generative output and multi-modal engagement is truly upon usâand weâre all on notice.
But is this the end of creative and branding professionals?Is AI going to replace agencies as we know them?Or is it just the beginning of better and fasterâmerging unprecedented technological capabilities with human intuition and empathy?
Josh thinks weâre in trouble.
But he always thinks that.
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Shoot it on GoPro.
Build it with AI.
Hire Jennifer Coolidge.
Too often, creative teams are asked to ideate around a technology, a tool or a talentâbefore any thought is given to an actual concept.
Has the great art of concepting disappeared? Are todayâs production timelines and content demands too constrained for fully-fleshed campaign ideas to emerge?
In this episode, Josh and Ian ask Whatâs the Big Ideaâand where has it gone?And Jennifer, if youâre listening, we love you.
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We all know that âXâ marks the spot. But has it missed the mark?
Twitterâs rebrand is playing out in real-time for all to see. Rarelyâif everâhas brand evolution taken place so publicly, and it raises several questions. Chiefly, are these transparent iterations a good thing for the company? For the platform? For the user base? Does this in-full-view process engender trust?Or does it reveal a lack of direction and reckless decision making?
Say what you will, but donât tweet. âCause you canât.
âCause it doesnât exist.
âCause brand.
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Weâre swimming in a sea of sameness.HBO Max recently rebranded as Maxâand adopted a blue color scheme for its application tile.Just like DirecTV. And Prime Video. And Paramount+. And Disney+. And CBS Sports. And FoxNow. And MSNBC. And. And. And.
Cool-color palettes have always been the bastion of Big Tech. But should entertainment brands really be following suit? Are they missing an opportunity to differentiate? Does it even matter?
And if it doesnâtâwhat does that say about brand strategy overall?I guess thatâs why they call it the Blues.
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Weâre going full cringe with this one.
From Can we do just one more edit?...to Weâve written some headlines to get you startedâŠto the classic, I think we should make the logo biggerâour clients sure know how to rub us the wrong way sometimes.
But is it really their fault? Or are we as creative partners actually to blame for these FML/SMH/$%&*# requests?
Listen in as Ian and Josh do their best not to turn into angry old menâŠ
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Youâve come a long way, baby.
That was the slogan in 1968 for Virginia Slims cigarettes, and one could say the same for ad agencies today.
But how far have we come? And have we taken on too much? Are creative agencies now jacks of all trades, but masters of none? And with the rise of generative AI and the unrelenting pace of technology, what does the future hold for the humble agency?
Letâs look back. Letâs snap forward. Letâs try not to trigger vertigo in the process.
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Thereâs creative, and thereâs copy. And thereâs the problem.
Itâs true that black-on-white text isnât as sexy as the final layout, but words matter. Copy and design are like PB&J. Or peanut butter and chocolate.
Or peanut butter and cucumberâoh, you donât think so? Have you never enjoyed Thai food?
Copy. is. creative.
And while weâre on our soapbox, enough with the Oxford comma already.
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Are creative awards worth pursuing? Do the clients actually care? Is it worth enduring a dry chicken dinner just to receive tepid applause from colleagues who wish they were accepting the award instead of us?
Or do the awards represent a means to entice our community to gather, celebrate work that pushes our industry forward, and inspire our teams to go bigger, bolder and better?
Josh has some thoughts. Ian has some ADDYs. Letâs get into it.
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Ah, the almighty Brief. We bow before its importance. We cringe at its construction. We debate its merits, we challenge its purpose and we sure as hell acknowledge its divisive nature.
Without a brief, thereâs no compass. But it has to be a good briefâone that informs, but doesnât constrain. And therein lies the rubâand the conversation.
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âMake us look like Appleââitâs a phrase creatives hear over and over. So weâre kicking off the podcast with a discussion about Appleâs influence on the creative industry.
How did one brand become the North Star for all aspirational companies? Is it wrong to want to emulate Appleâs success? Is it even possible? And even it is possible, is it advisable?
Is Apple a brand master, or a brand menace?
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Hi. Weâre Josh and Ian, and we work in creative branding. Whatâs that you ask?Well itâs not marketing. Except it sorta is.And itâs definitely not advertising. Except advertising wouldnât exist without it.And it has nothing to do with sales, PR, communications, lead generation or talent acquisition.Except you can find our work in all of that.
Yes, the world of creative branding is messy, misunderstood and often malignedâand thatâs why weâre here. To give voice to our community. To debate, dispute and discuss. To share opinions. To drop F-bombs. To give a shit.
This is The Brand Muffin.This is our creative.This is getting long. Ugh, copywritersâŠ
