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What’s the secret to building lasting and successful partnerships? This week, we dive into the Soul & Science of agency-client relationships with Stephen Boehler, founder of Mercer Island Group and former Procter & Gamble brand manager. Stephen shares his journey from growing up in a family business to leading one of the most respected agency search consultancies. Learn how a serendipitous flight led to the creation of Mercer Island Group, his lessons from turning around the Pringles brand, and why fostering chemistry between teams is vital for innovation and growth.
What’s in this episode?Why short-termism is a growing challenge—and how to refocus on long-term brand building.Tips for creating meaningful client-agency relationships that stand the test of time.How training gaps are impacting the marketing industry—and what we can do about it.
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
Let's talk about the Soul & Science of disrupting an industry and scaling a business. This week, Jason sits down with Erika Badan, CEO of Food52, to discuss her journey from early career uncertainty to becoming a leader in the home goods and lifestyle industry.
Erika shares how her time at Barstool Sports taught her to embrace risk, her vision for reimagining Food52’s role in the market, and the importance of building brands that connect authentically with their communities. From navigating investor relationships to cultivating a team capable of disruption, Erika’s insights offer a fresh perspective on leadership in today’s dynamic business environment.What’s in this episode?
Lessons on scaling businesses while staying true to your brand’s essence.The role of adaptability and intuition in managing teams and growth.Why community and fearless experimentation are central to long-term success.Brought to you by Mekanism. -
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This week, we’re throwing it back to a classic episode that won us not one, but two Signal Awards.
Douglas Martin, Chief Brand and Disruptive Growth Officer at General Mills, is a brand growth champion with over 22 years of experience.
In his role at General Mills, Doug has worked on marketing initiatives for Cheerios and Yoplait, and his experience spans across household names in addition to General Mills, with roles at Gap and Walt Disney Studios.
On today’s episode you’ll learn:
How a company that’s not only a household name, but 167 years old – can still disrupt their categories.What makes an idea not only great, but a scalable $50 million business idea.The value of good old fashioned pen and paper when framing and solving big picture problems. There’s no company so big that it shouldn’t keep finding new opportunities for growth.Brought to you by Mekanism.
*This episode originally aired in October 2023 -
There’s just one day left before the election, and Kamala Harris has recently intensified her critique of Donald Trump, calling out his "unstable" and "fascist" tendencies. In this mini episode, Jason talks about why, as a Harris voter, her campaign’s strategic pivot to a tougher tone aimed at swaying independents and energizing her base might not have been the best move.
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
How is influencer marketing evolving in the creator economy? In today's mini episode, we explore the shift from one-off campaigns to building long-term relationships with micro-creators who drive engagement and authenticity. Plus how we here at Mekanism are leading the way by leveraging creator networks to foster genuine connections, fill content gaps, and optimize strategies for lasting brand success.
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
Building a lasting brand is all about balancing long-term strategy with short-term wins. In this episode of the Soul & Science Podcast, Jason sits down with William White, SVP and CMO at Walmart, to talk about the secret sauce marketers can use to drive both ongoing engagement and immediate business results.
With a career spanning several major brands like Coca-Cola, Target, and KitchenAid, William shares insights on the world of long-term brand building for some of the largest brands in retail.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn:
How to balance long-term brand strategy with the pressure of immediate sales goals.Why innovating with your customers in mind is key to driving year-over-year growth.Why staying with a brand for the long haul can deepen your insights into both the business and your career.
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
In this episode of the Soul & Science Podcast, we’re exploring what it means to find your creative voice with a person who has built a legacy on taking calculated risk. Chase Jarvis is an award-winning artist, entrepreneur, and Emmy-nominated director who has shot global campaigns for Apple, Nike, and more than 100 other brands – as well as contributed to the Pulitzer Prize-winning NYT story Snowfall.
His previous book Creative Calling was a National Best Seller, and his new book Never Play It Safe is out October 8th.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn:
How reconnecting with your true self will lead to both personal and professional fulfillment, even if it means defying societal expectations What lies beyond your comfort zone and how to take intelligent risks that push you forward without jeopardizing your well-beingWhy “fitting in” cuts a clear path to mediocrity in both marketing and life, and how embracing what makes you you is how to make a difference
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
In today’s mini episode, we explore the core business orientations that shape how companies sell and market their products. We break down the four key approaches: sales, market, product, and societal orientation. Discover how brands like Apple, Nike, and Patagonia align their strategies with these orientations, and why knowing your business orientation is essential for crafting effective marketing plans.
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In today’s episode of the Soul & Science Podcast, we’re talking to Mark Pollard, brand strategist, CEO of Sweathead, host of the Sweathead Podcast and author of the book Strategy is Your Words. For the past 20 years, Mark has worked with global brands such as The Economist, Meta, and The Wall Street Journal to solve complex marketing challenges and build winning strategies. Throughout his career, he has blended non-traditional ideas, creativity, and analytical data that prove that sometimes it’s best to break the mold.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn:
Why leveraging low-budget content and experimental ideas can be a winning part of your social media approachWhich types of nontraditional data and insights can better inform your strategyHow a diverse career path and experience help build a better skill set to solve complex and novel marketing challenges
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
Is it time to update your company values? In today’s mini episode, we dive into why values matter and we’ll share the six new guiding principles at Mekanism. From embracing bold creativity to fostering teamwork and innovation, these values will help us redefine our company’s future.
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
In this episode of the Soul & Science Podcast, we explore balancing business results and creative innovation in global brand building with the Global Chief Marketing Officer, GM Direct Commerce at Fortune Brands Innovations, Mark-Hans Richer. With over 30 years of experience, Mark-Hans has built groundbreaking campaigns with companies such as Moen, Masterlock, Harley Davidson, and GMC.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn:
Why embracing a start-up mindset is so important to keep your brand freshHow to defend out-of-the-box ideas from pushbackWhy changing your strategy isn’t always the best course of action
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
In this episode of the Soul & Science Podcast, the founder of JUV Consulting, Ziad Ahmed joins us to teach us how to truly connect with your Gen Z audience. You’re going to learn how to crack the code to speak to this dynamic and elusive audience.
25-year-old Ziad has been making serious waves in the brand world as the Head of Next Gen at United Talent Agency or UTA. After founding JUV Consulting as a high school student, Ziad has been pushing the boundaries of content, community, and culture and also finding new intersections of the three with his Gen Z-focused conference ZCON.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn:
How to not just join cultural conversations, but to lead and shape themWhat it takes to future-proof your brand and foster communities that resonate with Gen Z valuesA few of Ziad's best strategies to help you rethink how you engage with Gen Z and refine the language you use to communicate with them
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
Have you ever wondered if Chief Marketing Officers have what it takes to lead as CEOs? In this mini episode, we uncover four powerful reasons why CMOs might be the secret weapon for business growth and customer-centric leadership. Tune in to challenge the traditional executive hierarchy and discover new possibilities!
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
Beyond his role as the over-the-top showman and host of Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, George Shea is a seasoned marketing professional with three decades of experience. Together with his brother, Richard, he has elevated the Nathan's Famous hot dog-eating contest into a major brand promotion recognized around the world. Beyond Nathan's, George and company run Major League Eating and also Shea communications doing work in the commercial real estate industry.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn:
What it takes to create and promote a niche sport like competitive eatingWhy having multiple irons in the fire helps fuel productivity and creativityWhy controversy is so effective for generating earned media
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
Have you been watching the olympics? We certainly have been here at the Mekanism offices, and it’s inspired us to revisit this amazing conversation with New Balance CMO Chris Davis.
New Balance is not only “the shoe brand of choice for film stars, athletes and supermodels,” according to Urban Journal, it’s the brand for “the biggest, hype-inducing names on the street right now.” As CMO of the hotly resurgent brand, which was born in 1906, Chris Davis applies a risk/innovation model which puts 50% of the marketing budget into proven, demand-creation tactics, 30% into calculated risks (NFTs, for example) and 20% into purely experimental vehicles that may fail spectacularly or succeed later. Davis, who is also SVP Global Merchandising, says the only unacceptable risk is one that comprimes brand values. He tells us how to transform a 116-year-old product company into a world-class brand.
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
Today on the Soul & Science podcast, we’re sitting down with Jacqueline Welch, Chief Human Resource Officer at the New York Times to get the inside scoop on what you as an employer can do to make a strong and effective team. In her role at the Times, she leads the organization's human resources team and oversees all aspects of talent acquisition, career development, organizational development, equitable compensation practices, performance enablement and diversity, equity and inclusion.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn:
How to build a strong team with a solid mission that moves everyone toward a common goalHow to operate from a place where both internal and external branding overlapThe crucial nature of an engaged Human Resources during times of crisisBrought to you by Mekanism. -
In this episode of the Soul & Science podcast, Carlos Santiago Co-Founder at The Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing or AIMM is joining us to explore how we as marketers can better celebrate diversity and inclusion with a multicultural audience.
Carlos has been working and developing this space for over 18 years as a leading researcher and market strategist with a heavy focus on growth roadmaps and econometric models to better address the challenges that come with multicultural marketing. He has experience working with brands such as AT&T, AARP, Target, and so many more.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn:
How we can help our brands actively listen to and engage with various cultures in an authentic wayUsing the same marketing language for everyone doesn’t help and might even harm your marketing effortsThe majority of people want diverse and inclusive campaigns, and any backlash is coming from a small minority
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
In this episode of the Soul & Science podcast, Founder and CEO of ready-to-drink cocktail brand Gay Water Spencer Hoddeson is joining us to teach us why stellar community engagement is the key to success in today’s marketing world.
Spencer is far more than a founder and beverage aficionado. He started his career in the marketing and brand department at Yahoo and worked his way to leading the entire team. Shortly after, he found himself as a top social media influencer. Now, Spencer is crafting a new beverage for and by the queer community.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn:
How brands can create products that serve an established community rather than trying to build one from scratch Why many younger audiences expect brands to be mission and purpose-driven before they become consumersWhy connecting and engaging with your audience in organic ways is like rocket fuel for growth
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
In this episode of the Soul & Science podcast, we are joined by Carrie Hutchison, the Director of Marketing and Brand at Re:wild. Re:wild is an environmental organization that recently partnered with Mekanism’s brand partner, Culturelle Probiotics to bring awareness to an untraditional cause- the endangerment of the human gut microbiome.
Carrie started her career in sustainability and marketing with National Geographic as their Director of Corporate Communications and has worked with universities such as Georgetown. Now, she campaigns for sustainability in brands and the planet around the world.
In today’s episode, you’ll learn:
The ways that industry could be interacting with the planet to ensure sustainability. Why the protection of our endangered ecosystems- especially the ones within our own bodies- is crucial to a sustainable future for mankind. What we can do on an individual level to promote sustainability in our own lives.
Brought to you by Mekanism. -
This week, we're revisiting our inspiring conversation with David Lester, Co-founder at Olipop.
There’s an alchemy to relationships, including the ones between co-founders. David Lester, co-founder at good-for-you-soda company, OLIPOP, first heard about his future business partner, Ben Goodwin, while he was quitting his 10-year job at global beverage giant Diageo. His then boss thought they’d work well together. The first meeting between entrepreneurs was memorable as Ben showed up with a bag of home-made soda. The pair went on to run a kefir beverage startup, followed by OLIPOP. Packed with healthy prebiotics and a tenth the sugar of regular, OLIPOP brilliantly markets taste, health and nostalgia while drawing 50% of revenues through online channels, just a few of Lester’s marketing feats.
In this episode you’ll learn:Soda psychology is grounded in our earliest memories.Three-quarters of the population is trying to make healthy adjustments. When something seems stupid, that’s your cue to figure out a better way.That humility will take you from knowing nothing to expertise.Data science surrounds us, but your soul processes the insightsBrought to you by Mekanism. - Se mer
