How does a brand move from being a commodity to being a community? Scott Woodward joins the show to discuss why kindness is no longer a "soft" marketing line but a high-leverage strategic advantage that drives everything from customer acquisition to 76% higher employee engagement.



What You’ll Learn in This Episode

- The secret history of Ray-Ban's cultural dominance through product integration

- Why 61% of consumers refuse to buy from brands they consider unkind

- Lessons from the genesis of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation

- The data behind how internal kindness boosts team creativity by 60%

- How to transition from managing legacy icons to building an impact-driven consultancy



Episode Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(00:37) The Core Story of Heritage Icons

(03:19) The Secret History of Ray-Ban and Product Placement

(08:23) Evolution of Brand Partnerships and Integration

(11:24) Pivoting from Corporate Powerhouses to Entrepreneurship

(14:27) Connecting the Dots Between Kindness and Strategy

(18:26) Why Kindness is a High-Leverage Strategic Advantage

(23:22) Kindness as a Core Strength for Leaders

(27:10) Brand Smile: Burberry’s Digital Heritage



About Scott Woodward

Scott Woodward is an award-winning brand architect and the founder of SEW Branded. His career began in the in-house marketing trenches of global powerhouses, including Ray-Ban, Calvin Klein, and The Coca-Cola Company, where he helped shape some of the world’s most recognizable identities. A pioneer in the “kindness space,” Scott has collaborated with Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation and One Direction to launch massive social impact campaigns that challenge bullying and promote empowerment. In addition to his consultancy work, he serves as an advisor to startups and is an adjunct faculty member at the Parsons School of Design, where he teaches the next generation about the intersection of strategic design, humanized marketing, and brand management.



What Brand Has Made Scott Smile Recently?

Scott is smiling at the heritage brand Burberry for their recent campaign featuring actor Tom Blythe. He appreciates how they are celebrating their iconic trench coat through a 360-degree digital approach that feels savvy in the modern fashion landscape. Scott notes that while the NFL’s recent work with Tim Ellis and Dhar Mann shows that kindness makes teams unstoppable, Burberry’s ability to modernize a classic British icon is what has caught his eye lately.



Resources & Links

 * Connect with Scott on LinkedI [https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-woodward-3bb1998a/]n.
 * Check out Scott’s personal website [https://www.scottwoodward.com/] and the SEW Branded [https://sewbranded.com/] site.

Listen & Support the Show

 * Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/onbrandpodcast], Amazon/Audible [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7f4fb055-1584-4037-a637-305c9b82ac3c/on-brand-with-nick-westergaard?refMarker=dm_wcp_af_r&ref=dmm_acq_mrn_d_ds_rh_z_-c_c_539036640611_g_127821134784&], TuneIn [https://tunein.com/radio/On-Brand-p967623/], and iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-on-brand-with-nick-westerg-90019102/].
 * Rate and review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2] and

Kindness as a Competitive Edge

Personal branding isn't about the perfect headshot or a polished LinkedIn bio anymore. In an AI-saturated world, the leaders who stand out are the ones brave enough to lead with intuition rather than just data. Elizabeth Rosenberg is helping the C-suite find their unfiltered voice and reclaim their spiritual health before they hit a wall. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to harness intuitive intelligence as a human skill that AI cannot replicate Why the future of the C-suite may include a Chief Spiritual Officer to drive purpose and impact The three essential human skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven world Why personal branding requires a human story rather than an AI-generated script The connection between spiritual health and overcoming executive burnout Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:18) Gaming the LinkedIn Algorithm (03:36) Defining Intuitive Intelligence (05:41) Critical Thinking and Emotional Intelligence (08:08) The Role of the Chief Spiritual Officer (10:42) Addressing Burnout Through Spiritual Health (13:47) Building a Healthy Relationship with AI (21:22) Recovering Your Childhood Brand (24:15) A Brand That Makes You Smile About Elizabeth Rosenberg Elizabeth Rosenberg is a serial entrepreneur and the founder of The Good Advice Company, a marketing and communications consultancy that provides unfiltered guidance to C-suite leaders on personal branding and PR strategy. With over 25 years of experience in corporate PR working for Fortune 500 brands, she also founded Chief Spiritual Officer, a platform dedicated to helping executives integrate intuitive intelligence and spiritual health into their leadership. An intuitive medium based in Los Angeles, Elizabeth specializes in helping leaders move past corporate norms to find a more human and purposeful connection with their audience. What Brand Has Made Elizabeth Smile Recently? Elizabeth is currently a fan of Alloy, a health brand focused on the perimenopausal and menopausal industry. She appreciates the brand’s innovation in addressing the shortage of essential prescriptions like estrogen patches while providing products that support women’s health during this stage of life. Resources & Links

 * Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethrosenberg/].
 * Check out Elizabeth’s company, The Good Advice Company. [https://www.thegoodadvicecompany.com/]

Listen & Support the Show

 * Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/onbrandpodcast], Amazon/Audible [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7f4fb055-1584-4037-a637-305c9b82ac3c/on-brand-with-nick-westergaard?refMarker=dm_wcp_af_r&ref=dmm_acq_mrn_d_ds_rh_z_-c_c_539036640611_g_127821134784&], TuneIn [https://tunein.com/radio/On-Brand-p967623/], and iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-on-brand-with-nick-westerg-90019102/].
 * Rate and review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk] to help others find the show.
 * Share this episode — email a friend or colleague [?subject=Check%20out%20this%20podcast%20episode&body=I%20thought%20you%20might%20like%20this%20podcast] this episode.
 * Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter [https://www.nickwestergaard.com/email/] for branding and storytelling tips.

On Brand is a part of the

The Intuitive Intelligence Advantage in an AI World

We all claim to have values, but do we actually know how to use them when the stakes are high? Paul Ingram, the Kravis Professor of Business at Columbia Business School and author of What Do You Really Stand For?, joins us to dismantle the “corporate poster” approach to values. He shares a research-backed framework for identifying your true North Star and, more importantly, how to turn those abstract ideals into a practical tool for better leadership and more authentic brand storytelling. What You’ll Learn in This Episode - The critical difference between your espoused values and the actual values-in-use that drive your behavior - Why limiting your organizational values to five or fewer is the key to making them operative and memorable - How to navigate the inherent conflict of values without damaging your team's culture or relationships - The specific role of “value stories” as the most credible way to express and build trust around your principles - Practical implementation techniques from Slack emojis to using personification and archetypes like Miles Davis Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:31) The disconnect between posters and practice (03:15) The power of simplicity and the five-value limit (05:33) Addressing skepticism with empirical evidence (07:41) Creating an inclusive process for cultural ownership (11:39) Using values as a tool for productive conflict resolution (14:39) Storytelling as a bridge to credibility and trust (17:16) Practical techniques for daily implementation (22:54) Sharpening your labels and the importance of vocabulary (25:54) A brand that makes Paul smile About Paul Ingram Paul Ingram is the Kravis Professor of Business at the Columbia Business School and a renowned expert on leadership and organizational culture. He has received Columbia's highest recognition for teaching, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching, as well as the Dean's Award for Teaching Excellence, and thirteen teaching awards voted by graduating students at Columbia and Cornell Universities. An empirical social scientist by trade, Paul has spent two decades researching how values influence performance at both the individual and organizational levels, resulting in more than one hundred published articles and books. What Brand Has Made Paul Smile Recently? Paul finds joy and a boost of creative energy in the Italian clothing brand Etro. He appreciates the brand's aesthetic—often featuring paisley prints and plaid foundations—noting that it has become a core part of his professional identity and a personal reminder of his own value of creativity. Resources & Links

 * Connect with Paul on the Columbia Business School website [https://business.columbia.edu/faculty/people/paul-ingram].
 * Check out his book, What Do You Really Stand For? [https://www.amazon.com/What-You-Really-Stand-Transform/dp/1647827655]
 * We also discussed my work around values stories. Here’s a link to a Harvard Business Review article [https://hbr.org/2023/09/5-types-of-stories-leaders-need-to-tell] I wrote on this.

Listen & Support the Show

 * Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/onbrandpodcast], Amazon/Audible [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7f4fb055-1584-4037-a637-305c9b82ac3c/on-brand-with-nick-westergaard?refMarker=dm_wcp_af_r&ref=dmm_acq_mrn_d_ds_rh_z_-c_c_539036640611_g_127821134784&], TuneIn [https://tunein.com/radio/On-Brand-p967623/], and iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-on-brand-with-nick-westerg-90019102/].

The Values Gap: What Do You Really Stand For?

Most of us believe we make rational choices, but our brains are actually wired to say no before we ever get to the logic. Paul Larche, a Hall of Fame broadcaster and author of The Divided Brain, spent four decades in media before turning to neuroscience to find out why customers actually buy. He joins the show to break down the Old Brain versus New Brain metaphor and explain how leaders can stop accidentally triggering the wrong response in their brand storytelling. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why your customer’s brain is biologically wired to say no before you ever finish your pitch How a small engine mechanic turned a twenty-year radio campaign into a local empire by ditching technical specs The two-gear metaphor for understanding how the old brain drives the bus while the new brain just rationalizes the ride Why leading with facts and figures is actually a roadblock to opening the mind of your audience How to engage critical thinking and skepticism to avoid being manipulated by AI and modern algorithms Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:36) From Radio Pioneer to Neuroscience Strategist (03:45) The Toronto Blue Jays and the Power of Emotional Advertising (04:45) The Story of Ted and the 20 Year Mechanic Campaign (07:53) The Divided Brain: The Two Gear Metaphor Explained (11:34) Using the Brand Value Canvas to Identify Emotional Drivers (15:10) Meeting the Moment: Patternicity and the Information Firehose (18:22) AI Awareness and the Need for Critical Thinking (21:24) The First Principle: How Not to Fool Yourself (22:35) A Brand That Makes Paul Smile (24:26) Closing and Where to Find Paul Larche About Paul Larche Paul Larche is a Hall of Fame broadcaster and media pioneer who spent nearly fifty years building a radio empire from the ground up. After starting as a teenage announcer and eventually owning multiple stations, he became obsessed with why some advertising failed while other campaigns lasted decades. This led him deep into the study of behavioral psychology and neuroscience, culminating in his award-winning book, The Divided Brain. Today, Paul translates complex brain science into actionable business strategies, helping leaders bridge the gap between technical expertise and the emotional drivers that actually compel people to take action. What Brand Has Made Paul Smile Recently? Paul finds himself smiling at legacy brands like McDonald’s that have successfully weathered decades of change by continuing to speak to the heart rather than the head. He admires how these organizations prioritize universal human feelings and lifestyle over technical product features, proving that compelling storytelling remains the most effective way to maintain brand gravity over the long term. Resources & Links

 * Connect with Paul on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-larche/].
 * Check out his book, The Divided Brain [https://paullarche.com/].

Listen & Support the Show

 * Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/onbrandpodcast], Amazon/Audible [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7f4fb055-1584-4037-a637-305c9b82ac3c/on-brand-with-nick-westergaard?refMarker=dm_wcp_af_r&ref=dmm_acq_mrn_d_ds_rh_z_-c_c_539036640611_g_127821134784&], TuneIn [https://tunein.com/radio/On-Brand-p967623/], and iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-on-brand-with-nick-westerg-90019102/].
 * Rate and review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk] to

The Myth of the Rational Customer

Mark Lester and David Lester are brothers who have turned a shared history of high-level brand strategy into a family legacy of innovation. David is the co-founder of OLIPOP, the prebiotic soda that has fundamentally changed the beverage landscape by blending gut-health science with the nostalgia of a classic cola. Mark, co-founder of the consultancy Squint, has spent his career at R/GA and We Are Pi shaping the strategic direction of global icons like Nike and Samsung. Together, they represent a unique bridge between the rigor of global brand building and the intuition required to launch a category-defining startup. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The hidden strategy of finding category value in plain sight How to break only one rule really hard to drive innovation Lessons from building a billion-dollar brand using global marketing rigor Why the discovery channel of the retail store still beats direct-to-consumer The unique dynamic of using brotherly advice to jump into the entrepreneurial unknown Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:24) Growing up in Northern England with entrepreneurial roots (04:28) The Nashville hike that launched a business partnership (06:59) Concepts for innovation and the "break one rule" mantra (12:29) The philosophy of Squint and finding hidden value (15:15) Managing the shift from family connection to business collaboration (18:02) Navigating the pivot from D2C back to retail discovery (24:48) Lessons in building brands for scale from the very beginning (28:11) Brands that make the Lester brothers smile About David Lester and Mark Lester David Lester is the co-founder of OLIPOP, the prebiotic soda brand that has achieved over half a billion dollars in sales by blending gut-health benefits with classic nostalgia. Before turning his focus to functional beverages, David spent a decade in global innovation and marketing at Diageo, working across three continents to master the discipline of consumer goods. Mark Lester is the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Squint, a strategic brand consultancy that helps global icons like Nike and Netflix unlock hidden value. With a background at R/GA and We Are Pi, Mark brings twenty years of big-brand experience to the challenge of category disruption. What Brands Have Made David and Mark Smile Recently? The brothers recently shared a smile over the enduring power of brand nostalgia and personality. Mark is energized by the intelligent copywriting of David protein bars and the experience-led branding of Duolingo, while David finds joy in the community-built legacy of Atlanta's Octane Coffee and the timeless playfulness of Nintendo. Resources & Links

 * Connect with David [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lester-4b71b512/] and Mark [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lestermarky/] on LinkedIn.
 * Learn more about Squint [https://squintconsulting.com/] and OLIPOP [https://drinkolipop.com/].

Listen & Support the Show

 * Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/onbrandpodcast], Amazon/Audible [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7f4fb055-1584-4037-a637-305c9b82ac3c/on-brand-with-nick-westergaard?refMarker=dm_wcp_af_r&ref=dmm_acq_mrn_d_ds_rh_z_-c_c_539036640611_g_127821134784&], TuneIn [https://tunein.com/radio/On-Brand-p967623/], and iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-on-brand-with-nick-westerg-90019102/].
 * Rate and review on Apple Podcasts< [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2]

The OLIPOP Strategy for Category Disruption

The customer experience often feels like a series of accidental encounters, but Jeannie Walters argues it is actually the ultimate competitive lever. With over twenty years of experience helping brands like JPMorgan Chase and SAP, she moves beyond vague buzzwords to show how leaders can intentionally design every moment of the journey. Her new book reveals why experience is the only sustainable way to boost revenue and outpace the competition in a crowded market. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to move beyond vague buzzwords to intentionally design every moment of the customer journey The three-part framework for success that combines mindset with strategy and discipline Why the biggest myth in regulated industries is that you can’t innovate the experience How to identify micro-moments to proactively reduce customer anxiety and build trust The secret to balancing high-tech AI tools with a necessary sense of humanity Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:10) Moving beyond the fear of experience being everything (03:19) Why nice is not a strategy (05:33) Aligning the brand promise with the customer mission (09:19) Disrupting the status quo in regulated industries (15:20) Finding the micro-moments that matter (20:01) Designing for emotional highs and lows (23:39) Managing empathy as a finite resource (28:11) Where to connect with Jeannie About Jeannie Walters Jeannie Walters, CCXP, CSP, is a certified customer experience expert, CEO of Experience Investigators, and an international keynote speaker with over 20 years of impact across industries ranging from healthcare to hospitality. She has led transformative efforts for global brands like JPMorgan Chase and SAP and has reached over half a million learners through her LinkedIn Learning courses. Jeannie is the author of the book Experience Is Everything, where she reveals how leaders can boost performance and revenue by making customer experience their greatest competitive advantage. What Brand Has Made Jeannie Smile Recently? Costco recently caught Jeannie’s attention not just for their consistent warehouse experience, but for their proactive approach to the housing crisis in California. By building apartments directly on top of a new warehouse location, they are investing in the literal foundation of their community, creating a virtuous cycle of loyalty that extends far beyond the checkout line. Resources & Links

 * Connect with Jeannie on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanniewalters/] and her website, Experience Investigators [https://experienceinvestigators.com/].
 * Check out her new book, Experience Is Everything [https://experienceinvestigators.com/experience-is-everything-book/].

 * Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/onbrandpodcast], Amazon/Audible [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7f4fb055-1584-4037-a637-305c9b82ac3c/on-brand-with-nick-westergaard?refMarker=dm_wcp_af_r&ref=dmm_acq_mrn_d_ds_rh_z_-c_c_539036640611_g_127821134784&], TuneIn [https://tunein.com/radio/On-Brand-p967623/], and iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-on-brand-with-nick-westerg-90019102/].
 * Rate and review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk] to help others find the show.
 * Share this episode —

Why Your CX Dashboard Needs a Piece of Humanity

Personal branding often feels like a race to see who can shout the loudest, but Vanessa Errecarte is changing the script. The CEO of Marketing Simplified and author of the new book Valuable & Visible joins the show to discuss her framework for building influence without the “look at me” self-promotion. We dive into how leaders can move past the management myth of image-first branding to focus on a values-driven approach that prioritizes impact and clarifies your true professional value. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why almost everyone hates self-promotion and how to reframe branding as a service-first act of marketing courage. Why your personal brand is your ultimate insurance policy in a volatile, AI-driven market. How to clarify your unique value "line" so that AI and human recruiters categorize you as a premium asset. Why you need a simple personal website to protect your professional identity from the whims of social media algorithms. How to move from just giving information to providing unique interpretation that stops the scroll. Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro: The race to shout the loudest (01:31) Busting the biggest personal branding myths (02:27) It’s about the customer, not “me, me, me” (05:03) Bringing your whole self to work (09:00) Stepping out to say “I can help” (11:57) Cultural identity and professional value (15:54) Redefining significance in your career (24:53) Why keywords are becoming concepts (26:41) What brand has made Vanessa smile recently? About Vanessa Errecarte Vanessa Errecarte is an award-winning marketing consultant, an MBA educator, and the CEO of Marketing Simplified. She created and teaches one of the nation’s only for-credit MBA courses in personal branding at the UC Davis Graduate School of Management, where she has twice been named Teacher of the Year. For more than two decades, Vanessa has helped thousands of organizations and professionals clarify their value, stand out, and create meaningful impact. In her book, Valuable & Visible: Redefining Personal Branding by Putting Impact Over Image (out May 5, 2026), Vanessa reframes personal branding for professionals who want influence without the "cringe" of self-promotion. What Brand Has Made Vanessa Smile Recently? Vanessa highlighted Liquid Death for its ability to take the most boring product in the world—plain water—and give it its “own line” through bold, conceptual branding. She finds inspiration in how they use an aluminum can and a unique point of view to make a commodity feel exciting without needing a traditional mascot.



Resources & Links

 * Connect with Vanessa on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-errecarte/] and her website, Marketing Simplified [https://marketingsimplified.com/].
 * Check out her new book, Valuable & Visible [https://vanessaerrecarte.com/].

Listen & Support the Show

 * Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/onbrandpodcast], Amazon/Audible [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7f4fb055-1584-4037-a637-305c9b82ac3c/on-brand-with-nick-westergaard?refMarker=dm_wcp_af_r&ref=dmm_acq_mrn_d_ds_rh_z_-c_c_539036640611_g_127821134784&], TuneIn [https://tunein.com/radio/On-Brand-p967623/], and iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-on-brand-with-nick-westerg-90019102/].
 * Rate and review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2] and

The Cringe-Free Guide to Personal Branding

We often treat our attention like a machine to be controlled, focusing only on the metrics that drive immediate results. But we have an attentional health problem. We are starving our organizations of the relational connection they need to truly thrive. Today, the author of The Culture Code, Daniel Coyle, joins us to discuss his new book, Flourish. We are moving beyond the boardroom to explore how we can design environments of belonging, joy, and vitality by shifting our focus from narrow control to deep, human connection.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to balance narrow focus with relational attention to improve your attentional health Why embracing a certain level of friction and annoyance is the essential price of building real community The leadership play of framing horizons and guardrails rather than dictating specific answers How to move from a culture of coercion to one of curiosity by asking the simple question what is your story Why the most effective leaders act as designers who spotlight and celebrate organic growth Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:18) The Westergaard Code and guiding attention (03:53) Understanding the two systems of attention (06:49) Attentional health and the blueprint for flourishing (09:11) Creating connective energy and mattering (13:28) Why we are terrible at predicting social joy (18:54) Designing community through the longest lunch in Paris (23:13) Leadership as a design function and the power of small groups (25:31) Practicing patience and spotlighting what works (27:47) Brand that makes Daniel Coyle smile About Daniel Coyle Daniel Coyle is the New York Times bestselling author of The Culture Code, which was named Best Business Book of the Year by Bloomberg, BookPal, and Business Insider. He has served as an advisor to many high-performing organizations, including the Navy SEALs, Microsoft, Google, and the Cleveland Guardians. His extensive body of work includes The Talent Code, The Secret Race, The Little Book of Talent, and Hardball, which was adapted into a major motion picture. In his latest work, Flourish, Coyle draws from rigorous reporting and scientific research to offer a practical blueprint for cultivating a life of belonging, joy, and vitality. What Brand Has Made Daniel Smile Recently? Daniel Coyle recently found himself smiling at Martin Guitars. After acquiring his first one, he was struck by the brand's deep interweaving with the fabric of American music, noting how even the lyrics to the classic song “The Weight” were inspired by the brand's Nazareth, Pennsylvania, roots. For Coyle, the way people care for these instruments and their storied history makes being around the brand feel genuinely good.



Resources & Links

 * Connect with Daniel on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-coyle-32830310/].
 * Check out his new book, Flourish: The Art of Building Meaning, Joy, and Fulfillment [https://www.amazon.com/Flourish-Art-Building-Meaning-Fulfillment/dp/0525620702/ref=sr_1_4?adgrpid=192124363131&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.2ZM50ukEdaQZTCqADUs-vRK-r5BOFQv7gKWHSIZMGQfXOaXTWfkbtXCnpXyfcGgcChLkvjDLvSX-j586ten46Dn2C3hQ8nCVyF9nWq4XjugTnGxtaLsa8syGqoDteFEWpNnUzly-Z_Y9opOeJySTiQ.bCsHSSLr0d7smQYInqbT5bZ_oBnpS8LcPz4TFbHUW1k&dib_tag=se&hvadid=779539951623&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9018506&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=4689796875186594741--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=4689796875186594741&hvtargid=kwd-2460100344938&hydadcr=22561_13821208_8196&keywords=daniel+coyle+flourish&mcid=0fdd248d30613ccbab675aa84f8c8c38&qid=1774475172&sr=8-4].

Listen & Support the Show

 * Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2], 

We Have an Attentional Health Problem

We spend most of our lives working, yet so many of us have been taught that “ambition” has to come at the cost of our health and our weekends. On this episode of On Brand, I’m joined by Amy Leneker, a leadership consultant who has helped over 100,000 leaders move from soul-crushing burnout to what she calls “The Un-Stressing Method.” We’re diving into her upcoming book, Cheers to Monday, to discuss why finding joy is actually a high-performance business strategy and how leaders can finally break the cycle of exhaustion to connect more authentically with their teams and their brands.



What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why modern culture gets the definition of resilience unequivocally wrong and how overusing work ethic can become a leadership weakness

How to navigate the Un-Stressing Method by seeing stress through the lens of importance and control before sorting it into actionable categories

The specific reason celebration is a non-negotiable step for high-achieving leaders and why it is a leading driver of joy at work

The results of a national workforce study revealing the startling gap between the number of executives who need joy to perform and those who actually feel it

How to apply the ABCs of Joy—Awareness, Breath, and Connection—to build a buffer against future stress and improve team performance



Episode Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(01:23) Surviving burnout twice

(02:13) Why culture gets resilience wrong

(04:33) The Un-Stressing Method framework

(05:55) Celebrating small wins

(08:55) Confetti cannons and authentic appreciation

(11:26) Joy as a smart business strategy

(13:52) The ABCs of Joy: Awareness, Breath, Connection

(17:38) Communicating stress to your team

(19:52) Managing the Sunday night dread

(22:30) Why "loving your job" is a myth

(23:51) A brand that made her smile

(25:20) Where to find Amy



About Amy Leneker

Amy Leneker is a leadership consultant and the author of Cheers to Monday. Having helped over 100,000 leaders and teams—including those at Fortune 100 companies—she specializes in science-backed roadmaps to break free from burnout. With over 25 years of leadership experience and a decade in the C-suite, Amy’s work is deeply informed by her own personal journey of surviving burnout twice. She has studied at Yale, the NeuroLeadership Institute, and Harvard Medical School to help others succeed without sacrificing their health or their weekends.



What Brand Has Made Amy Smile Recently?

Amy shared her love for Costco, a brand she actually worked for during her college years before the era of scanners. She highlighted how the company’s core values show up in everything they do, making it one of her favorite places to shop today.



Resources & Links

 * Connect with Amy on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannabadamo/].
 * Check out her website [https://www.amyleneker.com/] and new book, Cheers to Monday [https://www.amazon.com/Cheers-Monday-Surprisingly-Simple-Method/dp/1394388802].

Listen & Support the Show

 * Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/onbrandpodcast], Amazon/Audible [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7f4fb055-1584-4037-a637-305c9b82ac3c/on-brand-with-nick-westergaard?refMarker=dm_wcp_af_r&ref=dmm_acq_mrn_d_ds_rh_z_-c_c_539036640611_g_127821134784&], 

The Leadership Joy Gap

A creative vision is only as good as its execution. As the Vice President of Creative at Agency EA, Joanna Badamo leads the teams behind major experiential programs for brands like Samsung, Hilton, and Molson Coors. Joanna joins the show to discuss how to lead creative teams in fast-moving environments and the art of translating high-level brand strategy into physical experiences that actually work.



What You’ll Learn in This Episode

How software-based companies can create tactile connections with an audience separated by screens

The essential building blocks for moving a digital-first brand into a physical environment

Why small curated moments are often more impactful than grand spectacles

How to leverage AI as a wheel greaser for creative teams rather than an end result

The shift from monologue-centered branding to creating multidimensional ecosystems of interaction



Episode Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(01:36) Moving from sports marketing to the experiential side

(03:24) Making intangible software brands feel real

(05:17) The building blocks of a physical brand presence

(08:12) Creating environments that transport and immerse

(12:52) Measuring success and collecting strategic data

(16:19) Finding creativity within real-world constraints

(21:34) AI as an ally and facilitator for creative teams

(25:11) A brand that made Joanna smile



About Joanna Badamo

Joanna Badamo is the Vice President of Creative at Agency EA, where she leads teams responsible for developing creative concepts and digital solutions for major experiential brand programs. With over a decade of experience spanning creative strategy and event account management, she brings a balanced approach to designing experiences for global brands including Samsung, Hilton, and Molson Coors. Her work focuses on the belief that the best brand moments thoughtfully balance high-level vision with functional, real-world execution.



What Brand Has Made Joanna Smile Recently?

Joanna highlighted the unhinged brilliance of Duolingo, noting how the brand’s "mind sorcery" and relatable TikTok presence create a deep sense of connection and obligation. She also pointed to a clever, cheeky Super Bowl activation by Aldi featuring Lewis Capaldi, which proved that an experience doesn’t need to be over-produced to be special and memorable.



Resources & Links

 * Connect with Joanna on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joannabadamo/].
 * Check out the Agency EA [https://agencyea.com/] website.

Listen & Support the Show

 * Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2], Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/onbrandpodcast], Amazon/Audible [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/7f4fb055-1584-4037-a637-305c9b82ac3c/on-brand-with-nick-westergaard?refMarker=dm_wcp_af_r&ref=dmm_acq_mrn_d_ds_rh_z_-c_c_539036640611_g_127821134784&], TuneIn [https://tunein.com/radio/On-Brand-p967623/], and iHeart [https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-on-brand-with-nick-westerg-90019102/].
 * Rate and review on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-brand-podcast-about-branding/id1113563080?mt=2] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/2Hq9fjctcpm3YKlJFuXmRk] to help others find the show.
 * Share this episode —

Making Intangible Brands Tangible

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