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

We often hear that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but NéAndré Broussard knows that the cover is exactly where the story begins. After a career leading in the financial services industry, NéAndré founded Black Menswear and BMW Digital to do more than just change clothes—he’s changing the conversation around the African American male consumer. By moving from life insurance to life-changing narratives, he is building a brand rooted in community, economic growth, and the quiet power of a well-tailored story. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How the science of enclothed cognition can increase your cognitive ability and performance Why your brand story should always cast the consumer as the hero rather than the product The strategy of using traveling flash mobs to move digital communities into real-world connections How to navigate the "no, maybe not now" moments in high-level brand consulting Why long-term creator partnerships outperform one-off endorsements for authentic brand recognition Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:44) Elevating the Perception of Black Men (04:11) The Community-First Approach to Agency Work (05:55) The Science of Enclothed Cognition (10:30) The Suit as a Superhero Costume (13:57) Finding Brands Ready for Purposeful Storytelling (17:14) Case Study: Woodford Reserve and the Black Jockey History (22:52) Prioritizing Creator Value and Economic Growth About NéAndré Broussard NéAndré Broussard is the CEO of BMW Digital and the founder of Black Menswear, a cultural impact agency focused on shaping positive narratives for Black creators. By leveraging the power of “enclothed cognition,” NeAndre helps men find their tribe and walk with greater confidence through real-world “traveling flash mobs” and digital storytelling. A former financial services leader, he now hosts The Check-In With Black Menswear on the Revolt Network and consults for major brands like Woodford Reserve and Spectrum to create authentic community connections. What Brand Has Made NéAndré Smile Recently? NéAndré recently found inspiration in Spectrum for their commitment to a five-part series highlighting Black-owned businesses in Dallas. He was particularly impressed by the brand’s willingness to tell real, authentic stories of underrepresented groups during a time when many organizations are pulling back from representative campaigns.



Resources & Links

 * Connect with NéAndré on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nbroussard/].
 * Check out the Black Menswear [https://blackmenswear.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 — email a friend or colleague [?subject=Check%20out%20this%20podcast%20episode&body=I%20thought%20you%20might%20like%20this%20podcast] this episode.
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Changing Narratives for Cultural Impact

Building a brand is about more than just what happens in the marketplace—it’s about what happens in the hallway. On this episode of On Brand, I’m joined by Josh Block, President of Block Imaging and author of People Matter @ Work, to explore why the health of your internal culture is the ultimate predictor of your brand’s external strength. Josh shares his journey of taking over a family business at 29 and the hard lessons he learned about how “responsible” decisions can fracture trust, and how he ultimately scaled a global organization by operationalizing the belief that people truly matter. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to identify the small well-intentioned decisions that quietly erode trust before performance slips The difference between unearthing authentic values and picking generic ones off a poster Why the shift from me leadership to we leadership requires the humility to democratize capabilities How to use the laughter test as a rapid diagnostic for the health and safety of your culture The internal work required to move from healthcare business to a mission-driven second chance at life Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:41) Why Culture is the Ultimate Predictor of Brand Strength (02:41) The Erosion of Trust in Well-Intentioned Decisions (04:22) Why Culture Collapses Quietly Long Before Performance (07:34) Moving Beyond Soft Skills to Cultural Systems (09:15) The Shift from Me Leadership to We Leadership (12:46) When Correct Decisions are Culturally Costly (14:52) How to Operationalize Values Without the Posters (16:53) Building Brand from the Inside Out Through Storytelling (22:17) The Laughter Test for Cultural Health (24:30) A Brand That Made the Guest Smile About Josh Block Josh Block is the President of Block Imaging and the author of People Matter @ Work. With nearly three decades of experience, Josh has navigated the complexities of scaling a global organization while maintaining a deep focus on the transformative power of workplace communities. After being handed the presidency of his family’s company at age 29, he learned firsthand how leadership pressure can fracture trust and spent the subsequent years refining a system of transparency and shared ownership. Today, he leads a team dedicated to providing a second chance at life through medical imaging services, proving that organizational growth and human connection are inextricably linked. What Brand Has Made Josh Smile Recently? Josh recently found himself smiling during his buying experience at a Tesla dealership. Comparing the typical dread of a car dealership to a visit to the dentist, he was impressed by the smooth user interface and the high level of service orientation throughout the process. The seamless connection and modern approach to the traditional car-buying journey left a lasting positive impression on him.



Resources & Links

 * Connect with Josh on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshblock1/].
 * Check out his book, People Matter @ Work [https://www.amazon.com/People-Matter-Work-Fostering-Everyone/dp/1637635044].
 * Learn more about his family business, Block Imaging [https://www.blockimaging.com/], where the ideas in the book were forged.

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When People Matter at Work the Brand Follows

We’ve all been told to just be yourself. But psychologist and author Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic—Chief Innovation Officer at ManpowerGroup and professor at UCL and Columbia—says that’s the worst advice you can take. In his new book, Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead), he reveals why our obsession with authenticity is holding us back—and what actually leads to success. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why "just being yourself" is often the worst professional advice you can receive The coffee drinker model for balancing your raw personality with social expectations How to use emotional intelligence as a strategic filter for better leadership Why high-performing leaders often act more like method actors than authentic versions of themselves How to navigate the tension between human authenticity and AI-generated content Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (01:21) The Myth of Objective Authenticity (02:50) Leaders as Method Actors (04:01) Comparing Personal and Restaurant Brands (05:53) The Rigidity of "Telling It Like It Is" (07:06) Understanding Authenticity Traps (10:11) Emotional Intelligence vs. Authenticity (13:22) The Coffee Drinker Model Explained (15:35) Adaptability in the Workplace (18:14) Cultural Differences in Authenticity (22:27) Authenticity in the Age of AI (26:43) Why Benetton Made Him Smile About Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is the Chief Innovation Officer at ManpowerGroup, a professor of business psychology at University College London and at Columbia University, a cofounder of Deeper Signals, and an associate at Harvard's Entrepreneurial Finance Lab. He is the author of several books, including Why Do So Many Incompetent Men Become Leaders? (and How to Fix It), upon which his popular TEDx talk was based, and I, Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique. What Brand Has Made Tomas Smile Recently? Tomas recently found inspiration in the history of the Italian fashion brand Benetton. He was fascinated by the brand's founder, Luciano Benetton, who pioneered fast fashion and used provocative, moral-driven advertising campaigns to address diversity and inclusion long before they were mainstream corporate pillars. Resources & Links

 * Connect with Tomas on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtomaschamorro/].
 * Check out his book, Don't Be Yourself [https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Be-Yourself-Authenticity-Overrated/dp/1647829836], the Manpower website [https://www.manpowergroup.com], and his own Dr. Tomas website [https://www.drtomas.com/].

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Being Yourself Is Bad Advice

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