Send us a text In this episode I'm sitting down Chantal Miyagishima, the founder of Knitatude. Chantal's remarkable blend of passion and expertise has helped her grow her Instagram account to nearly 250,000 followers - simply by sharing her love for knitting and consistently providing valuable content to her community. But her story doesn't stop there. With over 14 years of experience in advertising and media, including writing and creating commercials, Chantal brings a wealth of knowledge in cr...
Jun 27, 2025•29 min•Ep. 138
Send us a text Today, I’m thrilled to welcome Adam Constantine, Founder and CEO of ACE Creatives, to the show. If you’re thinking about changing careers - or you’re already in the middle of a big professional pivot - this episode is for you. Adam’s journey is a masterclass in reinvention: from pro basketball player to social media mogul and creative agency leader, he’s navigated dramatic career changes while building a powerful personal and professional brand. In our conversation, Adam shares th...
Jun 13, 2025•32 min•Ep. 137
Send us a text In this episode, I’m thrilled to bring you a special conversation with Mandy Balak - a visionary leader who’s redefining what it means to connect, learn, and lead in the world of branding. Mandy is also the President of The Gathering Festival - an event that’s so much more than a business conference. It’s a brand festival designed for those who crave real conversations, bold ideas, and meaningful connections. Forget lifeless keynotes and stuffy networking; The Gathering is where l...
May 29, 2025•29 min•Ep. 136
Send us a text Today I’m thrilled to welcome back the amazing Bill Petrie, the founder and creative director of Brandivate - a purpose-driven agency that’s become a powerhouse in brand strategy, marketing, and sales innovation. With over 23 years of executive leadership in the promotional products industry, Bill is recognized for his ingenuity, generosity, and unwavering commitment to helping businesses grow and stand out in today’s crowded marketplace. Bill’s approach at Brandivate is all about...
May 16, 2025•32 min•Ep. 135
Send us a text Today, I’m thrilled to introduce two extraordinary guests: Mercedes and Anastasia Korngut. As teen co-founders of Small Bits of Happiness , Mercedes and Anastasia are on a mission to help people—especially teens—find joy in everyday moments, build happy habits, and foster stronger connections between parents and teens. Their work has captured attention across North America, from their uplifting podcast Hack Your Happiness , where they interview celebrities, Olympians, and changema...
May 02, 2025•28 min•Ep. 134
Send us a text Today I'm sitting down with Mark Schaefer - a true visionary who helps brands break through the noise and connect with their audiences in unforgettable ways. As the author of several bestselling books and a sought-after keynote speaker, Mark has spent decades helping businesses of all sizes craft strategies that stand out, resonate, and drive results. During our conversation, Mark shares insights from his latest book, Audacious: How Humans Win in an AI Marketing World . This isn’t...
Apr 18, 2025•26 min•Ep. 133
Send us a text Today, I'm thrilled to be sitting down with Kate Torrance - the VP and Head of Brand, Content & Communications at SickKids Foundation. With over two decades of experience in advertising and communications, Kate has been instrumental in shaping SickKids' brand strategy and maintaining its position as Canada's top charity brand. At SickKids Foundation, Kate leads the charge in driving awareness and raising funds for The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, ranked as the number...
Apr 04, 2025•29 min•Ep. 132
Send us a text Today, I'm thrilled to welcome back my dear friend Charity Gibson, the Founder and CEO of Paper Plane Coaching Company. Charity is a true powerhouse in the world of branding and marketing. With her extensive experience as a tenured marketing professional, driven entrepreneur, mentor, social media expert, speaker, copywriter, and podcast host, she has become a go-to authority in helping individuals and professionals craft compelling brand stories across various mediums. In this epi...
Mar 21, 2025•35 min•Ep. 131
Send us a text Today I'm sitting down Mordy Oberstein, a renowned expert in the digital marketing landscape. As the Head of SEO Branding at Wix and Founder of Unify Brand Marketing, Mordy has been instrumental in shaping online visibility and fostering community engagement through innovative SEO strategies. In this episode we delve into how SEO can be a powerful tool for enhancing your brand's presence online. By leveraging SEO, businesses can build credibility and grow brand awareness, which ar...
Mar 07, 2025•24 min•Ep. 130
Send us a text Today I'm sitting down with Bill Neff, the Head of Marketing at YETI, to uncover the secrets behind building one of the world's most coveted brands. Bill, a seasoned marketing expert with a passion for adventure, shares invaluable insights on YETI's journey from a hunting and fishing-centric company to a household name. During our fun conversation, Bill emphasizes the critical importance of "finding the gap" in brand building. This strategy involves identifying untapped opportunit...
Feb 21, 2025•30 min•Ep. 129
Send us a text Today I'm sitting down with Daniel Murray, the powerhouse behind The Marketing Millennials! Daniel Murray is not just another marketing expert - he's a digital media maverick who has built a massive following of over a MILLION followers on LinkedIn. As the founder of The Marketing Millennials and head of media at Workweek, Daniel brings unfiltered insights that will revolutionize how you think about branding and marketing. In this can't-miss episode, we dive deep into: Strategies ...
Feb 07, 2025•27 min•Ep. 128
Send us a text Today, I have a special guest who turned a late-night craving into a multimillion-dollar empire—Seth Berkowitz, the co-founder and CEO of Insomnia Cookies. Seth started his journey as a college student at the University of Pennsylvania, frustrated by the lack of late-night food options. With just a cell phone and a car, he began delivering warm cookies to fellow students, sparking the idea that would eventually grow into a nationwide chain with over 250 locations. From humble begi...
Jan 24, 2025•29 min•Ep. 127
Send us a text Welcome to the first NEW episode of 2025! Today, I'm sitting down with an extraordinary woman, Jenna Quaranta, also known as JQ. Before you tune in, I want to issue a trigger warning: this episode deals with the sensitive topic of the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. In our conversation, JQ shares her miraculous survival story from the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas. This horrific event not only changed the trajectory of her life, it also profoundly impacted...
Jan 10, 2025•34 min•Ep. 126
Send us a text In this episode I have the pleasure of sitting down with Brett Marz, the Co-Founder of BAMKO, a leading force in the world of promotional products and branded merch. Renowned for their full-service approach and creativity, BAMKO is the most award-winning agency globally in their field. I'm especially delighted to have this conversation because I recently joined the BAMKO team myself. So it's a unique opportunity for me to share the insights and strategies from a company that partn...
Jan 03, 2025•32 min•Ep. 121
Send us a text Today I have the privilege of sitting down with a true innovator in the world of reality TV - the creative genius behind the global phenomenon "Survivor." Contrary to popular belief his name is not Mark Burnett, but rather he's a brilliant gent by the name of Charlie Parsons. With a keen eye for storytelling, a pioneering spirit, and a knack for capturing the essence of human dynamics under pressure, Charlie has redefined the landscape of TV as we know it. During our fun chat, Cha...
Dec 27, 2024•40 min•Ep. 113
Send us a text This special edition of Branding Matters is dedicated to my beloved mother - Sylvia Engel Goodson - who died suddenly on Sunday, December 17th, 2023. In it, I share my very personal eulogy about who Sylvia was; As an artist. As a writer. As a yogi. As a wizard. As a wife. And as a mother. As a Bubby, and so much more! It's the ultimate brand story about a woman I loved - very much. And I encourage you to stick around til the end, as there's a very special treat you will NOT want t...
Dec 17, 2024•18 min•Ep. 107
Send us a text Today I’m sitting down with Ben Higgins - a former Bachelor who traded in his roses for roasters. You might know Ben from his time on The Bachelorette and The Bachelor, but his impact goes far beyond the glitz and glam of reality TV. What truly sets Ben apart is his unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in the world today. And the way he chooses to do that is with Generous Coffee - a purpose-driven brand he co-founded that empowers communities and changes lives, one ba...
Dec 13, 2024•39 min•Ep. 112
Send us a text On this first “official” episode of 2024, I am beyond excited to be sitting down with a true powerhouse! Her name is Maz Farrelly, and she’s one of the brilliant minds behind some of the world’s most popular TV shows - including Dancing With The Stars, The X Factor, and Big Brother, to name a few. With her wealth of experience in producing compelling content, Maz knows better than anyone that standing out is key to becoming a successful brand. And one of the best ways to do that i...
Dec 06, 2024•49 min•Ep. 108
Send us a text Today I'm sitting down with Tracey Panek, the historian and archives manager at Levi Strauss & Company. With nearly 175 years of history behind it, Levi's is not just a brand; it's a cultural icon that has successfully connected with multiple generations. Tracey shares the "secret sauce" behind this enduring connection, revealing how Levi's has evolved while staying true to its roots. Through engaging storytelling and insights from her extensive experience, Tracey delves into ...
Nov 22, 2024•27 min•Ep. 125
Send us a text Today I'm sitting down with Reagan Mackrill, better known as Frank, the creative force behind G'Day Frank, a branding and design studio based in Australia. With almost 42K followers in Insta - Frank is a "micro influencer" who has made waves with his unique approach to branding and his ability to capture personality through design. In this episode, we explore how to build a distinctive brand that differentiates you from your competitors. We'll discuss the origins of the G'Day Fran...
Nov 08, 2024•30 min•Ep. 124
Send us a text Today I'm thrilled to welcome Chris Schultz, the dynamic CEO of Voodoo Doughnut. Since joining Voodoo in 2017, Chris has leveraged over 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry to transform this iconic Portland brand into a national sensation. Known for its whimsical and bold doughnut creations, Voodoo has garnered a cult following and is now expanding into new markets across the country. Chris shares insights into his journey, from his early days at Starbucks to leading ...
Oct 25, 2024•29 min•Ep. 123
Send us a text Today I'm sitting down with Matt Purcell, Australia's foremost expert on personal branding. Matt is on a mission to bridge the gap between thought and action, inspiring doers to think creatively and thinkers to take decisive steps. In this episode, Matt shares invaluable insights on how to stay relevant in an ever-changing world. Whether you're seeking to enhance your personal brand or develop resilience in communication, Matt's expertise is sure to provide you with practical stra...
Oct 11, 2024•23 min•Ep. 123
Send us a text Today, I'm honoured to have Alex Hunter as my guest—a true expert in branding and customer experience. Alex is renowned for his impactful roles as a keynote speaker and angel investor, as well as the creator and host of "Attaché," the award-winning online travel show that guides frequent business travellers through key insights of cities around the globe. Alex formerly led the global digital strategy for the Virgin Group as the global Head of Online. In this role, he was instrumen...
Sep 27, 2024•33 min•Ep. 122
Send us a text My guest today is Seth Godin - THE branding guru and renown author of 21 international bestsellers. His books have been translated into 38 languages and include Tribes, Purple Cow (one of my favourites) Linchpin, The Dip and This Is Marketing, just to name a few. His latest book “The Song Of Significance - a new manifesto for teams” is out now. Seth also writes one of the most popular marketing blogs in the world, and two of his Ted Talks are the most popular of all time! During o...
Aug 30, 2024•40 min•Ep. 89
Send us a text Ever wonder why some stories just grab you by the heart? Want to know how you can connect with customers on a human level? Today I’m sitting down with my friend Christine Gillies —she's not only one of the Globe & Mail's Best Executives for 2023 but also the CMO at Blackline Safety . This Calgary-based company specializes in revolutionary wireless, wearable sensors designed for industrial or remote work environments. This conversation is unlike any other as Christine courageou...
Aug 16, 2024•38 min•Ep. 95
Send us a text My guest today is Shama Hyder, the CEO of Zen Media – a global marketing and digital PR firm. Shama is known around the world as “a visionary strategist for the digital age”. She’s a web and TV personality, a bestselling author, and has been named the “Zen Master of Marketing” by Entrepreneur Magazine and the “Millennial Master of the Universe” by FastCompany.com . And as if that’s not impressive enough, Shama has also been honoured at both the White House and The United Nations a...
Aug 02, 2024•33 min•Ep. 72
Send us a text What is the key to building a brand that truly resonates in the digital age? How do artificial intelligence and branding intersect to create powerful, engaging narratives? Today, I’m excited to chat with Nick Bhavsar , a recognized leader in high-tech branding. His specialty? Leveraging ChatGPT to catapult brands to new heights. With a keen focus on how AI can amplify branding strategies, Nick brings a fresh perspective to the table. In our conversation, he generously shares his i...
Jul 19, 2024•39 min•Ep. 97
Send us a text Welcome to a very special episode of Branding Matters! Today, we're switching things up with a unique twist that I'm thrilled to share with you. For this episode, the tables have turned, and I've invited the incredible Laurie Moore to take the reins as host and interview me! Laurie is no stranger to the art of storytelling and brand building. As the VP of Operations at PromoCorner, she brings a wealth of experience and insight to the table. Beyond her professional role, Laurie wea...
Jul 05, 2024•41 min•Ep. 120
Send us a text In this very special episode, I’m thrilled to welcome a true branding genius, Nick Lateur! As the Brand Director at HPG and the creator of the highly popular blog “Mondays with Nick”, Nick has made huge waves in our industry with his innovative and engaging content. He's also the mastermind behind the hilarious and widely-loved PPAI Takeover videos. It's no surprise that Nick was ranked #1 on PPAI Online 18: The Best Promo Pros on social media! Join us as Nick shares his journey, ...
Jun 21, 2024•31 min•Ep. 119
Send us a text Today I'm sitting down with Linda Fanaras; the CEO of Millennium Agency, a renowned expert in B2B marketing and growth strategies, and a prolific author and speaker. In this episode, Linda and I take you on a journey to understand how you can identify and claim your 'white space'—those unique market opportunities yet untapped by competitors—giving your brand room to grow and stand out. We also take a deep dive into the significance of colour in branding. Linda sheds light on how t...
Jun 07, 2024•26 min•Ep. 118
