Claim OwnershipThe Brand Activism Podcast
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© 2025 The Brand Activism Podcast
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This podcast explores the role of brands as a force for positive change in a world of climate crisis, careless consumerism and growing social inequality. Podcast host Christian Budtz speaks to brand innovators and thought-leaders who are at the forefront shaping new ideas, behaviours and business models for a sustainable future.
15 Episodes
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Suzanne McKenzie is a creative entrepreneur and changemaker. After a life-changing event — tragically losing her husband to sudden cardiac arrest on the soccer field — Suzanne created a youth soccer foundation in his honor, using the power of sports to teach urban youth about health. To support her non-profit foundation, she founded ABLE MADE — a fashion brand for original off-pitch soccer style. Suzanne shares her personal insight into leading with positivity and collaboration at the interse...
Solitaire Townsend, 'Ethical Entrepreneur of the Year' in the UK and award-winning author of 'The Solutionists', shares her infectious enthusiasm and insight into how we can all be part of the solutions that will help save the planet. Solitaire also talks about the urgent need for more joy, fun and desirable stories to inspire sustainable human behavior change. Host: Christian Budtz Short cuts: 5:15 What's a Solutionist? 9:30 The making of Love Bug, an insect-b...
Suvi Reinikkala, Marketing Director, led the global launch of Koskenkorva Vodka 'Climate Action' - the World's first vodka made entirely with regeneratively farmed barley. Suvi shares the fascinating story of how a small Finnish village is fighting the climate crisis by making vodka. Host: Christian Budtz Short cuts: 04:15 The cultural connection between Finland and vodka 06:00 The story of Koskenkorva Vodka 12:00 The 'Drink Sustainably' brand platform ...
Lauren Bartley, Sustainability and CSR Director at the Danish B Corp fashion brand GANNI, shares her insights into how being scrappy can make a smaller brand punch above its weight in the quest to change a global industry for the better. Lauren also discusses transparency, circularity and the power of fashion to change culture. Host: Christian Budtz Short cuts: 02:25 Lauren's journey in fashion 08:30 The state of the fashion industry 15:00 H...
Johan Pihl, Co-founder of Doconomy, shares the inspiring story behind the Swedish climate tech, which was named one of The World's Most Innovative Companies of 2022 by Fast Company. Johan talks about creativity, the deep urge to change the world and why testing ideas that aren't allowed is critical to tackle the climate crisis. Host: Christian Budtz Short cuts: 02:30 Johan's view on creativity, advertising and innovation 06:45 The story of how Doconomy started 12:00...
Mark Curtis, co-founder of design agency Fjord, now Head of Innovation and Thought Leadership at Accenture Song, explains why brands must design better human experiences to enable the real behaviour change needed to combat the environmental crisis. Host: Christian Budtz Short-cuts: 03:00 The story of why Mark co-founded Fjord / 08:40 The three catalysts for innovation / 12:30 Designing sustainable experiences / 18:20 Circularity as a business model / 24:30 Mark's key take-...
Thomas Lingard, Global Sustainability Director at Unilever, provides a unique insight into how global companies can drive positive change. Thomas also talks about the power of brands, repairing capitalism, and the need for big hairy audacious goals in messy transformations. Host: Christian Budtz Short cuts: 05:00 Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan / 10:00 How Dove & Hellmann's put purpose at the core / 13:00 Thomas' learnings from working with sustainability / 17:00 Unilever...
Jasmin Hume, CEO & Founder at food tech startup Shiru, is on a mission to change our global food system. Working at the intersection of tech, AI, science, biology and creativity, Jasmin shares her fascinating vision of how we can fight the environmental crisis by redesigning foods. Host: Christian Budtz Short-cuts: 3:00 Jasmin's journey into food tech / 6:00 The idea behind Jasmin's startup, Shiru / 10:00 What's wrong with our food system today / 15:00 Jasmin tal...
1Tamsin Omond, climate activist and founding member of Extinction Rebellion, shares the inside story of how the activist group Extinction Rebellion became a global phenomenon. Tamsin also talks about meeting with Greta Thunberg, the power of mind bombs and the need for non-violent civil disobedience to fight the climate emergency. Host: Christian Budtz / Short cuts : 02:30 Tamsin's journey into grassroots activism / 07:00 How Tamsin became the face of the environmental...
Thomas Kolster aka Mr. Goodvertising talks about why brands need to transform and how the advertising industry needs to shift from fast ideas to entrepreneurial ideas. Host: Christian Budtz Shortcuts: 03:10 How the Copenhagen Climate Summit triggered Thomas to take action / 06:00 Thomas' mission behind his first book "Goodvertising" / 08.00 The influence from Oliviero Toscani / 12:00 How P&G CMO Mark Pritchard championed the company's sustainability ...
Rachel Konrad, former Executive at Impossible Foods and Tesla, offers a powerful perspective on how to exploit capitalism to save the planet. Rachel shares unique insights from working with Elon Musk and on how to disrupt incumbent industries to drive positive change. Host: Christian Budtz Shortcuts 05:30 What Rachel learned from working with Elon Musk 09:20 Elon Musk's strategy to make Tesla culturally cool 16:30 Rachel's first meeting with Pat Brown, Founder of Impossible...
Former Patagonia marketing chief, Joy Howard, tells her inspiring story of how she turned brand activism into a success strategy for both business growth and social & environmental impact. Joy shares a wealth of insights from her career as a CMO and marketing leader working for brands such as Converse, Sonos, Lyft and – of course – Patagonia. In 2020, Joy made the Forbes "World's Most Influential CMO" list and in 2021 she founded her own company, Early Majority. Host: Christian Budtz
James Carnes, former adidas VP of Global Brand Strategy and Sustainability, shares the unique stories and insights behind adidas' most game-changing sustainability projects: The adidas x Parley partnership that turned ocean plastic waste into sports shoes and the recent collab with Allbirds that turned competitors into partners in the quest for a carbon-free sneaker. Host: Christian Budtz
John Schoolcraft, Global Creative Director at OATLY, shares his incredible story of how the Swedish rebel brand made oat milk cool. We also talk to John about being fearless, killing the marketing department and using creativity as a force for good.
John Grant, brand strategy guru, talks about his latest book, "Greener Marketing". John shares a wealth of case stories and insights from working with brands such as Unilever, Nike and IKEA in driving the sustainability agenda.
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