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© 2025 Tara Ladd
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The straight-talking branding podcast for leaders who refuse to settle.
Brand and Butter delivers no-BS advice on how psychology, strategy, and design create brands that work. Host Tara Ladd, founder of Your One & Only brand design studio, breaks down the real influence and power of branding – how understanding behaviour and cultural shifts can transform how people see, think, and choose.
Sometimes funny, always honest, never dull. This is the podcast that cuts through industry jargon to talk about what actually makes brands stick.
Tara Ladd is the founder of Your One and Only, who design brands that breathe with culture through psychology, strategy, and design.
85 Episodes
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In this episode I'm talking about the evolving landscape of brand loyalty. As the world changes, so do the ways consumers connect with brands. I discuss why traditional brand loyalty is fading and how brands can adapt to align with modern consumer values. From the impact of societal shifts to the role of identity in purchasing decisions, discover what it takes to build trust and build genuine connections in today's market. Listen in to learn how to manage this new era of branding and en...
In this episode, I'm discussing the challenges and opportunities faced by neurodivergent founders in the business world. I tap into how societal structures often do not accommodate neurodivergent thinking and how this can impact business operations. I also highlight the importance of using AI to systemise processes, the significance of brand strategy and visual identity, and the necessity of building relationships and community for success. She shares her personal experiences and insights on ...
In this episode I'm breaking down the significance of validation in personal and professional growth, emphasising the need for a solid brand strategy in today's changing landscape. I dive into my personal experiences with motherhood and business challenges, and connecting how these experiences shape identity and influence branding. We also tap into behavioural economics, generational perspectives on change, and the importance of understanding audience consumption patterns. Now more than ever ...
In this episode, Kim James, co-founder of Wedge, discusses the evolution of her startup and the importance of content marketing in today's digital landscape. We chat about the crossover of AI and creativity, the importance of understanding audience personas, and the challenges of start ups and building in public. Kim goes into the need for authenticity in personal branding and the power of networking with like-minded people in order to grow. We also touch on finding balance in work and life, ...
Want to see a brand contract break in real time? We dig into Disney’s 1.7M-subscriber drop and why it wasn’t about content quality – it was about identity. Customers don’t just buy the thing; they buy what the thing says about them. When a brand’s actions clash with that self-image, churn isn’t quiet or rational; it’s fast, loud, and contagious. We trace how today’s low-trust, high-speed media ecosystem punishes inconsistency and rewards coherence. From free speech vs hate speech debates to ...
In this episode, I discuss the common hurdles in brand strategy and why many strategies fail to connect with their intended audience. I touch on the importance of a solid brand foundation, the psychological influences on consumer behaviour, and the need for consistency in branding. I break down what's needed to develop effective brand strategies and highlight the significance of understanding audience needs and emotional drivers. The conversation also covers the importance of measuring brand ...
In this episode, I break down the genius behind Ben & Jerry’s brand strategy, and guess what? It’s not just about ice cream. From a little scoop shop in Vermont to an $8 billion Unilever buyout, they’ve stayed loud, proud, and unapologetically activist. We’re talking about what happens when purpose isn’t just slapped on a values page, but baked into the DNA of the business. The risks, the rewards, the occasional controversy – and why their ability to stand for something bigger than desser...
In this episode I dive into the world of cultural intelligence with Dr. Anastasia Kalkalina-Gabriel, author of "Cultural Intelligence for Marketers: Building an Inclusive Marketing Strategy." Join us as we explore the impact of race, gender, and identity on marketing strategies and the importance of inclusive practices. Discover how cultural literacy can transform marketing campaigns and why it's crucial for brands to engage with diverse audiences authentically. Tune in for a thought-provokin...
Ever wondered why some brands stay stuck in your mind while others disappear the moment you scroll past? The answer is in the psychology of memory itself. In this episode, I dive deep into how our brains actually process information, especially when we're overwhelmed (which, let's face it, is most of the time). Drawing from my experience navigating 37+ hospital stays with my son during his liver transplant journey, I share how these high-stress environments revealed crucial insights about com...
In this episode, I'm talking to something that's been grinding my gears lately – the well-intended but misguided attempts at inclusivity that exclude the very people they aim to include. I'm talking about the disconnect between stated values and actual actions that consumers today will immediately recognise. The conversation about being an inclusive brand starts with acknowledging our biases and blind spots. When we only hear from people like ourselves, we create products and messaging that...
Every business challenging the status quo pays hidden costs that traditional businesses don't face - but this "tax" is actually an investment in market leadership. In this episode, Tara shares her journey from seeing inequities at her old agency to building YO&O as a wellness-focused brand studio, revealing how paying the price for being different created her unique competitive advantage. This episode is perfect for any neurodivergent entrepreneurs, wellness brands, and any business tryi...
In this episode, the discussion is on the relationship between colour psychology and branding. I'm emphasising that colour is not simply an aesthetic choice but a strategic tool that can influence consumer perception and behaviour. We dive right into the cultural and contextual nuances of colour, and highlight the importance of understanding audience psychology and memory encoding in effective brand design. Send us a text Visit https://youroneandonly.com.au/ Follow YO&O on IG https...
In this episode I'm cracking open the concept of the 'Memory Matrix,' touching on how customers process and remember branded information. I discuss the importance of visual identity, emotional connections, and cultural memory in branding. This taps into the need for brands to focus on recognition over recall and how neurodiversity can influence design thinking. The conversation (as always) touches on the evolving landscape of brand design in the age of AI, highlighting the significance of und...
Laura Campbell was sick of pretending parenting was picture-perfect. Living with rheumatoid arthritis while raising two young children, she couldn't find a baby carrier that worked for her body, lifestyle, or style. Her solution? Design one herself – and build a brand that celebrates the messy, authentic reality of parenting. In this episode, Laura shares her journey building Hackerlily, and how finding the right brand strategy transformed her business trajectory and messaging. We dive into ...
Every generation freaks out about new technology, and AI is just our version of the social media panic from 2007. While everyone's losing their minds about robots taking creative jobs, they're missing the real story... our brains literally evolve with technology through neuroplasticity, which means we're not the same humans who thought Facebook was "just a phase." In this episode, I dive into why fighting tech evolution is like fighting gravity, how I use AI to amplify (not replace) my ...
What role should brands play in addressing harmful narratives? In this case toxic masculinity and intimate partner violence. This question sits at the heart of this episode examining the intersection of brand responsibility and social change. Recent world-first Australian research revealed that approximately 120,000 Australian men report using intimate partner violence annually. This data validates what Gillette, in their controversial 2019 advertisement, attempted to address years ago. The...
Why do some brands stick in our minds while others fade instantly? The secret lies in understanding how our brains actually process and store information. This episode dives deep into the psychology of memory and its critical importance for creating a truly memorable brand. The most memorable brands don't just look different – they create distinctive associations through multiple senses and meaningful experiences. Ready to make your brand memorable? Check out our Market Advantage Gap workb...
Most businesses aren't failing because of poor products but because they've become strategically invisible to customers, suffering from what I call "Same-Shit Syndrome" where brands blend together in consumers' minds. Psychological blind spots create a knowledge gap between what business owners see in their brands versus what customers perceive, making strategic repositioning essential for standing out and surviving in changing markets. Episode mentions: Watch the Selective Attention TestWat...
Forget everything you thought you knew about branding. It's not your logo, your colour palette, or even your fancy website. True brand power comes from your "Brand DNA" – the psychological core that makes your brand genuinely unique. In this episode, I discuss why most brands get their DNA wrong by focusing on superficial differentiation rather than true psychological positioning. We're witnessing massive behavioural shifts in consumer culture, and this fundamental change needs brands to dev...
What if your brand's perfect position is hiding in plain sight? In this episode, I discuss how to map competitors, understand customer psychology, and find the gaps others have overlooked. Learn why "great customer service" isn't a differentiator and how our 4 opportunity zones can create your unique market space. Plus, the $50 million Tropicana mistake that proves why positioning research matters, and how your business can map a path to distinction that competitors can't copy. PS. Want the ...
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