Between 2 Brands Podcast

It’s what’s known in the podcasting world as the “Triple F” – the Final Friday of February. When that happens, you know it’s time to drop a piping hot episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. To kick off ep. 59, Bill uses his “Opening Shot” to question the cult of In N Out Burger – a company that recently invaded his beloved town of Franklin, TN. After that, he’s joined by Tom Rauen from 1-800-Tshirts. During a fabulous conversation, they discuss his branded merchandise journey from his parent’s garage to where he is now, how he uses his restlessness to fuel innovation, why he’s not satisfied running one marathon in a day, and countless other topics. In fact, there’s BONUS CONTENT after the closing sponsor read, so definitely stay tuned for that! Truthfully, it’s a fabulous conversation and one we think you’ll enjoy. This episode of Between Two Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for an oven-fresh episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. To start ep. 58, Bill steps on his soapbox during the opening shot to discuss the negative brand impact of the cumulative changes rolled out by Southwest Airlines in the past few years. After he gets that off his chest, he’s joined by Taylor Borst from American Solutions for Business where they have a winding conversation covering many topics including her industry journey, the changes she’s seen in her decade in branded merch, how distributors can get the most out of events, and managing travel while having a young family. It’s a fun and engaging conversation that we really think you’ll enjoy. HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!

It’s a very scary Friday the 13th, which means it’s time for Ep. 57 of the Between 2 Brands podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In this week’s Opening Shot, Bill does a quick lap around branded merch with a patented “Industry Roundup.” From there, he’s joined by Quinn Bui from N9ner Marketing where they talk about his journey, the shifts he’s seen in marketing and social media, living in a van full-time, and a thoughtful discussion on AI and the impact it has on the world of promotional products. BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.

It’s Friday, which means it’s time for Ep. 56 of the Between 2 Brands podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. In today’s Opening Shot, Bill aims his complaints squarely at the worst month of the year – February – and shares some strategies to making this month a little less painful. After he’s done moaning, Bill welcomes Josh Robbins from Vault Promotions and Promocations back to the podcast! During their conversation they chat about Promocations, the event coming up in October, why these events matter, and so much more. And, there might be some dueling rapid fires at the end of the podcast which you really don’t want to miss. HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!

It’s the final Friday of January and time to drop Ep. 55 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast! Today your host – yes, it’s still Bill Petrie – talks about the impact of Icemageddon on the industry, his business, and his working habits. Once that bit of fun is over, Bill is joined by the Merch Girly herself, Savannah Dmytriw from Team SCG. During a fabulous conversation they talk about her entry in the promotional products industry, the development of Merch Girly, why the CoCreative Exchange (CCX) matters, and what she would like changed in the world of branded merchandise. This is an episode you don’t want to miss. This episode of Between Two Brands is brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, they are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!

If it’s the Friday before “Snomageddon 2026,” then you know it’s time to drop Ep. 54 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie. This week during the Opening Shot, Bill shares what his PPAI Expo was like in terms of managing schedules as well as what the week truly means for the industry. Afterwards, Bill is joined by his friend and incoming PPAI Board Chair, Danny Rosin. In a conversation that weaves in and out of many topics including goals for his stewardship of the board, how he manages being pulled in several thousand different directions at once, the PPAI Strategic Plan, and the human connection our medium provides, they get real and honest while having a few laughs – especially during a surprise round of “would you rather” at the end. HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!

It’s the Friday after PPAI Expo and time for Ep. 53 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill’s “Opening Shot” talks about the January gauntlet that is the promotional products industry and whether it’s a good or rough way to start the year. After that, Bill is joined by a favorite returning guest, Nick Lateur of Merch.ai. They have an in-depth conversation about what’s changed in the past year, things they are proud of, the idea behind the infamous yellow track suit, and even record a special “Monday” post. This is truly an insightful conversation that you don’t want to miss. BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this rose-gold level broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.

It’s time for Ep. 52 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill’s uses his “Opening Shot” to chat about the industry gauntlet that is the first two weeks of January every year and, perhaps, a way to make it a bit easier for the road warriors out there! After that little preamble, Bill is joined by the President and CEO of PPAI, Drew Holmgreen. During a fantastic conversation, they talk about his first year on the job, getting ready for a new board chair, his love of PPEF, and, of course, they could NOT avoid discussing PPAI Expo as the industry heads to Las Vegas! HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!

It’s time to drop the first Between 2 Brands episode of 2026! This week Bill shares his thoughts on goals for the coming year and a sneak peek of what he will share in his Introspective Candor blog coming Monday, January 5th. After that, he’s joined by current PPAI Board Chair and CEO of Fairware, Denise Tascherau and they talk all things service, sustainability, and advice she has for the incoming board chair, Danny Rosin. There are really some fantastic insights in this episode. This episode of Between 2 Brands is brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!

It’s the Friday after Christmas and time for Ep. 50 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill’s “Opening Shot” takes on the how much work needs to be done in the promotional products industry prior to the holidays to enjoy time off DURING the holidays. After that little preamble, Bill is joined by author, teacher, and speaker extraordinaire, David Rendall. They have a great conversation about making your weaknesses your strengths, how best to stand out, the way branded merchandise can help companies differentiate, and they even talk about their biggest speaking fails – and you really don’t want to miss that! BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this rose-gold level broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.

It’s time to drop Ep. 49 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares how the podcast has evolved in the past year and what his vision is for it moving forward. After that, he is joined by the one and only Mark Graham from commonsku and they have a truly deep conversation coving entrepreneurship, the efficacy of branded merchandise, and being a truly nice guy in a very competitive business. This is much more a conversation than an interview, and we are here for it – we think you will really dig it. HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!

It’s Friday and time for Ep. 48 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill starts off the podcast with his “Opening Shot” where he takes on the absurdity of the Pantone Color of the Year. After that little preamble, Bill is joined by the “other” industry BP, Brian Porter from Starline! During a conversation that weaves back and forth, they talk about the importance of relationships, the rising event costs for suppliers, industry volunteerism, and a little college football roundtable. Trust us, this is one conversation you don’t want to miss. BIG thanks to our pals over at PPAI. The schedule for Conference Day at PPAI Expo has officially dropped and you won’t believe the truly AMAZING speakers ready to help you level up your 2026! Check out the lineup at ppai.org/schedule!

It’s time to drop Ep. 47 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week Bill shares his thoughts on the potential end of social listening brought on by AI bots. After that, he’s joined by Lisa Bibb, the Executive Director of both GAPPP and VAPPA where they discuss her journey in the promotional products industry as well as have a robust chat about the regional association community. Plus, we can’t have Lisa on without taking a deep dive into the (in)famous Promotional Products Professionals page on Facebook. You really don’t want to miss this one! HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this fine broadcast. For 90 years – and four generations of family ownership – they have defined stability by caring about the success of their distributor partners. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!

If it’s the blackest of all Fridays, then you know it’s time for Ep. 46 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares the things he’s grateful for from the perspective of a solopreneur before a Promo UPFront REUNION with the one and only, Kirby Hasseman. Without getting into specifics (you’ll have to listen), the topics are wide-ranging, insightful, and always have a dash of humor. Plus, there might be a little rapid fire at the end of the podcast. A BIG thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re ready to be the partner your clients want – one that delivers unique, custom, and bespoke branded merch designed exclusively for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.

It’s Friday and time for a VERY special edition of the Between 2 Brands #podast with Bill Petrie! Why is it special? We’re glad you silently asked – it’s special because today we are having a conversation with the soon-to-be retiring President and CEO of ASI, Tim Andrews. It’s a fantastic dialog where Tim reflects on his journey before working in the promotional products industry, lessons he’s learned, what has meant the most to him, and what will miss when he’s sipping on an Aperol Spritz in Positano this summer. Tim has left an indelible imprint on this industry, and this interview is one you truly don’t want to miss. This episode of Between 2 Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!

It’s Friday and time for Ep. 44 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares a peek behind the scenes about planning for the PromoCruise and the work it takes during the event to give it every chance to be a resounding success. After that little preamble, Bill is joined by Jill Stirnkorb from California Tattoos and she asks a bit about the “why” of Promocations and the reasons it matters before she is grilled with “Five Easy Questions” discussing joining a new company after 30 years, advice for maximizing networking events, and how sales in the promotional products industry has changed in the past several decades! BIG thanks to our pals over at PPAI. NOW is the time to register for the SUPER BOWL of Promo – the PPAI EXPO! With over one million square feet of exhibit space, over 900 exhibiting suppliers, and unmatched networking opportunities, this is the one industry event you can’t afford to miss. Register today at ppai.org/expo!

It’s the first Friday of November which means it’s time for Ep. 43 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares his biggest concern about the proliferation of AI and how best to mitigate it. After that, he is joined by Matt Shucart of APS Promos where they talk about the Van Halen of merch, the bad karaoke of branding, and what piece of promo might best fit Ozzy Osbourne. Before long, Matt is subjected to five easy questions from Bill, and they get deep about what it’s like to take over for a family business and discuss why jam bands even exist. You don’t want to miss this episode. This episode of Between Two Brands has been brought to you by the good people at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!

It’s Halloween AND time for a spooky episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! This week, Bill kicks off the podcast by talking about the increasing distrust management seem to have in the workplace and suggests a different approach based on results. After that, Bill is joined by Jon Norris from Hit Promotional Products where they discuss his industry journey, digital transformation, PromoStandards, PromoKitchen, and maybe even some Buffalo Bills talk! It’s a very candid conversation that everyone who cares about the future of our industry needs to listen to. BIG thanks to our pals over at PPAI. NOW is the time to register for the SUPER BOWL of Promo – the PPAI EXPO! With over one million square feet of exhibit space, over 900 exhibiting suppliers, and unmatched networking opportunities, this is the one industry event you can’t afford to miss. Register today at ppai.org/expo!

If it’s Friday, then it’s time for a brand-new episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! To kick off Ep. 41, Bill talks about the fragility of cloud-based internet services in wake of the major outage this past week and bids a fond “adieu” to part of the world wide web that no longer exists. Afterwards, Bill welcomes the Chief Revenue and Experience Officer at PPAI, Ellen Tucker and, frankly, she takes over by holding back her questions for Bill until she responds to Bill’s queries. It’s a fun episode and there might even be a surprise “rapid fire!” A HUGE Thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!

Oven-fresh and piping hot, it’s Ep. 40 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! To start the show, Bill shares his thoughts on the ASI Power 50 and, perhaps, offers an opinion or three about what seemed to be missing. After that, Bill is joined by Kara Keister from Social Good Promotions where they talk about being serial volunteers and the impact that has had on their careers before Bill asks Kara “Five Easy Questions.” They cover a lot of ground including why doing good in commerce matters, what she’s learned from being on the PPAI board, and how her husband bonded with Bill in Cabo. You really don’t want to miss this one! A BIG thanks to our friends at CoasterStone – home of the original absorbent stone coaster. With that combination of stone-cold quality, striking decoration, low cost-per-impression, retail packaging, and unmatched value, David Glenn and his team at CoasterStone are ready to help you make a ROCK-SOLID impression with your clients. Email them at promo@coasterstone.com today!