Beer, Rings, and Body Doubles: The Internet’s Attention EconomyGen Z is putting ice in their beer. Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement feels more like a dynasty merger than a romance, with brands racing to crash the party. And online, people are debating whether Trump really met Putin in Alaska or a body double.In this week’s Branded, Ben Kaplan unpacks how these viral stories spiral, why brands jump on them, and what they reveal about culture, politics, and the attention economy in 2025.From Trump firing Fed Governor Lisa Cook for mortgage fraud the same offense he was convicted of to Swift’s engagement fueling memes and marketing campaigns, we explore why irony, controversy, and cultural collisions keep driving attention.Plus, a few hot takes from TikTok: is ice in beer actually a hack… or still a crime against hops?
In this episode of Branded Leaders, host Ben Kaplan sits down with Brian Irving, Chief Marketing Officer at Lyft, to discuss how Lyft differentiates itself in a rideshare industry that often looks like a race to the bottom.Brian shares how Lyft avoids competing solely on price by leaning into its DNA as a purposeful rebel brand — building services around freedom, connection, and customer obsession. He reveals how Lyft is adapting its identity from quirky early days (pink mustaches and friendly drivers) to serving business travelers, healthcare rides, and diverse audiences with evolving needs.The conversation explores Lyft’s approach to autonomous vehicles, why it’s doubling down on human-first innovation, and how FlexDrive and new partnerships expand the platform’s future. Brian also reflects on his career journey from Flint, Michigan, to Silicon Valley, with pivotal chapters at Apple, Google, Airbnb, and Eventbrite. Along the way, he shares the best advice he’s ever received, how curiosity shapes his leadership, and why learning to say “I get to” instead of “I have to” changed his perspective on work and life.Packed with candid stories, career lessons, and insights into the future of mobility and marketing, this episode offers a rare look at how Lyft’s CMO is steering the brand beyond rides to something much bigger: freedom.
In this episode of Branded Leaders, host Ben Kaplan sits down with Rory Sutherland, Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK, to explore why safe, logical marketing often fails — and why embracing chaos, irrationality, and unconventional thinking can create the biggest wins.Rory explains why capitalism is less about efficiency and more like betting on long shots, how seemingly “bonkers” decisions (like Amazon betting on Prime) can redefine entire industries, and why reframing simple observations is the real engine of creativity.The conversation dives into politics, persuasion, and the psychology of risk-taking — from Donald Trump’s use of concrete language, to Elon Musk’s non-neurotypical way of seeing the world, to why opportunity cost is more important than cost-cutting.Packed with humor, sharp insights, and provocative reframes, this episode is a masterclass in why playing it safe may be the riskiest move of all.
Distraction Marketing: Sex, Scandal, and Sydney SweeneyAmerican Eagle’s ad with Sydney Sweeney sent their stock flying, their mentions surging, and the internet into meltdown. But was the controversy part of the plan? In this episode, we break down how brands are using distraction and deliberate outrage to win the attention economy. From Gwyneth Paltrow being hired as crisis cover after a Kiss Cam catastrophe, to Donald Trump’s strategic smoke bombs to bury headlines he doesn’t like, we explore how controversy converts—and when it backfires. Plus, a surprising look at how AI adoption is following the same curve as e-commerce, and what it means for marketers.All that, and a few hot takes from the TikTok comments section. Spoiler: Colbert vs. Rogan isn't the fight you think it is.
In this electrifying episode, we unpack three stories shaking the world right now: Astronomer CEO Andy Byron's explosive Kiss Cam scandal at a Coldplay concert—is his career truly over, or can scandals this massive become epic comebacks?We then dive into OpenAI's game-changing ChatGPT agent, promising everyone a $38,000/year personal assistant for less than your weekly coffee spend.Finally, we dissect CBS's cancellation of Stephen Colbert—did politics, economics, or digital disruption drive this shocking move? Tune in as we debate scandal survival, AI taking your jobs, and mainstream media’s slow demise.
In this episode of BRANDED Weekly, we break down the brand moves (and misfires) dominating headlines:– Grok’s AI glitch: What happens when your chatbot forgets the filter?– Nvidia’s China play: Smart diplomacy or dangerous double game?– Amazon’s 4-day Prime Day: A flex or a flop?– KFC’s rebrand: Why the Colonel’s now obsessed.– Superman x Roku: Movie marketing meets voice AI.– Sprite’s spicy stunt: Burn your mouth, boost your brand.
The biggest brand moves – July 4–11, 2025Amazon expands Prime Day to four days, but do longer sales lose their punch? Sephora offers free Lyft rides to stores, Coca-Cola brings back “Share a Coke” with a Star Wars twist, and Ben’s Original tries to move on from Uncle Ben.Plus, TikTok Shop crosses $1B in US sales, Boeing tries to fix its image, and Wall Street sends mixed signals on ad budgets.Also, don’t forget: National Nude Day is coming (Tom might not be dressed for next week’s episode)
Nike’s back to its roots. Unilever just paid $1.5B for a soap brand. Cloudflare declared war on AI. Oh, and Pamela Anderson is suddenly a branding icon again.This week, Ben Kaplan and Tom Cain unpack the smartest (and strangest) marketing moves across the globe:Nike ditches lifestyle for core athleticismDr. Squatch and the billion-dollar soap gameCloudflare vs. AI crawlers — is the internet changing?Sainsbury’s market share surpriseCelebrity endorsements vs real influenceTesla’s fully driverless deliveryNASA streams on NetflixAnd the rise of an AI-generated rock band?Smart takes. Big brands. No fluff.
This week on BRANDED Weekly, Ben Kaplan and Tom Cain dissect the marketing strategies hidden in world news, tech headlines, and viral campaigns. Why did Iran give advance notice before launching missiles? Is Meta’s $100M talent grab a turning point in the AI arms race? Why did job site giants like CareerBuilder collapse? Plus, we debate scratch-and-sniff armpits as a marketing tool, the fall of PewDiePie, and the future of AI in law. And yes, the Liver King might’ve tried to fight Joe Rogan.
In this episode of BRANDED, Ben Kaplan and Tom Cain dive into the biggest business and culture stories of the week, blending serious insight with sharp wit. They discuss Meta's aggressive push to poach OpenAI talent with $100M offers, the Trump family launching a gold-plated smartphone and mobile network, and why Airbus is feeling confident while Boeing flounders. Plus, they explore the impact of rising tariffs on Hasbro’s workforce and Elon Musk’s relentless AI spending spree. As always, the show ties in viral holidays, major birthdays, and whether Tom would board a pilotless plane.
In this episode, Tom and Ben unpack the branding implications behind this week’s biggest business headlines. They start with Apple’s latest developer conference and whether the company is still seen as an innovation leader or has shifted into incrementalism. They also discuss a quirky new hold-music feature that Tom is excited about, and how Apple’s brand promise of “things just work” creates high stakes when launching new products.They then shift to the protests in LA, examining how Trump’s political maneuvers reframe the Democratic brand—and whether brands should speak up or stay silent in politically charged moments. The conversation moves into the Musk–Trump fallout, including stock crashes, retaliation threats, and what it means for Tesla’s brand and Elon’s decision-making.Next, they dig into Mondelez's lawsuit against Aldi for Oreo copycats, highlighting how brand confusion can spark legal battles. From there, they analyze Warner Bros. Discovery’s decision to spin off streaming and cable units, the larger trend of strategic brand separation, and what it means for the media landscape.The episode closes with insights on global layoffs, the rise of the “AI economy,” how brands should handle internal messaging during cutbacks, and Alibaba’s new AI-driven virtual try-on feature—what it signals for fashion, e-commerce, and marketing creativity.
Welcome to the new era of BRANDED. In this refreshed format, Ben Kaplan and Tom Cain team up weekly to break down the biggest stories in branding, marketing, tech, and business—with sharp takes, bold questions, and zero fluff.In this episode:Hailey Bieber sells her skincare brand for $1B—how attention became the most valuable currencyMeta signs a nuclear deal to power AI—literallyApple tries to reinvent itself with a major UI overhaul—but is it still innovative?Tesla’s global sales slump—what’s really going wrongSalesforce targets data dominance with a new acquisitionPlus: How generative AI is changing the job market and what it means for creators, marketers, and brands
In this episode of Branded, Ben Kaplan sits down with Bridget Evans, the Global Head of Business Marketing at Spotify, to unpack the platform’s growing role as a multimedia advertising powerhouse. Bridget breaks down Spotify’s evolution from a primarily audio-based brand into a dynamic player in video advertising and podcast monetization.They explore:Spotify’s strategic pivot to include more video-first experiences, including video podcasts, music videos, and lyric videos.The award-winning “Spreadbeats” B2B campaign that turned Excel spreadsheets into media channels to reach media buyers in unexpected ways.How Spotify is supporting mid-tier and micro-podcasters through the Spotify Partner Program and new monetization tools.The balance between owned/licensed content and supporting a broader creator economy.Why podcasting fosters deep engagement and trust, making it a unique advertising channel with powerful reach.The future of AI in audio, from content discovery to personalized playlists and DJ experiences.Bridget’s thoughts on data-driven marketing, brand storytelling, and why creative opportunities on Spotify are more expansive than ever.Plus, Bridget shares the best career advice she ever got from Gary Vaynerchuk: “Don’t focus on being the first—focus on being the best or the most creative.”
In this episode, we sit down with Meghann McNally, Chief Marketing Officer at Wrench Group, to explore how she’s transforming the home services industry through predictive analytics, local brand empowerment, and a bold growth mindset. From leading digital disruption in traditionally offline sectors to integrating marketing with data science, Meghann shares her approach to building trust, scaling rapidly, and avoiding “one-size-fits-all” marketing traps.Whether you're scaling a brand or trying to outpace competitors, this episode is packed with actionable insights on how to lead with both heart and hard numbers.
Rand Fishkin—founder of Moz, cofounder of SparkToro, and now leading indie game studio Snackbar—joins us to talk about what it really takes to build a brand people care about. From disrupting the SEO world to rethinking audience research, Rand shares how transparency, community, and a bit of rebellion have shaped every step of his journey. We dig into why most marketers get audience targeting wrong, how SparkToro is fixing it, and what launching a video game has in common with startup life. Plus, Rand opens up about burnout, honesty in branding, and why Lost and Founder struck a nerve with so many entrepreneurs.If you're in marketing, startups, or just like hearing from someone who tells it like it is—this one’s for you.
In this episode of Branded, Ben Kaplan speaks with Jennie Platt, the Chief Marketing Officer of TD Bank US. With a career spanning American Express, Citi, and now TD, Jennie shares her unique perspective on how large financial institutions can remain genuinely connected with their customers.She dives into TD's Unexpectedly Human brand promise, explaining how it’s more than just a tagline, it’s a company-wide commitment to understanding and anticipating customer needs. Jennie discusses the power of data-driven marketing, why personalization matters more than ever, and how TD is blending digital innovation with old-school human touch to redefine banking experiences.From dog-friendly ATMs to real-time data insights, Jennie reveals the strategies behind TD's growth and how they're staying ahead in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. Whether you’re in marketing, finance, or just curious about how big brands build real connections, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.
How do you scale a beloved burger brand without losing the heart that made it special?In this episode of Branded, host Ben Kaplan speaks with Chris Dull, President and CEO of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. Chris opens up about the balancing act of fast growth and genuine hospitality—sharing how Freddy’s has expanded into 37 states, reimagined its digital experience, and stayed laser-focused on franchisee success.From caramelized steakburgers to post-pandemic innovation, this conversation dives into the power of brand consistency, listening to your guests, and creating “one-of-a-kind moments” in everyday life.If you’re in branding, franchising, or just trying to grow something the right way—don’t miss this one.
How does a global giant like IKEA stay affordable, sustainable, and deeply personal—all at once? In this episode of Branded, host Ben Kaplan sits down with Belen Frau, a senior global leader at IKEA who’s helped shape the brand from the inside out. With over 20 years at the company, Belen shares how IKEA's democratic design philosophy drives everything from flat-packs to climate impact. From launching secondhand platforms to redefining what it means to be “for the many,” this is a masterclass in brand purpose, strategy, and resilience.
What does it take to make a 150-year-old bank feel like a startup?In this episode of Branded, host Ben Kaplan talks with Shruti Patel, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer for Business Banking at US Bank, about reinventing customer experience in one of the most regulated industries on the planet.From AI-powered tools to embedded financial products, Shruti shares how US Bank is transforming the way it serves small businesses—while still staying grounded in trust, compliance, and community. It’s a conversation about balancing innovation with responsibility, and how big banks can stay nimble in a FinTech-first world.
What do you ask a man who’s helped shape the future of both education and technology?In this episode of Branded, host Ben Kaplan sits down with John Hennessy—former President of Stanford University and current Chairman of Alphabet (yes, the Google one)—for a rare conversation about leadership, innovation, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.From founding tech companies to guiding the next generation of Silicon Valley leaders, Hennessy shares what separates good ideas from great ones, why humility beats hype, and how to stay grounded when you're building for the stratosphere.This isn’t just a conversation about tech. It’s about legacy.