Between 2 Brands Podcast

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!

If it’s Friday, then you know it’s time for Ep. 39 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! This week, Bill talks about managing stress as a solopreneur before welcoming Danny Henderson of C&C Marketing. During their discussion, they discuss rebounding from losing a significant client, learning to go it on your own after being part of a family business, and why Whataburger is better than any fast-food the left coast has to offer. 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 the first Friday of October which means it’s time for a farm-fresh episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares his thoughts on death of the ban on noncompete clauses and why companies need to start viewing them differently. Then, Bill is joined by the Promo CMO himself, RJ Hagel, where they talk about values in business and the merits of smoking meat for therapy. After that, Bill asks RJ “Five Easy Questions” where they delve deep into industry marketing – you don’t want to miss this one! A HUGE thanks to our friends over at PPAI for sponsoring this fine broadcast. 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 Friday and time for a very special and fun episode (37 if you’re keeping score at home) of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week Bill shares his thoughts about a huge lawsuit in the branded merchandise industry and the potential impact it has for service providers moving forward. After that bit of news, Bill welcomes his son, Mitch Petrie from RadioAlabama, to talk about what it means for an organization when there’s a sudden and unexpected change in leadership before Bill asks Mitch “Five Easy Questions” about building a brand, selling to different generations, and his transition from college student to a working man. 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, and 5-Star and A+ service, you know you can BEL Promo that!

You KNOW it’s Friday when a hot, fresh, and made to order episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast drops. To kick off the show your host, Bill Petrie, talks about the retirement announcement of Tim Andrews from ASI and the legacy he leaves behind. After that, Bill is joined by a returning guest, Brittany Frase, now from MadeToOrder. During their banter, they discuss using AI in meetings and at tradeshows before Bill asks her, “Five Easy Questions” about her transition back to the distributor side, advice she would give anyone seeking to make a job change, and why the Houston Texans should lean into their brand of losing. You really don’t want to miss this episode! 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!

Heck yes, it’s Friday and time for Ep. 35 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie! At the top of the show, Bill talks about the BLISTERING start of the branded merchandise “silly season” including people on the move, what it means, and reverberations throughout the industry. After that, Bill welcomes Jason Nokes from PromoPulse where they talk about the need for better representation throughout the industry for business service providers and then launch into “Five Easy Questions.” Oh, and there just might be a surprise “Rapid Fire” at the end of the podcast. Okay, there IS one and you don’t want to miss it. 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 Friday and time for an international edition (Ep. 34) of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie delivered piping hot out of the broadcasting oven just for you! To kick things off, Bill talks about the need for better education using a really dumb post in the Promotional Products Pros Facebook group. Once that bit of complaining is out of the way, Bill welcomes Robert Williams all the way from Australia to the podcast where they talk about the cultural differences in the use of AI, the importance of collaboration over competition, and what being a volunteer firefighter has taught him about business. A HUGE thanks to the good strongs over at Seven Sourcing. When you're ready to elevate yourself from just a "promotional products distributor" to a true partner who delivers exactly what your clients crave – unique, custom-branded merchandise designed specifically for them – reach out to Russ and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com.

If it’s the Friday before a long Labor Day weekend, then you know it’s time to drop Ep. 33 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week, Bill talks about the 2025 PPAI board slate and shares what he feels the board might be missing. After that, he welcomes Jessica Gibbons Rauch from PPAI where they talk about the shifting needs of education in the promotional products industry before Bill asks Jessica the questions most are afraid to ask, getting to the real truth during a lightning session of “Five Easy Questions.” You don’t want to sleep on this. HUGE thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this platinum-level broadcast. When you’re looking for the lowest minimums, deepest inventory, 5-star and A+ service – you know you can BEL Promo that!

Served up hot and fresh just for you, it's Ep. 32 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. To kick off the show, Bill shares some very candid professional and personal thoughts about the retirement of HALO CEO, Marc Simon. Soon thereafter, Bill welcomes the CEO of eXtendTech, Dale Denham. Before launching into “Five Easy Questions,” they talk about what growth – and success – looks like for solopreneurs. Speaking of the “Five Easy Questions,” you really don’t want to miss out on the candid conversation about his time at PPAI, AI in promo, twin talk, and, just maybe, a surprise “rapid fire.” A BIG thanks to our friends at CoasterStone for sponsoring. 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 we are already half-way through August, so why not drop a brand-new episode of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill shares a disappointing encounter with someone in the Promotional Products Professionals Facebook group and why we all need to have more grace with companies and individuals. Soon thereafter, Bill is joined by Eric Granata from PromoPilot where they discuss Bill’s bizarre fascination with weird snack food collabs and someone who truly inspired Bill at a very young age before Eric is subjected to “Five Easy Questions.” The conversation takes many twists and turns, which makes for one fun, unusual, and enlightening podcast. A GIANT thanks to our pals over at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast! 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.

If it’s Friday, then you know that means a white-hot episode of the Between 2 Brands #podccast with your host, Bill Petrie. For episode 30, we have something very special after Bill shares the ways branded merchandise pros have dramatically grown their businesses in the past three years. That something special? The dramatic return of Kirby Hasseman to dissect and discuss the ASI Top 40. The classics truly never go out of style. A HUGE thanks to our friends over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this reunion podcast. For over 90 years of family ownership, SHEPENCO has defined stability by working with every distributor to ensure that every project is a home run. Start your next project today by visiting shepenco.com!

It’s the first Friday of August which means it’s time to drop Ep. 29 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast! This week your host, Bill Petrie, shares a recent study showing that consumers are becoming increasingly negative toward the use of AI in marketing, his thoughts on what it means, and how to strike the right balance. After that bit of human authenticity, Bill welcomes the Senior Vice President at ASI, Michele Bell to the podcast where they discuss some of the most provocative stats from the just-released ASI “State of the Industry” report before Bill grills her like a cheese sandwich by subjecting her to “Five Easy Questions.” Trust us: come for the fire drill, stay for the snark. A BIG Thanks to the good strongs over at Warwick for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast. As a fifth-generation family owned and operated business, Warwick has over 25,000 SKUs including folders, calendars, signage, cards, and stunning packaging – 99% of which are made in the USA. When you’re ready to level up what you offer to clients, visit WarwickPublishing.com.

That’s right, it’s Friday and time for Ep. 28 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! This week, Bill gives a bit of a recap of the recent Promocations event in Los Cabos, Mexico, before welcoming Liza Sachs, the CRO at Kaeser & Blair, to the podcast. Before getting to the “Five Easy Questions,” they talk about some of the people they’ve learned from during their respective careers and the things in life they didn’t know were a big deal…until they WERE a big deal. Some really great insights you won’t want to miss! A BIG thanks to our pals at Seven Sourcing for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When your clients are looking for custom and bespoke merchandise that turns brands into something iconic, reach out to Russ Mogell and his team at sales@sevensourcing.com!

Served up hot and fresh just for you, it's Ep. 27 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with Bill Petrie. This week, Bill shares some branded merch industry quick hits before welcoming the Master of the Multi-Line, Mike Eaton to the show. They discuss how the industry needs to change and what the true key to success in promo is. After that, Bill asks Mike “Five Easy Questions” where Bill digs deep on Mike’s comedy dream and what it takes to find success. You really don’t want to miss this fantastic, slightly NSFW, episode! Big thanks to our pals over at CoasterStone for sponsoring. 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!

You know Friday morning is when we drop a piping hot and oven-fresh episode of the Between 2 Brands podcast – in this case, Ep. 26! This week Bill Petrie shares what he’s learned from the milestones hit by both brandivate and Promocations this week. After that, Bill welcomes Jeff Franklin from Headwear USA to the show where they discuss how to solve the oversaturation of shows in the promotional products industry before Jeff is subjected to “Five Easy Questions.” You really don’t want to miss this episode! A HUGE thanks to our pals over at SHEPENCO for sponsoring this platinum-level podcast. For over 90 years – and four generations – SHEPENCO has defined stability in the branded merchandise space. Head over to shepenco.com to start your next project today!

It’s Friday AND Independence Day so you know there will be fireworks galore on Ep. 25 of the Between 2 Brand Podcast! This week your host, Bill Petrie, shares some thoughts on what being an American means to him before welcoming the one, the only, Tennessee Alex Moltz to the podcast. In a reversal of format, Alex asks Bill “Three Easy Questions” before Bill regains control and shoots some Roman Candle-style questions right back at him. When we say the Fourth of July episode will bring fireworks, we aren’t kidding around! A BIG thanks to our friends over at symglass for sponsoring this fine broadcast. These game-changing glasses look and feel like glass, but are truly unbreakable. Made out of 100% sustainable materials right here in the USA, they are the luxe drinkware your client’s demand. Check out the entire line at starline.com/products/Brands/Symglass today!

It’s Friday and absolutely time for Ep. 24 of the Between 2 Brands #podcast with your host, Bill Petrie! Today Bill shares the results about a marketing survey regarding both the uses and efficacy of AI in marketing before welcoming his guest, Danny Rosin from Brand Fuel! The two marketing mavens talk about presentation skills salespeople can immediately employ to help them close more business. Afterwards, Bill asks Danny “Five Easy Questions” and they get a bit deep. There are some really good learnings here about balancing life, giving back, and music that moves. Heck, there might even be a surprise round of “Rapid Fire!” A BIG thanks to our friends over at BEL Promo for sponsoring this fine broadcast. When you’re looking for low minimums, deep inventory, and 2-day production on just about every product, you know you can BEL Promo that! Visit them at belpromo.com!