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© 2025 Born to License
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Unlock the secrets of the $350 billion licensing industry with David Born, CEO of Born Licensing & Born to License. Whether you’re a business owner, brand enthusiast, or curious about how your favorite characters and brands make their way onto products, this podcast is your ultimate guide to the world of licensing.
Join David as he shares insider stories, practical tips, and real-world examples, helping you navigate the exciting intersection of creativity, commerce, and collaboration. From product development to pitching, licensing terminology to success stories—get ready to discover the untapped potential of this dynamic industry.
New episodes every two weeks.
31 Episodes
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Sometimes one childhood moment can shape an entire career. For Annabel Rochfort, it began with a single trip to Disneyland Paris — a spark that ignited a lifelong passion for bringing brands to life. In this Born to License episode trailer, Annabel shares the emotional story of how her love for theme parks evolved into a 20-year career leading licensing and location-based entertainment for some of the world’s most iconic brands — including Warner Bros., Cartoon Network, and Ferrari. Get rea...
Think you can launch licensed products in 2 months? Think again. Join product development expert Jenna as she reveals why licensed products take 9-18 months from concept to shelf. With nearly two decades of experience from Disney to Cartoon Network, Jenna breaks down the three-stage approval process that every licensee must navigate. In this episode, discover: - The three approval stages that make or break products - Why mixing Ben 10 with Shrek's Donkey was a disaster - The 10-working-day ...
Get an exclusive preview of our conversation with product development expert Jenna, who's handled 1000+ submissions at once. Discover why your 2-month timeline is impossible and what really happens behind the scenes of every licensed product. In this preview: ✓ The Ben 10 riding Donkey disaster ✓ Why approvals reset every 10 days ✓ The first Disney pin that changed everything Full episode reveals: Complete approval process, Chinese New Year delays, and the Wicked mistake b...
Think licensing is just about paying royalties? Think again. David Schnider, licensing attorney at Nolan Heimann, reveals the legal minefields hidden in every licensing contract. From his journey licensing Top Gun costumes to negotiating Disney deals, David exposes the costly mistakes that can destroy licensing partnerships before they begin. In this episode, learn: - The three financial elements that make or break deals - Why "net sales" definitions can cost you thousands - Transfer fees t...
Preview our conversation with David Schnider, the licensing attorney who's seen it all. From Top Gun's million-dollar success to Disney audit disasters, discover the legal landmines hiding in every licensing contract. In this preview: ✓ The $100,000 transfer fee surprise ✓ Why selling before approval costs everything ✓ The "inspired by" career killer Full episode reveals: Complete contract breakdown, audit survival tactics, and Steamboat Willie trademark secrets! 🔔 Subscribe for the full c...
What will licensing look like in 2035? Sharon Weisman has the answers. As US CEO of Portman Street and former executive at License Global and Licensing International, Sharon reveals how AI, dynamic royalty structures, and responsive IP ecosystems will revolutionize our industry. From virtual influencers making $2.6M monthly to AI clones that could teach licensing, this conversation explores the dramatic shifts ahead. In this episode, discover: Why fixed royalties will become dynamic and perfo...
Get an exclusive preview of Sharon Weisman's bold predictions for licensing's future. From AI that eliminates guesswork to virtual influencers earning millions, discover why everything you know about licensing is about to change dramatically. In this preview: ✓ Dynamic royalties that adjust to performance ✓ Why Gen Alpha doesn't know what they want ✓ The $100B wellness opportunity Full episode reveals: AI clones, secondary market royalties, and the end of logo slapping! 🔔 Su...
What happens when a cosplayer with 2M followers decides to create premium licensed fashion? Meet Jasmine and Vincent, the couple behind Fira x Wear who transformed a pandemic park conversation into a thriving fashion brand. From their first My Hero Academia collection to navigating anime approvals, they reveal what it really takes to build a premium licensed fashion brand from scratch. In this episode, discover: Why they refused to "logo slap" despite industry pressureThe approval process sur...
Preview the incredible journey of Jasmine (2M+ followers) and Vincent, who turned a pandemic idea into Fira x Wear - a premium licensed fashion brand that sold out on launch. See how they navigated their first anime license and changed the game for fan fashion. In this preview: ✓ The pandemic park walk that started it all ✓ Why anime approvals almost broke them ✓ The "designer quality" review that changed everything Full episode reveals: Complete My Hero Academia journey, in...
The fan who became the voice of anime collaborations speaks out. Meet Caleb, the "Collab King" whose content on licensing and IP collaborations reaches millions. From predicting which anime partnerships will explode to calling out lazy logo slapping, he reveals what fans REALLY think about your licensing deals. In this episode, discover: Why limited editions matter more than brands thinkThe red flags that kill collaborations before launchHow secondary markets actually help your brandWhy Fan...
Get a first look at our conversation with Caleb, the content creator who's become the unofficial voice of anime collaborations. With millions of views dissecting every licensing deal, he knows exactly why fans love or hate your products. In this preview: ✓ The "stinkiest fanbase" story that went viral ✓ Why logo slapping is killing brands ✓ The secondary market truth brands fear Full episode reveals: How to get free products, why Carhartt needs anime, and the Beanie Baby w...
Preview Michelle Ahern's incredible story of managing The Wiggles at their absolute peak! From a newspaper ad to Madison Square Garden sellouts, discover what it's really like when EVERYONE wants your brand. In this preview: ✓ The "Call Mike" story that started it all ✓ Why they rejected every sugar deal ✓ Fan mail you won't believe Full episode reveals: Theme park negotiations, one-person approval marathons, and how to pitch today's hottest brands! 🔔 Subscribe for the fu...
McDonald's Monopoly. Peppa Pig yogurts. That's promotional licensing—and it's everywhere. Join David Born for an eye-opening conversation with Julia Kamoda from Hasbro, who manages promotional partnerships across 1900 brands including Monopoly, Peppa Pig, Transformers, and more. Discover how these short-term campaigns drive billions in sales and create cultural moments that traditional licensing can't touch. In this episode, you'll learn: - The difference between promotional and traditiona...
Get a first look at our conversation with Julia Kamoda from Hasbro! Preview how promotional licensing drives billions in sales through McDonald's Monopoly, world record Twister games, and unexpected partnerships like Peppa Pig pregnancy announcements. In this preview: ✓ Why promotions is different to traditional licensing ✓ The 28 billion impression campaign ✓ Managing 1900 brands globally Full episode reveals: Complete strategies, white space opportunities, and how to pitch Hasbro! 🔔 Subsc...
How does Funko predict the next pop culture obsession before it even happens? Join us for an exclusive conversation with Lucy Salisbury, who orchestrates one of the most complex licensing portfolios on the planet at Funko. With over 1000 active licenses spanning Disney, Warner Bros, anime, sports, and more, Lucy reveals the strategy behind pop culture's most successful merchandising empire. In this episode, you'll discover: - How Funko decides which of 1000+ licenses to pursue - The real ne...
Get an exclusive first look at our conversation with Lucy Salisbury from Funko! In this preview, discover how one company manages over 1000 licenses from Disney to anime, predicts the next Grogu phenomenon, and transforms pop culture into collectibles worth billions. Lucy reveals: ✓ The data behind choosing which products to make ✓ Why Funko says NO more than YES (despite 1000+ licenses) ✓ How sports collectibles became their surprise hit Full episode includes: Complete strategies, LoungeFly...
When most people think of licensing, they picture products on store shelves - t-shirts, toys, and collectibles. But some of the most powerful licensing opportunities don’t involve physical products at all. In this episode of Born to License, I take you inside the world of non-traditional licensing - where brands extend into advertising campaigns, theme parks, live events, and digital experiences. I’ll share the story of a creative collaboration between the Powerpuff Girls and Volkswagen, and ...
Signing a licensing deal is only the beginning. What happens next is the intricate and high-stakes journey of product development - where even the smallest details matter. In this episode of Born to License, I take you inside the process of how licensed products are actually brought to life, based on my time working with brands like Ben 10 and the Powerpuff Girls at Cartoon Network. From concept sketches to packaging approvals, I walk you through the many stages a product must go through befo...
When you think of licensing, it’s easy to focus on the end product—the t-shirts, toys, or snacks on shelves. But behind every licensed product is a licensor making strategic decisions about what deals move forward… and which ones don’t. In this episode of Born to License, I take you inside my experience as a licensor at Warner Bros., where I reviewed a raft of licensing proposals - from sparkling water with Looney Tunes branding to puffy dogs featuring Scooby-Doo. You’ll hear how licens...
Licensing Expo is the biggest event in the global licensing calendar - an unmissable opportunity for brands, licensees, and retailers to connect, discover new IP, and strike game-changing deals. In this special bonus episode of Born to License, I’m pressing pause on Season 1 to bring you everything you need to know about Licensing Expo 2025. Whether you’re attending for the first time or returning for your tenth, this episode will help you make the most of your time in Vegas. I’m joined by An...
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