A few weeks ago the Soul & Science podcast won three Signal Awards. And two of those awards were for this episode featuring Andy Pearson, the VP of Creative at the water brand Liquid Death that we first aired last year.

Shoestring marketing budgets are common at startups and create an environment of innovation. Andy jokes he was given a $0 initial ad budget to launch. He knew the name, along with the arresting skull-festooned cans, would have to do most of the talking. When the marketing money began to flow, Liquid Death bought Tony Hawk’s blood and his soul (and maybe yours) online. In this episode, Pearson, an ultra-marathoner and ad agency veteran, explains his process, where he takes a favorite playlist, and pen to paper to grasp an idea, which grow more on creativity than money.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• If your 6th grade teacher says advertising is evil, it must be good.
• To trust your own sensibilities to know the right answer.
• The more you do, the more confident you’ll feel.
• A brand is a character, the protagonist of your business.
• Everybody takes everything so seriously, the moment you don't, you stand out.

Brought to you by Mekanism.