Authentic Influence

On today's episode of Authentic Influence, Adam Conner is joined by Melanie Chase, the Chief Marketing Officer of Next Insurance. Next Insurance is an online insurance provider for small businesses and contractors. This is also Melanie's first ever podcast!

Today, you'll learn:

Why Melanie joined Next after years in CPG and tech; how Next's offering makes it similar to a more stereotypical consumer brand

COVID's undeniable inordinate impact on small business and entrepreneurs; what they'll learn the most from this crisis

How Next is contributing to the community; in particular, their Built by Business campaign, which repurposed funds from big agencies to stand up small business

How Next captures stories of its policy holders, and leverages them in its messaging

As always, advice to build a more authentic brand

Be sure to stay subscribed for more content and thought leadership like this, and do please leave a rating and review on iTunes if you like what you hear: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authentic-influence/id1440872576.

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn page to catch all of our content there: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/authentic-influence-podcast/.

Reach out to Adam Conner on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjconner/ or via email at [email protected] with suggestions for guests, content, or general interest/feedback.

Find more at https://www.podcast.vivoom.co/.

Enjoy!

Music: "Streetview" by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA 4.0)

On today's episode of Authentic Influence, Adam Conner is joined by Vanessa Meyers, Senior Vice President of Growth at Sun Basket. Sun Basket is a San Francisco-based subscription meal delivery service that ships members fresh organic and sustainable ingredients and recipes every month, allowing them to cook their own meals.

Today, you'll learn:

What Sun Basket is; what about food drew Vanessa in to the brand after working across consulting, hospitality, and transportation

The importance of "service moments" to a brand; how Sun Basket taps into them; what has changed during COVID

How Sun Basket leverages consumer stories, including a particular testimonial of interest

As always, advice on how to build a more authentic brand

Be sure to stay subscribed for more content and thought leadership like this, and do please leave a rating and review on iTunes if you like what you hear: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authentic-influence/id1440872576.

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn page to catch all of our content there: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/authentic-influence-podcast/.

Reach out to Adam Conner on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjconner/ or via email at [email protected] with suggestions for guests, content, or general interest/feedback.

Find more at https://www.podcast.vivoom.co/.

Enjoy!

Music: "Streetview" by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA 4.0)

On today's episode of Authentic Influence, Adam Conner is joined by Kenzie Hagan, the VP of Growth at VINEBOX and Usual Wines. VINEBOX and Usual Wines, which are linked brands, offer wine sampler and by-the-glass subscriptions.

Today, you'll learn:

What about wine, this business model, and growth as a function is of particular interest to Kenzie

Ways in which the pair of brands listen to consumers (including the increasing importance of SMS. read: a wine hotline!) and share stories of their subscribers

Given recent unrest and protests, the ways in which the brands are acting, not just speaking -- including the specific community contributions they're making (for example, to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund)

Advice on how to make more authentic connections with your consumers

You, too, can contribute to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund: https://www.naacpldf.org/support/.

Be sure to stay subscribed for more content and thought leadership like this, and do please leave a rating and review on iTunes if you like what you hear: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authentic-influence/id1440872576.

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn page to catch all of our content there: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/authentic-influence-podcast/.

Reach out to Adam Conner on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjconner/ or via email at [email protected] with suggestions for guests, content, or general interest/feedback.

Find more at https://www.podcast.vivoom.co/.

Enjoy!

Music: "Streetview" by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA 4.0)

On today's episode of Authentic Influence, Adam Conner is joined by Lawrence Scotland, Senior Vice President of Digital and Brand Marketing at Performance Kitchen. Performance Kitchen is a Vancouver-based nutritious frozen prepared meals brand focused on powering active lives inspired by the Mediterranean diet.

Today, you'll learn:

Lawrence's journey to Performance Kitchen; how the brand evolved based on consumer insights around health

What is important to Lawrence when finding the right career move; specifically, the importance and priority of purpose as a part of that search; how Lawrence brings purpose to the brand

Performance Kitchen's leveraging of high-profile ambassadors; how star power is incorporated into the broader message

Alongside ambassadors, the ways in which the stories of "the average Joe" is layered into the overall marketing mix

As always, advice on how to build a more authentic brand

Be sure to stay subscribed for more content and thought leadership like this, and do please leave a rating and review on iTunes if you like what you hear: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authentic-influence/id1440872576.

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn page to catch all of our content there: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/authentic-influence-podcast/.

Reach out to Adam Conner on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjconner/ or via email at [email protected] with suggestions for guests, content, or general interest/feedback.

Find more at https://www.podcast.vivoom.co/.

Enjoy!

Music: "Streetview" by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA 4.0)

On today's episode of Authentic Influence, Adam Conner is joined by Jill Gregory, the Chief Marketing Officer of NASCAR. NASCAR, or The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, is America's foremost auto racing sanctioning body. It is also a sport of which this podcast's host is a lifelong fan. This interview was recorded on Thursday, June 11, the day after NASCAR banned the Confederate flag at its events and properties.

Today, you'll learn:

How Jill came to NASCAR; how she got to know the sport

How NASCAR provides an unmatched experience to fans through access, both physically and digitally, to the sport and its talent -- even during a pandemic

The ways in which NASCAR fans are mobilized, and the ways in which the story is told from their perspectives (including a cool initiative called 100k Cameras)

The banning of the Confederate flag; the issues for which NASCAR stands; Jill's hopes for the future of fans' interactions with the sport

As always, advice on how to build a more authentic brand

Read NASCAR's full statement on the Confederate flag ban here: https://www.nascar.com/news-media/2020/06/10/nascar-statement-on-confederate-flag/.

Be sure to stay subscribed for more content and thought leadership like this, and do please leave a rating and review on iTunes if you like what you hear: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authentic-influence/id1440872576.

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn page to catch all of our content there: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/authentic-influence-podcast/.

Reach out to Adam Conner on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjconner/ or via email at [email protected] with suggestions for guests, content, or general interest/feedback.

Find more at https://www.podcast.vivoom.co/.

Enjoy!

Music: "Streetview" by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA 4.0)

On today's episode of Authentic Influence, Adam Conner is joined by Stuart Foster for a discussion on how service-based industries will need to rewrite their playbooks as the world reopens. Stuart was most recently Chief Marketing Officer of Topgolf, and previously spent years in the marketing leadership team at Hilton.

Today, you'll learn:

Stuart's thoughts on current marketing playbooks; why he believes they should be thrown out

The years of marketing education currently being absorbed in weeks and months of time; the interim playbooks which service-based industries (travel, hospitality, restaurants, entertainment) will need to craft as they are forced to adapt to new models and, through reopening, a limited or staggered ability to serve its consumers

The chapters currently being written which will stick around after the current context is past, and after nationwide re-openings are completed

Brands which are (and are not) treating consumers right, right now

Be sure to stay subscribed for more content and thought leadership like this, and do please leave a rating and review on iTunes if you like what you hear: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authentic-influence/id1440872576.

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn page to catch all of our content there: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/authentic-influence-podcast/.

Reach out to Adam Conner on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjconner/ or via email at [email protected] with suggestions for guests, content, or general interest/feedback.

Find more at https://www.podcast.vivoom.co/.

Enjoy!

Music: "Streetview" by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA 4.0)

On today's episode of Authentic Influence, Adam Conner is joined by Carl Daikeler, the CEO and Co-Founder of Beachbody. Beachbody is a platform offering home workout videos and nutrition guides.

Today, you'll learn:

Why Carl founded Beachbody (which includes the admission that he, himself, isn't a fitness guy)

The growing importance of fitness at home in the current context (and how it's been reflected in Beachbody's growth)

Standout stories of Beachbody consumers, plus how these individual stories are leveraged by the brand

The balance between mega-influencers and regular people when it comes to being truly influential. In particular, how: "An influencer with millions of followers is not going to be nearly as influential as the person who's got 50, but has a real relationship with them."

The outlook for Beachbody going forward

As always, advice on how to build a more authentic brand: specifically, how it's okay to be flawed

Be sure to stay subscribed for more content and thought leadership like this, and do please leave a rating and review on iTunes if you like what you hear: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authentic-influence/id1440872576.

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn page to catch all of our content there: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/authentic-influence-podcast/.

Reach out to Adam Conner on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjconner/ or via email at [email protected] with suggestions for guests, content, or general interest/feedback.

Find more at https://www.podcast.vivoom.co/.

Enjoy!

Music: "Streetview" by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA 4.0)

On today's episode of Authentic Influence, Adam Conner is joined by Ryan Boyko, the Founder & CEO of Embark. Embark offers dog DNA testing services to consumers, breeders, and veterinarians, and strives to be the world leader in dog genetics.

Today, you'll learn:

Why Ryan founded Embark; how it started with a passion for data and how a consumer-facing pet health brand was a by-product of that

The stories of dog owners for whom Embark was a literal life-saver; how Embark takes advantage of these stories

How Embark is also striving to stem the flow of dogs to shelters

As always, advice on how to build a better brand

Be sure to stay subscribed for more content and thought leadership like this, and do please leave a rating and review on iTunes if you like what you hear: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authentic-influence/id1440872576.

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn page to catch all of our content there: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/authentic-influence-podcast/.

Reach out to Adam Conner on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjconner/ or via email at [email protected] with suggestions for guests, content, or general interest/feedback.

Find more at https://www.podcast.vivoom.co/.

Enjoy!

Music: "Streetview" by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA 4.0)

On today's episode of Authentic Influence, Adam Conner is joined by Marissa Jarratt, the Chief Marketing Officer of 7-Eleven. With a total of 70,000 locations worldwide, 7-Eleven is the world's largest convenience brand.

Today, you'll learn:

How 7-Eleven's locations are propping up neighborhoods during quarantine

The "mental second gear" that kicks in when thinking about 7-Eleven; the memories people associate with the brand. (Mine is getting ice as part of my yearly summer vacation -- did you know 7-Eleven started as an ice house?) Plus how that type of story drew Marissa in to join the brand

What has surprised and delighted Marissa about 7-Eleven, since joining; how she defines brand authenticity (a passion point of hers)

How to "activate awesome": stories about 7-Eleven that truly stand out, including a particular one about a remarkable franchise owner named Raman

As always, advice on how to build a better, more authentic brand

Read more about Raman here: https://www.7-eleven.com/blog/7-eleven-heroes/raman-saini.

Be sure to stay subscribed for more content and thought leadership like this, and do please leave a rating and review on iTunes if you like what you hear: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authentic-influence/id1440872576.

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn page to catch all of our content there: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/authentic-influence-podcast/.

Reach out to Adam Conner on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjconner/ or via email at [email protected] with suggestions for guests, content, or general interest/feedback.

Find more at https://www.podcast.vivoom.co/.

Enjoy!

Music: "Streetview" by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA 4.0)

On today's episode of Authentic Influence, Adam Conner is joined by Mauria Finley, the Founder & CEO of Allume. Allume is a personal styling and fashion service helping women feel more confident and their best.

Today, you'll learn:

Why Mauria founded Allume; how folks interact with a styling service right now given most folks aren't out and about

How a high level of service develops loyalty beyond a simple string of transactions; the extent to which it will cement brands in consumers' minds going forward

Notable stories about Allume consumers; Mauria's thoughts about not wanting to crowd consumer voice with branding. Is there a middle ground?

As always, advice to build a more authentic brand

Be sure to stay subscribed for more content and thought leadership like this, and do please leave a rating and review on iTunes if you like what you hear: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/authentic-influence/id1440872576.

Be sure to follow our LinkedIn page to catch all of our content there: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/authentic-influence-podcast/.

Reach out to Adam Conner on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjconner/ or via email at [email protected] with suggestions for guests, content, or general interest/feedback.

Find more at https://www.podcast.vivoom.co/.

Enjoy!

Music: "Streetview" by Jahzzar is licensed under a Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA 4.0)