Born to License

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 pressure
• The approval process surprises that nearly derailed their launch
• How 2 million followers helped launch without paid ads
• Why ethical manufacturing matters in licensed fashion
• The challenges of being business AND life partners
• How they sold out styles in their first collection
• Their transition from licensee to potential licensor

From custom hardware to ethical manufacturing, Jasmine and Vincent prove that fans deserve better than cheap licensed merch - and they're willing to pay for quality.

🎨 Follow Jasmine: @CutiepieSensei 👕 Shop Fira x Wear: https://firaxwear.com/.

🎙 Born to License – Hosted by David Born

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🔹 Join the Licensing Conversation: #BornToLicense #LicensingIndustry #BrandPartnerships #LearntoLicense

👉 Have a question about licensing? Send it in for our upcoming Q&A episode!

📩 Contact: [email protected]

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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, influencer marketing secrets, and their plans to become Licensors!

🔔 Subscribe for the full conversation 

⏰ Full episode: 10/20/2025

🎙 Born to License – Hosted by David Born

🔹 Sign up for Learn to License 

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🔹 Learn More about Born Licensing

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🔹 Join the Licensing Conversation: #BornToLicense #LicensingIndustry #BrandPartnerships #LearntoLicense

👉 Have a question about licensing? Send it in for our upcoming Q&A episode!

📩 Contact: [email protected]

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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 think
• The red flags that kill collaborations before launch
• How secondary markets actually help your brand
• Why Fantastic Four's licensing was genius (and sustainable)
• The $10 Old Navy shirt that beats $50 collabs
• How to get brands to send you products before launch
• Why overproduction is the new "Beanie Baby" killer

From getting leaked warehouse photos to opening a collectibles store, Caleb shares the fan perspective every licensing professional needs to hear.

🎯 Follow Caleb: @CalebXSwag

🎙 Born to License – Hosted by David Born

🔹 Sign up for Learn to License 

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🔹 Learn More about Born Licensing

🔹 Follow David on LinkedIn

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🔹 Check out thedavidborn.com

🔹 Join the Licensing Conversation: #BornToLicense #LicensingIndustry #BrandPartnerships #LearntoLicense

👉 Have a question about licensing? Send it in for our upcoming Q&A episode!

📩 Contact: [email protected]

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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 warning for today's brands!

🔔 Subscribe for the full conversation ⏰ Full episode: 10/13/2025

🎙 Born to License – Hosted by David Born

🔹 Sign up for Learn to License 

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🔹 Learn More about Born Licensing

🔹 Follow David on LinkedIn

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🔹 Check out thedavidborn.com

🔹 Join the Licensing Conversation: #BornToLicense #LicensingIndustry #BrandPartnerships #LearntoLicense

👉 Have a question about licensing? Send it in for our upcoming Q&A episode!

📩 Contact: [email protected]

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What's it like managing licensing for the world's hottest preschool brand?

Michelle Ahern shares her extraordinary journey from answering a newspaper ad ("Brand Manager Wanted - Call Mike") to managing licensing for The Wiggles at their global peak—55 US licensees, sold-out Madison Square Garden shows, and theme parks across multiple continents.

In this episode, discover:

- How to filter endless licensing requests when everyone wants your brand
- Why The Wiggles refused ALL confectionery deals (and still dominated)
- Managing approvals as a one-person licensing team
- The strategic partnerships that opened new markets
- Creating Wigglesworld theme parks from scratch
- Why the UK rejected what the US embraced
- Lessons for landing today's hottest licenses (Bluey, Peppa Pig)

From fan mail puzzles (yes, really) to negotiating with Six Flags about hot dogs, Michelle reveals what it truly takes to manage a global phenomenon while staying true to brand values.

📚 Want to work with hot properties? Listen to Michelle's advice for standing out 

🎙 Born to License – Hosted by David Born

🔹 Sign up for Learn to License 

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🔹 Join the Licensing Conversation: #BornToLicense #LicensingIndustry #BrandPartnerships #LearntoLicense

👉 Have a question about licensing? Send it in for our upcoming Q&A episode!

📩 Contact: [email protected]

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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 full conversation 
⏰ Full episode: 10/06/2025

🎙 Born to License – Hosted by David Born

🔹 Sign up for Learn to License 

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🔹 Learn More about Born Licensing

🔹 Follow David on LinkedIn

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🔹 Check out thedavidborn.com

🔹 Join the Licensing Conversation: #BornToLicense #LicensingIndustry #BrandPartnerships #LearntoLicense

👉 Have a question about licensing? Send it in for our upcoming Q&A episode!

📩 Contact: [email protected]

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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 traditional licensing
- How McDonald's Monopoly became a 20-year phenomenon
- Why board games are promotional gold (time, choice, consequence)
- The 28 billion impressions from Baby Evie's announcement
- How to break world records with Twister and Mentos
- White space opportunities: from swimming schools to pregnancy tests
- Why "free exposure" isn't a business model

From 3-month campaigns to global rollouts across 70 markets, Julia reveals the strategy behind promotions that actually work—and why 70-80% of pitches never happen.

💡 Ready to explore promotional licensing? Connect with Julia on LinkedIn 🎲 What brand collaboration would YOU love to see with Hasbro?

🎙 Born to License – Hosted by David Born

🔹 Sign up for Learn to License 

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🔹 Learn More about Born Licensing

🔹 Follow David on LinkedIn

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🔹 Check out thedavidborn.com

🔹 Join the Licensing Conversation: #BornToLicense #LicensingIndustry #BrandPartnerships #LearntoLicense

👉 Have a question about licensing? Send it in for our upcoming Q&A episode!

📩 Contact: [email protected]

🎧 Subscribe & Follow for new episodes on licensing and the business of IP!

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!

🔔 Subscribe for the full conversation
⏰ Full episode: 09/29/2025

🎙 Born to License – Hosted by David Born

🔹 Sign up for Learn to License 

🔹 Learn More about Born to License

🔹 Learn More about Born Licensing

🔹 Follow David on LinkedIn

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🔹 Check out thedavidborn.com

🔹 Join the Licensing Conversation: #BornToLicense #LicensingIndustry #BrandPartnerships #LearntoLicense

👉 Have a question about licensing? Send it in for our upcoming Q&A episode!

📩 Contact: [email protected]

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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 negotiations behind massive entertainment deals
-Why anime exploded from niche to mainstream (and what's next)
- How to break into licensing with zero experience
- The secret to managing Disney, DC, and Marvel simultaneously
- What makes a product sell out vs. sit on shelves

From predicting the next Grogu phenomenon to creating "geeky Gucci" with Loungefly, Lucy shares two decades of licensing wisdom that shaped brands from Ministry of Sound to Saban's Power Rangers.

Ready to understand the business behind your favorite collectibles? Hit subscribe for more insider licensing conversations!

#Funko #Licensing #PopCulture #BusinessStrategy #Disney #Collectibles

🎙 Born to License – Hosted by David Born

🔹 Sign up for Learn to License 

🔹 Learn More about Born to License

🔹 Learn More about Born Licensing

🔹 Follow David on LinkedIn

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🔹 Check out thedavidborn.com

🔹 Join the Licensing Conversation: #BornToLicense #LicensingIndustry #BrandPartnerships #LearntoLicense

👉 Have a question about licensing? Send it in for our upcoming Q&A episode!

📩 Contact: [email protected]

🎧 Subscribe & Follow for new episodes on licensing and the business of IP!

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 insights, licensing advice, and Lucy's favorite Funko of all time!

🔔 Subscribe now so you don't miss the full conversation
⏰ Full episode: 09/22/2025

#FunkoPodcast #Trailer #ComingSoon #BornToLicense #LucySalisbury

🎙 Born to License – Hosted by David Born

🔹 Sign up for Learn to License 

🔹 Learn More about Born to License

🔹 Learn More about Born Licensing

🔹 Follow David on LinkedIn

🔹 Follow David on Instagram

🔹 Check out thedavidborn.com

🔹 Join the Licensing Conversation: #BornToLicense #LicensingIndustry #BrandPartnerships #LearntoLicense

👉 Have a question about licensing? Send it in for our upcoming Q&A episode!

📩 Contact: [email protected]

🎧 Subscribe & Follow for new episodes on licensing and the business of IP!