In this Brand Retro episode, Mike Brevik interviews Bethany Wall of the Wall Street Property Group about real estate branding and the role a personal brand can play in starting and growing a company. Bethany shares how the business began and how branding helped them stand out—even in a category many creatives overlook. If you're building a company and want more confidence in your brand, this episode breaks down what helped them get started.

Highlights

• Sometimes, working with realtors is hard because it's a very different industry, and a lot of times, they follow each other. If you're a designer or a creative, you'll see that most realtors and most realty groups have the same recipe on how they look, how they feel, and how they interact with the public. - 0:38
• Most realtors don't have a brand for themselves. - 1:40
• How the process of Bethany's branding started. - 2:31 Is it important to have a brand logo, even for a small company? - 5:48
• Most designers are not excited to work with real estate companies since it doesn't excite them and they look the same in many ways. - 8:17
• Why is it important for Bethany to have a personal brand? - 9:36
• Brands are meant to evolve. - 10:50 What advice can Bethany give to somebody who's starting out on the branding process? - 12:14
• Make sure that the person you're hiring understands the end goal and what you're looking to do. - 13:13 Episode Resources
• Connect with Mike Brevik:
• http://www.cyberdogzmarketing.com/
• [email protected]

In this Brand Retro episode (Part 2), Mike continues the conversation with Craig Kausen—President of The Chuck Jones Gallery and Chuck Jones' grandson—about the Chuck Jones legacy and the work happening behind the scenes to keep it alive. They touch on creativity, brand experience, and the branding process, along with how The Chuck Jones Gallery ecosystem continues to grow through its galleries, center for creativity, and publishing work.

Highlights

• The branding process - 0:47
• Knowing Chuck very well - 4:27
• The celebration of art - 10:00
• The sense of creativity - 13:53
• He saw life differently - 20:19
• Always willing to give - 35:07
• Learning about animation - 36:09 Episode Resources
• Connect with Mike Brevik:
• http://www.cyberdogzmarketing.com/
• [email protected]
• Connect with Craig Kausen:
• https://chuckjones.com/
• https://www.chuckjonescenter.org/

In this Brand Retro episode (Part 1), Mike talks with Craig Kausen—President of The Chuck Jones Gallery and Chuck Jones' grandson—about all things Chuck Jones. They discuss Chuck Jones history, the love of creativity, brand experience, and how the team continues to keep the legacy alive through The Chuck Jones Galleries, the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity, and Chuck Jones Art Publishing.

Highlights

• The Chuck Jones Gallery - 0:40
• The Chuck Jones' Legacy - 3:15
• Passion, joy, and curiosity - 8:00
• What the Chuck Jones' brand really is - 9:05
• An opportunity to really be creative - 16:37
• Trying to make things happen - 26:54 Episode Resources
• Connect with Mike Brevik:
• http://www.cyberdogzmarketing.com/
• [email protected]
• Connect with Craig Kausen:
• https://chuckjones.com/
• https://www.chuckjonescenter.org/

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike sits down with artist Fabio Napoleoni to talk about creativity, emotion, and building a distinct artistic style. They discuss how Fabio's work stands out through vivid color, character, and heart—and what it looks like to develop your craft over time.

Highlights

• He started in 2008 - 8:28
• You have to treat people well - 9:50
• What's successful for him is not successful for others - 0:59
• Fabio's goal - 13:53
• You have to accept where you are - 15:15
• Maintaining his passion - 15:58
• Having his own gallery - 21:48 Episode Resources
• Connect with Mike Brevik:
• http://www.cyberdogzmarketing.com/
• [email protected]
• Connect with Fabio Napoleoni:
• http://fabionapoleoni.com/
• https://www.fabionapoleonigallery.com/

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike welcomes storyteller, adventurer, and idealist Marc Gutman to talk about how brands can stand out and get noticed. Marc shares how his career evolved from screenwriting to helping brands outmaneuver competition, and they dig into prioritizing marketing efforts, the difference between brand vs. marketing, and why slowing down to ask more questions can change your strategy.

Highlights

• Prioritizing marketing efforts - 1:24
• Brand vs. Marketing - 2:17
• We need to slow down and ask more questions - 6:52
• Sometimes it's hard to know what a brand is - 8:14
• The investment process - 13:17
• The idea of investing in our brand - 15:38
• Building your brand - 18:25
• Marc's journey - 23:50
• Brand means business - 27:50

Episode Resources

• Connect with Mike Brevik:
• http://www.cyberdogzmarketing.com/
• [email protected]
• Connect with Marc Gutman:
• https://www.wildstory.com/

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike talks with Cyberdogz team member Hannah Herrig about creating a lifestyle brand and why brand standards matter. They discuss how design, branding, photography, and video work together to help brands stand out—and what it takes to build a cohesive, recognizable lifestyle brand.

Highlights

• Having a design background - 3:10
• Creating a lifestyle brand - 3:59
• Using primary colors as a designer - 11:35
• Balancing the priorities of the brand - 14:10
• Brands are meant to evolve - 15:29
• Prioritizing photography - 20:36
• Having things make sense - 23:26
• What a solid style guide should be - 27:07 Episode Resources
• Connect with Mike Brevik:
• http://www.cyberdogzmarketing.com/
• [email protected]
• Connect with Hannah Herrig
• [email protected]
• https://www.peeldesignco.com/
• https://www.kjfitco.com/

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike catches up with Tate ("The Summer Intern") to talk about what he's been learning during his first weeks interning with Cyberdogz. This is part two of a four-part series following Tate's progress—what he's working on, what they're learning along the way, and how the experience is helping him level up before heading back to school.

Highlights

• What Tate has been learning - 0:34
• Going forward in your career - 4:24
• Tate's mindset creative - 7:23 Episode Resources
• Connect with Mike Brevik:
• http://www.cyberdogzmarketing.com/
• [email protected]
• Connect with Tate Sagedahl
• [email protected]

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike sits down with prolific comic book artist Ken "Ledkilla" Lashley to talk about his creative journey and how he built a career working across some of the most recognizable franchises. Ken shares how he got started, why he always wanted to be an artist, and what it's like working in high-profile creative environments.

Highlights

• How he started his career - 0:42
• Always wanting to be an artist - 2:30
• Using digital tools - 5:55
• The brand storytelling process - 13:03
• A day in his life - 17:36
• Getting a mental break - 20:29
• Enjoying the creation - 22:20
• Trust yourself - 28:36 Episode Resources
• Connect with Mike Brevik:
• http://www.cyberdogzmarketing.com/
• [email protected]
• Connect with Ken Lashley
• [email protected]
• https://www.marvel.com/comics/creators/1248/ken_lashley
• http://www.ledkillaboom.com/

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike welcomes artist Ben Olson to talk about creativity, career growth, and what it looks like to combine art with a business mindset. Ben shares how he got started, how being business-savvy impacts opportunities, and why staying true to who you are can help you close more deals.

Highlights

• He started out in 2008 - 1:04
• A creative with a business mind - 5:28
• Closing more deals by being you - 11:33
• When do you feel more creative? - 16:56
• Everything happens for a reason - 28:34 Episode Resources
• Connect with Mike Brevik:
• http://www.cyberdogzmarketing.com/
• [email protected]
• Connect with Ben Olson
• [email protected]
• https://www.bionicsquirrel.com/chuck-jones-gallery
• https://www.bionicsquirrel.com/
• http://3mastudios.com/
• https://www.chuckjonescatalog.com/ben-olson

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike sits down with Heather Leeds Greenfield, Founder and CEO of Element Brand Group, to talk about creating and executing brand strategies at scale. Heather shares her experience with media relations, influencer programs, partnerships, and brand activations—plus what it takes to work with major, household-name brands.

Highlights

• Heather's background - 0:50
• Her decision to start Element Brand Group - 3:06
• Heather's path - 6:11
• Everybody loves having a brand associated with a celebrity - 8:32
• How to handle the pandemic - 10:40
• Developing social media campaigns - 12:15
• The right team for the right job - 16:09
• Branding is one of those terms that is often misunderstood - 19:25 Episode Resources
• Connect with Mike Brevik:
• http://www.cyberdogzmarketing.com/
• [email protected]
• Connect with Heather Leeds Greenfield
• [email protected]
• https://elementbrandgroup.com/