Brandidly Speaking

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon sits down with Ani Hadjinian, co-founder of POV Beauty, to discuss what it really takes to build a beauty brand in today's creator-led landscape.

Drawing on her experience in luxury beauty and her partnership with beauty creator Mikayla Nogueira, Ani shares how the traditional beauty industry differs from the creator economy, why brands can no longer ignore community feedback, and what she's learned from building a business with someone she barely knew before becoming co-founders.

From brand building and product development to influencer marketing and entrepreneurship, Ani offers an inside look at how POV Beauty is transforming audience trust into brand success. Whether you're a beauty enthusiast, founder, marketer, or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with insights on creating a brand that resonates in the modern beauty industry.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

How do you build a beauty brand that wins an Allure Best of Beauty Award 17 years in a row, sells a Beautyblender every 17 minutes, and scales globally without outside funding?

On this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon sits down with Rea Ann Silva, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Beautyblender, to uncover the business strategy, resilience, and mindset behind one of the most iconic brands in the beauty industry.

Rea Ann shares how she transformed a simple idea into a category-defining product, navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship, and built a multi-million-dollar beauty business while bootstrapping every step of the journey. From innovation and brand building to leadership and perseverance, her insights offer a masterclass for founders, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to turn an idea into a lasting brand.

If you're interested in entrepreneurship, beauty industry marketing, founder mindset, personal branding, business growth, and scaling a consumer brand, this conversation is packed with actionable lessons you won't want to miss.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

What does it take to grow as a creator while staying authentic online?

In this episode, Sebas and Espe, the couple behind Two Trends, share the reality of building a platform together in today's creator landscape. From creating content as partners to navigating brand deals, audience growth, and staying true to their values, they offer an inside look at what goes on behind the scenes of a successful influencer brand.

Whether you're an aspiring creator, full-time influencer, or building your personal brand, you'll learn how authenticity, consistency, and a clear sense of purpose can help you attract the right audience and opportunities without compromising who you are.

Tune in for an honest conversation about content creation, creator partnerships, AI, brand collaborations, and what it really takes to build a community that trusts you. 

New podcast episodes drop every other Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

What happens when a beauty industry executive leaves New York City for Jackson Hole and realizes none of her skincare products can withstand the harsh mountain climate?

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon sits down with Alpyn Beauty founder Kendra Kolb Butler to discuss how a personal skincare problem turned into one of the beauty industry's most innovative brands. After relocating to Wyoming, Kendra discovered that traditional skincare wasn't delivering the results she needed in the region's extreme environment. Instead of settling, she set out to create something better.

Kendra shares how Alpyn Beauty pioneered the use of wild-crafted alpine botanicals, how she works with local experts to source ingredients native to the mountains surrounding Jackson Hole, and how she transformed a niche idea into a nationally recognized skincare brand.

They also discuss scaling a product-based business, maintaining a strong brand identity through growth, navigating the manufacturing process, and what it really takes to take a skincare concept from an idea to clinically tested products on retail shelves.

Whether you're obsessed with skincare, curious about ingredient innovation, or dreaming of launching your own beauty brand, this episode offers an inside look at building an industry-disrupting brand from the ground up.

New podcast episodes drop every other Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Chillhouse founder and CEO, Cyndi Ramirez, shares her journey from opening a spa in New York City to building a nationally recognized nail care brand. Cyndi discusses the creation of Chill Tips, scaling through retail partnerships, raising capital, navigating an acquisition, leading with intuition, and building a legacy brand in today's beauty industry.

This episode covers entrepreneurship, brand building, retail growth, founder-led marketing, beauty industry trends, leadership, and the realities of scaling a modern consumer brand.

New podcast episodes drop every other Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

On this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon takes the mic for a solo deep dive into one of social media's hottest emerging brands: Good Girl Snacks and their viral Hot Girl Pickles. If you've spent any time on Instagram or TikTok, chances are you've seen them.

What started as two best friends with a love of pickles quickly grew into a brand people couldn't stop rooting for. By sharing their journey openly from day one, the founders brought consumers along for every win, challenge, and milestone. Cris breaks down the power of ""building in public"" and why transparency has become one of the most effective brand-building strategies today.

Plus, Cris tackles a round of 5-Minute PR Advice inspired by real Reddit users and puts influencer Alix Earle under the microscope in a live media training-style interview review, sharing insights on what works, what doesn't, and why.

Whether you're obsessed with branding, fascinated by viral consumer products, or looking for practical PR insights, this episode is packed with takeaways you won't want to miss.

Listen now and join the conversation.

New podcast episodes drop every other Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

What if your audience is already telling you exactly what they care about?

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon sits down with Alaina Simon, Senior Client Partner at Reddit, to explore how brands can tap into the real conversations happening on Reddit to better understand their audiences.

People are openly sharing what they’re interested in, what they love, what they’re buying, and what they’re looking for, giving brands an incredible opportunity to listen and learn.

Cris and Alaina talk about how brands can use these real, unfiltered community conversations to uncover consumer insights, spot cultural trends, and make smarter marketing decisions.

Because sometimes the best brand strategy starts with listening to what people are already saying.

If you’re building a brand, this is an episode you’ll want to listen.

New podcast episodes drop every other Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

What do you do after building one of the most iconic beauty brands in the world?

If you're Alli Webb, you start over.

In this episode, Cris Gordon sits down with the founder of Drybar and Messy to unpack what really changed between building a $275 million business and launching a brand in today's creator-first world. They discuss why authenticity is becoming every brand's biggest advantage, what founders get wrong about building community, the lessons Alli carried from Drybar (and the ones she left behind), and why embracing the messy middle might be the smartest business move you can make.

Whether you're building a business, growing a personal brand, or looking for your next big chapter, this conversation is packed with honest insights, practical advice, and the behind-the-scenes stories you won't hear anywhere else.

New podcast episodes drop every other Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

Your personal brand is one of the most valuable assets you'll ever build, and it's about so much more than your social media presence.

In this solo episode, Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC, breaks down what it really means to have a personal brand and why it matters. Whether you're a founder, executive, creator, or early in your career, these are the practical steps to start building one with intention.

If you've ever wondered how to stand out, attract the right opportunities, and become known for your expertise, this episode is for you.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

In today’s episode, Cris sits down with Olga Fleming, CEO of MMC, the communications agency helping brands earn a place in consumers' everyday lives. Olga shares why the strongest brands go beyond awareness and create meaningful rituals, becoming products and services people rely on daily. When a brand successfully integrates into someone’s routine, it transforms customers into true advocates. 

Together, Cris and Olga explore what it takes to deeply understand your audience, identify unmet needs, and build messaging that resonates on a human level. They unpack the habits that set successful founders apart, the mistakes that hold brands back, and how AI can be leveraged as an analytical tool without sacrificing the creativity and emotion that make brands memorable  

Whether you’re a PR professional, marketer, founder, or simply fascinated by the art and science of brand building, this conversation is packed with candid insights and practical takeaways. Grab a notebook, settle in, and get ready for a masterclass in creating brands that people truly believe in and advocate for. 

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 

📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]