Brands, Beats & Bytes

Summer Remix: Album 8 Track 6 - Step Up. Speak Up. Move Up. w/Shawna Hausman

Brand Nerds, get ready to take some serious notes! On this episode of Brands, Beats and Bytes, hosts Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry "LT" Taman sit down with retail and digital marketing powerhouse Shawna Hausman. From her scrappy early days in the Gap Inc. universe to driving a massive 300% sales increase as CMO of FSA Store, Shawna has built an incredible career by stepping up, speaking out, and never letting fear dictate her next move.

Shawna takes us behind the scenes of some of the most iconic retail brands, sharing hilarious and anxiety-inducing stories, like the time she told retail legend Mickey Drexler that his marketing wasn't working when she was just a 22-year-old intern! We also dive deep into the modern marketing landscape, discussing everything from the rise of AI to why heritage brands like Birkenstock are winning by refusing to compromise their identity.

Whether you are looking to climb the corporate ladder, pivot into consulting, or simply understand the psychology of retail sales, this episode is packed with "Triple C" leadership advice: Clarity, Conviction, and Courage.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• The Mickey Drexler Story: How a bold critique from a young intern led to an unexpected seat on the corporate jet with the "Merchant Prince" himself.
• Avoiding the "Mushy Middle": Why brand overlap (like the historical dynamic between The Gap and Old Navy) can eat your own market share, and why you must carve out distinct lanes.
• The Power of Executive Buy-In: Shawna gets vulnerable about her biggest career "F-up" involving an unapproved $40,000 app at West Elm, and why you absolutely need skin in the game from your key overlords.
• Embracing AI: Why marketers must lean into artificial intelligence tools rather than fearing them, and how it is revolutionizing the way we work today.
• The Birkenstock Strategy: How "winning ugly," maintaining scarcity, and leaning unapologetically into comfort and heritage is keeping Birkenstock at the top of the footwear game.
• Fearless Career Growth: Why you should never stay in a miserable job just for the money, and how taking calculated risks leads to the real magic.

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Summer Remix: Album 8 Track 7: The Art of Creative Violence: Building Bold Brands w/ Noel Cottrell

Are legacy advertising holding companies sinking like the Titanic? In this episode of the Brands, Beats, and Bytes podcast, hosts DC and LT welcome creative savant and industry giant, Noel Cottrell.

After building a storied career working with massive brands like Sissy Boy Jeans, Coca-Cola, and E-Trade (yes, he helped create the famous talking baby Super Bowl ads!), Noel is upending the agency model once again. He breaks down why he founded his new agency, Murder Hornet, on the principle of "creative violence"—the idea that discomfort is a catalyst for change, better work, and greater impact.

Whether you are an agency veteran, a freelance creative, or a brand marketer looking for braver work, this episode is a masterclass in navigating the modern marketing landscape. Noel gets incredibly candid about his biggest career mistake, the rise of the indie agency, and exactly how his team is using AI to save clients hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Key Takeaways:

• The Power of Creative Violence: Why playing it safe is the riskiest move a brand can make, featuring the wild origin story of the Sissy Boy Jeans campaign.
• Surviving the "Bloodbath": Why traditional holding companies are failing and how freelancers and indie agencies are perfectly positioned to win.
• The "Nest and Swarm" Model: How to build a highly flexible, future-proof agency structure.
• Real AI Integration: How to use AI agents to build bespoke creative teams and drastically cut production costs for clients.
• Owning Your F-Ups: A deeply personal lesson in leadership, ego, and the importance of professional forgiveness.

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Summer Remix: Album 5 Track 32 - Be You. Be Kind. Be Badass. w/Paige Young

What’s happening Brand Nerds?! We’re happily joined by special guest Paige Young, Chief Communications Officer @ ServiceNow. For the Brand Nerds striving for that C-suite position, this episode will be a real treat. Paige humbly shares her triumphs and lessons throughout her exceptional career. 

Here are a few key takeaways from the episode:

• Model the behavior you want to see.
• Feedback is a valuable opportunity to grow
• Speak Truth to Power
• Simply - Be You. Be Kind. Be Badass.

NOTES:
Connect with Paige
Paige Young | LinkedIn

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Welcome to our Summer Remix series!

What separates a standard marketer from a transformational leader? Join us as we talk to Todd Putman (Chief Transformation Officer, Generous Brands) about the transition from marketing to the C-suite. Todd reveals his "Peopler" framework—the ability to see human insights that data hides—and shares the career strategies that helped him navigate Fortune 100 giants. We dive deep into his biggest career mistakes, the necessity of having "cover" from senior leadership, and his mission to use marketing tools to change the world. It's an episode filled with "zingers," heart, and the blueprint for your next career move.

Key Takeaways:

• Transitioning from "Marketer" to "Peopler"
• Having a Proactive Career Strategy
• The Importance of Leadership and "Cover"
• Let’s Talk About Ethical Marketing and Tech
• How You Can Use Marketing for Good

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Album 8 Track 18: What's Poppin? World Cup 2026

The World Cup is officially upon us, North America! But you don’t need to be a fútbol historian to understand the sheer economic and cultural power of this tournament. In this special "What's Poppin'" episode of Brands, Beats & Bytes, hosts DC and Larry put on their brand lenses to dissect the 2026 FIFA World Cup using the classic marketing matrix: Product, Place, Price, and Promotion.

From Larry's firsthand experience launching Powerade during the 1994 World Cup to the multi-million dollar endorsement webs of Lionel Messi and Sir David Beckham in 2026, this episode is a masterclass in modern sports entertainment. Discover how Fox is clearing an extra $300M off player hydration breaks, why Telemundo is beating English broadcast ratings, and how stadium sponsors are fighting back against FIFA’s strict "covered logo" policies.

Mentioned in the Show: 1994 Powerade Ad

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REMIX: Album 5 Track 15 - The Pursuit of Balance in the Boardroom

Brand Nerds! Get ready...we are talking about life inside and outside of the boardroom. Jeryn Turner is not only a successful business professional, she is also a yoga instructor and author who finds balance in life. She's inspiring us to think differently while still being successful and authentic.

A jew-el dropper you don't want to miss! 

Here are a few key takeaways from the episode:

• Are you balanced in the boardroom?
• Go places you are loved, encouraged, and supported. That's where you thrive.
• Throwing away the script. Living authentically. 
• The power of "AND" | Analog in a digital world. 

NOTES:
Connect with Jeryn at:

• www.JerynTurner.com
• Instagram: @spelmangemini
• Twitter: @JerynTurner
• Facebook: Jeryn Turner

View Her Books Here. 

Show Partner: Specificity
Learn More About Specificity 

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Album 8 Track 17: The Mythology Behind a Great Marketer w/Louis Monoyudis

What does an undergrad degree in folklore and mythology have to do with scaling direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands to millions in revenue? Everything.

In this episode of Brands, Beats, and Bytes, hosts Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry Taman sit down with seasoned executive Louis Monoyudis (CMO at Artware Editions, former global CMO at Bokksu, Fable Pets, Levo, and Roam). Louis pulls back the curtain on how a deep understanding of human narrative, ritual, and "belief" acts as the ultimate foundation for hyper-growth marketing.

Discover why data infrastructure must balance founder intuition , the real reason crowdsourced fashion platforms face massive scaling hurdles , and what "agentic shopping" means for the survival of the traditional brand website. Whether you are a founder battling hubris or a marketer trying to stay ahead of the AI curve, this episode provides a masterclass on balancing creative judgment with business performance.

Key Takeaways: 

• The Fine Line Between Religion and Myth
• Escaping the Echo Chamber
• The Reality of Decision Fatigue
• Agentic AI & The Future of Shopping
• Human Taste vs. Machine Data
• The ROI of Community

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REMIX: Album 4 Track 12 – Matt Tumminello, President at Target 10

Hey Brand Nerds! We have a treat for you today! We have Matt Tumminello in the virtual building dropping jewels from both his career and personal experiences as a leader in the LGBTQ+ marketing space.

Jolted to impactful and meaningful action after witnessing 9/11 as a New Yorker, Matt dove head first into the LGBTQ+ marketing space through the launching of his business Target 10. As they say, "they apply deep LGBTQ consumer insights and cultural intelligence to brand strategy, marketing and creative, demonstrating to LGBTQ consumers that your brand 'gets it and gets me.'"

A few key takeaways from the episode:

• Be fearless. In work and in life. 
• Be very careful with your comments from a business perspective, you may also be making a comment about that very human that's in front of you.
• There is beauty in duality 

NOTES:

Learn More About Target 10

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Album 8 Track 16: Lead with Guts, Accelerate Growth w/Bob Kraut

How did a $5 million marketing stunt turn into one of the top 5 marketing ideas of the last 50 years? In this episode of Brands, Beats & Bites, hosts Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry "LT" Taman sit down with legendary CMO Bob Kraut (former CMO of Papa John's, Arby's, Pizza Hut, and Captain D's) to pull back the curtain on his iconic career of driving explosive business growth.

From orchestrating the famous Oprah Winfrey Pontiac G6 giveaway at General Motors to launching the first-ever iPhone pizza ordering application, Bob shares firsthand stories of what it takes to be an adventurous marketer.

We dive deep into:

• The Famous Oprah Winfrey "You Get a Car!" Backstory
• The Art of the Career Pivot
• Marketing with "Guts"
• The Problem with Modern Ads

If you are an aspiring CMO, brand manager, or marketing student looking to understand how to balance data-driven left-brain insights with creative right-brain ambition, this masterclass is for you.

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Album 8 Track 15: The Currency of Purpose w/Stephen Greene

What happens when you mix the power of world-class music, brand partnerships, and community service? You get Rockcorps—a global movement that revolutionized how brands connect with youth.In this episode of Brands, Beats, and Bytes, hosts Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry "LT" Taman sit down with Rockcorps co-founder and CEO, Stephen Greene (SG). Together, they unpack a historic "moment of truth" meeting from 2005 that launched their first national brand partnership with Boost Mobile.  

SG shares invaluable insights on how the marketing landscape has shifted, why the artist is now the distribution channel, and how to build an authentic, purpose-driven brand that Gen Z and Millennials will actually rally behind. Whether you are a junior marketer finding your footing or an aspiring CMO looking to lead with values, this episode is a masterclass in creative judgment, cultural taste, and keeping humanity at the center of business.  

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to Trade in "The Currency of Purpose"
• The "Inverse Correlation" Rule of Deal-Making
• The Blueprint for the "Triple Benefit" Strategy
• How to Define What is at the "Center" of a Brand

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