When he was a VP at Dick's Sporting Goods, Ryan Eckel asked a simple question: what if we replaced just one 60-second TV spot with an anthemic full-length documentary? The result was a pair of films that hit film festivals, won awards and put Dick's in a new tier of brand equity. In this episode we hear how he did it, and follow Ryan's journey from speechwriter to head of marketing at Puma. We find out why he went from one of retail's biggest names to a scrappy running startup, and why he's now cast his lot with an Italian brand you might only remember if you grew up in the '90s.

EPISODE LINKS

• Ryan Eckel on Linkedin

• We Could Be King (full film)

• Keepers of the Game (full film)

• Dick's Sporting Goods

• Sports Matter / DSG Foundation

• Diadora

• Tracksmith

• Puma

• Connor Schell

• Judd Ehrlich

From our sponsor:

• Monday Magazine

• Monday Creative on Instagram

• Amanda Lee Smith on LinkedIn