Stay StarryEyed

The best trends reflect deeper, lasting shifts in how we shop, eat, and behave. If you want to understand which trends are gaining real traction, and what they mean for your brand and business, this sneak preview of the year ahead is especially for you.

Megan Lynberg is Senior Vice President of Client Strategy at Datassential, the world’s leading intelligence platform tracking the most relevant trends. Her work predicts what will impact consumer categories from restaurants and CPG to personal care and beauty.

Megan shares how Datassential helps the best restaurant, retail, and CPG companies translate consumer insights into ideas, evaluate new concepts, and find white space earlier. And she explains how you can plan, prioritize, and innovate with confidence.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✨ How Datassential uses AI (and has before it was cool) to forecast top trends with 98% accuracy to inform and inspire ideas across industries

✨ Why more approachable or incremental, brand-inspired innovation often outperforms chasing short-lived trends

✨ The biggest macro shifts shaping 2026 and how brands distinguish meaningful, lasting trends from fleeting fads

✨ How brand leaders vet new ideas and validate concepts before investing time, money or operational upgrades

✨ Why collaboration between operators, manufacturers, marketers and insights teams is the new superpower for innovation

A must-listen (or watch) for brand leaders who want to transform data into clearer brand direction to get ahead in the New Year.

Megan’s creative inspiration:

Book: Atomic Habits by James Clear

Brand: Buc-ee's

Beverage: Boulevard Beer

Songs: “Glorious” by Macklemore and “Rosalita” by Bruce Springsteen

If you’re trying to spot new opportunities earlier, build best-in-class brands faster, and think bigger for ideas that define complete categories, you’re in the right place.

Jack Gibbons, CEO of FB Society (creator of Velvet Taco, Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, Haywire, Mexican Sugar, Legacy Hall and more), shares how he and his team turned a portfolio of new-to-world concepts into a true powerhouse.

Jack pulls back the curtain on how breakthrough ideas are sparked, shaped, protected, and scaled with soul. He also shares how his rise from server to COO to CEO fuels the creative risks behind FB Society’s continued success.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✨How to think bigger by intentionally carving out time to break away from the day-to-day and discover new possibilities

✨How multi-unit, multi-brand operators (“MUMBOS”) can win by centralizing what ensures efficiency and safeguarding what creates distinction

✨The exact DNA framework FB Society uses to keep their concepts unique and growing, year after year, even through industry headwinds

✨Why execution is the real indicator of success, and how to use traffic, reviews, and constant feedback loops to keep brands moving forward

✨How to apply the same brand-building systems to inform and inspire your wellness journey, including Jack’s now-famous 40-pushup club

A must-listen for any brand builder who wants to grow their business faster, spot white space earlier, and unlock bigger ideas.

Jack’s creative inspiration:

Book: The Wealth Money Can’t Buy by Robin Sharma

Brand: Hillstone

Beverage: Tequila reposado on ice with an orange slice

Song: “More Than a Feeling” by Boston

What does it take to communicate with clarity, confidence, and creativity so that you move rooms, mobilize teams, and communicate ideas worth spreading?

Briar Goldberg, one of the world’s most sought-after communications coaches and the force behind hundreds of the most iconic TED Talks, shares the essential skills today’s leaders need to break through noise, complexity, and shrinking attention spans.

As the Head of Speaker Coaching at TED, Briar has coached CEOs of Meta, Ford, and Levi’s; Nobel laureates; Oscar and Grammy winners; founders and executives. In this episode, she reveals what the best communicators do differently, and how everyday brand builders can apply the same tools for campaigns, board meetings, and more.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✨ Why “audience before content” (the ABC rule) is the fastest path to clarity, influence, and trust

✨ The art of shaping a single powerful idea and why most messages fail from the very beginning

✨ How to prepare for high-stakes presentations (and why rehearsing in your head won’t cut it)

✨ Why humor, humanity, and specificity will separate compelling communicators in the AI era

✨ The behind-the-scenes stories of coaching top scientists, innovators, and leaders shaping the future

A candid, practical conversation about courageous, audience-first communication from the coach who helps the world’s best speakers inspire action, and how you can, too.

Briar’s creative inspiration:

Books: Humor, Seriously by Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas; Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini and The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

Brands: Midi Health, TUSHY

Beverage: Paper Plane

Song: “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” by John Denver

What does it take to lead a 60-year-old legacy brand into its next, new era while staying optimistic, quality-focused and people-first?

Heather Neary, President and CEO of Taco John’s, shares lessons learned during her rise from Auntie Anne’s marketing manager to CMO-turned-operations leaderand then to one of the very few female chief executive officers in her industry.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✨ Why fun and hard work can (and should) co-exist, and why humanity is a competitive advantage for true and lasting impact

✨ How Heather bridged the infamous marketing-ops divide and why understanding operations is the fastest way to be a better brand leader

✨ The real reasons women fall out of the leadership pipeline, and what must change to support the next generation of female CEOs

✨ What to do when your brand goes viral overnight (including how Heather led a systemwide pivot that gave away 20,000 meals in 72 hours)

✨ How to stay nimble in an unpredictable economy and why the future belongs to leaders who can pivot fast, simplify, and focus

✨ An uplifting episode about optimistic leadership, operational mastery, and brand building from one of the industry’s most beloved CEOs.

Heather’s creative inspiration:

1. Books: Begin with We by Kyle McDowell and The 5AM Club by Robin Sharma
2. Brand: Buc-ee’s & high-quality operators everywhere
3. Beverages: Black coffee and red wine + collagen and creatine
4. Song: “Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J

What does it take to stand out early in your career, stay creative as you rise, and lead teams so they are inspired to follow?

Todd Smith, President of Swig and longtime brand builder (Sonic, Wendy’s, Yum! Brands, ROCTACO, Flake), shares the honest lessons behind bold thinking, humble leadership, and taking risks even when you can’t see what’s on the other side.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✨ Why success has less to do with titles and wins, and more to do with your willingness to step into the unknown

✨ What building your own brands teaches you about resilience (and why failure can often be your greatest teacher)

✨ What leaders get wrong when they say they want candor, and how to actually create a culture where teams tell you the truth

✨ How to shift from “being the best in the room” to “building the best team” using questions that unlock bigger thinking

✨ Why Swig’s magic isn’t just dirty soda; it’s Daymakers, first-sip rituals, and moments that turn customers into superfans

A playbook to turn failure into fuel, curiosity into candor, and big thinking into courage.

Todd’s creative inspiration:

1. Book: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara
2. Brand: Ferrari
3. Bevs: Island Time and Waikiki
4. Song: “Rock Star” by N.E.R.D. (Pharrell)

What does it mean to lead with both heart and high standards?

Amy Hom, Chief Operating Officer at Barcelona Wine Bar and Co-Founder of GLEAM, shares how she builds world-class hospitality cultures rooted in care, curiosity, and consistency.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why exit interviews are too late, and how "stay interviews" reveal what truly keeps people inspired and engaged

The five questions every leader should ask to understand what’s working (and what’s not)

How to be “easy on people, tough on standards” without losing empathy or expectations

How to make development not just a “program,” but a cultural operating principle

Why the best leaders act as “chief repeating officers” to build clarity, trust, and consistency across teams

A masterclass in modern, people-first leadership from one of the industry’s most respected operators.

Amy’s creative inspiration:

Books: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Brand: Patagonia

Songs: “9 to 5” and “Here You Come Again” by Dolly Parton

What makes some brands launch and last, while others fade away?

Being bold, not beige.

Greg Creed, former CEO of Yum! Brands (Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, KFC), shares how he helped turn Taco Bell into one of the world’s most distinctive brands by focusing on culture, creativity, and bold choices that broke industry rules.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✨ How to replace “beige” thinking with bold, brand-defining moves

✨ Why “easy” beats “better” and how to use simplicity to set your brand apart

✨ How to build a courageous culture that fuels creativity and sales results

✨ How to make faster, smarter decisions by letting the experts lead

✨ The RED framework (Relevance, Ease, Distinctiveness) to sharpen your strategy

✨ How to stay true to your essence even (and especially) as the world changes around you

✨ A masterclass in courageous leadership, creative focus, and building brands that stand for something, plus breaking news about Greg's new special project, Mavericks & Misfits, coming soon.

Greg's creative inspiration: Book: Return on Courage by Ryan Berman

Brands: Chili’s, Match (Satan & 2020), Amazon (Holidays: Shorts)

Song: Radio Gaga by Queen (“don’t be background noise”)

F&B: Mountain Dew Baja Blast and Baja Blast Pie

We all have moments when we doubt the path we’re on.

Am I in the right relationship? Is this the career for me? Is this as good as it gets? What's next?

These questions can feel uncomfortable... until you have a method to answer them and redirect.

Enter The Life Brief, the USA TODAY bestselling book from award-winning brand strategist Bonnie Wan.

Named Ad Age’s Chief Strategy Officer of the Year, Bonnie has spent 30 years guiding the world’s most iconic brands to find their purpose.

Now she brings the same strategic brilliance to help design your next chapter and navigate life’s crossroads with clarity, creativity, and courage.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✨ How to write your own Life Brief to focus on what truly matters

✨ How reframing your story can unlock new creative possibilities

✨ When to follow intuition along with intellect to find your best ideas

✨ How inner insight ensures more momentum, stronger teams, and faster decisions

✨ A framework to confirm what matters most, rewrite your story, and lead with purpose in work and in life.

✨ Bonnie's creative inspiration

Books: The Life Brief:A Playbook for No-Regrets Living and Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life

Drink: The Phoney Negroni

Song: The Massive Attack

What does it take to turn a 110-year-old camping brand into a cultural phenomenon?

Jenn Reeves, SVP at Funko and previously Stanley 1913, shares how she helped transform a legacy utility brand into a modern lifestyle brand by looking back to move forward.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✨ How to honor your brand’s history and heritage while reinventing for new audiences

✨ The difference between branding and marketing, and why it matters for business

✨ How to create viral moments and turn them into lasting brand momentum

✨ The mindset every marketer needs to stay flexible, fast, and fearless

A masterclass in creative courage and brand evolution.

Jenn's creative inspiration

Podcasts: Dolly Parton's America and Acquired

Brands: Ffern and Dunkin's Halloween store

Song: Girl On Fire by Alicia Keys

Can data make your brand more human?

Scott Lawton, Co-Founder & Chairman of bartaco, shares how he blends data, design, and hospitality to build a brand that has become one of the industry’s most distinctive experiences.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✨ How to use guest data to enhance your brand experience

✨ Why the best operators measure sentiment before sales

✨ How to empower teams with insights that fuel connection and creativity

✨ The leadership moves that keep cultures strong at scale

A playbook for turning insights into emotion and metrics into meaning.

Scott's creative inspiration

Book: I'm Not Trying To Be Difficult: Stories from the Restaurant Trenches by Drew Nieporent

Brands: FB Society (Whiskey Cake, Sixty Vines, etc.)

Song: Chilly Water by Widespread Panic