In this episode, Alex Onaindia and Jonathan Lubic, co-founders of Distinction Agency, speak with DJ and Producer, Morgan Page.

Morgan Page is a Grammy Nominated DJ and Producer who has performed at many of the largest venues and music festivals in the world. Alex and Jonathan speak with Morgan about the evolution of marketing in the music industry. He has a deep understanding of social media and marketing. Morgan explains how earlier in his career social media was so much simpler. He credits having a good team around him and focusing on building a consistent brand over time. Morgan explains how there is a limited commodity of attention and building a niche community of rabid fans pays dividends. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Morgan has been able to focus on livestreaming and interactions with fans who may not be going to live shows anymore. Morgan utilizes large platforms like Facebook and Instagram but has also focused on newer platforms like Cameo, Patreon and Twitch to connect with fans. Morgan is looking forward to playing live shows again after the pandemic. He describes the rush and feeling of electricity that comes with playing in front of thousands of fans. Make sure to subscribe, follow us on social media and leave a review.

Video version available on our YouTube Channel, @thedistinctbrandpodcast. 

The Distinct Brand Podcast | Ep. 10 - Dugout Mugs CEO, Kris Dehnert, and Founder, Randall Thompson

In this episode, Alex Onaindia and Jonathan Lubic, co-founders of Distinction Agency, speak with Kris Dehnert and Randall Thompson from Dugout Mugs.

We're in October and that means playoff baseball! With the World Series underway, Alex and Jonathan speak with Kris and Randall from Dugout Mugs about their entrepreneurial journey. Randall is a former professional baseball player who came up with the idea for Dugout Mugs when he was coaching college baseball in 2014. After examining bat barrels laying around in the dugout, Randall thought you could drill out the center of them and drink out of them. Dugout Mugs was born from there. Shortly thereafter, Kris, a serial entrepreneur who had several successful ventures previously, partnered with Randall to take Dugout Mugs to take it to the next level. With social media marketing experience, Kris knew that Dugout Mugs would gain traction there with a great strategy and quality content. To this day, social media ads are Dugout Mugs biggest revenue stream. Another key factor to Dugout Mugs success was their MLB licensing deal that came to fruition quickly. Current and former MLB players have really embraced Dugout Mugs which has helped tremendously. During the COVID-19 pandemic this year, Dugout Mugs focused on solutions rather than the problem. One way they continued to keep customers engaged and give back during the difficult times was numerous giveaways. By testing various new ideas, Dugout Mugs has continued to grow and has added 15 new employees in 2020 alone. Make sure to subscribe, follow us on social media and leave a review.

Video version available on our YouTube Channel, @thedistinctbrandpodcast. 

The Distinct Brand Podcast | Ep. 9 - Author, Entrepreneur and Former Professional Athlete, Malcolm Lemmons

In this episode, Alex Onaindia and Jonathan Lubic, co-founders of Distinction Agency, speak with Malcolm Lemmons.

Alex and Jonathan speak with Malcolm about his transition from being a professional athlete into entrepreneurship. Malcolm played professional basketball overseas and explains how the time over there gave him time to think about what was next, which led him to writing. Malcolm is a two-time published author. His first book, Lessons from the Game, highlights his story through basketball and the key lessons he learned from playing sports. His second book released this year, Impact Beyond the Game, teaches athletes how to build, leverage and monetize their personal brands to create a legacy beyond sports. Social media has been a huge asset for Malcolm as he's built his career. Malcolm is intentional with his social media strategy and has become very consistent on platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. He emphasizes the importance of understanding how people think on each platform and communicating with his content accordingly. He preaches the importance of social media to current professional athletes and emphasizes to them the importance of building their brand while they are current athletes. Make sure to subscribe, follow us on social media and leave a review.

Video version available on our YouTube Channel, @thedistinctbrandpodcast. 

The Distinct Brand Podcast | Ep. 8 - Professional Track Athlete and U.S. National Champion, Curtis Mitchell

In this episode, Alex Onaindia and Jonathan Lubic, co-founders of Distinction Agency, speak with Curtis Mitchell.

Alex and Jonathan speak with Curtis about his career as a professional track athlete. From Daytona Beach, FL, Curtis was the U.S. National Champion in 2014 and raced against Usain Bolt in the World Championships in 2013, winning the bronze medal. Curtis has been signed with Adidas for the past 9 years and is very passionate about his personal brand. Curtis explains how Track & Field athletes are entrepreneurs because they don't receive a salary from their team. They have to learn, grow and find ways to monetize outside of sports. As Curtis has matured in his career, he's developed a consistent content strategy to take his brand to the next level. He focuses on connecting with people across the world and building a community with his fans. By connecting with his online community, he realized there was opportunity not just with sports fans, but with people passionate about health and wellness. He launched a comprehensive eBook focused on training to provide value to people and help change lives. When it comes to sponsorships, Curtis is intentional with aligning with brands that fit his brand and are authentic. Curtis is currently training for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics and is eager for the opportunity to be a member of Team USA in Tokyo. Make sure to subscribe, follow us on social media and leave a review. See you next week!

Video version available on our YouTube Channel, @thedistinctbrandpodcast. 

The Distinct Brand Podcast | Ep. 7 - NFL Athlete, Keynote Speaker, Executive Coach and Best-Selling Author, Marques Ogden

In this episode, Alex Onaindia and Jonathan Lubic, co-founders of Distinction Agency, speak with Marques Ogden.

Alex and Jonathan speak with Marques about his journey in the NFL and his transition leaving the game. Marques played for the Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans. After football, Marques explains how he overcame addiction to become a successful entrepreneur. He became the largest African American subcontracting company in the state of Maryland and won the Subcontractor of the Year award in Maryland in 2011. He tells everyone that was the beginning of his downfall because he became focused purely on the money. He had to file for bankruptcy and his home was foreclosed on. Despite all the adversity Marques faced, he pulled himself together, got a part-time job as a custodian and with hard work and determination, became an inspirational keynote speaker, executive coach, best-selling author and marketing leader, helping to build the success of others. He has worked with 17 Fortune 500 companies and credits marketing and branding to helping him find success over the last several years. He is a proud husband and father who is determined to leave a legacy of giving back. Make sure to subscribe, follow us on social media and leave a review. See you next week!

Video version available on our YouTube Channel, @thedistinctbrandpodcast. 

The Distinct Brand Podcast | Ep. 6 - Olympic Medalist, Kelsey Robinson.

Alex and Jonathan speak with Kelsey about her journey as a professional volleyball player. Kelsey has been professional for the last seven years, playing in countries such as China, Italy and Turkey, as well as playing for the U.S. National Team. Kelsey explains how moving overseas at 22 changed her perspective on life and gave her an appreciation for what we have in the United States. Outside of volleyball, Kelsey is passionate about hobbies like photography and writing. When she was traveling often, it sparked her to make a website and start documenting her journey. She's active on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, leveraging her creativity, photography and video editing skills. Her goal is to grow her non-volleyball following and become known for being so much more than an athlete. Kelsey is currently training for the Tokyo Olympics and believes it will be a beacon of hope for the world if they are able to happen after being postponed due to COVID-19. Make sure to subscribe, follow us on social media and leave a review. See you next week!

Video version available on our YouTube Channel, @thedistinctbrandpodcast. 

The Distinct Brand Podcast | Ep. 5 - Founder of Social Creates Impact, Stephanie Stabulis.

Alex and Jonathan speak with Stephanie about how she became involved in the influencer marketing industry. Stephanie entered the industry as public relations was evolving into the digital age and influencer marketing was getting started. Stephanie worked as an executive for HireInfluence prior to starting Social Creates Impact. She was inspired early on by campaigns from Taco Bell and Wendy's and would analyze what brands like them were doing. Based on that research, Stephanie would scale down ideas she would come up with for her clients based on their budget and goals. Stephanie also explains supply and demand in the influencer marketing industry and the importance of finding the right influencers for the right brand. With Social Creates Impact, Stephanie is focused on education and creating resources for both brands and influencers. The education of both parties is important to her and she focuses on sharing as much valuable information as possible. Stephanie has also been quoted in publications such as Forbes about Name, Image and Likeness legislation for college athletes and their ability to monetize off their personal brands in the future. She's excited about the opportunity for these student athletes and is curious how universities will respond with rules and framework. Make sure to subscribe, follow us on social media and leave a review. See you next week!

Video version available on our YouTube Channel, @thedistinctbrandpodcast. 

The Distinct Brand Podcast | Ep. 4 - NFL Athlete and Entrepreneur, Hakeem Valles

Alex and Jonathan speak with Hakeem about his unique journey to the NFL. In college, Hakeem didn't get his first catch in a game until his senior year when he moved from WR to TE. Hakeem was able to make his way on an NFL roster after going undrafted and play for the Arizona Cardinals and Detroit Lions. Hakeem has always had an entrepreneurial mindset since he was a child and became passionate about real estate in college. When Hakeem started his NFL career in Arizona, he bought a 4 unit apartment building and rented out the other 3 units to live for free. Once in Detroit, he also got into the real estate side of the cannabis industry by investing in multiple warehouses. Hakeem also launched his media company, Perspective Global Media, which helps athletes, financial professionals and real estate professionals launch their podcasts. Hakeem realized he wasn't living an authentic life on social media and began to put content out at scale on various social platforms. He was motivated by Gary Vaynerchuk to broadcast his truths and create content that leaves a legacy for his kids to consume in the future. Make sure to subscribe, follow us on social media and leave a review. See you next week!

Video version available on our YouTube Channel, @thedistinctbrandpodcast. 

The Distinct Brand Podcast | Ep. 3 - WNBA Champion, Tiffany Bias

In this episode, Alex Onaindia and Jonathan Lubic, co-founders of Distinction Agency, speak with WNBA Champion, Tiffany Bias.

Alex and Jonathan chat with Tiffany about her experience as a college and professional athlete. Tiffany explains the mindshift that happens from being the star player in college to becoming a key player on a championship team with superstar teammates like Diana Taurasi. Tiffany is passionate about fashion, entrepreneurial ventures and working with brands that align with her vision and morals. She has a specific social media strategy highlighting her passions and telling the story of who she is in an organic way. Tiffany recently spent time at the Harvard Business School for the Crossover Into Business Program led by Anita Elberse, a semester-long program in which athletes develop their business acumen by working with MBA student mentors. Tiffany called it one of the best things she's done and recommends it for any athlete. She took a lot of valuable information away from the program and is integrating what she learned into the next phase of her career. Make sure to subscribe, follow us on social media and leave a review. See you next week!

Video version available on our YouTube Channel, @thedistinctbrandpodcast. 

In this episode, Alex Onaindia and Jonathan Lubic, co-founders of Distinction Agency, speak with Olympic Silver Medalist, Manteo Mitchell.

Alex and Jonathan chat with Manteo about his experience as an elite professional athlete and how he is much more than an athlete. Manteo speaks about the platform that being a professional athlete has given him, especially after his performance at the London 2012 Olympics. He has capitalized on the window of opportunity being open for him as a professional athlete. Manteo also explains how important it is to get his message of positivity out there to people who need to hear it, through speaking opportunities at schools and churches. He also focuses on authentically sharing his message on social media by being strategic and utilizing his #FaithFocusFinish hashtag. Manteo also talks about his son, Khi, and how he's passionate about branding himself in elementary school after seeing Manteo's success. Make sure to subscribe, follow us on social media and leave a review. See you next week!

Video version available on our YouTube Channel, @thedistinctbrandpodcast.