Join Mandy Balak and Owen Reader for a powerful conversation with Tripp Westbrook (Chief Creative Officer) and Steve Smith (Chief Executive Officer) of Firehouse Agency. This episode is a front-row seat into how bold leaders are rewriting the rules of brand building through culture, courage, and unconventional strategy.

As we count down to The Gathering x Firehouse: Dallas Edition on May 8, this episode sets the tone. It’s about more than marketing—it's about how bravery is becoming the only strategy that cuts through.

This episode explores:

• Why brand bravery is no longer a risk—it's the requirement

• How Firehouse challenges conventional thinking and reframes client problems for standout results

• What it takes to build an award-winning workplace culture that fuels creativity

• Why now is the time to lead with purpose, not posturing

• An exclusive preview of what to expect in Dallas
  

🎟️ Be there: The Gathering x Firehouse – Dallas Edition 📍May 8 | Firehouse HQ | RSVP Free → Reserve Your Spot

All the links mentioned in the show: Firehouse Website: www.firehouse.agency

Guest Socials:

• Tripp Westbrook – LinkedIn

• Steve Smith – LinkedIn

Join Mandy Balak, President of The Gathering, and Owen Reader, Head of Marketing, for a bold and energizing conversation with Lori Hatcher Hillier, Chief Marketing Officer of Kicking Horse Coffee. For nearly three decades, this Canadian-born coffee brand has carved out cult-like loyalty—without ever relying on a traditional marketing campaign. In this episode, Lori unpacks what it means to stay true to your roots, lead with purpose, and wake up and kick ass—every single day.This episode explores:- How Kicking Horse Coffee built a globally recognized brand without advertising- Why bold leadership and unwavering values are key to brand longevity- What “being remarkable” really means—and how the brand lives it daily- How to maintain soul and scale at the same time- What it means to win the future with heart🎟️ Join us at The Gathering 2025 | October 22–24 👉 Get Tickets Here: https://www.thegatheringfestival.com/tickets💌Subscribe to the inner circle newsletter for insights: https://go.thegatheringfestival.com/newsletter📲 Follow us for updates: https://www.instagram.com/cultgathering/https://www.linkedin.com/company/cult-gathering/All the links mentioned in the show:Guest’s Website: www.kickinghorsecoffee.comGuest’s Social Media: Instagram – @kickinghorsecoffeeExplore the Kicking Horse Coffee story: Read More: https://www.kickinghorsecoffee.com/pages/our-story🎧 Subscribe to The Gathering Podcast for more real conversations with the brand leaders redefining what’s possible.

In this episode, Owen Reader, Head of Marketing at The Gathering, sits down with Brendon Arnold, VP of Brand at Sherwood Hockey, for a powerful conversation on modernizing a legacy brand while staying true to its roots. Brendon shares how Sherwood is transforming its image to resonate with a new generation of hockey players—while building a brand that competes globally and connects authentically.

This episode explores:

• How Sherwood is evolving from nostalgic icon to Gen Z-relevant challenger

• The balance between tradition and modern design in sports branding

• What Gen Z expects from brands—and how Sherwood is meeting them where they are

• The role of community, culture, and creativity in brand-building

• Brendon’s leadership philosophy, daily rituals, and views on the future of sports marketing

🎟️ Join us at The Gathering 2025 | October 22-25, 2025: https://www.thegatheringfestival.com/tickets-2025⭐️ Subscribe to the Inner Circle Newsletter: https://go.thegatheringfestival.com/newsletter

All the links mentioned in the show:
Guest’s Website: sherwoodhockey.com
Guest’s LinkedIn: Brendon Arnold

Join Mandy Balak, President of The Gathering, and Owen Reader, Head of Marketing, for a conversation with Melissa Rosenthal, co-founder of Outlever and creative powerhouse behind brands like BuzzFeed, Cheddar, and ClickUp. Melissa shares her perspective on how modern brands can cut through noise, bring messages to market with impact, and tap into the fast-moving economy of attention.

With deep roots in viral media and brand storytelling, Melissa offers a powerful lens on what it takes to create relevance, build cultural momentum, and move at the speed of modern media.

• How media consumption has shifted—and what that means for marketers
  

• Why message simplicity is key to cultural relevance
  

• Tactical ways to spread ideas in the attention economy
  

• The balance between brand control and letting ideas grow organically
  

🎟️ Join us at The Gathering 2025 | October 22-25, 2025: https://www.thegatheringfestival.com/tickets-2025

Subscribe to the Inner Circle Newsletter: https://go.thegatheringfestival.com/newsletter

This episode explores:

All the links mentioned in the show:

Guest's Website: Outlever

Guest's LinkedIn: Melissa Rosenthal

Join Mandy Balak and Owen Reader as they chat with Rick E. Wittenbraker, VP of Business Development at Howler Bros, who shares 11 years of wisdom on leadership and brand building. Learn how to craft a brand’s character, define core values, and establish a lasting identity that stands for who you are.

This episode explores: 

• Leadership lessons from a seasoned industry pro 

• The journey of building and defining brand character 

• The importance of core values in sustaining brand success

🎟️ Join us at The Gathering 2025 | October 22-24 → https://www.thegatheringfestival.com/

Guest's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wittrick/

Join Mandy Balak and Owen Reader as they explore the art of pausing and authentic leadership with Fish Fischer, Founder and CEO of Somatic Breathwork. Discover how tuning in and embracing the pause can lead to more genuine leadership, stronger culture, and daily practices that nurture self-growth.

This episode explores: 

• The transformative power of taking a pause 

• Authenticity as a cornerstone of leadership and culture 

• Daily practices for self-guidance and growth

🎟️ Join us at The Gathering 2025 | October 22-24: https://www.thegatheringfestival.com/tickets-2025

Guest's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fishfischer/

Join Mandy Balak, Owen Reader, and the Dubai Future Foundation team at SXSW as they explore the future of humanity and technology with Abdulaziz AlJaziri from the Museum of The Future. This conversation is all about a human-focused, structured approach to innovation and the role society plays in shaping our future.

This episode explores: 

• A visionary look at the future of humans and technology 

• How a structured, human-focused approach drives innovation 

• The societal role in shaping future advancements

🎟️ Join us at The Gathering 2025 | October 22-24 → https://www.thegatheringfestival.com/

Guest's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abdulaziz-aljaziri-8040b043/

Join Mandy Balak and Owen Reader as they sit down with Gary Coichy, Founder and CEO of Pod Digital—the first and largest multi-podcast network in the USA. In this episode, they explore how diverse creators are celebrated, why YouTube is the top platform for podcast consumption, and the future of digital content creation.

This episode explores: • The rise of diverse creators and inclusive podcasting • Inside Pod Digital’s innovative multi-podcast network • The role of YouTube in the podcast consumption landscape

🎟️ Join us at The Gathering 2025 | October 22-24 → https://www.thegatheringfestival.com/

Guest's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garycoichy/

Join Mandy Balak in an intimate chat with Anick Beaulieu, CEO of C2, as they dive into the power of immersive experiences. Explore how stepping out from behind the Zoom screen can ignite creativity and collaboration, and learn about the C2 theme, its amazing speakers, and how they’re winning the future in 2025.This episode explores: • The transformative power of immersive environments • Stepping out of the daily grind for creative breakthroughs • How C2 is shaping the future through innovation and collaboration🚀 Join the conversation!Attend The Gathering 2025 | October 22-24, Banff, Alberta → https://www.thegatheringfestival.com/

Join Mandy Balak, President of The Gathering, and Owen Reader, Head of Marketing, as they sit down with Xanthe Wells, VP of Global Creative at Pinterest. As a creative leader shaping one of the most inspiring platforms on the internet, Xanthe brings a unique perspective on how brands, advertisers, and everyday users can tap into the power of inspiration, positivity, and visual discovery to shape the future.

In this episode, we’ll dive into Pinterest Predicts 2025, Pinterest Palette, and how Pinterest continues to lead with purpose—creating a safe, inclusive, and distraction-free space online.

🚀 Key Takeaways:

• Top creative trends from Pinterest Predicts 2025 and how brands can leverage them

• How Pinterest Palette sets the tone for color trends and visual storytelling in 2025

• Why Pinterest is designed to be a positive corner of the internet—and what that means for brands and creators

• The role of inclusivity, inspiration, and ethical advertising in today’s digital landscape

Pinterest’s commitment to distraction-free schools—and the launch of its groundbreaking test module

🚀 Join the conversation!

• Attend The Gathering 2025 | October 22-24, Banff, Alberta → [Get Tickets Here]

• Follow Xanthe Wells & Pinterest | [Pinterest Link] [LinkedIn]

• Explore Pinterest Predicts 2025 | [Link to Trends Report]

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe to The Gathering Podcast for more high-performance leadership and brand insights!