Unchartered Territory Podcast

In this episode of Lessons in Brand Building with Unchartered Territory, Oli Russell-Cowan sits down with Blasko bassist for Ozzy Osbourne and Rob Zombie, artist manager and entertainment marketing overlord at Liquid Death.

Blasko shares his journey from growing up in Venice, California to touring the world on the biggest stages in heavy metal and how those lessons now shape how he thinks about branding, performance, leadership and building brands. 

We get into:

• Growing up in Venice and how skate & punk culture shaped his mindset
• What playing with Ozzy taught him about pressure, preparation & performance
• The reality of touring life & what founders can learn from life on the road
• Transitioning from artist to manager & seeing the music business from both sides
• Why Liquid Death isn’t a water company, but a lifestyle brand
• The concept of “loud marketing” and why average brands disappear
• Personal brand, authenticity & building something people obsess over
• AI, creativity & the future of culture-led businesses

Whether you're a founder, marketer or creative, this episode is a masterclass in standing out, proving that the same obsession, identity & energy that fills stadiums is what builds modern cult brands.

You can follow BLASKO on Instagram and LinkedIn

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds and it really makes a difference.

The Unchartered Territory Podcast comes out across all podcast players with a new episode every month. 

In this episode of Lessons in Brand Building with Unchartered Territory, Oli Russell-Cowan sits down with Sam McGregor, co-founder of Signature Brew, the London based brewery redefining what happens when music meets beer.

Sam shares how Signature Brew evolved from a bold idea about fixing terrible beer at gigs into a nationally recognised craft brand powered by culture, collaboration and community.

We get into:

• Founding Signature Brew & how music became the brand’s purpose
• Why early artist collaborations set the tone for everything that followed
• The turning point of launching their core range & building their own brewery
• Lessons in saying no, staying focused & scaling with intention
• Team culture, leadership & what drives growth inside a modern brewery
• How the craft beer landscape is shifting 
• Sam’s advice for founders navigating uncertainty, creativity & the long game

Whether you're a founder, marketer or just love stories about building something original from the ground up, this episode is a masterclass in how culture, strategy and persistence can brew a movement, not just a beer.

You can follow Sam McGregor on Instagram and LinkedIn

Connect with Signature Brew
Website: signaturebrew.co.uk
Instagram: signaturebrew

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds and it really makes a difference.

The Unchartered Territory Podcast comes out across all podcast players with a new episode every month. 

In this episode of the Unchartered Territory Podcast, host Oli Russell-Cowan sits down with Kelsi Boocock, founder of Shnack, the world’s first dairy-free canned protein shake and one of New Zealand’s fastest-rising wellness brands.

From launching a healthy food blog during lockdown to building two companies before turning 25, Kelsi shares how her journey in content, community and plant-based living led to creating Shnack: a fun, flavour-driven protein brand now stocked nationally across NZ.

We dive into:

• The founder story behind Shnack and how a viral smoothie, a cookbook deal and a food blog sparked the idea
• The transition from Second Nature (her first protein brand) to launching a ready-to-drink shake that took off “a thousand miles an hour”
• Shnack’s playful brand world from mascots to dad-driven road-trip marketing helped it stand out with almost no budget
• Building a social-first brand: consistency, storytelling and letting the community shape the product
• The realities of scaling a CPG business in NZ: retail, manufacturing, reformulation and navigating fast growth
• Why flavour matters, what’s coming next, and how Kelsi is balancing entrepreneurship with pregnancy and real life

Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or simply love hearing how modern brands are built from the ground up, this episode is a masterclass in turning creativity, grit and community into a movement.

You can follow Kelsi on healthykelsii

Connect with Shanck
Website: shnack.co.nz
TikTok: drinkshnack
Instagram: drinkshnack

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.

The Unchartered Territory Podcast comes out across all podcast players with a new episode every month. 

In this episode of Lessons in Global Brand Building with Unchartered Territory, Oli Russell-Cowan sits down with BAFTA-winning TV chef, rapper and cultural icon Big Zuu, co-founder of Drip, the UK’s fastest-growing lifestyle water brand.

From grime and youth work to prime time TV and brand building, Zuu shares how his journey led to creating Drip: a water brand born from music, sport, and street culture that’s now making waves globally.

We dive into:

• The founding story of Drip and Zuu’s role as both co-founder and cultural amplifier
• How Drip is disrupting a stale bottled water market to become the water of sport
• Lessons on building a lifestyle brand that connects authentically with communities
• Why cultural relevance – from festivals to sports is key to global expansion

Whether you’re a founder, marketer, or just love hearing how culture shapes brands, this is a masterclass in building a movement, not just a product.

You can follow what Big Zuu is up to on Instagram

Connect with Drip
Website: thedrip.vip
TikTok: itsdripwater
Instagram: itsdripwater

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.

The Unchartered Territory Podcast comes out across all podcast players with a new episode every month. 

Welcome aboard the Unchartered Territory Podcast. In our maiden voyage, Captain of Cult Indoctrination Oli Russell-Cowan (ex-Director of Lifestyle Marketing at Liquid Death) drops anchor with none other than Ben Dando, Admiral of the Fleet at UT and former MD International at Liquid Death.

Together, they chart the wild waters of global brand building. From Liquid Death’s explosive international expansion to the creative chaos behind its most talked about marketing moves. From launching in new markets and navigating cultural nuances, to creating viral creative campaigns and building a fearless brand identity, this conversation dives deep into what it takes to make a brand cut through globally. Ben shares stories, lessons learnt and actionable insights on brand development, strategy and consumer engagement, all through the lens of Liquid Death’s rise and the formation of Unchartered Territory.

Whether you're a founder, marketer, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with takeaways on storytelling, risk-taking and creating culturally resonant brands that scale.

You can follow what Ben Dando is up to on LinkedIn

Connect with Unchartered Territory
Website: Unchartered Territory
LinkedIn: Unchartered Territory
Instagram: unchartered_agency

Like what you hear?  Please consider subscribing on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and leave a short review. It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference.

The Unchartered Territory Podcast comes out across all podcast players with a new episode every month. 

This episode reflects personal experiences and public information only. It does not represent the views of Liquid Death or any affiliated company. No confidential or disparaging information is shared.

Welcome to Unchartered Territory

This is your boarding call. Unchartered Territory is the podcast for founders, creators and brand builders ready to make waves.

Hosted by Oli Russell-Cowan, co-founder of global brand building agency Unchartered Territory, this show dives into the bold, unfiltered stories behind cult favourite consumer brands and the visionaries who launched them.

Each episode is packed with real talk, strategy, ambition and a dose of playful rebellion because playing it safe won’t build a legacy.

Subscribe now and join us as we navigate what it takes to build a brand that doesn’t just survive the storm it creates one.

This week, we bring you our biggest episode yet, featuring Ben Dando, who at the time of recording was the Managing Director of International for Liquid Death, the groundbreaking water brand disrupting the beverage industry. Since then, Ben has launched his own venture, Unchartered Territory, an agency helping drinks brands expand internationally. What’s inside this unmissable episode: - ⚡ The Liquid Death Phenomenon: Behind the edgy branding, hilarious marketing, and $1.4 billion valuation of a company that’s reshaping how we think about water. - 🌍 Global Expansion Secrets: How Ben led Liquid Death’s entry into international markets, including partnerships with festivals, influencers, and major retailers like Tesco and Sainsbury’s. - 🚀 From Consultant to Industry Leader: Ben’s transition from consulting to spearheading Liquid Death’s international strategy, and how this inspired his new venture, Unchartered Territory. - 🍻 Lessons for Entrepreneurs: Insights on investment, hiring top talent, navigating cultural differences in new markets, and overcoming challenges in the ultra-competitive beverage industry. - 🤘 Disruptive Branding Done Right: How Liquid Death leverages comedy, creativity, and controversy to stay ahead of the curve. Whether you're a brand builder, marketing enthusiast, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with inspiration and actionable takeaways. Tune in now to learn how Ben and Liquid Death are rewriting the rules of global branding! 🎧

Follow us: https://linktr.ee/chin_wag With thanks to our sponsor, Profile who turn entrepreneurs into industry leaders. Check them out at www.welcometoprofile.com