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What does it really take to build a cult brand in a trend-driven industry?

In this episode of Where Brands Get Their Edge, Borzou and Amanda sit down with Amir Mostafavi, founder of South Block, to unpack how a local smoothie shop grew into a 21-location brand by obsessing over product, culture, and community.

From pioneering açaí bowls on the East Coast to building a leadership-first company culture, Amir shares the real lessons behind scaling without losing the vibe. They talk about why aesthetics now matter as much as macros, how Gen Z “eats with their eyes,” why data can ruin good marketing, and how purpose needs to be lived, not marketed.

If you’re a founder or marketer trying to grow without becoming generic, this episode is for you.

Guest

Amir Mostafavi
Founder, South Block
Website: https://southblockjuice.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southblock

Topics Covered

• How South Block grew from one shop to 21 locations
• Why product alone isn’t enough to build a lasting brand
• Community-first branding and culture at scale
• Gen Z, Instagrammable food, and visual-first marketing
• Protein, creatine, and functional food trends
• Leadership mistakes founders make when scaling
• Why grassroots marketing beats pure data-driven decisions

Connect with us:

Borzou – ⁠Instagram⁠ & ⁠LinkedIn⁠

Amanda – ⁠LinkedIn⁠

And give some love to our sponsor ⁠NickelBronx⁠

Brand strategy, websites, and content for companies that want a real edge.

Thanks for tuning in to Where Brands Get Their Edge, brought to you by Nickel Bronx.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review—it helps other brand builders like you discover the show.

Want more insights? Visit nickelbronx.com for brand strategy tips and tools to help your business stand out.

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Bermuda isn’t a tax haven, a loophole, or a shortcut—and that’s exactly why serious founders are paying attention.

Connect with our Hosts:

Borzou: 

 https://www.instagram.com/bronxzou/

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/borzou/

Amanda: LinkedIn

 https://www.linkedin.com/in/akfischer/

And give some love to our sponsor: https://nickelbronx.com/

In this episode of Where Brands Get Their Edge, Borzou Azabdaftari and Amanda Fisher sit down with Anthony Howell, Bermuda’s Overseas Representative and Director of the Washington, DC Office, to break down what actually makes Bermuda a credible global business hub.

We cover:

• What “regulatory clarity” really means in plain English
• Why Bermuda attracts fintech, insurance, and digital asset companies
• Why Bermuda is intentionally not for underfunded or bad-actor startups
• Headquarters vs subsidiary vs satellite office strategies
• How Bermuda compares to Dubai, Singapore, and other global hubs
• The lifestyle, talent, and long-term trust advantages founders care about
• And yes—the truth about the Bermuda Triangle

If you’re a founder thinking globally and building for the long term—not looking for shortcuts—this episode is for you.

Thanks for tuning in to Where Brands Get Their Edge, brought to you by Nickel Bronx.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review—it helps other brand builders like you discover the show.

Want more insights? Visit nickelbronx.com for brand strategy tips and tools to help your business stand out.

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Domino’s just dropped a new logo, new packaging, and a fresh jingle… but did they actually take a risk or just turn the saturation up a notch?

In this episode of Where Brands Get Their Edge, Borzou and Amanda break down Domino’s latest brand evolution: the brighter blues, the refined logo, the “mmm” sonic branding, and the Shaboozey jingle that lasts about as long as a TikTok. They debate whether this is a smart, subtle refresh for a brand with massive equity—or a missed opportunity to tie real brand change to real product or experience upgrades.

Connect with our Hosts:

Borzou: 
 https://www.instagram.com/bronxzou/
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/borzou/

Amanda: LinkedIn
 https://www.linkedin.com/in/akfischer/

And give some love to our sponsor: https://nickelbronx.com/

They also get into:

• The thin line between evolutionary and way too safe rebrands
• How Domino’s used to compete with Pizza Hut—and who they’re really competing with now
• Why packaging and boxes might be doing more storytelling than the logo
• The missed chances around using actual dominoes (hello, falling tile visuals)
• Why the best rebrands are tied to real operational or product improvements

If you care about fast food, big brands, or how to evolve your logo without tanking your brand equity, this one’s for you.

You’ll learn:

• When a subtle brand evolution makes sense—and when it’s a cop-out
• How color shifts and packaging design change consumer perception
• Why jingles and sonic branding matter more than ever
• How to launch a rebrand so it doesn’t just… quietly exist

Follow Where Brands Get Their Edge for more real-talk brand breakdowns, not agency fluff.

Thanks for tuning in to Where Brands Get Their Edge, brought to you by Nickel Bronx.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review—it helps other brand builders like you discover the show.

Want more insights? Visit nickelbronx.com for brand strategy tips and tools to help your business stand out.

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Whether you plan to sell your company or die at your desk, you’re going to exit one way or another.

In this episode, Borzou sits down with Jessica Fialkovich, founder of Exit Factor and author of Getting the Most for Selling Your Business, who’s overseen more than 1,500 business sales.

They break down:

• Why 95% of exits are unplanned
• How burnout kills business value
• The 3 things every company should give you: time, money, and freedom
• The “four roles” founders need to replace to stop being the bottleneck
• How revenue is vanity and profit is sanity
• What really drives your company’s valuation

This one’s a masterclass in building a business that gives you freedom today and value tomorrow.

Grab Jessica’s book The Exit Factor and connect with her on Insta and LinkedIn.
The Exit Factor Book: 

Connect with our Hosts:

Borzou
Amanda: 

Thanks for tuning in to Where Brands Get Their Edge, brought to you by Nickel Bronx.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review—it helps other brand builders like you discover the show.

Want more insights? Visit nickelbronx.com for brand strategy tips and tools to help your business stand out.

Send us a text

From Reality Bites to Lululemon logos—style used to signal subcultures. Now algorithms and fast fashion flattened the look. What didn’t flatten? How generations buy. In this episode, we map platforms and messaging that convert Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha—without watering down your brand.

Connect with the Hosts!

Borzou: Instagram & LinkedIn

Amanda: LinkedIn

And give some love to our sponsor: NickelBronx

In This Episode:

• Why fashion looks the same—and how culture moved from tribes → trends
• Platforms that matter by generation (and how often to show up)
• Copy & creative that land: status/benefit framing vs purpose/community invitations
• The underrated workhorses: email, FAQs/objections, and consistent brand voice

Action Steps:

1. Choose one channel per target generation and commit for 90 days
2. Build a 10-item FAQ that mirrors real objections by cohort
3. Audit your handles/biography/offer → unify naming + voice across platforms

Tags/Keywords: generational marketing, Gen Z marketing, Millennial buyers, brand purpose, community marketing, email marketing, platform strategy

Thanks for tuning in to Where Brands Get Their Edge, brought to you by Nickel Bronx.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review—it helps other brand builders like you discover the show.

Want more insights? Visit nickelbronx.com for brand strategy tips and tools to help your business stand out.

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Search is changing — and it’s changing fast. Instead of endless Google results, AI tools are delivering one answer. If your brand isn’t optimized for AEO and GEO, you risk disappearing.

In this episode, Borzou and Amanda unpack:

• The rise of AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimization)
• Why traditional SEO still matters — and how it overlaps with AI search
• 3 actionable steps to take today:
  1. Google yourself & clean up your top results
  2. Unify your brand across all platforms (same handles, same voice)
  3. Add FAQ-style content to your website for AI and voice search

Plus, we share bonus tips on schema markup, social proof, and PR that can elevate your brand in AI-driven search engines.

If you’re serious about being found in 2025 and beyond, this episode is a must-listen.

Thanks for tuning in to Where Brands Get Their Edge, brought to you by Nickel Bronx.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review—it helps other brand builders like you discover the show.

Want more insights? Visit nickelbronx.com for brand strategy tips and tools to help your business stand out.

Send us a text

Marketing in 2025 is noisy, but there’s one thing that still works: consistency.

In this episode, Borzou and Amanda talk with Joe Fuld, founder of The Campaign Workshop, about what’s really working for businesses, advocacy groups, and entrepreneurs trying to reach their audience. Joe has been running smart campaigns since 2013, building an email list with a 65% open rate, and experimenting with everything from webinars to interactive content.

We cover:

• Why smaller, engaged lists beat vanity metrics.
• How to keep your community hooked with personality and authenticity.
• The surprising power of webinars and interactive assessments.
• Where LinkedIn outshines Instagram (and why Facebook ads still sneak through).
• How to think about AI—not as a shortcut, but as a strategic tool.

Joe also shares candid insights on stand-up comedy, authenticity in marketing, and why being thoughtful and consistent beats chasing every trend.

🔗 Connect with Joe at thecampaignworkshop.com

🔗 Follow Borzou & Amanda for more insights on building brands that scale:

Borzou: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/borzou/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bronxzou/

Amanda on LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/akfischer/

Thanks for tuning in to Where Brands Get Their Edge, brought to you by Nickel Bronx.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review—it helps other brand builders like you discover the show.

Want more insights? Visit nickelbronx.com for brand strategy tips and tools to help your business stand out.

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Hosts Borzou and Amanda sit down with South Florida hairstylists Francesca and Zach to talk about building more than just great hair—they’re building a brand.

In this episode, we cover how social media reels bring in real clients, why engagement beats follower count, and how clear values and bold risks can grow a business. Whether you’re in beauty or any small business, Francesca and Zach’s story shows how passion and branding create customers for life.

Thanks for tuning in to Where Brands Get Their Edge, brought to you by Nickel Bronx.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review—it helps other brand builders like you discover the show.

Want more insights? Visit nickelbronx.com for brand strategy tips and tools to help your business stand out.

Send us a text

In this episode, ⁠⁠Borzou⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Amanda⁠⁠ discuss the rapid advancements in AI technology and its implications, particularly focusing on AI's self-preservation behaviors. They then transition to the role of HR in shaping company culture and branding, emphasizing the importance of empathy and transparency in HR practices with ⁠Sarika Lamont,⁠ the VP of People at Vidyard, shares her insights on integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into business practices, arguing that these values should be inherent in all organizational processes rather than treated as separate initiatives.

Takeaways

• AI is evolving rapidly, raising concerns about self-preservation.
• The pace of technological change is overwhelming for many.
• Empathy in HR is crucial for balancing business needs and employee care.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion should be integrated into all business practices.
• Transparency and honesty are key in HR communications.
• The recruitment process can reflect a company's brand positively.
• AI can enhance human connection rather than diminish it.
• Culture is built on respect and autonomy, not just perks.
• HR should evolve beyond traditional practices to meet modern needs.
• Empathy does not mean giving in to every demand; it involves understanding and educating.

Thanks for tuning in to Where Brands Get Their Edge, brought to you by Nickel Bronx.If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review—it helps other brand builders like you discover the show.Want more insights? Visit ⁠nickelbronx.com⁠ for brand strategy tips and tools to help your business stand out.

Thanks for tuning in to Where Brands Get Their Edge, brought to you by Nickel Bronx.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review—it helps other brand builders like you discover the show.

Want more insights? Visit nickelbronx.com for brand strategy tips and tools to help your business stand out.

Send us a text

Hosts: 

Borzou: https://www.instagram.com/bronxzou/ 

Amanda: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akfischer/

Guest: 

Nema Semnani: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nemasemnani/

In this conversation, the hosts discuss the implications of Meta's new AI app, privacy concerns, and the role of AI in social isolation. They explore generational perspectives on technology, the challenges of aligning sales and marketing teams, and the importance of empathy and communication in fostering collaboration. The discussion also touches on the adoption of AI in sales, effective strategies for using AI in marketing, and the significance of feedback versus advice in team dynamics. Finally, they conclude with valuable sales advice emphasizing the human element in sales interactions.

Takeaways:

• Meta's new AI app raises privacy concerns.
• AI should not replace human connections.
• Sales and marketing teams often lack alignment.
• Empathy is crucial for collaboration between teams.
• Role reversal can enhance understanding between sales and marketing.
• Incentives should align for both sales and marketing teams.
• AI adoption in sales is influenced by team dynamics.
• Effective use of AI can improve marketing strategies.
• Feedback should focus on advice for improvement.
• The human element is essential in sales interactions.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Weather Banter

02:44 Meta's New AI App and Privacy Concerns

05:36 AI Friends vs. Human Connections

08:15 The Future of AI and Society

09:05 Sales and Marketing Alignment

18:16 Empathy in Sales and Marketing Roles

19:56 The Importance of Revenue and Profitability

21:24 Adoption of AI in Sales Teams

26:27 Effective AI Implementation Strategies

33:39 Communication and Alignment Between Sales and Marketing

38:42 The Human Element in Sales

42:15 Outro_Animation.mp4

Thanks for tuning in to Where Brands Get Their Edge, brought to you by Nickel Bronx.

If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review—it helps other brand builders like you discover the show.

Want more insights? Visit nickelbronx.com for brand strategy tips and tools to help your business stand out.