Episodes

  • Mini: Leading with AI: C-Suite Strategies That Work

    Mini: Leading with AI: C-Suite Strategies That Work
    Jul 28 2025
    If you're in the C-suite, it's no longer enough to delegate AI experimentation to mid-level staff. In this Soul & Science mini, we unpack three smart, actionable ways senior leaders can stay sharp in the age of AI—from reverse mentorship to hands-on sprints to rewarding the AI-forward thinkers in your org.This is your leadership playbook for getting off the sidelines and into the AI sandbox.

    ✅ Key Takeaways:
    • Reverse mentorship helps leaders learn directly from internal AI experts.
    • Blocking time for AI experimentation keeps the C-suite hands-on and informed.
    • Rewarding innovation signals that AI curiosity is a company value.
    Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    5 mins
  • #92: When Creative Trust Changes Everything | Kate Torrance, VP of Brand at SickKids & Josh Budd, CCO at Citizen Relations

    #92: When Creative Trust Changes Everything | Kate Torrance, VP of Brand at SickKids & Josh Budd, CCO at Citizen Relations
    Jul 20 2025
    How do you take a hospital’s 150th birthday and make it feel like a city-wide celebration instead of just a line in a press release?

    In this episode, Jason sits down with Kate Torrance, VP and Head of Brand at SickKids, and Josh Budd, Chief Creative Officer at Citizen Relations, to unpack one of the boldest healthcare campaigns in recent memory. They share how SickKids transformed a milestone into a powerful storytelling opportunity through creative risk-taking, clear brand strategy, and a true partnership between client and agency. From crafting 150 stories of impact to launching a hot air balloon over downtown Toronto, Kate and Josh walk through the creative decisions that made it all possible.

    Key Takeaways:
    ✅ Strong partnerships start with trust, not briefs
    ✅ Simple ideas, like balloons, can carry powerful stories
    ✅ Emotional impact comes from authenticity, not pity
    ✅ The best ideas come from looking inward, not just at competitors

    Memorable Moments:
    💡 “It’s not a birthday without balloons.”
    💡 “Some days you wake up with a shovel, some days with a spoon.”
    💡 “If it triggers you, it might mean it’s powerful.”
    💡 “We didn’t just bring an idea. We brought a partnership.”
    💡 “You can break convention if the story is real.”

    Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    39 mins
  • Mini: Don't Let DEI D-I-E

    Mini: Don't Let DEI D-I-E
    Jul 14 2025
    As brands across the country scale back or scrap their DEI initiatives, it’s time to ask: what happened to the values they claimed to stand for? In this short solo episode, we examine the wave of corporate rollbacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion—from Target and Amazon to McDonald’s and Coca-Cola—and what these choices say about brand integrity.

    We’ll dig into:
    • Why DEI isn’t a “nice-to-have,” but a business imperative
    • The backlash companies like Target are facing from consumers and investors alike
    • How younger, more diverse audiences are demanding more from brands
    • Why retreating from DEI can cost you both brand equity and customer loyalty
    Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    4 mins
  • #91: Build Bold. Invest Early. Stay Human. | Ben Lerer, Founder of Thrillist & MP at Lerer Hippeau

    #91: Build Bold. Invest Early. Stay Human. | Ben Lerer, Founder of Thrillist & MP at Lerer Hippeau
    Jul 7 2025
    He built Thrillist. He bet on media. Now Ben Lerer is navigating a world obsessed with AI.

    In this episode, Jason sits down with Ben Lerer, co-founder of Thrillist, creator of Group Nine Media, and now Managing Partner at Lerer Hippeau. They talk about the shifting tides of media, tech, and early-stage investing. From building one of the first great digital brands to navigating the rise of creators, platforms, and AI, Ben shares hard-earned insights on what it takes to survive—and thrive—through disruption.

    Key Takeaways:
    ✅ Media brands chased scale, but the platforms took the audience (and the money)
    ✅ In today’s startup world, no AI in the pitch means something’s off
    ✅ Cost-cutting kills companies; real growth comes from bold bets
    ✅ Great founders—not trends—should guide where you invest

    Memorable Moments:
    💡 “The winners weren’t the publishers—it was the pipes.”
    💡 “We almost named it Ape Alert. That would’ve been a disaster.”
    💡 “If I need a calendar reminder to make a decision, it’s a no.”
    💡 “We believe founders are smarter than us. If we’re around great talent, we’ll end up in interesting markets.”

    Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    35 mins
  • Mini: Launching a Product in Uncertain Times

    Mini: Launching a Product in Uncertain Times
    Jun 30 2025
    Launching a new product is never easy. But doing it during economic uncertainty? That’s a whole different challenge.

    In this mini episode, we explore how today’s shifting landscape—from tariffs to market instability—requires a smarter, more agile approach.Jason shares three core principles that can help entrepreneurs and innovators not just survive, but thrive during turbulent times.

    Key Takeaways:
    • Agility beats the grand reveal
    • Focus on value without slashing prices
    • Harness power of community and brand trust
    Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    5 mins
  • #90: What Marketers Can Learn from StockX (and Its Sneakerhead Hype Machine) | StockX CMO Nicholas Karrat

    #90: What Marketers Can Learn from StockX (and Its Sneakerhead Hype Machine) | StockX CMO Nicholas Karrat
    Jun 23 2025
    Not every brand explodes. Some rise slowly, and win big.

    In this episode, Jason talks with Nicholas Karrat, CMO of StockX, about the Soul & Science of marketplace models—and what it takes to build brand trust, cultural relevance, and business performance at the same time. A veteran marketer with experience across Fortune 100 companies and DTC startups, Nick has held leadership roles at AT&T, Citibank, Plated, Boll & Branch, and Tommy John. Now at the helm of marketing for StockX, he’s focused on staying true to the brand’s core while expanding its reach.

    Key Takeaways:
    ✅ Every channel is both brand and performance—the only difference is timing.
    ✅ Scarcity still drives urgency, but discovery starts earlier than ever.
    ✅ Trust and authentic storytelling beat polish when you’re building for the culture.
    ✅ For trend-driven products, TikTok fuels demand in real time.
    ✅ Great CMOs trust their instincts and adapt with the people on their team.

    Memorable Moments:
    💡 “Everything we do is brand and everything we do is performance, whether you like it or not.”
    💡 “Now you know” isn’t just a tagline. It’s how culture spreads.
    💡 “People and vision beat category and paycheck. Every time.”

    Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    36 mins
  • Mini: What the Adidas Pet Collection Gets Right (and What It Misses)

    Mini: What the Adidas Pet Collection Gets Right (and What It Misses)
    Jun 16 2025
    🐶 Adidas just launched a China-exclusive pet collection—and it’s more than just cute.

    In this Soul & Science mini, Jason unpacks the marketing strategy behind Adidas Originals’ latest capsule: apparel and accessories designed for pets and their owners. Matching outfits? Yes. Global rollout? Not yet.

    For marketers, this launch raises big questions:

    🧠 Is this a clever test-market move or a missed brand moment?
    📍 Why China first—and why not global?
    📱 How could influencer strategy have amplified the rollout?

    Whether you're building brand love or exploring new categories, there's a lot to learn from this bold (and adorable) launch.

    Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    2 mins
  • #89: Building Brands from the Inside Out | Bryant Brennan, Chief Creative Officer at Fi

    #89: Building Brands from the Inside Out | Bryant Brennan, Chief Creative Officer at Fi
    Jun 9 2025
    Creative teams have the most impact when they’re trusted stewards of the brand—not just executors.

    In this episode, Fi’s Chief Creative Officer Bryant Brennan joins Jason Harris to explore the Soul & Science of in-house creativity, product-first marketing, and building brands with staying power.

    From launching Nook at Barnes & Noble to scaling Peloton’s creative team into an award-winning force, Bryant shares how to align teams, collaborate with agencies, and use design to drive results. He also shares how Fi brings those lessons to pet tech—blending emotion, data, and surprising uses of AI.

    What’s Inside:
    ✅ Why internal teams need ownership to succeed
    ✅ What Peloton got right about scaling brand and performance
    ✅ How Fi turns utility into emotional connection
    ✅ The role of AI in creative concepting and brand voice
    ✅ The hallmarks of a truly collaborative agency partnership

    Memorable Moments:
    💡 “You’re building the brand in every execution, big or small.”
    💡 “The best partners care as much about the product as you do.”
    💡 “It’s not that I have to. It’s that I get to.”

    Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    38 mins