BRANDED
BRANDED is the podcast where bold ideas meet brilliant minds. From the unconventional marketing of Liquid Death to the visionary leadership of Nike’s former CMO, we uncover the stories behind the world’s most iconic brands. Hosted by top industry leaders, BRANDED takes you behind the scenes to explore the strategies, risks, and creative sparks that make brands stand out. Whether you’re a seasoned marketer, a business enthusiast, or just curious about the magic behind the labels, BRANDED delivers insights and inspiration in every episode.
Show episodes
How do you scale a beloved burger brand without losing the heart that made it special? In this episode of Branded, host Ben Kaplan speaks with Chris Dull, President and CEO of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. Chris opens up about the balancing act of fast growth and genuine hospitality—sharing how Freddy’s has e
How does a global giant like IKEA stay affordable, sustainable, and deeply personal—all at once? In this episode of Branded, host Ben Kaplan sits down with Belen Frau, a senior global leader at IKEA who’s helped shape the brand from the inside out. With over 20 years at the company, Belen shares how IKEA's democratic
What does it take to make a 150-year-old bank feel like a startup? In this episode of Branded, host Ben Kaplan talks with Shruti Patel, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer for Business Banking at US Bank, about reinventing customer experience in one of the most regulated industries on the planet. From AI
What do you ask a man who’s helped shape the future of both education and technology? In this episode of Branded, host Ben Kaplan sits down with John Hennessy—former President of Stanford University and current Chairman of Alphabet (yes, the Google one)—for a rare conversation about leadership, innovation, and what it
In this episode of Branded, hosted by Ben Kaplan, we sit down with Camilla Matias, COO of Brex, to unpack the bold decisions, hard-earned lessons, and unconventional thinking behind one of FinTech’s most remarkable scale-ups. Camilla joined Brex when it was a scrappy startup solving one problem: helping fellow founders
In this powerful episode of BRANDED, host Ben Kaplan speaks with Maryam Banikarim—former Global CMO at Hyatt Hotels, co-founder of NYC Next, and the visionary behind The Longest Table. Maryam shares her inspiring journey, navigating a non-linear career path defined by pivots, purpose, and resilience, ultimately becomin
