How do you keep your brand fresh enough to surprise without veering into chaos—and what can Oreo, KFC, and Sephora teach us about walking that tightrope?

Can a brand really lose its ‘loyalists’ without losing everyone else? Turns out 32 million shoppers and 658 brands say nope.

Drew Bonder joins Ethan to show how brands stick—through story, emotion, and creativity that turns precision into magnetic connection.

With 525,600 marketing metrics out there, here’s the simple way to spot which ones matter—and which are a waste.

Aug 5:-24: Head over to panelpicker.sxsw.com/votefor my talk.

This week on Cover Brand, Ethan talks with novelist Melanie Jennings about going from unknown writer to building a personal brand readers—and publishers—can’t ignore.

If you call a fish ‘slimehead,’ no one buys it—but rename it and suddenly it’s dinner.

Aug 5:-24: Head over topanelpicker.sxsw.com/votefor my talk. Ethan Decker sits down with Chris Barge, Executive Director of the Boulder Library Foundation, to explore how nonprofits can stand out with story, sizzle, and integrity intact.

Aug 5-24: Head over topanelpicker.sxsw.com/votefor my talk.
In this Shop Talk episode of Cover Brand, host Ethan Decker sits down with Priscilla McKinney, founder of Little Bird Marketing to unpack how branding and behavioral science shape B2B decisions—and why even the most ‘rational’ buyers aren’t.

This week brought to you by Tracksuit: we ask: do luxury brands play by the same laws as shampoo and noodles, or are they bricks floating in space?

I sit down with Lindsay Sutula of Top Fox Marketing to tackle how service leaders can grow beyond their personal brand—and build a business that thrives without them.

For decades we’ve preached differentiation—yet the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute says most brands are basically interchangeable.

Host Ethan Decker sits down with Boulder marketer Eric Forsyth to talk agency leadership, client chemistry, and why dull ads cost more than daring ones.

Does 20% of the audience really account for 80% of the viewing—Pareto-style, not Janet Jackson-style?

I sit down with Amelia of The Z Tasty Life to explore how multi-talented creators can focus their message, tell better stories, and grow a brand that’s truly authentic.

If your brand needs a face, who wins—celebs, mascots, or talking carrots? DistinctiveBAT crunched the numbers.

I sit down with Jack and Justin of The Caisson Company to unpack how small B2B builders can win attention, stretch budgets, and grow in a niche market.

This week, we have a new twist. This is the beginning of an article I wrote in partnership with Tracksuit, the brand tracking company.

Host Ethan Decker sits down with branding expert Rocky Longworth to unpack why brand is way more than a logo—and how knowing its real value can change your bottom line.

Ethan Decker sits down with research pro Carol Kauder to dig into what really changes customer behavior—and why nudging loyal buyers is harder than it looks.

Do people really research big-ticket buys more? Kinda—but not nearly as much as you’d think.