Hi. We’re Josh and Ian, and we work in creative branding. What’s that you ask?
Well it’s not marketing. Except it sorta is.
And it’s definitely not advertising. Except advertising wouldn’t exist without it.
And it has nothing to do with sales, PR, communications, lead generation or talent acquisition.
Except you can find our work in all of that.
Yes, the world of creative branding is messy, misunderstood and often maligned—and that’s why we’re here. To give voice to our community. To debate, dispute and discuss. To share opinions. To drop F-bombs. To give a shit.
This is The Brand Muffin.
This is our creative.
This is getting long. Ugh, copywriters…
He had the swagger. He had the spotlight. He had the NIL deals. So why did Shedeur Sanders fall all the way to the 5th round in the NFL Draft?
In this episode, we unpack the brand that was built ar…
When Adobe joined Bluesky, they weren't expecting a curse from Ra. But that's exactly what they got—and a whole lot more. In this episode, we dive into how a simple “hello” post became the flashpoint…
In today’s polarized world, silence isn’t just golden—it might be dangerous. But should brands step into the fray, or is neutrality the smartest move?
Some say taking a stand builds loyalty, while…
Numbers or instincts? Analytics or audacity?
On this episode, we’re diving into the ultimate creative showdown: data vs. intuition. From Netflix betting big on Stranger Things to Nike’s game-changin…
From the godfather of gangsta rap to the golden boy of the Olympics—how did Snoop Dogg manage to reinvent himself so completely? In this episode, we dive deep into Snoop’s incredible brand evolution—…
Is Nike's latest ad campaign for the Olympics too honest? In this episode, we delve into the controversial spot that has everyone talking.
The sportswear giant has blown up the internet with its "W…
In advertising, the next big idea is sometimes just a green initiative. So in this episode, we ask: Is regenerative branding the future, or just a recycled trend?
From Patagonia’s activism to Micros…
Spend just a few minutes on your favorite social platform, and it feels like every other post is a sponsored ad from yet another influencer. So, is this the pinnacle of customer engagement, or just a…
It wasn’t so long ago that if you wanted to do the best work, you went with the big shop. Larger agencies always had the upper hand. More budget. More resources. More three-martini lunches.
But as to…
Yes or no, can brands stay authentic in the era of AI?
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It’s okay. Take your time. We’ve got nowhere to be.
Come along as we ponder the intersection of AI and genuine substance.
Are bran…
The times they are a-changin.'
Bob Dylan said it, so we’re gonna talk about it.
Welcome to the AI era.
The rise of large language models, generative output and multi-modal
engagement is truly up…
Shoot it on GoPro.
Build it with AI.
Hire Jennifer Coolidge.
Too often, creative teams are asked to ideate around a technology, a tool or a talent—
before any thought is given to an actual concept.
We all know that ‘X’ marks the spot. But has it missed the mark?
Twitter’s rebrand is playing out in real-time for all to see. Rarely—if ever—has brand evolution taken place so publicly, and it raise…
We’re swimming in a sea of sameness.
HBO Max recently rebranded as Max—and adopted a blue color scheme for its application tile.
Just like DirecTV. And Prime Video. And Paramount+. And Disney+. And C…
We’re going full cringe with this one.
From Can we do just one more edit?...to We’ve written some headlines to get you started…to the classic, I think we should make the logo bigger—our clients sure…
You’ve come a long way, baby.
That was the slogan in 1968 for Virginia Slims cigarettes, and one could say the same for ad agencies today.
But how far have we come? And have we taken on too much? Are…
There’s creative, and there’s copy. And there’s the problem.
It’s true that black-on-white text isn’t as sexy as the final layout, but words matter.
Copy and design are like PB&J. Or peanut butter a…
Are creative awards worth pursuing? Do the clients actually care? Is it worth enduring a dry chicken dinner just to receive tepid applause from colleagues who wish they were accepting the award inste…
Ah, the almighty Brief. We bow before its importance. We cringe at its construction. We debate its merits, we challenge its purpose and we sure as hell acknowledge its divisive nature.
Without a brie…
“Make us look like Apple”—it’s a phrase creatives hear over and over. So we’re kicking off the podcast with a discussion about Apple’s influence on the creative industry.
How did one brand become the…