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Album 8 Track 23: Minding the Gap: Chief Digital Officer...w/ Jenna Flateman Posner In this episode of Brands, Beats, and Bytes, Jenna Posner (CEO of Chief Digital Agency and former CDO of Snipes) unpacks the rapidly evolving intersection of technology, retail, and consumer behavior. Jenna explains the hidden math behind retail acquisitions, how her digital team disrupted the sneaker bot aftermarket, and why Nike’s shift away from wholesale retailers backfired. For modern marketers, Jenna delivers a masterclass on the rise of Agentic Commerce (AEO/GEO), predicting the decline of traditional websites and explaining why businesses must bridge the growing chasm between IT and Marketing to survive. Key Takeaways: The Rise of Agentic CommerceThe Return of the CDOThe Math Behind AcquisitionsNike’s DTC StumbleCareer Growth & Trusting Your GutDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd! Instagram | LinkedIn

Album 8 Track 22: Long Live Brand, If the Spreadsheet Don't Kill It First. w/Lead Human The CMO title is vanishing, and CEOs are losing confidence in marketing's ability to drive growth. How did we get here, and what can marketing leaders do to reclaim their power? In this special collaborative episode, the hosts of Lead Human (Tim Spengler and Jack Myers) join forces with the Brands, Beats & Bytes crew (former Coca-Cola execs Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry Taman). Together, they break down the "State of the State" in marketing through a three-act structure: Just the Facts, The So What, and The Now What. Listen as they debate the commoditization of media buying, the massive $350 billion AI investments by tech giants, and why authentic emotional connections remain a brand's greatest asset. Whether you're a seasoned executive or an aspiring CMO, this unrehearsed, high-energy conversation delivers the insights you need to ensure the spreadsheet doesn't kill the brand. Key takeaways -  Why only 36% of Fortune 500 companies have a named CMO.How Apple’s 1997 "Think Different" campaign holds the secret to beating procurement commoditization.Why brands must own the relationship with AI to protect consumer trust.How combining sales analytics with brand health metrics secures a CMO's seat at the table.Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd! Instagram | LinkedIn

Hey Brand Nerds, we are back with a Most Influence Remix! In our careers, we typically don't make it to where we are alone. We give our guests the opportunity to shoutout someone (or multiple people) who has/have had a great influence on them - and we are rarely not moved by the answers we hear.  Check out some of our favorites from five of our former guests:1. Rick Hayduk2. Katie Casey3. Jack Mudd4. Wendy Martin5. Josh Ball  #marketing #advertising #branding #digitalmarketing #media #socialmedia #brandsbeatsbytes #cmo #mostproudof

Hey Brand Nerds, we are back with a Most Proud of Remix! Our guests take us into what they are most proud of - and the cool thing is - most involve the impact on others or how the people in their lives are what they are most proud of.  Check out some of our favorites from five of our former guests:1. Ivan Juzang2. Paige Young3. Scott Robinson4. LaDonna Gooden5. Jodi Anderson Jr.  #marketing #advertising #branding #digitalmarketing #media #socialmedia #brandsbeatsbytes #cmo #mostproudof

Hey Brand Nerds, we are back with a Tech Remix! Each of today's guests are approaching the conversation about AI from four different angles - all which we should know and consider!  Check out some of our favorites from four of our former guests:1. Sheldon Poon2. Jack Myers3. Todd Putman4. Noel Cottrell  #marketing #advertising #branding #digitalmarketing #media #socialmedia #brandsbeatsbytes #cmo #brandlove

Hey Brand Nerds, we are back with a Brand Love Remix! Take a listen and see which brands resonate as your favorite too! Check out some of our favorites from four of our former guests:1. Tracy Chamblee2. Seth Matlins3. Dave Prager4. Stephen Greene  #marketing #advertising #branding #digitalmarketing #media #socialmedia #brandsbeatsbytes #cmo #brandlove

Hey Brand Nerds, we are back with a Biggest F-Up Remix! Take a listen to avoid these F-Ups in your own career! Check out some of our favorites from four of our former guests:1. Krista Patterson2. Louis Monoyudis3. Bernard Bell4. Sheldon Poon  #marketing #advertising #branding #digitalmarketing #media #socialmedia #brandsbeatsbytes #cmo #biggestfup

Album 8 Track 21: Educated Rapper of Brand & Business w/Tracy Chamblee On today’s episode of Brands, Beats & Bytes, DC and Larry are joined by Tracy Chamblee, a marketing powerhouse whose career spans P&G, Coca-Cola, Mars Petcare, Georgia-Pacific, and Nixon Medical. Tracy (dubbed by DC as "the educated rapper of business") brings incredible edge, heart, and intellect to the podcast. He opens up about how growing up in a single-parent household in Brooklyn and practicing hip-hop routines kept him focused, ultimately leading to a transformative career path. What you'll learn - Bridging the Divide: Discover how Tracy's 10-year stint in P&G sales gave him the empathy and credibility needed to become a highly effective brand manager at Coca-Cola.Brand Positioning Masterclass: Listen to a fascinating breakdown of the modern soft drink wars. Find out why Pepsi has lost its way in 2026 by jumping from tagline to tagline, and why establishing an ownable, authentic positioning (like Sprite's connection to hip-hop culture) is the only way to survive.Vulnerability in Leadership: Tracy details the three biggest mistakes of his career, teaching leaders why you should never surprise your boss, always trust your strategic instincts to fight for a challenger brand, and lead as a coach rather than a manager.Personal Resilience: Hear the moving story of Tracy’s son, Chaz, fighting back from a catastrophic double knee injury to play his senior year of basketball, a true testament to the grit that defines the Chamblee family.Get ready to learn "the stuff you don't know about the stuff you know." Enjoy! Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd! Instagram | LinkedIn

REMIX: Album 8 Track 8: Mastering the Space Between the Bytes w/Dave Prager Brand Nerds, we are back in the building! Today, we are firmly rooted in the "Bytes" as we welcome Silicon Valley marketing savant and AI founder, Dave Prager. If you are tired of the "get-rich-quick" AI hype and want real, grounded wisdom on how technology intersects with actual human behavior, this episode is for you. Dave’s background is incredibly diverse: he's a former jazz trombonist, a world-wide professional, and a tech marketer who helped drive a computer vision startup all the way to an acquisition by Apple. Now, he's the brain behind Inner Pitch, an AI-driven prospect intelligence service. In this conversation, Dave argues that the automation era is making marketing worse by training us to chase algorithms instead of understanding people. We explore how true mastery, whether in photography, jazz, writing, or coding, is found in the "negative space" and the "notes you don't play." Key Takeaways: The Illusion of BrandThe Rhythm of CopyTechnology Cannot Fix Bad StrategyAI Must Be Your "Thought Partner"Stop Playing the Volume GameMentioned in this Episode: Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace by Joseph M. Williams  Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd! Instagram | LinkedIn

Album 8 Track 20: Unlocking the Predictive Advantage w/Sheldon Poon What happens when you mix a computer science background, a decade teaching high schoolers, and a philosophy degree? You get today's guest, Sheldon Poon, Founder and CEO of Drive Marketing, a leader driving $10 back for every $1 spent on Meta and Google ad campaigns. In this episode of Brands, Beats & Bytes, Darryl "DC" Cobbin, Larry Taman, and Sheldon Poon examine why the digital marketing playbook shifted 180 degrees. Sheldon explains how modern ad algorithms use 50,000+ data points to identify deep psychographic patterns and why forcing tight demographic boundaries actually destroys your return on ad spend. Plus, Sheldon shares a candid, real-time look at a major business misstep that reshaped how he approaches pipeline growth, agency scaling, and company culture. In today's AI infused world, we know this is an episode you'll enjoy (and learn a lot from) Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd! Instagram | LinkedIn

Album 8 Track 19: How Authentic Positioning Drives Success w/Krista Patterson In this episode of Brands, Beats & Bytes, hosts Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry "LT" Taman welcome positioning expert Krista Patterson, Co-Founder and CEO of Positioning Collective.Drawing from her executive tenure at tech giants like Cisco, ServiceNow, and VMware, Krista reveals why systemic business problems almost always trace back to murky positioning. Krista breaks down the distinction between targeting demographics versus targeting mindset, shares deeply personal stories about overcoming career missteps, and discusses managing high-profile partnerships like F1 McLaren. The conversation tackles modern industry shifts, from why communications leaders must question the ecological footprint of AI infrastructure to how Burger King reclaimed its market share through core positioning. Tune in for a masterclass on brand strategy, authentic leadership, and career growth. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd! Instagram | LinkedIn

Summer Remix: Album 8 Track 12: Win the Room - Accelerate Your Career w/Bernard Bell How do you go from "Step Zero" to a Senior VP role at a major cable network? Bernard Bell, known as "The Confidence Professor," joins the podcast to explain why Executive Presence is the ultimate career accelerator. In this candid conversation, Bernard breaks down the difference between networking and "engaging," the importance of leading like a "shepherd who smells like his sheep," and why culture will always trump strategy. He also shares the high-stakes story of a $55 million programming misstep and the valuable lesson in humility and due diligence it taught him. Tune in to learn how to curate your personal brand and win the room before you ever open your mouth. In this episode, you’ll learn: The F.O.R.M. Framework: A tactical guide to engaging anyone, anywhere.The 8-Slice Pizza of Success: Why your degree is only one slice of your professional value.Ego Management: Why Bernard keeps his ego in his back pocket to lead effectively.The $55 Million Mistake: A vulnerable look at what happens when instinct replaces market research.Whether you're a junior marketer looking for your first break or a Director aiming for the CMO chair, this episode is your blueprint for career acceleration. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd! Instagram | LinkedIn

Summer Remix: Album 8 Track 15: The Currency of Purpose w/Stephen Greene What happens when you mix the power of world-class music, brand partnerships, and community service? You get Rockcorps—a global movement that revolutionized how brands connect with youth.In this episode of Brands, Beats, and Bytes, hosts Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry "LT" Taman sit down with Rockcorps co-founder and CEO, Stephen Greene (SG). Together, they unpack a historic "moment of truth" meeting from 2005 that launched their first national brand partnership with Boost Mobile.   SG shares invaluable insights on how the marketing landscape has shifted, why the artist is now the distribution channel, and how to build an authentic, purpose-driven brand that Gen Z and Millennials will actually rally behind. Whether you are a junior marketer finding your footing or an aspiring CMO looking to lead with values, this episode is a masterclass in creative judgment, cultural taste, and keeping humanity at the center of business.   In this episode, you’ll learn: How to Trade in "The Currency of Purpose"The "Inverse Correlation" Rule of Deal-MakingThe Blueprint for the "Triple Benefit" StrategyHow to Define What is at the "Center" of a BrandDon't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd! Instagram | LinkedIn

Summer Remix: Album 8 Track 9: Accelerating Your Career: Think Two. Act One. w/Kristen Fischbeck Brand Nerds, we are back in the building! Today, we are diving deep into what it takes to achieve professional growth as we sit down with Kristen Fischbeck.  If you are a marketer looking to "compress the timeline" between where you are and where you want to be, this episode is your blueprint. Kristen’s rise is nothing short of meteoric: she joined a boutique agency as an entry-level account coordinator and, in just seven years, navigated every level of the organization to become Managing Partner. Now, she leads strategy for an expansive and impressive portfolio including BMW, Rolls-Royce, and Land Rover.  In this conversation, Kristen breaks down what we are coining the "Think Two. Act One." strategic mindset of thinking two steps ahead while acting on one to master the job you want before you even have the title. We explore the grit required to thrive in your career, the "Ruh-Roh" moments that lead to massive growth, and how AI is currently slashing production costs in half for luxury brands.  Key Takeaways: The 2-1 Rule for Career AccelerationMimic the MasteryThe Space to FailHigh-Octane BrandingAI as a Production Tool Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd! Instagram | LinkedIn

Summer Remix: Album 8 Track 16: Lead with Guts, Accelerate Growth w/Bob Kraut How did a $5 million marketing stunt turn into one of the top 5 marketing ideas of the last 50 years? In this episode of Brands, Beats & Bites, hosts Darryl "DC" Cobbin and Larry "LT" Taman sit down with legendary CMO Bob Kraut (former CMO of Papa John's, Arby's, Pizza Hut, and Captain D's) to pull back the curtain on his iconic career of driving explosive business growth. From orchestrating the famous Oprah Winfrey Pontiac G6 giveaway at General Motors to launching the first-ever iPhone pizza ordering application, Bob shares firsthand stories of what it takes to be an adventurous marketer. We dive deep into: The Famous Oprah Winfrey "You Get a Car!" BackstoryThe Art of the Career PivotMarketing with "Guts"The Problem with Modern AdsIf you are an aspiring CMO, brand manager, or marketing student looking to understand how to balance data-driven left-brain insights with creative right-brain ambition, this masterclass is for you. Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and share with a fellow Brand Nerd! Instagram | LinkedIn