Soul & Science: Fast Forward Your Marketing Mind
Soul & Science is an award-winning podcast where marketing’s brightest minds reveal what it takes to build breakthrough brands. Hosted by Jason Harris, each episode explores the balance between brand building (Soul) and business performance (Science). From legacy brands to emerging disruptors, we delve into the insights, culture, and vision behind the most successful brand stories.Soul & Science is a Mekanism podcast produced by Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson, and Lily Jablonski. The show is edited by Daniel Ferreira, with theme music by Kyle Merritt.Brought to you by Mekanism.
Episodes
181 episodes
#90: What Marketers Can Learn from StockX (and Its Sneakerhead Hype Machine) | StockX CMO Nicholas Karrat
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 marketpla…
Mini: What the Adidas Pet Collection Gets Right (and What It Misses)
🐶 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…
#89: Building Brands from the Inside Out | Bryant Brennan, Chief Creative Officer at Fi
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 j…
Mini: The Return of HBO Max
What do you call a streaming service that can’t sit still? Apparently, HBO Max… again. In this Soul & Science mini-episode, Jason unpacks why the HBO brand is o…
#88: Why Purpose Still Matters | Bill Oberlander, Founder & Creative Chairman at OBERLAND
Why does doing good still feel risky in the boardroom even when it’s good for business? In this episode, OBERLAND Founder & Creative Chairman Bill Oberlander jo…
#87: B2B Marketing Shouldn’t Be Boring | Jim Lesser, Chief Brand Officer at ServiceNow
Just because it’s B2B doesn’t mean it has to be boring. This week on Soul & Science, Jason sits down with Jim Lesser, Chief Brand Officer at ServiceNow, the ent…
Mini: Why Do Influencers Start Beverage Brands?
From Prime to Chamberlain Coffee, influencers are making serious moves into the beverage aisle. In this Soul & Science mini-episode, Jason unpacks the rise of c…
Mini: Leadership in Times of Uncertainty
In a world that feels more chaotic by the day, leading with clarity has never been harder — or more important. In this Soul & Science mini-episode, Jason explor…
The Soul & Science of Culture | Best-Selling Author Dr. Marcus Collins (2024)
From TikTok trends to viral campaigns, brands are constantly trying to tap into culture. But what actually defines culture — and how can brands engage with it i…
Mini: Literature is Fashion’s Newest Muse
What do J.Crew, Tiffany & Co., and Prada all have in common? They’re falling in love with the written word. In this Soul & Science mini-episode, Jason explores…
Mini: How Trump's Tariffs Are Reshaping Brand Marketing
What do Trump’s new tariffs have to do with your brand strategy? A lot. In this Soul & Science mini-episode, Jason breaks down how the latest wave of tariffs is…
#86: AI vs. Human Creativity: Why Brands Still Resist the Future | Fredrik Thomassen, Co-founder & CEO of Superside
Why are brands still hesitant to embrace AI in creative work—even when it delivers faster, cheaper, and often better results? In this episode, Superside co-foun…
Mini: Why CMOs Get Fired
CMOs have the shortest lifespan of any C-suite executive. Why? In this Soul & Science mini-episode, Jason breaks down insights from a recent Adweek article , ex…
#85: The Art of Executive Coaching | Rob Schwartz, Executive Coach, on Leading with Vision (Part 2)
How do you go from leading an agency to coaching the next generation of leaders? In Part 2 of our conversation, Rob Schwartz—former CEO of TBWA\Chiat\Day and no…
#84: From Creative to CEO | Rob Schwartz, Executive Coach, on Leading with Vision (Part 1)
How do you turn creative vision into leadership success—and inspire a team to grow through disruption? This week, Jason dives into the Soul & Science of Creativ…
The Science Behind Ads That Truly Connect | Pranav Yadav, Neuro-Insight Founder and Global CEO
What if the secret to creating ads that truly connect isn’t in what people say, but in what their brains reveal? Pranav Yadav, founder and global CEO of Neuro-I…
#83: Innovative Partnership | Dustin Baker & Maya French, Co-founders of HappyPop
This week, Jason explores The Soul & Science of Entrepreneur Partnerships with Dustin Baker and Maya French, co-founders of HappyPop. As the driving forces behi…
#82: Chemistry in Collaboration | Stephen Boehler, Founder at Mercer Island Group
What’s the secret to building lasting and successful partnerships? This week, we dive into the Soul & Science of agency-client relationships with Stephen Boehle…
#81: Disrupt and Scale | Erika Badan, CEO at Food52
Let's talk about the Soul & Science of disrupting an industry and scaling a business. This week, Jason sits down with Erika Badan, CEO of Food52, to discuss her…
General Mills Chief Brand & Disruptive Growth Officer Douglas Martin | What Makes a $50 Million Business Idea
This week, we’re throwing it back to a classic episode that won us not one, but two Signal Awards. Douglas Martin, Chief Brand and Disruptive Growth Officer at…
Mini: What happened? From Brat Summer to Fascist Fall
There’s just one day left before the election, and Kamala Harris has recently intensified her critique of Donald Trump, calling out his "unstable" and "fascist"…
Mini: The Future of Influencer Marketing
How is influencer marketing evolving in the creator economy? In today's mini episode, we explore the shift from one-off campaigns to building long-term relation…
#80: Walmart US SVP and CMO William White | The Soul & Science of Retail Marketing
Building a lasting brand is all about balancing long-term strategy with short-term wins. In this episode of the Soul & Science Podcast, Jason sits down with Wil…
#79: The Soul & Science of Standing Out | Chase Jarvis, Artist, Entrepreneur, Director
In this episode of the Soul & Science Podcast, we’re exploring what it means to find your creative voice with a person who has built a legacy on taking calculat…
Mini: The Four Business Orientations
In today’s mini episode, we explore the core business orientations that shape how companies sell and market their products. We break down the four key approache…
#78: The Soul & Science of Strategy Design | CEO of Sweathead Mark Pollard
In today’s episode of the Soul & Science Podcast, we’re talking to Mark Pollard, brand strategist, CEO of Sweathead, host of the Sweathead Podcast and author of…
Mini: Mekanism’s New Values
Is it time to update your company values? In today’s mini episode, we dive into why values matter and we’ll share the six new guiding principles at Mekanism. Fr…
#77: The Soul & Science of Marketing Innovation | Mark-Hans Richer, Global CMO & SVP of Direct Commerce at Fortune Brands Home & Security
In this episode of the Soul & Science Podcast, we explore balancing business results and creative innovation in global brand building with the Global Chief Mark…
#76: The Soul & Science of Gen Z | JUV Consulting Founder Ziad Ahmed
In this episode of the Soul & Science Podcast, the founder of JUV Consulting, Ziad Ahmed joins us to teach us how to truly connect with your Gen Z audience. You…
Mini: Do CMOs make the best CEOs?
Have you ever wondered if Chief Marketing Officers have what it takes to lead as CEOs? In this mini episode, we uncover four powerful reasons why CMOs might be…
#75: The Soul & Science of Major League Eating | George Shea, Founder of Shea Communications
Beyond his role as the over-the-top showman and host of Nathan's Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, George Shea is a seasoned marketin…
New Balance CMO Chris Davis | 116 Years Young - Inside New Balance’s Brand Transformation
Have you been watching the olympics? We certainly have been here at the Mekanism offices, and it’s inspired us to revisit this amazing conversation with New Bal…
#74: The Soul & Science of Talent | The New York Times Chief Human Resource Officer Jacqueline Welch
Today on the Soul & Science podcast, we’re sitting down with Jacqueline Welch, Chief Human Resource Officer at the New York Times to get the inside scoop on wha…
#73: The Soul & Science of Multicultural Marketing | Co-Founder of AIMM Carlos Santiago
In this episode of the Soul & Science podcast, Carlos Santiago Co-Founder at The Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing or AIMM is joining us to exp…
#72: The Soul & Science of Community Engagement | Founder and CEO of Gay Water Spencer Hoddeson
In this episode of the Soul & Science podcast, Founder and CEO of ready-to-drink cocktail brand Gay Water Spencer Hoddeson is joining us to teach us why stellar…
#71: The Soul & Science of Re-wilding | Director of Marketing and Brand for Re:wild Carrie Hutchison
In this episode of the Soul & Science podcast, we are joined by Carrie Hutchison, the Director of Marketing and Brand at Re:wild. Re:wild is an environmental or…
Olipop Co-Founder & President David Lester | Breaking Your Way to Better Outcomes (2022)
This week, we're revisiting our inspiring conversation with David Lester, Co-founder at Olipop. There’s an alchemy to relationships, including the ones between…
OWYN CMO Julia Perez | Be In Love With Your Industry (2023)
This week, we're revisiting our amazing conversation with Julia Perez, CMO at OWYN from May 2023. Julia is a New York born, Miami-based marketing executive with…
#70: The Soul & Science of Starting a Movement | Founder of The Complaint Free Movement Will Bowen
In this episode, we look into the Soul & Science of starting a movement. Small actions done consistently can have profound effects on our lives. The real challe…
Mini: 5 Laws of New Business
Why do some pitches soar while others flop? Today, we talk about the secrets of successful client pitches with the five laws of new business. From strategic sel…
#69: The Soul & Science of Mindfulness | Dan Harris, ABC Journalist and Author
It’s easy to get lost in the details of those everyday small inconveniences – what’s for dinner tonight, that looming deadline, whether or not your joke landed…
Mini: Repurposing Your Great Ideas
What do you do with a great idea that your client didn't want? Toss it? Or keep it? In today’s mini episode, we tackle the dilemma of rejected concepts. Discove…
#68: The Soul & Science of Culture | Best-Selling Author Dr. Marcus Collins
This week on the Soul & Science podcast, we take a look at the power of culture and consumption. Take the rise of social media marketing as an example of consum…
Mini: Why Unexpected Ideas Win
What’s the true value of breaking free from conventional marketing mediums? In this week’s mini episode, we delve into some unconventional branding strategies t…
#67: The Soul & Science of Life Coaching | Lauren Zander, CEO of The Handel Group
At some point in their career, everyone has had to answer the dreaded interview question: “Where do you see yourself in the next five years?” You might have a w…
Mini: Rules for a Rebrand
Ever wondered about the secrets behind a successful rebrand? Today, we'll unravel three essential rules for transforming your brand identity. From finding your…
#66: The Soul & Science of Airlines | Alaska Airlines Managing Director of Marketing and Advertising Eric Edge
Modern-day flying has become more of a chore than an adventure. If you’ve read any headlines about the airline industry in recent years, it’s clear that many cu…
Mini: Winning PR Strategies
How crucial to your brand’s success is PR really? Today, we’re talking about the four main reasons you need to invest in your PR strategy. Amplified media cover…
#65: GIPHY Editor In Chief, Tyler Menzel | The Soul & Science of GIFs
What’s your favorite GIF? Today, we’re sitting down with the Editor-in-Chief at GIPHY, Tyler Menzel. With a passion for creativity, authenticity, and the power…
Mini: Navigating AI
We all know that AI has reshaped the landscape of marketing and advertising forever. But how familiar are you with generative vs. predictive AI? This week, we’r…
#64: An End To Rise and Grind Culture | Todd Anderson, Founder of Dream Recovery
Rise and grind or work yourself into the ground? In the past few years, a sole focus on constant productivity and hustle has spread throughout the world of mark…
Mini: Three Laws to Live By
When you’re presented with a problem, how do you go about solving it? This week, we introduce three powerful laws that can transform the way you tackle challeng…
Girl Scouts of the USA CMO Jocelyn Johnson | Learn, Earn, Return (2023)
This week, in honor of Women’s History Month, we’re re-sharing an amazing conversation from last summer where we spoke with Jocelyn Johnson. Jocelyn is a proud…
Mini: What makes a brand partnership work?
What makes a brand partnership align or clash? In this episode, we talk about how collaborations between brands, whether similar or vastly different, can skyroc…
#63: The Future of the Ad Agency Network | Brett Marchand, CEO at Plus Company
The marketing world is a constantly changing field. From the introduction of different mediums to the evolution of technology like AI, the only constant I can e…
Mini: How important is company culture?
Is company culture the secret sauce that sets thriving businesses apart? From the inception of Mekanism, culture has been paramount, shaping behaviors and inter…
#62: Simplifying the Wellness Sector | Ned Co-founder Adriaan Zimmerman
When it comes to marketing wellness products, a lot of brands make a lot of big claims. But how do consumers figure out who to trust and what’s best for them? T…
Mini: When is a Super Bowl Ad Worth It?
Ever wondered if a $7M Super Bowl spot is worth the investment? Join me on a special mini-episode of the Soul & Science Podcast as I delve into the power of the…
#61: A Purpose Beyond Profits | Lindsay Harris, Chief Purpose Officer at Tombras
All companies have a purpose. For most, it’s turning a profit and increasing overall value. However, today’s definition of value is changing. More and more cust…
#60: David Yurman CMO Carolyn Dawkins | The Value of Story in Luxury
When it comes to marketing a luxury brand, the brand is queen and storytelling is king. This week, I spoke with Carolyn Dawkins, CMO at David Yurman, where she…