Are you a Leader, Follower, or Ghost? | Ep. 315
Release Date: 07/25/2025
The Brands On Brands Podcast
If I had to rebuild my personal brand from zero today, this is exactly what I’d do. In this solo episode, I break down the core principles, decisions, and habits that matter most when starting a personal brand from scratch—without an audience, without momentum, and without overcomplicating it. This isn’t about platforms, hacks, or going viral. It’s about clarity, consistency, and building credibility the right way from day one. 00:00 Starting from Zero: The Ultimate Personal Brand Rebuild 00:49 The Foundation: Clarity Over Niche 01:31 Building Proof: Helping and Documenting 02:25...
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Unlocking Digital Leadership: Embracing Your Online Presence with Kristi Piehl. In this episode, featuring Emmy Award-winning journalist and CEO of Media Minefield, Kristi Piehl, we delve into the critical importance of digital leadership in today's world. Kristi discusses how modern leaders need to be as comfortable with online platforms and social media as past leaders were with traditional communication methods. This engaging conversation covers the importance of owning your story, overcoming the fear of posting, and using social media as a force for good. Kristi also shares personal...
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Transform Your Personal Brand with a 3-Minute Daily Reflection. In this video, we explore a transformative three-minute daily reflection habit that can help you grow your personal brand without needing a complex content strategy or additional time. By taking just three minutes each morning to reflect on your day and capture your thoughts, you can generate authentic content that connects with your audience. This habit involves three steps: reflect, record, and reuse. Utilizing tools like AI for transcription, you can easily turn your reflections into various forms of content. Over time, this...
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The Critical Role of Emotional Branding with Jean-Pierre Lacroix - Discover the Think Blink Manifesto. In this episode of Brands on Brands, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, president of SLD Global Branding and Design Agency, discusses the importance of emotional branding and the impact of split-second connections. Jean Pierre delves into the concept of defining emotional equity, the significance of empathy in branding, and strategies to build deep emotional connections with audiences. He also introduces his latest book, 'The Think Blink Manifesto,' which provides a roadmap for brands to foster lasting...
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AI is completely rewriting the rules of personal branding — and most people are already falling behind. In this interview, Brandon Birkmeyer breaks down how AI is transforming the way we show up, get discovered, build trust, create content, and scale our influence online. If you're building your brand the same way you did a year ago, this is your wake-up call. You’ll learn: 🔥 Why AI didn’t just automate marketing — it democratized influence 🔥 The difference between AI copycats and AI-powered originals 🔥 How AI boosts production value and builds instant authority 🔥 The rise...
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Exceptional Experiences: Redefining Luxury with Neen James. In this episode, host Brandon interviews luxury brand expert Neen James about her new book, 'Exceptional Experiences.' Neen shares insights from her 20-year study on luxury, highlighting that true luxury is about moments and inclusivity rather than just money. She discusses the importance of personalization, systemized thoughtfulness, and the five 'luxury levers'—entice, invite, excite, delight, and ignite—that can elevate brand experiences. More about Neen: Buy Neen's book on Amazon: 02:17 The Essence of Luxury: Moments Over...
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Most people think personal branding is about getting followers, likes, and viral videos — but that’s not the real game. In this solo episode, Brandon Birkmeyer breaks down why most people approach personal branding completely backward, and what to do instead if you want to build a reputation that gets you noticed, respected, and paid. It’s not about attention — it’s about perception. It’s not about reach — it’s about reputation. And it’s not about fame — it’s about trust at scale. You’ll learn the three layers of brand power — Visibility, Credibility, and Influence...
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Why do some brands become unforgettable while others disappear? Today, we break down the science behind brand association—the single most overlooked driver of brand choice, preference, and loyalty. Our guest is Ulli Applebaum. Ulli is an award-winning brand strategist and author of The Science of Brand Associations: Win Minds, Win Markets. Ulli explains how the brain stores brand memories, why associations predict sales, and how companies and personal brands can create stronger influence in any category. If you want to build a brand that instantly comes to mind—and comes with positive...
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Mastering Social Skills: 9 Essential Micro Behaviors for Building Trust and Connection. This episode debunks common misconceptions about social skills, emphasizing that true social skill lies in how people experience you. Learn nine practical social skills that can transform others' perceptions regardless of personality type or professional role. By practicing these behaviors daily, individuals can build a reputation as confident, trustworthy, and thoughtful leaders. 00:00 Introduction to Real Social Skills 00:58 The Say Hello First Skill 01:48 The Ask and Listen Skill 02:20 The Follow-Up...
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In this episode, Brandon Birkmeyer interviews Kat Norton, popularly known as Miss Excel on TikTok and Instagram, where she has garnered over a million followers by teaching Microsoft Excel in a fun and engaging manner. Kat shares her inspirational journey from a 9-to-5 consulting job to becoming a successful entrepreneur, complete with viral content, a popular Excel course, and multiple coaching and training programs. She discusses the importance of authenticity, leveraging creativity, and overcoming personal barriers to build a profitable creator business. Kat also reveals her...
info_outlineThe Four Personal Brand Types: Which One Are You? In this episode of Brands On Brands, host Brandon Birkmeyer explores the different types of personal brands that get noticed and the one that often gets ignored.
Brandon breaks down the three categories of memorable personal brands—Experts, Entertainers, Echo Chambers, and Ghosts.
We talk about the importance of originality, consistency, and engagement, and how these factors contribute to a lasting and impactful personal brand.
Looking for help on clarifying your message and creating more content? Set up a free 15-minute chat with Brandon and get your questions answered! www.brandsonbrands.com/chat
00:00 Introduction
01:24 The Importance of Personal Branding
03:16 Types of Personal Brands: Experts and Entertainers
09:42 Types of Personal Brands: Echo Chambers
12:39 Types of Personal Brands: Ghosts
15:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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