What does it take to build something people don’t just buy, but truly believe in?
BBOE brings you inside conversations with leaders behind the brands that have shaped culture and earned lasting relevance, unpacking the ideas, decisions, and creative ingenuity that made them what they are, and what any builder can learn from them.
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How does a 54-year-old brand with 40,000 global locations rediscover its soul? In this episode of Best Brands on Earth, hosts Hayley and Matt are joined by Tressie Lieberman, the first-ever Chief Global Brand Officer at Starbucks.
Tressie breaks down her strategy for bringing the magic back to the coffeehouse experience by balancing ultra-convenience with human connection. We dive into her non-traditional career path through Taco Bell, Chipotle, and Yahoo, how her team navigates viral TikTok trends like the Barista Glass and Unicorn Frappuccino, the intense pressure behind the iconic Holiday Cup, and why MrBeast is one of her biggest brand inspirations. Chapters:
00:00 - Intro & The Two-Minute Drill
04:20 - Introducing Starbucks Chief Global Brand Officer, Tressie Lieberman
05:34 - The New Starbucks Studio & Store Uplifts
07:05 - How Tressie Starts Her Day (Coffee Tastings)
08:49 - Designing the First Global Brand Officer Role
14:17 - Obsessing Over the Details & The Merchant Mindset
16:38 - Building Trust with Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol
18:45 - Rediscovering the Soul of Starbucks (Convenience vs. Connection)
24:53 - Leveraging Culture, TikTok, & The Barista Glass Trend
30:04 - Managing Ideas in a High-Frequency Brand
33:28 - Sponsor Break (Open Fortune & Tracksuit)
35:14 - Investor Day: Declaring "Starbucks is Back"
37:17 - The Pressure of the Holiday Cup & Online Feedback
41:48 - Channeling Founder Howard Schultz's Vision
43:52 - The Future of Starbucks: Tech & Ultra-Personalization
46:31 - Tressie's Favorite Global Roasteries & Locations
48:34 - Elevating the Digital App & Rewards Experience
50:05 - Tressie's Digital-First Career Journey to the C-Suite
54:37 - Crumbs of Wisdom: Courage & The Unicorn Frappuccino
58:32 - Why MrBeast Inspires Starbucks
01:01:01 - Tressie's Go-To Starbucks Order
01:03:28 - Why Starbucks is the Best Brand on Earth
01:04:58 - Episode Wrap-Up & Key Takeaways
Episode 011: Cordell Broadus
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 • Duration 01:02:32
Cordell Broadus walked away from a UCLA football scholarship — twice — to build his own path. Now he's the creative director behind Doctor Bombay Ice Cream, the hip-hop inspired brand he co-founded with his father Snoop Dogg that's grown into an eight-figure business sold in Walmart and 7-Eleven.
In this episode, Cordell opens up about growing up in a 17-person household, the Kobe Bryant conversation that changed his mindset, how a Bored Ape NFT turned into an ice cream empire, helping his family buy back Death Row Records, studying at Harvard Business School, and why he thinks the Broadus family still has more work to do to become one of the best brands on Earth.
We sit down at the Snoop Dogg family compound in Inglewood, CA to talk legacy, failure, gaming, Web3, and what it really means to build a brand bigger than yourself.
Chapters:
0:00 – Who is Cordell Broadus
1:03 – Inside the Broadus family compound
3:58 – Growing up in a 17-person household
9:41 – The conversation with Kobe Bryant
10:31 – Embracing his father's legacy
12:05 – Getting recruited to play football
14:29 – From Web3 to fashion to CPG — finding the thread
20:48 – Discovering he's "the connector," not the creative
21:27 – Learning from failure
23:17 – The origin story of Doctor Bombay
29:27 – Inside the brand's creative process
32:38 – Brick and mortar losses & lessons
33:40 – His North Star: gaming and Death Row Games
35:10 – The FaZe Clan meeting that led to Web3
Episode 010 - Selena Kalvaria of Fanatics Betting & Gaming
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 • Duration 58:22
This week on Best Brands on Earth, Hayley and Matt break down the Good Good Golf x Callaway ad controversy that got the internet talking (and got Good Good dropped by every sponsor they had) — then sit down with Selena Kalvaria, CMO of Fanatics Betting & Gaming, for one of our best guest conversations yet.
Selena has spent two decades building brands people actually love — Anheuser-Busch, Diageo, Away, and Gucci Americas — before taking on one of the most competitive categories in sports as CMO of Fanatics Betting & Gaming.
We get into:
The real story behind Fanatics' "Bet on Kendall" campaign and the internet's "Kardashian curse" meme that inspired it
Why Fanatics went to market this football season telling a bigger brand story instead of just running promotions
The data-driven bet on casting women as lead characters in sports betting ads (51% of NFL fans are women — so why weren't they in the ads?)
How Fan Cash and Fair Play are built to reward fans, win or lose
Casting Luke Wilson, Livvy Dunne, and Megatron for the new ensemble campaign
Where AI fits (and where it doesn't) in representing real athletes
The wildest pitches she's said no to
Her Crumbs of Wisdom fortune cookie question, and the brands she's watching right now (hint: one of them isn't in sports at all)
Episode 009 - Marcelo Kertesz of Manscaped
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 • Duration 01:32:32
Manscaped went from a scrappy grooming startup to a $300M+ omnichannel brand — with balls, humor, and a Super Bowl ad to prove it. This week, Hayley and Matt sit down with Marcelo Kertesz, CMO of Manscaped, whose path to the C-suite runs through Brazilian political campaigns, a chance meeting over a logo design, and a pandemic-fueled all-hands rebrand pitch that could've gotten him fired.In this episode, Marcelo breaks down:🪒 How he went from directing 7 presidential campaigns across 5 countries (winning 6) to becoming Manscaped's first-ever CMO💌 The incredible story of discovering his late mother's decades of love letters — and turning them into a book (and soon, a movie)🎯 Why he staked his job on a total brand overhaul just weeks after being hired — presented to the entire company before he'd even settled in🏈 The real story behind Manscaped's first-ever Super Bowl ad, "Monster Hair" — including 49 rejected concepts📱 The data-driven insight behind their viral "Send Face Pics Instead" campaign (60M+ organic views)💰 Why Manscaped deliberately shifted ~70% of its marketing budget to upper-funnel brand building🚻 Whether a "Womanscaped" spinoff will ever happen🧠 His "Crumbs of Wisdom" fortune cookie question, courtesy of sponsor Open FortuneManscaped has become one of the fastest-growing men's grooming brands on the planet by refusing to be boring — and Marcelo explains exactly how they walk the line between premium and puerile.⏱️ Chapters00:00 — Cold open: float days & random Friday chaos04:10 — Pop culture round-up: teleprompter scandal, George Santos goes reality TV08:23 — Intro to today's guest + a game of "Greatest Hair Metal Ballads"11:04 — Meet Marcelo Kertesz, CMO of Manscaped13:24 — His parents' secret love letters and the book he's writing22:56 — From political marketing in Brazil to art direction26:15 — The winding road from Brazil to Encinitas, California30:25 — Hired to design a logo... ends up reinventing the brand32:17 — COVID hits, and he risks everything on a full rebrand pitch36:36 — The criticism that reshaped Manscaped's brand direction40:17 — Premium pricing, humor, and the upper-funnel marketing shift46:16 — Deciding to run Manscaped's first Super Bowl ad53:24 — The "Ball Trampoline" strategy and Send Face Pics Instead1:02:50 — Inside "Monster Hair": the Super Bowl ad concept1:08:03 — The 49 ideas that didn't make the cut1:11:51 — Building genuine community beyond the jokes1:13:27 — Manscaped's growth into the #3 electric shaver brand in the US1:14:33 — Will there ever be a "Womanscaped"?1:17:26 — Crumbs of Wisdom (brought to you by Open Fortune)1:20:54 — Brands Marcelo's watching right now1:22:47 — Why Manscaped is one of the Best Brands on Earth1:25:46 — Outro#BestBrandsOnEarth #Manscaped #Marketing #CMO #Branding #SuperBowlAds #Podcast
Episode 008: Zech Francis, CMO of Recess
Tuesday, August 25, 2026 • Duration 01:16:37
Before Recess, Zech Francis launched his first apparel brand at 12, had it in Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's by 19, and exited a company before turning 30. After nearly 8 years leading marketing at BeatBox Beverages through a $490M acquisition, he's now CMO of Recess - the functional sparkling water brand building an entirely new "unwind" category.
In this episode, Hayley and Matt sit down with Zech to talk brand architecture, why Recess is scaling from 50 in-person events a year to 50+ a month, the platform strategy behind the business, and why he thinks Recess is one of the Best Brands on Earth.
WHAT WE COVER:
How Zech evaluates a new role and why he joined Recess as CMO
The real story behind Recess's gradient sunset can design
Why "cans and hands" experiential marketing beats digital ads for new categories
Going from 50 events a year to 85 events in a single month
Building a platform brand instead of a single product (with Red Bull, Celsius, and Liquid Death as case studies)
The rise of the "sober curious" and zero-proof mocktail movement
How Recess thinks about consumer personas and capital allocation
Zech's take on the future of the "unwind" shelf set in retail
Crumbs of Wisdom: the weirdest part of Zech's job, and his brand crush
Episode 007: Tristan Pineiro & Sarah "SJ" Jenkins of Grindr
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 • Duration 01:23:46
This week on Best Brands on Earth, hosts Hayley Clover and Matt Kerbel sit down with Tristan Pineiro (CMO) and Sarah "SJ" Jenkins (VP of Creative) of Grindr to unpack how the app behind one of the year's biggest cultural moments — Madonna's surprise Pride pop-up concert in Times Square — builds a brand that's radically honest, fearlessly weird, and impossible to ignore.From a Grand Clio-winning fashion show made from "gay sheep" wool to a $35-in-her-pocket Madonna partnership planned in total secrecy, Tristan and SJ break down the creative philosophy, internal permission structures, and brand truth-telling that's turned Grindr into a genuine cultural force — not just a dating app.In this episode:How Tristan and SJ define "brand" and why the strongest brands don't even need to say their own nameTristan's unconventional path from promoting queer clubs in Manchester to CMO of GrindrWhy Grindr thinks the industry has misjudged its cultural influence — and why "it's two words: gay sex"Inside the Madonna x Grindr Times Square takeover — planned since January, executed with 30 minutes' public noticeThe origin story behind "I Will Survive," Grindr's Grand Clio-winning fashion show made from rescued "gay sheep" woolWhy Grindr is "allergic" to the word sponsorshipChapters:00:00 – Cold open: launch day recap & podcast bloopers05:10 – Beastie Boys news & Mike D's new solo album09:53 – 23andMe rabbit hole & Scottish ancestry10:30 – Madonna's "Hung Up," Confessions II, and the Times Square teaser13:32 – Welcoming Tristan Pineiro & Sarah "SJ" Jenkins15:09 – What does "brand" actually mean?19:13 – How studying linguistics shaped Tristan's approach to comms22:13 – PR/comms background vs. traditional brand management25:27 – Tristan's early career promoting queer clubs in Manchester32:16 – Why is Grindr so underestimated in the marketing world?34:13 – "It's two words: gay sex" — the double-edged sword of Grindr's reputation36:46 – Grindr as a global cultural hub, not just a dating app40:50 – Ad break: Open Fortune & Tracksuit42:29 – Brand authenticity vs. performative allyship45:41 – How the Madonna partnership actually came together48:18 – Inside the Times Square takeover: 24 cameras, 200+ crew, total secrecy52:24 – Grindr as a launchpad for artists (Slayyyter, Chappell Roan)53:20 – The "I Will Survive" gay sheep fashion show & Grand Clio win58:26 – Grindr's creative philosophy: total creative authority1:01:19 – How Tristan got full creative permission from Grindr's CEO1:07:33 – Crumbs of Wisdom: Open Fortune segment1:08:35 – Quickfire: most misunderstood professionally1:11:27 – Brands Tristan & SJ admire (Virgin Atlantic, Coterie)1:15:43 – Why Grindr is one of the Best Brands on EarthAbout Best Brands on Earth:A podcast from The Clios, hosted by Hayley Clover and Matt Kerbel, breaking down the strategy, creativity, and cultural moments behind the world's most talked-about brands. New episodes every Tuesday.#BestBrandsOnEarth #Grindr #BrandStrategy #Marketing #PodcastClips
Episode 006: Megan Imbres, Chief Marketing Officer of Peloton
Tuesday, August 11, 2026 • Duration 01:20:18
Welcome back to Best Brands on Earth, hosted by Hayley Clover and Matt Kerbel! In this episode, we sit down with Megan Imbres, Chief Marketing Officer at Peloton. Megan shares her incredible journey through top-tier marketing roles at Netflix, Amazon, and Apple—where her team brought the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show to life—before stepping into one of consumer fitness’s most compelling brand turnaround challenges. From navigating high-stakes campaigns like "Let Yourself Go" to completing an Ironman World Championship in Kona while settling into her role, Megan breaks down what it truly takes to build a culturally relevant brand. Key Highlights & Takeaways: Behind the Strategy: How Peloton pivoted its marketing to focus on how the product feels rather than just product demos. The Power of Music & Culture: Why music selection (like David Bowie) can make or break a campaign and how to negotiate high-profile licensing. Bringing Instructors Center Stage: Strategy around celebrity instructor talent and bringing them out of the screen and into IRL cultural moments like Formula 1. In-House Creative vs. Agencies: How moving major campaigns to an internal team saved costs and boosted creative passion. Simplicity is Hard: Key marketing lessons learned from Apple and Netflix on keeping messaging clear, bold, and effective. Timestamps / Chapter Marks00:00 - Guest Intro: Megan Imbres, CMO of Peloton 03:15 - Host Banter & Favorite Peloton Instructors 05:41 - Ironman Training on a Peloton Bike 07:03 - Joining Peloton & Working with Peter Stern 10:31 - Marketing IRL Experiences & Lessons from Netflix 12:13 - Integrating Peloton into Formula 1 Las Vegas 14:05 - Evolving Peloton’s Marketing: Showing How It Feels 17:09 - The "Netflix Party" Exercise & Evolving Brand Perception 20:00 - Crafting the "Let Yourself Go" Campaign with Hudson Williams 25:26 - The Importance of Music: Securing David Bowie Track Rights 30:04 - Leveraging Peloton’s Superstar Instructors as Talent 37:25 - Measuring Success & Expanding Modalities (Treadmills) 40:38 - Future Possibilities: Nutrition, Breathwork & Fitness Tech 45:01 - Luxury Hotel Partnerships & L.A. Hotel Residencies 48:00 - Internal Team Structure: Ditching Polished Decks for Action 52:14 - Earning C-Suite Trust & Celebrating Campaign Wins 55:09 - One-Year & Two-Year Visions for Peloton 1:02:46 - Crumbs of Wisdom: The Hall & Oates Hot Take 1:05:30 - Favorite Brands for Community Building (Nike ACG) 1:10:05 - Why Peloton is One of the Best Brands on Earth 1:12:32 - Host Post-Interview Breakdown & Key Takeaways
Episode 005: Greg Fass & Andy Pearson of Liquid Death
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 • Duration 01:31:22
In this episode of Best Brands on Earth, hosts Hayley Clover and Matt Kerbel are joined by the creative minds behind Liquid Death: VP of Marketing Greg Fass and VP of Creative Andy Pearson!
Together, they pull back the curtain on how Liquid Death transformed canned water into a global pop-culture phenomenon by treating the brand as a character rather than a traditional company. From hiring stand-up comedians and musicians to pulling off wild stunts with Burbank witches, they break down why prioritizing entertainment and genuine humor is the key to winning over modern consumers.
💡 Key Highlights & TakeawaysTreating the Brand as a Character:
Discover why Liquid Death approaches branding like writing for a four-dimensional TV show rather than creating standard advertisements.
Unexpected Collaborations: Learn how relationships with celebrity investors and non-traditional partners lead to viral campaigns like Tony Hawk’s blood skateboard and ultra-limited Ozzy Osbourne DNA cans.
Andy’s 200-Mile Ultra-Marathon: Hear Andy Pearson describe his wild experience running 200 miles around Lake Tahoe with only two hours of sleep.
Hiring Non-Traditional Talent: Why Liquid Death hires artists, punk musicians, and stand-up comics instead of standard corporate marketers.
Embracing the Flops: The hilarious story behind placing a Super Bowl bet with a Burbank witch, and why consistent output matters more than perfection.
Making People Laugh First: Why setting a simple goal of entertainment and humor is the fastest way to a consumer's heart.
Episode 004: Dea Lawrence, Publisher and Co-President of Variety
Tuesday, July 28, 2026 • Duration 01:18:48
How does a 120-year-old brand stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly changing entertainment landscape? In this episode of Best Brands on Earth, hosts Matt and Hayley sit down with Dea Lawrence, Co-President and Publisher of Variety. Dea shares her incredible career journey—from starting as an actor on the New York stage to navigating Silicon Valley, before ultimately returning to Variety to help scale its live events business, build the Variety Content Studio, and win a Daytime Emmy along the way.
We dive deep into:
Brand Authority & Trust: How Variety maintains editorial integrity in an era dominated by clickbait.
Diversifying Revenue: Scaling beyond print into custom live events, digital features, and award-winning video series.
Adapting to Industry Shifts: Lessons learned from tech disruption, global expansion (from Hollywood to London), and the rise of the creator economy.
Career Growth: The power of non-linear career paths and leaning into high-energy problem solving.
Key Highlights & Takeaways
Editorial Integrity over Fast News: Why holding high journalistic standards creates a trusted, bulletproof brand that actors and executives continuously rely on.
Building Future-Proof Ecosystems: Moving beyond traditional media revenue by expanding into video IP like Actors on Actors, custom tentpole events, and global partnerships.
Culture Eats Disruption for Breakfast: How creating an open-idea culture where every team member is encouraged to pitch initiatives drives long-term innovation.
Episode Timestamps & Chapters
00:00 – Intro Chatter: Costa Rica, Earthquakes & Fast Fashion Trends
06:08 – Affordable EVs, Wendy's Meme Stock & The Bear Finale
12:12 – Today's Song: Bert Williams and the History of 1905
14:00 – Introducing Dea Lawrence, Co-President & Publisher of Variety
Episode 003: Dhar Mann, Founder of Dhar Mann Studios
Tuesday, July 21, 2026 • Duration 01:29:34
What does it take to build a digital media empire that reaches hundreds of millions of people without losing your core purpose?On this episode of Best Brands on Earth, hosts Matt Kerbal and Hayley Clover sit down with viral content creator and entrepreneur Dhar Mann! Dhar opens up about his unbelievable journey—from being days away from eviction at age 30 to founding Dhar Mann Studios, scaling to over 170 million followers, and securing landmark deals with Samsung and Fox. 💡 Key Takeaways & Episode Highlights:Turning Pain into Power: How Dhar converted personal struggles and cultural pressures into a relatable, mission-driven media powerhouse. The $250k Launch: How a scrappy $600 setup and an accidental YouTube algorithm boost saved his beauty business overnight. Decoding Viral Content: The secret behind Dhar Mann Studios' unique storytelling model—why they start with the moral first and design content for short attention spans. Bridging Digital & Hollywood: Why the line between traditional studios and digital creators is disappearing, and how hiring former MTV executive Sean Atkins transformed the business.
Authenticity vs. Perfection: Dhar's candid story about freezing on stage next to YouTube's CEO and the NFL Commissioner, and why "imperfection" is the ultimate brand superpower. The Future of Dhar Mann Studios: Navigating AI in screenwriting, scaling beyond one person's face, and expanding into IP development and CPG. ⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction & Host Banter (Morning Routines, TV, & Sports) 07:36 - Marketing Moments: Coors Light & AI Shopping Tools 10:18 - Song of the Day: Shakira & Burna Boy 12:05 - Sponsor: Open Fortune & Tracksuit 13:52 - Welcome Dhar Mann! 16:53 - Inspiring New Projects: Unlikely Romances & Breaking Expectations 18:45 - Turning Life's Greatest Struggles Into Superpowers 21:10 - Hitting Rock Bottom at 30 & Redefining Failure 25:05 - Publishing the First Video & Doing it for the Mission 27:48 - Building LiveGlam & Going From Eviction to a $250k Launch 37:50 - Finding True Purpose Beyond Financial Success 42:08 - How Dhar Mann Studios Crafts Stories (Moral-First Strategy) 45:20 - Disrupting Traditional Hollywood & Operating In-House 51:40 - Scaling to Big Tech & Hollywood: Samsung, Fox, & Bringing on a CEO56:33 - Why Brands Are Turning to Storytelling Over Spectacle01:05:35 - Staying Authentic When You're a Public Figure01:08:45 - The Super Bowl Speech Story & The Pratfall Effect01:12:10 - Dhar's View on AI, Creator IP, & the Next 20 Years01:17:20 - Crumbs of Wisdom: Kintsugi & Finding Beauty in Imperfection01:21:40 - Why Dhar Mann Studios is One of the Best Brands on Earth01:23:30 - Post-Interview Wrap-Up & Key Takeaways
36:55 – Helping buy back Death Row Records
37:40 – Studying at Harvard Business School
44:16 – A day in the life of Cordell Broadus
47:00 – His real estate portfolio
51:51 – Finding his superpower
54:25 – Crumbs of Wisdom segment
58:25 – Brands and people who inspire him
1:00:29 – Is the Broadus family one of the best brands on earth?
This episode is brought to you by Tracksuit, Open Fortune, and The Clios Creator Awards. Best Brands on Earth is a podcast from The Clios, hosted by Hayley Clover and Matt Kerbel, produced by Third Wall Creative.
00:04:24 - News Catch-Up & Cancer Research Breakthroughs
00:07:48 - Pop Culture Hits: Convene, Will Ferrell & Serena Williams 00:10:33 - Song of the Day: Ozzy Osbourne & DNA Canned Tea 00:11:53 - Introducing Greg Fass & Andy Pearson
00:14:38 - Andy's 200-Mile Lake Tahoe Ultra-Marathon
00:18:42 - How the Liquid Death Dream Team Assembled
00:26:55 - Rebelling Against Mainstream Marketing
00:30:25 - Why Liquid Death Is Treated Like a Character
00:34:50 - Expanding Product Lines Without Losing Brand Identity 00:41:35 - The Strategy Behind Unexpected Collaborations
00:50:04 - How Liquid Death Hires "Doers" Over Marketers
00:57:07 - Super Bowl Bets & Hiring a Burbank Witch
01:03:30 - Analyzing Liquid Death Brand Data with Tracksuit
01:10:30 - Staying Fresh and Evolving Over Time
01:13:03 - Advice for Brands Wanting to "Not Suck"
01:22:08 - Crumbs of Wisdom: Can You Learn to Be Funny?
15:10 – From Broadway Actor to Digital Marketing Pioneer
22:00 – The Cold Call That Led to Variety
26:55 – The 120-Year History of Variety & Maintaining Editorial Integrity
31:10 – Diversifying Revenue: Live Events, Award Campaigns, and Video IP
36:45 – Embracing AI as an Efficiency Tool vs. Human Storytelling
38:55 – Sponsor Break41:10 – Inside the Variety Content Studio & Actors on Actors
46:40 – Expanding Variety Globally (UK & International Film Festivals)
50:10 – Dominating Social Engagement: TikTok & Micro-Dramas
54:30 – Building an Open, Innovation-Driven Newsroom Culture
59:50 – The Current State of Hollywood & Shifting Production Hubs
01:06:12 – Crumbs of Wisdom: Dea’s Work Ethic & Drive
01:10:35 – Why Auto Brands Master Customer Loyalty
01:12:46 – What Makes Variety One of the Best Brands on Earth
01:14:18 – Episode Wrap-Up & Key Takeaways
Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the Notification Bell so you never miss an episode! 🔔#BestBrandsOnEarth #Variety #EntertainmentIndustry #MediaStrategy #DeaLawrence #ActorsOnActors #Podcast
