Exploring the Evolution of Basketball Culture

Get ready for an electrifying journey through the heart of basketball culture in Episode 4 of Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture! Hosts Tom, Mickey, and Jeffrey are thrilled to be joined by the NBA’s Sr. VP of Communications, Tim Frank. Join us as we unravel Tim's remarkable career path, from his collegiate days at Notre Dame to his quick rise with the Houston Rockets, who won an NBA championship in his first year, followed by the Comets’ impressive four WNBA championships. Tim then takes us behind the scenes at the NBA Headquarters, where he's been a driving voice for the past 22 years.

But that's just the tip-off! We delve deep into the evolution of the NBA brand, tracing its rise from the Magic/Bird Era to the iconic reign of Jordan, and onwards to the globalization of the league. With Tim's insider perspective, we uncover the strategic maneuvers and pivotal moments that propelled the NBA onto the global stage. This episode is an absolute slam dunk for basketball aficionados and brand enthusiasts alike. Tune in and join the conversation as we decode the essence of the NBA brand. Don't miss out!

"Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Creative and hosted by Merrick Chief Creative Officer, Tom Frank, hip hop artist and founder of Pendulum Ink, Mickey Factz, and music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/

Send us a Text Message.

Support the Show.

Pushing the boundaries of culinary artistry

Witness culture and the unexpected converge, revealing the medley of tastes, sounds and experiences that influence the brand that is—Marcus Samuelsson. From a young age, Marcus aspired to be great by recognizing greatness in others. His path to becoming a decorated chef, restaurateur and philanthropist who's accolades include a 2023 Emmy Award (that makes two cameos in this podcast), was powered by creative and cultural experiences from his travels around the world. With restaurants spanning the US, Canada, Bahamas and his native Ethiopia, this eight-time James Beard Foundation award winner has inspired with his lyrical dishes from kitchens located in neighborhoods one might not expect to find them. Journey with us as Marcus dives into the why and how behind his ability to bring people and communities together while blurring the lines between music and cuisine until their cultural significance feels almost one and the same.

"Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Creative and hosted by Merrick Chief Creative Officer, Tom Frank, hip hop artist and founder of Pendulum Ink, Mickey Factz, and music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/

Send us a Text Message.

Support the Show.

Exploring the elements of authentic storytelling

The theme of the show, and this episode in particular, is brand, culture and the unexpected. Mags Miller, director, producer, and storyteller, is the perfect encapsulation of our theme. Mags is a Global Citizen who grew up in Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Over the past 20+ years she has worked on numerous Discovery Network and NatGeo TV shows. She’s embedded with the USMC in Afghanistan, navigated through hoarders' homes, chronicled the lives of survivalists in the wilderness, directed a variety of personalities and has eaten delicious food in amazing locations. Hear her stories, including her time in a Nigerian prison with Tom, understand her “Do No Harm” policy, and appreciate the way she approaches storytelling that creates a space to allow people to open up.

"Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Creative and hosted by Merrick Chief Creative Officer, Tom Frank, hip hop artist and founder of Pendulum Ink, Mickey Factz, and music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/

This week’s episode of Unglossy is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Cynthia Ticao. Dr. Ticao served as the Executive Director and later International Development and Donation Specialist for Gede Foundation over the span of 21+ years.

Please enjoy the documentary, Gede Foundation: A Story of Hope, that was discussed in this episode at https://merrickcreative.com/insights/unglossy-mags-miller

Send us a Text Message.

Support the Show.

Unleashed through the power of YouTube

Father, musician, poet, former professional athlete, creative advocate and commentator. Knox Hill’s combination of selves shouldn’t co-exist. It does. And it does so with contagious energy, passion and volume loud enough to inspire millions with his unique brand of art. Hear his stories, and how he’s leveraged YouTube to maximize their power and reach.

"Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," is produced and distributed by Merrick Creative and hosted by Merrick Chief Creative Officer, Tom Frank, hip hop artist and founder of Pendulum Ink, Mickey Factz, and music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod to join the conversation and support the show at https://unglossypod.buzzsprout.com/

Send us a Text Message.

Support the Show.

Welcome to "Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture," where we delve into the essence of branding beyond the surface sheen. This isn't your average corporate podcast. Join Tom Frank, Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Merrick Creative, Mickey Factz, Hip Hop Artist and Founder and CEO of Pendulum Ink, and Jeffrey Sledge, a seasoned music industry veteran, for "Unglossy" as they get to the heart of what truly drives individual and organizational brand . In a world where where image is carefully curated and narratives meticulously crafted, we're here to explore the moments of vulnerability, pivotal decisions, and creative sparks that fuel the relationship between brand and culture.

Get ready for a thought-provoking journey into the heart and soul of branding – the unscripted, unfiltered, and truly Unglossy truth. Tune in to "Unglossy: Decoding Brand in Culture" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @UnglossyPod and join the conversation.

*EPISODE 1 COMING MARCH 2024*

Send us a Text Message.

Support the Show.

Welcome to Episode 1 of Our Love, Hate Relationship with Comic Culture. Learn how Pete Rock, Tat Wza and Mickey Factz first got introduced to comics, their top 5 fav characters, comic characters that disgusts them (Did Mickey really just say Wolverine?) and what they love and hate about comic films.

Check out more episodes and subscribe to Our Love, Hate Relationship with Comic Culture on Apple, Spotify, YouTube at or wherever you catch your podcasts.

Our Love, Hate Relationship with Comic Culture is hosted by Pete Rock, Tat Wza and Mickey Facts and produced by Spaceman World Media. Find the show on Instagram @ComicCulturePodcast.

Send us a Text Message.

Support the Show.

Curious about how the greatest Rappers make their art form look easy? Join host Mickey Factz, founder of the first school for lyricism, Pendulum Ink, on a new podcast called The Pendulum Podcast. He’ll bring you lessons from the school’s legendary guest speakers, including Inspectah Deck, Phonte, Masta Ace, Cory Gunz and more.

Check out Pendulum Podcast on Apple (https://apple.co/3BpHNF1), Spotify (https://spoti.fi/3qmNvkJ) or wherever you catch your podcasts. Pendulum Podcast is brought to you brought to you by Pendulum Ink in collaboration with Spaceman World Media.

Send us a Text Message.

Support the Show.

Introducing 5-Factor Authentication with Hill Harper. Listen to a preview as legendary music producer Isaac Hayes III tells us that the business models behind some of our favorite tech tools can drive inequities, so he decided to do something about it. Listen in as he chats with Hill about his latest initiative, Fanbase, a social media platform that empowers creators to get paid for their content directly by consumers. You’ll also find out why Isaac has a problem with ad-based models, believes in the potential of AI-driven content moderation, thinks of Tina Turner as a human NFT, and predicts we’re on the verge of the trillionaire era.

5-Factor Authentication is brought to you by Norton.

Social media lets us connect with the world, but it comes with risks. It is important to keep your personal information and accounts safe from the wrong hands. Your own accounts might seem too small to tempt scammers, but even with just a few followers, your information is a valuable commodity. Check out these 5 tips at https://nr.tn/3wdp0tv

The show is produced and distributed by kglobal in partnership with Spaceman World Media.

Send us a Text Message.

Support the Show.