In this episode, I sit down with Dan Fisher, EP, editor, and Emmy-winning storyteller behind Bottle Rocket Media, to talk about the real work of building a creative company that lasts. We get into leadership without ego, why listening is the most underrated skill, how to protect the original idea when clients pull you off course, and what it took to rebuild the business after 2020 (including the surprising role SEO played in saving the company).

If you’re a founder, creator, or agency leader trying to stand out without burning out, this one’s loaded.

What we cover

• Why people fail to do work they love (risk vs. fear)

• The power of listening as a leadership skill

• Audience-first storytelling (stop creating for yourself)

• Protecting the idea when clients want to zig

• How Bottle Rocket pivoted post-2020 (and how SEO kept them alive)

• Personal brand vs. company brand: finding the line

• Best way to earn trust: show up and keep showing up

• Building teams without ego (flat org, best idea wins)

Sometimes the best ideas come from the most ordinary places. For David Ask, it was a simple conversation with his brother-in-law that turned into Stat Guard Plus, a little piece of plastic that locks down your thermostat and ended up in Home Depot, Lowe’s, and thousands of stores across the country.

In this episode, David and I talk about what it really takes to bring an idea to life—the mistakes, the late nights, the knockoffs, the grit. We get into manufacturing overseas, protecting your vision, and what happens when a $20 product ends up saving people hundreds on their energy bills.

But this isn’t just about thermostats. David’s a musician, a writer, and the voice behind Guardians of Grit, a movement about helping men show up with honesty, identity, and resilience. His story is about more than business, it’s about becoming the man you’re meant to be.

In this milestone episode, Deevo sits down with Marla Ballard, CEO of You2Shine, to explore the deep work of healing trauma, embracing authenticity, and stepping fully into who you were meant to be.

Marla opens up about her journey from sales and entrepreneurship to becoming a leader in quantum personal development—a path recognized by Forbes in 2024. Together, they dive into:

• Why we carry hidden patterns and blind spots
• The difference between ego-driven ambition and purpose-driven ambition
• How worthiness and vulnerability shape true leadership
• The power of universal laws and spiritual alignment
• Why “You Matter” is more than a message—it’s a movement

This conversation is raw, soulful, and filled with real talk about identity, healing, and creating impact. If you’ve ever struggled with worthiness, authenticity, or the tension between ambition and meaning, this episode will resonate deeply.

🔥 Most pitches get ignored. Most PR strategies fail. But what if you could flip the script and turn rejection into recognition?

In this episode of The Branding Laboratory, Deevo sits down with Bryce North, founder of Pitch Pro and a PR disruptor who went from being $100K in debt to building a media empire that gets people noticed for the right reasons.

Bryce shares the raw truth about why traditional PR is broken, how attention without trust is worthless, and the exact mindset shift that helped him transform his lowest moments into unstoppable momentum.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why 90% of pitches fail—and how to stand out instantly
• How to build trust over clicks in today’s noisy world
• The power of storytelling that polarizes and magnetizes
• Bryce’s journey from rock bottom to PR powerhouse
• Practical steps to turn “no’s” into opportunities

If you’ve ever felt ignored, overlooked, or stuck in the endless grind of trying to be seen, this conversation will show you how to finally break through.

👉 Don’t just pitch. Be unforgettable.

How do you build businesses without losing your soul?

This week on The Branding Laboratory, Deevo sits down with Colin Hirdman, serial entrepreneur, Co-Founder of Monkey Island Ventures, and Chief Rainmaker at Rainmaker. From starting his first company right out of college to co-founding multiple ventures with lifelong friends, Colin has launched over a dozen businesses. Many failed, some thrived, and along the way he learned why relationships, resilience, and community matter more than quick wins.

In this conversation, Colin shares:

• Why 70% of his ventures failed and why that’s not a bad thing.
• How building with friends for decades has worked and the secrets to making it last.
• Why Rainmaker is changing the way founders use LinkedIn to grow real relationships, not vanity metrics.
• The five values that guide his work: freedom, finances, friendship, family, and fun.

Colin reminds us that entrepreneurship isn’t about glitz and exits, it’s about grinding, giving, and building communities that last .

What if leadership wasn’t about being the loudest voice in the room, but about creating the kind of culture people actually want to be part of?

Brandon Allen has spent years in the trenches with founders and leaders, and he gets real about what it takes to build influence that lasts. From shifting out of “do everything yourself” mode, to leading in a way that pulls the best out of people, Brandon breaks down the mindset and habits that separate bosses from true leaders.

This isn’t theory, it’s practical, lived wisdom on building teams, scaling businesses, and stepping into the kind of leadership that actually frees you instead of burns you out.

In this mind-expanding episode, I sit down with Charlie Johnson, the pioneering Chief Consciousness Officer, who’s bringing radical self-awareness and neutrality into corporate leadership. We dive deep into why traditional leadership is failing, how AI and societal shifts are exposing suppressed truths, and why consciousness—not spirituality—is the missing link in business success today.

She calls herself a visual storyteller, but Emily Schneider is much more than that. In this episode, we dive into the art of presence, clarity, and quiet leadership. From redefining perfectionism to transforming corporate presentations into emotional narratives, Emily shares her journey from being a perfectionist performer to a purpose-driven creative. She opens up about pivotal life moments, the power of curiosity, and how embracing imperfection helped her build a business that’s as heart-centered as it is strategic. Whether you’re a CEO, entrepreneur, or creative leader, this episode invites you to rethink how you show up and how the stories you tell can change everything.