BrandsTalk

Hosted by Dr. Brigitte Bojkowszky

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Episodes

172

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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EN-US

About the show

BrandsTalk is the leadership podcast about the identity behind every great brand. Hosted by Dr. Brigitte Bojkowszky, identity mentor, executive presence coach and university lecturer, BrandsTalk brings you candid conversations with CEOs, founders, thought leaders and experts from around the world. Together we explore what rarely makes the headlines: the identity shifts behind real leadership, the turning points that shaped a career, and how clarity, courage and purpose turn a person, a team or a company into a brand people trust. Expect honest stories, sharp insights and practical lessons for leaders, founders and professionals at a crossroads, and for anyone ready to lead with more presence and become visible for who they truly are. New episodes every month. Follow the show and walk the talk with us. bridgetbrands.com/brandstalk

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60 recent

October 21, 2026Episode 17353 min

Your Nervous System Has a Say in Your Brand w/ Kelly Myerson

Kelly Myerson, an occupational therapist and Human Design mentor who blends evidence-based healthcare with intuitive pattern recognition and nervous system attunement, helps individuals and teams live and work more aligned. We discuss why identity thresholds feel unsafe in the body, how psychological safety supports change, and how imposed transitions (job loss, divorce, health scares) can become growth opportunities. Kelly explains Human Design as an energetic blueprint using nine centers, definition vs openness, and the value of self-referencing decisions instead of outsourcing them. She outlines the types (generator/manifesting generator, manifestor, projector, reflector), practical strategy and “authority,” and emotional authority for generators, emphasizing delaying decisions and avoiding reflexive yeses. We connect burnout to nervous system dysregulation (sympathetic vs parasympathetic; fight/flight/freeze/fawn) and close with the key takeaway: stop asking for permission and start writing your own. 00:39 Meet Kelly Myerson 02:25 Thresholds and Change 06:14 Imposed Transitions Tools 09:02 Human Design Explained 15:46 Types and Strategies 25:03 Authority and Decisions 29:33 Emotional Wave Clarity 38:10 Nervous System Burnout 47:33 Stop Asking Permission 49:49 Rapid Fire Round Get in touch with Kelly Myerson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-myerson-b6217843/ Substack: https://substack.com/@kellymyersonvoiceamplifier?r=3bsi5i&utm_medium=ios Free Bridge Session - Human Design: https://calendly.com/kellymyerson/building-the-bridge-conversation Get in touch with Brigitte Bojkowszky: Website BridgetBrands: https://www.bridgetbrands.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojkowszkyb/ Amazon books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbrands YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgetbrands Book a call: https://calendly.com/bridgetbrands/20-min-discoverycall 👉 Download your Brand Building Guide: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/brand-building-guide 👉 Download Your Entrepreneurial Branding Starter Checklist: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/entrepreneurial-branding-starter-checklist

August 10, 2026Episode 17242 min

The Power of the Pause: The Branding Advantage Nobody Talks About w/ Jennifer Wren Tolo

Jennifer Wren Tolo, a health and wellness educator, stress and resilience coach, former critical care nurse, and best-selling author, helps high-achieving women move from overwhelm and survival mode into calm, clarity, and personal power. Jennifer explains how survival mode shows up as constant doing, disconnection, and stress-related symptoms, then outlines her PAUSE method—Pump the brakes/Present, Awareness/Assess, Understand hidden stressors, Self-regulate the nervous system, and Empowered choices—plus practical tools like breathwork, reflective questions, journaling, guided meditation, and walking. They connect pausing to leadership and branding from the inside out, including Jennifer’s decision to keep a dream-inspired tree logo despite expert pressure, as a lesson in intuition, authenticity, and reclaiming power from “shoulds.” Jennifer contrasts ego’s loud urgency with the soul’s quiet guidance and shares that she wants audiences to feel safe, seen, and supported. 00:36 Meet Jennifer Wren Tolo 02:40 Why High Achievers Burn Out 05:03 PAUSE Method Explained 10:48 From Fight or Flight to Choice 12:16 Building Your Pause Toolbox 19:45 Switching Gears to Branding 20:51 Pivoting the Brand 21:54 Dream Logo Vision 23:44 Branding Expert Pushback 25:02 Reclaiming Intuition 27:30 Shoulds Versus Want Tos 33:03 Ego and Soul Language 37:05 Trust the Process 38:15 Brand Feeling and Legacy 38:51 Rapid Fire Round Get in touch with Jennifer Wren Tolo: Website: https://jenniferwrentolo.com Pillar.io/ https://pillar.io/jenwrentolo (Programs, Podcast, FREE Quiz, Call and eBook) Instagram@Jenwrentolo Linkedin @Jennifer-tolo-RN-MA Facebook @jenwrentolo Get in touch with Brigitte Bojkowszky: Website BridgetBrands: https://www.bridgetbrands.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojkowszkyb/ Amazon books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbrands YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgetbrands Book a call: https://calendly.com/bridgetbrands/20-min-discoverycall 👉 Download your Brand Building Guide: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/brand-building-guide 👉 Download Your Entrepreneurial Branding Starter Checklist: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/entrepreneurial-branding-starter-checklist

July 13, 2026Episode 17149 min

The Quiet Roar: The Branding Power of Finally Being Yourself w/ Louise Budgen

The Quiet Roar: Reinvention, Authenticity, and Building a True Soul Personal Brand with Louise Budgen I interview author, storyteller, speaker, and former ICF coach Louise Budgen about reinvention, identity, authenticity, and personal branding rooted in lived experience. Louise shares how a life-changing motorway accident, PTSD treatment (EMDR), and two cancer diagnoses prompted post-traumatic growth, self-compassion, and a return to inner wisdom, leading her to retrain as a coach at 50 and publish her first book at 61, The Quiet Roar: Stop Pretending You Are Fine. She explains her “True Soul” framework (truth, trust, time, tests, transitions), the importance of quieting external noise to reconnect with intuition, and how joy, nature, and presence restore alignment. Louise emphasizes that powerful brands come from owning personal stories, being “boxless,” and creating a ripple of kindness that helps others stop pretending and trust themselves. 00:36 Meet Louise Budgen 02:26 Becoming Your True Self 03:59 Choosing Yourself 05:11 Personal Brand Evolution 08:27 Finding Your Quiet Roar 11:04 From Scroll to Soul 16:38 Adversity as a Gift 22:43 A Reader Saved Herself 25:54 The Power of Hidden Stories 27:09 Stop Pretending Invitation 27:56 Unravel Through Story 29:03 Reinvention Through Visibility 29:52 Freedom To Be Boxless 34:02 Inner Wisdom Practice 37:33 Trust And Time 39:02 Legacy Of The Ripple 43:01 Ageless Service Mindset 45:15 Quickfire Quiet Roar Get in touch with Louise Budgen: www.louisebudgen.com Instagram: louise.budgen LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/louisebudgen Get in touch with Brigitte Bojkowszky: Website BridgetBrands: https://www.bridgetbrands.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojkowszkyb/ Amazon books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbrands YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgetbrands Book a call: https://calendly.com/bridgetbrands/20-min-discoverycall 👉 Download your Brand Building Guide: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/brand-building-guide 👉 Download Your Entrepreneurial Branding Starter Checklist: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/entrepreneurial-branding-starter-checklist

June 15, 2026Episode 17038 min

The Fighter Pilot Mindset: Why Most Brands Fail at Execution w/ Christian "Boo" Boucousis

From Chaos to Clarity: Fighter Pilot Thinking for Flawless Execution in Leadership & Branding (with Christian “Boo” Boucousis) I interviewed former fighter pilot and CEO Christian “Boo” Boucousis about translating fighter-pilot precision into leadership, decision-making, and brand consistency under pressure. Boo explains fighter pilot thinking rooted in John Boyd’s OODA Loop and his “thought loops,” emphasizing turning intention into a clear “destination,” comparing it to current reality, using intentional curiosity, taking action, and reflecting to iterate. He argues leaders create chaos by constantly “hitting the button” instead of thinking, and introduces concepts like flawless execution, the perfection death spiral, and the avenger effect. Boo outlines a decision-making loop and adds reflection as the critical step, saying debriefing is more important than the mission. He also discusses standards, training, and meeting expectations to build trust, and previews his upcoming book Flawless Leadership (mid-2026). 00:36 Meet the Fighter Pilot CEO 02:07 From Dream to Afterburner 04:43 OODA Loop and Flawless Execution 08:33 Thought Loops for Brand Consistency 09:20 Destinations Reality Action 15:32 Legacy Brands and Feedback Loops 18:04 Decisive Leadership Under Pressure 18:47 Decision Loop and Debriefing 22:59 Chaos Clarity and Burnout 28:20 Precision Trust and Standards 32:48 Non Negotiable Reflect Daily 34:22 Rapid Fire and Brand Meaning 36:58 Book Launch and Closing Get in touch with Christian "Boo" Boucousis Website: https://callmeboo.com Company: https://afterburner.com.au LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-boo-boucousis/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianbooboucousis/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@christianbooboucousis9944 Get in touch with Brigitte Bojkowszky: Website BridgetBrands: https://www.bridgetbrands.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojkowszkyb/ Amazon books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbrands YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgetbrands Book a call: https://calendly.com/bridgetbrands/20-min-discoverycall 👉 Download your Brand Building Guide: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/brand-building-guide 👉 Download Your Entrepreneurial Branding Starter Checklist: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/entrepreneurial-branding-starter-checklist

May 18, 2026Episode 16953 min

Brands Don’t Fail - Leaders Do: The Missing Link is Love at Work w/ Mark A. Mears

Love at Work: Aligning Leadership, Purposeful Growth, and the Brand from the Inside Out In this BrandsTalk episode, I got to interview Mark A. Mears—bestselling author, keynote speaker, and former C-level executive who led growth at brands including PepsiCo, McDonald’s, NBC Universal, and The Cheesecake Factory—about his shift from traditional growth to purposeful, human-centered leadership and his second bestseller focused on bringing love back into the workplace. Mark explains his LOVE model as an acronym for Listen, Observe, Value, and Empower, linking it to low global engagement trends cited by Gallup and the need to transform command-and-control management into relational leadership that builds belonging. He outlines four interconnected “brands” (personal, internal, external, employer) and argues misalignment undermines experience and trust. The conversation emphasizes building legacy, using feedback and humility, and making a business case for purpose-driven leadership through research and case examples. Get in touch with Mark A. Mears: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markamears/ https://www.markamears.com/ Amazon book page is https://a.co/d/02po7EvN Book recommendation: Halftime: Moving from Success to Significance by Bob P. Buford 03:17 Why Love Became Leadership 04:48 Engagement Crisis And Ally Leaders 08:59 Four Brands One Alignment 09:59 Belonging And Employer Brand 14:42 LOVE Model In Practice 19:14 From Manager To Legacy Builder 21:00 Transformation And Purposeful Companies 27:11 Making The Business Case 30:19 Identity Strategy Influence 32:07 Success To Significance 33:26 Ripple Effect Leadership 35:19 LOVE Leadership Model 37:24 Uncomfortable Feedback Truths 40:26 Book Resources Assessment 42:02 Becoming Through Feedback 44:27 Rapid Fire Values 47:55 Cheesecake Brand Story 49:28 Brand Think Feel Relate Get in touch with Brigitte Bojkowszky: Website BridgetBrands: https://www.bridgetbrands.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojkowszkyb/ Amazon books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbrands YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgetbrands Book a call: https://calendly.com/bridgetbrands/20-min-discoverycall 👉 Download your Brand Building Guide: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/brand-building-guide 👉 Download Your Entrepreneurial Branding Starter Checklist: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/entrepreneurial-branding-starter-checklist

April 13, 2026Episode 16843 min

If Your Brand Exhausts You, It’s Not Aligned w/ Robyn Harris

Nervous System Safety: Deep Listening, Authentic Visibility, and the WILD Wellbeing Framework w/ Robin Harris On BrandsTalk, I interview Robin Harris, founder of Wild Wellbeing, wellbeing practitioner, speaker, and author of Take a Walk on the Wild Side, about deep listening, body wisdom, and nervous system safety as foundations for authentic expression and branding. Robyn Harris explains how the body communicates through sensations, emotions, thoughts, and patterns, often shaped by trauma, and argues these signals are supportive messages rather than problems to suppress. She shares practical regulation tools such as diaphragmatic breathing, box breathing, nose breathing, grounding, and simple vagus nerve practices like ear massage. The conversation links nervous system regulation to visibility, congruence, vocal tone, and leadership presence, explores how conditioning—especially for women—can make speaking up feel unsafe, and emphasizes vulnerability, community, and brand evolution. Harris also outlines WILD as wonder, intuition, love yourself, and dance. Time markers: 01:48 Body Wisdom Signals 06:47 Creating Inner Safety 09:37 Breath and Vagus Tools 13:19 Safety Fuels Visibility 17:30 Why We Hold Back 20:23 Feminine Energy and Pace 27:43 Wild Wellbeing Origin Story 28:06 WILD Acronym Explained 36:42 Brand Evolution Mindset 38:06 Rapid Fire and Wrap Up 41:55 Where to Find Robin Get in touch with Robyn Harris: https://www.facebook.com/robyn.harris.wild.wellbeing/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynharris-wildwellbeing https://wildrobyn.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@W-I-L-D-TV Get in touch with Brigitte Bojkowszky: Website BridgetBrands: https://www.bridgetbrands.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojkowszkyb/ Amazon books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbrands YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgetbrands Book a call: https://calendly.com/bridgetbrands/20-min-discoverycall 👉 Download your Brand Building Guide: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/brand-building-guide 👉 Download Your Entrepreneurial Branding Starter Checklist: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/entrepreneurial-branding-starter-checklist

March 25, 2026Episode 16755 min

The Truth About Identity, Visibility, and Leadership on The Seer Show

The Truth About Identity, Visibility & Leadership: Why Success Isn’t the Question Anymore This BrandsTalk episode shares a full conversation from The Seer(s) Show with co-hosts Nikki Gangemi, and Scott Schilling, and guests Renee Jackson Smith, and I, Dr. Brigitte Bojkowszky, on the connection between identity, visibility, and leadership. We argue identity must come first, because visibility without identity becomes noise and branding without identity is decoration. At the same time, true leadership presence is internal-external congruence and “quiet confidence” rather than being the loudest. We discuss authenticity versus conformity, psychological safety in rooms, and how leaders often master performance but not expression, leading to misalignment, isolation, and questions about meaning, influence, and legacy—especially during transitions to C-suite, entrepreneurship, or crisis. We note that organizational reputation and trust are tied to visible leadership and emphasize differentiating through human qualities like empathy and clarity in an AI-driven world. https://bridgetbrands.com/the-truth-about-identity-visibility-and-leadership/ Time Markers: 00:00 Success to Identity Shift 00:43 Meet the Sears Show 02:37 Guests and Big Topic 03:31 Identity Visibility Leadership Link 06:00 Authentic Visibility Not Noise 07:03 Integrity and Consistency 08:53 Safety Versus Conformity 11:33 Branding Needs Identity 14:52 What Changes When Aligned 17:02 Quiet Confidence and Wisdom 19:57 Leadership Inflection Points 23:53 Legacy Purpose and Business Impact 27:05 Scott’s Mission and Identity 28:31 Humanity Stakeholder 30:46 Courageous Authenticity 31:31 Identity Drives Leadership 32:46 AI Proof Your Edge 35:46 Beyond Marketing Identity 38:14 Personal Identity Journeys 42:22 Career Debrief Pivots 47:37 Final Takeaways Connect Get in touch with Brigitte Bojkowszky: Website BridgetBrands: https://www.bridgetbrands.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojkowszkyb/ Amazon books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbrands YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgetbrands Book a call: https://calendly.com/bridgetbrands/20-min-discoverycall 👉 Download your Brand Building Guide: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/brand-building-guide 👉 Download Your Entrepreneurial Branding Starter Checklist: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/entrepreneurial-branding-starter-checklist

March 2, 2026Episode 16651 min

In a World of Algorithms, Humanity Wins: The Rise of Whomanitarian Leadership w/ Susan K. Younger

In this BrandsTalk episode, I interview Susan K. Younger, the “Relationship Architect,” whose nonlinear path spans architecture, retail design, consulting, structural integration, and personality science, including B.A.N.K. methodology (since 2015) and AI-powered insights via Codebreaker Technologies (since 2019). We explore how the environments we create—externally and internally—shape leadership, and why self-awareness is now foundational in a world of AI, instability, and polarization. Susan shares pivotal moments from pursuing architecture in the 1960s, thriving in fast-changing retail, and learning to separate identity from projects, while emphasizing gratitude, joy, and personal rhythms as daily leadership practices. We also discuss embracing limitations as hidden gifts, protecting human creativity alongside technology, and her 2025 initiative “Humanitarianism,” a movement to “make people matter” through values-based connection, community, and courageous conversations. She closes with one key shift for leaders: slow down to go fast. Time markers: 02:38 Designing Leadership Environments 05:51 Self Awareness Now 08:40 Pivotal Growth Moments 13:45 Human Leadership Matters 16:49 Gratitude As Practice 20:29 Find Your Daily Rhythm 23:21 Winding Down Intentionally 26:45 Pause and Reflect 27:40 Hidden Gifts in Limits 28:39 Dyslexia to Design Strength 30:27 Tech Shift and Creativity 33:42 Reimagining Humanitarianism 37:32 Community and Hard Talks 42:21 Leaders Slow Down to Go Fast Get in touch with Susan K Younger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susankyounger/ https://skyounger.com/ Get in touch with Brigitte Bojkowszky: Website BridgetBrands: https://www.bridgetbrands.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojkowszkyb/ Amazon books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbrands YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgetbrands Book a call: https://calendly.com/bridgetbrands/20-min-discoverycall 👉 Download your Brand Building Guide: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/brand-building-guide 👉 Download Your Entrepreneurial Branding Starter Checklist: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/entrepreneurial-branding-starter-checklist

February 2, 2026Episode 16539 min

Embracing Trust: How Women Are Rewriting the Rules of Leadership with Integrity w/ Karen Ann Bulluck

Exploring Trust and Integrity with Karen Ann Bulluck on BrandsTalk Are you grappling with the pressures of maintaining integrity in today's ever-changing workplace culture? In a captivating conversation with Karen Ann Bullock, a storyteller, risk-taker, and author of the bestselling Ascending Leaders series. Karen discusses the themes of trust, integrity, and creativity in leadership, highlighting the challenges women face in male-dominated environments. She also shares her insights on personal and professional growth through her compelling characters and real-life experiences. Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion that dives deep into exploring trust across various dimensions. Tune in and get inspired to embrace trust in your own life and career. ”Embracing Trust”. The third book of the business fiction series “The Ascending Ladders Series” centers on empowerment, truth, and trust, launching on February 24, 2026. Time Markers: 00:36 Meet Karen Ann Bullock 01:01 Karen's Journey and Achievements 01:53 The Importance of Trust in Leadership 05:17 Exploring Self-Trust and Integrity 12:20 Challenges for Women in Leadership 19:25 Karen's Creative Process 23:21 The Ascending Ladder Series 30:34 Embracing Trust: Personal Insights 32:37 Future Plans and Final Thoughts Get in touch with Karen Ann Bulluck: https://www.daringtotranscend.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenannbulluck https://www.facebook.com/karenannbulluck Get in touch with Brigitte Bojkowszky: Website BridgetBrands: https://www.bridgetbrands.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojkowszkyb/ Amazon books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbrands YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgetbrands Book a call: https://calendly.com/bridgetbrands/20-min-discoverycall 👉 Download your Brand Building Guide: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/brand-building-guide 👉 Download Your Entrepreneurial Branding Starter Checklist: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/entrepreneurial-branding-starter-checklist

January 5, 2026Episode 16448 min

How Leaders Rebuild Identity After Life Disrupts Everything w/ Alethea Felton

Resilient Leadership and Transformative Rebranding with Alithea Felton In this episode of Brands Talk, I welcome Alethea Felton, a professional speaker, AI consultant, and digital products creator, known for her best-selling books and the Power Transformation Podcast. Alethea shares her journey of navigating personal and professional transitions, from dealing with illness and grief to making a leap into full-time entrepreneurship. She highlights the importance of resilience, authenticity, and embracing change to stay true to oneself while evolving as a brand and leader. Alethea offers practical advice on leveraging AI for efficiency, rebranding, and maintaining a sense of worthiness and self-compassion. She also touches on the benefits and challenges of using AI in business, and the significance of radical honesty and vulnerability in leadership. Get in touch w/ Alethea Felton Website https://www.aletheafelton.com The Power Transformation Podcast https://powertransformation.buzzsprout.com/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/aletheafelton/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Alethea.LeeLee.Felton Instagram https://www.instagram.com/aletheafelton/ Get in touch with Brigitte Bojkowszky: Website BridgetBrands: https://www.bridgetbrands.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bojkowszkyb/ Amazon books Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetbrands YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bridgetbrands Book a call: https://calendly.com/bridgetbrands/20-min-discoverycall 👉 Download your Brand Building Guide: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/brand-building-guide 👉 Download Your Entrepreneurial Branding Starter Checklist: https://courses.bridgetbrands.com/f/entrepreneurial-branding-starter-checklist

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