Brand Strategy Unwankified

Hosted by Bec Hughes | Brand Strategy Mentor

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136

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Oct 2026

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About the show

The Brand Strategy Unwankified podcast, hosted by Bec Hughes, is the no BS space for brand designers and creators who want to learn brand strategy and sell it as a service. If you’re over the jargon and gatekeeping of the ‘exclusive club’, and want practical, honest tools, tips and insights, you’re in the right place. ~ Why listen… this podcast is dedicated to helping brand designers confidently add strategy to their skillset and create a lucrative revenue stream. ~ What you’ll hear… real talk on pricing, selling, frameworks, and processes, with expert insights and case studies. ~ The vibe… cheeky, straight-talking, simplified, and totally unwankified. Subscribe and let’s dive in!

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October 7, 2026Episode 1361 hr 21 min

136. Andy Starr on Messiness, Disruption and Advantage

Andy Starr told me in this podcast he's not a master. He lied. Or at least I disagree. In this expedition through what's wrong, right, problematic, and possible in the disciplines surrounding branding, Andy shows he is a master challenger, disruptor, and divergent thinker. Prepare for discussion on: • The value and purpose of simplifying strategy • Reasons to embrace messiness and chaos • How brand strategy has been devalued and where to from here • What happens when questions don't work • Creating advantage through difference ...and so much more. About Any Starr: Andy is an award-winning brand architect and strategic sparring partner for business leaders. A musician and recovering law student, he teaches MBA candidates in the EU, is a co-founder of an LA-based public safety tech brand, and splits his time between the US and Austria. No business-changing whiteboard books. Yet. But he did do a Top-1% TEDx talk, so that has to count for something... Connect with Andy on LinkedIn Find out more about Critique Connect with Bec Hughes: Check out The Brand Method Find me on Instagram

September 18, 2026Episode 13524 min

135. Never Have I Ever: The Brand Strategy Edition

Maybe there isn't one RIGHT way to do brand strategy. But there is a WRONG way. In this episode I share 7 things I would never do when creating a brand strategy for a client based on my 25+ years of experience. Don't take it as criticism. Take it as an opportunity to: • Deliver more impactful results • Build stronger client relationships • Increase your value as a strategic thinker Connect with me Grow your value and your advantage with Brand Strategy - The Brand Method program Find me on Instagram

August 26, 2026Episode 13414 min

134. Start Getting Paid for Strategy, Today

People don't pay for what they can't see. So why do so many designers hide the most valuable thing they do? If you have a feeling you're giving your thinking work away for free, but you're not sure how to go about charging for it, this episode is for you. I get into: • How to turn intuitive thinking into a deliverable that gets noticed • The biggest mistake designers make when they list their services • A simple way to start pricing your thinking, even without a formal process or service • Productising your thinking, and why it instantly raises what you can charge You don't need a full blown brand strategy process to start charging for the thinking you're already doing. You just need to make it visible. Connect with me Grow your value and your advantage with Brand Strategy - The Brand Method program Find me on Instagram

August 17, 2026Episode 13353 min

133. Become the Brand Designer AI Cannot Replace with Jacob Cass

We'd be lying if we said AI isn't making the design industry twitchy, right? Jacob Cass joins me again to talk about what it takes to become a brand builder AI can't replace, including: • Which designers should be the most worried about AI • How to collaborate with AI effectively • How and why designers should shift their focus "upstream" • What separates producers and consultants • Asking the right questions for better sales results • Jacob's time management tips and how he stays so consistent • What’s happening at the Brand Builders Summit on 8-11 Sept >>> Get your FREE Summit ticket here About Jacob Cass: Jacob Cass is a brand designer, strategist, educator, and business coach, as well as the founder of JUST Creative, a renowned branding and design consultancy that also serves as an industry-leading blog and vibrant community. He is also the brains behind the Brand Builders Summit. Connect with Jacob on Instagram Download Jacob's Branding Briefcase freebie Connect with Bec Hughes: Check out The Brand Method Find me on Instagram

June 26, 2026Episode 13218 min

132. Why the 3 Tier Pricing Model Doesn't Work for Strategic Branding Services

3 packages on your services page might feel logical and flexible. It might also be the reason your best prospects always pick the option with no brand strategy, and you're convinced clients don't want strategy. If you've ever built tiered service packages to feel more affordable, flexible or available, this is for you. In this episode: • Why "affordable" packages train clients to shop on price instead of value • Why giving options is costing you sales • How skipping brand strategy in your "low cost" tiers undermines the authority you're trying to build • The 3rd way to replace tiered services or a bespoke quote for every single enquiry Build an offer you fully believe in, and price it like you mean it. Connect with me Learn Brand Strategy - The Brand Method program Find me on Instagram

June 19, 2026Episode 13118 min

131. Are You in a Race to the Bottom?

Every designer is feeling the pressure to be faster and cheaper, especially with AI in the mix. But competing on speed and price isn't a strategy, it's a trap. If you've ever wondered whether brand in a week offers, selling templates, or rock bottom logo packages are just the new reality, this one's for you. I tackle why the race to the bottom is hurting us as individual designers and as an industry, including: Why positioning on speed and price is a race you'll never win The cost of offering brand strategy and pre-made logos in the same breath What it actually means to compete on value instead of competing with AI Position on value, not speed or price, and you'll find yourself in a very different race altogether. Connect with me Learn Brand Strategy - The Brand Method program Find me on Instagram

June 9, 2026Episode 13024 min

130. It's Time to Ditch Mission, Vision and Values

"Mission, Vision and Values" is everywhere in brand strategy. But what if it's not brand strategy at all? If you've ever completed an MVV exercise with a client and then wondered how to actually turn it into branding, this one is for you. I tackle why Mission, Vision and Values belongs in a different strategic discipline and what brand strategy actually needs to do instead, including: • Why MVV produces 'brand narcissism' and leaves the customer out of the conversation • Replaying a founder's values back to them is the easy gap, not the important one • The most common brand values are HR documents in disguise • What a customer-focused brand strategy actually needs to answer Knowing the difference between founder strategy and brand strategy is the upgrade your clients actually need from you. Connect with me Learn Brand Strategy - The Brand Method program Find me on Instagram

June 3, 2026Episode 12917 min

129. Why You Need a Brenemy - The Villain Strategy

The villain strategy is having a moment. But trendy brand strategy concepts are only useful if you know how to use them. If you've heard about brands defining their "enemy" and thought it sounded good but weren't sure how to apply it for a client, this one's for you. I tackle the "brenemy" concept and give it the framework it's been missing, including: Why standing against something is just as powerful as standing for something How your ego influences the enemy you choose to challenge How to shape a strong villain strategy using four key criteria A good villain strategy is more than a clever concept to impress your client with. In this episode you'll learn how to make it a proper brand strategy tool. Connect with me Learn Brand Strategy - The Brand Method program Find me on Instagram

May 27, 2026Episode 12842 min

128. Creating Opportunities With 100 Rejections with Liz Mosley

In this episode I'm joined by Liz Mosley, and she has a challenge for you... 100 challenges actually. We talk about Liz, her business and creativity, and her hot takes on the design industry. We cover: • How Liz unintentionally built a personal brand and why that was the best way • Advice she has ignored • Being vulnerable, building in public, and setting healthy boundaries • Her thoughts on where the design industry needs to do better • How being rejected by Chris Do has created an avalanche of opportunities And so much more! About Liz Mosley Liz is a branding designer, podcast host, public speaker, and content creator. Her work is grounded in the belief that creativity isn’t about perfection. It’s in the showing up, trying new things, and learning as you go. As a vocal advocate for reframing rejection and failure, Liz encourages other creatives to see them not as things to avoid, but as essential parts of both the creative process and the human experience. Connect with Liz on Instagram Listen to the Building Your Brand Podcast Connect with Bec Hughes: Check out The Brand Method Find me on Instagram

May 22, 2026Episode 12720 min

127. Is Your Brand Strategy Leaking Value?

No one wants a leaky brand strategy. Could you be devaluing what you create for your clients without you even knowing it? If you've ever handed over a 50-point questionnaire, wrestled with AI for hours, or sent a Loom instead of presenting your work live, this episode is for you. I tackle the most common brand strategy leaks and how to plug them, including: Why your discovery process might be working against you How to use AI as a strategic assistant, not a strategic replacement Why more research is not always the answer The cost of keeping your client at arm's length Find your leaks, plug them, and deliver work you can actually stand behind. Connect with me Learn Brand Strategy - The Brand Method program Find me on Instagram