YES, BRAND with Hersh Rephun

Hosted by Hersh Rephun

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177

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Aug 2026

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About the show

YES, BRAND features conversations with founders, creators, leaders, and public thinkers at pivotal moments, when the success of what they're building depends on how it's understood. A founder entering a new arena. An author introducing a new idea. A scientist challenging conventional thinking. A CEO redefining a company. An artist reshaping a genre. A leader building a movement. Building it is only the beginning. What happens next depends on how the world understands it. Every episode explores the gap between intention and interpretation, where meaningful ideas meet the real world and take on a life of their own. Welcome to the conversation between what you meant... and what everyone else thinks you meant. Because every idea has two stories: the one you tell... and the one everyone else repeats. Hosted by Hersh Rephun.

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60 recent

August 20, 202625 min

Ben Butcher: After Pixar and Funko, Building a World of His Own

Ben Butcher spent nearly three decades helping shape some of the most recognizable entertainment brands in the world, including five years at Disney, twelve at Pixar, and ten as SVP of Creative at Funko. Then he decided to build something of his own. On this episode of YES, BRAND , Hersh Rephun sits down with Ben, founder and CEO of Kaleidos Creative , an artist-led company creating original characters, stories, and intellectual property from the ground up. The challenge is radically different. At Disney, Pixar, and Funko, the audience already existed. The characters already carried meaning. At Kaleidos, Ben and his team have to create that connection before anyone knows what the characters are supposed to mean. Hersh and Ben explore how beloved brands can eventually become trapped by their own history, why creative freedom still has to coexist with commercial reality, and what changes when an artist moves from contributing to someone else’s world to becoming responsible for the whole thing. They also get into AI, and Ben offers a refreshingly human reason Kaleidos has chosen not to build its creative process around it: the messy middle is the part they actually love. The mistakes, experimentation, collaboration, and evolution are not inefficiencies to eliminate. They are the creative experience itself. At its heart, this episode asks: What happens when someone who spent decades building other people’s worlds finally decides to create one of his own? https://kaleidoscreative.com/ -- Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image. You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix . Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/

August 11, 202642 min

T.A. Thompson: When the Category Is Too Small

What happens when the life that pays the bills is only part of who you are? On this episode of YES, BRAND , Hersh Rephun sits down with author T.A. Thompson , who has spent more than a decade in commercial insurance while building a very different creative life as a fiction writer. His novel, The Mark , lives in a post-apocalyptic world where people die by 22 and the protagonist, Alexandra, has somehow made it to 25. Which means everyone sees her as old. That premise opens the door to something bigger than dystopian fiction. Hersh and T.A. explore what happens when a label helps people understand what you do, but also compresses what makes it different. They get into the difficulty of becoming known for a new identity, why writing the book may be easier than helping people discover it, how rejection changes the way a creator sees the work, and why dark humor can make the truth easier to face. They also explore the tension between being an insurance professional who writes and becoming an author who happens to work in insurance. At the center of the conversation is a question that applies far beyond publishing: How do you help people understand what you’ve created without reducing it to the nearest familiar category? https://tathompsonwriter.com/ -- Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image. You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix . Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/

August 6, 202627 min

Sharon McLaughlin: When the Title Disappears, What Authority Remains?

What happens to your authority when the organization, title, and familiar identity fall away? On this episode of YES, BRAND , Hersh Rephun sits down with executive coach, leadership advisor, and Change Clarity founder Sharon McLaughlin for a conversation about leadership, identity, transition, and what it takes to move people through relentless change. After more than three decades inside large organizations, Sharon recognized that leadership was never created by rank. The title may grant responsibility, but the ability to build trust, create clarity, and bring people with you comes from somewhere deeper. Hersh and Sharon explore: Why expertise does not automatically translate into leadership The difference between managing change and leading people through it What remains when professional identity is separated from a title Why leaders tend to under-communicate during uncertain times How constant change creates fatigue and emotional saturation The distinction between moving from A to B and leading people all the way through How to evolve publicly without abandoning the credibility already earned And why authority ultimately comes back to who you are Sharon also shares what she learned while moving from municipal government leadership into an independent advisory practice and discovering that the value she brought to the organization had never belonged to the organization. At its heart, this episode asks: When the title disappears, what are people still willing to follow? -- Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image. You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix . Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/

July 24, 202643 min

Dr. Angela Zeng: When Science Meets Mission

Is your product the mission... Or simply the expression of it? On this episode of YES, BRAND , Hersh Rephun sits down with scientist, entrepreneur, and Karviva founder Dr. Angela Zeng for a conversation about purpose, trust, branding, and the challenge of building a company without sacrificing its soul. After years in medical research, Angela discovered that creating an exceptional product wasn't enough. The real challenge was helping people understand why it exists. Together, Hersh and Angela explore: Why quality alone doesn't create a successful brand The growing gap between marketing claims and consumer trust The difference between selling ingredients and sharing a philosophy Why founders shouldn't disappear behind their products How mission creates meaning beyond marketing The role of traditional wisdom in a modern marketplace Why authenticity is becoming a competitive advantage And what happens when a founder finally steps into the story At the heart of the conversation is a simple recognition: People don't build relationships with bottles. They build relationships with belief. https://karviva.com/ -- Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image. You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix . Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/

July 13, 202639 min

JonRobert Tartaglione: Influence Begins Before Anyone Says Yes

Influence isn't about convincing people. It's about helping them see something differently. On this episode of YES, BRAND , Hersh Rephun sits down with psychologist, behavioral scientist, and Influence51 founder JonRobert Tartaglione for a conversation about persuasion, perception, positioning, and why even brilliant ideas struggle when people don't know where to place them. After years studying psychology at University College London, the University of Chicago, and Cambridge, JonRobert realized the hardest part wasn't understanding human behavior. It was helping organizations understand why it mattered. Together they explore: Why expertise doesn't automatically create understanding The difference between influence and manipulation How people decide what to believe Why demonstrations outperform explanations The challenge of building something that doesn't fit an existing category Why many experts struggle with self-promotion How trust creates openness to new ideas And why changing someone's mind is far more human than tactical Along the way, JonRobert shares how he built Influence51 by translating academic research into practical tools leaders can actually use. At its core, this episode explores a question every founder eventually faces: What happens when your work makes perfect sense... once people experience it? -- Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image. You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix . Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/

July 8, 202641 min

Hakeem Bourne Mcfarlane on Choosing Yourself Before the World Chooses for You

In this episode of YES, BRAND , Hersh Rephun sits down with Hakeem Bourne McFarlane for a raw, powerful conversation about addiction, identity, masculinity, discipline, and what it actually means to choose yourself. For Hakeem, “Choose Yourself” is not a slogan. It was born from grief, collapse, masking, substances, jail, and the long work of rebuilding a life from the inside out. Hersh and Hakeem explore: Why choosing yourself is not selfish The difference between being a good man and being good at being a man How achievement can become camouflage for grief Why discipline is freedom, not punishment The danger of masking pain with productivity How public accountability can become an integrity loop Why what we consume shapes who we become How vices quietly become identity substitutes And why your story should be the root of your brand Hakeem also shares the five-pillar Choose Yourself process, his path through addiction and recovery, and how he turned personal transformation into a community, movement, and message. At its core, this episode asks: What version of yourself are you choosing when nobody is watching? -- Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image. You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix . Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/

July 3, 202651 min

Rick Stark: How to Spot the Next Big Thing Before Everyone Else

Some people follow trends. Rick Stark has spent his career finding them before they have names. On this episode of YES, BRAND , Hersh Rephun sits down with action sports entrepreneur, media executive, and brand builder Rick Stark for a conversation about timing, trust, category creation, and why the biggest opportunities often begin as communities everyone else overlooks. From launching the National Inline Skate Series before the X Games existed to helping grow World of Dance into a global phenomenon, Rick has repeatedly found himself at the intersection of culture and commerce, recognizing potential long before the market catches up. Together they explore: Why timing matters as much as talent How niche communities become global movements What sponsors often misunderstand about culture The balance between commercialization and authenticity Why relationships outperform transactions The role trust plays in long-term partnerships How to recognize opportunity before it's obvious Why entrepreneurs need people who believe before everyone else does Rick also shares the surprising story behind the return of the National Inline Skate Series and why building Team USA for rollerblading may become the next chapter in a career built on seeing what's possible before others do. At its core, this episode asks: How do you recognize a movement before the rest of the world calls it one? -- Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image. You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix . Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/

July 2, 202641 min

Jenni Lee: What Your Closet Knows About Your Personal Brand

What if getting dressed wasn't about fashion? What if it was about recognition? On this episode of YES, BRAND , Hersh Rephun sits down with celebrity stylist Jenni Lee for a conversation that starts with clothes and ends somewhere much deeper. After decades styling actors, musicians, and public figures, Jenni discovered the real transformation never happened in front of the camera. It happened in the fitting room. Together they explore: Why clothes tell your story before you do The difference between fashion and identity Why success often outpaces someone's self-image How visibility changes what we need from our wardrobe Why style is less about shopping and more about recognition The surprising psychology behind confidence and clothing What AI can imitate... and what it never will How getting dressed can become an act of self-trust instead of self-consciousness Along the way, Jenni shares stories from Hollywood, New York Fashion Week, and the dressing rooms where she's watched people see themselves differently for the very first time. At its heart, this episode explores a simple idea: Your best outfit doesn't change who you are. It helps other people meet the version that's already there. Website: https://www.jennileestylist.consulting/ -- Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image. You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix . Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/

June 22, 202643 min

Jimi Gibson: What Happens When the Marketplace Decides Who You Are

In this episode of YES, BRAND , Hersh Rephun sits down with Jimi Gibson, visibility strategist, researcher, and former professional magician, for a conversation about perception, authority, AI, and why being excellent at what you do is no longer enough. Jimi's core belief is simple: Invisible owners create invisible companies. But this conversation goes far deeper than social media tactics or personal branding advice. After studying hundreds of businesses and their visibility across search engines, AI platforms, and digital ecosystems, Jimi discovered a growing divide between organizations that are easily found, understood, and trusted, and those quietly disappearing from consideration altogether. Hersh and Jimi explore: Why expertise alone no longer guarantees visibility How AI evaluates authority and trust The difference between being known and being understood Why business owners often hide behind their logos The danger of becoming a generic "smudge" in the marketplace How specificity creates authority The role of opinion, conviction, and perspective And why AI increasingly favors people over brands Along the way, Jimi shares the childhood story that shaped his view of identity, a bank campaign called Thumb Buddy that taught him the value of embracing what makes you different. At its heart, this episode explores a question many leaders avoid asking: If someone encountered your business tomorrow, would they find you... or a generic version of everyone else? -- Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image. You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix . Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/

June 22, 202631 min

Mara Smith and Inspiro Tequila: What Happens When the Founder Isn't in the Room?

In this episode of YES, BRAND , Hersh Rephun sits down with Mara Smith, founder and CEO of Inspiro Tequila, for a conversation about founder-led brands, perception, scale, and the challenge of building something that can stand on its own. Mara didn't set out to build a tequila company. A former attorney, corporate strategist, and stay-at-home mom, she set out to build something of her own. What she discovered was a gap in the market: a premium, additive-free tequila that reflected her values and appealed to consumers who wanted quality without pretension. But building the product was only the beginning. As Inspiro grows, Mara faces a challenge familiar to every founder: How do you make sure people understand what you've built when you're no longer there to explain it? Hersh and Mara explore: The founder's dilemma of control versus scale Why consistency matters more than perfection How products communicate when the founder isn't present The difference between a product story and a founder story Why approachability became a core brand value How personal values shape business identity The challenge of being interpreted by distributors, retailers, and customers And what happens when a brand starts developing a personality of its own Along the way, Mara shares the story of launching a tequila company during the pandemic, building a woman-led brand in a traditionally male-dominated industry, and learning to let go of the need for everyone to tell the story exactly the way she would. At its heart, this episode explores a question every founder eventually faces: When people encounter your brand without you there, what version of the story are they meeting? https://inspirotequila.com/ -- Hersh's new book, SELLING THE TRUTH: A ‘Semoir’ with Insights for Life & Business is a semi memoir drawing on his adventures as an Authority Advisor and Standup Comedian. It is part business book, part happiness formula for life, and an amuseful read, whether you’re building a business or burnishing your self-image. You can kickstart your own messaging evolution with a one-on-one 5-Minute Fix . Take the 60-second Get Off Your Assets Quiz, and find other resources here: https://www.hershrephun.com/selling-the-truth/