Born to License

In this episode of Born to License, David Born sits down with Annabel Rochfort, one of the most influential voices in location-based entertainment (LBE). From her first trip to Disneyland to leading major projects for Cartoon Network, Warner Bros., and Ferrari, Annabel has built a career turning intellectual properties into immersive, real-world experiences. You’ll learn: - How licensing and locat...

Sometimes one childhood moment can shape an entire career. For Annabel Rochfort, it began with a single trip to Disneyland Paris — a spark that ignited a lifelong passion for bringing brands to life. In this Born to License episode trailer, Annabel shares the emotional story of how her love for theme parks evolved into a 20-year career leading licensing and location-based entertainment for some of...

Think you can launch licensed products in 2 months? Think again. Join product development expert Jenna as she reveals why licensed products take 9-18 months from concept to shelf. With nearly two decades of experience from Disney to Cartoon Network, Jenna breaks down the three-stage approval process that every licensee must navigate. In this episode, discover: - The three approval stages that make...

Get an exclusive preview of our conversation with product development expert Jenna, who's handled 1000+ submissions at once. Discover why your 2-month timeline is impossible and what really happens behind the scenes of every licensed product. In this preview:  ✓ The Ben 10 riding Donkey disaster  ✓ Why approvals reset every 10 days  ✓ The first Disney pin that changed everything Full episode...

Think licensing is just about paying royalties? Think again. David Schnider, licensing attorney at Nolan Heimann, reveals the legal minefields hidden in every licensing contract. From his journey licensing Top Gun costumes to negotiating Disney deals, David exposes the costly mistakes that can destroy licensing partnerships before they begin. In this episode, learn: - The three financial elements...

Preview our conversation with David Schnider, the licensing attorney who's seen it all. From Top Gun's million-dollar success to Disney audit disasters, discover the legal landmines hiding in every licensing contract. In this preview: ✓ The $100,000 transfer fee surprise ✓ Why selling before approval costs everything ✓ The "inspired by" career killer Full episode reveals: Compl...

What will licensing look like in 2035? Sharon Weisman has the answers. As US CEO of Portman Street and former executive at License Global and Licensing International, Sharon reveals how AI, dynamic royalty structures, and responsive IP ecosystems will revolutionize our industry. From virtual influencers making $2.6M monthly to AI clones that could teach licensing, this conversation explores the dr...

Get an exclusive preview of Sharon Weisman's bold predictions for licensing's future. From AI that eliminates guesswork to virtual influencers earning millions, discover why everything you know about licensing is about to change dramatically. In this preview:   ✓ Dynamic royalties that adjust to performance  ✓ Why Gen Alpha doesn't know what they want  ✓ The $100B wellness opportuni...

What happens when a cosplayer with 2M followers decides to create premium licensed fashion? Meet Jasmine and Vincent, the couple behind Fira x Wear who transformed a pandemic park conversation into a thriving fashion brand. From their first My Hero Academia collection to navigating anime approvals, they reveal what it really takes to build a premium licensed fashion brand from scratch. In this epi...

Preview the incredible journey of Jasmine (2M+ followers) and Vincent, who turned a pandemic idea into Fira x Wear - a premium licensed fashion brand that sold out on launch. See how they navigated their first anime license and changed the game for fan fashion. In this preview:   ✓ The pandemic park walk that started it all  ✓ Why anime approvals almost broke them  ✓ The "designer quality&quo...

The fan who became the voice of anime collaborations speaks out. Meet Caleb, the "Collab King" whose content on licensing and IP collaborations reaches millions. From predicting which anime partnerships will explode to calling out lazy logo slapping, he reveals what fans REALLY think about your licensing deals. In this episode, discover: Why limited editions matter more than brands think...

Get a first look at our conversation with Caleb, the content creator who's become the unofficial voice of anime collaborations. With millions of views dissecting every licensing deal, he knows exactly why fans love or hate your products. In this preview:  ✓ The "stinkiest fanbase" story that went viral  ✓ Why logo slapping is killing brands  ✓ The secondary market truth brands fear...

What's it like managing licensing for the world's hottest preschool brand? Michelle Ahern shares her extraordinary journey from answering a newspaper ad ("Brand Manager Wanted - Call Mike") to managing licensing for The Wiggles at their global peak—55 US licensees, sold-out Madison Square Garden shows, and theme parks across multiple continents. In this episode, discover: - How...

Preview Michelle Ahern's incredible story of managing The Wiggles at their absolute peak! From a newspaper ad to Madison Square Garden sellouts, discover what it's really like when EVERYONE wants your brand. In this preview:  ✓ The "Call Mike" story that started it all  ✓ Why they rejected every sugar deal  ✓ Fan mail you won't believe Full episode reveals: Theme park nego...

McDonald's Monopoly. Peppa Pig yogurts. That's promotional licensing—and it's everywhere. Join David Born for an eye-opening conversation with Julia Kamoda from Hasbro, who manages promotional partnerships across 1900 brands including Monopoly, Peppa Pig, Transformers, and more. Discover how these short-term campaigns drive billions in sales and create cultural moments that traditio...

Get a first look at our conversation with Julia Kamoda from Hasbro! Preview how promotional licensing drives billions in sales through McDonald's Monopoly, world record Twister games, and unexpected partnerships like Peppa Pig pregnancy announcements. In this preview: ✓ Why promotions is different to traditional licensing ✓ The 28 billion impression campaign ✓ Managing 1900 brands globally Fu...

How does Funko predict the next pop culture obsession before it even happens? Join us for an exclusive conversation with Lucy Salisbury, who orchestrates one of the most complex licensing portfolios on the planet at Funko. With over 1000 active licenses spanning Disney, Warner Bros, anime, sports, and more, Lucy reveals the strategy behind pop culture's most successful merchandising empire. I...

Get an exclusive first look at our conversation with Lucy Salisbury from Funko! In this preview, discover how one company manages over 1000 licenses from Disney to anime, predicts the next Grogu phenomenon, and transforms pop culture into collectibles worth billions. Lucy reveals: ✓ The data behind choosing which products to make ✓ Why Funko says NO more than YES (despite 1000+ licenses) ✓ How spo...

Big news, Born to License listeners! Season 2 is launching next week and David has pulled back the curtain on the licensing industry like never before. Get ready for explosive conversations with the dealmakers, risk-takers, and creative minds who transform your favourite characters and brands into billion-dollar empires. This season features exclusive interviews with industry titans managing massi...

Big news, Born to License listeners! David has some exciting announcements including exclusive interviews with licensing industry leaders launching later this month. Plus, he's created something he wishes existed 20 years ago when he walked into that infamous licensing interview knowing absolutely nothing about the industry. Introducing the Learn to License course - a comprehensive program pe...

After 9 episodes packed with stories, strategies, and behind-the-scenes insights, we’re wrapping up Season 1 with something special: a Q&A session featuring real questions from Born to License listeners around the world. From contract terms to trade show strategy to YouTube licensing requests gone wrong - this episode covers a wide range of practical, honest advice from inside the industry. We...

Sometimes the biggest licensing mistakes happen before the deal is even signed. In this episode of Born to License , I break down the most common pitfalls that trip up companies - and how to avoid them. Join me at the kitchen table as I walk through a late-night conversation that turned into a full-blown breakdown of what not to do in licensing. From mismatched IP to unrealistic timelines and hidd...

When a licensing deal really works, it’s not because of star power or nostalgia alone. It’s because it feels right . In this episode of Born to License , I dive into the one ingredient that separates forgettable partnerships from truly great ones: authenticity. Join me in a New York City boardroom as I walk a top advertising agency through iconic campaigns featuring He-Man, Buddy the Elf, and Dona...

When most people think of licensing, they picture products on store shelves - t-shirts, toys, and collectibles. But some of the most powerful licensing opportunities don’t involve physical products at all. In this episode of Born to License , I take you inside the world of non-traditional licensing - where brands extend into advertising campaigns, theme parks, live events, and digital experiences....

Signing a licensing deal is only the beginning. What happens next is the intricate and high-stakes journey of product development - where even the smallest details matter. In this episode of Born to License , I take you inside the process of how licensed products are actually brought to life, based on my time working with brands like Ben 10 and the Powerpuff Girls at Cartoon Network. From concept...