Brand Retro with Cyberdogz

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike and Kira Nyland break down the customer journey from concept to completion—what to ask, what to consider, and how to approach brand-building in a clear, step-by-step way so you can start with confidence. Highlights The different services that they offer - 1:13 Every client is different - 4:04 What's the method - 6:05 The logo should tell a story - 7:15 A common pa...

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike sits down with Sandi Harding, General Manager of the last Blockbuster, to talk about how one remaining location keeps the spirit of a bygone era alive—plus the role nostalgia and community play in keeping a brand relevant. Highlights Sandi's experience - 0:39 Having a Christmas bonus - 4:57 Being a movie family - 7:36 The Blockbuster game - 8:17 Having unique idea...

In this Brand Retro "Brand Spotlight" episode, Mike talks with Chris Ratterman, Founder and CEO of Shady Rays, about how the brand was built, the journey behind it, and why focusing on quality and purpose can matter more than chasing volume. Highlights How to solve a problem - 2:12 Loving sunglasses and solving a problem - 4:08 Quality over quantity - 5:55 What builds the relationship with custome...

In this Brand Retro "Brand Spotlight" episode, Mike sits down with Kevin Stecko, Founder and President of 80sTees.com, to talk about the brand's journey, the business behind retro pop-culture merchandise, and what it takes to build a loyal customer base around nostalgia.   Highlights His background - 1:19 Having creativity - 4:29 Marketing and merchandising - 5:11 Education as a huge part of the c...

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike sits down with branding expert Sima Dahl—Sway Factor™ speaker, consultant, author, and coach—to talk about personal branding in today's social media-driven marketplace. They dig into what "personal brand" really means, how early social media shaped modern marketing, and how to show up with clarity and consistency so you get noticed for the right reasons. Highlight...

In this Brand Retro "Brand Spotlight" episode (Part 2), Mike continues the conversation with independent comics creator, writer, and artist Chris Campana. They unpack what it's really like building a creative career—balancing art and business, the realities of promoting your work, and the mindset shifts that help creators market themselves without losing their voice. Highlights The art comic idea...

In this Brand Retro "Brand Spotlight" episode (Part 1), Mike sits down with independent comics creator, writer, and artist Chris Campana to talk about the real intersection of creativity and business. They dig into what it takes to market yourself as a creator, how to build a recognizable identity, and why brand-building matters just as much as the art—especially when you're doing it independently...

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike shares the story of Jen Cline ("Miss DeWalt")—a powerful example of resilience, purpose, and building a life and personal brand through adversity. They talk about how she got started, what it means to represent a brand, and what she's working toward as she rebuilds and moves forward. Highlights How she got started - 1:51 A woman that represents a brand - 3:25 What...

Summary We're Back! After a short break, we're back in action and committed to bringing you more episodes of the Brand Retro Podcast each and every week! We're coming out of the gates STRONG as Mike lists out and briefly describes who's coming up in the next month! Here we come 2021!   Highlights ●      A break that they took at the end of 2020 - 0:21 ●      New guests for the podcast - 1:10 ●    ...

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike unpacks one of the brand "sizzle words": Speak Hard Truth —the discipline of being honest, observant, and clear about what's working (and what isn't). He explains why constructive truth is essential for brand growth, how it creates alignment, and how teams can use it to evolve the brand in a positive, intentional way.   Highlights Talking about sizzle words and wh...

In this Brand Retro "Brand Spotlight" episode, Mike interviews comic creator, writer, and artist Emma Kubert about building a creative career—and a creator brand—in the comics world. They talk about brand creation, background and growth in the industry, and how creators develop a recognizable identity through consistency, craft, and community.   Highlights Emma's background and experience - 1:12 H...

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike breaks down the idea of "Brand Offense"—a strategic mindset for staying proactive when market conditions, seasons, or business decisions force change. He covers why playing defense can weaken brand perception, how to stay intentional with messaging, and how to keep control of your brand narrative during high-pressure moments.   Highlights The idea of brand offense...

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike sits down with comic creator Dan Jurgens to explore what makes Superman one of the most enduring brands in pop culture. They talk about the character's origin, what Superman represents, and why iconic brands—whether characters or companies—connect so deeply through meaning, story, and consistency.   Highlights About the birth of Superman - 3:34 What Superman stand...

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike talks with author C.J. English about brand storytelling—and how personal journey, identity, and intention shape an author brand. They explore what it means to build a recognizable voice, clarify your brand connection, and use your platform to create real impact.   Highlights Being a storyteller - 1:00 What exactly is her author brand - 2:42 Branding herself - 3:30...

In this Brand Retro "Brand Spotlight" episode, Mike sits down with Sarah West, founder of Light Consulting & Coaching, to talk about the leap into entrepreneurship and what it takes to build a coaching brand with clarity and purpose. They cover the shift from corporate life to business ownership, how to define your mission, and how to make confident decisions as you build your next chapter.   High...

In this Brand Retro "Sizzle Word" episode, Mike explains Calibrate —the practice of hitting reset, stepping back, and evaluating what's working (and what isn't) in your brand and business. He shares how calibration helps you connect the dots, find gaps, and make smarter decisions that keep your brand moving forward.   Highlights A believer in coaching - 0:23 What is calibration for Mike - 1:17 Tak...

In this Brand Retro Brand Spotlight episode, Mike sits down with legendary comic creator Dan Jurgens to talk about personal branding, creative identity, and the story behind their connection. They explore how brand and reputation are built over time, how creators can position themselves, and what it means to build a career with staying power.   Highlights Dan's perspective about his website - 2:20...

In this Brand Retro "Sizzle Word" episode, Mike breaks down Uniqueness —what it really means to stand out, how to stay authentic, and why creativity is essential in branding. He also shares why you don't always need to look far to find what makes your brand different—you often already have it.   Highlights Being a business coach - 0:35 Being unique and creative is essential - 1:17 We do not have t...

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike and Katie Jenison explore how to find real inspiration —the kind that connects to a person or a brand—and how to turn that inspiration into motivation you can actually use. They unpack how to think differently, stay on track, and create something truly unique for your brand.   Highlights People that inspire Mike - 1:29 Why he finds some people inspirational - 2:43...

In this Brand Retro "Sizzle Word" episode, Mike breaks down what Next Level really means—how to identify the tools you already have, how to get more out of them, and how to approach marketing with smarter strategy and stronger execution. It's a practical mindset shift for leveling up your brand without overcomplicating the process.   Highlights Talking about sizzle words - 0:28 Two sizzle words fo...

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike and Katie Jenison define brand storytelling —what it is, why it matters, and how it applies to your brand in the real world. They unpack how storytelling supports branding, why it takes time to understand your message, and how to tell your story in a way that builds connection and trust.   Highlights How storytelling applies to branding - 1:39 It takes time to und...

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike and Katie Jenison break down what it takes to build a successful blog —why blogging works, how to create valuable content, and how to make sure your message actually lands with your audience. If you want long-term brand growth through content, this is your starting point.   Highlights Why blogs are great - 1:53 The importance of creating value and content - 3:43 Y...

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike and writer Katie Jenison break down personal branding vs corporate branding —what a personal brand really is, why it matters, and when building one becomes essential. They cover the core differences, how to think about positioning, and how to decide if a personal brand is the right move for your goals.   Highlights What a personal brand is - 1:41 A personal brand...

The producer of Brand Retro (Spencer Shaw) takes another stab at flushing out the deeper meaning and some inspirational stories behind DogDayz Apparel. Second time's a charm!   Highlights Wanting to create t-shirts and do something fun - 2:37 Doing retro t-shirts - 2:51 Mike's retro shirt creations - 4:11 The retro-looking feel - 5:22 We all have memories - 10:49 Creating a t-shirt that helped a f...

In this Brand Retro episode, Mike sits down with Marisa Jackels to share the origin story behind DogDayz Apparel —how the idea became a passion project, what the concept stands for, and the purpose driving the brand. They break down the early steps, the inspiration behind the designs, and the foundation that shaped DogDayz from day one.   Highlights A passion project - 0:17 The concept's story - 1...