The Brand Herald

On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon sits down with Foster McCarl, a Louisville-based strategic advisor and business coach. Foster's story isn't a straight line. It winds through western Pennsylvania, Los Angeles, Hilton Head, and finally Kentucky, shaped at every turn by family, faith, and a willingness to do the hard work in front of him. This episode is less about tactics and m...

On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon sits down with Josh McKain of Henry Rose Consulting, a Louisville-area operations consultant, group coaching founder, with an impressive LinkedIn presence. Josh's story isn't a straight line. It's a winding path from accounting to insurance operations to entrepreneurship, held together by a persistent curiosity and an ability to build trus...

On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon sits down with Todd Krise, founder of MercenaryMarketing.ai, a Louisville-based AI consulting firm helping businesses and solopreneurs harness artificial intelligence without the hype, the headaches, or the fear. What starts as a conversation about a Louisville Business First article quickly becomes one of the most grounded, practical discussions about A...

On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon sits down with Bronson Cordle, Vice President of Marketing at Vsimple, to explore the real mechanics of marketing software platform in a B2B world. Bronson brings a rich agency background. He trades the agency grind for the chance to build something from the ground up. Landon and Bronson talk about Vsimple's defining challenge, when your platform ca...

On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon sits down with Chad Churchman of Hyland Insurance to discuss the intersection of professional branding and community. Transitioning from a decade in digital marketing at Journeys to the insurance world, Chad shares how he helped shape Hyland’s internal culture.  We explore the "Hyland way"—a philosophy built on educating rather than selling, an...

On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon welcomes back his first-ever repeat guest, Klaus Schlimm. Klaus, formerly the VP of Marketing at Progressive Materials, has stepped into a new role as the President of Countryman Coatings. The conversation explores Klaus's transition from the commercial roofing world to the DIY and residential market, highlighting the unique challenges and rewards o...

On this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon talks with Chris Nation from Mirazon, a local managed IT services company that’s been helping businesses for 25 years. If you missed the episode with Leah Weisman a few years ago on the sales side, this one is a bit different. Chris is the Marketing Manager at Mirazon who focuses on brand awareness and PR, which he breaks down into two very simple "...

Landon Wade sits down with Mallory Fagan of Kenmark Eyewear to unpack the creative strategy behind one of the country's most respected names in the eyewear industry. Fresh off the significant news of Kenmark's acquisition by XyloWare, Mallory shares the story of a successful, 50-year-old business that has managed to stand out in a highly competitive niche.  The conversation dives into th...

This month on The Brand Herald, Landon sits down with Scott Bruzek, the mind behind Bruzek IQ. They dive into why traditional business strategies often falter and how Bruzek IQ helps leaders move past fear to turn uncertainty into opportunity. Scott and Landon kick things off by exploring what it truly means for an organization to be resilient. Bruzek IQ doesn't deal in corporate platitudes;...

This month on The Brand Herald, Landon sits down with Rachel Major, the HR Project Manager at Service Metal Products, for a conversation as unique as it is insightful. They dive into how Rachel’s background in government and intelligence has surprisingly prepared her for the world of HR and marketing. Landon and Rachel start with a humorous look at the pitfalls of AI, sharing a story about how Cha...

In this episode of The Brand Herald, Landon Wade chats with Jordan Clemons, Senior Director of Investor Development at Greater Louisville Inc. Their conversation explores the power of relationships and the importance of authentic personal branding. Jordan recounts his career path from a financial advisor to his current role at GLI, highlighting how building connections was crucial to his professio...

In this episode of The Brand Herald , Landon Wade chats with Heather Priddy, Marketing Coordinator at Stonemont Financial. They discussed the complexities of their business and her role in bringing their brand to life. Heather explains that Stonemont Financial primarily focuses on industrial real estate development. This involves acquiring raw land, developing it, and constructing large-scale indu...

In this episode of The Brand Herald , Landon Wade chats with Melissa Bailey about her leap from corporate marketing to independent publishing with Hurstbourne Living, a part of the Best Version Media family. Melissa’s story blends classic entrepreneurial grit with a modern, people-first approach — all rooted in her deep belief in community, consistency, and the long game. She unpacks what it reall...

In this episode of The Brand Herald , we’re joined by David Fishburn, Marketing Manager at WireCrafters. David shares his journey into the world of marketing and the evolution of the WireCrafters brand—highlighting how strategic content, including their well-known “Mondays with Milt” video series, has helped them stand out in the industry. He and Landon dive into the value of building genuine comm...

Bonnie Logsdon, a lactation consultant and the founder of Bonnie Knows Breast , joins The Brand Herald this month! Bonnie shares her journey from Nashville to New York City and eventually to Louisville, sharing how she established her practice and created a unique and approachable brand in a unique field. The conversation explores the importance of mental health in lactation consulting, the challe...

Brad Luttrell, founder of Prologue, joins The Brand Herald to discuss strategic storytelling and brand building. Luttrell shares his journey from growing up in Appalachia and working in journalism and agencies to founding GoWild and his current venture, Prologue. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity, knowing your brand's core identity, and connecting with the right audience. The conve...

Jared Doerfler , founder of Hanna Golf , joined The Brand Herald podcast. Hanna Golf makes handcrafted putters in Iowa. Jared discusses his journey from a corporate career in medical sales to pursuing his passion for golf and entrepreneurship. He touches on the fragility of life and the importance of pursuing one's dreams. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity, simplicity, and a focus...

Ryan Jones , COO at Jones Plastic & Engineering , joined The Brand Herald podcast to discuss the importance of branded merchandise and company culture. Goodson has been a long time partner of Jones and it was great to get a behind the scenes look at operations and branding! Jones Plastic & Engineering has been in business since 1961 and was started by Ryan's grandfather and his twin b...

Melissa Geertz , Senior VP of Marketing at Gray , joins us in this episode of The Brand Herald podcast. Melissa shares her journey in marketing, her insights into Gray's evolution as a family-owned business, and how relationships and core values have shaped the company's success. Melissa and Landon discuss the importance of branding beyond logos, touching on the challenges of managing ma...

Sierra Baumle, Marketing Director for Buffalo Construction, joins us in this episode of The Brand Herald podcast. Sierra shares her journey from graphic design to the construction industry. She talks about Buffalo's growth, the company's relationship-first approach, and the role of branding and marketing in construction. Sierra dives into internal and external marketing strategies, the r...

Jasmine Proaño , founder of Hidden Talent , joins this episode of The Brand Herald podcast. Jasmine talks about the shift from her corporate career during COVID-19 to launching her own agency. We talk about how a company’s brand is built from the inside out, starting with a team that aligns with its culture and core values. Jasmine explains how recruiters serve as brand ambassadors and that hiring...

Cordell Lawrence , the co-founder and CEO of Eastern Light Distilling , joins us in this episode of The Brand Herald podcast. Cordell grew up immersed in Kentucky’s rich bourbon culture. He discusses the road to founding Eastern Light, a contract distillery seeking to be known for its radical transparency and customizable offerings.  He emphasizes the importance of brand personality, storytelling,...

Cody Tevis , Marketing Director for IPS , joins us in this episode of The Brand Herald podcast. Cody walks us through how his first ad campaign at IPS ultimately failed but it gave him insight into how to reach IPS’ customers. We talk about the first question any business owner should be asking when starting out, one of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to branding, and how authenticity is...

Tom Pifer, co-founder of TKO Flight Club, joins us on this episode of The Brand Herald podcast.  Tom shares the story of his father's diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease after what was thought to be a routine surgery. His father then started TKO Parkinson’s to provide boxing exercise programs for people living with Parkinson's. Tom wanted to help and started TKO Flight Club solely to rais...

Dan Ratterman, COO for Shady Rays, joins us in this episode of The Brand Herald podcast.  Dan shares the story of how Shady Rays came to life by addressing a common problem, losing or breaking expensive sunglasses. He explains how the foundation of the company is providing a solution to this issue.  Shady Ray's answer? Trendy sunglasses at a reasonable price with free returns and exchanges. W...