Brand and Butter
The straight-talking branding podcast for leaders who refuse to settle.
Brand and Butter delivers no-BS advice on how psychology, strategy, and design create brands that work. Host Tara Ladd, founder of Your One & Only brand design studio, breaks down the real influence and power of branding – how understanding behaviour and cultural shifts can transform how people see, think, and choose.
Sometimes funny, always honest, never dull. This is the podcast that cuts through industry jargon to talk about what actually makes brands stick.
Tara Ladd is the founder of Your One and Only, who design brands that breathe with culture through psychology, strategy, and design.
Episodes
89 episodes
Beyond Algorithms: Understanding the New Consumer Mindset
In this episode I’m talking about the thing most brands are pretending isn’t happening: the world has moved on, and your brand probably hasn’t.We’re standing at the edge of the biggest wealth transfer in history, with trillions shifting ...
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Episode 88
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37:40
From Silence to Story: Sherele Moody on Femicide, Media Failure, and Real Accountability
TW: This episode discusses gender-based violence, femicide, child deaths, and systemic failures surrounding these issues. A map of red hearts shouldn’t have to exist, yet Sherele Moody has spent a decade making sure every woman and chil...
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Episode 87
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1:07:31
Visibility To Memorability: What 2025 Taught Us
In this episode, I'm chatting about something that's been on my mind: why are brands spending more on visibility but becoming more forgettable? I share my thoughts on the psychology behind consumer behaviour and how storytelling makes brands me...
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Episode 86
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46:26
How Manufactured Urgency Rewired Our Buying Habits
In this episode of Brand and Butter, I'm diving into the whirlwind that is Black Friday. Ever wondered why we all get caught up in the frenzy of sales and urgency? Let's chat about the psychology behind it and how this U.S shopping spree has ta...
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Episode 85
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22:21
Is Brand Loyalty Dead or Evolving?
In this episode I'm talking about the evolving landscape of brand loyalty. As the world changes, so do the ways consumers connect with brands. I discuss why traditional brand loyalty is fading and how brands can adapt to align with modern...
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Episode 84
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34:52
Rethinking brand through neurodiversity and design psychology
In this episode, I'm discussing the challenges and opportunities faced by neurodivergent founders in the business world. I tap into how societal structures often do not accommodate neurodivergent thinking and how this can impact business operat...
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Episode 83
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36:26
You’re not failing, you’re repositioning (and the answer is in your brand strategy)
In this episode I'm breaking down the significance of validation in personal and professional growth, emphasising the need for a solid brand strategy in today's changing landscape. I dive into my personal experiences with motherhood and busines...
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Episode 82
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39:30
Navigating the New Age of Content Creation with Kim James
In this episode, Kim James, co-founder of Wedge, discusses the evolution of her startup and the importance of content marketing in today's digital landscape. We chat about the crossover of AI and creativity, the importance of understanding audi...
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Episode 81
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1:21:13
People don’t buy products; they buy mirrors of themselves
Want to see a brand contract break in real time? We dig into Disney’s 1.7M-subscriber drop and why it wasn’t about content quality – it was about identity. Customers don’t just buy the thing; they buy what the thing says about them. When a bran...
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Episode 80
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44:43
The Implementation Gap: Why Brand Strategies Fail
In this episode, I discuss the common hurdles in brand strategy and why many strategies fail to connect with their intended audience. I touch on the importance of a solid brand foundation, the psychological influences on consumer behaviour, and...
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Episode 79
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38:28
What We Can Learn From Ben & Jerry's 40-Year Activism Strategy
In this episode, I break down the genius behind Ben & Jerry’s brand strategy, and guess what? It’s not just about ice cream. From a little scoop shop in Vermont to an $8 billion Unilever buyout, they’ve stayed loud, proud, and unapologetica...
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Episode 78
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58:06
Cultural Intelligence with Dr. Anastasia K. Gabriel: Beyond Inclusive Marketing
In this episode I dive into the world of cultural intelligence with Dr. Anastasia Kalkalina-Gabriel, author of "Cultural Intelligence for Marketers: Building an Inclusive Marketing Strategy." Join us as we explore the impact of race, gender, an...
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Episode 77
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55:54
Memory Psychology: Why Some Brands Stick and Others Don't
Ever wondered why some brands stay stuck in your mind while others disappear the moment you scroll past? The answer is in the psychology of memory itself. In this episode, I dive deep into how our brains actually process information, especially...
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Episode 76
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34:13
Unmasking False Inclusivity in Brands
In this episode, I'm talking to something that's been grinding my gears lately – the well-intended but misguided attempts at inclusivity that exclude the very people they aim to include. I'm talking about the disconnect between stated values an...
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Episode 75
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30:33
Why Being Different in Business Costs More (And Why It's Worth It)
Every business challenging the status quo pays hidden costs that traditional businesses don't face - but this "tax" is actually an investment in market leadership. In this episode, Tara shares her journey from seeing inequities at her old agenc...
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Episode 74
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40:21
How Strategic Colour Choices Live Rent-Free in Your Customers' Minds
In this episode, the discussion is on the relationship between colour psychology and branding. I'm emphasising that colour is not simply an aesthetic choice but a strategic tool that can influence consumer perception and behaviour. We dive righ...
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Episode 73
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19:51
The Memory Matrix: Why Customers Forget Your Brand
In this episode I'm cracking open the concept of the 'Memory Matrix,' touching on how customers process and remember branded information. I discuss the importance of visual identity, emotional connections, and cultural memory in branding. This ...
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Episode 72
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20:37
Straps Off, Personality On: The Hackerlily Story with Laura Campbell
Laura Campbell was sick of pretending parenting was picture-perfect. Living with rheumatoid arthritis while raising two young children, she couldn't find a baby carrier that worked for her body, lifestyle, or style. Her solution? Design one her...
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Episode 71
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1:00:08
AI Won't Steal Your Creative Job, But People Who Use It Might
Every generation freaks out about new technology, and AI is just our version of the social media panic from 2007. While everyone's losing their minds about robots taking creative jobs, they're missing the real story... our brains literally evol...
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Episode 70
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26:36
When Gillette Called Out Toxic Behaviour, Society Wasn't Ready
What role should brands play in addressing harmful narratives? In this case toxic masculinity and intimate partner violence. This question sits at the heart of this episode examining the intersection of brand responsibility and social change. <...
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Episode 69
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25:30
Brand Memory: Why People Remember (Or Forget) Your Business
Why do some brands stick in our minds while others fade instantly? The secret lies in understanding how our brains actually process and store information. This episode dives deep into the psychology of memory and its critical importance for cre...
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Episode 68
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31:55
Psychological Blind Spots are Killing Your Business Revenue
Most businesses aren't failing because of poor products but because they've become strategically invisible to customers, suffering from what I call "Same-Shit Syndrome" where brands blend together in consumers' minds. Psychological blind spots ...
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Episode 67
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25:05
What makes a Brand DNA YOU-nique
Forget everything you thought you knew about branding. It's not your logo, your colour palette, or even your fancy website. True brand power comes from your "Brand DNA" – the psychological core that makes your brand genuinely unique.In ...
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Episode 66
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46:16
Brand Positioning Gold: Mining Your Opportunity Zones
What if your brand's perfect position is hiding in plain sight? In this episode, I discuss how to map competitors, understand customer psychology, and find the gaps others have overlooked. Learn why "great customer service" isn't a differentiat...
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Episode 65
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31:16
Brands as Emotional Connectors: The Psychology Behind Why They Matter
The landscape of business is shifting dramatically, and brand psychology has never been more crucial for survival. When markets tighten, consumers don't simply choose the cheapest option, they gravitate toward brands they emotionally connect wi...
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Episode 64
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30:54