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
79 episodes
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
What Makes You Different? The Questions Every Business Must Answer
What makes your business geninely different from your competitors? Do you know? Think of it like this, if your top 3 competitors all disappeared tomorrow, why would customers choose you? If you're struggling to answer these questions clearly an...
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Episode 63
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23:27
The Comeback Kid: Finding Your Voice When Life Gets Loud
This week I return l sharing how my recent personal challenges led to a complete reassessment of my brand strategy of YO&O. I also explore how empathy and inclusion are reshaping the modern consumer’s expectations, especially after global m...
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Episode 62
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26:24
The Critical Role of Design for the New Age Brand
This episode speaks to the critical connection between brand evolution, visual identity, and consumer memory. I touch on the role of design thinking, colour psychology, typography, and distinctive assets when creating a cohesive and dynamic bra...
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Episode 61
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28:47
Symbolism in Action: Kendrick Lamar's Halftime Show
Let's talk semiotics. In this episode, we're discussing how symbols and signs shape meaning and association through the lens of Kendrick Lamar's standout storytelling in his Super Bowl halftime show. I draw parallels to the crucial role of cult...
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Episode 60
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21:37
Cadbury UK's 'Share a Bar' Campaign: Why Connection is The New Marketing Currency
Take a look around, most marketing campaigns are BORING. The same rinse-and-repeat strategies are leaving most of us feeling "meh." But now and then, a brand comes along with a cracker idea and reminds us that marketing can be fun, engaging, an...
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Episode 59
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23:26
From Trust to Evolution: Building Brands That Last
Have you ever wondered how the tiniest details can shape your perception of a brand? In this episode, I talk about aligning internal goals with external perceptions to create a seamless brand identity that resonates with all of your people;&nbs...
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Episode 58
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27:54
4 Core Areas That Will Set Your Brand Up To Win in 2025
A resilient brand strategy is damn important if you want to win in 2025. In this episode I'm breaking down the importance of 4 core areas: Clearly defining the brand purpose Deepening the knowledge of your target ...
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Episode 57
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31:57
Adapting Brands to Modern Cultural Shifts
Let's talk about the intricate impact of brand identity and the importance of adapting to cultural shifts to stay relevant. In this episode, I explain why understanding your audience's psychographics, rather than just demographics, is key to ev...
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Episode 56
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34:03
The Cultural Impact on Brand Identity
TW: this episode touches on weight loss. What if your brand could go beyond your product and trigger a cultural movement? In this episode we’re talking the power of brand strategy and how it can not only capture consumer loyalty, b...
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Episode 55
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29:47
Why Every Business Needs to Pay Attention to Triple J's Rebrand
Have you seen Triple J's recent rebranding? It's a solid example of how branding is evolving to align with cultural tides. In this episode, I'm exploring how understanding generational shifts and societal trends can prevent your business from b...
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Episode 54
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27:37