What if the way we understand—and even become—a brand could be broken down into three essential movements?
In this episode of Theories of Celebrity Branding, cultural historian and branding expert Bob Batchelor introduces listeners to the EAT Model—a powerful theoretical framework for understanding how people and ideas evolve through visibility, strategy, and transformation.
This model—Engage, Adapt, Transform—has been used by celebrities, brands, and organizations (often unknowingly) to shape influence in today’s hyper-connected, image-saturated world. Now, you’ll hear how it works from the person who developed it.
Whether you're an aspiring professional, media student, or someone just trying to make sense of the culture around you, this episode provides the critical lens you need to see behind the curtain of modern fame—and even use these tools in your own life.
What You’ll Learn:
The origins of the EAT Model and why it emerged as a response to a world of constant branding.
How Engage is about visibility and starting the conversation—through story, symbols, or controversy.
Why Adapt requires you to evolve with your audience, culture, and media channels to remain relevant.
How Transform is the highest level of branding—when individuals or organizations shift the way we think, act, or relate to an idea or movement.
Meet Your Host: Bob Batchelor
Bob is a renowned cultural historian, communication professor, and bestselling author with a career that bridges academia and real-world brand strategy. He teaches in the Department of Communication, Media, and Culture at Coastal Carolina University and formerly served as Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications at Workplace Options, one of the world’s largest employee well-being providers.
Bob has authored or edited over 30 books, including:
Stan Lee: A Life – The definitive biography of the Marvel legend.
The Authentic Leader – A roadmap for modern leadership in an age of AI, branding, and purpose.
The Gatsby Code – An exploration of fame, longing, and disillusion in American culture.
Why This Episode Matters
The EAT Model isn’t just for the Kardashians or corporations.
We’re all navigating the same attention economy. Whether you're a student launching a career in media, a manager building your reputation, or a creator trying to break through the noise, you’re being seen, shaped, and evaluated through your brand—whether you realize it or not.
This episode offers the tools to:
Understand the stages of identity and influence.
Spot the branding techniques used in news, entertainment, and advertising.
Avoid common pitfalls of inauthenticity or "performance branding."
Start building a more authentic, ethical, and intentional personal brand.
Real-World Application
Bob ties the EAT Model to his extensive research and consulting work with high-profile leaders and companies. From Marvel to Kimberly-Clark to global wellness brands, the EAT framework helps decode how ideas gain traction, loyalty, and meaning.
He also shares how this model can serve young professionals—especially those in public relations, advertising, journalism, and digital content creation—as they start building their own reputation and voice in competitive, values-driven environments.
And for podcast fans? It’s a secret decoder ring for understanding how your favorite public figures shape their identities—and yours.
Key Takeaway
Branding is not just marketing—it’s modern mythology. It tells us who to follow, what to buy, and who we should become.
Call to Action
If this episode helped you reframe how you see branding—or how you tell your own story—please:
Listen today and start learning how to build your brand—or at least understand who’s trying to build it for you.
For more, visit bobbatchelor.com or follow Bob on LinkedIn and Instagram for updates and more.
