Shows
Revenue Engine PodcastTransforming Marketing Attribution and Accountability in the Digital Age With Brandon RhotenBrandon Rhoten is the Chief Marketing Officer at GroundTruth, an advertising platform that uses real-world location and purchase data to show how media drives store visits and revenue. As the former CMO at Wendy's, Papa John's, and Potbelly, Brandon was instrumental in building Wendy's groundbreaking digital and social marketing programs, contributing to 40 consecutive quarters of growth for the brand. In addition to his executive experience, he is a tech investor, advisor, and recognized trailblazer in blending art and science to drive marketing ROI. In this episode… Marketing was supposed to get easier once everything went di...
2025-11-2143 min
Attributed - A podcast by DreamdataFull-Funnel Marketing: Why Brand & Performance Go Hand-in-HandAre you tired of the "brand versus performance" debate? We are too.Some marketers claim brand is all that matters, while others argue that performance marketing is the only thing that drives results. But what if the most successful B2B companies have mastered both?Join us for a conversation with Brandon Rhoten, CMO at GroundTruth, as we talk about the need for an effective full-funnel marketing strategy. GroundTruth sees thousands of media plans a month, giving Brandon a unique perspective on what actually works.
2025-10-0751 min
Lead the Team (Top 2% of Podcasts)Food Fight! - CMO of GroundTruth, Brandon RhotenFood Fight!Join Brandon Rhoten, Chief Marketing Officer at GroundTruth, as he shares his most compelling stories and lessons from the world of bold, snarky marketing. You'll discover how he revolutionized Wendy's brand with viral Twitter feuds, turning the fast-food giant into a social media powerhouse.You'll also get an insider’s look at the creative strategies that sparked growth at Papa John’s International and Potbelly Sandwich Works. These lessons for building strong consumer relationships in the competitive food industry—can be applied to boost any business!GroundTruth is a m...
2024-08-1939 min
11 Minutes with Octane11: a B2B Marketing Mini-PodcastEpisode 14: Brandon Rhoten (GroundTruth, Wendy’s, Potbelly, Merkle) on Starting with the Big IdeaIn this episode hosts Dan Rosenberg and TJ Perrin talk with Brandon Rhoten, CMO at GroundTruth. Rhoten shares his journey across B2B and B2C marketing, the biggest challenges in the B2B space, and effective campaigns, tools, and strategies. They dive into the importance of creative impact, integrating marketing tools, and making decisions driven by core problems and keeping sight of the big idea.00:32 Guest Introduction: Brandon Rhoten01:01 Brandon's Journey in Marketing02:13 Challenges in B2B Marketing03:00 Successful Campaigns and Tools04:28 Common Mistakes in...
2024-07-0213 min
The Ad PodcastBrandon Rhoten - CMO - GroundTruthBrandon leads all marketing functions and is responsible for developing go-to-market strategies for GroundTruth’s advertising products. Brandon has served in senior leadership roles at some of the largest U.S. brands and as a strategic advisor to several leading digital marketing agencies. Previously, Brandon was CMO of Potbelly Sandwich Works, CMO of Papa Johns’s, and VP of Marketing at The Wendy's Company, where he built the brand’s infamous digital/social strategy and team. Brandon began his marketing career at decorated B2B agency gyro International, now Merkle B2B, and has since overseen billions of dollars in glo...
2024-02-1439 min
QSR UncutRestaurant Marketing in a Changing World, with Brandon RhotenGroundTruth CMO Brandon Rhoten joins QSR editorial director Danny Klein for a wide-ranging chat on how the job of today’s restaurant marketer has changed. What data matters? Can you turn engagement into visits? And where does it all go from here? Rhoten is a digital marketing veteran who’s led campaigns for some of the industry’s most recognizable brands including CMO positions at Papa Johns and Potbelly. As VP of Marketing, he was also instrumental in developing Wendy's award-winning snarky social media strategy.
2023-09-2835 min
C-Suite Sales & Marketing PerspectivesCMOs: Embracing B2C Strategies for More B2B SuccessBrandon Rhoten, the current CMO of GroundTruth, leverages his rich B2C experience acquired during his time at Wendy's and as the CMO at Papa Johns and Potbelly Sandwiches. In this exclusive interview, discover his unique method of merging B2C and B2B marketing that includes but goes much deeper than grabbing more attention and connecting with the emotional needs of B2B buyers. Explore Brandon's unique fusion of B2C and B2B tactics to fuel innovation at GroundTruth.After listening for years to the likes of Forbes, Gartner, and Oracle about making B2B...
2023-09-0931 min
The Influence Factor by The Influencer Marketing FactoryHow Does Culture, Attention, and Analytics Shape Marketing Today w/ Brandon RhotenIn this week's episode, Alessandro Bogliari, CEO and Co-Founder of The Influencer Marketing Factory and the podcast's host, engages in a captivating discussion with Brandon Rhoten, CMO at GroundTruth.
The two thought leaders delve into the dynamic interplay between culture, attention, analytics, and marketing in today's digital age.
Uncovering intricate intersections and influences, they offer profound insights into the transformative impact of social media shifts on engagement strategies.
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Show Notes:
(01:52) - Brandon's career path
(03:50...
2023-08-2341 min
The Digital MarketeerEpisode 9: Brandon Rhoten, GroundTruthListen to Brandon Rhoten share his savvy perspectives on marketing, utilizing data and brand building with Stefanie Beach. As the Chief Marketing Officer of GroundTruth, Brandon explains how his company uses observed real-world consumer behavior to create targeted advertising campaigns and measure consumer response, including if they physically show up to a location or website.
2023-07-2541 min
Press 1 For NickWhy a Culture of Innovation is Essential for Long-Term Business Success - Brandon Rhoten [Culture]Why a Culture of Innovation is Essential for Long-Term Business Success - Brandon Rhoten [Culture]The podcast episode highlights the importance of humility and listening when implementing change in a business organization. It emphasizes the need to approach change with a willingness to listen and ask questions, set clear expectations, milestones, and timelines, and bring in experienced change managers to guide the process. The article also stresses the emotional impact of change on employees and encourages transparent communication and support. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of recognizing the need t...
2023-03-2933 min
What’s Working in Marketing™Lessons From Social Media Manager To CMO with Brandon Rhoten, Fractional CMO and Brand AdvisorOn this episode, we spoke with Brandon Rhoten, a CMO and growth advisor who’s always seeking to build killer creative, clever media campaigns, and impossible-to-ignore brands. He’s got a successful track record too, having formed the first ever digital social team at Wendy’s. From his early days in the agency world to launching some of the most talked about social media campaigns on the internet during his time with Wendy’s, and becoming the CMO for Papa John’s, this episode covers so much. On top of his experiences with those companies, he shares actionable tips for market...
2022-09-0645 min
You Sip, I SipEpisode 17 - Brandon Rhoten, Marketing ExpertMarketing master Brandon Rhoten talks his journey into working with some of the most well-known companies in North America and the hand he played in the infamous Wendy's Twitter account
For more of Brandon, find him on LinkedIn (Brandon Rhoten) and on his website Boring Kills Brands
2022-07-1359 min
Clicks 2 BricksEp 62: Brandon Rhoten Joins the SOCi Industry Advisory BoardWith billions of active users worldwide and counting, social media remains one of the most influential marketing tools available. But how can multi-location brands harness the power of these digital channels to reach both local and national audiences? To help us answer this question, we are joined by our first return guest on Clicks 2 Bricks, Brandon Rhoten! When we first sat down with him in Episode 19, Brandon was the CMO for Potbelly Sandwich Works. He has since moved on and now serves in several advisory roles, the most recent of which is with SOCi, considered the marketing platform for...
2022-06-2946 min
How I Grew This[Greatest Hits] Former Global CMO @ Potbelly: Brandon Rhoten - Speaking in the Voice of Your CustomerAs marketers, we all hope that our efforts will transform a brand and have it become the talk of the town. Our next guest, Brandon Rhoten, has been able to do just this at several of the brands he has transformed.
Brandon has worked at Wendy's, Papa John's and Potbelly and although his approach has differed with each challenge the results have been the same: transformational change. We learn that a company looking to adapt and evolve doesn’t need to hop on the hottest trend; it needs to isolate its market problem and find a solution that aligns with it...
2022-06-1637 min
How I Grew This[Greatest Hits] Former Global CMO @ Potbelly: Brandon Rhoten - Speaking in the Voice of Your CustomerAs marketers, we all hope that our efforts will transform a brand and have it become the talk of the town. Our next guest, Brandon Rhoten, has been able to do just this at several of the brands he has transformed.
Brandon has worked at Wendy's, Papa John's and Potbelly and although his approach has differed with each challenge the results have been the same: transformational change. We learn that a company looking to adapt and evolve doesn’t need to hop on the hottest trend; it needs to isolate its market problem and find a solution that aligns with it...
2022-06-1637 min
Press 1 For NickEffort is the Master Switch - Alex Hutchinson, author of Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance [Running Experience]Why Should you Create a Culture of Innovation - Brandon Rhoten
Alex Hutchinson is a National Magazine Award-winning journalist, contributing editor at Outside, a columnist at the Globe and Mail, and a senior editor at Canadian Running.
This episode will be talking about his latest book ENDURE: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance.
In what role does the brain play in a race?
Does your cognitive development correlate to your physical development?
Fatigue: Inability to continue vs sense of effort
What about refocus or concentration? Explain the last lap kick?
What is brain endurance training and...
2022-05-1840 min
Press 1 For NickEffort is the Master Switch - Alex Hutchinson, author of Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance [Running Experience]Why Should you Create a Culture of Innovation - Brandon RhotenAlex Hutchinson is a National Magazine Award-winning journalist, contributing editor at Outside, a columnist at the Globe and Mail, and a senior editor at Canadian Running. This episode will be talking about his latest book ENDURE: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance.In what role does the brain play in a race?Does your cognitive development correlate to your physical development?Fatigue: Inability to continue vs sense of effortWhat about refocus or concentration? Explain t...
2022-05-1840 min
Press 1 For NickWhy Should you Create a Culture of Innovation - Brandon Rhoten [Culture]Why Should you Create a Culture of Innovation - Brandon Rhoten
Brandon Rhoten is a change agent. He is the Chief Marketing Officer best known for building Wendy's digital/social, helping achieve an epic turnaround. Successful track record of delivering sustained growth through enterprise-wide transformation initiatives. He also spent time at Papa John's International and Potbelly Sandwich Work as the Global Chief Marketing Officer.
Why does change rarely happens unless you bring in a change agent?
We all know change is hard, so what does it take to change?
What is one question you ask companies you work with as...
2022-05-1132 min
Press 1 For NickWhy Should you Create a Culture of Innovation - Brandon Rhoten [Culture]Why Should you Create a Culture of Innovation - Brandon RhotenBrandon Rhoten is a change agent. He is the Chief Marketing Officer best known for building Wendy's digital/social, helping achieve an epic turnaround. Successful track record of delivering sustained growth through enterprise-wide transformation initiatives. He also spent time at Papa John's International and Potbelly Sandwich Work as the Global Chief Marketing Officer.Why does change rarely happens unless you bring in a change agent?We all know change is hard, so what does it take to change?What is one question...
2022-05-1132 min
The Hard Corps Marketing ShowThe REAL Marketer - Stephanie Cox - Hard Corps Marketing Show #247We often see a sales leader become the head of sales and marketing departments. But is a marketing leader just as qualified to lead sales? How can marketers assist in making sales’ jobs easier?
A Marketing Thought Leader, Host of the REAL Marketers podcast, Member of The Revenue Collective, VP of Sales and Marketing at Lumavate, Stephanie Cox, dives into why marketing leaders can lead sales and how to align both marketing and sales teams.
Takeaways:
As marketers we need to walk a mile in sales’ shoes in order...
2021-03-121h 16
The Hard Corps Marketing ShowBest Practices for Aligning Sales & Marketing - Ally Brettnacher - Hard Corps Marketing Show #240How do we promote sales and marketing alignment? What can we do better to support each team?
A Thought Leader, Partner of Linking Indy Women, Co-Founder of Ride & Raise, Ally Brettnacher, delves into the four easy steps towards sales and marketing alignment.
Takeaways:
The first step to marketing alignment is understanding each other. Straightforwardly communicate your goals and what you need from each other to achieve the objectives.
Having the marketing team sit in on sales calls allows for first hand exposure to what the sales team experiences a...
2021-02-081h 06
The Hard Corps Marketing Show“Where’s The Social?” - Brandon Rhoten - Hard Corps Marketing Show #237With the growing tech world and large community outreach online it is hard to avoid the attraction of having a company social media presence. But how is the social being used? Is it just a strategy or does it represent a bigger position or purpose?
A Digital Strategy Media Leader; Global Chief Marketing Officer; Former VP of Advertising, Media, Digital, and Social Media at The Wendy’s Company; Former the Global CMO of Papa John’s International; Former Global CMO of Potbelly Sandwich Works; Brandon Rhoten, shares his wisdom on how to build a brand and stay true...
2021-01-281h 18
How I Grew ThisFormer Global CMO @ Potbelly: Brandon Rhoten- Speaking in the Voice of Your CustomerAs marketers, we all hope that our efforts will transform a brand and have it become the talk of the town. Our next guest, Brandon Rhoten, has been able to do just this at several of the brands he has transformed.
Brandon has worked at Wendys, Papa Johns and Potbelly and although his approach has differed with each challenge the results have been the same: transformational change. We learn that a company looking to adapt and evolve doesn’t need to hop on the hottest trend; it needs to isolate its market problem and find a solution that aligns with it...
2021-01-2837 min
How I Grew ThisFormer Global CMO @ Potbelly: Brandon Rhoten- Speaking in the Voice of Your CustomerAs marketers, we all hope that our efforts will transform a brand and have it become the talk of the town. Our next guest, Brandon Rhoten, has been able to do just this at several of the brands he has transformed.
Brandon has worked at Wendys, Papa Johns and Potbelly and although his approach has differed with each challenge the results have been the same: transformational change. We learn that a company looking to adapt and evolve doesn’t need to hop on the hottest trend; it needs to isolate its market problem and find a solution that aligns with it...
2021-01-2837 min
Restaurants Reinvented: Putting Growth Back on the MenuPerformance Marketing from a Pro - Brandon Rhoten, CMO PotbellyA self-taught digital marketing expert from his early days of crafting social for Wendy’s; to converting Papa John’s to a digital focus - Brandon Rhoten specializes in turnaround brands.After spending nearly seven years leading marketing initiatives for the two brands, Brandon has developed a strong understanding of what makes a successful restaurant marketer — which he brings to Potbelly Sandwich Works as its Chief Marketing Officer. On this episode of Restaurants Reinvented, host Jen Kern interviews Brandon about how his marketing approach revolves around brand positioning with a unique voice and performance marketing. ...
2021-01-2250 minClicks 2 BricksEp 19: Clicks 2 Bricks with Potbelly Sandwich Works CMO Brandon RhotenMarketing is about growing revenue and differentiating a brand, and getting that second part right requires the willingness, bravery, and know-how to zag where others zig. Today’s guest is Brandon Rhoten, CMO of Potbelly Sandwich Works who is best known for his disruptive and pioneering work at Wendy’s where he helped the QSR brand rise above the sameness of its category and become culturally relevant again through social media and digital. Today we talk to him about his work at Potbelly and Wendy’s, and some of the strategies he has employed over the years to revive and bu...
2020-11-1149 min
What's Really Good with Nathan Allebach#31 The Social Media Landscape of Brands and Content Creators with Brandon RhotenBrandon Rhoten is the current CMO of Potbelly Sandwich Works and previous CMO of Papa Johns, as well as the VP of Marketing for Wendy's. Brandon put together the social and digital team at Wendy's that led to its viral success, and is an expert in developing brand voices on social media. In our conversation we talked about his industry experience, our shared perspectives on the social landscape, brand voices on Twitter, online content creators, and more. Enjoy!
Follow Brandon on Twitter at @brhoten
2020-09-291h 17
Marketing TrendsEstablishing Brand Voice and Embracing it with Potbelly CMO Brandon RhotenUnderstanding our voice and telling our story. That is something we all strive to be able to do. We want to know who we are and embrace it. And while most of us have dealt with and talk about the personal journey of discovery, we rarely think about how that same journey happens with the brands we know and love. Brandon Rhoten thinks about that constantly, especially since he became the CMO of Potbelly. On this episode of Marketing Trends, Brandon tells us why finding a company's voice, and embracing that voice, will help them stick out from the...
2020-06-1253 min
Masters DecodedEP9: Brandon Rhoten: Champions AdjustIn today's episode, I had the pleasure to invite Brandon Rhoten. Rhoten is a marketer who loves building iconic brands, often through modernizing for the digital age. Currently a primary change agent for Potbelly, a publicly-traded sandwich shop with nearly 500 locations and ~$450m in revenue that's been in need of a turn-around for a few years.
Formerly VP in charge of Advertising, Media, Digital, and Social Media at Wendy's. Developed the holistic marketing strategy for Wendy’s, shifting focus from older and deal-driven to younger, equity-driven with an emphasis on social media and digital marketing. Developed digital and...
2020-05-0445 min
The Brand InsiderEp. 1 Potbelly CMO Brandon Rhoten on moments of disruptionWhile many brands are responding to the COVID-19 crisis by putting their media plans on pause, Potbelly CMO Brandon Rhoten believes in investing in moments of disruption. Listen as MediaPost's Editorial Director, Events Steve Smith chats with Brandon about these moments of disruption.
2020-04-2425 min
Social GeekFranchise News Podcast 4.8.2020The Franchise News Podcast for Wednesday, April 8, 2020.
In the news this week:
School of Rock, Rob Price
Society of Prevention of Teen Suicide
Edible
Terminix Commercial, Greg Rutherford
Potbelly, Brandon Rhoten
Subway
Little Caesar's
Domino's
Hilton
Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux
Best Life Brands, J.J. Sorrenti
Goddard School, Dennis Maple
songs for seeds
Intrepid Direct
Social Joey
2020-04-0805 min
The Madness ContinuesBrandon Rhoten, Authentic VoicesI chat with Brandon Rhoten, CMO of Potbelly Sandwich Shop. He has a career of changing brands with unique and authentic voices and an eye on social and digital media.
Brandon earned a reputation for creating the unique brand voice behind Wendy from Wendy's on Twitter.
We talk about all kinds of things on this podcast; how to have an authentic voice, how to build and change a brand, how to fight against institutional lethargy while preserving tradition. Honestly, it was a good one. The guy is fantastic and I was glad to have him on.
2020-03-2600 min
Ignite: Healthcare Marketing PodcastHow Brandon Rhoten, Chief Marketing Officer of Potbelly Sandwhich Works is growing awareness through groundbreaking digital marketing strategiesHey everyone! On today's episode of Ignite I am honored to say we have one of the top restaurant marketers in the country on the line with us. Brandon Rhoten has run the marketing for Wendy's and Papa John's and is now looking for brave marketers to help him lead the charge in growing Potbelly Sandwhich Works. You don't want to miss this one.
2018-07-3029 min
Marketing Today with Alan Hart95: Brandon Rhoten on the time and patience it takes to build a brandThis week in “Marketing Today,” Alan talks with Brandon Rhoten, outgoing CMO at Papa John's. Prior to his stint there, he spent almost six years at Wendy's, where he was VP for Marketing, heading up advertising, social media, and digital marketing.During the course of his conversation with Alan, he talks about the importance of establishing a brand voice to connect with consumers. “It sounds cliché,” says Rhoten, “but you've got to establish that voice first. Because that's really what builds everything.” And he goes on to add, “You have to build out tools, and rules, and measurements to...
2018-05-1644 min
Food Marketing Nerds Restaurant and CPG Marketing PodcastHow Wendy's Rallied the World Around Free Nuggets with Brandon RhotenIt's episode number 38, and definitely one of my favorite interviews we've done, and I don't say that often. We have Brandon Rhoten on the show, who get ready for this title, is the VP, Advertising, Social Media, Media, and Digital Marketing for Wendy's. It's a mouthful, and I don't know how he does it, but everything you see with a Wendy's logo on it, is the work of Brandon and his team. This episode is all about how Wendy's went from middle of the pack, to a front runner with one of the strongest brands...
2017-04-2637 min