Shows
The BS Show#9: Stef, myself, and ChatGPT discuss the 2023 Super Bowl Commercials.For anyone new here, I’m the founder of Woo Punch, a brand consultancy rooted in evidence-based brand design. I write about the evidence that debunks brand purpose, differentiation, brand love, loyalty marketing, customer personas, color psychology, mission statements, customer engagement, AdTech, and “hustle culture.”Want to chat about your advertising? Schedule a free intro call.Latest Episodes*You can also listen on Google Podcasts, Pandora, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.Watch the Video for a Better Experience.This might be the last episode for a whil...2023-03-0637 min
The BS Show#8: Yes, Design Thinking (& Innovation) is Bullsh*t - Part 3In Part 2 of our Design Thinking series, we discuss why Design Thinking is a poor tool for innovation and Austin reveals his alternative oversimplified hexagons for success.Visit the episode page to watch the video or follow along with any relevant images (by scrolling down to the bottom of the episode page).In Part 3, we discuss:* The three primary pitfalls of Design Thinking as a tool for innovation.* Why Apple and Steve Jobs have never been design thinkers (despite Design Thinking enthusiasts pointing to them as Design Thinking gods)....2022-12-1434 min
The BS Show#7: Yes, Design Thinking (& Innovation) is Bullsh*t - Part 2Austin goes even deeper into the pitfalls of our obsession with innovation for brand growth. He also starts making the case against Design Thinking as a tool for innovation, even if innovation is the magic bullet Clayton Christensen and others say it is.Visit the episode page to watch the video or follow along with any relevant images (by scrolling down to the bottom of the episode page).In Part 2, we discuss:* The reality of innovation.* The myth of IDEO's success.* The biases that led to Innovation's popularity.2022-11-2335 min
The BS Show#6: Yes, Design Thinking (& Innovation) is Bullsh*t - Part 1Visit the episode page to watch the video or follow along with any relevant images (by scrolling down to the bottom of the episode page).Austin has wanted to debunk Design Thinking for years now, but with everyone so sensitive to its critique (including some potential clients), his case had to be very strong. And yet, there are so few critiques of Design Thinking and even less research into its effectiveness.Throughout 3 episodes of The BS Show Austin critiques what few have. Design Thinking and Innovation. He will combines the critiques of Natasha Jen (designer), Le...2022-11-0832 min
The BS Show#5: Do We Really Need Marketing? Yes. Even Tesla.Visit the episode page to watch the video or follow along with any relevant images (by scrolling down to the bottom of the episode page).“Advertising is the price you pay for having an unremarkable product or service.”-Jeff BezosReally???A few thoughts:* Why is Amazon one of the biggest paid advertisers in the world today? Does that mean they are suddenly unremarkable?* Almost every seller on Amazon has always advertised their products, even if Amazon themselves didn’t invest in paid advertising once upon a time.2022-10-0336 min
Brand Tuned - Rounded Business DesignCalling Bullsh*t on Brand LoveAustin Franke is the founder of Woo Punch, a brand design consultancy rooted in the science of how brands grow. Austin is also the man behind brandingbullshit.com, a newsletter that exposes common branding, marketing, and advertising myths, and co-hosts The BS Show with Stef Hamerlinck on YouTube.In this episode of the podcast, Austin shares why the old notions of brand love are outdated. In keeping with the new format of the podcast, he delivers a 10-minute masterclass before being interviewed. A 10-minute masterclass about brand love The old notions of brand love tha...2022-09-1636 min
The BS Show#4: Absurd Branding Press ReleasesVisit the episode page to watch the video or follow along with any relevant images (by scrolling down to the bottom of the episode page).Check out Austin’s slide presentation detailing the most ridiculous lines of recent Toys R’ Us, Velveeta, and KFC press releases below (including his personal translations of what they’re actually saying).For more from Austin Franke, visit brandingbullshit.com & woopunch.com. For more from Stef Hamerlink, visit letstalkbranding.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access...2022-09-0638 min
The BS Show#3: Critiquing "Clever" BillboardsWe discuss some bad/good examples in OOH (out of home) advertising. We also discuss a Toys R' Us rebrand press release and the ridiculous Staples logo reveal.Visit the episode page to watch the video or follow along with any relevant images (by scrolling down to the bottom of the episode page).For more from Austin Franke, visit brandingbullshit.com & woopunch.com. For more from Stef Hamerlink, visit letstalkbranding.com. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes...2022-08-2333 min
The BS Show#2: Breaking Bad & Better Call Saul Advertising AnalysisVisit the episode page to watch the video or follow along with any relevant images (by scrolling down to the bottom of the episode page).Is Saul Goodman's advertising strategy in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul effective? You bet it is!Stef and Austin explain why Saul's commercials would have likely killed in real life!We also look at local lawyer David Gruber, a real-life Saul Goodman in Milwaukee, WI (my home), who has leveraged his own cheesy persona and tagline for over 13 years.Bonus: Stef dabbles with AI branding...2022-08-0935 min
The BS Show#1: Naming & Designing the New ShowVisit the episode page to watch the video or follow along with any relevant images (by scrolling down to the bottom of the episode page).In our first live episode, we kept it off the cuff* and jumped in without a name or a brand. Then, after about 15 minutes of chatting, we settled on The BS Show. We even created our first meaningless distinctive brand asset! It’s a duck, by the way…*Staying true to our plan to remain off the cuff, we also forgot to check our audio levels. We’ll #dobetter next time...2022-07-2727 min
Let's talk brandingThe ugly truth(s) about branding - Austin FrankeIn this episode, I talk with Austin Franke, brand strategist and founder of consultancy firm Woopunch. Austin has quite an unconventional approach to branding, using knowledge from behavioral science and other evidence-based fields. We talk about some ugly truths in branding and how we can move beyond the typical branding cliché's. Check out Austin's business and make sure you subscribe to the newsletter. WoopunchFind the full list here on the blogpost, or watch the video on Youtube (dropping the 17th of march).Want to learn more about branding & strategy? Subscribe to the...2021-03-1500 min