How Steve Canal Turns Culture Into Brand Deals Most People Can't Get

How Steve Canal Turns Culture Into Brand Deals Most People Can't Get

From Butternomics the Business of Culture by iHeartPodcasts

June 3, 2026 · 49 min

About this episode

Steve Canal discusses how to build culture that translates into brand deals and the importance of relationships in Atlanta.

Steve Canal builds the thing most people can't: culture that actually pays. On this episode of Butternomics, Brandon Butler sits down with Steve Canal, co-founder of One Venture Group and part of the team behind ONE Musicfest and TwoGether Land, to talk about how Atlanta actually works. The city moves on relationships, and Steve has spent his whole career proving it. He breaks down how he built by leading with one question: how can I help? He explains why trust compounds when you show up for people before you need anything, why the door in this city opens when somebody vouches for you, and how he turned that into real brand partnerships and real money. The conversation gets into what it takes to align big brands with cultural moments that feel authentic, why reading culture is a skill most people never develop, and how Steve picks the partnerships worth saying yes to. He's a two-time bestselling author who has been recognized by the Ebony Power 100 and the Inc. 5000, and he keeps it direct about the work behind all of it. If you're building something in culture, this one will save you years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Brandon Butler

Guest: Steve Canal

Topics covered

  • brand partnerships
  • cultural moments
  • trust in business
  • entrepreneurship
  • Atlanta culture

Keywords

  • culture
  • brand deals
  • entrepreneurship
  • trust
  • partnerships
  • Atlanta
  • business

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: One Venture Group, ONE Musicfest, TwoGether Land, Ebony Power 100, Inc. 5000

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