From Startup to Wunder Brand

T. Christian Helms is the creative force behind Helms Workshop, a branding agency based in Austin known for crafting bold, character-driven brands. He’s a designer, writer, speaker, and former Pentagram-er who once designed a logo in a Burger King bathroom (yep, really).In this episode, Christian and Nicholas Kuhne dive into why design without thinking is dead, how to build a brand that makes people feel something, and what separates a pretty logo from a movement. If you’ve ever been frustrated by clients picking the “safe” option, or wondered whether brand agencies still matter in an AI-driven world – this is the one to queue up.🔥 Expect hard truths, deep thoughts on the future of branding, and a refreshing reminder that building a brand is about making possibilities, not just pretty things.Website: helmsworkshop.comInstagram: @helmsworkshop👉 Listen in for a masterclass in creative strategy, branding bravery, and why human-first design still matters.00:00 – Meet the “Original Mr. T”: Christian Helms01:16 – A designer’s oddest workspace: the Burger King bathroom story02:25 – Why design without thinking is just art03:26 – That client always picks the worst option – why?05:12 – Convincing clients to be brave06:34 – Branding = creating new possibilities08:18 – Emotional vs functional branding (and why most banks are boring)09:58 – Do brand agencies still matter?12:57 – Competing with giants like Landor and Interbrand14:41 – What Helms Workshop actually does16:52 – Will brand agencies have a renaissance?18:33 – How Helms hires and keeps great talent20:45 – How Christian stays inspired and avoids burnout22:44 – Where to find Christian and his work Connect with me on:All my linksBecome a guestSign up for RiversideGet Descript #DigitalMarketing #Branding #PersonalBranding #MarketingInsights #SocialMediaStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we dive into the real digital divide — not just access to tools, but the confidence and capacity to use them. Roberto and Nicholas go deep on how small businesses, particularly in marginalised communities, can close the AI gap, scale their operations, and build generational wealth.Expect sharp commentary on:Why Roberto left government for entrepreneurshipHow tools like ChatGPT are levelling the playing fieldThe gritty truth about “full service” agencies in a fragmented worldWhether AI is taking jobs or creating themWhy listen?If you're building a business on the frontlines — without the luxury of Silicon Valley funding — this conversation is your blueprint. Real talk. Real strategy. Real impact.Call to Action:Edit your podcasts like a pro: https://get.descript.com/mrzy10nwivuqJoin me as a guest or start your podcast journey: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/nickkuhneRoberto’s Projects:https://bravenagency.comhttps://smrts.coEmail: robert@bravenagency.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberto-martinez-360⏱️ Timestamps & Key Topics:00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – Getting confused with a reality TV star 03:00 – Why Roberto walked away from government 05:00 – From grief to grit: the personal story behind Braven Agency 07:00 – Small business vs unicorn startup mindsets 09:30 – Lifestyle businesses vs visionary growth 13:00 – Why build a full-service agency in 2025? 15:30 – AI workflows, operational savings, and global talent 18:30 – The digital divide isn't about access – it's about application 21:00 – Real-world AI example: logo design from 20 hours to 5 24:00 – How AI is creating jobs in small business (surprise!) 26:30 – Roberto’s open invitation to collaborate Connect with me on:All my linksBecome a guestSign up for RiversideGet Descript #DigitalMarketing #Branding #PersonalBranding #MarketingInsights #SocialMediaStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, we get into his data-backed findings on how men and women use time differently at work, why only 20% of your time is actually spent on your highest priorities (ouch), and how organisations are quietly burning out their teams without even realising it.We talk practical fixes, bad email habits, smarter meetings, and how measuring what matters can transform your team’s output. Oh, and we get poetic too — literally. Mark shares his quirky (and surprisingly powerful) book The Poetic Path to Getting More Done and even drops a goal-setting rhyme that’s better than your last TED Talk.If you’re a founder, manager, or just someone whose to-do list is longer than your week — this one’s for you.🛠️ Mark Ellwood’s Tools & Resources🔗 Website: https://getmoredone.com📖 Book: The Poetic Path to Getting More Done💡 Time tracking device: The TimeCorder00:00 Introduction: Meet Mark Elwood, Productivity Expert01:16 The Research: Women vs Men in Time Management02:17 The Power of Data-Driven Insights05:21 The 20% Problem: Time Spent on Top Priorities08:06 Common Mistakes in Corporate Time Management10:09 Training Managers: Essential Skills Under the Time Management Umbrella13:09 Meeting Management: Everyone's Responsibility13:44 Work Patterns: Short Bursts vs Long Duration15:24 Measuring What Matters: Tracking Time Effectively16:59 The Time Quarter Device: Anonymous and Effective18:56 The Poetic Path: Time Management Through Poetry19:43 SMART Goals in Verse23:21 Make Me A Poem: Interactive Poetry Creation25:41 Closing: Where to Find Mark and His Resources Connect with me on:All my linksBecome a guestSign up for RiversideGet Descript #DigitalMarketing #Branding #PersonalBranding #MarketingInsights #SocialMediaStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Guest: Dr. Christiane Schroeter – TEDx speaker, university professor, wellness coach, and author of the Petite Practice Method.Background: Christiane grew up in Germany, earned her PhD in the US, and now juggles being a successful academic, podcaster, author, and mum — all without burning out. She’s the real deal when it comes to high-achiever life… minus the breakdown.What this episode is about:Why do so many high achievers still feel stuck? What happens when you do everything "right" — and success still doesn’t show up the way you expected? In this conversation, we dig into the mindset traps, comparison loops, and resilience hacks that define (or destroy) high performers. Plus, how to use The Petite Practice Method to build momentum from small actions.Why listen?If you’ve ever chased a goal, faced rejection, or wondered “what’s next?” after hitting a big milestone — this one’s for you. Christiane shares real stories (including her TEDx journey), failures, and mental rewiring tools that every high achiever needs in their toolkit.“You just haven't found the right gallery for your art.”– Dr. Christiane Schroeter Connect with me on:All my linksBecome a guestSign up for RiversideGet Descript #DigitalMarketing #Branding #PersonalBranding #MarketingInsights #SocialMediaStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why listen: If you’re still “spray and pray” on Meta or Google, this is your crash course in fishing where the fish are—down to the car-lot, the competitor’s showroom, or the exact conference hall. Concrete tactics, real numbers, zero fluff.Guest links & product:GetGeofencing (location-based ads): getgeofencing.com.Timestamps & key topics00:00 – Navy crypt tech to geofencing pro: meet Chris Seminatore.01:00 – Moustache chat & the “Viking” beard energy.02:00 – Digital nomad life: Puerto Vallarta ↔ Los Angeles and running a seven-figure shop.03:00 – What geofencing really is (digital perimeter → device IDs → programmatic ads).04:00 – Bidding in ~100 ms and why competitor geofencing works.05:00 – Actual pricing: ~$850/100k display impressions; ~$1,600/100k video impressions.06:00 – Use cases: restaurants, real estate, attorneys, car dealers, plasma centres, gov-tech, trade shows.07:00 – From Gulf War tech to modern ads; US legality only ~10 years old.08:00 – Politics: target only the voters in-district and stop wasting spend.09:00 – OTT/CTV explained; addressable TV and granular reporting.10:30 – Why geofencing is still a niche (and a competitive advantage).11:30 – “Seven touches”: adding location to your channel mix.12:00 – Knowing your customer: the car-lot example and real buying intent.13:00 – Privacy, data, and what “relevant ads” actually means.14:00 – Global campaigns and geofencing WEF in Davos.15:00 – Military lessons for agency life: discipline, reverse-engineering goals, radical transparency.17:00 – Patton, problem-solving, and letting teams innovate.18:00 – Connect with Chris: getgeofencing.com. Connect with me on:All my linksBecome a guestSign up for RiversideGet Descript #DigitalMarketing #Branding #PersonalBranding #MarketingInsights #SocialMediaStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

From scripting space villains for Bruce Campbell to brand therapy for spiritual entrepreneurs, Hersh Rephun has had a wildly unconventional journey. In this punchy and thoughtful episode, Nicholas Kuhne sits down with the “holistic brand therapist” to explore how comedy, personal trauma, and truth-telling fuel the most powerful personal brands.If you're a founder, creative, or consultant who wants to be taken seriously without selling your soul, this episode hits hard in all the right ways. Connect with me on:All my linksBecome a guestSign up for RiversideGet Descript #DigitalMarketing #Branding #PersonalBranding #MarketingInsights #SocialMediaStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.