This Modern Brand

Day 4 from Camp Cannes brought the heat—and not just the Mediterranean sun. Mariah, Katy, Nate, Sean, and special guest Nicole Portwood (CMO at Suja Life) rallied around the campfire to break down the Fizz FM campaign for Slice—a nostalgia-fueled AI radio station built in a lightning-fast two weeks with BarkleyOKRP and Google. From Lo-Fi beats to 40 original songs about soda, the work sparked conversation not just for its creativity, but for doing something AI literally made possible for the first time. We also get honest, audacious takes on what AI can and shouldn’t do, dinner with the Clios, optimism from DeepMind, extinct animals, and hot dogs that slay.

Day two at Camp Cannes Roll Call kicks off with three hours of sleep, one missing gate clicker, and a glitter-suited bunny sighting. Amid jet lag and iced latte revelations, the BarkleyOKRP crew recaps a jam-packed day—highlighted by an intimate leadership lunch with Charles Day, an inspiring story from Tubi’s CMO playbook, and a reminder that creativity, connection, and the occasional Viking-style fish entrée still cut through. And yes, the tote bags were a hit.

What truly sets independent agencies apart, and why does it matter now more than ever? In this episode, Jason Parks sits down with Katy Hornaday and Doug Zanger to explore how independence drives greater creativity, agility, and long-term success in a landscape increasingly shaped by holding companies.

What even is athleisure? Big-spending Gen-Xers don’t know, but that’s not stopping athleisure brand Vuori. It’s pursuing a go slow to go fast approach to brand and performance marketing that’s building a fashion phenomenon. Join host Jason Parks and his guest Karen Riley-Grant, Vuori’s CMO, stitching together insights on the psychology of consumer needs, the creation of Vuori’s London brick-and-mortar retail flagship as a social hub, and why loyalty and quality are the fabric for success in a world of fast fashion.

In this episode, we explore the rapid rise of AI in the creative industry. Host Jason Parks joined by Melany Esfeld, BarkleyOKRP EVP head of production and Tim McCracken, SVP creative, discuss AI’s potential as a workhorse for time consuming tasks, so creatives can focus on what they do best: developing impactful, original ideas. We share real-life examples of campaigns amplified by AI for powerful storytelling while preserving a human touch. Tune in for insights on balancing tech with creativity, navigating client expectations, and what the future holds for AI in the agency world.

As an organization with no physical branches or sales teams, USAA has had to master the art of marketing. New CEO Francesco Lagutaine talks to hosts Jason Parks and Katy Hornaday about how USAA achieves an extraordinary level of customer focus. Learn how small “i” innovation, Mission Moments, and doing Zero Day like a recruit help USAA understand their military members, and why they buy.

Uncover the strategies behind successful influencer partnerships. In this month’s episode of This Modern Brand, Jason Parks hosts a panel of influencer marketers: Pam Davis, founder of likekind influencer marketing agency, Jane Chandler, VP of Public Relations at BarkleyOKRP, and Joe Spencer, BarkleyOKRP account supervisor whose focus is the influencer space. Hear how influencer marketing is starting to split down the middle, and what you should consider when an influencer’s voice becomes part of your brand.

Nostalgic mall brand Claire’s rose from the brink of bankruptcy to a listing on Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies” in 2023. Thriving in a retail landscape that ended legacy brands like Toys R Us, Claire’s leveraged Paris Fashion Week, AI, feedback loops and the metaverse to win the loyalty of over 22 million Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers. Follow the glittery trail of tween marketing with BarkleyOKRP’s Jason Parks and Steph Parker as they interview Kristin Patrick, Claire’s EVP, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Ecommerce.

Sink your teeth into another juicy episode of This Modern Brand. Continuing our focus on B-Corps, we feature tomato titan: NatureSweet. They revolutionized the produce game with eye-catchingly packaged snacking tomatoes, and blazed trails for their workforce with transformative wages and mental health programs. Now, they’re taking on their biggest challenge yet: the Tomato Tax. Join hosts Jason Parks and Jen Mazi as they unpack how Nature Sweet went from greenhouse to powerhouse to become the largest B-Corp ag company in America.

Barkley’s Jason Parks and Jen Mazi dive into the evolution of an iconic brand with Jenna Berg, the VP of Marketing at Motel 6. Jenna shares her career journey, from her beginnings in advertising to her pivotal role in shaping the modern identity of Motel 6. Discover how Motel 6 has shifted its focus from being just a value brand to a brand with values, embracing DEI+B while maintaining its mission of making travel accessible for all with a clean, comfortable room and great low rate. Join us as we explore the strategies behind Motel 6’s successful marketing campaigns and its commitment to supporting diverse communities.

In this episode, Barkley’s Jason Parks and Julie Barr delve into the “Judgement-Free Zone” with Jamie Medeiros, Chief Brand Officer at Planet Fitness. Jamie breaks down Planet Fitness’ “Red Thread,” the importance of “Making your own Super Bowl,” and the brand’s 2024 campaign featuring Grammy award-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion as “Mother Fitness.” Plus, Dave Gutting weighs in with a special brand battle featuring fitness juggernauts Planet Fitness vs. Peloton.