How a Mascot Fails When It Has No Story

Episode 60 of The Branding Podcast examines what happens when a brand mascot becomes a liability. Lucas and Luna dissect the 2022 collapse of the M&M's spokescandy redesign, focusing on how the backlash wasn't about the mascots' appearance but the absence of a coherent story behind the change. They contrast it with Duolingo's successful use of its owl mascot, Duo, which thrives on personality and narrative. The hosts argue that mascots without a backstory are hollow assets, and that brands must invest in ongoing character development—not just visual overhauls. Tied to the ad-free principle, they also discuss why listener support helps keep conversations like this independent and sponsorship-free. #BrandMascots #M&Ms #Duolingo #CharacterMarketing #MarketingStrategy #BrandStorytelling #BrandIdentity #VisualIdentity #LogoDesign #BrandVoice #MascotMarketing #BrandingFails #BrandingLessons #SponsoredFree #AdFree #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #MarketingPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo