SpeakEasy, a Catalysis Podcast

In this episode of Speak Easy, Doug Stanley-Hunt sits down with Matt Peterson, Executive Creative Director at Catalysis. From Wieden+Kennedy to founding his own agency, Matt shares lessons from creating early viral moments for Starbucks, rethinking Nike’s March Madness storytelling, and working at the intersection of data, creativity, and AI. Plus, why tequila is his drink of choice.

In this episode of Speak Easy, Doug Stanley-Hunt sits down with Ben Wan, founder of Hudson Compost, to talk startup marketing in the real world. From word of mouth and pricing strategy to guerrilla campaigns that involved chasing garbage trucks and pulling Halloween all-nighters, Ben shares scrappy lessons in building a mission-driven brand — plus a tip on the cheapest drink in Hudson Yards.

In this episode of Speak Easy, Doug Stanley-Hunt talks with Nicole Delano Lacasse, Senior Manager of Brand and Customer REDI at REI. From her personal journey into inclusivity to driving measurable growth in membership and revenue, Nicole shares how equity-focused strategy creates real business impact. They explore leadership, resilience, and belonging, all over a Last Word.

In this episode of SpeakEasy, Doug Stanley-Hunt sits down with Alan Brown, founder of DNA&STONE, to trace his journey from product sales at P&G to building a thriving ad agency. They swap stories on bold campaigns, including a hot take on Maxwell House, branding thought experiments, and the power of radical empathy in great advertising, all over a Black Manhattan.

In this episode of Speak Easy, we talk to Aimee Johnson over her drink of choice — a Spicy Whiskey Sour. From collecting student debt at Sallie Mae to driving innovation at Starbucks and becoming CMO of a $13B company, Aimee shares candid lessons from a remarkable marketing career and the insights that shaped her leadership along the way.

In this brief intro, host Doug Stanley-Hunt explains why Catalysis created Speak Easy and what’s ahead. Recorded in a basement speakeasy beneath a 120-year-old former church, the podcast features candid conversations about marketing, leadership, and lessons learned in the trenches. Pull up a chair, grab a drink, and join us.