BrandAPeel: Brand Storytelling in the Digital Age

Overwhelm stresses everyone out and can lead to a lack of productivity. Find out how to stop feeling overwhelmed and start taking action to becoming more accomplished.

The brand’s origin story is rooted in Canadian history but can this story save it from being boycotted? Brands, especially iconic Canadian brands, need to consider the temperature of the nation as the trade war with the US triggers emotional reactions to misleading headlines.

Carney just announced he is removing the reciprocal tariffs that Trudeau put on US goods back in March 2025 when Trump first threatened a 25% blanket tariff on Canadian goods. Is this a mistake? Here's why it isn't and how Carney is flanking Trump instead of punching him over and over...

Target's CEO of 11 years Brian Cornell is resigning after the latest quarterly report. How did Target fall from being a popular retailer to struggling to stay relevant? Find out in this episode.

The news makes it sound like we live in Chaos - but do we? How can you find certainty in an uncertain world? Find ideas and inspiration to help you feel less fear, more certain, and weather whichever storm arrives on your door.

Is Canada the villain? By dissecting the story US Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra is telling Americans and Canadians we can learn how to construct a message to get people to believe in the story being told.Propaganda is a form of storytelling and marketing that taps into people's emotional response to garner buy-in and unquestionable faith. How can your brand tell stories to build trust, garner buy-in, and win life long followers? Learn from the propaganda message that Pete Hoekstra tells about Canada being the villain in the Trade War story.

Hoekstra is beginning to frame the narrative to cast Canada as the villain and the US as the victim. According to him, Trump will have no option but to rip up CUSMA and slap Canada with a blanket tariff. Is this true? How a brand tells a story will affect what people believe about them and the actions they take. Discover more about the narrative and how you can prepare for the worst instead of just hoping for the best.

By aligning itself to the leadership of the MAGA side of the culture war, they may have just tanked the market value of their brand... Brand aligning with social movements and taking a stance in the culture war is nothing new, but there is always a price to pay. Apple, Tim Cook awarded Trump a gold brick award and more in exchange for low tariffs. Let me know what you think and share with those you think need to know how to protect their brand value in this chaos.

The GDP numbers came in and the central banks announced what they were going to do with the Interest Rate - Who won? Canada or Trump?Watch to find out how this information helps you to position your brand in today's uncertain world. There are opportunities and their are pitfalls, so you need to know what to do if you want your brand to be seen by the right people.

Today the First Ministers summit wrapped up and the Premiers talked about a lot of projects they want to see in their provinces. There are some good business opportunities that the government has cash to throw at and provide extra support. As well, Japan / US have a deal, what does that mean for Canadians and Americans? Are there opportunities and is it possible for a deal between Canada and the US? Find out.

The second quarterly reports are coming in and they are telling a story about what happened over the last 3 months and how those things affected the bottom line of different industries. In this video Shannon Peel tells you how you can find opportunities by understanding which companies will have the cash or need your cash saving product or service. Opportunity is everywhere.

Shannon takes a look at the latest announcements from the PM to support the Steel Industry to find out if there are opportunities for those looking for a career, for businesses needing to sell a product or service, or a new business idea to increase revenues.If tariffs have you scared, don't be, there is opportunities in the chaos, you just have to know where to find them.

What can YOU learn about how to position yourself and become more resilient from the Trade War Tariff story? There are Heroes and Victims of this war and will continue to be as long as Trump remains in Power. What are the Heroes doing to ensure they not only survive the chaos, but grow their bottom line in the process? Shannon looks at what some sectors and companies are doing to be more resilient and offers you some ideas on how to position yourself to take advantage of the opportunities out there.

Social media is a not a hard nut to crack and it can be a powerful tool to build trust, fight fake news, and dispel misinformation but Canada's MPs are dropping the ball. Are you? In this episode, Shannon Peel reviews the power of social media and gives you ideas on how to beat back trolls and build more trust by sharing facts, truth, and communicating with people instead of ignoring them. Learn what our politicians are doing wrong and what you can do to get better results on these noisy platforms

Knowing your audience is important if you want to garner buy-in and get to an agreement. Unfortunately, US Ambassador Hoekstra has no idea about what is important to the Canadians he is trying to convince. Discover what he's doing wrong so you can be a better salesperson, leader, or diplomat.

I define BrandAPeel for Canada's new Prime Minister to help you learn the 5 step process of defining your brand to know what you want to be known for in the marketplace. Listen as I explore why it is important for Mark Carney to develop a brand for himself as he steps in to take over from former Prime Minister Justine Trudeau, who had a strong brand.

Your ads needs to result in sales not just likes. Shannon Peel digs into the role of advertising and marketing to discover how to craft content that results in sales, the first step has nothing to do with creation... Learn the steps to building the foundation of strong advertising and marketing in the Lessons in Advertising / Marketing Series of BrandAPeel. This is the first episode of the Lessons in Advertising / Marketing Series. For more about creating a brand story

Ae you trying to build your email list? Shannon Peel talked with Catherine O'Leary the Quiz Queen about how she utilizes quizzes to grow her business. At the very top of your marketing funnel you need a first step people can take to say, "Hey I'm interested in this topic." Once you have that ... You can build a path for people to take to your 'BUY' button. Catherine shares her insights into how brands utilize fun quizzes to engage people into your brand's story.  Check out the Quiz Queen's Quizzes Discover MarketAPeel's White Label Lead Magnets

Are you getting traffic to your website but people aren't buying? Today, Shannon Peel talked with expert website designer James Hipkin from Inn8ly about how to get more traffic to your site and get more conversions. Getting traffic to your site is difficult, so when someone shows you want to look your best and lead them to do what you want - be it buy, book an appointment, or spend more time consuming content. If you want better results, this episode is for you.  Get your ticket to the Stand Out Summit 

Are you struggling to get people to take you seriously? Maybe you need some publicity to gain credibility and authority in the marketplace. Today, Shannon Peel spoke with Lilian Sue, PR specialist and Publicity Coach, about why brands need publicity and how to go about getting it. If you want to increase the credibility of your brand, be seen by bigger audiences, and let your audience know you are an authority in your industry - You need publicity so click play and find out how to get into the news.  Get your tickets to the Stand Out Summit 

Are you struggling to get people to take interest in your business' story? In today's episode Shannon Peel talks with Krystal Vernee from Simply She about how she helps businesses connect with their audiences by being the brand. They talk about how to connect with audiences online, how to relate to your audience and be the brand people choose. If you want to increase your brand's impact online, this episode is for you.  Find out more about how MarketAPeel Summits help you create an appealing life, career, or business.

What do the stories we enjoy say about us and how do stories from our childhood define us? Shannon Peel talks with Lee Wochner from Counterintuity, about how the stories from childhood resulted in their careers as storytellers. Lee started his entrepreneurial exploits as a pre-teen when he invested in a comic book. Find out how he made a living sharing stories, telling stories, and writing stories. This episode is full of ideas to help you define your brand story and stories about how brands stood out a couple of decade ago and how brands today need to take a different approach to sharing their marketing message. If you love stories, tell stories, or want to know how brand storytelling has changed over time, this episode is for you.  Get you copy of That's Life: A Novel Approach to Changing Your Narrative.

Are you a one person show trying to get ahead? Shannon Peel talks with Solopreneur Inc's Larry Kaul about how to make it as a solopreneur in today's digital landscape. The micro business owner wears all the hats and struggles to keep up with their competitors who have teams to drive their businesses forward. In this episode we talk about what a solopreneur is, how they can structure their business and tell their brand stories to ideal audiences. If you are a one person organization who needs some insight and ideas to help you succeed, this episode is for you.  Get Your Copy of the BrandAPeel ebook 

Do you want to know how to get more out of your marketing funnel? Shannon Peel talked with Dadpreneur, Alex Oliveira to talk about lead gen, funnels, and how to attract the right clients your brand. Alex puts family first and built a successful business helping brands to increase their leads, develop their marketing funnels, and make the sale. If you want to know how he does it, this is the episode for you. You will hear stories about understanding audiences and how to find the information you need to know about your target market.  Get your free copy of the BrandAPeel ebook on brand storytelling

Is your message creating the impact you want? Today, Shannon talks with Max Gerson from Brand Wolfe about brand therapy.  What is Brand therapy? It is about making sure. you brand message is making the impact you want it to make. This is a deep conversation about brand messaging and creating a strategy that works for your brand. It strikes at the core of what branding is all about and gives you a tonne of things to act on for your brand. Find out what branding is and how your brand can stand out by making a bigger impact. If you are trying to get the right audience for your brand and telling the right story to the right person and guiding them from brand awareness to brand advocacy, this is the episode for you.  Get a free copy of the BrandAPeel ebook Today.   Check out the Podcasting Magazine

Are you a creative business person struggling to make a buck? Shannon talks with Daniel Hess from To Tony Productions about the life of a creative business person and what you need to know about making money as a creative. Creative people are highly talented at creating but struggle with the business side. Daniel shares his insights about the pitfalls of the film industry, the opportunities available, and how to make money telling stories.  If you are a creative person who is struggling to sell their work or get noticed for your creative genius, this is the episode for you.  Get your copy of the new BrandAPeel ebook today.  Check out the Podcasting Magazine

Are you struggling to get organic traffic for your website? Shannon talked with Brandon Leibowitz about what the important things are when it comes to optimizing your site for Google. They talked about keywords, backlinks, website structure, and design to increase conversions. How you tell your brand story on your website matters when it comes to getting the right traffic that will want what you are selling. Whether you have an e-commerce site, a service site, or an authority site ... you need to know how Google assesses what your site is about and how to structure the site to inspire more conversions. If you want to improve your site's results - this is the episode for you.  Get the free SEO gift Brandon mentions in this episode Get your copy of the new BrandAPeel ebook today. 

How can you get your brand to stand out? Today, I talked with brand strategy expert Lauren Clemett about how to stand out online and make an impression on your ideal audience. We talked about niching, social media, and leveraging your expertise to build a business. Do what you love and get paid well for it - I need this advice, what about you? This is an interesting conversation with lots of expert advice from a leader in the branding industry who 'gets' it. Want to know more about Lauren, go to her website or buy her book Finding Your Brand's True North.  Get your copy of the new BrandAPeel ebook today. 

Ever see a True Earth Commercial on Facebook? I talked with Joseph Wilkins the creator of the video and ad campaign to find out what it took to create a viral video that converted into BIG sales. Want to know? Listen to this episode and then download the ebook to help you create better videos for your brand story. If you are a content creator, a business owner, or just curious about how FunnySalesVideos.com creates a successful ad campaign, this is the episode for you. 

Want to make a better impact with your audience, co-workers, friends, and family? Being a strong communicator is key to getting the attention of others and ensuring your brand has a clear message. In this episode I talked with Nausheen I. Chen about how she helps people become better communicators and by doing so, achieve their goals. If you are a public speaker, leader, or want to be a better conversationalist, this episode is for you. Drop by MarketAPeel.com to discover how you can communicate better to connect with your audience. Get your copy of the new BrandAPeel ebook today.  Check out the Podcasting Magazine

Advertising has its own story and who better than John Follis, a Madison Avenue Adman to tell the story about his experiences working in the fast paced world of New York City. I talked with John about how he got into advertising, his award winning career helping some big name brands tell their brand stories to the marketplace, and how digital has changed the way we advertise. Today, John helps businesses create engaging explainer videos to tell their stories in this digital age. 

When Corrine Swenson and Kim Sam decided to open a retail store, their family and friends were shocked the product was cannabis, mostly because they were not viewed as the type of people who would be associated with that industry. I talked to these best friends who found the courage to leave their secure public sector jobs to open a cannabis retail store in Burns Lake, BC, Canada,. I wanted to know if attitudes changed since cannabis has become legal and how did these two middle class mothers shift their mindsets about a taboo product. Join me, as I journey into the brand story of Crossroads Cannabis and the two women at the helm. 

I talk with Nicholas Jeffery, CEO of RAYL, about what a brand is and how to build a global company with a remote team of work from homers spread across five continents. He shares his raison d'être and how he plans on changing banking for small and medium sized businesses by using data to bring empathy and understanding to the relationship between a bank and its cliental. He shares his insights into how excellent brands are created and how important it is to protect the brand, and how his team is positioning RAYL to be a unicorn in the Fintech space. 

Is your brand story a secret? Do you know what you are known for or is it a secret? We all want to know the secret to success and why some people rise while others stumble. In this podcast episode, Shannon Peel, talks about how to ensure your brand story is clearly understood by your audience and no longer a secret. If you are wondering how to make sure your business or brand is part of your potential customer's buying decision, this episode is for you.  Once you've listened to the episode, if you'd like to talk about how to ensure your brand story is not a secret, visit her website.  Get your copy of the new BrandAPeel ebook today.  Check out the Podcasting Magazine

Scroll. Scroll. Swipe. Our unconscious zombie scroll brain is in charge when we are scrolling through a social media feed, unless you are actively searching out content for strategic engagement. Let's face it, most of the world on social media are there to distract them when they don't have anything better to do. So, how can you make sure that your brand's message connects with your audience's unconscious decision making system? In today's episode, Shannon Peel opens up the book Blink by Malcolm Gladwell to discover how we can write our brand stories to take advantage of our audience's intrinsic association with words, images, and other content. If you want to dive deeper into which details to keep in a business story and which details to leave out - this episode is for you.  Read the APeeling - The Podcast Issue - Interactive Digital Magazine Take the Harvard Implicit Exercise 

Are you up against a problem and unsure how to move forward? Shannon Peel talked with Gabriela Pulido from Scalto about problem solving, processes, core values, and how to tell your brand's message. There is a lot of different ideas in this episode about how to find the solutions for your communications efforts. If you want to find a creative solution for your brand storytelling, this episode is for you. 

Did you know that there is a difference between personal brand storytelling and business brand storytelling and it is structural? (see below for free workbook link) Shannon Peel went to a comedy show and uses the experience to help you determine if you should be on the personal brand storytelling stage or on the business brand storytelling stage and how to structure each type of story. Yes, businesses have a personal brand story, but it is more impactful to tell a business brand story to your audience. It's all about connecting with your audience by using the right pronoun. If you want to know how to tell an impactful brand story - this is the episode for you. Click to get the brand storytelling workbook for this episode

Are you in need of creative financing? Shannnon Peel talked with Financial Fixer, Michael Yasny who helpss businesses across Canada with their financial challenges. They talked about where to get financing, negotiating with the big box stores like WalMart, how to get that million dollar idea to market, how to protect yourself, and so much more. Michael shares stories from his experience in business and how he has helped others with everything from getting out of a lease to dealing with the tax man. There is so much in this episode, you will come away with an idea for your business and will want to get your hands on his book, "So, You Want to Start Your Own Business, Now What?" If you own a business, this episode is for you. 

Do you know how to structure a brand story? In this Brand Storytelling podcast episode Shannon Peel shares her insights into how to tell a brand story, what to say, how to structure it, and most importantly how to end it. There is so much noise online that your brand story is getting lost in the crowd and fractured by social media sound bites.  Ever have a potential customer or social media follower ask you, "So, what is it that you actually do?" You have a brand storytelling problem and brand storytelling is important to your business' success. Discover how to tell your brand story to guide audiences from awareness to customers.

Do you love a good port? Shannon Peel talked with Serge Lozach who is telling the brand story of the old world brand, Kopke Port, throughout the new world of the United States. Serge educates Shannon on what port is, how it is made, and the difference between port and fortified wines. Discover what makes Kopke different in the marketplace and why having a centuries old story helps a brand stand out in a crowded market. If you love a good port or are interested in brand stories, this episode is for you.  

Finding the transition from the Military into civilian life different than you expected? Shannon Peel talks with Rich LaMonica of Misfit Nation about how he struggled through the transition and in the process found his purpose to help others by hosting the Misfit Nation Podcast. They talk about the job search, what its like working as a civilian, being married while in service, and how to find the resources you need to keep moving forward. If you are struggling with a transition or want to know more about what military life is like, this is the podcast for you. Download the That's Life eBook to get started on changing your narrative from victim to hero

Do you have a tequila story that turns your stomach to remember it? That could all change. Shannon Peel talks with Daniel Neeson and Adam Millman of De-nada Tequila. College roommates became business partners and sought out the best tequila distillery in Mexico to make their authentic brand to create a story around this spirit. Its authentic production methods include the use of estate-grown agaves, brick-oven roasting and local natural yeast, while shunning techniques like diffusion, additives, artificial flavours and colours. In this episode they share their vision, their story, and their journey to get their product into the market of 2020 / 2021 when the hospitality industry was feeling the strain of Covid.

Do you want your brand to impact others and be seen by the right people? Shannon Peel talks with Alastair McDermott about removing the cloak of invisibility to get his clients noticed by the right people in the marketplace. They talk about how they help experts transition to thought leaders and the frustrations of creating content in the noise of the digital world. If your are trying to get traction for your brand in the marketplace and want so ideas, this episode is for you.  Discover more about Brand Storytelling and find best brand storytelling podcast lists on MarketAPeel.com.

Want to reduce your carbon footprint without sacrificing lifestyle? Shannon talks to Lizzie Horvitz about her new platform, Choosing Finch, which uses deep data analysis to estimate the carbon footprint of the products we buy. By having the carbon footprint number of our favourite products in comparison to their competitors, we can reduce the amount of carbon we consume. They talk about green washing, the reality of sustainable options, and things we can do to reduce our carbon footprint. If you are concerned about climate change and the state of the environment, this episode is for you.

Do you feel that there isn't enough time in your day? Well you are in luck, Shannon Peel talked with Blaine Oelkers about the 30 min hour and how he compresses time to get more done and have more time for family, activities, and himself. You are going to need a pen and paper because we unpacked a lot and he shared many actionable tips and ideas to help you up your game and get results. If you want to be more productive at work, so you have more time to enjoy life, this episode is for you.  Check out the APeeling Digital Magazine, Podcasting Edition.

Do you struggle to stand out in a world of too many choices? Shannon Peel talks with Lisa Shuster about how Gemma di Luna stands out in the wine aisle and positions itself as the wine to make every occasion a little bit more exceptional. They talked about packaging, merging real world and digital marketing for a complete story experience, and lessons learned working for the big guys on the block. Marketing a product takes both real world and digital tactics to ensure customers have an experience they will want to talk about and have again, and again, and again. If you are trying to stand out in a world of sameness and indecision from too many choices, this episode is for you.  Check out the APeeling Digital Magazine, Podcasting Edition.

It's the 100th episode of the 100 in 100 challenge with special guest - Anthony Gruppo, former CEO of Marsh Commercial UK and Regional CEO of Marsh & McLennan NE & SW. In today's episode Anthony talks with Shannon Peel about being a servant leader, what it takes to be a good leader, how he made it to the top in his industry, and shares wisdom for creating an appealing life and career. If you want to be inspired to push yourself out onto the edge to see how far you can go, this is the episode for you.  Check out the APeeling Digital Magazine, Podcasting Edition.

Curious about how leaders get where they are so you can advance in your career? Today, Shannon Peel talked with Tony Gaines the CEO of Stewart's Enterprise Holdings Inc, which produces Hard Rock Beverages in a can and Stewart's Spiked Beverages, about how he made his way to the role of CEO. They talked about the beverage industry, leadership and the labour situation. Tony shared how he advanced from street fighter to boardroom leader in an industry he loves. If you want to be a better leader, advance in your career, or are curious about the alcohol industry, this episode is for you. Check out the APeeling Digital Magazine, Podcasting Edition.

Are you emails landing with your audience or in their spam file? Today, Shannon Peel talks with Yuval Ackerman about email marketing and how to engage your audience by telling a story and keeping your list healthy. Email marketing is a direct channel to your audience without all the distractions of social media. With more marketers switching from social media to marketing, the competition for access to inboxes is heating up. If you want to up your email marketing results, this is the episode for you. Check out the APeeling Digital Magazine, Podcasting Edition.

What does Google tell people about you when they Google your Brand Name? Today, Shannon Peel talks with Jason Barnard, the Brand SERP guy about what a Brand SERP is, why your brand needs one and what you need to tell Google to ensure it understands who you are and how you solve people's problems. There is more to SEO than you know and if you want to get more out of search engines, this episode is for you. Check out the APeeling Digital Magazine, Podcasting Edition.