Brandidly Speaking

You’re posting consistently, so why isn’t anyone sticking around? Most founders think they need better content. In reality, they’re over-editing, overthinking, and filtering out the very thing that makes people care. In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Lilliana Vazquez (former TODAY Show + E! host turned creator) shares what turns content into community, and why it has nothing to do with being perfect. We get into the risks of showing up fully, how to handle criticism, and why trying to be liked by everyone is exactly what’s holding you back. If your content isn’t translating into connection, this podcast episode delivers the insights you need to craft messages that genuinely resonate with your community. New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected] 

On this week’s episode, we sit down with Lisa Jauregui, Founder of BK Beauty, to break down how she turned audience feedback into a $25 million beauty brand. Before founding BK Beauty, Lisa worked in advertising, became a MAC makeup artist, and later began creating YouTube makeup tutorials while raising her kids. By consistently sharing expert advice and education, she built a loyal audience that trusted her recommendations. Through affiliate link data, Lisa gained clear insight into exactly what her audience wanted - from product categories and price points to buying behavior and preferences. That data became the foundation for BK Beauty. Instead of guessing what to launch, Lisa used real audience feedback to design products people were already asking for, leading to one of the most successful creator‑led beauty brands today, with massive traction on TikTok and social media. If you’re a creator, influencer, founder, or aspiring entrepreneur looking to turn content into a scalable, multi‑million‑dollar brand, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Tune in to hear how Lisa leveraged data, audience trust, and education to build BK Beauty, and how you can apply the same strategy to your own brand. 🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

Finance can feel intimidating for most brand-builders and marketers but understanding the numbers might be the most powerful growth tool you have. In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, we sit down with Chris Polakowski, Executive Director of Global Operations at MMC, to unpack the financial and operational decisions that separate busy brands from profitable ones. From understanding your P&L to managing risk, Chris breaks down how finance can empower creativity and unlock smarter growth.  Throughout the conversation, we explore the core financial metrics every business should understand, including revenue, expenses, and cash flow, and why many companies confuse being busy with being profitable. Chris shares how founders and marketers can balance bold ideas with financial realities, how to think about risk in a strategic way, and why operational systems and financial visibility are essential for sustainable growth. Whether you're building a startup, scaling a seven-figure brand, or leading marketing inside a legacy company, this episode offers practical insights on how to make smarter decisions, operationalize growth, and build a business that lasts. New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected] 

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, we sit down with Sarah Chen-Spellings, investor & capital strategist, to talk about why understanding finances is a game‑changer for women business owners. Sarah entered the business world at just 25 and quickly found herself in rooms where major investment decisions were being made. As a young Malaysian woman building her career, she noticed a striking pattern: the people making these decisions were almost always men. That realization exposed a major gap in the industry and ultimately inspired her to help change it. Through her work building Beyond The Billion—mobilizing over $1 billion into women-founded companies—Sarah brings a rare, insider perspective on how wealth is actually built: from ownership and decision-making to long-term value creation.In this episode, Sarah shares the power she’s gained from financial knowledge, what she looks for when investing in a business, and what helps companies succeed long after they receive funding. This conversation is a must‑listen for women founders, entrepreneurs, and business owners who want to better understand investing, capital access, and how financial knowledge creates long‑term opportunity.New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

This week on Brandidly Speaking, we’re joined by MMC’s Dr. Kavin Shah, the medical expert behind our scientific communications work. As consumers become more focused on ingredients and transparency, trust has never mattered more. Dr. Kavin, a board-certified surgeon with a master’s in public health, shares how brands can turn complex science into content that’s clear, credible, and actually drives decisions. Together, Cris and Kavin break down how consumers can spot the difference between legitimate, evidence-based information and marketing masked as science. Kavin also shares how brands can collaborate with medical experts to communicate complex scientific ideas way that are accessible, honest, and compelling. If you’re a brand operating at the intersection of beauty and wellness, or science-backed innovation – or just a consumer trying to make sense of it all - this episode is for you. New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected] 

In this week’s episode of Brandidly Speaking, we sit down with Aliett Buttelman, the Co-Founder of Fazit Beauty. A true innovator in the makeup application space, Fazit understands the consumer’s desire for instant confidence, and has built an entire brand around delivering it. From major sporting moments like the Olympics and the Super Bowl to music festivals like Coachella, they’ve mastered the art of showing up at the right moment, in the right way.Many point to the brand’s viral moment when Taylor Swift wore Fazit to a Chiefs game as an overnight success. But the truth is, that moment was anything but accidental. Fazit had spent months behind the scenes laying the groundwork to ensure the team was fully prepared when that opportunity came into fruition. Aliett breaks down exactly how the moment came together, and how the brand was ready to capitalize when it did. She also shares insights into Fazit’s upcoming strategic partnership announcements with sports teams and athletes, including the U.S. Women’s Flag Football Team, the World Cup, and the Olympics, as well as what’s next for the brand. This conversation is packed with practical wisdom and offers a rare look at a brand that built staying power beyond a viral moment.New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected] 

Celebrity‑led brands are everywhere now, and they continue to spark curiosity, cultural relevance, and drive sales. In this episode, Kailey Bradt, CEO of Sonsie, takes us behind the scenes of leading the skincare brand founded by Pamela Anderson, and shares what it truly takes to build a brand that resonates beyond a famous name. While Pamela provides the inspiration, Kailey explains how Sonsie is thoughtfully designed to meet their consumer where they are and speak to what they actually want: simplicity, trust, and intention. We explore the power of doing a few products exceptionally well instead of launching an overcrowded line, how to build a cohesive collection that anticipates and solves customer needs, and why leaning into the customer’s values and interests is essential to creating a lasting community.  If you’re interested in brand building, marketing to women, or creating products that truly serve your customer, this episode is for you. New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected] 

Consumers today are inundated with marketing from every direction - from social media, email, television, and beyond. As a brand builder, it's more difficult than ever to stand out. In this episode, Cris Gordon breaks down the fastest way to increase brand visibility, credibility, and community by doing one powerful thing: creating an experience. By showing up at events like SXSW, a cultural moment where brands can strategically meet their audience face‑to‑face, you can maximize all three in less than a week. This episode is a must-listen for brands of all sizes. We explore how larger brands can capitalize on tentpole moments like SXSW, and how smaller brands can show up intentionally without wasting budget. Drawing on experience from a legacy communications agency like MMC, we share practical tips and proven strategies to help you make a real impact at your next major moment. New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected] 

What actually makes a brand stand out to editors today? In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon is joined by Heather Muir, Beauty Editor at Large at People Inc., for a conversation about what truly gets an editor’s attention in an increasingly crowded market. With nearly two decades of experience across publications like Cosmopolitan, Allure, and Real Simple, Heather has witnessed the evolution of media firsthand, from print-first coverage to today’s multi-platform landscape where relationships, storytelling, and authenticity matter more than ever. Cris and Heather unpack how editors evaluate brands today, why relationships still play a critical role in coverage, and the biggest mistakes brands make when pitching their products. They also discuss how the media landscape has shifted, what brands need to understand about earned media today, and why emotional connection is often the difference between a brand that gets noticed and one that gets overlooked. For marketers, founders, and anyone building a modern brand, this episode offers an inside look at how editors think, and what it really takes to break through the noise. Listen now to hear Heather’s perspective on the evolving relationship between brands, media, and storytelling. New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected] 

The smartest brands are building community before anything else. In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, we sit down with Sam Cutler, founder of Mindfull, a wellness platform focused on replacing calorie counting with nutrition intelligence. Sam used her online community of half a million women to convert her first 10k members with NO ad spend. In this conversation, we discuss what it really takes to turn a lived experience into a technology platform. From her experience, Sam shares how to listen to your community first, validate that demand, and build with purpose. If you’re interested in building an online community, how AI can enhance human connection, and why creators are emerging as some of the most strategic founders in the room, this episode is for you. New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

Building a brand is hard, but staying true to your vision is even harder. Today, celebrity makeup artist, Jo Baker, joins Cris to discuss the raw reality of the beauty industry and how she leverages her years as a celebrity artist to prioritize product integrity over marketing hype. By solving for the user’s experience (whether it’s through her product or her service as a makeup artist) rather than following a standard playbook, Jo has proven that trusting your own 'feeling-first' philosophy is the key to creating a category of your own. Tune in to hear how honoring your unique perspective can turn a saturated market into a standout brand. New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected] 

On this week’s episode, Cris sits down with celebrity stylist and host of The Lo Life, Lo Von Rumpf, to deconstruct the tactical evolution of building a strong personal brand. Lo takes us from his early days navigating the industry’s most exclusive rooms to the high-stakes strategy behind red-carpet brand placement. Whether you’re scaling a brand’s visibility or curious about the psychological mechanics of shaping a celebrity’s image through fashion, this episode is essential for anyone who is ready to hone in on their brand’s narrative. New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected] 

The beauty landscape is more vibrant than ever, and standing out requires more than just a big budget. It takes heart and strategy. This week, Cris sits down with a true industry authority: Sara Tan. As a seasoned beauty editor and co-host of the Gloss Angeles podcast, Sara shares her "sixth sense" for what makes a brand truly unforgettable. We explore how to build authentic connections that resonate, the magic found in the tiny details, and how brands of any size can win the hearts of the world’s top editors.  Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected] 

What does it take to cut through the noise today? We’re joined by the CEO of MMC, Olga Fleming, and Head of MMC Beauty Cris Gordon. From the evolution of iconic campaigns to the secrets of running an award-winning agency, Olga and Cris share the strategic moves that define today’s industry leaders. Whether you’re building a brand or a business, this episode is a masterclass in standing out. New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected] 

For our debut episode, we are chatting all about the industry’s favorite buzzword. But let’s be brandid for a second here: Community is not something you can fake. You must cultivate it. That’s why we have none other than Jaclyn Johnson the founder of Create & Cultivate as our debut guest on Brandidly Speaking.  New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.  🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]   

In this kickoff solo episode of Brandidly Speaking, host Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC, introduces herself and shares the why behind launching the podcast. Drawing from her experience as a founder, in-house brand leader, and agency executive, Cris offers candid commentary and early hot takes on what’s broken in modern marketing and what’s actually working. This episode sets the tone for the conversations ahead: earned-first thinking, real access, community over transactions, and building brands with clarity, conviction, and credibility. Consider this your invitation to pull up a seat at the table.🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube 👍 Follow @BrandidlySpeaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn. 📲 We'd love to hear from you: [email protected]

Brandidly Speaking is a podcast for marketers, brand builders, and communicators where modern marketing gets real.  Hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC, each episode features candid conversations with founders, executives, creators, and cultural tastemakers reshaping their industries. Together, they break down what it really takes to build brands today: cutting through buzzwords to explore earned-first strategy, storytelling, community, influence, and growth. From the ROI of community to the transition from founder to CEO and navigating the creator economy, Brandidly Speaking offers a strategic roadmap for leaders to unlock your edge and shape what's next. Because today’s marketers have enough noise. We give you access, perspective, and a seat at the table. New episodes Wednesdays. Built by Artfully Disruptive, earned-first creative agency, MMC.  Join the @brandidly_speaking conversation: Instagram – https://bit.ly/brandidlyspeakingIG  TikTok – https://bit.ly/brandidlyspeakingTT  YouTube – https://bit.ly/brandidlyspeakingYT