What if your last idea was the one that mattered most?

This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Mekanism alums Tony Benna and Lee Einhorn, the director and producer behind André Is an Idiot: a documentary that follows their friend André Ricciardi as he faces stage four colon cancer with a sense of humor. What began as an outrageous pitch from André—that if he was going to die, they should film it—became a three-and-a-half-year journey documenting the final years of his life through laughter, tears, and honest, irreverent storytelling.

Tony and Lee share how the film came together, the challenge of balancing comedy and grief, and why staying true to André’s voice meant refusing to make the “sad cancer film” the world expected. They also look back on the film’s whirlwind path to success, from getting picked up by A24 to winning the Audience Award at Sundance and finally securing distribution, and how it has evolved into something more than just a documentary: it’s sparking conversations, encouraging people to get screened for cancer, and ultimately saving lives.

Key Takeaways

✅ Humor can help us face the hardest truths

✅ Being invited in is an honor and a responsibility

✅ Sharing your story can make a difference

✅ Always stay true to your voice

✅ Great stories start with real relationships

Memorable Moments

💡 “To be invited into those last years of his life was a huge honor.”

💡 “André’s like, ‘I’ve got stage four cancer, let’s make a comedy."

💡 “The bigger goal the whole time was to save lives.”

💡 “It was one of the best times of my life, as horrible as that sounds.”

💡 “Laughter was the best medicine—not just for André, but for all of us”

Brought to you by Mekanism.

The World Cup will get Americans talking about soccer. Can MLS keep the conversation going?

This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris is joined by Radhika Duggal, SVP and CMO of Major League Soccer, to discuss what it takes to grow a league when your competition isn’t just other sports—it’s everything people do for fun. With a background in consulting, fintech, and pharma, Radhika brings an outsider’s perspective to MLS, using data to understand how to turn first-time viewers into diehard fans.

They discuss how mapping the full fan journey reveals that consumers stay in the “awareness and consideration” phase much longer than you might expect, and why the most important step for growth is understanding what your consumer is looking for. Radhika also shares why focus is her most important leadership tool, what it means to market a product that’s shared across clubs and platforms, and how she’s preparing MLS for a once-in-a-generation opportunity as the World Cup heads to the U.S.

Key Takeaways

✅ Moments don’t build fandom—habits do

✅ Understand what the consumer is looking for

✅ Fewer, bigger bets drive stronger results

✅ Always take time to say “thank you”✅ Big events need a long-term plan

Memorable Moments

💡 “It takes time to build interest and passion.”

💡 “Confidence will make you successful.”

💡 “Pick three things and make the outcomes as big as possible.”

💡 “Our job is to turn World Cup fever into MLS fever.”

💡 “Keep the main thing the main thing.”

Brought to you by Mekanism.

What does it mean to create something that people don’t just hear, but feel?

This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Ziggy Marley, the eight-time Grammy Award winning musician, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, for a conversation about identity, creativity, and his upcoming album, Brightside. Born into one music’s most iconic legacies, Ziggy shares how he’s found his own voice by learning from his parents, being authentic to himself, and always searching for more.

In their conversation, Ziggy tells Jason about his lifelong search for music that “speaks to angels” and how the recording frequency of his new album (432 Hz instead of 440 Hz) changes how people hear it — and how it makes them feel. He also explains why he sees love as a powerful armor that protects and grounds everything he does, from writing songs to putting them out into the world. For him, marketing his music isn’t about selling something: It’s about creating something honest and trusting that people will feel the vibe.

✅ Stay true to what you feel

✅ Sound and frequency can shape emotion

✅ Love as both guide and protection

✅ Make something real, not something to sell

✅ Creativity has the power to heal

💡 “We’re trying to heal people through sound.”

💡 “Love is a very powerful armor.”

💡 “The whole planet needs a change of frequency.”

💡 “I need to find this music that speaks to angels.”

💡 “Love is my religion.”

Key TakeawaysMemorable MomentsBrought to you by Mekanism.

Big brand breakthroughs don’t come from playing it safe.

This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Ben Whitla, Head of Brand and Marketing at Slate Auto, to explore how bold creativity and disciplined measurement come together to build something truly different. From his beginning as a self-taught graphic designer, to helping companies like Great Big Story and launching an EV brand, Ben shares how he’s learned to trust his instinct but not lose sight of his results.

In their conversation, Ben breaks down how Slate Auto carved out its own space in a crowded automotive market with a radically simple, customizable vehicle and an unconventional launch. He also explains why building the right team is the foundation of great marketing, how brands can scale without losing their edge, and why the best marketers operate on “gut with guardrails”—taking risks, then measuring everything that follows.

✅ Why great marketing starts with people, not just ideas

✅ Do things that make you uncomfortable

✅ The smartest marketers engineer buzz instead of hoping for it

✅ Why brand and performance marketing must work hand in hand

✅ How simplicity can become a powerful competitive advantage

💡 “You’ve gotta try some stuff that’s pure gut, but if you don’t learn from it…afterwards, then it wasn’t worth it.”

💡 “Before you make a single creative decision, nothing matters more than the people.”

💡 “The internet loves to solve a mystery, and they figured it out. They figured out that that weird everyday changing vehicle on the curb was slate.”

💡 “How do we break every rule? How do we do something that any other auto brand would say…That's unacceptable.”

Brought to you by Mekanism.

Key TakeawaysMemorable Moments

This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Brandon Rhoten, Chief Marketing Officer at Dave’s Hot Chicken, to discuss the discipline behind breakthrough marketing. Known for shaping the iconic digital voice of Wendy’s and leading brand turnarounds at Papa John’s and Potbelly, Brandon shares how he blends creativity with rigorous analysis to drive real business results.

In their conversation, Brandon shares how Dave’s Hot Chicken built a cult following by letting its fans define the brand — not by chasing trends. He also explains why value is just as important as brand in today’s quick-service restaurant industry, why research and experimentation are key to developing campaigns that actually work, and why the best CMOs are the ones that do their homework.

✅ Why the best marketing ideas are built on research

✅ How viral moments should support long-term growth, not replace it

✅ Balancing marketing and brand identity with real value

✅ How customers can shape a brand from the outside in

✅ Why CMOs should treat marketing like a scientific experiment

💡 “If it was just doing the TikTok dance, everyone would do the TikTok dance.”

💡 “I believe in finding a decade of growth in a brand.”

💡 “You don’t say you’re funny — you tell a joke.”

💡 “The big ideas come out of the blocking and tackling.”

💡 “Do your homework.”

Brought to you by Mekanism.

Key TakeawaysMemorable Moments

This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris welcomes Brenda Tsai, Chief Marketing Officer at Bloomberg, for a conversation about leading a brand that has helped define modern financial markets. Brenda shares how her background in finance, global operations, and brand leadership shapes her approach to marketing at Bloomberg.

They discuss the role of the modern CMO and how it has evolved over the years, from brand stewardship in the early aughts to metrics obsession in the 2010s to AI strategy today. Brenda explains why legacy alone is never enough, how to establish credibility with CEOs and boards, and why category leaders must continuously redefine the markets they created. The conversation also touches on AI adoption in high-trust industries and the delicate balance between modernizing at pace and ensuring responsible governance.

✅ Why legacy brands must evolve or risk becoming irrelevant✅ How modern CMOs connect brand investment to enterprise value✅ Transforming marketing into a commercial growth driver✅ Why AI literacy and business judgment go hand in hand✅ How to position marketing as a strategic partner with CEOs

💡 “Legacy can be an advantage, but only if you evolve.”

💡 “Marketing becomes exponential when brand, demand, and data operate in harmony.”💡 “You’re not evaluated on awareness anymore. You’re evaluated on growth.”💡 “Be brave enough to reinvent before the market forces you to.”💡 “Marketing’s impact should be enterprise-level, not campaign-level.”

Key TakeawaysMemorable Moments
Brought to you by Mekanism.

This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris is joined by Andrew Rebhun, Chief Experience Officer at CAVA, to explore how a rapidly growing brand maintains its commitment to "spirited generosity.” From his early days at Ford and McDonald’s to navigating CAVA’s impressive growth, Andrew has learned that the most effective marketing strategies prioritize human connection over transactional frequency.

They explore the philosophy behind Mediterranean hospitality, how CAVA cultivates customer relationships with a “Love Button,” and why you should always take the toughest assignments. Plus, Andrew breaks down how to build a loyalty program that turns casual customers into brand advocates.

Key Takeaways

✅ When points get redeemed, brands get remembered.

✅ Why rewarding guest relationships drives more value than chasing frequency metrics.

✅ Using technology enhance human connection, not replace it.

✅ How to expand a brand’s reach without losing the core values that made it special.

✅ Why the biggest P&L impact often comes from your mid-tier customers

Memorable Moments

💡 “Reward connection, not just frequency.”💡 “Loyalty is not a growth hack. It’s an extension of how we show up for our guests.”

💡 “Human warmth is non-negotiable 💡 “Bring the weather, set the tone.”

Brought to you by Mekanism.

This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Winston Warrior, Amazon Senior Global Marketing Executive, content creator, R&B artist, and “The Dope Professor,” for a conversation about reinvention, influence, and leading with humanity inside one of the biggest companies on the planet. From corporate marketing to academia, music, consulting, and culture, Winston shares how authenticity and empathy have been the throughlines connecting it all.

They discuss the tension between humanity and performance, staying people-first in results-driven systems, and earning the trust that allows you to lead on your own terms. Drawing from his time at Amazon and beyond, Winston breaks down how culture, creativity, and accountability intersect when you’re building something meant to last.

Key Takeaways

✅ Why empathy can be a competitive advantage, even in big corporate environments

✅ How to evolve your career without abandoning earlier versions of yourself

✅ Why impact matters more than reach when it comes to influence

✅ How delivering results gives you the freedom to lead with values

Memorable Moments

💡 “When you put points on the board, it’s hard to tell you you’re too empathetic.”

💡 “I don’t deliberately use connection—it’s just who I am.”

💡 “If you change your mind, you can change your world.”

💡 “Profit matters, but culture and humanity are what make brands win long-term.”

Brought to you by Mekanism.

In this episode of Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Stacy Taffet, Chief Growth Officer at The Hershey Company, to talk about what it takes to modernize a over 130-year-old brand portfolio while protecting the meaning people already love. 

They also explore how Hershey thinks about snacking moments across candy, salty snacks, and better-for-you options. Plus the role of experimentation when measurement tools don’t capture long-term brand value. And Stacy breaks down a standout example: the Reese’s x Oreo launch, built with a culture-first, fan-powered approach that outperformed traditional playbooks.

Key Takeaways

✅ Why brand stewardship requires restraint, and not constant reinvention

✅ How to design platform-first creative built for modern attention

✅ Using cross-functional operating models to turn insight into growth

✅ When to trust the data, and when to invest beyond what’s easy to measure

✅ Balancing nostalgia and innovation without diluting legacy brands

Memorable Moments

💡 “Restraint is harder than reinvention.”

💡 “In a world of sensory overload, people want something they can trust every time.”

💡 “We shifted from reach-first to resonance-first.”

💡 “Business is a matter of human service.”

Brought to you by Mekanism.

In this episode, Jason Harris sits down with Robin and Stephen Boehler, founders of Mercer Island Group and authors of It’s Not About You: Winning New Business in a Crowded Agency World, to unpack why most agencies lose new business before they even walk into the room—and what the winners do differently.

Key Takeaways:✅ Most clients can’t name agencies—your agency brand has to earn recognition✅ Strategy (not creative alone) is the biggest predictor of winning the business✅ “Prospect-friendly” means leading with the client’s business, not your credentials✅ Great Q&A is preparation (and skipping the gimmicks)

Memorable Moments:💡 “Clients can’t name any agencies 95% of the time.”💡 “Your agency acting like a brand is critically important.”💡 “Creative without strategy turns everything into subjective opinions.”💡 “Chemistry can disqualify you if it’s bad.”💡 “It’s not ‘which one’—it’s the why.”

Order a copy their book, It’s Not About You: Winning New Business in a Crowded Agency World on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Its-Not-About-You-Business/dp/1965629075

Brought to you by Mekanism.

Purpose can fuel performance—but only when brands truly understand who they serve.

In this episode, Jason Harris sits down with Carter’s CMO Sarah Crockett to explore how modern parenting is reshaping brand expectations—and what it takes to connect with one of the most values-driven and overwhelmed consumer groups today.

Sarah shares how her career has been guided by purpose, and how that belief is now shaping Carter’s approach to storytelling, value, and trust. Together, they unpack the cultural shifts defining millennial and Gen Z parents—from slowing down and letting kids be kids, to demanding authenticity, affordability, and emotional connection from the brands they invite into their families’ lives.

Key Takeaways:✅ Purpose creates stronger, more resilient brand connections✅ Modern parents value trust, authenticity, and emotional resonance✅ Slowing down can be a powerful cultural differentiator✅ Not every marketing investment should be measured the same way

Memorable Moments:💡 “Purpose can fuel performance.”💡 “Trust is the most important value when you’re building a relationship with a child.”💡 “Let kids be kids.”💡 “Beware the lollipop of mediocrity—lick it once and you’ll suck forever.”

Brought to you by Mekanism.

In this episode, Glassdoor CMO Eric Petitt joins Jason Harris to explore what it takes to build a resilient marketing career in an AI-shaped world. Drawing from more than two decades of experience across mission-driven companies like Mozilla and Glassdoor, Eric shares how marketers can stay adaptable, creative, and deeply human as the industry evolves.

They unpack why data should define problems—but not dictate solutions—how understanding how you think matters more than mastering every new platform, and why character, conviction, and taste are becoming the true differentiators in modern marketing. The conversation also examines how organizing teams around outcomes can unlock speed, clarity, and shared ownership—and what that shift means for developing the next generation of marketers.

Key Takeaways: ✅ Data defines problems—but gut shapes solutions ✅ Resilience comes from stretching skills without losing your core strength ✅ Character, taste, and conviction are marketing’s hardest skills ✅ Outcome-driven teams move faster and create clearer ownership

Memorable Moments:💡 “We use data to define problems—and our gut to shape solutions.”💡 “The soft skills are becoming the hard skills.”💡 “Curiosity is a choice—and it builds resilience.”💡 “Only boring people are bored.”

Brought to you by Mekanism.