From Disruption to Shelf: Building Brands That Stick w/ Dan Gladden

In this episode of Marketing People Love, I sit down with Nik Hall, founder, operator, and Amazon growth expert, to break down what actually drives success on Amazon in 2026. We get into the real math behind profitable brands, why most founders misprice their products, and how small decisions around pack size and positioning can completely change your trajectory. Nik also unpacks why Amazon is becoming increasingly pay-to-play, how AI is reshaping search and discovery, and what separates scalable brands from crowded, commoditized categories. He also shares the frameworks he uses to evaluate opportunities, avoid "bloodbath" categories, and help brands scale with more clarity and less guesswork. If you sell physical products or want to understand where ecommerce is heading next, this conversation will give you a sharper lens on what actually works.

In this special episode of Marketing People Love, I sit down with Sean Klitzner, the creative force behind billions of views and co-creator of Beast Games. Together, we unpack what it really takes to win attention in today's world, why great content isn't about short vs. long but about earning time, and how a "why not?" mindset leads to massive breakthroughs. From producing under extreme pressure to helping scale the MrBeast empire, Sean shares lessons on storytelling, obsession, and building content people actually care about. If you want to understand the future of marketing and attention, this episode is for you.

On this episode of Marketing People Love, Jacques Spitzer sits down with Risa Barash, founder of Fairy Tales Hair Care. What began as hand to hand sales in New York City salons grew into a tens of millions of dollars kids haircare brand trusted by families nationwide. Risa shares how she used her PR background to spark early growth, built a problem solution brand beyond lice prevention, and expanded into products for curls, tangles, and swim care based on real conversations with moms. She also opens up about losing a major acquisition deal the day COVID shut down the world, rebuilding after demand collapsed, and rediscovering her love for brand building. Now, she is stepping into a bold new chapter with fresh energy and a powerful campaign for 2026. This episode is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and what it truly takes to build a brand people love.

What if 5 to 10% of your marketing budget could create a moment so big it actually changes how people feel about your brand? In this episode of Marketing People Love, I sit down with Rabah Rahil, one of the most creative marketers I have ever worked with and the mind behind some of the most memorable moments in modern B2B and SaaS marketing. From helping Triple Whale raise $25M and creating the Whaley's Awards to launching Fermat's SaaS couture drops that took over the internet, Rabah shares how to design marketing people genuinely want to be part of. We talk about moonshot marketing and why small, intentional bets can drive outsized impact when your fundamentals are solid. Rabah breaks down what it really takes to build community through events and experiences, how high FOMO moments are engineered, and why the pre build up, the live experience, and the post event momentum all matter. We also get into why most brand merch fails, how Fermat flipped the script by creating products people actually wanted, and where art, science, and humanity intersect in great marketing. If you want to think bigger, take smarter risks, and create marketing people actually love, this episode will change how you see what is possible.

In this episode of Marketing People Love, Jacques sits down with Delamon Rego, a growth leader who helped scale DECKED more than 10X in just six years. Together, they revisit the strategic bets, channel sequencing and mindset shifts that took the brand from a small automotive upstart to a durable, nine-figure growth engine. Delamon shares the behind-the-scenes decisions that powered DECKED's explosive rise, including layering S-curve channels at exactly the right time, investing early in durable brand assets, running bold experiments, including the YouTube campaign that delivered 6x ROAS, and building world-class teams through relentless recruiting. He also breaks down why most brands stall out between $20M–$40M, and what it really takes to break through the plateau. Whether you're a founder, marketer, or operator aiming for your next major growth inflection, this conversation is packed with actionable and energizing insights. Get ready to rethink your channel mix, your mindset, and the bets you're willing to make.

What does dog poop have to do with brand growth? More than you think. On this episode of Marketing People Love, Jacques Spitzer sits down with Kyle Fredriksen of American Pet Nutrition, Supreme Source, to unpack how a small, family-owned pet brand took on billion-dollar competitors and won. Kyle shares the journey from corporate giants like P&G and General Mills to running a challenger brand with autonomy, creativity, and courage. From uncovering the "job to be done" for pet parents to taking a bold swing with unforgettable, slightly uncomfortable advertising, Kyle breaks down the strategy that drove four years of consistent growth, even while the category around them was flat or declining. You'll hear how insights about pet digestion, yes, poop, became the centerpiece of a growth strategy, why taking big creative risks is the secret weapon of challenger brands, and how a culture of trust and leadership allows small teams to move fast and make bold decisions. Kyle also draws lessons from baby brands like Pampers that translate perfectly to the pet aisle and explains why doubling down on what works beats chasing every new trend. This episode is packed with actionable marketing lessons for anyone looking to break through, connect emotionally with their audience, and make advertising people actually love.

Today, I bring on my mentee Tarun Kamath of Arcady Media to decode the truth about email and SMS retention, what works, what ruins your deliverability, and what most brands get wrong by default. From pop ups that actually convert to pre BFCM warm ups, customer preference centers, and why Q5 is a goldmine, this episode is a masterclass in relationship driven marketing. 

On this episode of Marketing People Love, I sat down with Blake Brown—marketing leader behind standout footwear brands like Kizik and Kuru—to explore what it really takes to make content that connects. From long-form ads like Nike's "Trial of Luka Doncic" to scrappy TikToks shot on an iPhone, Blake shares how emotion, authenticity, and iteration are the real differentiators in a world flooded with AI tools and goldfish-attention-span myths. We jam on storytelling, creative risk-taking, and why brands need to stop trying to be perfect—and just start being real. Another must-listen episode on Marketing People Love!

In this high-energy episode of Marketing People Love, Ben Perkins, founder of the performance dress shirt brand &Collar, unpacks what it really takes to build a brand people love. From collaborating with world-class creative agencies to launching bold, high-risk campaigns, Ben shares the mindset behind taking creative swings that move the needle—not just on the P&L, but in winning hearts. You'll hear stories of brand evolution, lessons learned the hard way, and why "safe" might be the riskiest move of all. If you're a marketer, founder, or creative who's ready to break out of your comfort zone, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in and get ready to swing for the fences.

In this episode of Marketing People Love, I spoke to Dan Gladden of Interact Brands to find out what brands need to be considering with their packaging at retail. From the evolution of Dr. Squatch's packaging to the retail transformation of Grüns, Dan unpacks how brands must go beyond packaging and campaigns to create a holistic, emotive presence. Learn why the mantra "challenge the category, not the consumer" is key to cutting through the noise—and how modular design systems and consumer rituals play a crucial role in long-term success. Whether you're launching, scaling, or reinventing a brand, this episode is packed with golden insights you won't want to miss.