Category Archives: Popular Culture

Making Fear a Non-Factor

Posted on June 6, 2017 by

FEAR ONLY EXISTS IF YOU LET IT. Ask the man who casually fled the London Bridge terror attack with pint in hand. Ask the Borough Market restaurant patron who returned the next day to pay his bill and tip the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Affairs, Popular Culture, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

A Japanese Music Lesson in Brand Storytelling, No Translation Needed

Posted on April 22, 2014 by

THE BEST STORIES don’t need to speak to us in order to speak to us.  Language can be a barrier. We hear the words and instantly create perceptions that may or may not be intended. Words can deceive. That’s why … Continue reading →

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Engagement vs. Enragement: Michael Sam, Richie Incognito, and the Two Sides of Social Media

Posted on February 15, 2014 by

WHEN MISSOURI FOOTBALL PLAYER Michael Sam revealed he was gay, it was a landmark moment not just for professional sports but also for the power of social media. Within seconds of Sam’s New York Times story and interview on ESPN, … Continue reading →

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Breaking the Story Code: Why the Brand Storytelling Hero’s Journey Matters

Posted on February 3, 2014 by

“The world is shaped by two things – stories told and the memories they leave behind.” – Vera Nazarian, author STORIES ARE PATTERNS. Understanding these patterns, these codes hidden in plain sight, is the key to telling stories in a world … Continue reading →

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“Transformation” – Step Four of the Brand Storytelling Hero’s Journey

Posted on January 28, 2014 by

“The only thing that is constant is change.” – Heraclitus, Greek philosopher  OUR ABILITY TO CHANGE defines us. Star Wars worked because Luke Skywalker became something greater than even he believed was possible, because Han Solo went from heartless smuggler … Continue reading →

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“Twist of Fate” – Step Three of the Brand Storytelling Hero’s Journey

Posted on January 24, 2014 by

YOU HAVE CANCER. You go through treatment, get very sick and then, slowly but surely, you get better. The most advanced medical technology available saved your life – but then you drop dead at a backyard party because no one … Continue reading →

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“Universal Truth” — Step One of the Brand Storytelling Hero’s Journey

Posted on January 13, 2014 by

IN MY FIRST POST, I briefly described the Brand Storytelling Hero’s Journey, a new model based on the original Hero’s Journey developed by Joseph Campbell. It’s a pattern rooted in mythology which has stood the test of time – and … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular Culture, PR & Marketing | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment