From Startup to Wunderbrand

From scripting space villains for Bruce Campbell to brand therapy for spiritual entrepreneurs, Hersh Rephun has had a wildly unconventional journey. In this punchy and thoughtful episode, Nicholas Kuhne sits down with the “holistic brand therapist” to explore how comedy, personal trauma, and truth-telling fuel the most powerful personal brands. If you're a founder, creative, or consultant who wants to be taken seriously without selling your soul, this episode hits hard in all the right ways. Connect with me on: All my links [https://beacons.ai/nicholas_kuhne] Become a guest [https://www.joinpodmatch.com/nickkuhne] Sign up for Riverside [https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=nicholas-kuhne] Get Descript [https://get.descript.com/mrzy10nwivuq]   #DigitalMarketing #Branding #PersonalBranding #MarketingInsights #SocialMediaStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mariana has filmed for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, and spent five years as a senior producer at NBC. Today, she helps entrepreneurs build trust faster and accelerate sales with emotion-driven "brand videos" – not “branded” ads, but authentic stories that connect. We dive into her journey from global documentaries to digital marketing, the difference between passion and overcome stories, and why a single brand video is a "forever asset" that transforms cold audiences into believers. Mariana also shares her framework for storytelling that moves people, plus affordable ways founders can start today. If you want to pass the “instant trust test” and stop blending in, this episode is your guide. Find Mariana here: * Website: https://brandmagnetic.com [https://brandmagnetic.com] * Instagram: https://instagram.com/brandmagnetic [https://instagram.com/brandmagnetic] * Cheat Sheet: https://brandmagnetic.com/cheatsheet [https://brandmagnetic.com/cheatsheet] * Podcast: Empire Secrets of Digital Marketing ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Meet Mariana Henninger: Emmy winner & brand video strategist 01:00 – From documentaries to entrepreneurship: the leap from NBC 03:00 – Why personal storytelling beats features & funnels 05:00 – The right (and wrong) reasons to start a business 09:00 – Brand videos vs documentaries: finding your angle 11:00 – Everyone has a story: passion vs overcome frameworks 15:00 – Why brand videos aren’t ads (and how they build trust) 16:30 – Where a brand video fits in the customer journey 18:30 – 30 ways to use your brand video across platforms 19:30 – The Brand Video Accelerator & resources for beginners 21:00 – Empire Secrets podcast & final thoughts Connect with me on: All my links [https://beacons.ai/nicholas_kuhne] Become a guest [https://www.joinpodmatch.com/nickkuhne] Sign up for Riverside [https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=nicholas-kuhne] Get Descript [https://get.descript.com/mrzy10nwivuq]   #DigitalMarketing #Branding #PersonalBranding #MarketingInsights #SocialMediaStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Nicholas talks with PR strategist and Forbes thought leader Liana Zavo about building trust through third‑party validation, the role of video in modern PR, why press releases aren’t a PR strategy, and how to repurpose earned media into months of content. We also cover her 21‑Day Personal Branding Challenge and Media Bootcamp. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:00 Liana’s origin story 04:05 Going global & U.S. credibility 05:20 PR vs ads for trust 09:00 Social + AI changed PR 11:00 Press releases vs PR 13:10 The “Pink Book” 15:00 Practicing what you preach 16:30 21‑Day Challenge & Bootcamp Find out more rom Liana: https://zavomediapr.com/ [https://zavomediapr.com/] Connect with me on: All my links [https://beacons.ai/nicholas_kuhne] Become a guest [https://www.joinpodmatch.com/nickkuhne] Sign up for Riverside [https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=nicholas-kuhne] Get Descript [https://get.descript.com/mrzy10nwivuq]   #DigitalMarketing #Branding #PersonalBranding #MarketingInsights #SocialMediaStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Robin Waite is the go-to coach for freelancers and service pros ready to ditch burnout and start scaling smarter. Founder of Fearless Business, Robin has coached over 1,000 clients globally from his base in Gloucestershire, UK. With clients in 26+ countries and appearances for brands like Google and Microsoft, he's all about pricing smart, positioning right, and getting paid what you're worth. Oh, and he's also a Guinness World Record holder and an ocean-cleaning charity partner. What’s in this episode? This one’s for the freelancers and founders who feel like they’re screaming into the void of social media. Robin breaks down "why shouting “Buy my stuff!” on every platform doesn’t work" – and what actually does. We dive into his fearless framework from the book Take Your Shot, including how to stop undercharging, get laser-focused on your niche, and take your business from frantic to flourishing. Nicholas and Robin go deep into: * Why niching isn’t boring – it’s profitable. * The 3-part framework for finding and reaching the right audience. * Why hourly pricing is broken (and kind of unethical). * And the surprising connection between identity and consistent lead flow. You’ll walk away with: Real, practical strategies to simplify your marketing, raise your prices with confidence, and stop wasting time on strategies that don’t convert. 🎯 Whether you're new to business or stuck in the feast-and-famine trap, this episode gives you the mindset and tactics to finally grow on your terms. 🎧 Listen, learn, and stop leaving money on the table. Robin Waite’s links: 📕 Take Your Shot – Get a signed copy: https://fearless.biz/tys [https://fearless.biz/tys] 🌍 Website: https://fearless.biz [https://fearless.biz] 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RobinWaite [https://www.youtube.com/@RobinWaite] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robinmwaite/ [https://www.instagram.com/robinmwaite/] 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinwaite/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinwaite/] ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS & TOPICS 00:00 – Introduction to Robin Waite and Fearless Business 02:15 – Is it possible to coach globally from a small UK village? 03:45 – The 3 market shifts that changed online business forever 05:30 – Why most people are doing content marketing wrong 06:30 – The real reason your marketing isn't working 07:00 – Demographics, psychographics, and identity: a niche deep dive 10:45 – How Robin built a brand around fearlessness 12:15 – Why most “marketing experts” miss the point 13:45 – Why your audience needs you to lead them 15:20 – Frank Kern and the missing link in small business 16:30 – Breaking down value-based pricing vs. hourly rates 20:00 – Real-world website pricing examples that prove the point 24:10 – Why niching isn't boring (and how to find joy in mastery) 25:30 – Applying pricing models to service businesses (like dog grooming) 28:00 – Why you need to know your numbers (and most people don’t) 29:00 – Where to get Robin’s book and connect Connect with me on: All my links [https://beacons.ai/nicholas_kuhne] Become a guest [https://www.joinpodmatch.com/nickkuhne] Sign up for Riverside [https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=nicholas-kuhne] Get Descript [https://get.descript.com/mrzy10nwivuq]   #DigitalMarketing #Branding #PersonalBranding #MarketingInsights #SocialMediaStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode, Marta breaks down how to build a personal brand before trying to sell one, the future of experience design, and why premium brands need to rethink loyalty and engagement. From luxury hotels to Gen Z expectations, this is a masterclass in innovation at the edge. 💥 Whether you're a founder, strategist, or someone who simply wants to make work that matters — this one’s for you. 🔗 Marta's links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-czaja-mc0502/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/marta-czaja-mc0502/] ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction and Marta’s global background 02:00 – Building your personal brand in innovation 04:50 – Why lived experience matters more than just theory 07:00 – Experience design vs customer journey 09:15 – Innovating within premium and luxury brands 12:40 – How to pitch bold ideas to traditional leadership 14:10 – A dream client Marta would love to help 16:00 – Missed opportunities in hotel loyalty and storytelling 18:00 – The value of an art school mindset in strategy 21:00 – Creativity, AI, and the future of ideas 22:00 – Where to find Marta online Connect with me on: All my links [https://beacons.ai/nicholas_kuhne] Become a guest [https://www.joinpodmatch.com/nickkuhne] Sign up for Riverside [https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=nicholas-kuhne] Get Descript [https://get.descript.com/mrzy10nwivuq]   #DigitalMarketing #Branding #PersonalBranding #MarketingInsights #SocialMediaStrategy Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com [https://pcm.adswizz.com] for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.