Soul & Science: Fast Forward Your Marketing Mind

Soul & Science: Fast Forward Your Marketing Mind

Soul & Science is an award-winning podcast where marketing’s brightest minds reveal what it takes to build breakthrough brands. Hosted by Jason Harris, each episode explores the balance between brand building (Soul) and business performance (Science). From legacy brands to emerging disruptors, we delve into the insights, culture, and vision behind the most successful brand stories.Soul & Science is a Mekanism podcast produced by Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson, and Lily Jablonski. The show is edited by Daniel Ferreira, with theme music by Kyle Merritt.Brought to you by Mekanism.

Episodes

July 13, 2026 38 mins
EPISODE DESCRIPTION: How do you turn a great product into a brand people love? This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris is joined by Lauren Sherman, Chief Creative & Marketing Officer at Ruggable, for a conversation about brand transformation, understanding your consumer, and the marketing challenge of taking a business to the next level. After helping build startups like TaskRabbit and leading digital and retail at Nike...
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How do you make the trip to Cannes worth it? In the final Crashing Cannes minisode, Indie at Large co-founders Chuck McBride and Bill Oberlander turn the tables and interview co-hosts Jason and Lindsay Harris about the inspiration behind Soul & Science: Crashing Cannes, how Cannes has evolved beyond an awards show, and what gives them hope about the future of the industry. Brought to you by Mekanism.
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Why is now the moment for independent agencies? In this Crashing Cannes minisode in collaboration with Indie at Large, Jason and Lindsay Harris talk to Chuck McBride (Founder & CCO at Cutwater) and Bill Oberlander (Co-Founder & Creative Chair at Oberland) about why they started Indie at Large, why more creatives are launching independent agencies, and how building community among indies can help them compete on a global st...
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How can a client-agency relationship become a true creative partnership? Live from Cannes Lions in collaboration with Indie at Large, Jason and Lindsay Harris sit down with Carlo Cavallone (VP & Head of Global Creative at LEGO Agency) and Nils-Petter Lövgren (Co-Founder & CCO at Chaos x Magic) about what makes client-agency partnerships successful, why fresh perspectives matter, and how independent agencies earn trust. Br...
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Why is everyone going indie right now? In this Crashing Cannes minisode in collaboration with Indie at Large, Jason and Lindsay Harris are joined by Matt Miller (President & CEO at AICP) and Kevin Swanepoel (Co-Founder & CEO at The One Club for Creativity) to discuss why independent agencies punch above their weight, how AI is reshaping creative work, and why agencies that embrace change will be the ones that thrive. Brou...
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Most brands that think they’re driving culture are really just borrowing from it. In this Crashing Cannes minisode in collaboration with Indie at Large, Jason and Lindsay Harris talk to Kai Devereaux Lawson (co-founder & CEO at Valerie) and Dr. Charlene Thomas (SVP of Marketing at Def Jam Recordings) about the role of culture in modern marketing, how indies are able to move faster and better understand nuance, and what m...
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What gives independent agencies their edge? In collaboration with Indie at Large at Cannes Lion, Jason and Lindsay Harris sit down with Tom Morrissy (Chief Growth Officer at Noble People) and Matt Weiss (founder at SoulPurpose Advisory) to discuss what independent agencies can do that holding company-owned agencies can’t, why saying "no" is a growth strategy, and why solving problems is more important than selling services. ...
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Who isn't your brand reaching? In this minisode from Cannes Lions, Jason and Lindsay Harris are joined by SeeMe Index CEO and co-founder Asha Shivaji to discuss how her company uses AI to help brands identify overlooked audiences, how inclusion and representation can help brands grow, and why she took a leap of faith and started her own company. Brought to you by Mekanism.
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The smallest consumer insight can lead to a breakthrough campaign. Live from Cannes Lion, Jason and Lindsay Harris speak with Match Group Head of Media Vicki Shapiro about turning user insights into brand collaborations, how dating apps are adapting to changes in dating habits, and why staying curious is the best way to stay relevant. Brought to you by Mekanism.
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“Overnight success” is usually years in the making. In this minisode live from Cannes Lion, Jason and Lindsay Harris are joined by Breaking & Entering founders Jack Westerkamp and Geno Schellenberger to discuss building a media company from scratch, how they got their live show up and running, and their interest in the people behind the ads. Brought to you by Mekanism.
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Want a reporter’s attention? Don’t start with a pitch—start with a conversation. Live from Cannes Lions, Jason and Lindsay Harris talk to Ad Age Senior Reporter Brian Bonilla about the biggest stories from Cannes, best practices for approaching journalists, and why a little discomfort is essential to achieving your full potential. Brought to you by Mekanism.
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Can marketing actually make a difference? In this Crashing Cannes minisode, Jason and Lindsay Harris catch up with Ad Council Chief Campaign and Program Officer Heidi Arthur about ideas that change behavior, why the messenger is just as important as the message, and how her optimistic outlook has guided her work through global crises and major cultural shifts. Brought to you by Mekanism.
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Great marketing doesn’t just capture your attention—it makes you want to do something. In this minisode from Cannes Lions, Jason and Lindsay Harris are joined by Sophie Kelly, SVP of Global Tequila and Mezcal at Diageo, to discuss the ideas that move people to action, the importance of taking risks in marketing, and her biggest takeaways from judging Cannes this year. Brought to you by Mekanism.
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Fandoms aren’t target audiences—they’re dynamic cultural communities. In the third installment of “Crashing Cannes,” recorded live from Cannes Lions, Jason and Lindsay Harris talk to Kay Hsu, Head of Global Creative Lab at Spotify, about understanding your audience, building experiences fans actually value, and how following her mom’s advice to “burn the bridge” has kept her constant...
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Cannes isn't just about parties and awards—it’s about the people. In this minisode recorded live from Cannes Lions, Jason and Lindsay Harris chat with Advertising Week Global President Ruth Mortimer about ideas that make an impact, the real value of networking, and the leadership philosophy she brings back from Cannes every year. Brought to you by Mekanism.
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Jenny Rooney has been coming to Cannes for 13 years, but she’s never seen it this intense. In this minisode live from Cannes Lions, Jason and Lindsay Harris catch up with Adweek Chief Brand and Community Officer Jenny Rooney to discuss the power of community building, the distinction between advertising and marketing, and the “work hard, play hard” ethos that has guided her since college. Brought to you by Mekan...
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How do you build customer loyalty when switching brands is easier than ever? This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris talks to Wendy Bergh, CMO of Rakuten Rewards, about the changing nature of customer loyalty and why today's marketing leaders need to think beyond campaigns and creative. With experience spanning marketing, operations, and merchandising at brands like Zoom and Walmart, Wendy brings a uniquely cross-functional ...
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How does a brand stay relevant for generations? In this special episode of Soul & Science recorded live at White Castle headquarters, Jason Harris sits down with White Castle CMO Jamie Richardson, Tripadvisor Head of Media Kristin Tormey, and Lands' End CMO Sarah Sylvester for a conversation about modernizing legacy brands without losing what you stand for. The panelists share how White Castle, Tripadvisor, and Lands’ E...
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Has marketing become too personalized? This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Klarna CMO David Sandstrom to discuss how one of the world’s fastest-growing fintech brands maintains a consistent narrative across a wide range of industries and audiences. With a background in consumer insights, agency leadership, and nearly a decade leading marketing at Klarna, David brings a nuanced understanding of consum...
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How does a brand stay culturally relevant across 200 countries? This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris talks to Rustom Dastoor, EVP and Head of Marketing & Communications at Mastercard, about building a brand that resonates across cultures, markets, and generations. Born and raised in India amid the country’s surge towards consumerism, Rustom has lived and worked across four continents and brings a uniquely intern...
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