Brand Groupies

Launched in 2018 by Brand Groupies Founder & CEO Carey Balogh, this podcast shines a spotlight on the ultimate insiders - the brand groupies - powering the ever-evolving built world. Each episode dives into the stories, passion, and creativity driving national leaders in architecture, design, real estate, and beyond.As a women-owned strategic communications agency, we've spotlighted visionary executives for over a decade, leveraging Social Media, Public Relations, and Podcasting as an interconnected ecosystem to build brand visibility and drive business growth. We make our clients impossible to ignore. www.brandgroupies.com

Brand Groupies is a business podcast hosted by Carey Balogh, with 79 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Carey Balogh hosts Brand Groupies, a business show with 79 episodes published.

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  Episode #78

  #78 Gregory Maher and Joanna Maher of Look North

  Oct 1, 202644 min

  In this episode of the Brand Groupies Podcast, Carey sit down with Gregory Maher and Joanna Maher of Look North to talk about their journey as entrepreneurs, the experiences that shaped their approach to business, and what they’ve learned from building a company side by side. Greg and Joanna share their perspectives on partnership, growth, leadership, and the importance of staying true to who you are as a business evolves. Tune in for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship and collaboration. https://looknorthinc.com/about-us Episode highlights: (2:42) What Look North does and how the agency helps brands communicate clearly (3:31) The biggest shifts in digital, from early websites to mobile, social media, SEO, and AI (7:22) How publishing, fashion, photography, and UX shaped Joanna’s design approach (13:19) How Look North has stayed relevant and evolved since 2003 (16:01) What strong and lasting brands consistently get right (17:03) Career advice for students and recent graduates entering creative and digital fields (20:38) How AI is changing design, development, content, and creative workflows (23:08) Why strategy and a trusted process should guide every project (29:35) Look North’s approach to websites, B2B clients, and user-centered digital experiences (39:06) How to be the ultimate “Brand Groupie” and build lasting client relationships

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  Episode #77

  #77 Alexander Stein of M18 Public Relations, an Orchestra Company

  Aug 20, 202643 min

  Alexander Stein is the Head of Social Media at M18 Public Relations, an Orchestra Company. He joins Carey to share his journey from live music photography to leading social strategy for high-profile clients. Alex discusses cutting through the noise by balancing visual storytelling with performance metrics, the role of influencer trends, and the importance of cohesive strategy and clear client communication. He also highlights the value of continuous learning in an ever-evolving social media landscape. www.m18pr.com and www.alexstein.co Episode highlights: (2:46) How photography and social media came together in Alex’s career (6:21) The viral M.I.A. photo that helped launch his photography career (8:58) What it takes to cut through the noise on social media (11:09) Creating beautiful content that also performs (14:59) Common social media mistakes brands make (17:07) Building a strong hospitality brand through social media (21:01) How PR and social media should work together (26:55) The ideal social media team structure (31:55) Finding creative inspiration outside your industry (34:54) What’s next for Alex and his growing content team (38:19) Alex’s top advice for becoming the ultimate Brand Groupie (41:15) Where to connect with Alex Stein

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  Episode #76

  #76 Ashley Richards of E Squared Marketing

  Jul 21, 202621 min

  Ashley Richards is the founder of E Squared Marketing, delivering bold, creative digital strategies that drive impact. In this episode, Ashley shares with Carey how she built a bold, full-service digital marketing agency focused on storytelling, authenticity, and measurable results. With over 20 years of experience working with Fortune 500 companies and national brands, she explains the importance of defining a clear target audience and creating concise, attention-grabbing content in today’s digital world. Tune in for insights on building a strong internal team culture, integrating AI strategically, and staying true to your brand’s core identity. Episode highlights: (3:13) Becoming a marketing “spark plug” (4:22) eSquared Marketing’s digital services (5:33) The stoplight rule for clear messaging (7:24) What small businesses can learn from major brands (9:36) Staying creative in a fast-moving industry (10:29) Why brands must stay true to themselves (12:48) Building and structuring a strong agency team (14:49) The out-of-office buddy system (15:46) The “Santa’s Coming” campaign story (18:04) Business growth through Entrepreneurs’ Organization (19:44) AI, bold content, and the future of eSquared Marketing

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  Episode #75

  #75 Hurst Williamson of SW&A

  Jun 23, 202625 min

  Hurst Williamson, Storyteller-in-Residence at Sally Williamson & Associates, believes storytelling is a powerful leadership tool for building influence, authenticity, and connection in the workplace. In this episode, he explains that effective communication centers on the audience and combines structure with emotional resonance to deliver impactful messages. Working with Fortune 500 leaders, he highlights common communication pitfalls - such as pushing information rather than engaging audiences - and emphasizes that authentic storytelling helps leaders navigate change and build trust across organizations. https://sallywilliamson.com/ Episode highlights: (1:01) Meet Hurst Williamson and SW&A (2:29) What “Storytelling in Residence” means (5:33) How to build a strong story (7:26) Writing Disrupted and career reinvention (12:00) Storytelling during workplace change (15:06) Common communication mistakes leaders make (17:57) Strengthening your personal brand (20:49) Public speaking tips for leaders (22:36) What’s next for Hurst and SW&A

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  Episode #74

  #74 Nikita Morell of DIRT and Nikita Morell

  May 19, 202624 min

  Nikita Morell is a messaging strategist specializing in architecture and the founder of DIRT Agency. In this episode, Nikita shares her journey from corporate marketing to a messaging architect... for architects. She discusses building her agency and the importance of research, client interviews, and consistent branding. Nikita also explores how to adapt messaging across markets while maintaining a cohesive voice, and draws on insights as a Co-Founder of ArchCon. Tune in for creative, practical takeaways! www.thedirtagency.com and www.nikitamorell.com/newsletter Episode highlights: (2:35) Nikita’s path from marketing to architecture copywriting (4:14) Why she started her own agency (7:01) The launch and purpose of DIRT (9:15) Turning technical ideas into human messaging (10:28) The biggest messaging mistake architects make (13:39) Creating ArchiCon for business-minded architects (15:48) Lessons learned from building a brand (16:34) Staying consistent on LinkedIn (19:03) Finding ideas outside the architecture industry (22:16) How to be the ultimate Brand Groupie

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