What actually makes someone good at building things people love?

In this BU Live conversation, publishing veteran Marji Ross and master blender Brandon McCraney break down one of the most overlooked business skills: taste.

From bestselling books to handcrafted whiskey, the discussion explores whether intuition is something you’re born with or something you build through reps, feedback, and real-world exposure. Hosted by Josh Pies, this episode dives into how audience understanding, gut instinct, and iteration shape every successful brand.

Key Topics

✅ Can intuition be learned or trained?

✅ The role of feedback loops in business growth

✅ Creative leadership in publishing and distilling

🎙 Guests:

👉Brandon McCraney, Founder of Master Blender at Olde Raleigh Distillery https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonmccraney/

👉Marji Ross, Principal at Marji Ross Consulting LLC

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marji-ross-5065913/

00:00 Introduction to BU Live and Hosts

02:59 Masters of Taste: Understanding Audience Preferences

07:48 The Feedback Loop: Learning from Audience Reactions

10:38 Gut Instincts: The Evolution of Intuition in Business

16:29 Navigating Controversy: Provocative Content in Publishing

18:17 Experimentation in Craft: The Thousand Blends Project

22:00 The Importance of Consumer Focus

23:05 Trusting Yourself: A Journey

27:52 Taking the Leap: Starting Your Own Business

30:11 Navigating Challenges During COVID-19

32:18 Recommendations: Books and Beverages

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with another entrepreneur or business leader who believes relationships still matter. Like, subscribe, and join the conversation in the comments. What’s one business relationship that changed your life?

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