When Bose discontinued its cult-favorite Sleepbuds in 2020, a passionate cohort of users was left in the lurch. For many, these earplug/headphone hybrid weren't a gadget—they were a nightly lifeline. Charlie Taylor, Co-Founder of Ozlo shares why he left Bose to co-found Ozlo, and how they quickly gained key relationships, and found immediate traction growing a new Sleep ecosystem.

Taylor explains why focus matters, how saying "no" to big opportunities leads to more revenue, and how they immediately found acceptance amongst major media despite having no relationships or company history.

https://justinkbrady.com/charlie-taylor

Journalists and writers are leaving major publications for Substack. Shoud brands follow? Helen Tobin discuss Substack's Unicorn rise, how brands can use the platform to reach new audiences and what not to do.

Starting out as a monetizeable newsletter platform, the company has added video, podcasting and feed-style social media. What are effective brands doing on the platform? How do they protect users from Ai slop? Will they license user content on LLMs?

Find the video at https://justinbradyshow.com

Chapters:
01:09 - Have DTC platforms like Substack killed media?
04:35 - A brief message from me on podcasting
05:25 - Tobin's strategy of amplifying writers, not execs
07:50 - Can brands use Substack or just citizen journalists?
10:50 - Best practices for Substack. Tailor to audience.
14:17 - What if you don't want to monetize?
16:24 - With new features, is there risk of going to broad?
18:19 - With user growth, does individual user reach decrease?
25:10 - Brand and marcom best practices for Substack
30:17 - Plans on combatting AI slop
32:35 - Will Substack license written content to LLMs?

Andrew Zimmern didn't stumble into media success—he sprinted toward it with intentional risk, relentless work, and zero entitlement. In this episode, the chef-turned-storyteller breaks down how he went from unpaid internships to national stardom by "running at" opportunities when clarity struck. He shares why brands fail at content (they're afraid to tell stories), the real skill behind great interviewing (deep listening), and how to spot the moment when a conversation can turn meaningful—then push. "If the road is flat," he says, "go deep."

Zimmern reveals how he prepares for interviews with everyday people who have no public bios, why he sometimes splits families apart mid-shoot to extract honest stories, and the subtle tactics that turn small talk into substance. From mastering local live news with no script or lighting, to using food as a cultural Trojan horse, Zimmern offers a clinic on authenticity, narrative craft, and creating emotional connection—skills every marketer and founder should be learning right now.

Video releases soon here: https://justinkbrady.com/Andrew-Zimmern