In this episode of Thursday Lunch, Dan Howell and Stephanie Robbins explore how successful teams don’t need fancy tools, they need to be clear about the processes that create alignment and accountability. Using the “poor man’s PLM” and the parable of the Blind Men and the Elephant, they show how the Four Cs, Constraint, Communication, Consensus, and Collaboration, work to focus fundamentals that build alignment toward shared progress.

For those who are not familiar, PLM stands for Product Lifecycle Management.

Exploring the parable of The Blind Men and The Elephant, Dan and Stephanie explore how different perspectives inside organizations shape decision-making, conflict, and progress. They unpack why understanding fundamentals, listening before persuading, and applying the Four Cs (Constraint, Communication, Consensus, and Collaboration) helps teams move from fragmented viewpoints to shared clarity and stronger outcomes.

The cover art for this episode was created by Jono Hey, Sketchplanations

In this episode of Thursday Lunch, Dan Howell and Stephanie Robbins explore why constraints aren’t creative limitations but powerful tools for focus, clarity, and better decision-making. Through real-world product stories, brand examples, and lessons learned the hard way, they show how understanding hard and soft constraints leads to stronger products, faster alignment, and greater brand integrity.

This episode explores emotional resonance in food and branding. Stephanie and Dan discuss why what we love to eat is often shaped by memory, culture, and context. Through stories ranging from Kraft mac and cheese to McDonald’s, Dan and Stephanie unpack why “authentic” is a limiting idea, and why resonance, integrity, and shared meaning matter more when creating brands that truly connect.

In this episode, Dan and Stephanie explore a product failure that revealed a core truth of building great brands: a strong concept is nothing without aligned execution. They break down how ignoring constraints, skipping collaboration, and bypassing consensus can derail even the most promising ideas, and how leveraging the power of the Four C’s can prevent it.

In this episode, Stephanie and Dan share the surprising origin story of their hit product, Cranberry Jalapeño and how casual conversations and early collaboration turned a quirky idea into a breakout success. They also look at the “one step away” rule and discuss how to keep the customer out of the Freak Out Zone. It’s a quick look at how great products are sparked long before the brief is written.

What happens when a marketer and a product developer turn a weekly lunch into a blueprint for building great brands? In this inaugural episode of Thursday Lunch, co-hosts Dan Howell and Stephanie Robbins share the story behind their seven-year tradition that inspired a powerful framework for creative collaboration and measurable results.

They introduce The Four Cs: Constraint, Communication, Consensus, and Collaboration. And they explore how these principles drive innovation, strengthen brand integrity, and turn ideas into impact. Through real-world examples like Oreo’s product evolution and the cautionary tale of chocolate Skittles, Dan and Stephanie unpack what it really takes to create products that make intuitive sense to both teams and consumers.

Smart, candid, and a little irreverent, this is where the mechanisms meet the magic of brand building.