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Soul & Science: Fast Forward Your Marketing Mind

Soul & Science: Fast Forward Your Marketing Mind

By: Mekanism and Jason Harris
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About this listen

 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.2025 Mekanism Art Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • #119: Ziggy Marley | Changing the World’s Frequency

    #119: Ziggy Marley | Changing the World’s Frequency
    Apr 13 2026
    What does it mean to create something that people don’t just hear, but feel? This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Ziggy Marley, the eight-time Grammy Award winning musician, philanthropist, and entrepreneur, for a conversation about identity, creativity, and his upcoming album, Brightside. Born into one music’s most iconic legacies, Ziggy shares how he’s found his own voice by learning from his parents, being authentic to himself, and always searching for more. In their conversation, Ziggy tells Jason about his lifelong search for music that “speaks to angels” and how the recording frequency of his new album (432 Hz instead of 440 Hz) changes how people hear it — and how it makes them feel. He also explains why he sees love as a powerful armor that protects and grounds everything he does, from writing songs to putting them out into the world. For him, marketing his music isn’t about selling something: It’s about creating something honest and trusting that people will feel the vibe. ✅ Stay true to what you feel ✅ Sound and frequency can shape emotion ✅ Love as both guide and protection ✅ Make something real, not something to sell ✅ Creativity has the power to heal 💡 “We’re trying to heal people through sound.” 💡 “Love is a very powerful armor.” 💡 “The whole planet needs a change of frequency.” 💡 “I need to find this music that speaks to angels.” 💡 “Love is my religion.” Key TakeawaysMemorable MomentsBrought to you by Mekanism.
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    39 mins
  • #118: Turning Mystery Into Momentum | Ben Whitla, Head of Brand & Marketing at Slate Auto

    #118: Turning Mystery Into Momentum | Ben Whitla, Head of Brand & Marketing at Slate Auto
    Apr 6 2026
    Big brand breakthroughs don’t come from playing it safe. This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Ben Whitla, Head of Brand and Marketing at Slate Auto, to explore how bold creativity and disciplined measurement come together to build something truly different. From his beginning as a self-taught graphic designer, to helping companies like Great Big Story and launching an EV brand, Ben shares how he’s learned to trust his instinct but not lose sight of his results. In their conversation, Ben breaks down how Slate Auto carved out its own space in a crowded automotive market with a radically simple, customizable vehicle and an unconventional launch. He also explains why building the right team is the foundation of great marketing, how brands can scale without losing their edge, and why the best marketers operate on “gut with guardrails”—taking risks, then measuring everything that follows. ✅ Why great marketing starts with people, not just ideas ✅ Do things that make you uncomfortable ✅ The smartest marketers engineer buzz instead of hoping for it ✅ Why brand and performance marketing must work hand in hand ✅ How simplicity can become a powerful competitive advantage 💡 “You’ve gotta try some stuff that’s pure gut, but if you don’t learn from it…afterwards, then it wasn’t worth it.” 💡 “Before you make a single creative decision, nothing matters more than the people.” 💡 “The internet loves to solve a mystery, and they figured it out. They figured out that that weird everyday changing vehicle on the curb was slate.” 💡 “How do we break every rule? How do we do something that any other auto brand would say…That's unacceptable.” Brought to you by Mekanism. Key TakeawaysMemorable Moments
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    38 mins
  • #117: Dave’s Hot Chicken CMO Brandon Rhoten | The Science Behind Viral Marketing

    #117: Dave’s Hot Chicken CMO Brandon Rhoten | The Science Behind Viral Marketing
    Mar 23 2026
    Big marketing moments rarely happen by accident. This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Brandon Rhoten, Chief Marketing Officer at Dave’s Hot Chicken, to discuss the discipline behind breakthrough marketing. Known for shaping the iconic digital voice of Wendy’s and leading brand turnarounds at Papa John’s and Potbelly, Brandon shares how he blends creativity with rigorous analysis to drive real business results. In their conversation, Brandon shares how Dave’s Hot Chicken built a cult following by letting its fans define the brand — not by chasing trends. He also explains why value is just as important as brand in today’s quick-service restaurant industry, why research and experimentation are key to developing campaigns that actually work, and why the best CMOs are the ones that do their homework. ✅ Why the best marketing ideas are built on research ✅ How viral moments should support long-term growth, not replace it ✅ Balancing marketing and brand identity with real value ✅ How customers can shape a brand from the outside in ✅ Why CMOs should treat marketing like a scientific experiment 💡 “If it was just doing the TikTok dance, everyone would do the TikTok dance.” 💡 “I believe in finding a decade of growth in a brand.” 💡 “You don’t say you’re funny — you tell a joke.” 💡 “The big ideas come out of the blocking and tackling.” 💡 “Do your homework.” Brought to you by Mekanism. Key TakeawaysMemorable Moments
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    39 mins
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