Brandidly Speaking

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon sits down with renowned rhinoplasty surgeon Dr. Deepak Dugar, creator of the groundbreaking Scarless Nose ®️ Technique.

Dr. Dugar shares how narrowing his focus to rhinoplasty helped him build one of the most recognizable personal brands in plastic surgery. From creating an exceptional patient experience to leveraging social media to educate, build trust, and attract the right audience, he breaks down the strategies that have fueled his growth and reputation.

Whether you're a doctor, entrepreneur, or business leader, this conversation is packed with actionable insights on positioning, differentiation, and building a brand people actively seek out.

Tune in for a masterclass on reputation, authority, and brand-building from one of the most recognized names in his field.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon sits down with Ani Hadjinian, co-founder of POV Beauty, to discuss what it really takes to build a beauty brand in today's creator-led landscape.

Drawing on her experience in luxury beauty and her partnership with beauty creator Mikayla Nogueira, Ani shares how the traditional beauty industry differs from the creator economy, why brands can no longer ignore community feedback, and what she's learned from building a business with someone she barely knew before becoming co-founders.

From brand building and product development to influencer marketing and entrepreneurship, Ani offers an inside look at how POV Beauty is transforming audience trust into brand success. Whether you're a beauty enthusiast, founder, marketer, or aspiring entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with insights on creating a brand that resonates in the modern beauty industry.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

How do you build a beauty brand that wins an Allure Best of Beauty Award 17 years in a row, sells a Beautyblender every 17 minutes, and scales globally without outside funding?

On this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon sits down with Rea Ann Silva, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Beautyblender, to uncover the business strategy, resilience, and mindset behind one of the most iconic brands in the beauty industry.

Rea Ann shares how she transformed a simple idea into a category-defining product, navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship, and built a multi-million-dollar beauty business while bootstrapping every step of the journey. From innovation and brand building to leadership and perseverance, her insights offer a masterclass for founders, entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to turn an idea into a lasting brand.

If you're interested in entrepreneurship, beauty industry marketing, founder mindset, personal branding, business growth, and scaling a consumer brand, this conversation is packed with actionable lessons you won't want to miss.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

What does it take to grow as a creator while staying authentic online?

In this episode, Sebas and Espe, the couple behind Two Trends, share the reality of building a platform together in today's creator landscape. From creating content as partners to navigating brand deals, audience growth, and staying true to their values, they offer an inside look at what goes on behind the scenes of a successful influencer brand.

Whether you're an aspiring creator, full-time influencer, or building your personal brand, you'll learn how authenticity, consistency, and a clear sense of purpose can help you attract the right audience and opportunities without compromising who you are.

Tune in for an honest conversation about content creation, creator partnerships, AI, brand collaborations, and what it really takes to build a community that trusts you.

New podcast episodes drop every other Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

What happens when a beauty industry executive leaves New York City for Jackson Hole and realizes none of her skincare products can withstand the harsh mountain climate?

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon sits down with Alpyn Beauty founder Kendra Kolb Butler to discuss how a personal skincare problem turned into one of the beauty industry's most innovative brands. After relocating to Wyoming, Kendra discovered that traditional skincare wasn't delivering the results she needed in the region's extreme environment. Instead of settling, she set out to create something better.

Kendra shares how Alpyn Beauty pioneered the use of wild-crafted alpine botanicals, how she works with local experts to source ingredients native to the mountains surrounding Jackson Hole, and how she transformed a niche idea into a nationally recognized skincare brand.

They also discuss scaling a product-based business, maintaining a strong brand identity through growth, navigating the manufacturing process, and what it really takes to take a skincare concept from an idea to clinically tested products on retail shelves.

Whether you're obsessed with skincare, curious about ingredient innovation, or dreaming of launching your own beauty brand, this episode offers an inside look at building an industry-disrupting brand from the ground up.

New podcast episodes drop every other Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Chillhouse founder and CEO, Cyndi Ramirez, shares her journey from opening a spa in New York City to building a nationally recognized nail care brand. Cyndi discusses the creation of Chill Tips, scaling through retail partnerships, raising capital, navigating an acquisition, leading with intuition, and building a legacy brand in today's beauty industry.

This episode covers entrepreneurship, brand building, retail growth, founder-led marketing, beauty industry trends, leadership, and the realities of scaling a modern consumer brand.

New podcast episodes drop every other Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

On this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon takes the mic for a solo deep dive into one of social media's hottest emerging brands: Good Girl Snacks and their viral Hot Girl Pickles. If you've spent any time on Instagram or TikTok, chances are you've seen them.

What started as two best friends with a love of pickles quickly grew into a brand people couldn't stop rooting for. By sharing their journey openly from day one, the founders brought consumers along for every win, challenge, and milestone. Cris breaks down the power of ""building in public"" and why transparency has become one of the most effective brand-building strategies today.

Plus, Cris tackles a round of 5-Minute PR Advice inspired by real Reddit users and puts influencer Alix Earle under the microscope in a live media training-style interview review, sharing insights on what works, what doesn't, and why.

Whether you're obsessed with branding, fascinated by viral consumer products, or looking for practical PR insights, this episode is packed with takeaways you won't want to miss.

Listen now and join the conversation.

New podcast episodes drop every other Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

What if your audience is already telling you exactly what they care about?

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon sits down with Alaina Simon, Senior Client Partner at Reddit, to explore how brands can tap into the real conversations happening on Reddit to better understand their audiences.

People are openly sharing what they’re interested in, what they love, what they’re buying, and what they’re looking for, giving brands an incredible opportunity to listen and learn.

Cris and Alaina talk about how brands can use these real, unfiltered community conversations to uncover consumer insights, spot cultural trends, and make smarter marketing decisions.

Because sometimes the best brand strategy starts with listening to what people are already saying.

If you’re building a brand, this is an episode you’ll want to listen.

New podcast episodes drop every other Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

What do you do after building one of the most iconic beauty brands in the world?

If you're Alli Webb, you start over.

In this episode, Cris Gordon sits down with the founder of Drybar and Messy to unpack what really changed between building a $275 million business and launching a brand in today's creator-first world. They discuss why authenticity is becoming every brand's biggest advantage, what founders get wrong about building community, the lessons Alli carried from Drybar (and the ones she left behind), and why embracing the messy middle might be the smartest business move you can make.

Whether you're building a business, growing a personal brand, or looking for your next big chapter, this conversation is packed with honest insights, practical advice, and the behind-the-scenes stories you won't hear anywhere else.

New podcast episodes drop every other Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

Your personal brand is one of the most valuable assets you'll ever build, and it's about so much more than your social media presence.

In this solo episode, Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC, breaks down what it really means to have a personal brand and why it matters. Whether you're a founder, executive, creator, or early in your career, these are the practical steps to start building one with intention.

If you've ever wondered how to stand out, attract the right opportunities, and become known for your expertise, this episode is for you.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

In today’s episode, Cris sits down with Olga Fleming, CEO of MMC, the communications agency helping brands earn a place in consumers' everyday lives. Olga shares why the strongest brands go beyond awareness and create meaningful rituals, becoming products and services people rely on daily. When a brand successfully integrates into someone’s routine, it transforms customers into true advocates.

Together, Cris and Olga explore what it takes to deeply understand your audience, identify unmet needs, and build messaging that resonates on a human level. They unpack the habits that set successful founders apart, the mistakes that hold brands back, and how AI can be leveraged as an analytical tool without sacrificing the creativity and emotion that make brands memorable

Whether you’re a PR professional, marketer, founder, or simply fascinated by the art and science of brand building, this conversation is packed with candid insights and practical takeaways. Grab a notebook, settle in, and get ready for a masterclass in creating brands that people truly believe in and advocate for.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

What separates a business that grows from a business that gets acquired?

In this episode, Cris sits down with founder, investor, author, and "Exit Whisperer" Carrie Kerpen to unpack the real lessons behind building, scaling, and selling an 8-figure company.

Together, they discuss the biggest mistakes founders make when preparing for an exit, why visibility and PR can impact how buyers perceive your business, the role personal branding plays in increasing company value, and much more.

Carrie also shares the story of building one of the world's first social media agencies, scaling it through years of industry change, and ultimately achieving an 8-figure exit before launching her next chapter helping founders navigate their own path to a successful sale.

Whether you're years away from an exit or just beginning your entrepreneurial journey, this conversation offers practical insights on business growth, founder branding, PR, visibility, and building long-term enterprise value

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

From early-stage startups to seven-figure brands, every founder is asking the same questions: How do I grow? Where is my audience? What actually works in PR today?

In this SXSW special, we answer those questions in real time – giving founders just 5 minutes each to unlock smarter, more strategic approaches to visibility, storytelling, and growth. From scaling beyond referrals to refining your brand identity and finding the right rooms, these rapid-fire conversations reveal the patterns, mistakes, and opportunities shaping modern business today.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up, consider this your fast-track guide to modern PR. This episode is packed with actionable insights you can apply immediately.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

What’s the most powerful metric for your brand? Shares.

This week on Brandidly Speaking, Cris Gordon sits down with Jen Hayes Lee, Head of Marketing and Content at The Bump, to unpack how she’s built a brand that parents are actively recommending to one another.

From scaling one of the most trusted platforms in parenting to fostering a deeply engaged community, Jen shares how a clear understanding of brand values and audience needs has been central to creating content that consistently outperforms. In the episode we dive into the role of strategic partnerships and how to choose the right ones, how brands can create content that feels human, and what it takes to scale while maintaining the feeling of a small, connected community.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

In today’s healthcare landscape, you must have both the expertise AND the ability to communicate it clearly to build genuine trust with your patients.

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Cris sits down with Dr. Sheila Farhang, double board-certified dermatologist and founder of Avant Dermatology, to unpack what it really takes to build trust as a medical expert in the digital age. From growing her platform organically over more than a decade to becoming a go-to voice across social media, Dr. Farhang shares how she’s navigated the shift from seeing patients to trusted public authority without losing her patient-first values.

Cris and Dr. Farhang also explore how brand visibility is now shaped by everything from press coverage to digital footprint, and what founders in healthcare need to understand if they want to reach the right audiences in a meaningful way.

This conversation is a must-listen for healthcare founders, doctors, and experts who know they have something important to say, but want to make sure it lands, builds trust, and reaches the people who need it most.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

What does it take to build a brand story that goes beyond surface level in the beauty industry?

In this episode, Lisa Hanna, former Miss World, global political leader, and now beauty founder, shares why understanding the entire industry is the foundation for building a brand that truly stands out.

After decades on the world stage and in government, Lisa entered the beauty industry to build something with meaning. And that meant learning every layer of the business, from formulation and finance to global markets and strategy.

This conversation goes far beyond beauty, and it teaches us about the discipline and leadership it takes to build a brand with depth in an industry driven by noise.

If you’re building a brand, or want to, this episode will change how you think about storytelling, strategy, and long-term success.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

How do you break through in the crowded supplement market where new products are getting launched left and right?

In this episode, Bridgitte Malinson, founder of Gut Personal, breaks down how she built a cult-favorite wellness brand by blending clinical credibility with community-first marketing. From strategic PR placements to organic storytelling, she focused on building trust through earned media and expert validation, positioning the brand as both authoritative and approachable. Instead of relying on paid ads or empty trends, she focused on real connection, education, and personalized experiences that make customers feel seen.

For brand founders, this is a masterclass in modern brand building: how to make your product feel aspirational, how to leverage PR to build credibility and awareness, how to turn affiliates into true brand advocates, and how to stand out in a saturated category without losing credibility.

If you’re building in a space that feels crowded, this conversation will show you how to make it matter, make it trusted, and make it grow.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

You’re posting consistently, so why isn’t anyone sticking around?

Most founders think they need better content. In reality, they’re over-editing, overthinking, and filtering out the very thing that makes people care.

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, Lilliana Vazquez (former TODAY Show + E! host turned creator) shares what turns content into community, and why it has nothing to do with being perfect.

We get into the risks of showing up fully, how to handle criticism, and why trying to be liked by everyone is exactly what’s holding you back.

If your content isn’t translating into connection, this podcast episode delivers the insights you need to craft messages that genuinely resonate with your community.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

On this week’s episode, we sit down with Lisa Jauregui, Founder of BK Beauty, to break down how she turned audience feedback into a $25 million beauty brand.

Before founding BK Beauty, Lisa worked in advertising, became a MAC makeup artist, and later began creating YouTube makeup tutorials while raising her kids. By consistently sharing expert advice and education, she built a loyal audience that trusted her recommendations. Through affiliate link data, Lisa gained clear insight into exactly what her audience wanted - from product categories and price points to buying behavior and preferences.

That data became the foundation for BK Beauty. Instead of guessing what to launch, Lisa used real audience feedback to design products people were already asking for, leading to one of the most successful creator‑led beauty brands today, with massive traction on TikTok and social media.

If you’re a creator, influencer, founder, or aspiring entrepreneur looking to turn content into a scalable, multi‑million‑dollar brand, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Tune in to hear how Lisa leveraged data, audience trust, and education to build BK Beauty, and how you can apply the same strategy to your own brand.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com

Finance can feel intimidating for most brand-builders and marketers but understanding the numbers might be the most powerful growth tool you have.

In this episode of Brandidly Speaking, we sit down with Chris Polakowski, Executive Director of Global Operations at MMC, to unpack the financial and operational decisions that separate busy brands from profitable ones. From understanding your P&L to managing risk, Chris breaks down how finance can empower creativity and unlock smarter growth.

Throughout the conversation, we explore the core financial metrics every business should understand, including revenue, expenses, and cash flow, and why many companies confuse being busy with being profitable. Chris shares how founders and marketers can balance bold ideas with financial realities, how to think about risk in a strategic way, and why operational systems and financial visibility are essential for sustainable growth.

Whether you're building a startup, scaling a seven-figure brand, or leading marketing inside a legacy company, this episode offers practical insights on how to make smarter decisions, operationalize growth, and build a business that lasts.

New podcast episodes drop every Wednesday, hosted by Cris Gordon, Head of Beauty at MMC.

🎙️ Subscribe on Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube

👍 Follow @Brandidly_Speaking on Instagram, LinkedIn, and TikTok and MMC on Instagram and LinkedIn.

📲 We'd love to hear from you: hello@hellommc.com