Giant Stories
While the tools we have at our disposal to create and share stories have never been more broad and varied, the fundamentals of great storytelling remain as transcendent as ever.Despite the headwinds our industry faces, clients and brands will always covet companies that remain steadfast — with a steady eye on culture, an understanding of the business dynamics at hand, and a commitment to the fundamentals of what makes a great story. Join us for compelling conversations with some of today's most influential and relevant storytellers. You’ll be inspired by their journey and learn how the power of story has t...
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Leading a Beloved Brand Through Change — With Southwest Airlines’ Julia Melle
<p>In this episode of Giant Stories, host John Kiker sits down with Julia Melle, Director of Brand and Content at Southwest Airlines, to discuss what it means to steward one of the most beloved brands in America through a moment of transformation.<br>Julia shares her journey from agency creative to in-house brand leader — with career stops at Leo Burnett, Publicis, and The Richards Group — and explains how those experiences shaped her approach to storytelling, brand architecture, and customer insight.<br>From helping bring Southwest’s iconic personality back to life to navigating major shifts like the airline’s move to...
What Brain Health Can Teach Us — With Laura Bloom Gordon
<p>In this episode of Giant Stories, seasoned marketer Laura Bloom Gordon shares how her career journey — spanning global brands, major retailers, and media organizations — has shaped the way she communicates one of the most complex subjects in the world: brain health.<br>As the Chief Marketing Officer at Center for BrainHealth, she talks about how science becomes a story, how data becomes meaning, and how communicating brain health ultimately requires the same tools great brands use: clarity, emotional resonance, accessibility, and courage.<br>She also breaks down — beautifully and practically — how every person can strengthen their brain, improve cognitive reserve...
Storytelling that Sells and Serves — with Natalie Yancy
<p>From the enduring value of print to the rising role of AI in marketing, Natalie unpacks the tools, tactics, and truths behind modern media — and why authenticity, relevance, and community connection will always matter most.</p><p> </p><p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices</p>
Signs, Strategy, and Storytelling: Inside Tire Discounters’ Unique Brand Voice — with Crissy Niese
<p>In this episode of Giant Stories, we sit down with Crissy Niese, the Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of Tire Discounters, to explore how a Cincinnati-based, family-owned company has grown from a one-bay garage into one of the nation’s largest independent tire and automotive service chains.</p> <p><br>Episode highlights include:</p> <p><br>The origins of Tire Discounters and its family-owned ethos<br></p> <p>Why storytelling is the foundation of Tire Discounters’ brand strategy<br></p> <p>The surprising power of humor and humanity in a traditionally “unsexy” industry<br></p> <p>Creating brand eq...
Built by Locals, Made for the World: The Heart Behind the Dallas Rebrand — with Jennifer Walker
<p>In this episode of Giant Stories, host John Kiker sits down with Jennifer Walker, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Visit Dallas, for an honest, insightful, and energizing look at how a bold brand transformation is reshaping how the world sees Dallas — and how Dallas sees itself.</p> <p><br>Jennifer and her team are on a mission: take Dallas from a city with strong name recognition but low tourism consideration and turn it into a top-tier global destination. This is more than a logo or a campaign — it’s a unifying story rooted in people, culture, innova...
Helmets Off: How the NFL is Winning with Global Storytelling — with Marissa Solis
<p>In this episode of Giant Stories, we sit down with one of today’s most dynamic marketing leaders, Marissa Solis, Senior Vice President of Global Brand and Consumer Marketing for the NFL.</p><p><br></p><p>From transforming fan engagement to expanding the NFL’s global reach, Marissa shares how one of America’s most iconic brands continues to evolve through the power of storytelling.</p><p> </p><p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices</p>
Bringing the FIFA World Cup to North Texas — with Monica Paul
<p>Episode highlights include:</p><p><br></p><p>A behind-the-curtain look at the bid process for hosting the FIFA World Cup</p><p><br></p><p>How North Texas positioned itself as a prime location for the event — and what makes its sports culture unique</p><p><br></p><p>The impact of bringing global audiences to North Texas and the massive infrastructure efforts needed to prepare for the World Cup</p><p><br></p><p>The economic and cultural impact of hosting nine matches in the metroplex — and the collaboration required between cities</p><p><br></p><p>A sn...
Defining the Storytelling Edge — with Medium Giant’s Shawn Kruggel and Lizzy Bakhaus
<p>Episode highlights include:</p><p><br></p><p>The Foundations of Great Storytelling: What makes a brand story compelling, and why authenticity is key.</p><p><br></p><p>Medium Giant’s Storytelling Framework: The unique exploration of critical context to earned ending.</p><p><br></p><p>The Role of AI in Creativity: When to embrace automation and when human insight matters most.</p><p><br></p><p>Reach vs. Resonance: How brands can balance data-driven tactics with emotional connection.</p><p><br></p><p>The Future of Storytelling in Marketing: Emerging trends in brand ecosystems, influencer marketing, an...
From Convenience to Pop Culture: How 7-Eleven Tells Its Story — with Marissa Jarratt
<p>Episode highlights include:</p><p><br></p> The accidental way Marissa fell in love with brand marketing after initially pursuing a career in finance The story framework that 7-Eleven uses in all its marketing, communications, programming, development, and partnerships Why “conflict” is so important to brand storytelling — and how 7-Eleven activates the brand’s conflict of amusing vs. essential How launching a Slurpee into space showcased just one way 7-Eleven contextualizes its marketing to its audiences The role of “car culture” in 7-Eleven marketing — and what they learned from their fans How 7-Eleven approaches sustainability for the short-term and long-term futu...
The Real Deal: Why Authentic Storytelling Matters for Brands — with Paige Guzman
<p>In this episode, Paige shares her brand experience and insights with John Kiker, president of Medium Giant, including:</p><p><br></p> The origin stories behind brands like Lagunitas and Mezzetta — and why authenticity matters How to appeal to consumers emotionally and deliver content that makes an impact Why brands birthed in boardrooms can be more challenging to build stories around The challenges of finding influencers who have a meaningful connection with the brand Where she sees a huge opportunity for unfulfilled stories in the market Her predictions for how storytelling will evolve over the next five years <p> </p>...
