Your Brand Amplified

byAnika Jackson

BusinessEntrepreneurshipManagementMarketing

Your Brand Amplified® is Anika Jackson's deep-dive into the strategies, stories, and mindsets that separate thriving entrepreneurs from the rest. In each episode, Anika sits down with successful business leaders, marketers, sales experts, and innovators to uncover what actually works—and why most people get it wrong.This isn't surface-level advice. Anika digs into the real decisions, the failures, the pivots, and the breakthroughs that shaped her guests' journeys. Whether you're scaling a startup, launching a brand, building sales systems, or trying to amplify your market presence, you'll gain frameworks, strategies, and insights you can implement immediately.What You'll Discover Eac...

Episodes(40 episodes)

Monetizing Fun: Scaling a Creative Passion into a Podcast Empire with Ryan LaPlante

Anika sat down with Ryan LaPlante to explore how a group of friends playing Dungeons & Dragons transformed their hobby into Canada's largest tabletop RPG podcast network, Dumb-Dumbs & Dice. The conversation revealed a counterintuitive approach to creative success: treating a highly artistic passion project with the rigorous, data-driven strategy of a tech startup. Ryan’s diverse background—from Hollywood screenwriting to mobile games and tech management—offered a masterclass in scaling content, structuring profitable communities, and proving that unapologetic fun is highly monetizable. In This Episode Why having creative control on the business side is better...

Published: Aug 10, 2026Duration: 58m 46s

Beyond Vanity Metrics: Turning Visibility Fears into Client Conversion with Alexis Meschi

Anika sat down with Alexis Meschi to explore why successful business owners often hide behind their companies and suffer from imposter syndrome when it comes to stepping into the spotlight. The conversation revealed a crucial reality: stunning brand photography isn't enough without a strategy to deploy it. Alexis’s transition from high school English teacher to brand photographer to founder of Ora Marketing offered a practical look at how recruiters and female founders can leverage their "human advantage" in an increasingly AI-driven marketplace. In This Episode The origin story of Ora Marketing and...

Published: Aug 7, 2026Duration: 41m 19s

Driving Brand Empathy Through Immersive Storytelling with Amir Berenjian

Anika sat down with Amir Berenjian to explore how a former investment banker transitioned from multi-million dollar M&A spreadsheets to founding an immersive technology company. The conversation revealed a profound truth: the most powerful way to sell a brand or cause isn't through data alone, but through deeply emotional, shared experiences. Amir shares how REM5 Studios leverages virtual reality (VR) to transport trade show attendees to a Wisconsin dairy farm and global policymakers to the frontlines of polio eradication in Zambia, proving that immersive tech is far more than just a novelty. In This E...

Published: Aug 5, 2026Duration: 48m 55s

Fixing the AI Epidemic: The Trust-First Business Growth Hack with Andrew Bolton

Anika sat down with Andrew Bolton, CEO and co-founder of Tech Rescue, to explore the massive cultural and corporate shift currently prioritizing artificial intelligence over human connection—and why it’s a losing bet. Starting from a moment of intense frustration while trying to help his grandmother with technology, Andrew bootstrapped a 24/7, human-only tech support company that has defied the "chatbot era" of Silicon Valley. Andrew’s journey offers a masterclass in recognizing the power of empathy in business, building culture in a service company, and why trusting the basics of customer care is the ultimate growth hack. </p...

Published: Aug 3, 2026Duration: 51m 44s

Reclaiming Your Power: Surviving Workplace Chaos and Doing Great Work with Melissa Swift

Reclaiming Your Power: Surviving Workplace Chaos and Doing Great Work with Melissa Swift Anika sat down with Melissa Swift, founder and CEO of Anthrome Insight, to tackle the reality of the modern workday: constant interruptions, hyper-emotional environments, and overwhelming chaos. Following the release of her new book, How to Do Great Work in a Fast Changing World, Melissa shares why systemic organizational changes are great, but individuals need actionable survival strategies now. Drawing on research from high-stakes professionals like firefighters and ER doctors, this conversation provides a practical framework for identifying your true strengths, dealing w...

Published: Jul 31, 2026Duration: 45m 46s

S E763: How to Separate True Intuition From Business Fear with Katie Krimitsos

Anika sat down with Katie Krimitsos to explore one of the most counterintuitive business pivots in podcasting history. The conversation revealed the realities of walking away from a successful coaching business to launch the Women's Meditation Network, the process of recognizing the difference between intuition and fear, and how she scaled one podcast into a massive 24-show network. Katie's journey offers a masterclass in alignment, strategic audience building, and honoring your creative evolution while prioritizing family.In This EpisodeThe origins of Biz Women Rock and the power of being a first-mover in...

Published: Jul 29, 2026Duration: 56m 0s

S E762: From Zero Net Worth to a Publishing Empire: The Reality of Bootstrapping with Tim Lindsay

Anika sat down with Tim Lindsay to explore what it really takes to build a publishing company from the ground up—starting with negative net worth and zero safety net. The conversation revealed the realities of bootstrapping Tellwell Publishing to over 6,000 books, the critical differences between traditional and self-publishing, and how a 128-day NICU crisis tested his leadership. Tim's journey offers a masterclass in resilience, scaling teams, and understanding the true strategic value of writing a book.In This EpisodeQuitting a day job with massive credit card debt and ma...

Published: Jul 27, 2026Duration: 58m 39s

S E761: Position Your Nonfiction Book for Bestseller Success with Wiebke Tasch

Position Your Nonfiction Book for Bestseller Success with Wiebke TaschAnika sat down with Wiebke Tasch to explore a hard truth in the publishing world: most nonfiction books fail not because the writing is bad, but because the positioning was wrong before the first word was ever written. Wiebke shares her journey from feeling stuck in a German PR agency to accidentally writing an Amazon bestseller about heartbreak, and how that success led her to found Digital Authors. The conversation reveals why a book is not just a vanity project, how data should dictate your book's direction...

Published: Jul 24, 2026Duration: 53m 8s

S E760: Healing Without Needles with Dr. Tommy Rhee: Disrupting the Stem Cell Industry

Anika sits down with Dr. Tommy Rhee, a former US Navy aviator, sports chiropractor, and founder of RheeGen. They discuss his journey from treating professional athletes and Olympians to developing a patent-pending, topical stem-cell cream. Dr. Rhee shares why he shifted away from injectables, the challenges of self-funding a biotech startup, and his bold transition toward plant-based regenerative medicine to make advanced healing affordable and accessible for everyone.In This EpisodeHow a Navy aviator background shapes startup discipline and problem-solvingThe pivot from traditional sports chiropractic care...

Published: Jul 22, 2026Duration: 43m 40s

S E759: Marketing Authenticity: Deanna Dolecki and Ashley Ruggeri on Scaling Blue Duck Agency

Anika sat down with Deanna Dolecki and Ashley Ruggeri to explore how they built a thriving, 100% virtual boutique agency by leaning into radical authenticity. The conversation revealed how their Gen X and Millennial dynamic fuels their strategy, why hiring for intangibles matters more than a resume, and how they cut through the digital noise with unscripted banter on their podcast, Ducks Unplugged.In This EpisodeThe origin story of Blue Duck Agency and how a "no-meeting Wednesday" led to a radical rebrandWhy Deanna hires for "intangibles" and how asking about...

Published: Jul 20, 2026Duration: 54m 41s

S E758: Building Better Through Leadership: Kristian Fields on Culture, Technology and Workforce Strategy

Anika sat down with Kristian Fields, President of Klover Contracting, to explore why the construction industry remains stuck in outdated practices while a few innovators are fundamentally reshaping how large-scale infrastructure gets built. They revealed a counterintuitive truth: the problem isn't labor shortage—it's workflow predictability. Kristian's 25-year perspective on construction management and his experience scaling Klover offered practical solutions against the persistent "construction can't change" narrative, alongside a sharp look at where prefabrication and AI actually create value.In This EpisodeThe origin story of Kristian's transition from VP Fi...

Published: Jul 17, 2026Duration: 43m 2s

S E757: Julie Ellis on Leading Bold Teams Through Uncertainty

Anika sits down with Julie Ellis to explore the inflection point every founder dreads—the moment you've built the business, achieved the goal, and suddenly realize you have no idea who you are without it. Discover why selling an eight-figure business can feel like grief disguised as success, how delegation is the real bottleneck between scaling and plateauing, and the counterintuitive truth that derails most women entrepreneurs: it's never about having a bigger vision. It's about believing you're worthy of one—and whether you have the systems and people around you to make it real.In...

Published: Jul 15, 2026Duration: 43m 55s

S E756: Reclaiming Energy: Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins on Psychological Safety at Work

Anika sits down with Dr. Mickey Fitch Collins to expose the leadership development trap most companies fall into, uncover the psychological safety crisis silently burning out middle managers, and reveal the counterintuitive secret to sustainable organizations: it's never about the strategy. It's about the people executing it—and whether they feel confident enough to show up as their whole selves.In This EpisodeBass fishing to breakout rooms: How 30 years of professional fishing taught her more about leadership than any MBA—and why early public speaking shaped her entire careerThe lead...

Published: Jul 13, 2026Duration: 44m 27s

S E755: Dick Wybrow on Reframing Your Limitations as Creative Superpowers

In this return episode, Anika and Dick Wybrow break down the exact mindset shift required to transition between industries, why independent publishing outperforms traditional deals for genre fiction, and the counterintuitive truth about building a sustainable creative business: it's not about chasing trends—it's about finding your authentic voice and the people who love it.In This EpisodeCareer pivot from broadcast to books: How 20 years in comedy and TV prepared him for writing—and why it required complete humilityThe case for indie publishing: Why control, speed, and 70% royalties beat trad...

Published: Jul 10, 2026Duration: 50m 49s

S E754: PR Beats SEO: Benjamin Behrooz on Building Real Authority in 2026

Anika teamed up with Benjamin Behrooz to decode why massive exposure so often fails to drive revenue. The conversation revealed a counterintuitive truth: the problem isn't content creation—it's integration. Benjamin's 17-year perspective on branding and his experience scaling Branding Los Angeles across five states offered practical pushback against the persistent "AI will replace everything" narrative, alongside a sharp look at where AI actually creates value.In This EpisodeThe origin story of Branding Los Angeles: from a 400 sq ft apartment to a national powerhouseScaling velocity: expanding from California to Te...

Published: Jul 8, 2026Duration: 53m 3s

S E753: Part Two: Stephan Bajaio on Digital Visibility

Part Two: Stephan Bajaio on Digital VisibilityAnika continues her conversation with Stephan Bajaio, diving deeper into what it really means to lead people in a way that outlasts you. Moving beyond business strategy, this episode explores the human side of leadership—passion, failure, servant leadership, mindfulness, and the balance between "vibe" and "logic" that defines sustainable team culture.In this conversation, Stephan shares his framework for leadership rooted in four core beliefs, his daily Tefillin practice and gratitude ritual, why Performance Improvement Plans are misused as firing mechanisms, and how parenting a daughter influences hi...

Published: Jul 6, 2026Duration: 54m 30s

S E752: Burnout and Authenticity: Elizabeth Rosenberg's Intuitive PR Strategy

Burnout and Authenticity: Elizabeth Rosenberg's Intuitive PR StrategyAnika sat down with Elizabeth to explore why the most credible leaders aren't the most polished ones—they're the most present ones. The conversation revealed a counterintuitive truth: as AI automates expertise, human traits like intuition, vulnerability, and emotional intelligence become your competitive advantage. Elizabeth's dual background in PR and spiritual practice offered sharp pushback against the "authenticity is risky" narrative, alongside a practical framework for when vulnerability serves your brand (and when it doesn't).In This Episode...

Published: Jul 3, 2026Duration: 51m 45s

S E751: SEO in the AI Era: Stephan Bajaio on Digital Visibility

SEO in the AI Era: Stephan Bajaio on Digital VisibilityStephan Bajaio spent 25 years watching Fortune 500 companies sit on goldmines they never excavated. As co-founder of Conductor and survivor of the WeWork acquisition, he learned something most entrepreneurs never do: your greatest competitive advantage isn't your product—it's the expertise of the people who built it. Yet most companies hide their leadership behind generic bios and outdated headshots. This episode isn't about chasing the latest AI trend or obsessing over search rankings. It's about the uncomfortable reality that you're probably invisible to the exact cu...

Published: Jul 1, 2026Duration: 48m 54s

S E750: Message Clarity Matters: Bruce Ashford on the Communication Bottleneck Killing Growth

Message Clarity Matters: Bruce Ashford on the Communication Bottleneck Killing Growth Bruce Ashford spent nearly two decades in academia as a professor and provost, but a personal crisis during COVID forced him to rebuild from scratch. What he discovered in his own recovery became the blueprint for helping mission-driven nonprofits and founder-led businesses solve their biggest growth problem: they can't articulate their value. The irony? Organizations doing genuinely important work often fail not because of what they do, but because of how they communicate it. Bruce works with CEOs to unlock two critical clarity challenges—me...

Published: Jun 29, 2026Duration: 48m 17s

S E749: AI Automation for Startups: Ghazenfer Mansoor's Strategy

Ghazenfer Mansoor's early experience with a recruitment software startup became the catalyst for a complete philosophical shift. When he realized his product lacked product-market fit and failed to address specific user needs, he had to go back to the whiteboard entirely, redesigning the entire value proposition. This painful lesson became the foundation for his mission to help founders build products the right way from the start rather than experimenting on limited budgets. Ghazenfer's perspective on artificial intelligence and product development distinguishes itself through grounded, realistic understanding rather than hype. While many founders treat AI as magic that...

Published: Jun 26, 2026Duration: 46m 36s