What does it take for household names like Cheerios, Pillsbury and Nature Valley to connect with consumers across cultures? And how can marketers make those connections without losing what makes their brands recognizable? On this episode of Brand Slam, Joe Kayata and guest co-host Michelle Spriegel, VP of Global Marketing Strategy and Innovation at (add)ventures, sit down with Glory Alcántara, Director of Multicultural Marketing at General Mills, to explore how some of the world’s most recognizable brands are making more meaningful connections with consumers.

With nearly two decades at General Mills, Alcántara has helped brands navigate an increasingly diverse marketplace. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, she shares how her cultural background and career journey from research to marketing shaped her approach to understanding consumers beyond mere demographics.

The conversation tackles questions marketers face every day. What's the difference between translating a campaign and truly adapting it for another culture? How can brands connect with different audiences while staying true to their identity? The challenge goes beyond translating messages into another language. It requires understanding the cultural values, traditions and experiences that influence purchasing decisions.

As audiences become more diverse and consumer expectations evolve, the brands that succeed will be those that understand culture as a business opportunity, not simply a marketing category.



Have an idea for a guest? Reach out at brandslam@addventures.com.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, RI, is built on 150 years of history, but staying relevant requires more than preserving the past. It means creating new reasons for fans to care and new ways for partners to connect. On this episode of Brand Slam, hosts Steve Rosa and Joe Kayata sit down with International Tennis Hall of Fame CEO Dan Faber to discuss how one of sports’ most historic institutions continues to evolve.

Faber has led the Hall of Fame since 2023 after spending a decade with the USTA Foundation. He shares how his background in education and tennis helped shape his leadership approach, and what comes next after Roger Federer’s induction brought one of the biggest weekends the Hall of Fame has ever experienced.

It’s a challenge that anyone managing a legacy brand will recognize. How do you build on a moment like that and give people a reason to keep coming back?

The conversation explores the Hall of Fame’s connection to Newport, the historic Newport Casino and the museum experience that brings tennis history to life for both longtime fans and new audiences. Faber also talks about what the Hall of Fame offers its brand-partners and why sports properties can be such powerful platforms for connection. Listen for a look at how the organization is turning its history into opportunities for the future.



Have an idea for a guest? Reach out at brandslam@addventures.com.

Human connection is becoming a competitive advantage for brands in a world shaped by screens, algorithms and always-on content. On this episode of Brand Slam, hosts Steve Rosa and Mary Sadlier explore how artists, entrepreneurs and event creators are redesigning familiar experiences around presence, connection and shared experience.

The episode looks at four examples, beginning with the multigenerational energy of a recent Bruno Mars concert and the way Anderson .Paak moves between identities, from opening as DJ Pee .Wee to performing alongside Mars as part of Silk Sonic. From there, the conversation explores the rise of phone-free parties, Earlybirds Club rethinking nightlife for women and Lenny Pearce turning children’s songs into Toddler Techno for parents and kids.

What connects these stories is a shift toward experiences that feel more personal, intentional and connected to the way people want to spend their time. Each one takes something familiar and reshapes it around changing habits, expectations and lifestyles.

For marketers, the lesson is clear: relevance comes from understanding what audiences already value and creating experiences that feel more useful, authentic and human.



Have an idea for a guest? Reach out at brandslam@addventures.com.