Culture is not a marketing tactic. It is the brand. And winning brands know how to activate it.

In this episode of Brand Slam, hosts Steve Rosa and Joe Kayata sit down with Michael Benevides, President and CEO of Portugalia Marketplace and Portugalia Imports Inc., to explore how a family business rooted in Portuguese heritage became a nationally recognized brand experience. What began more than 30 years ago in a garage has grown into a 20,000 square foot marketplace that brings food, wine and tradition to life for customers across the country.

Michael shares how Portugalia scaled beyond its local community without losing the authenticity that made it special. Every decision, from sourcing products directly from Portugal to creating an immersive in-store environment, is intentional. It is not just about selling. It is about creating a connection, trust and loyalty through culture. For CMOs and healthcare marketers navigating crowded, highly commoditized markets, this conversation hits at something deeper. Differentiation does not come from messaging alone. It comes from building an experience people believe in and want to be a part of. This episode breaks down the discipline required to grow a heritage-driven brand the right way. It is not growth at any cost. It is growth with clarity, consistency and conviction. Portugalia is proof that when you protect what makes you different, you do not just compete, you lead the pack. Have an idea for a guest? Reach out at brandslam@addventures.com.

The Boston Marathon is one of the most iconic and enduring brands in sports. On this episode of Brand Slam, presented by (add)victory, the sports marketing division of (add)global, hosts Steve Rosa and Joe Kayata sit down with Scott Stover, Chief Marketing Officer of the Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.), to explore how the Boston Marathon has evolved into a global brand while staying true to its Boston roots.

With “Marathon Monday” fast approaching, Stover breaks down what has kept the brand strong for 130 years. He points to its deep connection to the city and its traditions, as well as its ability to resonate with a worldwide audience. The conversation looks at the heart of the Boston Marathon, including how it maintains its prestige while still feeling accessible and why qualifying continues to represent one of the most meaningful accomplishments in sports.

Stover also shares how sponsorships like Bank of American’s role of Presenting Partner help amplify the event’s impact as not just as a race, but as a major economic and cultural moment for Boston.

Beyond competition, the episode highlights the Marathon as both a platform for storytelling and purpose and one of the largest charitable fundraising events in the world, where thousands of runners compete not just for time, but for causes that matter. As the brand continues to evolve, Stover discusses how the B.A.A. is engaging the next generation while preserving the authenticity and traditions that make Boston unique.

From Hopkinton to Boylston Street, the Boston Marathon proves that great brands don’t stand still. They keep going the distance.

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

The strongest brands know when it’s time to reinvent themselves. And right now, baseball is in the middle of exactly that kind of transformation. Once challenged by shifting attention spans, the game is finding new life through global talent, a faster pace and a more connected, energized fanbase. On this episode of Brand Slam, hosts Steve Rosa and Joe Kayata sit down with longtime MLB executive Dan Duquette to explore how baseball is finding its way back to our hearts and why its future may be more international–and more exciting–than ever.

Few people have witnessed baseball’s evolution up close the way Dan has. A two-time Major League Baseball Executive of the Year, he’s helped shape winning organizations across the Montreal Expos, Boston Red Sox, and Baltimore Orioles. Along the way, he saw early what the game could become by investing in talent across Latin America and the Caribbean, helping expand baseball’s reach far beyond U.S. borders. It’s that perspective, grounded in people and a global view of the game, that makes his take on baseball’s future so compelling.

Dan saw it before most others did: a global pipeline of talent that could elevate teams and expand the game itself. From stars like Vladimir Guerrero to today’s international icons like Shohei Ohtani, that vision has helped shape baseball into a sport that reaches far beyond its borders.

At its core, this is a story about people. Dan recognized potential early, invested in it, and built connections that stretch across continents. It’s the same instinct that drives the best brands: show up where your audience is and create something that truly connects.

It’s a conversation about evolution, global thinking and what it takes for a legacy brand to win again.

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

The best brands don’t just sell products. They give people something to say about themselves. ISlide built an entire company on that idea by taking a simple utility item, the slide sandal, and turning it into a platform for self-expression. Today, ISlide shows up on the feet of professional athletes, high school teams and fans across nearly every major sport. What started as a locker room staple has become a recognizable badge of personal identity. On this episode of Brand Slam, hosts Joe Kayata and Mary Sadlier talk with ISlide founder Justin Kittredge about the insight that sparked the company and the conviction it took to grow it.

Few brands sit at the crossroads of sports culture and personal expression quite like ISlide. The concept is simple. Give fans and athletes a way to represent who they support and what they stand for, right down to what they wear after the game. Justin understood that dynamic long before ISlide existed. As a former Reebok basketball executive, he spent years inside one of the world’s most influential athletic brands, watching how credibility is built with players and fans. That experience helped shape his approach to partnerships, licensing and brand growth from the very beginning.

Justin also recounts one of the company’s defining moments when he appeared on Shark Tank in 2016 alongside former NFL star Antonio Brown. After hearing the offers, he made the decision to walk away from the only deal on the table. For many contestants, the decision might have been simple. Accept the deal and take the momentum. Justin saw it differently. The offer could have compromised his vision for ISlide, and he trusted his belief in the idea and his business judgment enough to walk away and continue building on his own terms.

It’s a moment that is just one chapter in a much larger story. Justin reflects on the experiences that shaped his approach to brand building. He also shares how basketball continues to influence his work today, including the global nonprofit he co-founded with his wife Lindsey, Shooting Touch.

It’s a conversation about insight, conviction and the unexpected places great brand ideas can begin. Have an idea for a guest? Reach out at brandslam@addventures.com.

Our 50th episode marks an exciting milestone for Brand Slam, and to celebrate it we welcome back one of our favorite guests, Kathryn Tappen of NBC Sports.

This episode takes listeners inside one of the most powerful storytelling stages in sports: the Olympic Games. When the world tunes in to watch history unfold, broadcasters play a critical role in shaping how those moments are experienced, remembered and shared. Few understand that responsibility better than Kathryn. The Emmy Award–winning NBC Sports broadcaster has now covered seven Olympics, including the recent 2026 Winter Games in Milan.

With hosts Steve Rosa and Joe Kayata, Kathryn shares stories from rinkside of Team USA’s gold medal runs in both men’s and women’s Olympic hockey. The conversation explores the sustained dominance of the U.S. women’s program and the men’s historic first Olympic gold since 1980, while offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it’s like to document those moments as they unfold. Kathryn also reflects on what it takes to conduct a defining postgame interview in one of the most emotionally charged environments in sports, with 26 million viewers watching. Her conversation with Jack Hughes moments after his overtime game-winning goal quickly became one of the signature media moments of the Games.

The episode examines the enduring power of the Olympic brand. With the 2026 Winter Games averaging 23.5 million viewers across broadcast and streaming platforms, NBCUniversal delivered the most-watched Winter Olympics of all time. The discussion highlights why the Olympics remain one of the most valuable storytelling platforms for athletes, broadcasters and brands alike.

Episode 50 celebrates both a milestone for Brand Slam and the timeless appeal of the Olympic Games. It is a reminder that the moments we remember most are not just defined by the athletes who win gold, but also by the storytellers who bring those victories to life.

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

Episode 49 takes listeners inside one of the fastest-growing and most competitive arenas in sports: betting. With Super Bowl LX approaching, the biggest game of the year has become about far more than the final score. It’s a national ritual and now it’s a multi-billion-dollar marketplace of wagers, odds and real-time emotion. Today’s fan experience is shaped by data, prediction and participation, and few brands sit closer to that intersection than DraftKings. As sports betting becomes a defining part of how fans engage with the game, DraftKings is helping rewrite the rules of modern sports entertainment, turning viewers into players, and moments into money.

Brand Slam hosts Joe Kayata and Mary Sadlier talk with Stephanie Sherman, Chief Marketing Officer at DraftKings, to explore how the brand has evolved from a fantasy sports startup into one of the most recognizable names in sports betting. Stephanie breaks down the high-stakes decision to advertise during this year’s Big Game, where 30-second spots start at $8 million, explaining why DraftKings continues to invest in that stage and how showing up front and center during one of the most-watched sporting events in the world delivers impact that lasts far beyond kickoff Stephanie’s journey with DraftKings began in its early years as a start-up.. She’s helped guide the brand through its shift from fantasy sports into regulated sports betting. She explains how DraftKings balances innovation with responsibility, data with instinct, and bold marketing moments with consistency, all while competing in a category where loyalty can be as fleeting as the next bet.

This episode is required listening for CMOs facing their own Super Bowl moments. It reinforces that enduring brands are built through clarity, consistency and an unwavering focus on the customer before, during, and after the spotlight. Because the brands that last are the ones built for the long game.

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

Episode 48 takes listeners inside one of the most dominant franchises in modern sports: the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fresh off back-to-back World Series championships, the Dodgers are rewriting the blueprint for what a modern sports dynasty looks like. Great dynasties do not happen by accident. They are built with intention, culture and a relentless commitment to winning, much like great brands. In sports, that formula shows up on the field, in the front office and across a global fan base.

Hosts Steve Rosa and Joe Kayata talk with Brandon Gomes, General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, to explore how one of the most recognizable brands in sports sustains greatness in an era of constant change. From player development and global recruiting to culture, leadership and long-term vision, Brandon reveals how championship organizations build systems that outlast trends and competitors.

Brandon’s journey to the GM seat wasn’t linear. A former MLB pitcher with roots in Fall River, Massachusetts, he climbed from the clubhouse to the front office, gaining a rare perspective on what makes elite teams work. That experience now shapes how the Dodgers balance tradition with innovation, data with instinct and star power with team chemistry. A major driver of that evolution is the Dodgers’ emergence as a truly global brand. With superstars like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the team has expanded far beyond Los Angeles, connecting with fans across Asia and around the world. Gomes reflects on traveling with the club to South Korea and Tokyo, calling it a powerful reminder of baseball’s universal reach. “Seeing the impact that baseball can have all over the world and the passion that it brings,” he says, underscores how the Dodgers are leading the future of the game on a global stage.

This episode is a masterclass for marketers, leaders and sports fans alike. It’s a reminder that dynasties aren’t built on hype, they’re built on clarity, culture and consistency. Get those right, and winning stops being a goal and becomes the brand.

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

Great brands don’t just promise value; they prove it where it matters most. In healthcare, that moment happens at the pharmacy counter, where millions of Americans face a confusing and often emotional question: What is this medication going to cost me today? Episode 47 explores how GoodRx is transforming that moment from anxiety into confidence. The company has built a brand on trust, clarity and humanity, showing that when people feel in control of their healthcare decisions, loyalty follows. It’s a powerful case study in how simplifying real-world complexity can unlock massive brand value.

In this episode, Joe Kayata and guest host Mary Sadlier sit down with David Graziano, Head of Retail Network for GoodRx, to examine how a company that does not manufacture drugs, own pharmacies or operate insurance plans became one of the most recognized healthcare brands in America. With more than a decade of healthcare marketing experience, including seven years at CVS Health, David reveals how GoodRx builds partnerships, removes friction and keeps consumers at the center of every decision.

GoodRx was created to fix a critical moment: when a patient discovers the cost of their medication only after they have reached the counter. David breaks down how the platform works behind the scenes with retailers and pharmacy benefit managers to deliver transparency and meaningful savings. The result is a rare healthcare trifecta: lower costs for consumers, increased foot traffic for pharmacies and a more informed, confident experience for everyone involved.

From demystifying drug pricing to strengthening consumer trust, Episode 47 shows how GoodRx has rewritten the script on value. And it offers every marketer a reminder: when you solve a real human problem and do it consistently, you don’t just earn customers; you earn believers.

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