Shawn David Nelson didn't just build a furniture company — he built a brand.

In this episode, I sit down with the Founder & CEO of Lovesac to talk about what it really takes to build a business from a college side hustle into a publicly traded company.

We cover:

• How Shawn turned a giant beanbag into a billion-dollar brand
• The power of founder branding in today's media landscape
• What most entrepreneurs get wrong about growth
• Lessons from going public (Nasdaq)
• Why personal brand still matters — even for large companies
• Maintaining "top ambition with infinite patience"

Shawn shares candid stories about early fame, business failures, scaling retail, celebrity partnerships, and what it takes to stay relevant in a fast-moving world.

If you're building a personal brand, launching a company, or trying to grow beyond your current ceiling, this conversation is packed with insight.

Learn more about Shawn David Nelson and Lovesac at:
🌐 https://seandnelson.com

00:50 Founder-Led Branding Is Back (and Maybe Unavoidable)

05:15 Richard Branson's 'Rebel Billionaire': The Call That Changed Everything

10:38 The Hard-to-Measure Value of PR, Podcasts, and Personal Brand

16:35 Being Weird on Purpose: Why Lovesac Never Played the Furniture Playbook

23:48 Going All-In on DTC: Purging SKUs, Tesla-Inspired Stores & Scaling Ads

28:02 Fame as a Tool: Founder Brand, Purpose, and the Cost of Staying Visible

33:28 Why the Book & Podcast: CEO Priorities, Grinding for Compounding Results

This is the Brands On Brands Podcast with Brandon Birkmeyer

www.brandsonbrands.com

Don't forget to get your own personal branding scorecard at:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/scorecard

CONNECT WITH ME

Connect with me on social media:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/mylinks

READ MY BOOK - FRONT & CENTER LEADERSHIP

I launched a new book and author website. Check it out here.

https://www.brandonbirkmeyer.com/fcl

CHECK OUT MY COURSES

Get tactical trainings and access to one-on-one coaching!

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/courses

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get the latest news and trends on all things personal branding and the creator economy.

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/newsletter

In today's episode, we explore how first impressions are formed within the first 30 seconds of meeting someone. Through a real-life example from a content creator's meetup, we discuss the subtle behaviors that influence how we perceive others.

Key takeaways include understanding that people decide how they feel before they decide what they think, and that initial interactions should prioritize making others feel at ease.

00:00 Introduction: The Power of First Impressions

00:29 Real-Life Example: Content Creator Meetup

01:40 The Subtlety of First Impressions

03:19 The Aha Moment: Group Introductions

05:11 Key Takeaways: Letting the Moment Breathe

05:36 Conclusion: The Feeling You Create

This is the Brands On Brands Podcast with Brandon Birkmeyer

www.brandsonbrands.com

Don't forget to get your own personal branding scorecard at:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/scorecard

CONNECT WITH ME

Connect with me on social media:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/mylinks

READ MY BOOK - FRONT & CENTER LEADERSHIP

I launched a new book and author website. Check it out here.

https://www.brandonbirkmeyer.com/fcl

CHECK OUT MY COURSES

Get tactical trainings and access to one-on-one coaching!

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/courses

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get the latest news and trends on all things personal branding and the creator economy.

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/newsletter

Understanding the Iconic Personal Brand of Jean-Michel Basquiat with Doug Woodham.

In this episode, Brandon sits down with Doug Woodham, author of 'Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Making of an Icon,' to delve into the fascinating life and lasting cultural impact of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

From his early struggles as a homeless teenager to becoming one of the most valuable artists in history, Basquiat's journey is explored in depth. Woodham discusses the pivotal moments and relationships that shaped Basquiat's career, his bold and enigmatic art, and the strategic decisions that cemented his posthumous fame.

00:50 Introduction to Basquiat's Cultural Impact

04:06 The 2017 Sale and Its Global Impact

05:41 Licensing and Pop Culture Integration

10:48 Basquiat's Artistic Style and Influence

15:41 The Neo-Expressionism Movement

21:21 Early Struggles and Key Relationships

26:22 Navigating the Art World

32:43 Celebrity Endorsements and Market Resurgence

This is the Brands On Brands Podcast with Brandon Birkmeyer

www.brandsonbrands.com

Don't forget to get your own personal branding scorecard at:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/scorecard

CONNECT WITH ME

Connect with me on social media:

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/mylinks

READ MY BOOK - FRONT & CENTER LEADERSHIP

I launched a new book and author website. Check it out here.

https://www.brandonbirkmeyer.com/fcl

CHECK OUT MY COURSES

Get tactical trainings and access to one-on-one coaching!

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/courses

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Get the latest news and trends on all things personal branding and the creator economy.

https://www.brandsonbrands.com/newsletter