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Soul & Science: Fast Forward Your Marketing Mind

Soul & Science: Fast Forward Your Marketing Mind

By: Mekanism and Jason Harris
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 In today’s world how does a brand break through the noise and become iconic? Well, there’s a complex marketing machine running behind all your favorite brand names that goes deeper than you could imagine.

Join Jason Harris, co-founder and CEO of award-winning creative agency, Mekanism, as he speaks with leading experts about how to build an iconic brand. We will pull back the curtain on how culturally relevant brand building and always-on digital work together to make brands famous and drive business Results. Think of it as EQ meeting IQ. Let’s fast forward our marketing minds on the Soul & Science Podcast.

Soul & Science is a Mekanism podcast produced by Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson, Grace Robert and Lily Jablonski. The show is edited by Daniel Ferreira, with theme music by Kyle Merritt.

At Mekanism we build iconic brands with Soul & Science. The Soul is culturally relevant brand building and the Science is the always-on marketing activities that drive the bottom line. Learn more at mekanism.com.

Brought to you by Mekanism.2025 Mekanism Art Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • #95: Why Clients Don’t Want Collaborators | Michael Palma, Founder of The Palma Group

    #95: Why Clients Don’t Want Collaborators | Michael Palma, Founder of The Palma Group
    Aug 25 2025
    What do basketball, brand reviews, and $400M in agency wins have in common? Michael Palma.

    From being a Parade All-American athlete to coaching under Jim Valvano, Michael Palma pivoted into advertising recruitment—eventually placing more than 1,300 top talents and helping agencies win over $400 million in revenue. Today, as founder of The Palma Group, he manages reviews for global brands like Coca-Cola, Heineken, Peugeot, and Zaxby’s.

    In this episode of Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Michael to unpack what makes partnerships last, how to spot red flags before they sink a pitch, and why true leaders walk with a “humble swagger.”

    Key Takeaways:

    ✅ Clients don’t want collaborators—they want leadership that listens
    ✅ There’s no “perfect” agency, only the ideal fit for the moment
    ✅ Good agencies get comfortable; great ones never stop bringing ideas
    ✅ A pitch is won or lost in the first five minutes of emotional connection
    ✅ Agency culture—not case studies—ultimately drives client choice

    Memorable Moments:

    💡 “Clients want leadership that listens. They don’t want collaborators.”
    💡 “If you’re gonna lose, lose as you. Don’t lose pretending to be someone else.”
    💡 “There is no perfect agency—only the best possible fit.”
    💡 “The mortal enemy of good agencies is efficiency. Great ones never stop caring.”

    Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    38 mins
  • #94: Future-Proofing Your Brand | Jason Feifer, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur magazine

    #94: Future-Proofing Your Brand | Jason Feifer, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur magazine
    Aug 18 2025
    Change is inevitable—but the most successful leaders know how to turn it into their greatest advantage.

    In this episode, Jason sits down with Jason Feifer, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur magazine and author of Build for Tomorrow. From walking away from his first reporting job to pitching national outlets cold, Feifer has built a career on spotting opportunities no one asked him to pursue—and helping others do the same. They unpack how to future-proof your career or brand, the filter he uses to separate hype from lasting change, and why your personal mission statement should never hinge on a single role.

    Key Takeaways:
    ✅ “Opportunity Set B” can unlock your biggest career leaps
    ✅ Anchor your identity to transferable value, not your current title
    ✅ Trends that last solve old problems, not new ones
    ✅ Redefining productivity can help you sustain growth and avoid burnout

    Memorable Moments:
    💡 “Never be satisfied with the thing you already have. It’s a launching point for what’s next.”
    💡 “If nobody’s asking you to do it, that’s probably where the best opportunities are hiding.”
    💡 “Your mission statement should survive any change in title, industry, or medium.”
    💡 “Things that last are things that solve old problems in better ways.”
    💡 “Change doesn’t mean losing your value—it’s a chance to apply it somewhere new.”

    Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    39 mins
  • Mini: Cannes Lions Scandal — When AI Crosses the Line

    Mini: Cannes Lions Scandal — When AI Crosses the Line
    Aug 11 2025
    This year’s Cannes Lions Festival — the world’s biggest celebration of creativity — made headlines for all the wrong reasons. Brazilian agency DM9 was stripped of multiple awards — including a Grand Prix — after using AI to fabricate campaign case study results.

    Jason Harris breaks down how they pulled it off, why it’s a symptom of a bigger problem in the industry, and what Cannes is doing to prevent it from happening again. From deepfakes to fabricated results, AI is making award scams easier than ever — and the fallout could change the way we measure creative success.

    Key Takeaways:
    ✅ AI has made it easier to manipulate case studies and campaign results.
    ✅ Cannes Lions is implementing stricter AI disclosure rules and expert reviews.
    ✅ If we can’t trust the work we celebrate, what’s the point of celebrating it?

    Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    3 mins
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