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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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Summary

 Soul & Science is an award-winning podcast where marketing’s brightest minds reveal what it takes to build breakthrough brands. Hosted by Jason Harris, each episode explores the balance between brand building (Soul) and business performance (Science). From legacy brands to emerging disruptors, we delve into the insights, culture, and vision behind the most successful brand stories.Soul & Science is a Mekanism podcast produced by Maggie Boles, Ryan Tillotson, and Lily Jablonski. The show is edited by Daniel Ferreira, with theme music by Kyle Merritt.Brought to you by Mekanism.2025 Mekanism Art Economics Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • #123: Twilio CMO Chris Koehler | Marketing in an AI World

    #123: Twilio CMO Chris Koehler | Marketing in an AI World
    May 11 2026
    Most marketers see AI as a tool. What if it’s also the audience? This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Chris Koehler, CMO of Twilio, to discuss B2B marketing and how AI is fundamentally changing the way brands communicate with consumers. From a 10-year stint at Adobe to navigating AI adoption at Box and now Twillo, Chris brings a deep understanding of how technology transforms both marketing strategy and customer behavior. Chris shares how Twilio is rethinking marketing from the inside out, from creating dedicated AI innovation roles to rebuilding workflows around speed, experimentation, and parallel collaboration. He explains how AI is changing discovery as consumers shift from search engines to AI agents—and why marketers now need to optimize for both humans and machines. They also discuss the increasing importance of brand awareness, the evolving roles of specialists and generalists, and why less is more in a market oversaturated with AI-generated content. Key Takeaways ✅ AI is both tool and a means of discovery ✅ Generalists work faster, but specialists are the gut-check ✅ Brands awareness is critical in an AI-driven world ✅ Adapting to AI means rethinking entire workflows ✅ The future of marketing is knowing how to say less Memorable Moments 💡 “B2B doesn’t have to suck.” 💡 “Everyone wants to feel like they’re building something.” 💡 “Content used to be the bottleneck; now it’s ubiquitous.” 💡 “How do you convince AI agents to recommend your brand to humans?” 💡 “The best teams are the ones brave enough to say less.” Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    40 mins
  • #122: Reimagining an Iconic Brand | Victoria Lozano, C-Suite Marketing Leader & Former CMO at Crayola

    #122: Reimagining an Iconic Brand | Victoria Lozano, C-Suite Marketing Leader & Former CMO at Crayola
    May 4 2026
    What does it take to turn a legacy brand into something bigger? This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Victoria Lozano, former CMO and EVP at Crayola, to discuss how she helped evolve one of the world’s most recognizable brands into a multi-platform growth engine. Drawing on her experience in both marketing and finance, Victoria’s approach ties brand strategy directly to business results. In their conversation, Victoria shares how redefining Crayola as a “creativity brand” unlocked new revenue streams, from in-person attractions to entertainment and digital platforms. She explains why the most effective brands know what they stand for: they’re built on clear, simple ideas that extend beyond a single product. They also discuss the realities of modern marketing, from navigating ambiguity and complexity to managing large teams that can execute with both creativity and discipline. Key Takeaways ✅ Knowing what your brand stands for can unlock growth ✅ Successful ideas need time, iteration, and refinement ✅ Simplicity makes it easier to understand and execute the vision ✅ Focusing on what matters most increases your chances of success ✅ Innovation isn’t just products; it’s how the business evolves Memorable Moments 💡 “Don’t get distracted by shiny objects.” 💡 “What difference do you make in their life?” 💡 “There’s no business you’ll ever be in where you don’t fail.” 💡 “Most successful businesses take a little bit of nurturing.” 💡 “You have to be comfortable living with ambiguity.” Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    39 mins
  • #121: “André is an Idiot” Director Tony Benna & Producer Lee Einhorn | The Last Laugh

    #121: “André is an Idiot” Director Tony Benna & Producer Lee Einhorn | The Last Laugh
    Apr 27 2026
    What if your last idea was the one that mattered most? This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Mekanism alums Tony Benna and Lee Einhorn, the director and producer behind André Is an Idiot: a documentary that follows their friend André Ricciardi as he faces stage four colon cancer with a sense of humor. What began as an outrageous pitch from André—that if he was going to die, they should film it—became a three-and-a-half-year journey documenting the final years of his life through laughter, tears, and honest, irreverent storytelling. Tony and Lee share how the film came together, the challenge of balancing comedy and grief, and why staying true to André’s voice meant refusing to make the “sad cancer film” the world expected. They also look back on the film’s whirlwind path to success, from getting picked up by A24 to winning the Audience Award at Sundance and finally securing distribution, and how it has evolved into something more than just a documentary: it’s sparking conversations, encouraging people to get screened for cancer, and ultimately saving lives. Key Takeaways ✅ Humor can help us face the hardest truths ✅ Being invited in is an honor and a responsibility ✅ Sharing your story can make a difference ✅ Always stay true to your voice ✅ Great stories start with real relationships Memorable Moments 💡 “To be invited into those last years of his life was a huge honor.” 💡 “André’s like, ‘I’ve got stage four cancer, let’s make a comedy." 💡 “The bigger goal the whole time was to save lives.” 💡 “It was one of the best times of my life, as horrible as that sounds.” 💡 “Laughter was the best medicine—not just for André, but for all of us” Brought to you by Mekanism.
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    40 mins
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