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Thursday Lunch

Thursday Lunch

By: Stephanie Robbins and Dan Howell
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Thursday Lunch dives into the mechanics, and the magic, of building great brands: from innovation to business strategy, team leadership, and everything in between. With decades of experience leading ideas from napkin sketch to national launch, Dan Howell and Stephanie Robbins unpack how strong teams, smart planning, and thoughtful execution drive category-defying results through the use of the 4cs process and understanding.

Stephanie Robbins and Dan Howell Art Cooking Economics Food & Wine Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • Emotional Resonance

    Emotional Resonance
    Dec 25 2025

    This episode explores emotional resonance in food and branding. Stephanie and Dan discuss why what we love to eat is often shaped by memory, culture, and context. Through stories ranging from Kraft mac and cheese to McDonald’s, Dan and Stephanie unpack why “authentic” is a limiting idea, and why resonance, integrity, and shared meaning matter more when creating brands that truly connect.
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    26 mins
  • Consensus is More Than a Yes

    Consensus is More Than a Yes
    Dec 11 2025

    In this episode, Dan and Stephanie explore a product failure that revealed a core truth of building great brands: a strong concept is nothing without aligned execution. They break down how ignoring constraints, skipping collaboration, and bypassing consensus can derail even the most promising ideas, and how leveraging the power of the Four C’s can prevent it.

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    22 mins
  • The Freakout Zone

    The Freakout Zone
    Nov 27 2025

    In this episode, Stephanie and Dan share the surprising origin story of their hit product, Cranberry Jalapeño and how casual conversations and early collaboration turned a quirky idea into a breakout success. They also look at the “one step away” rule and discuss how to keep the customer out of the Freak Out Zone. It’s a quick look at how great products are sparked long before the brief is written.
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    22 mins
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