What happens when reality starts cracking under the weight of our contradictions? In this illuminating conversation with Natalie Black, founder and CEO of Culture and Curate, we dive deep into how brands must evolve to remain relevant in an era where traditional marketing approaches are failing spectacularly.

Natalie's journey from New York fashion PR maven to cultural strategist reveals the underlying patterns that have shaped her unique perspective on brand strategy. With remarkable candor, she shares how her early fascination with human behavior and psychology eventually led her to question the systems that govern our professional lives. "I didn't realize I was doing strategy at the time, but I literally would just show up to meetings that I had no business being in," she confesses, highlighting how curiosity and determination can open unexpected doors.

The conversation hits a raw and real note when Natalie breaks down her leap from corporate to entrepreneurship. She challenges the romanticized narrative of “be your own boss” and calls it what it is. Liberating, yes, but also brutal. When you’re in charge, every win and every screw-up traces back to you and no excuse can save you. It’s the part of the journey most people don’t talk about, and her take is a must-hear for anyone thinking about making the switch.

At the heart of our discussion is Natalie's groundbreaking report, "Signal and Shift: The Great Awakening," which identifies three polar forces constructing our current reality: hyper-optimization, hyper-polarization, and hyper-normalization. These forces have created a world where consumers increasingly feel something fundamental isn't right—paying more for less while brands extract value from culture without genuine reciprocity. Her solution challenges conventional marketing wisdom: "People are not boxes," she asserts, urging brands to move beyond demographic targeting toward authentic human connection.

Want to understand how your brand can thrive amid unprecedented cultural shifts? This episode offers a new framework for approaching strategy in ways that honor human complexity while building meaningful connections. Subscribe, share your thoughts, and join us in reimagining how brands and humans can evolve together in these extraordinary times.

See below for how to connect with our guest, Natalie Black:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliesblack/
• Email: natalie@culturexcurate.com
• Website: https://culturexcurate.com

What do you do when the path you’ve dedicated your life to suddenly shifts? For Brandon Leopoldus, the end of his umpiring career at 24 wasn’t the finish line, it was the beginning of a new chapter. That pivot became the foundation for a thriving legal practice focused on guiding athletes and entertainers through the high-stakes business of sports.

Drawing from his five years in baseball's minor leagues, Brandon reveals the stark realities behind professional sports careers. "When you see guys on an NFL roster, you don't have 53 millionaires out there. You probably have 10 millionaires and 43 broke guys," he explains. With most NFL careers lasting under three years and players missing pension eligibility, the financial picture for athletes isn't what fans imagine.

Brandon's practice focuses on helping athletes navigate crucial transition points...from high school recruitment through college NIL deals to professional contracts and retirement planning. He emphasizes creating a trusted team of advisors who can protect athletes from poor investments and impulsive purchases that jeopardize long-term financial security. "If you haven't had money, it's the biggest thing in the world," Brandon notes. "It's like if you haven't eaten for three days and you open up the refrigerator, you eat everything."

The conversation takes a fascinating turn examining how NIL is transforming college athletics. Brandon predicts continued evolution toward direct player payments, creating widening disparities between revenue and non-revenue sports. This shift threatens Olympic sports development as universities potentially cut programs to fund football and basketball. "If you don't have collegiate cross-country, your Olympic teams in the future are really going to suffer," he warns.

Throughout our discussion, Brandon's authenticity shines through as both personal philosophy and business strategy. "I have a hard enough time being myself, let alone trying to be somebody else," he shares, explaining how this approach attracts clients who value transparency and honesty.

Ready to explore the hidden realities of sports careers and learn why authenticity might be your greatest business asset? Dive into this eye-opening conversation that will change how you view professional athletes and the business infrastructure surrounding them.

What does it truly mean to operate with an abundance mindset in business? Desirae Jones, founder of Desirae Jones Co., joins the Heavy On Brand podcast to share her extraordinary journey from corporate marketing to purpose-driven entrepreneurship.Desirae's story begins with a leap of faith - moving from Atlanta to New York for a global corporate communications position with barely any experience, a poor credit score, and no savings.

From her basement apartment in the Bronx, she navigated corporate America as a young Black woman, engaging with senior executives, managing global teams, and driving media relations for a publicly traded company hungry for market share. Long before DEI became part of the corporate lexicon—before terms like microaggressions or allyship were widely recognized—Desirae found her own way, often without a roadmap. Though she often felt undervalued and overlooked during her tenure, that season sharpened her instincts and resilience. She left the company but returned as a consultant to lead the company’s first multicultural marketing campaign for Marvel's “Black Panther.”

This pivotal moment revealed Desirae's "superpower" - the ability to create authentic multicultural campaigns that benefit both brands and communities. The experience taught her that her potential had been limited by corporate constraints, leading her to establish her own marketing communications agency focused on social impact. Rather than chasing awards or celebrity clients, Desirae finds fulfillment in projects that create meaningful change, shown recently through her work with Pfizer, Amazon Studios, and MGM Studios.

Throughout the conversation, Desirae and host Brian Fitch explore how their chance meeting at Atlanta's The Gathering Spot led to lasting friendship and collaboration. Their story exemplifies the power of horizontal networking and maintaining an abundance mindset - connecting people freely without expectation of return. As Desirae puts it, "When you truly look at the world or opportunities as an endless supply, it allows you to operate freely."

Follow Desirae Jones Co. on social media or visit www.desiraejonesco.com to learn more about how purpose-driven marketing and communications can create meaningful impact while achieving business objectives.