The Curiosity Current: A Market Research Podcast

In this episode of The Curiosity Current, hosts Stephanie Vance and Matt Mahan welcome Doug Zarkin, Chief Brand Officer at Modern Performance and Recovery Brands and author of “Moving Your Brand Out of the Friend Zone. YouTube Chapters [00:00] Welcome to The Curiosity Current: Exploring Market Research [02:44] The Story Behind “Moving Your Brand Out of the Friend Zone” [04:37] Beyond Surface-Level: Creating True Brand Relationships [06:19] Balancing AI and Human Connection in Modern Marketing [08:05] The “Thinking Human” Approach: Treating Every Customer as Your Only One [13:18] The Power of Emotional Storytelling in Brand Building [15:53] Warning Signs Your Brand is Heading to the Friend Zone [17:31] Getting Real: The Importance of Direct Customer Feedback [18:55] The Brand Value Equation: Experience Divided by Price [21:02] Future Trends: From Streaming TV to the Return of Direct Mail [23:19] Final Thoughts: The Art of Marketing Through Curation