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Artwork for Beyond the Swag: Merch is Media Podcast

Beyond the Swag: Merch is Media Podcast

Kevin Patrick
Promotional Products
Branding
Personal Branding
Artificial Intelligence
Decoration Techniques
Brand Trust
Marketing
Digital Marketing
Merchandising / Promotional Products
Merchandising
Branded Merchandise
Brand Storytelling
PHYSICAL MARKETING
Vector Artwork
Brand Guidelines
E-Commerce Integrations
Trade Shows
Trust In Marketing
Brand Ambassadors

Beyond the Swag is a straight-talk podcast that explores what really happens behind branded merchandise, promotional products, and apparel—not the glossy highlight reels, but the decisions, mistakes, strategies, and people that shape the industry. Hosted by Kevin Patrick, the show goes past logos and giveaways to unpack how swag is actually used to grow businesses, build culture, win clients, and ... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes7Founded2 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MarketingBusiness

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Artwork for Beyond the Swag: Merch is Media Podcast

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Beyond the Swag, Kevin sits down with Matt Watson, CEO and Creative Director of Watson Creative, to unpack a simple but powerful truth:

Great merchandise isn’t decoration. It’s meaning.

Early in his career at Nike, Matt watched how... more

In this episode of Beyond the Swag, Kevin sits down with Jason Hunt, CMO and Co-Founder of Merged Media, to unpack what personal branding will look like in 2026 — in a world where AI can generate content in seconds.

When everyone has access to the sa... more

In this episode of Beyond the Swag, Kevin sits down with Logan Altman of Doing Good Works to explore how merchandise can do more than build visibility — it can build community.

Logan shares how purpose-driven brands can use merchandise to transform ... more

In this episode of Beyond the Swag, Kevin sits down with Ashley Nardini of Capstone Marketing — who confidently claimed she doesn’t use promotional products.

Except… she does.

From handwritten thank-you cards to new member welcome mailers to custom... more

In this episode of Beyond the Swag, Kevin sits down with Diane Meier of Meier NYC — a branding strategist who has worked with iconic names like Gucci, Rolex, Bergdorf Goodman, and De Beers — to unpack a hard truth most companies miss:

Branding isn’t... more

In this episode of Beyond the Swag™, Kevin Patrick sits down with Eric Withaar of Premium Custom Products to go beyond logos and talk about what actually makes promotional products work.

With over 30 years on the decorator side of the industry, Eric... more

In this episode of Beyond the Swag, Kevin Patrick sits down with Dana Cardinas of One Stop Promotional Products to break down what company stores are actually meant to do.

With over 200 active stores under her belt, Dana shares why company stores ar... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Matt Watson
CEO and creative director for Watson Creative
Watson Creative
Episode: When Merch Becomes Meaning
Jason Hunt
Guest from Merged Media, digital marketing expert
Merged Media
Episode: Personal Branding in 2026: Standing Out in an AI World
Logan Altman
Chief Impact Officer of Doing Good Works
Doing Good Works
Episode: Merch with a Mission: How to Transform Lives Through Brand
Ashley Nardini
Owner of Capstone Marketing (Benton, Louisiana)
Capstone Marketing
Episode: She Said She Doesn’t Use Promo… But Closed a Deal with Cookies.
Diane Meier
Founder of Meier and Company
Meier and Company
Episode: Why Most Brands Get Swag Completely Wrong
Eric Withaar
Owner/Operator at Premium Custom Products
Premium Custom Products
Episode: Merch Is Media™: Why Systems, Stores, and Decoration Quality Actually Build Trust
Dana Cardinas
Representative of One Stop Promotional Products, expert on company stores
One Stop Promotional Products
Episode: Merch Is Media™: Why Company Stores Are Systems, Not Shopify Links

Host

Kevin Patrick
Host of Beyond the Swag: Merch is Media, guiding conversations on the business side of branded merchandise and promotional products.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Personal Branding in 2026: Standing Out in an AI World
Q: How should brands think about swag and events as AI grows?
Swag should be high quality, purposeful, and integrated into a broader strategy with multiple touchpoints; it should tell a story and generate genuine experiences rather than mere logo placement.
Personal Branding in 2026: Standing Out in an AI World
Q: What do you see changing the most about personal branding in 2026 in an AI-driven world?
The emphasis will be on maintaining human connection, using AI to personalize content while preserving a unique brand voice, and leveraging authentic stories and experiences to stand out.
Why Most Brands Get Swag Completely Wrong
Q: What are common mistakes brands make with swag?
Brands often choose low-cost, low-quality items that feel like afterthoughts; they fail to align merchandise with the brand's higher-level strategy and customer expectations, reducing impact and ROI.
Why Most Brands Get Swag Completely Wrong
Q: How can merchandise shift how a brand is perceived?
Merchandise should embody the brand's values and tell its story, not just serve as a logo carrier; when done right, items can demonstrate sustainability, provenance, and thoughtful design that reinforces brand positioning.
Why Most Brands Get Swag Completely Wrong
Q: Why is branding so important for business?
Branding shapes how customers perceive and experience a company, influencing trust and loyalty beyond individual products or logos; it should permeate the entire customer journey and how the brand behaves.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Beyond the Swag: Merch is Media Podcast

What is Beyond the Swag: Merch is Media Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show dives into the practical realities of branded merchandise and promotional products, focusing on decisions, strategies, and people behind the scenes rather than glossy hype. Episodes explore meaningful swag, quality and design decisions, and how merch can drive loyalty, culture, and revenue when executed with discipline. Guests range from brand builders and agency leaders to suppliers and operators, sharing real-world lessons, frameworks, and actionable takeaways for brands looking to treat merch as a strategic growth tool rather than “free stuff.” The podcast stands out for its candid conversations about the industry's challenges, such as avoiding junk swag, aligning swag with brand behavior, and scaling programs with systems and ... more

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How many episodes of Beyond the Swag: Merch is Media Podcast are there?

Beyond the Swag: Merch is Media Podcast launched 2 months ago and published 7 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Beyond the Swag: Merch is Media Podcast?

Recent guests on Beyond the Swag: Merch is Media Podcast include:

1. Matt Watson
2. Jason Hunt
3. Logan Altman
4. Ashley Nardini
5. Diane Meier
6. Eric Withaar
7. Dana Cardinas

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