S06.E13 - Branding in an Age of Autocracy: Marty Neumeier on Trust, Truth & Power

As democracy fractures and trust erodes, branding enters unfamiliar territory. What happens to brand building when truth becomes optional and power consolidates?

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In this episode, we’re joined by Marty Neumeier—one of the most influential voices in branding—to explore what it means to design brands in a world increasingly shaped by autocracy, AI, and cultural volatility.

We unpack:

• Why branding depends on openness, trust, and shared meaning

• What AI, media, and power shifts are doing to perception

• The risks of brand neutrality—and the cost of staying silent

• The role of brand builders as educators, sense-makers, and cultural participants

• Why Level C is pushing brand education into new territory

• How business can remain human in an increasingly controlled landscape

This is a timely, wide-ranging conversation about branding’s responsibility, relevance, and future. If you’re a strategist, creative, or leader—this one asks more of you.