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Home / Podcast

Giant Stories

A podcast presented by Medium Giant

While the tools we have at our disposal to create and share stories have never been broader and more varied, the fundamentals of great storytelling remain as transcendent as ever.

Despite the headwinds our industry faces, clients and brands will always covet companies that remain steadfast — with a steady eye on culture, an understanding of the business dynamics at hand, and a commitment to the fundamentals of what makes a great story.

Join us for compelling conversations with some of today’s most influential and relevant storytellers. You’ll be inspired by their journey and learn how the power of story has transformed their brands, their companies, and their careers.

Explore episodes below or listen on your favorite streaming platform:

  • Spotify
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Pandora
  • iHeartRadio
  • Amazon Music
  • YouTube

 

Episode 13: Built by Locals, Made for the World: The Heart Behind the Dallas Rebrand — with Jennifer Walker

Episode highlights include:

  • How Visit Dallas uses storytelling to challenge stereotypes and spotlight surprising talent — from scientists to chefs
  • Why the “Can-Do Spirit” is more than a slogan, it’s a reflection of Dallasites’ grit, hospitality, and yes, swagger
  • The power of launching a local-first brand campaign to ignite pride and ensure adoption citywide.
  • What success looks like in the years to come

Episode 12: Helmets Off: How the NFL is Winning with Global Storytelling — with Marissa Solis

Episode highlights include:

  • The challenge and possibility of infinite stories: Marissa opens up about what it’s like leading brand and consumer marketing for the NFL — a league that’s both deeply rooted in American culture and rapidly expanding across the globe.
  • Going global with the game: Hear how the NFL tailors its storytelling in markets like the U.K., Germany, and Brazil — each with unique fan cultures and engagement styles.
  • “Helmets Off” and human-first storytelling: Discover how the NFL is revealing the humanity of its players—showing them not just as athletes but as brothers, fathers, and community leaders.
  • Creating a cultural force: From The Simpsons to Joe Burrow at Paris Fashion Week, the NFL is leaning into bold, unexpected collaborations to stay relevant across generations.
  • Flag football and inclusivity: Marissa shares how flag football is opening new doors for youth, especially girls, and helping the league build a global pipeline of future fans and athletes.
  • Marketing to a new generation: Learn how data-driven fan journeys help the NFL craft stories that resonate across age groups, cultural backgrounds, and motivations.
  • What brands get wrong: Marissa shares candid insights about what makes marketing feel stale—and what today’s audiences truly want from brands: authenticity, purpose, and emotional connection.

Episode 11: Bringing the FIFA World Cup to North Texas — With Monica Paul

Episode highlights include:

  • A behind-the-curtain look at the bid process for hosting the FIFA World Cup
  • How North Texas positioned itself as a prime location for the event — and what makes its sports culture unique
  • The impact of bringing global audiences to North Texas and the massive infrastructure efforts needed to prepare for the World Cup
  • The economic and cultural impact of hosting nine matches in the metroplex — and the collaboration required between cities
  • A sneak peek into the plans for FIFA World Cup fan festivals, concerts, and immersive experiences
  • How major sporting events leave a lasting legacy in the community and why Dallas is already thinking ahead to a future Women’s World Cup bid

Episode 10: Defining the Storytelling Edge — With Medium Giant’s Shawn Kruggel and Lizzy Bakhaus

Episode highlights include:

  • The Foundations of Great Storytelling: What makes a brand story compelling, and why authenticity is key.
  • Medium Giant’s Storytelling Framework: The unique exploration of critical context all the way to earned ending.
  • The Role of AI in Creativity: When to embrace automation and when human insight matters most.
  • Reach vs. Resonance: How brands can balance data-driven tactics with emotional connection.
  • The Future of Storytelling in Marketing: Emerging trends in brand ecosystems, influencer marketing, and strategic consulting.

Episode 9: From Convenience to Pop Culture: How 7-Eleven Tells Its Story — With Marissa Jarratt

Episode highlights include:

  • The accidental way Marissa fell in love with brand marketing after initially pursuing a career in finance
  • The story framework that 7-Eleven uses in all their marketing, communications, programming, development, and partnerships
  • Why “conflict” is so important to brand storytelling — and how 7-Eleven activates the brand’s conflict of amusing vs. essential
  • How launching a Slurpee into space showcased just one way 7-Eleven contextualizes its marketing to its audiences
  • The role of “car culture” in 7-Eleven marketing — and what they learned from their fans
  • How 7-Eleven approaches sustainability for the short-term and long-term future
  • The three ways that 7-Eleven is navigating Generative AI

Episode 8: The Real Deal: Why Authentic Storytelling Matters for Brands — With Paige Guzman

In this episode, Paige shares her brand experience and insights with John Kiker, president of Medium Giant, including:

  • The origin stories behind brands like Lagunitas and Mezzetta — and why authenticity matters
  • How to appeal to consumers emotionally and deliver content that makes an impact
  • Why brands birthed in boardrooms can be more challenging to build stories around
  • The challenges of finding influencers who have a meaningful connection with the brand
  • Where she sees a huge opportunity for unfulfilled stories in the market
  • Her predictions for how storytelling will evolve over the next five years

Episode 7: How 105 Moons Sparked the Importance of Every Individual’s Story and Truth in Leadership — With Jackie Insinger

In this episode, Jackie shares her own sparks of leadership inspiration with John Kiker, president of Medium Giant, including:

  • Why having a rich diversity of perspectives — individual stories — can influence better decision-making, greater innovation, and bigger outputs
  • Why we can’t manage through change in today’s VUCA world — and what to do instead
  • The critical impact of psychological safety — and why encouraging courage is necessary for innovation, growth, and success
  • What “Ted Lasso leadership” can show us about the intersection of transparency, authenticity, and positivity
  • How the “power lead” technique can help set a positive tone
  • Why creating smaller finish lines is a game-changer for maintaining momentum 

Episode 6: From Pizza Coupons to PCs: How Insights Drive Stories — With Lance Hill

In this episode, Lance sits down with John Kiker, president of Medium Giant, to discuss:

  • How building content around tater tots and milkshakes laid an early foundation for Lance’s career journey
  • Why it takes art and science to fuel storytelling
  • The integral role and appeal of authenticity in marketing — and how nuance can be a game-changer
  • Why playing it safe is clamping down on creativity
  • The role of technology in our current world and how it has changed how we work — and create content

Episode 5: From The Gap to Bay Club: Why It’s Important to “Keep it Real” — With Tracy Cioffi

In this episode, Tracy sits down with John Kiker, president of Medium Giant, to discuss:

  • How her time at The Gap, Sur la Table, and more shaped her perception of brand story — and its importance
  • The specific qualities she looks for when she’s telling brand stories
  • How she “keeps it real” at Bay Club
  • Bay Club’s unique approach to connecting with members of all ages — and what other brands can learn from it
  • How she sees storytelling evolving — why she actually hopes it slows down

Episode 4: Building Real Stories From the Ground Up — With Joan Cetera

In this episode, Joan shares with John Kiker, president of Medium Giant:

  • How she parlayed her experience from highly palatable food at Frito-Lay to heavy-duty machinery at Caterpillar
  • How Caterpillar’s brand story has built a name for itself in our culture — right down to actor Ryan Gosling’s cap in The Fall Guy
  • Why a compelling “story arc” is essential for good brand storytelling
  • Why it’s important to get employees excited about their company’s story — and how to do it
  • Why homing in on humor and moments of joy can be a game changer in storytelling

Episode 3: How a Newsroom Thinks About Storytelling — With Katrice Hardy

In this episode, Katrice shares with John Kiker, president of Medium Giant:

  • What makes a great story from the perspective of an editor
  • How the multifaceted nature of storytelling formats can be used to meet people where they are
  • The surprising correlation between journalism and advertising when it comes to storytelling
  • Why it’s so important to bring light to stories that would otherwise go untold
  • How journalistic storytelling is going to evolve over the next decade

Episode 2: Elevating the Stories of Black Creators — With Justin Adu

In this episode, Justin sits down with John Kiker, president of Medium Giant, to share:

  • The impact of a people-first approach and how it can bring underrepresented stories to life
  • Why having diverse voices across every storytelling platform is important
  • The elements that make for an attention-grabbing, authentic brand story
  • Why outside-the-box thinking and taking risks are worth it
  • How agency collaboration — in and out of the office — is a game changer

Episode 1: The Magic of Turning Wishes Into Stories — With Kim Elenez

In this episode, Kim sits down with John Kiker, president of Medium Giant, to share:

  • Why authenticity is fundamental to a brand story that has staying power
  • Her “bite, snack, meal” approach to storytelling
  • How micro moments and unthinkable realities can create extraordinary stories
  • Her perspective for breaking through the clutter and noise
  • Powerful takeaways from wishes granted

Giant Stories is a production of Medium Giant and our parent company, the DallasNews Corporation.

Interested in learning more about how your brand’s story can be better told and sold? Fill out our contact form or send an email to hello@mediumgiant.co.