Show Notes
A Different Take — Season 2 launches with the story of New Balance’s remarkable transformation from “dad shoe” to one of the hottest brands in sports and culture.
Hosted by Linda Boff, this episode goes behind the strategy that changed how the world saw New Balance. Chris Davis, Chief Marketing Officer & Brand President of New Balance, and Matt Welty, Complex Associate Editor and longtime sneaker journalist, unpack the pivotal moments—from limited-edition collaborations and the rise of sneaker culture to New Balance’s decision to embrace its heritage rather than imitate its competitors.
How do you make an “uncool” brand cool without losing what made it authentic in the first place?
Welcome to Season 2 of A Different Take.
0:00 Intro & Background
2:56 The Reputation
6:17 The Turning Point
7:45 What Actually Changed?
12:58 Surprise: They Didn't Hide The Dad Shoe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from A Different Take with Linda Boff
New Balance has gone from “dad shoe” to global cultural force. But how do you stay authentic once you've made it?
What if staying private is one of New Balance’s biggest competitive advantages?
What makes an athlete choose one brand over another?
Episode 2: Was Coca-Cola's campaign a defining test case for whether AI can serve as a creative collaborator rather than a replacement for human talent? Secret Level founder Jason Zada explores how one of the world’s most iconic brands balanced innovation with consumer expectations, what it means to introduce AI at scale, and how creative leadership evaluates when emerging technology enhances—not diminishes—the craft of storytelling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Episode 4: Did Coca-Cola’s AI campaign herald a new golden age of marketing? We talk with Silverside founder PJ Periera about how brands can use AI to reimagine iconic assets and blend nostalgia with new forms of storytelling, while navigating the risks that come with touching deeply familiar cultural symbols. The conversation explores whether this marks a true turning point for marketing, how AI is redefining creative excellence, and what separates meaningful brand reinvention from content that is merely faster and cheaper to produce. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices