Unpacking the Brand
A podcast about what actually drives brand growth in print, packaging and manufacturing. Hosted by Ken Theriot of TheRiot Agency and Randy Kessler of Labels & Labeling, with the operators, printers and brand leaders doing the work.
About the show
Unpacking the Brand looks at how a brand grows in print, packaging and manufacturing. Ken Theriot and Randy Kessler speak with the people who do the work: printers, converters, association leaders and brand teams.
The show starts in print and packaging, then goes wider. Episodes cover sustainability, technology, trade shows, and the problems that come with growth. New episodes land through the season.
Listen to every episode
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Every episode
Newest first. Where we have written a recap, the card opens it.
Live from InfoFlex 2026: Industry Leaders Share the Real Pulse of Flexo
12 May 2026 · 14 min — Recorded live in Milwaukee. Industry leaders speak about supply chains, costs, AI and hiring.
Trade Shows Are Evolving (How to Fix Your Booth Strategy) with Rich Rodrigues
22 Apr 2026 · 72 min — Rich Rodrigues of Pinnacle shows how to turn a booth into a brand experience that pays back.
How Community Becomes a Competitive Advantage with Peter van Teeseling
15 Jan 2026 · 62 min — Peter van Teeseling of dScoop explains how trust between competitors becomes a real advantage.
Why LabelExpo Rebranded to LOUPE with Jade Grace
05 Dec 2025 · 38 min — Jade Grace of Informa Markets gives the data and the six-year plan behind the LOUPE rebrand.
Legacy Meets Innovation: Ben Urquhart on Two Centuries of Packaging Evolution
30 Oct 2025 · 64 min — Ben Urquhart runs a seventh-generation family business. He speaks about 200 years of corrugated packaging.
Loyalty, Leadership, and Labels: A Conversation with Alain Paquette of Artcraft
25 Sep 2025 · 50 min — Alain Paquette of Artcraft lost a major client before COVID. He explains how loyalty held the company together.
Labelexpo Europe 2025 Preview with Chelsea McDougall
14 Aug 2025 · 52 min — Chelsea McDougall of Labels & Labeling previews Barcelona, automation and flexible packaging.
Reinventing FTA: Nathan Ridnouer on the Future of Flexographic Printing
25 Jul 2025 · 53 min — Nathan Ridnouer leads the FTA. He speaks about industry education, volunteers and open leadership.
45 Years of Print Industry Wisdom with Paul Teachout
19 Jun 2025 · 60 min — Paul Teachout went from apprentice to executive across 45 years. He speaks about automation and the workforce.
Customer-Centric Branding in Manufacturing with Katie Graham
22 Apr 2025 · 36 min — Katie Graham of Bobst North America explains how a long sales cycle changes industrial marketing.
Secret of Scalable Growth with John Hirko
22 Apr 2025 · 44 min — John Hirko of TheRiot Agency shows how to align sales, marketing and customer success.
Unpacking the Brand – Teaser Trailer
13 Mar 2025 · 1 min — A short look at the show and the conversations ahead.
About the hosts
Ken Theriot
Ken is a brand strategist with more than 20 years in marketing, storytelling and audience engagement. He founded TheRiot Agency, and he has worked with companies across many industries to build a clear brand story. He joins creative work to data, and on the show he asks how a brand makes itself different and then stays that way.
Randy Kessler
Randy has more than 15 years in sales, marketing and brand strategy. As a key member of Labels & Labeling he has built lasting connections across the print and packaging industry, and he works closely with companies to understand their problems. He brings a direct, conversational style to each interview.
Come on the show
We look for operators with a real story about how they built a brand in a hard industry. Tell us who you are, what you run, and what you want to speak about. We read every application.