Show overview
Brand You Personal Branding has been publishing since 2014, and across the 12 years since has built a catalogue of 505 episodes, alongside 1 trailer or bonus episode. That works out to roughly 240 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 21 min and 36 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Business show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 2 weeks ago, with 15 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Mike Kim.
From the publisher
The Brand You Podcast with Mike Kim helps you showcase your unique expertise and build a profitable business around your personal brand. Each episode blends real-world strategy with actionable tips in personal branding, marketing, copywriting, consulting, business, and coaching — so you can attract the right clients, grow your influence, and do more of the work you love. Mike Kim is the Wall Street Journal best-selling author of You Are the Brand, a proven guidebook that has helped entrepreneurs, consultants, coaches, and creators position themselves as trusted authorities in their field. As a sought-after speaker and marketing strategist, Mike has worked with industry leaders, NYT bestselling authors, and influential organizations to craft messaging that moves people to action. With years of hands-on experience in branding, direct response marketing, and high-level consulting, Mike distills what he's learned into clear, practical advice — so you can stop feeling stuck, clarify your message, and build a business that's unmistakably you.
Latest Episodes
View all 505 episodes[#31] AI Probably Ripped Off My Book. Here's Why I'm Not Mad
[#30] The Tabloidification of the Internet (Why the Internet Got Worse)
[#28] I've Been Dating...
(Watch on YouTube or read on my site ») I've been going on something called an "Artist Date": a solo outing, once a week with your "Inner Artist," to something that feeds you creatively. The idea comes from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way, a book that's been sitting on my shelf for a year. I finally decided to go through with it. A few links I mentioned, all in one place: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (get the hard copy) » Blackwing video by The Wall St. Journal (great storytelling) » Blackwing's site (you can't get these on Amazon) » Doug's Comic, Wait it Gets Worse » Lauren's site, laurendaviscreative.com » Rich Relationships: Create a Million-Dollar Network for Your Business by Selena Soo »
[#27] From SXSW: The Work Behind the Work of Co-Presenting with Ryan Levesque
Recently, I presented at SXSW called You Are Still the Brand: What AI Can't Do For You alongside author, Ryan Levesque. Preparing together gave me a rare look at how someone I respect does their work, and it made me rethink a few things about my own process. Here's what I learned about preparation, deep work, and why there's a huge jump between $1,500 Hamilton tickets vs. $15 improv tickets. If you're interested in hearing about an upcoming training I'm planning to offer around writing and marketing your book, get on my waitlist below. mikekim.com/writeyourbook CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#26] How AI Will Impact Books with JJ Virgin
AI isn't killing books. The numbers say otherwise, and the opportunity for authors has never been bigger. In this conversation, Mike Kim (Wall St. Journal and USA Today bestselling author) and JJ Virgin (4x NYT bestselling author) talk about what actually happens to books in an AI world: who survives, who doesn't, and why your personal brand matters more now than ever. They also get into AI clones, institutional knowledge, and why JJ literally has a digital version of herself running 24/7. If you're an author, aspiring author, or thought leader trying to figure out where books fit in your business, this one's for you. CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#25] The Return to Real in a Post-AI World with Ryan Levesque
Ryan Levesque built a SaaS company, had a life-changing exit offer fall apart at the 11th hour, and then realized something that shook him: he'd started hating his business, and as a result, he'd started hating himself. What followed was a radical reorientation: making a public confession to his audience that none of his emails over the past seven years had actually been written by him, moving to a Vermont farm, and writing every word of his newsletter without AI. This is a conversation about what it costs to take your voice back and why the unscalable things are the only real moat left in a post AI world. RESOURCES: Ryan's newsletter » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#24] The Five Voices of Thought Leadership
Your emails, posts, and captions sound generic because you shut off your real voice the moment you think you're supposed to sound impressive. You don't have a writing problem. You have a voice problem. I've spent over a decade as a brand strategist working with NYT bestselling authors and thought leaders, and I've found that nearly everyone falls into one of five voice types. This post may help you figure out which one is yours, and show you how to adapt it to any platform or situation. CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#23] The Inner Game: What Charlie Munger Hating Math And Selling Myself Taught Me About The Game No One Sees
Take the Idea-to-IP assessment here » No business strategy will solve a nervous system problem. In this episode, I break down Charlie Munger's inversion principle, a powerful identity framework from mental performance coach Lauren Johnson, and why the most successful people I've worked with are always the most teachable. This is the inner game, and it matters more than any tactic. CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#22] 3 Ways to Protect Your Original Thinking and Voice in a Post-AI World
Take the Idea-to-IP assessment here » Your inner voice powers everything: what you say, write, and how you show up. But most people try to force it louder instead of turning down the noise. In this episode, I cover how tracking behaviors, sorting ideas vs. notes, and building a simple capture system protects your original thinking and ensures you don't default to being a copy of a copy or a copy. CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#21] The Voice Louder Than What You Say or Write
Take the Idea-to-IP assessment here » Most people think voice is just what you say or write. But there's a third voice that matters more than both: the voice of presence—what you emanate when people are around you. In this video, I unpack why developing all three voices is what creates real opportunity. CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#20] AI is the Ozempic of Thinking
Take the Idea-to-IP assessment here » What does a day worth repeating actually look like? Today, I talk about getting punched in the mouth by January (literally ended up in the hospital), why AI is the Ozempic of thinking, and how I'm putting guardrails around my brain in a post-AI world. If you're a hard-charging, high-achiever who defaults to being the engine instead of the architect, this one's for you. CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#19] Take My NEW Idea-to-IP Assessment (While it's Free)
Take the Idea-to-IP assessment here » One of the most common problems I see: experts doing everything right but not getting the traction they should. Usually, it comes down to this: the right digits, the wrong order. You can have all the right numbers in a phone number, but if even one digit is out of place, you're not dialed in. That's why I built the Idea to IP Score Assessment—a free 30-question diagnostic that shows you exactly where you are and what to focus on next. CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#18] Reflections From Being Hospitalized Last Week
div]:bg-bg-000/50 [&_pre>div]:border-0.5 [&_pre>div]:border-border-400 [&_.ignore-pre-bg>div]:bg-transparent [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.standard-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pl-2 [&_.progressive-markdown_:is(p,blockquote,ul,ol,h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:pr-8"> _*]:min-w-0 standard-markdown"> I spent last week in the hospital getting tests done after experiencing bad headaches. Everything came back clear, and I'm on the mend. While I was there, a line from Matthew McConaughey's book Greenlights kept coming to mind: "Can I live in a way that I look forward to looking back?" Sharing some thoughts on that experience and a few updates on what's coming up. EPISODE LINKS: Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » Greenlights (book) » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#17] My Reading List: Books That Shaped Who I Am and How I Think
I've spent years building a library that shaped who I am as a person and entrepreneur. From memoirs of obsessive creators to dark philosophy, relationship healing to marketing classics—these aren't just books I've read, they're books that changed me. Here's my full list (with some comic books, YouTube channels, and newsletters thrown in): http://mikekim.com/booklist CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#16] How I Plan My Annual Calendar (You Asked, I Answered)
Watch on YouTube » Read this episode » One of the most important aspects of my business costs about $12 on Amazon. It's a cheap plastic 12 month calendar that I stick on a wall. In this episode, I break down my entire annual planning system. I'll show you how I schedule big rocks (webinars, launches, events), build in proper runway and recovery time, and create the margin needed for life's inevitable curveballs. I'm also sharing my five guiding principles for 2026: fewer commitments, stronger yeses, slower starts, deeper fulfillment, and cleaner endings. Whether you're in startup mode or ready to work less and create more, this framework will help you design a year that's sustainable, profitable, and fulfilling. EPISODE LINKS: Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » Learning to Love Midlife by Chip Conley (book) » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#15] 2025: What I Gave Up to Move Forward
Watch on YouTube » Read this episode » The past year has been a reckoning on work, grief, and self-trust. I reflect on the changes I made this year: what I built, what I cut, and what death clarified for me. This episode is about subtraction, nervous system regulation, and learning to live without numbing or chaos. I hope you find some of my learnings helpful. EPISODE LINKS: Join the waitlist for 1:1 Advisory » Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#14] The Unarmored Life and Making Peace with Peace
Watch on YouTube » Read this episode » Welcome to that in-between liminal week and a half between Christmas and New Year's. Every so often we get lucky and score two weekends during this stretch, and this year is one of them. This is one of my favorite times of the year. Despite the commercialization, this period is a rare cultural pause. A collective breath, if you will. For me, it's a time to live unarmored and to make peace with peace. EPISODE LINKS: Join the waitlist for 1:1 Advisory » Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#13] My 14-Year Old Niece Interviewed Me About Influence and Personal Branding
Watch on YouTube » Read this episode » During her visit to New York City, my (sweetheart!!!) niece Nylah asked if I could help with a school project on social media and influence. (She thinks I'm an actual influencer, haha.) We braved the winter weather and did an interview while walking towards the Museum of Natural History. I always tell people that if you want to explain what you do, try explaining it like you're talking to a kid. Well, this is my attempt! I could have explained it to her in way more complex terms and she would have understood me – she's a smart cookie. She asked me some pretty deep questions! But you get what I mean. Reflecting on our interview, I realized it's really important to have these kinds of conversations with kids. I share some life skills I think will be really important for Nylah, as well as recommended books, the reality behind what people see online, and the pitfalls and opportunities social media affords. If you're interested in the books that shaped me as a communicator and marketer, here are the originals I studied: Ogilvy on Advertising - David Ogilvy The Boron Letters - Gary Halbert Advertising Headlines that Make You Rich - David Garfinkle Influence - Robert Cialdini The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing - Al Ries & Jack Trout Great Leads - Michael Masterson & John Forde Tested Advertising Methods - John Caples EPISODE LINKS: Join the waitlist for 1:1 Advisory » Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#12] The Messenger Is More Important Than the Message - The New Rules of Personal Branding and Why Content Marketing is Dead
Watch on YouTube » Read this episode » Content marketing is dead. "How-to" isn't a differentiator anymore—AI can do that better than any of us. What actually cuts through now is the messenger, not the message. In this video, I break down why the shift from "How-to" to "How I…" content matters, how connection beats conversion, and why wisdom earned through lived experience is the real currency in a post-AI world. People don't buy from experts—they buy from humans they believe. If you're tired of chasing trends and fighting for attention, this is the path forward: share your wisdom, not just your knowledge. EPISODE LINKS: Join the waitlist for 1:1 Advisory » Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook
[#11] Video Games Let You Start Over Without Losing Progress. Your Business Can, Too.
Watch on YouTube » Read this newsletter » I played (too many) videogames in college and often sank a lot of time into "character creation" – where you get to pick what kind of character you'll build for the game. Game developers knew players would obsess over getting it "right," so they built in something called a respec — a way to wipe your build, reassign your points, and start fresh without losing your progress. Turns out, businessa and life can work the same way. Today, I share how I've been re-specing my own habits, business, and direction. You might be overdue for a reset yourself. EPISODE LINKS: The Second Mountain by David Brooks » Ryan Levesque's Newsletter » Join the waitlist for 1:1 Advisory » Join the waitlist for You Are the Brand Academy » CONNECT WITH ME Newsletter Instagram TikTok X (Twitter) LinkedIn Facebook