Why We Started The Ethical Brand Studio

Marketing is everywhere, and most of us have learned to tune it out, mostly because it so often relies on manipulation.

In the first episode of our podcast, we unpack the discomfort many of us feel when trying to talk about what we're creating and building, especially when the tools we’re taught don’t match our values.

The Ethical Brand Studio was born from that tension. It started with questions: How do you sell a product without relying on shame or urgency? How do you share your work without pretending it’s perfect? How do you speak clearly without oversimplifying? These are the questions that continue to guide our work.

In the episode, Marketing Feels Wrong? Meet The Ethical Brand Studio, we explore how marketing often targets emotional decision-making. In industries like food and beauty, though those aren't the only ones, imagery and language are carefully crafted to bypass critical thinking and appeal to insecurities. When people are tired, overwhelmed, or under pressure, they’re more likely to make quick decisions — and marketers know that.

Instead of accepting those tactics as the norm, we believe in slowing down. Ethical branding, for us, means creating space for honesty, transparency, and care. It means acknowledging that trust takes time and that people deserve the full story. Yes, even if it’s messy or imperfect.

We also talk about how ethics shifts with context, experience, and awareness. What felt right five years ago might feel uncomfortable today, and that’s a good thing. Brands — like people — need room to evolve.

That means being willing to admit mistakes, course correct, and keep learning in public.

This is the foundation of our studio: a belief that branding can be truthful, that communication can be kind, and that growth doesn’t have to come at the cost of integrity.

Listen to Episode 1: “Why We Started the Ethical Brand Studio” on Substack or your favorite podcast app.

We’d love to know what this brings up for you. Leave a comment or send us a note.