What does it take to go from the NFL to the boardroom—and bring your whole identity with you?

In this live-recorded episode of The Rainmaker Podcast, I sit down with six-time Pro Bowler, TV personality, and entrepreneur Brandon Marshall for an unfiltered conversation about building a brand, breaking mental health stigma, and bridging the gap between content and commerce.

Brandon opens up about the emotional complexity of navigating his relationship with the NFL after retirement, his personal journey with mental health, and the pivotal moment that transformed how he shows up in business and life. From hustling into locker rooms to creating I AM ATHLETE, he shares how he went from being under siege in his own brand to becoming a powerful media entity and mental health advocate.

We talk about the power of purpose, how to structure brand deals with integrity, and why understanding your audience is everything.

If you’re ready for a bold, vulnerable, and wildly inspiring take on entrepreneurship and identity-driven marketing, this one’s for you.

About Brandon

Brandon Marshall is the creator of the wildly successful unscripted podcast I AM ATHLETE and the newly launched daily show Paper Route.

Within just a few seasons, the platform has grown to over 1 million YouTube subscribers—fueled by raw, real conversations around sports, culture, and identity. Co-hosted by Marshall and fellow former NFL stars, I AM ATHLETE is known for pushing boundaries and challenging the traditional definition of celebrity.

A six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, Brandon spent 12 years in the NFL, where he shattered records and earned a reputation as one of the top wideouts in the game. But his impact didn’t stop on the field. Brandon has become a powerful voice in the mental health space, using his personal journey to break stigma and drive change.

Today, he’s the founder and CEO of House of Athlete and HOA+, a lifestyle wellness brand built to help athletes of all levels train like pros—mentally and physically. Through his work, Brandon continues to redefine what it means to be an athlete, entrepreneur, and advocate.

A two-time Emmy nominee for his role on Inside the NFL, Brandon has also been a recurring guest on The Drew Barrymore Show and is widely considered a pioneer in mental health awareness.

Connect with Brandon

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmarshall/?hl=en

X: https://x.com/bmarshall?lang=hi

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@IAMATHLETE

Connect with Veronica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

Ever wonder how some brands create die-hard fans who wouldn’t dream of buying from anyone else? In this episode, I sit down with Bill Neff, a marketing powerhouse known for his work with YETI and beyond, to break down the secrets behind brand loyalty, community-driven marketing, and authentic storytelling.

Bill shares his journey from professional kayaking to becoming a key player in the outdoor industry, showing how passion and authenticity can fuel marketing success. We discuss what most brands get wrong about building a following, the power of grassroots engagement, and why storytelling—not selling—is the ultimate key to long-term success.

Connect with Veronica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.

What if social media wasn’t really social—but instead, a space for self-discovery?

This week, Xanthe Wells, VP of Global Creative at Pinterest, joins me to unpack how Pinterest is redefining the way people interact with content, brands, and their own identities. Unlike other platforms, Pinterest isn’t about followers or fleeting trends—it’s about inspiration, aspiration, and personal growth.

Xanthe shares how Gen Z is using Pinterest differently, why identity-based marketing is the future, and how brands can tap into this shift to create more meaningful connections. We also discuss the evolution of social media, the changing landscape of digital marketing, and what brands need to do to stay relevant in 2025 and beyond.

If you’re looking to understand where digital marketing is headed and how to align your strategy with the changing behaviors of today’s consumers, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

About Xanthe:

Xanthe is currently VP of Global Creative for Pinterest and runs the House of Creative under CMO Andréa Mallard.

Since arriving at Pinterest in November of 2022, Xanthe has been driving the brand's creative transformation and has been responsible for a major step change in creative output. Her team’s work has resulted in unprecedented ROI for each of the major initiatives she has led, most notably the launch of the global creative platform “It’s Possible,” the 2024 Pinterest Predicts campaign and report, the record-breaking Cannes Manifestival, Pinterest Presents and the best performing brand campaign in the company's history.

Her team’s creative output has beat all previous benchmarks and driven increased monthly active users on the platform, surpassing over half a billion MAU in 2024.

Connect with Xanthe:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/xanthewells/

Connect with Veronica

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vromney/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vromney/

If you're serious about advancing your career in marketing and you're looking for some personal insights into how then I invite you to schedule a free Pathway to Promotion call with me: https://pathwaycall.com/

If you found value in today's episode, I would appreciate it if you could leave a rating and review.