You’ve got the logo. You’ve got the fonts. You’ve got the colors. But somehow… your brand still doesn’t feel right. In this episode of What is a Brand?, I sit down with Liz August of Simplify, Simplify, a business-organizing expert and web designer who came to me knowing exactly what her brand looked like — but not what it felt like. We talk about what happens when you’ve already built the basics — the visuals, the structure, the identity — but the brand still feels hollow. I walk through how we expanded Liz’s brand to include her values, voice, texture, and energy — the parts that actually make people fall in love with a business. If you’ve ever thought, “I have the logo… so why doesn’t this feel like enough?” — this episode is your answer.

In this episode of Behind the Brand, we’re diving into the brand expansion of Simplify, Simplify, founded by the brilliant and bold tech goddess, Liz August. Liz already had a logo, colors, and fonts that she loved — but her brand needed more. More context. More personality. More ways to carry her unapologetic, hilarious, and powerful energy into every corner of her business. Together, we polished and expanded her brand with line art, playful “funsies,” and a sassy, electric flair that reflects both Liz and the growing team behind Simplify, Simplify. This wasn’t a rebrand. This was an expansion. Taking what already existed and turning it into something bigger, bolder, and even more unmistakably Simplify, Simplify. Watch the full reveal of Simplify, Simplify’s brand expansion here.

Here’s the truth: building a brand isn’t just about designing the perfect wrapper. Sure, the wrapper matters—it helps your business get noticed. But what about the chocolate inside? What about the story, the secret ingredients, and the joy you’ve poured into creating it? That’s the work I love to do. Together, we’ll uncover what makes your “chocolate bar” unlike anyone else’s, explore new flavors you’ve never dared to try, and build a brand that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside. Because at the end of the day, we’re not just building brands. We’re building happiness. We’re building love. And no matter what—it’s going to be delicious.

What happens when you stop building a business around what you "should do"… and instead create one that reflects who you truly are? In this brand reveal, I take you behind the scenes of Wild Willow Co, the heart-driven brand of Krista Luna. Krista came to me thinking she was building a strategy and operations business, but what unfolded was so much bigger. Together, we discovered her true vision: helping moms find balance and success without breaking under the weight of it all. From a new name to a willow tree struck by lightning, this brand story is full of symbolism, serendipity, and soul.

What if candy wasn’t just about indulgence… but about hope, joy, and optimism as a radical act of courage? In this episode of Behind the Brand, I reveal the delicious and powerful brand of Candied Optimism, created with founder Meredith Elkins. This isn’t your typical candy company. Candied Optimism believes kindness is activism, optimism is strength, and joy is a form of resistance. From brand messaging to packaging design, every sweet treat is wrapped in purpose, ready to spark conversations and spread a little light in a heavy world. Join me as I take you through the full brand reveal—from manifesto to marbled candy-inspired visuals—and see how Meredith’s dream turned into a movement you can taste.

This is my FAVORITE!!!!!!!! In this episode, I share one of my all-time favorite ways to explain what branding actually is — in a way that will click for you immediately. I break down how two businesses doing the exact same thing can still make us feel completely different. And that’s the point: branding is human, it’s emotional, and it’s about the choices we make to connect with other people. If you’ve ever wondered what really makes you a brand different from someone else who offers the same thing, this one’s for you.

This is the story of Wendy's journey from overwhelm to unapologetically powerful. In this episode of Behind the Brand, I’m pulling back the curtain on the brand transformation of Wendy Paige Sterling — my coach, my client, and one of the most powerful, unapologetic women I know. When Wendy came to me, she was in transition. She had built a thriving business, but her brand no longer reflected who she was becoming. Through empathy, deep listening, and intentional design, we created a bridge-the-gap brand that gave her clarity, power, and momentum. Wendy’s brand now embodies her signature message — “Trust Yourself Unapologetically.” From bold logos to powerful imagery, every element reflects her strength, her presence, and her unapologetic approach to coaching women. Watch the full reveal to see how we aligned her brand with her transformation and created the foundation for the incredible growth she’s experiencing now.

Spoiler, a logo is not a brand... It’s just one puzzle piece in a much bigger picture. In this video, I break down why having a logo, colors, and fonts isn’t enough to build a brand that actually works—and why so many business owners get stuck trying to force puzzle pieces together without ever seeing the full picture. If you’ve been staring at the same pieces and not moving forward, it’s not because you’re failing—it’s because you’re ready for more. Let’s talk about how to finally turn the puzzle box over and see where you’re headed.

In this episode of What is a Brand?, I share the stories of two brilliant women—each facing the same question: Should my brand be ME, or should it be my business? Their answers couldn’t have been more different. One needed the structure of a professional brand while still showing up fully as herself. The other needed to drop the business façade and embrace a personal brand powered by passion. Inside this episode, you’ll discover: • Why so many entrepreneurs hide behind their business names • How one coach balanced credibility with her playful personality • Why saying “yes” just for the money drains your brand’s magic • The surprising way to “have it all” without burning out • How to check if your brand decisions are coming from fear or joy This conversation will help you finally decide how YOU want to show up in your brand—and give you permission to choose the path that makes you HAPPY.

From burnout to brand clarity—a story of courage, softness, and sunrise. In this episode of Behind the Brand, I take you inside the transformation of Dr. Emily Gordon, a licensed clinical psychologist who bravely reimagined her identity after burnout. Emily wanted her brand to feel like a cashmere sweater—soft, warm, valuable, and cared for. Together, we aligned her purpose, reframed her voice, and built a visual identity anchored in sunrise colors, mountain metaphors, and her own authentic words. This is the story of how Emily stepped into being not "just" a therapist, but a brand.

What do you do when your brand is technically working… but not really working for you..? In this episode of Behind the Brand, I take you inside the transformation of Mastermind Executive Coaching, the brand of the brilliant and deeply insightful Beth Masterman. Beth already had a functioning brand, loyal clients, and a strong presence — but something still felt like it was missing. This story is about trusting yourself, going deeper, and creating a visual identity that mirrors your full intelligence, strength, and spirit. Come with me behind the scenes as I share: - Why Beth questioned if she even needed a rebrand - How subtle design choices captured her depth and clarity - The magical alignment between visuals and voice - The power of creating a brand that starts conversations If you’ve been asking yourself, “Do I really need a rebrand?” — this one’s for you.

In Episode 2 of What is a Brand?, I’m sharing two real client stories—Amanda and Renee—that show just how deeply personal branding really is. While I was designing their visual identities (logos, fonts, colors), something bigger was happening: they were being designed on the inside, too. Amanda came in confident, in control, and secretly afraid. Renee came in messy, emotional, and fully open. And both of them had everything they needed already inside them. They just didn’t know it yet. This episode is about releasing fear, letting go of control, and understanding that a brand is more than what people see. It’s who you are. It’s your structure, your clarity, your heartbeat. Whether you have all the answers or feel like a total mess—you’re not behind. You’re not broken. And your brand journey starts exactly where you are. 🎧 Listen now to hear how design can support the human underneath it all.

Welcome to the very first (pretty unofficial) episode of What is a Brand? – the podcast where I finally answer the question: what even IS a brand? Spoiler alert: it’s not just your logo, fonts, or colors. It's SO MUCH DEEPER. In this heartfelt kickoff episode, I (Meg Joyce) dive deep into what a brand really is — not just for your business, but for you as a human being. I share personal stories (including my very generous childhood Christmases), the core traits that make up my brand (hello kindness, creativity, and problem solving!), and how understanding your inner brand is the key to creating a business that truly reflects who you are. We’ll talk about: ✨ Why most people (even designers) get branding wrong ✨ How your personal values shape your brand identity ✨ Why your business’s exterior doesn’t work unless it aligns with its interior ✨ The origin story of my own business and what fear almost kept me from doing ✨ And how to reconnect with the spark that started it all This episode is for you if you’ve ever wondered why your brand doesn’t quite feel right—or if you’ve been afraid to go bigger because your brand isn’t keeping up with your vision. Let’s shake off the fear and get back to the reason you started in the first place. Because your brand is the soul of what you do. 🧡 Come along for the journey. This is just the beginning.

what is a brand? Because before we can dive into all the creative and emotional goodness that IS the universe of inKind... we need to get on the same page about something: What you think a "brand" is... is not what I'm talking about here. Your brand... is YOU. And that doesn't mean that you have to have your face plastered all over the front of everything you're doing. What it means is that the soul of what you're building has to come from you. The heartbeat of every brand is human, and if you're a small business owner, that heartbeat is yours. ​So if you're a small business owner/brand owner who wants to talk about how to build your future around YOUR happiness, let's talk! Visit www.inkind-design.com to learn all about who I am and what I do!

We all know that feeling. That heartbreaking, brain wrenching exhaustion that comes from pushing yourself and your brand forward. And I have to say… it’s not supposed to be this hard. Really, it’s NOT supposed to be this hard. No one starts their own business thinking “I can’t wait to feel so overworked and exhausted and lost and alone that I spend every night dreading the morning and all the pretending-to-be-ok.” And we normalize it so that we CAN survive and keep going. Because giving up would somehow feel even worse… And it hurts. It hurts so much that this thing that you loved feels like it’s turned against you and you just can’t fix it. Not matter how hard you try and how many times you keep picking yourself back up and trying and trying and trying and failing over and over and over again. So what do you do? How do you keep going when it all feels so empty and hard? That feeling? It’s brand burnout. What you’re struggling against isn’t exhaustion… it’s disconnection. Brand burnout is what happens when you’ve spent too long struggling in a direction that your brand wasn’t ever meant to go in. We all have this idea in our heads of what our brands “should be”. All the things we think we “should want” or “have to” do because that’s what’s normal. And because we don’t know any other way TO be… But that? THAT is what isn’t real. That pressure to conform and try to fit into places where you simply don’t belong. Or to make yourself smaller or different because people won’t like the real you. We do this to ourselves, and we do this to our brands. But believe me… there is a better way. And it’s YOUR way. Running your small business should feel like breathing. Brand burnout happens when you stop listening to your passion and your instinct and convince yourself that what you want, what you love is wrong. So work with me. Let’s break through that wall together. Let’s rip that cycle of exhaustion and self doubt to pieces and use the shrapnel to make a new path. You don’t have to do this alone, and you DO deserve to be happy. All it takes is a little trust and a willingness to step forward without really knowing where you’ll end up. The answer is already inside you. How we’ll get there is a mystery, even to me, but we’ll walk that road together. And isn’t that just so exciting?