Media
Hal Burg, founder and CEO of BRANDVIEW, on product placement, brand-funded content, and how brands earn a place in the stories audiences choose to watch.
Brand Story Lab Podcast, Episode 18
April 12, 2026. Hal explains why brands should move from renting attention to owning entertainment assets, why the strongest starting point is the story a brand is uniquely qualified to tell, and why brand-funded content needs different measures than a campaign.
Also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Brand Storytelling Q&A: Building Cultural Relevance Through Entertainment
May 21, 2026. Hal and interviewer Jordan P. Kelley on why the current system is not clicking, why blockbuster outliers make false benchmarks, and what it takes to build entertainment partnerships that serve the audience, the brand, and the story.
Read the full interview on Brand Storytelling.
More conversations
State of Product Placement. How Strong Podcast, January 5, 2025. Hal joins How Strong hosts Troy Beetz and Sammy Medved on the current state of product placement in TV and movies and the strategies behind successful placements. Also on Spotify.
The Art of the Deal: Product Placement. How Strong Podcast, December 31, 2024. Hal explains that while product placement is often used as a catch-all term, the craft lies in bartering products for on-screen use without contracts or payments, which lowers production costs and gives brands visibility if the product makes the final cut.
Good V. Bad Product Placement. How Strong Podcast, December 31, 2024. Hal on the line between effective and disruptive product placement, and why the best placements let viewers notice the brand without being pulled out of the story.
Product Placement for Dummies. How Strong Podcast, December 31, 2024. Hal explains how "product placement" became a catch-all phrase for any brand presence on screen, and how the professional practice differs from the general perception.
Psychology of Product Placement. How Strong Podcast, December 31, 2024. Hal explains how characters in media shape the way audiences see brands, in conversation with How Strong hosts Troy Beetz and Sammy Medved. Also on Spotify.
How Strong Podcast x Hal Burg (King of Product Placement). December 20, 2024. Hal explains that not every product placement is a cash deal: writers often weave products into the narrative for humor or convenience.
From Script to Screen. How Strong Podcast, July 25, 2024. Hal explains how brands get into movies and TV, and why character development matters when choosing which brands to use.
Product Placement with Hal Burg and Brandview. How Strong Podcast, August 24, 2023. Hal on the power of product placement, including why slashers like Jason or Freddy Krueger can't wear a Tom Ford suit.
More on the How Strong Podcast YouTube channel.