Want to compete with the biggest brands? Stop playing by their rules. This week on Soul & Science, Jason Harris sits down with Dave Dreyer, CMO at Bazooka Brands, to discuss balancing nostalgia with reinvention, tapping into fandom and culture, and finding creative ways to make an impact. Informed by his past roles on both the brand and agency side and his experience co-founding CPG company Starco Brands, Dave’s approach pairs big-brand creativity with an entrepreneur’s instinct for growth. Dave shares the “pirate playbook” he’s using to bring Bazooka Brands into the cultural conversation: question the conventions of the category, find opportunities the biggest competitors might overlook, and use creativity to punch above your weight. He also explains the strategic thinking behind the company’s campaigns with Ring Pop and Bazooka Joe across fashion, sports, and reality TV, and why earning attention matters more than simply accumulating impressions. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:40 From Brand Builder to Entrepreneur 04:55 Dave’s Three Favorite Words: “What if we…?” 06:10 The Agency Side vs. the Brand Side 09:40 Bringing Ring Pops Into Ring Culture 12:55 Modernizing Bazooka Joe 15:55 Bazooka x Siegelman Stable 18:00 The Mormon Wives’ Great Candy Battle 20:15 The Pirate Playbook for Disruption 23:00 Impact Over Impressions 26:10 Dave’s Personal Philosophies 29:50 The Future of Bazooka Brands 33:20 People as People, Not Just Consumers 35:20 Lightning Round Brought to you by Mekanism.