ANSON FRERICKS | How DEI and Bud Light Died

I recorded this podcast with Anson Frericks, former Anheuser-Busch Executive, about a month ago before Trump took office and began putting the final nails in the coffin of “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” (DEI) at the federal level. But, even before that, we saw the decline and predicted the ultimate downfall of DEI initiatives with very notable cases such as the Bud Light fiasco and subsequent boycott. Now, with Target, Amazon, Harley-Davidson, and more notable companies are dismantling these dangerous and destructive ideologies. Today, Anson and I talk about, why we’ve seen such a huge cultural shift against these policies, why companies truly started these policies in the first place (it wasn’t out of the goodness of their hearts), how consumers can take back culture through their purchasing power, and why DEI needs to die once and for all. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:41 - The Power of Authentic Branding 03:37 - Corporate America and Censorship 07:02 - When Companies Prioritize Politics Over Customers 11:34 - The Bud Light Controversy and Corporate Backlash 15:59 - The Influence of ESG and DEI on Big Business 21:39 - The Fallout of Anheuser-Busch’s Marketing Misstep 27:21 - Corporate America’s Struggle with Political Pressure 33:46 - The Shift in Advertising and Audience Connection 40:00 - How COVID and Social Movements Shaped Corporate Policy 46:02 - The Role of BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street 51:21 - The Future of Free Speech in Business 56:39 - The Power of Courageous Leadership in Shaping Industry 57:24 - The Next Era of Defense and Innovation Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready