THE EAT MODEL: UNDERSTANDING CELEBRITY BRANDING THROUGH A CULTURAL LENS

Culture is not a noun — it’s a verb. Something that happens to us, and that we, in turn, help create.

When I began studying American culture decades ago, I noticed something: most scholars and cultural commentators described popular culture as if it were an object. A thing you could hold up and label — a Picasso painting, a baseball card, a Marvel comic book.

While this approach had value for cataloging and analysis, it missed the spark. The real action of culture is not static; it’s dynamic. Popular culture is not just the object itself — it’s the rush of feeling when you hear a song for the first time, the charge of energy in a crowded theater as the lights dim, or the sense of belonging when you put on your favorite team’s jersey.

Culture is not a noun — it’s a verb. Something that happens to us, and that we, in turn, help create.

This shift in perspective — from static to dynamic — led me to develop the EAT Model: Engage, Adapt, Transform. Initially born from my work as a cultural historian, the model captures how culture is lived and experienced, and how brands — particularly celebrity brands — generate lasting meaning.

The EAT model captures how culture is lived and experienced, and how brands — particularly celebrity brands — generate lasting meaning.

Engage: Creating the Spark

Every enduring celebrity brand begins with Engage. Engagement is the spark — that first connection that makes someone stop, look, and feel something.

This isn’t simply visibility. True engagement hits on an emotional frequency. Think about Robert Downey Jr.’s emergence as Iron Man. He wasn’t just another actor in a superhero role. His personal story of struggle, redemption, and charisma aligned perfectly with the Marvel cinematic moment. Fans weren’t just buying tickets for Iron Man; they were buying into the Downey comeback narrative.

Starbucks achieved something similar when it became more than a coffee company. In my research with Kaitlin Krister Schrock, we coined the term radical sociodrama to describe how Starbucks acts as a stage where customers perform aspects of their identity. The company went far beyond selling coffee. Starbucks created a lifestyle cue, a way to project taste, refinement, and belonging.

Engagement, then, is more than grabbing attention. The focus is on connecting in a way that makes the audience feel seen and understood — the necessary ignition point for everything that follows.

Adapt: The Bridge Between Engagement and Transformation

Most people think “adapt” means simply react to change — adjust your schedule, update your branding, follow a trend because it’s gaining attention. That’s part of it. However, in the EAT Model, Adapt is much richer and more integrated.

Adapt is the bridge between engagement and transformation. It’s where what you have connected with externally meets the shifts happening internally — in your mindset, values, and identity — and the two reshape each other.

This is the visible, situational adjustment:

  • A musician evolves their sound to reflect changing cultural tastes.

  • A company updates its messaging in response to a social shift.

  • A public figure refines their tone after a major life change or cultural event.

This kind of adaptation is responsive, but rooted in what came before — the surface expression of something deeper.

This is where Adapt becomes transformational in its own right:

  • Reframing perspectives — The change outside prompts a shift in how you see the world.

  • Integrating new meaning — You update your internal “why” to align with new realities.

  • Evolving identity — You absorb external input in a way that reshapes who you are and how you’ll approach the future.

Robert Downey Jr.’s post-Iron Man career illustrates both. Externally, he capitalized on the Marvel platform with smart role choices. Internally, he reframed his public identity from “Hollywood cautionary tale” to “creative force and philanthropist,” weaving his hard-earned credibility into every project.

Starbucks, too, has continually adapted both externally and internally. It didn’t just localize menus overseas; it rethought what “the Starbucks experience” meant in cultures with different coffee traditions, integrating those insights back into the brand’s global identity.

Adapt is not “bend so you don’t break.” It’s “absorb, integrate, and evolve,” so that the transformation that follows is authentic, sustainable, and resonant.

Transform: Moving From Brand to Cultural Force

The third stage — Transform — is where a brand transcends category and becomes part of the cultural fabric. This is where a celebrity or brand moves beyond selling products or performances to influencing values, beliefs, and identity.

For example, Oprah Winfrey transformed from talk-show host to cultural institution by consistently connecting her brand to personal growth, empathy, and shared experience. LeBron James transformed from basketball superstar to social advocate and education innovator.

But transformation has a double edge. When celebrity branding becomes about visibility for its own sake, it can erode trust, polarize communities, and hollow out the very connections it set out to build. The EAT Model challenges us to ask: What are we transforming into? Are we creating deeper connection and shared meaning, or reinforcing division and performance over substance?

Why the EAT Model Matters in a Celebrity-Obsessed Age

In today’s world, celebrity branding is not limited to entertainers or athletes. Social media has turned “being a brand” into a cultural expectation. CEOs, educators, nonprofit leaders, and even students are urged to curate their personal brand.

There are benefits to this — clarity, connection, and influence — but also costs, including self-censorship, constant performance, and the pressure to measure worth in clicks and likes.

The EAT Model offers a roadmap for navigating this landscape. It’s not a checklist, but turns thinking about branding and thought leadership into a mindset that recognizes cultural connection as a living, participatory process.

Applying the EAT Model

Whether you’re a celebrity, an emerging entrepreneur, or someone simply looking to build a meaningful personal presence, the EAT Model offers three clear imperatives:

  1. Engage — Spark emotional connection that makes people feel seen.

  2. Adapt — Balance external responsiveness with internal recalibration, so your evolution is both strategic and authentic.

  3. Transform — Create meaning that lasts, shaping not just transactions, but the cultural conversations people care about.

When applied with intention, this framework can help avoid the traps of superficial branding and focus instead on the power of authentic cultural influence.

The Cultural Historian’s Edge

Why approach celebrity branding through a historian’s eyes? Because history reveals the patterns: the way branding has evolved from product marks to cultural symbols, and how engagement, adaptation, and transformation have driven that evolution.

History reveals the patterns: the way branding has evolved from product marks to cultural symbols, and how engagement, adaptation, and transformation have driven that evolution.

From the rise of early consumer icons to global mega-brands, the same cultural mechanics repeat. Understanding these changes allows you to see where branding is going next, not just where it has been.

The EAT Model is my way of translating decades of cultural insight into a tool for today’s world — one that helps us connect, evolve, and lead without losing sight of the values that make connection meaningful in the first place.

For more on the EAT Model and celebrity branding, listen to “Theories of Celebrity Branding” wherever you like to listen to podcasts. Tune in here.

UNPACKING FAME, INFLUENCE, AND IDENTITY: WHY "THEORIES OF CELEBRITY BRANDING" MATTERS NOW MORE THAN EVER

The intersection of identity, media, and influence isn’t simply noise or distraction—it’s a language. Learning how to decode that language is a critical skill for anyone navigating the modern media ecosystem.

“Theories of Celebrity Branding” — A podcast and university course, hosted by award-winning cultural historian Bob Batchelor

From red carpets to YouTube thumbnails, Super Bowl commercials to podcast interviews, we live in a world shaped by celebrity. We don’t just consume culture—we consume people: their stories, values, failures, and reinventions. This intersection of identity, media, and influence isn’t just noise or distraction—it’s a language. And learning how to decode that language is a critical skill for anyone navigating the modern media ecosystem.

Understanding the value of branding and branding history, I launched Theories of Celebrity Branding, a podcast and online (asynchronous) course designed to explore the cultural machinery behind fame, influence, and branding in the 21st century. Whether you are a college student preparing for a communications career or a seasoned marketer wrestling with the pace of change, this podcast series offers insights into how personal and public identities are built, managed, and monetized today. And, what better way to get at branding and celebrity than to analyze it in an online course.

A Podcast That Decodes the Culture of Celebrity

The podcast version of Theories of Celebrity Branding is not just a catchy way to deliver lectures in an online course —it’s a cultural myth lab.

Each episode explores big ideas about branding, storytelling, media evolution, and leadership through the lens of celebrity. But this isn’t about tabloids or gossip. The podcast focuses on examining why Taylor Swift’s rebranding worked, how Oprah Winfrey built generational trust, and what role AI is playing in shaping how we define identity, authorship, and authenticity.

We tackle topics like:

  • The globalization of branding and how companies like Kimberly-Clark reframe messaging for global markets.

  • The evolution of thought leadership and how public figures like Brené Brown and LeBron James use storytelling to build emotional resonance.

  • The ethics of AI-generated content in a world of deepfakes and algorithmic curation.

  • How creators like Cecilia Blomdahl or bands like The Hot Sardines use social platforms to craft global personal brands.

Each episode integrates academic theory with real-world experience—from advising C-suite leaders to writing bestselling books like Stan Lee: A Life, The Gatsby Code, and The Authentic Leader.

The result? A podcast that doesn’t just explain celebrity branding—it empowers you to understand your own story and how to share it effectively.

📚 A Course That Prepares Students for the Real World

While the podcast is open to everyone, it runs parallel to the course I teach at Coastal Carolina University in the Department of Communication, Media, and Culture, also named Theories of Celebrity Branding.

Offered both in summer and in Fall 2025, this class pushes students to think critically about fame, media, influence, and identity. It’s not just theory—it’s strategic communication, media literacy, popular culture, history, marketing, and career development rolled into one.

Students learn to analyze how influence is created and sustained—and how they can develop values-based personal brands of their own.

We dive deep into my EAT Model—Engage, Adapt, Transform—and use tools like ChatGPT and Canva AI to prototype messaging and audience engagement strategies.

Stan Lee: A Life by Bob Batchelor; Foreword by Tom DeLonge of Blink-182 and To The Stars

The course isn’t about using AI to replace creativity—instead we focus on enhancing creation while staying rooted in cultural awareness, storytelling, and human empathy.

Why This Podcast and Course Matters

If you’ve read my books—like The Authentic Leader, Stan Lee: A Life, or Roadhouse Blues: Morrison, the Doors, and the Death Days of the Sixties—you know that I’m fascinated by how media, identity, and storytelling shape the modern world. This podcast and class bring those interests to life in real time.

“This podcast doesn’t just explain celebrity branding, it empowers you to understand your own story and how to share it effectively.”
— Bob Batchelor

Today, anyone with a smartphone can become a brand. But that means the ability to think critically about representation, influence, and authenticity is more important than ever.

This project gives students and listeners the tools to navigate—and lead—in this complex space.

What’s Next?

If you’re a student in my class—welcome. This podcast is your toolkit, guide, and creative prompt.

If you’re a communication professional, educator, marketer, or curious listener—Theories of Celebrity Branding will give you an insider view into how cultural identities are formed, challenged, and transformed.

👉 Listen now on Spotify
👉 Follow me on LinkedIn
👉 Explore upcoming courses at Coastal Carolina
👉 Learn more about me and my books

New episodes drop regularly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you listen.

🎧 Subscribe.
🧠 Think deeply.
📢 Tell your story.
🔥 Lead with purpose.

We’re just getting started.

WRITING TIPS TO BEGIN YOUR BOOK JOURNEY

Every author’s journey begins the same way: with a blank page and a glimmer of an idea. For aspiring nonfiction writers—and anyone who feels the tug of a story inside them—the hardest part is often starting. Whether you are a pop culture aficionado, would-be biographer, or someone drawn to capturing history, there is no perfect moment to begin your book.

You just start.

My own writing journey began in a high school newsroom, writing columns and dreaming of the bylines I might someday see in glossy magazines. I came of age in a college town (Slippery Rock, PA, home of Slippery Rock University) where professors and ideas swirled around me. Writing felt aspirational. A cherished teacher—Martha Campbell—rewarded my hard work with a sports column featuring my work: “Batchelor’s Bench.” I loved writing that column and holding our small high school newspaper in my hands.

As a college student, I sent essays to publications that were way out of my league. The rejections piled up, but the process enabled me to slowly build confidence with each reply—published or not. Every so often, there would be a kind note or something that looked like more than a stamped “rejection.” Those were glorious days!

About a decade later, by the time I wrote The 1900s (Greenwood, 2002), I approached it from a researcher’s mindset. I had yet to fully develop my narrative voice, let alone the courage to let it rise on the page. The 1900s, though, served as a foundation: meticulous research, structural discipline, and an unwavering commitment to learning during the writing process.

Photo by Aneta Pawlik on Unsplash

If you’re just beginning your book journey, here are five essential tips drawn from my own experience:

1. Establish a Writing Rhythm That Works for You

Life is demanding. Your writing process should complement—not fight—your daily responsibilities. Consistency, not volume, builds momentum. Even 20 minutes a day adds up.

2. Start with a Strong Outline

Before I write a word, I create a detailed Table of Contents. For nonfiction, this map is critical. Think deeply about how you plan to open each chapter—those first lines carry a lot of weight.

3. Don’t Believe in Writer’s Block

Writing is work. Work requires discipline. When I feel creative fatigue, I don’t panic. Instead, I switch gears. Reading for pleasure, often on my Kindle, lets me absorb ideas passively and recharges my creative energy.

4. Let Your Curiosity Drive the Research

Even after I have started writing, I keep researching. Every new detail might unlock a better sentence, a sharper insight, or a deeper connection. Curiosity is your most sustainable writing fuel.

5. Experiment with Storytelling Techniques

In The Bourbon King, I explored a postmodern style in one chapter to capture the extravagance of George Remus’ legendary New Year’s Eve party. Creative nonfiction allows room for innovation…even in history-heavy narratives.

The Bourbon King by cultural historian Bob Batchelor

Most importantly, allow yourself time to grow. The voice you find in your first book might surprise you. It should.

To support your own writing journey, keep reading widely and learning from others. Books like The Bourbon King or Stan Lee: A Life can be models—narrative-driven nonfiction that brings culture, history, and people to vivid life. You can find these and other inspiring reads on Amazon and even save a bit with these offers.

Stan Lee: A Life by Bob Batchelor

So what are you waiting for? Open that document. Name your project.

Take the first step. Your book is waiting.




I use Amazon affiliate links on this site—mainly links to books or other cool things. And if you buy via my links, it supports the site with no extra cost to you. This is a contributed post and may contain affiliate links. I was compensated for this post, but reviewed it and regard the article as a natural fit for my readers.

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In The Gatsby Code, cultural historian Bob Batchelor—award-winning author of acclaimed biographies and expert on American mythmaking—offers a masterful deep dive into one of literature’s most enduring icons: Jay Gatsby. As The Great Gatsby turns 100, Batchelor delivers a revelatory chronicle of the novel’s past, present, and future impact, weaving cultural history, literary analysis, and philosophical inquiry into a riveting exploration of why Gatsby still matters.

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One of the most exciting milestones for any business is moving from a garage or a spare bedroom to a fully functioning office. However as exciting as this is it's important to realise that it does come with its own challenges. 

From ensuring that the space is ready for people to making sure that logistics are handled, the move can quickly become overwhelming if not properly planned. To make your office relocation as stress free as possible, we've got some tips for a successful move.

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