BRANDMA'S
MEDIA KIT
Speaking. Podcasts. Press.
Everything you need to feature Brandma without back-and-forth emails.
Brandma's Bio
Phyllis Williams-Strawder, known as the Ghetto Country Brandmother®, is the Founder and Strategic Matriarch of Brandma’s House, a Founder-First branding environment rooted in behavior, boundaries, and leadership integrity.
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With over two decades of entrepreneurial experience, Phyllis works with self-aware Founders who are tired of performative branding and ready to build scalable personal brands that can hold up under pressure. Her work blends brand strategy, behavioral psychology, and cultural observation, challenging leaders to align how their brands behave with how they want to be known.
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Before Brandma’s House, Phyllis co-owned and operated Bigmista’s Barbecue, growing the business from home-based lunch deliveries into a multi-million-dollar brand that included two restaurants and a catering company. Under her former personal brand, Mrs. Mista, she appeared on Man Fire Food, The Great Food Truck Race, and Good Day L.A.
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Phyllis is the author of Archetypes & Attitude, Branding, Boundaries, & Bullshit and Balance Is Bullshit, along with several other works spanning memoir, poetry, and collaborative publishing. She is also the host of Branding Under Pressure podcast, where branding, behavior, and leadership collide without the polish or the performance.
Brandma's Fav Topics
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Brand Behavior Under Pressure
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Founder-First Brand Architecture™
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Why Branding Fails After It Works
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Personal Branding Without Performance
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Attitude, Boundaries, and Culture
Brandma's Short List...
Got a mic, a camera, or a room full of Founders? I’ve got something to say.
🎤 The Futur 🎤 Brand Master 🎤 Rebel Rebel 🎤 Restaurant Influencer
🎤 Small Business Origins 🎤 The UnNoticed Entrepreneur
Developing Life Podcast - with host Davron Bowman
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Dive into the inspiring journey of Phyllis Williams-Strawder, aka the Ghetto Country Brandmother®.
From being a 6'1 female who knows how to fight- to BTS BBQ Queen- to Bad Ass BrandMother-- Phyllis' Story is one you won't want to miss.
Phyllis shares her path to discovering that true fulfillment doesn't always come from what you're naturally good at.
Learn how she transitioned from culinary success to becoming a sought-after brand strategist, empowering others to embrace their authentic voices in business without compromising who they are.
Headsmack Podcast- with host Paul Povolni
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From BBQ Millions to Brand Mastery: The Ghetto Country Brandmother's Secret Sauce. Join us on the Headsmack Podcast as we welcome Phyllis Williams-Strawder, known as the Ghetto Country Brandmother. Discover how Phyllis evolved from running a successful barbecue enterprise to becoming a respected life-coaching brand strategist. Her unique approach combines tough love with empathy, helping aspiring entrepreneurs develop into confident Brand Leaders. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about personal growth and brand development!
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Key Points:
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The importance of aligning personal and business brands.
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Developing a personal brand that resonates with authenticity and empathy.
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Strategies for transitioning from one industry to another.
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Overcoming branding challenges and maintaining consistency.
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The significance of having a long-term vision and exit strategy.brands.
Restaurant Influencers Podcast - with host Shawn P. Walchef
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Phyllis Williams-Strawder, affectionately known as the "Ghetto Country Brandmother," is a visionary branding consultant with a mission to transform business branding practices. She gives her uncommon, yet caring approach to brand building via books, social media, and the Brandma’s House Show.
With a wealth of experience as a former restaurant owner, Williams-Strawder understands the critical role branding plays in building lasting connections with customers and fostering loyalty. She believes that effective branding goes beyond showcasing good food and appealing visuals.
"People don't want your recipes. They want something built on goodwill and longevity." said Williams-Strawder to Restaurant Influencer host Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ Media. “That's what people usually buy."
Brandmaster Academy Podcast- with host Stephen Houraghan
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Explore the transformation from a booming barbecue business to the vibrant field of brand strategy. Learn about Phyllis' strategies for overcoming imposter syndrome, realizing self-worth, and harnessing the power of strategic personal branding.
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Join Stephen Houraghan and Phyllis Williams Strawder for an inspiring discussion that will transform your perception of brand strategy and personal branding. This episode not only unveils Phyllis' extraordinary path but also delves into the significance of authenticity, strategic thinking, and making a meaningful impact in the branding realm.
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The transition from a thriving barbecue business to brand strategy consultancy.
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The influence of authenticity and personal brand on your career trajectory.
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Effective strategies to overcome imposter syndrome and recognize your intrinsic value.
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The critical role of strategic branding in elevating both businesses and personal brands.
Brand Identity Design Podcast - with host Jaison Thomas
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Welcome to the heart of Texas City, with our vibrant guest, Phyllis Mini-Series: | LIVE on LinkedIn Audio Weekly, Every Wednesday from October 18th to November 22nd at 3 PM EST — In this episode of "The Branding Fkery" mini-series, we initiate our exploration of Phyllis Williams-Strawder's book, "Branding, Boundaries, & Bullshit," by delving into Chapter 2: Boundaries. We delve into the concept of brand ego and the vital importance of establishing clear boundaries in personal branding.
We'll closely examine how communication goes both ways, the significance of the audience of the personal brand, strategies for marketing maximum attraction, the reasons why positioning has you sit'n pretty, and the principles of C.A.M.P to the CORE. Join us as we dissect the wisdom in this chapter and empower you to define and safeguard your personal brand's boundaries. Save the date!
The RebelRebel Podcast - with host Michael Dargie
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Start branding before you start selling
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Discover the essence of authentic personal branding with Phyllis Williams-Strawder, the Ghetto Country Grandmother, on The RebelRebel Podcast. She challenges conventional 'code-switching,' advocates for starting branding before selling, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining personal boundaries in public platforms. A must-listen for entrepreneurs and rebels in branding.
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EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
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Phyllis Williams-Strawder's stance against 'code-switching' and advocating for consistent authenticity.
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The strategy of beginning branding before selling to create organic growth.
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Caution against turning personal life into public content, emphasizing boundaries.
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The concept of 'getting lost' as a learning experience.
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Future plans of launching a hat line.
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The critique of the overused term 'authenticity' in branding.
Small Business Origins Podcast - with host John Kelley
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Phyllis is known as the Ghetto Country Brandmother®. She is an empathic bitch who nurtures solopreneur brandbabies who are self-aware and starting over so they scale with impact. She left her multi-million dollar bbq business because she doesn't like to cook on purpose. Also, she wants to impact failure rate statics for independent businesses. She's been an entrepreneur for over 20 years, has a degree in business, and holds certifications as a brand strategist, business coach and life coach.
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In this episode, Phyllis shares her journey into entrepreneurship, starting from selling barbecue dinners out of her home to help fund her husband's barbecue competitions, all the way to opening two restaurants together. After realizing the restaurant business wasn't for her, Phyllis pivoted into business coaching and branding. She discusses the importance of being true to yourself in business and "owning your ghetto country" - drawing on your own unique roots and experiences to shape your brand and connect with your ideal audience. Listen in to learn more about Phyllis's branding philosophy and how she helps entrepreneurs develop strong, authentic personal brands that attract the right customers.
Learn Speak Teach- with host Ben Albert
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In today’s fiercely competitive landscape, personal branding has emerged as a critical tool for standing out and thriving. Like any other brand, your personal brand is an asset that can set you apart and propel you to success in any fiercely competitive arena.
In this episode featuring Phyllis Williams-Strawder, also known as the Ghetto Country Brandmother, we delve into personal branding. Phyllis is the driving force behind Brandma’s House, where she helps personal brands grow the fuck up. She is a Rebel Brand Strategist and former BBQ restaurant owner of the multi-million-dollar brand Bigmista’s Barbecue & Sammich Shop.
The Unnoticed Entrepreneur Podcast - with host Jim James
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Welcome to the heart of Texas City, with our vibrant guest, Phyllis Williams-Strauder, a barbecue restaurant owner turned brand strategist. She's not just a businesswoman; she's a storyteller, a mentor, and most importantly, a fighter who battled imposter syndrome to build a multi-million dollar brand consultancy.
Join us as Phyllis unveils her journey, from the smoky corners of a barbecue joint to the shiny boardrooms where she helps clients build authentic brands. It's not just about Phyllis; it's about her core belief in shifting focus from herself to those she seeks to assist.
Entrepreneur Podcast - with host Reggie B
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Phyllis Williams-Strawder, AKA 'The Getto Country Brandmother', is a straight-shooting, tell it like it is, no bullshit given or taken kind of person! In other words, she's my kind of person! We had a great conversation on the importance of your personal brand, and why it needs to be different than all the corporate type B.S. that everyone tells you to do. We also talk about why your personal brand needs to be separated from your life, and she goes in-depth into the three different categories that are important when establishing your personal brand.
Profiting With Non-Profits Podcast - with host Sean Littman
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This week I took a trip down to Brandma's House and sat down with Ghetto Country Brandma. We connected recently on LinkedIn and I found her method of diving into brand building just amazing and wanted to get her on to discuss the ins and outs of building a brand. We covered some great topics with nothing left on the table. Brandma tells it how it is.
The Brand Identity Design Podcast - with host Jaison Thomas
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Thank you for joining us in this captivating discussion with renowned personal branding expert & strategist, Phyllis Williams-Strawder. You will gain valuable insights on leveraging your 2-word personal brand to capture your listener's attention and endorse your business brand. We will help you understand the impact of personal branding on your business success and how you can elevate your branding game to the next level.
The Futur Podcast - with host Chris Do
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Phyllis Williams-Strawder is a certified brand strategist, life and business coach, and psychology marketing specialist who is known as the Ghetto Country Brandmother®. She has a passion for guiding people and helping them become brand leaders.
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Phyllis began her career in the food industry. She started by delivering lunches from her dining room table to eventually owning two restaurants and a catering company that generated millions in revenue. Her personal brand at that time was Mrs. Mista, where she was known for her motherly vibe.
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As her business grew, Phyllis herself grew out of the role and began coaching. She got her certification as a brand coach, and brand strategy allowed her to embrace her ghetto-country roots and find her real voice. And The Ghetto Country Brandmother® was born.
The Ankit Sherke Design Podcast - with host Ankit Sherke
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Phyllis Williams-Strawder is an author, podcaster, and HBIC of Brandma’s House. She’s The Ghetto Country Brandmother® who wants to change business failure rate statistics.
Phyllis describes herself as an empathic bitch challenging self-aware solopreneurs who are starting over to use brand strategy to scale their impact as brand leaders. She’s here for the respectful rebellion.
Keynote @ BND DSGN Conference
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Getting lost on the way to becoming an entrepreneur is to damn common. It's usually because we take a path we don't know. We also have a tendency to take the path that someone else created. Creating your own shortcuts and knowing when to diverge is scary because you may not see yourself as a trailblazer. It's time to stop going in circles and trust that you know what's best for you.
Phyllis Williams-Strawder, aka The Ghetto Country Brandmother®, is a Rebel Brand Strategist with 4 Business Coaching certifications and 2 Life Coaching certifications with a degree in business. She is aformer bbq restaurant owner & certified bbq judge. She built her former business into a multi-million dollar brand before she knew anything about branding.
In this Brand Loyalty issue we talk to Phyllis Williams-Strawder first of her name and Brandmother to many, about how she helps her clients build super authentic brands and attract engaged and loyal customers!
Check out this Digital Hospitality podcast interview with Phyllis Williams-Strawder to learn about her insightful journey from barbecue to branding, becoming an entrepreneur, communicating online, using Clubhouse, and many more stories and lessons from a tremendous thought leader.
Press Releases & Official Announcements
Below are official press releases related to key publishing milestones from Brandma’s House. These announcements reflect moments where the work formally entered the public conversation.
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“Archetypes & Attitude” - February 14, 2026
A cinematic, behavior-first exploration of the twelve archetypes as lived attitudes rather than personality labels. Archetypes & Attitude examines how identity, power, fear, and desire shape Founder behavior under pressure, revealing why brands fracture, posture hardens, and alignment fails long before strategy does.
→ Read the press release​
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“You Don't Fit, Fake, or Give A Fuck” - October 14, 2025
A founder-first manifesto for entrepreneurs tired of performing for platforms they don’t own. You Don’t Fit, Fake, or Give A Fuck reframes branding as architecture, not attention, challenging the algorithm economy, growth-at-all-costs culture, and customer-first obedience that erode authority, boundaries, and long-term brand equity.
→ Read the press release​
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“I’m Not Here To Fix My Face” - September 1, 2024
A challenge to the personal branding industry’s obsession with performance, positioning Founders as architectural cornerstones rather than walking pitch decks.
→ Read the press release​
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“Branding, Boundaries & Bullshit” - October 13, 2023
A manifesto against cookie-cutter personal branding and the commoditization of people, emphasizing boundaries, behavioral integrity, and Founder-first brand architecture.
→ Read the press release​
Approved Photos​
P.S. If you're charging registrants, I'm charging you.
How to intro Brandma
Today we’re joined by Phyllis “Brandma” Williams-Strawder, the Ghetto Country Brandmother® and founder of Brandma’s House.
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Brandma is known for her work on brand behavior, not just how brands look or sound, but how they act under pressure. She N.A.G.s Founders so they build personal and business brands that are aligned, disciplined, and able to hold up when visibility, money, or growth is on the line.
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Her approach blends behavioral psychology, cultural insight, and real-world entrepreneurial experience, and she’s not here to fix your face, polish your pitch, or perform professionalism.