Welcome to Mayhem & Masterplans, the podcast where Max, Simon, and Andreas test the boundaries of strategy, branding, and WiFi stability—sometimes all at once. This week, we explore how small tweaks in AI, branding, and sports fandom can spark big conversations… or at least derail them entirely.

In this episode, we:

🔹 Follow Andreas on a two-week sprint through Germany — conferences, meetings, tea, and a heroic battle against the sniffles. Spoiler: ginger didn’t win.

🔹 Break down the Mittelstand mindset — What’s the vibe in German SME-land? Andreas gives us the scoop from the "Zukunftstag" and we talk bureaucracy, jumbo depreciation (yes, it’s a thing), and why fax machines are apparently still living their best lives.

🔹 Debate vision vs. execution — Max argues startups should think more like companies. Andreas says companies should think more like startups. Simon just wants us all to think.

🔹 Get real about AI — From city government chatbots to hotel transfer disasters, we look at how AI isn’t always ChatGPT and robot overlords. Sometimes it’s just a smarter helpdesk or better audio cleanup.

🔹 Accidentally turn it into an AI episode (again) — Seriously, we tried not to. There was even a moment where Simon almost stopped us. Almost.

🔹 Tease a future episode on branding in sports — Monuments of cycling, the Masters, the Triple Crown… and why your startup’s brand is probably less iconic than Paris–Roubaix.

🔹 Discover Max’s secret to hacking the Instagram algorithm — Apparently it’s all about startup memes, SEO reels, and refusing to like anything your weird uncle posts.

🔹 End with what really matters — Music, of course. Because all good strategy sessions deserve a killer soundtrack.

🎵 The Four Horsemen – Metallica (Andreas going full thrash)

🎵 Gone Away – The Offspring (Max staying in his desert rock era)

🎵 Jetzt kommt die Osterzeit – Rolf Zuckowski (Simon’s playlist is still sponsored by fatherhood)

🎧 Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for unruly branding debates, startup therapy, and questionable sports analogies:

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📍 Simon on LinkedIn

📍 Andreas on LinkedIn

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🎙️ Produced by: Hypecast

#MayhemAndMasterplans #AIBreakdowns #StartupMindset #SMEvsStartup #VisionMeetsReality #Zukunftstag #MittelstandMoves #ConferenceChaos #HypecastProductions

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Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, your weekly chaos therapy session on business, branding, and all the mayhem in between. In this episode, Max, Simon, and Andreas finally tackle the topic they teased last time: BRANDING.

But since this is Mayhem & Masterplans, we didn’t stop at theory—we went all the way from the Paris-Roubaix cobblestones to Nike’s brand crisis and the rise of hipster cycling subcultures.

Here’s what’s on the branding menu this week:

🔹 Sports, symbols & storytelling – Simon kicks off with a quiz on iconic sports branding. From Augusta’s green jacket to the Hell of the North—how symbols become cultural shortcuts.

🔹 Cycling’s underground glow-up – How cycling transformed from utility transport to street-style culture—and why this matters for brands in sports and beyond.

🔹 Bottom-up vs. top-down branding – The crew debates the difference between league-driven brands (NFL, F1) and community-rooted cultures (cycling, surfing, running). Andreas drops the theory: It’s all about people.

🔹 What is a brand anyway? – Max introduces Kevin Russell’s viral post "This is not a brand". Key takeaways? A logo is not a brand. A brand is the emotional connection you create—and the promise you actually keep.

🔹 Can corporate software have soul? – The trio debates why Microsoft Teams is meme-fodder, why Nike needs to rethink their digital brand experiences, and how small brands (like Andreas’ favorite guitar brand Aristides Guitars) can punch way above their weight with authenticity and excitement.

🔹 Culture vs. point of view – Why writing down values is worthless if your actions don’t follow—and why even small teams like Hypecast need a point of view, not just a branding guide.

And of course, we closed on our signature playlist:

🎵 Trinity of Heresy – Cradle of Filth (Andreas going full metal mode)

🎵 LU (Mixed) – Pianika (Simon fueling up with his Juicy Large playlist)

🎵 Guerrilla Radio – Rage Against The Machine (Max keeping the rage alive)

🎧 Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for unruly branding debates, startup therapy, and questionable sports analogies:

📍 Max on LinkedIn

📍 Simon on LinkedIn

📍 Andreas on LinkedIn

📰 Sign up for our newsletter: The Mic Drop

🎙️ Produced by: Hypecast

#MayhemAndMasterplans #BrandingMayhem #EmotionalConnection #CyclingCulture #HypecastProductions #CorporateBrandingDoneRight #GuerrillaMarketing #SubcultureBranding

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🎙 Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, the podcast where Max, Simon, and Andreas prove once again that strategy, AI, and business life are never as smooth as your favorite startup slide deck. This week, we go full AI in everyday life, get lost in Mittelstand nostalgia, and Simon tries (and fails) to talk about cycling.

In this episode, we:

🔹 Chased Andreas across Germany – From Berlin to the West and back, while fighting off the sniffles, Andreas gives us a crash course in how to do conference hopping, sick mode included.

🔹 Debated Mittelstand vs. startup mindset – Andreas shares impressions from the Zukunftstag Deutscher Mittelstand and why SMEs still struggle with vision. Max and Simon argue that startups could learn a thing or two from German SMEs about profitability—and vice versa.

🔹 Talked subtle AI – Forget ChatGPT and robot overlords. We dive into the quiet side of AI: smarter customer service bots, auto-improved audio, and the kind of small automations that make life just a bit smoother (and less bureaucratic).

🔹 Roasted AI hype – Are we falling for the same old tech hype cycle? Max argues we’re overestimating the short term and underestimating the long term—again.

🔹 Fought about branding and sports – Simon tried (and failed) to steer the show into cycling’s five monuments and the power of sports branding. Max pulled the emergency brake, promising a dedicated episode (eventually).

🔹 Shared social media hacks – Max breaks down how he trained his Instagram algorithm to show more useful, entertaining, and business-relevant content—without falling into the influencer rabbit hole.

🔹 Closed with an AI should be invisible but delightful rant – Software should be forgettable and still make you smile. That’s the Hypecast way.

And of course, we wrapped with our musical picks:

🎵 The Four Horsemen – Metallica (Andreas keeping it old-school heavy)

🎵 Gone Away – The Offspring (Max going full 90s heartbreak punk)

🎵 Jetzt kommt die Osterzeit – Rolf Zuckowski (Simon... well... kids music wins again)

🎧 Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for chaotic strategy debates, AI skepticism, and the occasional off-topic cycling chat:

📍 Max on LinkedIn

📍 Simon on LinkedIn

📍 Andreas on LinkedIn

📰 Sign up for our newsletter: The Mic Drop

🎙️ Produced by: Hypecast

#MayhemAndMasterplans #MittelstandMeetsAI #SmallStepsBigImpact #CorporateChaos #PodcastingInTunisia #AIShouldJustWork #HypecastProductions

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Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas explore the sweet spot between structure and spontaneity—one spreadsheet, one leadership anecdote, and one interrupted intro at a time. This week, we ask the question: Do numbers kill creativity - or can they be the foundation for trust, stability, and a healthier workplace culture?

In this episode, we:

🔹 Argued about analytics and intros – Do Max’s musical openings cause YouTube drop-offs? Is there such a thing as overcommunication? Simon investigates the stats. Andreas just wants to move on.

🔹 Dug into the difference between Entrepreneurs and Unternehmers – Is your business built for a flashy exit or for generational wealth? Max lays out the distinction, Andreas challenges the definitions, and Simon quietly contemplates the future of Mittelstand legacy.

🔹 Talked numbers vs. narrative – Are spreadsheets your north star, or just a safety blanket? From miller beer imports to stock photo disruption, we break down how numbers tell a story—but never the whole one.

🔹 Explored trust in the workplace – With declining faith in media and politics, the company you work for might just be the most trusted institution in your life. We unpack what that means for internal comms, leadership, and long-term employee engagement.

🔹 Highlighted the human factor – From Max’s sister in Tunisia to Duncan Donuts’ loyal staff, it turns out clear expectations, mutual respect, and being treated like a person (not a “resource”) can drive retention and culture better than free pizza ever could.

🔹 Got real about leadership comms – Overproduced videos don’t create connection. Instead, we make the case for informal, eye-level communication—think internal podcasts, weekly check-ins, and just talking with people, not to them.

🔹 Ended on a musical note – New week, new streaks, and no kid songs in sight:

🎵 Countless Skies – Be'lakor (Andreas leveling up his melodic death metal game)

🎵 Over & Over (Marsh Remix) – Leo Wood, Marsh (Simon finally breaks the children’s music curse)

🎵 Trying to Find a World That’s Been and Gone – Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds (Max getting wistful with Britpop brilliance)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for business takes, leadership therapy, and the occasional mic drop moment:

📍 Max – LinkedIn

📍 Simon – LinkedIn

📍 Andreas – LinkedIn

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🎙️ Mayhem & Masterplans is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #LeadershipMatters #CompanyCulture #InternalComms #TrustInBusiness #HypecastProductions

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Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas prove once again that you don’t need a unicorn valuation to have sharp insights - just a mic, a business model, and maybe a good Italian espresso. This week, we dig into the story behind Bending Spoons, the Milan-based tech juggernaut quietly building an empire by acquiring apps, cutting costs, and rewriting the playbook on buy vs. build.

In this episode, we:

🔹 Unpacked the rise of Bending Spoons – From building mobile apps in Milan to acquiring Evernote, Meetup, Komoot, and even WeTransfer. Simon walks us through how they buy, refactor, and relaunch tools with leaner teams, and Andreas wants to know: does gutting the original dev team ever work?

🔹 Debated tech takeovers – Can you really hand over a full product to a new engineering team and expect it to thrive? Simon breaks down the logic behind rewriting from scratch, and Andreas asks what’s actually preserved: the user base, the logo… or just the brand equity?

🔹 Explored business model evolution – Is this the anti-VC model Europe’s been waiting for? Max contrasts Bending Spoons with Germany’s Platform Group and argues we might be seeing the rise of private equity for product-led growth.

🔹 Talked synergy and scale – From shared analytics stacks to AWS discounts and centralized marketing, the crew discusses how backend efficiency fuels Bending Spoons' operating model—and where that can (and can’t) scale across different tech stacks.

🔹 Questioned the VC hype cycle – Remember 15-minute grocery delivery apps? So do we. Andreas and Max unpack the problem with unicorn chasing and argue for building long-term category leaders instead of burning cash on blitzscale dreams.

🔹 Got real about European ambition – Are European founders too cautious—or just more sustainable? Max argues that Germany’s family-owned Mittelstand is ready to think global, while Andreas points out that most prefer stability over scale.

🔹 Found some mayhem in Berlin’s public transport – Spoiler: random strikes are not a scalable mobility solution.

And, of course, we are closing the episode with our musicial choices for the week – From metalcore to moody pop to mellow guitar solos, here’s what’s been in our ears last:

🎵 Evidence – Lamb of God (Andreas repping metal and coincidence-core)

🎵 Watch – Billie Eilish (Simon brings mayhem with moody minimalism)

🎵 Last Train Home – John Mayer (Max cools it down with some soft rock soul)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts - and follow us for behind-the-scenes chaos, unsolicited business takes, and occasional existential crises:

📍 Max

📍 Simon

📍 Andreas

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #BendingSpoons #TechAcquisitions #BuyVsBuild #CategoryPlays #EuropeanTech #PodcastingWithPurpose #CorporateChaos

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Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas take on the tech hype cycle, corporate chaos, and the philosophical weight of living in an age where machines can write your emails and steal your soul (maybe).

This week, we’re talking AI—not just the buzzword, but the reality of what it means for creators, developers, businesses, and basically anyone who’s been alive since 2022.

In this episode, we:

🔹 Debated the hype vs. the utility – Andreas is allergic to hype (and crypto), but cautiously optimistic about what AI can actually automate. Max wonders if we’ll soon label podcasts like we label meat: AI-generated vs. “free-range”. And Simon’s just out here doing the real work and reaping the benefits.

🔹 Explored AI in developer workflows – Why are some devs resisting AI tools, even as others are shouting 10x productivity from the rooftops? Simon thinks it’s a mindset issue. Max thinks it’s because devs are secretly the most conservative profession in tech. Andreas thinks it’s about whether you care more about the process or the product.

🔹 Got metaphorical – Photography. Punk rock. Slide decks. The gang finds parallels between different crafts and how AI changes the game for beginners vs. experts. If you’re mediocre, AI might make you better. If you’re great, it might just make you… average.

🔹 Talked politics, of course – From Bernie and AOC rallies to Chuck Schumer critiques and brain drain from the U.S. to Europe. Somehow, the Max Planck Institute, Morgan Stanley, and open AI labs in Munich all came up. (You know. The usual.)

🔹 Complained about investor buzzwords – Just because your startup now says “AI-powered” doesn’t mean it’s not the same boring HR tool from 2019.

🔹 Ended with music, as always – because no discussion of artificial intelligence is complete without a soundtrack made by real humans (or at least curated by them):

🎵 Sweet Dreams – Super Simple Songs (Simon, keeping the kids’ music streak alive)

🎵 Not Nothing – Dark Tranquillity (Andreas, adding some Swedish melodic death metal to the mix)

🎵 I’m Still Standing – Elton John (Max, throwing it back with resilient glam pop vibes)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for behind-the-scenes banter, tech skepticism, and all the glorious mess of figuring it out while the robots take notes.

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #AI #DeveloperDebates #PodcastingInTheAgeOfMachines #BusinessWithAGlitch

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Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas talk about climate finance, collapsing trees, 90s hardcore bands, and the very real possibility that we’re all living in the prequel to Idiocracy. This week’s episode is named after the legendary (and now closed) New York music venue Saint Vitus—because what better metaphor for tight stages and tighter budgets?

In this episode, we:

🌧️ Survived more Madrid mayhem – A pine tree fell, streets flooded, and we nearly turned this podcast into a weather report. Again.

💸 Talked climate infrastructure and political deals – Germany’s new government is spending big on climate reform, but not without drama. Should we call climate protection “economic policy” and be done with it?

🗽 Debated whether France really wants the Statue of Liberty back – Is it satire, diplomatic performance art, or just a very French way of trolling?

🩴 Went full Idiocracy – Crocs were once a joke. Now they’re in every office. Coincidence? We think not.

🎸 Got hyped for small-venue tour life – Andreas is joining his friends’ Euro tour (not as a rockstar, but close enough). From carrying boxes to snapping pics, it’s DIY spirit all the way.

🎤 Shared favorite concerts – From Metallica in Zurich to Rammstein at Hurricane Festival, we dive deep into big shows, tiny venues, and the magic of a well-tuned soundboard.

🎧 Got nerdy about audio engineering – Good live sound isn’t a coincidence—it’s hard work, clever gear, and sometimes calling your sound guy mid-festival.

🔥 Reflected on rockstar life cycles – Do iconic bands mirror the growth curve of great companies? Startup grind, mid-career slump, and eventual stadium domination. We see you, ACDC.

As always, we wrapped up with what we’re listening to this week:

🎵 Jeremy – Pearl Jam (Andreas feeling 90s grunge nostalgia) 🔗 Listen on Spotify

🎵 If You’re Happy – Super Simple Songs (Simon’s wholesome playlist continues) 🔗 Listen on Spotify

🎵 Still D.R.E. – Dr. Dre (Max going classic West Coast) 🔗 Listen on Spotify

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for more music talk, mild existentialism, and deep dives into startup metaphors.

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions.

📸 Tour updates (and maybe Croc pics) coming soon.

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Welcome back to Mayhem & Masterplans, where Max, Simon, and Andreas prove once again that strategy, vision, and way too much business jargon are best tackled with a microphone and a good sense of humor. This week, we’re charting our course, defining our North Stars, and figuring out if ICPs are actually useful—or just another buzzword for business bingo.

In this episode, we:

🔹 Got lost in the concept of Ideal Customer Profiles (ICPs) – Are they an essential tool or just a fancy way to pretend you have your business under control? Andreas breaks down how defining ICPs helped Forward Momentum sharpen its focus, while Max and Simon debate whether companies should focus less on personas and more on just doing the work.

🔹 Argued about strategy vs. action – Should businesses spend more time figuring out who they’re selling to, or should they just hit the ground running and adjust along the way? Max takes a strong stance against startup books and frameworks, and Simon wonders if ICPs are just a distraction from actually getting customers.

🔹 Got philosophical about our own North Stars – What drives us? What keeps us going? And should a North Star be something you can actually reach, or an impossible goal that keeps you moving forward? Simon’s got his vision sealed in an envelope, Andreas wants to leave a lasting impact, and Max just wants to be the Jimmy Iovine of corporate podcasting.

🔹 Debated external vs. internal motivation – Does success come from within, or do we need validation from others? Are we driven by personal growth, financial success, or the legacy we leave behind? Spoiler: we still don’t agree.

🔹 Got deep into business psychology – From visualization techniques to breaking through obstacles (or just chopping them down), we explore how mindset shapes success—and whether we should all be writing down our North Stars.

🔹 Complained about too much self-promotion – Yes, we mentioned Hypecast and Forward Momentum too many times, and yes, Max is already tired of it.

🔹 Ended on a musical note – As always, we wrapped up with what we’ve been listening to, because strategy discussions need soundtracks too:

🎵 The Answer – Bad Religion (Andreas throwing it back to punk rock wisdom)

🎵 If You’re Happy and You Know It – Super Simple Songs (Simon’s weekly kids’ music streak continues)

🎵 You Think I Ain’t Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire – Queens of the Stone Age (Max staying on brand with heavy desert rock vibes)

Subscribe to Mayhem & Masterplans wherever you get your podcasts—and follow us for behind-the-scenes chaos, unsolicited business takes, and occasional existential crises:

📍 Max

📍 Simon

📍 Andreas

This podcast is produced by Hypecast Productions

#MayhemAndMasterplans #NorthStar #PodcastingWithPurpose #CorporateChaos

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