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Born to License
Unlock the secrets of the $350 billion licensing industry with David Born, CEO of Born Licensing & Born to License. Whether you’re a business owner, brand enthusiast, or curious about how your favorite characters and brands make their way onto products, this podcast is your ultimate guide to the world of licensing.
Join David as he shares insider stories, practical tips, and real-world examples, helping you navigate the exciting intersection of creativity, commerce, and collaboration. From product development to pitching, licensing terminology to success stories—get ready to discover the untapped potential of this dynamic industry.
New episodes every two weeks.
Episodes
74 episodes
America's 250th Birthday Has a Licensing Program — And It's Bigger Than You Think
The 4th of July is the most patriotic day on the American calendar. But behind the fireworks, the flags, and the hot dogs, there's a full-scale licensing program — official logos, vetted partners, and over 200 companies signed up to carry the m...
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Crayola x CamelBak | The Water Bottle That Broke LinkedIn (And Why Nobody Called It Licensing)
A limited edition CamelBak x Crayola water bottle went viral on LinkedIn with 9.5 million views — and almost nobody mentioned the word licensing once.In this episode, David breaks down how a product that launched quietly in Nove...
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Toy Story 5: Papa John's, Kellogg's, and My First 24 Hours in LA
Toy Story 5 is taking over - and this episode breaks down exactly why from a licensing perspective.In this episode of Born to License, I’m coming to you from Los Angeles (new home!) after moving from Brazil - and diving s...
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Why I’m Moving to LA + World Cup, Scooby-Doo & SPAM
I’m moving to Los Angeles - and this isn’t a lifestyle decision. It’s a strategic one.In this episode of Born to License, I break down why LA is the global center of the licensing industry, and why being physically...
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Backrooms vs Star Wars: What It Really Means for Licensing
In this episode of Born to License, we break down one of the biggest conversations in Hollywood right now — and why the licensing perspective tells a completely different story.Two low-budget films created by YouTube-native dire...
What I Learned at Licensing Expo 2026 (Costs, Trends & $389B Industry Insights)
What really happens at Licensing Expo?After 13 years attending - and exhibiting for the first time - this is the honest breakdown of Licensing Expo 2026 in Las Vegas.No highlight reel. Just real insights, real numbers, re...
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Licensing Expo 2026 Wrap Up: AI, Deals & What’s Next in Licensing
What really happens at Licensing Expo?In this episode of Born to License, David Born shares a behind-the-scenes look at Licensing Expo 2026 in Las Vegas - from speaking about AI in licensing, to insights fro...
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Licensing Expo 2026: Predictions, Trends & Insider Advice from the Born Team
The biggest week in licensing is here.In this special episode of Born to License, we’re on the ground in Los Angeles just days before Licensing Expo 2026 — and for the first time ever, the entire Born team is toget...
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What Licensing Expo Means to Me | From First Visit to Exhibitor: My Licensing Expo Journey
What is Licensing Expo really like?In this episode of Born to License, David takes you inside Licensing Expo Las Vegas - the biggest and most important event in the global licensing industry.From his very fi...
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Star Wars' Big Moment
How did Star Wars become one of the most powerful licensing machines in history?On Star Wars Day, we’re breaking down the origin story of modern licensing — and how a single deal in 1977 changed the industry forever....
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Big Licensing Moves You Need to Know | What You Missed in Licensing (While I Was Offline)
What happened in licensing this week? Here are 5 major moves you need to know.Fresh back from trekking to the base camp of Mount Everest in Nepal, David breaks down the biggest licensing news, brand partnerships, and IP strateg...
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I’m at Everest Base Camp… Here’s What to Listen To
No new episode this week… but for a good reason.Right now, David is in Nepal, trekking to the base camp of Mount Everest — an adventure that’s been a long time in the making.So while there’s no full episode of Born to L...
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The Smart Way to Start Licensing - David with It’s No Fluke Podcast
Everyone wants to license with the biggest brands in the world… but that’s exactly where most people go wrong.In this episode of Born to License, David shares a powerful snippet from his conversation on the It’s No Fl...
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Licensing Expo Is Coming + I Trained for 6 Months… Then Everything Changed
What does it really take to prepare for the biggest event in the licensing industry?In this episode of Born to License, David shares a behind-the-scenes look at gearing up for Licensing Expo in Las Vegas — and why ...
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What Super Mario Teaches About Licensing
What if the real marketing for a blockbuster film isn’t ads… but products?In this episode of Born to License, David breaks down the Super Mario Galaxy licensing rollout — and why it’s one of the most impressive exa...
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How Licensing Helped The Oodie Build an $850M Brand | Special Episode with Davie Fogarty
How do you build a brand that people don’t just buy… but obsess over?In this episode of Born to License, David sits down with Davie Fogarty, Founder of The Oodie - one of the fastest-growing consumer brands to come out of...
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Twix Campaign: The Secret Power of Licensed Characters in Advertising
Why do some ads become unforgettable… while others disappear instantly?In this episode of Born to License, David breaks down one of the most powerful tools in modern advertising: licensed characters.Using th...
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How The Oodie Decides Which Licenses to Back
How does a brand like The Oodie go from a simple product to a global success story - and what role does licensing play in that journey?In this episode of Born to License, we sit down with Rebecca Palmer to explore how ...
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Licensing at the Oscars: The Category That Actually Matters
Why do some Oscar-winning films generate huge licensing businesses while others create almost none?In this episode of Born to License, David looks at Hollywood’s biggest night through a licensing lens. While the world foc...
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Melbourne Toy Fair Wrap-Up: The Biggest Licensing Trends From the Show Floor
He's just wrapped up a week at the Melbourne Toy Fair - and it was absolutely worth the trip.In this episode of Born to License, David shares his biggest takeaways from Australia’s largest toy and licensing trade event, att...
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Pokémon Day: 30 Years of the World’s Most Powerful Licensing Machine
Few brands in history have achieved what Pokémon has achieved.With over $103.6 billion in licensed retail sales and $12 billion generated in 2024 alone, Pokémon stands as the highest-grossing media franchise of all time — built not on a ...
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EMERGENCY EPISODE: Netflix Folds. What a Paramount x Warner Bros. Deal Really Means for Licensing
Netflix has walked away from its $82.7 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery - and Paramount looks set to create a $22 billion licensing powerhouse. In this emergency episode of Born to License, David Born breaks down exactly what this...
Melbourne Toy Fair Preview: What to Expect from Australia’s Biggest Toy Fair
I’m back in Melbourne — and for the first time in nearly a decade, Melbourne Toy Fair is officially back on my international event calendar.In this episode of Born to License, David Born previews what to expect from the Austral...
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I Visited the World’s First SpongeBob Restaurant + Hippo Blue + Labubu
This week on Born to License, David is reporting from Australia — but the episode spans three continents and three very different licensing stories.From dining inside Bikini Bottom at the world’s first official SpongeBob Square...
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How Hippo Blue Scaled with Disney Licensing - Special Episode
What really happens when a growing brand enters the world of licensing?In this episode of Born to License, we go deep with the founder of Hippo Blue to unpack a real-world licensing journey — from early design roots and manufacturing cha...
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