After years of orchestrating strategies for some of the world’s most recognizable brands, Curtis Midkiff Jr., aka The Brand DJ, is turning up the volume on his own vision. With a keen pulse on culture and a gift for connection, he’s stepped boldly into a new chapter—one where authenticity leads, community thrives, and storytelling is sacred. In this exclusive conversation, Midkiff, founder/CEO of SMOGO Media, opens up about launching The Brand DJ Diaries, building SMOGO TV, and redefining what it means to create with purpose. It’s not just about marketing anymore—it’s about movement, meaning, and making room for voices that deserve to be heard.
What does it feel like to step into this new chapter on your own terms after years of leading strategy for major brands?
Midkiff: It honestly feels like freedom — but a very focused freedom. After years of helping build other brands, it’s empowering to take all those lessons, all that energy, and pour it into something that’s truly mine. It’s like I’ve been DJing other people’s sets, and now I’m finally spinning my own — with my own rhythm, my own sound, and my own purpose.
How has your personal definition of success evolved with your transition from corporate executive to entrepreneur?
Midkiff: In the corporate world, success can sometimes get tied up in titles, awards, and metrics that don’t always tell the full story. Now, success for me is about impact and authenticity. Am I creating work that moves people? Am I building spaces where culture and community can thrive? That’s the scoreboard I pay attention to now.
Talk about the moment you knew it was time to launch your own platform and what that decision meant to you creatively and professionally?
Midkiff: There wasn’t one big lightning bolt moment—it was a series of smaller realizations. I kept seeing gaps in the conversation where culture was being referenced, but not respected. I realized I had something unique to say—and more importantly, I had a platform to build that could elevate others too. Creatively, it unlocked a new gear. Professionally, it meant betting on myself in the most real way possible.
What makes The Brand DJ Diaries more than just another content series, and how do you hope it will impact conversations around culture and strategy?
Midkiff: The Brand DJ Diaries isn’t just storytelling—it’s bridge building. It’s about documenting how culture, commerce, and community actually work together when done right. I want it to show that culture isn’t something brands should “tap into”—it’s something they should respect, partner with, and grow with. If I can shift even a few mindsets around that, then it’s doing its job.
You’ve always had a pulse on cultural moments—how are you bringing that same intuitive approach to building SMOGO TV and your other ventures?
Midkiff: It’s about staying in the culture, not just observing it from a distance. I move with the rhythm of real communities—not trends, not algorithms. With SMOGO TV and beyond, I’m focused on creating spaces where real stories can shine, and making sure the platforms feel like they belong to the culture, not the other way around.
What are some of the key values or principles guiding you as you build new partnerships in this next phase of your career?
Midkiff: Alignment over attachment. I’m only building with brands and people who truly value authenticity, creativity, and community—not just in their marketing decks, but also in how they move day to day. Collaboration has to feel like a mutual investment, not an extraction. That’s non-negotiable for me now.
How do you balance being both a visionary and an executor as you build these platforms from the ground up?
Midkiff: I treat it like DJing—you have to read the room and keep the party moving. Dreaming big is essential, but execution is about staying grounded, staying adaptable, and knowing when to remix the plan without losing the original vibe. I’m building with both a telescope and a toolkit.
What do you see as the biggest opportunities right now for brands that are serious about culture-forward collaboration?
Midkiff: The biggest opportunity is to build with, not for. Brands that are serious about culture-forward collaboration have a chance to be part of something bigger than a campaign—they can help shape movements, not just moments. The ones who succeed will be those who lead with humility, invest with heart, and see culture not as a commodity, but as a community they have a responsibility to uplift.
In your journey, how have community and creativity worked hand-in-hand to shape your vision and fuel your momentum?
Midkiff: Community is creativity. Every great idea I’ve had has been sharpened, inspired, or elevated by the people around me. Whether it’s a focus group, a cookout, or a late-night brainstorm, I’ve always believed that collaboration creates better art—and better business.
What legacy do you hope to leave through this new chapter, not just in marketing, but also in how we tell stories, build community, and elevate voices?
Midkiff: I want my legacy to be about impact over ego. I want to be known as someone who didn’t just succeed personally, but who opened doors, connected dots, and built platforms that lasted. In a world that moves fast and often forgets, I want to leave footprints that remind people: culture isn’t just content—it’s community, it’s care, it’s legacy.
