Afleveringen
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Our favorite stories:
From record label & photography studio to ad agency; shaping incredible brands like Lollapalooza and Pitchfork to now Kimberly-Clark and PatagoniaRenting a $700/month, 2,000 sq ft industrial space to make band posters & album art, produce music, and photograph musicians. Creating Someoddpilot at 25 - "the gusto, the sincerity, the sureness even though I had no idea what I was doing" "I'm the kid that walked out of art school and wanted to keep that feel going... of critique, of discovery... that's the dream. That's why artists are artists." The record label was still going but it wasn't working and making money, I considered it a failure. But looking back it was exactly what I should be doing, what I loved doing. "I never wanted to web design, it was just a giant door for us to walk through in 1999." Launching the Public Works galleryBig moments from doing the work:
"I had shown artwork in galleries when I graduated college and thought that was the end all be all... once I had a chance to experience that, and contrast with band shows, and feel the palpable difference of what it was like to be in those environments, it got me thinking that there were other ways to apply my skills... the camaraderie... the art gang that can laugh and pal around and make work, and get excited about something..." Making a better website for The Empty Bottle and charting a rebrand. T-shirts, flyers, and digital for $3,000 of bar tabs. "Pitchfork were the only ones who got up five days a week and published 3 articles by 9am" - sending records to Pitchfork and getting an in with the intern up the street. "They do websites too!" An age-old problem: "I have a legacy brand with a generation of users that treasure and love what we're doing but we need to modernize and bring it forward to the future, expand what it can be, mean something to a new consumer, but not lose the thread on the old"Career advice we'll live with:
"I've always been a Straight-A student that had a bad mouth... I've always felt good about expressing very honestly and very vulnerably... there's something about cursing or speaking as yourself." "You didn't know what you were doing... there's no course at that age to explain diplomatic or democratic creative decision making... ""I didn't know what graphic design was but I knew I needed to make this flyer." On getting a foot in the door: "How do you get half your body stuck in the door screaming your head off. Even if you know someone, they don't always know." "Game of Thrones is a great example of a creative property that should be for nerds only. By definition it should be for DnD nerds, but what ended up happening is that everyone in the world loved that show because it was so well done, and the story was so rich.""You aren't going to pull the wool over anyone's eyes... who you are and the mythology around the work you are doing... it's not going to come from any briefs or approaches, that's going to come from a badass dedication to the heart and soul of what this business is, and going out in the world and communicating it in a way that turns heads, and inspires the shit out of people." - making a friend for life.Find us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Our favorite stories:
Mass media shaped by sight-sound imagery, inspired by watching a ton of TV and critiquing the commercials as much as watching the programming. Recalling jingles, surgery cartoons, GEICO ads...On trying research journalism - "something just wasn't clicking, it felt like it drained me of energy." Part time restaurant job and appliance & repair parts marketing... the perfect recipe for becoming the future Head of Strategy at Sid Lee? JK - it helped with learning how to relate with people. (KEY SKILL)Big moments from doing the work:
Originally applied to VCU for copywriting, but was identified as a strategist. Found mentorship in Earl Cox, late CSO of The Martin AgencyOn trust and taste: critical ingredients for a successful collaboration between strategy and creative. "you have to figure out the references that connect with them... but do not be the Judge Judy in the room" On working with younger creatives: "get them into the habit of explaining their rationale... it makes for more fruitful working relationships." Bringing together a high-velocity team: hiring for the right skills, but also leaving room for individuals to surpass their own expectations for themselves. "I like seeing people's faces" - Earl Cox was great at taking a room and working it... reading it and regurgitating it...Career advice we'll live with:
On imposter syndrome: "Find people who are going to be your advocates... if you have someone accomplished that thinks you can do XYZ, maybe you can!" Jargon Monoxide creates a fall sense of competence... folks from non-traditional marketing backgrounds have these razor-sharp minds but don't have that marketing-ese... Cardi B is a brilliant marketer but she does NOT sound like the people I'm in meetings with "I love a From > To" - the more honest you are with that, the more provocative... that is always a money maker... when you can capture the mood of the clients, in addition to their ambition... reshape it in a way that gets people excited to hear what you have to say.On setting a vision for success: "all strategy is to get people to take the time to align on where we're going""An informed opinion delivered with conviction delivers hope." On helping people find their own 'lightbulb moment'. "Rigidity is the pitfall of strategy... overconfidence, over complication, too 'inside baseball'... those are all off-ramps." "If I don't understand this, there's no way the consumer will understand it."Find us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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"If you got one foot in tomorrow and one foot in yesterday, then you're squattin' on today." - Brian's grandma
3x author, professor, and agency chief turned clinical therapist Over 20 years in China leading perhaps the most storied industry-shaper J. Walter Thompson on accounts like Kraft, Nike, and Microsoft. There was a lot of proud when you saw your work up there... there was a lot of social cache. Investment banking was a big thing and consulting was too, but there was no shame in saying "I went to a business school and went into advertising." "There was never a CMO... the relationship between agency and client was taken very seriously. Agency reviews were meant to consolidate relationships instead of cracking open fissures that might be helping in reducing fees." On moving to China: "You could tell very quickly who was going to thrive... I came in and was immediately moved by the aspirational sparkle in their eyes... the willingness to absorb information..."
Our favorite stories:Big moments from doing the work:
"There was tremendous focus on strategy and creative as the center of gravity... Leo Burnett and JWT had review boards making sure the leadership of the agency was collectively endorsing what was going on. There was no question the decision making was not focused on media." "I helped launch Lunchables... the marketing head and I were very good friends and I knew his family and we went to multiple football games... cookouts... that relationship was particularly warm but not unheard of at the time." "Living in the lanes... not a high rise where the ex-pats were... once you learn the language (Chinese), it gives you insight into how the Chinese view their relationship between the individual and society and the cosmos..."Career advice we'll live with:
People are very frightened about digital technology. The people who have command over the digital ecosystem are the new aspirational characters in the industry.Down-funnel: a shift in the center of gravity; those who could understand and could harness the power of data vs ideas. Ideas were left by the wayside. "Clearly there are areas in communication communities that are still brand-centric. The question that I have is, whether people that are part of these part of these functions are ultimately going to scale the ladders of the power structure." Ask yourself, where can I feel most at home? The fundamentals of what a good insight is... what a good brand purpose is -- these are not being taught, in fact they are being slightly ridiculed. You fall back on brand guide books that are overly prescriptive.Find us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Our favorite stories:
"I started Bakery when I was 27... I didn't know how to do anything but I thought I knew how to do everything better than everyone else.""If you're from a place like the Dominican Republic, you're surviving... there's very few career tracks. You have a main career and a lot of side (hustles).""Once puberty hits... I was out there tagging walls... and then I had a mentor." "This is the passion of my life, working with people who are way more talented than I'll ever be." "As an immigrant kid, you feel like there are these gatekeeping moments. Like that's not for you, and then you get into it, and people want your opinion..." "Having great people in this industry, with nothing in return, give their time to someone that they don't know... it honestly makes you very humble, it makes you understand this is a give-back industry..."Big moments from doing the work:
Launching BioWare / EA Games - "it was like a school I never had"From :30s at a time to an industry that keeps people's attention for 200 hours at a timeFailed multiple times - Bakery went out of business 4x - "I had to reinvent myself and the agency." "...Decidedly an old school place. I wanted it to be a creative hub... like the agencies I grew up idolizing. Less digital, less data-driven... boring the crap out of me. Vaporware." Starting KEN media with Shiner Beer AOR - a great example of clients giving you opportunity to grow. "I wish this kind of relationship on any agency. We use the word Partner so often... when I say partnership, they are on my mind. We are both in for the benefit of our people."Career advice we'll live with:
"Please stay dumb and curious""I'll out-work anyone in any room I'm in. That's the super power..."Moving from survival to thriving model of thinking - "...we're in a Renaissance of indie agencies... there is something to be said about the agility afforded to you by independence." "Capitalism never sleeps. Every time the checks have more 0's on them... as an immigrant to this country, the idea of the US is to make it. You have to come to terms with what that means to you." "There was a pitch floating around... I want to do this just to see all the things we need to fix. If Bakery took off at this rate [like KEN], I'd be calling you from Air Force Bakery." "I believe in know what you're good at and what you're not good at, and letting people do what they're good at." "Watch Canada."Find us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Theo Gibson, ECD of Joan Creative and visual artist Bank Moody, joins us from Joan's NYC office to share his Jedi-like wisdom around authentic artistic creation, and how it has served him during an award-winning advertising career, from his early days building a creative community in Toronto, Canada, to his current role and life in NYC.
How a friend's words, "sketchbook Theo is the best Theo," reminded him to re-prioritize making art with his handsIntentionally curating your own inspiration; "our experiences shouldn't just stay with us" Being a horror buff and Theo's favorite quote (and solid advice) from "Hellraiser"
Our favorite stories:Big moments from doing the work:
Learning how to and the value of picking your agencies even as agencies are picking youStraddling/pushing the line of safety to make good workWhile others are focused on RTBs, KPIs, etc. focus on making the work resonate with those who are watchingCareer advice we'll live with:
Your own essence will inform the work better than the industry standardIf you haven't made anything in 2 years, it's on you, not the agencyNever think of it as a performanceFind us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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This episode, we sit down with Lameya Chaudhury, the driving force behind social impact at Lucky Generals, the UK-based advertising agency known for work that doesn't just resonate—it challenges perceptions and drives meaningful change.
Making a complicated topic simple and working with an oil-drinking national treasure for Make My Money Matter with "Oblivia Colemine" (Olivia Coleman)Matchmaking client partners e.g. The British Army + The Black Curriculum, educational partnershipThe difference between UK and US cultures in business and social impact
With over 15 years of experience connecting brands to their communities, Lameya shares her journey of being curiosity-led, collecting mentors, and helping brands align their actions with their words.
Our favorite stories:Big moments from doing the work:
Getting brands to be brave, invest robustly, and have receipts The value of forging relationships and partners within an industry where a Head of Social Impact has few to no peersNavigating the stages of a client relationshipCareer advice we'll live with:
The benefits of curating a curiosity-led career"Never stay in my own lane"How can we make social impact "a core component of the brand platform, not an addition?"Collect mentors everywhere you canFind us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Multi-hyphenate creative legend JoRoan Lazaro, ECD of Experience.Monks joins us to talk all things emerging technology, career lifecycles, and getting his start AOL in a time when UX design was still a nascent discipline.
One of the odd birds in both product design and brand communicationsGoing against the grain: started in client-side and transitioned to agency"Instead of choosing one major I chose three. Computer science, psychology, and art - it didn't make sense at the time. It goes back to the Asian experience because you're afraid to tell your parents that... I want to do art..."
Our favorite stories:Big moments from doing the work:
"One of the first things I did was the actual concept of the yellow running guy with a pencil... the idea was an easily identifiable icon or visual." - it changed how people use technology and helped usher in social"There was no usability testing. We just did it." "In general, I already know all the questions I want to ask, but I'm always still really really surprised when I land."Pitching: receiving a standing ovation but losing the pitch. It is about relationships and it is about chemistry. There's just so much you don't know.Career advice we'll live with:
Financial safety-net to take risks; "if I don't like it, I could always move again." "Nothing replaces doing it.""A little bit of luck, a little bit of bravery" - the idea of working in a space that is deeply unsexy to designers, but makes a gigantic difference for every day people. "The following your passion sounds really obvious but it makes more sense the older you get, because if you are doing something you are deeply interested in, you're gonna stick with it and work hard, and that's important for longevity." "The contact in America is... you have a job. They will pay you for the work you are supposed to be doing. Everything else is up to us to make great or wonderful... nothing is entitled."Find us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Suzie Bao, IW Group's new VP Account Director for McDonald's stopped by the Bad Pod to talk about...
Joy work; engaging career growth and creativity with a focus on multicultural representationLessons on finding mentorship early and often; the courage it takes to embrace people willing to tell you what you are bad atAccelerating and championing Asians in Advertising, a non profit organization dedicated to elevating traditionally overlooked voices and faces. Superpower: being a “fixer” and “client whisperer” — someone who packages an idea in a way that will get it across the finish line“It’s so nice to not be the only. I collaborate with clients that want to be a cultural icon.” Virtually every brand wants to capture the Gen Z audience. To them, multicultural marketing IS marketing. Learning by osmosis: "I know how to be an Account person. I’m NOT a strategist, so how can I become more strategist? I hang out with Strategists. I'm NOT a creative, so I hang out with creatives. I rather be around what I cannot do for a living."“Account is a thankless role and people often don’t fully appreciate it until I leave”Find us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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You'll be glad you caught this one. Matt Johnson has paved his ad career as a strategist and now agency founder with determination, humility, and of, course, a heaping helping of creativity. He cut his teeth at some of the most iconic names in LA advertising; Goodby, 72&Sunny, 180LA, and now Haymaker
Matt tells us about sharing an alma mater with Dan Weiden and “growing up” in his career path alongside the rise of Jordan in the ‘80s when, for the first time, a single athlete was defining the culture of sports and beyond.
Episode Quotes:
Almost leaving advertising: “when you’re a competitive person, and a really hard worker, advertising is really easy to get sucked up into because it’s such a tough business and demands a competitive fire.” “There’s never an end to the work… you could go forever.” "Strategy IS creative." Say it back.On new business: “Hire the partner not the idea”On modeling the agency: "Haymaker is a reflection of the founders’ partnership and friendship"Industry friction/ truth: “Not everyone can eat a Creative Idea”On life: “I found my way into opportunity and listened.”Find us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Introducing our guest all the way from Lincoln, Nebraska… Clint Runge, CEO & Founder of Archrival!Turns out, advertising was a second chapter for Clint, who actually started out in architecture and design. Archrival is a youth culture agency setting out to reinvent how brands with the hearts and minds of young adults, teens to twenty-somethings. Clint and his team of 65 have worked with brands like Spotify, Adidas, and Epic Games, and they aren’t slowing down.“Rewriting the Ten Z playbook” - Vogue, March 2024Gen Z is breaking the traditional marketing funnel, moving away from a top-down broadcast model towards a bottom-up, grassroots approach to building brand identity We chat about the job search, career satisfaction, creativity vs creativity management
Find us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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After 3 years and over 60 guest interviews, The Bad Pod co-founder, Amelia is leaving the podcast.
AND Eric L. Hu, Head of Strategy FinTech at Walmart and our episode 37 guest from August '22, is taking over as co-host!
Eric & Brian talk with Amelia about the pod past, our futures, what makes the work "worth it," and what is most important in our professional lives.
Please join us in bidding a fond farewell to Amelia and wishing her all the best as she continues to dominate over at VML Chicago!Find us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Look no further than this episode's thumbnail image to see that Ryan Mack likes doing things differently. And it's that ability to go with his gut, even and especially when unconventional, that has ushered him through a truly inspiring career.
In his words, Ryan Mack's special talent is making small things medium. As the former President of Virtue Worldwide, he did just that, building Vice's agency into an advertising juggernaut.
As Chief Commercial Officer at Made In Network, he has overseen the brand-building of cultural superstars like Matty Matheson, Action Bronson, and many more. This episode is a masterclass in modern creator marketing and what big brands are missing in the conversation of how to stay relevant.
Episode Links:
Made In Network
Matty Matheson on YouTube
Babish Culinary UniverseFind us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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It's the Happiest of New Years here at The Bad Pod because we finally got to sit down with the co-founders of our long-time sponsors, Book 180!
Sarah Latz & Francesca Piancone were PR & Agency professionals who moonlighted as instructors at Chicago Portfolio School. And it's there where they first began to get the idea for another way to do this whole portfolio school thing, and where their friendship blossomed into a co-foundership.
And the results are in! It. is. working. Graduates of Book180's programs are getting hired. Listen in to get their expert take on what's working and not working in modern advertising education, hiring, job seeking, and more.
Episode Links:
Book180.com
Sarah Latz on LinkedIn
Francesca Piancone on LinkedInFind us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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In episode 65 of The Bad Pod, An Ad Pod, we delve into the mind of Ian Baer, an advertising maven with a storied 35-year career at the helm of industry giants like Publicis and TBWA. Ian recounts how the classic sitcom "Bewitched" sparked his initial fascination with advertising, setting him on a path to become a strategic powerhouse in the field.
From his early inspirations to his revolutionary work at Sooth, Ian provides a masterclass in advertising strategy and its evolution. Throughout our discussion, Ian shares his unique approach to dissecting popular campaigns, extracting strategic insights that have driven his success and led to transformative results in marketing effectiveness. Tune in for an episode packed with valuable lessons from a true industry veteran.
Episode Links:
soothbetold.comFind us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Allie LeFevere and her co-founder/best friend, Lyndsay Sanders, have been using clever concepts and witty wordplay to grow a wide range of brands, like Blue Bunny ice cream, Native cosmetics, the LA Rams, CMT, and a slew of other organizations across myriad industries.
We talk about why humor works, why brands are scared of it, the sweet spot that comes with knowing your niche, and how your side hustle doesn't have to be your career.
Episode Links:
Obedient Agency
Brandsplaining
Can they brand that? YouTube
Fangasm PodFind us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Rodney Johnson jumped into the deep end on production with his start at Tube Creative, an independent production studio in Atlanta, which gave him his 10,000 of hours of experience and then some.
Since then he's only added to his resumé, working on productions in the ad world, for music videos, and beyond. He and Brian met when Rodney was moonlighting as the Creative Circus' video editing instructor and campus guru.
Now, he's bottling his extensive knowledge into an easily accessible video editing course for budding video pros and seasoned veterans alike.
We talk about his journey, editing on the 1's and 2's, Adobe Premiere vs DaVinci Resolve, and what makes him want to share his knowledge and chops with the world.
Episode Links:
Follow Rodney on IG
DaVinci Resolve (FREE Video Editing software)
Tube Creative Design/Video AgencyFind us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Sebastián is one of our favorite people and fellow VMLYR Commerce employee. Unfortunately for this pod's hosts, that's where the comparison stops, because Sebastián has separated himself from many in the advertising world by having more Lions than sub-Saharan Africa. He joins us off the heals of his most recent win, a Grand Prix for his work on Oreo Codes. Tune in for a world of wisdom from one of the industry's most winning (and totally humble about it) copywriters.
Episode Links:
Sebastián's Book
Oreo Codes
Book180.com
Washapig.comFind us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Episode 61 welcomes back Joshua Womack to talk about his new book about his days as a Cleveland comedian. He tells us what he's learned about book publishing between his debut Copywriting manifesto, "I'm Not a Copywriter But...". He tells us about the importance of a good editor and why he loves the morning time best for his creative pursuits. Buy his new book at the link below!
Episode Links:
"You Are Not That Funny: Stories from Cleveland Stand-Up" on AmazonFind us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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Extra thanks to our episode 60 (!!) guest Ellie Lloyd, Executive Creative Director at Glow, who joined us amidst a tropical storm that was falling on top of her Los Angeles home. But the connection holds out and we get a special look at her extensive career in advertising with a focus on promoting for hit movies and television series like The Last Jedi, The Rolling Thunder Review, Mayans, The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, Legion, Ready Player One and more. She brings us insights on building fandoms, why "nothing moves as fast as TV," and managing mental health while in such a demanding industry.
Episode Links:
Ellie Lloyd dot com
Ellie talks mental health with Ad AgeFind us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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His friends call him "Mundo." Mundo Sando if they're being proper.
Edmund Sandoval is a Chicago-based Senior Copywriter for R/GA and a writer writer in his time outside of agency life. He brings us yet another completely unique story about a nonlinear entrance into advertising. He tells us how the pandemic shaped his creative life and what it feels like to submit a story.
For anyone with art in their heart, Mundo's story will resonate completely. And for anyone with advertising on the brain, here's another wealth of perspective from a great guest on The Bad Pod.
Enjoy!
Episode Links:
Mundo's BookFind us us on Twitter, Instagram, and at The Bad Podcast dot com
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