Episodes
-
This week we tried to arrange a VIP brand event for Call To ActionÂź fans in an abandoned toilet brush factory, all just to prove our cool credentials to Charlie Copsey, the founder of Underground Fan Club.
Having conquered the media mountain earlier in her career â working in TV, radio and film with the likes of Johnny Vaughan and her good pal Colin Murray â Charlie realised that her next great mission would be to rescue fan experiences from the desperately dull doldrums they were in at the time. From there Underground Fan Club was born â a studio devoted to producing more memorable, more believable and more exciting experiences between brands, fans and talent. At the heart of the mission is something many marketers bang on about with no clue, or care, about what it means in reality â authentic connections with your most valuable audience, something Charlie is already proving to be much more than the same old brand baloney. Thereâs an increasingly long line of brands queuing up for the Underground treatment but luckily for your ears and brains, CTA is nothing if not a queue jumper.
In an episode thatâs all about fans, super-fans, stan-fans and ceiling fans (not that one) we learn what it takes for your brand to actually mean something more to the people youâre doing it all for.
This episode is proudly dedicated to Colin Murray.
/////
04:09 - Studying Drama at Loughborough
10:12 - Working with Johnny Vaughan
12:28 - The Evolution of Fighting Talk and Live Events
16:38 - Identifying the Gap: Connecting Talent and Fans
17:52 - Building Underground Fan Club: The First Event
20:32 - The Importance of Authentic Experiences
22:21 - Navigating Brand Partnerships
26:13 - Finding the Right Brand Partners
28:05 - Balancing Involvement in Events
32:29 - The Challenges of Running a Business
Charlieâs Book Recommendations are:
Careless People - Sarah Wynn-Williams
Shoe Dog â Phil Knight
Losing my Virginity â Richard Branson
///// -
This week we kept shouting things like HIT ME! TWIST! GO FISH! WHATâS A SPADE? In order to win the professional attention, and personal sympathy, of Jo Living â founder of âpoker for businessâ consultancy Aces High.
Having noticed that poker was less about bluff and bravado and more about strategy, empathy and teamwork, Jo realised it could be the perfect game for teaching people how to make smarter business decisions. From there she went on to run workshops teaching everything from communication and negotiation, to assertiveness and risk management, all done eye-to-eye through what she calls the âcontactâ sport of poker.
Itâs an episode where we try very hard not to say things about âlaying the cards on the tableâ (but probably wonât succeed) covering everything from the real-world value of a poker face to the power of a timely pause.
This episode is proudly dedicated to Adam Living.
Follow Jo on LinkedIn.
/////
Timestamps
07:33 - Investment Banking Experience
10:32 - Quarter Life Crisis
15:47 - The Poker Environment
18:15 - Poker as a Game of Strategy
19:50 - Women in Poker
22:39 - Parallels Between Poker and Business
26:02 - Skills Developed Through Poker
29:02 - The Power of the Pause
31:37 - Identifying Leadership Traits
37:13 - Getting More Women at the Table
39:12 - Subtle Tells for Leadership
Joâs Book Recommendations are:
Thinking in Bets by Annie Duke
///// -
Episodes manquant?
-
This week we donned a smelly neon bib, distributed some tiny cones and shouted things like âTHATâS NEVER A PENâ all in order to win the attention of Karen Dobres, one of the sporting worldâs most genuine game changers.
Advocating for equal budgets, facilities and recognition in womenâs sport with all the tenacity of a crunching, shin-pad obliterating tackle, Karen is the co-founder of Equality FC and the Sistership Network. Her new book, soon to hit the shops, is called Pitch Invasion and tells the tale of her experiences as a feminist on the board of Lewes FC, the worldâs first (hurray) and only (boo) equal football club. And, with all the creative energy of a box-to-box midfield dynamo, sheâs also helped establish the #CallHimOut initiative, has served as a judge on the UN Women UK Awards, managed a counselling service at Polygram Records and, just because she could, helped arrange the installation of a statue celebrating bisexual female pirates.
Itâs an episode where we chatter âin and aroundâ all things relating to her hopes for womenâs sport, the impact of equality on crowds and culture and the value of being an outsider.
This episode is proudly dedicated to Marios Christos Sfantos
Follow Karen on LinkedIn.
/////
Timestamps
06:10 - From Journalism Aspirations to Modelling
08:45 - Transitioning to Counselling and Music Industry
12:40 - Discovering Women's Football
15:31 - Feminizing the Football Environment at Lewis FC
18:14 - Impact of Equality on Crowds and Culture
24:48 - Challenges Faced by Women in Football
27:25 - Creating a Supportive Community through Football
30:37 - Football as a Vehicle for Social Change
32:06 - The Value of Being an Outsider in Football
34:15 - Pitch Invasion: Karen's Book
Karen's Book Recommendations are:
A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf
Why Men Win at Work by Jill Whitty Collins
///// -
This week we kept on adding more and more and more irrelevant attachments to our so-called brief, in order to earn ourselves a swift rebuke from the marketing worldâs Brief Batman â Howard Ibach.
Inventor of the Creative Brief Mastery program, Howard is on a mission to make marketing briefs more meaningful. An advocate for clear thinking, proper collaboration and the single minded-proposition, Howard has been helping marketers all over the world put their bad briefing habits to bed (and then press a pillow over their drooling faces). Heâs also an instructor at the Association of National Advertisersâ Marketing Training and Development Centre, the author of the brilliant âHow To Write An Inspired Briefâ and host of the âBrief Brosâ podcast â confirming his undisputed status as the industryâs beefiest brief brain.
In this episode, Howard will pick the art of briefing down to its rickety bones, sharing his invaluable expertise on what the perfect brief should say, be and do.
This episode is proudly dedicated to Tom Jordan.
Follow Howard on LinkedIn.
/////
Timestamps
03:45 - Lessons from Stonemasonry
06:14 - Path to Writing and Advertising
08:36 - The Influence of Advertising on Howard
12:29 - The Importance of a Good Brief
16:12 - Issues with Copying Client Briefs
19:49 - The Disconnect Between Clients and Agencies
24:24 - Collaboration in Brief Writing
32:13 - Commonalities in Effective Briefs
46:02 - Banishment of Purpose Advertising
Howards Book Recommendations are:
Chew with Your Mind Open by Cameron Day
Spittin' Chiclets by Cameron Day
Stones & Sticks by Cameron Day
///// -
This week we have been exclusively watching 'Magic Mike', shaking a Magic 8-Ball and listening to '24k Magic' by Bruno Mars (which is just awful) in order to win the slightly nervous attention of Adam Ferrier, founder of Thinkerbell; the thinkers, tinkers and practitioners of âmeasured magicâ.
A psychology brain sat on top of some sturdy strategy bones, Adam is a rare voice of reason in the largely barmy brand world â as well as being the chief sceptic when it comes to the industry obsession with âthe customerâ. Heâs also the author of more superb books, including âThe Advertising effect: How to Change Behaviourâ and supplements all this talk-talking with some serious walk-walking through his work that brings marketing science and creative thinking together.
In this episode Adam shares his expertise on brands who forget how to be brands, why every business problem is a behaviour change problem and the forgotten benefits of simply fitting in.
This episode is very proudly dedicated to Anne Young.
/////
Follow Adam on LinkedIn
Timestamps
09:16 - The impact of D&AD annuals on Adam's career choice
11:19 - Transition from forensic psychology to marketing
16:12 - The perils of customer obsession
22:57 - Balancing brand and customer needs
25:11 - The importance of consumer research
Adamâs Book Recommendations are:
Stop Listening to Your Customers by Adam Ferrier:
The Advertising Effect: How to Change Behaviour by Adam Ferrier:
Love's Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy by Irvin Yalom:
Existential Psychotherapy by Irvin Yalom:
Here and Now: Tales from the Heart by Irvin Yalom:
///// -
This week we went around slurping muddy water from puddles in order to win the sympathy of Shane Stewart â brand man, running man and fizzy drink saviour.
Chief brand brain at XOXO soda, Shane has built his career around launching and marketing drinks that do good stuff for your innards, while looking extremely cool on your outtards. Before shaking up the canned drink business with XOXO he helped create a large and loyal community of slurpers for Moju, a ginger and turmeric shot thatâs a bit like unleashing a troop of helpfully energetic monkeys inside your tired old brain. And, as well as bringing better branded bubbly beverages to Britain and beyond, heâs even found the time to launch Step by Steppers, a marvellous running club designed to help people dealing with grief to feel less alone.
This episode is very proudly dedicated to his Dad.
/////
Follow Shane on LinkedIn and Instagram
Step by Steppers Run Club
Timestamps
03:14 - Shane's Early Career in Hospitality
05:08 - Cultural Significance of Pubs in the UK
07:29 - Importance of University Experience Over Degree Choice
08:50 - Shane's Interest in Brands and Marketing
10:57 - Shane's Time in Australia and Farm Work Experience
13:04 - Transition from Hospitality to Marketing
14:40 - Working at Northern Block Ice Cream
16:05 - Joining Moju and Creative Job Application
18:22 - Continuous Learning and Mini MBA
20:19 - Transition to XOXO Soda
23:37 - Challenges and Opportunities in the Functional Soda Market
25:21 - Product Range and Flavor Development at XOXO
29:27 - Psychological Aspects of Product Taste and Health Benefits
31:12 - Listener Questions: Startups vs. Big Brands
34:47 - Listener Questions: Convincing Retailers to Stock Products
39:42 - Introduction to Step by Stepper Run Club
Shane's Book Recommendation is:
The Chimp Paradox - Prof Steve Peters
///// -
This week we positioned our most powerful fan at the rear end of a corpulent bull in hopes of snaring the attention of legendary bullshit fighter, Alex Smith
A strategist whoâs set himself the mountainous task of extracting all the nonsense from business strategy, Alex is very much a breath of a fresh air in a field that can, at its worst, smell a lot like somebodyâs done a poo⊠on a dead crab⊠in the drains of an abandoned laundrette⊠and then set it on fire. He is the author of a bestselling book on strategy, titled, with Alexâs typical disregard for fluff, No Bullshit Strategy. In those pages â and through Alexâs wildly popular LinkedIn posts â he makes a compelling case for businesses to look more closely at the decisions they make and wheedle out the âanti-strategicâ ones that are causing 99% of all pickles. So, in true Alex fashion, we probably could have just said something like âhe helps businesses get stuff right, more of the timeâ instead of all that nonsense about the crab and the laundrette. Ah well.
This episode is dedicated to Alexâs wife who is the engine and foundation underneath everything.
/////
Follow Alex on LinkedIn.
Timestamps:
(03:26) - First Jobs and Failures
(06:19) - Reflections on Being Fired
(08:53) - Finding the Right Fit
(10:46) - The Challenge of Entering Advertising
(12:24) - Polishing the Pig: Agency Work
(15:36) - The Importance of Unique Value
(19:08) - Theory vs. Practice in Strategy
(20:26) - Defining Business Strategy
(22:03) - Value Generation in Business
(24:16) - The Role of Communication
(28:04) - The Hierarchy of Business Strategy
(30:28) - The Role of Founders in Strategy
(32:10) - Navigating Corporate Structures
(36:15) - The Myth of the Legendary Founder
(40:05) - Mediocrity vs. Strategy
(42:58) - Learning from Established Brands
(45:11) - Applying Strategy to Personal Business
(47:30) - The Shift from Freelancer to Entrepreneur
Alex's Book Recommendations are:
Zero to One by Peter Thiel
Incerto Series by Nassim Taleb
Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
The Matter with Things by Ian McGilchrist
///// -
This week we released AI from the punishment cupboard in which weâve been keeping it in order to win the approval of author, marketing super-brain and AI believer Paul Dervan.
As the Head of Brand Marketing at Miro, Paul has been busy bolstering his reputation as one of the industryâs smartiest pant-wearers when it comes to marketing effectiveness. Miro is just the latest stop in a marketing career you could only possibly describe as both distinguished and glittering (glittinguished?) and has seen Paul tackle the marketing challenges on behalf of everyone from O2 to Telefonica to the National Lottery in Ireland (scooping, along the way, the title of Irelandâs Marketer of the Year in 2022.) Heâs also the author of Run With The Foxes, a superb book about marketing, mistakes and making much better decisions.
This episode is very proudly dedicated to Peter Field. Peter has had a huge influence on Paulâs career both as a mentor and advisor.
/////
Follow Paul on LinkedIn.
Timestamps:
03:45 - First Job and Proper Job
05:10 - Early Career in Marketing
07:34 - Career Path and Focus
09:30 - Paul's Sweet Spot in Marketing
11:00 - Writing the Book: Run with Foxes
13:27 - Learning from Mistakes
15:51 - Mistakes and AI in Marketing
18:08 - Decision-Making Process
20:40 - Classical vs. Modern Marketing
22:22 - AI's Impact on Marketing
25:06 - Practical Applications of AI
30:05 - Advanced Uses of AI
33:08 - Synthetic Research
34:28 - Skepticism vs. Cynicism
36:42 - Curiosity and Experimentation
39:27 - Admitting Mistakes
43:27 - Listener Questions: Embedding Chapter One
Paul's Book Recommendations are:
Ogilvy on Advertising â David Ogilvy
The Anatomy of Humbug â Paul Feldwick
Decoded: The Science Behind Why We Buy â Phil Barden
///// -
This week we shredded our vision board and fed it to some ornamental carp, purely to win the approval of author, critic and quite possibly the world first demotivational speaker, Patrick Freyne.
Before becoming the enormously popular columnist and critic for the Irish Times, Patrick spent his 20s chasing the rock star dream. But while the life of big hair, hard drugs and tight trousers wasnât to be, it did give Patrick the time and space required to be one of the creative worldâs leading authors, thinkers and sense-talkers. His book âOk, Letâs Do Your Stupid Ideaâ is a glorious celebration of curiosity, experimentation and letting your heart lead the way. And now heâs on a mission to dismantle the cult of âBig Pâ productivity and remind people that âmaximising your potentialâ is a poor substitute for living your life.
This episode is dedicated to Patrickâs wife Anna Carey, who has been his biggest influence. She also has an amazing funny romance fiction book coming out later this year called Our Song.
/////
Follow Patrick on X and Bluesky
Timestamps:
01:32 - The Concept of Demotivational Speaking
07:36 - Patrick's Early Jobs and Musical Aspirations
09:08 - The Influence of Music on Patrick's Life
12:04 - The Importance of Curiosity in Career Paths
15:18 - Exploring the Idea of 'Stupid Ideas'
17:14 - The Impact of Burnout and Productivity Culture
20:40 - Finding Peace in Accepting Average Productivity
22:37 - Cultural Expectations and Work-Life Balance
25:31 - The Role of Technology in Productivity Anxiety
30:17 - The Dangers of Measurable Metrics
32:03 - Writing Techniques and Approaches
36:30 - The Importance of Rhythm in Writing
39:01 - Listener Questions: Generational Perspectives on Productivity
42:57 - Antidotes to Hustle Culture and Finding Balance
45:27 - Final Thoughts on Productivity and Well-Being
Patrick's Book Recommendations are:
The Fourth Time We Drowned â Sally Hayden
Commonwealth â Anne Patchett
A Visit from Lagoon Squad â Jennifer Egan
///// -
This week we deliberately trapped ourselves in a cartoon like the dude from A-Ha in order to cross paths with marketingâs MirthMaster 3000, Tom Fishburne aka The Marketoonist.
Apart from your CEO accidentally getting trapped in his own futuristic private bathroom over the bank holiday weekend, the funniest stuff in marketing usually comes from Tomâs brain. The comic genius behind The Marketoonist, Tom has been skewering this highly skewerable business for years â giving a reassuring chuckle to millions of marketers along the way. As well as being a famous side-splitter heâs also an expert eye-opener, with his Marketoonist agency having persuaded mega brands like Google, Microsoft and even LinkedIn of the value of having (and giving) a laugh. And, in his bid to remove the âpoâ from the face of marketing, he also shares his wit and wisdom as one of the industryâs most in-demand keynote speakers.
This episode is dedicated to David and Claire Hyatt from Wales, as without these two Tomâs cartooning may never have transitioned from hobby to work.
/////
Follow Tom on LinkedIn.
Tom Fishburne's website here.
The Marketoonist website here.
Timestamps:
02:14 - Quick Fire Questions with Tom Fishburne
03:21 - Tom's Career Journey: From English Major to Cartoonist
07:00 - Early Influences and Inspirations
08:42 - Observations and Humour in Prague
10:09 - First Office Cartoons and Their Impact
13:49 - Humour in Marketing and Business
17:55 - Finding Material for Cartoons
19:06 - The Role of Humour in Serious Topics
23:21 - Can Any Brand Embrace Humour?
25:18 - Humour During the COVID-19 Pandemic
27:50 - Variety of Brands Tom Has Worked With
29:54 - Consistency of Human Nature in Humour
30:41 - Listener Questions: Balancing Satirical Humour
33:28 - Digital Transformation and Industry Jargon
35:07 - Listener Questions: AI and Humour
38:07 - Listener Questions: Humour Category at Cannes
39:38 - Listener Questions: AI vs. Human Comedians
42:26 - Four Pertinent Poses: Advice to Younger Self
43:23 - Four Pertinent Poses: Banish One Thing from the Industry
Tom's Book Recommendations are:
Orbiting the Giant Hairball â Gordon MacKenzie
School is Hell â Matt Groening
///// -
This week we shrank ourselves down to Dennis-Quaid-in-Inner-Space micro proportions to catch Spencer LaVallee and Graham Douglas, the co-founders of mega-successful micro creative agency Gus.
Spencer and Graham lead a creative crew leaner than a wildebeest that got banished from its herd last Tuesday for repeatedly messing around. But size means little when you have big ideas, and the agency regularly rubs shoulders with the behemoths of the ad and marketing world when it comes to gongs and glory. From Gus being named Ad Age Small Agency of the Year, to their campaigns winning top honours at the likes of Cannes, Forbes and the New York Film Festival, Spencer and Graham are a testament that brains can beat brawn in this industry. Especially when those brains are inside the heads of a couple of fellas whoâve had such an interesting journey through it.
This episode is dedicated to all the small but mighty creative agencies out there proving that size doesn't limit impact.
/////
Follow GUS on LinkedIn
Visit their website here.
Timestamps:
(01:54) - Quick Fire Questions with Spencer & Graham
(03:26) - Graham & Spencerâs Career Journey
(10:35) - Spencer's Inspiration from an Outdoor Ad
(12:08) - Working at Campfire and True Blood Campaign
(15:54) - Graham & Spencer's Partnership and Founding of Gus
(18:56) - Strategy and Creativity Silos in Agencies and Clients
(20:32) - The Importance of Singular Creative Statements
(22:33) - The Mural Test for Brand Platforms
(24:56) - Internal vs. External Brand Positioning
(26:36) - The Role of Simplicity in Branding
(28:05) - Optimism About AI in Creativity
(30:01) - The Threat of AI in Strategy and Research
(32:29) - Staying Small on Purpose
(36:18) - The Changing Shape of Agencies
(42:18) - The Gus Grid and Creative Strategy
(43:13) - Breaking Norms with Back Market Campaign
(44:48) - Four Pertinent Poses: Advice to Younger Self
(47:59) - Banish One Thing from the Industry: Lack of Mentorship
Spencer and Graham's Book Recommendations are:
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
The Artists Way by Julia Cameron
Essentialism by Greg McKeown
///// -
This week we stopped writing 80085 on our pocket calculator and started doing proper sums in order to catch the mathematical eye of one of the worldâs leading financial and marketing thinkers, Moira Creedon.
If thereâs a fancy, famous and highly respected teaching institute in the world, then Moira has almost certainly been there, sharing the stuff in her enormous brain with students, leaders and top businesses. From Fontainebleau to UCC and the IMI â not to mention the legendary Mark Ritson Mini MBA â Moira has taught at them all, passing on her knowledge and experience as one of the worldâs leading financial strategists. Also, as well as being multi-brilliant and multi-nice, sheâs multi-lingual and often delivers her talks and lectures in English, Spanish, French and German.
This episode is proudly dedicated to the late and great Gail Gunderson.
/////
Follow Moira on LinkedIn
Visit her website here.
Timestamps:
(02:19) - Quick fire Questions:
(05:47) - Moira's Career Path: Early Jobs and Experiences
(09:51) - First Proper Job: General Motors
(12:02) - Moira's Extensive Travel Experience
(17:16) - Marketing and Finance: Bridging the Gap
(19:12) - Understanding the Language of Finance
(23:43) - Career Management for Marketers
(25:50) - The Role of CMOs in Organisations
(28:18) - Low Margin Industries and Marketing Budgets
(32:04) - Cultural Differences in High vs. Low Margin Companies
(35:00) - Jaguar's Marketing Strategy Discussion
(39:51) - Perception of Marketing in the C-Suite
(41:06) - Finance's View of Marketing as a Cost Centre
(44:33) - Finance and Marketing Decision-Making
(46:54) - The Role of Finance in Modern Business
Moiraâs Book Recommendation is:
The ascent of money by Neil Ferguson
///// -
This week we strapped on a Motorola pager and stole a briefcase off our dad in order to look businessy enough to chat to the Batman of the B2B world, LinkedIn legend and co-founder of Evidenza, Peter Weinberg.
Peter Weinberg has effectively grabbed B2B marketing by the ankles and dragged it out of the dull and dreary hole into which it had buried its head. World famous for his time in charge of the game-changing B2B institute at LinkedIn â alongside his pal Jon Lombardo â Peter is now the extraordinary human brains behind AI powered research platform Evidenza, where he continues to be a champion for the kind of B2B thatâs never bland.
/////
Follow Peter on LinkedIn
Hereâs his website
Here is Rory Sutherland Eurostar TED Talk
Timestamps
(02:37) - Quickfire Questions
(03:34) - Peter's Career Path
(06:36) - Transition to Advertising
(11:22) - The B2B Institute at LinkedIn
(15:50) - Pivotal Moments in B2B Marketing
(17:37) - Contrarian Views in Marketing
(19:05) - The Role of Synthetic Data
(24:32) - Launching Evidenza
(30:50) - Validating Synthetic Research
(34:13) - Scepticism Towards AI in Marketing
(40:15) - AI and Advertising Effectiveness
(45:45) - Using AI for Strategic Planning
Peterâs Book Recommendations are:
Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson
How Brands Grow by Bryon Sharp
Building Distinctive Brand Assets by Jenni Romaniuk
How Not To Plan â Les Binet & Sarah Carter
Antifragile by Nassim Taleb
The Elephant In The Brain by Kevin Simler & Robin Hanson
///// -
This week we very tentatively clambered on top of our desks to bellow âOh Captain, my Captainâ to the most inspirational educator in advertising, Ally Owen.
The brains behind one ad-lands most invaluable teaching programmes, Brixton Finishing School, Ally has done more than literally anyone to help young, multicultural and neurodiverse creatives find a way into advertising â kickstarting hundreds and hundreds of creative careers, while most big agencies were sat fiddling with the font on their DEI policy PowerPoints. For most people, transforming all those lives would have been enough â but Ally has also gone on to launch ADcademy, a free virtual programme that provides 2,500 students a year with top-class creative training. Ally is also one of the brains behind Visible Start, an incredible program designed to help women over 45 to re-enter the workforce. So, in a nutshell, just imagine what a huge stinky poo-fire the creative industries would be without her.
In this episode we ponder everything from the real value of diversity and inclusion in all kinds of business, the financial and emotional hurdles she helps young creatives navigate at Brixton and how a Friday-night shift at Portsmouth McDonald's gave her the skills of a UN negotiator.
/////
Follow Ally on LinkedIn
Visit the Brixton Finishing School website or follow them on Instagram
Head to Career Adventures where tomorrowâs creatives are being inspired
/////
Timestamps
(04:10) - From Selling Shoes to McDonald's: The Early Gigs
(06:49) - The Skills of a UN negotiator: Friday night in McDonald's Portsmouth
(09:23) - The Great Escape to University
(10:56) - From Pharaohs to Advertising and the House of Stolen Things
(13:39) - Pure Luck or Destiny, The Path to Advertising?
(15:22) - A Relentless Career Pursuit
(18:04) - Setting out to make things better with Brixton Finishing School
(24:13) - Building a Bridge into Advertising
(28:04) - Office Etiquette, Donât Microwave Fish
(31:36) - How to Support Brixton Finishing School
(33:07) - The Finishing School Foundation: Practical Help for the NEET
(41:19) - Four Pertinent Poses
(45:45) - Honouring Carol Tully
Allyâs book recommendation is:
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.
///// -
This week we pulled on our most dramatic tights and tried not to mumble our lines in order to catch the attention of one of the theatre worldâs most charismatic â and mischievous â characters, Christian Edwards.
The comedy genius behind one of Twitterâs greatest spoofs â the mysterious West End Producer â Christian eventually pulled back the curtain to reveal, with glorious theatrically, that it was him all along. And this is entirely typical of a man whose creative adventures, and commitment to putting on a show, encompass writing regularly for The Stage and starring in sell-out shows in both the West End and Edinburgh Fringe. Like a nonchalant spoon, he has never been afraid to cause a stir, and while that may have knocked the occasional nose out of joint, he has amassed a cult following and a well-earned reputation for being one of theatre-lands wittiest wags.
As well as re-living his starring role in that big, weird show we used to call Twitter, we chat about the life â and challenges â of a professional actor, what the future holds for both Christian and his West End Producer, and hear a magnificent yarn about the time he ran into an ex-fiancĂ©e dressed as a giant cigarette.
Discover the homepage of the latex mask
The Twitter account that launched the star
View West End Producerâs snaps on Instagram
Follow Christian Edwards (the real one) on Instagram
Follow the real Christian Edwards on X
/////
Timestamps
(02:15) - Early Jobs and Humorous Experiences
(05:06) - First Proper Acting Role: A Journey Begins
(06:05) - Discovering a Passion for Acting
(08:41) - The Challenges of Early Acting Roles
(10:08) - The Variety of In-Between Jobs
(12:10) - Lessons from Early Jobs in Acting
(14:09) - The Birth of the West End Producer Persona
(18:31) - The Rise of West End Producer on Twitter
(20:31) - Validation and Identity: Christian vs. West End Producer
(23:30) - The Evolution of the West End Producer Character
(25:51) - Impact on the Theatre Industry
(30:06) - The Importance of Mental Health Advocacy
(32:22) - Unmasking: The Transition from West End Producer
(35:21) - Future Projects and Creative Outlets
(41:21) â Listener Questions
(53:00) â Four Pertinent Posers
/////
Christians Book Recommendations are:
Ultra-Processed People: Why Do We All Eat Stuff That Isnât Food ⊠and Why Canât We Stop? by Chris van Tulleken
Year of the King by Anthony Sher
Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression â and the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Acting (But Were Afraid to Ask, Dear) by West End Producer
Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Going to the Theatre (But Were Too Sloshed to Ask, Dear) by West End Producer -
This week we deliberately kept standing on rakes and getting repeatedly thwacked in the face in order to lure out the king of creative nonsense, Mr Mark Denton esq.
The creative hero that advertising needs, but doesnât entirely deserve, Mark Denton is the once-in-many-lifetimes imagination behind more than 500 commercials â scooping up so many awards he could spend all day throwing them at passing canoeists and still have armfuls to spare. With even the biggest creative industry on the planet unable to entirely hold Markâs interest, heâs flitted magnificently between the worlds of art, fashion and furniture design â Dentonising each field to glorious effect. Currently chief of COY! Communications, Mark is surgically re-implanting advertisingâs forgotten sense of fun, and putting the âbig ideaâ back on the table.
Teetering gloriously at the edge of what he calls âold geezershipâ, Mark has a lifetime of stories, adventures and quadruple-strength whimsy to impart â covering everything from stumbling into advertising, why heâs embracing new creative spaces and his famous experiment as a 65-year-old intern.
/////
Visit Mark Denton's Website
Dig through Dave Dyeâs Mark Denton Archive
Follow Mark on Instagram
Connect with Mark on LinkedIn
Markâs first ever TV ad for Cadburyâs Cream Eggs
Markâs scamp for Samsung car batteries
A showcase of Markâs work in his interview with the peerless Dave Dye
A tribute to his dedication, and former boss Norman Icke (creator of the Milk Tray man), Cadburyâs Fruit and Nut Case advert:
Timestamps
(03:55) - Mark Meets Duncan
(07:00) - Family Background and Career Choices
(09:15) - First Job and Sneaking in Creative Ideas
(12:25) - The Cadbury's Cream Eggs Breakthrough
(18:10) - Adapting to Different Agency Styles
(23:30) - Interning at St. Luke's
(30:00) - The Role of Process in Agencies
(32:00) - The Decline of Quirkiness in Advertising
(35:00) - The Need for Entertainment in Ads
(37:00) - The Creative Fulfilment in the Ads Your Working On
(39:00) - Encouraging Young Creatives
(40:30) - Visual Posters Make Great Ads
(43:00) - Encouraging Enthusiasm in Advertising
(46:00) - Allowing Creatives to be Creative
(49:00) - Conclusion and Reflection on Change
(51:00) - Getting his head round TikTok
(57:10) - Listener questions
(01:01:25) - 4 pertinent posers
Mark's book recommendations are:
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
Unleash the Power of Puerility by Mark Denton
///// -
This week we just kept on making the logo bigger and bigger (and bigger) until we caught the despairing eye of legendary art director, author and, letâs face it, visual Jesus, Mr Dave Dye.
The art directorâs art director, Dave is the architect of some of the coolest advertising youâve ever seen â with a hit-list of iconic ads for everyone from Adidas to Volkswagen to The Economist. Heâs also a champion for advertising with more wit and brains, expertly rummaging back through some forgotten ad masterpieces via his wildly popular blog and podcast, Stuff From The Loft. Finally, heâs the co-author of the excellent The Howard Gossage Show, a book created with another friend of CTA, Steve Harrison.
A guest so entertaining we genuinely forgot there was a running time, Dave shares the stories behind his most memorable campaigns, the lessons we can all learn from past masters, a philosophy thatâs all about making ads people enjoy and his optimism for the creative future of the industry.
/////
Rummage around Dave's Stuff from the Loft
Timestamps
(05:00) - From Paperboy to Trying to Get a Job in Advertising
(08:04) - Creating His Own Ads
(10:25) - Changing the Approach to Cover Letters
(12:33) - Getting Interviews and a Foot in the Door
(20:03) - Being Bold and Distinct in Job Applications
(25:27) â Optimism and Naivety in Advertising
(30:02) - Challenges of Working with Established Brands
(31:18) - The Potential of Digital Advertising
(34:47) - The Origins of Stuff From The Loft
(36:58) - The Purpose of Archiving Work
(40:12) - Transitioning to a Public Archive
(43:10) - Accidental Evolution into Podcasting
(56:50) â Listener Questions
Dave's book recommendations are:
A Self-Help Guide for Copywriters by Dan Nelken
The Howard Gossage Show by Steve Harrison & Dave Dye
///// -
This week, we got into a thumb-war-to-the-death with our inner critic in order to lure over legendary copywriter, speaker, coach, author and all-round good Canada goose egg Dan Nelken.
The alphabetical genius behind the bestselling Self Help Guide for Copywriters, and his 5-star online course âWriting Under Pressureâ, Dan has made it his mission to rescue writers and brands all over the world from the malign influence of the dreaded inner critic â a character that Dan describes, with characteristic politeness, as a âding dongâ.
The true Canadian king of creativity (shut your face Reynolds) Dan chats to CTA about the importance of creating stuff thatâs just for you, the long-game of any creative career, how to gain and maintain creative confidence, and of course his own grapplings with an inner critic he calls Alan.
/////
Follow Dan on LinkedIn
Visit Danâs site
Jerry Seinfeld's interview with Tim Ferriss, the interview every creative should watch
/////
Timestamps
(02:05) - Quick Fire Questions
(04:05) - Dan's Early Jobs
(04:53) - From Forklift Truck Driver to Copywriter
(06:45) - Finding His Path into Copywriting
(08:36) - First Copywriting Gig at Cosset and Breaking through with McDonald's
(12:02) - Value of Getting Lost
(13:21) - The inspiration behind âWriting Under Pressureâ
(17:59) - Creating a Course On Writing Headlines
(21:03) - Response to the Book
(22:40) - Maintaining Creative Confidence
(24:09) - Confronting Your Inner Critic
(26:07) - Structure in Creativity
(29:07) - Creativity Closer to Math(s) than Magic
(31:04) - Importance of Structure in Creativity
(32:39) - Most Creatives Hate Brainstorming
(36:57) - Naming Alan, the Inner Critic
(39:21) - The Joy of Creating for Yourself
(42:46) - Impact of Creating on Social Media
(43:40) - Audience Questions
(48:20) - Four Pertinent Posers
/////
Dan's book recommendations are:
A Self-Help Guide for Copywriters by Dan Nelken
Hey Whipple, Squeeze This by Luke Sullivan
Mind Management, Not Time Management by David Kadavy
///// -
This week, we went fishing in a Leviâs Creek to catch TED speaker, co-author of âThe Creative Nudgeâ and enthusiasm enthusiast, Kevin Chesters.
His Twitter bio says heâs a âtall bald bloke from Penzanceâ. And whilst that might be true, it does rather undersell the fact that perched atop that tall body, and in that bald bonce, are some serious smarts.
For Kevin is a Chief Strategy Officer, formerly strategy head at Ogilvy, Wieden + Kennedy, Saatchi, Dentsu, with a client-side cameo at BT, a visiting lecturer in creativity at several universities, a TEDx speaker, co-author of âThe Creative Nudgeâ and an absolute advocate for walking in stupid and talking in smarts.
We discuss his journey from his beginning manning boying a vegetable stall, flirting with journalism, getting past âAâ in the careers dictionary, the importance of fostering creativity in all fields (including muddy ones), executional skill, breaking category norms, sifting through the interesting to find useful, enthusiasm, neurodiversity, walking in stupid, finding the world endlessly fascintating, big agencies, little agencies and so much more.
/////
Kevinâs website
Follow Kevin on LinkedIn
Hereâs his book, co-written with the brilliant Mick Mahoney
His TED Talk
Leviâs â Creek by BBH, 1993
/////
Timestamps
(03:17) - Kevin's early jobs and first steps in the advertising industry
(07:34) - His initial lack of interest in advertising and his pivot from journalism
(10:04) - The impact of iconic ads like Levi's Creek on Kevin's career
(19:04) - The value of diverse experiences in building a successful career
(23:03) - Defining creativity and its importance in business and life
(27:37) - Breaking category norms
(31:06) - The concept of bravery in marketing
(34:42) - Bringing Fresh Perspectives to Meetings
(36:38) - Practical tips for fostering creativity in the workplace
(45:05) - Listener questions including Mark Earls about the role of enthusiasm
(47:08) - The impact of neurodiversity on Kevin's approach to strategy
Kevinâs book recommendations are:
The Creative Nudge: Simple Steps to help you think differently by Kevin Chesters and Mick Mahoney
The Victorian Internet by Tom Standage
Legacy by James Kerr
An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield
The Rebuilders by Sara Tate & Anna Vogt (Saraâs appearance on Call to ActionÂź https://gasp.agency/media/call-to-action/sara-tate)
//// -
This week we got out our thesaurus and sent a proper professional-sounding connection request to snag the attention of Mimi Turner, Head of LinkedInâs B2B institute for EMEA and Latin America.
With more strategic know-how in her little finger than a yurt-load of gurus, Mimi has worked as Director of Strategy, Messaging and Research for The Liberal Democrats and Marketing Director for Lad Bible, before moving to her current role at LinkedIn where she champions brand as a key growth driver for B2B businesses.
One of B2Bâs biggest brains and boldest bullshit busters, Mimi shares her thoughts on the ancient origins of strategic thinking, journalismâs tendency toward self-harm, the common mistakes B2B marketers keep on making and why B2B is just one big game of hide and seek.
/////
Follow Mimi on LinkedIn
Read Mimi and Jann Schwarz's eye-opening research The real job of B2B Marketing is to give the Buyer Group permission to agree
Tune in to Mimi's Nudgestock 2023 talk Every Product Needs a Promise
Timestamps
(02:23) - Quick Fire Questions
(07:14) - Mimiâs Early Career
(08:43) - The early days as a student journalist
(10:52) - The worldâs worst chambermaid
(12:09) - Sequencing operations in Burger King
(15:48) - Hospitality Skills in Marketing: Leaders should be waiters
(21:35) - Mimiâs route into marketing
(24:50) - Playing to win and solve the strategic problems
(29:31) - B2B marketing: The challenger to B2C marketing
(32:29) - Joining the B2B Institute at LinkedIn
(33:55) - Who is making the decisions in B2B buying
(37:03) - In B2B Brand is a decision insurance
(46:03) - This quarterâs sales will be won or lost on brand
(49:26) - Target B2Bâs hidden buyers
(57:16) - Advice for CMOâs fighting for investment
(01:01:46) - Target your customers, go after the buying group
(01:04:43) - Differentiation and distinctiveness: The job of creativity in B2B brands
(01:11:23) - Pertinent posers
Mimi's book recommendations are:
The Penguin Book of Modern Speeches by Brian MacArthur
///// - Montre plus
