From the godfather of gangsta rap to the golden boy of the Olympics—how did Snoop Dogg manage to reinvent himself so completely? In this episode, we dive deep into Snoop’s incredible brand evolution—culminating in his surprising and unforgettable presence at the 2024 Summer Games. Snoop's transformation isn’t just a change in sound and style; it's …

Is Nike's latest ad campaign for the Olympics too honest? In this episode, we delve into the controversial spot that has everyone talking. The sportswear giant has blown up the internet with its "Winning Isn't for Everyone" campaign, challenging the feel-good narratives that dominate the sports world. Nike's bold move is more than just an ad—it's a…

In advertising, the next big idea is sometimes just a green initiative. So in this episode, we ask: Is regenerative branding the future, or just a recycled trend? From Patagonia’s activism to Microsoft’s ambitious carbon goals, we explore brands that aim past profit to champion real societal value. But are brands actually committed, or is it all gr…

Spend just a few minutes on your favorite social platform, and it feels like every other post is a sponsored ad from yet another influencer. So, is this the pinnacle of customer engagement, or just a phase we’re destined to swipe past? From Instagram's inception to TikTok's trendsetters, we're dissecting the rise, reach, and real impact of mega- an…

It wasn’t so long ago that if you wanted to do the best work, you went with the big shop. Larger agencies always had the upper hand. More budget. More resources. More three-martini lunches. But as tools and technologies are increasingly democratized, smaller teams are leveling the playing field. And brands are shifting dollars to engage more niche …

Yes or no, can brands stay authentic in the era of AI? . . . . . . It’s okay. Take your time. We’ve got nowhere to be. Come along as we ponder the intersection of AI and genuine substance. Are brands that are built on a perceived platform of “realness” at a disadvantage? Do consumers actually care if AI is used in branding and marketing efforts? Jo…

The times they are a-changin.' Bob Dylan said it, so we’re gonna talk about it. Welcome to the AI era. The rise of large language models, generative output and multi-modal engagement is truly upon us—and we’re all on notice. But is this the end of creative and branding professionals? Is AI going to replace agencies as we know them? Or is it just th…

Shoot it on GoPro. Build it with AI. Hire Jennifer Coolidge. Too often, creative teams are asked to ideate around a technology, a tool or a talent— before any thought is given to an actual concept. Has the great art of concepting disappeared? Are today’s production timelines and content demands too constrained for fully-fleshed campaign ideas to em…

We all know that ‘X’ marks the spot. But has it missed the mark? Twitter’s rebrand is playing out in real-time for all to see. Rarely—if ever—has brand evolution taken place so publicly, and it raises several questions. Chiefly, are these transparent iterations a good thing for the company? For the platform? For the user base? Does this in-full-vie…

We’re swimming in a sea of sameness. HBO Max recently rebranded as Max—and adopted a blue color scheme for its application tile. Just like DirecTV. And Prime Video. And Paramount+. And Disney+. And CBS Sports. And FoxNow. And MSNBC. And. And. And. Cool-color palettes have always been the bastion of Big Tech. But should entertainment brands really b…

We’re going full cringe with this one. From Can we do just one more edit?...to We’ve written some headlines to get you started…to the classic, I think we should make the logo bigger—our clients sure know how to rub us the wrong way sometimes. But is it really their fault? Or are we as creative partners actually to blame for these FML/SMH/$%&*# requ…

You’ve come a long way, baby. That was the slogan in 1968 for Virginia Slims cigarettes, and one could say the same for ad agencies today. But how far have we come? And have we taken on too much? Are creative agencies now jacks of all trades, but masters of none? And with the rise of generative AI and the unrelenting pace of technology, what does t…

There’s creative, and there’s copy. And there’s the problem. It’s true that black-on-white text isn’t as sexy as the final layout, but words matter. Copy and design are like PB&J. Or peanut butter and chocolate. Or peanut butter and cucumber—oh, you don’t think so? Have you never enjoyed Thai food? Copy. is. creative. And while we’re on our soapbox…

Are creative awards worth pursuing? Do the clients actually care? Is it worth enduring a dry chicken dinner just to receive tepid applause from colleagues who wish they were accepting the award instead of us? Or do the awards represent a means to entice our community to gather, celebrate work that pushes our industry forward, and inspire our teams …

Ah, the almighty Brief. We bow before its importance. We cringe at its construction. We debate its merits, we challenge its purpose and we sure as hell acknowledge its divisive nature. Without a brief, there’s no compass. But it has to be a good brief—one that informs, but doesn’t constrain. And therein lies the rub—and the conversation.…

“Make us look like Apple”—it’s a phrase creatives hear over and over. So we’re kicking off the podcast with a discussion about Apple’s influence on the creative industry. How did one brand become the North Star for all aspirational companies? Is it wrong to want to emulate Apple’s success? Is it even possible? And even it is possible, is it advisab…

Hi. We’re Josh and Ian, and we work in creative branding. What’s that you ask? Well it’s not marketing. Except it sorta is. And it’s definitely not advertising. Except advertising wouldn’t exist without it. And it has nothing to do with sales, PR, communications, lead generation or talent acquisition.Except you can find our work in all of that. Yes…