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The Uncensored CMO was created to explore the good, the bad and quite frankly downright ugly truth about marketing theory & practice.
216 Episodes
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Richard Shotton, author of The Choice Factory and the newly released Hacking the Human Mind, joins us to explore the behavioural science behind the world’s most iconic brands. From Guinness’ 119.5 second pour to Red Bull’s unconventional rise, Richard explains the psychological shortcuts that drive consumer decisions. We cover why 4-star reviews beat 5-stars, the secret behind Liquid Death’s success, and how humour, jingles, and even “concrete expressions” can help brands stick in our minds.Timestamps:00:00 - Start01:07 - Why Richard is launching a new book02:54 - Why Guinness takes 119.5 seconds to pour05:46 - Why a 4 star review is better than a 5 star review07:50 - Why the Pratfall effect is so powerful11:00 - Why Aperol Spritz has become so popular18:18 - The behavioural science behind the Liquid Death success21:06 - Why consistency works according to behavioural science27:49 - Why Red Bull succeeds while defying convention34:15 - The labour illusion; Dyson Example41:03 - Why does the “You’re Not You When You’re Hungry” strapline work43:01 - Why we need to use humour more45:12 - Why has KFC dominated the fried chicken market?49:41 - The secrets behind the success of Pringles53:58 - Why jingles stick in our heads58:23 - How Apple used “Concrete Expressions”
Dame Carolyn McCall OBE is the CEO of ITV, the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster. She was previously CEO of The Guardian Media Group and easyJet, and currently serves as President of The Marketing Society.This year marks 70 years of TV advertising, celebrated with the launch of the new report, Living Room Legends, which explores the best ads of the past seven decades.Dame Carolyn joins Jon to discuss the report, why TV advertising is here to stay, and to reflect on some of the greatest ads of all time.Timestamps00:00 – Intro00:42 – 70 years of advertising02:11 – Carolyn’s vision for the future of marketing04:15 – Why we need more marketers on boards05:25 – How a CMO can become a CEO08:15 – Overseeing the UK’s biggest commercial broadcaster11:35 – How ITV is competing with global streaming giants13:19 – How ITV collaborates with the streaming giants15:15 – The recipe for a long-term hit TV show17:37 – Is TV advertising dead?22:47 – Is TV effective for Gen Z?24:31 – The Living Room Legends report, celebrating 70 years of advertising27:08 – The most emotional ad for Carolyn28:06 – What ads have made Carolyn McCall laugh29:10 – Advertising campaigns that have changed culture31:42 – Airing an ad within 72 hours of Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest32:23 – Which campaigns have improved over the years33:34 – The best examples of romanticising the product35:13 – Why more SMEs are advertising35:52 – The future of TV advertising
What separates an ordinary manager from an extraordinary leader? Psychologist, best-selling author, and former NBA player John Amaechi joins us to explore the qualities that define great leadership in today’s world. From self-awareness and vulnerability to empowering others and giving credit, John shares why intimidation fails, how to harness your personal value proposition, and why leaders must keep learning.Timestamps00:00:00 - Intro00:01:17 - Reflecting on masculinity00:03:42 - What does “ordinary” actually mean?00:07:51 - Discovering your personal value proposition00:09:24 - Going from functional manager to leader00:15:03 - Misconceptions on leadership00:17:16 - Is Trump having an effect on how we see leadership?00:19:22 - Why intimidation is a terrible leadership tactic00:23:14 - The importance of self awareness as a leader00:29:56 - Do highly accomplished people lack self assurance?00:32:58 - The desire to learn and having vulnerability00:40:37 - The importance of giving people credit00:44:22 - Accessing your library of experiences00:51:53 - Reconising our own weaknesses00:57:03 - The power of empowering others00:59:41 - Do different generations lead differently?01:02:49 - How to find time to learn as a leader
What makes a world-class CMO? In this masterclass, we’re joined by Jane Wakely, CMO of PepsiCo, and Neil Barrie, founder of 21st Century Brands, to explore the strategies that drive growth of billion dollar brands. We discuss why CFO partnerships matter, how to reappraise established brands, and why creativity, whether through celebrity campaigns or a giant Cheetos thumb, still drives results. Plus, Jane and Neil share practical lessons on making change happen inside complex organisations.Timestamps00:00 - Intro01:28 - What are the attributes of a successful CMO?07:57 - Why Neil created the CMO Thrive Guide10:32 - Surprising things about Neil’s CMO research12:44 - How Jane approached the first 90 days at PepsiCo16:27 - The importance of the CFO and CMO relationship22:22 - How marketers can influence the boardroom25:44 - Managing over 20 $1b+ brands27:52 - Navigating the complexity of a huge portfolio32:25 - How large brands can “Stay Up”34:49 - Why you should reappraise brands41:05 - The impact of celebs in advertising44:45 - Why the Cheetos giant thumb was effective47:51 - PepsiCo’s involvement in Women’s sport52:41 - How to make change happen in an organisation
Returning guest and everyone's favourite marketing professor, Mark Ritson, is back. As usual, Mark comes out firing with some no nonsense advice to all marketers. He talks about AI taking over his Mini MBA, leaving Marketing Week, why pricing is the most important P and some rules for creativity. Sit back and soak up the knowledge from Mr Mark Ritson.Timestamps00:00 - Intro01:06 - Why Mark Ritson sold Mini MBA02:12 - Mark Ritson leaving Marketing Week04:19 - Jon’s favourite AI use case08:07 - Will AI take over Mini MBA?11:38 - What marketers think is different to what customers think12:58 - Mark Ritson on that Sydney Sweeney ad16:15 - The Creative Dividend: what makes great marketing in 202527:45 - Why marketers need to be involved in the 4 Ps30:30 - Why pricing is so important (and why marketers should be involved)38:28 - The absence of strategy and what to do about it42:38 - What has surprised Mark Ritson most in 202543:09 - Why AI is being marketed so poorly49:58 - The power of synthetic data
Ella Mills is the co-founder of Deliciously Ella, which began in 2012 as a simple blog sharing healthy recipes. What started online quickly grew into bestselling books, a #1 mobile app, and eventually a retail brand of healthy snacks. In 2024, Deliciously Ella was acquired for an undisclosed sum and today Ella is building her next venture, All Plants.Her journey is inspiring, and in this episode we explore every milestone: from securing her first Starbucks listing, to navigating a failure that nearly sank the business, to proving how an “average” person can create a truly global brand.Ella's podcast, The Wellness Scoop:https://open.spotify.com/show/7F6YqGJ06UEuD7qG81tFHwTimestamps00:00 - Intro01:01 - The Deliciously Ella founding story06:16 - When did the Deliciously Ella blog start to take off11:22 - Dealing with overnight attention and success13:33 - How can an average student become so successful?15:03 - How to nail a successful book launch17:16 - Scaling a personal brand21:08 - What’s it like running the business with your husband?24:00 - Going from recipe blogs to making retail products24:53 - How Deliciously Ella landed in Starbucks33:18 - Building out the product range35:04 - Behind every success is a bunch of failures41:07 - Managing risk vs return when scaling a startup45:29 - How to make products that are successful in retail49:53 - Why Ella took over a new brand after selling Deliciously Ella52:30 - Where is the plant based market headed?56:22 - Why Ella started a podcast?
David Gluckman, the man who invented Baileys and author of That S**t Will Never Sell, joins us to share stories from his legendary career in brand creation. From the birth of iconic drinks (including Purdey’s, Aqua Libra, Cîroc and Tanqueray) to lessons on creativity, innovation, and risk-taking, David reflects on what it really takes to bring bold ideas to life.Timestamps00:22 - The founding story of Baileys04:32 - Naming Baileys12:18 - How Purdey’s and Aqua Libra began22:48 - Starting Cîroc and Tanqueray33:26 - Principles of innovation
Jonny Bauer has helped transform some of the world’s biggest brands, from revitalising Axe (Lynx for UK listeners) at BBH to building strategy from the ground up at Droga5. In this episode, Jonny shares why brand can become a company’s greatest asset, what he learned moving from agencies to private equity at Blackstone, and how to bring brand to the front of the P&L. Plus, how to win CEO buy-in, build long-term strategy, and the case studies that prove the power of brand-led growth.Timestamps00:00 - Intro01:58 - Why we never celebrate the strategy behind good campaigns04:03 - What Jonny is most proud of from his time at BBH06:27 - Transforming Lynx / Axe brand09:34 - Building strategy from the ground up at Droga515:23 - Best strategy outcomes at Droga517:47 - From ad agency to private equity28:39 - Learnings from Blackstone on running a successful business32:34 - How Blackstone approaches marketing33:50 - How to bring the brand up to the front of the P&L37:06 - How to get brand buy in from your CEO40:11 - Leaving Blackstone to use this approach on other clients47:17 - Successful case studies
Fernando Machado is one of the world’s most celebrated CMOs, known for game-changing campaigns like Burger King’s “Moldy Whopper.” In this episode, Fernando shares the work he’s most proud of, why surprising campaigns cut through, and how creativity drives real business growth. We also discuss the most innovative non-advertising ideas from his career, what it takes to be an influential CMO, and his advice for startups looking to scale through bold marketing.Timestamps00:00 - Intro01:30 - What campaigns has Fernando been most proud of throughout his career07:57 - The Moldy Whopper Campaign16:55 - Why surprising campaigns are effective20:52 - The most creative non-advertising things in Fernando’s career36:05 - How to be an influential CMO41:46 - Fernando’s advice to marketing startups51:39 - The Lions Growth MBA
Matt Pohlson is the co-founder of Omaze, a platform that’s raised over £300m for charity through once-in-a-lifetime prize draws. Matt shares how a life-changing moment shaped his mission, the business model behind giving away luxury homes and cars, and why storytelling and consistent advertising have fuelled Omaze’s success. Plus, the challenges of the founder journey and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro00:32 - Matt’s near death experience03:08 - How a near death experience has changed Matt06:56 - Omaze origin story10:18 - Shifting from US celebrity to UK focused prizes13:24 - Do Omaze buy the houses, cars and luxury items?14:22 - The business model of Omaze18:09 - Why storytelling is so important for Omaze24:52 - Why Omaze make so many ads28:16 - Omaze’s advertising success through consistency31:27 - The most challenging parts of Matt’s founder journey33:59 - Matt’s advice to aspiring founders
Is Jaguar’s bold rebrand a stroke of genius or marketing madness? We sit down with Rawdon Glover, Managing Director of Jaguar, to unpack the strategy behind one of the most dramatic relaunches in automotive history. From pausing sales to redesigning the brand from the ground up, Rawdon shares how Jaguar is reinventing itself for a younger, electric-first generation and talks about the visceral response from the launch video.Timestamps00:00 - Intro00:53 - Rawdon’s journey into the automotive industry02:34 - A challenging time to be at the helm of Jaguar04:03 - Deciding between evolution and revolution at Jaguar09:05 - Why new car buyers are getting younger12:23 - Making the decision to rebrand Jaguar15:45 - Creating differentiation in the age of electrification18:46 - Designing the new Jaguar24:43 - What the Jaguar Owners Club think of the new car27:27 - The polarising Jaguar launch video33:14 - Dealing with the visceral reaction to the rebrand36:22 - How Jaguar will launch the car39:29 - Choosing to pause selling cars41:28 - Waymo’s partnership with Jaguar45:04 - When will the new Jaguar go on sale
In partnership with NBCUniversal, we sit down with Tyler Bahl, CMO of Activision, to explore what it takes to market some of the world’s most successful games, from Call of Duty to Tony Hawk Pro Skater. Tyler shares insights on launching blockbuster titles, the evolving gaming landscape in 2025, and how livestreaming, esports, and AI are transforming the industry. Plus, lessons from 23 editions of Call of Duty, surprising audience insights, and working directly with icons like Tony Hawk.Timestamps00:00 - Intro00:54 - Tyler’s time at Quibi02:33 - State of the gaming industry in 202504:14 - Tony Hawk Pro Skater Surprise05:35 - The demographics of the video game consumer08:16 - How to launch a video game10:47 - How live streaming and esports has transformed video gaming14:10 - Ratio of male vs female video game players16:28 - Is video game success due to the product or the marketing?18:00 - The success and longevity of Call of Duty19:13 - Maintaining marketing success after 23 editions of Call of Duty20:36 - “The Replacer” campaign execution and success22:21 - Measuring success23:28 - How Activision do partnerships for game launches25:35 - How Activision makes sports games27:39 - Future sports games from Activision29:42 - What impact is AI having on gaming?31:40 - Working with Tony Hawk on the launch of the new game32:46 - Lesson’s from Tyler’s career
In this episode, produced in partnership with NBCUniversal, we sit down with Todd Kaplan, CMO of Kraft Heinz, to uncover the marketing “secret sauce” behind some of the world’s most iconic brands. Todd shares lessons from driving 21 quarters of growth at Pepsi, why simplicity beats complexity in marketing, and how he’s bringing an entrepreneurial spirit to Kraft Heinz. We also dive into working with agencies, building in-house creative, and what makes a truly great CMO.Timestamps00:00 - Intro00:30 - Todd’s background01:41 - How Pepsi achieved 21 consecutive quarters of growth02:36 - Pepsi’s approach to innovation04:22 - Battling short term vs long term in innovation05:20 - From 18 years at Pepsi to joining Kraft Heinz06:41 - Encouraging an entrepreneurial culture within Kraft Heinz09:10 - Having an in house agency at Kraft Heinz12:10 - Todd Kaplan’s tips for working with external agencies16:28 - Why consistency of the brand is important for Kraft Heinz18:55 - Creating marketing that actually works24:39 - The best marketing is simple27:44 - What makes a great CMO?
1In partnership with NBCUniversal, we sit down with Grainne Wafer, Global Category Director (Beer, Vodka, Liqueurs) at Diageo, to explore how one of the world’s biggest drinks companies drives growth and builds iconic brands. Grainne shares the trends shaping the beverage industry, the transformation of Baileys, and how Diageo manages a portfolio of global powerhouses like Guinness. We also discuss the value of sports sponsorships, the rise of Guinness 0%, and why marketing effectiveness is always on tap.00:00 - Intro01:19 - What are the trends in the beverage industry?03:25 - What are the up and coming portfolio brands for Diageo?05:01 - How does Diageo manage brands internally?06:30 - Is Diageo going to sell Guinness?08:42 - What’s behind Diageo’s 17% YoY growth?12:03 - Guinness sport activation with Rugby and Football12:36 - How Guinness 0% is so close to the original14:23 - Guinness’ sponsorship of Football and Rugby16:26 - How to do measure the value of a sponsorship of the Premier League17:39 - When the UK ran out of Guinness18:08 - Sponsoring the Women’s Six Nations21:44 - How Diageo broadly measures the impact of marketing23:57 - Baileys celebrates 50 years25:22 - How Baileys was transformed27:23 - The Diageo way of brand building31:38 - Grainne’s advice to CMOs
To celebrate 200 episodes, Tom Goodwin is back on Uncensored CMO. He's got a pretty strong opinion on the state of advertising. It's broken, and we need to fix it. Tom lays out where he thinks it's all gone wrong for the industry and what we can do about it. As uncensored as ever, Tom brings an entertaining and fresh perspective on marketing. Strap in.Timestamps00:00 - Intro00:50 - The state of advertising in 202502:40 - Why is the advertising industry not moving forward?06:13 - Brand vs performance marketing09:20 - What’s broken with marketing in 202511:54 - How to actually be customer centric17:23 - Winning internal battles to allow long term work to thrive21:18 - Is performance marketing fraud?26:23 - How to make advertising better33:02 - Are we valuing creativity enough
In partnership with NBCUniversal, we sit down with Kory Marchisotto, CMO of e.l.f. Beauty, to unpack a 25 quarters of consecutive growth. From their bold “So Many Dicks” campaign to the $1B Rhode deal with Hailey Bieber, Kory shares how e.l.f. built a culture that fuels growth. We also dive into the power of creators and celebrities in beauty, partnerships with sporting icons like Billie Jean King and racing driver Katherine Legge, and the realities of leading as a high-growth, publicly listed CMO.Timestamps00:00 - Intro00:40 - The last decade of Elf01:35 - The Titanium and Glass Cannes Lions entry03:01 - Elf’s “So Many Dicks” campaign10:01 - The secret to 25 quarters of consecutive growth13:36 - Building a culture that allows growth17:03 - $1b Rhode deal24:26 - How important are creators and celebrities in building beauty brands26:37 - Collaborating with Billie Jean King30:49 - Partnering with Katherine Legge, racing driver34:16 - The realities of being a high growth, publicly listed CMO
Simon Morris is Adobe’s VP of International Marketing, joins us to share how Adobe is empowering creativity at scale. We discuss the impact of AI on marketing, why creativity will always need human skills, and how Adobe partners with brands like Real Madrid to build iconic campaigns. Simon also shares what makes a great marketing leader today, how to launch products successfully, and what’s next for AI and creators.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro00:43 - The size of the Cannes activation for Adobe01:38 - Simon’s marketing career04:21 - Adobe’s CEO named creative champion of the year05:46 - Where has AI had the biggest impact in marketing?08:14 - Will AI replace creativity?09:35 - Where will human skills be most required in the age of AI?14:21 - How Adobe are their own customer15:10 - What campaigns have been made with Adobe’s own software?16:19 - How brands can work with creators?17:59 - Freedom for creators vs sticking to guidelines19:16 - How to successfully launch a new product20:59 - Partnering with sports teams to build their brand (Real Madrid)23:25 - Maintaining trust in Adobe AI products, with potential IP worries26:16 - Whats the next thing in AI we need to pay attention to?28:37 - Building a brand for long term when the world is increasingly short term29:56 - What makes a great marketing leader today?
In collaboration with TikTok, System1 have launched a new research paper called "The Long and the Short Form of It", explaining how brands can navigate and excel in this of this new world of short form content. In this episode I catch up with TikTok's Head of Business Marketing and Partnerships to discuss the research and help brands succeed on the platform.Timestamps00:00 - Intro02:05 - Sofia’s marketing career04:04 - Why B2B marketing needs to be more human05:36 - TikTok’s marketing journey over the past 5 years06:48 - How brands can use TikTok10:47 - How brands can work with creators on TikTok14:20 - How to make a TikTok that captures attention18:18 - The TikTok economy21:18 - Why authenticity pays off on TikTok22:57 - How people can get started creating on TikTok25:30 - Is TikTok just for teenagers?26:51 - TikTok as an entertainment platform, not as a social media platform27:54 - Romancing the creative vs proving the value32:00 - Sofia’s leadership lessons
After 20 unhappy years as a headhunter, it took a near death experience for Sherilyn Shackell to launch The Marketing Academy, a non-profit organisation developing leadership talent in marketing. Launched in 2010, The Marketing Academy now helps marketers become CMOs and CMOs become CEOs. This episode, we focus on exactly how CMOs can get a seat at the table in the boardroom and all the traits they need to do this successfully.Timestamps00:00 - Intro00:53 - How a near death experience led to the creation of The Marketing Academy08:29 - Does trauma help founders?11:27 - What is The Marketing Academy?15:05 - How The Marketing Academy Fellowship helps CMOs become CEOs20:08 - Why there needs to be CMOs on boards27:03 - What CMOs can do to get on boards35:36 - Why CMOs need to build their own profiles39:23 - Why CMOs need to invest in relationships44:16 - Why having a personal brand is a talent magnet45:48 - The biggest fears and anxieties of CMOs54:34 - What marketers can learn from the best CMOs in the world?
In a bonus live episode from Cannes, Professor Scott Galloway joins renowned CMO Kory Marchisotto (e.l.f. Beauty) and advertising legend Rory Sutherland to discuss three big topics: Is brand dead? Are we too risk-averse? And what is the future of the CMO?Timestamps00:00 - Start00:26 - Is the era of brand dead?13:54 - Do we need to make better advertising?20:11 - How CMOs can approach risk31:09 - The demise of the CMO
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