Nils Leonard, Uncommon Studio's co-founder and Creative Director is back, and the mic is hotter than ever. We're tackling why Uncommon is pushing the boundaries of out of home, including the divisive BA "Reflections" campaign, what Nils thinks of the energy in the US vs the UK, and why we have a lot of work to do if we want creativity to thrive in this country.Timestamps00:00 - Start00:52 - How did Uncensored CMO end up at Uncommon Studios02:33 - What just Jon want to happen as a result of this episode?04:45 - What does Nils want to happen as a result of this podcast?06:10 - Nils' advice to founders wanting to start an agency07:51 - Uncommon’s work with The Ordinary13:38 - Why Uncommon loves out of home15:31 - Uncommon’s out of home work with British Airways22:20 - Uncommon's B&Q out of home26:51 - Uncommon's Hiscox work29:55 - Uncommon’s EA work32:51 - Uncommon’s JD Sports work turning the lens on the community37:45 - British Airway’s safety video43:40 - The culture of creativity in the UK vs US46:40 - Why Campaign’s"Turkey of the Week" is a terrifying reflection on the UK48:52 - WPP and creativity51:28 - Who killed creativity?53:53 - What Brits can learn from Americans to bring creativity back
Entrepreneur, investor, and VaynerMedia CEO Gary Vaynerchuk joins us from Wine Library to share his unfiltered take on marketing in 2025. We cover everything from spotting consumer trends to staying authentic in the age of AI. Gary explains why generosity is his most powerful growth strategy, why the customer is always right, and which media channels are over or undervalued in 2025.Timestamps00:00 - Intro01:03 - Being back at Wine Library02:38 - Why the customer is always right according to Gary Vee07:17 - Why Gary Vee doesn’t believe in luck09:28 - How Gary Vee has managed to have so much reach13:14 - The power of generosity17:51 - Gary Vee’s advice on spotting trends19:31 - Why you need to pay attention to the consumer21:18 - What does good marketing look like according to Gary Vee22:01 - Why social media is better than all other media channels24:08 - Is TV advertising dead?28:26 - Undervalued or overvalued: media channel edition29:26 - Undervalued or overvalued: podcasts31:34 - Undervalued or overvalued: LinkedIn32:24 - Undervalued or overvalued: Email33:26 - Undervalued or overvalued: sms/text34:03 - Undervalued or overvalued: YouTube35:29 - Undervalued or overvalued: search38:39 - Undervalued or overvalued: TikTok40:16 - Undervalued or overvalued: Twitter/X42:29 - Undervalued or overvalued: New York Jets44:54 - How do we maintain authenticity in the age of AI49:00 - Gary Vee’s advice on how to execute on ideas
Will Guidara is the author of Unreasonable Hospitality and co-founder of the world’s #1 restaurant, Eleven Madison Park. He joins us to share how lessons from hospitality can be a huge competitive advantage for your brand. We discuss the power of small but impactful gestures, intelligent naivety, the 95/5 rule and investing in the things that can’t be measured but make all the difference.Will also reflects on the mindset that took Eleven Madison Park to the top, what businesses can learn from restaurants, and how applying unreasonable hospitality can turn any customer experience into something truly extraordinary.Timestamps00:00:00 - Start00:00:57 - Will’s experience writing his book00:02:11 - Getting 4 stars from The New York Times00:04:43 - What marketers can learn from Unreasonable Hospitality00:08:08 - Where did the term “unreasonable hospitality” come from?00:14:13 - Why Will is fine being “The Dining Room Guy”00:16:40 - Why Will added a beer sommelier - reverse benchmarking00:20:29 - Intelligent naivety and the advantages of youth00:23:30 - The power of small thoughtful gestures that make a lasting impact00:27:22 - The 95/5 rule - how to succeed with things that cannot be measured00:31:47 - Restaurant smart vs corporate smart00:36:50 - Why you sometimes need conflicting goals00:41:34 - Is the customer always right?00:45:55 - Turning pain points into highlights00:48:06 - How Will Guidara makes getting the bill a memorable experience00:51:38 - Why nothing in the world can replace persistence00:53:40 - Never waste a good crisis00:56:52 - What Will would do at Cannes with no budget00:59:56 - How Shake Shack kept 11 Madison Park going01:00:48 - Which fast food chains does Will admire01:03:51 - Hiring exceptional talent01:06:17 - Getting siloed teams to work together in harmony01:09:07 - What would you do if you knew you couldn’t fail
Jess Butcher MBE has built a career at the intersection of technology and consumer behaviour. She co-founded AR pioneer Blippar and has since turned her attention to a growing issue: how AI and social media are shaping our brains, behaviour, and wellbeing.In this episode, Jess shares what she’s learned as a founder, why female entrepreneurs still struggle to access funding, and why she believes brands must take responsibility for the attention economy they help create. We discuss how “More Soul, Less Scroll” is encouraging healthier digital habits, and the practical steps companies can take to drive positive change.Timestamps00:00 - Intro01:41 - Jess’ background as a female founder05:56 - How Jon used Jess’ QR code startup13:19 - Why Blippar ultimately failed17:34 - The lessons from Blippar’s failure21:30 - Why female founders struggle to get funding25:50 - The characteristics of successful founders31:15 - How AI is re-wiring our brains negatively34:05 - Why social media is ruining our lives40:09 - Why is this problem getting worse if we know about it?44:17 - What ScrollAware is trying to do about the problem48:38 - Which brands are taking responsibility for this problem best?54:46 - Less Scroll More Soul sleeping bags
Craig Brommers, CMO of American Eagle, joins us to go behind the scenes of one of the most talked-about campaigns of the year; Sydney Sweeney for American Eagle. Craig reveals what really happened, why the brand partnered with Sydney, and how they handled the extreme social-media reaction. We discuss the data behind the campaign’s success, the decision to pause before responding, and what the advertising press got wrong. Craig also shares lessons in brand leadership, navigating public scrutiny, and what it takes to be a successful CMO in 2025.Timestamps00:00 - Intro00:35 - The Travis Kelce x American Eagle collaboration01:51 - Why American Eagle partnered with Sydney Sweeney03:21 - Did American Eagle know the campaign was going to explode on social media04:24 - What caused the extreme reaction to the campaign?06:08 - The System1 scores for the Sydney Sweeney x American Eagle campaign08:11 - How did it feel seeing the campaign come under so much scrutiny?11:50 - Choosing to pause instead of reacting immediately13:41 - Dealing with the personal side of some of the comments15:09 - The actual results of the Sydney Sweeney campaign16:51 - The reaction vs the media buy - what was the impact?18:11 - When Jon almost closed the London Underground with Amaretto20:53 - Did the advertising press get it wrong about the American Eagle campaign?22:14 - Craig’s advice for other marketers facing a crisis27:15 - Will American Eagle continue to work with Sydney Sweeney?28:31 - Are we entering a “Jeans Wars” era?29:40 - The product strategy for American Eagle30:51 - How important are celebrity endorsements in Fashion31:45 - What are the elements for success for American Eagle33:26 - 3 things that make a successful CMO in 202539:56 - What does a successful CMO look like?40:44 - The one thing to remember from this conversation
After an illustrious 37-year career in advertising, legend David Droga is stepping down as CEO of Accenture Song and retiring. Under his leadership, Song grew 8% to $20 billion in FY25, up from $19 billion the previous year. A fitting closing act for one of the industry’s most creative leaders.In this second conversation with David, we reflect on his career, the lessons he’s learned, and what he would do if he were starting from scratch. From creativity’s place at the heart of business to the power of simple ideas, David shares the philosophies, failures, and insights that have defined his journey.Timestamps00:00:00 - Start00:02:45 - Lessons from being CEO of Accenture Song00:06:01 - Why creativity needs to be at the forefront of businesses00:11:01 - How technology can enable creativity, rather than kill it00:18:42 - What is David Droga most proud of leaving as his legacy00:27:40 - What what David Droga do if he were starting from scratch00:29:59 - What are the traits of David Droga’s favourite clients00:34:59 - What trends are overrated and underrated according to David Droga00:40:52 - David Droga ideas that never saw the light of day00:43:58 - The business that almost came before Droga500:46:49 - The size of the idea is 50x more important than the budget00:48:10 - Droga’s best campaign on a small budget00:56:31 - Power of building on a campaign platform01:02:06 - The power of simple ideas01:07:48 - The most "Aussie" thing Droga has ever done
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?
In 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
Alireza Mohafezatkar
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