S8 Ep 7: “Why Advertising Feels Like a Cult — And How JP Broke Free”
Description
In this two-part Peanut Gallery Podcast episode, Stacy and Danah sit down with JP Cristen — award-winning art director, illustrator, former Leo Burnett creative, and now a bold Christian content creator.
For the first time, JP opens up about the real mindset inside the Philippine advertising industry:
the ego grooming, the obsession with awards, the creative “ideologies,” and why so many fall into insecurity, competition, and burnout.
He shares how he rose from an insecure kid from an urban-poor community… to representing the Philippines in Young Creatives… to winning awards… to eventually realizing that the industry he idolized had become a cult of creativity, shaping his identity, motivations, and worldview.
JP breaks down:
why advertising becomes a “mini-god” system
how creatives are programmed to chase recognition
the unspoken conflict between ethics and output
how he navigated toxic culture, internal battles, and spiritual conviction
the crash, the disillusionment, and the turning point that made him walk away
This conversation is raw, honest, and eye-opening — especially for anyone in advertising, marketing, content creation, or creative industries.
Part 2 launches next week.
United States
