IOFA with Aaron Starkman

Nancy Vonk and Janet Kestin chat with Aaron about a disgusting incident at an advertising event that suddenly put them in the mainstream global spotlight and they discuss the theme of their incredible careers: amazing work done in spite of challenging budgets including the Cannes Grand Prix, Dove Evolution. 

Aaron chats with Droga 5 London's CCO,  David Kolbusz about what Ellen DeGeneres is like off-camera from his own experience, the story behind David's famous 3 little pigs ad for the guardian and why you should never attempt small talk with David at any industry function, ever. 

Canadian advertising legend Paul Lavoie talks about what happens when you show up to a Nike pitch wearing their competitor’s shoes, why you shouldn’t turn down stock from a start-up owned by someone named Jeff Bezos, and a worst meeting ever story so controversial it can’t be alluded to here. Buckle up for the most unfiltered IOFA yet.  

Aaron chats with Ari Weiss, Worldwide CCO for DDB about some of his greatest hits, a meeting with the world's most sociopathic client and why brown shoes are WAY funnier than black shoes. 

Get to know Aaron’s former colleagues and heroes, Elspeth Lynn and Lorraine Tao. Elspeth and Lorraine discuss opening up their own agency, some incredible career highlights and the suppression of female voices in advertising. 

On this episode of IOFA, Aaron chats with Danny Robinson, the new CCO of the Martin Agency about the famous Oprah episode where she says “You get a car! You get a car! You get a car! Everyone gets a car!” for his former client, Pontiac. Danny also discusses his time doing stand up comedy and why you should never offer cinnamon gum to Jay-Z.

Aaron chats with Anselmo Ramos, Founder of DAVID and Gut about independence, why pitching is bad for business & how Anselmo has thrived by always being seen as ‘that guy with the accent’.  Aaron also chats with the mysterious man behind the satirical “Adweak” posts, Mickey Taylor about about how it started and Mickey and Aaron count down his top 5 posts of 2020. 

In early March, just before airlines shut it down I chatted with the king of CMO’s, Fernando Machado in Miami about some of his recent hits including the Moldy Whopper and the fascinating story behind it. This interview was pure joy for me. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 

Malcolm Poynton discusses the birth of the famous Dove campaign for real beauty in London, the unapproved Ford ad that got leaked and quickly went viral and that time he flew Aaron to London for a interview and the hilarious “incident” that transpired soon after.   

Edelman Global CCO, Judy John talks about her famous “Like a Girl” campaign, how she tackles being a leader who happens to be an introvert, and why there aren’t more women running agencies.

20 years ago the two best creatives in Canada left DDB and opened Rethink. On the next IOFA episode, Chris Staples and Ian Grais chat about why they put their phones in safes on vacation, a worst meeting ever that was so bad it made the news and what happened when their former agency’s holding company started charging for photocopies.

SEASON TWO!!! Eric Kallman talks to Aaron about creating the Old Spice character, the famously twisted Skittles campaign and the best worst shoot story of all time.

Anna Qvennerstedt talks about Forsman and Bodenfors’ famous Jean-Claude Van Damme Epic Split spot for Volvo, what’s up with digital in Sweden and what happens when you bring a cheese doodle mascot to a pitch meeting. 

Jeff Goodby and Rich Silverstein discuss some of their big hits, why elevators are scary and a shocking conversation they had with Steve Jobs.

Ari Merkin chats about his famous Ikea lamp spot, a strange meeting with Spike Jonze in a park and why ad folks shouldn’t be compared to used car salesmen. 

Aaron and Susan discuss the famous M&M characters she created, her rise to global CCO, and a controversial topic never before discussed so openly: award show corruptness.

Gerry and Aaron discuss dead rats, little Jesus mittens and some of Gerry's work - which happens to be some of the most loved campaigns over the last 30 years. 

Aaron Starkman chats with Alex Bogusky about the state of the industry, why Alex came back and they also discuss vampires. Host and Creator - Aaron Starkman Executive Producer and Audio Director - Ted Rosnick

Aaron Starkman sits down with Rob Reilly, Global Creative Chairman of McCann Worldgroup at Cannes.