Journey to Ad

When you talk to Jordan Bradley, you can't help but feel that he has an artistic approach and wisdom for creativity that is far beyond his years. Listen and learn as we discuss the creative energy in Atlanta, creatives that inspire us, and what Jordan learned from years of working freelance before coming to Denver Ad School. Oh, and Jordan? I still owe you a some wings...

Confession: we recorded this back in February 2021, but at long last, here is a great conversation with a fantastic writer, Ben Ward. Listen and learn as we talk about the role of sports in our lives, the creative process with food, and even about writing.

Philosophy, brain surgery, or advertising? If he had picked either of the other two, Riley Draper wouldn't be on this podcast. Listen and learn as we take off on a whirlwind end to the first season of Journey to Ad as we discuss how Riley discovered advertising and the infectious energy and optimism that he brings to every project.

Forever in pursuit of new experiences, Emily Devery has traveled around the world but always seems to come back to Colorado. Listen and learn as we discuss some of the trips and experiences that have shaped Emily's perspectives and speculate what adventures lie ahead.

Alisha Benda is a wonderful creative, storyteller, and human who just seems to want to do everything, including brewing kombucha. Listen and learn as she tells her unique story about a citizen of the world who spent six years in the US Army before bringing her talents and heart to the world of advertising.

Bringing a background in the world of fine arts to advertising, Tricia Knope is a very thoughtful creative who recognizes the power that ads have to influence culture. Listen and learn as we go from an arts middle school in Portland, Oregon to Denver Ad School and discuss the importance of authenticity in everything.

Who would be determined and crazy enough to learn Adobe Creative Suite one-handed? Gaby Strnad, that's who. Listen and learn while we dive into the psyche of someone as driven as Gaby and discuss how she pivoted from a career in events to become a talented art director who is now capable of using not just one but two hands for design.

Sabrina Saccente likes to be straight and to the point. This is an episode about her.

Turns out, the world of the theatre can be filled with drama, which drove Hayley Lyons to pursue writing instead of the stage life. Listen and learn as we chat about improv, writing, and waiting tables, as well as the bizarre regional cuisines that baffle tourists and visitors to some of our favorite cities.

Graciela Robertson probably doesn't need an interviewer, but I sat in as one anyway. Listen and learn as we go from small town Colorado to Boston to Denver while learning about how her creativity flourished through experiences in dance and radio, which all helped to inform her unique voice in advertising. Fun fact: Graciela is also the designer of our Journey to Ad logos!

A brief preview from Jeff about what to expect from our next few episodes of Journey to Ad.

The actor's life may seem glamorous, but it isn't for everyone, including my classmate, Gunnar Renjard. He's a groovy dude much more interested in climbing rocks than serving tables. Listen and learn as we talk about his early filmmaking in middle and high school which evolved into more polished work at the Savannah College of Art and Design and how he then turned his passion for acting and filmmaking into passion for art and design work.

There aren't many people that I've met who are as thoughtful and considerate as my classmate, Shantice Edwards. Listen and learn as we go down so many different paths from what it was like growing up in Georgia and moving to Denver, fashion design, digital marketing, being a black creative, and having empathy for your work partners.

It's the premiere episode and who else can I start it with, but the classmate who I have shared the most classes with, Maddie Graham.  Listen and learn more about Maddie, a talented writer with a knack for humor and love for sketch comedy as the two of us take turns trying to one-up each other's jokes.  

I never thought that I would get into advertising, but here I am. Now I'm on a mission to discover who comes to Denver Ad School and what makes their own brands of creativity so unique to them. These are their stories and this is Journey to Ad.