The A-List Podcast

This is the A-List, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. In this episode, our host Tom Christmann talks with Mike Manheimer, Chief Marketing Officer at Postscript.io. Mike ditched his pre-law plan to join a software startup where he learned every aspect of marketing before a random meeting on an elevator led to his CMO job at SMS company Postscript. If you want to learn how to craft an SMS campaign like Mr. Beast, this is the episode for you. The A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School, where we've got three classes this session (starts week of June 12!), including one called PHARMA FOR NONHACKS where you'll learn all the special pharma rules and then learn how to break them. GOT ANY BEANS?!

In this episode of the A-List podcast, sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School, Tom Christmann talks with Jaime Cabrera, Group Creative Director on Hyundai at Innocean USA in Los Angeles, California. Jaime's focus at Innocean is what's called “Experiential marketing”. It's sometimes called "engagement marketing" and “event marketing". Encompassing everything from car shows to virtual in-car experiences, experiential is a marketing strategy that directly engages consumers and invites and encourages them to participate in the evolution of a brand or a brand experience. To experiential marketers, the audience isn't just a passive receiver of messages. Rather, the audience is actively involved in the production and co-creation of marketing programs, developing a relationship with the brand. Jaime (pronounced HY'-may) was born in El Paso, Texas to Mexican immigrant parents and he went to the University of Texas Austin where he studied broadcast and film. A talented musician, Jaime headed to L.A. to record some albums. He's got some excellent music on Spotify under the name J Cabrera. While he was pursuing his musical dreams, he started working at a small agency in El Paso called The Laster Group (now known as CultureSpan) creating 360 campaigns for car dealerships. He was even the star of his very first ad. Jaime is, at his core, a storyteller. In addition to his music and his ad work, he's also an author and podcaster. His book is called What's The Big Idea?: An Indispensable Guide To Becoming A Kick-Ass Creative Director and his podcast, Confessions of a Creative Director, takes the ideas in that book and uses them as discussion points with Creative Directors from all over the world, including our very own Tom Christmann. Samples of Jaime's song about his mom, entitled “Hey Maria”, are used in this episode with permission from Jaime. Enjoy the episode. And remember… ADHOUSE SUMMER ZOOM CLASSES WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON. REGISTER NOW AT ADHOUSENYC.COM.

Another week, another A-List, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. Sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. Hosted by Tom Christmann, Executive Creative Director at Catch+Release and one of the head #adnerds at Adhouse, where zoom classes start FEBRUARY 15.

Hello and Welcome to the A-List Podcast, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. Sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. Hosted by Tom Christmann, Executive Creative Director at Catch+Release and one of the head adnerds at Adhouse. In this episode, recorded in the fall of 2022, you'll hear Tom's chat with Matt Vitou, Executive Creative Director at Mother in New York City. Matt and Tom talk about about: • Growing up on video games and MTV in Cleveland • Learning about advertising at Loyola New Orleans • Burning every bridge in New Orleans with one email • Discovering the Creative Circus in Atlanta • Why every ad-hopeful should be on LinkedIn • How he wound up losing his shirt at Wuhan prison in China • Creativity diets We'll also hear some great tips on staying inspired, including the Criterion Collection and the practice of wandering cities known as Dérive. If you are curious about breaking into the ad business or want to be inspired to do your best work, you're in the right place. Music: Ross Hopman of Duotone Audio Group.

SPONSORED BY ADHOUSE ADVERTISING SCHOOL. AD CLASSES TAUGHT BY WORKING AD PROS ON ZOOM. ADHOUSENYC.COM ----- Hello and welcome to The A-List, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. This episode is a conversation between host Tom Christmann and Micöl Rankin, ACD and very first creative hire at Majority, an agency co-founded by Shaquille O'Neill, Omid Farhang, Asmirh Davis and Jorge Hernandez. Micöl is the creator of #YouAreDopeShow on LinkedIN. He's also been named an Adweek Top Creative 100. And his "Vax That Thing Up" for the BLK dating app just won a lion at Cannes. But Micöl did not always dream of ad stardom. In fact, he is still working on a music career even as he pursues ad excellence at Majority. In this episode, you'll hear how he followed his passions from Pittsburgh Technical Institute to the Disney College Program in Orlando to working on his performance chops in Atlanta as a contemporary of Wiz Khalifa. Until a job at iHeart Radio changed his life forever. This is a story about breaking templates by being yourself. This is a story about doing what you feel. This is a story about vibing and letting success find you. And we hope you enjoy listening as much as we did making it. And if you do, please like and subscribe and share and talk us up. Or don't. Either way, we're vibing. Thanks to Micöl Rankin.

Lisa Topol is a big believer in kindness. As she likes to say, “Good things follow it.” So it's not surprising that she recently took the job of Managing Partner, Executive Creative Director at Oberland, the industry's leading purpose-driven ad agency founded by Bill Oberlander and Drew Train. In this episode of The A-List Podcast, Tom Christmann talks with Lisa about her over 20 years in advertising, which started when the late Chris Wall hired her out of his Adhouse class (oh, hello!) to work on IBM at Ogilvy. Lisa has been a copywriter, a CD and a CCO. She's worked on Nike at Wieden + Kennedy and changed the way tampons a marketed at JWT. She managed teams with upwards of 200 people. She was named one of the 30 most creative women in advertising by Business Insider and was listed as one of the top 27 creative leaders in the country by Adweek. Her work won nearly every major industry award. In her spare time, Lisa has taken her dogs to the highest levels of international competition in the sport of dog agility, becoming the 2 time Westminster Agility Champion and representing the United States team at the World Agility Championships. She's also a board member of Time's Up Advertising, runs a Facebook group for progressive activists and cherishes being a mentor to women in advertising and seeing them rise up the ranks. Oh, and her grandmother was a stand-up comic in the mold of Ms. Maisel, who worked with an accordion player on the temple circuit in Long Island. This episode is full of famous names and funny stories. Thanks for listening. Please rate, share and subscribe wherever you get podcasts.

------ What are you doing this summer? Why not up your ad game by taking a class at Adhouse Advertising School? Classes are taught by working ad pros live on zoom so you can take them from anywhere. You get ten weeks of classes for just seven hundred ninety nine dollars. You'll practice turning briefs into brilliance every week and you'll meet some new friends along the way, including special A-List guests that can help you break into your dream agency. Adhouse students have gotten jobs at some of the top agencies in the world, including Wieden & Kennedy, Mischief, BBDO and McCann. Classes are first-come-first-served, so register today at adhousenyc.com. That's adhousenyc.com. Adhouse Advertising School. Classes for Adnerds. Taught by Adnerds. —— Hello adnerds. And welcome to The A-List, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. Today we'll head to the Great White North and you'll hear our host Tom Christmann in conversation with Dan Nelken, a freelance creative who lives in Vancouver Canada. Dan is the author of a fabulous new book called A Self-Help Guide For Copywriters. You can buy a copy, and subscribe to his excellent free newsletter, at nelkencreative.com. Tom was surprised to hear that Dan started his career at 28 after he had had it with driving a forklift for a living. Eventually, Dan found himself at Chiat Day Vancouver, then went off on his own. Now he wants to help others find their confidence. This is a story about relentlessly doing what you love. And keeping at it until you win. Oh and Dan is coming out with an online course, too. You can find more information at Nelkencreative.com. So let's listen in on this conversation with the very friendly Dan Nelken. —— This has been the A-List, sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School where summer zoom classes will be starting the week of June 13. You get ten weeks for just seven hundred and ninety nine dollars. Classes fill up fast and it's first come first served, so register early at adhousenyc.com.

What are you doing this summer? Why not up your ad game by taking a class at Adhouse Advertising School? Classes are taught by working ad pros live on zoom so you can take them from anywhere. You get ten weeks of classes for just seven hundred ninety nine dollars. You'll practice turning briefs into brilliance every week and you'll meet some new friends along the way, including special A-List guests that can help you break into your dream agency. Adhouse students have gotten jobs at some of the top agencies in the world, including Wieden & Kennedy, Mischief, BBDO and McCann. Classes are first-come-first-served, so register today at adhousenyc.com. That's adhousenyc.com. Adhouse Advertising School. Classes for Adnerds. Taught by Adnerds. —— Hello adnerds. And welcome to The A-List, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. In this episode, Tom Christmann talks with Matt MacDonald, who was just promoted to Chief Creative Officer of BBDO New York. His story starts in Peoria Illinois, where he was the first generation of his family NOT to work at the Caterpillar factory making tractors. His journey went from the high school speech team to working at a local Peoria ad agency to UT Austin and eventually New York City, where he arrived just in time for 9/11 and all the havoc it brought to the city. This is a story about adaptation, loving the process and doing whatever it takes to live your dream. With plenty of practical advice and funny stories along the way. The A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School, where summer zoom classes will be starting the week of June 13. You get ten weeks for just $799 USD. Classes fill up fast and it's first come first served, so register early at adhousenyc.com. You can find Tom Christmann at tomchristmann.net and on most social platforms @ mongoindustries. Thanks for listening. And, as always, thanks to Ross Hopman at Duotone Audio for the music.

Hello adnerds! And welcome to another episode of The A-List, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. In this episode, Tom Christmann -- ECD at Vayner Media and co-dean at Adhouse Advertising School -- speaks with Analisa Goodin, Founder and CEO of Catch & Release. After art school, Analisa started taking on side gigs to fund her art. One of those gigs was helping Goodby Silverstein & Partners source found content for a Sprint campaign. That side job led her to starting her own company to help agencies and brands source, clear, and license found content from across the internet for their campaigns. This episode of The A-List podcast is all about being nimble, curious, and saying YES. So let's say YES… to Analisa Goodin. ---- The A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. You get 10 weeks of classes for just $699. Our latest class starts March 17, 2022 on zoom with our newest ad pro: creative director Rich Wakefield. Sign up now at adhousenyc.com.

Hey #adnerds! Welcome to another episode of The A-List, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. In this episode, our host Tom Christmann talks with Jason Bagley, a freelance creative who spent 16 years working at Wieden & Kennedy in Portland. Jason's origin story is full of insight and humor. You'll hear how he landed his dream job (replacing Jeff Kling who had written the Miller High Life ads that Jason loved so much). You'll hear how he then rose in the ranks, despite a deep case of imposter syndrome. You'll hear how he learned to have 400 ideas at a time (imposter syndrome helps). And you'll hear why Jason has now opened The Audacious School of Astonishing Pursuits (schoolofastonishingpursuits.com), where he runs an 8-week coaching course called Creative Megamachine, teaching things like how to find your voice, how to take your ideas to the edge of madness and more. This is a great episode full of awesome advice. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Jason Bagley. ----- The A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. New zoom classes start Feb. 15, 16 and 17. Register NOW at adhousenyc.com. Host/editor: tomchristmann.net Music: duotoneaudio.com © 2022 Adhouse Industries LLC

Hello, #adnerds and welcome to another episode of The A-List, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. Tom Christmann has been busy starting his new job as ECD at Vayner Media and being co-dean at Adhouse Advertising School. (And getting COVID) (he's okay now). But he promises to start dropping episodes more regularly, starting with this conversation with Cameron Day, author of the new book Chew With Your Mind Open. Cameron is a second-generation advertising man. His dad, Guy Day, co-founded Chiat Day. And he's spent the last quarter-century working at agencies big and small, practicing what his dad taught him. The way Cameron tells it: “I've had a hand in building some damn fine brands, contributed a few nice ads along the way, and made a handful of treasured friends.” Listen as Cameron and Tom discuss Cameron's story including a fascinating deep dive into how one award-winning Rolling Stone campaign came to life. IMPORTANT: Cameron's book is great and you can get a signed copy with some neat swag at iamcameronday.com. -------- ADHOUSE CLASSES START IN FEBRUARY. THERE'S STILL SPACE. RESERVE YOUR SPOT AT ADHOUSENYC.COM Host/Editor/Engineer: tomchristmann.net Music: Duotoneaudio.com

Hey Adnerds! It's time for another episode of The A-List Podcast, sponsored by adhousenyc.com. This episode, host Tom Christmann talks to Pete Favat, Creative Chairman at Deutsch LA, which describes itself as "a data-inspired, culturally shaped creative studio." Pete started at Wunderman in New York, but really fell in love with advertising on a trip to LA for his first TV shoot, which ended up winning awards. Today, he works at an agency that sits at the intersection of entertainment, technology and culture. Clients include Walmart, Taco Bell, Dr Pepper, Georgia-Pacific, Lowe's, Bayer, Nintendo, PetSmart and Snapple. Tom and Pete talk about the importance of craft, the difference between the New York, Boston and Los Angeles ad scenes, and the integrated, multi-disciplinary approach Deutsch is using at the agency's in-house production studio, Steelhead. Thanks for listening. And please share our show with an #adnerd friend. Thanks.

Hello, fellow #adnerds and welcome to The A-List, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. In this episode, Host Tom Christmann talks with Hannes Ciatti, former founder of JohnXHannes and current founder and Chief Creative Officer of Alto New York, a creative company for courageous brands. Hannes has made some iconic work over his career. He made Misty Copeland go viral for Under Armour. He helped Jon Makovich start a menswear line with Squarespace. And he dropped the world's first expensible music video for Expensify with 2Chainz. But Hannes' story begins in a little town in a tiny village in Northern Italy. From there, he would make his way to Germany, then Australia and finally New York, where he and his partner, John McKelvey would be hired by none other than David Droga before going on to start JohnxHannes. This is an epic story that goes from the Dolomites to Droga5. And there's plenty to learn along the way. Whether you're just starting out or looking to start your own agency. You can check out all the work and reach out to Hannes at altony.co. The A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School, where we've got new classes starting at the end of September. You get ten weeks of classes with an ad pro for way less than the big ad schools charge. Apply today at adhousenyc.com and we'll get you in. All classes are on zoom so you can take them from anywhere. Even the Dolomites. Contact Tom Christmann at tomchristmann.net. Thanks for listening. Please rate and subscribe to the a-list wherever you listen to podcasts. And thanks to Ross Hopman over at Duotone Audio Group for the music. Get vaccinated if you can. See you soon!

This is The A-List, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. In this episode, Tom Christmann, freelance copywriter at tomchristmann.net and co-dean at Adhouse Advertising School, speaks with David Esrati of The Next Wave in Dayton Ohio. David is a true #Adnerd in every sense of the word. He's also a disabled veteran, a politician, and an activist and self-described truth teller who has gotten in trouble more than once for it. David is also a digital pioneer. He started The Next Wave way back in 1988 and was one of the first people to understand the power of the internet for advertising. He even went on to create Luke Sullivan's website for Hey Whipple, Squeeze This, a gig he got by volunteering to drive Sullivan to the airport from a speaking engagement. David and Tom geek out on the importance of establishing trust in sales, how to find a great agency in a small city and the importance of figuring out who the HMFIC is. They delve into the manipulation of information and how to do a political campaign that makes people think. There's lots of advice in this one, and some really inspiring stuff for adnerds who happen to be in smaller markets. Enjoy! And please rate and subscribe! Or at least share the A-List with an adnerd friend. The A-List Podcast is sponsored by Adhousenyc.com. Music by Duotone Audio Group.

Tom Christmann talks with Gavin Lester, CCO of Zambezi (zmbz.com) n independent agency in Culver City, California. Tom and Gavin discuss going from art to advertising, Goodby vs. BBH, the making of Levi's "Odyssey" (directed by Jonathan Glazer) and so much more. Tom can be reached at tomchristmann.net. Gavin can be reached at gavin.lester@zmbz.com. And the whole thing is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School (adhousenyc.com) where we are now shipping decks of our newest product Adhouse Of Cards - 35 techniques that will expand your thinking and improve your campaigns. And the best part is that all the proceeds go to the Adhouse Scholarship Program. Get your deck for just $20 (plus $3 shipping) at Adhousenyc.com/store. Music by Ross Hopman at Duotone Audio Group.

Hello and welcome to the A-List, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. In this episode, host Tom Christmann talks with Danny Gregory. Danny is the founder of Sketchbook Skool and the best-selling author of several books on creativity. But before all that he was in advertising. They talk about how Danny got in, but also how he got out to start his own business teaching people to get back to making art with Sketchbook Skool. Danny's story will take us from Pakistan to Pittsburgh to Princeton to Jimmy Carter's White House and finally to the offices of trendspotter Faith Popcorn, where Danny got his start in the business. He would go on to work as a Group Creative Director at Ogilvy, Chief Creative Officer at Doremus and finally as an ecd and partner at McGarryBowen. But then a tragic accident would change his life forever and cause him to rediscover the power of art for finding meaning in life. This episode is all about trusting in the universe to show you the way. So get out your sketchbook and doodle while you listen to a very illuminating conversation with Danny Gregory. A-LIST LISTENER OFFER: 14-day free trial of Spark from Sketchbook Skool - click sketchbookskool.com/spark/?alist Check out Danny's blog at dannygregory.com ---------------------- This episode brought to you by Adhouse Advertising School ADHOUSE CLASSES START IN JUNE. APPLY BY MAY 15 AND GET $199 OFF. adhousenyc.com

In this episode of the A-List Podcast, Tom Christmann, creative for hire at tomchristmann.net and one of the Head Adnerds at Adhouse Advertising School, talks with one of the baddest women in advertising, Eva McCloskey. Eva didn't go to college, but that didn't stop her from finding herself as a VIP media liaison for John Hancock at the Salt Lake City Olympics at the ripe old age of 21. Or becoming one of the founders of The Barbarian Group and a key part of Co:Collective in the early days. Oh, She also may or may not have been in the CIA at one point. Today, Eva is the Managing Director at The Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, an invite-only assembly of leading visual arts professionals from design, advertising and PR. You can request a membership or enter one of three award shows at AIVA.org. Among the lessons in this one: - Read a lot. It will teach you to write and think. - Whatever you are doing, focus on doing good work and then talk passionately about it. - Don't be afraid to mess up. Mistakes are never as big a deal as they seem at the time. But you can learn a lot from them. - Go to the award shows and industry parties (virtual or otherwise) and mingle. Be nice to everyone. Have fun. An inspiring story. Thanks for coming on Eva!

Hello Adnerd. This is the A-List Podcast. The podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. Your host is Tom Christmann, creative for hire at tomchristmann.net. And one of the Head Adnerds at Adhouse Advertising School. Today you'll hear Tom's conversation with Sariah Dorbin, Executive Creative Director at Quigley-Simpson, an independent, female-owned agency in Los Angeles that unites brand and demand for results that matter. Sariah found photography in high school, a passion that led to her becoming an adnerd pretty early on. She worked at some great agencies from back in the day. Adnerds will recognize Dancer Fitzgerald San Francisco and Della Femina LA. She finally got her dream job at Chiat Day Mojo, but sometimes achieving yourdreams isn't all it's cracked up to be. (There's a reason they called it "Chiat Day and Night" back then.) Sariah and Tom talk about interpreting feedback, the importance of guidance when you're just starting out. And the three keys to a great book: (Be yourself. Have an attitude. And say something interesting.) Oh and there's a very funny story from Sariah's Della Femina days involving a stripper. (The Mad Men era lasted well into the 80s and 90s.) The A-List is brought to you by Adhouse Advertising School, where you get 10 weeks of Zoom instruction from a working creative pro for one low price. To apply, go to adhousenyc.com. Music by Ross Hopman at Duotoneaudio.com

Welcome to another episode of The A-List Podcast, the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business. In this episode, Tom Christmann chats with Bianca Guimaraes, Executive Creative Director at Mischief. Bianca was born and raised in Brazil and started her career in advertising in São Paulo at age 18. At 22, she bought her first pair of winter boots and moved to New York without a job, eventually finding a spot at JWT.  Bianca has been featured in Business Insider's list of the ‘30 Most Creative People in Advertising Under 30' as well as AdWeek's Creative 100. She's been named among the 10 'Next Creative Leaders' by the One Show and the 3% Conference, as one of Shots Rising Stars. She was most recently featured on the AdAge 40 Under 40 list. Her work has been nominated as Outstanding Commercial at the Emmys twice. Tom and Bianca talk about creating your own brand, taking chances and the future of independent agencies. The A-List podcast is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. Apply today at Adhousenyc.com. Please subscribe to our show wherever you listen and if you could leave a review, it would really help us reach more #adnerds. Music by Ross Hopman at duotoneaudio.com.

Welcome Adnerds. Today you'll hear host Tom Christmann's conversation with Jeff Benjamin, Chief Creative Officer at Tombras. Tombras is one of the top independent agencies in North America, headquartered in Knoxville Tennessee, with offices in New York, Atlanta, Charlotte and DC.   Jeff Benjamin has been at the forefront of digital creative innovation at agencies like Goodby, Crispin Porter Bogusky, JWT and Barton F. Graf. He continues that at Tombras with The MoonPie MoonMate—a virtual roommate that ran on Alexa and Google Home that kept people company while quarantining alone. And paid you rent in the form of MoonPies. (Yum!)   Jeff and I talk about how he found advertising at a computer lab in college, his start at the first digital ad agency in Connecticut and how to be the “digital guy” in a traditional world. It's a fascinating and long conversation. I didn't want to cut a word.   Hey, please subscribe to our show wherever you listen and if you could leave a review, it would really help us reach more #adnerds. Theme music: Ross Hopman - duotoneaudio.com.

A conversation with Mo Osunbor, Creative/Art Director at Facebook. Before his current job, he worked at Razorfish, Deutsch and JWT, where he created the Unsafety Check for Black Lives Matter that got him noticed by Facebook. This year, Mo collaborated with Spotify's Alex Reinoso, Nick Elliot of Havas and Vaibhav Bhanot of Wunderman Thompson to create https://www.linkit.black/ a digital movement to help get more opportunities for black people in advertising. (Follow their Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/linkitblack/ ) Mo and host Tom Christmann discuss: - the importance of being uncomfortable - having the courage to bring your unique perspective to any problem - how to be an intern - the joy of getting in flow and enjoying the process - turning passion projects into jobs - and a whole lot more The A-List Podcast is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. For one low price, you get ten weeks of live Zoom classes with an advertising pro like Paul Fix, who teaches the Intro to advertising class that has been taken by some of the industries top creatives over the years. We've got a new round of classes starting end of January, so check adhousenyc.com for details. Music by Ross Hopman at https://www.duotoneaudio.com/

Today you're going to hear an episode we recorded back in August. I have thankfully gotten busier with freelance work recently and that plus the Adhouse class i teach and just the general malaise of 2020 have made the A-List hard to get to these days. Thanks for being patient everyone, especially all the people who are still waiting for their episodes to launch. So back in August I got to talk to Molly Mitchell. We met when she was a rep for a production company. Today, Molly is the Executive Producer and founder of Houseboat, a creative resource for production and post production that connects brands and agencies with independent artists globally. Houseboat's mission is to represent a broad range of voices and diverse perspectives. Certainly an idea whose time has come. Molly grew up in Hope, Arkansas, hometown of President Bill Clinton but not exactly a center of advertising. Still, Molly somehow managed to write, direct and star in a commercial at 7 years old. That led to a lifelong fascination with advertising creative work that took Molly on a journey that included four years at the University of Arkansas, a job as a radio DJ in Little Rock and, finally, a trip to New York City, a city she now calls home. Agencies and brands who want diverse, independent talent should check out houseboat.tv. And if you're an independent artist looking for representation, Molly can help you there too. Oh and look for new Adhouse classes soon. We're starting a new semester at the end of January, with more teachers than ever. For more info, check out Adhousenyc.com. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got more episodes to edit. :) ---- You can connect with tom at tomchristmann.net. Music by Ross Hopman at Duotone Audio Group.

Laura Canzano and Bre Fern are the Co-Founders of Breaking Ad, an instagram account dedicated to breaking down the ad game for newbies. Bre was born in Cuba, raised in Miami, dropped out of Law School in DC and discovered advertising while on a meditation retreat to China. Laura Canzano was born in Switzerland, raised in Panama, was denied acceptance to the creative track at University of Texas, but found herself at Miami Ad School Madrid. These two awesome women demonstrate the importance of networking and finding allies as you navigate your career. And now both are giving back with https://www.instagram.com/breakingad_/. They're also involved with https://www.thesideshow.org, an award show celebrating the side projects of people in the ad biz. It's only a matter of time before these two are running the industry. And it will be a better industry for it. --- The A-List is sponsored by Adhousenyc.com. Music by Duotone Audio Group. Subscribe and share.

On this episode of The A-List (the podcast that asks the world's top advertising professionals how they got started in the business) Tom talks to Mischief USA ECD Kevin Mulroy. Mischief is an offshoot of Canadian Agency No Fixed Address, the fast-growing disruptor agency that scooped up Greg Hahn after he was fired by BBDO this summer. Kevin describes Mischief USA as “a small band of experienced, accountable creatives moving fast and caring about what they make.” Kevin tells us about being a bad student in high school (except for creative writing), hating and losing his first job in advertising as a media planner, and a conversation with comedy writer and actor Brian Stack that made him realize he needed to go back to ad school at 25. Follow Kevin on twitter at @sethmoe. -- There are still spots available in every class at Adhouse Advertising School. The fall application is live right now at Adhousenyc.com. Learn from industry pros George Tannenbaum, Mike Rovner and Soren Youngren, Matt Low and Mani Schlisser, Paul Fix or Tom Christmann. You get ten weeks of classes for just six hundred bucks. Go to adhousenyc.com and apply right now. ---------- You can connect with Tom at tomchristmann.net. Our music was composed by Ross Hopman at Duotone Audio Group. This episode was edited by Tom "All Thumbs" Christmann. Thanks for listening. Please subscribe to The A-List Podcast on Soundcloud or wherever you listen to pods. And share us with a friend. See you next time.

In this episode, Tom talks to Steve Pacheco, CEO of The American Advertising Federation. Steve was a journalism student at the University of Memphis when an ad class showed him how fun advertising could be. Soon he was making radio ads for a local laundry service that worked TOO well. This led to a job at Humphreys Ink, a small ad and design agency which quickly grew to be one of the largest agencies in Memphis. Then recession hit and Steve went client-side at International Paper, where he first worked with BBDO. This led directly to Steve's job at FedEx, where he oversaw dozens of award-winning ads for A-List Creative Directors like Gerry Graf, Eric Silver, Chris Beresford-Hill, Dan Lucey and Greg Hahn. (Oh, he also worked with Tom there on a little spot called "Pahowenicks") Let's just ay Steve has made a few Super Bowl ads. Steve describes his new role at the AAF as “setting a high standard for the values of advertising, connecting the talent that drives it, and progressing the issues that will evolve the industry for the better.” Hear, hear, Steve! --- The A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. Our fall application is live right now at Adhousenyc.com. There's only 72 spots in 6 classes taught by ad industry pros: We've got George Tannenbaum, Mike Rovner, Soren Youngren, Matt Low, Mani Schlisser, Paul Fix and Tom Christmann. You get ten weeks of classes for just six hundred bucks but classes are filling up fast. Go to adhousenyc.com and apply today. --- You can contact Steve Pacheco at spacheco@AAF.org. The AAF has lots of free resources at AAF.org. You can connect with Tom at tomchristmann.net. Our music was written and performed by Ross Hopman over at Duotoneaudio.com This episode was edited by Tom. Slowly. Thanks for listening. Please subscribe to The A-List Podcast on Soundcloud or wherever you listen. And share us with a friend. :)

Today we're serving up Tom's conversation with Mr. Keni Thacker, the founder of 100rosesfromconcrete.com, a network for men of color in the advertising, marketing, media and public relations industries. Keni is also a creative consultant, accomplished writer, director, documentarian, motivational speaker and tech guru. He's speaking at the three percent conference. He's judging the Next Creative Leaders Awards at The One Club for Creativity. And he continues to be an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the advertising industry. When Tom first met Keni back in 2009 he was doing Event Technology at J. Walter Thompson. (He was the guy who would run all the technology in big client meetings and pitches.) Keni was in every big meeting. And he was watching. And learning. Keni tells us about growing up as an American in Kenya. That's where he got his first taste of advertising when his mother took him to a studio to record a jingle she wrote. A passion for music, technology and pop culture led Keni to a career in audio and visual, which got him inside Ogilvy New York and then JWT, where he would eventually help the agency found their Young Commodores Program, aimed at getting more young people of color into advertising. ---- The A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. We are finishing up our summer classes and they're going great. All of our teachers will be back in the fall. Tom Christmann. Paul Fix. George Tannenbaum, creative team Mike Rovner and Soren Youngren and young upstarts Matt Low and Mani Schlisser. You get 10 weeks of zoom classes for just $600. Classes start week of September 14 and the application is live at adhousenyc.com. Applications are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis, so apply today at adhousenyc.com. ---- Thank you to Ross Hopman at Duotone Audi Group for the music. Thanks to Duotone Audio Group for the music. Thanks to you all for listening. If you liked what you heard today, you can help us out by sharing this episode on social media, subscribing on soundcloud or rating us wherever you listen to podcasts. Have a great day and please wear a mask. Peace.

Freelance CD/writer Mike Rovner may not be a household name, but he has made bobblehead dolls out of people with household names. (For the full story, you have to listen). He's also gone from English Major to Account Guy to Accomplished Ad Creative, making some award-winning, funny work, even if he didn't make his first tv spot until he was nearly 28 years old. Mike is also a professor at Adhouse Advertising School, teaching a class called YOUR IDEA SUCKS (BECAUSE THEY ALL DO AT FIRST) with his art director partner, Soren Youngren. After you've been inspired by his story, you can check out Mike's work at Rovnerwriter.com ---- The A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. Sign up to get all the latest from our professors and students at adhousenyc.com

Recorded this over a month ago. But the current state of our world has made my brain into cottage cheese. Anyway, I got to talk to George Tannenbaum, former Copy Chief and Executive Creative Director on IBM at Ogilvy AND CURRENT ADHOUSE PROFESSOR. If you're not reading Ad Aged, George's daily blog, then you are in for a treat. https://adaged.blogspot.com/ is required reading for anyone interested in the daily musings of a really talented writer and thinker. We begin with George's first in-house job writing (typing, actually) copy for the Montgomery Ward catalog in 1980. We talk about the importance of craft and working well with others. We learn about Name-monics and collaborative agitators. George gives tons of tips and tricks you can use right now to make better advertising. ---- The A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School, where you get ten weeks of classes with an A-List teacher like George Tannenbaum for just six hundred bucks. We have six classes in session right now and more are coming in the fall. And we have lots of other great stuff coming your way too. Sign up at http://www.adhousenyc.com and be the first to know about all that we have planned. ---- You can reach me at http://www.tomchristmann.net. I write pretty good and stuff.

Listen in as host and Adhouse professor Tom Christmann speaks with Derek Walker, owner of Brown & Browner Advertising in Columbia, SC and a brash and opinionated voice that never lets the industry off the hook on twitter (@derklwalker). Derek's origin story is fascinating. He grew up in Germany as the son of a U.S. army drill sergeant. He was turned away from a job he had all but landed on the phone because, according to the unnamed Atlanta agency owner: “our clients aren't ready for a black copywriter”. Tips from this episode: ALWAYS READ THE EMPLOYEE MANUAL, take a sales class and always be your raw, authentic self. ---- SPONSORED BY ADHOUSE ADVERTISING SCHOOL. Apply for fall classes now at adhousenyc.com

WARNING: This episode of The A-List Podcast may make you want to pick up and move to Saigon. Listen in as our host, Freelance Creative and Adhouse Professor Tom Christmann, talks to Alan Cerutti, CEO and co-founder of Happiness Saigon, a creative agency in Vietnam. Alan's origin story has it all: Trojan Horses in Brussels. Cars hanging from billboards in Christchurch. A girlfriend moving to Hong Kong. And a trip to Vietnam that was supposed to last three months turning into five years and counting at this hot creative shop. It also has plenty of advice for young people who are thinking of getting into this crazy business we call advertising. (Work for an agency that intimidates you.) And plenty of inspiration for veterans who still love this business. But if it makes you hop a flight to Saigon, that's on you. :) ------- The A-List podcast is brought to you by Adhouse Advertising School. Whether you're in Vietnam or Hong Kong or Christchurch or Knokke-Heist, you can take a zoom class with a working, A-list teacher at http://www.adhousenyc.com. You get ten live zoom classes for just six hundred dollars. (Or 14 million Vietnamese Dong.)

Episode 2 of season 4 of The A-List Podcast is here! Tom talks to Strawberry Frog ECD Tyler DeAngelo, who learned his dogged determination on the ski slopes of northern Maine before getting a job offer at Leo Burnett, Bratislava. You know what? We should let Tyler tell the story. Tom and Tyler also talk about the effects of COVID-19 on the industry and, if you listen to the end, you'll hear a rarity: an alternate theme song for The A-List created by Duotone Audio Group. (Thanks Ross.) -------------- And, as always, the A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. Classes start week of May 25th on Zoom, so you could totally take a class from anywhere. Even Bratislava! Head to adhousenyc.com to sign up.

The A-List Podcast is back with a check-in with a second conversation with Greg DiNoto, founder of DiNoto, Inc. With a long history of driving relationship and commerce for some of the world's most sophisticated marketers, Greg believes in brands. And in this episode, we discuss how brands can win during a pandemic (and anytime really) by practicing Utility and Humility. Enjoy. In addition to founding DiNoto Inc. and co-founding DiNoto Lee with partner, Esther Lee, Greg also served as Partner and Chief Creative Officer at Deutsch, Inc. where he helped the agency achieve two-time agency- of-the-year status from Advertising Age and Shoot Magazine. Recognition for Greg's work includes One Show Gold, Cannes Lions, AICP, MOMA, FWAs, The Art Director's Club, Communication Arts, Lurzer's Archive, The Andys, The Addys, The Webbys, 4A's Advertising Excellence Award, and Adweek Creative All-Stars. ---- The A-List is sponsored by Adhouse Advertising School. At Adhouse, you get ten two-and-a-half hour sessions with a working advertising professional for just six hundred bucks. Dip your toe in the water and build your first book with freelance creative director Paul Fix. Learn UnProfessional Advertising from George Tannenbaum, former copy chief of Ogilvy New York. Or learn to be a more strategic creative with strategic innovations expert Liz Grandillo. There's six classes to choose from. Even one taught by A-List host Tom Christmann. Zoom classes start week of May 25th. There's only 14 people to a class and they're filling up fast. Apply NOW at Adhousenyc.com

On this week's episode of The A-List Podcast, host and DiMassimo Goldstein CCO, Tom Christmann is joined by BBDO's Matt Low and Mani Schlisser Matt is a Senior Copywriter (and resident sneaker enthusiast) at BBDO Worldwide where he has worked since being an intern for nearly five years. Matt is a graduate of Syracuse University and in his nascent career as a copywriter has received numerous accolades and nominations by bodies such as: The New York Festivals Advertising Awards, The Webbys, and his recognition earned him a feature in AdWeek. Mani has recently taken on a role as a Senior Planner at BBDO (congratulations Mani!) having previously worked as a planner at mcgarrybowen, as well as a strategist at Laundry Service and Edelman. A graduate of Indiana University at Bloomington, he's into all things tech media and business and has become a frequent contributor to the digital publication, Medium. We are glad to have these two on for our second episode of our special “Dean's List” edition of the A-List Podcast. On the Dean's List we interview rising, young professionals who are building their legacies in the 21st-century advertising world. This is an interesting episode as we dive into a lot of great conversation and discussion about advertising in today's world. Tune in to this week's episode of the A-List here: Show Notes: [0:00-2:39] Intro. [2:42-5:31] Matt and Mani talk a bit about their roles at mcgarrybowen and BBDO. [5:32-9:00] Matt and Mani on their shared upbringing and experiences pre-advertising. [9:26-13:21] Mani on discovering brand strategy and creative planning. [13:44-16:06] Matt on full time creative and tips for interns learning to excel in the workplace. [16:09-19:51] Finding inspiration from agencies' work and setting Google alerts to stay at the cutting edge. [19:52-24:52] Matt and Mani's perspectives on industry changes and shifts. [25:00-27:50] Moms, millennials, and the importance of communication in the modern age. [28:00-32:28] Combatting instant gratification and developing skills outside of work. [32:30-38:10] Finding connections and inspiration from the world around us by unplugging here and there. [38:17-41:29] Discussing the modern workflow of an ad agency. [41:30-51:40] Matt and Mani's goals for their future in the industry. [54:09-58:17] Outro.

[0:00-2:01] Intro. [2:31-5:31] Alex and Ivan talk about their upbringing in Georgia, Haiti and Tuscon, Arizona! [5:32-8:22] Alex talks high school influences and his discovery of anthropology at Howard. [8:27-11:00] Ivan discusses early inspiration in the performing arts and discovering PR and advertising. [11:01-13:04] Alex discusses Howard University and the value of HBCUs. [13:10-15:58] Ivan discusses life after college and being inspired to jump into copywriting. [16:00-21:07] Alex's switch into advertising. [21:14-27:43] Ivan's experience in ad school and moving to NYC. [27:52-34:56] Alex's work at 72andSunny and developing diversity initiatives. [35:30-40:20] Ivan's take on diversity and agency culture. [41:30-46:18] Alex and Ivan's thoughts about the future of representation in advertising. [48:30-51:13] Outro.

[0:00-2:06] Intro [3:01-7:55] Growing up in Little Falls, New Jersey [10:52-14:00] Discovering photography in school and creative writing. [14:01- 18:35] Transitioning to advertising and becoming an intern at Mullen [20:17-26:36] Building his book, ‘finding the fire', and becoming an art director. [28:12-31:30] Emerging as a creative and moving on to Fallon, in Minneapolis. [32:18-34:01] Tips for young people who relocate to new cities [34:30- 38:20] Being stubborn and pushing to make great ads. [40:14-44:00] On the rise of digital storytelling [45:00-50:33] Leaving Fallon for BBDO and meeting Tom! [54:24 -1:00:23] Leaving BBDO and evading complacency [1:01:12- 1:06:55] Moving to BBH and the challenges of being a senior level creative. [1:07:00-1:10:30] Outro

[0:00-3:00] Intro. [3:01-7:25] Mark talks about growing up in NJ and his early upbringing. [7:26-9:29] Mark's imagination and first forays into creativity as a profession. [9:29-13:46] Mark's super-dark childhood short story and learning how to express himself. [13:47-16:11] Wayne Dyer's ‘Erroneous Zones' as a Marketing inspiration. [16:13 -20:23] SUNY Fredonia, majoring in music, and discovering the library. [21:17-24:45] Transferring to Cornell and Industrial and Labor Relations. [24:54-27:44] How he made the switch to communications and ultimately deciding on Advertising as a career path. [25:00-32:30] BBDO Direct and Mark's first job working on brand accounts in advertising. [32:31-40:20] Mark discusses his first creative experiences as a copywriter and being challenged for the first time. [40:42-49:00] Being laid off, freelancing, and getting copywriter positions. [49:15-55:59] Mark on his rise through the ranks and deciding to start his very own agency. [56:00-57:37] Outro.

Show Notes: [0:00-2:33] - Intro [2:34 - 7:40] How to pronounce ‘Oregon' and Steve's upbringing in Portland. [7:41- 9:52] Steve's early inspirations and first exposure to art through his family. [9:52- 14:17] Learning design fundamentals in school and discovering graphic design in college. [14:18 - 17:33] Steve's first design job as an illustrator and standing out in class. [17:34 - 21:00] for the love of drawing. [21:01 - 26:50] University of Oregon and developing a unique style at the Daily Emerald. [26:51 - 30:17] Deciding on commercial art and getting notable exposure for designing. [30:18 - 34:15] Starting a design career in advertising and advice to young artists [34:16 - 37:10] Turning a local radio station into a design opportunity. [37:11 - 46:33] Being picked up by Nike and working as a creative director. [46:34: 53:59] Starting Sandstrom Partners and discovering a design niche [54:00 - 1:03:40] Problem solving and favorite challenging projects [1:05:55 - 1:07:22] Outro

[0:00 – 1:56] Intro [1:57 – 4:27] Growing up in non-starstudded Ohio and discovering his drawing talents. [4:28 – 7:20] Serendipitously stumbling on the book “Aim High for a Career in Graphic Design / Art by S. Neil Fujita” at age 14 and starting art as a vocational trade. [7:21 – 12:10] The benefits of social ineptitude and the nerve to push yourself creatively. [12:10 – 17:57] The curse of ‘knowing the rules.' [17:58 – 26:16] For the love of rules and parameters. [26:17 – 28:16] Helvetica and 70's font style at the University of Cincinnati [28:17 – 33:35] The magnetic pull to New York City and working with mastermind Massimo Vignelli. [33:36 – 36:10] The healthy side of a workaholic. [36:11 – 38:16] Wisdom gained from 10 years with Vignelli and the importance of compelling ideas. [38:17 – 43:08] Leaving Vignelli to become a partner at Pentagram in 1990. [43:09 – 48: ] Working on the top-secret Hillary Clinton campaign logo. [52:49 – 54:59] Outro

[0:00 – 2:22] Intro [2:23 – 7:50] Writing 200 headlines with Tom McElligott and growing up in Minnesota [7:51– 18:14] The natural ease of writing copy and early advertising experiences [18:15 – 25:50] Moving from advertising to HR [25:51 – 31:25] How to make interviews safer spaces [31:26 – 37:42] Embracing Millennials and dealing with hard clients [37:43 – 50:10] Breaking down barriers with other people and being inclusive [50:11 – 58:17] First steps in helping a company hire [58:18 – 1:00:07] Outro

[0:00 – 2:10] Intro [2:11 – 2:20] Growing up in Sydney, the benefits of a “feral” upbringing, avoiding school & enjoying art [4:46 – 8:18] Drawing, discovering graphic design, getting into art school [8:19 – 11:06] First jobs and how to become a master [11:07 – 12:54] Are big ideas that important? [12:55 – 15:16] The importance of not taking the first job you land, the difficulty of unlearning bad habits [15:17 – 21:58] Taking a gap year, starting at Pentagram and moving in advertising in 1988, moving to New York in 1994, entering the dot com boom and the internet [21:58 – 27:40] the “strange delicious isolation” before the internet and the unavoidable future of it [27:41 – 42:40] How creatives can use the newest tools and executing ideas at the speed of thought [42:40 – 1:05] Observe behavior before building a brand, the power of storytelling, technology connectivity [1:06 – 1:03:24] Outro

[0:00 – 2:55] Intro [2:56 – 7:42] Having an artistic childhood in New Jersey with a painter mother and a doctor father [7:43 – 13:00] Exposure to the advertising world, learning jobs don't have to stuck, pursuing art at The University of Delaware [14:30 – 25:29] Interning at Mother London, getting a portfolio invention, partnering with art director Brandon Henderson and landing first jobs [25:29 – 30:05] Working with hero Jeff Kling (Miller High Life) in the creative department, writing a basketball blog, connecting the dots between writing and writing ads [30:05 – 37:35] Writing Dos Equis's The Most Interesting Man in the World campaign [38:40 – 39:57] Working harder post Dos Equi's campaign [39:58 – 52:40] From Gyro to Mother then eventually Wieden + Kennedy, and the importance of briefs [39:58 – 55:45] Defining “good ideas,” the future of advertising, and the power of the internet [55:45 – 59:16] Droga5 Superbowl spots Walking Dead and Game of Thrones [59:16 – 1:00:38] Outro

[0:00 – 1:30] Intro [1:31 – 2:31] How drawing became a respite from family disputes [2:32 – 3:59] Getting inspiration from beatnik counter-culture at the Corcoran School of Art in D.C. and using artistic inclination to make social connections in teen suburbia [3:59 – 5:33] Linking her talent to the field of graphic design [5: 34– 6:56] Embracing time and failure as the greatest teachers, “For me, finding what I'm good at is an ever-evolving playing field.” [6:57 – 8:13] The importance of pissing off the older generations. “To discover something you have to make errors. Discoveries look weird when they're new. Then someone comes along and does it better. Discoveries may not be recognized, but they're necessary.” [8:14 – 19:42] The no-formula formula for rule breaking. “Be a brat, break the norm,” and how Helvetica became a symbol of corporate culture and the Vietnam War. [8:14 – 23: 20] The benefits of smoking cigarettes in a cubicle with your boss [23: 20 – 27:01] Becoming an Art Director at Atlantic Records and designing iconic album covers [27:01 – 29: 02] Being “dead serious” about designing album covers, moving into freelance work, magazines, running a design firm, then finally joining Pentagram [29: 02 – 32:34]  The benefits of learning through failure, what she's most proud of, being unable to pick favorites, and always moving on to the next piece [32:35 – 35: 04]  Teaching clients “how to see” and the benefit of taking the time to explain ideas [35: 05 -- 36: 49] Working at Pentagram for 28 years and their unique shared work structure [36: 50 – 44:40] Advice for young designers, how time constraints have changed the industry's portfolio review system, and the consequences of large tech companies on creativity “The A-List” is a podcast produced by DiMassimo Goldstein, an inspiring action agency, recorded at the Gramercy Post, and sponsored by the Adhouse Advertising School, New York's newest, smallest, and hippest ad school. You can subscribe and rate the show on iTunes or listen along on SoundCloud. For updates on upcoming episodes and guests, be sure to like the A-List Podcast on Facebook and follow host Tom Christmann on Twitter.

[0:00 – 1:18] Intro [1:18 – 2:20] Honolulu born, and Boston raised, Prentice ends up finding his roots in Texas once he starts attending SMU. [2:20 – 3:57] Taking an Intro to Advertising class at SMU that quickly changed his anticipation of being a business major, finding a passion for the advertising industry and starting to build a creative portfolio [3:58 – 5:58] The jump starts to his career— working on accounts such as Anheuser-Busch while traveling and building his portfolio along the way [5:58 – 10:28] Mentions of some of his first work produced in the industry and learning that eliciting emotion doesn't always evolve by just “being funny” [10:28 – 14:40] Leaving Texas to try out life in LA writing screenplays, “failing forward”, and an interaction with a neighbor that helped him realize his passion for advertising as a career. [14:40 – 20:40] Starting work at Door Number 3 as an ECD, strategies for dealing with imposters syndrome, nurturing your network and finding the right people to surround yourself with [20:40 – 23:25] Taking a leap of faith moving to Detroit to become a Creative Director at Donor to soon hearing Door Number 3 knocking on the door again, deciding to buy the agency and officially making Austin home. [23:25 – 27:40] Door Number 3's homecoming, refreshing the agency's brand identity, creating their positioning strategy and writing a book called the Empowered Challenger Playbook [27:40 – 34:55] Discussing some rising challenger brands, the process of writing the Empowered Challenger Playbook and a look into Prentice's daily routine [34:55 – 38:47] What the city of Austin and its advertising landscape looks like [38:47 – 46:45] Discussing evolving industry trends, his take as a business owner and his advice for young people in the industry [46:45 – 48:55] Outro

On this week's episode of The A-List Podcast, host and DiMassimo Goldstein CCO Tom Christmann is joined by Ricardo Casal and Juan Javier Pena, Creative Directors at DAVID The Agency, an agency founded in Buenos Aires that exemplifies the "always on" approach to advertising. Ricardo and Juan's professional experience together began in Ecuador with their joined college projects jumpstarting their career and leading them to internships and ultimately to becoming, now, creative directors for an internationally renowned agency. In this episode, they share the story of their undeniable interest in advertising, their thoughts on culture hacking, what attracted them about working at David, and much more. Take a page out of their book by listening below! Show Notes: [0:00 – 2:20] Intro [2:28 – 11:25] Attending college together in Ecuador and meeting through working on ideas and submissions for student award shows, winning scholarships to an advertising school in Buenos Aires [11:30 – 16:11] Creating a brotherhood through a shared love for advertising and utilizing advertising award winners as a way to learn, study, and gain inspiration [16:40 – 23:30] Interning at TWBA in Argentina right out of college, Flying to the U.S to interview with David the Agency, Why they believe David is different and stands out from the rest and what they enjoy about working there [24:45 – 32:26] Learning their thoughts on the phrase "If you own data, you own the world" and their interpretation of the "data takeover" happening in the industry right now [32:30 – 40:50] How they capitalize on "Culture-Hacking" at David and what their strategy is in doing so, Their controversial and impressive MACMA Man Boob campaign for breast cancer [40:54 – 43:26] What makes the Burger King account so special to them and the importance of building client trust and relationships while also sharing the same visions and ambitions [43:27 – 45:40] Taking a guess on where they would be if they weren't in advertising [46:00 – 51:37] The importance of gaining fresh perspectives in order to be inspired and to inspire others. How to keep faith in what can be a cynical industry at times [52:50 – 54:45] Outro  “The A-List” is a podcast produced by DiMassimo Goldstein, an inspiring action agency, recorded at the Gramercy Post, and sponsored by the Adhouse Advertising School, New York's newest, smallest, and hippest ad school. You can subscribe and rate the show on iTunes or listen along on SoundCloud. For updates on upcoming episodes and guests, be sure to like the A-List Podcast on Facebook and follow host Tom Christmann on Twitter.

[0:00 – 1:28] Intro [1:29 – 5:45] From Growing up in Dubai to attending a private school in Zambia, Africa for 3 years  [5:50 – 12:32] Leaving Africa to study Law at Carleton University in Canada, and working in a hardcore financial sales role right out of college [12:40 – 18:03] Learning the art of persuasion through sales, how reading the "Ogilvy in Advertising" book ultimately drove his attention to the industry, and his decision to attend Miami Ad School [18:54 – 24:00] His consistent interest in drawing comics, drama, and sketch comedy playing a role in his choice to become a Copywriter [24:29 – 30:40] His experience at Miami Ad School, and what meditation and being in the right mindset can do for creatives in this industry [31:10 – 38:10] How Interning at Draft Agency, PI&C, and MRY boosted his career in New York City. The surprises and challenges he faced going from ad school to "the real world" [39:40 – 44:48] The importance of building necessary client relationship standards, accepting the offer from Bill Oberlander to work for Oberland, and what working for a mission based company means to him [45:17 – 49:17] The difference between working at an in-house agency rather than out-house, his experience working alongside Steve Ells at Chipotle  [49:22 – 55:00] Sharing advice on story telling for Not for Profit clients [55:09 – 57:10] The value he feels working as a professor at Adhouse, and where to find Druhv online [58:08 – 1:00:06] Outro

On this week's episode of The A-List Podcast, host and DiMassimo Goldstein CCO Tom Christmann is joined by Bobby C. Martin Jr., founding partner of Original Champions of Design, a design and branding agency that builds better brands through informed and strategic identity system design. In 2017, FastCompany named Martin Jr. one of the Most Creative People in Business. At OCD, Martin Jr. has led design projects for a wide range of clients such as the Girl Scouts of the USA, MTV, The New York Times, the National Basketball Association and the Studio Museum in Harlem to ensure their growth and creative goals. Martin Jr. is one of the first pure designers to join The A-List Podcast, and offers a unique perspective having worked both in-house at brands and for external agencies. Tune in below! [0:00 – 0:54] Intro [0:55 – 5:53] Growing up in Virginia to parents who were both educators, and how he still applies what of much he learned in his childhood to his career today [5:54 – 9:59] Falling in love with design in High School, and learning how to express himself visually [10:00 – 11:10] What he learned from design legend Paula Scher and “painting with type” [11:11 – 18:30] Martin Jr. talks about his early career and the job that introduced him to graphic design [18:31 – 20:40] How to manage young talent, the importance of being patient, and giving people the freedom to make mistakes [20:41 – 24:16] How to push clients to be bold while still being respectful [24:17 – 27:45] Why agencies and design firms need to be more integrated, and how the best campaigns have a seamlessness between advertising and design [27:46 – 33:34] Moving to New York City to work for Gear Magazine,  and how that experience taught him relentless work ethic [33:35 – 38:35] Going back to graduate school, why he chose The School of Visual Arts, and the importance of osmosis learning [38:36 – 40:40] Martin Jr. dives into the research tactics that inform design [40:41 – 47:03] His experience as design director of the Jazz at Lincoln Center, and how he sold his ideas to Artistic Director Wynton Marsalis [47:04 – 50:10] Launching Original Champions of Design, and the philosophy of the agency [50:11 – 53:26] The pros and cons of both external and in-house agencies [53:27 – 56:31] How to help people understand design work, and why the designer needs to be involved at every step of the process [56:32 – 1:05:16] Rebranding the NBA logo for the first time in 48 years [1:05:17 – 1:06:12] Outro “The A-List” is a podcast produced by DiMassimo Goldstein, an inspiring action agency, recorded at the Gramercy Post, and sponsored by the Adhouse Advertising School, New York's newest, smallest, and hippest ad school. You can subscribe and rate the show on iTunes or listen along on SoundCloud. For updates on upcoming episodes and guests, be sure to like the A-List Podcast on Facebook and follow host Tom Christmann on Twitter.

The A-List Podcast: Anselmo Ramos by Tom Christmann

The A-List Podcast: Paul Fix by Tom Christmann

The A-List Podcast with Ari Weiss by Tom Christmann

The A-List Podcast: Franklin Tipton & Libby Brockhoff by Tom Christmann