The Creative Relay

The latest episode of Smith & Western's Creative Relay Podcast features two pivotal creative leaders in the New Zealand advertising industry – Nick Worthington and Tony Bradbourne. Worthington created many award-winning campaigns at BBH and AMV London before moving to New Zealand and heading Mojo and then Colenso for 17 years. Bradbourne is founder of Special, the first global creative network founded from New Zealand, now with 8 offices globally. Bradbourne gets to the heart of what makes great creative effective, how energy and drive is more important than talent alone and what it truly takes to build an ‘independent creative network for the world's most ambitious brands', from the bottom of the world.

Talking with Nick Garrett from Deloitte Digital, Worthington speaks with his characteristic style about ideas and the importance of working with people who can bring them to life. “Everyone has great ideas, but they don't often have people around them who can recognise them and know what to do with them once they've been had” he says. “Ideas need to be born into a fertile environment.” Worthington also explains his guiding principles for brand-building success, and how they are allegorical to an agency's ambition.

The latest episode of industry podcast The Creative Relay has dropped, with Zia Mandviwalla from Finch talking to Lisa Fedyszyn, Executive Creative Director, Special Group New Zealand. The multi-award-winning Fedyszyn opens up about her award-winning work, long-term partnership with Jonathan McMahon and the role of playfulness in her approach to creativity.

The latest episode of The Creative Relay has been released with The Core Agency's Christian Finucane talking to Nick Garrett, Global Leader Marketing and Commerce, Deloitte Digital. It's the first episode of the popular creative podcast to feature a guest from the Account Service side of the industry. It's a choice that was deliberately made to showcase the power of collaboration, according to Finucane.

The Creative Relay podcast returns with guests Jon Skinner and Christian Finucane from The Core Agency. Talking to host Paul Dunne, the pair give a fascinating insight into their 20+ year creative partnership, along with the origins, challenges and rewards of operating their own independent agency.

Interviewed by Beth O'Brien, Head of Innovation at The Monkeyts, award-winning writer, director and filmmaker Zia Mandviwalla talks about her humble origins as a storyteller, which she traces back to a lifelong habit of staring at strangers.

The creative industry's favourite podcast returns with Laura Jordan Bambach, President and CCO of Grey London in an illuminating discussion with Google's APA Creative Head Tara Mckenty.

Google's APA Creative Head Tara Mckenty talks to the creatively prolific New Zealander Beth O'Brien about her latest role as Head of Innovation at The Monkeys.

Wondering how you're coping with lockdown in comparison to others in the ad industry? Dan Higson and Nick West, producers of the highly regarded Creative Relay podcast, fire up Zoom to find out how the ad industry is managing professionally and personally during the pandemic and the harsh lockdowns we're all experiencing with a new podcast series ‘'Are you wearing pants?”

From the producers of The Creative Relay, Smith & Western, comes a new podcast for your listening pleasure. Dan Higson and Nick West catch up over Zoom with personalities in the advertising and media world to find out how they're coping professionally and personally during the pandemic and the harsh longterm lockdowns we're all experiencing

Justine Armour and Laura Jordan Bambach serve up an Aussie double in The Creative Relay.

Role Models, Creative Awakenings, and Oprah – The creative relay returns with Justine Armour, CCO Grey New York.

What's behind The Monkeys' success? The $63 million question is answered by Co-Founder & Group CCO Scott Nowell

“It's the best time ever to be a creative” says Gavin McCleod on the latest Creative Relay podcast The Creative Relay returns with a message of positivity from Gavin McLeod, ECD Ogilvy Sydney.

Recorded on a recent return visit to Australia, the New York-based McFarlane talks candidly about her career to date, Droga 5 and what the future could hold. For Ben, choosing Mietta as guest was an opportunity to talk about their shared history as well as current events - specifically her experience at Droga 5 in New York.

The new relay begins with regular podcast host Paul Dunne firing off some challenging questions to Ben Welsh DDB CCO. Welsh moved to Australia to become a winemaker but ended up in advertising and 30 years later he is still there. He began his career as a junior copywriter at McCann before moving to DDB Melbourne and then M&C Saatchi for 19 years before landing back at DDB in 2016.

In a world exclusive ad legend, Sir John Hegarty lets loose in his podcast debut. Sir John talks about industry idiots and the coming creative revolution.

Michaela Webb from Round Melbourne introduces Vince Frost, founder of Frost Collective. In this illuminating discussion Vince explains his focus on human-centred design and answers the perennial question “are all designers wankers?”.

James McGrath takes The Creative Relay on a design tangent interviewing Michaela Webb, Creative Director and founder of Round Melbourne. Giving an insight into the thinking behind her design process, Michaela reveals how her background in lecturing sparked a career-long interest in the forensics of creating great design.

In this episode of The Creative Relay, director Steve Rogers interviews the legendary Creative Chairman of Clemenger BBDO, James McGrath. Widely regarded as one of the world's most successful – yet impenetrable - creative minds, McGrath has let his work do the talking for him throughout his 30+ years in advertising. While personally avoiding the spotlight, his list of international awards - including Global Agency of the Year at Cannes in 2017 for the Melbourne office - speaks volumes about his talent, drive and passion for his craft.

Micah Walker talks to internationally renowned film director Steve Rogers. Having worked with Rogers on some of his most awarded campaigns, Walker was eager to sit down and listen to the Director's thoughts on film making and ideas. Collaboration is a major theme of the episode, with Rogers sharing his love for what he does and his approach to commercial film-making.

In his first interview since returning to Australia to head up 72andSunny, Micah Walker chats to Dave and Nathan from Hawke's Brewing Co.

Barbara Humphries talks to Hawke's Brewing Co founders and former Droga 5 creative directors, Nathan Lennon and Dave Gibson. Recorded at Smith & Western's podcast studio to coincide with International Beer Day, the podcast reveals how the two career creatives took the bold leap to launch their lager in 2017.

The second series of The Creative Relay kicks off with host Paul Dunne talking to Barbara Humphries, one year in from her promotion to Creative Director at The Monkeys.

In recognition of International Women's Day, host Paul Dunne sits down with writer, broadcaster and trailblazing creative Jane Caro for a Special Edition of The Creative Relay.

In this episode, Cam Blackley talks to Dave Bowman about his new role as Creative Chief at Google Zoo, his tips on getting a career for a 21st birthday present, and his dubious role in the invention of Snapchat.

Tara Ford talks to Cam Blackley. On the eve of his move to M&C Saatchi, Cam reveals what it was like to grow up with a Mad Man for a Dad, as well as an unexpected penchant for face paint. But behind the mask, Tara discovers a creative giant with a big heart.  

The new ECD of DDB Sydney shares her story, her thoughts and her remarkable ability to impersonate marine mammals. The fish-out-of-water theme continues with her perspective on the industry today, and her move from Melbourne to Sydney.

How did one of the founders of The Glue Society get his big break into advertising? The answer will surprise you, and possibly turn your stomach. But it will demonstrate how, from the very start, Jonathan's creative path has been anything but orthodox.

Host Paul Dunne fires the starter's gun with a chat to Ant Keogh - creative powerhouse and Chief Creative Officer of The Monkeys Melbourne. Creativity, humility and Catholic guilt all rate a mention as Australia's most lauded ideas guy reflects on his career so far.