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This week, all it took was a blue tick and the gall of a Gary Vee groupie to lure our latest guest from the shadows. It’s a man with a brilliant marketing brain and alarmingly dirty mind, John Lyons.  John has shed loads of experience in marketing strategy, campaigns and promotions for agencies, start-ups, and huge brands. And he’s currently living the miniature brick-building dream as Senior Loyalty Proposition Manager at a certain Danish toy company. Listen to John chat rant on his all-access pass to the Houses of Parliament, what being an architect taught him as a marketer, tactics, strategy, and why one is not better than the other, promotions, loyalty, the Batwing, James Blunt and tons more. Plus, he doth tip his Twitter famous hat to Jerry Daykin, gem Higgins, Mark Ritson and Tom Goodwin.  ///// Find John on LinkedIn  Follow the #AdventuresofHat on Twitter  John’s book recommendations are: Eat Your Greens by Wiemer Snidjers  The Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson /////

We’ve sent out our largest trawler into the (Quiet) Storm and landed ourselves a bumper super catch this week as we snare ad land power couple Rania and Trevor Robinson OBE. Rania and Trevor are the CEO and ECD respectively of Quiet Storm; a creative marriage of ad agency and production company. Rania has worked magic on accounts and strategy for some of the world’s biggest brands, including Haribo, Mercedes, Google and Coca Cola, whilst Trevor is the creative force of nature behind some of the most talked about advertising of our era, including You’ve Been Tangoed and Haribo’s Kids Voices adverts.  Tune in for an epic and topical tale that takes us through working as a court illustration artist, the benefits of working in a small independent agency, how to direct a great TV advert, How the Haribo ads were created, their Create Not Hate initiative, balancing running an agency together with life as a married couple and a net full of more nuggets.  ///// Follow Rania and Trevor on LinkedIn  And Rania

We’ve lurked in the long grass by the canal and nabbed consultant, mentor, and music-geek Jess Gregson for a chinwag as she visits her houseboat this week. An optimistic, pragmatic, and friendly soul from Sheffield, Jess is the founder of Extra Brain, where she uses her experience to help business leaders come unstuck. She is also the founder of Open to everyone. Closed to racism, an initiative getting businesses to take a stand against racism, and also hosts themed social listening party #Sunday7social every other Sunday on Isolated Talks radio. Tune in to hear Jess talk about her first job working with Unilever as a client, her priceless experience of both agency and client-side, why she set up her new business Extra Brain, common business problems and themes that go across all sectors, the highs and lows of living on a boat and tonnes more. ///// Follow Jess on LinkedIn and Twitter  Read more on her new consultancy business, Extra Brain Get involved with Open to everyone. Closed to racism  Check

This week, baited by a Bedouin birthing blanket, we caught big thinker and bestselling author, Paul Feldwick. The man behind one of our favourite all time ad campaigns, Paul worked at the legendary agency BMP on some of Britain’s most famous brands for over 30 years. His latest book ‘Why Does the Pedlar Sing?’ explores why selling and entertainment go hand in hand and was described by Rory Sutherland as “possibly the book I would most highly recommend to anyone in marketing”. Paul talks to us on tonnes of topics, including BMP, being the world’s worst account manager, clowns, talking to real people, what brands can learn from Snow White, Jeremy Bullmore, PT Barnum, fame, shame, purpose, Mrs Brown’s Boys, whether ads need to be "liked", Martin Boase, and a whole lot more. Tuck in. ///// Check out his website  Follow Paul on LinkedIn  We implore you to read both of his fabulous books:  Why Does the Pedlar Sing?  Anatomy of Humbug And here’s that famous Barclaycard ad with Rowan Atkinson  Paul’s boo

All it took was a curly-wurly and a whiff of Hooblahoo to snare bumbling, bestselling author, Andrew Boulton, this week.  A senior lecturer on copywriting and creative advertising at the University of Lincoln, Andrew has over a decade’s scribbling experience writing for big brands, tiny brands, and even a man who carved dolphins out of cheese. Andrew talks to us on tonnes of topics, including being robbed by Roy Keane, teaching, why copywriting makes you a better creative writer, Umbongo, a cartoon toilet brush, his terrible radio play, wandering, words with no consonants, the inspiration behind Adele Writes an Ad, and a whole lot more. You’d be a fool not to let us bend your ear ‘ere. ///// Follow Andrew on Twitter and LinkedIn Get wandering with Creativity in the Wild on ISOLATED Talks  Here’s his column for The Drum His book Adele Writes an Ad might be just the thing for ad parents struggling to explain what they do to their children There’s also a free audiobook version narrated by gem Higgins And

This week we’ve laced up our hiking boots and traversed the trails of North Carolina to track down Founder and CEO of Indie Consulting, Molly Baker, for a chinwag.  Molly is a digital marketing pro both client-side and agency-side chops, including a tasty stint at Ben & Jerry’s. Over the past 3 years she’s built a fully remote team of boffins around the world who agree that nothing is more valuable than people’s time and thoughts.   She gives us the lowdown on her first job as a “supreme babysitter”, why her mum had her filling out cost sheets at 14-years-old, studying abroad in Perugia, what she’s learnt building a remote team, how to avoid Zoom fatigue, the art and science of data driven marketing, accountability and ethics when using data, her counterargument to Byron Sharp’s POV on brand loyalty, her approach to client services, building trust and tons more. ///// Follow Molly on LinkedIn and Instagram Check out Indie Consulting and sign up for their newsletter Fight off Zoom fatigue with advic

This week we’ve got our longship out of dry dock and nipped North to Nyhavn to snare Danish marketing activist and author, Thomas Kolster.  Hell-bent on making businesses put people and the planet first, Thomas is a branding and sustainability professional, the founder of the global Goodvertising movement, and the author of two books, Goodvertising and The Hero Trap. He talks to us about joining the industry with dreams of helicopters and Ogilvy’s Chateau, frustration, getting brand purpose all wrong, the problem when megalomanic brands try to do good, Simon Sinek’s self-glorifying exercises, dinosaurs, what he really thinks of Patagonia, consuming Carlsberg and playing Lego (simultaneously, of course), where to get an evasive cheap pint in Copenhagen and bucket loads more. ///// Follow Thomas on Twitter and LinkedIn Here’s his website Check out his books: The Hero Trap Goodvertising And if you’re gasping for a pint in Copenhagen, but don’t fancy paying through the nose for it, Thomas recommends De

Summer is over, so we’re migrating south (well, to Bristol) to catch a Bird not afraid to ruffle some feathers: one of the all-time greats in the world of copywriting, Drayton Bird.  A man who could fill The British Library twice-over with his stories of mayhem and misadventure, Drayton was dubbed the man who “knows more about direct marketing than anyone in the world” by David Ogilvy and, at 85 years old, still writes great copy every day.  He chirps to us on what makes a great copywriter, reading, what he learned from David Ogilvy, applying his principles to Airbus planes and Peppa Pig, living under a false name for 7 years, why despair is the route to success, skirting death (more than once) and a treasure trove more. ///// Follow Drayton on Twitter and LinkedIn Here’s his website And sign up for his mailing list (if you're brave enough) If you want to learn from the man himself, check out Ask Drayton Get a free copy of Scientific Advertising Drayton’s book recommendations are: Ogilvy on Adve

This week we’ve ditched the Dolmio and danced across the pond to sniff out Brooklyn’s master meatball maker and talented designer, Victoria Rosselli.  Victoria is a freelance Art Director and Designer based in New York. She’s also a Pitch 100 Superwoman and co-founder of Our Silent Partner, a collection of crowdsourced work designed to give voice to the silent mental health struggles of creatives. We tuck into tons of topics including the benefits of an early internship at FCB, mental health in the advertising industry and why she chose to leave it altogether, hustle culture, imposter syndrome, freaky flashbacks of Gary Vaynerchuk, using ADHD as a creative advantage, Our Silent Partner, and, most importantly, the Rosselli family secrets for a winning meatball are revealed. Buon appetito. ///// You can find Victoria on Twitter and Instagram. Go support Our Silent Partner. Here’s her Campaign article on mental health and working in advertising. Watch Mental Health and Creativity by Victoria Rosselli and La

There’s a Freaky Friday/Trading Places film vibe to this episode, as JP Castlin puts the boot very much on the other foot to volley a tonne of tough posers to the outspoken founder and Creative Director of Gasp, and this show’s usual host, Giles Edwards.  A “wonderful overachiever”, he’s also the creator of ISOLATED Talks and has collaborated on two #1 best-selling books. He believes in “proper (timeless) Marketing” and its vital role in the boardroom and usually rants about this, and more, with esteemed guests on this podcast. But today, it is him who is in the hot seat. He talks to us on almost becoming Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons, learning Serbo-Croat and the fundamentals of communication, what he set out to do with Gasp, media neutrality, the noose around the neck of many marketers (aka the billable hour), awards, behavioural economics, stand-up comedy, and Wu-Tang Clan. Plus, find out why the front page of an Indonesian newspaper dubbed him “Mr. Cheater” after an ill-fated spelling bee… ///// Yo

We flogged an old, precious ad book on Amazon for three grand and just about covered a one-way ticket t’Blackpool (cheers privatisation) to nab one of the most outspoken voices in ad land: copywriter, Creative Director and author, Steve Harrison.  He’s bagged more Cannes Lions in his discipline than any other Creative Director in the world, and his book “How to do better creative work” became the most expensive ad book ever sold. His new, updated version of "Can't Sell, Won't Sell: Advertising, Politics and Culture Wars" has turned up the heat and promises to be “the most provocative advertising book in years”.  He not only shoots the breeze, but scary Birds, the big problem with big agencies, the juggernaut band-wagon of social purpose, class and the diversity conversation, and the vanity and entitlement of our industry to think we can set a cultural agenda. In fact, we had to stop and reload a few times to take aim at industry leaders, publications, Soho pub-goers, and Peter Crouch. What an episode. ////

We’ve set tripwires to snare the Jimmy Choo’s of the freelance community’s very own Anna Wintour, the editor of Freelancer Magazine, Sophie Cross.     An OG freelancer with over 15 years’ marketing experience, Sophie launched her very own 100-pages of glossy printed freelance goodness earlier this year.    She talks to us her first cheese-related jobs, thinking she wasn’t creative enough for marketing, sausage and mash business plans, launching a magazine, her ‘Kevin from Home Alone’ moment, starting before you’re ready, the immensely supportive freelance community, how to get your first client and more. Ears this way please.  /////   Check out Sophie’s website   Follow her on Twitter   Issue 2 ‘Community’ of Freelancer Magazine is out now  Watch Start Before You’re Ready on ISOLATED Talks  Listen to the stunning rendition of Dave Harland’s poem ‘Dogs’  Sophie kindly dedicated this episode to @thatcontentshed    Sophie’s book recommendations are: The Artists Way by Julia Cameron   The Choice Factory by Ric

This week we’ve laid bait of crisp apple strudels and schnitzel with noodles to snare Munich-based performance artist, Marcus John Henry Brown, to talk on a few of his favourite things.    Hisüber-talented creative chops have conjured up “performance hacks”, a keynote format that disrupts conference proceedings, delighting and shocking audiences across the world.    Marcus gives us the lowdown on the best (and worst) Batman, hacking business conferences, creating Blade Runner with PowerPoint, hanging in there as an artist last year, audience obsession, ideas, your left buttock, and tonnes more.    Plus, there’s an unmissable masterclass on how to do better virtual keynotes. Danke schön. ///// You can follow Marcus on Twitter Here’s his website Check out his performances and tips to make better virtual keynotes here His beloved ISOLATED Talk Hanging in There is well worth a watch too  These are his speaking terms and conditions Marcus’s book recommendations are: Anything by Mark Earls   Anything by E

We’ve masqueraded as a bellboy and snuck into the G-Suite to catch freak in the (Google) Sheets and designer turned creative strategist, Izzi Hays, this week.  An awfully loud introvert, Izzi Rascal is bonkers for a tricky problem and is currently breaking industry moulds and bolstering their strategy chops at MultiAdaptor. They chinwag to us on their accidental shift from design to strategy, empathy, bullsh*t job titles, why a good craftsperson isn’t always a good manager, research in the wild, what living in 10 countries has taught them, building diverse teams, pancakes, what they’d be doing in a world without brands and tonnes more. ///// You can follow Izzi on Twitter Check out MultiAdaptor Here’s One Sandbox Make your life easier with Raindrop and Notion With the subtlety of a bulldozer, we manage to plug our episodes with: Zoe Scaman, Doug Melville, Nick Ellis, Andrew Willshire and Sarah Benson. So go forth and gorge on those too. Izzi’s book recommendations are: The Art of Innovation

This week we’re leading the frontline charge against marketing B.S. by catching and conscribing the fiery Frenchman and frère from another mère, Louis Grenier.    Quite simply one of the most maverick marketers on the planet, Louis’ mega-successful marketing podcast, Everyone Hates Marketers, has over 1 million downloads and interviews industry giants like Seth Godin and Mark Ritson.    Lend us your ears for a riotous rendezvous on why everyone really hates marketers, being radically different, how to up your Tinder game, the problem with looking at your own belly button, misquoting Richard Shotton, psychographics, and a bike shed load more.  Plus, find out what on earth Marcelo Bielsa and Daft Punk have in common.  ///// You can follow Louis on Twitter   Learn to stand the f*ck out by signing up for his newsletter  Listen to his podcast Everyone Hates Marketers (after this one, of course)  Watch Louis’ talk for The Marketing Meetup  And here’s what Russell Davies has to say about “bikeshedding”     Loui

This week we’ve cast a spell to catch one of the most talented strategists in Middle-earth the UK, ad land’s answer to Gandalf, Richard Huntington.    A high-octane brand strategist, Richard has been leading his merry band of creatives and hobbits to the edge of The Shire for nearly 30 years. Richard is currently Chairman, Chief Strategy Officer, and part of the furniture at Saatchi & Saatchi.   He talks to us on being interesting versus being right, the lost art of salesmanship, why you must join a choir, wild swimming, how buying a dog grooming magazine will make you a better strategist, and finally, if there really is one brief template to rule them all.    You’d be a fool of a Took not to fill your ear canals up.  /////   Follow Richard on Twitter Here’s his blog, Adliterate Richard kindly dedicates this episode to Marie Benton so make sure to check out the wonderful work of The Choir with No Name    Richard’s book recommendation is: Waterlog by Roger Deakin  /////

We snuck aboard a streetcar and cruised down Castro Street to catch the Bay Area’s finest Creative Director and Pitch 100 Superwoman, Laurel Stark Akman, this week. Laurel leads creative marketing efforts for The Sims at EA and is the mind (and heart) behind “world changing” and “industry bettering” work, including mental health initiative, Our Silent Partner, and diversity boosting portfolio competition, Next Creative Leaders. She adds smarts and sass to tons of topics including going to ad school to make her right-brained parents happy, why thrashing in the undergrowth makes you a better creative, her own mental health journey, finding her voice, creating a space for the parts of her the industry didn’t celebrate, mentorship matchmaking and lots more. ///// Follow Laurel on Twitter and Instagram Check out her website Sign up for Mentorship Matchmaking And go support Laurel’s brilliant initiatives, Our Silent Partner and Next Creative Leaders Laurel kindly dedicates this episode to Niki Selken

We’ve posed as a jester in the throne room of the Burger Kingdom to nab the recently abdicated and most influential CMO and brand genius in the industry; the mind behind the Mouldy Whopper, Fernando Machado.   A global marketer with enough Lions to rival Joe Exotic, Fernando has recently tucked into a new role as CMO at Activision Blizzard. At the time of recording, Fer was CMO at Restaurant Brands International, serving up great creative work for Burger King, Popeyes and Tim Hortons.    So, pull up to the next window and pick-up Fer’s final flame-grilled interview* pre-abdicating. We chat on his obsession with creativity, how to make the case for creativity, the role of the CMO, why Mouldy Whopper was never a risk, brand heritage, cancel culture, Bill Bernbach, Dads in Briefs and the cliff divers of Acapulco.   Do you want fries with that?      *probably /////   Follow Fernando on Twitter   Check out The One Club for Creativity  BGH Air Conditioners: Dads in Briefs      Fernando’s book recommendations are:

It’s lights out and we’re off with Red Bull Racing alumni, David Granger, in the driver’s seat, this week.    David got his wings managing the international digital and social strategy for Red Bull, its Formula One teams and for companies in aviation, fashion and music including the Wu-Tang Clan.    So protect ya neck as David brings da ruckus on reading ‘F1 for Dummies’ (twice) before joining Red Bull Racing, pissing off Fernando Alonso, owing his career to Leo Sayer, taking pole position ahead of other F1 teams on the socials and using it to deal with feuding fans…badly. Oh, and after a quick pit stop to chat AR in sports, find out what Giles really thinks of Pokémon Go.   ///// Follow David on Twitter   You can enjoy his columns for iSPORTCONNECT on Medium   And David proudly dedicates this episode to Katherine Chan     David’s book recommendation is: Ogilvy on Advertising by David Ogilvy   /////

We’ve taken cover in the jungle and laid bait of some intriguing research in the wild to snare planner, pattern spotter and people watcher, Sarah Benson, this week.     Currently a Senior Planner at adam&eveDDB, Sarah is an exceptionally talented strategic mind with 12 years’ experience making telly ads, creating brands and finding out what people really think.    She chats to us on being fired from her first job at IKEA, tackling industry biases, why planners should pay attention to the mundane, pattern spotting, research in the wild, cracking on, hard pants and lots more. Plus, a bonus pitch story of power, corruption and blueberry cheesecake.  ///// Follow Sarah on Twitter  Sarah proudly dedicates this episode to @izzihays, give them a follow too  Check out her film recommendation The Florida Project    Sarah’s book recommendations are: The Optimists Telescope by Bina Venkataraman  Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino   Perfect Pitch by Jon Steel   /////