Mad Influence
38 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago -We all know that marketers can have a bad rep. Let’s be honest, we’re one of the least trusted professions in the world, ranking somewhere alongside politicians and journalists at the bottom of every poll from the last few years. But what about the people who use their positions of influence to spread positive messages, entertain the world and make us all smile? This podcast speaks to some of these people about everything from inspiring social change to providing light entertainment to the world. Each episode we’ll hear from a new guest about how we can all use our power more for good.
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Episodes
E19: Lauren Ashcroft at UltimateYou on helping people achieve their goals across the globe
August 23, 2021 00:00 - 1 hour - 42.4 MBLauren Ashcroft, the founder of UltimateYou, joins Mad Influence to talk about how she launched a globally successful business in the middle of the pandemic, to help people realise their ambitions. We talk about her journey from being made redundant to creating a set of products that have been reviewed by Women’s Health as having ‘life-changing powers.’ We also discuss her U-turn from a planned career in law, how she dealt with the knockbacks of unemployment, and what she’s truly learnt from...
E18: Katie Martell on what happens when social movements and brands collide
April 30, 2021 17:19 - 45 minutes - 34.6 MBKatie Martell, speaker, writer, documentary maker, and marketing expert, joins Mad Influence to talk about what happens when social movements and brands collide. We talk about how Katie carved out her career by being brutally honest, and as ready to critique the marketing industry as to champion it. We talk about the difference between genuine allyship versus co-opting a movement for a brand’s own gain. We discuss which brands miss the point, and which ones do it well. We also talk about the...
E18: Katie Martell on woke-washing: what happens when social movements and brands collide
April 30, 2021 17:19 - 45 minutes - 34.6 MBKatie Martell, speaker, writer, documentary maker, and marketing expert, joins Mad Influence to talk about what happens when social movements and brands collide. We talk about how Katie carved out her career by being brutally honest, and as ready to critique the marketing industry as to champion it. We talk about the difference between genuine allyship versus co-opting a movement for a brand’s own gain. We discuss which brands miss the point, and which ones do it well. We also talk about the...
E17: Claire Eades at Marmalade Film and Media on why brands with purpose perform best
April 12, 2021 09:43 - 43 minutes - 32.2 MBClaire Eades, CEO and founder of Marmalade Film and Media, joins Mad Influence to talk about what it was like setting up an agency aimed at getting brands to care about purpose a decade before it became top of everyone’s agenda. We chat about some of her most memorable campaigns, like the one which reduced teen pregnancy by 25%, and had everyone in the UK talking about it, including the prime minister. We also discuss how you know when the right time to set up your business is, and being pro...
E16: Lee Wilcox and Adam Barrie on live streaming the Mars landing on TikTok
March 26, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 46.8 MBLee Wilcox and Adam Barrie, founders of Electric House and On The Tools, join Mad Influence to talk about what it’s really like running a successful business with your best friend, and how they streamed the Mars landing live on TikTok to 100,000 people. We delve into their journey from being broke to employing 100 people and how their attitudes to supporting mental wellbeing and inclusion have evolved over time. We talk about silly topics like their favourite failed business ventures, and se...
E16: Lee Wilcox and Adam Barrie at Electric House on live streaming the Mars landing on TikTok
March 26, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 46.8 MBLee Wilcox and Adam Barrie, founders of Electric House and On The Tools, join Mad Influence to talk about what it’s really like running a successful business with your best friend, and how they streamed the Mars landing live on TikTok to 100,000 people. We delve into their journey from being broke to employing 100 people and how their attitudes to supporting mental wellbeing and inclusion have evolved over time. We talk about silly topics like their favourite failed business ventures, and se...
E15: Marta Decarli on quitting her corporate job to set up a successful yoga business
March 12, 2021 09:29 - 52 minutes - 35.3 MBMarta Decarli, founder of Marta Decarli Yoga, and marketing executive at Kuula, joins Mad Influence to talk about why it’s OK to change your life plan, and how she felt adapting hers after her dreams of becoming an Olympic skier fell through after a decade of training. We also talk about what led her to leave her successful corporate job during the pandemic and set up a yoga business instead, and why marketing and pricing often feels like taboo. We also discuss why Marta will never be the st...
E15: Marta Decarli on quitting her corporate job to set up a successful yoga business.
March 12, 2021 09:29 - 52 minutes - 35.3 MBMarta Decarli, founder of Marta Decarli Yoga, and marketing executive at Kuula, joins Mad Influence to talk about why it’s OK to change your life plan, and how she felt adapting hers after her dreams of becoming an Olympic skier fell through after a decade of training. We also talk about what led her to leave her successful corporate job during the pandemic and set up a yoga business instead, and why marketing and pricing often feels like taboo. We also discuss why Marta will never be the st...
E14: International Women’s Day Special with Kat Gordon, founder of the 3% movement
March 08, 2021 13:44 - 42 minutes - 31.4 MBFor this special episode on International Women's Day, Mad Influence is excited to welcome Kat Gordon, founder of The 3% movement, to talk about how she has helped increase the percentage of female creative directors in the US from 3% to 29%. We discuss topics like why it’s a healthy thing to live abroad and put yourself in a situation where you aren’t centred, and how to reach people who don’t agree with you. We also discuss why it’s important to consider an entire ecosystem when driving ch...
E14: Kat Gordon on founding the 3% movement
March 08, 2021 13:44 - 42 minutes - 31.4 MBFor this special episode on International Women's Day, Mad Influence is excited to welcome Kat Gordon, founder of The 3% movement, to talk about how she has helped increase the percentage of female creative directors in the US from 3% to 29%. We discuss topics like why it’s a healthy thing to live abroad and put yourself in a situation where you aren’t centred, and how to reach people who don’t agree with you. We also discuss why it’s important to consider an entire ecosystem when driving cha...
E13: Amy Rollings at Let’s Connect on coping with redundancy and the power of human connection
February 26, 2021 12:48 - 50 minutes - 42 MBAmy Rollings, founder of Let’s Connect, and Head of Partnerships & Mentoring at Good Nugget, joins Mad Influence to talk about the community she set up to support people going through redundancy. She created it after being made redundant herself five months ago, after a very successful career working for brands like Burberry, Kurt Geiger and Michael Kors. We have a very honest conversation about the genuine emotions people facing uncertainty in the job market are feeling right now. We also d...
E12: Jay Richards at Imagen on what Gen Z really think about your brand
February 19, 2021 15:10 - 41 minutes - 27 MBJay Richards, co-founder and CEO of Imagen, joins Mad Influence to talk about his research agency which pays thousands of its Gen Z community to help brands and agencies shape culture. We chat about how he started out by setting up his first business selling t-shirts aged 14, after an injury put an end to his pro football career. In the brutally honest spirit of Imagen, we also talk about everything from why brands are often too quick to believe their own hype, how it’s not a natural human i...
E11: Vikki Stephenson on creating viral trailers for the BBC
February 14, 2021 08:22 - 42 minutes - 35.2 MBToday’s guest has interviewed everyone from Sir David Attenborough to Ben Fogle, but today we get to turn the mic on Vikki Stephenson, Senior Creative at the BBC. Vikki joins Mad Influence to talk about her career of over 20 years promoting content with purpose. We chat about everything from the time she landed her “dream job,” only to find out that it clashed with her values, to coming up with the idea to add old-school hip hop to Planet Earth trailers, which then went viral. We talk about ...
E10: Jean Kilbourne: Has advertising to women changed over the past half a century?
February 05, 2021 06:00 - 30 minutes - 28 MBJean Kilbourne, a pioneering activist, speaker and writer, joins Mad Influence to discuss her research for over half a century into how advertising represents women. We talk about what it was like starting her career as a young female in the 1960s and how things have changed since then. We discuss why her critically acclaimed Killing Us Softly documentary shocked the world when it was first released in 1979, and why people thought advertising's influence was trivial at the time. We chat abou...
E9: Adam Smith at the Real Junk Food Project: How to stop food waste and feed the world
January 29, 2021 04:00 - 42 minutes - 28 MBAdam Smith, founder of The Real Junk Food Project, joins Mad Influence to talk about saving millions of meals from going to waste and feeding the world. He also talks about using his platform to speak up about mental health after surviving a suicide attempt ten years ago, and inspiring people to improve their lives, while not having all the answers. We chat about why the media seem to think his work is so radical, the reason he apologises to the burglars who have broken into his pay-as-you-...
Episode 9: Adam Smith - Founder of The Real Junk Food Project
January 29, 2021 04:00 - 42 minutes - 28 MBAdam Smith, founder of The Real Junk Food Project, joins Mad Influence to talk about saving millions of meals from going to waste and feeding the world. He also talks about using his platform to speak up about mental health after surviving a suicide attempt ten years ago, and inspiring people to improve their lives, while not having all the answers. We chat about why the media seem to think his work is so radical, the reason he apologises to the burglars who have broken into his pay-as-you-...
E8: Jack Parsons at the Youth Group: From being unable to speak, to delivering a TED talk
January 22, 2021 04:00 - 43 minutes - 28.5 MBJack Parsons, CEO of the Youth Group and The UK’s Chief Youth Officer, joins Mad Influence to talk about his mission to help millions of young people into meaningful employment. Jack opens up about the personal reasons behind his drive, from being a young carer for his Mum who suffered from alcoholism, to realising he wanted to leave a legacy after being operated on for skin cancer. We talk about launching the Mentor Me programme which gives young people the chance to speak to industry exper...
E8: Jack Parsons at the Youth Group: From being unable to speak, to delivering a TEDx talk
January 22, 2021 04:00 - 43 minutes - 28.5 MBJack Parsons, CEO of the Youth Group and The UK’s Chief Youth Officer, joins Mad Influence to talk about his mission to help millions of young people into meaningful employment. Jack opens up about the personal reasons behind his drive, from being a young carer for his Mum who suffered from alcoholism, to realising he wanted to leave a legacy after being operated on for skin cancer. We talk about launching the Mentor Me programme which gives young people the chance to speak to industry exper...
Episode 8: Jack Parsons- CEO of the Youth Group
January 22, 2021 04:00 - 43 minutes - 28.5 MBJack Parsons, CEO of the Youth Group and The UK’s Chief Youth Officer, joins Mad Influence to talk about his mission to help millions of young people into meaningful employment. Jack opens up about the personal reasons behind his drive, from being a young carer for his Mum who suffered from alcoholism, to realising he wanted to leave a legacy after being operated on for skin cancer. We talk about launching the Mentor Me programme which gives young people the chance to speak to industry exper...
Episode 7: Oisika Chakrabarti - Acting Chief of Communications for UN Women
January 15, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 28.3 MBOisika Chakrabarti, Acting Chief of Communications and Advocacy for UN Women, joins Mad Influence from her home in New Jersey to talk about her 16 years at the United Nations and her current role working towards gender equality. She explains how growing up and studying in India inspired her deep interest in social justice, along with her early roles in TV reporting and filmmaking. We discuss partnering with Netflix, reaching 1 billion people with the Generation Equality campaign, and putting...
E7: Oisika Chakrabarti at UN Women on ending gender based violence globally
January 15, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 28.3 MBOisika Chakrabarti, Acting Chief of Communications and Advocacy for UN Women, joins Mad Influence from her home in New Jersey to talk about her 16 years at the United Nations and her current role working towards gender equality. She explains how growing up and studying in India inspired her deep interest in social justice, along with her early roles in TV reporting and filmmaking. We discuss partnering with Netflix, reaching 1 billion people with the Generation Equality campaign, and putting...
Episode 6: Laura Johnson - Director of Zebedee
January 08, 2021 07:00 - 30 minutes - 25.8 MBLaura Johnson, director at Zebedee (a specialist talent agency for disabled and visibly different actors and models) joins Mad Influence to talk about why disability has to be included in the conversation around inclusion. We chat about how she went from calling up brands’ customer service departments in search of marketing contacts, to now being responsible for Gucci and Kurt Geiger’s most liked Instagram posts ever, and featuring in outlets like BBC News and Vogue. Laura tells us about her...
E6: Laura Johnson at Zebedee on including more people with disabilities in ad campaigns
January 08, 2021 07:00 - 30 minutes - 25.8 MBLaura Johnson, director at Zebedee (a specialist talent agency for disabled and visibly different actors and models) joins Mad Influence to talk about why disability has to be included in the conversation around inclusion. We chat about how she went from calling up brands’ customer service departments in search of marketing contacts, to now being responsible for Gucci and Kurt Geiger’s most liked Instagram posts ever, and featuring in outlets like BBC News and Vogue. Laura tells us about her...
E6: Laura Johnson at Zebedee on including more people with disabilities in ads
January 08, 2021 07:00 - 30 minutes - 25.8 MBLaura Johnson, director at Zebedee (a specialist talent agency for disabled and visibly different actors and models) joins Mad Influence to talk about why disability has to be included in the conversation around inclusion. We chat about how she went from calling up brands’ customer service departments in search of marketing contacts, to now being responsible for Gucci and Kurt Geiger’s most liked Instagram posts ever, and featuring in outlets like BBC News and Vogue. Laura tells us about her...
E5: Kate Dale at This Girl Can: How to beat imposter syndrome and overcome barriers to women in sport
October 01, 2020 10:17 - 43 minutes - 33.6 MBKate Dale, Campaign Lead for This Girl Can joins Mad Influence to talk about what was going through her mind the night before launching a globally successful campaign which won multiple Cannes Lions and got 3 million women active worldwide. We talk about why it’s hard for her to shout about that success and what we can all do to beat imposter syndrome. We also chat about everything from her move from journalism to marketing, what made her stay at Sport England for almost 20 years, how barri...
E5: Kate Dale at This Girl Can: How to beat imposter syndrome and promote sport for women
October 01, 2020 10:17 - 43 minutes - 33.6 MBKate Dale, Campaign Lead for This Girl Can joins Mad Influence to talk about what was going through her mind the night before launching a globally successful campaign which won multiple Cannes Lions and got 3 million women active worldwide. We talk about why it’s hard for her to shout about that success and what we can all do to beat imposter syndrome. We also chat about everything from her move from journalism to marketing, what made her stay at Sport England for almost 20 years, how barri...
Episode 5: Kate Dale - Campaign Lead for This Girl Can
October 01, 2020 10:17 - 43 minutes - 33.6 MBKate Dale, Campaign Lead for This Girl Can joins Mad Influence to talk about what was going through her mind the night before launching a globally successful campaign which won multiple Cannes Lions and got 3 million women active worldwide. We talk about why it’s hard for her to shout about that success and what we can all do to beat imposter syndrome. We also chat about everything from her move from journalism to marketing, what made her stay at Sport England for almost 20 years, how barri...
Mad Influence Episode 4: Dipesh Mistry - Creative and Art Direction at Brave
September 15, 2020 20:06 - 47 minutes - 37.6 MBDipesh Mistry, Associate Creative Director and Art Director at Brave agency joins Mad Influence to talk about the host of powerful campaigns he’s created which have caused real change in the world. From forcing Mattel, Hasbro and Disney to adopt a zero deforestation policy, to helping Age UK tell the real stories of the people they support. We talk about his work for Brixton Finishing School which helps underrepresented groups of people gain access to the advertising industry, and his proac...
Mad Influence Episode 4: Dipesh Mistry - Associate Creative Director at Brave
September 15, 2020 20:06 - 47 minutes - 37.6 MBDipesh Mistry, Associate Creative Director and Art Director at Brave agency joins Mad Influence to talk about the host of powerful campaigns he’s created which have caused real change in the world. From forcing Mattel, Hasbro and Disney to adopt a zero deforestation policy, to helping Age UK tell the real stories of the people they support. We talk about his work for Brixton Finishing School which helps underrepresented groups of people gain access to the advertising industry, and his proac...
E4: Dipesh Mistry at Brave: How to create change and why office culture is about more than ping pong tables
September 15, 2020 20:06 - 47 minutes - 37.6 MBDipesh Mistry, Associate Creative Director and Art Director at Brave agency joins Mad Influence to talk about the host of powerful campaigns he’s created which have caused real change in the world. From forcing Mattel, Hasbro and Disney to adopt a zero deforestation policy, to helping Age UK tell the real stories of the people they support. We talk about his work for Brixton Finishing School which helps underrepresented groups of people gain access to the advertising industry, and his proac...
Episode 4: Dipesh Mistry - Associate Creative Director at Brave
September 15, 2020 20:06 - 47 minutes - 37.6 MBDipesh Mistry, Associate Creative Director and Art Director at Brave agency joins Mad Influence to talk about the host of powerful campaigns he’s created which have caused real change in the world. From forcing Mattel, Hasbro and Disney to adopt a zero deforestation policy, to helping Age UK tell the real stories of the people they support. We talk about his work for Brixton Finishing School which helps underrepresented groups of people gain access to the advertising industry, and his proac...
E3: Twice the Health: How to be a genuine influencer
August 25, 2020 20:10 - 42 minutes - 34.4 MBEmily and Hannah from Twice the Health (the fitness and adventure blog) join Mad Influence to talk about the responsibility of having 65,000 followers on instagram including some notable names like Joe Wicks. We talk about inspiring people to take on challenges ranging from 10kms to ultra marathons around the world. We discuss the pressure to say the right thing and frustrations when some influencers aren’t genuine with product endorsements. We cover the highs and lows covid-19 has brought ...
Episode 3: Emily and Hannah - Creators of Twice the Health
August 25, 2020 20:10 - 42 minutes - 34.4 MBEmily and Hannah from Twice the Health (the fitness and adventure blog) join Mad Influence to talk about the responsibility of having 65,000 followers on instagram including some notable names like Joe Wicks. We talk about inspiring people to take on challenges ranging from 10kms to ultra marathons around the world. We discuss the pressure to say the right thing and frustrations when some influencers aren’t genuine with product endorsements. We cover the highs and lows covid-19 has brought ...
E2: Marcella Tarable at Food for Thought: How to adapt your business in a pandemic
August 03, 2020 22:22 - 30 minutes - 26.6 MBMarcella Tarable, co-founder of Food for Thought, joins Mad Influence to talk about her social initiative which gets people in agencies to donate their skills and lunch break to help charities with their communications in exchange for a nice lunch. We chat about how a worldwide pandemic didn’t stop Food for Thought creating a very successful campaign for the homeless charity Depaul, why work-life balance is so important for creativity, and the power of a four day week. Marcella also talks a...
Episode 2: Marcella Tarable - Co-founder of Food for Thought
August 03, 2020 22:22 - 30 minutes - 26.6 MBMarcella Tarable, co-founder of Food for Thought, joins Mad Influence to talk about her social initiative which gets people in agencies to donate their skills and lunch break to help charities with their communications in exchange for a nice lunch. We chat about how a worldwide pandemic didn’t stop Food for Thought creating a very successful campaign for the homeless charity Depaul, why work-life balance is so important for creativity, and the power of a four day week. Marcella also talks a...
E1: Chris Kenna at Brand Advance: Surviving a bomb blast to making media equal
July 24, 2020 07:19 - 38 minutes - 30.4 MBChristopher Kenna, CEO and founder of Brand Advance (the industry’s first media network dedicated to global diversity) joins Mad Influence to talk about how we can use our power in the marketing industry for good. We cover everything from his move from the military to marketing after an explosion in Iraq led to him being medically discharged from the army, to his personal motivations for setting up a company which reaches consumers in a more equal way. We also have a little bit of a debate a...
E1: Chris Kenna at Brand Advance: Surviving a bomb blast and making media equal
July 24, 2020 07:19 - 38 minutes - 30.4 MBChristopher Kenna, CEO and founder of Brand Advance (the industry’s first media network dedicated to global diversity) joins Mad Influence to talk about how we can use our power in the marketing industry for good. We cover everything from his move from the military to marketing after an explosion in Iraq led to him being medically discharged from the army, to his personal motivations for setting up a company which reaches consumers in a more equal way. We also have a little bit of a debate a...
Episode 1: Christopher Kenna - CEO of Brand Advance
July 24, 2020 07:19 - 38 minutes - 30.4 MBChristopher Kenna, CEO and founder of Brand Advance (the industry’s first media network dedicated to global diversity) joins Mad Influence to talk about how we can use our power in the marketing industry for good. We cover everything from his move from the military to marketing after an explosion in Iraq led to him being medically discharged from the army, to his personal motivations for setting up a company which reaches consumers in a more equal way. We also have a little bit of a debate ...