The Woodshed
29 episodes - English -The Woodshed exists to demystify the creative process. We believe that everybody can harness the power of their own creativity to supercharge their lives. And by showing the creative process in action, we hope to take away the fear of coming up with powerful ideas that move business.
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Episodes
Introducing Spoke.
February 19, 2020 18:29 - 2 minutes - 4.23 MBI'm super excited to announce that we are doing a NEW podcast, we're gonna continue doing podcasts but this podcast is about something really personal for me and that's the bicycle. It's not about racing bicycles, although, it might be, it's not about mountain biking and dirt jumps and competing, although, it might be. But, it's really about humans and our relationship to this miracle machine that we invented over 100 years ago, and still is the greatest achievement of humanity, in my opinion.
From Packing Boxes to Advertising Creative: The Long Strange Trip of Louis McConnell
December 16, 2019 20:54 - 34 minutes - 48.4 MBEverybody can be creative if they push fear aside and allow themselves to be. Take Louis McConnell. He has always believed in self-discovery through hard and unfamiliar situations – from getting punched in the face during amateur MMA fights to quitting his insurance career so he could pack boxes in a factory while pursuing mountain biking. That’s how he met Alex Bogusky, who took a chance and offered Louis a job as a copywriter, even with zero advertising experience to his name. Hear how thi...
Representation and Critical Thinking in Media – with Michelle Lipkin, National Association of Media Literacy Education
December 05, 2019 12:59 - 1 hour - 106 MBTweens consume 6 to 9 hours of content every day. Adults, as much as 10. What is the responsibility of advertisers as narrative builders in this very real media environment? Michelle Lipkin is the Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE). She and Alex talk about the importance of creating a free, positive and safe media environment and practical tips to be better contributors, from deliberate empathy to representing underrepresented demographics i...
Feeling burnt out? You’re not alone. With Tim Dyer, Founder of Manifesto Agency
November 18, 2019 09:00 - 51 minutes - 71.3 MB65% of ad pros are suffering "Burnout," more than teachers (58%) and consultants (55%), according to a recent AdAge article. And The World Health Organization just declared Burnout an official medical condition. What's going on and how to do you even begin to deal with the problem? Tim Dyer, founder of Manifesto Agency, was brave enough to come to The Woodshed and share his struggles. Alex and Tim then discuss tactics and tips they've tried to combat as well as expert suggestions. From de-po...
So you want to start an agency? With Paul Caiozzo, founder of Interesting Development
November 06, 2019 09:00 - 1 hour - 84.9 MBIf you’ve worked in advertising long enough, or any industry, you’ve thought about running your own shop. Paul Caiozzo is a former CD at CPB who went on to lead Goodby Silverstein and Partners New York before starting his own agency, Interesting Development, in 2016. And like most founders, he has felt the highs and lows ever since. Paul stopped by The Woodshed for a cautionary yet encouraging chat with Alex about building an agency from the ground up, developing your own brand and what it...
Gayle Troberman, CMO of iHeartMedia — Podcasts, theater of the mind and the 27% of America no one is talking to
October 29, 2019 08:00 - 39 minutes - 53.9 MBAs Microsoft’s Chief Creative Officer in the late 2000’s, Gayle Troberman and Alex worked closely launching the “I’m a PC” campaign and more. Gayle is now CMO of iHeartMedia, the world’s largest audio company which reaches nine out of 10 Americans every month. Listen as Alex and Gayle talk about the "good ol' days", what annoys Gayle about agencies, and the exploding world of podcasts. Find out what brands are doing wrong with audio, the good and bad of the fractionalized media landscape, ...
The science behind the magic of advertising: A live Caffeinated Mornings event
October 16, 2019 08:00 - 38 minutes - 53 MBAdvertising has always been driven by instincts, opinions and luck. What’s been missing? The rigor to prove wildly creative ideas throughout the process. The same methods used by scientists since the 17th century. Join Caffeinated Mornings host Jay Ferracane as he sits with Alex to talk about applying the Scientific Method to creativity, why theoretical physicist are the most creative people on earth and why advertising needs more Einstein-like creatives to ask great questions. The Woodshe...
Jazzvertising – lessons in collaboration
October 03, 2019 08:00 - 46 minutes - 64.3 MBThings get crowded in the shed when guest Adam Chasnow brings in a jazz trio to prove a point about collaboration. An executive creative director at CPB, Adam has developed acclaimed ad campaigns for Microsoft, Kraft Heinz and Infiniti, and credits his early education in Jazz trumpet with his ability to collaborate creatively with others. His theory is that everyone in business can get better at their craft by taking a page from the tenets of collective improvisation. Musicians Paul Romaine ...
Domino’s Art D’Elia – Innovation, early stage creative testing and better agency/client alignment
September 05, 2019 16:14 - 46 minutes - 63.7 MBArt D’Elia is SVP, Chief Brand and Innovation Officer at Domino's. He dropped by the shed with Alex and creative director Kelly McCormick, to talk about innovation and consumer advocacy in the pizza category, as well as what agencies can do to better align with their clients and why Alex thinks advertising is 100% science. Art D’Elia on LinkedIn Follow Kelly on LinkedIn and Instagram *** 2:54 – The things agencies do that make Art go bananas 5:29 – Basing creative on facts not opi...
Creative block, method advertising and grit: Alex answers questions from interns
August 21, 2019 16:27 - 28 minutes - 38.5 MBHow to be well-rounded, what is method advertising, tips on getting over creative block and more. Alex sat down with the current group of CPB interns to answer their questions. With Alice Fennelly, David Zosel, Brandon Dwight, Billy Boy Horn Chloe Gordon and Omari Green. Quick Q&A summary 2:22 – To be a good, well-rounded strategist, where would you point someone? 4:40 – How does an intern develop an understanding of the brand they’re working on? 9:05 – How do you get out of cr...
Creepy Media: Who is listening to us and why?
August 13, 2019 18:13 - 39 minutes - 54 MBOnly seeing ads relevant to you used to be the dream, and the promise of advertising. But chances are you’ve talked about something and the next thing you know, you’re being served ads about it. Predictive analytics or surveillance? Who’s listening and what do they know about us? Alex is joined in the shed by Joe Toscano, author of the book “Automating Humanity” and Founder/CVO of BEACON, along with Jen Bollman (CPB Director of Communications Strategy) and Joe Corr (CPB Executive Creative ...
Marketing Fuzzy Slippers: Alex + Courtney Loveman Go Head-To-Head w/ Creative Ideas
August 07, 2019 16:54 - 32 minutes - 44.1 MBWe’re kicking off a new series of shows, where brands (big and small) come to the Woodshed to share their challenges and aspirations. Alex and a special guest host then duke it out with creative ideas on the spot, and take those ideas and test them to see what performs better in the actual marketplace. First up, the team from Baboosha – Frank Amoros, Heather LeFevre and Leo Lourdais. Baboosha are high-end footwear crafted from ethical Alpaca fur, mixing Parisian glamour and style with the...
Advice for job seekers: why advice sucks, and then some advice.
July 11, 2019 18:03 - 12 minutes - 17.4 MBAlex recently joined Roben Farzed on his NPR program, Full Disclosure. Get the full episode at: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/682205174/full-disclosure-with-roben-farzad
Inside the mind of a client: former Schwinn CMO Gregg Bagni
July 02, 2019 09:00 - 24 minutes - 33.3 MBFormer Schwinn Bicycles CMO Gregg Bagni joins Alex in the shed to design the perfect equation to create the perfect idea. From bikes to natural foods and now working in niche start-up investment as Director at White Road Investments (Clif bar, Ragnar, Santa Cruz Bicycles) Gregg shares his thoughts on building a brand, the DIY mentality and how to stay original while asking these 4 questions: Who are you? What will you sell? Who will you sell it to? What will you say no to? Check out Gregg...
DNA, Tech, Philosophy and a Harvard Geneticist
June 20, 2019 01:41 - 49 minutes - 67.6 MBAri Kuschnir, founder of production company m ss ng p eces, has a crazy idea to implant a narrative film into live DNA. Well, that's where it started. Ari dropped by the shed to brainstorm with Alex and CPB tech lead Joe Corr about how to use emerging DNA technology to tell a powerful story that will ignite the world's imagination. Later in the show, we hear from Harvard genetics professor George Church about this crazy idea and what it will take to make it a reality. What do you think? Gi...
‘THINKNADO’ (verb) - The act of whirlwind thinking, reacting, challenging, creating
June 13, 2019 17:34 - 30 minutes - 42 MBOur first return guest, John Bielenberg (Co-Founder at Pando Institute & Founder of Think Wrong Institute) is back in the Woodshed with his new project, THINKNADO. John share his new process for creative problem solving and how anybody from kids to adults should question assumptions and think ‘stupid’ in order to come up with solutions to everything from new ways to do dishes to fixing the world’s problems.
The biggest mistake most start-ups make - LIVE Q+A from Boulder Start Up Week
June 04, 2019 12:22 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MBAfter a session of live concepting at Boulder Start-Up Week 2019, Alex and creative director Quinn Katherman opened up for a live Q+A session talking about the creative process, the biggest mistake most startups make and just how much "crazy" content should have.
LIVE Concepting @ Boulder Start Up Week 2019
May 29, 2019 07:00 - 43 minutes - 60.3 MBTwo start-ups join Alex and Creative Director Quinn Katherman on stage at Boulder Startup Week. The challenge: come up with brilliant branding ideas on the spot. Alex and Quinn put themselves on the line all for the sake of our community of listeners in an ongoing quest to de-mystify the creative process. Hear what they came up with for Buderflys, an upstart earbud purposefully designed NOT for music, and Uncanny Wellness, a CBD brand that is becoming a hit among baristas. https://www.bud...
How to Find Music That Supercharges Your Content
May 17, 2019 11:45 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBThe team from Beacon Street Studios, Andrew Feltenstein and John Nau, along with CD Quinn Katherman, join Alex in The Woodshed to talk about finding the right musical fit, tips on giving feedback to musicians and when it makes sense to think of music before anything else. www.beaconstreetstudios.com
What Would Gossage Do?
April 30, 2019 20:07 - 29 minutes - 40.8 MBHoward Luck Gossage, known as "The Socrates of San Francisco," was an iconoclast and advertising innovator. Alex and his former assistant turned creative director Mike Howard discuss the famous, yet under-appreciated ad-man and his methods that are still around today. They also discuss his legacy, some of Gossage’s most important teachings, how they informed CPB’s early work, and how and he is more relevant now than ever.
A modest industry proposal - pledge not to work with Big Tobacco
April 25, 2019 23:14 - 3 minutes - 5.27 MBA headline from Philip Morris catches Alex’s attention. With vaping on the rise, is Big Tobacco trying to get back in the ad industry’s good graces? Alex asks the industry to sign a pledge not to work with Big Tobacco, and for brands not to work with agencies and PR firms that do.
Getting Old and Owning It – with the Founders of Caddis
March 19, 2019 17:34 - 31 minutes - 43.2 MBAlex is joined by Tim Parr and Dustin Robertson, founders of eyewear brand Caddis. Rooted in action sports, Thrasher magazine and punk rock, they’ve got a lot to say about aging the right way without losing your personal style. Don’t start the long process of giving up. Experience matters, as long as you can separate the obsolete and embrace the beginners’ mindset. Own getting old, and act whatever age you want.
If you want to make a million dollars, start an awards show
March 12, 2019 17:30 - 31 minutes - 42.9 MBSome creative agencies have started questioning the value of participating in advertising awards shows. Many say they’ve become too expensive, too time-intensive, and don’t really contribute to growth. Then last October, Alex announced that CPB would stop entering them altogether. But does he hate awards shows? On a special episode of The Woodshed, Alex sat in with business development coach Zach Hyder for his podcast, The Dendrocast, to talk about the real reason behind his decision, why aw...
Trick Your Brain to Think Wrong - with Designer John Bielenberg
February 21, 2019 18:08 - 25 minutes - 35.6 MBWhat if we told you to stop thinking right, and start "Thinking Wrong"? Legendary designer John Bielenberg joined Alex in The Woodshed to talk about breaking down existing neural pathways, a cross-country road trip in an refurbished ambulance, stupid thinking as a practice, breaking the 500CC diesel land speed record, and how trick your brain into "thinking wrong"... phew! Let's just say this is one interesting conversation! Links: John's Book - Think Wrong Think Wrong Institute ...
Unboxing Loop. The coolest thing to happen to consumer packaged goods, maybe ever.
February 13, 2019 17:58 - 5 minutes - 7.4 MBJust like the milkman, Loop plans to eliminate wasteful single use shipping materials. Alex unboxes the new zero-waste delivery system that brings together brands like Dove, Tide, Axe, Haagen Daz, Hellman’s and Hidden Valley Ranch, and digs into why it is such a big deal.
Unboxing USA Today Ad Meter
February 06, 2019 17:19 - 10 minutes - 14.4 MBHow do big game commercials do in the wild and beyond the SuperGame? Hint: it ain’t the same. Alex is back in the Shed with Aquiles La Grave comparing qualitative USA Today Ad Meter results with real world behavioral data.
Alex takes himself behind the Woodshed
February 05, 2019 03:16 - 2 minutes - 3.81 MBAfter two videos calling bullshit on JUUL’s marketing, Alex found out he fucked up. First instinct was to hide it but instead he's outing himself and looking for advice from the community. Let’s turn this into something good.
Full-Contact Advertising with Ad Brawl
January 31, 2019 22:15 - 13 minutes - 18.8 MBAlex Bogusky gets inside The Woodshed for the first time to talk with longtime friend Aquiles La Grave about Ad Brawl - a way to add objectivity and real consumer data to the conversation around the best big game commercials. The USA Today ad-meter calls itself the definitive measure of SB commercials for the past 30 years. But it’s completely subjective. AdBrawl.com provides an engagement score for each of the Big Game ads, and allows anyone (brands, agencies, creatives) to upload their ...
Where to Start?
January 04, 2019 17:36 - 14 minutes - 21.3 MBAlex Bogusky has an idea to build a woodshed in the CPB lobby. On this episode, he shares a super tiny model of the shed with colleagues and gets their feedback on a show concept. Featured on this episode: Adam Chasnow, Joe Corr, Courtney Loveman, Jen Hruska, Quinn Katherman, Dana Buckhorn, Danielle Aldrich and Tom Adams. Thankfully, not all at once. Stay tuned for the new podcast, "The Woodshed", launching soon.