AdYack

Welcome back to AdYack. Today’s episode is a special one. Not only because I’m joined by two absolute powerhouses in the Lehigh Valley advertising and PR world — Sarah Dams of Sarott Design and Tiffany Sondergaard of TS Brand Elevation — but because this also marks my final episode as host of AdYack. And honestly, it feels fitting that Sarah is here for this conversation. It was during her preside...

Greetings AdYackers, In this latest episode, I sit down with Barbara Berger, author of Yes, No, Maybe , three little words that change everything. It was a powerful exploration of how we make decisions and, more importantly, how we learn to trust ourselves in that process. Barbara’s work centers around something deceptively simple: learning how to recognize a true yes , an honest no , and the ofte...

Today on the podcast, I get to talk to someone whom I admire, because they were willing to pivot from a good career in publishing to one completely outside their comfort zone to build something meaningful. I’m talking about Mary Lengle . Early in her career, Mary worked at Rodale , where she built a reputation as a talented publicist promoting books for some remarkable people — from Denise Austin...

I’ve always believed that the way we show up to present is the message. Not the slides. Not the bullet points. Not the perfectly formatted deck we spent three hours obsessing over at midnight. Our energy is…. the message. Because people don’t remember what you said, they remember how you made them feel when you said it. And if your energy is off… no amount of beautiful typography will save you. Wh...

Welcome back to AdYack , the podcast where we pull at the threads of creativity until something unravels. Today’s episode went deeper than I expected—in the best way possible. I sat down with filmmaker Brandon C. Lay, whose new film ‘ Finger Laced Crown’ follows a spray-paint artist named Lemon Drop as she navigates both her creative passion and the high walls of the fine art world. The film offic...

Welcome to AdYack—the podcast where we explore the messy, magical, and wildly misunderstood world of creativity, with people bold enough to actually live it. Today, I sit down with Abriella Milazzo—she’s a yoga instructor, a holistic educator, an artist and an author of two books, whose work exists at the crossroads of movement, mindfulness, and imagination. Here’s the thing about Abriella: she do...

Welcome back, AdYakers, to Episode 2 of Season 6! Today’s guest is more than an artist—he’s a living manifesto for perseverance and creative transformation. Theron Cook is an award-winning muralist and brand strategist with over 17 years of experience bringing art into public spaces, businesses, and community spirit. He founded Don’t Quit Omniversity and the TCA Don’t Quit Foundation , driven by a...

Welcome to Season 6 of AdYack. If you’re here, maybe you’ve made it through a few of your own battles. Maybe you're carrying big questions about your work, your worth, and what it all really adds up to. That’s exactly why I wanted to start this season with a conversation that doesn’t pretend to have all the answers—but does ask all the right questions. Today, I’m joined by Melissa Smith of Pakoil...

On today’s episode of the podcast, I talk to someone I first crossed paths with back in 2005 at Kutztown University’s Annual Portfolio Review, right as this young, ambitious designer was about to graduate with his BFA in Communication Design. It was a random encounter… or so I thought. Fast forward 20 years, and one day, he reached out to me after reading one of my columns on creativity in Network...

Welcome to AdYack LIVE! On March 13th, the American Advertising Awards took place at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I had the privilege of interviewing the winners live during the show, capturing their reactions, insights, and stories behind the campaigns that took home the hardware. From the rush of winning to the creative process behind these groundbreaking designs, you’ll hear...

If you've ever wondered how exceptional design can shape spaces, elevate brands, and even transform how we experience the world around us, you come to the right place. My guest today on the podcast is the award-winning and brilliant interior designer JT Norman—known for his bold, creative approach to design and ability to turn ordinary spaces into works of art. JT's work has earned him acclaim in...

My guest today is someone who I have admired ever since meeting him when he was working at The Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau, headquartered in King of Prussia. PA. Five minutes into that meeting, I knew Ed and I would become friends. Our first meeting took place at the request of a mutual friend, who recommended we meet each other as they felt we had similar outlooks on life and busi...

Today's guest on the podcast is someone I have been a fan of for over 20 years. He's a gifted lyricist, brilliant guitarist, both acoustic and electric, producer, singer, and storyteller, and on a constant quest to seek new challenges wherever he may find them. I'm talking about Francis Dunnery. Dunnery has always pushed the envelope of what he believes music can be by simply refusing to be boxed...

Today on AdYack I talk to Cameron Day, Cameron is a brilliant creative director, brand strategist, and the malcontent scribe behind an awesome series of books called the Advertising Survival Guide trilogy, which delves into brand architecture, political landmines, and mentorship. Cameron’s latest book, Stones & Sticks, is chock full of great advice for creatives at any level, and Cameron’s not...

Roy Shuler Ad Yack Season 5 Today on the podcast, I have the pleasure of speaking with SAG-AFTRA actor and all-around incredible human being, Mr. Roy Shuler. I first met Roy when he was cast in the play To Kill a Mockingbird at the PA Playhouse in Bethlehem. He played the pivotal role of Tom Robinson, a role he credits with helping him decide to leave the Lehigh Valley and return to his roots in N...

Welcome to Season 5 of Ad Yack, the podcast that explores the minds of creative professionals. I want to thank all the fabulous guests who have agreed to appear on the show over the past four seasons for being so open and vulnerable when sharing their thoughts and insights. Today’s guest will be no stranger to anyone who appreciates music and the exceptional craftsmanship that goes into creating o...

Today on the podcast, AdYack goes international and talks to Brian Wcislo from his home in Costa Rica. In 2005, Brian co-founded 401 Creative, a Lehigh Valley-based ad agency he formed with his college roommate, Curtis Johnson. The duo found fast success with 401, and Brian was enjoying that success when he noticed that something wasn’t quite right with his body. When multiple doctor visits turned...

Alright, Ad Yackers, today, I get to talk to someone whose work I have admired for quite some time. She is not only the owner of an ad agency, but she understands the importance of giving back to the community where she lives and works. She named her agency after an antelope known for being extremely fast, agile, and able to clear tall hurdles that get in their way. I’m talking about Sarah Clark o...

People like to say ‘never judge a book by it’s cover.’ And my next guest on the podcast is the living embodiment of that phrase. I’m talking about the one and only Cheryl Moritz. If you ever seen her in one of the hundreds of theatrical productions she’s appeared in, you have a good idea what I’m talking about. Or perhaps you seen her dominating the stage, or body surfing the crowd while singing h...

 Today on the podcast, I talk with Catherine Barnstone, who’s father had a tremendous impact on me during the time I studied with him at his art school in Coplay, PA. I’m referring to Mr. Myron Barnstone, a master painter before becoming an internationally respected fine arts teacher. Myron sadly passed away in 2016 at the age of 83. Since then, his daughter Cat has been working diligently wi...

When you think about it, Life is a collage of memories, relationships, emotions, conversations, and all the little moments cut from the experiences that make up your life. Nobody understands that better than today's guest on the podcast. Stephen Kroninger grew up outside of Allentown in the sleepy burb of Orefield, Pennsylvania, and spent his formative years studying commercial art at Lehigh Count...

I love meeting people who are super passionate about their craft and the work they do to earn a living. Today, on the podcast, I talk to two individuals who exceed that criteria. Mr. Matt Artinger and Patrick Newill. Matt owns and operates Artinger Guitars based in Emmaus, and he was gracious enough to sit down with me on a Saturday morning and talk about the art of making guitars. Partick works r...

AdYack Season 4 Episode 3 Katie P. Desiderio and Michael G. Frino One of the topics I love to discuss on AdYack is leadership. Today on the podcast, I will explore this topic in depth with best-selling authors Katie Desiderio and Michael Frino. Frino oversees Human Capital Development for a Fortune 500 Company, a Leadership Author, a Performance Researcher, and an Adjunct Professor. Desiderio is a...

S4 | E2: Martha DeFeo There are certain people you will meet throughout your life, and as soon as you meet them, you know they possess an innate ability to transcend and succeed in any environment. Martha DeFeo is one of those people. I briefly worked with Martha at Adams Outdoor Advertising, and I knew, even back then, that she was on a mission. She often encouraged and inspired people to become...

Welcome to Season 4 of AdYack. Today on the podcast, I get to interview Mr. Lee Abrams. To say that Lee Abrams is a radio legend would be an understatement. His career has spanned over five decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Lee is credited with developing the album rock radio format, first introduced in the 70s to help stations move away from playing hit singles to more album-oriented ro...