Question Everything

Adam Wilson has spent his career helping brands stand out. After years at creative agencies and a stint leading brand marketing at Carhartt, he now leads strategy and creative at D/CAL, the agency he co-founded with Tony Hawk. In this episode of Question Everything, Adam shares why so many CMOs struggle to differentiate their brand, how brands can think like creators to earn attention, and how CMO...

Like most creatives in ad land, Ben was taught how to make great work, not how to sell it. He let his work "speak for itself" until he realized that great ideas don't win unless they've got a great pitch behind them. With few actionable frameworks or guides available, he took matters into his own hands, teaching himself the art of pitching. That journey led him to build a 10-session course, author...

What it takes for brands to break through with Heidi Hackemer, Principal of Hackemer   Heidi Hackemer is the Principal of strategy consultancy Hackemer, where she fearlessly tackles the brand world's most interesting challenges. Her approach to breakthrough strategy isn't flashy – it's rooted in the fundamentals. From Google and Nike to the Obama White House, she's started every assignment the sam...

Christy and Whit Hiler are the powerhouse duo driving huge growth for Cornett, the nationally acclaimed, independent ad agency based in Lexington, Kentucky.    Since becoming Cornett's owner in 2020, Christy has led the agency to four Ad Age Small Agency of the Year wins. Beyond running the shop, she's driving the Own It movement – working to increase women and nonbinary ownership across the indus...

Why you're not getting press coverage and how to fix it with Luz Corona, Editor of Campaign US   Luz Corona sits at the center of the advertising industry, covering the brands and agencies shaping culture. Beyond managing headlines, she's also leading must-hear conversations with the industry's top voices as a host of Campaign US's Campaign Chemistry podcast.   In this episode of Question Everythi...

Why purpose-driven work pays off, Founder and CEO of LERMA/   Pedro Lerma leads one of the most culturally impactful agencies in the world. The Founder and CEO @ LERMA/ has two small agency of the year awards, an A-list standout appearance, and an Ad Age agency executive award under his belt. Not to mention, his small agency has produced multiple Super Bowl spots for clients Avocados from Mexico a...

For the Super Bowl edition of Question Everything, we caught up with former NFL linebacker, now investor and entrepreneur, Dhani Jones. After founding two creative agencies, advising several startups, and serving as a board member across multiple categories, Dhani shares what it takes for brands to stand out in today's increasingly crowded marketing landscape. In the episode, you'll hear about Dha...

How to pitch and win in 2026 with Robin and Steve Boehler, Founders @ Mercer Island Group    Robin and Steve Boehler have seen the good, bad, and ugly in countless pitches for culture-shaping brands like Starbucks, Microsoft, Abbott, and Nintendo. Lucky for us, they wrote a book on how agencies can shift the pitch spotlight from core capabilities and humble brags to solving your prospect's problem...

What CMOs need to know about Gen Alpha with Mintel's Director of Consumer Trends, Diana Kelter     Diana Kelter, Mintel's Director of Consumer Trends, is always one step ahead of where consumer behavior is headed. By combining data, cultural observation, and brand analysis, she helps marketers understand not just what people buy – but why.   In this episode, Diana unpacks the newest generation of...

Peter Hinssen has spent his career helping leaders make sense of a world that refuses to slow down. A technologist, bestselling author, and keynote speaker, Peter has advised companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google on how to thrive in what he calls the "never normal" a new era defined by nonstop disruption and exponential change.   In this episode, Peter shares what CMOs must do to successfully l...

Nicole Ayers has built a career out of scaling brands that make mealtime 1000x more fun. She once managed cereal icons like Lucky Charms and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. These days, she's all about four-legged foodies. Partnering with Curiosity, Nicole and Blue Buffalo are stepping into the fresh pet food game with their newest product innovation: Love Made Fresh.    In this episode, Nicole pulls back t...

Stefan Lagerqvist is a proven business leader best known for his unique blend of elevated financial expertise, strategic insight, and world-class brand-building experience, honed at P&G and Unilever. Currently, Stefan serves as the Group CEO at NICK'S, a Swedish better-for-you ice cream and protein bar brand that's made a name for itself in snack aisles across Europe and the US.    In this episode...

Multiplying impact with unique perspectives with Damaune Journey, Global Chief Growth Officer @ 72andSunny  Damaune Journey's leap into advertising was inspired by purpose. A lack of representation across media inspired his mid-career pivot, and since then, he's made historic strides as the Global Chief Growth Officer at 72andSunny. Damaune has helped lead the agency to global recognition, award-w...

 Breaking and Entering's Media's Geno Schellenberger is writing Gen Z's ad industry playbook   Geno Schellenberger's Breaking and Entering Media takes pretension out of the press by using Gen Z-native content strategies to keep advertisers entertained and in the know.  In this episode of Question Everything, Geno opens up about the power of personal brand building in the age of AI, the most impact...

Oliver McAteer shares Mischief's secrets to successful disruptive creative campaigns   Oliver McAteer is in the business of making brands unignorable. As Partner and Head of Development at Mischief @ No Fixed Address, he's helped shape one of the world's most talked-about and awarded creative agencies.   In this episode of Question Everything, Ollie gets candid about how Mischief arrives at their...

PJ Pereira schools us on the best AI tools for CMOs and overcoming AI anxiety.   PJ Pereira is an industry legend whose success is fueled by creatively embracing eras of extreme innovation. Starting his career when the internet was in its infancy, he has conquered the digital age of marketing and is setting his sights on taming the AI giant in the room. His third agency, Silverside AI, has already...

‍Don't let the name fool you: Frownies, the miracle wrinkle patch, has delivered cheese-worthy results for over 100 years. Helen Morrison, Frownie's Chief Marketing Unicorn, has breathed new life into the family-owned brand thanks to her best-in-class organic social media approach. The secret? She prioritizes building a true community around her audience's shared goal – not just to sell product.  ...

Jordan Howell's tips on strengthening your brand and facing cultural headwinds.   You can always count on a sweet meetup when Splenda's Sr. Director of Marketing Jordan Howell is in the building. Known for his strong data skills, Jordan is trailblazing a new era of social for Splenda after epic stints as Global Marketing Director for brands like Glade and Ziploc at SC Johnson. Plus, his confidence...

Christine Olivas has changed the way many agencies think about strategy. Since 2021, her business No Single Individual emphasizes that strategy is no small deal, providing a team of strategists to "team-lance" for agencies and their client projects. She and her team have worked with dozens of agencies – racking up experience working with hundreds of clients.    Must-hear moments from this episode...

Curiosity owners share their learnings, friendship, and journey after six years of leading an independent creative agency.    Question Everything host Ashley Walters sits down with fellow owners President Trey Harness and Chief Creative Officer Jeff Warman. Besides being long-time partners, they're also long-time friends – and in this episode – they share the most defining moments from their six y...

Dan Jeffries shares how agency and client relationships can get off track and how to get the chemistry back.   Dan Jeffries is a seasoned consultant who has worked with some of the most recognizable brands in the world, including Samsung, PetSmart, Capital One, Sonic, and AutoZone. His consulting firm doesn't stop at matching CMOs with agencies, he offers a comprehensive agency management program...

Doug Zanger unpacks why the industry is in its indie agency era and the power of asking great questions. Doug Zanger, or Uncle Advertising, as he likes to call himself, is the founder of Indie Agency News: A global platform for independent agencies to connect, collaborate, and promote their best work. Before founding Indie Agency News, Zanger was a student of the industry, cutting his teeth at Adw...

Christine Guilfoyle reveals the power of the SHEconomy and how brands can be a force for growth, good, and girls. President of SeeHer Christine Guilfoyle believes if you see her, you can be her. But how do you convince CMOs that the accurate representation of women in marketing and media isn't just a moral decision, but a savvy business decision? By creating SeeHer's Gender Equality Measure (GEM)...

Lisa Martinelli discusses retail marketing strategies and how to build brand loyalty. Listen to this podcast with Lisa. Stop & Shop's Vice President of marketing Lisa Martinelli gives advice on how CMOs can strengthen their brand. Lisa's experience supporting marketing operations for CVS and Stop & Shop makes her very well-versed in marketing strategies for major retailers. Retail marketing is les...

Simone and Rachel discuss best practices for agencies to gain new business. Listen to this podcast with Simone and Rachel.  NBZ Co-founders Simone Mandel and Rachel Segall compare agency matchmaking to setting a friend up on a blind date. They tell us about their process with brands looking to work with agencies that will approach their brief with modern solutions. These two are working with the u...