Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast

In this episode, we sit down with Justin Hooper , SVP and Head of Creative at Wpromote , to explore the intersection of creativity and performance marketing . Justin shares his unique career journey - from working at creative agencies to leading the charge in performance marketing. He breaks down the marketing funnel, explains how brands can successfully blend creativity with data-driven strategie...

In this episode, we sit down with Adam Weil, Director of Partnerships at White Rabbit Group, to uncover the secrets behind building strong agency partnerships. Adam shares his journey from launching a t-shirt brand in college to running a successful design agency and ultimately merging with White Rabbit. In this episode we cover: How agencies can deliver high-quality digital products Why quality a...

Brian Bonilla , Senior Reporter at Ad Age , joins Geno & Jack at the B&E HQ to break down the 2025 A-List . He dives into the top agencies, the selection process, and what it takes to make the cut. Plus, we highlight standout categories and industry trends shaping the future of advertising. Tune in for an inside look at one of the most coveted rankings in the business!

This week, we dive deep into the independent agency mindset with John “JP” Petty III , Founder & Executive Creative Director of 14th and Market . After a career working at Translation, United Masters, and Wieden+Kennedy , JP set out to build an agency that tells authentic stories, shapes culture, and creates work that makes people ask, ‘Is that an ad?’ In this conversation, we cover: The trans...

In this episode, Marcus Fisher , CEO of Carmichael Lynch , shares his unconventional journey from public policy to leading one of the most respected agencies in advertising. With years of experience shaping brands like Subaru and Harley-Davidson, he knows what it takes to build a strong agency culture and create impactful work. Whether you're aspiring to break into advertising or looking to le...

We spent two days inside Colle McVoy , an agency known for its integrated approach, standout creative work, and a remarkable 90% employee retention rate . In this episode, Gina Gray (Chief Growth Officer) and John Doyle (Chief Strategy Officer) break down what truly makes an agency integrated , how they win and retain clients like Value City Furniture and Lazy Boy, and why their Collective Method...

Welcome to the grand finale of Indie Week! Today, we’re closing out an incredible week of conversations with Matt Heath , Founder & Chief Creative Officer of Partyland - the agency built on the philosophy of having fun for a living . In this episode, Matt shares: Why he doesn’t consider himself an "ad person"- but a creative first. His wild journey from musician to advertising, with...

INDIE WEEK continues with a masterclass in creative independence. Today, we’re joined by Joel Holtby , Co-Founder & CCO of Courage , the Canadian indie agency making bold moves and redefining how brands connect with culture. In this episode, Joel shares: Why independent agencies provide more creative autonomy The entrepreneurial mindset behind launching Courage Why brands should partner with i...

INDIE WEEK continues with a first-ever double feature - bringing together two powerhouse indie agency founders for a deep dive into the independent agency mindset. Dana Lytle , Founder & CEO of Planet Propaganda , and Charlie Naus , Co-Founder & Managing Director of Carson+Doyle , sit down to unpack what it means to stay independent in today’s ever-evolving advertising landscape. In this c...

INDIE WEEK continues with Foul Mouth Creative - an indie agency breaking all the traditional rules. Jourdan Huys & Rachel Carlson , Co-Founders of Foul Mouth Creative , share how they left traditional agencies to build a bold, no-BS creative shop. In this episode, we cover: How creative intuition drives their best work Why independent agencies are thriving in today’s advertising world Why bran...

INDIE WEEK kicks off with a powerhouse episode featuring Shannon Jones, Co-Founder of Verb ! After working at major holding company agencies, Shannon bet on herself - launching Verb , an independent experiential agency making waves in the industry. In this episode, we discuss: Why she left big agencies to start Verb How experiential marketing is evolving in 2025 The benefits of working at an indie...

The Next Crowbar Awards Are Here. Are You Ready to Win? The Crowbar Awards are back with a new challenge. Andrés Ordóñez , Global Chief Creative Officer at FCB, is the Guest Judge, and this year’s brief focuses on Ohio Tourism . If you’re an aspiring advertiser with less than three years of experience, this is your chance to build a standout portfolio piece and get your work in front of top indust...

INDIE WEEK is almost here! The Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast is dedicating an entire week to celebrating independent agencies, their leaders, and the power of staying independent. In this special trailer episode, host Geno Schellenberger is joined by: Nora DiNuzzo , Co-Founder & CSO, Blood, Sweat & Tears Eric Brown , Co-Founder & CEO, Blood, Sweat & Tears Doug Zanger ,...

Joshua Christie, Founder & Music Supervisor at Music Ronin, helps agencies find, clear, and legally use the perfect tracks for their campaigns. In this episode, he breaks down the role of business affairs in advertising, the legal intricacies of music supervision, and how the right song can transform an ad. Whether you're in an agency or an aspiring creative, this episode will give you a fresh...

Super Bowl activations without Super Bowl ads? That’s exactly what Colle McVoy pulled off with Frank’s RedHot x Paris Hilton and Purdue x Wayne Brady, creating two viral game-day moments that broke through the noise. In this episode, Meghan Figueroa (VP, Group Creative Director) and Andrew Miller (VP, Group Earned Creative & Media Relations Director) take us behind the scenes of these earned-m...

🏙️ Never Become a Former New Yorker: Inside StreetEasy’s Bold New Campaign 🏡 Every year, over 100,000 New Yorkers leave the city —only to realize the suburbs aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. StreetEasy’s latest campaign, "Never Become a Former New Yorker," flips the script, reminding homebuyers they don’t have to leave to own! In this episode, Andrea Mazandi, Principal Brand Strateg...

Welcome back to Breaking and Entering , where we interview the leaders shaping the future of advertising . In this episode, we sit down with Sandy Greenberg, Co-Founder of Terri & Sandy , to discuss how she left the holding company world to build an independent agency powerhouse , create some of the most iconic campaigns , and push back on outdated industry norms. ✅ The story behind Milk’s Fa...

Welcome back to Breaking and Entering , where we interview the leaders shaping the future of advertising . In this episode, we sit down with Jorge Hernandez, CMO & Founding Partner of Majority , to discuss how he helped build an agency that’s flipping industry norms and why diverse talent should be the standard, not the exception. ✅ How Jorge broke into advertising and built his career ✅ The...

Welcome back to BrandSide , where we interview the marketing leaders agency professionals report to . In this episode, we sit down with Jenny Lewis, CMO & President of The Knot Worldwide , to discuss how she led a bold rebrand of The Knot to connect with Gen Z and today’s social-first audience. ✅ How she transitioned from political campaign management to marketing ✅ Her seven-year career at...

This episode is part of our Creative Partners in Crime series—where we celebrate the best duos in the industry. What happens when two creatives and an agency veteran decide to shake up advertising? Travis Robertson and Greg Almeida , co-founders and co-ECDs of Colossus , a fast-growing independent agency in Boston, share how they built an agency that’s all about bold creativity, smart design, and...

Get the inside scoop on the biggest night in advertising! In this special Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast episode, we sit down with Brian Bonilla and Tim Nudd to break down the hottest Super Bowl ads, creative trends, and ad meter predictions. Whether you’re tuning in before or after the big game, this is the conversation every ad fan needs to hear.

Zach Burton is a Product Marketing Manager at Spotify , helping bring insights and strategy to artists and the music industry. In this episode, Zach shares: ✅ How he transitioned from ESPN & sports journalism to brand marketing ✅ His role in Spotify Wrapped —one of the most iconic marketing campaigns of all time ✅ The differences between brand & product marketing and how they work toget...

Michelle Edelman is the CEO of PETERMAYER , an independent agency based in New Orleans that believes joy can be a business driver . With a career spanning both client-side and agency leadership , Michelle shares: ✅ How she transitioned from marketing to agency life ✅ Why joy is the key to building better brands ✅ How PETERMAYER’S Joy Factor quantifies emotion’s impact on consumer behavior From...

Dave Schiff is the founder and creative director at Standard Practice, an independent agency based in Colorado. Before launching his own shops, he spent years at Crispin Porter Bogusky, working under Alex Bogusky and crafting some of the boldest campaigns in the industry. Dave shares the inside stories behind: ✅ Lyft’s scrappy battle to take on Uber ✅ The Maxim petition that made the U.S. govern...

Geico is shaking up its agency roster after 31 years with The Martin Agency. What does this mean for the future of AOR relationships? Brian Bonilla, Senior Agency Reporter at Ad Age , joins Geno Schellenberger to break down this major shift, along with the Omnicom-IPG merger , the largest holding company deal in decades. We also explore how these industry moves could lead to more independent agenc...