On Strategy Showcase

We're a nation of protein-seeking adults in search of alternatives to yogurt snacks and chicken bites. So why not a healthier, protein-packed beef stick snack? Tons to learn in this episode. "Stick to Real" is the brand's platform. Its executions contrast exaggerated reality with moments of real. I talk with Archer Meat's Andrew Thomas. Thanks to Tracksuit for supporting o...

We talk about how the world's greatest e-comm site considers category entry points. Also about the story behind this year's holiday ads campaign, including Benedict Cumberbatch's 5-Star Ratings Theatre, and what the now full-funnel marketer is still trying to better understand. I'm joined by Chris Marchegiani, Head of Brand Planning Insights and Creative, and Garett Levy, Sr. G...

Planning's greatest Holiday Ads Party returned live to the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. A packed house watched and debated some of the best holiday ads from the US and UK. On stage were Nimisha Jain, CSO at Highdive, Pedr Howard, Head of Creative Excellence at Ipsos, Samantha Cescau, CSO at Leo Burnett and Mark Gross, Co-Founder and Co-CCO at Highdive. Love to hear what your favorite Holiday...

We talk with some of London's top strategic and creative talent about the year that was 2025. Martin Beverley of Ace of Hearts, Paula Bloodworth of Alien Baby, Mel Arrow of McCann, Chris Gallery of Mother and Alex Grieve of BBH join me. Next live tour stop is Boston in late January. Thanks to The Effies, Tracksuit and Ipsos for supporting our Live Tour. 

The odds were stacked against Indeed in India. Late to market and up against behemoths whose combined market share crossed 90%, they had a fight on their hands. We hear the backstory of how they build a B2B beachhead as a way into the broader B2C market. Thanks to the Effies for making this international episode possible.

We're joined by Helene Dick, Head of Strategy at Special LA and Tom Kenny, CSO at Courage in Toronto. We discuss new work from The Ordinary and Mother's campaign for Claude AI. Thanks to Tracksuit and System1 for supporting this series.

Our interviews with UK winners as their amazingly effective work gets recognized on Effie night in London. Xbox, Uber, Smarty Mobile, Irish Tourism, Walkers, CALM, and the Grand Prix winning Nurofen from McCann London. What a night for McCann. They also won Agency of the Year and took home a total of seven awards. You can see all of the creative work from these interviews on our website at onstrat...

We brought together planners and creatives to talk about epiphany moments - those times when you know you've just unlocked the idea. We talk about what they ultimately led to in the work. Joining me are Ryan Lehr, Co-CCO at Deutsch, John Deschner, Head of Brand at Maximum Effort, Jill Burgeson, CSO at TBWA/Chiat/Day/LA, Amanda Shapiro, EVP Strategy at Deutsch and Jason Karley, ECD at Artist&a...

An encore airing of this multiple Gold Effie winner. Chris Beresford-Hill, Worldwide Chief Creative Officer at BBDO shares the real story behind the Michael Cera campaign, one he led while at Ogilvy. Frustrated by how it was being told, he shares the reality. 

Unilever CMO, Tati Lindenberg and MullenLowe's Rachel Stets join me to share how Unilever's detergent brand in the UK, in an effort to reclaim its product performance strengths, partnered with Arsenal women's soccer for the "Every Stain Should Be Part of the Game" initiative. Thanks to Tracksuit (the affordable brand tracking solution) for supporting this episode.

Five NY strategy leaders reflect on our topic and share their points of view on where we are today and how strong the future looks for what we do. Joining us are Jeff McCrory of Mischief, Tass Tsitsopoulos of W+K, Anibal Casso of Ogilvy, Emily Portnoy and BBDO, and Tom Morton of Narratory Capital. Thanks to our live tour sponsors: The Effies, Tracksuit and Ipsos. 

It's planners talking brands they've never worked on. This month, guest panelists Dan Ng, CSO at Johannes Leonardo, NYC and Steve Walls, CSO at Moon Rabbit join our regular panel of misfits. Thanks to System1 and Tracksuit for making this series possible.

I'm glad I recently met Joe Burns. He's my kind of strategist: blunt, honest and mostly right. From Mother to BBH to Quality Meats, Joe has been shaping his own unique style, one we should all get familiar with. You can also WATCH this episode on our website or YouTube channel. Be sure to Subscribe.

The foundational brand campaigns of Home Depot, Chick-fil-A, RAM Trucks, Hummer, Fiat, Motel 6, Corona, Chili's, Stanley, and Southwest Airlines were all born in Texas. We recorded live at TRG to talk about this great body of work and what makes them Texas originals. I was joined by Derek Dabrowski, SVP, Head of Cold Brands at Kuerig Dr. Pepper, Terrence Reynolds, CCO, at TRG, Kate Rush Sheeh...

Remember Polaroid and its instant photo proposition? For some it’s a dusty icon of the past, but for others it might just be the latest innovative idea. Polaroid's internal creative and planning leads, Patricia Varella and Dovile Banyte join me to talk about "The camera for an analog life." 

It's planners talking brands they've never worked on. This month, guest panelists Lachlan Badenoch, CSO at Carmichael Lynch and Kelsey Karson EVP, Head of Strategy at Tombras, join our regular panel of misfits. Thanks to System1 and Tracksuit for making this series possible.

Founded in 2016, Highdive has produced Super Bowl work for Lays, Jeep, State Farm, Rocket, MSC Cruises, BetMGM and more. Mark Gross, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Erin Wong, Group Strategy Director and Vanessa Chin of System1 join me. 

Watch out, they're coming. After 10 legendary years at Adam&EveDDB, Martin and Rick have resurfaced as Ace of Hearts alongside Polly McMorrow from McCann. We have an honest conversation about why they left, what their ambition is and what might be possible with a different kind of company.

"Fit for all Times" is the brand's platform. CMO Andrew Katz joins me to talk about how a specialist brewer is trying to outperform the generalists, like Heineken, in the alcohol-free (AF) beer space. Thanks to Tracksuit (the affordable brand tracking solution) for making this episode possible.

If you're old enough to remember the 90s, you may be old enough for Neutrogena Retinol. The new work from BBDO disrupts the conventions of skincare with a fun angle that reminds us how old we really are. Thanks to Chris Riat of Neutrogena and Alex Booker and Leah Gritton Smolensky of BBDO, NY. 

"For the Love of Pubs" is Heineken's B2B2C platform for ensuring the long term health of Irish bars. I'm joined by Mark Noble of Heineken and Ger Roe of Publicis, Dublin to talk through the amazing award-winning ideas they've brought to life together over the last few years. What can you do for your channel partners?

Planners talking about brands they've never worked on. This month we talk Travel (Icelandic Tourism & City of Oslo) and Telco (Telstra & the U.S. big three.) Our guest planners are Caleb Smith of W+K, NYC and Rachael Stets of MullenLowe, London. Thanks to System1 and Tracksuit for making this series possible.

The beverage brand's CMO, formerly of Red Bull, Beats and Apple, shares the story behind the rebrand and it’s ambitions to achieve mainstream volume in its distinctive yellow can. Thanks to Tracksuit (the affordable brand tracking solution) for supporting this episode.

Emily Portnoy, CSO at BBDO, NY, takes us inside this year's Effie judge's room to hear why Favor Delivery won Gold. We then hear from Favor's Chris Rogge and Preacher's Seher Sikandar for the story behind the winning campaign: "How Texas Orders In." You can see all the creative work on our website.

A must listen episode. Telstra's CMO, Brent Smart shares the transformation of this once staid, government-owned Australian telco into a unique and creatively brilliant brand... with the business results that prove it.