The NDA Podcast

The topic that everyone has an opinion on — creative awards. One of the most contentious conversations in the industry, you either love them or hate them. Which is exactly where our guests stand this week. We’re asking those who’ve won them, lost them, judged them and scorned them some of the questions we all want answered. How can you judge something so subjective? Are the projects real? Are...

Every agency website says “We’re an inclusive studio” but are they? Beyond the buzzwords, how does that play out for those working there? What are they doing day-to-day to action the claim? Because it’s not a simple one. Especially when what’s inclusive to one person, isn’t to another.  So is it even possible to build a studio that doesn’t exclude anyone in it?  This week, we’re trying t...

On average, 1 in 7 people are neurodiverse. In the creative industry, that number jumps to 1 in 5. If we all take a look around our studios, there could be a lot more divergent thinking than we realise. In this week’s episode, we try to unpick what it’s like to be an ND creative and what ND actually is. We discuss all the obstacles neurodiverse people face in our industry. Having to fit into...

Female leadership is on everyone’s radar, as the industry works to reverse the sad statistics of the gender split at the top. While we should be celebrating the women who’ve made it there, not many people are asking, how did you manage it? With all the barriers and biases in the way, how did you tackle them? Especially in environments that aren’t set up for women to succeed. In this week’s episode...

The dirty topic of money. A conversation held in hushed tones in the staff kitchen. Tentatively approached around the pub table. Awkwardly brought up in a final interview. The creative industry has long had a money problem. But why is it so difficult to discuss? Today’s episode lifts the lid on salary secrecy, debating the pros & cons of transparency, and interrogating why we’re all so tight-l...

Not many of us can relate to being in university during a pandemic. But we will all meet those who can, as a new generation of epidemic trained academics enter the industry. Creative courses are known for their collaboration, the osmosis of ideas, and use of amazing facilities…. Experiences the 2020 – ’22 graduates missed out on. In this episode, we’re hearing from both sides of the desk. Neeraj K...

Good managers and bad managers. We’ve all had them. And do we all become them? In today’s episode, we’re going to be discussing progression in the creative industries, and the realities of updating your LinkedIn status.  After years spent learning a craft, creatives are promoted into roles where they’re taken off the tools and dropped into resourcing meetings. A leap that doesn’t suit everyon...

“I can’t believe they paid for that” “That kerning burns my eyes” “Seen this a million times” “Wouldn’t touch this project with a barge pole” Scrolling to the bottom of the page to see the comments is some people’s guilty pleasure — but if it’s your work they’re commenting on, it becomes a more sinister read. What’s the purpose of this echo chamber? Should we be stepping in when comments turn pers...

Just 12% of the creative industry is from a working-class background. Did this statistic happen by accident? Or is there more we can do to diversify our studios? Discussing parental privilege, accent mocking, social embarrassment, regionality importance and so much more – this episode highlights some of the barriers to working-class creatives trying to crack the industry, and those already working...

When did it become normal to set a brief for an interview? Why are agencies ashamed to admit they do it? How much work is too much work? And should it be free? This week, we're discussing Interview Tasks and the effect they're having on hiring in the creative industry. We'll be hearing from Nikky Lyle who is a Creative Recruiter, and hear all the inside info on what these tasks look like and who i...

Welcome to The NDA Podcast. The creative podcast that's here to challenge topics the industry has been keeping under waiver for years. Unfiltered conversations, without the fear of being cancelled. Bringing creatives of different levels, different backgrounds and very different opinions together. To debate the contentious issues we only dare discuss in our DMs. This season, we'll be exploring...