Ad Age Special Edition

Madonna Badger is the founder and chief creative officer of Badger & Winters, the agency behind the Women Not Objects campaign, No Kids in Cages and Olay's 2020 Super Bowl ad.

In 2011, her three children and her parents were killed in a fire on Christmas Day. Badger escaped by crawling out a window, clad only in her pajamas. Now, as the country faces 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, she talks about dealing with grief, both personal and public, on this episode of the "Ad Block" podcast.

Ryan Ford, CCO at Cashmere, talks about the music that influenced him when he was young and how it continues to impact his work now. He also weighs in on lullabies for his new daughter (who guest stars for a bit), music distribution before the internet and how the pandemic is already changing the music people to listen to.

Ty Montague, founder co:collective, talks about being a licensed pilot who has been flying for nearly 20 years. He also weighs in on pandemic binge watching, aerobatics and the dangers of unstoppable artificial intelligence.

Dan Gardner, co-founder and CEO of Code & Theory, talks about quarantining with his family of seven—along with his wife and their five kids, ages 4 to 11. He also weighs in on the failures of structured learning, the benefits of accidental hoarding and how co-sleeping became a way of life for his family.

Maria Molland, CEO of underwear and period care brand Thinx, talks about facing a global pandemic while 9 months pregnant. She also talks about how the pandemic has changed her media diet, her reluctance to end work-from-home protocols and why prospective parents may want to reconsider right now.

Jan Jacobs, co-founder and chief creative officer at Johannes Leonardo, talks about his love of surfing. He also weighs in on the allure of F1 racing as both a sport and a design challenge, how art may have helped kill off the Neanderthals and why he likes to read creative briefs as early as possible.

Amber Guild, the president of T Brand at the New York Times, talks about growing up as the child of political activists. She also weighs in on life with her British husband, questioning authority at work and the lies ads tell kids.

Mark Bernath, ECD at Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam, is a musician that records psychedelic rock under the name 'Necessary Explosion,' illustrating the tracks with hand-drawn animations created on his smartphone. He also weighs in on the benefits of having an agency radio station, why he likes awkwardness and why it's always better to ask for forgiveness than permission when Netflix-cheating on your partner.

Judy John, global CCO at Edelman, talks about making it in advertising as a shy, socially awkward person who hates small talk and public speaking. She also weighs in on her favorite football team, her love of Kanye West and what she would eat for her last meal.

Jessica Pels, editor-in-chief of Cosmopolitan, she talks about growing up as a ballet dancer. She also weighs in on the ways her training has made her a better editor (high pain tolerance, for one), the joys of mass transit and skin care tips from presidential candidates.