As the year winds down, this special Thanksgiving episode of Just Fix It In Post! takes a moment to reflect on the incredible journey over the past year. From trailblazing creatives to industry leaders, each conversation has painted a vivid picture of where we stand in the commercial advertising world and the challenges we face.

Jessica Boone: Navigating Industry Changes from Photography to Food Styling

In this episode of Just Fix It In Post!, Sean Rice chats with Jessica Boone, an exceptional food stylist who made a bold career shift from photography to food styling. Jessica dives into the story behind her decision to transition, sharing how her love for visual storytelling evolved into crafting mouthwatering food visuals that captivate viewers. One of her favorite projects? Working with Postmates to create vibrant, appetizing imagery that pushed creative boundaries and allowed her to explore fresh, bold compositions.

Jessica also opens up about the current industry slowdown and the impact it’s having on creatives across the board. We discuss how AI is reshaping the landscape, especially when it comes to brand differentiation and the challenges of achieving true realism—something AI still struggles to master in food styling. Jessica’s perspective offers listeners an inside look at adapting to industry changes and the creative strategies she employs to keep her work unique and on-brand in a shifting market.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation that spans Jessica's career journey, her insights on AI, and what it takes to thrive as a creative professional today.

Jessica Boone Sites

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-boone-42b9b03/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromphototophood/

Website: https://www.jessicaboone.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessica.boone.501/

Behance: https://www.behance.net/infojessic2b82?locale=en_US

Works Discussed In Episode

Wait Rose Magazine: https://www.waitrose.com

Cava: https://cava.com

Art Center College of Design: https://www.artcenter.edu

Just Fix It In Post! Links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justfixitinpostpodcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u361QqRQhK3E1Z1pEdCYI?si=37807630883943b1

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-fix-it-in-post/id1772480410

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustFixItInPostPodcast

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b3967a4b-0844-4435-a44a-6ed17f8b9dba/just-fix-it-in-post 

Mastering Social Media at Saatchi & Saatchi: Sam Vander Forest on Digital Strategy and Creative Innovation

In this episode of Just Fix It In Post!, Sean Rice sits down with Sam Vander Forest, social media manager at Saatchi & Saatchi, where he helps oversee the digital presence of Toyota U.S.A. Sam shares his journey from a journalism graduate to a key figure shaping Toyota's social media strategies across platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. With five years at Saatchi, Sam discusses how social media has evolved within the advertising industry and how brands, including Toyota, are adapting to platforms where authenticity, speed, and creative flexibility matter more than ever.

Sam dives into the ideation process behind launching social media campaigns, including how his team developed the creative strategy for Toyota's vehicle launches on TikTok, making it one of the fastest-growing automotive brands on the platform. He also opens up about the challenges of helping manage a small but mighty team, working with influencers and creators, and balancing traditional brand standards with the fast-paced, ever-changing world of social media. From iPhone-shot videos to TikTok creator collaborations, Sam highlights how social content is created, executed, and evaluated, offering valuable insights for anyone navigating the digital advertising landscape.

In bonus "Chit Chat," Sam discusses how companies are shifting ad dollars toward micro-influencers and everyday creators to reach targeted audiences authentically. Sean highlights Publicis Group's acquisition of Influential and explores the data-driven strategies reshaping ad spending, examining what these changes mean for creatives aiming to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry.

Sam Vander Forest Sites

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-vander-forest/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanderforest4

Works Discussed In Episode

Pushing Pistons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TkQ5UA2iaY

Partnerships with Huff https://pressroom.toyota.com/huf-x-land-cruiser-channels-70-years-of-off-road-innovation/

Huckberry https://huckberry.com/store/huckberry-x-tacoma

AI for Toyota Canada for social - https://www.saatchi.ca/work/sneakers-ai

At&t Spokes Person: https://www.nickiswift.com/1546749/actress-lily-att-commercials-sad-truth/

Original Hot Hatch tweet we put out: https://x.com/Toyota/status/1222989238679089167

GR Corolla Detective: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CbuxX5mjqDM/

One of the final “video easter eggs” for GR Corolla: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CYCXMP8Bop7/

And here are a few links to some of the original, early easter egg posts for that campaign:

a. https://www.instagram.com/p/CW_VuA7hmvg/

b. https://www.instagram.com/p/CVf-8GuA18L/

c. https://www.instagram.com/p/CG5MTv4nmEv/

d. https://www.instagram.com/p/CFvXCy7H0fA/

Bonus Chit Chat Links

Influential: https://influential.co

Arm & Hammer Facebook Ad: https://www.facebook.com/reel/3968098100181704

Arm & Hammer Deep Clean Hashtag: https://www.instagram.com/explore/search/keyword/?q=%23ahdeepclean

Just Fix It In Post! Links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justfixitinpostpodcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u361QqRQhK3E1Z1pEdCYI?si=37807630883943b1

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-fix-it-in-post/id1772480410

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustFixItInPostPodcast

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b3967a4b-0844-4435-a44a-6ed17f8b9dba/just-fix-it-in-post 

From High School to Tiki Studios: Sergey Poltavskiy’s Journey of Mastery and Innovation

In this episode of Just Fix It In Post!, Sean C. Rice dives deep into the world of CGI and creative entrepreneurship with Sergey Poltavskiy, a partner at Tiki Studios. Sergey shares his extraordinary journey from teaching himself CGI at a young age to landing his first job at 14, modeling cars for Honda. He reflects on his early days working on body kits and how his passion for cars fueled his career. Sergey opens up about his time at various creative studios, including the invaluable mentorship he received at Indigo Studios, where he honed his craft in 3D modeling, rigging, and animation. He also discusses the challenges of stepping into leadership roles, including his decision to co-found Tiki Studios with his partners Chuck and Dean, right before the pandemic hit.

Sergey offers invaluable insights into the world of CGI, sharing the importance of efficiency, speed, and maintaining strong client relationships. From rendering full CGI environments to launching vehicles for major brands like GM, Sergey’s commitment to innovation shines throughout the episode. Tune in to hear how he navigated a fast-paced, ever-evolving industry while staying true to his artistic roots.

Sergey Poltavskiy Sites

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sergeypoltavskiy/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tikistudiosdetroit/

Website: https://tikistudios.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Redstarcg

Facebook Groups: https://www.facebook.com/groups/automotivecgi

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Poltavskiy/videos

YouTube Education: https://www.youtube.com/@AutomotiveCGI

Works Discussed In Episode

CAT Transmission Animation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqr-N2qwH1k

Combine Animation: https://youtu.be/pOH4UQejHbY?si=Vbs42HmkORUlaI11

Engine Animation: https://youtu.be/Bl8I3iP4dcA?si=EsxXvGMUn-rCeOL6

Just Fix It In Post! Links

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justfixitinpostpodcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u361QqRQhK3E1Z1pEdCYI?si=37807630883943b1

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-fix-it-in-post/id1772480410

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustFixItInPostPodcast

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b3967a4b-0844-4435-a44a-6ed17f8b9dba/just-fix-it-in-post 

Mastering Multidisciplinary Creativity with Jason Travis

Works Discussed In Episode

Just Fix It In Post! Links

Racing the Clock: Commercial Production and Beyond with Paul Papanek

Paul Papanek Links

Content Mentioned in Episode

Navigating the Creative Industry with Account Director Patrick Young

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justfixitinpostpodcast

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5u361QqRQhK3E1Z1pEdCYI?si=37807630883943b1

Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-fix-it-in-post/id1772480410

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JustFixItInPostPodcast

Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b3967a4b-0844-4435-a44a-6ed17f8b9dba/just-fix-it-in-post

Building Legends: Toyota's Iconic Launches with Paul Czaplicki

In this episode of Just Fix It In Post!, Sean C. Rice sits down with Paul Czaplicki, a marketing veteran in the automotive industry who played a pivotal role at Toyota. Paul shares behind-the-scenes stories from launching some of Toyota’s most iconic models, including the Supra, Celica, Tacoma, and MR2. Not only was Paul instrumental in bringing these legendary vehicles to market, but he also spearheaded the launch of Toyota's high-performance sub-brands, TRD PRO and GR. With decades of experience navigating product development and branding, Paul offers a unique perspective on the strategy and passion behind building lasting automotive legacies. Tune in for an inspiring conversation filled with rich insights from a true automotive pioneer.

X: https://x.com/PCz911

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pcz911/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/czaplicki

Youtube: 

https://youtube.com/@pcztv?si=J9yMVxLaPfGe8rGm

Prius C Persona Series https://seancrice.com/AUTOMOTIVE/NEON-MUSEUM/thumbs

The Unbreakable Series - Hilux: https://youtu.be/3j8u8xk-oNI?si=5L1-tCd6SteJnDvM
The Unbreakable Series - gets hit by an astroid: https://youtu.be/XTlB-J8Ff5o?si=wlID5rMPORL7ZRDg
The Unbreakable Series -  Lock Ness Monster: https://youtu.be/gCe-1LYj_4o?si=2dww0r9aELMFYmjp

Prius C - Monster Energy: https://vimeo.com/398299137

Vintage - Have you ever seen a broken down Toyota?: https://youtu.be/rzBdPr9Cbh8?si=Jjx0cR-KGHE1SlnU

Volcano Hoping in Chile https://youtu.be/wg88g3xF5_Q?si=U7sh3oRUXNs41NoK
TRD Pro Vietnam: https://vimeo.com/276301107

Jay Leno Series:

EP1:  https://vimeo.com/209828751 

EP2: https://vimeo.com/211615519 

EP3: https://vimeo.com/213094266 

EP4: https://vimeo.com/226204638 

EP5: https://vimeo.com/228393943