Mad Influence

Today’s guest has interviewed everyone from Sir David Attenborough to Ben Fogle, but today we get to turn the mic on Vikki Stephenson, Senior Creative at the BBC. Vikki joins Mad Influence to talk about her career of over 20 years promoting content with purpose. We chat about everything from the time she landed her “dream job,” only to find out that it clashed with her values, to coming up with the idea to add old-school hip hop to Planet Earth trailers, which then went viral. We talk about her involvement in the ‘1 in 5’ programmes that are created, filmed and produced by people with disabilities. We also discuss jumping between serious topics like Hurricane Katrina and 9/11 to writing scripts for CBeebies, and why both are just as important for children. 

If you like this episode, please subscribe, rate and review us, as this will really help the podcast to grow.

Key topics

- Finding a job with value

- Getting into the BBC

- Representation of disabilities in TV

- David Attenborough

- Natural History, Planet Earth and Perfect Planet

- How to interview people

- Children’s TV

- Are your last ideas the best ideas?

- Advice for young people starting their careers in TV or marketing

Where to find us

Guest: linkedin.com/in/vikki-stephenson-creative/

Host: @madinfluencepod on Twitter and linkedin.com/in/helensaul/

This episode was recorded remotely with music by Joseph McDade

Jean Kilbourne, a pioneering activist, speaker and writer, joins Mad Influence to discuss her research for over half a century into how advertising represents women. We talk about what it was like starting her career as a young female in the 1960s and how things have changed since then. We discuss why her critically acclaimed Killing Us Softly documentary shocked the world when it was first released in 1979, and why people thought advertising's influence was trivial at the time. We chat about Jean meeting with UK parliament and the stereotyping regulation that came into place afterwards. We also discuss social media and its role in the recent storming of the US Capitol, why Jean has never been advocating for censorship of advertising, and which people have inspired her most in her career. 

If you like this episode, please subscribe, rate and review us, as this will really help the podcast to grow.

Key topics

- Representation of women in advertising

- Photoshopping and the pursuit of perfection

- How advertisers can use their power to make positive change vs 'fauxvertising'

- Social media and the storming of the US Capitol

- Conscious capitalism

- The 3% movement

- Stereotyping in advertising

- Media literacy

- Feminism 

- Advice for young people starting their careers in marketing

Where to find us

Guest: www.jeankilbourne.com and @jeankilbourne on Twitter and Facebook.

Host: @madinfluencepod on Twitter and linkedin.com/in/helensaul/

This episode was recorded remotely with music by Joseph McDade

Adam Smith, founder of The Real Junk Food Project, joins Mad Influence to talk about saving millions of meals from going to waste and feeding the world. He also talks about using his platform to speak up about mental health after surviving a suicide attempt ten years ago, and inspiring people to improve their lives, while not having all the answers.  We chat about why the media seem to think his work is so radical, the reason he apologises to the burglars who have broken into his pay-as-you-feel cafes and the best and worst things about social media. We discuss transforming his organisation during coronavirus, the real story behind what’s happening with the food contractors supplying free school meals, and why kindness should always start with looking after yourself.

If you like this episode, please subscribe, rate and review us, as this will really help the podcast to grow.

You can find out more about what the Real Junk Food project does at https://trjfp.com/ which also has links to all its social media pages.

You can follow Mad Influence on Twitter at @madinfluencepod and follow Helen Saul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/helensaul/

Content warning: This episode includes reference to childhood trauma, substance abuse, and suicide. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts please call:

- Samaritans in the UK on 116 123 / or CALM for men on 0800 58 58 58 (or webchat)

We recorded this episode remotely with music by Joseph Mcdade

Jack Parsons, CEO of the Youth Group and The UK’s Chief Youth Officer, joins Mad Influence to talk about his mission to help millions of young people into meaningful employment. Jack opens up about the personal reasons behind his drive, from being a young carer for his Mum who suffered from alcoholism, to realising he wanted to leave a legacy after being operated on for skin cancer. We talk about launching the Mentor Me programme which gives young people the chance to speak to industry experts and a brand new website. We also run through everything from why a multi-million pound apartment doesn’t equate to happiness, to building a personal brand, and how Jack went from being unable to speak at the age of six to being invited to do a TED talk.

If you like this episode, please subscribe, rate and review us, as this will really help the podcast to grow.

Content warning: This episode includes reference to alcoholism and a mention of violence.

You can find out more about what the Youth Group does at www.theyouthgroup.com.

You can follow Mad Influence on Twitter at @madinfluencepod and follow Helen Saul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/helensaul/

We recorded this episode remotely with music by Joseph Mcdade

Oisika Chakrabarti, Acting Chief of Communications and Advocacy for UN Women, joins Mad Influence from her home in New Jersey to talk about her 16 years at the United Nations and her current role working towards gender equality. She explains how growing up and studying in India inspired her deep interest in social justice, along with her early roles in TV reporting and filmmaking. We discuss partnering with Netflix, reaching 1 billion people with the Generation Equality campaign, and putting up billboards highlighting the shocking types of violence that are still legal in many countries. We also talk about the 6 month programme that some high profile celebrities go through before working with UN Women, and why grassroots campaigners are just as important as the valuable support that comes from Nicole Kidman and Emma Watson. 

You can find out more about all the work that Oisika and her team do at www.unwomen.org, @unwomen on Instagram and Facebook and @UN_Women on Twitter.

You can also find Oisika on all the usual social media platforms.

You can follow Mad Influence on Twitter at @madinfluencepod and follow Helen Saul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/helensaul/

If you like this episode, please subscribe, rate and review us, as this will really help the podcast to grow.

Laura Johnson, director at Zebedee (a specialist talent agency for disabled and visibly different actors and models) joins Mad Influence to talk about why disability has to be included in the conversation around inclusion. We chat about how she went from calling up brands’ customer service departments in search of marketing contacts, to now being responsible for Gucci and Kurt Geiger’s most liked Instagram posts ever, and featuring in outlets like BBC News and Vogue. Laura tells us about her transition from social work to running her own agency with her sister-in-law Zoe, and what conversation sparked their original idea. We discuss how people are proven to be fed up with seeing the same generic advertising, and why she won't ever stop trying to drive social change.

If you like this episode, please subscribe, rate and review us, as this will really help the podcast to grow.

You can find Zebedee at www.zebedeemanagement.co.uk, @ZebedeeMan on Twitter, @zebedeetalent on Instagram and @zebedeemanagement on Facebook.

You can follow Mad Influence on Twitter at @madinfluencepod and follow Helen Saul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/helensaul/

We recorded this episode remotely in December 2020 with music by Joseph Mcdade.

Kate Dale, Campaign Lead for This Girl Can joins Mad Influence to talk about what was going through her mind the night before launching a globally successful campaign which won multiple Cannes Lions and got 3 million women active worldwide. We talk about why it’s hard for her to shout about that success and what we can all do to beat imposter syndrome.

We also chat about everything from her move from journalism to marketing, what made her stay at Sport England for almost 20 years, how barriers to women doing sport have evolved over time and why it was important to tackle taboos around periods in her latest ad.

We also go in-depth into how she’s got so many famous names on board with This Girl Can, what made her change her views on influencer marketing over time, and if it’s ever OK to spend government money on Love Island stars.

If you like this episode, please subscribe, rate and review us, as this will really help the podcast to grow.

You can find Kate on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/dalekate/

You can follow Mad Influence on Twitter at @madinfluencepod and follow Helen Saul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/helensaul/

We recorded this episode remotely with music by Joseph Mcdade.

Dipesh Mistry, Associate Creative Director and Art Director at Brave agency joins Mad Influence to talk about the host of powerful campaigns he’s created which have caused real change in the world. From forcing Mattel, Hasbro and Disney to adopt a zero deforestation policy, to helping Age UK tell the real stories of the people they support.

We talk about his work for Brixton Finishing School which helps underrepresented groups of people gain access to the advertising industry, and his proactive idea which John Frieda implemented to donate hair to children who’ve lost it due to serious illness.

We discuss the ups and downs of 2020, his really personal reasons for understanding the pros and cons of remote versus face to face working and why an office culture is about more than ping pong tables and free pizza.  We also talk about how working in an industry which often measures success by likes online can risk filtering into our personal lives and get his advice for people starting out.

If you like this episode, please subscribe, rate and review us, as this will really help the podcast to grow.

You can follow Dip on twitter at @Made_By_Mistry and on Instagram at @made_by_mistry

You can follow Mad Influence on Twitter at @madinfluencepod and follow Helen Saul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/helensaul/

We recorded this episode remotely with music by Joseph Mcdade. It contains some strong language.

Emily and Hannah from Twice the Health (the fitness and adventure blog) join Mad Influence to talk about the responsibility of having 65,000 followers on instagram including some notable names like Joe Wicks. We talk about inspiring people to take on challenges ranging from 10kms to ultra marathons around the world. We discuss the pressure to say the right thing and frustrations when some influencers aren’t genuine with product endorsements.  We cover the highs and lows covid-19 has brought to the industry, how to manage the pressure to be positive online, and coping when things don’t go 100% to plan. We also reminisce about the best and worst types of brand deals and how it really feels to be an exclusively adidas sponsored athlete and a lululemon ambassador. Warning: you may find yourself signing up to an Iron Man or 250km in the Wadi Rum Desert after listening to this episode!

If you like this episode, please subscribe, rate and review us, as this will really help the podcast to grow.

You can find out more about Twice the Health at www.twicethehealth.com or follow them at @twicethehealth on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

You can follow Mad Influence on Twitter at @madinfluencepod and follow Helen Saul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/helensaul/

Thank you very much to our mutual friend Ellie Purvis for putting us in touch for this episode which we recorded remotely. The music for Mad Influence comes from Joseph McDade.

If you like this episode, please subscribe, rate and review us, as this will really help the podcast to grow.

Marcella Tarable, co-founder of Food for Thought, joins Mad Influence to talk about her social initiative which gets people in agencies to donate their skills and lunch break to help charities with their communications in exchange for a nice lunch.

We chat about how a worldwide pandemic didn’t stop Food for Thought creating a very successful campaign for the homeless charity Depaul, why work-life balance is so important for creativity, and the power of a four day week. Marcella also talks about creating a tagline for the social business Ruby Cup (which helps combat period poverty) and why the latest Bodyform work is so good at breaking women's health taboos.

If you like this episode, please subscribe, rate and review us, as this will really help the podcast to grow.

You can find out more about Food for Thought at www.foodforthought.space 

If you would like to get involved with the Depaul campaign the link is www.justgiving.com/campaign/sleepbedless

You can follow Mad Influence on Twitter at @madinfluencepod and follow Helen Saul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/helensaul/

We recorded this episode remotely. The music for Mad Influence comes from Joseph McDade.