Russel Howcroft fell into advertising via a week's work experience his dad organised at McCann Erickson. He stayed for 30 years; co-founding agencies, running Y&R Brands as CEO, becoming PWC's first Chief Creative Officer and is a founding Gruen panellist, since 2008. Now he co-hosts Melbourne's number one breakfast show on 3AW. 

In this episode, Russel is characteristically direct: on why pitching culture is a waste of everyone's time, the hand-and-glove truth about strategy and creativity, why obsession is non-negotiable, and what it feels like when a client trusts you completely — a five-day shoot in Aix-en-Provence, no client in sight, a million pound budget and a beer that sells beautifully ever after.

Kate Downie built Western Australia's most established production house over 25 years. Then 2024 happened. The worst year for production anyone could remember. Instead of riding it out, she tore the model apart. No more roster. No more gatekeeper. Just exceptional production expertise, pointed anywhere in the world. 

In this episode, Kate talks about what it actually means to produce (spoiler: it's all problem solving), the brutal economics of pitch culture, why a bad year can be a beautiful year, and the simple philosophy she's operated by her entire career: be good at it, be kind, and don't burn bridges. Turns out that holds up.

Amy Hollier spent 20 years as a copywriter and creative director, including six years at Saatchi Paris pitching ideas in rough Croatian-inflected French. She built a reputation for creative integrity at BWM Dentsu. Then in 2020 she co-founded The Open Arms — a purpose-led agency that only takes on briefs where the work can create genuine positive change. In this conversation, Amy talks about the move from creative to commercial lead (and why more creatives should make it), the Kmart reinvention that saved 30,000 jobs, the Respect Victoria campaign her teenage sons are watching on their feeds, and why staying curious isn't soft advice — it's the whole job.

Host: Camey O'Keefe, Gambol Creative

Guest: Amy Hollier, The Open Arms

Produced by Lore Studio.

Lea Walker has spent 30 years placing creative talent across three continents. But she started as a suit. It was a pay cut, a title cut and eleven interviews at Fallon London that changed everything. 

In this episode, Lea talks about learning the real job of account management (clear the path, protect the work), the moment she left account service because nobody cared about the work enough, and how helping creative people find their right place became her version of purposeful work. She also gets honest about the weight of knowing everyone's secrets, the loneliness of running your own show, and why Ikigai isn't just a theory — it's a career strategy.

Host: Camey O'Keefe, Gambol Creative

Guest: Lea Walker, Mrs Walker

Produced by Lore Studio.

Liana Rossi never had a plan. She started writing Pringles captions because a guy liked her all-caps Facebook updates. She moved to Tasmania on a Sunday afternoon phone call. She left a full-time job and enrolled in clown school simultaneously. And somehow, across digital agencies, MONA, and two stints going independent, she built one of the most distinctive creative voices in Australia. 

In this episode, Liana talks about the value of going deep over wide, developing genuine taste in an age of algorithm and AI, why she refuses to define herself and what it actually costs to leap, including the safety nets most people don't admit they have.

Host: Camey O'Keefe, Gambol Creative

Guest: Liana Rossi, Surprisingly Professional

This podcast is produced by Lore Studio.

Jo Stanley spent 12 years co-hosting Australia's most listened-to breakfast show. Then Gold FM sacked her. What came next —Broad Radio, Australia's first full radio network for women, by women — is still being built. 

In this conversation, Jo talks honestly about the terror of creative risk, the anxiety that shadowed her standup years, the infantilising bubble of breakfast radio, and why no idea is wasted — even the terrible ones. A candid, funny and genuinely moving conversation about what happens when the industry walks away from five million women and one of them decides to do something about it.

Host: Camey O'Keefe, Gambol Creative

Guest: Jo Stanley, Broad Radio

This podcast is produced by Lore Studio.

This is a podcast for people working in a creative field. Or those who want to. Anyone wrestling with the competing forces of art and commerce. Or those who want to work in an environment that fosters creativity and problem solving.

If you're keen to explore how to better navigate the commercial realities of the gig, with less angst and more fun. To progress your career and make it play – this pod's for you.

Hosted by Camey O'Keefe of Gambol Creative and regular panelist on Gruen Transfer.

This podcast is produced by Lore Studio.