These are uncertain times. Unclear, unsettled, maybe even a little unpleasant. And if you’re an innovator, that’s some really good news.

We’re giving the last word of the season to Nick Childs, co-founder of DIRT, a consumer insights research platform that uses neuroscience to strengthen the bond between creators and audiences. But you probably already know Nick from his creative leadership at WPP, Omnicom, IPG, and Grey, as well as his award-winning work as an independent filmmaker and producer.

 You’ll hear about the time that Nick shepherded our own Michael Cruz through his directorial debut a few decades ago. But this is no stroll down memory lane. In fact, Nick is firmly focused on what’s next — including the potential for technology to enhance creativity and enrich audiences’ experiences. In the meantime, that means embracing fear, accepting the skeptics, and getting cozy with the crucible that is adversity.

What can the advertising industry achieve when we combine our craft with technology? How do we celebrate AI as a powerful new tool of the trade, rather than wringing our hands about being replaced? What if, rather than being crushed by the coming ‘tsunami of AI,’ we learn to ride the wave — and find ourselves someplace more curious, more collaborative, more truly creative than we imagined? Join us.  

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould
Guest: Nick Childs
Producer: Lyndsay Hoff
Editor: Adam Kasper

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Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Summer Friday is a vibe. An approach. And — dare we say it? — a way of life. It's that ethos that inspires us, challenges us, and pushes us every day to take our company to places we never dreamed. And that’s what this podcast is all about.

Exploring business & culture means amplifying voices. That’s why we’re including as much diverse thinking as possible — opening up the guest list to pull in questions and perspectives from across our team and our listeners. It’s a conversation all about business, entrepreneurship, marketing, technology and life. Because that’s what Summer Friday is all about, too.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould

Producer: Lyndsay Hoff

Editor: Adam Kasper

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Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Need a reason to check out our new report on Generation Z ? We’ll give you four: Amber, Derrick, Kelsey, and Sydney.

Today, the microphone is handed over to four of Summer Friday’s own Gen Z delegates. (Well, technically we have three repping the Z, plus there’s one proud Zennial to round out the mix.) Because we’re not only exploring the values, ambitions, and perspectives of this complex, resilient generation. We’re also hearing from them directly.

They’re not scared to take on the big questions: What’s it like to be the first generation to grow up fully digital? What major experiences have shaped their worldview? What are the myths — and truths — about their own cohort? And is Gen Z really as lazy as everyone says? (Hint: Not even close.) Join us as we listen and learn why the kids really are alright.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould
Guests: Kelsey Connors, Derrick Owens, Amber Shephard, Sydney Turturro
Producer: Lyndsay Hoff
Editor: Adam Kasper

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@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Summer Friday is a vibe. An approach. And — dare we say it? — a way of life. It's that ethos that inspires us, challenges us, and pushes us every day to take our company to places we never dreamed. And that’s what this podcast is all about.

Exploring business & culture means amplifying voices. That’s why we’re including as much diverse thinking as possible — opening up the guest list to pull in questions and perspectives from across our team and our listeners. It’s a conversation all about business, entrepreneurship, marketing, technology and life. Because that’s what Summer Friday is all about, too.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould

Producer: Lyndsay Hoff

Editor: Adam Kasper

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@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Bringing a concept to life is one thing. Growing and sustaining it? Another beast entirely.

In the second of this two-part episode, we’re digging in with Justin Rosenberg, founder and CEO of fast-casual concept  honeygrow . How did he nail it and scale it at a 40% growth rate over the last 13+ years and 40 locations? And how does he maintain that momentum to power the team and the brand?

Find out why OCD is a benefit, especially when it comes to wrangling Google and Yelp reviews. Bonus: Sordid tales of the salad that was too delicious for its own good — and the reasons the “quasi-Italian” salad named after our own Rob Simone got 86ed. Join us.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Dan Gould
Guest: Justin Rosenberg
Producer: Lyndsay Hoff
Editor: Adam Kasper

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@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Summer Friday is a vibe. An approach. And — dare we say it? — a way of life. It's that ethos that inspires us, challenges us, and pushes us every day to take our company to places we never dreamed. And that’s what this podcast is all about.

Exploring business & culture means amplifying voices. That’s why we’re including as much diverse thinking as possible — opening up the guest list to pull in questions and perspectives from across our team and our listeners. It’s a conversation all about business, entrepreneurship, marketing, technology and life. Because that’s what Summer Friday is all about, too.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould

Producer: Lyndsay Hoff

Editor: Adam Kasper

heysummerfriday.com

@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Entrepreneurship is equal parts sprint and marathon.

Creating and scaling a brand requires discipline. Persistence. Gumption. Those unglamorous — and frankly, underrated — characteristics not only fuel the journey but also make the destination that much sweeter.

In this two-part episode, we’re sitting down with Justin Rosenberg, founder and CEO of fast-casual food concept honeygrow , to find out what inspired his vision and what sustains him along the way. Is balance achievable? How do you push beyond “near-death experiences” to even emerge stronger and faster than before?

Full disclosure: All the running metaphors used in this episode are legit. In addition to being BFFs and bandmates in high school, Rob and Justin were cross-country teammates. Join us to find out what scaling Cardiac Hill taught them about scaling their businesses — and what they learned from Coach Gumbus about taking that next step.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Dan Gould
Guest: Justin Rosenberg
Producer: Lyndsay Hoff
Editor: Adam Kasper

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@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Summer Friday is a vibe. An approach. And — dare we say it? — a way of life. It's that ethos that inspires us, challenges us, and pushes us every day to take our company to places we never dreamed. And that’s what this podcast is all about.

Exploring business & culture means amplifying voices. That’s why we’re including as much diverse thinking as possible — opening up the guest list to pull in questions and perspectives from across our team and our listeners. It’s a conversation all about business, entrepreneurship, marketing, technology and life. Because that’s what Summer Friday is all about, too.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould

Producer: Lyndsay Hoff

Editor: Adam Kasper

heysummerfriday.com

@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

The torrential rains turned this year’s Burning Man into a mud-soaked, apocalyptic hellscape, complete with celebrities bewailing their fate from a convoy of luxury motorhomes, right?

Not exactly. In fact, some say this year’s unusual burn was serendipitous. It invited participants to disconnect — not only from technology, but also from the mindset that prioritizes productivity at all costs.

In today’s episode, we’re digging into that mud, and examining what it means to integrate the principle of immediacy beyond the playa, including the workplace. What happens when we engage only in the present moment, and resist the impulse to think ahead? Along the way, how do we make time and space to be fully human?

We’re thinking big and getting our hands dirty in the process. Join us.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Dan Gould, Michael Cruz
Producer: Derrick Owen
Editor: Adam Kasper

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@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Summer Friday is a vibe. An approach. And — dare we say it? — a way of life. It's that ethos that inspires us, challenges us, and pushes us every day to take our company to places we never dreamed. And that’s what this podcast is all about.

Exploring business & culture means amplifying voices. That’s why we’re including as much diverse thinking as possible — opening up the guest list to pull in questions and perspectives from across our team and our listeners. It’s a conversation all about business, entrepreneurship, marketing, technology and life. Because that’s what Summer Friday is all about, too.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould

Producer: Lyndsay Hoff

Editor: Adam Kasper

heysummerfriday.com

@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Does it feel like more companies are in watch-and-wait mode when it comes to their Q4 marketing budgets? You’re not imagining it.

Organizations across the country seem to be playing it safe. And as talk of an impending recession continues to dominate the news cycle, they’re even more likely to implement preventive measures, including cuts.

In today’s episode, we’re exploring the degree to which the media’s economic prognostications are wagging the dog: Is it all scaremongering and clickbait, or something more substantial? If spending recedes as a result, is a downturn nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy? And what is the cost — financial or otherwise — of downsizing, then reacquiring talent?

By the way, ‘pause’ isn’t the only button being pushed. We’re also fantasizing about the existence of a do-over button. (Seriously, could someone get on that? Like ... STAT?) Join us.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Dan Gould, Patricia Masi,
Producer: Lyndsay Hoff
Editor: Adam Kasper

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@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Summer Friday is a vibe. An approach. And — dare we say it? — a way of life. It's that ethos that inspires us, challenges us, and pushes us every day to take our company to places we never dreamed. And that’s what this podcast is all about.

Exploring business & culture means amplifying voices. That’s why we’re including as much diverse thinking as possible — opening up the guest list to pull in questions and perspectives from across our team and our listeners. It’s a conversation all about business, entrepreneurship, marketing, technology and life. Because that’s what Summer Friday is all about, too.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould

Producer: Lyndsay Hoff

Editor: Adam Kasper

heysummerfriday.com

@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

What happens when an agency is powered by AI?

By now, we’ve all wrestled with questions of ethics, sentience and whether or not ChatGPT (sorry … Sydney) is angling to replace the whole creative department. But, as marketers, there’s a lot more to think about.

In today’s episode, we’re exploring the application of machine learning to marketing strategy: Is performance all that matters? Is human intervention, with all its magic and messiness, still necessary — or even advantageous? And what does it mean for us when those insights come from algorithms that are, in the words of Rob Zombie, more human than a human?

It’s heady stuff. Join us‚ and add your (non-artificial) intelligence to the conversation.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould
Producer: Lyndsay Hoff
Editor: Adam Kasper

heysummerfriday.com
@heysummerfriday

Summer Friday is a vibe. An approach. And — dare we say it? — a way of life. It's that ethos that inspires us, challenges us, and pushes us every day to take our company to places we never dreamed. And that’s what this podcast is all about.

Exploring business & culture means amplifying voices. That’s why we’re including as much diverse thinking as possible — opening up the guest list to pull in questions and perspectives from across our team and our listeners. It’s a conversation all about business, entrepreneurship, marketing, technology and life. Because that’s what Summer Friday is all about, too.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould

Producer: Lyndsay Hoff

Editor: Adam Kasper

heysummerfriday.com

@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Every agency — and every business — has its metrics of success. KPIs tell you more than how your organization is performing. They’re also a window into your direction, your culture and your values.

 In today’s episode, Summer Friday is taking a closer look at the way we measure up, and what happens when we reimagine our key criteria for success. What if profitability takes a backseat to client relationship longevity? And what happens when business development is motivated by something other than revenue? And while we’re at it, we also break out the yardstick and reexamine the role of technology in our lives, from screen time to social media. Join us.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould, Alicia Wiedemann
Producer: Lyndsay Hoff Editor:
Adam Kasper

heysummerfriday.com 
@heysummerfriday 
Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Summer Friday is a vibe. An approach. And — dare we say it? — a way of life. It's that ethos that inspires us, challenges us, and pushes us every day to take our company to places we never dreamed. And that’s what this podcast is all about.

Exploring business & culture means amplifying voices. That’s why we’re including as much diverse thinking as possible — opening up the guest list to pull in questions and perspectives from across our team and our listeners. It’s a conversation all about business, entrepreneurship, marketing, technology and life. Because that’s what Summer Friday is all about, too.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould

Producer: Lyndsay Hoff

Editor: Adam Kasper

heysummerfriday.com

@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Sometimes the best way to figure something out…is just to do the thing. 

Summer Friday was built on this belief. And so was this podcast, which launched two episodes ago without even having an official name. 

That all changes in episode three, where we set out to talk about SEO with digital marketing guru Madelyn Ihnen. But while discussing some best practices for making a new brand searchable, the conversation organically shifts to the saga behind Summer Friday’s moniker. 

Then things take a meta twist as we delve into the process for naming this very podcast. True to Summer Friday form, it’s a meandering journey where the right destination eventually reveals itself — but only when you’re curious enough to pay close attention along the way. 

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould

Guest: Madelyn Ihnen

Producer: Lyndsay Hoff

Editor: Adam Kasper

Summer Friday is a vibe. An approach. And — dare we say it? — a way of life. It's that ethos that inspires us, challenges us, and pushes us every day to take our company to places we never dreamed. And that’s what this podcast is all about.

Exploring business & culture means amplifying voices. That’s why we’re including as much diverse thinking as possible — opening up the guest list to pull in questions and perspectives from across our team and our listeners. It’s a conversation all about business, entrepreneurship, marketing, technology and life. Because that’s what Summer Friday is all about, too.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould

Producer: Lyndsay Hoff

Editor: Adam Kasper

heysummerfriday.com

@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

In our sophomore episode, Summer Friday is taking an honest look at what happens when we throw out the old rules of engagement — and in the process, reimagine those six little letters: What if our UVP targeted our talent, rather than our clients? What if our KPIs measured relationships instead of revenue?

We’re talking a whole new playbook here, one that builds passionate, engaged — and yes, happy — teams. Teams that value collaboration over competition. Balanced lives over balance sheets. Partnerships over profits. And guess what else happens? Our love of the game finds its way to our clients, too.

Oh, and just in case you were thinking it’s all sportsball metaphors up in here, we’ll also be talking about Willie Nelson, latter-day MTV and a rebranding campaign for extraterrestrials. Because at Summer Friday, we think there are three more letters worth focusing on, too: FUN. Let’s play.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould

Producer: Lyndsay Hoff

Editor: Adam Kasper

heysummerfriday.com

@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023

Summer Friday is a vibe. An approach. And — dare we say it? — a way of life. It's that ethos that inspires us, challenges us, and pushes us every day to take our company to places we never dreamed. And that’s what this podcast is all about.

Exploring business & culture means amplifying voices. That’s why we’re including as much diverse thinking as possible — opening up the guest list to pull in questions and perspectives from across our team and our listeners. It’s a conversation all about business, entrepreneurship, marketing, technology and life. Because that’s what Summer Friday is all about, too.

Hosts: Rob Simone, Michael Cruz, Dan Gould

Producer: Lyndsay Hoff

Editor: Adam Kasper

heysummerfriday.com

@heysummerfriday

Copyright Summer Friday LLC, 2023