The Badlands

Damian came across the remarkable Matt Bagwell via a post on LinkedIn from Matt Hardisty. Always open to synchronicity he followed the path to Mr B’s door. Despite a heavy schedule as CMO of a climate tech company, leadership coach, breathwork instructor, husband, father and writer, Matt agreed to come on a walk through the Badlands and talk about his brilliant book ‘The Clearing - a manual to avoid wasting your life’. 

Along the way personal stories were shared that shaped and inspired Matt’s search for answers to the question, ‘how do you want to spend your (working) life?’

Discussing Matt’s journey through a long and varied career - including founding and selling a sneaker company -  exploring the importance of identity, resilience, and the power of mantras. We dig into his experience as an ultramarathon runner and how it helped form some of his beliefs and ideas related to personal growth and overcoming adversity. 

Refreshingly, Matt doesn’t use or slip into the usual vocabulary of self-help books. Nor does he purport to have all the answers. But, I have to say I’ve been thinking about little else since he chatted with Damian. 

And they had fun too. 

We hope you come away inspired to further reflect on what you want in life (and work) and how you might create further opportunities and or transformations. 

As a seasoned cynic of the self-help industry this was somewhat of a surprise.  And a reflection of Matt’s ability to reframe problems in a very human way so that one might naturally move to find an answer. 

Enjoy. 

Damian, Jarrod + The Badlands

In this episode of the Badlands Podcast, our new host Damian talks with Mark Ratcliff, a qualitative researcher for nearly 3 decades, exploring the evolving landscape of qualitative research in the age of AI. They discuss the importance of nuance, intuition, and cultural context in understanding consumer behavior, as well as the challenges posed by the increasing reliance on AI in research methodologies. Through many a personal anecdote and case studies about many of the UKs most well known ads, they highlight the significance of ethnographic research and the need for a balanced approach that values human insight alongside technological advancements. We hope you enjoy.

In this episode of Season 2 of ⁠⁠ The Badlands⁠⁠ I’m talking with Carly Osman Holme, Carly is a highly experienced agency suit and leader, marketing leader along with many other things. Whilst not strictly in the Badlands today, she has had her fair share of time in there! ultimately finding a unique way of getting out, which she shares on this episode.

We discuss zig zag careers, redundancy, toxic workplaces, working overseas, returning to London, redefining ourselves whilst in the Badlands and using our decades of skills to find our next thing.

We hope you enjoy, please share it with anyone you know that is currently in The Badlands or anyone struggling with finding a way out, Carly is open to discuss 1-1 how she did it and help others find their niche. 

Now live and available on Spotify and Apple.

So, what do James Bond, Postman Pat, Dr Who all have in common with The Badlands?

Fans and keen listeners will have noticed a few weeks since the last episode, more on why in this week's episode. Which is different for a few reasons, mainly because yours truly is being asked questions about my Badlands journey, time job hunting and what the future holds for me along with The Badlands podcast by former guest and my old team mate Damian Mckeown.

In this episode I talk about my personal job hunting experience on my return to London in the summer of 2023 after living and working in Asia for 5 years.

We talk about why I started the Podcast? What it has taught me, my thoughts on the industry as a whole and what my future holds from a career standpoint. 

Damian does the hosting, because he is the new James Bond, Dr Who, Postman Pat!, as he is taking over The Badlands podcast hosting duties from now on. I will still be involved, but I’m going to go back to ‘Suiting’ this thing, whilst pursuing my new career. 

We hope you enjoy, it has been an utter pleasure to create over 40 episodes so far and I have no doubt Damian will bring his own style and ideas as we move The Badlands podcast forwards. Enjoy.

Now live and available on Spotify, Apple

In this special episode of Season 2 of ⁠⁠ The Badlands⁠⁠ I’m talking with Marina Love, Marina is highly experienced Marketing Director with a very impressive career in the FMCG world in the UK.

Nowadays, Marina is in the process of a career pivot after some time in the Badlands. Shifting her focus to mental health and wellbeing, and today we discuss things that anyone in the Badlands and beyond can do to help themselves a little more.

So have a listen as we delve into the critical topic of mental health and wellbeing, particularly in the context of job hunting and career transitions. Marina shares her journey from a successful marketing career to training in solution-focused hypnotherapy, emphasising the importance of mental health during challenging times. We discuss the impact of redundancy on mental health, the benefits of solution-focused hypnotherapy, and the scientific backing behind it (as I was a bit of a sceptic!), highlighting its effectiveness in improving wellness and resilience. Marina shares the principles of Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, explaining the therapy process, including initial consultations and session structures, while highlighting the importance of resilience, positive thinking, and sleep in mental health. She kindly offers some practical tips for anyone in the Badlands, focusing on maintaining a positive mindset and the significance of social connections. Finally and very kindly Marina offers resources for anyone nterested in exploring hypnotherapy further.

We hope you enjoy, please share it with anyone you know that is currently in The Badlands or anyone struggling with Mental Health.

Now live and available on Spotify, Apple and Youtube.

Also, please DM Marina directly to access some of the resources we discuss.

In this special episode of Season 2 of ⁠⁠ The Badlands⁠⁠ I’m talking with Will MacNeil, Will is highly experienced Creative Director. With a very impressive career in TV, Film and Animation. 

In this conversation, Will, as former creative director at The Mill, shares his first hand account of his experience surrounding the sudden closure of the renowned post-production company The Mill. We discuss his career journey, the state of the creative industry, and the chaotic events leading up to and following the closure. We also discuss the emotional impact on employees, how the Soho / London Post community responded, and the broader implications for clients and the industry as a whole.

We hope you enjoy (we think you may get a little angry as you rightly should), please share it with anyone you know that is currently in The Badlands or anyone in need of a highly Creative Director.

Now live and available on Spotify, Apple and Youtube.

In this episode of Season 2 of ⁠⁠ The Badlands⁠⁠ I’m talking with Neema Shah, Neema is a highly experienced Marketing Director. With a very impressive career so far at some of the UK’s biggest and most well known brands.

In this conversation, Neema shares her journey as a marketing leader, discussing her experiences at notable brands like Freeview and the BBC, along with the challenges of navigating the job market after a long stint in the Badlands. She reflects on the changing landscape of marketing, the importance of brand building, and the impact of AI. We discuss the significance of mental resilience during job hunting and the value of creative outlets, such as writing (she is a published author), whilst maintaining focus and motivation.

We hope you enjoy, please share it with anyone you know that is currently in The Badlands or anyone in need of a highly experienced Marketing Leader or Marketing consultant.

Now live and available on Spotify, Apple and Youtube.

In this episode of Season 2 of ⁠ The Badlands⁠ I’m talking with Melanie Lazarus, Melanie is former ad agency suit turned Brand Marketing Director. With a very impressive career so far at some of the UK’s biggest and most well known brands.

In this episode, Melanie shares her experience navigating the challenging job market after a significant career at major brands. We discuss the impact of short-termism in business decisions, the shift from legacy to challenger brands, and her personal journey of reflection and pivoting towards consultancy. We discuss the importance of self-branding and the long-term value of brand marketing in driving business growth. We explore personal growth strategies, including networking and professional development, while also addressing the importance of mental health and wellbeing during career transitions. 

We hope you enjoy, please share it with anyone you know that is currently in The Badlands or anyone in need of a highly experienced Marketing Leader or Marketing consultant.

Now live and available on Spotify, Apple and Youtube.

In this episode of Season 2 of ⁠ The Badlands⁠ I’m talking with Mays Elansari, Mays is former agency suit turned marketeer extraordinaire (it makes sense when you listen).

In this episode Mays shares her journey from agency land to regional Marketing Director and ultimately into the Badlands.! We discuss how Corporate restructuring can impact even the most successful professionals! How embracing change can lead to new opportunities and ultimately saying yes to new experiences can open doors. All the while paying attention to ones mental health. Amongst many other things.

We hope you enjoy, please share it with anyone you know that is currently in The Badlands or anyone in need of a highly experienced Regional Marketing Leader.

Now live and available on Spotify, Apple and Youtube.

In this episode of Season 2 of ⁠ The Badlands⁠ I’m talking with Matthew Critchley, Matthew is highly experienced Marketer with CMO and CEO roles to his name, with an impressive career at some of the UK's biggest brands.

In this episode Matthew shares his extensive career journey, discussing his experiences in the marketing industry, the impact of COVID-19 on current job opportunities, and the challenges he’s faced in the current job market like many others. We also discuss and addresses common misconceptions about ageism in recruitment. Finally his strong and unflinching desire to contribute to a team with a greater purpose.

We hope you enjoy, please share it with anyone you know that is currently in The Badlands or anyone in need of a highly experienced C-Suite marketing leader.

Now live and available on Spotify, Apple and Youtube.

Please also help Matthew by participating in his survey, linked below;

https://lnkd.in/earyb2w5