Getting a chance to talk to one of the key creatives in the marketing and communications space is a big honour and we have been following the Chief Meerkat now for a long time. Gavin Bain is now the Managing Partner in Perth of Wunderman Thompson a global agency network and he walks through the background of takeover deal coming together, the driver behind the success of his former brand Meerkats and where marketing and communications is going.

One of the words you will hear from Gavin a lot is Purpose. A lot of people will say words but very few will live by them like Gavin does. It is quite inspirational for all individual and business brands to take on ‘Purpose’ as part of the very foundation that you build on. As Gavin says it’s a decision-making tool.

“Purpose and purpose led thinking with regards to organisations leads to higher quality engagement with your staff which leads to greater innovation for your products and services that allows you amplify and market more effectively.”

Some of the campaigns we talked about included the 96FM ‘Real Music’ advertising campaign and #Smashastrawb and its attempt to revitalise the industry after it was attacked by a terrorist attack. These were outstanding success stories and now as Gavin says he has access to so much opportunity through the new ownership for both the WA and national market.

The change in the agency landscape is happening but Gavin was a trailblazer with change making over fourteen years ago. He discovered Conscious Capitalism when businesses are only getting their head around it now. If you are looking to communicate and market then following the lead of Gavin Bain is a very good step forward.Getting a chance to talk to a key creative in the marketing and communications space is a big honour and we have been following the Chief Meerkat now for a long time. Gavin Bain is now the Managing Partner in Perth of Wunderman Thompson a global agency network.  In this podcast Gavin walks us through the driver behind the success of his former company Meerkats, as well as the background of the takeover deal.  We also discuss the future of marketing and communications.

You'll hear Gavin regularly use the word 'purpose' - a word he lives by. It is quite inspirational for all individual and business brands to take on ‘purpose’ as part of the very foundation that you build on. As Gavin says it’s a decision-making tool.

“Purpose and purpose-led thinking with regards to organisations leads to higher quality engagement with your staff, which leads to greater innovation for your products and services, that allows you amplify and market more effectively.”

Some of the successful campaigns Gavin has worked on were the 96FM ‘Real Music’ advertising campaign and #Smashastrawb - its attempt to revitalise the industry after it was impacted by a terrorist attack.

The change in the Agency landscape is happening but Gavin was a trailblazer with change-making over 14 years ago. He discovered Conscious Capitalism well ahead of the rest, with some businesses only now are starting to get their head around it. If you are looking to communicate and market, following Gavin Bain's lead is a very good step forward.

Happiness and mental health have never been more important and there are certainly more challenges in front of us as we navigate our way out of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are many programs and people who are working in this space, but you will immediately feel a connection with our podcast guest as he has dedicated his life to help others get on top of wellbeing and mental health.

Julian Pace is the founder of Happiness Co - you might've seen him on traditional and social media.  Julian is an accomplished speaker, business owner, entrepreneur, and trainer who shares some golden one-line takeaways and little gifts of wisdom with listeners in this podcast.

As an expert in his field Julian represents the very best in storytelling and knows exactly what he is doing and where he is going, and he's not bad at analogy's either! There are some important messages for all experts tuning in, to take some lead from his ability to dissect a question and make it easy for the audience to understand. He has an ability to deliver carefully crafted observations and responses that has the listener stepping in for more. You'll notice that his tone and energy in this podcast are very appealing, which is exactly what media are looking for.

“Be brave regardless of outcome” is the key tip from Julian. We loved this as it is the very essence of every successful expert or person of influence.

Happiness Co is playing an important role today with their messages, services and real tools to combat mental illness.  There is no doubt you will be hearing more from Julian Pace.

The focus on #TheExpertPodcast today is a bit of a jill-of-all-trades in the world of media. Currently a radio broadcaster, television presenter, media trainer and MC. A very public figure but a person who hasn’t always been comfortable in the public eye. Her bravery and desire to confront her fears to advance is a major driver and a lesson for all experts looking to make an impact in media.

Carmen Braidwood has been a host-a-murder MC, the Constable Care Bear, a newsreader, breakfast presenter on a popular FM station and now the co-host of a weekend brunch program on 6PR. Peppered in amongst her impressive media experience, Carmen is also a travel show presenter, an MC, and a media trainer and mentor. Many of us could learn from her ‘confidence on camera’ program.

While Carmen might have been a little hesitant venturing down the media training path, we can’t help but feel she is well- equipped to do this. Too often media trainers are veterans of a media where Carmen is an active member of it. In the podcast she gives us some quality tips - one in particular that resonates the most is “that it is never about you, it’s ALL about audience”. Something that is sometimes forgotten by both media and experts.

Carmen talks about the people along her journey who have been a support, an influence and those that have her back. You won’t walk away from this podcast without knowing a great deal more about what drives and inspires Carmen Braidwood.

Telling a great story!

Have you found yourself watching the advertisements of late and they may seem more interesting than the show you are watching? There's a good chance you are watching branded entertainment - a movement many brands are taking, as opposed to the standard 30 second commercial which interrupts your viewing or listening pleasure.

Mike Drysdale is a communications and branded entertainment specialist from Perth based agency Dear Storyteller. He heads a specialist team that is changing the way brands are communicating. The connection, emotion, reach and message are done with more strategy and planning, with the result having an enormous impact on consumers who are now seeking out commercials instead of switching them off.

A great example of branded entertainment is the American Super Bowl - the most-watched sporting fixture across the globe. The money, time and the storytelling that goes into the advertisements are a highlight. The good thing about branded entertainment is that you don't have to have a Super Bowl budget to produce this type of result, but it does take time and effort to make it work.

Mike is experienced at podcasting, and we discussed the positives and negatives behind the growth and expansion of this platform.  Doing it differently is key, but having a strategy is vital. The commitment is large, but the returns can be wonderful if you are prepared to stick with it. Mike gave #TheExpertsPodcast a thumbs up, and we think he is pretty good too.

There aren’t too many figures in media that are as big as Tim Gossage and I mean that both figuratively and in his size. He is extremely tall and another fact I discovered the day we recorded #TheExpertsPodcast is that he doesn’t like wearing socks. He is a man so ahead of his time that he was doing this decades before millennials and hipsters who apparently have a dislike for socks when wearing a suit or pants. He is a man well ahead of his time.

Tim finished up a thirty-year relationship with Channel 10 on Friday the 11th of September 2020. He spent ten years of that on the road as a journalist and twenty of them behind the desk presenting the sports news. It was emotional, it was hard for Tim to really express how he was feeling as it was still very raw when recorded the podcast just four days since finishing up. As much as he handled the sign off gracefully both Lanna and I could see the pain and hurt he was feeling.

That all said, he has a little catch cry now that has become a hashtag #NotRetiring. It would be hard to see this man ever retiring as those that know him refer to his enthusiasm and passion to that of an ‘Energiser bunny’. Lanna and I dived deep into his interaction with audience and his use of social media. A man that has been well known to throw the hook and line out there which always catches a few poor souls that are not used to his sense of humour. We talked who have been his favourites, his love of the auction and where to from here? He will not be running for Lord Mayor of Perth.

A key takeaway I took from this podcast is that we too often are living in the now with our content and expertise when dealing with media. There is media out there like Tim that have ridden the highs and lows for thirty years. It is more than just an engagement; it is a life’s work. While Tim will come across a little disenchanted with media currently you can see that this chapter might have closed but there is still a lot more to this novel that is ‘Tim Gossage’

We take a slightly different direction with the podcast this week by not interviewing an expert or a media professional but instead possibly Australia’s leading media expert in John Solvander. New Zealand will likely try to claim him like they try to claim pavlova, Russell Crowe and Split Enz but that accent still squirreled away is a dead giveaway.

John Solvander is the Director of Media Engagement, an owner of Media Stable and what Nic Hayes refers to as the engine behind the success of the business. In fact his exact words to many of the experts as they are onboarding with Media Stable “If Media Stable was an orchestra then John would be the conductor”.

We kind of had to just throw this on John to do the podcast and not let him think about it too much. Many media that have worked with John will know its never about him. It’s about the story and the audience.  He has worked in media for 25 years, and only about 90 minutes of that would've been 'on-air'.  He is a behind-the-scenes professional, offering support, guidance and mentoring to our experts.  He has crossed paths with a lot of media personnel along the journey.

While it might seem a little self-indulgent from a Media Stable’s perspective to put John Solvander up to chat on The Experts Podcast I can assure you the true value is yours. What this man doesn’t know about media isn’t worth knowing and his commitment to his craft is exemplary. John is one of the greatest assets of Media Stable we just thought it was worth your while to know a little about his back story.

Enjoy!

An expert on a mission

This week our featured guest on The Experts Podcast is a pretty serious fellow. From the minute this property and real estate expert came onto the scene a few years ago he had a very clear mission and a message that he wanted to get out; Educating the public on the realities and traps in the property and home markets for investors and first homeowners. When you hear the backstory of Trent's self-made success you'll understand where the fire comes from and just how passionate he is on making a difference and leaving a legacy.

Trent Fleskens is the Managing Director of Strategic Property Group. A full-service property advisory firm that doesn't fall for the hype and bells and whistles of the larger property development and sales firms but instead always has the client in mind. This is his mission and he has had some amazing success in sharing his views across TV, radio, print and online.

Trent is a perfectionist, and this is evident not only in his own podcast but all his media engagements. You can tell he enjoyed the relaxed, educational, and sometimes entertaining elements of his chat on The Experts Podcast. When you always try to deliver your best you can also be your own worst critic, and this is something that Trent has certainly started to relax. His appetite to deliver well has helped him to keep improving in his media engagements.

Like any industry there are pitfalls and hurdles that will trip you up if you don't do your research, due diligence and homework. When you invest in an expert like Trent, your savings are not just thousands but tens and hundreds of thousands. A responsibility that Trent takes very seriously.

Who wants a job?

I am not sure there'll be too many events in our lifetime where we have completely decimated an economy and workforce like this pandemic has done. The world has certainly changed, and we are in need of strong leaders with vision and actions that will make a difference. This workforce and recruitment expert might just be the one to help us do this and she is certainly making her mark in the media.

Lezly D’Limi is the Founding Director of workforce mobilisation employment firm Tailored Resources and is very new to media. Her first media engagement was during the first lockdown of COVID-19.  She did a radio interview followed by a piece to camera for the Channel 9 News - all done with precision, grace, and a great attitude. Lezly has positioned herself as one of the top operators in her space, which has made her a magnet for media to engage.  

The media approach is simple. Lezly has positive news to share about job vacancies and media wants to share that with their audience. In a world of uncertainty, we seek the advice and vision of those that work in this place to help us navigate through these uncertain times. Lezly gives clear cut advice and direction in her media engagements. Only last week she was featured in an Opinion Editorial for the West Australian and did eight radio interviews following that.

Expert advice is one thing, but the experience and delivery is just as important. Lezly understands a job is more that the hours you work. It is a position, a provider, a standing in the community, a sense of pride and purpose. Jobs and employment are key to a successful society.

Expert with style

The experts Podcast has the pleasure of interviewing experts and media from all over the country understanding what drives them and why they do what they do. When this particular expert in focus walked through our doors, we get a sense that there is a sense humility and humbleness. The driver behind Sara doing media is more centered around her ‘Old fashioned values and customer relationships’ than to jump in front of the camera.

Sara James is the founder of Perth Style Co and co-founder of State of Home. The real estate and styling industry has seen some massive overhauls and is by nature a volatile industry which has many factors playing a role in its ups and downs. You need as much help as you can to make that important sale or add to decision making process of your most important investment. Sara makes this work for you.

There is a lot of psychology, emotion and human behaviour involved in the sale of a house, which needs to be acknowledged. Sara delivers her expertise in a calm and measured way. Quite soothing and reassuring for those who are involved in the process of both selling and buying. This is also a very important attribute to any expert that is looking to engage media.

There are so many hidden messages in this podcast - from tips to sell your house to tips to be a recognised expert in your field. Invest in yourself, invest in your style, invest in your brand. Declutter the doorway, which is a metaphor for experts - don’t make it difficult for the media to contact you! Oh we love a good metaphor and the media loves a humble expert.

An EVENT-full podcast

When the pandemic hit the impact was enormous and immediate for event organisers and planners. Overnight the event industry was decimated and only now are they starting to see some life come back into their sector. The focus of this episode of #TheExpertsPodcast is WA’s (and one of Australia’s) leading event planners, Tamara Cook.

Tamara is the managing director of Known Associates and when I describe her as one of Australia’s best, it is not said lightly. Anyone who’s attended a Known Associates organised event, will attest to their attention to detail. She and her team are incredibly passionate and dedicated to delivering the very best event for their client.

Tamara Cook is a very proud black woman, who is married to an indigenous man, former AFL player Troy Cook and they have two gorgeous children. When the Black Lives Matter movement started to get momentum here in Australia, the media was keen to cover it, but few were brave enough to speak up. Tamara wrote a compelling real account of her life in an Opinion-Editorial that was centered around racism, bullying and her true feelings growing up and working in this country. It ended up as a front page story plus a stand-alone news piece along with the feature as an Opinion piece. Nic describes it as “the bravest and most important piece of media he has been involved with in his twenty-five years of media”.

The lesson we can take from listening to this podcast is about having the courage to speak up and tell your story – it’s very easy to make excuses and create hurdles for yourself but with some determination, guidance and bravery, you can make a difference.

Tamara will be mortified if you think this one story was the focus of the podcast because it wasn’t. There was plenty of content gold around networking, event management and planning and what the future looks like for getting that special event together.