The Last Advertising Podcast

This is it. The last advertising podcast to ever be made.

But before we quit, there is one final part of advertising we need to discuss: the end.

Martins Zelcs is the founder of The Art of End Cards, an archive dedicated to the final three to five seconds of commercials. He has also worked as an art director at Droga5, BBDO, and INNOCEAN.

Martins believes an entertaining advertisement can still fail when nobody remembers the brand behind it. The end card is the brand’s final opportunity to recover the viewer’s attention, reinforce the campaign idea, and leave a memorable last impression.

He joins Geno Schellenberger for one final conversation about why most end cards are forgettable, how strict brand guidelines can limit creativity, and what Nike, Apple, and other great brands understand about ending an ad.

We also discuss Martins’ simple advice for creating distinctive work: collect everything the competition is doing, identify the patterns, and find the thing nobody else is doing.

The advertising podcast is officially over.

Until maybe next week.

The Last Advertising Podcast is hosted by Geno Schellenberger and powered by Breaking & Entering Media.

For more from B&E, including newsletters, social videos, advertising news and live shows, visit www.breaking-entering.com.

Partner with Breaking and Entering Media[email protected] 

This is it. The last advertising podcast to ever be made. And thank goodness, too.

There's too much ad talk out there. We talk to ourselves. We know it's only F*ing advertising. We know most people try to avoid advertising. Or never even think about where it comes from. And definitely don’t wonder what it was like to work at Droga5 in 2013.But still, there's a select few out there. Those who keep coming back and back for more. Those few people on earth who never skip YouTube prerolls. Those complete freaks who have a favorite cereal commercial from 1997. The ad sickos.

If you're still reading this, you’re probably one of them.

I am one of you too, having interviewed 600 of the best people in advertising. And starting today, I am trying to quit. So let's make a vow together. A pact. That this next episode, this final guest, will be the last advertising podcast. Until maybe next week.Introducing the refreshed look at the breaking and entering advertising podcast. The Last Advertising Podcast.

Courtney Williams is Chief Growth Officer and Partner at The Variable, where she leads the independent agency’s growth strategy, positioning and business development efforts.

In this episode, Courtney explains why hard work alone does not guarantee career advancement and what ambitious professionals need to do next. She shares how to develop a clear point of view, build meaningful relationships, increase your visibility and find people who will advocate for you in rooms you have not entered yet.

Courtney also breaks down her five drivers of agency growth: reputation, relationships, retention, relevance and revenue. She explains what motivates CMOs, why intuition matters in new business and what separates winning agencies from the competition.

Geno and Courtney also discuss the changing purpose of advertising internships and how becoming a first-time mother inspired Courtney to make the biggest move of her career.

For more from B&E, including newsletters, social videos, advertising news and live shows, visit www.breaking-entering.com. Brands! Partner with Breaking and Entering Media by emailing: [email protected] 

Every brand wants a distinctive voice. Very few know how to build one.

This week, Geno sits down with brand voice consultant Vikki Ross, who has helped companies including JLR and Sky define how they communicate across every customer touchpoint.

They discuss what actually goes into creating a brand voice, why tone of voice guidelines usually fail, how to interview an organization to uncover its personality, and why copywriters should stop writing like themselves and start writing like the brand.

Whether you're a copywriter, strategist, marketer, founder, or creative director, this conversation offers a practical look at one of branding's most valuable disciplines.

More from Breaking and Entering Media:

💼 Follow on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-media 

📖 Read our Publications

https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog

💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe

https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei

✉️ Subscribe to The Vault

https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/

📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos

https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/

🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising

https://www.crowbarawards.com/

🤝 Work With Us - Email: [email protected] 

Michael Aimette didn't set out to become Chief Creative Officer of BBDO New York.He started in media planning, considered journalism, moved to Ireland to write a novel, directed a feature film, and eventually found his way back to advertising.In this episode, Michael shares the unconventional path that shaped his creative philosophy, why curiosity matters more than career planning, and why today's creatives often spend too much time polishing ideas instead of generating them.We also discuss:Why work-life balance actually gets harder as you become a CCOThe biggest mistake young creatives make with AIHow award-winning ideas are discoveredWhy collaboration beats individual geniusThe campaigns that changed how he thinks about creativityWhat separates great creative leaders from everyone elseWhether you're a student, junior creative, strategist, or agency leader, this conversation is packed with practical advice for building a long creative career.More from Breaking and Entering Media:💼 Follow on LinkedIn⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast/⁠📖 Read our Publications⁠ https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog⁠💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe⁠ https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei⁠✉️ Subscribe to The Vault⁠ https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/⁠📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos⁠ https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/⁠🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising⁠ https://www.crowbarawards.com/⁠🤝 Work With Us - Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Jamie Umpherson didn't go to portfolio school.

Before breaking into advertising, he managed a bar, designed coupons for eight hours a day, and spent nights teaching himself the fundamentals of creativity while building a portfolio from scratch.

Today, he's the Chief Creative Officer at Runway and Runway Studios, helping shape the future of AI-powered creativity.In this episode, we discuss how AI is changing the creative process, why ideas still matter more than execution, what agencies get wrong about the future of creative work, and how the next generation can use tools like Runway to bring ambitious ideas to life faster than ever before.

If you're a student, creative, filmmaker, advertiser, or anyone trying to build a career around making things, this conversation is packed with practical advice and a refreshing perspective on where creativity is headed next.More from Breaking and Entering Media:💼 Follow on LinkedIn⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast/⁠📖 Read our Publications⁠ https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog⁠💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe⁠ https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei⁠✉️ Subscribe to The Vault⁠ https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/⁠📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos⁠ https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/⁠🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising⁠ https://www.crowbarawards.com/⁠🤝 Work With Us - Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Lisa Topol spent decades building her career at some of advertising's biggest agencies, eventually becoming Co-Chief Creative Officer at DDB. Then she left.

In this episode, Lisa shares why she walked away from the holding company world, what she found at independent agency Oberland, and why having a stake in the decisions you make can completely change your relationship with work.

We also discuss mentorship, creative leadership, purpose-driven advertising, the making of Elf Beauty's award-winning "So Many Dicks" campaign, and how young creatives can stand out in a world increasingly shaped by AI.

If you're trying to build a creative career, navigate agency life, or figure out where you belong in this industry, this episode is packed with honest advice from one of advertising's most respected creative leaders.More from Breaking and Entering Media:💼 Follow on LinkedIn⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast/⁠📖 Read our Publications⁠ https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog⁠💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe⁠ https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei⁠✉️ Subscribe to The Vault⁠ https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/⁠📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos⁠ https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/⁠🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising⁠ https://www.crowbarawards.com/⁠🤝 Work With Us - Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Antonio McDonald has spent more than two decades building content for brands, audiences, and culture.

After starting his career at MTV during its peak, Antonio went on to found KUAMP, an independent creative production agency helping brands connect with audiences through content that people actually want to watch.

In this episode, we discuss why most branded content misses the mark, what MTV understood about culture before everyone else, the power of independence, building a business over 24 years, and the advice he'd give to anyone trying to break into advertising today.

If you're interested in creativity, media, production, brand storytelling, or building something from the ground up, this episode is packed with lessons from someone who has seen the industry evolve firsthand.

More from Breaking and Entering Media:💼 Follow on LinkedIn⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast/⁠📖 Read our Publications⁠ https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog⁠💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe⁠ https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei⁠✉️ Subscribe to The Vault⁠ https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/⁠📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos⁠ https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/⁠🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising⁠ https://www.crowbarawards.com/⁠🤝 Work With Us - Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠

Every quarter, Breaking and Entering Media hosts the Crowbar Awards, a $1 global student advertising competition designed to help aspiring creatives build their portfolios, solve real-world briefs, and get their work reviewed by some of the industry's top creative leaders.

The highest honor awarded each quarter is the Blue Crowbar, given to the single best submission across all entries.

This quarter's Blue Crowbar winners came from RMIT University Vietnam.

In this episode, Geno Schellenberger sits down with Vy Tran, Nguyen Minh Ngoc, and My Phung, alongside Highdive Co-Chief Creative Officer Mark Gross, to break down the campaign that earned them Best in Show.

The brief challenged students to help Lollapalooza differentiate itself from Coachella by showcasing a deeper and more authentic music experience.

The team's solution was a custom Monster Energy can capable of capturing festivalgoers' heartbeats and transforming those heartbeats into music, creating a soundtrack generated by the crowd itself.

Mark explains why the idea immediately stood out, how creative leaders evaluate student work, and what aspiring creatives can learn from the campaign.

View the winning campaign deck here: https://www.crowbarawards.com/previous-winners

💼 Follow on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-media 

📖 Read our Publications

https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog

💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe

https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei

✉️ Subscribe to The Vault

https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/

📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos

https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/

🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising

https://www.crowbarawards.com/

🤝 Work With Us - Email:

[email protected] 

Anthony Reeves grew up in the Australian Outback, built a career across agencies, Amazon, WPP, and now serves as VP of Global Brand & Creative at Kohler.In this episode, Anthony shares the moment he walked into Amazon believing he had all the answers and left with one of the most important lessons of his career.We discuss discomfort, career growth, mentorship, specialization, breaking into advertising, and why the best opportunities often come from putting yourself in situations where failure is possible.If you're trying to break into the industry or level up your career, this episode is packed with lessons that only come from decades of experience.More from Breaking and Entering Media:💼 Follow on LinkedIn⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast/⁠📖 Read our Publications⁠ https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog⁠💬 Join our Unlocked GroupMe⁠ https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei⁠✉️ Subscribe to The Vault⁠ https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/⁠📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos⁠ https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/⁠🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising⁠ https://www.crowbarawards.com/⁠🤝 Work With Us - Email: ⁠[email protected]⁠