What truly sets independent agencies apart, and why does it matter now more than ever? In this episode, Jason Parks sits down with Katy Hornaday and Doug Zanger to explore how independence drives greater creativity, agility, and long-term success in a landscape increasingly shaped by holding companies.

In this Super Bowl 59 recap, host Jason Parks is joined by Ben Pfutzenreuter and Kyle O’Brien to break down the night’s biggest ads—grading the overall lineup, unpacking standout themes, and predicting which spots will have a lasting cultural impact.

What even is athleisure? Big-spending Gen-Xers don’t know, but that’s not stopping athleisure brand Vuori. It’s pursuing a go slow to go fast approach to brand and performance marketing that’s building a fashion phenomenon. Join host Jason Parks and his guest Karen Riley-Grant, Vuori’s CMO, stitching together insights on the psychology of consumer needs, the creation of Vuori’s London brick-and-mortar retail flagship as a social hub, and why loyalty and quality are the fabric for success in a world of fast fashion.

What’s standing in the way of true innovation? Spoiler: it’s not just silos or stale thinking—it’s the way we try to innovate. In this episode of This Modern Brand, Emily Cohen, Senior Director of Global Innovation at Pernod Ricard, shares how ditching cookie-cutter approaches unlocked breakthrough results. Tune in to learn how to “brainstorm the brainstorm” and revolutionize your creative process.

In this episode, we explore the rapid rise of AI in the creative industry. Host Jason Parks joined by Melany Esfeld, BarkleyOKRP EVP head of production and Tim McCracken, SVP creative, discuss AI’s potential as a workhorse for time consuming tasks, so creatives can focus on what they do best: developing impactful, original ideas. We share real-life examples of campaigns amplified by AI for powerful storytelling while preserving a human touch. Tune in for insights on balancing tech with creativity, navigating client expectations, and what the future holds for AI in the agency world.

Consumers expect personalization, but too many companies are falling short, wasting money and missing the mark on expectations. In this episode, hosts Jason Parks and Steph Parker interview one of the most influential CMOs in the world about his upcoming book, “Personalized:  Customer Strategy in the Age of AI.”  Now a Harvard Business Fellow, David Edelman shares detailed stories across industries of companies that deliver personalization to scale, and how AI-driven data can solve the five personalization promises we can make to consumers: empower me, know me, reach me, show me and delight me.

As an organization with no physical branches or sales teams, USAA has had to master the art of marketing. New CEO Francesco Lagutaine talks to hosts Jason Parks and Katy Hornaday about how USAA achieves an extraordinary level of customer focus. Learn how small “i” innovation, Mission Moments, and doing Zero Day like a recruit help USAA understand their military members, and why they buy.

Jason Parks is back with BarkleyOKRP Chief Media Officer, Reshma Karnik, and Sean Corcoran, President of Media and Analytics. They explore how the media landscape continues to change, and why it’s making media management increasingly complex. Are brand stories getting lost in the rush to performance media? Is it possible to build a roadmap for brands that gives them resonance as well as revenue? Get expert answers and explore the state of media on This Modern Brand.  

Uncover the strategies behind successful influencer partnerships. In this month’s episode of This Modern Brand, Jason Parks hosts a panel of influencer marketers: Pam Davis, founder of likekind influencer marketing agency, Jane Chandler, VP of Public Relations at BarkleyOKRP, and Joe Spencer, BarkleyOKRP account supervisor whose focus is the influencer space. Hear how influencer marketing is starting to split down the middle, and what you should consider when an influencer’s voice becomes part of your brand.

Your brand’s purpose might lead consumers to you the first time, but you’ll need more than that to bring them back.  A clean brand before clean brands were a thing, Every Man Jack went from a line of great-smelling men’s shower products to a B-Corp advocate for people, communities, and the planet. Hosts Jason Parks and Mariah Haberman talk about the purpose of purpose with Ellie Off, VP of Marketing at Every Man Jack.