Uncensored Renegades

Fresh from Jon Evans' Cannes Lions talk, this episode explores why surprise is one of the most powerful tools in leadership. Drawing on behavioural science, neuroscience and real-world campaigns, Jon and Kory unpack how unexpected moments capture attention, create stronger memories and help brands stand out in an increasingly predictable world.

Putting their marketing hat on, they look at examples such as Tubi's headline-grabbing Super Bowl campaign and e.l.f.'s unconventional product launch strategy. Along the way, they explain the science of Reward Prediction Error, discuss how to sell bold ideas inside large organisations, and reveal why partnerships can become a powerful source of unexpected creativity.

Watch the new e.l.f. haircare advert:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk2KmRlx7eA

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
01:38 - The origin story of Uncensored CMO
04:03 - Why surprise is the antidote to dull
05:23 - The data behind the power of surprise
07:52 - Tubi’s example of using the power of surprise
09:58 - Understanding Reward Prediction Error
13:09 - Surprising the judges at Cannes Lions
15:45 - Selling big ideas into the boardroom
17:47 - e.l.f.’s surprising approach to their new hair product launch
20:29 - The power of partnerships to be surprising
22:23 - Baking surprise into your culture
25:41 - Why you need to keep delivering new surprises

Jon and Kory explore the three qualities they believe define great leadership. From building genuine proximity with your team to being fully present in the moments that matter and communicating with clarity, they break down a simple leadership framework that can be applied whether you're leading a global organisation or your first team.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
01:53 - Presence as a leader
03:31 - The 3 pillars of great leadership
03:52 - Pillar 1: Proximity
11:47 - Pillar 2: Presence
18:41 - Pillar 3: Clarity of Communication
28:26 - BCG on leadership

Tarang Amin, CEO of e.l.f. Beauty, joins Jon and Kory for a special live episode of Uncensored Renegades to discuss the leadership philosophy behind one of the most remarkable growth stories in consumer brands.

Under Tarang's leadership, e.l.f. has delivered 29 consecutive quarters of growth while building a culture centred on ownership, transparency and long-term thinking. In this conversation, Tarang and Kory share why every employee became a shareholder, how the company balances ambitious growth with a people-first culture, and the leadership habits that have helped e.l.f. scale at an extraordinary pace.

The trio also discuss Kory's journey to becoming CMO of e.l.f., managing healthy conflict at the executive level, the rationale behind e.l.f.'s acquisition of Rhode, and why communication remains one of the CEO's most important responsibilities.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
02:27 - How Tarang and Kory met
06:30 - How Kory got the job at e.l.f.
07:26 - Why e.l.f. made everyone in the compary shareholders
10:48 - The challenges of offering everyone equity
12:35 - How do you get 29 quarters of growth sustainably
16:46 - Why Tarang writes a personal newsletter
21:28 - How to handle conflict at the c-suite level
27:53 - Why e.l.f. aquired Rhode

Live from Cannes Lions, Jon and Kory reflect on the biggest themes, surprises and lessons from this year's festival.

From experiencing unreasonable hospitality firsthand to the continued rise of creators and the rapid evolution of AI, they unpack what really stood out, and why many of the biggest takeaways had very little to do with technology.

Whether you made it to the Croisette or followed along from afar, this is the Uncensored Renegades debrief on what actually mattered at Cannes Lions 2026.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
01:50 - Unreasonable hospitality in action
12:22 - The power of creators at Cannes
15:25 - How brands can collaborate with creators
19:52 - The AI shift in 2026
23:00 - The impact of the World Cup
26:09 - How brands are getting involved with the World Cup
28:59 - Final takeaway - getting back to basics

Jon and Kory tackle one of the most talked-about, and most misunderstood, aspects of leadership: culture.

What actually is culture? How do you know if yours is healthy? And why do some organisations consistently attract great people while others struggle?

Drawing on research, personal experience, and leadership lessons, Jon and Kory discuss how culture is created, how it can be changed, and why hiring for cultural fit is only part of the story. They also explore why even brilliant people can fail in the wrong environment, how agency partners should become an extension of your culture, and why lasting change starts with taking ownership yourself.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
00:35 - What does the data say about building culture
02:06 - Signs of a healthy culture
04:52 - What actually is culture?
06:27 - The different types of cultures
10:14 - How to hire for people that meet your culture
12:48 - How culture can feed into your agency partners
13:59 - How to change a culture
17:01 - Why is change scary?
20:17 - Dealing with the right person in the wrong culture
21:35 - How our beliefs shape our reality
24:03 - Why you need to take ownership to change the culture

Today, Jon and Kory discuss the moments that define careers. The ones where you have to leap before you know exactly how things will turn out.

From leaving secure jobs to betting on yourself, they reflect on the decisions that shaped their own careers and why waiting until you feel "ready" is often the biggest barrier to growth. They explore the importance of having a strong support network, embracing discomfort, and accepting that sometimes you need to take a step backwards before you can move forwards.

This is an honest conversation about risk, resilience, and why the biggest opportunities often sit just outside your comfort zone.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
00:35 - Taking a giant leap
01:28 - A moment Kory took a giant leap
04:51 - Taking the leap before you feel ready
06:46 - Why Jon made the giant leap to go full time on the podcast
08:45 - The importance of a support network
10:10 - Get comfortable being uncomfortable
14:50 - The risks of taking the leap of faith
19:02 - Sometimes you have to take a step back to take a step forward
22:01 - Are you willing to lose the battle to win the war?
24:42 - You need a high risk tolerance

Jon and Kory explore why human connection matters more than ever in a world increasingly dominated by screens, automation, and AI.

From the power of in-person experiences to the importance of empathy in business, they discuss why relationships are still the foundation of great leadership, marketing, and culture. Jon explains why he only records podcasts face-to-face, Kory shares why B2B is ultimately human-to-human, and together they unpack the mistakes agencies often make by forgetting the people behind the pitch.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
01:42 - What do we mean by human to human?
05:11 - Why we need more humanity now
06:55 - Why Jon only does podcasts in person
09:56 - What the data says about being in person
11:25 - The power of an in person experience
16:03 - Why experience matters
18:58 - Why being human matters in B2B
22:38 - Human relationships and the impact they can have
25:21 - What every agency gets wrong in a pitch
25:54 - How to be more human
27:33 - Everyone has something going on

Today Jon and Kory explore the surprising link between leadership and exercise. From CEOs and founders to top marketers, many high performers share one habit in common: they make time to move.

The duo discuss why working out often feels selfish (when it shouldn't), how to maintain healthy habits while travelling, and what companies can do to encourage their teams to prioritise wellbeing. Jon also breaks down his philosophy of running, explaining how different stages of a workout mirror the rhythms of work and life.

This is a conversation about energy, discipline, and why taking care of yourself might be one of the most important leadership skills of all.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
00:47 - The common thread for successful people
02:37 - Feeling guilty for working out
03:40 - How to workout while on the road
05:08 - How employees can encourage their employees to workout
09:31 - Mile 1: The hard part
11:37 - Mile 2: Rhythm
12:59 - Mile 3: Harmony
14:35 - Mile 4: Acceleration
17:36 - Mile 5: Let it rip
18:30 - How important is music to working out
19:55 - Becoming at one with the run
20:40 - Break things down into parts
23:06 - The two mountains

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
01:19 - Kory’s 4 part framework for a good keynote speech
02:20 - Audience before content
07:16 - Don’t provide information, tell a story
16:20 - The art of good keynote content
20:50 - Obsess over delivery
24:58 - Jon’s poem on public speaking

Jon and Kory reflect on the very first Uncensored CMO: The Calling event. This episode recorded just days after it happened, with Kory joining as one of the keynote speakers.

The conversation explores the biggest lessons from the event, including why marketers need to embrace “pattern disruption,” the underrated power of curation, and what lobsters can teach us about growth and reinvention. Jon and Kory also discuss the uncertainty and vulnerability that comes with live events, why polish is often overrated, and why genuine engagement matters far more than reach alone.

Timestamps

00:00 - Start
02:24 - How Jon pulled off The Calling in 3 months
03:10 - The uncertainty of a live event
05:55 - Kory’s 3 biggest insights from The Calling
06:44 - Lesson 1: Learn like a lobster
12:29 - Lesson 2: Pattern disruption
17:03 - Lesson 3: Curation
20:41 - The lesson from Jon’s daughter
22:24 - The power of vulnerability vs polish
22:53 - Why Jon gave free tickets to unemployed people
25:40 - Reach vs engagement
29:03 - Jon’s big takeaway from the event