Ad-venturous

DTC Podcast Network

We see more ads in our day-to-day lives than ever before and yet most of them… kind of suck. What happened to the days of adventurous marketing? Alongside creative thinkers from a vast variety of professional backgrounds, we’re diving deep into our favorite (and least favorite 🌚) ads of all time to find out how they helped to shape today’s cultural landscape. Join Aves from Pilothouse as she continues to share the same tactical advice listeners love on All Killer, No Filler alongside new higher level conversations on brand strategy and creativity.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    Ep 40: How to Write Creator Briefs That Actually Perform

    Creator-generated content isn’t easy, and most briefs are the reason it underperforms. In this episode of Ad-venturous, we break down how to write creator briefs that actually perform, from setting the right intent and audience context to structuring visual hooks that work in a post-Andromeda Meta landscape. We cover when not to use creator content, why testing net-new concepts with creators is risky, and how to brief external creators without over-scripting or wasting budget. If you want CGC that scales—and not just looks good—this episode is your playbook. #creatorcontent #creativestrategy #performancemarketing #paidsocial #metaads #adcreative #ecommercemarketing #dtc #contentstrategy #digitaladvertising 00:00 – Why creator briefs are harder (and more important) than they look 04:00 – When creator content makes sense — and when it’s a mistake 08:00 – The biggest pitfall: testing net-new ideas with creators 12:00 – How funnel stage should shape your creator briefs 15:00 – How to brief external creators without over-scripting 22:00 – Visual hooks vs audio hooks on Meta Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠ Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠ Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

    31 min
  2. 15 JAN

    Ep 37: The Old Spice Rebrand That Actually Worked

    Most rebrands don’t fail because the logo is bad. They fail because they don’t change who the brand is for. In this episode of Ad-venturous, Avery breaks down one of the few modern rebrands that actually did what a rebrand is supposed to do. Bring in an entirely new audience. Using Old Spice’s 2010 comeback as the case study, we look at how a 70-year-old brand went from cultural afterthought to category leader by completely rethinking who they were talking to and how they showed up. You’ll learn why Old Spice stopped marketing just to men and started winning with women, how Axe created the problem Old Spice had to solve, and why most brands mistake “looking new” for being relevant. This episode is a deep dive into what it really takes to reset a brand, and when a rebrand is actually the right move. #Rebranding #BrandStrategy #OldSpice #MarketingPodcast #DTC #Advertising #BrandBuilding #Ecommerce #CreativeStrategy #ConsumerPsychology #GrowthMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #BrandPositioning 00:00 — Why Rebrands So Often Miss the Point 03:00 — Why Old Spice Was the Right Case Study 06:00 — Axe and the Shift in Men’s Grooming 09:15 — When Old Spice Started Losing Relevance 12:30 — When a Rebrand Is Actually Necessary 15:05 — The Campaign That Changed Everything 18:40 — Why Old Spice Talked to Women Instead of Men 21:35 — Who Really Has the Purchasing Power 24:55 — Why Net New Audiences Matter 27:10 — Did It Actually Work? 28:50 — What Brands Should Learn Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠ Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠ Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

    29 min
  3. 8 JAN

    Ep 36: Why do logo changes feel like personal betrayals now?

    In this episode of Ad-venturous, Aves kicks off a new mini-series on rebrands by unpacking why they spark so much outrage in today’s Omnipresent Brand era. From Cracker Barrel’s infamous logo switch to Tree Hut’s surprisingly controversial packaging update, we look at how brands misdiagnose relevance problems, how internet culture turns design tweaks into moral battles, and why consumers are more emotionally invested in brands than ever before. You’ll also hear how backlash, misinformation, and TikTok engagement loops can distort what’s actually happening inside a business, plus why a rebrand often isn’t the fix brands think it is. #Rebranding #BrandStrategy #DTCMarketing #ConsumerCulture #BrandIdentity #MarketingPodcast #AdventurousPodcast #EcommerceMarketing #BrandRelevance #DigitalMarketing #CreatorEconomy #MarketingTrends #OmnipresentBrand #TikTokMarketing #BrandPsychology 00:00 – Welcome to the Rebrands Mini-Series 02:10 – The Omnipresent Brand Era 05:00 – When Brands Misdiagnose the Problem 07:45 – The Cracker Barrel Backlash 14:10 – Tree Hut and TikTok Outrage 21:20 – The Shrinkflation Myth 24:40 – Why Anger Drives Engagement 30:00 – When a Rebrand Actually Makes Sense Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠ Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠ Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

    38 min
  4. 1 JAN

    Ep 35: UGC vs. CGC vs. EGC: When to Use What (Replay)

    If you missed this the first time, it’s a great reset on how to think about creator content. What’s the difference between UGC, CGC, and EGC—and why does it matter? In this episode, we break down the “big three” of creator content: 🧍‍♀️ User-Generated Content (UGC): Authentic, messy, and made by real customers. 🎥 Creator-Generated Content (CGC): Polished, paid-for, and built with marketing goals in mind. 💼 Employee-Generated Content (EGC): A rising star that’s human, honest, and powerful. Avery shares how each content type works, when to use them, and what kind of results to expect—plus real-world examples from brands like Coach. If you’re building a content strategy and want to know where to invest (and what to stop doing), this one’s for you. Timestamps: 00:00 Understanding UGC, CGC, and EGC 02:00 Why creating content yourself matters 05:00 What makes good user generated content 10:00 Building community through UGC 14:00 Creator generated content vs UGC 18:00 Tips for original and high-performing CGC 22:00 Employee generated content examples 26:00 Why EGC works in organic and paid strategies 29:00 When to use each content type Hashtags: #UGC #CGC #EGC #UserGeneratedContent #CreatorMarketing #ContentStrategy #PerformanceMarketing #DTCMarketing #MarketingPodcast #BrandBuilding #EmployeeGeneratedContent #SocialMediaMarketing #AdCreative #DigitalMarketing #CreatorEconomy #MarketingTips #PodcastClip #MarketingInsights #ContentMarketing #ScaleWithContent Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠ Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠ Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

    31 min
  5. 25/12/2025

    Ep 34: Building the Omnipresent Brand (Part 3): Holding Up the Mirror

    In Part 3 of Building the Omnipresent Brand, we zoom in on where DTC marketing stands right now, and why the brands winning attention aren’t chasing aspiration, but reflecting reality. This episode explores the “Norman Rockwell era” of marketing: creative that holds up a mirror to people’s real lives, values, and environments. Aves unpacks why relatable, grounded content is outperforming polished perfection, how brands can cooperate with culture without co-opting it, and what this shift means for creative strategy heading into 2026. #DTCMarketing #BrandStrategy #CreativeStrategy #PerformanceMarketing #EcommerceMarketing #DigitalMarketing #BrandRelevance #ContentMarketing #PaidSocial #MarketingTrends #AdvertisingStrategy #CreativeMarketing #OmnipresentBrand 00:00 – Introduction 03:45 – Entering the “Norman Rockwell era” of DTC marketing 07:10 – Cooperating with culture vs. co-opting it 11:45 – Holding up a mirror instead of selling aspiration 15:40 – Research, empathy, and understanding what audiences already see 22:45 – What this creative shift means heading into 2026 Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠ Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠ Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

    26 min
  6. 18/12/2025

    Ep 33: Building the Omnipresent Brand (Part 2): Where Is the Line?

    In Part 2 of this series, Aves steps beyond tactics and into culture. As brands become omnipresent, the line between art, advertising, and identity starts to blur. This episode explores the return of Dadism in internet culture, the rise of absurdity as strategy, and why AI-driven content is forcing brands to rethink what originality and relevance actually mean heading into 2026. If everything is content, where do brands push boundaries—and where should they stop? #OmnipresentBrand #BrandStrategy #CreativeStrategy #InternetCulture #ModernMarketing #DigitalCulture #AdvertisingTrends #MarketingPodcast #DTCMarketing #BrandRelevance #ContentStrategy #FutureOfMarketing #CreativeEconomy #AIandCreativity #Pilothouse #DTC #DTCNewsletter 00:00 — Introduction. Why brands need to stop following trends and start setting them 04:00 — The origins of Dadism and cultural protest 12:00 — Marcel Duchamp and redefining what counts as art 15:00 — Berlin Dadism, photomontage, and dismantling media 22:00 — From art movements to modern internet culture 30:00 — Omnipresent brands, conformity, and identity 36:00 — Why absurdity is becoming a strategic advantage 41:00 — Final takeaway: where brands draw the line in 2026 Work with Pilothouse: ⁠https://www.pilothouse.co/get-in-touch?utm_source=dtc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_content=e&rPodcast⁠ Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@DTCPodcast Subscribe to DTC: ⁠https://www.directtoconsumer.co/⁠ Listen to DTC Podcast: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dtcpodcast

    45 min

About

We see more ads in our day-to-day lives than ever before and yet most of them… kind of suck. What happened to the days of adventurous marketing? Alongside creative thinkers from a vast variety of professional backgrounds, we’re diving deep into our favorite (and least favorite 🌚) ads of all time to find out how they helped to shape today’s cultural landscape. Join Aves from Pilothouse as she continues to share the same tactical advice listeners love on All Killer, No Filler alongside new higher level conversations on brand strategy and creativity.

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