Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast Breaking and Entering Media

The goal of this podcast is to help you break in and thrive in advertising. And Marketing. And heck, maybe to help you become a CEO. 



Welcome back to breaking and Entering brand-side. We interview the best folks who work in creative communications directly for businesses. Not agencies. Although we love agency folks too. 



Today, we learn from Gertrude Allen, CEO of Lola Dating, a new dating app that addresses the common issues found in existing dating platforms, such as swiping fatigue and ineffective communication.



Gertrude discusses Lola's unique features, such as a calendar system for scheduling dates and a feedback mechanism to improve matches over time.



Listen if you're looking for love. Or if you're looking to break in and or thrive in advertising. 

Breaking with Brian: Episode 6 - "Agency" Rebrand



Brian Bonilla, Senior Agency Reporter at Ad Age and Geno Schellenberger, Associate Director of Growth and Comms at Havas Chicago, discuss the developing stories of the advertising world, focusing on the significant shift from traditional agencies to a variety of new models, including consultancies and creative transformation companies. They explore the real-world implications of this change for talent acquisition, client relationships, and overall strategy. 



They touch upon recent industry events like the Kendrick-Drake beef, their preferences in music and the creative world, and the recognition of excellence in the industry through awards like the Ad Age gala. They also reflect on the confusion these industry shifts cause among professionals and students alike, suggesting a focus on skill and passion over titles and terminologies. 



Additionally, they humorously propose setting up their own agency, emphasizing creativity and quick, impactful solutions. The episode rounds off with more personal anecdotes and light-hearted banter about preferences in music, food, and hypothetical scenarios, ensuring an entertaining dialogue on the future of advertising.





00:00 Welcome to Episode Six: A Casual Sunday Chat

00:37 Kendrick vs. Drake

01:52 Ad Age Gala Highlights and Industry Awards

07:40 Exploring the Ad Industry's Latest Buzzword: 'Agency'

16:02 The New Agency Model: Consulting Meets Creativity

20:15 Revamping Agencies for the Modern Era

20:53 The Birth of a New Agency Model

21:53 The Shift in Client Expectations

22:26 The Identity Crisis Among Agencies

23:18 Brainstorming a Unique Agency Concept

25:53 The Future of Creative Careers

28:31 Creating Our Own Agency: A Hypothetical Exercise

29:14 Reflecting on Industry Changes and Personal Preferences

31:56 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

Celebrating all the side projects created by folks in advertising. 

From Vomit Comics, an advertising video game, to even this podcast, Josh Weiss and Sunita Deshpande have been celebrating the extremely creative and meaningful side projects from the minds of those who create ads for a living. 

It's essential to study ads and what's being covered in the ad trades, but it's also important to stay in tune with culture and to flex your creativity, and side projects are a great way to do that. 

Josh Weiss and Sunita Deshpande join this episode to talk about The Side Show and how students can get inspired by the site's gallery of projects. 

Brian Bonilla, a senior agency reporter at Ad Age, returns to discuss recent happenings and insights within the advertising industry alongside Geno Schellenberger. They dive into the current trend of rapidly emerging ad agencies and explore the factors contributing to this phenomenon, including the strategy of niching down to cater to specific market segments like Gen Z and local businesses. The conversation also touches on significant developments, such as a notable lawsuit involving the closure of the Butcher Shop agency.The discussion spans various informative segments, including 'Agency Headline of the Week,' 'Gas or Pass,' and special topics on the role of AI in creative processes and insights into how advertising reviews work. This episode offers students and aspiring advertisers valuable advice on navigating and thriving in the advertising industry by staying informed and seizing opportunities.

Dr. Karen Freberg on Bridging the Gap between Academia and Industry.

In this episode, Dr. Karen Freberg shares her experiences as a professor in strategic communications at the University of Louisville. She highlights her approach to teaching and her role in managing a student-run strategic communications agency. She discusses how she focuses on bridging the gap between academia and the industry and why she champions her students to take ownership of their learning. Additionally, Dr. Freberg shares examples of how her students have benefited from personal branding and real-world experience, including opportunities to work with esteemed companies and on high-profile events.



00:00 Introduction and Welcome

00:50 Getting to Know Dr. Karen Freberg

01:28 Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry

02:18 The Journey of a Student Athlete

03:27 Discovering Public Relations

05:19 The Importance of Personal Branding

08:16 Success Stories: From Students to Professionals

12:46 The Power of Passion and Initiative

19:40 The Struggles and Joys of Advertising

20:09 The Importance of Creativity in Strategic Communication

21:25 The Journey of Building a Student Agency

21:55 The Challenges and Triumphs of Launching a Student Agency

22:17 The Role of Students in Shaping the Agency

24:40 The Growth and Success of the Student Agency

25:32 The Impact of the Student Agency on the Community

32:07 The Future of the Student Agency

33:48 The Role of Podcasts in Student Learning

36:48 The Impact of Teaching on Students

37:37 Connecting with Karen Freberg

This week, we interviewed Eric Segal and Brett Banker, founders of X&O, a unique company that defies the traditional advertising agency framework.



Operating from New Jersey, Segal and Banker discuss their long-term partnership, the genesis of X&O, and how their model differentiates from typical agencies by focusing on employing a network of experts and officers for specific client challenges. They dive into the principles of agility, expertise, and speed in delivering strategic and creative roadmaps for clients, emphasizing their no-hierarchy, project-based approach.



X&O collaborates with clients and other agencies, often working anonymously to solve complex problems quickly and efficiently. The discussion also covers how X&O’s model could impact aspiring advertisers and the evolving landscape of the advertising industry.





00:00 Welcome to the Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast

00:23 Introducing X&O: A New Breed of Agency

02:52 The Unique Model of X&O Explained

04:14 The Expertise and Structure of X&O

07:22 Collaboration and Project Dynamics at X&O

09:59 The Anonymity Principle and Creative Process

13:17 Client Projects and Showcasing Work

16:16 Reflecting on Creative Control and Validation

18:54 Unlocking the Talent Pool: The Shift in Advertising Talent Dynamics

20:04 The Pandemic's Impact on Work-Life Balance and Talent Mobility

21:00 Breaking and Entering: A New Era for Aspiring Advertisers

24:16 From Traditional Paths to New Opportunities: Personal Career Journeys

27:50 The Power of Asking and the Importance of Instinct in Advertising

31:30 Exploring New Business Models and the Future of Agency Pitches

34:06 Final Thoughts and How to Connect