Question Everything

Curiosity
  • 5.0 (11)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Part interview, part therapy, part Price Is Right, the Question Everything podcast puts your favorite CMOs and thought leaders in the hot seat. Question Everything is hosted by Ashley Walters, Chief Development Officer and partner at Curiosity: an independent, full-service creative agency based in Cincinnati.

  1. 2D AGO

    How CMOs can avoid Super Bowl fumbles with NFL linebacker-turned-entrepreneur Dhani Jones

    For the Super Bowl edition of Question Everything, we caught up with former NFL linebacker, now investor and entrepreneur, Dhani Jones. After founding two creative agencies, advising several startups, and serving as a board member across multiple categories, Dhani shares what it takes for brands to stand out in today's increasingly crowded marketing landscape. In the episode, you'll hear about Dhani's journey on and off the field and the lessons he's carried from the gridiron into the business world. He unpacks the parallels between the locker room and the boardroom, the Super Bowl ads that truly earn attention, and why playing it safe may be the fastest way for a CMO to lose their job. What you'll learn in this episode: The similarities between huddles in an NFL locker room and a boardroom How brands should approach their halftime strategy Why CMOs who don't take risks should find a new job The one thing that nobody knows about Tom Brady Dhani's view on creativity in advertising and why he was drawn to the industry post-NFL How to make sure your $7 Million Super Bowl spot isn't a flop Why Dhani designed his own major while attending Michigan What inspired Dhani to create the H.E.A.D.S. organization  Resources:   Connect with Dhani on LinkedIn Learn more about Dhani's foundation, Bowtie Cause See some of Dhani's all-time favorite Super Bowl spots:  Verizon's Buzz Aldrin commercial Colgate's Every Drop Counts Cetaphil's Game Time Glow Budweiser's First Delivery Budweiser's "Bud" "Weis" "Er"

    44 min

  2. JAN 20

    How to pitch and win in 2026 with Robin and Steve Boehler, Founders @ Mercer Island Group

    How to pitch and win in 2026 with Robin and Steve Boehler, Founders @ Mercer Island Group    Robin and Steve Boehler have seen the good, bad, and ugly in countless pitches for culture-shaping brands like Starbucks, Microsoft, Abbott, and Nintendo. Lucky for us, they wrote a book on how agencies can shift the pitch spotlight from core capabilities and humble brags to solving your prospect's problems. Cause that's how you win.   In this episode of Question Everything, we cover major insights every agency needs to hear from the Boehlers' new book, It's Not About You: Winning New Business In A Crowded Agency World. You'll learn what a prospect-friendly pitch looks like, how to get to the root of a prospect's problem quickly, and how to seal the deal before leaving the boardroom.   What you'll learn in this episode: Why agencies need to stop talking about themselves in the pitch The five slides that agencies can use for every pitch deck The types of questions agencies need to ask during a Q&A session Making the most out of a 60-minute presentation Uncovering the prospect's problem, quickly What needs to be true to be invited to pitch Unconventional ways to sound like a genius in the room How agencies should think about scope  What clients are looking for from agencies in 2026   Resources:   Connect with Robin on LinkedIn Connect with Steve on LinkedIn  Learn more about Mercer Island Group on their website Get a copy of It's Not About You: Winning New Business In A Crowded Agency World

    43 min

  3. JAN 6

    The Gen Alpha strategy guide with Diana Kelter, Director of Consumer Trends @ Mintel

    What CMOs need to know about Gen Alpha with Mintel's Director of Consumer Trends, Diana Kelter     Diana Kelter, Mintel's Director of Consumer Trends, is always one step ahead of where consumer behavior is headed. By combining data, cultural observation, and brand analysis, she helps marketers understand not just what people buy – but why.   In this episode, Diana unpacks the newest generation of consumers, Gen Alpha. You'll learn what makes these 15 and unders an experimental and disruptive generation, how they discover and evaluate brands, and why cross-category marketing is becoming one of the most powerful drivers of relevance and presence. What you'll learn in this episode: What sets Gen Alpha apart from Gen Z The powerful role of aesthetics in Gen Alpha's life Why the most successful brands must become Gen Alpha's "friends." Why Gen Alpha will seek out experimentation and disruption over stability and comfort  Marketing strategies in response to the anti-algorithm movement  How brands can act as guests and not landlords in consumer spaces How CMOs can earn Gen Alpha's trust What draws Gen Alpha to in-store shopping Gen Alpha's relationship with AI Resources:   Connect with Diana on LinkedIn Learn more about Mintel on their website  See more Mintel reports on Gen Alpha See how Rhode participates in cross-category marketing

    46 min

  4. 12/02/2025

    How CMOs can win in the never normal with best-selling author and technologist Peter Hinssen

    Peter Hinssen has spent his career helping leaders make sense of a world that refuses to slow down. A technologist, bestselling author, and keynote speaker, Peter has advised companies like Apple, Amazon, and Google on how to thrive in what he calls the "never normal" a new era defined by nonstop disruption and exponential change.   In this episode, Peter shares what CMOs must do to successfully lead in a world of constant acceleration, the power of "day after tomorrow" thinking for your business, and why failing fast has quietly become one of the biggest competitive advantages in modern marketing. What you'll learn in this episode: Peter's three keys for leaders facing uncertainty Why Peter is a pathological optimist as a technologist Why AI isn't a real threat to ad agencies The harm "tomorrow thinking" is causing business leaders How to exercise "day-after-tomorrow" thinking How you can use uncertainty to your advantage Why organizations should shift from a scalable execution model to a scalable learning one How leaders can give their teams courage facing the never-normal climate Resources:   Connect with Peter on LinkedIn Learn more about Peter on his website  Find more on his latest book, The Uncertainty Principle Get your hands on his survival guide for the never-normal, The Day After Tomorrow  Why you should be an optimist in the face of massive technological change from one of Peter's biggest influences, Hans Rosling and his book Factfulness See a less optimistic view on the digital world by Cory Doctorow with his book Enshittification

    38 min

  5. 11/04/2025

    How legacy brands can innovate like startups with Nicole Ayers, Business Unit Director @ General Mills

    Nicole Ayers has built a career out of scaling brands that make mealtime 1000x more fun. She once managed cereal icons like Lucky Charms and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. These days, she's all about four-legged foodies. Partnering with Curiosity, Nicole and Blue Buffalo are stepping into the fresh pet food game with their newest product innovation: Love Made Fresh.    In this episode, Nicole pulls back the curtain on how you can confidently bring new product innovations to market, why you should never let consumer testing dictate the fate of your work, and how to make the most of your marketing dollars.     What you'll learn in this episode:  The keys to a successful new product launch  Why Glossier has the best product launches  Nicole's thoughts about AI-generated spots Brand-building strategies Blue Buffalo can learn from Lucky Charms General Mills' strategy behind Edgard & Cooper's exclusive partnership with PetSmart The secret to selling bold creative to companies like General Mills  How to maximize your marketing dollars against big category spenders How to know when the strategy and creative are right Why concept testing shouldn't be the final verdict for creative How to turn your "thinks" into "knows" by asking the consumer A BTS look at Cinnamon Toast Crunch's cereal cannibalism campaign Resources: Connect with Nicole on LinkedIn Learn more about Blue Buffalo on their website Read more about Love Made Fresh See the new Love Made Fresh work Watch Cinnamon Toast's cereal cannibalism spot

    42 min

  6. 10/07/2025

    Building a challenger brand that wins with Stefan Lagerqvist, CEO @ Nick's

    Stefan Lagerqvist is a proven business leader best known for his unique blend of elevated financial expertise, strategic insight, and world-class brand-building experience, honed at P&G and Unilever. Currently, Stefan serves as the Group CEO at NICK'S, a Swedish better-for-you ice cream and protein bar brand that's made a name for itself in snack aisles across Europe and the US.    In this episode, we cover the unexpected difficulties Stefan and Nick's faced during their high-growth era, the keys to pulling off the best experiential marketing, and how Nick's crafted their flirtatiously bold brand voice.    What you'll learn in this episode:  The unexpected business challenges of extreme growth How to uncover your true target consumer The Nick's product that outperformed Snickers  Why having legacy brands copy you is great for business  How to evaluate creative without paid testing Why cynicism is necessary for business growth  The keys to pulling off the best experiential marketing  When challenger brands truly challenge legacy brands  How Nick's retooled their marketing approach for the US How Bethenny Frankel became Nick's #1 fan What to remember in influencer marketing  How Nick's balances their messaging to be both fun and functional   Resources:   Connect with Stefan on LinkedIn Learn more about Nick's on their website Follow Nick's on Instagram See Bethenny Frankel show Nick's love

    41 min

  7. 08/05/2025

    Multiplying impact with unique perspectives with Damaune Journey, Global Chief Growth Officer @ 72andSunny

    Multiplying impact with unique perspectives with Damaune Journey, Global Chief Growth Officer @ 72andSunny  Damaune Journey's leap into advertising was inspired by purpose. A lack of representation across media inspired his mid-career pivot, and since then, he's made historic strides as the Global Chief Growth Officer at 72andSunny. Damaune has helped lead the agency to global recognition, award-winning campaigns, and an internal creative culture rooted in optimism. From filming Super Bowl spots in Ghana to co-founding Sport Beach at Cannes, he's proving that advertising is bigger than driving sales.  In this episode of Question Everything, Damaune unpacks his formula for impactful advertising, 72andSunny's internal litmus test used to judge their work, and the agency's unique process for democratizing culture-shifting campaigns.    What you'll learn in this episode:  The power of Purpose x Perspective x Persistence Damaune's charge for advertisers to consider representation Why agencies should seek perspectives from every department 72andSunny's "Murph Meter" and what it means for their work Why it's crucial to think beyond the traditional TV spot  Why AI won't replace your job, people who know how to use it will The most star-studded names at Cannes Sport Beach Damaune's career moments that his daughter is most proud of  Resources:   Learn more about 72andSunny on their website Watch 72andSunny's "Run With It" campaign Watch 72andSunny's "Born To Play" campaign See more on Tinder's "Swipe Night" campaign Connect with Damaune on LinkedIn

    44 min

  8. 07/01/2025

    The Gen Z ad industry playbook with Geno Schellenberger, Co-founder @ Breaking and Entering Media

    Breaking and Entering's Media's Geno Schellenberger is writing Gen Z's ad industry playbook   Geno Schellenberger's Breaking and Entering Media takes pretension out of the press by using Gen Z-native content strategies to keep advertisers entertained and in the know.  In this episode of Question Everything, Geno opens up about the power of personal brand building in the age of AI, the most impactful Gen Z marketing strategies, and trends the industry should retire. It's a party, and Geno's inviting the industry's newest talent to dance. What you'll learn in this episode:  How Breaking and Entering Media started The best way to stand out as a Gen Zer in an AI-fueled world An outdated adland mindset that should retire The most surprising thing Geno has learned about the ad industry   How theater and improv can boost presentation skills What agencies get wrong with their positioning  What CMOs still get wrong about Gen Z The brand campaign that first made Geno say, "I want in." The most overused breakthrough tactic right now What it really means to be authentic, and why it's non-negotiable Resources:   Connect with Geno on LinkedIn Learn more about Breaking and Entering Media on their website

    32 min
See All (37)

5
out of 5
11 Ratings

About

Part interview, part therapy, part Price Is Right, the Question Everything podcast puts your favorite CMOs and thought leaders in the hot seat. Question Everything is hosted by Ashley Walters, Chief Development Officer and partner at Curiosity: an independent, full-service creative agency based in Cincinnati.

Information

  • Creator
    Curiosity
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2023
  • Show Website
    Question Everything