Episode 16: Free Speech, Sobriety, and Creative Discipline

"Being remarkable in marketing doesn’t mean playing it safe, it means standing out in a world that’s become too comfortable with bland."

In this episode, I sit down with Adam Singer, VP of Marketing at AdQuick, longtime digital thinker, and the writer behind Hot Takes on Substack. Adam opens up about his path through tech and marketing: from early days on FriendFeed to leading at Google, to now challenging how brands approach creativity and culture.

We talk about the dangers of marketing blandification, the balance between free speech and corporate identity, and how sobriety reshaped his persistence and clarity. Adam shares how hobbies like music became an anchor, why transcendence matters in a world of outrage culture, and what he’s learned about living with purpose instead of numbing.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(04:47) Navigating controversial opinions online

(12:19) The “blandification” of marketing

(14:11) Sobriety and persistence

(17:46) The impact of substance use on creativity

(19:49) Personal journey to sobriety

(21:14) Finding and valuing hobbies

(22:12) The importance of family and personal growth

(25:59) The role of transcendence in modern life

(31:29) Marketing narratives vs. real-world impact

Connect with my guest:

Adam Singer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamsinger/

Explore AdQuick: https://www.adquick.com/

Connect with me:

Kyle Lacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylelacy/

Explore Docebo: https://www.docebo.com/

Produced by our partner, Share Your Genius: https://shareyourgenius.com/?utm_source=shownotes&utm_medium=pod&utm_campaign=rev-diaries