Breaking and Entering Advertising Podcast

Brooke Brown, SVP and Head of Brand and Creative at US Bank, discusses her unconventional journey from public transit marketing to leading significant brand campaigns. She reveals how secret shopping landed her a job and the lessons learned from bold career moves. Brooke shares insights on building strong collaborative relationships, the importance of understanding consumer perspectives, and leveraging innovative strategies for brand storytelling. Her advice encourages creatives to embrace adaptability and prioritize communication in their pursuits.

Davis Priestley, founder and president of Revery, has crafted campaigns for giants like Google Play, Delta, and Disney. He shares his remarkable journey from film sets to founding a storytelling studio. The conversation reveals the importance of empathy in creativity and how authenticity shapes modern branding. Davis emphasizes the value of multidisciplinary talent and nurturing personal connections in creative work. He also reflects on how networking and resilience paved his way in the industry, offering insights for aspiring creatives.

Lorenzo Costa, CEO and founder of Link Creative, started his Chicago-based agency at just 25, blending expertise from financial planning and hospitality. He discusses building intentional in-house teams and the importance of treating your own brand as your best client. The conversation highlights how his background as a DJ shaped his leadership style and creative process. They delve into the value of passion projects and innovative strategies, while emphasizing the need for personal connections and adaptability in the fast-evolving advertising landscape.

Chad Waetzig, CMO of Crunch Fitness, shares insights from his journey in the fitness industry, where he’s focused on making fitness fun and inclusive. He discusses the secrets behind scaling a brand across 500 locations and the significance of marketing beyond just ads. Chad dives into how social media impacts career aspirations and the importance of location and word-of-mouth, especially among young consumers. He emphasizes the need for emotional connection in post-pandemic marketing and his belief that fitness doesn't have to be serious to be effective.

Frances Webster co-founded Walrus, won Breeze without pitching, and invented a mint strong enough for your boss’s boss. She calls it calculated misbehavior. We call it a heist. In this episode, she talks business mints, chicken festivals, heli-skiing, and the art of getting brands to notice you. Plus, how to break into advertising with grit and a whole bunch of big ideas.

Ad Age reporters Ewan “eScoops” Larkin and Brian Bonilla join the pod to break down the biggest stories shaking the ad world. We Cover AOR obits to AI panic to the rise of indie agencies. They share how they tag-team breaking news, pitch their dream merch line (Br-Ewan hats, anyone?), and go head-to-head in an "overrated vs underrated" showdown. And... happy belated birthday to Ewan. He spent it dodging Cannes parties and press releases.

From denim icons to malfunctioning ovens, Kathy Collins has seen it all. The CRO of Frontdoor Inc. sits down with us to talk about building brands that stick, why creativity still drives revenue, and how to break out of the home warranty echo chamber. She walks us through the Warentina campaign with Rachel Dratch, lessons from her days at H&R Block and Lee Jeans, and that one time she flew on a private jet with Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.

Mike Kurtz, founder of Mike’s Hot Honey, joins Breaking & Entering News as the brand launches its first national advertising campaign. After 15 years of grassroots growth and a dedicated fan base, Mike’s Hot Honey is expanding with “Drizzle the Mike’s,” a cross-platform campaign from agencies, Another Thing and Noble People. Mike talks about the brand’s origins, building a cult following, and making the move to national advertising.Timestamps00:00 Introduction and Welcome00:12 Getting to Know Mike Kurtz01:55 Mike's Early Life and Career Aspirations08:14 The Birth of Mike's Hot Honey09:36 From Hobby to Business10:05 Pizza Apprenticeship and Early Sales14:30 Going Full-Time with Mike's Hot Honey17:56 Branding and Packaging Evolution21:44 Organic Growth and Media Attention23:46 Partnerships and Expanding Uses25:30 Unusual Uses for Mike's Hot Honey26:18 Introducing the New Campaign26:34 Behind the Scenes: Creating the Campaign28:02 Shooting in LA: Location and Casting29:51 Golden Girls Spot: Concept and Execution34:13 Pizza Guys Spot: Concept and Execution35:51 Campaign Rollout and Media Plan37:52 Pizza Talk: Regional Styles and Favorites46:32 Final Thoughts and Gratitude🔗 Links💼 Follow us on LinkedInDaily insights, creative breakdowns, and industry news.https://www.linkedin.com/company/breaking-entering-podcast/📖 Read our Publications:https://www.breaking-entering.com/blog💬 Join our Unlocked Groupme, for aspiring advertising professionals and job announcements:https://groupme.com/join_group/102437585/xg5Z5tei✉️ Subscribe to The VaultOur insider newsletter with real advice and deep dives.https://breakingandenteringadv.substack.com/📹 Subscribe to our :60 Advertising News Videos:https://breakingandentering.beehiiv.com/🏆 Check out the Crowbar Awards to break into advertising:https://www.crowbarawards.com/🤝 Work With UsFor sponsorships, custom content, or partnerships:jack@breakenterpod.com

Micky Ogando, Founder and CCO of Bakery, joins Breaking and Entering to talk about launching an independent agency at 27 with no plan, no clients, and no idea what he was doing. We unpack the chaotic startup years, how a cupcake shop inspired the name Bakery, and what it really takes to stay independent in a world full of holding companies. From his Mount Rushmore of modern ad minds to what motivates him now (spoiler: it’s not a paycheck), this episode is a masterclass in indie grit, existential spirals, and why you probably should not start an agency unless you have some trauma to work through.

In this episode, Geno sits down with Crowbar Best in Show winners Ella Bartosik, Maya True Wasik, and Shamil Luqman, three student creatives who took the challenge of making Ohio cool… and somehow succeeded. Joined by global CCO of FCB, Andrés Ordóñez, they unpack the brief, the brainstorms, and the butter cow that made their campaign unforgettable. From remote Zoom calls to unapologetically weird headlines, this is a masterclass in turning internet jokes into strategic gold.Come for the Gen Z memes, stay for the insights on leadership, creativity, and why "weird" is a brand strategy now.