The New Abnormal

Series Two In this episode of The New Abnormal,  I interview Elodie Marteau, a Paris-based foresight strategist & cultural analyst, who helps businesses identify cultural opportunities to future-proof their brand strategy. Her viewpoints have been published by a wide range of organisations including the Fashion Network, LS:N Global, Trend Atelier, Canvas8 and the Global Scanning Review c/o the Copenhagen Institute for Future Studies, etc. In the interview, we discuss her thoughts on a wide range of issues relating to some dominant topics and emerging trends. These include the environmental crisis, the future city, personal identity, and brand ethics. Having worked for some of the leading agencies and consultancies in the sector, she also outlines her route into, and experiences within, the world of trend research.  Finally, she highlights her views on 'hope / community / resilience' and her perspectives on the road ahead. 

Series ThreeIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal podcast, I interview Andy Crysell, Founder & CEO at Crowd DNA, the dynamic cultural insights and strategy consultancy who have offices in London, Amsterdam, New York, Singapore, Sydney, Stockholm and Los Angeles. Formed in 2008, and operating across 70+ markets, they bring together trends specialists, researchers, strategists, data analysts, designers, writers and film-makers for the world's most exciting brands. So, we talk about all of the above, along with a wide range of issues that interest him, starting with his first job, aged 16, which involved him walking around Soho delivering photos to ad agencies. His career has led to him being on the STRAT7 exec board, contributing to strategy in areas such as acquisitions and international expansion. Oh, and  along the way, he got to interview the likes of Frankie Knuckles, Public Enemy, Snoop Dog, the Beastie Boys, Cocteau Twins and Massive Attack... 

Series TwoIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal podcast, I interview Mark Shayler, owner at Ape. He's a  Thinker / Doer / Creator / Speaker / Author,  who helps companies grow sustainably by developing people, strategies and brand - whilst reducing impact. (Mark has saved his clients in excess of £120,000,000).He's also  author of the excellent books "Do Disrupt" and "Do Present".  In the interview, we discuss his highly specialised knowledge of sustainability, in which he has many years experience of advising and working with an array of clients, from major corporates to leading-edge startups. Along the way, he outlines his strategic thinking and practical approach to problems facing companies today and tomorrow. Mark also talks about the renowned Do Lectures, which have gained a stellar reputation over the years since he was  a founding partner, and with whom he continues to play a crucial role.  

Series TwoIn this reposted episode of 'The New Abnormal' I interviewed the filmmaker, broadcast journalist and presenter Wyn Baptiste. He's currently senior producer of the hugely successful TV drama 'MTV Shuga' which, for anyone not in the know, is essentially an entertainment show with a message aimed at young people; with the action set in Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Cote D'Ivoire and most recently in India. He's made films on the Grenfell Tower disaster, EU Referendum, California Drought, HIV in Nigeria, Mental Health in Britain, International Corruption, The Queen, and Notting Hill Carnival. Wyn has also made documentaries for MTV, BBC and The Economist, along with campaign films for senior political figures. Prior to the above, he was a journalist at the BBC for several years.During this interview, we discuss a wide array of subjects, ranging from the social/cultural history of the Carnival, to the appalling tragedy of Grenfell, issues relating to social trust vs the pandemic, and the future for activism.  All this being set in a time where, as we recorded the podcast, #BLM demonstrations were taking place regarding the death of George Floyd and statues were being toppled in the US and UK. And in the context of this series, we also discuss the types of responses from brands that are required, along with those that are not... 

Series TwoThis reposted episode of #TheNewAbnormal podcast features John Dunleavy,  Global Chief Client Officer, Ogilvy Group & IBM Global Client Leader, WPP. He's spent over a decade leading agencies and working with some of the most iconic tech brands in the world. (He's the ex-Global President of m:united//McCann, before which he was Exec-VP/MD of Saatchi & Saatchi NYC, and MD of G2 Worldwide.) John describes agency leadership today and how agencies can & must provide great service for their clients in these 'difficult times'. Looking to the future, he talks of a belief that agency models must evolve, via building bespoke teams that are as unique as their client's brands; by bundling capabilities, data and technology into everything they do, helping them reinvent, transform and above , remain relevant in a category that shifts daily. In our 'Brave New World' these issues are ever more important, so John clarifies exactly what these concepts actually mean, and how they can be actioned... 

Series TwoThis episode of #TheNewAbnormal is a masterclass in retail c/o a renowned specialist. Ian McGarrigle, an ex-senior retail journalist and Parter at Bell Pottinger, is Chairman of the World Retail Congress, the major annual event that attracts personnel from throughout the retail sector, on a truly global basis. In this interview, Ian discusses the key issue impacting retail, namely the game-changing macro issue of the global pandemic. But he also explains more specific ones such as why the theme of this year's congress, alongside subjects such as trust, relevance, experience, NextGen technology, sustainability, purpose, and design. Finally, he talks in detail about the need for reinvention in these 'disruptive times'. So, I hope you enjoy your coffee while listening! (Talking of which, you can buy me one here if you like: https://ko-fi.com/thenewabnormal).

Series ThreeIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal podcast, I interview Julian Boulding, President of TheNetworkOne, who work with around 1200 agencies in nearly 120 countries worldwide, providing 'open source creativity' and comms services from independent agencies, for a growing number of leading international marketing companies.  Julian's been attending the Cannes Lions for nearly 20 years, and after each festival, TheNetworkOne publishes a renowned report of their analysis and viewpoints on the underlying trends and longer-term significance of what has been seen, heard and discussed at the event. (Which, as ever, is the world's largest gathering of the advertising and creative communications industry.) As you'll hear in our discussion, the observations from the 2023 event are very different from last year...

Series TwoIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interviewed Cailin O'Connor, who is an associate professor of logic and philosophy of science at the University of California. She's also the co-author of 'The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread' (published by Yale University Press.In our interview, we discuss Cailin's most recent writings on the subject of 'why we trust lies' re: the most effective misinformation starting with seeds of truth. In doing so, she explains the crucial importance of transparency and accountability, alongside her viewpoints on issues such as confirmation bias i.e. why what you believe depends on who you know; and how demonstrably false beliefs persist and spread - despite negative consequences for the people holding them. In an era where arguments rage about issues ranging from climate change (as the polar ice caps melt and forest fires burn) to the wearing of face masks (as millions have died of Covid-19), Cailin illuminates the social forces that explain the manipulation of 'false belief' and propaganda, and why we must understand both how that process works and trust the evidence, in order to fight back against misinformation. 

Series TwoIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interviewed Jack Godfrey Wood, VP Design at Native Design in San Francisco. They're an independent design company who 'drive growth by creating what people love', with a client roster including Audi, Bentley, Diageo, Google, Microsoft, Oxfam and Santander. Jack leads physical, digital, research and engineering design teams, whose work 'solves tricky problems beautifully'. In the interview, we discuss issues including a career path that lead from Central St Martins to the West Coast, how the American and European design ethos differ, and why empathy is at the heart of great design regarding lived experiences and improved futures. Jack also explains what simplicity, streamlining and reductive thinking brings to the design process, and the vital requirement of having a healthy distrust for the status quo. 

Series TwoIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview Ben Hughes, Professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology. He's also a consultant at, and an ex-professor of, the Central Academy of Fine Arts School of Design in Beijing; and was previously a consultant at the Innovation Centre, Central St Martins + the Course Director MA Ind Design at CSM. In this episode, we discuss his fascinating experience of working in China over the last decade, and of his viewpoints on all things relating to design / creativity / education. Along the way, we cover the different approaches taken to technology, as illustrated by the 'G-Mafia vs the BAT' i.e. Google / Microsoft / Amazon / Facebook / IBM / Apple vs Baidu / Alibaba / Tencent. And of course, Ben talks about design theory, the practicalities of life under the C19 lockdown in Beijing, and of the view from China, looking back to Europe.