The New Abnormal

Series OneIn this episode of The New Abnormal podcast, I interview the journalist and broadcaster Emma-Louise Boynton, who has a background as a broadcast producer, working with the likes of Sky News, the BBC and Tina Brown Media.  She's the co-founder and CEO of Her Hustle, which launched in 2019 and lifts the veil on the world of work, empowering women to carve out a career they want, on their own terms. They believe that everyone should be given the opportunity to build a career that combines passion and purpose. (Emma was also the co-founder of Venn Media, and is Politics & Society Editor of 'The Stack').  So, in this interview, we discuss her ethos and viewpoints, why she believes that everyone has a capacity to make change, her approach to sharing female narratives, and a 'How To' strategy regarding female career paths.  Along the way, she highlights some of the amazing women she's interviewed and the dynamic events produced by Her Hustle, which have featured an array of extraordinary individuals. 

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal I interviewed Jen Urich, a marketing strategist and founder of Sparrow Strategy in Portland, Oregon. She's also the ex-Group Planning Director of Wieden + Kennedy in Portland, ex-Director of Account Planning at Crispin, Porter + Bogusky in Miami, and Director of Account Planning at J. Walter Thompson Worldwide, in Mexico City. (Previously, she was also at Bain & Co, and took her Masters at Yale). In this reposted episode (an early one from the series) she explains her views on issues inc #BlackLivesMatter and the 'situation' in Portland. We go on to discuss the way in which #Truth (one of the most successful marketing campaigns of all time) was originally developed, the results of a fascinating research project into institutional trust vs personal trust (focusing around 'fears / loves / hopes') that she and her colleagues conducted in Brazil, India, Mexico and Japan. Jen also illuminates why Covid led to such a 'great reveal' of inequality. Along the way, we also talk about the 'Raising Justice' organisation, plus other crucial topics such as resilience, adaptability and community action. Oh, and why North America needs to be more like Canada...

Series OneIn this episode, I spoke with Nicole Fall, the CEO of the renowned strategic research, innovation consultancy and forecasting agency Asian Consumer Intelligence. She's spent 20 years in Asia working with leading brands in countries inc China, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. In the interview, we discuss her expert views on decoding cultural/social trends in Asia, and the implications for business strategy and brand marketing.  

Series OneMartin Raymond is an author, journalist and co-founder of The Future Laboratory - one of the world's most renowned futures consultancies. Established in 2000, they've worked with more than 1000 businesses in 50 countries. In this reposted episode, we discuss his thinking around a wide range of areas, including journalism being 'the last refuge of the desperate - and the curious' to the cultural drivers of tomorrow, strategic foresight around resilience and purpose, surveillance capitalism, scenario planning, and a certain J G Ballard. Along the way, we discuss his books "The Tomorrow People", "The Trend Forecaster's Handbook" and (at that point) forthcoming title "The Trusted and the Damned - or how to take a big company and make it small, irrelevant and pointless'. As they say, what's not to like? 

Series OneSteve Lacey has a reputation for being a genuine outsider, in an industry where being 'inside the bubble' is the 24/7 reality for the vast majority of its workforce. (Hence him founding 'The Outsiders: an international network of misfits and experts'). He understands diversity and prides himself on conducting research outside the margins, delivering social insight that really makes an impact. His team also works outside industry norms, and in this reposted episode we discuss leading-edge approaches to conducting research, his views on 'real' cultural & societal trends, and some emerging issues that he expects to impact our futures.As part of this, we debate his views about the 'Death of Rebellion', brand leadership, the need for reflection and hope re: #TheGreatReset, and of C19 as a catalyst for creativity. Finally, I have to point out that this is one of the earliest episodes of #TheNewAbnormal and I've reposted it, as listening to / learning from Steve is always such a pleasure. He's a genuine star of the research world. 

Series One In this early episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interviewed Simon Armstrong, who has the incredibly enviable job of being the book buyer for The Tate. He's a fascinating individual, with a background across an array of leading-edge cultural positions. In this interview, he describes his journey from a working-class background in the North East, to running what many consider to be the finest art bookshop in the world. (Where the subject matter of the stock includes Modern & Contemporary Art, Photography, Design, Fashion and Architecture, etc). We discuss the highly divisive culture wars, the search for artistic authenticity (with an obligatory nod to Sartre), and why actively supporting counter-culture / sub-culture is so important, because - as ever - the most interesting things happen on the periphery 'where everything influences everything else'. Finally, he emphasises how crucial it is to promote fresh thinking and to have 'thoughtful disagreements'. 

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal podcast, I interview the features journalist, trend analyst and data storyteller Sabrina Faramarzi, who's particularly fascinated by internet culture and online communities. She's written for The Guardian, Wired, Vice and Culture Trip, and is the international newsrooms & content lead for Opinary in Berlin, and the Contributing Data Editor of Vogue Business. Her previous experience inc the likes of the Future Lab, Spacestor, Canvas8 and Trendwatching, alongside creating branded content for those including Airbnb, Regus, Tempur, GSK and Lush. In the interview, we discuss her views on immersive experiences, lifestyle journalism, the feminist internet, marginalised groups, surveillance capitalism, transparent governance, the rethinking of public spaces and issues around work/play.

Series One In this early episode of the series, I talked with John Grant, who spent his early career at JWT and BMP-DDB, before becoming co-founder and Head of Strategy for the revolutionary St Luke's . (As you'll hear, it narrowly missed being named after...well listen and find out). John has since become a highly sought-after consultant, and somehow managed to write several excellent books along the way, inc 'The New Marketing Manifesto', 'The Green Marketing Manifesto', Co-opportunity', 'Made With', and 'Better'. He has worked with an array of leading global brands, along with various departments of the UK and Swedish Governments. He's also written a sequel to the #GreenMarketingManifesto titled #GreenerMarketing. Therefore we talk about that, #TheGreatReset...and Spiral Tribe. As you do. 

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview Raja Habre. He's Executive Director of the LFA, a highly influential business organisation based in Beirut, comprising a mixture of those from top Lebanese and international brands. He's also responsible for the innovative economic congresses #BIFF and #BIFEX events, that promote the Lebanese economy. A widely travelled and deeply experienced individual, in this interview Raja gives a no-holds barred account of the situation within which Lebanon now finds itself, after a catastrophic year that left it with a 75% poverty rate, whilst hosting nearly 2 million refugees (many of which are c/o the conflict in Syria) in a country afflicted in various parts by up to 22hrs a day of power blackouts and a plummeting currency. Meanwhile, the impact of both Covid and the catastrophic explosion in Beirut port have made the situation even worse than many thought possible, in a country that was already affected by years of political chaos. So, in this sobering discussion, Raja delivers an important message; during which he reflects on the subjects of hope, community and resilience: #LawChouMaSar - Lebanon doesn't give up!

Series OneThe launch of Sony Playstation was one of the most successful (and in a marketing context - anarchic) launches of all time. In this episode I interview the brains behind that activity, Geoff Glendenning. He's a renowned brand strategist and integrated marketing expert, who's also worked with iconic brands including Greenpeace, Microsoft, Vans, Coca-Cola, MTV,  Olympus, Ben & Jerry's, Channel 4, Sega, Ministry of Sound, Volcom and Sony Music. In our discussion, he focuses on the launch of PS1, as at the time it used an approach - basically fighting a traditional corporate mindset - which has been incredibly influential in the years that have followed. To do so, Geoff utilised his knowledge of, and preference for, leveraging alternative culture with guerilla marketing techniques. The catalytic results changed an industry, and in this podcast he explains in detail why he took this approach, the tactics that he used, and how he views the marketing landscape. BTW, Geoff is very enthusiastic about his favourite subject - so in this episode I just sat back and enjoyed listening to the story unfold!