The New Abnormal

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview Neil Boorman, Head of Creative Lab Europe at TikTok. He builds and leads their in-house creative service, dedicated to producing best in class work on the platform. Prior to TikTok, he was the Content Director at agencies including Wieden + Kennedy, Mother, Grey, and VCCP, before which he was a Content Strategist/Producer at Amnesty International. He's also the author of books inc "It's all their fault" & "Bonfire of the Brands". And...he edited/published the satirical fanzine 'Shoreditch Twat'. (Whose readership combined those who got what was going on, along with those who later watched Nathan Barley and hoped their neighbours were laughing with them, not at them. I'm increasingly concerned about my membership of the former). So...Neil's been at the leading-edge of culture throughout his career, and in this episode discusses a range of contemporary issues that interest and/or appall him in equal measure. As for the mighty TikTok, Neil explains why he thinks a platform that has 'honesty, humility and authenticity' at its heart is such a spectacular global success, regarding its ability to connect us all via creativity and joy. 

Series OneIn this episode of 'The New Abnormal' I talk with the inspirational Andy Middleton.He's the Chief Exploration Officer of the adventure pioneers TYF, who introduced the world to coasteering and are at the forefront of low-impact adventures and experiential learning. In addition to supporting TYF, Andy's role is to enable leaders to deliver radical and transformational innovation to help solve carbon, biodiversity, resource and wellbeing challenges by re-thinking education, ambition and engagement. So, we discuss risk management, his 'Planet B' ethos, #TheGreatReset, a future strategy for the Do Lectures, and the core purpose of the incredible TYF organisation - connecting people to nature. (For more info: www.tyf.com).It's an early episode from the series, but feels as though it was recorded yesterday!

Series OneIn this early episode of 'The New Abnormal' I spoke with the founder of the world's first "Movement" marketing / transformation / advertising and design company: the famous Strawberry Frog. Prior to this, I'd last spoken with Scott Goodson, the agency's founder/CEO, just after they'd won the coveted 'Best Marketing Agency of the Year' award c/o The Drum. In this podcast, he explains the inspiring journey that Strawberry Frog has been on to deal with / adapt to the business realities of C19 - which is about as good an example of best-practise as you're likely to hear. He describes, in detail, the way that the agency has implemented issues such as 'Positive Intent' and reinforced their 'all in it together' ethos to install added confidence in the future, throughout the agency team. Scott also highlights their development of 'On/Up Movements' and how it is that Strawberry Frog have established an enviable reputation for building big transformative ideas, with clear values at their nucleus. Hence a client list ranging from P&G to Google to PepsiCo to SunTrust to LG to Morgan Stanley, etc. Oh, and Scott is the author of the books 'Uprising' and 'Activate Brand Purpose'...

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview Jens Laugesen, the Danish Fashion Design Practitioner / Advisor / Educator / Video Artist, who is known for a conceptual approach to creative design thinking.He's recently launched an innovative Global Graduate Design Showcase in partnership with the art & design portfolio platform ARTSTHREAD and i-D Magazine. Jens is very interested in how C19 can be seen as a creative catalyst and an opportunity for change. In this podcast we discuss how he was inspired by 9/11 to create a 'Ground Zero' design trilogy that resulted in the development of a personal design philosophy named 'Hybrid Reconstruction' born from what he describes as the post 9/11 ideological vacuum which he also saw as being the end of modernism. Today, Jens is also a video artist fascinated by the ‘glitch' and we therefore discuss this, alongside his background at the 'Navy SEALS of Fashion (Central St Martins) and the Institute de la Mode. He explains his views on contemporary culture, why the influence of Lars von Trier (and the Dogme 95 manifesto) was so influential, and today's students - the 'Pilots of Chaos' that are challenging existing thinking. Finally, we discuss the issue of meta-modernism and trust in a post-truth world; in the context of morals, values and responsibility. 

William Higham, a former music industry professional, discusses his experiences working with iconic figures like Alice Cooper and the Stranglers. He also talks about cultural trends and their impact on brands, including the importance of understanding consumer behavior during the pandemic. The conversation covers generational marketing, rebellion in the tech industry, and shifting attitudes towards technology. The podcast explores various anecdotes, quotes, and historical events that highlight changing consumer attitudes.

Series OneThis episode of 'The New Abnormal' features Tom Morton, a member of the leadership team at R/GA, one of the world's most creative and innovative companies, where he's the Global Chief Strategy Officer. R/GA advise brands on what they should stand for and how they should behave and innovate in order to thrive in the connected world. Tom's work extends into media and popular culture, he's been a political pundit for the BBC and The Guardian, an Effies judge and a jury chair for the 4As Jay Chiat Strategy Awards. He's also been a keynote speaker for the Cannes Lions, the ICA and Advertising Week. In this podcast (from the early days of #TheNewAbnormal) we discuss his views on how circumstances drive values, the ever greater need for leaders to demonstrate emotional intelligence, and why the vital question for brands is 'how can we help have a positive impact'? 

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal, I interview Khalil Zafar, who is a renowned HR & Strategy Consultant in the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.He's also travelled widely around the world, teaching and consulting about human resources and leadership. An ex-journalist, who still writes for a range of international magazines and newspapers, he's also the author of the recently published 'Future of Work: Simplified'. In it, he explores the issues of business management, leadership, employment and automation. In order to write the book, Khalil interviewed and collaborated with leading thinkers on an international basis to set out the possibilities, challenges, changes and scenarios that could emerge Post-Covid as they relate to workforces and workplaces.Therefore, in this episode, we discuss his viewpoints on a wide range of issues relating to the future of work, with a particular focus on the reinvention of leadership, emerging technology, upskilling, cultural eloquence, organisational renewal, and the freelance revolution. 

Series OneThis episode of #TheNewAbnormal features the multiple award-winning magazine editor and brand consultant Steve Beale, who's observed / written about / been part of leading-edge subcultures for many years. The ex-editor of the legendary Sleaze Nation, he then went on to write for an array of titles, including being Editor at Large of The Face and Senior Editor of Arena...before making the entirely obvious move to join Fighters Only, the world's largest mixed martial arts mag, as Editor in Chief. He then became a Director with the Lazarides Gallery Group - the most influential art gallery of the 21st Century. He's now Editorial Director of the brand editing collective Langsford Crimson, whilst also being a Director of the world's only premium fightwear brand 'Battles of London' which was described by The Times as 'Combat Sports Luxe'. So this interview is as wide-ranging and interesting as you'd expect; including everything from the cutting-edge publishing scene to combat sports. 

Series OneThis episode of #TheNewAbnormal features Jussi Solja -  'one of the beasts' at the Finland-based ' Sexy Beast' who are an 'anti-agency for startups and bold brands'.  Nicely put!  Jussi has many years of global experience in marketing strategy, digital marketing, service and user experience design to branding, content strategy and beyond. Over the years he's founded and managed agencies, launched a Finnish hiphop phenomenon, ran the marketing of the biggest classifieds platform in the Middle-East, worked with multiple startups, and headed a global team responsible for Nokia’s flagship products, winning multiple international awards in the process. So we discuss a range of insights linked to the above, why he thinks there's a rather odd 'in-built animosity between many agencies and their clients' and why that led to the highly unusual and dynamic approach taken by The Sexy Beast. (Which essentially involves 'getting great people in a room for five days' in order to create catalytic brand / product / service / comms concepts).He also discusses why he believes there's been a fundamental shift in how we do 'brand purpose' where we essentially ask ourselves "what's the genuine brand role in this new society"? And when it comes to issues relating to my themes of "hope, community and resilience",  you'll learn why the Finnish ethos of 'talkoot' and 'sisu' are so important...

Series OneIn this episode of #TheNewAbnormal I interviewed Carl Ratcliff,  just after he’d set-up his consultancy 'This is the Day'. Prior to that, he was Chief Strategy Officer at DDB Group Australia, whilst other previous roles included being CEO of One Green Bean in Sydney, CEO of Naked Communications and MD of BWM Dentsu in Melbourne. Back in the day, he was Exec Planning Director at MCBD/Elvis in London, Head of Marketing at Channel Five TV, and Planning Partner at TBWA London. In this podcast, we discuss the view from Australia re: corporate / Govt levels of trust, positive brand behaviour as an expectation, reframing brand values, issues around behavioural economics, and building Post-C19 resilience.