

That's What I Call Marketing
Conor Byrne
Conor Byrne hosts That's What I Call Marketing meeting some of the most incredible marketing minds in our industry, CMO's, founders and marketing leaders from across the globe, this podcast tackles the big issues facing marketers today, as well as providing inspiration by hearing the incredible stories marketing leaders share of their journey to the top. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 7, 2025 • 38min
S4 Ep24: The Brand Newsroom: Where Content & PR Come Together. The Building A Legacy Series
PR isn't dead—it's evolved. And most brands are still playing by the old rulebook.In this episode we sit down with three communications leaders to dissect how modern PR actually works: Pippa Doyle (Global PR at Whoop), Shireen McDonagh (Brand & Content at Legacy Communications), and Niamh Hopkins (Head of Consumer PR at Legacy).This isn't theory. You'll hear the real story of how an agency changed a client's mind with a single email. Why Whoop runs exclusive events instead of chasing scale. How Krispy Kreme owned the news cycle in 24 hours when Leo Varadkar resigned. And why "freedom through structure" unlocks better creative than open-ended briefs.If you're a marketer, brand leader, or agency professional wondering why your PR feels stuck in 2010, this conversation will rewire how you think about communications, content, and building brand fame in a cluttered market.What You'll Learn:Why PR should be renamed "communications" (and what that shift actually means)The briefing framework that gets agencies to do their best workHow to turn one event into months of content across every channelThe truth about influencer numbers vs. engagement (and when each matters)Why budget constraints unlock creativity instead of killing itThe "brand newsroom" model and who should be your editor-in-chiefHow smaller brands can win with agility against bigger competitorsCHAPTERS:00:00 - Introduction: The Evolution of PR02:15 - Why "PR" Needs to Become "Communications"04:25 - Case Study: How One Email Changed a Client's Mind07:00 - What PR Actually Drives: Fame, Awareness & Word of Mouth10:04 - Why Great Campaigns Start With Great Briefs11:16 - The "Freedom Through Structure" Briefing Framework13:14 - Why Budget Can Be a Beautiful Constraint14:27 - Events as Content Machines, Not One-Day Moments18:27 - Measuring Event Success: Beyond Who Showed Up19:45 - Working With Influencers & Creators: Authenticity First23:06 - Does Follower Count Actually Matter?26:45 - Reactive Content Done Right: Aldi's Oasis & Krispy Kreme's Leo Moment28:00 - The Brand Newsroom Model: Operating Like a Publisher29:14 - Speed, Approvals & Team Alignment32:05 - Practical Advice: Setting Up Your Comms Function for Success37:52 - The Editor-in-Chief Role: Who Defends the Idea?with Legacy Communications Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 30, 2025 • 47min
S4 Ep23: AI & The Evolution of Search, Building A Legacy Series
PR has always been about influence. Coverage, credibility, shaping the conversation. But in 2025, PR is becoming something bigger: the infrastructure that powers discovery itself.In this episode of That’s What I Call Marketing, we unpack the collision of PR, SEO, and brand building in the age of AI search. Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and other tools are no longer sending users to ten blue links. They’re generating answers directly in the results. And those answers don’t come from nowhere.Research shows that 89% of AI summaries trace back to earned media sources. Trusted outlets. Independent stories. Journalism that carries weight. Which means PR isn’t just a “nice to have” for reputation anymore — it’s becoming the raw material that decides whether your brand even shows up in the customer journey.Across this conversation, we explore what that means for marketers:Why PR and SEO can’t live in silos, and how the brand newsroom model makes them work together.How to build visibility when there’s no guarantee of a click — and why being named in the answer might be more valuable than a referral.The role of blogs and owned content in the AI era — why they still matter, even if they never rank.How attribution is breaking down, and what marketers can do to rethink measurement when direct traffic and PPC get over-credited.Practical tactics: answering every related question in your content, writing for bots as much as for humans, and creating proof that compounds rather than one-off case studies.Why creative PR still matters more than ever, and how to structure stories that journalists — and machines — can’t ignore.This isn’t a theoretical debate. It’s a frontline look at how PR is changing, why credibility is the most valuable currency in marketing, and what teams need to do to stay visible in a world where discovery is shifting beneath our feet.If you care about where marketing is going, how to keep your brand discoverable, and why PR is entering a new golden age, this is the episode for you.1:50 – The “oh shit” moment: Google AI Overviews7:48 – PR as trust signals in AI13:01 – Discovery beyond Google15:35 – Blogs still matter23:17 – Attribution is broken31:22 – SEO becomes a brand function44:08 – Writing for bots, not humans49:20 – Don’t chase every shiny channel57:00 – Building a LegacyThe Building A Legacy Series are in partnership with Legacy Communications Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 23, 2025 • 40min
The Singles Ep10: Is Brewdog Done? Will Diageo & Indeed drive efficiencies? TayTay & Travis Love Brand & Gordon & BK Collab.
Discover the challenges and strategies of leading brands such as Diageo and Indeed in navigating marketing spend and efficiency. Explore the rise and fall of BrewDog within the competitive beer category. Celebrate the unexpected but impactful engagement of Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce, and the buzz around Gordon Ramsay's new Wagyu burger collaboration with Burger King. With expert analysis from Tracksuit this episode is packed with valuable insights for marketers navigating a rapidly changing landscape. Don't miss out on these compelling stories rooted in brand data and strategy!02:43 Marketing Strategies of Major Brands04:40 Balancing Efficiency and Brand Building06:13 The Role of AI and Organic Channels06:32 Case Study: Indeed's Marketing Approach08:42 Historical Evidence on Marketing Cuts17:11 BrewDog's Market Performance20:07 BrewDog's Brand Health and Challenges20:35 BrewDog's Rebranding and Market Position21:12 Cultural Impact on BrewDog's Brand23:24 BrewDog's Competition and Strategic Moves25:46 Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs: A Brand Collaboration32:50 Gordon Ramsey and Burger King CollaborationFind the hosts:Jasper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasperskinner/Dan:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-fleming-a15854118/Conor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conorbyrne/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 16, 2025 • 1h 11min
S4 Ep22: Sir John Hegarty on The Business of Creativity
An in-depth conversation with the legendary Sir John Hegarty. Renowned for his groundbreaking work in advertising, Sir John shares his invaluable insights on the evolution of marketing, the role of creativity, and the future impact of AI on the industry. We explore Sir John's early career challenges, including being fired from his first job, and how these setbacks fueled his persistence and success. Hear John talk about the campaign he loves, the one no one talks about as well as fascinating anecdotes behind iconic campaigns like Levi's 'Laundrette' and understand the magic behind their creation. Discover why Sir John believes that creativity is the lifeblood of innovation and how companies can harness it for exponential growth. Learn about the importance of experimentation and the pitfalls of relying solely on data and algorithms. This episode is a treasure trove of wisdom for anyone passionate about marketing, advertising, and creativity. Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain knowledge from one of the greatest minds in the industry. 00:58 Introducing Sir John Hegerty01:17 The Knighthood Experience03:27 Early Career Challenges04:19 The Power of Failure06:59 The Creative Revolution in Advertising12:29 Iconic Campaigns and Their Impact26:14 The Role of Humor and Testing in Advertising34:00 The Importance of Creativity in Business35:58 The Future of Marketing and Creativity36:15 Stalking and Modern Advertising37:18 The Role of AI in Marketing39:00 Product Demonstration and AI40:08 The CMO's New Role42:02 The Importance of Creativity44:41 Creativity in Business46:29 The Impact of AI on Jobs48:47 Experimentation and Fun in Marketing55:22 Challenges and Fear in Marketing01:04:20 Reflecting on a LegacyFind out more about Sir John's course here Visit That's What I Call Marketing here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 9, 2025 • 54min
S4 Ep21: Kaveri Camire CMO of DXC Technology on Building brand in a tech world
Kaveri Camire, the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of DXC Technologies, to delve into the multifaceted world of B2B marketing. Kaveri shares her impressive 20-year career journey at IBM and the significant transition to her current role. The conversation explores various themes, including brand positioning, international marketing, corporate culture, and the adoption of AI in marketing strategies. Kaveri emphasises the importance of building personal and professional narratives and how that helps frame new market categories. The discussion covers her hands-on approach to team building, the challenges of navigating large organisations, and her methodologies for driving growth and innovation through data-driven decisions. Kaveri also touches upon notable client partnerships, the intrinsic value of human connection in business, and the power of effective storytelling. 05:00 Lessons from IBM: Innovation, Global Operations, and Market Categories 08:30 Kaveri’s Role at DXC Technologies: Brand Positioning and Growth10:00 Navigating Large Organizations: The Power of Humility and Networking 14:50 Experimentation in Marketing: Start Small and Scale 18:30 The Importance of Face-to-Face Meetings: Learning from Global Teams 22:50 Getting to Know the Company: Aligning with Sales and Offering Leaders 28:30 Customer Relationship Management: Listening and Innovating [30:00] Real-world Applications: Success Stories with Key Clients 36:00 Business Value of Sponsorships: Client-led Value in Partnerships 42:02 Strategic partnerships and sponsorships45:38 Challenges and advice for CMOsDon't forget to like, share, and subscribe to help us reach a wider audience! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 2, 2025 • 55min
S4 Ep20: B2B Creativity that drives growth from Brand to Demand with Wendy Walker
B2B marketing doesn’t have to be boring. In this episode, we unpack how creativity drives measurable B2B growth—uniting brand and demand, scaling global ideas locally, proving ROI, and using AI where it actually moves the needle. You’ll hear from Salesforce’s APAC marketing leader and Cannes Lions Creative B2B jury president on the playbook behind human-to-human work that fills pipelines, not just decks.What you’ll learnBrand→Demand, together: Why separating brand and demand hurts performance—and how bringing them into one plan makes ROI easier to prove.Global to local at scale (the 70/30 rule): What to keep from HQ and what to adapt—plus why a deep customer-story library is a B2B cheat code.Creativity that converts: The B2B decade is here—emotion, humor, and human truth are now winning at the highest level.Measurement that matters: How to include brand spend in the business case and show full-funnel impact.AI that actually helps marketers: From segmentation and targeting lifts to marketers building agents in ~20 minutes—practical ways AI amplifies outcomes.Small business spotlight: What the Cannes Grand Prix winner signals about SMB-focused B2B and the rise of meaningful creator/influencer roles.Who this episode is forB2B CMOs, VPs, and growth leaders who need to scale creativity, prove impact, and translate global platforms into local results—without losing speed.02:15 Episode starts • hello, Cannes context, setting the agenda.03:15 Agency lessons in SE Asia • Mindshare perspective.04:46 Operating in 185+ markets • global expansion as a career crucible.05:49 Head-down, hands-dirty growth • owning your voice.08:44 Sponsorship over self-promotion • lifting others as a leader.16:48 How to land in new markets • agents, on-ground research, and digital sales.18:28 Weekly stack-ranking 185 markets • what to optimise and when.21:03 Sliding-doors into Salesforce • building the SE Asia marketing team.22:16 Why Jakarta matters • local talent and skills on the rise.23:44 The 70/30 rule • global platforms, local edge + customer story library.24:56 The B2B decade • creativity, buying groups of ~23, and being human.26:05 Brands getting B2B right • Workday, ServiceNow, Canva.31:44 Measurement that matters • include brand spend in the business case.33:15 AI that actually helps • targeting, segmentation, “20-minute” agents.35:18 Future talent in an AI world • learning without losing the craft.37:22 Cannes 2025 takeaways • best year yet for Creative B2B; emotion rises.38:44 From token purpose to real value • long-term, business-backed impact.51:41 Mentoring future female leaders •. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 26, 2025 • 50min
S4 Ep19: Kelloggs on Backing The Bird with VP Jenn Carkner & Snr Dir Stephen Duggan
The fastest way to grow 17 brands might be to advertise one.Kellogg’s made a deliberate shift from spreading budget across 17 sub-brands to backing the masterbrand—reviving underused distinctive assets (hello, Cornelius), aligning a region on one idea, and building a creative platform with swagger. “Ultimately, a brand is a promise.”What this episode covers:Masterbrand vs sub-brands: Why the team said, “We absolutely have to back the master brand”—and how one super-asset can “float all the other boats.”Global idea, local truth: The universal insight—win the morning (“you do you”) or you compromise the day—rooted in a 300+ person ethnographic study across Europe.Distinctive Brand Assets with plot (not just props): The DBA audit that unlocked Back the Bird, plus the moment the team literally “backed the bird.”Music as memory structure: How Jurassic 5 became their first-ever ad license—and why the track was stress-tested on set until nobody could imagine the film without it.Retail reality: Competing with own-label through superior product + brand value, a ruthless shelf line—Get the Original—and activations only Kellogg’s can do (e.g., EFL soccer camps).Effectiveness & scale: Ipsos and System1 pre-tests scored extremely highly; early sentiment is off the charts across UK/IE and also France/Italy—giving confidence to build the platform out.01:36 Kellogg's Legacy and Marketing Philosophy02:19 The Power of the Kellogg Master Brand06:20 Building Internal Alignment12:06 Global to Local Marketing Challenges20:44 Reviving Cornelius the Rooster24:20 Discovering Cornelius: The Strong DBA Asset25:08 The Role of Music in Advertising28:36 The Journey of Marketing Transformation32:46 Facing the Challenge of Own Label Brands37:19 The Power of Creativity and Brand Identity39:25 Measuring Success and Future Plans44:22 A Defining Moment for the Brand Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 19, 2025 • 41min
The Singles EP9: American Eagle, Ibiza Final Boss, Lavzza Coffee, F1 & Jet2 Holidays with Tracksuit
In this episode of 'The Singles,' we explore a range of exciting topics, from analyzing American Eagle's controversial Sydney Sweeney ad to uncovering the growth behind the British Grand Prix. We also delve into Lavazza's heartwarming coffee campaigns and discuss the unpredictable virality of internet sensations, including the 'Ibiza Final Boss.' Get ready for data-backed insights, hilarious moments, and a whole lot of marketing wisdom. Don't forget to like, share, and review to help us reach more listeners in the ever-changing podcasting landscape. Tune in now for an unmissable episode!03:12 American Eagle and Sydney Sweeney Controversy15:38 British Grand Prix and Formula One Insights23:45 Lavazza's Emotional Coffee Campaign29:10 Cultural Moments and Reactive Marketing35:35 Jet2 Holidays and Brand PerceptionFind the hosts:Jasper: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasperskinner/Dan:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-fleming-a15854118/Conor: https://www.linkedin.com/in/conorbyrne/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 12, 2025 • 29min
S4 Ep18: How The RealReal is Winning the Luxury Resale Game with Caroline Gardner
The RealReal has become the world’s largest authenticated luxury resale platform — with 38 million members, over 40 million items sold, and a brand people can’t stop talking about. But how did they get here? And why are they winning the luxury resale game while so many others fade out?In this episode of That’s What I Call Marketing, Caroline shares the creative strategies, brand values, and bold moves that have propelled The RealReal to the top. From her start in luxury hospitality at Ritz-Carlton to leading marketing for one of fashion’s most disruptive players, she reveals what it takes to build trust, scale a community, and stand out in a crowded market.Inside this episode:💥Values as a competitive advantage – The gold standards from Ritz-Carlton that still shape Caroline’s leadership today.💥Campaigns that cut through – If You Love Me, Let It Go and Ask Yourself What’s Real, and why the insights behind them matter.💥Going where you’re invited – Why Substack became an unlikely but powerful growth channel.💥Creators done differently – Letting influencers tell the story in their own way.💥Authenticity in the age of counterfeits – How The RealReal tackles trust head-on in a market flooded with fakes.💥 The future of resale – Growth, expansion, and why personal style beats algorithms.Whether you work in marketing, luxury, or sustainability, this episode gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how a brand can win by being clear on its values, obsessive about experience, and bold in its creative choices.📌 Subscribe for more conversations with marketing leaders.2:12 – Caroline’s career path: from consulting to luxury hospitality3:09 – Gold Standards: the Ritz-Carlton values that shaped her approach4:36 – Bringing hospitality mindset into The RealReal’s DNA5:20 – The RealReal’s mission: sustainability, access & personal style6:20 – Building a member-first community in a resale marketplace7:00 – Going where you’re invited: why The RealReal invested in Substack8:05 – Meet “The Real Girl”: storytelling meets resale market insights8:42 – Campaign spotlight: If You Love Me, Let It Go – giving customers permission to sell10:37 – Tackling counterfeits with Ask Yourself What’s Real12:52 – Inside the creative setup: in-house team & trusted agency partners14:12 – Shifting from bottom-funnel to full-funnel marketing15:06 – Creator partnerships: letting influencers tell the story their way18:39 – Why trust matters more than follower count20:09 – AI, search, and keeping cultural fluency at the core22:56 – Why customer experience is still the ultimate growth driver23:10 – Future of The RealReal: growth, stores & personal style journeys Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 5, 2025 • 20min
S4 Ep18:THE BATTLE OF THE ROBOTS with (sort of!) Mark Ritson, Prof. Byron Sharp, Prof. Scott Galloway & James Hurman
In this captivating experiment, we bring together ChatGPT and Claude to channel the thoughts and strategies of renowned marketing experts Mark Ritson, Byron Sharp, Scott Galloway, and James Hurman. This episode dives deep into hotly debated marketing principles such as segmentation, targeting, and positioning, the myth or necessity of differentiation, and the optimal balance between brand building and performance marketing. From exploring whether traditional marketing models are outdated to discussing the importance of mental availability and brand distinctiveness, ChatGPT and Claude provide unique perspectives by embodying famous thought leaders. You'll hear strong arguments on both sides, including detailed strategies for brands with limited budgets and insights on how AI is transforming the world of search. Is differentiation essential, or is distinctiveness the key to brand success? Should marketers focus on broad reach or targeted campaigns? How will AI reshape the landscape of consumer interactions and search? Join us as we address these questions and more in a compelling AI-driven debate. Don't miss the chance to see which AI delivers a more convincing argument and what real marketing heavyweights might think of their digital counterparts. Share your thoughts on who you believe was the better debater—ChatGPT or Claude? Tune in to find out.00:00 – Intro: Robots Debate Marketing00:47 – Why this matters01:32 – Meet ChatGPT & Claude02:22 – STP: Outdated or essential?02:52 – Differentiation vs Distinctiveness03:46 – Reach or segments?04:29 – What should small brands do?05:16 – Budget advice: Claude vs ChatGPT06:49 – Do great brands advertise?08:01 – Galloway vs Hurman09:20 – What to tell a CFO10:45 – Are you contradicting yourself?11:52 – Innovation vs advertising12:23 – €1M plan for challenger brands13:49 – Fame first, clicks second14:44 – How AI changes search15:56 – If you're not in the model, you don't exist16:24 – Final thoughts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.