
untalented
untalented by UNKNOWN is a bi-weekly podcast where we give the unheard humans, who power our creative industries, a voice.
Latest episodes

May 28, 2025 • 58min
S2 Ep3: Building Joan: Creativity, Tenacity, and Telling Better Stories with Jaime Robinson
In this episode of Untalented, Jaime Robinson, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Joan Creative walks us through her remarkable journey from TGI Fridays to top agencies like Chiat/Day and Goodby Silverstein, and ultimately to launching Joan in 2015.
Jaime shares what drove her to build an agency that creates smarter, more resonant work, especially for women, and the milestones that have defined Joan’s rise: from the iconic Netflix “Rules for the Modern Woman” campaign to expanding across New York, London, and Berlin.
We get into leadership, storytelling, tight deadlines, and the creative resilience required to thrive in modern advertising. Jaime also talks about the role of AI, competing with networks, and why the industry needs to stop playing it safe and start acting like it believes in itself again.

May 20, 2025 • 1h 7min
S2 Ep2: Where’s Our Attention Going? | Meet Small World
The brains behind creative company, Small World - Dan and Sadia - join Untalented to talk all things entertainment-first content.
We talk about why the old ad model is breaking and how entertainment-first thinking is becoming the blueprint for capturing modern attention. Dan and Sadia open up about what it really means to make work that audiences want to spend time with, not just tolerate. From building narratives that feel more like shows than spots, to partnering with platforms and creators from the ground up, Small World is proving that brands can act more like cultural studios and still drive impact.
It’s a conversation about attention, experimentation, and why the most resonant work starts with a real point of view.

Apr 29, 2025 • 53min
S2 Ep1: Laura Petruccelli on Ego, Collaboration & Creative Truth
Welcome to Season 2 of Untalented. In this episode, we're joined by Laura Petruccelli Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of nice&frank. She's a creative leader, straight-talker, and breaker of old agency habits.
From launching FrankShop to leading by planting seeds, Laura shares what it means to grow a culture where people feel empowered, not overpowered.
We get into the challenges of leading as a woman, the importance of forming your own point of view, and why the best creative work doesn't come from harmony, it comes from people who care enough to clash, challenge, and create something better.
Check out nice& frank's channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@niceandfrank/featured

Apr 16, 2025 • 55min
71: The End of the Beginning: 10 Lessons from 70 Untalented Conversations
Reflecting on three years and 70 conversations, the hosts share their top ten lessons learned from a diverse array of creative leaders. They discuss the growth mindset's role in innovation and the challenges of balancing creativity with commercial demands. The importance of brand awareness in leadership, and reevaluating agency value in competitive markets, are highlighted. They also address the need for supportive workplace cultures in family planning and the power of evolving perspectives in fostering inclusivity and inspiration for future talent.

Apr 2, 2025 • 42min
70: Fail Fast, Learn Faster | The Design Philosophy of Diego Zaks
In this episode of Untalented, we sit down with Diego Zaks, VP of Design at Ramp, to break down the myths of corporate innovation. Why do most companies claim to embrace failure but actually punish it? How can speed, iteration, and a true commitment to learning lead to better design and smarter product decisions?
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Mar 18, 2025 • 57min
69: Selling Your Soul To Advertising | A Look Into A CCO’s Journey | Omid Amidi
In this episode of Untalented, we sit down with Omid Amidi, the Chief Creative Officer of McKinney, to talk about his unconventional journey from a mutual funds assistant to an award-winning creative powerhouse. From launching his career with a YoungGuns win to shaping iconic campaigns like Share a Coke, Omid shares insights on what it takes to cut through industry white noise, why relatability is overrated, and how creativity should challenge rather than conform.
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Jan 21, 2025 • 43min
68: Growth Strategy Insights with Arif Mansuri
Welcome back to another episode of the Untalented Podcast.
In this episode, we sit down with Arif Mansuri. Arif has worked at the most reputable businesses on the planet, the likes of JPMorgan, Metalab, Huge and so on. He has held pivotal roles at leading companies, contributing significantly to advancements in technology and innovation. Join us as we delve into Arif's journey, exploring his experiences, challenges, and the lessons he's learned along the way.
Tune in for valuable insights on career growth, strategic thinking, and leadership in a rapidly evolving business landscape.
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10 snips
Nov 26, 2024 • 1h 6min
67: Successful Business Model Change with Caroline Johnson - the journey from Service to Value
Caroline Johnson, Co-Founder of The Business Model Company, specializes in transforming business models for creative agencies. She dives into the pitfalls of the 'all-you-can-eat buffet' service model and advocates for a shift towards value-driven strategies. Caroline emphasizes the blend of creativity with commercial thinking to foster innovation. She also discusses the importance of leadership commitment in embracing change and offers practical insights on client engagement and rethinking pricing to enhance agency value.

Nov 21, 2024 • 52min
66: The pros and cons of a fully REMOTE design studio - After Hours
Welcome Back to another episode of the Untalented Podcast.
This episode we are joined by After Hours, a design studio launched by the wonderful Jasmine Gallagher and Shy Trutwein.
We discuss how it all works, the positive impact it has on creative, the non negotiables to making it successful, and how it’s the best thing for their clients.
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Nov 14, 2024 • 51min
65: Alex Grieve: from researcher to Global CCO at BBH.
Welcome back to another episode of the Untalented Podcast. In this episode we talk to Global CCO of BBH, Alex Grieve.
Alex is one of the most awarded creatives and creative leaders in the world. He’s won everything from Black Pencils to Cannes Grand Prixs. But also built and facilitated environments for some of the most talented creatives to prosper and make their best work.
This episode is filled with buckets of wisdom and fascinating insight. Insights into what’s it’s like running successful departments and where creatives may/could go wrong when taking the step up to leadership level.
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