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

Jul 15, 2024 • 49min
54: Accept & Proceed’s founder David Johnston discusses design for the future.
David Johnston joins Woody on the most recent episode of The Untalented Podcast.
David is the founder and CEO of Accept & Proceed, who’s work encompasses strategy, brand identity, experiences and content.
They cover a bunch of topics:
- How to design for the future
- How it feels to be talented
- David’s early creative life
- What it means to be a human
- The authentic truth of business
- And much much more.
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Jun 26, 2024 • 59min
53: Leading with fearless authenticity and wild drive with Polly McMorrow
Welcome back to another episode of the Untalented Podcast. In todays episode Ollie has had the pleasure of talking to Polly McMorrow, CEO of McCann London.
Polly has achieved too much to mention.
We could tell you about how she ran some of the biggest accounts at BBH and transformed a department over the course of 14 years.
Or we could tell you about how she once boarded a plane to sell a client some work.
But, this is untalented, and we wanted to really get to know what made Polly, Polly.
And how is she going to approach running one of the most prestigious brands in advertising.
Tune in to hear how Polly hovers her infectious authenticity over everything she does.
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Jun 14, 2024 • 56min
52: Junior Creative Team to Executive Creative Director Team, and their 20 years of partnership.
Welcome back to another episode of the Untalented Podcast. Today we are joined by a duo Andrew Long and James Millers.
These two are Executive Creative Directors @ Leo Burnett They have been there for the past 7 years climbing the ranks, and most recently promoted into Executive Creative Directors.
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Jun 10, 2024 • 56min
51: Chris Moody tells us the real difference between Agency and Consultancy.
Global ECD of Landor, Chris Moody, discusses the evolution of the design industry, importance of business knowledge for designers, and facilitating growth in the creative field. He shares insights on transitioning to consultancy, embracing technology for branding innovation, and collaborating for impactful projects.

May 28, 2024 • 1h 6min
50: Creative Director to CEO: How James Greenfield built Koto into a 110+ global branding studio.
Welcome back to another episode of the Untalented podcast, today we are joined by CEO and co-founder of the branding agency Koto. Prior to founding Koto, James has 20+ years of experience working at some of London’s leading studios. working with some of the biggest named brands including: Airbnb, Discord, Google and more.
Anyone who has worked with James would refer to him as a natural leader and innovator in the creative direction space, but also just an overall great guy, we hope you enjoy this podcast as much as Ollie enjoyed hosting it.
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May 21, 2024 • 46min
49: INSIGHTS 101: Closing the gap between traditional strategy and cultural internet research!
Welcome back to another episode of the Untalented Podcast. Today we are joined with Melissa Eshaghbeigi.
Melissa Eshaghbeigi is a Creative Strategist and Cultural Researcher with a knack for forecasting trends.
After recently relocating from Toronto to London, Melissa sits down with Megs and Ellie to chat about what it is to be an Ethnographic Researcher and why she sometimes doesn’t fit into the traditional ad agency structure.
The girls discuss what an insight really means, the weird and wonderful pockets of the internet you can find them and the rise of independent strategists going against the grain of old school advertising.
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May 15, 2024 • 1h 1min
48: What does a chief design officer do, then? With Lorenzo Fruzza
Welcome back to another episode of the Untalented Podcast. in todays episode we are joined by Lorenzo Fruzza, The chief design officer at Havas London. We dive deep into Lorenzo's journey up till now and what steps he took to become a Chief design officer, alongside what that role actually is?
Great return for woody on this one, picking Lorenzo's brain on conceptual design and the role agencies should play to build memorable brands.
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Apr 25, 2024 • 1h 1min
47: Why is most strategy b*llshit? With Alex smith
Author Alex Smith simplifies complex strategic concepts in business, emphasizing actionable steps and clear strategies. The podcast delves into the effectiveness of Tesla's strategic plan, reimagining competition, and exploring brand differentiation. It also discusses the impact of strategy on value creation in business, highlighting the importance of contributing to society and prioritizing value creation for a healthier business environment.

Apr 17, 2024 • 1h 5min
46: Anthropologist turned strategy consultant. But, how?
Welcome back to another episode of the untalented podcast. We take a deep dive into the influence of exceptional mentors and the intricacies of strategic business planning in this insightful podcast discussion. Our guest, Sam Hornsby @TRPTK, shares heartfelt anecdotes about the pivotal role his history teacher, Mr. Houston, played in shaping his academic journey and fostering his potential, including guidance for Oxford.
We explore the evolving landscape of creative services and strategic consultancy, delving into the intersection of branding, design, communications, and production. From understanding cultural nuances to long-term brand value creation, Sam sheds light on the holistic approach required for enduring business success. Additionally, he reflects on his experiences working on projects like Disney's Shanghai Disney Resort, showcasing the meticulous considerations involved in tailoring amusement attractions to Chinese consumer preferences.
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Apr 5, 2024 • 48min
45: Strategy in Conversations!? Are You Stopping the Dialogue with 'I'm Right'?
Welcome back to another episode of the Untalented podcast with our special guest, Asad Shaykh, Head of Strategy at Grey London. In this conversation, we dive deep into the power of strategy, what brand truly means, and being in the business of people.
Asad shares personal insights, emphasising the importance of continuous dialogue and exploration, childhood fascination with technology and navigating the world of pitching.
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