

On Strategy Showcase
Fergus O’Carroll
Where marketers tell the stories behind the strategies that led to amazing campaigns.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 19, 2025 • 48min
On the Spot: British Airways and Dr. Pepper
It's planners talking brands they've never worked on. This month, guest panelists Dan Ng, CSO at Johannes Leonardo, NYC and Steve Walls, CSO at Moon Rabbit join our regular panel of misfits. Thanks to System1 and Tracksuit for making this series possible.

Oct 12, 2025 • 52min
A conversation about strategy with Joe Burns of Quality Meats
I'm glad I recently met Joe Burns. He's my kind of strategist: blunt, honest and mostly right. From Mother to BBH to Quality Meats, Joe has been shaping his own unique style, one we should all get familiar with. You can also WATCH this episode on our website or YouTube channel. Be sure to Subscribe.

Oct 5, 2025 • 1h 3min
Live from Dallas: Ideas Born in Texas
The foundational brand campaigns of Home Depot, Chick-fil-A, RAM Trucks, Hummer, Fiat, Motel 6, Corona, Chili's, Stanley, and Southwest Airlines were all born in Texas. We recorded live at TRG to talk about this great body of work and what makes them Texas originals. I was joined by Derek Dabrowski, SVP, Head of Cold Brands at Kuerig Dr. Pepper, Terrence Reynolds, CCO, at TRG, Kate Rush Sheehy, CSO at GSD&M and Christopher Owens, Head of Brand Strategy at TRG. You can watch this episode on our website or YouTube Channel. Thanks to Tracksuit, Ipsos and The Effies for supporting this year's live tour.

Sep 28, 2025 • 28min
Polaroid chases a comeback with the camera for an analog life
Remember Polaroid and its instant photo proposition? For some it’s a dusty icon of the past, but for others it might just be the latest innovative idea. Polaroid's internal creative and planning leads, Patricia Varella and Dovile Banyte join me to talk about "The camera for an analog life."

Sep 21, 2025 • 53min
On the Spot: GAP and Chili's.
It's planners talking brands they've never worked on. This month, guest panelists Lachlan Badenoch, CSO at Carmichael Lynch and Kelsey Karson EVP, Head of Strategy at Tombras, join our regular panel of misfits. Thanks to System1 and Tracksuit for making this series possible.

Sep 17, 2025 • 47min
The story behind Highdive's rise to fame as America's Super Bowl agency
Founded in 2016, Highdive has produced Super Bowl work for Lays, Jeep, State Farm, Rocket, MSC Cruises, BetMGM and more. Mark Gross, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Erin Wong, Group Strategy Director and Vanessa Chin of System1 join me.

Sep 12, 2025 • 46min
Rick Brim, Martin Beverley and Polly McMorrow on their new venture
Watch out, they're coming. After 10 legendary years at Adam&EveDDB, Martin and Rick have resurfaced as Ace of Hearts alongside Polly McMorrow from McCann. We have an honest conversation about why they left, what their ambition is and what might be possible with a different kind of company.

Sep 7, 2025 • 40min
Behind the scenes of Athletic Brewing's alcohol-free brand play
"Fit for all Times" is the brand's platform. CMO Andrew Katz joins me to talk about how a specialist brewer is trying to outperform the generalists, like Heineken, in the alcohol-free (AF) beer space. Thanks to Tracksuit (the affordable brand tracking solution) for making this episode possible.

Sep 1, 2025 • 36min
Neutrogena's new angle on skincare: 90s nostalgia
If you're old enough to remember the 90s, you may be old enough for Neutrogena Retinol. The new work from BBDO disrupts the conventions of skincare with a fun angle that reminds us how old we really are. Thanks to Chris Riat of Neutrogena and Alex Booker and Leah Gritton Smolensky of BBDO, NY.

Aug 24, 2025 • 46min
The story behind Heineken's brilliant Pub Succession and Pub Museums initiatives
"For the Love of Pubs" is Heineken's B2B2C platform for ensuring the long term health of Irish bars. I'm joined by Mark Noble of Heineken and Ger Roe of Publicis, Dublin to talk through the amazing award-winning ideas they've brought to life together over the last few years. What can you do for your channel partners?