
Unthinkable with Jay Acunzo
An inside look at the unconventional choices of quality-obsessed creators – and the memorable things they made as a result. It's a show about trusting your intuition and your craft more than best practices and blueprints. Since 2016, Unthinkable has inspired creators to ship more personal, powerful work. In the era of AI and endless commodity content, that type of work is now urgent. Hosted by Jay Acunzo, founder of the Creator Kitchen.
Latest episodes

Oct 14, 2019 • 41min
A Small Fiction [Revisited]
Today, we revisit an episode from earlier this year while we're between seasons: One of the smallest, but highest-impact, creative projects on the internet.-- -- -- Book Jay to speak at your next event or company meeting: jayacunzo.comLearn more about making an irresistible show for your brand. Visit MarketingShowrunners.com and join free subscribers from Red Bull, Adobe, Salesforce, Mailchimp, Wistia, Roku, the BBC, and more.

Oct 7, 2019 • 21min
The Stuff Inside [Revisited]
Today, we replay a classic episode from the Unthinkable archives, involving the fastest-growing B2B app of all-time, a TV producer-turned-speaker, and a healthy dose of examining the backwards way we approach content as brands.-- -- -- Book Jay for your next event or company meeting. Visit jayacunzo.comInterested in learning more about making a great show to support your brand? Visit MarketingShowrunners.com, the media company founded by Jay, to read and subscribe for free. You'll be in good company with marketing leaders from Red Bull, Roku, Adobe, Salesforce, Shopify, Zendesk, Wistia, the BBC, LinkedIn, Mailchimp, and thousands of startups and SMBs.

Sep 24, 2019 • 39min
Dumb Ways to Die [Revisited]
When we dub something a creative smash hit, we often point to the final product, as if their work was neatly contained in this one project. But it's often what happens AFTER something launches that makes it successful. Today, a revisited story about how to build momentum.-- -- --For insights on how to make a great show for your brand, visit MarketingShowrunners.com and join marketing leaders from companies like Red Bull, Roku, Adode, Salesforce, Shopify, Wistia, Zendesk, the BBC, and more.Fpr information about Jay's speaking and his book, Break the Wheel, visit jayacunzo.com

Sep 17, 2019 • 36min
How to Reinvent Live Music
A story from Unthinkable producer and Marketing Showrunners staff writer, Tallie Gabriel, about a startup that's gone global with its attempts at reinventing live music, and how they manage to use small changes to create consistent innovation across dozens of cities and hundreds of venues. (Oh, and their venues? Yeah, they aren't technically venues...)
Follow @talligator_ and @jayacunzo
For speaking inquiries for Jay Acunzo, visit jayacunzo.com
Music in this episode partly provided by New York's legendary folk band, Cardboard Rocketship. Listen to them on Spotify.
Learn more about the craft of creating shows like this one for your brand. Visit MarketingShowrunners.com

Sep 11, 2019 • 37min
Something Smelly This Way Comes [Revisited]
When a past story Unthinkable listeners absolutely loved resurfaces in a rather facepalmy way, it's time to listen back to this ridiculous story.For speaking inquiries to have Jay at your next event or company meeting, visit jayacunzo.com or explore his book, Break the Wheel, at jayacunzo.com/book.You can join marketing leaders from brands like Red Bull, Roku, Adobe, Salesforce, Shopify, Zendesk, Wistia, the BBC, Drift, HubSpot, Mailchimp, and more who subscribe to Marketing Showrunners, Jay's organization providing insights and ideas for marketers who make shows. Visit marketingshowrunners.com/blog to read and subscribe free.

Aug 26, 2019 • 31min
The Man Bun [Revisited]
Scott looks every part a blacksmith. And while he might not work with any actual metal, he still forges his work with red hot fire. Today, we rerun a classic Unthinkable episode.
Join marketing leaders at companies like Red Bull, Roku, Mailchimp, Adobe, Shopify, Salesforce, and the BBC who get my Marketing Showrunners newsletter: One email per month to help marketers make great original series, like podcasts, video shows, and documentaries, to build passionate audiences. Subscribe at marketingshowrunners.com/subscribe
You can also book me to speak at your next event or company meeting: Visit jayacunzo.com/about-jay to learn more, or email speaking@unthinkablemedia.com

Aug 9, 2019 • 53min
Creative Cafe: We All Write Menus
Mike Lombardi runs one of the best new restaurants on the planet. Hearing him speak, it kinda seems like that's ALL our jobs.
Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, all about brands making shows. Subscribers include leaders from Red Bull, Roku, Mailchimp, Salesforce, Shopify, Wistia, and more: marketingshowrunners.com/subscribe
Book Jay to speak at your company or event: jayacunzo.com

Jul 31, 2019 • 41min
Stagnation Is The Enemy
Where does innovation fit in boring industries? How do we get creative when things seem to work against us entirely? What happens when the Powers That Be don't seem to want YOU to be? Today, a story from producer Tallie Gabriel about Museum Hack, the organization that's trying to make a centuries old industry with few resources and little sex appeal look a whole lot more like the preferred entertainment destination of young people everywhere. (Seems Unthinkable, no?)
Learn more about Museum Hack at https://museumhack.com
Follow producer Tallie Gabriel on Twitter @talligator_ or host Jay Acunzo @jayacunzo, or on Instagram @jacunzo
Interested in the craft of making great original shows for your brand? Join marketers from Red Bull, Roku, Adobe, Salesforce, Shopify, Wistia, and more who get our monthly newsletter. Subscribe free at marketingshowrunners.com/subscribe

Jul 18, 2019 • 30min
Wrinkles
When we want to innovate, we need to know what to change, when, and how. So, um ... what exactly should we change? Also when? And while we're at it (yep, you guessed it), HOW? In this episode, a deconstruction of one of the most popular shows on the internet, plus two new concepts and frameworks we can use to answer all those questions.
For marketers making shows Join leaders at Red Bull, Roku, Adobe, Shopify, Mailchimp, Salesforce, Wistia, LinkedIn, the BBC, and more who get Jay's monthly newsletter, Hidden Gems. It's all about the craft of building original series to create passionate audiences. Join free at marketingshowrunners.com/subscribe
Interested in Jay's keynote speaking for your next event? Now booking dates into mid-2020. Inquiries: speaking@unthinkablemedia.com or jayacunzo.com

Jul 11, 2019 • 23min
Innovation Impossible
Why do so many leaders scream "INNOVATE!" and so many teams treat innovation like a bunch of random or infrequent stunts or radical changes? It always feels too urgent or too last-minute when we finally evolve. Why? What if there was a better way? What would it REALLY take to make innovation a habit, not a Hail Mary?
Jay's email: jay@unthinkablemedia.com
Subscribe to Jay's monthly newsletter for marketers making shows. Join leaders from Red Bull, Roku, Adobe, Salesforce, Shopify, Wistia, the BBC, LinkedIn, and more: marketingshowrunners.com/subscribe
Jay's keynote speaking site: jayacunzo.com
Doug Kessler's blog post on tone of voice in B2B content: https://velocitypartners.com/blog/tone-of-voice-the-b2b-budget-multiplier/
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