Top 5 Podcasts

I’ve never really been one for self-promotion whether it be commenting in trade press, being a judge at awards or talking at events, mainly because I’ve always viewed it as slightly self-indulgent and a distraction from the actual job at hand, i.e. coming up with and delivering ideas for clients. However, I did recently say “yes” to an interview with Ben Smith on his PR Moment podcast. The reason being that I like Ben, admire what he’s doing, and personally got a lot from listening to previous interviews so thought it was the least I could do when asked. I didn’t really prep for it, and went off on slightly weird tangents at times, which may have been nerves or just because I was in a funny mood, but in general I think it went ok (the numbers are good apparently). I found myself listening back to the interview, taking notes and learning from my own monologue, which was odd, but ultimatley useful.

Anyway, I listen to a quite a few podcasts and thought it worth sharing my top five, not least because I’d like to do my bit in helping drive new listeners so the podcasters continue to keep on doing them. So, in no particular order:

1) JFDI
The story of Mills, a co-founder of ustwo Studios (making digital products), ustwo Adventures (investing in great companies), and ustwo Games (most famous for Monument Valley, the beautiful Escher-inspired videogame which my kids are obsessed with). He and his partner John(athon) “Sinx” Sinclair have recently stepped back from the day-to-day running of the group, which has resulted in Mills having the time to do a daily a podcast about whatever comes into his head from business, to ultra-running to parenting. The guy is an inspiration. So much so I’m now running every day, stopped drinking booze completely, and getting up even earlier than I used to excited about the creative opportunities ahead. I’d suggest starting with the business-focussed episodes with his co-founder, #Justhetwoofus, but “tangentiasing” quickly into every other one. The guy is a legend and a reminder that for all the talent you may have, nothing beats enthusiasm and JFDI-ing it.

2) DAVE DYE: STUFF FROM THE LOFT
Stylistically the complete opposite to JFDI, Dave Dye’s podcast is a long, considered analysis of the thinking behind some of the great advertising campaigns and executions from the industry’s best creative directors. I’m in awe of Dave and his encyclopaedic brain that collects and catalogues information, which is then applied to a fresh creative challenge. He deserves a medal for services to creative communication in my opinion and his blog and podcast are invaluable resources for anyone in the industry who wants to study their craft. He hasn’t posted a podcast for ages, but there’s a library of existing episodes and I’d recommend starting with (the recently retired) Ben Priest from adamandeveDDB, Graham Fink, previously of CDP, M&C Saatchi, Ogilvy and now artist (who draws with his eyes), and, of course, creative extraordinaire Mark Denton, who I once had the privilege of working with (in the PR Week award-winning THE BIG CALL for Telefónica), and is simply a hero of mine.

3) PR MOMENT
Most PR podcasts are a bit dry in honesty, but Ben manages to interview people who I think better reflect where the industry is at, and who want to talk about PR (not politics or advertising). I’d start with Graham Goodkind from Frank and Angie Moxham who recently left 3 Monkeys as both have great stories and insights to learn from. Obviously listen to mine too!

4) FEARLESS
Fearless, The Art of Creative Leadership, is from ex-pat Charles Day who talks to the leaders of the world’s most disruptive companies. The format is biographical, which I find inspirational/reassuring because you learn how people have connected the dots throughout their careers so even what seem like random decisions at the time end up guiding them to where they are now. I particularly enjoyed the interview with Mindy Grossman, CEO of Weight Watchers (a client of ours), Carl Johnson, the founder of Anomaly, and Nils Leonard, ex-Grey London chief creative officer and founder of new creative studio Uncommon.

5) REAL FAMOUS
Billed as a real life education in making brands that people want to talk about, it’s essentially about strategic planning and the ideas behind the ideas, which is very much what I’m into at the moment. Every one of the podcasts I’ve listened to has resulted in me buying and reading a new book so I’m definitely getting something from it. Highlights are Paul Feldwick, the genius ex-planning director at BMP and DDB, Russell Davies, one of the godfathers of planning on the internet and now at ustwo Studios, and Mark Earls, author and founder of the Herd Consultancy.

And as an extra, for pure listening pleasure, Josh Widdicome’s Quickly Kevin Will He Score takes a behind-the-scenes look at 90s football with laugh-out-loud funny results. It’s not work related, but sometimes the brain needs a bit of light relief, which is perfectly provided by characters such as Matt Le Tissier, Paul Merson and Frank Skinner.

Happy listening.