Second Wind by AKA
Second Wind is a podcast hosted by Also Known As that explores how creative power is built. It features candid conversations with creative leaders, founders, CMOs, producers, and operators shaping modern creativity. The show delves into the work, pressure, politics, pivots, and instincts behind ideas that change careers, companies, and culture. Topics include reputation, taste, production, leadership, reinvention, AI, in-house agencies, and how great work actually gets made.
Episodes
The Myth of the “Normal User” | David Vogel on AI, Accessibility & Designing for Real People
Most products are designed for someone who doesn’t exist.The average user.David Vogel, Executive Experience Director at Hypersolid and former AKQA design leader, argues that the idea of a “normal” human has quietly shaped everything from schools and workplaces to digital products, customer experiences, and AI. The problem is that normal was never real.In this episode of Second Wind, David joins Gu
Why Brands Must Refound Themselves in the Age of AI | Craig Elimeliah, Code and Theory
AI isn’t changing marketing. It’s changing what a brand is.In this episode of Second Wind, Craig Elimeliah, Chief Creative Officer at Code and Theory, introduces a concept we haven’t been able to stop thinking about since recording: brand refounding.For years, companies have talked about brand transformation. Craig argues we’re entering something much bigger. AI isn’t simply making marketers faste
Amazon Chief Brand Officer Jo Shoesmith on Leadership, AI & Creativity | Second Wind by AKA
What does it take to lead one of the world’s biggest brands?Jo Shoesmith joins Kerrie Finch and Gully Flowers shortly after becoming Chief Brand Officer at Amazon to discuss leadership, AI, creativity, agency relationships, and why the best leaders never stop proving themselves.From Amazon’s leadership principles to building trust, influencing at scale, and preparing for a future shaped by AI, thi
Andrew McKechnie on OpenAI, Apple, and Moving Creative Upstream
Andrew McKechnie is Head of Business Creative Studio at OpenAI. Before that he was SVP and Chief Creative Officer at Verizon, where he ran a $3 billion marketing budget and built a 300-person in-house agency.Before that he was Global Head of Design Group at Apple. Across his career he has won a Gold Cannes Lion, multiple D&AD pencils, six straight Webbys, and an Emmy nomination.He sits down wi
GMUNK's Creative Journey
In this episode, Gully Flowers and Jake Neske interview GMUNK AKA Bradley Munkowitz, a pioneering designer and artist known for his work in motion design, projection mapping, and augmented reality. GMUNK shares insights into his career journey, personal life, and the impact of AI on creativity. He discusses the importance of personal projects, the challenges of full spectrum photography, and his d
Simon Cook (Cannes Lions CEO): Creativity as a Growth System
Creativity isn’t a “nice to have” - it’s infrastructure for growth.Simon Cook, CEO of Cannes Lions, shares what the world’s top leaders are learning about turning creativity into a repeatable system that drives brand building, innovation, and business growth - even when budgets tighten and AI reshapes the rules.In this episode, we cover:• From polishing trophies to leading Cannes Lions: Simon’s pa
In A Quiet So Loud: An Open Letter of Resistance from SYLVAIN
SummaryIn this conversation, Gully Flowers talks to Joey Camire, CEO of Sylvain, who shares insights on creativity, conflict, and the importance of social responsibility in business. They discuss his journey from neuroscience to founding a strategy and design firm, the impact of high-profile projects, and the significance of B Corp certification. Joey emphasizes the need for diversity and inclusio
David Kolbusz (Orchard CCO) on Meme Ads, Mental Hooks, and Why “The Work Comes First” Is a Lie
David Kolbusz is Chief Creative Officer at Orchard, with a career across Droga5 London, Wieden Kennedy New York, BBH London, Goodby Silverstein, Mother, and TBWA Toronto.In this episode, we talk about what actually makes advertising work stick. Mental hooks that live in your head. The difference between chasing culture and understanding it. And why David thinks the industry needs to be more honest
Una Walsh on Google, Nike, Apple, and the Magic Brands Keep Cutting
Una Walsh has spent 25 years working at the seam between what a brand promises and what a customer actually feels — from Virgin Atlantic and Nike's House of Innovation to Apple, and now as Executive Experience Design Director at Google.In this conversation, Una and co-hosts Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch dig into why retail has gotten boring, what brands like Nike and LOEWE are doing differently,
Jean Batthany: Creativity vs. Corporate - Lessons from Disney and Walmart’s Former CCO
Jean Batthany led creative at two of the world’s biggest brands.In this episode, she talks about the tension between structure and imagination, and what it takes to keep creativity alive inside corporate systems.From navigating layers of approval to protecting the spark that makes ideas matter, Jean shares how she built cultures of trust, risk-taking, and empathy inside the world’s most complex or
The 2025 Reputation Design Awards: Who Actually Built It in Advertising
This episode of Second Wind breaks from our usual interviews to reflect on 2025 and the people who actually built reputation in the advertising industry.We introduce a set of intentionally made-up awards to recognize the agencies and marketers who stood out this year. The slow burns. The breakout hits. The teams that thrived in chaos. The ones who made invisible work visible.Along the way, we talk
A New Era of Brand Mascots - James Kuczynski Duolingo
In this episode, Gully Flowers sits down with James Kuczynski, Global Senior Creative Director at Duolingo, to unpack how one of the world’s most recognizable brands keeps creativity playful—and performance high. From the viral “Dead Duo” campaign to the way Duolingo uses social media as a storytelling engine, James shares how fun fuels innovation, why risk is part of the job, and where he thinks
Eric Kallman on Old Spice, Skittles, and the Campaign That Almost Died
Eric Kallman is the co-founder and chief creative officer of Erich & Kallman, the independent agency behind standout work for brands like Reese’s, King’s Hawaiian, Franzia, Toyota and more. Before that, he helped create some of the most iconic advertising of the last two decades, including Old Spice, Skittles, Little Caesars, Kayak and Ragu. Erich & Kallman was named Ad Age’s 2024 Small Ag
Kevin Frank: Apple to LinkedIn to Paris, and the Truth About Leading Creative Teams
Kevin Frank has lived the full arc. Apple Creative Director for nearly a decade, then Executive Creative Director at LinkedIn, where he helped turn the team into Ad Age In House Agency of the Year and a two time Best Places to Work honoree.After LinkedIn, he hit pause on the corporate grind and moved to Paris. He taught at The American University of Paris, mentored creative leaders, wrote a book o
The Riskiest Thing Brands Can Do Is Be Ignorable - Greg Hahn, Founder of Mischief USA on Second Wind
Greg Hahn - Chief Creative Officer and co-founder of Mischief - joins Second Wind to unpack the art of creating work that’s as fun as it is fearless. From his early days in psychology and journalism to leading one of the most awarded agencies in the world, Greg shares how Mischief built a culture where risk-taking thrives.In this episode, Greg reflects on:The journey from psychology to advertising
Danielle Hawley: The Client Isn’t the Enemy | Sharp Elbows, Team Trust, and Leading at Uber
Emmy-winning creative leader Danielle Hawley, Global Head of Creative and Brand at Uber, joins hosts Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch to talk about leadership, trust, and creative evolution.From redefining Uber’s global voice to mentoring women in a male-dominated industry, Danielle shares how earning respect starts with generosity, not ego. She reflects on lessons from Microsoft’s Iron Man prosthet
Xanthe Wells on Leading Award-Winning Creative Teams Without Pressure
Xanthe Wells is VP of Global Creative at Pinterest, where she leads the House of Creative, recently named In-House Agency of the Year at the Gerety Awards. Before Pinterest, she led global creative for Google’s Pixel and Nest brands, earning a Cannes Grand Prix, a D&AD Black Pencil, and multiple Agency of the Year honors. Earlier in her career, she worked on Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and
Susan Credle on M&M’s, Allstate Mayhem, Brave Clients, and the Death of Populist Advertising
Susan Credle has helped build some of the most famous advertising characters of the last 30 years, from the M&M’s ensemble to Allstate’s Mayhem. In this episode of Second Wind, she joins Kerrie Finch and Gully Flowers for a sharp, funny and unusually honest conversation about what makes creative work last.Susan talks about seeing brands as characters, how M&M’s grew from candy mascots into
Cindy Gallop on Why a Job Is Not the Safe Option
Cindy Gallop built BBH US from a room with a phone. She became one of the most influential voices in advertising and then walked away with no job to go to. It was the best decision she ever made. In this episode, Cindy talks about why a job is not the safe option and why placing your future in the hands of a corporation is more dangerous than betting on yourself. She explains the daily drip of mi
Micah Walker on Why Caring Too Much Still Wins
Micah Walker, co-founder of Bear Meets Eagle on Fire, joins Second Wind for a sharp conversation on what it really takes to make better work. He talks about building an agency that refuses to become a smaller version of the big networks, why caring too hard is a feature not a flaw, why the best ideas should never arrive with a safety option, and how great production turns good thinking into someth
“Every Idea Starts With a Song” - Jaime Robinson on Emotion, AI, and the Future of Creativity
What if every great idea started with a song?Before writing a word or pitching a concept, Emmy-winning creative Jaime Robinson (Co-Founder and CCO of JOAN) finds a song that makes her feel exactly what she wants others to feel.In this episode, Jaime joins Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch to talk about:Building JOAN into one of the most admired independent agencies in the worldHow emotion (not strate
Billy Bohan Chinique: The Future of Travel, Fashion, and AI
Billy Bohan Chinique, VP of Marketing and Digital Innovation at Virgin Voyages, joins us to talk about the future of travel, fashion, AI, and brand storytelling.He shares how he went from call-center sales to designing digital experiences, how he ended up styling Sir Richard Branson, and why showing up as your real self became an accelerant for his career.We get into Jen.AI, the Jennifer Lopez cam
"Brand Energy is a KPI" - Paulie Dery, CMO of AG1
We had the pleasure of sitting down at SXSW with Paulie Dery, Chief Marketing Officer at AG1.Paulie shared his insights on brand building, the importance of knowing your audience, and the relationship between creativity and performance marketing. He discusses his journey from R/GA to Uber to Yeti and now AG1, the significance of community engagement. Dery emphasizes the need for brands to stay tru
Why Great Ads Feel Like Childhood Memories | Marques Gartrell, W+K
Marques Gartrell is Co-CCO of Wieden+Kennedy New York, the agency behind work for Nike, McDonald’s, Delta, and Michelob Ultra.In this episode of Second Wind:how the Travis Scott meal started from a tweetwhy the Grimace Shake became internet folklorehow W+K made “Horizontal Breakfast” in 7 dayswhy brands are competing with childhood memorieswhat young creatives get wrongwhy Marques still keeps Phot
Fabio Ruffet on Mars, Twix, and the Creative Power of Consistency
Fabio Ruffet leads some of the world’s most loved brands — including Twix, Snickers, and Mars’ global gum portfolio — but his creative journey started with a bold move: spending all he had on the fanciest envelopes in Argentina to land his first job.In this Second Wind conversation with Gully Flowers and Jake Neske, Fabio reflects on his path from agencies like Ogilvy and Havas to leading brand ex
Diane McArter on Leadership, Power, and Building a Culture That Lasts
Diane McArter is the founder of Furlined, one of the most respected production companies in the industry.In this episode, Diane reflects on leadership, power, and what it really means to build a culture where people can do their best work.She shares her journey from early leadership at Ridley Scott Associates to founding Furlined, navigating fear, responsibility, and reinvention along the way. We
Diana Hong-Elsey, Head of Global Creative at Benefit / LVMH - Live from Cannes Lions 2025
In this conversation, Gully Flowers interviews Diana, with Jake Neske perched off camera.Diana is a creative leader with extensive experience in both agency and brand environments. They discuss her journey from a designer to a creative director, the importance of creative briefs, and the evolving media landscape, particularly the impact of platforms like TikTok. Diana emphasizes the need for colla
“The brief should pick a fight” — Peter Giorgi, SVP Marketing at Rocket | LIVE FROM SXSW
Peter Giorgi has led marketing for some of the world’s most recognized brands, from Bacardi to Celebrity Cruises, and now as SVP of Marketing at Rocket. LIVE from SXSW, he joins Second Wind to share what it really takes to lead with bravery and creativity in a world obsessed with data.In this conversation, Peter reflects on:Reinventing Bacardi while staying true to its heritageHow Celebrity Cruise
Why Agencies Are Selling the Wrong Thing ; Anthony Reeves, Kohler
AI is making execution cheaper. Brands are building stronger in-house teams. Holding companies are consolidating. Production companies are being pushed further downstream.So what are agencies still uniquely for?Anthony Reeves has spent his career inside some of the world’s biggest agency networks and brands. He has worked at WPP multiple times, held senior roles at Amazon and LVMH, and now leads G
Kelly Knapp on Choreographing Creativity at the $2B Sphere, Netflix House, & VS Fashion Show
Kelly Knapp has helped shape some of the most ambitious experiential work in the world; from the $2 billion Sphere in Las Vegas to Netflix’s first permanent venues and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.In this episode of Second Wind, Kelly shares how a background in ballet, music, landscape architecture, and extreme outdoor exploration informs her belief that creative work is choreography; the ca
Jason Sperling (Apple “Mac vs PC”) on Working With Steve Jobs & Leading Creativity in the AI Era
Jason Sperling is the Chief Creative Officer at INNOCEAN ; and one of the creative leaders behind Apple’s legendary “Mac vs PC” campaign.In this episode of Second Wind, Jason shares what it was really like presenting to Steve Jobs every Wednesday, surviving brutal creative cycles at TBWA\Chiat\Day, and helping turn “I’m a Mac” into one of the most influential campaigns of the century.We also get i
From Pepsi Super Bowl Fame to Tony’s Chocolate Revolution: Sadira Furlow
Sadira Furlow’s career is a study in reinvention, from Pepsi’s viral Super Bowl moments (Puppy Monkey Baby, anyone?) to leading global brand and communications at Tony’s Chocolonely. In this conversation, she joins Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch to talk about trading scale for soul, humor as activism, and what it takes to make ethical storytelling irresistible.She opens up about:Her journey from a
Selling Soccer, Building GUT, & Why Bravery Still Wins with Carmen Rodriguez (Chief Growth Officer)
Carmen Rodriguez didn’t get her first job in advertising by talking about advertising.She got it by talking about soccer.In this episode of Second Wind, Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch sit down with Carmen Rodriguez, Global Chief Growth Officer at GUT, to unpack a career built on passion, trust, and a deep belief in the power of creativity.Born in São Paulo and now based in Amsterdam, Carmen shares
Inside the Oatly Department of Mind Control with John Schoolcraft, Chief Creative Officer
John Schoolcraft helped turn Oatly from a quiet Swedish oat drink into one of the most talked-about brands on the planet. No marketing department. No traditional briefs. No safety nets. Just creativity, rebellion, and a CEO who let the work lead.In this conversation, John breaks down how he:• Killed the CMO role and replaced it with makers• Turned lawsuits into creative fuel• Used packaging as med
Wes ter Haar, Co-Founder of Monks (MediaMonks) on AI, Leadership, and the Future of Agencies
In this episode of Second Wind, Wes ter Haar the Co-Founder of MediaMonks, reflects on how digital marketing has evolved, the role of AI in reshaping the industry, and why cultural values and leadership matter more than ever.From scaling MediaMonks from a local shop to a global powerhouse, to navigating today’s AI-driven transformation, Wes shares lessons on:Adapting to the shifting digital landsc
"The Only Job Left is Creative" - David Lee, CCO of Squarespace Live from SXSW
Jake Neske and Gully Flowers, co-founders of Also Known As sat down with David Lee, Chief Creative Officer at Squarespace, live at SXSW in Austin to discuss the intersection of creativity, technology, and business. David shares insights from his career journey, emphasizing the importance of creativity in driving business success and the need for creatively trained individuals in leadership roles.
Chapin Clark on 25 Years at R/GA, Creativity in the Age of Algorithms, and What Still Matters
Chapin Clark has seen the creative industry evolve from Flash microsites to AI-driven campaigns - and somehow, he’s kept the soul of it intact.In this conversation, the legendary voice behind R/GA’s Twitter talks about surviving 25 years inside one of the world’s most influential agencies, mentoring creatives like Paulie Dery, and finding the balance between craft and chaos in the digital age.It’s
The Nick Law Episode: Inventive vs Expressive
Nick Law explains the split that defines modern creativity. Inventive thinking and expressive thinking. How they collide, how they fail, and how the best teams make them work together. We cover his path from Australia to Pentagram to RGA to Accenture Song, the collapse of the old agency model, how platform culture reshapes craft, and what AI means for the next generation. A grounded conversation a
Craig Allen on Old Spice, Skittles, and Protecting the Creative Weirdos
Craig Allen wrote the Skittles spot where a man accidentally murders his family with rainbow candy. He helped make the Old Spice response campaign ; 286 videos in 36 hours, one every 7 minutes, until they broke YouTube. Then he left Wieden+Kennedy, asked Dan Wieden what to call his new agency, and got told every name was stupid.This week on Second Wind, the founder and CCO of CALLEN sits down with
Matt Cooper on Awards, Reputation, and Why the Work No Longer Speaks for Itself
Matt Cooper, founder of Little Black Book, joins Second Wind to talk about how LBB became the most visited creative platform in the world, why awards are becoming toxic, why the work no longer speaks for itself, and what the industry still gets wrong about reputation, craft, and growth.We get into the rise of indie agencies like Bear Meets Eagle On Fire, why clients and agencies need more belief,
Gerry Graf: The GOAT of Advertising on Skittles, Snickers, and Selling Weird Ideas
He’s the mind behind Taste the Rainbow.The man who convinced Mars, Unilever, and half of Madison Avenue to take creative risks — and made the weirdest, funniest, most unforgettable ads in history.In this episode of Second Wind, Gully Flowers and Jake Neske sit down with Gerry Graf - founder of Barton F. Graf and SLAP Global, and the creative force behind Skittles Pinata, Starburst Little Lad, You’
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