Future Legends of Advertising: Recent Episodes
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The hit podcast returns for Season Two, brought to you by iHeart Radio and the American Advertising Federation. Hosts Ross Martin and Hayley Romer bring together some of the greatest advertising legends of all time with the industry’s hottest rising stars for intimate and inspiring conversations on creativity, technology and innovation, and on how these leaders are transforming culture itself.
What does it take to build a career by inventing the path as you go?
In this episode of Future Legends of Advertising, Amie Owen, Chief Commerce Officer at Omnicom Media, sits down with Beth Comstock, former Vice Chair of GE and now best-selling author. From building retail media strategies before the industry even had a name to transforming GE marketing into an engine for growth, both women share how curiosity, courage, and a willingness to challenge convention shaped their careers.
They explore the evolution of commerce and retail media, the role of creativity in navigating complexity, and what it means to lead through constant change. Along the way, Beth reflects on repositioning GE for the digital age, while Amie shares how she built a global commerce practice from the ground up.
A conversation about reinvention, risk-taking, and the power of believing in possibilities before they exist.
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What does it take to build a brand that lasts 175 years and still resonates with the next generation?
In this episode of Future Legends of Advertising, VP of Brand & Creative at Chime Orlando Baeza sits down with John Hayes, the CMO who helped transform American Express into one of the most respected service brands in the world. From early career mistakes to building enduring brand equity, John shares hard-earned lessons on leadership, humility, and the emotional power of money.
They unpack the origin story of Small Business Saturday. a six-week sprint that became a global movement and explore why the most powerful brands are rooted in service, not transactions. The conversation dives into brand vs. performance tension, the role of AI and analytics in modern marketing, and why “when you know what you believe, you know how to behave” may be the ultimate operating principle for brands.
A masterclass on longevity, relevance, and the human condition behind great marketing.
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What’s changing in marketing, and what stays the same? Rishad and Paolo discuss how their shared experience of immigrating to America shaped innovative perspectives in advertising. Rishad discusses the importance of thinking like an outsider and what leaders need in the rapidly evolving world of AI and technology. Paolo shares the significance of empathy and trust in marketing and reflects on the role of fundamentals in navigating industry changes.
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What does it take to transform iconic brands at the intersection of sports, media, and culture?
Alison Levin, President of Advertising and Partnerships at NBCUniversal, reflects on her journey from building Roku's ad business from the ground up to breaking Olympic advertising revenue records. Tim Ellis, CMO of the NFL, shares how he revitalized a brand at a pivotal moment of uncertainty, from the "helmets off" player strategy to the audacious 100th anniversary Super Bowl spot featuring 65 players.
Together, they explore the power of tent-pole moments, building high-performing teams through radical transparency, and why the biggest cultural stages in advertising are more valuable than ever. Plus, hear Tim's unexpected path from professional stage actor and world traveler to NFL CMO, and how both credit their middle-child upbringings for giving them the grit to take risks.
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What drives true impact in advertising? Jason and Esi explore how personal experiences and values shape success. Esi shares her five principles for leadership, and launching the brand Febreze. Hear inspiring stories on authenticity, and the importance of empathy and passion in managing.
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What does it take for creativity to thrive in a fast-paced, tech-driven world? And how do values elevate brands? Abi reflects on the importance of creativity, the role of AI, and the need for a friction-filled life to nurture talent. Gordon delves into how leadership and values shape impactful advertising, urging the industry to blend art with technology and uphold moral integrity.
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How do you decide when it's the right time to make a change in your career? Charlie discusses his transition from Ogilvy to Publicis after 17 years, emphasizing the importance of growth and learning outside one's comfort zone. Susan shares her journey from focusing on great work to nurturing great people, highlighting the crucial role of creativity and partnership in the advertising industry. Plus, hear about Charlie’s experience crafting the social-first ad campaign in the run-up to Cera Ve’s Superbowl commercial starring Michael Cera, and Susan’s work rebranding the M&M’s characters.
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In this season finale of Future Legends of Advertising, host Tim Natividad is joined by Linda Kaplan Thaler, the force behind iconic campaigns like “Kodak Moment” and Aflac’s duck, and Sanja Komljenovic, founder of ONA Creative and a trailblazer in inclusive storytelling. With laughter, candid insights, and shared values around kindness, grit, and giving others a shot, this episode is a powerful reminder of how advertising can move culture—and people—forward.
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Ad Council CEO Lisa Sherman and CultureCon founder Imani Ellis join Christena to talk about building viral campaigns like Love Has No Labels, scaling CultureCon from a living room meetup to 10,000+ attendees, and navigating change—from corporate pivots to creative burnout. Packed with real talk and hard-won wisdom, this episode is a playbook for purposeful leadership.
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In an industry where authenticity is everything, Alex López Negrete and Marques E. Zak know what it takes to make an impact. From working with global brands to creating campaigns that truly resonate, they share their journeys, lessons, and predictions for the future of marketing. Hosted by Tim Natividad, this episode is a must-listen for anyone who wants to understand the power of culture in advertising.
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What does it take to go from scrappy startup to industry leader? Bill Koenigsberg, a Hall of Fame advertising legend, and Neil Waller, a rising star in the creator economy, sit down with Tim Natividad for a conversation about entrepreneurship, reinvention, and the evolving landscape of advertising. With candid insights, unexpected humor, and hard-earned wisdom, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to build something that lasts.
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What is advertising? The business encompasses PR, sales, marketing, and so much more. Melanie L. Washington, Esq. and Richard Edelman stay abreast of all of this as they lead each of their teams—listen in on just how they get it all done.
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What would you do if you weren’t afraid? Bianca Guimaraes answers that question with stories from Mischief’s groundbreaking campaigns, while Shelly Lazarus reflects on lessons from David Ogilvy that continue to inspire today’s advertising leaders.
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Tim Natividad's guests today bring authenticity to everything they do. Whether it's Danisha owning her Beyhive leadership (complete with a very unique nickname!) or Bill's fearless adoption of Gen Z verbiage, Danisha and Bill believe in work-life integration, not just balance. The result is a funny, insightful, discipline-spanning conversation for anyone curious about what advertising is all about.
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Join Christena Pyle as she hosts Karen Land Short and Jeff Goodby in an engaging discussion on the evolution of advertising, purpose-driven creativity, and the impact of some memorable campaigns. Dive into insights on mentorship, overcoming challenges, AI's impact on creative work, and celebrate Karen's shift to sustainability as well as her induction into the Advertising Hall of Achievement.
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In this special bonus episode we introduce friends of the podcast Marisa Thalberg and Steven Wolfe Pereira and their amazing podcast Brand New. The co-hosts, award-winning c-suite executives and close friends, keep it real as they tackle the most important and timely topics in marketing, media, tech, culture, careers, and more, particularly through the lens of brands, and the people powering them.
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Aaron and God-is discuss how embracing your uniqueness can become a catalyst for success. They emphasize the importance of being your authentic self in the workplace, exploring practical insights for individuals navigating the advertising industry.
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From “the climb” to “the lift,” how two extraordinary marketers lean into their power to achieve results and effect change.
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Learn the importance of hitting the mark on goals and how it plays a pivotal role in building healthy client relationships.
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Two visionary CEOs reveal their strategies for trailblazing change in business and in life.
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In different yet interconnected experiences, Cathie and Elicia discuss navigating our industry as successful businesswomen while balancing their personal lives.
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Embracing a purpose-driven journey, Roy and Perfecto stand at the frontline of change, championing sustainability, and emphasizing the importance of leadership growth and a brand's purpose, all without formal marketing training.
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Entrepreneurial legends Travis Montaque and Bob Pittman discuss their exceptionally young career beginnings, identifying and obsessing over what matters most to people and how to leverage your influence for positive impact.
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The NBA superstar opens up about his first time on a commercial set, relationship with State Farm, his brother Cliff and how he became one of the greatest marketers in sports
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Michael Kassan and Bing Chen openly share intimate details on their vast experiences, their spiritual journeys and what matters most.
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Listen to learn a lot from Antonio Lucio and Stephanie Nadi Olson, two transformational leaders driving positive change everywhere they go at every level. This is an incredibly smart and inspirational conversation between two visionaries who have leveraged their personal experiences and wisdom to better the industry, their own lives and most importantly, the lives of all of the individuals they have touched.
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Leadership is a privilege that comes with the responsibility to bring in, lift up and inspire others. Hear how Louis Carr and Jordan Muse have helped countless others as they carve out their path to the top.
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Listen in as Deborah Wahl and Elle McCarthy connect the dots between their industries and conduct a real time brainstorm around the future of consumer connection with technology and gaming.
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As her instant bestseller The Visibility Mindset debuts, Bernice Chao, Co-Founder of Asians In Advertising, talks with the Hall of Famer Renetta McCann about what it takes to change the game from the inside out.
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Bozoma St. John and TJ Adeshola give their take on the responsibility they feel as black leaders in the industry to demonstrate everyone has the potential and right to succeed in advertising, and how embracing the advertising community while loving what you do helped propel them forward and create impact.
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Daisy and Angela open up about their unique roles in the advertising industry as female Latina leaders, the challenges they have faced in pushing representation in all aspects of the advertising industry and the business value of investing in diversity.
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Wenda Harris Millard and Crystal Zerrener discuss their propensity for risk, what makes great leaders in advertising and how to continue to push the industry forward. Also hear how Wenda has paved the way for women in advertising, media and tech, and Wenda's thoughts on the future of advertising. Crystal has clearly taken the baton Wenda's has passed and goes deep on decision making throughout her career, including why she went after projects like Barbie when she was CMO of BBDO.
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