Provōk Podcast: Recent Episodes
evōk advertising
A podcast made by advertisers, for advertisers, Provōk is for people who love their job, but moreover, have no problem nerding out over both the good and bad that comes with being in advertising.
Hosted by Brian Wilder, and recorded at the evōk advertising studios, near Orlando, FL, this show spotlights both hot-topic and lighthearted subject matter, through provocative conversations with fellow industry professionals.
Send all comments and questions to provok@evokad.com and we may just address them on future episodes.
In this year-in-review episode, we lose all concept of time while re-examining several of the greatest hits and biggest flops in advertising, as well as what to expect from the industry in 2019.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
GUESTS: Sam Cooke
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Burger King trolled the Golden Arches, and Payless faked out a slew of fashion influencers. These guerilla tactics haven't been seen in a long time, but could this be the start of their comeback? We discuss that and more in this episode.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
This go around, we bring social media coordinator, Kim Ryan, into the studio to talk about a destination's "Instagrammability", tourism do's and don'ts, and oversized balls of yarn.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
GUESTS: Kimberly Ryan
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We've brought in a fresh batch of interns to discuss the current and future states of advertising, the significance of traditional mediums and what young professionals want most out of internships.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
GUESTS: Chris Baumgartner, Franki Gibiser and Valan Zuccolillo
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
A new season means new (and not-so-new) ways in which brands can advertise effectively to their ideal audiences. In this episode, we explore the limits of pumpkin-spiced products, praise the power of nostalgia and dust off an old podcast chestnut.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Barely 13 years into its creation, YouTube has quickly become the world's second largest search engine and a incubator for some of the best (and worst) video content. We discuss the pros and cons of the platform, and find out just how important long-form content is to the social media landscape.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
GUEST: Ariana Duran
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
There are very few industries that can bring as many people together as they can divide like sports. In this episode, we brought Jon Strubel, our agency media planner, into the studio to discuss the power of sports and how marketers can help fans get the most out of their experiences.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
GUEST: Jon Strubel
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
After a year and a half, we finally got our CEO, Larry Meador, to join us in the studio. We discuss his humble beginnings as an ad professional as well as the journey he took toward founding his now 16-year-old, full-service ad agency.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
GUEST: Larry Meador
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We sit down with one of our associate creative directors, Mark Robertson, to discuss the creative process, the keys to great concepts, and why print will always have a place in an industry that's doubling down on digital.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
GUEST: Mark Robertson
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Kelsey sits down to discuss much of what she took away from the World Forum Disrupt Conference in L.A. last week, including why content is queen, how brands can continue to evolve to suit today's culture and why men shouldn't be afraid to attend conferences celebrating people who aren't, well, other men.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
This episode, we sit down with Karina Chowdhury, social media strategist, to talk about her experience at one of the largest food tradeshows in the world, as well as her advice on how get the most out of social media when covering industry events.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
GUEST: Karina Chowdhury
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
On this episode, we discuss the new Budweiser/Burger King campaign, and what it's like to be a advertiser in a county that's embroiled in so many different socio-political issues at once.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Although we didn't score passes to this year's Cannes Lions Festival, we're still able to recap some of the bets and brightest from this year's show. We talk about everything from Jay-Z's mom and McDonald's to FKA Twigs' dancing abilities and...nope, it's a Tide Ad.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We're back after a brief hiatus! We brought in our best and brightest Gen Z interns and employees to talk about what drives this generation to engage with, and invest in, all the consumer industry has to offer.
GUEST(S): Ariana, Rebecca, Lindsay and Zach
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We bring associate creative director Julio Aceituno, and junior designer Ken Roxbury, to discuss the differences and similarities between user interface and user experience designs.
GUEST(S): Julio Aceituno and Ken Roxbury
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Brand loyalty has evolved tremendously since its inception during the early days of advertising. We dive into the nuances of what makes brands worthy of loyalty and how the sentiment has changed over the decades.
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Interns. There's more to them than meets the eye. They're resilient, hard-working and ready to lead with purpose! Listen as we pick the brains of a few of our spring '18 interns and learn more about their successes, failures and what comes next.
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux, Thomas Vassiliades, Kyle Santillo
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
When the right brands get together, sometimes you get something beautiful, while other times, a collaboration can miss the mark. In this episode, we talk about notable brand collaborations, partnerships, tag teams, crossovers and more.
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Everyone has a personal brand, but sometimes it can clash with your professional image. In this episode, we discuss how those with clout can signal boost without ruffling feathers, and how those without can work toward becoming a standout without losing authenticity.
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
There's a lot of content out there, and it's becoming more difficult to sift through the clutter to get to the good stuff. We discuss why that's become the trend and why some traditional shops should "embrace the pivot".
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We dive into the mailbag and answer a couple of burning questions from the good folks out there in Listener Land. We cover everything from being singled out in the office space to ways to avoid "being #triggered", whatever that means...
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
The success of blockbusters like Black Panther have help show that positive representation can mean major dividends for those willing to take the leap. This episode we discuss cultural representation in media and how advertisers can (and should) capitalize without being condescending.
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux, Michael Ortiz de Villate and Sam Cooke
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We're in the home stretch of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, so we naturally discuss our favorite highlights, ads and the ins and outs of corporate sponsorships.
GUEST: Kelsey Chaloux
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Kelsey and I recap a few highlights from Orlando's "ADx Week" and discuss the importance of some of the advertising industry's most heralded awards shows.
GUEST: Kelsey Chaloux
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We bring in our SCW, Lauren Solis, and CW, Mary Velasquez, to talk about their copywriting processes and how copy professionals can make the most of their career experiences.
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux, Lauren Solis and Mary Velasquez
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Turnover is something many industries fight with daily, but it's particularly rampant in advertising agencies. Managing director Tanya Zeiher and I discuss factors contributing to agency turnover and what professionals can do to avoid it.
Projecting your personal brand to the masses online can be difficult whether you're an influencer or an intern. We unpack some of the most pressing issues that come with leveraging your social channels and how you can better avoid them.
GUEST: Tanya Zeiher
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
The idea of traveling has often been romanticized throughout much of modern advertising, but is there a real viability in simply selling the sentiment? We talk with Jessica Castanheira, account manager and travel/tourism expert, to figure it all out.
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux and Jessica Castanheira
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
It’s the end of the year, so it only makes sense that we bless you guys with the good, bad and ugly of the year in advertising, so we left no ad unturned.
GUEST(S): Sam Cooke
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We spent a weekend at Social Fresh immersed in everything there is to know about the current and future states of social media, so why not share our findings with you? I talk with our copywriter and social media coordinator about the ups and downs of #conferencelife.
GUEST(S): Mary Velasquez and Michael Ortiz de Villate
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
In this episode, we gather some of our best minds from around the agency and field a few industry questions from some of our more microphone-shy colleagues. We cover everything from agency culture and digital marketing, to artificial intelligence and internships.
GUEST(S): Sam Hunter and Jordan Rose
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Every city and town has its own identities that should be celebrated and shared with those just visiting. We dive into the nuances of urban identity and discuss ways tourism ad professionals can capitalize without ruining what makes destinations great.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We wrap our two-part series on the future of cannabis in the Sunshine State with a conversation with Rico Camy, Florida-based consultant and policy advocate for The Annex Healthcare, and get down to the nitty gritty of the medical marijuana legislative process.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
GUEST(S): Rico Camy and Kelsey Chaloux
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
The holiday season is upon us! From the first hints of fall, through the doldrums of late winter, we get bombarded with ads highlighting the "most wonderful time of the year". We breakdown the best ones and try to figure out how holiday ads can do more than just make us spend money.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux, Sam Hunter
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We go back to the basics a bit and talk about brand consistency and authenticity. What’s the difference? Do the lines ever get blurred too much when it comes to portraying a vibe or attitude? Is there such thing as being “too consistent”? We discuss it all and then some.
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
GUEST(S): Sam Cooke, Kelsey Chaloux
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
The path toward medicinal marijuana legalization in Florida and places around the country has been fraught with obstacles, but that hasn't stopped pioneering agencies from lending their resources to creative and sensible advertising.
We discuss the merits and ramifications of weed-vertising, and how agencies can prepare for a greener industry landscape in the future.
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
It's been a long time since anyone has exclaimed they "want their MTV!" That doesn't mean we can't talk about the present and future of music culture and branding trends, without getting too nostalgic, right?
...right!?
GUEST(S): Sam Hunter, Kelsey Chaloux
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
ORIGINALLY RECORDED: October 6, 2017
Advertising Week NYC has ended and there's much to unpack when it comes to content and how's it's both created and distributed. From Twitter updates to our favorite podcasts, we rediscover why content is still king.
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux and Samantha Cooke
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
In our move into a weekly show format, take an even deeper dive into agency culture as we talk to Tanya Zeiher, evok managing director, about everything from niche agencies to industry stereotypes.
GUEST(S): Tanya Zeiher and Kelsey Chaloux
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Apple unveiled a few new (and not-so-new) features at their latest event and we pick apart our favorites (and not-so-favorites) to see how advertisers can help tell better stories and create better experiences for consumers.
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux, Ken Roxbury, and Holly Fuller
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
From the food we buy to the products and brands we interact with, the digital revolution is starting to blur the lines between technological integration and human interaction. We discuss its implications, and how advertisers can remain one step ahead.
GUEST(S): Vince Ramos, Sam Hunter, and Kelsey Chaloux
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Advertising has been plagued with the stigma of being morally ambiguous, and sometimes even manipulative. Kelsey and I chew the fat to get to the bottom of it all, while shedding some light on the immense good that can come from our industry.
GUEST(S): Kelsey Chaloux
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
TAGS: Orlando, Florida, ad agency, advertising, podcast, new, np, social advocacy, nonprofits
In this special episode, I hand the reins over to our Social Media intern, Kelsey Chaloux, as she tests the advertising knowledge of some our fellow evokers. Logos, slogans, and weird translations are the name of the game.
GUEST(S): Valentina Rodriguez, Jordan Rose, and Noah Lei
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder and Kelsey Chaloux
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We’re back, after a long hiatus, and ready to dive back into the world of advertising. This episode we talk to Kira Sea, a design aficionado based in NYC to get her take on what the “modern designer” needs to be successful in an ever-changing landscape.
GUEST(S): Kira Sea
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
TAGS: Orlando, Florida, ad agency, advertising, podcast, new, np, design, modern design
It’s the revenge of the nerds! eSports have given a whole new generation of athletes the ability to shine without all those pesky pads and potential concussions. This episode, we discuss the rise of eSports and how advertisers can connect with the online community.
GUEST(S): Samantha Cooke and Ian Troiano
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We get a little transcendent in this episode and talk about the things that can inspire us as creative professionals. There’s talk about muses, myths, and mind-altering substances, too.
In this episode, we dissect the often-complicated art of employee retention and try to determine what it takes to keep everyone as happy as humanly possible, well, relatively speaking.
GUEST(S): Meagan Cartaya and Samantha Cooke
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
It has been an interesting few weeks in the world of public communication. In this episode, we peel back the layers and examine why some people have gotten so bad at simply saying “Sorry.”
GUEST(S): Valentina Rodriguez and Meagan Cartaya
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Design has power, so we brought our senior art director, Diana Santana, into the studio to discuss the gravity good (and not so good) design choices can have on society, and what future designers need to know about owning their profession.
GUEST(S): Diana Santana
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We bring our Director of Agency Happiness, Samantha Cooke, to talk about why folks think millennials are the worst to older generations, and discover that perhaps we may have much more in common with Gen Xers and Baby Boomers than once thought.
GUEST(S): Samantha Cooke
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Peel back the onion a bit with your host as we explore the ins and outs of being rejected in the professional world. Our PR and Social Media Coordinator, Valentina Rodriguez, shares her approach and tips on how to turn rejection into a learning experience.
GUEST(S): Valentina Rodriguez
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
We bring Rachel Levine, associate creative director at evok, to drop knowledge on the pros and cons of living the freelance life. We discuss the ups, downs, and the trail of delinquent invoices that freelancers navigate in order to achieve success.
GUESTS: Rachel Levine
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
Stefanie Scalish, Social Media Coordinator, and Brennan Doane, Account Services intern, drop by the studio to give a fresh, young perspective on office culture, the potency of perks and a few expectations the new generation have for the current workforce.
GUESTS: Stefanie Scalish and Brennan Doane
HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder
THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers
On the inaugural episode, Meagan Cartaya explains her responsibilities as Social Media Manager, and waxes poetic on the latest social media trends and faux pas affecting the industry.
GUEST: Meagan Cartaya HOSTED BY: Brian J. Wilder THEME MUSIC: “Sneaky Line” by The Mine Sweepers