Let's Make This More Interesting

That’s enough about humour and the lighter side of interesting.  It’s time to step into the dark.    This week Adam meets researcher Mathias Clasen, co-founder of the ‘Recreational Fear Lab’ and author of Why Horror Seduces and A Very Nervous Person's Guide to Horror Movies, to talk about what he’s learned from haunted houses and horror movies, and how to find the ‘sweet spot’ of scary.  Adam and Mathias discuss:  The definition of ‘recreational fear’, and why it’s not just for horror film fans  The evidence that shows why fear is good for us. Why children need more ‘risky play’ for their development than we are giving them, and the surprising results of Mathias’ research into fear on our immune systems  The physiological and cognitive relationship between fear and enjoyment  Why we should all make friends with Mr Piggy _Read Mathias's books:Why Horror Seduces A Very Nervous Person's Guide to Horror MoviesWatch Mathias's TedX talk: Lessons from a terrified horror researcherConnect with Adam on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/  Let's Make This More Interesting is a podcast from eatbigfish. Thanks to our editor Ruth, our producer Travis, and to Tiny Podcasts.    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week’s episode made the business case for humour - but how do we start to find our funny? This week Adam Morgan meets standup comedy writing and speaking coach Chris Head for a comedy masterclass.  Chris shares practical experience and techniques he uses when working with comedians, how he helped stand-up Stepfania Licari push her personal stories for the biggest payoff and coached Richard Lindesay to become a headliner (and TikTok star), all while punching up Adam’s jokes along the way,  They discuss: The power of comedy to help engage people with serious and challenging subjects Simple techniques to build humour and surprise into anything from a story to an internal announcement  The importance of making an immediate connection with the audience to break the tension  The craft involved to go from a joke-shaped thought into a bigger, funnier routine The power of misdirection (but not the magic kind)  _____  Contact Chris (or sign up to a course): https://www.chrishead.com/   Chris’s books: Creating Comedy Narratives for Stage and Screen  A Director's Guide to the Art of Stand-up The Complete Comedy Script Toolkit  _____  Connect with Adam on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/  Let's Make This More Interesting is a podcast from eatbigfish. Thanks to our editor Ruth, our producer Travis, and to Tiny Podcasts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is our business leaving money on the table by being too serious? In this episode, Adam speaks to Bridget Angear, legendary strategic planner and co-founder of Craig + Bridget, about her recent research “The Business Case for Humour in Advertising”.  Adam and Bridget explore the evidence for the business effects of humour as revealed in the IPA database, and the different values that different types of humour can have for us if we’re looking to be more engaging.  They look at why marketing and communications might be less entertaining now than it used to be, and they consider why agencies and clients seriously need to have a bit more fun.  Because, despite the business case for humour, have we all become just too scared to be funny?  -- Connect with Adam on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/  Watch Bridget deliver “The Business Case for Humour in Advertising” here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=r91B08Xebtg Bridget's books -The insiders' guide to advertising: How the business of advertising really worksCreative problem solving.: A useful little strategy book by craig+bridgetRevolt: A movement owner's manual--Let's Make This More Interesting is a podcast from eatbigfish. Thanks to our editor Ruth, our producer Travis, and to Tiny Podcasts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week Adam meets award-winning improviser and director of the iconic Assassin’s Creed video games Simon Peacock to explore how the element of surprise makes his work and life more interesting.  Beginning with Simon’s early success as a professional improviser in Montreal, they discuss the 10 commandments of good improvisation, why routine and repetition ruin a performance, and what happens when you apply improv principles to your own wedding.  In the second half, Simon shares what it takes to give a more interesting audition, his experience as a director in the world of video games, and why audiences crave surprise. We find out what preparation it takes to direct 2,000 lines of dialogue in one day, why it’s always a good idea to deliver a unique take in an audition (even if it doesn’t land you the job), and the terrible fate of a canvas sack called Bob.  __  Connect with Adam on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/ Let's Make This More Interesting is a podcast from eatbigfish. Thanks to our editor Ruth and our producers at Tiny Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a captivating conversation with Heather McGill, a designer and producer renowned for her work on mega-events like the London 2012 Olympics and the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest experience, she reveals the art of crafting engaging shared experiences. Heather discusses the balance of 'highs' and 'lulls' in immersive events, the challenges of meeting evolving audience expectations, and the significance of common ownership in experiences. She also shares Sir Jonny Ive’s invaluable advice and why the introduced third spider drop can dramatically enhance the experience.

A year into the project, what have we learnt about the real price of being dull? Adam opens Season 2 with one of the core collaborators on The Extraordinary Cost of Dull, marketing effectiveness expert Peter Field.   Peter and Adam share how the Extraordinary Cost of Dull has grown from an idea that kickstarted our last season to a 3-year research project with multiple contributors. One that has been sparking a vital conversation within the marketing and communications community over the last year.  Starting with their reflections on the response to the project so far, they discuss new developments including:  Data from the DMA that reveals what dull is costing us not just in TV, but through the whole funnel Upcoming work from Dr Karen Nelson-Field, another core collaborator, on the real cost of choosing lower attention media platforms and channels Peter’s latest findings on the business effects of dull, and its impact on brand trust The development of the practical strategic tools to help marketers avoid dull from the start  They finish with a look at their ambitions for The Extraordinary Cost of Dull in the year head.  ____ The Extraordinary Cost of Dull Project is open to contributors. Do you have a data set to share with the project? Get in touch at hello@eatbigfish.com  Follow the project: https://www.eatbigfish.com/the-cost-of-dull Follow Peter's work here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-field-20110120/ Connect with Adam on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/ Follow eatbigfish on Linkedin and Instagram  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode Adam summarises the key themes and learnings across all the guests from the first season, to make it useful and usable for you.He breaks his conclusions into five sections: 1. The Cost of Dull and the Value of Interesting 2. The Four Kinds of Dull3. Finding the right way to be interesting for you4. Common themes and key ideas across all the guests5. How to use it Read the full transcript of the episode at The Challenger Project.---------Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/ Follow eatbigfish on Linkedin and Instagram With thanks to our editor Ruth and producer Ross. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Reed, successful Hollywood agent and co-founder of a viral content company, discusses creating viral content, building relationships in the film industry, strategies for getting someone interested, meeting high expectations, and a memorable encounter in Hollywood.

Powerpoint has become the poster child of Dull – can even this most maligned of mediums really be a tool to be more interesting? Russell Davies not only believes it can, but that it’s the third American art form, along with jazz and hip hop – but only if we think of it and use it in a very different way. It seems such a symbolic flip for the cliché of ‘Death by Powerpoint’, that we’ve given it its own short episode. Here Russell shares his very simple rules for really engaging an audience through Powerpoint.Russell's book: Do Interesting. Notice. Collect. Share.https://thedobook.co/products/do-interesting-notice-collect-share_______Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/ Follow eatbigfish on Linkedin and Instagram See what’s coming up on the podcast at The Challenger Project With thanks to our editor Ruth and producer Ross. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the most stimulating speakers in brands and communications, Russell has been thinking about what it means to be interesting for over 20 years. In his new book Do Interesting – Notice. Collect. Share. Russell has codified the practice he’s used to make the world more interesting to him, and to make himself better positioned to bring interest to whatever topic he finds himself working on, inside and outside the world of brands. In this episode he shares how we can do it easily, too.https://thedobook.co/products/do-interesting-notice-collect-share_______Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-morgan-3a473a/ Follow eatbigfish on Linkedin and Instagram See what’s coming up on the podcast at The Challenger Project With thanks to our editor Ruth and producer Ross. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.