Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman

As Global President and CEO of legendary ad firm DDB, Wendy Clark keeps pushing the company to break new ground. (Consider the branded Broadway Show she wrangled for Skittles!) Learn why Wendy believes the best creative campaigns can only come out of trust; how she’s used her perch to create a more diverse workplace, and how her experiences at AT&T, Coca-Cola, and even her early stint as a shift manager at McDonald’s have made her the thoughtful leader she is today.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It isn’t hard to call Fred Seibert a creative genius: from his early role in shepherding the look of MTV and crafting a brand image for Nickelodeon, to running Hanna-Barbera, to commissioning some of Cartoon Networks most iconic modern cartoons (Powerpuff Girls! Johnny Bravo!), Fred knows how to bottle Magic. But a big part of his secret is applying Math to the mix. Tune in as he reveals how to spot talent, the secret to great logo design, and why creatives need to count more Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Bob sits down with Daniel Glass, President and Founder of the indie darling Glassnote Records. Dive into his origins as “Disco Danny” spinning tracks at the legendary Regine’s; learn why he’s so passionate about radio and why it was crucial to breaking acts like Mumford & Sons and Childish Gambino; and discover why he’s made a habit of letting go of the A-minuses (spoiler: he works harder to land bands like Phoenix and other A-pluses!)  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode Bob puts iHeart’s own CMO Gayle Troberman in the hot seat! Learn how Gayle outfoxed a tiny marketing budget and got all of NYC talking about her 90s start-up; why she believes audio and Instagram are the “two giant green fields” every brand needs to be playing in; and how Microsoft’s reluctance to use the word advertising helped her become a pioneer of branded content.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Bob interviews Olivier Francois, the legendary CMO of Fiat Chrysler. Learn why Eminem volunteered to put himself in Olivier’s commercial, how coming up with a soundtrack for every brand helps Olivier shape his vision, and why a little cultural ignorance has helped him push the boundaries of advertising. Plus, hear the surprising backstory behind that incredible tagline: “Imported from Detroit.” Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you want lessons in reinventing your brand while keeping it relevant for decades, Shaggy is a smart place to start. Fresh off his tour with Sting, the two-time Grammy Award winning artist sits down with Bob to talk about why he risked going AWOL every week to record his first album, how he refreshes his brand while keeping it pure to his Jamaican roots, and why he always embraces the creative energy of the low periods.   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At 15, Jarl Mohn got himself a pseudonym (Lee Masters!), a radio license and a job at a local station. Learn how the legendary CEO of NPR worked his way up from spinning records, how competing with a man in El Paso taught him everything he knows about sales, and why limited funds and a little bit of desperation led to groundbreaking successes at MTV, E! and NPR. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Lerer knows brands. As the co-founder of Thrillist, Ben created the go-to recommendation engine for everything from secret menu items to must-have flip flops (they came with bottle openers built into them!) In the 15 years since, Ben's not only grown the business, but become CEO of Group Nine Media--parent company to some of the most popular digital brands including NowThis and the Dodo. And somehow he's also found time to launch a successful VC fund with his dad! Learn Ben's trick for making quick business decisions, what working with his father has taught him, why founder’s empathy is what sets his fund apart, and why he always invests in the person over the idea.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Judy McGrath wanted to do when she grew up was to write for Rolling Stone. Instead, the storied CEO of MTV Networks now sits on the board of Amazon. Discover how the creative giant got seduced by management, why she learned to love a P&L (spoiler: it was to make room for wildly creative programming like Rock the Vote,and South Park), and how she convinced advertisers to get behind The Daily Show. Plus, learn why you probably need to recruit a knife thrower/improv comedian to your staff.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just because she's a self-proclaimed data nerd doesn't mean she only cares about the numbers! Julie Rieger, former President Chief Data Strategist and Head of Media at 20th Century Fox is one of the most lauded, out-of-the-box thinkers. In this episode, Julie explains why she looks for specific words in Tweets (it can reveal purchasing intent!), why buying pages in The New York Times and leaving them blank is smart strategy, and why she took up a side job as a Ghost Photographer.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.