Rock n' Roll Research Podcast

A trained chemist, Charlie Rader has spent over 26 years in Products Research at Procter & Gamble bringing new and improved products to consumers all over the world. In recent years, Charlie has played a leading industry role uncovering and developing digital capabilities that increase the quality, efficiency and scalability of research.But alongside corporate and industry roles, you can find Charlie in other roles like Nicely Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls or the Emcee in Cabaret.Charlie shares his acting stories and discusses P&G’s Products Research function, the importance of teamwork and the work yet to be done in consumer research.

Alisa Ben has spent a lot of time in the driver’s seat - from a tour van back in the day to leading the analytics function at the world’s second largest independent media agency.In college, she managed and mentored a band of ambitious high-schoolers, The All-American Rejects, who went on to write four top-20 hits and sell over 10 million records. That experience launched a brilliant career in the music industry, and today she is SVP, Head of Analytics at Canvas Worldwide, named in 2020 as AdWeek’s Breakthrough Media Agency of the Year.Alisa has carved a path that uniquely blends her passion and leadership in chart-topping music, media, branding and data analytics. In this podcast, she shares her journey, what connects her experiences and her view on where data and technology are taking us. May she inspire and entertain you as she did me.

As a Research Associate at the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management, Patrick Adler studies the geography and curation of the music festival economy - where festivals are staged, where the acts come from and what that means for regional economies and urbanization.For example,  just 4-5 cities account for 40% of the acts that play large festivals like Coachella, SXSW and Lollapalooza. What are the economic implications for the host city? For the cities the acts come from?In this episode, Patrick shares fascinating highlights of his soon-to-be-published work and offers a geographer's perspective on what the post-pandemic future holds. \m/ \m/

“I’m essentially a historian and researcher.”Whitney Dunlap-Fowler is the brilliant and indefatigable founder of Touch of Whit Creative, providing expert brand strategy consulting rooted in cultural insight.In this episode, Whitney traces her circuitous route to a career in insights. From a child artist in South Carolina, to Chicago to pursue a career in advertising, to joining Kantar Added Value at the ground floor in New York City, to becoming an entrepreneur. She offers shrewd insight for anyone currently navigating their career.Whitney also shares her fascinating take on how knowing the future of your category or brand starts with understanding the past. Along the way, we discuss the organization she founded called Insights in Color and her love of TV jingles, moody music and Game of Thrones.

Brian Hughes has spent most of his career at IPG amassing expertise in media research culminating in his current position as EVP, GM Audience Intelligence & Strategy at MAGNA. In parallel, he has spent much of his spare time playing guitar, bass and drums in bands that have taken him from a gig at the iconic CBGB on the eve of 9/11 to the present day.Brian shares how he found his way into research, the time he realized that the same rules don't apply to everyone and the importance of storytelling in research. Plus, wouldn't you have wanted to be on the inaugural Megadeth MegaCruise? He actually did that! Jealous.

Ukuleles and Canadian folk music! Annie Pettit works tirelessly to make the market research industry better in so many ways but there is much more that makes her tick.In today’s episode of the Rock n’ Roll Research podcast, Annie cuts to the chase about her market research origin story, her hopes for biometrics and neuroscience, her passion for the uke and the musicians that make her happy.

Paul Smith is a sought-after business storytelling coach and bestselling author of five books, including Lead With a Story.Paul talks about his career at P&G and the journey from finance to insights; how he discovered and acted upon his passion; and what he learned from insights that helped make his business a success.He also shares insightful tips on how to recognize and elicit stories in interviews and in everyday conversation.Learn more about Paul's books and coaching at leadwithastory.com.

From his base in India, Winfred Samson went from playing keyboards at Diwali celebrations in front of thousands to building a distinguished career in the market research industry.In this episode, Winfred shares the value of his upbringing, his experience in music, and the growth of his career from a young professional to an operations leader at MarketTools / MetrixLab and founder at InsightSutras. He draws poignant connections from his experience in music to his career and what it means for the future of research.

Starting with a part-time job while at university in the UK, Charlene Adamah has built a very successful and rewarding career in the market research industry.Along the way, she realized she had another talent . . . baking. In addition to her day job, nine years ago she founded Char's Cakery, making eye-popping confections of exquisite detail for a loyal and growing customer base.If that weren't enough, in 2020 Charlene co-founded Colour of Research (CORe) in the UK, dedicated to attracting and supporting diversity within the market research industry. You can find more information here: colourofresearch.org. 

Scott Aaron has had a fascinating journey through insights. Starting on the agency side helping P&G develop Swiffer, he spent years at Luxottica, P&G Gillette and now he heads up insights at the innovative furniture company, Lovesac.What people don't know about Scott is that he has a passion for the guitar, and he even performed on two records for a band called Lazy Old Son.