Second Wind by AKA

Susan Credle on M&M’s, Allstate Mayhem, Brave Clients, and the Death of Populist Advertising 30.06.2026 52m

Susan Credle has helped build some of the most famous advertising characters of the last 30 years, from the M&M’s ensemble to Allstate’s Mayhem. In this episode of Second Wind, she joins Kerrie Finch and Gully Flowers for a sharp, funny and unusually honest conversation about what makes creative work last.Susan talks about seeing brands as characters, how M&M’s grew from candy mascots into a comedic ensemble, why Mayhem worked because it was deeply strategic, and what great clients do that risk-averse ones often miss.She also gets into one of the biggest tensions in modern advertising: the gap between work that wins awards and work that reaches real people. From the rise of case studies to the decline of truly populist creative, Susan makes the case for work that does not need to be followed around and explained.This is a conversation about brave clients, fragile progress, creative leadership, the pressure of becoming one of the first female CCOs in America, and why the best work should make someone in the world say thank you.

Why Neurodiversity Exposes the Myth of the “Normal User” 09.06.2026 37m

We keep designing for a “normal” user.The problem is, that person does not exist.For neurodiverse people, that myth shows up early. In classrooms. In checklists. In systems that reward one way of thinking, one way of sitting still, one way of paying attention, one way of moving through the world.On this episode of Second Wind, Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch talk with David Vogel, Executive Experience Director at Hypersolid, about neurodiversity, accessibility, AI, and the future of human-centered design.David argues that accessibility should not be treated as an edge case or a compliance layer. It should be foundational. Because once you stop designing for the fictional average person, you can start designing for actual humans.The conversation moves from ADHD and school systems to crash test dummies, smart workplaces, Google, Siemens, Lotus, and AI-powered customer experiences. It also gets into why ChatGPT is only the first crude interface for AI, why brands should be careful about handing their customer relationships to AI platforms, and how intelligent experiences could create more adaptive, personal, and useful interactions across digital and physical spaces.This is a conversation about neurodiversity, inclusive design, accessibility, AI strategy, personalization, brand experience, and the future of interfaces.In this episode, we coverHow neurodiversity reframes accessibilityWhy school can punish ADHD and neurodiverse peopleWhat crash test dummies reveal about designing for averagesWhy AI needs to move beyond the chatbotHow brands can use AI without surrendering customer relationshipsWhat intelligent experiences could mean for workplaces, retail, and personalizationGuest: David Vogel, Executive Experience Director at HypersolidHosts: Gully Flowers and Kerrie FinchPodcast: Second Wind

Why Great Ads Feel Like Childhood Memories | Marques Gartrell, W+K 26.05.2026 59m

Marques Gartrell is Co-CCO of Wieden+Kennedy New York, the agency behind work for Nike, McDonald’s, Delta, and Michelob Ultra.In this episode of Second Wind:how the Travis Scott meal started from a tweetwhy the Grimace Shake became internet folklorehow W+K made “Horizontal Breakfast” in 7 dayswhy brands are competing with childhood memorieswhat young creatives get wrongwhy Marques still keeps Photoshop openA conversation about culture, instinct, taste, speed, and making work people actually carry around with them.The best work stops feeling like advertising and starts feeling like part of someone’s life.

Andrew McKechnie on OpenAI, Apple, and Moving Creative Upstream 12.05.2026 54m

Andrew McKechnie is Head of Business Creative Studio at OpenAI. Before that he was SVP and Chief Creative Officer at Verizon, where he ran a $3 billion marketing budget and built a 300-person in-house agency.Before that he was Global Head of Design Group at Apple. Across his career he has won a Gold Cannes Lion, multiple D&AD pencils, six straight Webbys, and an Emmy nomination.He sits down with Gully Flowers to talk about what happens when a creative decides the brief is too late, and the only way to do better work is to move upstream. They cover what the agency model got wrong, why it was an operating issue and not a talent issue, what a real in-house team is and is not, why physical craft matters more in the AI era, and what OpenAI's merch program reveals about modern brand building.A conversation for anyone leading creative work inside a brand, agency, or startup right now.

Craig Allen on Old Spice, Skittles, and Protecting the Creative Weirdos 28.04.2026 45m

Craig Allen wrote the Skittles spot where a man accidentally murders his family with rainbow candy. He helped make the Old Spice response campaign ; 286 videos in 36 hours, one every 7 minutes, until they broke YouTube. Then he left Wieden+Kennedy, asked Dan Wieden what to call his new agency, and got told every name was stupid.This week on Second Wind, the founder and CCO of CALLEN sits down with Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch to talk about how to sell ideas that scare clients to death.Inside the episode:- Why the best risky ideas are “stupid smart” — and how to make a CMO feel dumb for not buying them- The real story behind the Skittles Touch shoot: explosives, cops, a $$$$ glass desk filled with hundreds of thousands of real Skittles, and one PA running through the shot- How a six-person writers’ room turned Old Spice into the fastest creative operation in advertising history- Why Dan Wieden made him put his own name on the agency (and why it changed how he works)- The case for fun as a strategic weapon, not a vibe- What independent agencies have to do now that the holding cos have stopped pretending to care about creativityCraig has won two Cannes Grand Prix, the Grand Effie, Best in Show at The One Show, two black D&AD pencils, an Emmy, and was once named one of the 50 sexiest creatives in the world by Creativity Magazine. We do not let him forget it.Second Wind is a Webby Honoree podcast at the intersection of creativity, leadership, and advertising. Hosted by Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch of AKA. New episodes fortnightly.Leave a review if it landed.

Eric Kallman on Old Spice, Skittles, and the Campaign That Almost Died 14.04.2026 36m

Eric Kallman is the co-founder and chief creative officer of Erich & Kallman, the independent agency behind standout work for brands like Reese’s, King’s Hawaiian, Franzia, Toyota and more. Before that, he helped create some of the most iconic advertising of the last two decades, including Old Spice, Skittles, Little Caesars, Kayak and Ragu. Erich & Kallman was named Ad Age’s 2024 Small Agency of the Year and was later recognized as a 2025 A-List standout. In this episode of Second Wind, Eric talks about how Old Spice almost died before it changed culture, why absurd work only works when the product truth is dead simple, and what most young creatives are skipping when they chase shortcuts. He gets into the discipline behind funny advertising, the value of silence in the creative process, why six weeks and 250 scripts used to be normal, and how AI can help if it gives creatives more time to think instead of less. Topics include Old Spice, Skittles, creative discipline, copywriting, campaign craft, small agencies, advertising fundamentals, AI in creative work, and what it takes to make funny ads that actually sell.

Micah Walker on Why Caring Too Much Still Wins 31.03.2026 51m

Micah Walker, co-founder of Bear Meets Eagle on Fire, joins Second Wind for a sharp conversation on what it really takes to make better work. He talks about building an agency that refuses to become a smaller version of the big networks, why caring too hard is a feature not a flaw, why the best ideas should never arrive with a safety option, and how great production turns good thinking into something people can actually feel. This one is about creative conviction, craft, culture, and the kind of standards that make the work unforgettable.

Matt Cooper on Awards, Reputation, and Why the Work No Longer Speaks for Itself 17.03.2026 44m

Matt Cooper, founder of Little Black Book, joins Second Wind to talk about how LBB became the most visited creative platform in the world, why awards are becoming toxic, why the work no longer speaks for itself, and what the industry still gets wrong about reputation, craft, and growth.We get into the rise of indie agencies like Bear Meets Eagle On Fire, why clients and agencies need more belief, how creative companies should use platforms like LBB properly, what young people misunderstand about the industry, and why Matt thinks AI is being talked about all wrong.If you care about creativity, reputation, production, agency growth, or where the business is heading next, this one’s worth your time.

Una Walsh on Google, Nike, Apple, and the Magic Brands Keep Cutting 03.03.2026 50m

Una Walsh has spent 25 years working at the seam between what a brand promises and what a customer actually feels — from Virgin Atlantic and Nike's House of Innovation to Apple, and now as Executive Experience Design Director at Google.In this conversation, Una and co-hosts Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch dig into why retail has gotten boring, what brands like Nike and LOEWE are doing differently, and why the obsession with frictionless efficiency is quietly killing brand joy.They also get into AI, craft, and why a sewing machine doesn't make you a fashion designer.Topics covered:– Why Virgin Atlantic was Una's first lesson in holistic brand experience– The Nike Soho flagship: what went wrong on opening day and how they fixed it– The retail ritual that makes the Nike shoe box moment magic– How Google is thinking about physical retail for its devices and hardware– "We moved from the age of information to the age of imagination" — Es Devlin– Why creatives still need to sell their ideas, no matter how senior they get– AI as a sparring partner, not a shortcutSecond Wind is hosted by Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch. New episodes every other Tuesday.

Jason Sperling (Apple “Mac vs PC”) on Convincing Steve Jobs, Super Bowl Pressure & Leading Creativity in the AI Era 17.02.2026 52m

Jason Sperling is the Chief Creative Officer at INNOCEAN ; and one of the creative leaders behind Apple’s legendary “Mac vs PC” campaign.In this episode of Second Wind, Jason shares what it was really like presenting to Steve Jobs every Wednesday, surviving brutal creative cycles at TBWA\Chiat\Day, and helping turn “I’m a Mac” into one of the most influential campaigns of the century.We also get into:• Convincing Steve Jobs to run digital banner ads• Writing body copy to land a job at Chiat• The six-month grind behind Mac vs PC• Making Honda’s Ferris Bueller Super Bowl spot• Directing Bruce Willis after he walked off set• Why taste matters more than tools in the AI era• How creative leaders survive the jump from maker to manager• The future of agencies in an AI-driven worldIf you care about advertising, leadership, creative resilience, or how iconic work actually gets made — this one is for you.

David Kolbusz (Orchard CCO) on Meme Ads, Mental Hooks, and Why “The Work Comes First” Is a Lie 10.02.2026 35m

David Kolbusz is Chief Creative Officer at Orchard, with a career across Droga5 London, Wieden Kennedy New York, BBH London, Goodby Silverstein, Mother, and TBWA Toronto.In this episode, we talk about what actually makes advertising work stick. Mental hooks that live in your head. The difference between chasing culture and understanding it. And why David thinks the industry needs to be more honest about the myth we repeat, that “the work comes first.”We also break down recent examples David loves, including a meme-driven taco ad and KitKat’s Break Squad, as a way to talk about creative restraint, timing, and leadership in modern advertising.

Kevin Frank: Apple to LinkedIn to Paris, and the Truth About Leading Creative Teams 03.02.2026 42m

Kevin Frank has lived the full arc. Apple Creative Director for nearly a decade, then Executive Creative Director at LinkedIn, where he helped turn the team into Ad Age In House Agency of the Year and a two time Best Places to Work honoree.After LinkedIn, he hit pause on the corporate grind and moved to Paris. He taught at The American University of Paris, mentored creative leaders, wrote a book on leading creative teams, and even joined an Elvis cover band, because why not.We talk about what it means to lead creatives when nobody teaches you how, how craft survives inside massive systems, how to build a team that runs like a machine without losing its soul, and what a real reset looks like when you have the courage to take one.

Simon Cook (Cannes Lions CEO): Creativity as a Growth System 27.01.2026 37m

Creativity isn’t a “nice to have” - it’s infrastructure for growth.Simon Cook, CEO of Cannes Lions, shares what the world’s top leaders are learning about turning creativity into a repeatable system that drives brand building, innovation, and business growth - even when budgets tighten and AI reshapes the rules.In this episode, we cover:• From polishing trophies to leading Cannes Lions: Simon’s path (and what he learned along the way)• Why Cannes is shifting from celebrating outputs to rewarding the inputs behind great work (the new Creative Brand Lion)• What 50 global CEOs said about unlocking the next chapter of growth through creativity• How to build “conditions for success”: culture, rituals, accountability, KPIs, and creative infrastructure• Creators at Cannes: what the creator economy means for brands, platforms, and agencies• AI integrity standards: protecting trust, authenticity, and authorship in creative workIf you’re a CMO, founder, agency leader, or anyone trying to make the business case for creativity, this one’s for you.Follow Second Wind for more conversations at the intersection of creativity, marketing, and growth.Chapters:00:00 Intro00:43 From agency to Cannes04:55 Creativity as infrastructure06:15 The Global CEO Forum11:25 Reframing creativity as innovation16:35 Creators, brands, platforms22:15 Access, ERA, talent pipeline28:40 AI integrity standards34:55 Legacy: creativity as a system

Kelly Knapp on Choreographing Creativity at the $2B Sphere, Netflix House, & VS Fashion Show 21.01.2026 24m

Kelly Knapp has helped shape some of the most ambitious experiential work in the world; from the $2 billion Sphere in Las Vegas to Netflix’s first permanent venues and the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.In this episode of Second Wind, Kelly shares how a background in ballet, music, landscape architecture, and extreme outdoor exploration informs her belief that creative work is choreography; the careful layering of elements to create meaning at scale.We talk about immersive audio, designing for empathy, why she’s skeptical of AI in the creative process, and what it takes to build experiences that feel human even when the technology is anything but.

Diane McArter on Leadership, Power, and Building a Culture That Lasts 14.01.2026 23m

Diane McArter is the founder of Furlined, one of the most respected production companies in the industry.In this episode, Diane reflects on leadership, power, and what it really means to build a culture where people can do their best work.She shares her journey from early leadership at Ridley Scott Associates to founding Furlined, navigating fear, responsibility, and reinvention along the way. We talk about women in leadership, servant leadership, the role of trust, and why a company’s culture is shaped by everyone who enters it.Diane also discusses Manifest Works, her nonprofit creating career pathways for people impacted by foster care, homelessness, and incarceration, and why leadership at its best is an act of service.This is a conversation about growth, empathy, creative courage, and building something that lasts.

Selling Soccer, Building GUT, and Why Bravery Still Wins with Carmen Rodriguez (Global Chief Growth Officer, GUT) 06.01.2026 30m

Carmen Rodriguez didn’t get her first job in advertising by talking about advertising.She got it by talking about soccer.In this episode of Second Wind, Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch sit down with Carmen Rodriguez, Global Chief Growth Officer at GUT, to unpack a career built on passion, trust, and a deep belief in the power of creativity.Born in São Paulo and now based in Amsterdam, Carmen shares how growing up in Brazil shaped her view of advertising as part of popular culture, why bravery isn’t a personality trait but a practice, and how GUT has grown from a bold idea into one of the most talked-about agencies in the world.They cover:The interview that launched her career at Leo Burnett at age 17Why GUT “interviews” clients before pitchingThe “bravery gap” between people and brandsHow long-term client relationships outperform short-term winsWhy “the best advertising for an agency is still the work”What hybrid work, diversity, and trust actually look like inside a modern creative companyAnd why Carmen’s definition of success is simple: work that works, and work your aunt would share on WhatsAppA conversation about growth without cynicism, creativity without ego, and why conviction still compounds.

The 2025 Reputation Design Awards: Who Actually Built It in Advertising 23.12.2025 24m

This episode of Second Wind breaks from our usual interviews to reflect on 2025 and the people who actually built reputation in the advertising industry.We introduce a set of intentionally made-up awards to recognize the agencies and marketers who stood out this year. The slow burns. The breakout hits. The teams that thrived in chaos. The ones who made invisible work visible.Along the way, we talk about what reputation really compounds today.Point of view. Taste. Talent. Timing.And why memorability is no longer accidental.If you care about where advertising is headed, and what actually lasts, this episode is for you.

Xanthe Wells on Leading Award-Winning Creative Teams Without Pressure 16.12.2025 29m

Xanthe Wells is VP of Global Creative at Pinterest, where she leads the House of Creative, recently named In-House Agency of the Year at the Gerety Awards. Before Pinterest, she led global creative for Google’s Pixel and Nest brands, earning a Cannes Grand Prix, a D&AD Black Pencil, and multiple Agency of the Year honors. Earlier in her career, she worked on Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, and Monsters, Inc., and spent formative years at TBWA\Chiat\Day with Lee Clow.In this episode of Second Wind, Xanthe shares a philosophy of creative leadership that runs counter to most playbooks. Pressure feels productive, but it narrows thinking. Relaxation isn’t a luxury. It’s a creative requirement.We talk about building psychologically safe teams, why lowering the stakes leads to better work, and how to protect creativity inside high-pressure organizations. Xanthe also shares lessons from Pixar, Google, and Pinterest, her perspective on AI as a creative tool, and why human taste, humor, and empathy still matter more than ever.This is a conversation about leading creatives with generosity, clarity, and trust, even when millions of dollars are on the line.

Cindy Gallop on Why a Job Is Not the Safe Option 09.12.2025 34m

Cindy Gallop built BBH US from a room with a phone. She became one of the most influential voices in advertising and then walked away with no job to go to. It was the best decision she ever made. In this episode, Cindy talks about why a job is not the safe option and why placing your future in the hands of a corporation is more dangerous than betting on yourself. She explains the daily drip of microaggressions that kill confidence, why most women never get the support they deserve, and why her advice is simple: get the f*ck out and build something that gives you agency. We also talk about BBH, MakeLoveNotPorn, pitch culture, leadership, sex education, and why the future is female and founder-led. This is Cindy at her most direct and most generous.

Billy Bohan Chinique: The Future of Travel, Fashion, and AI 02.12.2025 40m

Billy Bohan Chinique, VP of Marketing and Digital Innovation at Virgin Voyages, joins us to talk about the future of travel, fashion, AI, and brand storytelling.He shares how he went from call-center sales to designing digital experiences, how he ended up styling Sir Richard Branson, and why showing up as your real self became an accelerant for his career.We get into Jen.AI, the Jennifer Lopez campaign that pushed AI before it was cool, the making of Virgin’s AI-powered mermaids, the shift toward creators, and why “brand as operating system” is the only approach that still makes sense.If you care about creativity, travel, leadership, or the next frontier of marketing, this is a conversation worth hearing.Chapters:00:00 Styling Richard Branson02:10 Fashion and authenticity03:55 Breaking into travel06:50 Building Virgin Voyages’ digital platform11:05 The origin of Jen.AI with J.Lo16:00 AI-powered mermaids19:50 Brand as operating system26:20 The new creator economy32:00 Talent, hiring, and AI literacy36:20 Becoming an AI-native company39:40 Billy’s legacy