Second Wind by AKA

Epizodes

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  The Myth of the “Normal User” | David Vogel on AI, Accessibility & Designing for Real People 13.08.2026 35min

  Most products are designed for someone who doesn’t exist.The average user.David Vogel, Executive Experience Director at Hypersolid and former AKQA design leader, argues that the idea of a “normal” human has quietly shaped everything from schools and workplaces to digital products, customer experiences, and AI. The problem is that normal was never real.In this episode of Second Wind, David joins Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch to explore why neurodiversity changes the way we think about accessibility, why crash test dummies reveal a deeper flaw in modern design, and why designing for edge cases often creates better experiences for everyone.The conversation also looks ahead. David explains why ChatGPT is only the earliest interface for AI, why brands should be careful about outsourcing customer relationships to AI platforms, and how intelligent experiences could reshape products, retail, and personalization over the next decade.In this episode• Why there is no such thing as a “normal” user• How ADHD and neurodiversity challenge traditional design thinking• What crash test dummies teach us about accessibility• Why designing for edge cases creates better products for everyone• Why ChatGPT is only the beginning of AI• How brands can embrace AI without giving away the customer relationship• What intelligent experiences could mean for the future of retail, work, and customer experienceGuest: David Vogel, Executive Experience Director at HypersolidHosts: Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch
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  Why Brands Must Refound Themselves in the Age of AI | Craig Elimeliah, Code and Theory 11.08.2026 52min

  AI isn’t changing marketing. It’s changing what a brand is.In this episode of Second Wind, Craig Elimeliah, Chief Creative Officer at Code and Theory, introduces a concept we haven’t been able to stop thinking about since recording: brand refounding.For years, companies have talked about brand transformation. Craig argues we’re entering something much bigger. AI isn’t simply making marketers faster. It’s forcing organizations to rethink the foundations of how brands are built, governed and remembered.We explore why AI exposes disconnected organizations, why brand consistency becomes more valuable as content scales, why consumers are becoming dramatically harder to fool, and why creative leaders are increasingly responsible for shaping entire businesses, not just campaigns.In this conversation:• What “brand refounding” actually means• Why AI is exposing weak brand systems• The difference between brand transformation and brand refounding• Why speed, scale and brand no longer have to compete• How AI creates organizational memory instead of disconnected campaigns• Why creative leaders are becoming business leaders• The future of agencies, brands and creative operating systems• What every CMO should understand before investing in another AI toolCraig Elimeliah is the Chief Creative Officer at Code and Theory, one of the world’s leading digital transformation and creative technology companies. Throughout his career, he’s helped shape products, platforms and brand systems for many of the world’s most influential organizations.Second Wind is hosted by Gully Flowers and Jake Neske, founders of AKA. Each episode features candid conversations with the creative leaders, CMOs, founders and operators shaping the future of advertising, branding, design, AI and business.If you work in marketing, advertising, brand strategy, creative leadership, AI or digital transformation, this conversation will give you a new framework for thinking about what comes next.
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  Amazon Chief Brand Officer Jo Shoesmith on Leadership, AI & Creativity | Second Wind by AKA 28.07.2026 43min

  What does it take to lead one of the world’s biggest brands?Jo Shoesmith joins Kerrie Finch and Gully Flowers shortly after becoming Chief Brand Officer at Amazon to discuss leadership, AI, creativity, agency relationships, and why the best leaders never stop proving themselves.From Amazon’s leadership principles to building trust, influencing at scale, and preparing for a future shaped by AI, this is a practical conversation for anyone leading creative teams, brands, or businesses.In this episode:Becoming Amazon’s Chief Brand OfficerAmazon’s approach to leadership and trustHow AI is changing creative workWorking with agencies more effectivelyWhy great leaders prove themselves every dayBuilding influence beyond the creative departmentAbout Second Wind by AKASecond Wind by AKA features candid conversations with the creative leaders, founders, CMOs, producers, and operators shaping modern marketing, business, and culture.New episodes every other Tuesday.https://hey-aka.com/second-wind
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  Andrew McKechnie on OpenAI, Apple, and Moving Creative Upstream 12.05.2026 54min

  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.
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  GMUNK's Creative Journey 16.04.2025 42min

  In this episode, Gully Flowers and Jake Neske interview GMUNK AKA Bradley Munkowitz, a pioneering designer and artist known for his work in motion design, projection mapping, and augmented reality. GMUNK shares insights into his career journey, personal life, and the impact of AI on creativity. He discusses the importance of personal projects, the challenges of full spectrum photography, and his daily routines that help him balance work and family life. The conversation also touches on the evolving landscape of art and technology, and GMUNK's advice for aspiring creatives.
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  Simon Cook (Cannes Lions CEO): Creativity as a Growth System 27.01.2026 37min

  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
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  In A Quiet So Loud: An Open Letter of Resistance from SYLVAIN 12.05.2025 50min

  SummaryIn this conversation, Gully Flowers talks to Joey Camire, CEO of Sylvain, who shares insights on creativity, conflict, and the importance of social responsibility in business. They discuss his journey from neuroscience to founding a strategy and design firm, the impact of high-profile projects, and the significance of B Corp certification. Joey emphasizes the need for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and offers advice for new graduates entering a challenging job market. He also highlights the importance of writing and communication in enhancing one's thinking and creativity.TakeawaysConflict can lead to better outcomes if approached respectfully.B Corp certification for consultantsDiversity in teams enhances creativity and problem-solving.Writing improves thinking and communication skills.Physical movement can enhance focus and creativity.Engaging with diverse ideas fosters innovation.It's important to call out hypocrisy in the industry.Chapters00:00 Introduction and Background of Joey Camire00:23 The Importance of Strategy and Planning in Advertising02:30 Founding Sylvain and Early Experiences05:21 High-Profile Projects and Achievements08:03 The Genesis of the Impact Report08:55 B Corp Certification and Its Significance11:46 Navigating Challenges in Professional Services14:43 The Open Letter and Its Context17:31 Cultural Relevance in Marketing20:34 Conclusion and Reflections on Impact28:02 Core Values and Company Culture34:28 Navigating Career Challenges for New Graduates39:25 The Importance of In-Person Engagement47:00 Creative Processes and Personal Growth50:04 Legacy and Being a Good Person
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  David Kolbusz (Orchard CCO) on Meme Ads, Mental Hooks, and Why “The Work Comes First” Is a Lie 10.02.2026 35min

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

  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.
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  Jean Batthany: Creativity vs. Corporate - Lessons from Disney and Walmart’s Former CCO 14.10.2025 42min

  Jean Batthany led creative at two of the world’s biggest brands.In this episode, she talks about the tension between structure and imagination, and what it takes to keep creativity alive inside corporate systems.From navigating layers of approval to protecting the spark that makes ideas matter, Jean shares how she built cultures of trust, risk-taking, and empathy inside the world’s most complex organizations.This is a conversation about the clash between process and possibility - and how great leaders make space for magic inside the machine.
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  The 2025 Reputation Design Awards: Who Actually Built It in Advertising 23.12.2025 24min

  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.
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  A New Era of Brand Mascots - James Kuczynski Duolingo 08.08.2025 53min

  In this episode, Gully Flowers sits down with James Kuczynski, Global Senior Creative Director at Duolingo, to unpack how one of the world’s most recognizable brands keeps creativity playful—and performance high. From the viral “Dead Duo” campaign to the way Duolingo uses social media as a storytelling engine, James shares how fun fuels innovation, why risk is part of the job, and where he thinks brand strategy is headed next.You’ll hear:Why “fun” is Duolingo’s not-so-secret growth engineHow to balance creative freedom with processLessons from the “Dead Duo” campaignHow audience sentiment shapes brand messagingThe future of authentic, platform-native marketing
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  Eric Kallman on Old Spice, Skittles, and the Campaign That Almost Died 14.04.2026 36min

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

  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.
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  The Riskiest Thing Brands Can Do Is Be Ignorable - Greg Hahn, Founder of Mischief USA on Second Wind 19.08.2025 42min

  Greg Hahn - Chief Creative Officer and co-founder of Mischief - joins Second Wind to unpack the art of creating work that’s as fun as it is fearless. From his early days in psychology and journalism to leading one of the most awarded agencies in the world, Greg shares how Mischief built a culture where risk-taking thrives.In this episode, Greg reflects on:The journey from psychology to advertising—and what that brings to creativityHow to build safe spaces that encourage brave, culture-shaping ideasThe role of strategy in helping clients embrace bold workThe impact of AI on creativity and the future of the industryWhy fun, authenticity, and legacy matter in creative leadershipA candid conversation about creativity, culture, and the mischievous spirit that keeps advertising alive.
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  Danielle Hawley: The Client Isn’t the Enemy | Sharp Elbows, Team Trust, and Leading at Uber 11.11.2025 39min

  Emmy-winning creative leader Danielle Hawley, Global Head of Creative and Brand at Uber, joins hosts Gully Flowers and Kerrie Finch to talk about leadership, trust, and creative evolution.From redefining Uber’s global voice to mentoring women in a male-dominated industry, Danielle shares how earning respect starts with generosity, not ego. She reflects on lessons from Microsoft’s Iron Man prosthetic project, how collaboration built her confidence, and why the best creative relationships begin with trust.In this episode:How great clients make great workWhat “sharp elbows” teach you early in your careerWhen to lead with empathy instead of egoThe creative culture shift inside UberWhat it takes to build respect in tech and advertising
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  Xanthe Wells on Leading Award-Winning Creative Teams Without Pressure 16.12.2025 29min

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

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

  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.
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  Micah Walker on Why Caring Too Much Still Wins 31.03.2026 51min

  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.