Invisible Soldiers

"No Man Is An Island" featuring Sam Bonds

This episode features Sam Bonds, SVP Group Creative Director at Barkley, who has cultivated a reputation for high character, charm, and a down to Earth spirit, while still delivering creative excellence. Sam recalls the fish-out-of-water feeling of his early years in the business, navigating the micro-aggressions of coworkers, and managing the emotions of a new generation of creatives. In our spirited conversation we even explore growing older in advertising, whether the industry values seasoned creatives, and how to best maximize our skillsets for the ultimate pivot.

"The Ripple Effect" featuring Daidria Grayson

In this episode, we discuss uneasy times in the advertising industry, as layoffs rear their ugly head at agencies all over the nation. The actions of our government are creating a ripple effect that's injecting a huge dose of uncertainty into many industries. Joined by friend of the pod, Daidria Grayson, we discuss tariffs, the ever growing capabilities of A.I., and how the constant threat of a TikTok ban is affecting the content creator world. We also offer some poignant closing remarks that will be sure to light a fire under you as you march through your work week.

"Shooting Her Shot" featuring Raven B. Varona

This episode features Raven B. Varona, a dynamic photographer and director with strong roots in music and entertainment. This Bronx native shares her unlikely path into photography sparked by the support of her biggest invisible soldier, her Mom. We dive into her early hip hop roots that spawned her breakthrough work, the big move to L.A., and making the transition to directing. We also talk about the challenges of navigating the industry post DEI cuts, and the catastrophic fires that have devastated southern California.

"The Palette Of Progress" featuring Melvone Farrell

This episode features Melvone Farrell, a long-time makeup artist with British roots. We discuss her unlikely entry into advertising, chasing her dreams from across the pond and the opportunity that eventually landed her in Hollywood. With an international journey that includes rubbing elbows with the likes of Andy Warhol, Lisa Stansfield, Muhammad Ali and others, Melvone shares an inspiring story of hard work, perseverance and her never ending fight to change the ad industry.

"Licking Our Wounds"

After a long hiatus, we're back with a spirited convo covering a lot of ground. We explore work burn out and why we went on a little hiatus. We also jump into the election, the aftermath and the marketing of American anti-heroes. Then we explore Netflix's deep dive into live streaming sports, and the long term ramifications of the Tyson vs Paul fight.