Shows
Healthcare ChampionsRestoring Trust with ClearPoint Health – Jeb DunkelbergerJeb Dunkelberger, CEO of ClearPoint Health, shares the personal heartbreak that fueled his mission to fix America’s healthcare chaos. From losing his stepmother to brain cancer and facing $2.4 million in medical bills, to building ClearPoint into a one-stop hub tackling high-cost claims, pharmacy costs, and the broken trust plaguing healthcare, Jeb reveals how his team is rewriting the playbook for employers, brokers, and patients alike, all while keeping the human side front and center.2025-07-2836 min
This Modern BrandAI, Entertainment, and Everything In Between: La Fin at Camp Cannes
We’ve hit the final episode of Camp Cannes Roll Call, and the BarkleyOKRP village goes out on a high (and hilariously sleep-deprived) note. Mariah Haberman hosts our last fireside chat from the French Riviera with Katy Hornaday, Nate Swift, and Sean Corcoran. From luggage drama to media magic, the crew dishes on their biggest takeaways, Cannes MVP moments, and what they’re bottling up (not rosé, Sean) to bring back to the Midwest. There’s one last roll call, one chaotic word game, and a whole lot of optimism about the future of creativity, media, and Big Indie ambitio...2025-06-2026 min
This Modern BrandCroissant S’mores, AI Bands, and Extinct Beasts: Day 4 Dispatch from Camp Cannes
Day 4 from Camp Cannes brought the heat—and not just the Mediterranean sun. Mariah, Katy, Nate, Sean, and special guest Nicole Portwood (CMO at Suja Life) rallied around the campfire to break down the Fizz FM campaign for Slice—a nostalgia-fueled AI radio station built in a lightning-fast two weeks with BarkleyOKRP and Google. From Lo-Fi beats to 40 original songs about soda, the work sparked conversation not just for its creativity, but for doing something AI literally made possible for the first time. We also get honest, audacious takes on what AI can and shouldn’t do, dinner with the Cl...2025-06-1933 min
This Modern BrandAI-AI-Oh! CEOs and Walkin’ Jeans. A Day 3 Review at Camp Cannes
Day three at Camp Cannes was anything but chill. Between panels, croissants, and one unfortunate pre-dessert cheese incident, the BarkleyOKRP crew dug into work that went deep and got people talking—like balloon installations spotlighting teen mental health and a Vaseline hackathon turned influencer marketplace. The crew tackled AI anxiety, risk-taking brands, and the power of long-term agency-client trust, all before logging 25,000 steps in jeans. Also? Snail mail. Real(ish) snail mail.
2025-06-1829 min
This Modern BrandAggressive Fish, Glitter Bunnies and Climbing the Walls (Literally): Camp Cannes Day Deux
Day two at Camp Cannes Roll Call kicks off with three hours of sleep, one missing gate clicker, and a glitter-suited bunny sighting. Amid jet lag and iced latte revelations, the BarkleyOKRP crew recaps a jam-packed day—highlighted by an intimate leadership lunch with Charles Day, an inspiring story from Tubi’s CMO playbook, and a reminder that creativity, connection, and the occasional Viking-style fish entrée still cut through. And yes, the tote bags were a hit.
2025-06-1718 min
This Modern BrandJet Lag & Surly Seagulls: A Very BarkleyOKRP Cannes Kickoff
Welcome to Camp Cannes Roll Call, where the luggage is missing, the seagulls are thieving, and the creative conversations are somehow still flowing. In our kickoff episode, Mariah wrangles the crew—Katy, Nate, and Sean—for a casual debrief from the Côte d’Azur. We talk flooded hotel rooms, jet lag, rose-fueled crafting, and what it means to show up in Cannes with Midwest soul and creative ambition. There’s honesty, there’s audacity, there’s even some shopping-for-bras. It’s very us.
2025-06-1620 min
Agency Business#22: Sean Corcoran on Leading BarkelyOKRP's MissionOne MediaSean Corcoran, president of MissionOne Media and longtime agency leader, joins co-hosts Olivia Morley and Brian Wieser to discuss the launch of MissionOne within the growing “big indie” platform BarkleyOKRP—and what it takes to build a media brand inside a full-service agency structure.Sean walks through his career path, from political work and affiliate marketing to stints as a Forrester analyst and co-founder of Mediahub. He explains how his experience defining media categories and evaluating agencies from the outside shaped his approach to building challenger shops on the inside.At MissionOne, he’s aiming to blend...2025-05-1935 min
On Brand with Nick WestergaardRevitalizing Legacy Brands with Modern StrategyChris Cardetti is Chief Strategy Officer at BarkleyOKRP, where he’s spent the past decade shaping strategy into a creative force behind brand revivals for Planet Fitness, Motel 6, AMC Theatres, and more. Known for his journalistic curiosity and idea-first mindset, Chris and his team lead deep consumer research, upstream consulting, and thought leadership—earning top industry honors along the way. We dug into his approach this week on the On Brand podcast.
About Chris Cardetti
Chris Cardetti is the Chief Strategy Officer at BarkleyOKRP, where he’s spent the past decade building the st...2025-05-0533 minAgency Business#17: Blending Creative and Tech at Scale, With VML's Jon CookJon Cook, CEO of VML, joins co-hosts Olivia Morley and Brian Wieser to talk about the agency’s evolution and what it means to lead a business that spans both world-class creative and deep enterprise technology.Jon walks through how VML was formed through a series of mergers — including Wunderman, J. Walter Thompson, and Y&R — and how the newly unified brand operates across creativity, commerce, customer experience and technology. He explains the structure of VML’s Enterprise Solutions group, which makes up roughly 40 percent of the company, and why the agency’s growth often hinges on integratin...2025-04-1435 min
Provider's Edge | Peak Performance Guide for Healthcare EntrepreneursUnhooking Employment from Health Insurance: Freeing Up Choice and AccessDo you desire to achieve transformative healthcare changes? How about implementing groundbreaking solutions to achieve that outcome?My special guest is Jason Spacek.Jason Spacek serves as the Vice President at BarkleyOKRP Health Innovations, boasting a robust professional background encompassing over two decades of expertise in the realms of technology, telecommunications, and healthcare. His pivotal role in driving transformative changes within the healthcare sector has been demonstrated through his focus on innovative solutions, value-based care models, and operational excellence. Jason's strategic consulting and commitment to human-centered healthcare design, payer-provider...2025-02-1927 min
This Modern BrandAI Unleashed: How tech is elevating creativity without losing the human touch
In this episode, we explore the rapid rise of AI in the creative industry. Host Jason Parks joined by Melany Esfeld, BarkleyOKRP EVP head of production and Tim McCracken, SVP creative, discuss AI’s potential as a workhorse for time consuming tasks, so creatives can focus on what they do best: developing impactful, original ideas. We share real-life examples of campaigns amplified by AI for powerful storytelling while preserving a human touch. Tune in for insights on balancing tech with creativity, navigating client expectations, and what the future holds for AI in the agency world.
2025-01-1321 min
Healthcare ChampionsEpisode 10: Lessons in Healthcare Innovation Part 4: Innovation into Reality with Spira CareIn the fourth and final installment of the "Lessons in Healthcare Innovation" series on Healthcare Champions, host Sam Meers revisits the groundbreaking journey of Spira Care with Jimmy Keown, VP of Health Innovations and Growth, and Jason Spacek, EVP of Health Innovations at BarkleyOKRP. This episode uncovers the triumphs of the final push to bring Spira Care to life. Spira Care is a revolutionary approach to advanced primary care that transformed healthcare delivery in the Kansas City metro area.Jimmy and Jason reflect on the complexities of branding Spira Care, the pivotal "to blue or not to b...2024-12-0329 min
Adventures in AdvertisingEpisode 4: Joe DeSalvo - ‘It’s all Greek to me’Joe DeSalvo is a Creative Director at BarkleyOKRP in Kansas City. Beyond this, Joe has shot hundreds of commercials and over 21 independent films that have screened all the way from Cannes to Sundance as a Cinematographer and Director. Maybe we can get him to share an embarrassing story if we try hard enough.
2024-12-0241 minAdventures in AdvertisingEpisode 2: Tom Demetriou - ‘Hot Eats, Cool Deets’Once the legendary voice of DQ, affectionately known to Brothers Billen as “Tommy D,” drops by the studio to share awkward tales from decades in the biz. Tom is currently Executive Creative Director at BarkleyOKRP, and oversees their Creative Accelerator program for aspiring ad world hopefuls.
2024-12-0249 min
Healthcare ChampionsEpisode 8: Real-Time Data Transforming Healthcare - Part 1 - Dan LowIn this episode of Healthcare Champions, host Sam Meers from BarkleyOKRP welcomes Dan Low, Chief Medical Officer at AdaptX, to discuss his visionary approach to harnessing data and Lean principles for a transformative shift in patient care. As a pediatric anesthesiologist with an unconventional journey through critical care, neonatology, and emergency medicine, Dan shares how his vast experiences led him to identify critical inefficiencies in healthcare systems. Observing that healthcare often lags behind other industries in data-driven decision-making, Dan set out to challenge this by founding AdaptX, where his work aims to leverage existing healthcare data to drive consistent...2024-11-2434 min
Healthcare ChampionsEpisode 9: Real-Time Data Transforming Healthcare - Part 2 - Dan LowIn this episode, host Sam Meers continues our conversation with Dan Low, Chief Medical Officer at AdaptX, we explore how healthcare systems can transform patient outcomes by harnessing real-world data. Dan shares the challenges of clinical variation and explains how this overlooked issue can significantly impact care quality, efficiency, and equity. With AdaptX, months-long data analysis processes are now reduced to seconds, giving clinicians the tools to make informed decisions that directly improve care delivery.Dan dives into inspiring examples of change already happening in hospitals across the country. From cutting the use of greenhouse gases...2024-11-2436 min
Healthcare ChampionsEpisode 7: Lessons in Healthcare Innovation Pt. 3: Bringing Advanced Primary Care to LifeIn this episode of Healthcare Champions, host Sam Meers reconnects with industry innovators Jimmy Keown and Jason Spacek from BarkleyOKRP’s Health Innovations team to delve into the critical implementation stage of Spira Care. Following the initial planning and design phases, Jimmy and Jason now share how they brought their vision to life, navigating complex pivots and orchestrating a “well-choreographed dance” of multidisciplinary collaboration to make Spira Care a reality.Discover how they managed cross-functional teams, balanced stakeholder buy-in with iterative co-design sprints, and pioneered a model that redefined the patient experience by putting humanity at the forefr...2024-11-1729 min
Healthcare ChampionsEpisode 6: Innovating Healthcare Savings with New Perspectives - Stuart RosenblumIn this episode of Healthcare Champions, host Sam Meers from BarkleyOKRP sits down with Stuart Rosenblum, a transformative leader at Elevance Health, where he’s known as an “intrapreneur” with a talent for driving efficiencies and pioneering cost-saving strategies. Stuart shares his unique journey from the world of infomercials to an executive role in a Fortune 20 healthcare giant, where he is empowered to explore innovative solutions that reimagine the healthcare industry’s complex payer models.Stuart’s diverse background has equipped him with a fresh perspective on traditional healthcare operations. He shares concrete examples of his cost-saving initiative...2024-11-1725 min
Healthcare ChampionsEpisode 5: People vs. Patients: A Healthcare Shift - Munzoor ShaikhIn this episode of Healthcare Champions, host Sam Meers from BarkleyOKRP, sits down with Munzoor Shaikh, Founder and CEO of Long Game Health, to explore patient empowerment, value-based care, and the long-term transformation of healthcare systems. With a background in healthcare consulting, Munzoor is a leader in digital transformation, health equity, and value-based care—delivering strategies that generate tangible outcomes for healthcare organizations.Munzoor shares his experiences and vision for shifting healthcare’s focus from "patients" to "people," emphasizing the need to understand individuals beyond their health conditions. He discusses the importance and difference between “patient success” versus “...2024-10-2734 min
This Modern BrandThe Changing Media Landscape: Balancing Resonance and Revenue
Jason Parks is back with BarkleyOKRP Chief Media Officer, Reshma Karnik, and Sean Corcoran, President of Media and Analytics. They explore how the media landscape continues to change, and why it’s making media management increasingly complex. Are brand stories getting lost in the rush to performance media? Is it possible to build a roadmap for brands that gives them resonance as well as revenue? Get expert answers and explore the state of media on This Modern Brand.
2024-09-1123 min
Great MindsEP337: Barkley OKRPOn this episode of Great Minds, we’re pleased to welcome Tom O’Keefe, Creative Chairman, and Jeff King, CEO, of the newly merged BarkleyOKRP.
BarkleyOKRP is a new advertising agency formed by the merger of two prominent agencies, Barkley and OKRP. The merger creates one of the largest independent agencies in the United States, with offices in Chicago, Denver, New York, Pittsburgh, and Kansas City. BarkleyOKRP aims to be independent enough to create bold work while having the capabilities to build whole brands.
2024-09-0347 min
Healthcare ChampionsEpisode 4: Sick Care vs. Healthcare: A Rebel's Crusade - Terry BurkeIn this episode of Healthcare Champions, we sit down with Terry Burke, a senior healthcare leader, strategic advisor, and executive performance coach at Oliver Wyman. With decades of experience in healthcare, Terry shares his straight-shooting insights on the critical shift from "sick care" to "health care."Terry discusses the significant impact he aims to make by tackling inefficiencies and championing innovation within the healthcare system. He emphasizes the importance of moving from a volume-based sick care model to a more efficient, patient-centered approach. With a mix of value-based care, digital transformation, and strategic alignment of incentives, Terry...2024-08-1840 min
From Here To ThereSam Meers - EVP, Health Innovations at BarkleyOKRPMarketing isn't just about skills—it's about building resilience and fostering meaningful connections.In our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Sam Meers, EVP, Health Innovations at BarkleyOKRP, one of the largest full-service independent advertising agencies in the United States. Throughout this episode, both shared powerful stories of overcoming personal and professional challenges that are sure to inspire. Key takeaways? Embrace setbacks as opportunities for growth, cultivate mentorship relationships, and stay adaptable in the face of industry changes. Success stems from personal development, professional tenacity, and the ab...2024-08-1355 min
Healthcare ChampionsEpisode 3: Lessons in Healthcare Innovation Pt. 2 - The Birth of Spira CareIn the second episode of our "Lessons in Healthcare Innovation" series on Healthcare Champions, host Sam Meers continues the conversation with Jimmy Keown and Jason Spacek from BarkleyOKRP’s Healthcare Innovations team. This time, they delve into the critical friction points in healthcare that hinder innovation and how the innovation of Blue KC’s Spira Care was designed to address these challenges.The discussion begins with Jason and Jimmy outlining the challenges with the healthcare industry's tendency to preserve the status quo. They explore how their team focused on the root problem of misaligned incentives betw...2024-08-1132 min
Healthcare ChampionsEpisode 2: Healthcare Overhaul: Reinventing Insurance Models - Ron RoweIn this episode of Healthcare Champions, we sit down with Ron Rowe, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. With nearly 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry, Ron brings his straightforward and candid insights into the evolving payer models. Ron dives into the complexities that plague our current healthcare system, exploring how misaligned incentives and outdated models contribute to rising costs and inefficiency. He also discusses innovative solutions like Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements (ICHRAs) and the potential they hold for reshaping how employers and individuals approach healthcare c...2024-08-0432 min
Healthcare ChampionsEpisode 1: Lessons In Healthcare Innovation Pt 1. - Jimmy Keown & Jason SpacekIn our inaugural episode of Healthcare Champions, host Sam Meers sits down with Jimmy Keown from the BarkleyOKRP Health Innovations team and Jason Spacek, formerly of Blue Cross Blue Shield now the EVP at BarkleyOKRP Health Innovations. They kick off this first season with a series called Lessons in Health Innovation. They dive deep to discuss the critical impact they aim to make in healthcare by addressing friction points and driving innovation.Jimmy and Jason share their initial phases of journey to creating an advanced primary care model. This innovative solution that eventually becomes Spira Care simplifies h...2024-07-2830 min
Three Cheese Blend34. Managing Brands with Eileen SheeranEileen Sheeran is a Senior Brand Manager at BarkleyOKRP, photographer owner of EiPhotography, and a content creator. Eileen works in the marketing world, and if you own a business, you know how important marketing is for your brand. We chat with Eileen about her job, love for photography, content creation, and how she ended up being one of Libbi's models in KCFW F/W '23. The 4 discuss each of their different approaches to marketing/ branding, and navigating social platforms.
Interested in seeing Eileen's photography take a look on Instagram @ei_photographykc
Thanks for listening and...2024-07-2256 min
Missed Opportunities for GoodJune roundup - Grindr, Skittles, Ben & Jerry’s, CHATJuneteenthThis week we’re discussing June celebrations, Pride and Juneteenth, along with a call for community activism. The first case study is Grindr, who is celebrating their 15 year anniversary with the Grinds Rides America bus tour, bringing fun and healthcare by Q Care Plus to pride celebrations in 10 cities across the US. Also check out the work they’re doing with G4E.Next up we cover this year’s Skittles Pride campaign in partnership with Meetup, building community and raising money for GLAAD. Ben & Jerry’s is back in action with “Progress Comes in Man...2024-07-0137 minFrom Here To ThereMike Goff - Sprint > United Way > BarkleyOKRP > Goff + MarketingIn our latest episode, Justin Watkins, CEO & Founder of Native Digital, sits down with our guest, Mike Goff, Founder of Goff + Marketing, to discuss their insights on brand management, marketing career progression, and the evolving nature of leadership in the post-COVID world. In this episode, dive into the art and science of marketing, from understanding customers to balancing data-driven decisions with intuition, and gain valuable career development tips, mentorship advice, and passion-driven growth strategies. For more marketing resources, check out nativedigital.com2024-06-2543 min
This Modern BrandUnder the Influence: New Realities in Influencer Marketing
Uncover the strategies behind successful influencer partnerships. In this month’s episode of This Modern Brand, Jason Parks hosts a panel of influencer marketers: Pam Davis, founder of likekind influencer marketing agency, Jane Chandler, VP of Public Relations at BarkleyOKRP, and Joe Spencer, BarkleyOKRP account supervisor whose focus is the influencer space. Hear how influencer marketing is starting to split down the middle, and what you should consider when an influencer’s voice becomes part of your brand.
2024-06-1226 min
BlockHashEp. 396 Matt Zeiger | AI in Digital Marketing with BarkleyOKRPOn episode 396 of the BlockHash Podcast, VP of Technology Matt Zeiger discusses the power of predictive analytics and how technologies like AI are driving results in digital marketing via BarkleyOKRP and Adlucent.
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⏳ Timestamps:
0:00 | Introduction
0:38 | Sponsor Magic Mind
2:18 | Who is Matt Zeiger?
4:46 | Adlucent Acquisition
6:31 | What is Performance Media?
8:55 | Adlucent Marketing Focus
10:25 | Adlucent Clientele
12:08 | Adlucent B2C & B2B
13:44 | How has Digital Marketing changed today?
17:02 | Advertising...2024-05-3038 min
This Modern BrandBehind Claire’s Glittery Revival with CMO Kristin Patrick
Nostalgic mall brand Claire’s rose from the brink of bankruptcy to a listing on Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies” in 2023. Thriving in a retail landscape that ended legacy brands like Toys R Us, Claire’s leveraged Paris Fashion Week, AI, feedback loops and the metaverse to win the loyalty of over 22 million Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers. Follow the glittery trail of tween marketing with BarkleyOKRP’s Jason Parks and Steph Parker as they interview Kristin Patrick, Claire’s EVP, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Ecommerce.
2024-05-0720 min
Fearless Creative LeadershipTom O'Keefe & Jeff King of BarkleyOKRP - "The M&A Leaders"What do you think and why? Tom O’Keefe and Jeff King are two of the four partners who have just merged their respective businesses, OKRP and Barkley. Mergers are a forcing function for open-mindedness. And for doing things differently. The ability to accept the need to do things differently, to truly change perspectives, is a never ending leadership challenge. In my experience, you have to be pretty clear about your own point of view in order to embrace new ones. Worry too much about providing strong leadership, and th...2024-04-1238 min
Breaking and Entering Advertising PodcastBreaking with Brian Bonilla: Episode 3 - BarkleyOKRP, Supporting Neurodiverse Employees, and Navigating the Job MarketIn this episode of 'Breaking with Brian Bonilla,' Geno Schellenberger and Brian Bonilla discuss advertising stuff, including the recent merger between Barkley and OKRP to form BarkleyOKRP and the implications for the advertising industry. They discuss the importance of supporting neurodiverse employees in the workplace and share strategies agencies implement to create more inclusive environments. Additionally, the episode explores the challenges faced by students and recent graduates in finding jobs within the advertising industry, offering insights and advice on navigating these difficult times. A special guest joined the conversation, shedding light on her reporting on these critical industry...2024-03-1140 min