Shows
The Ad PodcastAlbert Thompson - Managing Director, Digital Innovation - Walton IsaacsonWhile carrying the “ethos” of a Marketing Technologist to many enterprises, He's always possessed a firm understanding of how technology has continued to transform the discipline of Marketing while disrupting today’s conventional consumer engagement models. Over that past 20+ years his communications experience ranges from African American, Hispanic, LGBT, Asian American, Arab American, Indian, Boomers, Millennials, Urban, GM to International.He's been an audience "segmentation specialist" for clients looking to enhance their brand positioning by rethinking and redefining their Go-To-Market approach. Some of them include the likes of Lexus, NYPD, Medline, State Fair, Spalding, HBO, MCD, LA Sparks, Game S...
2025-05-1021 min
the brAIn - real AI intelligence for media & entertainmentConversation with Eric Shamlin, Creator of Iconic AI-Generated "Holidays" Coke AdHost Peter Csathy recently was a featured speaker at ThinkLA’s big AI-focused event (ThinkLA serves marketing and media executives). Peter invited CEO Eric Shamlin of production company Secret Level to join him. Shamlin and his team created the iconic AI-generated “Holidays Are Coming” Coke ad that became THE marketing story this past December. In this exclusive “fireside chat,” Peter and Eric discuss the story behind it all — i.e., how Shamlin and his team conceptualized and executed it — and how consumers and the creative community reacted to it. Suffice it to say that while consumers react...
2025-03-1024 min
FEARLESS MEDIA: The Future Of Entertainment, Media & TechConversation with Eric Shamlin, Creator of Iconic AI-Generated "Holidays" Coke AdHost Peter Csathy recently was a featured speaker at ThinkLA’s big AI-focused event (ThinkLA serves marketing and media executives). Peter invited CEO Eric Shamlin of production company Secret Level to join him. Shamlin and his team created the iconic AI-generated “Holidays Are Coming” Coke ad that became THE marketing story this past December. In this exclusive “fireside chat,” Peter and Eric discuss the story behind it all — i.e., how Shamlin and his team conceptualized and executed it — and how consumers and the creative community reacted to it. Suffice it to say that while consumers react...
2025-03-1024 min
ThinkLA PodcastWellness Wednesday with Andrea Green and Nathan Green🧠 Your mental health matters, especially during your job hunt in the media world. Discover why on our latest podcast episode. 📢 Don't miss it!
2023-09-3034 minThinkLA PodcastWellness Wednesday with Andrea Green Ft. James KinneyThis month, Andrea Green is interviewing James Kinney, the Founder of the Advertising Alliance for Mental Health. It could not be more fitting for the Wellness Wednesday hosts to be aligned with the messages and goals of our guest during May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. Come join us for a discussion on this month's topic: Breaking the Stigma: Navigating Mental Health in the Advertising Industry.
---------
Advertising Alliance for Mental Health (AMH) is a community of ambitious individuals eager to improve ourselves and our environments by investing in mental health education and care.
We are professionals navigating...
2023-05-1735 min
A Dose of Black Joy and Caffeine[2-Part Season 4 Finale: EP 62] Aaron Walton (Walton Issacson) CEO/Founder (Part 1) & Renetta Mccann (Publicis Groupe) Chief Inclusion Experience Officer (Part 2)About Aaron: Recognized as a trailblazer and thought leader, Aaron Walton’s focus on innovation and cultural engagement has transformed traditional marketing and advertising strategies. As the CEO / co-founder of Walton Isaacson (WI), a full-service advertising agency, with offices in Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and New York, Aaron’s focus is squarely on identifying unseen opportunities rooted in cultural insights and connections, transforming the definition of the agency model by prioritizing diversity of thinking and encouraging strategic solutions that defy tradition. Founded in partnership with famed NBA superstar and entrepreneurial legend, Earvin “Magic” Johnson, WI has built inventive and dynamic bu...
2022-12-021h 20
Dog EditionWag the VoteWhen it comes to voting, we believe that you should be the person your dog believes you are! This episode focuses on the myriad of connections between dogs and politics.Can dogs secure elections? Encourage voter registration? Join a congressional session? Even avert a nuclear war? Almost anything is possible with man’s best friend.In this episode, we introduce our #wagthevote campaign. It is our dog-centric, non-partisan campaign dedicated to encouraging voter participation. Vote! Your dog thinks it’s the right thing to do!For more please visit the official Wag The Vote...
2022-09-2034 min
ThinkLA PodcastJonathan Stringfield, PhD of Activision BlizzardIn this episode, we talk tech, gaming, and opportunities for brands with Jonathan Stringfield, PhD, who is VP, Global Business Research and Marketing for Activision Blizzard. He is the author of Get in the Game: How to Level Up Your Business with Gaming, Esports, and Emerging Technologies, an essential guide for marketers and execs wishing to integrate their brands with modern games and esports, available on Amazon and at Bookshop.org.
Amazon Link
Bookshop Link (supports local bookstores)
2022-07-2631 min
The eCommerce Pros PodcastDon Lupo (ThinkLA) - "Brand Voice"Over the last several decades, Don Lupo has done marketing and advertising work with countless household name brands including Honda, Sony, Wells Fargo, and Nestle. Today, Don is the Executive Director for ThinkLA (www.thinkla.org), a media, marketing, and advertising collective with a mission to connect, educate, and inspire the Los Angeles marketing community.Don is passionate about helping brands find their voice and convey it effectively on the right channels to the right audience. While today’s marketing landscape has more powerful tools than ever for reaching and targeting your audience, there are also more di...
2022-06-2920 min
ThinkLA PodcastMark Miller of Team OneIn this episode, we talk with Mark Miller, co-author of Legacy in the Making: Building a Long-Term Brand to Stand Out in a Short-Term World (McGraw-Hill Education, 2018). He is the founder of The Legacy Lab, a thought leadership and consulting practice that explores how brands can build modern legacies; and he is also Chief Strategy Officer at Team One, Publicis Groupe’s global luxury and premium brand agency.
Having worked for more than 20 years in the communications industry, Mark has become a go-to strategist for global brands seeking enduring relevance, including Lexus and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company....
2022-03-1131 min
Clear the Air with RPACreating An Empowering Agency Culture With Vision, Purpose And Unity with RPA’s Laura SmallRPA’s very own SVP of People and ThinkLA’s 2021 “Agency Leader of the Year”, Laura Small, shares her unique approach to HR. Drawing on her time from both the client and agency side, she discusses the experiences that have shaped her process and philosophy. She discusses her leadership style, creating employee success, navigating Covid and realizing RPA’s one-of-a-kind “People First” culture.
2022-01-1225 min
I'M THATRob Schwartz, Chair at TBWA New York GroupRob Schwartz is the Chair of the newly-formed TBWA NEW YORK GROUP which includes TBWA\Chiat\Day NY, Lucky Generals NYC and 180NY. The Group is comprised of three distinct and separate creative agencies unified in their belief that the unreasonable power of creativity leads to unreasonably epic results for brands.Rob is the rare creative person who is fascinated by all aspects of a business and finds ways to create breakthrough platforms and campaigns that build brands and get results. Since he transformed from Chief Creative Officer of Chiat LA to CEO of Chiat New York, th...
2021-11-281h 02
The Nonprofit Growth ShowHow To Thrive On Social Media (With Lisa Solomon of the Atheneum Collective)How should a nonprofit communicate on social media if it hopes to grow a following? What platforms are best, and how do you choose one? We answer these questions and more with Lisa Solomon of the Atheneum Collective.Use code NPM20 when you sign up for a discount, and let the Atheneum Collective's wide range of courses help you learn everything you need to help your organization succeed in today's competitive nonprofit environment.About Our Guest:Lisa has always been a community builder and pioneer in digital media and advertising. She has an...
2021-09-2928 min
The Digital Marketing CampfireDon Lupo (ThinkLA) - "Brand Voice"Over the last several decades, Don Lupo has done marketing and advertising work with countless household name brands including Honda, Sony, Wells Fargo, and Nestle. Today, Don is the Executive Director for ThinkLA (www.thinkla.org), a media, marketing, and advertising collective with a mission to connect, educate, and inspire the Los Angeles marketing community. Don is passionate about helping brands find their voice and convey it effectively on the right channels to the right audience. While today’s marketing landscape has more powerful tools than ever for reaching and targeting your audience, there are also more dis...
2021-08-3121 minThinkLA PodcastPurpose-Led Marketing: Brands, Structure, and AuthenticityHow does a brand find a way to promote a cause and maintain authenticity without falling into the same pitfalls as other brands? We talk with Mark Egan, Managing Director, West Coast, and Latha Sundaram, Group Business Leader, Executive Director, of corporate members Mediacom to learn more about finding meaning in marketing and creating a structure of consistency and authenticity when it comes to purpose-driven marketing. Learn more at https://www.mediacom.com.
More about our guests:
Latha Sundaram is a social impact driver, passionate about the role companies can –and should -play to drive po...
2021-06-0427 minThinkLA PodcastNew Flight Awards: Helping L.A. Students Join the World of Advertising and FilmIn today's episode, we talk with Cliff Atkinson and Shon Davis from the New Flight Awards, which aims to help students in south-central Los Angeles join the worlds of advertising in film and create a portfolio that will help them get started and pursue careers in those fields. They will also receive a grant to further their education. Learn more at https://www.newflight.us.
Cliff Atkinson is an innovative Digital Marketing Executive with 20+ years experience developing and implementing digital strategies for some of the largest brands in the world. Cliff began his career at Grey NY...
2021-05-1932 minThinkLA PodcastAsians in Advertising Founders Bernice Chao and Jessalin LamIn this episode, we hear from Bernice Chao and Jessalin Lam, industry professionals and the founders of Asians in Advertising. They offer their perspectives on how people of Asian descent are seen and treated in the workplace, advice for making your voice heard, and how allies in the community can help build understanding.
https://www.asiansinadvertising.com
Their mission statement:
"Asians in Advertising strives to develop a free community, create opportunities, and help elevate Asians to higher leadership positions. To make space for Asians within the advertising industry to come together in a community...
2021-05-1224 minThinkLA PodcastSeow Leng Porter, Managing Partner at MediaComSeow Leng Porter, Managing Partner at MediaCom, discusses the importance of training in today’s agency and how to achieve employee commitment instead of turnover.
We’ve all heard of teaching hospitals, but never a “teaching agency”. MediaCom has taken this idea and integrated it into their extensive employee training program which gives employees options to advance their knowledge and their careers with the support of the organization. The result is less turnover, more job satisfaction, and a better trained team to support clients.
https://wwsw.mediacom.com
2021-05-0522 minThinkLA PodcastChaz Volk of Mr. Thrive MediaSure, it feels like everyone started a podcast last year. But if you did -- or even if you're considering creating one -- is it the right solution for your company, brand, or agency? We asked podcasting expert Chaz Volk about the best way to get started, create content, and produce and distribute your podcast so that it can be an effective marketing tool.
Chaz is a Los Angeles native who is incredibly passionate about supporting the arts and entertainment industry. His background in audio helped him start his company, Mr. Thrive Media, a multimedia company that...
2021-04-3035 minThinkLA PodcastInterview with Bill Durrant, Author of "Digital Stone Age"In this episode, we talk with Bill Durrant, Founder and President of Exverus Media, an award-winning media agency based in Los Angeles. He has over fifteen years of experience helping some of the world’s largest and most compelling brands through a combination of incisive media strategy and creativity in media. Bill’s mission is to help marketers and brands develop the most effective advertising. A Harvard Business School alum, Bill has worked at 20th Century Fox Australia, OMD and ZenithOptimedia. He has won numerous industry awards including recognition from Cannes, the Creative Media Awards, the Webbys and the Clio...
2021-04-0135 minThinkLA PodcastCreative Staffing: Tips for Agencies and FreelancersSara Smith of Hope Creative and Jim DiPiazza of Area of Expertise discuss why curated freelance teams can help agencies ramp up for projects and find the right teams for the right projects. They also talk about best practices for creatives who might need to polish their self-marketing efforts and keep their skills sharp to find and keep working coming.
Links mentioned in this episode:
https://hopecreative.co
https://areaofexpertise.co
https://atheneumcollective.com
2021-01-2744 minThinkLA PodcastThe Next Evolution Of Entertainment presented by WarnerMediaBrands today are leveraging technology, creativity, and connectivity to change the way media is created and distributed. The emergence of technologies like VR/AR, 5G and advanced algorithms have cascaded to all industry categories, including media and entertainment. In this thought-provoking discussion, hear from experts in the entertainment, media, platform and advertising technology space about how they reach cross-screen consumers through the convergence of content, creativity, and new technology innovation.
2020-12-0459 minThinkLA PodcastInsights into The Big Shift with Dr. Jake Beniflah -- Presented by H CodeTo continue to support diversity and celebrate Hispanic Heritage month, ThinkLA proudly presents Insights into The Big Shift with Dr. Jake Beniflah. In this discussion, Dr. Beniflah will dive into his new book The Big Shift, shedding light on the advancement of marketing to Latinos. He will take a critical look at the past, present, and future of marketing to a diverse marketplace and advance a strategic framework of how marketers can take their business to new heights in the 21st century. Our moderator is Robert Orci. Thanks to Matt Weissbecker and H Code for their support. Link: https...
2020-12-0457 minThinkLA PodcastCommerce Amid COVID, Sponsored by Verizon MediaInnovative Solutions to Redefine the Path To Purchase
The world is changing on a daily basis, and new consumer behaviors are emerging -- many of which are here to stay. In a digital world where 80% of shoppers tune out mobile ads, Verizon Media is investing in immersive experiences that capture attention, build trust, and meet consumers where they are. Cut through with immersive 3D/AR content, dynamic ad creative, native commerce, and new digital experiences in the store. Tony Gemma, Head of Global Ad Creative Technology & Innovation, will explore how to re-define the path to purchase by using inn...
2020-11-0648 min
ADcademics PodcastCourse 31: Lisa Solomon, CEO/Founder at Atheneum Collective & VP at ThinkLA IDEA CouncilAtheneum Collective’s own Lisa Solomon joins the show to discuss her role as Founder/CEO of the company. She also discusses her illustrious career in advertising over the past couple of decades and more.
Visit atheneumcollective.com and enter code POWER20 to receive 20% of any course!
You can email info@atheneumcollective.com for any questions regarding the program. Also, make sure to follow @atheneumcollective on all social platforms!
Follow the show on Instagram: @adcademics
Follow Justin on all social platforms: @justindbarnette
Follow Justin on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/justindbarnette
Interested in being a guest on the show? Email ad...
2020-10-1944 minThinkLA PodcastAutomotive Discussion: Part 2 Presented by CarGurus.comOur second Automotive Discussion focuses on how the dealer and automotive consumer purchase model has evolved in rapid fashion in just a matter of months. During this webinar, you'll hear from key stakeholders across the OEM, Dealer, and Automotive Online Marketplace space on how they've adapted, evolved, and successfully navigated this new automotive retail world.
Presented by https://www.cargurus.com
Speakers:
LAURA T. BARNES, VICE PRESIDENT
THE THOMPSON ORGANIZATION
TYSON JOMINY, VP, DATA AND ANALYTICS
JD POWERS
ERIC PETERSON, MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
THE LINCOLN MOTOR COMPANY
2020-09-1857 minThinkLA Podcast0:20 / 56:16 Industry Accelerator: Diversifying the Talent Search (Part 2: for Hiring Managers)This is part two of our series, Industry Accelerator: Diversifying the Talent Search. While part one focused on job seekers, this episode offer information and perspective for hiring managers.
Our brilliant speakers for this session include: • Dani Allen, Senior Director, Talent and HR Operations, Walton Isaacson • Shari Holly, Director of Operations, Pipelines • Reonna Johnson, VP, Director, Marketing and Business, RPA • Moderator: Lincoln Stephens, CEO and Co-Founder, Marcus Graham Project
2020-09-1858 minThinkLA PodcastIndustry Accelerator: Diversifying the Talent Search for Job SeekersThere is a new awakening in our industry for some, and this movement is ours to carry: how do we recognize, recruit, support, and promote people of color and other underrepresented people so that our agencies and companies better reflect American society?
We'll talk with leaders from Pipelines, Three's A Crowd, The Marcus Graham Project, and hiring managers from L.A. agencies about how to assess where your agency stands, practical steps to take, and how you can take your allyship to a new level and do the right thing for your agency, your clients, their brands...
2020-09-181h 04ThinkLA PodcastAutomotive Discussions: Part 1 presented by PandoraAs the business of automotive continues to restart across the country, ThinkLA has created a set of webinars that will tee up to this year’s Automotive Summit on Oct. 21. 2020. These hour-long sessions will discuss how marketing, media, and data will help automakers drive their business forward through unprecedented times in the automotive industry.
Our first Automotive Discussions session took place on Aug. 11 as moderators Randall McAdory (Pandora VP, Head of Industry, Automotive) and Joe Kyriakoza (IHS Markit VP, General Manager Automotive Marketing Services) sat down with industry experts to discuss how strategies around media, data, and marketing ar...
2020-08-121h 04ThinkLA PodcastThink Thursdays: Business, Boycotts, and Social Media InfluenceSocial media platforms are seeing civil rights leaders calling attention to rampant racism, users being confronted with misinformation, and advertisers left wondering where they can ethically advertise... and where they need to draw the line on hate speech and misinformation.
Multiple headlines each day tell the story: as a business model, as a venue for engagement online, as a de facto public square leading up to a consequential election — social media is facing big challenges that demand our collective attention and creativity to solve.This panel discussion focuses on stakeholders interested in fixing the problem.
Sp...
2020-08-0659 minThinkLA PodcastBest of the West RecapThinkLA joined sister marketing organizations across the West from San Francisco, Las Vegas, Arizona, and Seattle to hear top brands and agencies share how they are working with partners to create smart, sensitive marketing in extraordinary times. The conversation was honest, practical, and inspiring. If you missed it, you can hear the replay.
2020-07-141h 38ThinkLA PodcastFamilies, Children, and Quarantine: Interview with Dr. Lori Baudino, Licensed Clinical PsychologistNo matter how much you love your family, quarantine has put a strain on everyone. So, how do you care for your children, your partner, your self and still make it through? ThinkLA Operations Manager Andrea Green speaks with Dr. Lori Baudino for tips and suggestions on how to continue navigating this epic closeness without pulling out your hair (too much).
Dr. Baudino has been a practicing clinician for over a decade and received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Masters in Creative Arts Therapy – Dance/Movement Therapy, the therapeutic use of movement to further the emotional, co...
2020-07-1327 minThinkLA PodcastThink Thursdays: Media Leaders RoundtableMedia Leaders Roundtable
Every aspect of our industry has been affected by this pandemic. In this discussion, leaders in the Los Angeles media community discuss the effects on brands, consumers, the market, and where we go from here.
Speakers:
Host: Susan Franceschini, Executive Director, ThinkLA
Moderator: Mark Egan, Mediacom
Paul Woolmington, Canvas Worldwide
Serena Duff, Horizon Media
Daniele Kohen, Mindshare
Watch the video.
2020-05-181h 04ThinkLA PodcastEpisode 3: Better Than BeforeMay 7, 2020
Better than Before: From Preference to Purpose
In this webinar, Kirk Souder and Licia Rester take us on the journey they have taken countless high-impact leaders, industry CCO’s, CEOs, and CIOs — to let go of the ego’s attachment to confining preferences of identity and possibility, and let the true self and deeper purpose bring us limitless new possibilities and innovation, enabling us to transform ourselves, our creative process, and our industry at large.
Link: Get the book The Soul Purpose Method here at a special 50% discount for ThinkLA.
2020-05-121h 24ThinkLA PodcastMaintaining A Culture of InclusionOur speakers discussed the care and maintenance of diversity and inclusion initiatives in this new age of remote work:
• Aaron Walton, President of Walton Isaacson;
• Laura Small, VP Director of People at RPA;
• Bianca Wilson of Say Space
• Bridgid Coulter of Blackbird
2020-05-121h 09ThinkLA PodcastAgency Leaders RoundtableApril 30, 2020
Agency Leads Roundtable
The pandemic situation has affected every aspect of our industry. Agencies and media companies have been hit hard, people are out of work, and we don’t yet know the even longer-lasting effects on the economy and our overall way of life and doing business.
Agency leaders discuss what’s happened, how they’re coping, and what the future holds for advertising, marketing, and media.
Moderator: Jean Freeman, Principal, CEO, Zambezi
Panelists: Pete Imwalle, EVP, COO, RPA; Thas Naseemuddeen, CEO, Omelet; Melissa Palazzo-Hart, COO, Managing Director, Sid Lee; Erin Riley, P...
2020-05-111h 07
Commercial Grade Podcast024 | ThinkLA's "Rise of Podcasting" Panel | Kjerstin Beatty, NBC Universal; Kelly Garner, Treefort; Hernan Lopez, Wondery; Joe Shields, iHeartMediaLast week, ThinkLA's hosted its annual Entertainment Breakfast where I had the great honor of moderating an all-star panel of executives who've shifted their careers from TV programming to podcast production. This episode features that fantastic discussion with panelists including Kjerstin Beatty (SVP Media Partnerships, NBC Universal), Kelly Garner, (Founder & CEO, Treefort), Hernan Lopez (Founder & CEO, Wondery), Joe Shields (VP Connections, iHeartMedia).
2019-07-1541 min
Talking to OurselvesRob SchwartzRob Schwartz is CEO of TBWA\Chiat\Day New York. After ten years as CCO of Chiat LA and two more as Global Creative President, in 2015 Rob joined Chiat New York, where he made the uncommon transition from CCO to CEO. During that time, the New York office has enjoyed explosive growth, more than doubling in size. And helping TBWA earn Adweek’s Global Agency of the Year, and Fast Company’s “Most Innovative Companies.”Throughout his career, Rob has spearheaded work for blue-chip brands including Nissan, McDonald's, Pepsi, and Visa. Along the way he has won nearly every advertis...
2019-03-2254 min
AMA Los Angeles PodcastConnect, Educate, and Inspire with ThinkLAPlug in to the Los Angeles Marketing Scene with ThinkLA.
2017-10-1700 min
The Drum Arms PodcastExceptional Women of the World: Susan Franceschini, ThinkLASusan Franceschini, executive director of ThinkLA, may be in the thick of the Los Angeles ad scene, but she considers herself a neutral Switzerland and loves getting to play with the best agencies, brands, marketers and media companies in town.
Franceschini never would have pictured herself at the helm of LA’s biggest ad club, but with her 10 years in human resources at Davis Elen, four years as a recruiter at Chiat, she was led into a role she didn't even know existed before, and it’s one in which she thrives.
Her superpower is being a good listener, which is a...
2017-03-2321 min
Leaders Of TransformationChelsea Szabo: Finding Your Voice & Speaking Your TruthChelsea Szabo is a certified life coach, speaker, and founder of Verbal Courage, a personal transformation company helping successful, career-driven women understand the connection between their voice, their professional fulfillment, and their personal happiness. Chelsea battled death three times before reaching the age of twenty. She survived two different types of cancer (Melanoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma) and a serious automobile accident. These experiences gave her a sense of urgency to embrace life to the fullest, and keep going until you get what you want. And that's just what she did. After graduating with a B...
2016-01-0822 minLeaders Of TransformationChelsea Szabo: Finding Your Voice & Speaking Your TruthChelsea Szabo is a certified life coach, speaker, and founder of Verbal Courage, a personal transformation company helping successful, career-driven women understand the connection between their voice, their professional fulfillment, and their personal happiness. Chelsea battled death three times before reaching the age of twenty. She survived two different types of cancer (Melanoma and Hodgkin's lymphoma) and a serious automobile accident. These experiences gave her a sense of urgency to embrace life to the fullest, and keep going until you get what you want. And that's just what she did. After graduating with a B...
2016-01-0822 min