A weekly ramble down the rabbit holes littering
the brand and advertising landscape.
Join us as we look for new perspectives and
something meaty to chew over.
BONE TO PICK #34
SELLING CHRISTMAS
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Join us for our last episode of the year. A fun recap of the year and a look at some of the best Christmas ads of the year. And what’s that we hear? Could it be a hint of optimism for 2021?
BONE TO PICK #33
THE BEYOND MINDSET
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD, JOHN DOUGLAS & PAUL TUCKER
A fantastic episode with Mr Paul Tucker, from Orange Business Services, talking sales and tech, lessons learned during COVID and a note of optimism for all businesses.
Check out Pauls article here
BONE TO PICK #32
GENDER AND ADVERTISING
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD, JOHN DOUGLAS & BEC BRIDSON
This week we venture into the thorny territory of gender and advertising. Luckily, we have an excellent guide. The very excellent Bec Brideson joins us for a rolicking 20 minutes of educative, carefully considered thoughts. You’ll love it. Hungry for more? Visit: www.becbrideson.com
BONE TO PICK #31
REINING IN THE HORSEPOWER
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD, JOHN DOUGLAS & BOBBY ZAGAME
This week we have the real pleasure of Bobby Zagame’s company. Join us for a look at how big ideas, and a commitment to the customer, helped a specialist brand overcome some massive COVID challenges. 23 minutes well spent.
BONE TO PICK #30
THE STORY
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD, JOHN DOUGLAS & DAVE RATH
Head of Football Program at St Kilda, Dave Rath joins the boys for a look at brand story. Battling a dodgy internet, we look at growing an identity and the benefits of establishing a link between culture and strategy.
BONE TO PICK #29
BIG BUSINESS ONLINE
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD, JOHN DOUGLAS & ALEISHA MCCONNELL
Aleisha McConnell (realestate.com.au) guest stars as Aleisha McConnell! We chew over how a large online business stays a large online business through lockdown. Lessons for everyone. And a few laughs, just because.
BONE TO PICK #28
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD, JOHN DOUGLAS & RABIH YANNI
This week, the magnificent Rabih Yanni from The Botanical Hotel joins the pod talking all things COVID, innovation and the benefits of truly understanding the customer. Not to be missed.
BONE TO PICK #27
NOT SO NORMAL
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD, JOHN DOUGLAS & ZOE CARR
Join us for a not-so-normal pod with the fabulous Zoe Carr from Not So Normal Productions bringing a sense of intelligence and perspective to the normal chaos. A great chat about life and business in lockdown and how some people are taking a different approach.
BONE TO PICK #26
SIMPLE HUMAN TRUTHS
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
A simple human exploration about the need for simple human truths. Like why people believe simple promises. How to make them work for you. And why Joe Biden’s dog might win him an election…
BONE TO PICK #25
THE ART OF ACCOUNT SERVICE
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD, JOHN DOUGLAS & GABRIELLE SOMERVILLE
Our first guest! And we needed help for this one! Account management and the joys of structure and the need for lists. Watch as an organisational black belt takes on the unruly chaos of the pod. Grab the popcorn and settle in for the duration.
BONE TO PICK #24
FUNNELS
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
This week, we disappear down a funnel. The funnel. Looking at how, by understanding what happens when, you can be more effective with your messaging.
BONE TO PICK #23
ADVERTISING IN SPORT
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Sport and advertising. Do they go together like peaches and cream? Or peaches and anabolic steroids. Join our dynamic duo as they dauntlessly explore the dangers and benefits of advertising and sport.
BONE TO PICK #22
TRUTH
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
This week, our fearless friends grapple with the truth. It’s like watching a one-armed man trying to juggle greased bowling balls. 15 minutes of pure entertainment…
BONE TO PICK #21
RUMOURS
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
I’ve heard a rumour that this is one of the best episodes yet. It’s just a rumour. But there may be a little truth in it. Join us as we chat through, Rumours in Advertising.
BONE TO PICK #20
TRADITION
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Our customary ramble through one of the core ideas that creates cultures and strengthens bonds between staff and clients alike. Tradition! Tradition! (And not one mention of a fiddler on the roof.)
BONE TO PICK #19
PRODUCTIVITY
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
The secrets of productivity and the hidden traps for owners and managers who want to boost productivity. And tomatoes. Truss me on the tomatoes…
BONE TO PICK #18
COMMERCIALISM
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
The right side of the brain and the left side of the brain walk into a bar… some fantastic insights into the money side of the business. And a Clint Eastwood impression.
BONE TO PICK #17
BRAINSTORMING
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
This week, we brainstorm the idea of brainstorming. Why it’s good, and why you should not be afraid of nuns.
BONE TO PICK #16
UNORGANISED & UNPREPARED
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
The podcast we were completely unprepared for, ironically, about turning up for a meeting unprepared. Is it possible to add value while totally flying blind? Let’s find out…
BONE TO PICK #15
DISTINCTIVE BRAND ASSETS
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
15 entertaining minutes on distinctive brand assets. Like high horses and rabbit holes, we take a 15 minute romp through the landscape of codes in advertising. Two opinions and a bucketload of different perspectives. What could possibly go wrong?
BONE TO PICK #14
OPTIMISM
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Lockdown 2.0 and the need for optimism. Watch our intrepid duo take what should have been a clear path through a jungle of chaos and confusion and turn it into a superhighway of stupidity. We get there in the end. But only just.
BONE TO PICK #13
DEADLINES
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Two brave souls try to conquer Deadlines. We discuss the balance between productivity and fear. The difference between the Manager and the Creator. The glorious tyranny of productivity. All in 16:33 minutes. You can set your watch by that.
BONE TO PICK #12
THE BIG IDEA
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Join our intrepid adventurers as they journey in search of the big idea: where does it come from, how do you get there and what do you do once you find one. Be warned: there are dangers here. And rabbit holes.
BONE TO PICK #11
ARGUMENTS IN AGENCIES
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Is there an argument for having better arguments? Join us this week as we journey up the River of Insults in search of a better way to reach a better idea. Does hierarchy matter? And what would you know anyway? Come along. It’s a bumpy and enjoyable ride.
BONE TO PICK #10
THE FREE CREATIVE PITCH
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
An industry bone of contention indeed, this week we open up the conversation on the free creative pitch.
This week we pick at:
– Is it ludicrous to ask people you’ve never met to work for free?
– When did it start?
– How effective is the free creative pitch?
– To pitch or not to pitch?
BONE TO PICK #9
LABELS
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Please join the King of Possibility and the Clown Prince of Enthusiasm as we take a quick-ish romp through the dangers of dodgy definitions.
This week we look at:
– The need to look beyond what people claim they can do.
– Why “digital” limits your effectiveness
– How titles can be sort of right and completely wrong, at the same time
– Writers who can’t spel (mispelt on purpose)
BONE TO PICK #8
YOU ARE NOT YOUR CUSTOMER
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Another week. Another juicy bone. Join us as we take a shallow dive into the pool labelled, “You are not your customer”.
Conversation starters include:
– The need to talk the customer’s language not your own
– Your media choices are not your customer’s choices
BONE TO PICK #7
AGENCY RELATIONSHIPS
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Another week, another bone. Join us for a juicy mouthful of client/agency relationships, great insights and bad impersonations.
– What should you look for in an agency?
– What should an agency look for in a client? How to spot the one that’s right for you.
– What’s the number one secret to choosing the right agency?
BONE TO PICK #6
RESEARCH
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Join us as we take a few meaty chunks out of the rump of advertising research. 20 slightly manic minutes mingled with some more carefully considered perspectives on the value of research.
– Where should research be used?
– Where should research be avoided?
– How research can make advertising more effective. Or not.
BONE TO PICK #5
PERSPECTIVE
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
How do you stand out when everyone’s yelling the same thing? Join us for 20 lighthearted minutes on perspective as we chew over:
– Triggering senses to encourage re-purchase.
– The fourth quadrant of business impact.
– Why businesses can profit from doing things 1% better.
BONE TO PICK #4
PROSPECTING IN ISOLATION
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Another 20 minutes of banter and observation – chewing over the bone of business prospecting.
How do you find new business, and how do you find new business in isolation? We look at:
– The two most visible personality types observed at this time.
– Is it OK to talk about making money in lock down?
– The importance of resilience.
– When “No” means “No, not now” not “No, not ever.”
BONE TO PICK #3
MARKETING AND MARGIN
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
BONE TO PICK #2
RELEVANCE IN ADVERTISING
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
BONE TO PICK #1
MARKETING IN ISOLATION
FEATURING: CRAIG MCLEOD & JOHN DOUGLAS
Marketing in isolation can run the very real risk of your world view becoming ‘the only’ world view. Without colleagues around you to bounce ideas off or to test the sanity of new ideas brands can become a misaligned extension of yourself.