Ugly, Irresponsible, & Childish

Daisy, Nukes & TV: The Ad That Changed Political Campaigns

A child faced with imminent incineration, the menacing stare of a creepy old man and deranged laughter. Hollywood’s next thriller? Hardly. They’re political ads. In this Election Day special, Marc and Jeremy discuss and dissect some of the nation’s most unforgettable campaign ads.
The hosts analyze these ads without taking political sides, consider how ads become cultural contagions, and invite a political strategist for a follow-up episode to deepen the discussion.

Presentation Horror Story Part II: The Superbad Supermarket

In this Part 2 episode of Presentation Horror Stories, Marc and Jeremy host two mystery guests who dish about a major grocery store chain. Listen in as the guests share what it feels like to have 17 clients in a room using your agency pitch team as their very own human pinatas.
The brief arrived through a third party with no clear budget, competing regional stakeholders (17 people in the room), and a disconnect between the agency's digital focus and the client’s in-store priorities. Communication gaps, lack of a client champion, and an incumbent agency ultimately doomed the effort.
Takeaways are simple: be selective about pitches, confirm scope and stakeholders before you present, win relationships before the room, and don’t be afraid to re-level set when a pitch veers off course.

Scary Good Ideas

“If it scares you,” declared marketing guru Seth Godin, “it might be a good thing to try.”  In this episode, Marc and Jeremy share some of the scariest ideas they've ever presented, including those that were killed on contact and others that cheated death to become legend.
They draw on industry data about risk-taking, debate how to present edgy ideas, and explain why simplicity, timing, and internal champions matter when trying to sell the unthinkable.
Listeners are invited to learn from these wins and flops and share their own scary creative stories.

The Art of the Media Pitch

Up to two-thirds of companies rely on earned media placements to drive business and awareness for their products, services and messaging. 
Most of them do it wrong, resulting in wasted time, worthless creativity and squandered budgets.
On this week’s episode of Ugly, Irresponsible & Childish, earned-media expert Heidi Donato talks about the 25 years she spent honing the Art of the Media Pitch, resulting in headline-grabbing stories for everything from Coke to Colgate, Walmart to Weight Watchers, Rolls-Royce to Royal Caribbean and more. She'll discuss pitching strategies, story development, timing, and the evolving roles of AI, celebrities, and reporters.
Heidi shares real-world examples—from low-tech phones and Paralympic travel to veteran advocacy—about turning mundane briefs into meaningful coverage and the importance of bringing media planners in early. 
In this episode, Jeremy and Mark welcome earned media expert Heidi Donato to discuss pitching strategies, story development, timing, and the evolving roles of AI, celebrities, and reporters. Heidi shares real-world examples—from low-tech phones and Paralympic travel to veteran advocacy—about turning mundane briefs into meaningful coverage and the importance of bringing media planners in early. Practical advice for agencies and PR pros on how to craft media-worthy stories and measure success.

The Truth About Work–Life Balance

Seven out of 10 employees feel guilty about taking time off, with 38% missing a major event in their child’s life because of work-related obligations (an additional 10% say they were even interrupted at a funeral).
The ugly Catch-22 is that employees also believe that a mental health day is no reason to miss work, with almost two-thirds claiming their boss would judge them for that.
When does your life or selfcare take precedence over work? Or does it? If there’s a line, how do we know when it’s crossed and what can we do about it without seeming selfish or weak?
In this week’s episode of Ugly, Irresponsible and Childish, Marc and Jeremy chat with Dr. Jackie Sasloff, a licensed therapist with three decades of helping people navigate the blurry line of work-life balance. They discuss the rise of guilt, anxiety, missed family moments, and why self-care is often neglected.
Dr. Sasloff offers practical guidance — validate feelings, check the facts, use DBT interpersonal skills like "turn the tables," brainstorm real solutions, clarify personal values, and communicate with supervisors to create sustainable boundaries.

Inside Taco Bell, Part 2: Rob Poetsch Strikes Back!

Join us for Part II of Jeremy's & Marc's conversation with Rob Poetsch! Rob discuss Taco Bell’s transformation into a lifestyle brand, the role of risk in creative work, and how crisis management influenced campaign approvals.
They share behind-the-scenes stories — including the Taco Bell Hotel and Feed the Beat — explore agency-client tensions, and offer practical advice for building strong, effective partnerships.

Inside Taco Bell: Creativity, Clients, and Risk

Working collaboratively with its agencies, Taco Bell has turned its fans into cult-like followers and its brand into a cultural juggernaut. In this two-part episode of Ugly, Irresponsible and Childish, Marc and Jeremy get former Taco Bell Senior Director of Global Communications Rob Poetsch to dish on the tricks, tips, truths and teachings that make Taco Bell’s creative campaigns impossible to ignore and twice as hard to forget.
 
Listen to Rob's thoughts about how creativity moves from agency ideas to client approval, the business constraints that shape bold campaigns, the role of franchisees, managing controversy, and practical tips for clearer briefs and closer agency-client collaboration.

Do Brainstorms Actually Work? The Truth About Group Creativity

Do brainstorms work? Do the best ideas happen when you’re sharing and vibing with a group, or when you’re quietly ideating on your own? Marc and Jeremy share opposing views, drawing on their collective experience hosting and participating in more brainstorms than Vegas has bachelor parties.
They explore hybrid approaches — solo ideation plus structured group sessions — practical facilitation tips (prework, anonymous notes, rotating boards), virtual tools like jam boards and ChatGPT, and how to include clients without killing creativity.
Ultimately they conclude neither method is perfect: create safe rooms, set clear expectations, and combine individual thinking with guided group riffing to get better ideas.

Grudge Match

Stephen Colbert vs. CBS, Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman, Taylor Swift vs. John Mayor, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Katy Perry...almost everybody has held a grudge at least once in their life. But is that a bad thing? Join Marc and Jeremy as they explore the complicated world of grudges, while casting some shade of their own.
In this engaging episode, the duo explores the power of holding grudges, sharing personal anecdotes and professional experiences that highlight how bitterness and rivalry can both hinder and enhance creative processes.
They candidly discuss their own grudges from their careers, recounting specific incidents where competitive spirit and unresolved resentment spurred them to greater heights or led to regrettable actions. With references to famous rivalries and historical grudges that sparked innovation, Marc and Jeremy probe whether grudges can be a secret weapon in the creative industry.
The hosts also ponder if their professional rivals hold grudges against them, revealing personal introspections and growth. Join them for an emotional rollercoaster filled with humor, honesty, and insight into the complexities of grudges in the world of marketing and beyond.

The Value of Villains: The Role of Antagonism in Brand Storytelling

Without villains there can be no heroes. In this episode of "Ugly and Irresponsible and Childish," marketing industry veterans Jeremy Baka and Marc Levy delve into the art of storytelling and the crucial role of villains within it. They explore the dynamics of creativity, discussing how villains and antagonism can add depth and intrigue to brand narratives. From the intricacies of villainous characters in movies to the more subtle adversaries in brand storytelling, this conversation highlights why every brand needs a villain to truly shine as a hero.
Listen in as Marc and Jeremy give the devils their due, exploring the real and metaphorical villains that turn ordinary stories and campaigns into captivating tales of toil and triumph.