Genevieve Norris
Global Communications Manager

Published: 30 September 2024

Uncensored Unwrapped: 5 Unmissable Episodes to Elevate Your Marketing

As marketers, we are both cursed and privileged by the wealth of research and insights at our fingertips. And while the sheer volume of data can sometimes feel overwhelming, it ultimately empowers us to develop effective strategies. At the heart of it all lies a fundamental truth: we must listen to and learn from our consumers. Although this may seem simple in theory, putting it into practice requires humility and a steadfast commitment to understanding their needs. Successful marketers get this, but it doesn’t make the road to success any simpler. Ask anyone senior in the industry what the ‘key to their success’ is, it will probably involve a mix of trial, error and luck. Yet, despite the complexities and challenges along the road, if you ask most marketers whether they love what they do, you’ll likely hear a resounding, “Hell yeah!”

Marketing is rich with creativity and bold ideas, making it as rewarding as it is as complex. In celebration this vibrant field, we’ve curated five standout episodes from the Uncensored CMO podcast, the UK’s #1 marketing podcast hosted by System1’s Jon Evans. These episodes feature industry leaders who have tackled challenges head-on, sharing invaluable insights and unique career experiences. Their stories will inspire and motivate you as you conquer the marvellous marketing mountain.

So, go ahead and pour yourself a cup of tea or coffee, switch to ‘do not disturb,’ and grab your notepad—your weekly listening lineup is here!

"What would you do if you weren’t afraid?"

Greg Hahn Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Mischief

What is the Mischief mindset?

Greg Hahn, former Chief Creative Officer at BBDO and co-founder of Mischief, shares his journey of building a bold, disruptive agency in just two and a half months. From getting fired to winning an Effie, Greg discusses tough challenges and reveals how the Mischief mindset fuels creativity, drives results, and is shaking up the industry.

Watch the full episode below for Mischief magic tips on:

  • From Gen Z to Super Bowl Takeover: Creative strategies that deliver impactful business results.
  • Emotion Drives Action: Why sparking any reaction is better than none—how to avoid being boring.
  • Raising the Stakes: The importance of taking risks and why playing it safe should be discouraged.

Snaptuesday  

Snapchat CMO on fixing social media, being creative leader of the decade and lessons from Dan Wieden – Colleen DeCourcy 

Listen: Uncensored CMO, Apple Music, Spotify 

"Great creativity scales itself."

Colleen DeCourcy Chief Creative Officer and CMO at Snap

Snapshot Summary:

Drawing on lessons from Dan Wieden and her formative years at Wieden+Kennedy, Colleen DeCourcy discusses authenticity, finding your own voice, and what it truly takes to power a brand. She shares that the key to motivating her is appealing to her core values—exactly what led her to join Snap. This episode delves into staying true to your principles while navigating the worlds of digital technology, brand building, and creativity.

Your Snapmap guide to the episode:

  • Happiness Unlocks Rewards: Understanding the brand and performance value of making consumers feel happy.
  • Chaos is Where the Magic Happens: Creative insights on pushing boundaries and embracing disorder to drive positive change.
  • Making Technology and Digital Spaces Better: Exploring the role of social media platforms in consumers’ lives and how brands can help create healthier, more positive environments.

"Product isn’t enough. You must be able to transcend product to become a brand that people love."

Kory Marchisotto CMO of e.l.f Beauty

Your beauty guide:

From her beginnings in luxury sales to becoming the CMO of the highly sought-after, viral sensation e.l.f. Beauty, Kory Marchisotto shares invaluable insights, including her “Five C’s” for achieving success as a CMO. In this episode, she explores the critical role of company culture, the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing, and the importance of staying closely connected with consumers.

The cosmetic code & highlights:

  • The Entrepreneurial Spirit: Discover how agility and speed enabled e.l.f. Beauty to create a buzzworthy Super Bowl ad in just three weeks.
  • The Power of Partnerships: Learn why unconventional collaborations with brands like Liquid Death and Chipotle were a strategic fit for e.l.f. Beauty.
  • Staying Close to the Consumer: Understand why brands should broaden their targeting rather than confining consumers to a box.

"The customer doesn’t care."

Kofi Amoo Gottfried CMO of DoorDash

A summary to-go:

A lesson in innovation and customer understanding, DoorDash CMO Kofi Amoo-Gottfried reveals how DoorDash came to dominate 67% of its category. From the advertising craft and fundamentals that shaped a winning Super Bowl campaign to navigating the impact of COVID when he first joined the company, Kofi dives deep into what drives success. In this episode, he shares valuable insights on fostering innovation and embracing a challenger mentality. Get ready—this episode will leave you hungry for more!

Key ingredients to feast on:

  • Expanding into New Categories: How creating a sex toy led DoorDash into the flower category and earned them a Cannes Grand Prix.
  • The Innovation Engine: Staying closely connected to consumer insights and data to continually create value for the customer.
  • Operate at the Lowest Level of Detail: Strategies for breaking down barriers to growth and driving success.

"The only chance of survival as a small brand with small budgets is you have to find ways to get attention for free."

Mike Cessario Founder of Liquid Death

Bringing the episode to life:

From creative punk rocker to category disruptor, this episode is filled with invaluable lessons from Liquid Death founder Mike Cessario on transforming the stagnant water industry and shaking up the market. He shares insights on distribution strategies and how to bring fun into the healthy product space. In this exclusive interview, Cessario takes us through his journey from brandy business owner to creator of one of the coolest brands around. He knows exactly what it takes to stand out in a sea of sameness and how to turn $0 ideas into profitable executions.

Tune into the full episode for killer insights on:

  1. The Entrepreneurial Journey: Key lessons, challenges and learnings from Mike Cessario.
  2. Innovating and Disrupting: Learn to embrace “dumb ideas” to break the mold and achieve success.
  3. The Power of Brand: Find out how to capture attention without breaking the bank.

Head into the Weekend with Confidence!

And that’s a wrap! If you’re not ready to hang up your headphones just yet, there’s plenty more where that came from. Head over to Uncensored CMO for more industry insights from the likes of Scott Galloway, agency legend David Droga, B2B expertise from PwC’s Antonia Wade, or lessons on creating iconic brand characters from GEICO. Uncensored CMO features more than 150 episodes with the world’s greatest marketing experts. Don’t miss out!

And if you’re ready to apply these insights, make sure to predict the commercial impact of your ads and ideas using System1’s Test Your Ad and Test Your Innovation platforms. Whether you’re working on a script, finished film, outdoor campaign, or TV spot, or a new product, tagline, concept or packaging, we’re here to help you create with confidence at every stage and on every occasion.

Test Your Ad