I'm super excited to announce that we are doing a NEW podcast, we're gonna continue doing podcasts but this podcast is about something really personal for me and that's the bicycle. It's not about racing bicycles, although, it might be, it's not about mountain biking and dirt jumps and competing, although, it might be. But, it's really about humans and our relationship to this miracle machine that we invented over 100 years ago, and still is the greatest achievement of humanity, in my opinion.

Everybody can be creative if they push fear aside and allow themselves to be. Take Louis McConnell. He has always believed in self-discovery through hard and unfamiliar situations – from amateur MMA fights to quitting his cushy job so he could pack boxes and mountain bike. That’s how he met Alex Bogusky, who took a chance and offered Louis a job as a copywriter, even with zero advertising experience to his name.

Tweens consume 6 to 9 hours of content every day. Adults, as much as 10. What is the responsibility of advertisers as narrative builders in this very real media environment? Michelle Lipkin is the Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE). She and Alex talk about the importance of creating a free, positive and safe media environment and practical tips to be better contributors, from deliberate empathy to representing underrepresented demographics in...

65% of ad pros are suffering "Burnout," more than teachers (58%) and consultants (55%), according to a recent AdAge article and Tim Dyer, founder of Manifesto Agency, was brave enough to share his burnout struggles on the show. Alex and Tim then discuss tactics and tips that have worked to combat Burnout in their lives as well as expert suggestions. From de-powering failure to finding value in your work to challenging everyday assumptions about your job. The Woodshed is a CPB Podcast...

If you’ve worked in advertising long enough, or any industry, you’ve thought about running your own shop. Paul Caiozzo is a former CD at CPB who went on to lead Goodby Silverstein and Partners New York before starting his own agency, Interesting Development, in 2016. And like most founders, he has felt the highs and lows ever since. Paul stopped by The Woodshed for a cautionary yet encouraging chat about building an agency from the ground up and what it takes to stand out in a crowded market.

Gayle Troberman is CMO of iHeartMedia, the world’s largest audio company which reaches nine out of 10 Americans every month. Listen as Alex and Gayle talk about the "good ol' days";  what annoys Gayle about agencies, and the exploding world of podcasts. Find out what brands are doing wrong with audio, the good and bad of the fractalized media landscape, and how to engage the 27% of America that no one is talking with.

Advertising has always been driven by instincts, opinions and luck. What’s been missing? The rigor to prove wildly creative ideas throughout the process. Join Caffeinated Mornings host Jay Ferracane as he sits with Alex to talk about applying the Scientific Method to creativity, why theoretical physicist are the most creative people on earth and why advertising needs more Einstein-like creatives to ask great questions. The Woodshed is a CPB Podcast Production.

Things get crowded in the shed when guest Adam Chasnow brings in a jazz trio to prove a point about collaboration. Adam has developed acclaimed ad campaigns for Microsoft, Kraft Heinz and Infiniti, and credits his early education in jazz trumpet with his ability to collaborate creatively with others. His theory: everyone in business can get better at their craft by learning the tenets of collective improvisation. Paul Romaine (drums), Annie Booth (piano) and Mark Diamond (bass) join the...

Art D’Elia is SVP, Chief Brand and Innovation Officer at Domino's. He dropped by the shed with Alex and creative director Kelly McCormick, to talk about innovation and consumer advocacy in the pizza category, as well as what agencies can do to better align with their clients and why Alex thinks advertising is 100% science.

How to be well-rounded, what is method advertising, tips on getting over creative block and more. Alex sat down with the current group of CPB interns to answer their questions.   With Alice Fennelly, David Zosel, Brandon Dwight, Billy Boy Horn Chloe Gordon and Omari Green.  

Predictive analytics or surveillance? Who’s listening and what do they know about us? Alex is joined in the shed by Joe Toscano, author of the book “Automating Humanity” and Founder/CVO of BEACON, along with Jen Bollman (CPB Director of Communications Strategy) and Joe Corr (CPB Executive Creative Technology Director). The group digs deep into the creepiest of media, the importance of teaching Media Literacy in schools, tech addiction, Russian hackers, China, ethics and who’s buying your...

We’re kicking off a new series of shows, where brands come to the Woodshed to share their challenges and aspirations. First up, the team from Baboosha – Frank Amoros, Heather LeFevre and Leo Lourdais – travel all the way from Paris to talk about “The world’s softest slippers.” Alex’s guest host this week – Courtney Loveman, former fashion designer and co-head of strategy at CPB.

Alex recently joined Roben Farzed on his NPR program, Full Disclosure.  Get the full episode at: https://www.npr.org/podcasts/682205174/full-disclosure-with-roben-farzad

Former Schwinn Bicycles CMO Gregg Bagni joins Alex in the shed to design the perfect equation to create the perfect idea. From bikes to natural foods and now working in niche start-up investment as Director at White Road Investments (Clif bar, Ragnar, Santa Cruz Bicycles) Gregg shares his thoughts on building a brand, the DIY mentality and how to stay original while asking these 4 questions: Who are you? What will you sell? Who will you sell it to?  What will you say no to?

Ari Kuschnir, founder of production company m ss ng p eces, has a crazy idea to implant a narrative film into live DNA. Well, that's where it started. Ari dropped by the shed to brainstorm with Alex and CPB tech lead Joe Corr about how to use emerging DNA technology to tell a powerful story that will ignite the world's imagination. Later, we hear from Harvard genetics professor George Church on his work and this project. Give us your take, leave a voicemail: 720-432-6174

Our first return guest, John Bielenberg (Co-Founder at Pando Institute & Founder of Think Wrong Institute) is back in the Woodshed with his new project, THINKNADO. John share his new process for creative problem solving and how anybody from kids to adults should question assumptions and think ‘stupid’ in order to come up with solutions to everything from new ways to do dishes to fixing the world’s problems.

After a session of live concepting at Boulder Start-Up Week 2019, Alex and creative director Quinn Katherman opened up for a live Q+A session talking about the creative process, the biggest mistake most startups make and just how much "crazy" content should have.  

Two start-ups join Alex and Creative Director Quinn Katherman on stage at Boulder Startup Week. The challenge: come up with brilliant branding ideas on the spot. Alex and Quinn put themselves on the line all for the sake of our community of listeners in an ongoing quest to de-mystify the creative process. Hear what they came up with for Buderflys, an upstart earbud purposefully designed NOT for music, and Uncanny Wellness, a CBD brand that is becoming a hit among baristas.

Here’s a crazy thought, what if music came first? Alex asks that question and more with CPB Creative Director Quinn Katherman and the composers of The Woodshed theme song,  Beacon Street Music. In their first visit to the studio, we’ll talk the importance of sound + audio, reveal composition tricks, and give clues on how to break into the world of music in advertising.

Howard Luck Gossage, known as "The Socrates of San Francisco," was an iconoclast and advertising innovator. Alex and his former assistant turned creative director Mike Howard discuss the famous, yet under-appreciated ad-man and his methods that are still around today. They also discuss his legacy, some of Gossage’s most important teachings, how they informed CPB’s early work, and how and he is more relevant now than ever.

A headline from Philip Morris catches Alex’s attention. With vaping on the rise, is Big Tobacco trying to get back in the ad industry’s good graces? Alex asks the industry to sign a pledge not to work with Big Tobacco, and for brands not to work with agencies and PR firms that do.

Alex is joined by Tim Parr and Dustin Robertson, founders of eyewear brand Caddis. Rooted in action sports, Thrasher magazine and punk rock, they’ve got a lot to say about aging the right way without losing your personal style. Don’t start the long process of giving up. Experience matters, as long as you can separate the obsolete and embrace the beginners’ mindset. Own getting old, and act whatever age you want.

Some agencies have started questioning the value of advertising awards shows. Many say they’ve become too expensive, too time-intensive, and don’t really contribute to growth. Then last October, Alex announced that CPB would stop entering them altogether. But does he hate awards? On a special episode, Alex sits with business development coach Zach Hyder for his podcast, The Dendrocast, to talk about the real reason behind his decision and why awards have gained such status in the agency world.

What if we told you to stop thinking right, and start "Thinking Wrong"?  Legendary designer @JohnBielenberg  joined Alex on @TheWoodShedShow to talk about breaking down existing neural pathways, a cross-country road trip in an refurbished ambulance, stupid thinking as a practice, breaking the 500cc diesel land speed record, and how trick your brain into "thinking wrong".  Let's just say this is one interesting conversation!