Kelly & Ali sing the praises of the Canadian music industry. Hear how audio and advertising intersect. Cue up emerging artists on your playlist. Be inspired to shop for a fancy new sparkle vest. It’s an episode in perfect harmony.
Kelly McCluskey is an Executive Producer and Partner at Grayson Music. At the helm of the commercial production team, Kelly has managed a diverse portfolio of audio projects for thousands of clients and brands, and produced dozens of award-winning campaigns. For over a decade at Grayson, Kelly's passion for music, creative projects and people has been her driving force. She’s been instrumental in building the Grayson team and network of artists as it’s doubled in size, and shaping the company as they continue to reach new creative heights. When she isn't working, Kelly continues to indulge her love for music; discovering new artists, going to shows, singing, and listening to records at home with her dogs. Ali Willa Milner is a Music & Voice Director at Grayson Music. Grammy nominated and multi-Juno Award winning songwriter Ali Willa Milner has led many lives, all deeply connected to music and voice. For years, Ali worked as an artist (under the moniker ‘Willa’), as a songwriter for herself and others, and as a voice actor (film, TV, advertising and animation).At Berklee College of Music in Boston, she learned how to sharpen the lyrics, concept, and melody of any writing room. She has written for many artists (Ryan Guldemond of Mother Mother, One Republic’s John Nathaniel, Babyface, The Knocks, Now United and more) and was nominated for her first Grammy as a songwriter in 2022. As a songwriter, she was part of 6 nominations at the 2024 Juno Awards and won Songwriter of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year. She was nominated for Billboard Canada's Non-Performing Songwriter Of The Year for her work in 2024. She was also nominated for the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame Breakthrough Songwriter Award in 2024.She has had equal success in voice acting (My Little Pony, Rogers, Chevrolet, McCafe, Canadian Tire, Nissan, BMO, AMEX, OLG and more) with a lead role in an upcoming animated feature coming in 2026.Ali’s extensive experience in these worlds has provided great success in her commercial directing career at Grayson Music Group. She’s since helmed projects for Subway, Visa, TD, Kia, Scotiabank, and more. She has an innate ability to work with any talent to bring the message to life in a fresh way, and is exceptionally skilled at leading a room and guiding a project’s sonic identity.
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Sabaa Quao & Driscoll Reid March 19, 2025
Sabaa and Driscoll share their origin stories (Sabaa’s includes the ‘95 Raptors launch and Driscoll’s leans Eat Pray Love) and why they make the ultimate duo today. Hear about campaigns for McDonald’s, Amazon, and maybe flying cars.
Meghan Kraemer & Cameron Stark March 5, 2025
Launch your own agency with blood, sweat, and pee. Meghan and Cameron reveal how they built Hard Work Club with Post It notes and a dream. Plus, they unpack work for Knix and Doordash.
Francesco Grandi February 26, 2025
Francesco (Fran, if you’re buds) on his ascension from lowly intern at Ogilvy to the CCO throne. Plus, the Dove campaigns he’s worked on for the last 2 decades.
Bryan Collins & Rob Sweetman February 19, 2025
Bryan and Rob talk advertising and design on the Left Coast, from their days in Calgary to launching an agency in Vancouver. Plus, plenty of discussion around Dick Pics (it’s pictures of dudes named Richard, mom!).
Luc Du Sault February 5, 2025
Luc talks about his “Mad Men” roots and why advertising and design in Quebec are so unique. Plus, he shares how work for the government can get you on the international stage. C’est malade!
Krystle Mullin January 29, 2025
Krystle’s story slash soon to be a Netflix series is a gripping tale of tenacity, eagles, and vodka roulette. From a master’s degree to scrappy (Windex-y??) career starts, she goes from being told she’s not good enough to becoming that agency’s CCO. This episode is unignorable.
Ron Tite January 22, 2025
“What’s the deal with advertising??” Ron’s set takes us on a wild ride, from stand-up, to account guy, to creative, to owning his own agency. Plus, how his side hustle turned full time.
Graham Chisholm December 19, 2023
Our 50th episode extravaganza! Graham Chisholm, this year’s Mick Griffin Best Editing Award Gold winner, gets candid about his career. From not knowing what he wanted to do, to working in Montreal to Toronto to LA, to launching a business, Graham talks about his career as an editor, the ups and downs, never giving up, and his process for great work. His incredible stories from the cutting room floor will leave you inspired and fired up.
Derek Blais December 5, 2023
Derek unpacks the Missing Matoaka project, and the true story of Pocahontas. He very candidly speaks about his family and his connection to the work as an Indigenous Canadian.
Caroline Friesen & Robbie Percy November 21, 2023
Caroline and Robbie talk about burning The Handmaid’s Tale (or rather, trying to burn it, with a flame thrower… and Margaret Atwood) as well as work for IKEA that got trolled.
Stephanie Yung November 7, 2023
Stephanie opens up about the power of design and its role in not only our industry but in making the world a better place. She also discusses how she used her design expertise to map her journey to motherhood (Project Junior) as well as work to combat unconscious bias with The Micropedia. It’s a personal, beautiful, incredibly inspiring interview.
Diti Katona & John Pylypczak October 24, 2023
Have you ever wondered how to present ideas by carving a potato? Find out the answer with Diti and John! They are THE power couple of all things design, creative, and cool. Plus celeb gossip! Hear the inside scoop on working with Halsey, Lenny Kravitz, and The Fat Jewish.
Amin Todai September 5, 2023
Amin teaches himself how to launch an agency at age 22, befriends the Raptors, starts a “Pimp My Ride” business, gets into the restaurant game, almost goes bankrupt multiple times, sells his ice cream franchise for like a bazillion dollars, is now into AI – oh, and still runs a successful agency. If you remember C-Lounge, this episode is for you.
Erin Kawalecki August 22, 2023
Let’s get paid to play video games! Erin teaches us how to hack the system and get a bazillionaire to help fund local communities. Plus, how to launch your own agency.
Hemal Dhanjee & Steve Ierullo August 8, 2023
Steven Hemal discusses their upcoming memoir “Bananas & Coffee: how to thrive as a creative.” Plus, they unpack KFC "Fixed It" and Nescafe “Jars”. Also… is this one person or two? Find out!
Xavier Blais July 25, 2023
Xavier talks through the creative process for Heinz A.I. Ketchup and Decathlon Ability Signs. Plus, he talks candidly about living, working, and creating in Montreal. And reminds us not to trip on the flowers on the carpet.
Denise Rossetto July 11, 2023
Denise Rossetto shares new work for Kruger that shows how messy love can be. And how messy working in advertising can be. But we love it anyway. And how messy starting an ad agency can be. But she did it anyway. And loves it.
Scouts Honour December 15, 2022
Director Mark Zibert, and EPs Simon Dragland & Rita Popielak from Scouts Honour reveal what happens on the production side of things on huge award-winning campaigns such as SickKids and ROM. Plus how a great agency / client / production partnership can bring beautiful ideas to life.
Andrea Cook November 29, 2022
Andrea Cook (CEO, Performance Art) as our first CEO guest! An economist who once set her sights on becoming the next Gordon Gekko, she rose through the ranks of advertising, leading the charge in the digital, data, and CRM space. Now the work she “moves boulders for” wins Lions and is the benchmark for world-class, data-rich thinking. Plus, find out why her old boss threw the entire contents of a wardrobe at her.
Cynthia Heyd November 1, 2022
Cynthia Heyd (Executive Producer, The Deli) brings us through the evolution of the role of producer since the ‘90s. She talks candidly about the “mad men years”, sensational set stories, why she became an entrepreneur, and ageism in the industry.
Jay Chaney & Kristy Pleckaitis October 18th, 2022
Jay Chaney & Kristy Pleckaitis (Broken Heart Love Affair) talk about why great strategies allow creative minds to get crazy and the way they uncover human insights.
Mikey Richardson September 27th, 2022
Mikey Richardson (Co-Founder/Co-ECD, Jacknife) talks design language for YTV, and how they won the pitch with a garbage bag of ideas. Plus, how he and partner Mike Kelar launched a studio right out of OCAD and it’s still going strong 26 years later.
Steve Miller September 10th, 2022
Steve Miller (ECD, FUSE Create) talks about the Sleep-Eze campaign that had everyone in a dream state. Plus, how rock’n roll can help you break into advertising, and the story behind La Carnita + Sweet Jesus ice cream.
Natalie Armata & Alanna Nathanson July 19th, 2022
Natalie Armata and Alanna Nathanson (Giants & Gentlemen) dig into Harvey's and reveal the drink of summer. Plus, how they launched their own agency with a ton of ambition (and zero clients) and have transformed it into the gentle giant it is today.
Barry Quinn July 5th, 2022
Barry Quinn (Founder/Chief Creative, Quake) talks Miller Lite, GoodFood, launching and growing Juniper Park, and his new adventure, Quake.
Shasta Lutz June 21st, 2022
Shasta Lutz, casting director and owner of Jigsaw Casting, talks about the talent that brings scripts to life. Hilarious, honest, and candid, Shasta takes us on her career journey, how the industry has evolved, and where we are going today.
Lori Davison June 8th, 2022
The client side of the SickKids VS. story! Lori Davison (Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, ROM) shares what it takes to be a bold, hugely successful marketer and a true agency partner. Hear how, as a client, fostering creativity and trusting your gut leads to game-changing results.
Dhaval Bhatt May 24th, 2022
Dhaval Bhatt (CCO, Courage and former Partner/CD, Rethink) talks about the importance of diversity and inclusion in advertising, and the story behind work for IKEA, Scotiabank and Molson. Plus, Dhaval’s journey from India to the Canadian advertising world, and how one signature changed his life.
Graham Lang May 10th, 2022
Graham Lang (former CCO at Juniper Park\TBWA) talks about how a social media campaign on TikTok saved lives around the world.
Tom Westin December 15th, 2020
In the season 2 finale, Tom Westin (Partner, Creative Director at Grayson Music) talks about a career in the music business, rock ‘n roll, and how one dinner can change your whole life. Plus, he unpacks the craft behind campaigns for Rogers and DoorDash and how the audio business, like our industry, is rapidly evolving.
Rica Eckersley December 8th, 2020
Rica Eckersley (Creative Director at UNION) talks about her longtime partnership with Adam Thur and unpacks two incredible campaigns they did for Interval House (Broken Bride Registry & Freedom Tampons). Plus, Lyranda reveals how influential Rica has been on her career.
Mo Bofill December 2nd, 2020
Mo Bofill (Partner & Creative Director, Design at 123w) talks about her work on No Name, why design is more important than ever, and why people don’t quit their jobs (they quit their bosses).
Patrice Pollack November 24th, 2020
Patrice Pollack, Creative Director at FUSE Create, talks about work for Reel Start, which empowers underrepresented youth to change their world through film. Plus, how she couldn't get a job in advertising, so just went off to win a Lion instead.
Brian Murray November 3rd, 2020
Brian Murray (CCO of Ogilvy Canada) on how they visualized the impact of food waste for Hellmann’s and how a campaign for Dove that celebrates front line workers made it to the cover of the New York Times.
Mike Dubrick & Joel Holtby October 27th, 2020
Mike Dubrick & Joel Holtby, Partners and Creative Directors at Rethink, talk about Ikea Stuff Monster and Lamp 2.
Lance Martin October 20th, 2020
Lance Martin, Chief Creative Officer at UNION, goes behind the scenes for work on Viagra and Mini Cooper. Special Sober October edition!
Christina Yu October 13th, 2020
Christina Yu, former Managing Partner/Creative at Rethink and EVP, CCO at Red Urban on work for Volkswagen, Stella Artois, and on being the “token female in the room.”
Peter Ignazi October 6th, 2020
Peter Ignazi (Global CCO, Cossette) talks about how to crack globally recognized creative work for huge multinational clients like McDonald’s and General Mills.
Brent Choi September 29th, 2020
Former DDB Canada CCO / CEO Brent Choi on work for BMW Canada with a client who cashed in every chip to make it happen. Plus, work for Northwell Health that changed lives. He also discusses his experience as “the only non-white person” when working in certain areas of the USA post-Trump.
Neil Walker-Wells September 23rd, 2020
Neil Walker-Wells (Group Creative Director, Juniper Park\TBWA) talks about the greatest basketball team ever and their partnership with GoDaddy. Was it a blessing… or a curse?
Jordan Doucette September 15th, 2020
Creative Powerhouse Jordan Doucette talks about her tenure as CCO of Leo Burnett Chicago, and what it was like to move her whole family during a global pandemic to accept a partnership at her dream agency, No Fixed Address.
Hubert Davis & Joseph Bonnici September 8th, 2020
A special two part episode for our Season 2 premiere. Director Hubert Davis and Joseph Bonnici (CCO, Bensimon Byrne) talk about their unique creative partnership, friendship, and about major issues facing our industry (and the world). An important, must-hear episode.
Ian Mackenzie March 3rd, 2020
Ian Mackenzie (Chief Creative Officer at FCB/SIX) sinks his teeth into how the world-famous McDonald’s 'Our Food. Your Questions' platform came to be. Plus, he shares the story behind the powerful campaign 'Go Back to Africa'.
Dave Chiavegato February 25th, 2020
Dave Chiavegato (Partner, Creative at Grip Limited) talks about a small challenger brand called Bud Light and how The Institute was created. Plus, how a client with a dream for how things could be done differently helped form the agency Grip is today.
Zak Mroueh February 11th, 2020
Zak Mroueh (Founder, CEO, and Chief Creative Officer of Zulu Alpha Kilo) talks about creating his own agency - and admits he had no idea what he was doing, and no clients, when he went for it.
Stephen Jurisic February 4th, 2020
Stephen Jurisic (Dean at Miami Ad School Toronto) shares the hilarious tale of a TV shoot gone sideways for Maple Leaf Foods.
Vanessa Eckstein January 28th, 2020
In this special design-focused episode, Vanessa Eckstein (Founder & Creative Director at Blok Design) shares her passion for design, her love of craft, and how always pushing for the best led her to designing race cars.
Alexis Bronstorph & Kelsey Horne January 21st, 2020
Alexis Bronstorph and Kelsey Horne (Executive Creative Directors at TAXI) share the crazy adventure of how they brought a working Tim Horton’s into someone’s home in a quiet Alberta neighbourhood. Plus, they reveal the story behind the powerful #UNIGNORABLE campaign for the United Way.
Janet Kestin January 14th, 2020
Janet Kestin (Co-Founder and Partner of Swim, a creative leadership lab) talks about how a beauty brand became a global movement.
Aaron Starkman January 7th, 2020
Aaron Starkman (Managing Partner, Creative at Rethink) opens the fridge door to the iconic Molson Canadian campaign, and shares stories from his podcast “It’s Only Fucking Advertising.”
Carlos Moreno December 17th, 2019
Carlos Moreno (Global CCO at Cossette) opens up about Post It note meetings, tigers, and the emotional toll of creating truly groundbreaking work for SickKids.
Nancy Vonk December 10th, 2019
Nancy Vonk (Co-Founder and Partner of Swim, a creative leadership lab) talks about flipping the cereal category on its head, and reveals how from pressure comes diamonds, especially when you’re the intern.
Andrew Simon & Matt Antonello December 3rd, 2019
Andrew Simon (CCO, Edelman Canada) and Matt Antonello (one of Canada's top freelance writers) talk about how to push the envelope with conservative clients to create memorable, damn sexy work that drives results.
Nancy Crimi-Lamanna November 26th, 2019
Nancy Crimi-Lamanna (Co-CCO, FCB Toronto) opens up about the incredible success, and controversy, that spans four years of work for the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS).
Nellie Kim & Chris Hirsch November 19th, 2019
Nellie Kim and Chris Hirsch (Partners, VPs, ECDs at lg2 Toronto) reveal how the underground Korean media network got them to gold and celebrate Chris’s success as an international meme.
Anthony Chelvanathan November 12th, 2019
Anthony Chelvanathan (SVP, Creative Director at Leo Burnett Canada) talks about his work for Ikea and TSN, opening up about how they built up his pain threshold, both professionally and personally.
Angus Tucker October 29th, 2019
On our very first episode, Angus Tucker (CCO at john st.) talks about his agency’s self-promo work and the worldwide reactions that resulted.
