Dave Harland LOVES words. Big ones. Little ones. Silly ones. Serious ones.

He has a talent for taking the world’s most boring categories and breathing new life into them with a few flourishes of his pen and some rat-tat-tat-clickety-clacks at his keyboard.

During our conversation, we dig into all kinds of things, including the micro dignities of daily life that are threatened by automation and generative AI, as well as the unmistakable human quirks that make insight building and copywriting an act of creative joy.

We also connect the dots between The Knowledge of London (the rigorous exam that London Cabbies must pass to show they know their way around the city without a map) and the cultural tension between British formality and British humor (e.g. taking the piss).

Some of my favorite aha moments from our conversation include:

• The scrappy, homemade billboard that taught Dave his first big lesson in strategic copywriting
• Dave’s issues with AI shatbots and the limits of AI in copywriting
• How a lackluster acronym led to one of Dave’s favorite brand taglines
• The real-world insights that led to surprisingly punchy (and funny) B2B headlines for a speakerphone brand
• An American phrase that has inexplicably made its way into British business discussions

Show Notes:

Below are links to inspiring ideas that came up during our conversation.

Dave’s Online Copywriting Course

Write the Funny

Books:

Copywriting Is…:30-or-so thoughts on thinking like a copywriter by Andrew Boulton

Videos:

Bob Mortimor Top Moments | Would I Lie to You?

Monty Python: Ministry of Silly Walks

Life of Brian: Colosseum Scene

Zoe Scaman knows how to rebuild brands and fandoms from the ground up.

Her work with brands like Nike, Netflix, and the NBA has allowed her to dig deep into consumer behavior and organizational structures, resulting in numerous aha moments around community building and how to encourage a culture of co-creation with brand superfans.

Zoe builds a number of beautiful constellations during our conversation as she connects the dots between furries, sports fans, and political communities. We also talk about Lego’s incredibly expanding brand universe and how brands can leverage the flywheel effect to create exponential growth.

Some of my favorite aha moments from our conversation include:

• The provocative question Zoe asked in middle school when she was asked to re-read Lord of the Flies
• The ways Zoe uses AI to help her gut check her own work
• How brands can learn from furries to create a sense of belonging
• The biggest (often invisible) enemy of progress in any organization
• Zoe’s favorite word and why she thinks more people need to use it more often

Show Notes:

Below are links to books, shows, and other inspiring ideas that came up during our conversation.

Musings of a Wandering Mind: Zoe Scaman’s Substack

Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things by Adam Grant

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

His Dark Materials by Phillip Pullman

Marilyn Monroe Obituary

Shows & Movies

Mob Land TV Series Trailer

Brands & Campaigns

The Lego Botanical Collection

Adult Fans of Lego (AFOL) - Reddit

Lego Fan Engagement and Programs

Joe Burn has done a LOT of award-winning strategy work, including but not limited to brand strategy, creative strategy, communications strategy, and design strategy.

And it’s these diverse experiences in strategy that have helped Joe connect the dots in the most interesting and unexpected ways for brands like KFC, Heineken, Samsung, Puma, Amnesty International, Benecol, Meta, and more.

But Joe doesn’t just have a passion for strategy and insights. His infatuation with typography, semiotics, and food history helps him become an integral part of the strategic-creative somersault that leads to successful campaigns.

In this episode, Joe shares a lot of ideas and inspiration, including his favorite songs for tapping into his subconscious mind and how a line from Bart Simpson influenced the insight for an entire campaign.

Some of my favorite aha moments from our conversation include:

• An insight for Samsung that led NOT to an ad, but to an awesome music video
• Joe’s unique approach to winning new business pitches
• Why bad ideas are essential to creative success
• How his job as a garbage collector shaped his perspective on advertising
• A piece of advice from Sun Tzu that has influenced his work with clients and creatives

Show Notes:

Below are links to books, shows, and other inspiring ideas that came up during our conversation.

Books:

The Mezzanine by Nicholson Baker

The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Herscht 07769 by László Krasznahorkai

Shows & Movies

The Simpsons - Season 6, Episode 7

Brands & Campaigns

Money Supermarket Ad

Samsung - Samm Henshaw - All Good (Official Video)