Jeremy Sirota, CEO of Merlin—the world’s largest member-led music rights organization—joins us to share how he’s reshaping leadership, creativity, and decision-making in the digital music age. From throwing out traditional corporate playbooks to asking his team how they'd destroy the company, Jeremy reveals the unconventional frameworks that fuel innovation. We dive into bad ideas, “Cheeto moments,” creative scaffolding, and how curiosity drives real progress—not just in music, but in any industry.

If you're leading a team, building something new, or just trying to think differently, this episode is a must-listen.

Nicole Ayres, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Jumpsuit, shares how intuition, storytelling, and a little bit of magic built one of the most unconventional creative agencies in the industry. From coffee shop owner to full-time ministry to selling a tech company spun out of her own agency, Ayres breaks every rule in the book and rewrites better ones. She reveals why the best brands create lore, not just logos, and how spiritual practices like psychedelics and telepathy are shaping the future of conscious business.

This episode is about branding, but also about self-trust, healing, and building a career where you can bring your whole self to the table.

George Tannenbaum has spent decades in advertising, from writing catalog copy at Montgomery Ward to shaping campaigns for IBM and American Express. In this episode, he breaks down what the industry has lost — and what still works. From the power of simplicity and humanity in copy to the danger of sameness in portfolios and agencies, George shares blunt, timeless lessons on how to stand out and stay relevant.

He also dives into personal branding, how to actually get noticed, and why the best creatives start by asking: “What does it do?” Whether you're a copywriter, founder, or just trying to get chosen in a noisy world, this one’s packed with insight, candor, and zero fluff.