The Furious Curious – Details, episodes & analysis

Co-host Alex dives deep into the current world of advertising with H/L agency's very own Roselyn Pla, Daisy Serafini, and Dallas Baker. They discuss how the industry has evolved, the impact of data-driven decision-making, the rise of influencer marketing, and the growing influence of AI on creativity. H/L shares insights on breaking into the industry, pushing creative boundaries, and maintaining authenticity in a crowded, fast-paced digital world.

ABOUT H/L

H/L is an independent advertising agency committed to making a lasting impact—for its clients, its people, and the communities it serves. With a mission to meaningfully advance business, careers, and culture, H/L goes beyond great ideas to build momentum that drives real, measurable growth. Every campaign, media strategy, and market gain is part of a bigger vision: to create opportunity and lasting impact.

Headquartered in some of the most culturally rich cities in the U.S. and beyond, H/L draws strength from the diverse perspectives of its team—known as H/Lers. This diversity fuels creativity and brings unexpected insights to every engagement. The agency is deeply connected to the communities where it lives and works, giving back generously and drawing inspiration from the people and places that shape it.

H/L is known for cultivating long-term client relationships—often spanning decades—thanks to its values of inclusivity, adaptability, and relentless pursuit of what’s possible. At its core, H/L is an agency that’s not just based in communities—it’s made by them.

LINKS:

hl.agency

FOLLOW:

⁠Linkedin.com/company/the-furious-curious⁠

CREDITS:

This episode was hosted by Alex Detmering, produced by Britton Rice, Alex Detmering and Nicole Lazar. Videography by Yavor Vesselinov. Our original logo is by Nate Betts.

©2024, ©2025 The Furious Curious

What do 314-mile foot races and viral ad campaigns have in common? In this episode of Furious Curious, Britton and Alex sit down with Andy Pearson — VP of Creative at Liquid Death — to unpack how ultra-endurance running informs high-level creative thinking, brand-building, and navigating chaos.

From hallucinating gingerbread men during 100-mile races to directing absurdly brilliant ads for one of today’s most unconventional brands, Andy reflects on why pushing limits physically helps sharpen creative instincts mentally.

This episode explores the meditative power of movement, the cultural rise of ultrarunning, and the importance of playing more — even in a world obsessed with metrics. It’s a lesson in how absurd ideas, when fully committed to, can change the game. 

LINKS:

ievenwrotethissickurl.com

liquiddeath.com

FOLLOW:

Linkedin.com/company/the-furious-curious

CREDITS:

Filmed and edited by Yavor Vesselinov, with additional production by Weston Simpson and Johnny Matlack. Hosted and produced by Britton Rice, David Harper, Alex Detmering, along with Alexander Woell and Nicole Lazar. Original logo is by Nate Betts.

Key Chapters with Timestamps 

[00:01:00] Origins of Ultramarathon Passion – Discover how a book, a hangover, and a mountain view launched Andy’s endurance journey. 

[00:05:00] Ultra as a Response to Creative Burnout – Running became a counterweight to the brutal ad agency grind. 

[00:07:00] Mental Shifts & Emotional Toughness – Why ultrarunning teaches resilience, trust, and calm amidst chaos. 

[00:08:00] Hallucinations & Spiritual Moments – From gingerbread men to skull-shaped rocks — endurance breaks the brain in fascinating ways. 

[00:10:00] The 314-Mile Vol State Race – A survival story of gas station food, shin splints, and driveways for beds. 

[00:14:00] Running as Moving Meditation – Running as active mindfulness, and how it fuels Andy’s creative process. 

[00:20:00] Why Running Isn’t Just Escape — It’s Strategy – How the mind opens up to clarity and inspiration mid-run. 

[00:22:00] The Cultural Rise of Ultrarunning – Tied to economic downturns, social media, and a longing for nature. 

[002600] Creative Crisis Management – On-set chaos mirrors ultrarunning — problem-solving, triage, and focus. 

[00:29:00] The Inner Standard – Why Andy always chooses the weirdest thing on the menu — and how that ethos shapes work and life. 

[00:33:00] Liquid Death as a Character, Not a Brand – Creative decisions come easier when you ask: “What would Liquid Death do?” 

[00:36:00] Dumb Ideas with Brilliant Logic – From $500 cookies to corpse-paint collabs — the genius of taking dumb ideas seriously.

[00:42:00] Contagious Fun & Inviting Others In – Why joy and playfulness are Liquid Death’s ultimate community-building tools. 

[00:47:00] Failing Forward: The Beauty of the DNF – Success is overrated — failure teaches more. Ultramarathons and comedy agree. 

[00:51:00] The Barkley Marathons: Designed to Break You – Andy’s firsthand account of the most infamous, unwinnable race in the world.

This week Brit talks with Chase Domergue and “I’m a Snake guy” and comedian Matt Keck about why now is the Golden Age of Comedy. This is The Furious Curious where we explore culture to inspire creators.

SOURCES:

https://www.vulture.com/article/edgy-comedy-special-signs.html

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/2014/07/04/siriusxm-fires-opie-anthony-host-over-tweets/30672587007/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyE3zoUMLgU

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-05-05/stand-up-comedy-has-tripled-in-size-over-the-last-decade

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/09/26/shane-gillis-fall-and-rise

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/02/magazine/tim-robinson-i-think-you-should-leave.html

https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/outstanding-a-comedy-revolution-release-date-news

https://news.pollstar.com/2022/10/11/a-golden-age-of-comedy/

https://www.vulture.com/article/new-stand-up-comedy-specials-this-month.html

MUSIC:

"King of Comedy (REM)"

©2024 The Furious Curious

Where logic fails and the odd prevails, let's embrace the strange and get inspired by the tales.

Today we're talking about High Strangeness: Why Studying the Bizarre Can Make You A Better Creative.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00: Intro

09:21: Synchronicities

21:54: Thin Places

33:04: Cryptids

46:41: Intent

1:03:44: Tulpas

1:13:42: Partnering with ChatGPT Creatively

1:19:06: Childlike Creativity

MUSIC:

"Teen Angst (M83)", "A Spell A Rebel Yell" (Coldplay), My Bloody Valentine (Only Shallow), "Teardrop" (Massive Attack), "Haru" (Fennesz & Ryuichi Sakamoto), "Fade Into You" (Mazzy Star)

©2024 The Furious Curious

Larger-than-life characters, thickening plots, fan engagement, vivid characters, clear messages, emotionality, overcoming adversity… This week we’re talking about pro wrestling and the power of narrative.

This is The Furious Curious podcast, where we explore culture to inspire creatives. I’m joined by recurring guest Matt Keck. Matt is the stand-up comedian behind the infamous and viral “I’m a Snake” video. He’s also one of the brilliant marketers behind the award-winning Wendy's Twitter account.

On the surface, pro wrestling may seem ham-fisted, undisciplined, or even low IQ — none of that is true. If that’s all you see, you may need to open your mind a bit or check your own IQ.

In this episode, we talk about how pro wrestlers are masters of narrative and branding, and what we can learn from these unassuming characters in the ring.

MUSIC:

"Gold-Lust" Goldust 4th Theme Song" (WWE), "Out of Touch" (Daryl Hall & John Oates).

SOURCES:

https://medium.com/@etthebrain/pro-wrestlings-perfect-prototype-for-social-media-storytelling-9912cab6bfb2

https://sayfun.medium.com/wrestling-with-stories-what-sweaty-people-in-tights-can-teach-us-about-storytelling-and-life-b396332fcf24#:~:text=Behind%20the%20camp%20and%20dumb,principles%20of%20storytelling%20remain%20universal.

https://www.reddit.com/r/WWE/comments/vxfrvt/unpopular_opinion_storytelling_is_more_important/

https://existentialcafe.blog/2020/09/01/professional-wrestling-and-identity-how-the-popularity-of-stone-cold-steve-austin-revealed-our-hidden-desires/

The term "Barbenheimer" is a portmanteau of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," two films that were released in theaters on the same day in July 2023. The term has been used to describe the cultural phenomenon of these two films competing for attention from audiences. This week, we drop #5ReasonsWhy #Barbenheimer is a thing and what it says about current culture. 

MUSIC:

"Aqua Barbie Girl Tiësto Remix (Tiësto)," Barbenheimer Song" (Sleeper).

SOURCES: Wikipedia

©2023 Britton Rice, Chase Domergue. Tin Whisper Media.

This episode dives into the fascinating world of adaptations, exploring how stories and characters are reimagined across different mediums. We'll discuss successful adaptations like "The Last of Us" and "Fallout," where the core strengths of the source material are translated effectively.

We'll also explore the flip side of the coin, examining infamous flops like the "Super Mario Bros." movie and "The Emoji Movie." We'll ask what makes a good adaptation and what pitfalls creators need to avoid.

But adaptation isn't limited to movies and TV! The episode will explore unexpected adaptations like historical events turned into graphic novels and news stories transformed into board games.

Join us as we explore the power of putting familiar stories in unfamiliar places, and the reasons why audiences crave this creative twist.

MUSIC:

"It's Not Living (If It's Not With You)" (The 1975), Super Mario Bros. (1993) Trailer #1, Limp Bizkit vs. Thomas The Tank Engine - Break Stuff

SOURCES:

https://www.socialpilot.co/social-media-terms/what-is-a-mashup

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_adaptation

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameo_appearance

https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/what-is-a-cameo-definition/

https://www.thegeeklygrind.com/archives/the-3-body-problem-adaptation-is-amazing-and-difficult-to-review

https://universityobserver.ie/the-evolution-of-the-video-game-adaptation/

https://slate.com/culture/2024/04/fallout-tv-show-series-amazon-prime-game.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/CharacterRant/comments/1684xw8/the_problem_with_adaptations_and_how_to_elevate_a/

https://www.quora.com/Why-are-film-adaptations-of-novels-or-other-written-works-more-popular-and-culturally-relevant-than-novels-adapted-from-films

https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/rtjl4c/comment/hqt4842/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/worst-movies-of-all-time/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_considered_the_worst

https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-movies-of-all-time/

https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgamecategory/1064/movies-tv-radio-theme/linkeditems/boardgamecategory?pageid=1&sort=rank

https://study.com/learn/lesson/satire-vs-parody-vs-spoof-overview-differences-examples.html

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8998.History_through_graphic_novels

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licensed_game

https://screenrant.com/worst-celebrity-cameos-movies-reddit/

https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_25_most_surprising_movie_cameos/s1__24376117#slide_22

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mugen_(game_engine)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinji_Mikami

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uwe_Boll

©2024 The Furious Curious

Gems, flops, and a new relationship with your moviegoer. This week, we're talking about A24 and the future of filmmaking.

SOURCES:

⁠https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/09/01/the-rise-and-rise-of-a24-a-champion-of-storytelling-on-screen⁠

⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/into-it-a-vulture-podcast-with-sam-sanders/id1634687152?i=1000574986502⁠

⁠https://www.vulture.com/article/a24-movies-ranked.html⁠

⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A24#Notes⁠

⁠Cinema Is Not Dead: The Rise Of A24 – COMICON⁠

⁠From Moonlight to Zola — the rise and rise of indie film studio A24 | Financial Times⁠

⁠https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/a24-halloween-costumes-inspiration-tiktok-1234619854/⁠

⁠https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/31/23433548/friday-the-13th-a24-bryan-fuller-crystal-lake-peacock-prequel⁠

This Is A Life" (Son Lux, Mitski, David Byrne).

For Apple Podcasts: 286281

Today we're talking about Sleep's New Frontier, with reoccurring guest, writer Chase Domergue."Sleep expert Matthew Walker on the secret to a good night’s rest" (Janan Ganesh, Finacial Times, 01/11/2019), "17 Proven Tips to Sleep Better at Night" (Rudy Mawer, MSc, CISSN, Healtline, 02/28/2020), "Why we're sleeping less" (By Madison Park, CNN, No date mentioned), "Working Americans Are Getting Less Sleep, Especially Those Who Save Our Lives" (10/28/2019), "Why are we so sleep deprived, and why does it matter?" (Michael S. Jaffee, The Conversation, 03/07/2018, 03/03/2020), "These Sleep Trends from Last Year Explain Why We’re All So Tired" (Casper Editorial Team, Casper.com, 02/17/2021), "Shipping Forecast Dreamland" (YouTube, Jayne Anne Strutt). BOOKS: Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams" Matthew Walker, Sleep Smarter by Shawn Stevenson, How do Sleep by Rafael Pelayo. MENTIONS: Apps: Breethe, Calm, Oak, Random Shipping Forecast Podcast. MUSIC: "Mr. Sandman" (performed by Pomplamoose). ©2024, ©2021 The Furious Curious

Hyper-niche styles and sub-cultures at the speed of social. Today talking about “The Core-Era." What’s a core? Why? And how does it define our styles in a new digital age.

TIMESTAMPS:

5:20 - Cores definition

8:54 - Reason #1: You and your people

13:52 - Reason #2: Going Bygone

15:28 - Rocking roll as a "culture"

18:28 - Men in finance loving Metal

19:47 - Punk Prep

21:31 - Reason #3: Going Counter Cult

22:45 - People who create culture

24:54 - Reason #4: Traveling at the speed of social

27:08 - Reason #5: REALITY BITES: escapism & fantasy

29:36 - Five Reasons Why Summary

30:45 - GAME: Let's Test The Sage of Danville: What is Bastard Core?

32:46 - GAME: Let's Test The Sage of Danville: What is Dark Error Core?

33:52 - GAME: Let's Test The Sage of Danville: TrenchCore

34:35 - GAME: Let's Test The Sage of Danville: Ground Core

35:14 - VoidCore

35:26 - TickerCore

36:00 - AnimeCore

36:46 - BarbieCore

36:52 - CraftCore

37:00 - VacationCore

37:24 - Coastal Grandmother-Core

38:38 - CleanCore, SafetyCore, SafetyGoth, High CleanCore, Low CleanCore

40:14 - Let's Test The Sage of Danville: BombaCore

42:06 - AuroraCore

42:36 - GnomeCore

43:12 - "Elevated Laziness"

44:50 - Brit and Chase play "Find Your Core Aesthetic" game

50:58 - Fast List of Cores

53:29 - Parting Thoughts

MUSIC:

"Silk Chiffon" (MUNA, Phoebe Bridgers), "Quesadilla Daddy" (Limousine), "Pumped Up Kicks [instrumental] (Foster the People), The Night We Met (Lord Huron)

SOURCES:

https://www.popbuzz.com/life/quizzes/core-aesthetic-quiz/

https://www.buzzfeed.com/popsicledog/core-aesthetic-quiz

https://uquiz.com/quiz/RDTg1l/which-core-aesthetic-are-you

https://www.gq.com/story/in-search-of-gnomecore

https://www.vogue.com/article/an-airy-styles-pinterest-board-to-help-you-get-and-stay-ethereal-in-2023

https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/List_of_Aesthetics

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2021/03/10353481/core-aesthetic-fashion-trends-tiktok

https://www.gawker.com/culture/the-new-trend-is-gnomecore

©2023, ©2024 The Furious Curious