Explore every episode of the podcast Ugly, Irresponsible, & Childish

In this episode Jeremy, Marc, and guest Kristen Lisanti unpack the ‘drama triangle’—victim, villain, hero—and show leaders how to replace reactivity with three practical practices: co‑creating, challenging, and coaching. Drawing on agency stories and neuroscience-informed culture work, they explain how small leadership shifts can turn survival cultures into creative, high‑performing ecosystems.

Listeners will learn red flags to watch for, how to hold tough conversations without falling into blame, and where to start when change must come from the top.

Hosts Jeremy & Marc unpack the damaging rise of procurement in marketing — from unpaid agency pitches and re-bids to opaque fee battles and stolen ideas.

They share firsthand stories about lost accounts, the pressure to cut creative work to fit budgets, and practical ideas for how agencies might respond.

Listen to them connect all this back to terrorism. Prepare for head-shaking moments and a lot of whining. Fun!!!

Concluding their run with Joe Eszterhas, Marc and Jeremy sit down with and discuss Joe's more recent work, sudden throat cancer diagnosis, risky surgery, and a long recovery.

Joe reflects on the role of his wife Naomi and a renewed faith, his anti-smoking campaign, the return to writing, and the hard-won lessons for creatives: write the work in your heart and never give up.

In Part 4 of the Joe Eszterhas sessions, the Hollywood screenwriter behind Music Box recounts how his film about Hungarian warcrimes unexpectedly echoed his own family history when his father became the target of a U.S. investigation. The conversation traces the shock of discovery, the collapse of their relationship, and the moral and emotional fallout.

Hosts Jeremy & Marc frame the story around creativity, risk, and the personal costs of art, closing with a look ahead to Joe’s later cancer battle and spiritual renewal.

Joe Eszterhas joins hosts Marc  and Jeremy to revisit the defining Hollywood moments of his career — from mentorship under Norman Jewison and hard-fought battles with Sylvester Stallone to the controversy, criticism, and commercial highs and lows that shaped his work.

Tune in for candid stories about creative clashes, the power dynamics of agents like Michael Ovitz, moral ambiguity in storytelling, and the personal choices that ultimately led Joe away from Hollywood and back to a different life.

On today's episode, Jeremy & Marc continue their conversation with Hollywood legend Joe Eszterhas as he recounts breaking the My Lai photos, his rise at Rolling Stone, and his leap into films. Joe discusses creative risks, clashes with studios and stars, the ‘twisted little man’ in his work, and notorious unproduced scripts like Sacred Cows.

Joe's topics include Vietnam, Rocky Balboa, Hunter S. Thompson and more. Jeremy & Marc also tease a future episode about a family secret and Joe’s battle with stage-four throat cancer, promising a deeper, more personal conversation next time.

Hosts Jeremy & Marc sit down with Hollywood legend and best-selling author Joe Eszterhas to trace his extraordinary life and career — from living in Hungarian refugee camps to becoming the sold-out, record-setting writer behind films like Basic Instinct, Flashdance, and Jagged Edge.

The episode covers Eszterhas' early years as a journalist, encounters with music icons, his creative process and themes of good versus evil, enduring risk-taking in Hollywood, and advice for young writers.

It happens. That idea you so loved and believed in crashes and burns. How do you handle the embarrassment, the bruised credibility, theshaken confidence? Marc and Jeremy feel your pain and have the creative battles scars to prove it. In the words of Good Will Hunting’s Sean Maguire, “It’s not your fault.” 

The duo discuss creative failure, resilience, and how to recover credibility after an idea tanks. They announce the show’s move to video and preview a multi-part interview series with Hollywood screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, covering his remarkable life, career highs and lows, and lessons about creativity.

The episode blends candid industry stories, practical tips for bouncing back, and reflections on taking risks—offering listeners guidance and encouragement for anyone who presents ideas and faces rejection.

In today's episode, Jeremy & Marc reflect on the people who shaped their careers—mentors, bosses, clients, and unexpected influences. Through candid stories about fear, trust, and boldness, they explore how relationships and moments of failure forged their creative approach.

They share lessons from a brilliant but intimidating leader, a renegade mentor who taught them to be daring, a manager who put people first, and a client who enforced discipline. The episode highlights the importance of having a boss who has your back, learning from everyone, and embracing risk to produce original work.

Hosts Marc and Jeremy share their top picks for three categories of Super Bowl 60 ads: Ugly ones, Irresponsible ones, and delightfully Childish ones. They call out celebrity-packed flops, awkward AI/de-aging work, and wasted big-budget moments, while praising standout spots like Liquid Death, Manscaped, and Redfin.

This episode mixes sharp critiques, business perspective, and honest laughs as the hosts debate which ads landed and which should have spent their money elsewhere.

Give it a listen to find out which brands fumbled, which played it perfectly, and which tossed Hail Mary passes.

In this episode of Ugly, Irresponsible, and Childish, we explore the unrelenting pursuit of creativity and the workplace cultures that either celebrate or suffocate it.

In this episode of Ugly, Irresponsible, and Childish, hosts Marc Levy and Jeremy Baka sit down with industry veteran Bob Osmond to discuss leadership, coaching, psychological safety, career transitions, and practical ways agencies can protect creativity while driving results.

Shut up. No Dancing. Kill the robots. Long live humans. No, this isn’t some dystopian novel. It’s the latest “Ugly, Irresponsible & Childish” episode featuring the straight-talking Dos and Don’t of presentations and sales pitches.

Marc & Jeremy deliver a candid guide to presenting. Drawing on real pitch stories, they explain how to read the room, sell your humanity instead of a hard sell, and choose when to rehearse or improvise.

This episode covers concrete do's and don'ts: know your audience, don’t over-rehearse, invite questions early, use short personal stories to make ideas stick, and above all—shut up and listen.

Welcome back, listeners! In our long-awaited 2026 debut, Jeremy and Marc return to discuss how fake ideas—empty taglines, celebrity-dependent campaigns, and superficial marketing tactics—undermine true creativity and brand strategy. They share personal stories from agency life, critique examples, and explain why ideas must ladder to the brand, not just a catchy line or influencer.

They also explore how celebrities can boost recall yet overshadow the brand, and tease an upcoming video episode featuring a legendary guest.

Marc and Jeremy do a 2025 year-end wrap up, along with a 2026 prediction about brands that might just cause some anger issues. Which, strangely enough, is the whole point.

In accordance with universal law, Marc and Jeremy share their annual holiday gift-guide ideas, leading not only to some great gift ideas for that special creative someone, but also hallucinogenic exchanges about huffing, Bone Music, QWERTY and The Wizard of Oz. 

Below are the links to all the gifts we mentioned. And again, NO — we’re not getting a damn cent!

Thai Herbal Inhaler

Sphere Tix

The Book We Wish We Had

1440.com

Astropad Rock Paper Pencil

Printomatic Full-Color Instant Print Digital Camera

Custom Viewfinder Reel

Qwerkywriter

Bone Music

Hosts Jeremy Baka and Marc Levy continue part two of their interview with David Gluckman, a forty-year drinks industry veteran who created memorable brands like Bailey's, Sheridan's, The Singleton, and Smirnoff Black.

David shares behind-the-scenes stories about product development, marketing missteps, the value of ownership, how committees can strangle ideas, and practical takes on AI and design tools. He emphasizes the single-minded creative approach—"go for one answer"—and warns against failing expensively.

While sipping that Baileys Irish Cream, Smirnoff Black, or Tanqueray Ten this holiday, remember: somebody had to invent those delightful drinks—and his name is David. Author of “That Sh** Will Never Sell,” David Gluckman shares amazing tales of imaginating, formulating, making and marketing of some of the world’s most recognized spirits brands during the Mad-Men era, including the “one” rule that, even today, he never breaks when presenting to clients.

They dig into product invention, when to trust instincts over research, the power of committing to one bold idea, and lessons from a 40‑year global career in making iconic beverages.

A child faced with imminent incineration, the menacing stare of a creepy old man and deranged laughter. Hollywood’s next thriller? Hardly. They’re political ads. In this Election Day special, Marc and Jeremy discuss and dissect some of the nation’s most unforgettable campaign ads.

The hosts analyze these ads without taking political sides, consider how ads become cultural contagions, and invite a political strategist for a follow-up episode to deepen the discussion.

In this Part 2 episode of Presentation Horror Stories, Marc and Jeremy host two mystery guests who dish about a major grocery store chain. Listen in as the guests share what it feels like to have 17 clients in a room using your agency pitch team as their very own human pinatas.

The brief arrived through a third party with no clear budget, competing regional stakeholders (17 people in the room), and a disconnect between the agency's digital focus and the client’s in-store priorities. Communication gaps, lack of a client champion, and an incumbent agency ultimately doomed the effort.

Takeaways are simple: be selective about pitches, confirm scope and stakeholders before you present, win relationships before the room, and don’t be afraid to re-level set when a pitch veers off course.

“If it scares you,” declared marketing guru Seth Godin, “it might be a good thing to try.”  In this episode, Marc and Jeremy share some of the scariest ideas they've ever presented, including those that were killed on contact and others that cheated death to become legend.

They draw on industry data about risk-taking, debate how to present edgy ideas, and explain why simplicity, timing, and internal champions matter when trying to sell the unthinkable.

Listeners are invited to learn from these wins and flops and share their own scary creative stories.

Up to two-thirds of companies rely on earned media placements to drive business and awareness for their products, services and messaging. 

Most of them do it wrong, resulting in wasted time, worthless creativity and squandered budgets.

On this week’s episode of Ugly, Irresponsible & Childish, earned-media expert Heidi Donato talks about the 25 years she spent honing the Art of the Media Pitch, resulting in headline-grabbing stories for everything from Coke to Colgate, Walmart to Weight Watchers, Rolls-Royce to Royal Caribbean and more. She'll discuss pitching strategies, story development, timing, and the evolving roles of AI, celebrities, and reporters.

Heidi shares real-world examples—from low-tech phones and Paralympic travel to veteran advocacy—about turning mundane briefs into meaningful coverage and the importance of bringing media planners in early. 

In this episode, Jeremy and Mark welcome earned media expert Heidi Donato to discuss pitching strategies, story development, timing, and the evolving roles of AI, celebrities, and reporters. Heidi shares real-world examples—from low-tech phones and Paralympic travel to veteran advocacy—about turning mundane briefs into meaningful coverage and the importance of bringing media planners in early. Practical advice for agencies and PR pros on how to craft media-worthy stories and measure success.

Seven out of 10 employees feel guilty about taking time off, with 38% missing a major event in their child’s life because of work-related obligations (an additional 10% say they were even interrupted at a funeral).

The ugly Catch-22 is that employees also believe that a mental health day is no reason to miss work, with almost two-thirds claiming their boss would judge them for that.

When does your life or selfcare take precedence over work? Or does it? If there’s a line, how do we know when it’s crossed and what can we do about it without seeming selfish or weak?

In this week’s episode of Ugly, Irresponsible and Childish, Marc and Jeremy chat with Dr. Jackie Sasloff, a licensed therapist with three decades of helping people navigate the blurry line of work-life balance. They discuss the rise of guilt, anxiety, missed family moments, and why self-care is often neglected.

Dr. Sasloff offers practical guidance — validate feelings, check the facts, use DBT interpersonal skills like "turn the tables," brainstorm real solutions, clarify personal values, and communicate with supervisors to create sustainable boundaries.

Join us for Part II of Jeremy's & Marc's conversation with Rob Poetsch! Rob discuss Taco Bell’s transformation into a lifestyle brand, the role of risk in creative work, and how crisis management influenced campaign approvals.

They share behind-the-scenes stories — including the Taco Bell Hotel and Feed the Beat — explore agency-client tensions, and offer practical advice for building strong, effective partnerships.

Working collaboratively with its agencies, Taco Bell has turned its fans into cult-like followers and its brand into a cultural juggernaut. In this two-part episode of Ugly, Irresponsible and Childish, Marc and Jeremy get former Taco Bell Senior Director of Global Communications Rob Poetsch to dish on the tricks, tips, truths and teachings that make Taco Bell’s creative campaigns impossible to ignore and twice as hard to forget.

 

Listen to Rob's thoughts about how creativity moves from agency ideas to client approval, the business constraints that shape bold campaigns, the role of franchisees, managing controversy, and practical tips for clearer briefs and closer agency-client collaboration.

Do brainstorms work? Do the best ideas happen when you’re sharing and vibing with a group, or when you’re quietly ideating on your own? Marc and Jeremy share opposing views, drawing on their collective experience hosting and participating in more brainstorms than Vegas has bachelor parties.

They explore hybrid approaches — solo ideation plus structured group sessions — practical facilitation tips (prework, anonymous notes, rotating boards), virtual tools like jam boards and ChatGPT, and how to include clients without killing creativity.

Ultimately they conclude neither method is perfect: create safe rooms, set clear expectations, and combine individual thinking with guided group riffing to get better ideas.

Stephen Colbert vs. CBS, Elon Musk vs. Sam Altman, Taylor Swift vs. John Mayor, Nicki Minaj, Kanye West, Katy Perry...almost everybody has held a grudge at least once in their life. But is that a bad thing? Join Marc and Jeremy as they explore the complicated world of grudges, while casting some shade of their own.

In this engaging episode, the duo explores the power of holding grudges, sharing personal anecdotes and professional experiences that highlight how bitterness and rivalry can both hinder and enhance creative processes.

They candidly discuss their own grudges from their careers, recounting specific incidents where competitive spirit and unresolved resentment spurred them to greater heights or led to regrettable actions. With references to famous rivalries and historical grudges that sparked innovation, Marc and Jeremy probe whether grudges can be a secret weapon in the creative industry.

The hosts also ponder if their professional rivals hold grudges against them, revealing personal introspections and growth. Join them for an emotional rollercoaster filled with humor, honesty, and insight into the complexities of grudges in the world of marketing and beyond.

Without villains there can be no heroes. In this episode of "Ugly and Irresponsible and Childish," marketing industry veterans Jeremy Baka and Marc Levy delve into the art of storytelling and the crucial role of villains within it. They explore the dynamics of creativity, discussing how villains and antagonism can add depth and intrigue to brand narratives. From the intricacies of villainous characters in movies to the more subtle adversaries in brand storytelling, this conversation highlights why every brand needs a villain to truly shine as a hero.

Listen in as Marc and Jeremy give the devils their due, exploring the real and metaphorical villains that turn ordinary stories and campaigns into captivating tales of toil and triumph.

Two senior marketing creatives explore a topic that has caused more debate than Ross and Rachel’s break up. Can you teach creativity? Or is it a gift only manifested by those with tattoos, black-rimmed glasses, and an ego? Your refrigerator might have the answer.

Drawing from personal experiences and listener feedback, the duo discuss the common misconceptions and truths about creativity, emphasizing that it is not an innate talent but a skill that can be cultivated.

They explore how an open and tolerant environment encourages creative expression by sharing insights from industry veterans and leading psychologists. The conversation shifts into practical exercises, highlighting the importance of nurturing a curious mindset and practicing creative habits. As they recount stories of innovation, they highlight the importance of curiosity, openness to new ideas, and the courage to explore the uncharted.

Engage with their candid discussions as they challenge the conventional boundaries that restrict creative growth, offering encouragement and real-world advice to enhance creativity in both professional and personal settings. Join this creative journey and discover how you can unlock your creative potential.

In this episode, Jeremy & Marc dive into the messy, often misunderstood world of creative conflict. We'll explore how creative minds can clash, causing friction not only among themselves but also with account teams, leading to what many perceive as stifling disputes. They'll examine why creative conflict is natural and inevitable, and how it can be harnessed for better creative solutions.

The discussion also highlights the delicate balance of authority between account and creative teams, stressing the importance of keeping discussions collaborative and emphasize that the history of creative conflict at companies like Apple illustrates how differing opinions can ultimately enrich the creative process.

As “Creatives” dominate the world stage, the true marketing heroes sit dutifully off-stage, quietly sifting through data, culture, and conversations to unearth powerful human truths that are the nucleus of every great idea. Marc and Jeremy celebrate Planners—“The First Creatives.” The rare few who understand the difference between an insight and an observation. And roast those who pretend to know the difference…and give us garbage.

From Apple’s “Crush” ad to Bumble’s cheeky celibacy billboard, even the slightest backlash has brands pulling ads faster than Oscar planners pulling a Will Smith invitation. But what constitutes “backlash” from just everyday social media whining? And who decides? Is backlash an important check on unhinged marketing campaigns or an existential threat to creativity? Jeremy and Marc attempt to separate the bullshit from the backlash, undoubtedly sparking some backlash of their own.

Studies show that up to 80% of business presentations fail. While we can’t blame Marc and Jeremy for all of those, they’ve certainly seen their share. Listen as the pair pulls lessons and learnings from their own crash-and-burns in front of the Fortune 500. With a focus on the presentations that disastrously veer off course, they share personal anecdotes and explore whether it's possible to recover and win the business despite critical missteps.

Listeners are invited to hear tales of logistical nightmares, miscommunications, and the pitfalls of trying to meet client expectations while maintaining authenticity. Tune in for a candid discussion on facing the pressure of high-stakes presentations and learning from every cringeworthy moment. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to navigate the complex world of client communications without losing their nerve.

In this thought-provoking episode of Ugly, Irresponsible, and Childish, Marc and Jeremy pull back the curtain on the marketing industry’s premiere award show, wondering if it should be called Cannes Lions or Con Lions, debating how 10 mere humans can judge 1,500 entries, each with more impressions than Starbucks has beans.

The hosts share personal experiences and insights about the pressure to obtain these accolades and the ethics involved in award entries. They challenge the norm and call for a reevaluation of what these awards represent, encouraging listeners to consider if the effort and resources spent on award submissions could be better allocated.

Join Marc and Jeremy as they critically assess the impact of awards on client relationships, agency reputation, and the broader industry, while humorously dissecting the biases and truths lurking beneath the shiny surface of award trophies.