Workbook Radio – Details, episodes & analysis

Doug Truppe is a creative talent agent specializing in the representation, marketing, and management of award-winning commercial Photographers and Directors. Gabriel Most is a licensed social worker and registered nurse who is interested in how our minds work and helps clients restore balance in their lives and move forward mindfully.  Together, they've created the blog series Leading Life to empower, elevate and foster a sense of community for those employed in the advertising industry.

On this episode, I talk to the duo about how they came up with Leading Life, what they've learned from the process, and what they have planned for the project in the future.

Content warning: We discuss the subject of suicide in this interview.

 

Discover the Leading Life blog here.

 

 

About our guests:

Doug Truppe Represents is a creative talent agency specializing in the representation, marketing, and management of award-winning commercial Photographers and Directors domestically and internationally in a variety of categories.

Doug's mission is that we provide the best services to ensure our client's goals are achieved with the greatest success. We devote a high level of attention to every project and handle all aspects of negotiations, management and production services. It is our commitment to excellence that has culminated in many years of service to our loyal clients.

Doug's website.

Gabriel Most LCSW, RN has always been interested in how our minds work and what motivates us. He has worked as an LCSW in Hospital, Hospice, and Outpatient settings for over twenty years with adults, couples, and families. For the last ten years, he has also worked as a Registered nurse (RN) as an adjunct to his Therapeutic practice, incorporating wellness techniques and practices for daily life. He has also taught Mental Health Care to RN students.

"As someone who was born outside of the U.S., whose first language was not English, and as a gay person, I suffered from low self-esteem and the challenges of identifying with a marginalized sexual orientation. It was only when I went to college and volunteered as a peer counselor working with those challenged by addiction, depression, grief, and PTSD that I began the journey of being comfortable in my skin. Through my mental health journey, I embarked on the work of finding my voice, feeling relaxed and proud of my own identity, and then advocating for those who also felt marginalized, unseen, or stereotyped. This process also allowed me to fine-tune my skills when it came to questions of self-identity. I took this passion and went to Hunter College School of Social Work to obtain my LCSW and then later my RN at Phillips Beth Israel School of Nursing so that I could help people explore the connections between caring for the mind and body as a partnership to ensure maximum success and life balance."

Gabriel's website.

On this episode, we talk with photographer, videographer, and filmmaker, Heather Eidson, about going from photojournalism to higher educational marketing, her love of filmmaking, and how she incorporates balance and mindfulness in her career and everyday life.

About Heather...

Hello! I am a photographer, videographer and filmmaker with a passion for creating stories that bring awareness and spark change. My camera has since taken me on adventures in the higher education and corporate sectors where I worked at Loyola University Chicago as a multimedia producer, and later at Walker Sands, a B2B integrated PR and marketing agency, as the video lead.  

As an entrepreneur, I continue to photograph, film and produce a variety of projects in the non-profit, education and corporate sectors locally and beyond. Whether capturing still imagery, working as DP, producer or editor for client video projects, or producing/editing a documentary film, I seek to produce work with client goals in mind that inspire others to connect, contemplate and act.

Heather's Workbook portfolio.

Heather's website.

Internationally recognized advertising photographer and director Dennis Murphy has shot on four continents for clients including Ducati, American Airlines and the Dallas Cowboys.

On this episode we talk about his new adventure, his non-profit My Hand My Cause, Inc., a fundraising initiative that uses the power of celebrity, along with fine art photography, to raise money for existing charities. 

View Dennis Murphy's portfolio here.

Learn more about My Hand My Cause, Inc. here.

Felipe Simi is founder, CEO and Creative Chairman at SOKO, a 7-year-old independent agency in Brazil. Earlier this year SOKO made headlines when they partnered with Heinz Brazil to release the country's first safe red tattoo ink. I sat down with Felipe to talk about why he started SOKO, what it's like working with global brands, hiring international talent, and how diversity and inclusion truly permeates his agency.
  To find out more about SOKO visit soko.cx both online and on instagram.     

Brian Carlson is photographer and filmmaker with over a decade of experience and a passion for storytelling. On this episode, Brian talks about his time in Africa and how it's shaped him both professionally and personally, as well as his fascination of subcultures which has led him from carnivals to lawnmower racing.

View Brian's work here.

About Brian:

I'm a photographer and filmmaker with a passion for storytelling, it's that simple. With over a decade of experience, I bring a warm and engaging approach to my work, capturing moments and creating narratives that resonate with audiences. Through extensive travel, I've developed a deep empathy and understanding of people from all walks of life, which is reflected in my photography and films.

Whether leading large crews, working solo, or behind the scenes, I'm comfortable in any setting and always deliver exceptional results. When not working, I find rejuvenation in nature, a good book, or spending time in my modest garden. I value meaningful conversations and cherish time with my wife and three boys, who are the pride and joy of my life. With a focus on honesty and authenticity, I'm dedicated to crafting stories that make a lasting impact and connect with people on a deeper level.

In 2023, Goodby Silverstein & Partners created the Doritos Super Bowl spot featuring Jack Harlow, Missy Elliott, and Elton John.

On this episode, I sat down with GS&P's Chief Creative Officer and Partner, Margaret Johnson, to talk all things Super Bowl. It's a behind the scenes into what it takes to get from concept to the big game, and beyond.

About Margaret Johnson:

Margaret is a 25-year veteran of GS&P and leads the agency's Creative department, a position she assumed in 2015 after being named a partner in 2012. In 2016 she was named the agency's first Chief Creative Officer.

Under her leadership, GS&P was named the "Most Innovative Advertising Agency" and the 36th "Most Innovative Company" in the world by Fast Company in 2021, "Agency of the Year" by Campaign and Forbes with Ad Age picking the agency as a runner-up to "Agency of the Year" in 2019 and 2020. In 2021 Ad Age crowned Margaret "Chief Creative Officer of the Year" and Campaign named Margaret "Creative Person of the Year." Over the years, she has been recognized as one of the industry's top chief creative officers by Forbes, Business Insider, Adweek and The Drum.

Margaret serves on the board of the One Show, was a founding member of the 3% conference and co-founded non-profit Daughters of the Evolution with her daughter, Vivian, who was nine years-old at the time. In 2019, the non-profit created Lessons in HerStory, an app that was launched at SXSW and uses augmented reality to celebrate stories of women typically omitted from history textbooks. Over the past year, the app won every coveted creative award, including Gold Cannes Lions and the prestigious White Pencil at D&AD.

About GS&P:

We are a creative company that puts people at the center of everything we do. We work with both clients and consumers in an atmosphere of honesty and truth, wiping away preconceptions and learning together.  

Our mission is to create experiences that reach millions and even billions, but seem to speak only to you. We call this effect mass intimacy.

The smarter, braver work that results from this approach brings people closer to our clients' businesses, gets them to care, and urges them to take action. Because great work is only great if it reaps results.

As a Chicago-based photographer and filmmaker, Alex Garcia excels in crafting storytelling moments for brands and organizations that are both candid and intimate. On this episode, Alex talks about his process of connecting with his subjects and his mission to be a bridge connecting communities in both his personal and professional work. 
  About Alex Garcia:   As a Midwest/Chicago-based photographer and filmmaker, Alex Garcia is steeped in the art of crafting "real people" storytelling moments for brands and organizations that are emotional, candid and real. 

With a background as a photojournalist, he learned through thousands of assignments how to bring out the best in a wide range of real people and situations. His creative work has won many national and international awards, including team awards such as a Titanium Lion at the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity and a Pulitzer Prize.  

His company Three Story Media specializes in authentic storytelling, scaling up productions depending on scope and complexity of client needs.  

Fluent in Spanish and of Cuban descent, Alex produces photography workshops to Cuba where he curates photographic experiences for creatives interested in exploring the culture and building bridges to the isolated island. 

More information can be found at alexandergarcia.com. Alex is represented by the Gren Group.    LINKS www.alexandergarcia.com www.cubaworkshops.com

On this episode, Photographer/Director John Fedele talks to us about pivoting from Art Director to Commercial Photographer, his new work with Staples, his new rep, and looking ahead at the advertising landscape.   About John Fedele:   "I'm a photographer & director based in the Midwest shooting still and motion lifestyle imagery anywhere my projects take me. My work focuses on the ordinary moments in life and elevates them into something soulful with a modern twist. I bring a friendly, positive vibe to every set putting everyone at ease resulting in an environment perfect for creating and shooting natural moments. It's about energy, fun and doing whatever it takes to capture a great shot. My projects are a team effort with production resources across North America so no matter shooting in a remote location, a major city or anywhere in between, you're in good hands and we're going to create some stellar imagery together. If it feels less like work and more like play then we're doing it right. Crank up the music and let's shoot!"   Click here to visit his website.   Click here to visit his Workbook portfolio.

  On this episode, commercial food and beverage photographer/director Felicia Perretti talks about some of her projects, from Dominos in Abu Dhabi to aluminum foil in her own kitchen, and how she uses linkedin, promo pieces, and photo contests all as part of her marketing strategy.    About Felicia:

Felicia Perretti is a commercial food and beverage photographer and director based in New York City. She works nationally with food and beverage clients in advertising, packaging, editorial, and video. She has worked with food and drink in all shapes and knows how to craft the right team to get the job done! Her passion for food and beverage shine through on set as well as outside of work in her everyday life. Whether it's trying new restaurants, traveling, or cooking with her husband Joe. Send her an email or give a call to discuss your next project, she would be more than happy to chat!

https://www.perrettiphotography.com/

 

 

On this episode, The Martin Agency's first ever Chief Revenue Officer Tasha Dean talks about the The 50/50 Initiative, a pledge made by the agency to hire, "a minimum of 50% creative talent from underrepresented groups with regards to gender, race, ethnicity, ability and LGBTQI+ for all video content production."

In part 2, Tasha talks about the search for diverse talent, what's ahead for Martin, how commercial artists can embrace the "beyond the reel" mentality, and leaning into risk.

About Tasha Dean:

Tasha's a human springboard. She never backs down and always finds a way—and you can't help but want to do the unimaginable with her. As Chief Revenue Officer (and former EVP and Head of Production) at The Martin Agency, Tasha's fingerprints and tenacity are etched in how they create content at the speed of culture in partnership with SuperJoy—a 360 creative playground for all sorts of makers and bright minds. Her client roster over the years includes global brand such as: Nissan, Visa, Apple, Gatorade, McDonald's, Michelin, Kraft, Johnson & Johnson, H&M, Travelers and Accenture. She has also received accolades from Cannes Lions, One Show, Webbys, Clios, ADDYs and the London International Awards.