Question Everything

Part interview, part therapy, part Price Is Right, the Question Everything podcast puts your favorite CMOs and thought leaders in the hot seat. Question Everything is hosted by Ashley Walters, CMO and partner at Curiosity: an independent, full-service creative agency based in Cincinnati.

Question Everything is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 45 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Question Everything, a business show with 45 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  Episode #11

  The indie agency advantage: What CMOs need to know with Ad Age Executive Editor Judy Pollack

  Sep 8, 202641 minS3

  The indie agency advantage: What CMOs need to know with Ad Age Executive Editor Judy Pollack As Ad Age's Executive Editor, Judy Pollack has her finger on the pulse of the biggest campaigns across the marketing industry. In addition to breaking major industry news, she also helps determine which shops deserve a spot on Ad Age's coveted A-List and Small Agency Awards. In this episode of Question Everything, we got the scoop on why small indie agencies are gaining ground, how they're earning the attention of major brands, and what helps the best shops stand out in an increasingly crowded landscape. What you'll learn in this episode: The difference between being a reporter in the 80s and now The story Judy and Ad Age regret holding Why social-first thinking is starting to drive the brief How CMOs should invest in social What the ad industry is losing with the disappearance of legacy HoldCos What CMOs need to understand about the new wave of super independents The biggest industry story Judy has broken at Ad Age How small agencies get on Ad Age's radar Why half of this year's A-list winners were independents What the best CMOs have in common Resources: Connect with Judy on LinkedIn Subscribe to Ad Age for the latest marketing news See Small Agency winner, Conscious Minds social campaign that captured Ad Age's attention Timestamps: 0:00 Intro 1:17 Meet Ad Age Executive Editor Judy Pollack 4:33 A surprise from American Idol winner David Cook 5:31 Advertising's wildest "Mad Men" days 8:41 The story Ad Age wishes it broke 11:01 Why social-first is taking over advertising 14:06 What's lost when legendary agencies disappear 16:18 What CMOs need to know about indie agencies 19:36 Breaking one of advertising's biggest stories 22:38 How to get your agency on Ad Age's radar 26:00 Are indie agencies beating the holding companies? 28:00 Why holding companies should fear indies 29:00 What makes a CMO interesting to the press 31:00 The biggest change in advertising since the '80s 34:00 The pitches Ad Age actually wants to receive 34:45 Why CMOs should let their agencies pitch the press 37:00 This or That with Judy Pollack 40:00 Judy's advice for getting in touch with Ad Age

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #10

  The growth playbook behind Mike & Ike's We Got'chew with Meenakshi Trehan, Chief Growth Officer at Just Born

  Aug 4, 202641 minS3

  The growth playbook behind Mike & Ike's We Got'Chew with Meenakshi Trehan, Chief Growth Officer at Just Born Meenakshi Trehan is responsible for growing some of the most iconic candy brands in the world, including MIKE AND IKE, PEEPS, HOT TAMALES and GOLDENBERG'S PEANUT CHEWS. As Chief Growth Officer at Just Born, she's helping beloved brands with decades-long histories find new ways to show up for today's consumers. In this episode of Question Everything with Meenakshi, we cover how MIKE AND IKE turned a product truth into the "We Got'Chew" brand campaign platform, the best ways to modernize legacy brands, and celebrity partnerships that actually build brand equity. What you'll learn in this episode: How legacy brands should (and should not) use their heritage How MIKE AND IKE and Curiosity arrived at the new "We Got'Chew Platform" The four keys for a successful legacy brand Meenakshi's proven leadership advice for CMOs Why Knicks player Josh Hart was named President of Candy Operations The story behind Kenan Thompson's directorial debut for MIKE AND IKE's We Got'chew How family-owned companies like Just Born can outperform corporate machines Balancing playful creative with meaningful business results Resources: Learn more about MIKE AND IKE and Curiosity's We Got'Chew campaign Meet Josh Hart, MIKE AND IKE's President of Candy Operations See how PEEPS ignited social during this year's big game Learn more about the family-owned company, Just Born Connect with Meenakshi on LinkedIn

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #42

  How brands can find better insights with Adam Wilson, Co-Founder of D/CAL

  Jul 7, 202641 minS1

  Adam Wilson has spent his career helping brands stand out. After years at creative agencies and a stint leading brand marketing at Carhartt, he now leads strategy and creative at D/CAL, the agency he co-founded with Tony Hawk. In this episode of Question Everything, Adam shares why so many CMOs struggle to differentiate their brand, how brands can think like creators to earn attention, and how CMOs can get the most from their agency partners. What you'll learn in this episode: How CMOs are being set up to fail and what agencies can do to help Why you can't rely on quantitative data to differentiate your brand Why you need to differentiate further upstream The best use case for AI in agencies Why there should be some pushback in your agency relationship Why D/CAL's advisory board is filled with cultural tastemakers like Skateboarder Tony Hawk and Music Producer Paul Blair Why brands need to start thinking like creators What CMOs get wrong about Creatives and what Creatives get wrong about CMOs Resources: Learn more about D/CAL on their website See D/CAL's advisory board Check out D/CAL's latest work Connect with Adam on LinkedIn

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #41

  The questions every winning pitch must answer with presentation coach Ben Levy

  Jun 2, 202635 minS1

  Like most creatives in ad land, Ben was taught how to make great work, not how to sell it. He let his work "speak for itself" until he realized that great ideas don't win unless they've got a great pitch behind them. With few actionable frameworks or guides available, he took matters into his own hands, teaching himself the art of pitching. That journey led him to build a 10-session course, author two books, and coach some of the industry's top creatives on how to "sell it great." In this episode of Question Everything, Ben shares how to uncover the invisible brief every client has, shake off presentation nerves, and answer the four questions a pitch must address to win. What you'll learn in this episode: What the client's invisible brief is and how to solve it The four or five motivations your clients have behind the work The most powerful tool for presenters, and how to use it Why you should get comfortable with silence in presentations Two exercises to shake off nerves before big presentations How a presentation changes when it's virtual vs in-person How to stop "hiding behind your deck" The four questions you must answer for a winning pitch Resources: Learn more about Ben and his Sell It Great program on his website Get a copy of Stop Reading Slides, Ben's guide to creative presentations Plan your next creative presentation with Ben's Practical Pitch Planner Find more on REI's #OptOutside Black Friday campaign Connect with Ben on LinkedIn

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #7

  What it takes for brands to break through with strategist Heidi Hackemer

  May 5, 202650 minS3

  What it takes for brands to break through with Heidi Hackemer, Principal of Hackemer Heidi Hackemer is the Principal of strategy consultancy Hackemer, where she fearlessly tackles the brand world's most interesting challenges. Her approach to breakthrough strategy isn't flashy – it's rooted in the fundamentals. From Google and Nike to the Obama White House, she's started every assignment the same way: the 4C's framework, a whiteboard, and a Diet Coke. In this episode of Question Everything, Heidi shares what brands can do to create space in a crowded landscape, what legacy brands need to make a comeback, and why CMOs need to be the bravest people in the room for a brand to grow. What you'll learn in this episode: The thinking behind Oatly's infamous "Wow No Cow" Super Bowl spot Heidi's big win for the Obama's comms department The three dimensions of a breakthrough campaign Why Unilever allowed Axe to scale with minimal oversight Why CMOs who are cautious are pissing money away Why you should listen to classical music when building presentation decks How to use the 4C's framework for both legacy and challenger brands What legacy brand who has lost their way but can make a comeback Heidi's proudest career moment and one she'd re-do. Resources: Watch Oatly's 'Wow No Cow' Super Bowl spot Hear more from Heidi on her Substack Learn more about Hackemer Connect with Heidi on LinkedIn

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on Question Everything. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.