Just a Chat With

In this episode of "Just a Chat With," host Andrew Dobbie speaks with Siobhan Mackenzie, an award-winning Scottish fashion designer known for her unique approach to contemporary Scottish dress. Siobhan shares her journey from a young girl sketching designs in the Black Isle to dressing celebrities like Justin Bieber and Shania Twain. She discusses the importance of her heritage and how it influences her work, particularly in creating bespoke kilts that blend tradition with modernity. Siobhan also reflects on the challenges of being a solo entrepreneur, the significance of mentorship, and the impact of her upbringing on her creative process.The conversation delves into Siobhan's experiences in the fashion industry, including her education, the importance of practical skills, and the hurdles she faced in establishing her brand. She emphasises the value of storytelling in fashion and how her designs are rooted in personal narratives. As she prepares for the upcoming Commonwealth Games, where she will design the official tartan and outfits for Team Scotland, Siobhan highlights the pride she feels in representing her country through her work. The episode is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of following one's passion.KeywordsScottish fashion, Siobhan Mackenzie, contemporary dress, entrepreneurship, fashion design, Commonwealth Games, storytelling in fashion, kilts, heritage, creativityTakeaways"I decided I would be a fashion designer with great confidence at 10 years old!""Fashion style is very subjective; not everyone is going to like the same thing.""You just have to get over that fear of rejection and just put yourself out there.""If I got comfortable in a job, I might have never gone and done my own thing.""It's important to find a support network around you.""You need to learn to ask for help and not be too proud of that.""There's always going to be a place for traditional kilts, but there is also room to play on the contemporary side of it.""I think storytelling is so important in fashion.""You have to consider what I'm designing has to be something that everyone's going to feel confident in.""You can't force people to wear X, Y, or Z; you just have to keep moving on to the next opportunity.""I've got nothing to lose if I just go for it.""Fashion style is very subjective.""You just never know, do you?"Chapters00:00 Introduction to Siobhan Mackenzie01:21 Growing Up in the Black Isle02:28 The Spark of Creativity04:14 Education and Early Influences06:32 Starting a Business at 2108:27 The Importance of Practical Skills10:40 First Breaks and Celebrity Clients18:09 Balancing Tradition and Modernity20:05 The Power of Storytelling in Fashion23:33 Challenges in the Scottish Fashion Industry29:05 Experiences in New York33:15 Dressing Celebrities: The Justin Bieber Story39:18 The Ups and Downs of Custom Work44:20 Mental Health and Work-Life Balance51:15 Designing for the Commonwealth Games56:35 The Creative Process Behind Tartan Design

Known in the industry as "Heineken Jesus," Andrey Tyukavkin is one of the most inventive creative minds working today. As Global Executive Creative Director at Le Pub and Chief Innovation Officer & Founder of Le Garage—their global innovation and prototyping hub—he's led award-winning work for Heineken, Netflix, and Philips, racking up 70 Cannes Lions and over 232 creative awards to his name, ranking as the #3 Executive Creative Director at Cannes Lions 2022. He also speaks seven languages!In this episode, we explore the fascinating connection between neuroscience and creativity. Andrey opens up about his panic attacks, the "dead spot" in his brain, and the science that links an enlarged amygdala to creative genius. We discuss why the best ideas often come from brains that refuse to work in linear ways—and why being "a bit sick" might be exactly what the industry needs.We also dive into his approach to innovation: from The Closer (a bottle opener that shuts down your work apps) to The Boring Phone (a Nokia-inspired antidote to smartphone addiction), Andrey explains how prototyping physical objects in-house allows his team to move at speed and create campaigns that become instant PR stories.Plus: why he values engineering backgrounds over advertising experience, the danger of AI producing "perfectly average" results, and his advice to young creatives—"Fuck around and find out."Follow Andrey here:⁠Linkedin⁠⁠Instagram⁠—⁠Watch this episode on YouTube⁠—We’re a video podcast talking brand and creativity with the world’s best in class.Hosted by ⁠Andrew Dobbie⁠Sponsored by ⁠The One Club for Creativity⁠Powered by ⁠MadeBrave⁠Follow us:⁠Facebook⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Linkedin⁠Our website(s):  ⁠https://justachatwith.com http://www.andrewdobbie.co.uk http://www.madebrave.com

Keywordscreativity, AI, digital advertising, leadership, work-life balance, personal growth, innovation, creative management, technology, storytellingSummaryIn this episode of 'Just a Chat with a Brand and Creativity', host Andrew Dobbie interviews Lars Bastholm, a seasoned creative leader with a rich history in digital advertising and AI. They discuss Lars's unconventional journey into creativity, the evolution of digital advertising, and the challenges of leading creative teams. Lars shares insights on work-life balance, the impact of AI on creativity, and the importance of personal projects for young creatives. The conversation also touches on the duality of AI's potential, exemplified through a humorous experiment with an AI-generated Billy the Fish, showcasing the playful side of creativity in the age of technology.TakeawaysLars's journey into creativity was accidental, starting from a film and English degree.Direct marketing taught Lars the importance of understanding customers.The arrival of the internet changed the landscape of advertising.Leadership styles must adapt to different cultural backgrounds.Creative management often involves navigating corporate politics.AI tools can enhance creativity but should not replace the creative process.Personal projects are crucial for showcasing a creative's true self.The balance between work and life is essential for creativity.AI can create absurd scenarios, but human input is vital for quality.The future of creativity lies in collaboration between humans and AI.TitlesNavigating Creativity in the Age of AIFrom Advertising to AI: Lars Bastholm's JourneySound bites""AI can superpower your creativity.""""Fail fast, have fun while doing it.""""You don't want to do the shit jobs.""Chapters00:00 Introduction to Lars Bastholm02:59 Lars's Journey into Creativity10:02 The Evolution of Digital Marketing12:17 Leadership in Creative Teams18:04 The Challenges of Creative Management25:04 Transitioning to Google and Work-Life Balance30:06 Navigating the Creative Landscape at Google31:58 Creative Leadership at Google34:44 Balancing Work and Family Life36:21 The Rise of AI and Machine Learning39:41 Exploring AI Tools for Creativity41:34 The Scandinavian Creative AI Summit43:45 Wonder Panic: The Duality of AI in Creativity46:44 The Dance of Human and AI Collaboration49:40 Sora 2: A New AI Social Network51:54 Navigating Reality in the Age of AI56:30 The Future of Shared Reality and AI

In this episode of Just a Chat with, I sit down with architect and entrepreneur Danny Campbell, founder of Hoko Design and judge on BBC’s Scotland’s Home of the Year.We chat about building a business with purpose, the dangers of ego, and what happens when you scale too fast. Danny opens up about how near-burnout reshaped his views on success, why he swapped a Jaguar for Crocs, and how kindness—not competition—became his guiding principle.It’s a conversation about design, growth, and rediscovering what really matters—at work, at home, and in life.Key Takeaways:Ego is the enemy. Growth driven by ego leads to stress and instability. Purpose-driven growth lasts.Kindness scales. Doing good for others multiplies back—personally and professionally.Simplify to survive. Hoko shrank from 35 people to 10 and became more profitable and happier.Inside-out success. The best businesses start by getting the people and purpose right before the process.You don’t need more—just the right things. Letting go of material pressure creates mental freedom.Chapters00:00 Welcome Back and Introduction to Danny Campbell01:51 Incredible Journey: The McLean Brothers' Record-Breaking Row05:25 Reflections on Travel and Inspiration09:18 Finding Purpose and Passion in Work12:54 The Architecture of Home: A Unique Perspective17:41 Building a Team: The Importance of Complementary Skills21:57 Navigating Growth: Lessons from Scaling a Business26:41 Embracing Technology: The Role of AI in Architecture30:05 The Impact of Public Life: Balancing Work and Family34:20 Parenting in the Digital Age: Teaching Resilience39:38 The Future of Hoko: Vision and Growth StrategiesMore here: https://justachatwith.com/

In this episode, we sat down with Adam Morgan who is the Executive Creative Director at Adobe.With over 25 years of experience in marketing, with a focus on creativity, strategy and storytelling, Adam has produced several award-winning campaigns. He was also named the 40 under 40 up-and-coming professionals by Utah Business Magazine and in 2020 and AdWeek named him one of the top 100 creative minds in the world, influencing advertising, media, and culture. If that wasn’t enough, he has also written a book called “Sorry Spock, Emotion Drives Business” and hosts his own podcast, “Real Creative Leadership” which talks about the issues, challenges and benefits of creative leadership. Follow Adam here:Linkedin—Watch this episode on YouTube—We’re a video podcast talking brand and creativity with the world’s best in class.Hosted by Andrew DobbieSponsored by The One Club for CreativityPowered by MadeBraveFollow us:FacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedinOur website:  https://justachatwith.com

In this episode, we sat down with Alex Dickens who is the Head of Brand at Grenade. Alex has been working for Grenade for the past eight years, starting out as their Junior Graphic Designer. Throughout this time, he has managed to build the Grenade brand into the award-winning, worldwide, explosive brand it is today. Listen on to find out how he managed to get the best out of his creative team and what the Grenade brand stands for beyond the product. Follow Alex here:LinkedinInstagram—Watch this episode on YouTube—We’re a video podcast talking brand and creativity with the world’s best in class.Hosted by Andrew DobbieSponsored by The One Club for CreativityPowered by MadeBraveFollow us:FacebookInstagramTwitterLinkedinOur website:  https://justachatwith.com

In this episode, we sat down with Craig Black who is an amazing visual artist from Scotland. Craig is extremely passionate about what he does and has recently shifted away from his original technique of typography to create a whole new technique in visual art called Acrylic Fusion. This new technique involves mixing acrylic paints to create interesting and mesmerising patterns on different surfaces and products such as shoes, footballs and skateboards. All this began after he was inspired by his Wife’s leggings! His unique and versatile style has since led him to work with brands such as UEFA, Wisdom Audio, Pepsi and Ribble Cycles and his work has been displayed from New York to Dubai and Sydney. Listen on to find out how he has managed to grow such a successful studio, how he has evolved his artistic talent and his top tips for bringing in new opportunities. Follow Craig here: LinkedIn. Website. Instagram. — Watch this episode on YouTube — We’re a video podcast talking brand and creativity with the world’s best in class. Hosted by Andrew Dobbie Sponsored by The One Club for Creativity Powered by MadeBrave Follow us: Facebook Instagram Twitter Linkedin Our website:  https://justachatwith.com

In this episode, we sat down with James Cross who is the Creative Director at BBC Creative. James joined the BBC in 2017, shortly after its inception. Since then, James has produced award-winning campaigns such as the Tokyo 2020, FIFA 2018 world cup and the ‘We know our place’ campaign celebrating women in sport. James got his start as a Copywriter, working with brands such as WKD, Domino’s and Harley-Davidson. Today, we discuss his transition from Copywriter to Creative Director, and how he manages to create such talented and distinctive creative work.  Follow James here:  Linkedin Website — Watch this episode on YouTube — We’re a video podcast talking brand and creativity with the world’s best in class. Hosted by Andrew Dobbie Sponsored by The One Club for Creativity Powered by MadeBrave Follow us: Facebook Instagram Twitter Linkedin Our website:  https://justachatwith.com

In this episode, we sat down with Rob Mayhew, a stand-up comic, TikTok star and Head of Influence and Retail at FleishmanHillard.    In his 20 years of agency experience, Rob has worked with brands such as McVities, GSK, Lacoste, Bacardi, Molson Coors, and General Mills, building both content and global shopper strategies.    Rob now uses this experience, along with his comedic timing, to create viral sketches about agency life that resonate throughout the entire industry.    Listen on to discover how he comes up with ideas for TikTok, how he manages to post consistently while working full-time, what impact his TikTok success has had on his life and some of his top tips to get started! Follow Rob here:  TikTok LinkedIn Twitter Watch this episode on YouTube — We’re a video podcast talking brand and creativity with the world’s best in class. Hosted by Andrew Dobbie Sponsored by The One Club for Creativity Powered by MadeBrave Follow us: Facebook Instagram Twitter Linkedin Our website:  https://justachatwith.com

In this episode we sat down with Ndukwe Onuoha, an advertising copywriter, spoken word poet, and Creative Director at Oliver MEA which is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Over the course of his career, Ndukwe has created memorable communications in Nigeria and West Africa for brands like AB InBev, Uber, British Council, and Diageo's International Premium Spirits, amongst others.  Ndukwe describes himself as a “copywriter by day but a poet by design”, and you can listen to his second Spoken Word album, ‘Nwa Chukwu’, on all popular streaming platforms.  In 2020, Ndukwe was endorsed by Arts Council England for his work in poetry and moved to the UK with his family in 2021. He now lives in Derby with his wife and two children and continues to work on getting African stories told on the world stage.     Check out Ndukwe's work here Watch this episode on Youtube — We’re a video podcast talking brand and creativity with the world’s best in class. Hosted by Andrew Dobbie Sponsored by The One Club for Creativity Powered by MadeBrave Follow us: Facebook Instagram Twitter Linkedin Our website:  https://justachatwith.com