From writing and shooting to finding the money, filmmaking is the ultimate creative endeavor. Chris and Angie Lawing, Partners in Mercury Labs, know how hard it is to get one made. One of their films, Witness 11, is showing as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival on November 11 at the Tivoli Theater. They sat down with Jeff to talk about the movie making process, great pickup lines and how to kill an advertising pitch. 

Episode 1509: The Creative Stickup w/Chris & Angie Lawing, Filmmakers and Partners in Mercury Labs

Fast Times at Fusion Marketing. Brian and Jeff talk about the ups and downs of having the toughest job in the Advertising business. From influences, to talent to how to run a creative department, Brian is getting it done and the work at his agency has never been better.  Books recommended: Creativity Inc, by Ed Catmull.
Music by Flaming Death Trap

Episode 1511: The Creative Stickup w/Brian Clever, ECD of Fusion

Kevin Brennan is cultivating new evenings of culinary one night stands, and it sounds delicious. 
When he started, he didn't want to own a bar. But he does. So he's constantly innovating by trying new and interesting ideas so he can pretend like he's out of the bar business. From the Cigar Club and Brand, to the BHive co-working space to the Skunk'd Ping Pong Parlor, Kevin has redefined what the public house can be. Now he's launching a new rock star chef series that pushes the envelope of culinary delights. 

URL's from the world of Brennan's. 
http://www.definitelynotarestaurant.com/
http://bhive.space
http://cometobrennans.com
http://durangocigars.com

Episode 1512: The Creative Stickup w/ Kevin Brennan, Proprietor of Brennnan's

Josie Littlepage has become the go to wedding planner in St. Louis. If you think you've got nervous, emotional  or demanding clients, it's nothing compared to the creative endeavor and cast of characters that inhabit your average wedding. Josie gives Jeff the lowdown on brides to be, overbearing mothers and modern love. Check her out at http://www.cosmopolitanevents.com/

Episode 1514: The Creative Stickup w/Josie Littlepage, owner of Cosmopolitan Events

New Honor Society's Holly Aguirre and Heidi Singleton (Hi Ho) are building great agency culture.   From the disparate pieces of Zip and Rivet, they've found their soul and are bringing inspiring marketing to brands and the St. Louis agency scene. 

Episode 1517: Creative StickUp ADDY 2016 Primer Panel - The Ladies

Mixology and cocktail culture is everywhere, it's one of the most creative spaces being explored. The most creative of these spirits? It might just be Gin. No one in the world has a better handle on this effervescent spirit than Natasha Bahrami, The Gin Girl and namesake of the St. Louis Institution, Cafe Natasha. 

http://www.natashasginroom.com/
http://cafenatasha.com/

Music by Flaming Death Trap 

Episode 1601: The Creative Stickup w/Natasha Bahrami, The Gin Girl

One of the best parts of St. Louis and doing this Podcast is finally getting to meet someone you’ve heard about for years but never met. 
The town is the exact size for these encounters to happen often. Just large enough where you can’t know everyone, but small enough to where you know someone who does

I had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth Tucker of ALIVE, a person who fits this description to a T. She started Alive Magazine with Attilio D’Agostino in 2002 with a bang. They immediately found an underserved-and-lifestyle-aware scene in St. Louis and have helped evolve that very scene ever since. They created Fashion Week in 2007, and brought back a fashion scene to the city. With the recent redesign of the magazine and the launching of an agency, ALIVE is as interesting as ever. 
Elizabeth tells Jeff about her beginnings, Attlio’s nutritional supplement speech to stay in St. Louis, how to live by the Golden Rule and how to divergent thinking keeps her fresh.  And where she went to High School! 

Links: Here’s the St. Louis Fashion Week video we talk about in the cast. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rdga4L4nwRQ

Music by Flaming Death Trap
Photo by Attilio D'Agostino.


Episode 1605: The Creative Stickup w/Elizabeth Tucker, Publisher, ALIVE Magazine

Enjoy my highly relevant and enlightening conversation with Ryan Brown where we discuss in no particular order:
The Adjacent Possible and how you need to start rubbing shoulders with everyone a whole lot more. 
Placing Small Bets and then rigorously testing and adjusting the results. 
The Way of Being Relevant, Ryan's four part breakdown of the very word in every client brief. 
The Manifest Platform, how this digital shop wants to be the place to connect everyone's ideas to clients. 
And growing up on the wrong side of the Tracks in South Bend, Indiana. 
Have a listen!

Some links:
http://manifest.com/
https://hbr.org/2011/08/finding-your-next-big-adjacent

Music by Flaming Death Trap



Episode 1607: The Creative Stickup w/Ryan Brown, ECD, Manifest

Creative Disrupter. John Dames brings in the big guns. 

There aren’t that many creatives in town that I truly have portfolio envy over. John Dames is one of them. From being CORE number 001, to directing and designing epic videos, to helping Special Forces do their jobs, John tells Jeff about firing clients, doing it all wrong and having the balls to create without limits. 

Here’s some links to stuff we talk about

Gucci
https://vimeo.com/14949511

Custom software
https://vimeo.com/15271957

Malice
https://vimeo.com/55460671

Balls Video
https://vimeo.com/27382812

Ambient Content Series
Cats
https://vimeo.com/5300322

Paintings
https://vimeo.com/5246399

Dancers
https://vimeo.com/5246256

Angel
https://vimeo.com/15289803

Playground
https://vimeo.com/15290235


Episode 1608: The Creative Stickup w/John Dames, CTO Coolfire Solutions

Kay Cochran is Smoking.
One of the original RT'ers, she was employee 006, Kay tells Jeff about the agency as it approaches 20 years, working with up and comers and what goes into a great campaign. 

Links to stuff we talk about

https://vimeo.com/142153758


Music by Flaming Death Trap

Episode 1609: The Creative Stickup w/Kay Cochran, CD, Rodgers Townsend

Meet the Method Ad Man. 
The longer Wade is in the business, the more he wants to stay close to the work. As a founder of the agency Grenadier in Boulder (named after the elite senior troops that led the great armies of the last century), Wade and his colleagues are operating against the age old agency principle: As soon as you become great at creative, you get bumped up to management and stop doing creative. They all still get their hands dirty. 

Wade talks to Jeff about his journey from Lawrence, Kansas through LA, St. Louis (at Core) Boston and now Boulder. We touch on creative account people, young 'writers' who don’t want to do the work, how Core taught him to be a Method Ad Man and advice on starting your own shop. 

Check out his shop here: 
http://www.grenadierco.com/



Music by Flaming Death Trap

Episode 1612: The Creative Stickup w/Wade Paschall, Creative and Partner, Grenadier

Peace, Bread and Social Enterprise.

'A-ha' moments can arise at any time, anywhere. For Markey Culver, it was when she found herself hungry while walking back and forth between her house and the school where she taught English in a small East African village. Markey tells the fascinating story that led her to create The Women's Bakery - a vocational school that teaches the women of Rwanda and Tanzania to bake bread for themselves and for profit. Have a listen to how this remarkable social enterprise got started.
http://www.womensbakery.com/ 

Jeff Stevens's Album

Episode 1613: The Creative Stickup w/Markey Culver, Founder of The Women's Bakery

The Ministers of Sound - Mark Bartels of 90dw and Mike Radentz of Antidote.

Sound, I would argue, might be the most overlooked, vitally important, and very mysterious aspect of any production. Yet, when it's done well, it can take something good and make it a thing of beauty. Mark and Mike talk to Jeff about their craft, their tricks, favorite movies and go to sound effects. Enjoy the finest sounding podcast of all time!

Music by John Williams as played by Mark Bartels, Mike Radentz and Flaming Death Trap.

Episode 1614: The Creative Stickup w/ Mark Bartels of 90dw and Mike Radentz of Antidote

In the creative business you always hear about hiring people that are better than you. Or more appropriately, hire those who scare the bejesus out of you. I had no idea what that meant until I met Ben Little some 12 plus years ago.

I met Ben my first month in London, he was in his mid 20’s and already a charismatic force that both attracted and created game changing ideas and talented people who wanted to work on them.

His company, Fearlessly Frank that he runs with his partner Wayne Guthrie, offers the perfect mix of stellar creative and inspirational business leadership. They do everything from start ups to multinationals.

Ben and I talk about how the agency got started, found their independence, and how he took this notion of being Fearlessly Frank with clients into becoming one of the largest innovation consultancy's in the UK.

Check them out
fearlesslyfrank.com

Episode 1617: The London Sessions w/Ben Little, Co-Founder of Fearlessly Frank

Jeremy Corray, Defender of the St. Lunaverse! 

Jeremy talks! He and Jeff chat about his brave new world with Coolfire Studios, his being able to live a childhood dream and work on Voltron, the early funny stuff and how he sees the future of content studios. And a whole lot more!

Every Thirty Seconds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2PRsoyLnaU

Music by Flaming Death Trap

Episode 1620: The Creative Stickup w/Jeremy Corray, Digital Entertainment, Coolfire Studios

How's your novel coming? If you are one of the half million or so crazy would be writers out there who are trying to finish your novel in 30 days as part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)  you've got one day left to finish off your 50,000 word masterpiece! Or in my case, a 50,000 car pile up. But it's done and I have Kelly Jones to thank for the experience. She got caught up in NaNo some 10 years ago and has participated in it ever since. She also did her thesis on it's power to bring creatives together to create something with no inherent reward attached to it. I told her we do that sort of thing everyday. Find out how NaNo brings out the writers in all of us. 

Thanks Kelly, and we will see everyone again next November!

http://nanowrimo.org/

http://www.marissameyer.com/ (A NaNo Star)

Episode 1622: The Creative Stickup w/Kelly Jones, NaNoWriMo Ninja

Everybody’s Angel Investor. 

Laura Burkemper knows the start-up hustle. 

In fact, she might be the busiest woman in the St. Louis Start up game. She’s a lead mentor in Stadia Ventures, a big part of the Billiken Angel Network, teaches entrepreneurship at SLU and has helped create an impressive portfolio of investments, strategic vision and bottom line results. 

Over time, she’s learned how to pick ‘em. 
She and Jeff talk about the St. Louis Start up community, why it’s better than other comparable cities and when to bet on the jockey and not the horse.  

Check out these links. 

http://www.stadiaventures.com/

http://www.billikenangels.com/

Music by Flaming Death Trap

Episode 1623: The Creative Stickup w/Laura Burkemper, Start Up Mentor

"The people that got into the marijuana business are the same kinds of people that own bars. Risk takers, storied personalities and extremely fun to hang out with," notes this week's guest Jack Thorwegen in what could easily be a description of himself. 
As the kick-off to our Legends series, our new co-host Jennifer Oertli and I sit down and talk to Jack about Proof, Pot, Beer, Spirits, Zip and the importance of your agency's first hire. Enjoy.

This Stickup is brought to you by Creative Circle!
https://www.creativecircle.com/

http://theproofagency.com/

Music by Flaming Death Trap

Episode 1624: The Creative Stickup w/Jack Thorwegen, Decent Fellow.

Getting a truly meaningful insight to create from is often more valuable than the idea that comes from it. Bob Cuneo figured that out 15 some odd years ago as a Creative Director watching his work get murdered in the graveyard of a poorly run focus group.
So he decided to start his own insight driven strategic agency. And over time, they've become one of the best  in the world at helping clients find that ever valuable insight into the human condition. Jen and Jeff talk to Bob about his journey both through the marketing world of St. Louis and his travels around Planet Earth.  One insight we learned: Nashville might need more hot lesbians. Enjoy. 

Sponsored by Creative Circle
https://www.creativecircle.com/

Music by Flaming Death Trap

Episode 1625: The Creative Stickup w/Bob Cuneo, Co-Founder of Brado Creative Insight

This episode sponsored by Creative Circle!

Tom Townsend is a Creative Director's Creative Director. Constantly curious, he is interested in everything and has built a career based on the integrity of great work.  
Yet, he has done arguably done most meaningful work since he left the agency he co-founded. Tom has brought to life his dream of giving Pianos to People who can't afford them. The idea: a passion for music can be a great equalizer.  Get involved at http://pianosforpeople.org/
He has also led in the creation of the A-Town Get Down, his Savannah GA music and arts festival named for his son Alex, who died in a car accident at the age of 21, but who's life was one of creativity and encouragement to those around him. The festival is Tom's living creation and inspiration, a true lesson in making something beautiful out of something tragic. Enjoy our great talk with Tom.
Check it out - One of my favs, Cracker is headlining!
http://a-towngetdown.com/

Episode 1626: The Creative Stickup w/Tom Townsend, Co-Founder Rodgers Townsend

Meet Michael Weiss, VP Marketing of Creative Circle and lifelong story teller. From being a Musician, Script Reader, PA to Roseanne and Tom, Author, Digital Agency Owner, and then to Creative Circle, Michael brings a unique perspective and eclectic mix of experience to the creative talent agency game. Jen and Jeff talk to Michael about the new paradigm of the gig economy, the power of Eruption and the energy of ideas that move you. 

Here's a link to his book on Presentation Skills: http://a.co/7SfOKo3

TED talk Moments of Note: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0NWPke3gsw&t=839s

Eddie Van Halen's Eruption: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI7XiJgt0vY


music by Flaming Death Trap

Episode 1627: The Creative Stickup w/Michael Weiss, VP Marketing, Creative Circle

This podcast sponsored by Creative Circle!

Kicking off our Badass series, Jen and I wanted to interview creative types who are in their prime and knocking it out of the park. Leslie Bogosian fits that bill. Sharp, fearless, the consummate idea driven art director, we talk to Leslie about the workings of the modern creative team, badass women in the creative department and her recent dive into motherhood.

Check her out:
https://www.schadbogo.com/
https://www.instagram.com/schadbogo/

Music by Flaming Death Trap

Episode 1628: The Creative Stickup w/Leslie Bogosian, ACD, Manifest Digital

Keep Fast Company. Jon Maurice has the Need for Speed.  
With the new show, Speed is the New Black, coming to Velocity in May and Fast N’ Loud roaring into it’s 10th season, Jon Maurice and his No Coast cohorts have made plenty of noise in reality TV. Now they’ve turned their sights into using this model to creates hits and build audiences for brands.  

As part of our Badass series, Jon drops by to talk with Jeff and Jen about having success from learning to fail, making commerce with your art and using St. Louis as the backdrop for the new show.  
This podcast sponsored by Creative Circle.

http://nocoastoriginals.com

A bit on the new show
http://artofgears.com/2016/12/31/speed-is-the-new-black-to-air-in-2017-on-velocity/

Music by Jon's son Anthony of Flaming Death Trap

Episode 1629: The Creative Stickup w/Jon Maurice, Partner, NoCoast Originals

Talent Plus turns 40.
“I still love doing this,” says Sharon Tucci, which is not at all surprising if you've spent any time around her.  Her daily enthusiasm, real generosity and natural ability to listen and connect have made her one of the true cultural icons of our city.  In every era since she opened her doors in 1977, Sharon has been on trend and totally relevant across the creative and artistic scene in St. Louis. 
Jen and I have been trying to get her to agree to an interview for over a year and we finally cajoled her. After all, she’s much more comfortable behind the scenes, making deals for her clients.  
We talk about her start and the early days of Talent Plus, the 70’s CWE scene,  and then a little music, models, film, fashion, super souling and the TP future. Enjoy!
http://www.talentpl.us/
Thanks to Antidote for partnering on the Podcast - Go see the new space -  http://www.antidotestl.com/

Music by Flaming Death Trap

Episode 1630: The Creative Stickup with Sharon Tucci/Founder of Talent Plus

“There’s these two knuckleheads on the couch telling the editors what to do, that’s when I realized I wanted to be one of those guys," says Joe Bishop on the moment he realized he wanted to be an agency creative. Since then he and his compadres have been creating some of the more famous and infamous (Quadracorn!) work to come out of the St. Louis agency scene. 
Joe talks to Jeff and Jen about getting his start doing memorial videos for the recently deceased, being asked to find his own way out during his first interview and the advanced metrics of casino barge level in judging the effectiveness of a campaign. And we offer our opinion on when exactly agency creatives will be replaced by artificial intelligence (next Thursday). Enjoy!
Quadracorn Spot: http://www.welovead.com/en/works/details/4e1DirrC
Shoutouts: AntidoteSTL! and Flaming Death Trap!

Episode 1631: The Creative Stickup w/Joe Bishop, Creative Director, Cannonball

Check out the Schwinn Varsity Trailer here. NSFW. 
https://vimeo.com/213769266

Summer, 1977.  Two teenage boys set out on a bicycle journey in an epic search for freedom, America, and a dumpster full of discarded Porno mags. 
A little "Stand By Me",  a little "Dazed and Confused" and a Whole Lotta Love, writer/producer Richard Eschenroeder has had "Schwinn Varsity" in some stage of development for 15 years. 
Jen and I caught up with him and got the story behind the project and the passion it took to keep it alive over time and distance.  The idea is an homage to the classic film "Easy Rider", and the trailer was made right here in STL. It's a beautiful piece of work. Put the Pedal to the Metal and check it out. 

Music by Flaming Death Trap.

Episode 1632: The Creative Stickup w/Richard Eschenroeder, Writer/Producer, Schwinn Varsity

Recovering Creative Director. Chris Aguirre leads the Recovery Revolution. 

After nearly 20 years of sobriety and a few years out of the ad business, Chris Aguirre found himself at the point in his life where something had to give. His own battle with depression and social anxiety mixed with a creative’s dark cynicism had pushed him out of the ad business. Worse, it kept him out of ‘the rooms’ as it were, so there was no where to take this sudden desire to give back to those still battling their demons.

So he started Since Right Now (sincerightnow.com/), a highly evolved brand that has become one of the authoritative voices (and by far the best looking) in challenging the old thinking that stigmatized those in recovery.

Since it’s inception 3 years ago, the site has featured interviews, musings, articles, poetry, art, music, comics, merch and wisdom from a venerable who’s who in the space and one theme is woven throughout – the link between getting sober and finding your creativity.

With a possible printed magazine on the horizon, SRN has helped shape the dialogue, soundtrack and visual sensibility of recovering out loud. It’s a place for anyone who may have a problem to go and identify with others who’ve been there before.

It’s been my pleasure to be along for the ride as a co-host the SRN podcast. Check them all out here.

http://sincerightnow.com/pdcst/
http://sincerightnow.com/srn-ntwrk/

Thanks Antidote STL! http://www.antidotestl.com/
Music by Flaming Death Trap.

Episode 1633: The Creative Stickup with Chris Aguirre, Founder of Since Right Now

Fathers Day Special – Cbabi Bayoc takes on the art of being a dad. 

Cbabi Bayoc's artistic work mixes caricature, realism, portraiture, and compassionate observation to create an important and remarkable narrative of the African American family experience. In fact, a few years ago he painted a finished work every day for a year on the subject of fatherhood. Throw in the fact that he and his wife run an incredibly successful and delicious bakery, café and studio called Sweet Art, and Cbabi is an artist who has harnessed his creativity for social change and sweet commerce. 

Jeff sat down with Cbabi to talk about where he learned his craft, his Prince album cover experience, and how his name change to Cbabi (Creative Black Artist Battling Ignorance)in college gave him his life’s mission. 

Have a listen and enjoy!

http://sweetartstl.com/index.php/about/meet-cbabi

Episode 1634: The Creative Stickup w/Cbabi Bayoc, Artist

Content, motion, sound and swagger. Antidote is the remedy to rock. 

Michael Francis and Ryan Bury started their production studio 8 years ago. It was small and scrappy and defined by a peculiar little space and very good work. 
They’ve since grown up and grown out. With a vast and beautiful new space, new look and feel and a fresh sensibility they’ve made their bones and are now comfortably occupying the “Heavy Hitter” category in town. Simply put, they’ve arrived.  I caught up with the duo to talk about their current state of creation and reflect a little on what they’ve built together and where they are headed in the future. 

They’re feeling so plucky in fact that they’ve decided to bring the Agency Jam back – The one where every agency in town puts a band together, designs posters and t-shirts and then battles it out for supreme bragging rights of rock and design chops. September 14th – mark your calendars. 

The Reel
https://vimeo.com/219936318


Music by Flaming Death Trap

Episode 1635: w/Michael Francis & Ryan Bury, Co-Founders, Antidote Studio

McAnallen and Son. 

When you meet Ray McAnallen, he’s one of those guys you don’t forget. Cigar, beard, Hawaiian shirt, that certain swagger – is he a private eye in a Carl Hiasson book? A Lost Jimmy Buffet keyboardist who missed the tour bus? Nope, Ray is a St. Louis Ad man. 

And what you see is what you get with Ray - he’s been part of the St. Louis ad scene for 30 plus years. From his days as an art director at the height of D’Arcy to his current run with Ad Savants, Ray possesses that always enthusiastic vibe and quick laugh that you can tell brings real fun to insanity of the ad biz.

His son Max not only joined him for the cast, but also has started his own career in the scene, coming up in HR none the less, but now has found his way into the new St. Louis creative endeavor, Startups. 
 
The guys talk about their father/son relationship, what it was like growing up in a household run by a “creative”, advice on keeping it real, and getting ready for the upcoming Agency Jam. Enjoy.

Episode 1636: Ray and Max McAnallen. Father and Son in the STL creative biz

“This podcast is an exercise in not being perfect” says recovering perfectionist Ken Calcaterra. Amen brother.

Fresh off his documentary Emmy, video storyteller,  podcast host and my buddy Ken Calcaterra and I interviewed each other just for kicks. 
We determine: Larry deserves as much as Bono – Old guys still want to rock – Creative’s wouldn’t be hurt by taking some basic business classes - Never give up and try new shit – Which metal track works for a beer commercial - recovering perfectionism is manifesting itself, The band The Death, Javier Mendoza and our respective start ups. Enjoy!

The Documentary that won the Emmy

http://kencalcaterra.com/pedaling-to-stop-pushing-winner-mid-america-emmy-2016/

The Hard Rock Life

http://kencalcaterra.com/its-a-hard-rock-life-teaser-2015/

Episode 1637: The Creative Stickup w/Ken Calcaterra, Visual Storyteller.

Casual conversations with creative thinkers about how they practice their craft. 
This is the Creative Stickup Podcast from jeffstevenscreative.com
Creative | Strategist | Culture Builder | Content Creator | Experience Designer



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