Innovation Crush

Kelly Vaught is the Chief Marketing Officer of Becore, a highly creative, talented and multi pronged experiential marketing agency.  What began in a friend's garage has grown in to a Cannes-Lions award winning marketing team of over 30 individuals, with clients ranging from Redbull to xBox to Sonos, Target and even their own in-house craft brewery.    On IC, Kelly shares how to "Be Core" in youth marketing through authentic and highly creative consumer engagements, setting parameters and limits for business clients, and assembling a team of wildly creative marketers inclusive of guitarists, artists, and even former Disney characters.  features guest host Diana Williams.

www.becore.com
www.twitter.com/becoreLA

#15: Kelly Vaught - Capturing Youth Culture

"Pressure builds some, and breaks others."  -Harlon Barnett

In 1988, Harlon Barnett played in Michigan State University's 4th ever appearance at the Rose Bowl, joining the team in their 3rd victory.  26 years later in 2014, he returns to the 100th Rose Bowl (the Spartans only appearance since '88) as the #1 secondary coach in the country, leading the team to victory over Stanford.  On Innovation Crush, Coach Barnett, discusses how innovation in sports translates to business practices - through leading teams, shutting out noise, playing under pressure, outside collaboration, internal development, pleasing your fans, dealing with controversy, aligning leadership, and celebrating every win... no matter what.    With special guest co-host, Stephanie Harris Byers.  

Best Celebration Video Ever:  http://youtu.be/biXaQk-TDJk


#22: Coach Harlon Barnett - Celebrate Every Win

Director Joel Zwick and and producer Steve Sunshine are legends in the entertainment business.  Classic storytellers, the two have helmed legendary projects ranging from Laverne & Shirley, to Webster, Full House, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, EXTRA, Mork and Mindy, Shake It Up!, and more, touching over 1000 episodes of television and dozens of films in their careers.  On Innovation Crush, the hilarious duo discuss undying principles of storytelling, building relationships, how audiences have changed. Plus they give us an exclusive breakdown of Serrano, their new hitman musical which they are crowdfunding via Indiegogo. See their project here:   igg.me/at/SerranoTheMusical

#51: Name Dropping, Networking, and Crowdfunding

Early in his Grammy award winning career, rapper, Chamillionaire learned some valuable lessons about business.  Whether bootstrapping his own sales of mixtapes, negotiating higher payouts from his label, developing off the wall promotional marketing schemes, or reinvesting his money into multiple ventures, he always looked for smarter and better ways to achieve success. Fast forward to almost 10 years later, where Chamillionaire is a key investor in Maker Studios, an adviser to several startups and established companies, and now entrepreneur in residence at Upfront Ventures, Los Angeles' largest venture capital fund.   On Innovation Crush, Cham dishes on everything from growing up poor, to serial entrepreneurship, world changing technologies, avoiding social media, and having never wanted to be famous.   feat. guest co-host, David Wong.

www.twitter.com/chamillionaire
www.twitter.com/rarefrom1906

#79:  Chamillionaire - From Rap Ventures to Venture Capital

5 years ago, Chris Redlitz walked into San Quentin prison for the first time. He came out a changed man... luckily only 3 hours later.  The serial entrepreneur and technology visionary had reluctantly visited to speak to inmates about entrepreneurship, but the passion he witnessed in that room convinced him to start The Last Mile, a business and technology incubator inside San Quentin, the oldest prison in California.  On Innovation Crush, Chris walks us through his passion, personal transformation, the differences between incarcerated entrepreneurs and free businessmen... oh and that one time he sailed from California to Hawaii.  

www.thelastmile.org 
www.twitter.com/tlm
www.twitter.com/ChrisRedlitz

#82:  Chris Redlitz - Businesses Behind Bars

Innovation Crush host, Chris Denson, breaks down 5 points of innovation; pulling anecdotes and stories from previous episodes and building takeaways for how to apply innovation principles and theory to your own Crush Culture.

1.)  Curiosity & Exploration
2.)  Say Yes to the Yes
3.)  Diverse Perspectives
4.)  Creating Happiness
5.)  User Experience

#85:  Crush Culture - 5 Points of Innovation (Vol 1)

In 2015, Matt Mason was voted the 11th most creative person in business by Fast Company.  The pirate radio dj turned magazine publisher turned marketer, turned BitTorrent whisperer boasts a number of claims to fame - including the only book on Amazon to become a best-seller in two simultaneous categories.  He's written and produced TV series, screenplays, comic strips, apps and records, not to mention award-winning, global advertising campaigns.  The last few years of his career have been dedicated to bridging the gaps between the piracy community and corporate America.  On Innovation Crush, Matt gives a glimpse into his career, that time he was publicly threatened with jail time, and what the world would look like if money were no object.  feat special guest co-host Eric Espinosa of TEDx LA.  

https://twitter.com/mattmason


#91:  Matt Mason - A Pirate's Life for Me

"Innovation to me is... terrifying."  

Damian Kulash is best known as the front man of super genius creative musical group, OK Go.  As the grandson of the inventor of the fish stick (real talk), it's no surprise that many of the inventive genes he comes from manifest themselves in his group's whimsical and audacious creative exploits.  Whether art projects, dabbling in physics, tinkering with biology, creating visual illusions, or reinventing marketing;  bringing their musical visions to life in far-more-than-interesting ways has always been a part of their creative and business culture.  Fresh off a 2015 MTV VMA win ("I Won't Let You Down"), Damian visits Innovation Crush to talk about everything from having the second ever viral video on YouTube to maintaining team chemistry, working with brands, becoming a business man, to their process of printing an album on strands of DNA... and a few crazy things on their current creative wishlist.

https://instagram.com/damiankulash

#98:  Damian Kulash (OK Go)- Mad Scientists at Work

"Innovation to me is purposefully making mistakes." - Dan Harmon

Dan Harmon is an expert at building Community.  Literally.  He is best known for creating the TV series, COMMUNITY, loosely based on his time spent in community college.  What he is also an expert at is not fitting in.  Most Google search results will tell you he's brash, overly honest, combative, mean, or otherwise difficult to work with.  Perhaps these are all side effects from when mad genius and creativity collide.  Perhaps it all comes from place of knowing oneself and being confident in the fact that we're all human and emotional beings on an unknown journey. Stemming from his unique - let's call it "flair" - Dan has carved out lane after lane for himself, adored by fans and industry insiders for his books, his teachings, his personal philosophies, his podcast, his comedy, his honesty, and the overall unique way he sees the world.  On this 100th episode of Innovation Crush, Dan continues his to bring us along on his quest for truth in all things creative, business, and life.  

https://twitter.com/danharmon

#100:  Dan Harmon - Revenge of the Nerd

With a portfolio consisting of Gimlet Media, Macro Ventures, Fair, Thrive Market, Blavity and tons of others, Marlon Nichols is no stranger to picking and creating winners.  The co-founder and managing partner at Cross Culture Ventures has rooted his company's philosophy in the phrase "Culture as Currency."  Recorded live Urban Tech Connect, Marlon walks us through how adopting an inclusive approach to local and global cultures is at the heart of sourcing the next billion dollar company.  See the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnTVRm9_SdM.

#201:  Marlon Nichols - The Next Billion Dollar Company

<p>As the head of global cultural marketing for Sonos, Jamaal Layne is no stranger to making brands culturally relevant.  His resume reads like a who's who in the brand world and spans from adidas, to Converse, to Microsoft, Fader Magazine, LA's Line Hotel, Urb Magazine, Nike, and many more.  He is a born and bred New Yorker who eventually made Los Angeles home, but has traveled the world as an expert in recognizing the distinct line between marketing to a culture vs marketing within a culture.  Long story short, you can't have innovation without  understanding the nuances of tapping into the people you need most. His current role allows him to align Sonos with heavy hitters from the entertainment world (record labels, artist, actors, producers, hosts, etc), in effort to educate, empower, and co-create.  This episode of Innovation Crush, Jamaal opens up his marketing rule book, discusses his passion for technology, overcoming jadedness, and teaches some great lessons on creating the right connections.  </p>

#203:  Jamaal Layne - New Flavor in Your Ear

After an upsetting second place finish on America's Best Dance Crew in 2015, the fan favorite Kinjaz turned their loss into a huge win, by going on to form the first ever crowd-funded global dance studio ($127,000), and the highest raised ever in the dance category on Indiegogo. Since then, the group has opened up 3 studios in the US and China, launched an international camp program, and a line of merchandise ranging from watches to hats to jackets, and racked up millions of interactions across social media. Additionally, they've worked with brands and partners ranging from McDonald's to AT&T, Bruce Lee, and Volkswagen to name a few. On this episode, co-owner Ben Chung (formerly of the Jabbawockeez) and choreographer/teacher Charles Nguyen speak on their inspirations, building community, and balancing art and business, and managing the expectations of 30+ crew members.

#208: Kinjaz - Respect All, Fear None

Fresh off a 2019 Billboard 100 nod, and multiple 2019 Grammy nominations to boot, CMO of the Blueprint Group, Al Branch joins Innovation Crush.  As partner and CMO of Blueprint/Maverick, Al has been legendary in catapulting some of music industry talent into superstardom and beyond.  From his early days with Jay-Z and Roc-a-fella to a current portfolio that includes acts like Nicki Minjaj, G-Eazy, The Roots, Jill Scott, and more, Al has had an uncanny knack for understanding how artists become iconic brands, and how important brands work with iconic artists.  Whether pairing Drake with Sprite, or Kanye with Nike (pre-Yeezys) or Lil Wayne with Samsung, Al is an expert team building, creative visioning, cultural anthropology, and does it all with a smile.  On this installment of the show, Al talks about passion versus talent, waiting outside of a record label for weeks on end to get an internship, his vision for the future of the talent management business.   we.co/crush

#212: Al Branch - Success is a Team Sport

What do Paul Rudd, Keanu Reeves, venture capital, and Stephen Hawking have in common?  Dr. Spiros Michalakis.  As one of the most sought after scientists of our time, he serves as a quantum physicist and manager of outreach at The Institute for Quantum Information and Matter at Caltech (IQMC).  When not at Caltech or fulfilling his role as professor-in-residence at Relay Ventures, he spends a good majority of his time consulting with Hollywood's biggest filmmakers and talent in applying quantum design thinking and scientific accuracy to their stories.  Films like ANT MAN, NOW YOU SEE ME, CAPTAIN MARVEL, DR. STRANGE and others have all been graced by his knowledge and expertise.  Using a combination of science and entertainment as an educational tool, Spiros' personal mission is to disrupt business, creativity, innovation -- and the practice of science itself -- with an understanding of quantum theory.  On this episode , Spiros discusses his life and his message, becoming a personal brand, and the time he got Stephen Hawking to play Quantum Chess against Paul Rudd.  Recorded live at WeWork.co/crush

#213:  Dr. Spiros Michalakis - All Quantum Everything

Having been in the CIA for almost 28 years, Darrell Blocker has seen and done it all. As the director of operations, he was awarded the George H. W. Bush Award for Excellence in Counterterrorism in 2014. He ran The Farm - the CIA's training facility - for 3 years, and was even the member of a well known band in Uganda while undercover there. If it's one thing he understands, it's human connection. What motivates us? How can we motivate others? How can we do away with perceptions and ego the like, and remain in service to the people we work with and serve? Now as a news contributor, Hollywood consultant, and business advisor, Darrell is applying his skills in new ways, and he stops by Innovation Crush to discuss it all. Recorded live at WeWork. More info at We.co/Crush.

#214:  Darrell Blocker - Perception Meets Reality

Richelle Parham is a pioneer in retail marketing and business -- and by default, professional development.  Having served as the CMO of eBay, she practically revolutionized the concept of email marketing.  She serves on the boards of Best Buy, e.l.f. Cosmetics, LabCorp, and formerly Scripps Network, and is a VC at Camden Partners. Her career has been fueled by a seemingly endless loop of feedback from employees, leaders, customers, life itself, and what she dubs as her own "Personal Board of Directors," a formalized network of friends, colleagues, and family who help guide her career and personal decisions.  Recorded live at WeWork (we.co/crush), Richelle discusses the evolution of retail, her own super powers, growing up around the death business, and making a recent jump from business leader to start-up founder.

#215:  Richelle Parham - The Endless Feedback Loop

As the co-founder and CEO of PROHBTD, Drake Sutton-Shearer has created one of the leading brands inside and adjacent to the cannabis industry.  PROHBTD doubles as a content platform and product engine focused on the intersection of cannabis and pop culture. From fashion to gastronomy to music and smart business insights, the brand has become an icon both domestically and internationally, and reaching fans by the tens of millions each month. An entrepreneur since, age 14, Drake holds multiple patents in technology and social applications, and has unique ability to spot opportunities where others may not.  Whether creating the world's top social gifting company, founding a Grammy winning talent management firm, or leading branding and design for the likes of Warner Bros, Sony and Universal; Drake is as brutally smart as he is driven.  His work has been featured on CNN, Advertising Week, Variety, Huffpost, Billboard, Digiday, Wall Street Journal and on the cover of leading Cannabis B2B publication MG Magazine.. and now Innovation Crush.   Recorded live at WeWork (we.co/crush), Drake discusses the many nuances and intricacies of becoming a leader in an ever-evolving industry.

#216:  Drake Sutton-Shearer - The Evolving Culture of Cannabis

To celebrate the launch of Mercedes-Benz EQ -- a new electric vehicle -- OK Go front man, Damian Kulash joins Innovation Crush and discusses the creation of the Stress Inversion Transformer (SIT).  Damian's vision in exploring "EQ" was to figure out away to turn negative energy into positive energy. So naturally (and because science), he built a booth that allows humans to exactly that.  Along the way we discuss personal brand, the creative process, the SIT's upcoming world tour, and answer a few audience questions.

#217:  Damian Kulash - Mercedes Benz at SXSW

The neuroscience of orgasm is relatively uncharted territory, with some of the most groundbreaking developments being led by Dr. Nicole Prause.  As the founder of the Liberos Center -- a sexual biotechnology company -- Nikki has used the study of sex as a gateway for studying everything from clinical depression to relationships to branding.  Both a neuroscientist and technology inventor, she has a long history of inventing her own tools and processes to advance her craft.  From hacking Arduino circuit boards, to developing projection methodologies for performance artists, her career has been fueled by a combination brains, curiosity, and a desire to genuinely help her clients.   On this installment of the show, the good doctor breaks down her craft, her experience with motorcycles and fire spinning, and debunks a lot of cultural myths about sex and psychology.

#218:  Dr. Nicole Prause - All Sex Everything

As the head of innovation for the U.S. Census Bureau, Mara Abrams is on mission to bring the 2020 census into the 21st century.  In her role as the founder &amp; co-director of the organization's open innovation lab, Mara leads a nimble team that creates and deploys prize competitions, crowdsourcing, accelerators, design workshops, etc and much more in effort to to increase participation in the 2020 Census; which determines how $700 billion of annual Federal funding is directed throughout the country. Her work history includes inventive stints Nike and Jaguar as well as her own foundation she ran for a number of years, teaching filmmaking to disadvantaged youth.  Recorded live at WeWork (We.co/crush), Mara discusses overcoming perceptions, assembling creative minds, and how nearly dying affected her approach to work and life.

Innovation Crush

Rail2019