Brand Banter Podcast: an AAF Alumni Spotlight
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to hold a phone interview with Jack Carlson. Jack is a 2018 University of Illinois graduate, AAF alumni, advertising professional, and current podcast creator. Another exceptional credential of Jack is that he is my older brother (what a lucky guy).
Jack and his friend Luke have recently started the Brand Banter Podcast, a podcast that brings a casual conversation about the media and advertising world. I was able to learn more about the podcast and see how Jack got to the place he is in now with the help of AAF.
Therefore, inspired by the 2020 meme, Jack was able to enlighten me on “how it started vs. how it’s going.”
How it started: “Go back to your first AAF meeting ever, what was it like?”
I remember the first thing I saw was a hype video for AAF and I knew instantly that I wanted to be part of the club. Seeing all the guest speakers, agencies, and field trips in the hype video made me realize I was in the right spot. AAF gave me firsthand knowledge that I could use to build my experience because we got to work with real clients. It gave me the opportunity to see what working in an ad agency would be like.
How it’s going: “What are you up to now?”
I live in Chicago now with some friends from college. On my weekends I like to go golfing, running by the lake, going out with friends, and rooting for my march madness teams (RIP Illinois).
In terms of career, I work at Starcom which is a full-service agency part of Publicis Media. At work, I am a Media Buyer, so I manage and buy advertising placements. Specifically, I work with college basketball and the NFL to place and manage Lowes ads.
How it started: “What skills did AAF help teach you?”
AAF helped me see the real-life client work with an internal team. I learned a lot about the agencies. It helped prepare me to break into the industry because I was able to build connections with AAF members and alumni.
How it’s going: “Tell me about your podcast and what was the inspiration behind it?”
AAF was actually a large part of sparking my passion for marketing and advertising. AAF can be about creating your own experience and that is exactly what I wanted to do. My buddy Luke Pieczynski, who is also a UIUC AAF alum, created the podcast together. We wanted to take matters into our own hands and broadcast the conversation about the ad industry in our post-grad life. In the Brand Banter Podcast, we try to make talking about advertisements fun by adding humor and different segments to our show like, “stunt of the month,” or “back or smack.”
How it’s going- “Why do you think AAF kids will benefit from listening? Where should they start?”
People should listen to it because we discuss current campaigns and pop culture. It sort of serves as an audible news source for what is working and what is not in the advertising world right now. You can start with any episode, but in my opinion, my favorite one is “Episode 4: Bud Light Next v. Miller64, 'A Taco a Day Keeps the Doctor Away’”, because it is smooth and well recorded. Additionally, I think college students might find the ads we talk about pretty relatable.
How it’s going- “What are the goals of the podcast? Where would you like to see it at the end of the year?”
Luke and I both would like to have intriguing guests on our podcasts that people would know and appreciate. We have not had guests yet, but we hope to soon.
Check out the Brand Banter Podcast on Spotify and Apple Music! Click the link below to follow on social media sites such as Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
