What Bubbles Up

In this "quick one", Barry and Phil crack some beers and explore the impact of AI on design leadership, change management, and the future of work. They discuss recent developments in AI tools like Figma agent and Gemini, the cultural and emotional implications of AI adoption that come with this change, and practical strategies for integrating AI into creative and organizational processes, including the importance of focusing on value and experimentation in AI adoption. It is a timely and much-needed conversation for design leaders, and creatives in general, in the throes of AI transformation. Enjoy!

Drinks: Sprindrift Blood Orange Tangerine Sparkling Water, Tree House Brewing Company Waffleberry Double IPA

Links: www.figma.com

In this episode, Barry and Phil are joined by Dave Peak, serial entrepreneur and the founder of AI startup EasyBee.AI, which focuses on building customizable agents for mid-market firms. Dave takes us through his storied career leading innovation strategies for companies large and small, including pharma, financial services, and consulting. With a track record of successful exits, Dave shares his thoughts on being a successful entrepreneur in the AI age, including whether or not to secure financing, how much, and where to draw the line. We also discuss how to bring top talent on board, even with a bootstrap budget, and how to keep them engaged for the long term. We even get into the all-important topic of corporate swag, and how to turn a badly designed thermos into a collector's item. This is a broad discussion that covers a lot of pertinent topics. Enjoy!

Drinks: Stellwagen Beer Company Cooler Beer American Light Lager, Tree House Brewing Company Very Green Double IPA, Sierra Nevada, Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing New England-style IPA

Links: https://www.easybee.ai/

In this episode, Barry and Phil regroup from their time in Austin, Texas to share their thoughts on the week they spent attending SXSW 2026. Their takeaway from the festival was overall a feeling of hope and inspiration as they usher in what they see as a "Golden Age of Artificial Intelligence". Gone are the feelings of fear and trepidation, replaced with the hope of using these tools as a way to showcase differentiation, taste, and storytelling. They discuss how NOT knowing where things will go is a good thing, creating a particularly vibrant space where creative thinkers and tinkerers can thrive: observing seemingly disparate things that others can't, and connecting them together to create opportunities that others won't. It was a great week with a ton of amazing conversations, and we can't wait to do it again next year. Enjoy!

Drinks: Coffee, Water

Links: www.sxsw.com

In this episode, Barry and Phil come to you LIVE from Austin, Texas and the SXSW 2026 Festival of Innovation. Recording live from Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden, Barry and Phil have conversations with esteemed guests, friends and colleagues recapping the days events, including thoughts on their panel "Lies My Creative Director Told Me: Myths of the Agency World". This episode features Val Vacante, Fura Johannesdottir, Ruthie Edwards, and Valeria Carlson, and though the conversations stretched far past what was recorded, this episodes certainly captures the energy, tone, and vibes of this year's SXSW.

Drinks: Multiple!

Links: www.sxsw.com

In this quick one, Phil and Barry crack a cold one and give the listeners a taste of what they can expect from their 2nd Annual appearance at the SXSW Innovation Festival and their panel discussion, "Lies My Creative Director Told Me: Myths of the Agency World". They discuss the other panels they are most excited about seeing, and send an open invitation to the various evening events where they can find us out and about on the streets of Austin, Texas. See you there!

Drinks: Jack's Abbey Shipping Out of Boston Amber Lager, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Snowed In Winter Warmer

Links:

https://schedule.sxsw.com/events/PP1162382

https://schedule.sxsw.com/events/PP1150148

https://schedule.sxsw.com/events/PP1162677

https://schedule.sxsw.com/events/PP1162380

https://schedule.sxsw.com/events/PP1162304

https://schedule.sxsw.com/events/PP1162395

In this episode, Barry and Phil are joined once again by Global Innovation Expert and frequent guest Val Vacante, fresh off her stint at the Consumer Electronics Showcase, or CES, in Las Vegas. We explore the overall impressions of the event, the practical applications of technology, and unique innovations that stood out. Val also shares insights from her panel discussion on experience-driven retail, emphasizing the importance of safety, privacy, and accessibility in technology. The conversation also touches on the growing significance of fandom cultures in retail and the definition of success in innovation. We also delve into the power of Google's Universal Commerce Protocol, both marveling at its potential and recognizing the power of in-person shopping experiences. Enjoy!

Drinks: Blue Point Brewing Company Imperial Sunshine Belgian Strong Golden Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Cold Torpedo IPA, Coconut Fizzy Water

Links: https://www.ces.tech/

Season 7 is upon is! And as we do every season, this first episode of the season is a preview of what's to come this year, which promises to be our best one yet. We celebrate the start of a new year by reflecting on our journey of storytelling over nearly a decade. We share our New Year's resolutions for 2026, including some changes to our show format with the introduction of '9 Questions', as well as a promise to do more live events, and deeper dives into practical AI topics. We're so excited about this season - enjoy!

Drinks: Cigar City Brewing Florida Man Double IPA, Tree House Brewing Company Treat Imperial IPA

Links: whatbubblesup.com

What Bubbles Up fans! Another year, and another season in the books, which means it is time for our annual Year in Flights episode! This season, Phil and Barry celebrate the end of Season 6 with a recap of 6 of their favorite moments, each paired with a different beer (in increasing ABV %). We also take a moment to celebrate the growth of their podcast, up 21% in listernership from this time last year. As predicted, this season focused on the impact of AI on the industry, the evolution of Figma, and the importance of authenticity in creativity. But we also highlight the need to embrace uniqueness and differentiation, and the necessity of continuous learning and evolution. It's been another great season - thank you all for listening, and we will see you again in 2026!

This Season's Highlights:

1. Episode 2: A Quick One on DeepSeekAI

2. Episode 4: Robin Raskin from SXSW

3. Episode 8: Recap of Config

4. Episode 9: The Future of Agencies with Matt Weiss (our top episode of Season 6!)

5. Episode 11: Lessons in Acting with Julianne Cross

6. Episode 12: Being Curious with Jenessa Carder

Drinks:

Barry: Tuckerman Brewing Co. Headwall Altbier, Vermont Beer Makers Scarlet Red Ale, Jack's Abby Brewing Shipping Out of Boston Amber Lager, Berkshire Brewing Company Lost Sailor India Pale Ale, Devil's Purse Brewing Co. Powder Hole Porter, Mad Elf Holiday Ale

Phil: Founders Brewing Company Red Sweater IPA, Jackie O's Brewery Chomolungma Brown Ale, Great Lakes Brewing Co. Christmas Ale, Port City Tidings Belgian-Style Ale, Jack's Abby Brewing Tiramisu Pastry Porter, Boulevard Brewing Company Dark Truth Imperial Stout

Links:

http://whatbubblesup.com

In this episode, Barry and Phil welcome David Richard, Entrepreneur and AI enthusiast joins us for a drink and a discussion about the evolving roles of design, designers, and business leaders in the age of AI. David regales us with his long journey through design, teaching, starting his own agency, then joining a large organization, and all the differences and similarities between those business contexts. We then pivot to the topic at the tip of every designer's tongue: "What do I do now that design is no longer solely in my hands, and what value do I bring?" David also shares his learnings as the co-founder of Blossom, a professional networking platform that combines relationship management with gentle AI guidance to make networking feel less intimidating and more meaningful.

Drinks: Chatham Squire Premium Lager, Treehouse Galactic Storm Imperial IPA, Meanwhile Brewing Company Tender Robot Hazy IPA

Links: https://goblossom.ai/

In this episode of, Phil and Barry engage in a rich conversation with CX Transformation Strategist, Author, and Podcaster Jenessa Carder about her journey from Boston to Japan and the cultural insights she has gained along the way. We discuss the importance of empathy in design, the challenges of being a foreigner in Japan, and how personal stories can enhance design practices. Jenessa shares her experiences with inclusivity in design and the power of storytelling, as well as her recent projects, including her book "The Curious Nail Who Stuck Out", and the resultant podcast, "The Curious Nail". This conversation emphasizes the significance of understanding diverse perspectives and the role of design in creating inclusive experiences. Enjoy!

Drinks: Devil's Purse Brewing Co. Handline Kölsch, Glaabsbräu Pilsener, Tully's Barista Black Coffee

Links: https://expressanything.squarespace.com/curiousnail

In this episode, Barry and Phil have a beer and a chat with Julianne Cross, an actor, writer, and filmmaker who left her career in media buying to pursue her passion for storytelling. Julianne discusses what it's like to go through the turbulent up's and down's of auditions, and the invaluable process she takes to learn from each one, process rejection, and properly celebrate triumphs. We also discuss how she turns ideas into viable stories, and how she uses script readings the same way designers use prototypes to get feedback. Lastly, we end this episode with a tribute to dearly departed Season 2 guest and inspirational writer Kathy Hepinstall. Cheers!

Drinks: Founders Brewing Company All Day IPA, Treehouse Hurricane American Double IPA, Montauk Brewing Company Wave Chaser IPA

Links: https://www.juliannecross.com/

In this episode, Barry and Phil are joined by Matt Weiss, former President and Chief Growth Officer of Huge and founder of Soul Purpose Advisory, in a broad discussion about the future of Agencies, and Creative Professional Services in general. Matt shares his observations on which agencies will win the future, and why, and what others will need to do to remain relevant in the AI age. Also, fresh off his annual pilgrimage to Cannes, Matt shares his perspectives on why Cannes still matters, how to get the most out of it, and what the prevailing wisdom of the collective community brought to bear. If you are interested in getting answers to the hardest-hitting questions facing the agency space today, this is the episode for you. Enjoy!

Drinks: Mass Landing Brewing Co. Beer Named Duck New England Pale Ale, Seven Arrows Brewing That Dam IPA, Michelob Ultra

Links: https://www.soulpurposeadvisory.com/

In this 'Quick One' episode, Barry and Phil give their take on all the major announcements from Config, Figma's annual conference held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. This year's Config featured 4 major product releases: Figma Sites, Figma Make, Figma Draw, and Figma Buzz. They also announced Grids with Auto Layout, CMS for their Sites product, and Code Blocks. Barry and Phil discuss how all these new features, taken together, are both a boon to Design and to Designers, but also might be much ado about nothing in the age of Agentic Experiences. Enjoy!

Drinks: Devil's Purse Brewing Co. Handline Kolsch, The Drowned Lands Brewery Green Yield Hazy IPA

Links: https://config.figma.com/

We are still sharing great content from our live appearance at SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas, and our attendance at the Meta Creators Event at Geraldine’s at the Hotel Van Zandt. This episode features our conversation with Melissa Kittson, the Director of Sponsorship and Advertising Strategic Development at the National Association of Broadcasters, or NAB. Though the night was wearing long by this point, we manage to get through a wonderful conversation about helping creators find their audience, their voice, and their value in the content marketplace. We discuss what Melissa and her team are doing to support creators as business leaders, and why the democratization of share of voice is so important in this day and age. Enjoy!

Drinks: Multiple

Links: https://www.nab.org/

We are still sharing great content from our live appearance at SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas, and our attendance at the Meta Creators Event at Geraldine’s at the Hotel Van Zandt. This episode features our conversation with Phil Sage, the Sr. Director of Design & Innovation at PepsiCo. Originally from Wales, Phil shares his thoughts on innovation and what is required of designers who are creating AI-powered experiences. This includes the increased need for systems thinking, empathy for those less capable, including student athletes, and open debate about the benefits and inherent risks of automation. Enjoy!

Drinks: Multiple

Links: https://www.pepsico.com/

We are still sharing great content from our live appearance at SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas, and our attendance at the Meta Creators Event at Geraldine’s at the Hotel Van Zandt. This episode features our conversation with Robin Raskin, the former editor of PC Magazine, the Founder of the Virtual Events Group (VEG), and an absolute legend in the world of tech journalism. Robin shares her unvarnished thoughts on the creator community, the state of the tech world (and its leaders, who she knew way back when), and why, despite all evidence to the contrary, she remains hopeful and optimistic about the future, and those who will help create it. Enjoy!

Drinks: Multiple

Links: https://virtualeventsgroup.org/

In this very special IRL episode, Barry and Phil come to you LIVE from the Meta Creators event at Geraldine's at the Hotel Van Zandt at SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas where they recap their panel, "Enterprise Design: The Death of Innovation?". They discuss both their overall takeaways from the discussion, but also the questions they were asked by the attendees. Later, they conduct a series of live interviews with a great selection of special guests: Robin Raskin, the former editor of PC Magazine and founder of the Virtual Events Group; Phil Sage, Sr. Director of Design & Innovation at PepsiCo; and Melissa Kitson, Director of Sponsorship and Advertising Strategic Development at the National Assocation of Broadcasters. It's a raucous, rowdy good time, reflecting the air of hope and positivity surrounding SXSW. Enjoy!

Drinks: Random Red Wine, "Creative Kick" Spicy Margarita, Karbach Brewing Co. Love Street Blonde Kölsch

Links:

https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP152066

http://www.dentsu.com

http://www.wongdoody.com

http://www.merkle.com

http://www.publicissapient.com

https://www.pepsico.com

https://www.nab.org/

In this very special IRL episode, Barry and Phil come to you LIVE from SXSW 2025 in Austin, Texas. In this first in-person episode in 6 years of "What Bubbles Up", and in preparation for their panel, "Enterprise Design: The Death of Innovation?", Barry and Phil recap their experiences and learnings from their first day at the Festival of Creativity. We also hear from Lindsey Scales, Assoc. Director Acne Care at Galderma; Estelle Raffaele, International Business Partner and Media Architect at Dentsu; and returning champion and fellow co-panelist Val Vacante, VP of Solutions Innovation at Dentsu, fresh off their panel, "Pixels to Reality: How Gaming Is Transforming Our World". We talk about their impressions from Day 1, and share the varying definitions of the word "Innovation". Enjoy!

Drinks: Coffee. Just coffee.

Links:

https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/speakers/2065159

https://www.galderma.com/, http://www.dentsu.com

http://www.wongdoody.com

http://www.merkle.com

In this episode, Barry and Phil do a quick one on the sudden rise and success of DeepSeek, the Chinese-developed open-source AI model, and its impacts on the stock market, geopolitics, and corporate investment strategies. We then take the opportunity to highlight our upcoming panel at South by Southwest. If you happen to be attending the conference, come stop by and see us discuss Enterprise Product Innovation with Val Vacante and Sara Alloy on March 10 at the JW Marriott, Salon 6. Enjoy!

Drinks: Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing Company We're Going To Need You To Come In On Saturday Scotch Ale, Strangebird Brewing Earthborn Stranger Hazy Doube IPA

Links: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/PP152066

Fresh off the holiday break, Barry and Phil ring in the New Year with a quick kickoff of Season 6 of What Bubbles Up! Starting off with some New Year's resolutions, Barry and Phil welcome a special guest - Perplexity AI - to give suggestions for what topics they should discuss (and, hilariously, what guests they should have on) this season. They also give their hot takes on the recent IPG/Omnicom merger, and the potential ban of TikTok in the US pending the Supreme Court decision on January 10th. It promises to be another great season. Enjoy!

Drinks: Coor Light, Victory Prima Pils

Links: http://www. whatbubblesup.com

It's the holidays! And you know what that means...our annual "Year in Flights" episode, where we look back on the year that was, and discuss some of our favorite episodes from this past season, each one paired with a specific beer selection. This year, we're looking back at 6 episodes (yes, with 6 different beers!) whose guests captured our attention, brought about great discussion, and caught the ear of our listeners: Tracy Wong, Ginny Saraswati, Donald Chesnut, Peter Merholz, Daz McColl, and Kate Moran. Thank you to them and to all our guests this season, as well as to all of our listeners, for another great season of What Bubbles Up! We will be back stronger than ever with more content in 2025. Until then, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year to all. Cheers!

In this episode, Stacey Seronick, Senior Design Program Manager at IBM, joins us for a drink and a chat about being a strong mentor for junior designers within a large organization. We discuss how Stacey's matriculation at Bennington College, where she learned the nascent fundamentals of digital design, coupled with a stint as a digital designer at Macworld, gave her a great start in her Design career. We then discuss how she quickly learned the difference between Art and Design, in that the former asks questions, and the latter answers them. We then discuss how the great Phil Gilbert, the former Head of Design at IBM who bet big on Design and grew the team to over 250 practitioners, created a role that Stacey took and made all her own, providing operational efficiency, clarity, and an outcome-oriented mindset for the Design organization. Through this work, Stacey learned how to coach Designers on owning their career, advocating for themselves without being obnoxious, and the benefits of talking and thinking about oneself in the third person. Enjoy!

Drinks: Dorchester Brewing Co. Galaxy Lights New England Hazy IPA, Trillium Brewing Company Vicinity Double IPA, Fresh Filtered Coffee

Links: https://www.ibm.com/design/

In this episode, Kate Moran, VP of Research & Content at Nielsen Norman Group, joins us for a drink and a chat about the world of UX Research. We discuss the fortuitous start of her work at NN/g, a graduate thesis with an 'audience of one' in Jakob Nielsen himself, which eventually led to her present day role as the group's de facto Editor-in-Chief. We then discuss how her work researching and understanding the complicated relationship between UX and AI, and the perils it brings younger practitioners, can be offset by the all-important differentiator for creatives in general: taste. Finally, we talk about the important role NN/g plays, now even more than ever, in bringing an authentic voice to the discussion of the interplay between technology, design, culture, and psychology. A very important and timely discussion...enjoy!

Drinks: Devil's Purse Brewing Co. Handline Kolsch, Atlas Brew Works Dance of Days Pale Ale, Oyster Bay New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

Links: https://www.nngroup.com/

In this truly global episode, Phil finds himself all the way in Bangalore, India, where he joins WongDoody's CDO and CXO, Mohan Krishnaraj, and Global CXO and returning guest Ralf Gehrig for a far-reaching conversation about the growth and development of the India Design Community. Mohan and Barry begin by regaling us with their recent experiences as keynote speakers at UXIndia '24, billed as the largest CX conference in the world. Although the India Design community has been around for 20 years, we discuss how it is now a desirable career choice, with the top technical schools offering stellar Design programs, thus making India a very competitive marketplace for talent on par with cities like New York and London.

If you are a Design leader building out a team, or are simply skeptical about the talent level of the India Design Community, then this is the podcast for you. Enjoy!

Drinks: Caribou Coffee Mahagony Blend, Bisleri Bottled Water

Links: https://2024.ux-india.org/, www.wongdoody.com, www.infosys.com

In this episode, we are joined by CMO, Marketing Strategist, Consultant, and Author Darren "Daz" McColl to discuss the role of the CMO in the age of digital transformation. Daz regales us with the incredibly journey he took to become the CMO of Neiman Marcus, after years in the trenches at various agencies, just as the global pandemic inflicted great financial burdens on retail brands that thrived on the in-store experience. We discuss the need to ruthlessly focus on the essentials when working with limited resources, but always thinking longer-term for the sake of the staff who remain. And we also take a trip in the way-back machine to discuss "Storyscaping", the book he co-wrote with Gaston Legorboru 10 years ago, and how much of it resonates today despite how much the role of CMO has irrevocably transformed. Enjoy!

Drinks: New Belgium Brewing Company Voodoo Ranger Juice Force IPA, The Test Brewery The Discovery Of Fire New England Hazy Triple IPA, Jansz Tasmania Sparkling Wine

Links: https://dazmccoll.com/

With the seemingly endless creative possibilities made possible by the rise of GenAI, why does it seem more challenging than ever to be a Design Leader? In this episode, Adaptive Path co-founder, author, and Design Leadership coach Peter Merholz joins us for a beer and a chat to discuss this and many other topics. We discuss his journey from Studio Archetype in the mid-90's to the present day, where he leads his own consultancy, Humanism at Scale. In this role, Peter coaches Design leaders going through the 'liminal phase' of their careers as they adjust to new realities in the marketplace. We further discuss how the shift in focus from 'craft' to 'impact', and understanding how that may require a shift in identity, is one of several keys to ongoing success in this new reality. A very timely and far-reaching discussion...enjoy!

Drinks: Mayflower Brewing Company Quahog Republic Golden Ale, Tree House Brewing Company Very Green New England IPA, North Coast Brewing Co. Scrimshaw German Pilsner

Links: http://www.petermerholz.com

In this episode, Phil and Barry share a drink and a chat with film director, writer, and author James Cox, who joins on the eve of the launch of his new book, "Grand Theft AI". James shares with us his journey starting out as a celebrated young filmmaker out of NYU, getting opportunities right out of the gate with films like "Highway" starring Jared Leto and Jake Gyllenhall, to his epic turn with Val Kilmer in "Wonderland", through to his awakening after a series of struggles that led him to write his first novel. Set in the year 2051, it is a story about a group of misfits trying to make money in a world so vastly accelerated by technology that human labor has become obsolete. We also discuss the importance of self-awareness and self-discovery, and the concept of creativity through pain. Enjoy!

Drinks: Poland Spring Clementine Bramble Seltzer, Honest Urban Ade Lemon Sage Mint Lemonade, Athletic Brewing Run Wild Non-Alcoholic IPA

Links: https://jamescoxbooks.com/

In this episode, Phil comes to us live from the Moscone Center in San Francisco to share his thoughts and experiences attending Config 2024, the annual conference held by the great folks at Figma. We talk about all the latest and greatest features coming to Figma and FigJam, as well as a new product, Figma Slides! We also talk about the expansion of Generative AI features in their products, the various talks given by Design and Product leaders, and some takeaways about the state of the Design community at large. Enjoy!

Drinks: Devil's Purse Brewing Co. South Dennis-Style Table Beer

Links: https://config.figma.com/

In this episode, Barry and Phil are joined by Podcaster, Entrepreneur, Author, and the Founder and CEO of Ginni Media, Ginny Saraswati. With roots in Sri Lanka, Ginny shares her story of spending a decade in terrestrial radio in her adopted hometown of Melbourne, Australia, seeing the trend toward "autonomous listening", eventually starting her own podcast, and taking her listeners with her to New York. In the process, she found herself advising fellow podcasters on the craft of storytelling and the importance of creating an authentic audio identity. Thus was born her company, Ginni Media, to go along with "The Ginni Show", a podcast about podcasts. We talk about what makes for a good podcast idea, a good name, a good host, and a good guest experience. We wrap with Ginni giving us a thorough grading on what we are doing well, what we can improve upon, and most importantly...who does it better. Enjoy!

Drinks: High Noon Pineapple Hard Seltzer, Trillium Brewing Company Congress Street IPA, Aquafina water

Links: www.ginnimedia.com

In this episode, Barry and Phil are joined by none other than the Chairman and Co-Founder of WongDoody, Tracy Wong. Tracy discusses his notion of 'Creative Democracy', a team-oriented approach to the art and science of ideation, about which he is writing in an upcoming book. Borne of insight, guided by inspiration, and supported by servant leadership, "Creative Democracy" is, at its essence, the acknowledgement that as long as there is a safe and conducive environment, good ideas can come from anywhere. We also discuss the ad industry of the early 90's, how the industry continues to evolve, and why in this constant state of change, businesses need to heed Jeff Bezos' words and focus on 'what stays the same'. Enjoy!

Drinks: Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. Magic Rain Hazy IPA, Sixpoint Brewery Lil’ Shucker Kölsch, Starbucks Pike Place Medium Roast Coffee

Links: www.wongdoody.com

In this episode, Barry returns from a week in Las Vegas for this year's installment of Adobe Summit. The theme of this year's Summit is 'Real World Application', wherein we discuss all the latest and greatest developments in the role of Generative AI in the Enterprise Content Supply Chain. We also discuss what might have been had the Figma acquisition gone through, and the power of community even among competitors. Enjoy!

Links: www.merkle.com, www.wongdoody.com

Drinks: J Wakefield Brewing New England Douple IPA, Just Water

In this episode, Barry and Phil welcome new guest Maury Postal, a strategist, Creative leader, digital nerd, and Principal of The Office of Maury Postal. Maury joins us for a drink and a chat about what predictions he has for 2024, and what he resolves to do about it. We discuss everything from craving technology that just works, to craving a return to the natural world and how the two are inextricably linked. We also lament the unfortunate demise of Invision, and an overall sense of the end of the "fun" Internet. It was such an engaging and wide-reaching conversation, Maury shared 8 predictions and we only had time to discuss 5! Enjoy!

Drinks: 3 Floyds Brewing Co. Pride & Joy Mild Ale, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Hopkeeper Double IPA, Inky Spanish Red Wine

Links: https://mopostal.com/

You’ve heard of beer flights. Well, get ready for a podcast flight! Join Phil and Barry as they host their annual Year in Flights episode and sample a collection of great moments from their fourth season of podcast interviews, each clip paired with a different craft beer. It’s been a fantastic year, and we share the stats to prove it! Thanks for listening, commenting, sharing, and joining us for every episode on this crazy ride. Happy holidays and we’ll see you all in 2024 with a new season of What Bubbles Up!

Drinks: 

Barry - Athletic Brewing Company Netflix’s The Witcher’s Hoppy Helles Geralt’s Gold, Einbecker Brauherren Premium Pils, Wachusett Brewing Company Wally Juice New England IPA, Smuttynose Brewing Company Robust Porter, BuzzBallz Chillers Egg Nog

Phil - Starr Hill Brewery Snow Blind Doppelbock, Cantina Cantina Arrange Disorder Double IPA, Samuel Smith Old Brewery Nut Brown Ale, Alewerks Brewing Company Coffeehouse Milk Stout, Hardywood Brewing Company Gingerbread Stout

Links: http://www.whatbubblesup.com

Barry and Phil are joined by Holden Bale, the Global Head of Experience and Commerce at Merkle, for a drink and a chat about where digital experiences are heading in the (not too distant) future. In this far-reaching and engaging conversation, we discuss the Four Forces that are impacting Experience today, and the ways they are making companies fundamentally shift their channel strategies. We also discuss how 'the collapse of the funnel', once a punchline at conferences and lectures, is now a stark truth for both CTO's and CMO's, requiring enterprises to be able to draw a straight line from their business strategy to their technology strategy. Enjoy!

Drinks: Downeast Cider House White Slushie, Suarez Family Brewery Nimble Pils, Pennings Farm Iron Mountain Hard Cider

Links: https://www.merkle.com/en/merkle-now/ebooks/b2b-futures-.html

In this episode, long-time and multiple repeat guest Val Vacante, VP of Innovation at Dentsu Solutions, joins us for a drink and a chat about AI in gaming. Going all the way back to its 40-plus year origins in Pac-Man, Val discusses all the ways that gaming has sparked innovations in AI, and vice versa, including present-day experiments with companies like Niantic and Lego. We also delve into both the complexities and benefits of children interacting with AI in the state of play, and how these AI gaming experiences are informing and improving 'more serious' enterprise software experiences. Another fun and engaging conversation with Val - enjoy!

Drinks: 3 Floyds Brewing Co. LazerSnake IPA, 3 Floyds Brewing Co. Gumballhead American Pale Wheat Beer, Tito's Vodka with Kombucha and Ginger

Links: https://www.dentsu.com/us/en/solutions

In this episode, longtime friend and colleague Marco Ambrosio joins us for a beer and a chat about his new Generative AI storytelling platform, Magicbook. We discuss how becoming a parent inspired him to create his startup after a career in CX consulting and product innovation, and how technology and Generative AI can be a positive force in the parent-child relationship. We also touch on how fear of regret can be a bigger motivator than the fear of failure, and how science, creativity, and technology can combine to provide meaningful, positive social benefits. Enjoy!

Drinks: Cisco Brewers Inc. Gripah Grapefruit IPA, Brooklyn Brewery Bodega Run Well-Stocked IPA, Quilmes Premium Lager

Links: https://www.magicbook.kids/

In this episode, our friend and colleague Tod Rathbone, Global Chief Strategy Officer at WongDoody, joins us for a drink and a chat about the world of Experience Strategy and its role in Digital Transformation. We frame up the two leadership mindsets of 'ambition v. fear', and explore which one led him to pivot away from advertising in order to focus solely on digital. We also discuss what Strategy means in the age of AI, the balance a strategist must strike when considering both 'what if' and 'what is', and Tod's concept of the 'the tyranny of enablement'.

Drinks: Fort Hill Brewery Fresh Pick American IPA, New Realm Brewing Company Hoptropolis Tropical IPA, Brewery Ommegang Neon Rainbows New England Hazy IPA

Links: www.wongdoody.com

In this special "Quick One", Barry calls in from Las Vegas, where he is attending this year's edition of Adobe's annual Digital Experience Conference known as Adobe Summit. He tells us about all the amazing technology products Adobe is introducing this year, many of which focus on AI and Generative Art. We discuss how these technologies can impact corporate marketing efforts, and accelerate brand experiences for digital marketers large and small. We also discuss some of the keynote speakers and which ones had the greatest impact on his Summit experience. We also take a trip down memory lane, as Summit is a popular gathering place for all our former colleagues and friends, reminding us again how fortunate we are to be in this business. Enjoy!

Drinks: Evil Genius Beer Company Stacy's Mom American IPA, High Quality H2O

Links: https://business.adobe.com/summit/adobe-summit.html

In this Quick One, Val Vacante, VP of Solutions Innovation at Dentsu, returns once again for a recap of everything she saw at this year's CES. We discuss all the cool innovations in wearables, AI-driven technology, and of course, massive televisions. We also talk about Dentsu NXT Space, an innovative platform created by Dentsu in collaboration with Microsoft, LinkedIn, and HeadOffice.Space for Web3 test-and-learn approaches to retail challenges. Enjoy!

Drinks: Bay State Brewing Company Becky Likes the Smell Imperial IPA, Trader Joe's Brewing Company Josephs Brau Winter Ride Doppelbock, Kosmic Kombucha with Ginger and Tito's Vodka

Links: https://www.dentsu.com/

Join Phil and Barry as they crack open a cold one and discuss what's in store for WBU listeners in this fourth season of What Bubbles Up!

Drinks: Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Crimson Cru Red Ale

You’ve heard of beer flights. Well, get ready for a podcast flight! Join Phil and Barry as they host their annual Year in Flights episode and sample a collection of great moments from their third season of podcast interviews, each clip paired with a different craft beer. It’s been a fantastic year, and we share the stats to prove it! Thanks for listening, commenting, sharing, and joining us for every episode on this crazy ride. Happy holidays and we’ll see you all in 2023 with a new season of What Bubbles Up!

Drinks: 

Barry - Zero Gravity Craft Brewery Green State Lager, Von Trapp Brewing Bohemian Pilsner, Lagunitas Brewing Co. Super Cluster Mega-IPA, Troeg's Independent Brewing Mad Elf Ale

Phil - Aslin Beer Co. Berliner Weisse w/ Passion Fruit & Mango, Quattro Goombas Black Widow Schwarzbier, Bell's Brewery Hopslam Ale, Campanology Brewing Barrel Aged Stout

Links: http://www.whatbubblesup.com

When you've had a decades-long career, and eventually reach the point when you want to figure out what's next, what do you do? You write a book! And that is exactly what our guest, Dan Roche, decided to do. With a 20+-year career consulting for the Federal Government, Non-Profits, NGO's, and Public Services, Dan devoted his attention and energy into taking all of that knowledge and packaging it up into his first book, a consumable and highly entertaining guide titled, "The Total Beginner’s Handbook for Doing Business with the Government". We discuss how this idea came about, why this was the right time to do it, and what he hopes people can learn from it. We also discuss how the editing process is often more arduous than the writing process, how starting without an outline sometimes allows for the most creativity, and why betting on oneself is always a good idea.  Drinks: Rogue Ales Dead Guy Ale, Deschutes Brewery Fresh Squeezed IPA, Champion Brewing Company Cavalier Lager Links: https://danroche.com https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLG2PQG7/

In this, our annual Halloween episode, returning guest, novelist, horror writer, and CEO of Cold Room Entertainment David Bergantino joins us for a drink and a chat about writing for video games. In this conversation, we discuss how writing games requires non-linear "world building", making it decidedly different than writing for any other medium. We also talk about how AI-driven tools like GPT3 and Dall-E have both transformed the genre, and made great storytelling even more of a differentiator than before. Enjoy, and Happy Halloween!

Drinks: Havoc Mead Psychopomp Sour Cherry Mead, 3 Floyds Brewing Company Zombie Dust Undead Pale Ale, Cellarest Beer Project Won't You Be My Neighbor

Links: https://coldroomentertainment.com/