The Top 10 Most-Played Breaking and Entering Episodes of 2025
What a year of incredible advertising interviews. Looking back, we surpassed 500 published podcast episodes. When I started the long-form podcast in 2020 as a pandemic project while stuck in my parents’ basement during quarantine, I never imagined I would speak with this many people, let alone advertising legends, for a living.
2025 was my first year working on Breaking and Entering Media full time. While we focused much of our energy on short-form content, I plan to continue publishing a podcast episode every week until the day I die.
Below are the most listened-to episodes of 2025. If you are new to B&E, this is a strong place to start. These conversations can help you land your first job in advertising or move toward your next promotion or role.
The guests represent some of the brightest minds in the business, and I am excited for you to hear from them.
10. Taylor Grimes, VP, Global Marketing at Goodyear
TAYLOR GRIMES. He is the only brand-side guest to make the top ten list. At the time of recording this podcast, he was just getting his feet wet at Goodyear, coming in on the heels of perhaps the dopest brand refresh of 2025 with Goodyear’s Still D.R.E. brand video. The Goodyear brand is hot heading into 2026, with Taylor helping lead marketing at the top. A former agency exec, this episode is great for both agency and brand-side professionals. Love this guy.
9. Susan Credle, Interpublic Global Creative Advisor
I was nervous for this interview. Susan has been a titan in the industry for years. A dream guest of mine, this was recorded pre-Omnicom merger. At the time, we knew it was happening, but we did not know the details. I cannot thank Susan enough for coming on during a weird moment in the industry, and she absolutely delivered.
Learning how she went from a receptionist at BBDO to accelerating into advertising legend status, she told us how she helped create the iconic M&M’s characters and how she developed FCB’s “Never Finished” platform. There is another huge lesson in this episode that I call “The Credle Approach to looking for your job,” which you just have to listen to in order to understand.
Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/breaking-entering/episodes/499---Susan-Credle--From-Receptionist-To-Global-Creative-Advisor-Of-IPG-e39ii66/a-ac79leb
8. Gabriel Schmitt, Global Chief Creative Officer at Grey
This dude, Gabriel Schmitt. I will tell you what. He was fired at 19 years old, then hired as a Creative Director at 21. HOW IN THE ACTUAL F? He started young in this business, and if you listen, you will hear how he avoids burnout, how he is leading Grey today as Global CCO, and how he won a Gold Lion for his Sharpie work at FCB.
You must also learn and live by his “20 percent more” approach to working in advertising, but only if you want to become a CCO one day. Otherwise, you can skip this episode.
Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/breaking-entering/episodes/How-Getting-Fired-At-19-Made-Him-A-Creative-Director-By-21-e36gjp5/a-ac3cvg6
7. Mike Byrne, Founding Partner and Global Chief Creative Officer at Anomaly
The Super Bowl Slayer. Mike Byrne crushes the Super Bowl the same way Jack Westerkamp crushes Starbucks coffee. And yes, Starbucks is a client of Anomaly. Mike talks about working on more than 20 Super Bowl campaigns, which has to be close to a world record.
He has built Anomaly into a serious agency force, and you will learn his “morning pages” practice that helped him become the copywriting legend he is today.
listen: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/breaking-entering/episodes/498---Mike-Byrne--What-22-Super-Bowl-Commercials-Taught-Him-About-Creativity-e39ejv0/a-ac74glk
6. Mark Fitzloff, Founder of Opinionated
Fitzloff. When we finished recording in NYC, he went straight into a final pitch round. Weeks later, we learned that Opinionated had just won the Creative AOR for Shake Shack. Mark talks about founding Opinionated in Portland and his 20 years at Wieden+Kennedy.
He is building an independent agency in Portland that is winning big clients, and listening to this episode is basically a masterclass in how to build a successful advertising career. I would work for him if I was not doing B&E, that is for sure.
Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/breaking-entering/episodes/494---Mark-Fitzloff--He-Spent-20-Years-At-WiedenKennedy-e38tqe6/a-ac6ej0h
5. Erica Roberts, Chief Creative Officer at BBH USA
One of the best agencies of 2025, Erica Roberts is the CCO of BBH USA. They absolutely skyrocketed this year. Erica was also awarded CCO of the Year by Ad Age.
If you listen to this episode, co-hosted by my good friend Brian Bonilla of Ad Age, you will learn her morning creative routine and get insight into how BBH taps into Publicis while still operating their own way. And remember Taylor Grimes at number ten? BBH was the agency behind the Still D.R.E. work for Goodyear. Small world. Listen to the episode.
Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/breaking-entering/episodes/502---Erica-Roberts--What-It-Takes-To-Be-CCO-Of-The-Year-e3a6j7m/a-ac83ut5
4. Jeff Kling, Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Das Favorite
The creative genius behind Dos Equis’ “The Most Interesting Man in the World” and Arby’s “We Have the Meats.” Jeff does not hold back in this episode. He has been in the agency game for decades, and he tells you exactly what he likes and does not like.
At times abrasive, he has the pedigree, accolades, and knowledge to back it all up. Listeners could not get enough of this one. A powerful listen from a powerful creative mind. He was the creative director to the number one listen on this list and knows the how to find the best work and bring the best work out of people. Listen to the episode, people.
Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/breaking-entering/episodes/He-Created-The-Most-Interesting-Man-In-The-World-e37m6bv/a-ac4s9vf
3. Joe Burns, Head of Strategy at Quality Meats
You might know him from his brilliant LinkedIn carousel posts. Joe Burns is today’s Jon Steel of advertising strategy. He is a brilliant strategist with no house style.
He breaks down multiple schools of strategic thought, which was extremely helpful for me, as I am fairly clueless about advertising strategy. You will also learn how strategists should and should not use AI when developing insights. This is the number three episode for good reason. I am making this a required listen for everyone. Due by January 1, 2026. Please DM me your thoughts on LinkedIn so you can get credit for the assignment.
Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/breaking-entering/episodes/505---Joe-Burns--Getting-Strategic-e3arbr3/a-aca4skj
2. Liz Taylor, Global Chief Creative Officer at Ogilvy
A dream guest of mine since I started the podcast in 2020, I was nervous as hell interviewing the legend that is Liz Taylor. She has been an icon in advertising for years and graciously sat down with us in our tiny Madison Ave office.
We learned more about Ogilvy during a moment of leadership transition, as Laurent Ezekiel had just been named CEO and Cindy Rose was recently announced as Global CEO of WPP, replacing Mark Read. This episode offers a strong glimpse into WPP, but an even better look at what it takes to lead creativity at Ogilvy, an agency that has truly stood the test of time.
Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/breaking-entering/episodes/506---Liz-Taylor--How-She-Became-Global-CCO-of-Ogilvy-e3b5mgr/a-acaidqt
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Tony Hawk’s episode was wild. It didn’t crack the top ten, which is shocking to me. I guess our fans just love advertising creatives more than skateboard all-stars. Tony Hawk and Adam Wilson co-founded D/CAL a punk rock ad agency that taps into creators and artists and professional athletes for their campaigns, and really, they are an agency to look out for coming from Detroit. Shout out to Adam Wilson, his love for hats and his amazing beard and kick-ass ad agency.
Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/breaking-entering/episodes/Tony-Hawk--Adam-Wilson--Talking-Ads-e31tio0/a-abtbrb4
Jeff Goodby, Co-Founder of Goodby Silverstein & Partners. This was the last episode of 2025, so of course it didn’t crack the top ten. But sitting with him for an hour was a dream. He is the man behind the “Got Milk” Campaign. I remember looking at those ads in the middle school health class, seeing famous celebs with that dang milk mustache. Along with being another Super Bowl powerhouse agency for DECADES, Jeff is the perfect mix of a brilliantly smart man paired with years of wisdom, tied together with the biggest heart. There’s a reason he’s been at the top of the ad game for 4+ decades, and I believe his kindness towards his people and his clients is one of the big reasons.
Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/breaking-entering/episodes/513---Jeff-Goodby--Sit-Down-With-The-Legend-Who-Wrote-Got-Milk-e3cf6jg
1. Karl Lieberman, Global Chief Creative Officer at Wieden+Kennedy
Everyone who falls in love with advertising thinks about working in Portland at some point. We wonder what the walls of Wieden+Kennedy look like (in Portland & NYC), and we definitely wonder how the ideas coming out of those offices are made.
Karl Lieberman gives us that glimpse in an hour-long interview that I honestly could have extended for hours. Beyond the lore of Wieden+Kennedy, you will learn about his break-in, how difficult his 20s were, and why he describes that decade as confusing and often a slog.
If you feel like you are currently in a slog, Karl’s episode will give you perspective, advice, and inspiration. You do not want to be the person who missed out on hearing Karl Lieberman’s advice.
Listen here: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/breaking-entering/episodes/Rejected-From-WKs-Talent-Program----Now-Global-CCO-e37v81m/a-ac5al2h
