Ad Yack: Season 6, Episode 1: Melissa Smith

Welcome to Season 6 of AdYack.

If you’re here, maybe you’ve made it through a few of your own battles. Maybe you're carrying big questions about your work, your worth, and what it all really adds up to. That’s exactly why I wanted to start this season with a conversation that doesn’t pretend to have all the answers—but does ask all the right questions. Today, I’m joined by Melissa Smith of Pakoil Company. Melissa is an account executive who works across the Pharmaceutical and OEM markets—with a focus on Medical Devices, Fire & Safety, First Responders, the Military, and Industrial OEM sectors. Pror to that she worked for Adams Outdoor Advertising and The Morning Call Media Group. But that’s just the resume. What we really talked about was what it means to stay human in the middle of all that. We talked about staying focused in a world that seeks to distract us. About presence, when life pulls you in ten different directions. and how sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is just... slow down and recharge. This episode is a reminder: you’re not alone. Your work—your art, your creativity, your heart—it matters. This season, I want to go deeper. I’ll be talking to people who’ve built things, broken things, and then got honest about what it all really meant. Melissa lives her life with intention. She chooses to see the world through the lens of positivity. And when it comes to work/life balance? It’s not a myth. It’s a fight worth showing up for—and Melissa shares how she does it. She’s sharp, generous, and grounded—and she knows that success without mindfulness is just noise.

So here is my Ad Yack with with Melissa Smith.