AdYack

Ad Yack: Season 6, Episode 5: Ben Levy

I’ve always believed that the way we show up to present is the message.Not the slides. Not the bullet points. Not the perfectly formatted deck we spent three hours obsessing over at midnight.Our energy is…. the message.Because people don’t remember what you said, they remember how you made them feel when you said it. And if your energy is off… no amount of beautiful typography will save you.Which is why I reached out to Ben Levy; presentation coach, communication expert, and author of ‘Stop Reading Slides’ How To Nail Creative Presentations and Sell Your Best Ideas. Ben’s spent years helping industry leaders, advertising teams, and creatives move beyond the raw information… and connect with the human beings in the room.We talk about why so much communication fails, not because the ideas are bad, but because we’ve forgotten how to deliver them as actual human beings.We get into attention, authenticity, creative confidence… and why so many of us use our slides as a shield instead of a bridge to the people we’re trying to reach.This conversation is funny, honest, and truly inspiring, because becoming a better presenter has less to do with performance… and more to do with connection.So if you want your ideas to connect — not just exist — this one’s for you.Here is my AdYack with Ben Levy.

Ad Yack: Season 6, Episode 4: Brandon C. Lay

Welcome back to AdYack, the podcast where we pull at the threads of creativity until something unravels. Today’s episode went deeper than I expected—in the best way possible.I sat down with filmmaker Brandon C. Lay, whose new film ‘Finger Laced Crown’ follows a spray-paint artist named Lemon Drop as she navigates both her creative passion and the high walls of the fine art world. The film officially dropped on streaming platforms— Prime Video, Fandango at Home, and Hoopla—on December 5th, 2025, after making the rounds through local premieres and landing a distribution deal with Buffalo 8. It’s already picking up recognition, including Best Foreign Feature at the Unrestricted View Film Festival.In our conversation, Brandon opened up about the sacrifices artists make—the kind that don’t show up in behind-the-scenes footage. We got into his writing process, how he works with actors, the filmmakers who shaped him, and the movies that made him want to pick up a camera in the first place. He also dropped some advice for young filmmakers. Whether you’re making films or just trying to make anything that matters, you may want to listen to this one. But what really stayed with me was the meaning behind Finger Laced Crown. It’s not just the name of the film—it was a revelation. One of those moments that lands softly but stays with you. And once you hear it, you’ll understand why.Here’s my AdYack with Brandon C. Lay.

Ad Yack: Season 6, Episode 3: Abriella Milazzo

Welcome to AdYack—the podcast where we explore the messy, magical, and wildly misunderstood world of creativity, with people bold enough to actually live it.Today, I sit down with Abriella Milazzo—she’s a yoga instructor, a holistic educator, an artist and an author of two books, whose work exists at the crossroads of movement, mindfulness, and imagination.Here’s the thing about Abriella: she doesn’t just practice creativity—she embodies it. The way she teaches, the way she writes, the way she simply walks through the world—it all comes from a place of wonder. For her, creativity isn’t a light switch—it’s the foundation she builds her life on.In this conversation, we get into:Why creativity is still so misunderstood—and why we box it in as “art” or “aesthetic.”What it looks like to reclaim creativity as a raw human instinct, not just a polished professional skill.How Abriella keeps her creative flow alive when life is messy, uncertain, or uninspired.And yes—we even detoured into Jonathan Livingston Seagull, that strange little 1970s book that cracked me open in a completely unexpected way.At its heart, this episode is about remembering—remembering the creative pulse that’s always been inside you, even if you were told to bury it.If you’ve ever thought creativity was something you lost, missed, or didn’t have permission to claim—this one’s for you. Because the truth is, creativity isn’t something you find. It’s something you finally decide to live.Here’s my AdYack with Abriella Milazzo.

Ad Yack: Season 6, Episode 2: Theron Cook

Welcome back, AdYakers, to Episode 2 of Season 6!Today’s guest is more than an artist—he’s a living manifesto for perseverance and creative transformation. Theron Cook is an award-winning muralist and brand strategist with over 17 years of experience bringing art into public spaces, businesses, and community spirit. He founded Don’t Quit Omniversity and the TCA Don’t Quit Foundation, driven by a mission to serve, inspire, educate, and empower both creative students and business owners.His work isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about resilience, story, and bringing people together through visual communication.In this episode, we talk about the elusive state of flow—that moment when creativity, time, and purpose align. We explore what it means to use design not just as a tool, but as a way to heal, uplift, and connect. And yes, we dig into the belief that art is everything—a philosophy Theron lives through every mural, workshop, and foundation effort.This conversation was a profound one, as Theron shares incredible stories about his life, his family, and his work in the community.So settle in—today’s episode is about art, resilience, transformation, and the power to never quit, even when life tries to hold you down.Here is my AdYack with Theron Cook.

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.