On today’s episode of the podcast, I talk to someone I first crossed paths with back in 2005 at Kutztown University’s Annual Portfolio Review, right as this young, ambitious designer was about to graduate with his BFA in Communication Design. It was a random encounter… or so I thought. Fast forward 20 years, and one day, he reached out to me after reading one of my columns on creativity in Network Magazine … and a friendship was born. I’m talking about Mr. Matt Borrelli. But here’s the thing—Mat...
May 16, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 5Ep. 8
Welcome to AdYack LIVE! On March 13th, the American Advertising Awards took place at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I had the privilege of interviewing the winners live during the show, capturing their reactions, insights, and stories behind the campaigns that took home the hardware. From the rush of winning to the creative process behind these groundbreaking designs, you’ll hear firsthand from the brilliant minds shaping the future of advertising. These are the professionals pu...
Apr 11, 2025•48 min•Season 5Ep. 7
If you've ever wondered how exceptional design can shape spaces, elevate brands, and even transform how we experience the world around us, you come to the right place. My guest today on the podcast is the award-winning and brilliant interior designer JT Norman—known for his bold, creative approach to design and ability to turn ordinary spaces into works of art. JT's work has earned him acclaim in the design world and a reputation for being a visionary with a unique understanding of how to mix st...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Season 5Ep. 6
My guest today is someone who I have admired ever since meeting him when he was working at The Valley Forge Convention and Visitors Bureau, headquartered in King of Prussia. PA. Five minutes into that meeting, I knew Ed and I would become friends. Our first meeting took place at the request of a mutual friend, who recommended we meet each other as they felt we had similar outlooks on life and business. Turns out, he was right. Ed grew up in Philadelphia and launched his marketing and advertising...
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 5
Today's guest on the podcast is someone I have been a fan of for over 20 years. He's a gifted lyricist, brilliant guitarist, both acoustic and electric, producer, singer, and storyteller, and on a constant quest to seek new challenges wherever he may find them. I'm talking about Francis Dunnery. Dunnery has always pushed the envelope of what he believes music can be by simply refusing to be boxed in to a specific genre. My first encounter with Francis was at a show back in 1997 at the Tin Angel ...
Dec 20, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Today on AdYack I talk to Cameron Day, Cameron is a brilliant creative director, brand strategist, and the malcontent scribe behind an awesome series of books called the Advertising Survival Guide trilogy, which delves into brand architecture, political landmines, and mentorship. Cameron’s latest book, Stones & Sticks, is chock full of great advice for creatives at any level, and Cameron’s not afraid to tell the uncomfortable stories right alongside the inspiring ones. He also happens to be ...
Nov 01, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Roy Shuler Ad Yack Season 5 Today on the podcast, I have the pleasure of speaking with SAG-AFTRA actor and all-around incredible human being, Mr. Roy Shuler. I first met Roy when he was cast in the play To Kill a Mockingbird at the PA Playhouse in Bethlehem. He played the pivotal role of Tom Robinson, a role he credits with helping him decide to leave the Lehigh Valley and return to his roots in New York City roots to pursue bigger acting opportunities. This conversation is filled with life less...
Oct 18, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 5 of Ad Yack, the podcast that explores the minds of creative professionals. I want to thank all the fabulous guests who have agreed to appear on the show over the past four seasons for being so open and vulnerable when sharing their thoughts and insights. Today’s guest will be no stranger to anyone who appreciates music and the exceptional craftsmanship that goes into creating one of the world’s most iconic brands. I’m speaking, of course, about Dick Boak and Martin Guitar. Af...
Sep 20, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Today on the podcast, AdYack goes international and talks to Brian Wcislo from his home in Costa Rica. In 2005, Brian co-founded 401 Creative, a Lehigh Valley-based ad agency he formed with his college roommate, Curtis Johnson. The duo found fast success with 401, and Brian was enjoying that success when he noticed that something wasn’t quite right with his body. When multiple doctor visits turned up nothing, a quick Google search indicated he had a candida imbalance that was affecting his perso...
May 17, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Alright, Ad Yackers, today, I get to talk to someone whose work I have admired for quite some time. She is not only the owner of an ad agency, but she understands the importance of giving back to the community where she lives and works. She named her agency after an antelope known for being extremely fast, agile, and able to clear tall hurdles that get in their way. I’m talking about Sarah Clark of Kudu Creative. I first met Sarah in 2013 when she was an art director at Mosaic Interactive, a dig...
Apr 26, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 8
People like to say ‘never judge a book by it’s cover.’ And my next guest on the podcast is the living embodiment of that phrase. I’m talking about the one and only Cheryl Moritz. If you ever seen her in one of the hundreds of theatrical productions she’s appeared in, you have a good idea what I’m talking about. Or perhaps you seen her dominating the stage, or body surfing the crowd while singing her lungs out in a punk band she’s fronting. I once saw her do an entire American Advertising Awards ...
Mar 29, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Today on the podcast, I talk with Catherine Barnstone, who’s father had a tremendous impact on me during the time I studied with him at his art school in Coplay, PA. I’m referring to Mr. Myron Barnstone, a master painter before becoming an internationally respected fine arts teacher. Myron sadly passed away in 2016 at the age of 83. Since then, his daughter Cat has been working diligently with a team of art professionals and curators to help ensure Myron’s classical approach to drawing and desig...
Feb 16, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 6
When you think about it, Life is a collage of memories, relationships, emotions, conversations, and all the little moments cut from the experiences that make up your life. Nobody understands that better than today's guest on the podcast. Stephen Kroninger grew up outside of Allentown in the sleepy burb of Orefield, Pennsylvania, and spent his formative years studying commercial art at Lehigh County Vo-Tech. While there, he met a charismatic teacher who was instrumental in helping him understand ...
Jan 19, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 5
I love meeting people who are super passionate about their craft and the work they do to earn a living. Today, on the podcast, I talk to two individuals who exceed that criteria. Mr. Matt Artinger and Patrick Newill. Matt owns and operates Artinger Guitars based in Emmaus, and he was gracious enough to sit down with me on a Saturday morning and talk about the art of making guitars. Partick works right alongside Matt in his shop, putting his stamp on a line of guitars. Matt brought Patrick in bec...
Dec 15, 2023•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 4
AdYack Season 4 Episode 3 Katie P. Desiderio and Michael G. Frino One of the topics I love to discuss on AdYack is leadership. Today on the podcast, I will explore this topic in depth with best-selling authors Katie Desiderio and Michael Frino. Frino oversees Human Capital Development for a Fortune 500 Company, a Leadership Author, a Performance Researcher, and an Adjunct Professor. Desiderio is an Assistant Vice President of corporate-educational Partnerships, a Tenured Professor of Management ...
Nov 17, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 3
S4 | E2: Martha DeFeo There are certain people you will meet throughout your life, and as soon as you meet them, you know they possess an innate ability to transcend and succeed in any environment. Martha DeFeo is one of those people. I briefly worked with Martha at Adams Outdoor Advertising, and I knew, even back then, that she was on a mission. She often encouraged and inspired people to become the best versions of themselves, in both their professional and personal life.She’s a seeker of know...
Oct 20, 2023•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 2
Welcome to Season 4 of AdYack. Today on the podcast, I get to interview Mr. Lee Abrams. To say that Lee Abrams is a radio legend would be an understatement. His career has spanned over five decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Lee is credited with developing the album rock radio format, first introduced in the 70s to help stations move away from playing hit singles to more album-oriented rock. While he remains passionate about his past, he's focused on reimagining the future. He consulted...
Sep 15, 2023•55 min•Season 4Ep. 1
SEASON FINALE! Kate Hughes - AdYack Podcast Season 3, EPISODE 7 Today on the podcast, I get to interview someone who has forged a career out of always putting herself in the best light. Someone who knows the power of the pivot and whose energy is off the charts. You could light a city with the wattage that emanates from her presence.I’m talking of course about Kate Hughes. Kate is one of those people that you only need to meet once to realize that she’s impossible to forget.Kate and I yak it up ...
Jun 16, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Today on the podcast, I get to talk to one of the mentors who helped me discover my passion for great creative. John Hayes. John was the GM of Adams Outdoor Advertising when I met him for the first time. The year was 1999 and I was ready for a new challenge. Shortly after that meeting, he offered me an art director position, and I eagerly accepted. Back then, John was restructuring Adams to go all in by using the power of creativity and great design to re-imagine Adams Outdoor as a branding tool...
May 19, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 6
For several years now, I have been experiencing the phenomenon commonly known as serendipity with greater frequency. It's considered an unexpected fortunate discovery. But, it turns out, it happens all the time; you have to be open to experiencing it. The latest serendipitous event for me happened when I opened an email from Tina Zaremba. Her initial message was followed by a meeting over zoom, leading to an invitation to be on AdYack.Tina is a professional voice-over actor based in New York Cit...
Mar 31, 2023•59 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Charles Stonewall Webster’s dictionary describes an artist as someone with the talent to create art (such as a painting, a sculpture, music, or photography) while using their conscious skill and creative imagination. So with that definition, I would say my next guest is what I would refer to as an artist’s artist. Charles Stonewall is a highly gifted and talented Lehigh valley based artist and photographer who has spent his life looking for the light and capturing it in his stunning images. I me...
Feb 24, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Today on the podcast, I have someone who I have wanted to talk to for quite some time, and thankfully our schedules finally aligned. OutFront Studio’s National Creative Director, Eddy Herty. Eddy is highly respected in the advertising industry and is a frequent guest speaker at industry-leading events, including Outdoor Advertising Association Of America, The Infinity Film Festival, HOW Design Live, and The NY Ad Club. He’s also been a Judge for the ADDY Awards, the OAAA OBIE awards, The One Sho...
Jan 20, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Jason Tselentis is one of those people you only have to know for about 5 seconds before you realize that, one, he’s a very chill, down-to-earth, easy-going guy, and two, he loves his pugs, Alien & Predator. Spend a little more time with him, and you’ll realize he is also very talented, and I am thrilled to have him on the podcast. Jason is a visual communication design and typography professor at Winthrop University’s Department of Design in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He’s written about desi...
Oct 28, 2022•58 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Welcome back to ad yack. Season 3. It’s nice to be back because I wanted to amp things up a little with the first episode of season three, and I’m happy to say, that my first guest of the hits all the right notes. Crystal Durant is a very talented NYC based Graphic Designer, DJ, Singer, Rock Show Producer, Sound Designer for Broadway, Podcaster, Metalsmith, Printmaker, Art Educator, Pop Culture Demolition Specialist, Storyteller, Photographer, and Activist. As her mom used to say, she’s a “very ...
Sep 30, 2022•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Tony is a marketing and innovation veteran with over 25 years of experience driving innovation at two of New York City's global ad agencies, Grey Advertising and Saatchi & Saatchi. Tony experienced daily exactly how creativity gets used to drive everything from client pitches, brand strategies, messaging, design, and media placement. But on the other hand, he also witnessed how easy it was for anyone to kill a transformative idea, which led him to do a thought provoking TED Talk titled, 'Giv...
May 27, 2022•52 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Jen Borror is the owner/operator of Hoot Design Studio in York, Pennsylvania and is an award-winning illustrator and graphic designer. She’s worked in the design and marketing industry since 2004. Before her father’s passing in 2019, she felt inspired when he told her, “Life is short, Jenny, do what you love now while you have the time.” She took her father’s advice to heart and opened Hoot Design Studio to focus on her passion and love of pen and ink illustration and graphic design. In this epi...
Apr 22, 2022•52 min•Season 2Ep. 3
This episode's guest is David Hoffeld. David is the CEO and chief sales trainer of Hoffeld group and is the author of the groundbreaking book the science of selling, and has a brand new book coming out in March. Sell More with Science , David and I yack it up on a bunch of interesting topics that include knowing the difference between persuasion and manipulation, how to get out of a sales slump, how to use social proof and your presentations, and why salespeople need to focus on the buying proce...
Mar 18, 2022•53 min•Season 2Ep. 2
If the Lehigh Valley had a Hall of Fame for creatives, my next guest would absolutely be in it. We're talking about Peter Stevenson. Peter is a fine artist, Creative Director, and illustrator. His illustrations have been featured in The Washington Post The Washington book review, the Wall Street Journal, and his work has been commissioned by clients that included at&t communications Crayola, Earl Palmer-Brown, Citibank, and J. Walter Thompson. Stephenson spent decades working in advertising ...
Feb 07, 2022•55 min•Season 2Ep. 1
