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The Firehouse Salon
We are living through the most significant shift in human creativity since Gutenberg. While may are stuck in a conversation about fear, replacement and redundancy the Firehouse Salon is having a different conversation entirely.
Each episode brings together unexpected guests at the intersection of creativity, science, art, technology and innovation, curious people who are leaning into this moment rather than away from it.
This is the age of the Tediophobe: people driven by a desire to explore, to make something worth making. The Firehouse Salon is their podcast.
Episodes
41 episodes
Ep 40 - Can a Machine Have Good Taste?
I was interested in what was going on with Openclaw and heard that Lan Wei, a PHD at MBZUAI had won a hackathon experimenting with the edges of a new technology. Turns out her keen interest is the intersection between AI and storytelling. ...
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Ep39 - What a Victorian Biologist Can Teach Us About Thinking
I came to Eduardo's office expecting to talk about cells and data. What I found on his wall were the illustrations of Ernst Haeckel, a 19th-century German naturalist whose drawings of jellyfish, radiolaria and embryos were so beautiful they sha...
Ep 38 - Mammanoids & Tediophobes
Drawing on a 1960s speech by Howard Luck Gossage that contrasts money-driven business builders who want repeatable formulas with creative people who become more exploratory and less controllable as they earn more.Ashley, our host, connec...
Ep37 - I Did Exactly What I Said I Wouldn't Do
After a five-month hiatus and a move to Abu Dhabi to take up the role of Head of Creative at the AI university MBZUAI, I've finally worked out why I got stuck with the Salon, and what it should become.A conversation with Richard Tseng re...
Ep 36 - The Socrates of San Francisco - BBC Radio 4
After 2 years on BBC sounds the link to our radio show is no longer working... so... the opportunity to share it with you here. One of the advantages is the opportunity to share with you a new 'director's cut' - a little shorter, and some addit...
Ep 35 - LIVE - How to be creative about next to nothing at all
In this episode of Firehouse Salon Live, we discussed creativity and the process behind it with our guests:Filmmaker Philip Rachid - https://www.linkedin.com/in/philiprachid/and Designer Dave Officer - https://www.linkedin.com/in/...
Ep 34 - LIVE - "We Are Yet to Take the Helm of This Spaceship"
In this episode, we dive into the legacy of Howard Luck Gossage and explore creativity, environment, and unconventional thinking. Guests:Ali Grant - Designer and inventor of the Halo - https://www.instagram.com/halosoundsy...
Ep 33 - 99 Non Zebras - Environment & Creativity
The Firehouse Salon: Exploring Creativity and EnvironmentIn this episode of the Firehouse Salon, hosts James and Ashley delve into the 1960s world of Howard Luck Gossage's and his work environment at his firehouse ad agency.
Ep 32 - LIVE - "It's Magic When it Works"
In this episode we explored the topic of magic and communication, particularly how persuasion and manipulation shape media and advertising.Our guests:Maz Farrely - Exec Producer of so many shows you've watchedLindsay Campbell-...
Ep 31 - That Old Black, White, or Pango Peach Magic
In this episode, we delve into the theme of magic in human belief, particularly magical thinking and its impact on advertising and communication. The hosts explore Howard Luck Gossage's ideas on how magical thinking has been leveraged in market...
Ep 30 - LIVE - Turning Ideas into Action
In this episode of the Firehouse Salon, host Ash, along with our guests:Sophie Whippy - TediophobesJérémie Maret - ArtistShane Elliot - SculptorGuillem Gallego - Chief Marketing Officerdelve into the process of ideatio...
Ep 29 - The Shape of an Idea and How to Draw One
In this episode, James & Ash explore Howard Luck Gossage's sixth chapter from 'The Book of Gossage,' examining his critique of traditional advertising and his belief in advertising's power to spread meaningful ideas.They discuss crea...
Ep 28 - LIVE - "Culture is an Ever-Evolving Concept"
In this episode of the Firehouse Salon, host Ash chats to this Eps guests: Jenna, a documentary filmmaker with a background in neuroscience; Ammie, a multidisciplinary artist; Abdallah, a cultural expert from Abu Dhabi working on the Saadiyat C...
Ep 27 - Culture is a lousy word to describe what [Humankind] is all about
In this episode of the Firehouse Salon, we delve into the complex world of culture with Howard Luck Gossage and his 'firehouse gang'. We discuss how culture is often something to support rather than genuinely enjoy, and explore the insights it ...
Ep 26 - Is Advertising Worth Saving
Time to have a conversation with the man at that started our journey with the Salon - Howard Luck Gossage.And time for us to reset our approach in our second year. Feel free to take a look at our vision & format for 2025 - https://do...
Ep 25 - Reforesting Times Square
This time our highlights one of Gossage's notable campaigns for Blitz Weinhardt Beer during the Oregon centennial, which humorously proposed reforesting Times Square to compensate New Yorkers for the beer's unavailability. Th...
Ep 24 - LIVE London - The Creative Science of Interestingness
In this episode, we delve into the lively discussions from the latest Firehouse Salon Live held in London. Host Ashley Pollak brings together three intriguing guests—Oliver Turnbull, a technology consultant and comedian; Ash Bhardwaj, a journal...
Ep 23 - World's Ugliest Lawn - Gossagey Work
In this edition of the pod we discuss the influence of Howard Luck Gossage on modern advertising with guest Johan Gustafsson, Partner at the Swedish creative agency Differ. Johan shares insights on Differ's ethos of creating impact...
Ep 22 - LIVE LA - Can I be Honest?
Exploring the power of honesty and authenticity in Tech, Business, and Art. Our panel includes Elizabeth - An Olympic athlete with experience combining comedy & tech pitches.Julian - Tech entrepreneur and Immersive...
Ep 21 - If you're driving down the road...
Your hosts James King and Ashley Pollak dive into Gossage's legendary work, where he flipped advertising on its head by embracing radical authenticity.Ever heard of an ad that doesn’t even mention the brand? Gossage did just that.
Ep 20 - LIVE Ibiza - Crafting communities that stick
This episode features a rich discussion on building and sustaining interconnected, resilient communities transitioning from virtual to in-person interactions. Set in The Firehouse Salon at The Hub co-working space, the dialogue includes insight...
Ep 19 - Write a Letter
In this episode, hosts Ashley Pollak and James King discuss the lost art of letter writing. Turning to their patron saint, Howard Gossage, they explore how his letter writing turned ink into conversation and later collaborations with iconic fig...
Ep 18 - Gossagey Work - Liquid Death
This episode features an insightful conversation with Andy Pearson, VP of Creative at Liquid Death. Discover how Liquid Death's unique approach to humour-driven, engaging, and purpose-driven marketing parallels Gossage’s philosophy. Andy shares...
Ep 17 - LIVE - Don't be Absurd!
Our latest monthly online meetup bringing together diverse minds come together to discuss topics aimed at broadening perspectives.This episode host Ashley Pollak brings together a fantastic group of humans - Motorbike Innovator
Ep 16 - A Kangaroo, Tomato Paste & Pink Air
In this episode hosts Ashley Pollak and James King explore the groundbreaking work of advertising legend Howard Gossage, focusing on his use of absurdity and humour. They discuss how Howard challenged industry norms with campaigns like the Qant...