Casual Talks

In this episode, we explore why marketing often falls flat despite having more tools and technology than ever to deliver great customer experiences. Marketoonist Tom Fishburne has spent over 20 years drawing cartoons about the marketing industry, using humour to spotlight what goes wrong, and how to make it go right. We’ll discuss why humour matters, how it can help marketers connect on a deeper level, and what lessons his cartoons reveal about doing our best work.  This conversation is essential for marketers who want to combine creativity, empathy, and effectiveness in a fast-changing world.

In this episode, we explore the dilemma facing marketers today: balancing the need to modernize brand assets with the importance of maintaining consistency. As the old certainties about what defines brand distinctiveness are challenged, brands must adapt while ensuring their visual identity remains effective and recognizable in today’s fragmented media environment. Together with Professor Jenni Romaniuk, Research Professor of Marketing and Associate Director at the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute, we unpack the latest evidence-based insights on managing distinctive assets, including indicators for when to modernize and when to stay the course. This conversation is essential for marketers navigating the tension between timeless principles of brand building and the demands of an ever-changing media ecosystem.

In this episode, we explore the dilemma facing marketers today: how to build a consistent brand in a world of media and creative fragmentation. As the old certainties of TV dominance fade, brands must adapt to a landscape where platforms demand novelty and freshness, while evidence insists on consistency and repetition. Together with Tom Roach, VP of Brand Strategy at Jellyfish and one of marketing’s most influential voices, we unpack the new rules for brand building and how to maintain singularity of message while meeting the relentless demand for fresh, platform-fit content. This conversation is essential for marketers navigating the tension between timeless fundamentals and evolving creative tactics.

In this episode, we explore why marketing has surrendered to finance and why that’s a problem. Rory Sutherland argues that by obsessing over short-term ROI and narrow performance metrics, companies sacrifice long-term brand value, creativity and growth. Drawing on behavioural science, he explains why perception, psychology and reframing problems often create more impact than purely financial or engineering solutions. Ultimately, his message is clear: marketing must reclaim its seat at the table, not by speaking the language of finance, but by confidently advocating for its own way of thinking.

In this episode, Carla Johnson reframes curiosity as a strategic skill — not a distraction — and shows why it’s one of marketing’s strongest competitive advantages. She introduces applied curiosity and explains how better questions lead to stronger creativity, smarter decisions and more meaningful innovation. A must-listen for marketers who want to move beyond efficiency and create work that truly stands out.

In this episode, Sarah Claeys (from Emakina, an EPAM company) speaks with Thomas Erikson to delve into the difficult topic of leadership in marketing. Together, they examine what it takes to be a leader and how knowing about behavioural science can support that. Thomas delves into topics like the critical role of communication and self-awareness in leadership and how recognizing different behavior types can enhance leadership skills. Discover the personal challenges Thomas faced and the lessons learned from them, providing invaluable advice for current and aspiring leaders in any field. Looking towards the future, Thomas gives us a glimpse of the new areas he's exploring and leaves us with key advice for anyone striving to improve their leadership capabilities. This episode is essential for professionals eager to understand what makes a good leader and what influences interpersonal dynamics in professional settings.

In this episode, Sarah Claeys (from Emakina, an EPAM company) delves into the transformative power of personalization in today’s marketing strategies. Together with Anthony Iglesias Guerra (from Carrefour) and Maarten De Neve (Emakina) she examines how top-tier technologies like AI and data analytics are revolutionizing the way brands engage with their consumers by creating uniquely tailored experiences. Together, they discuss practical applications, emerging trends, and the impact of the advent of hyper-personalization on business outcomes. Discover how leading companies are getting ready to harness the potential of personalization to predict customer preferences, enhance interaction, and drive unparalleled business growth. Tune in to gain invaluable insights into making your marketing strategy not only reactive but also intuitively proactive. This episode is essential for professionals eager to harness technology to elevate their marketing initiatives to new heights.

In this episode, Sarah Claeys (from Emakina, an EPAM company) speaks with Matt Navarra to delve into the hot topics of Social Media for next year’s marketing strategies and beyond. Together, they examine some selected topics and ask why they are important for marketeers. Matt delves into topics like Threads and BlueSky, social commerce, the LinkedIn Renaissance, spatial experiences, ADHD and how to build your Social Media teams. Discover what the future of social holds and gain invaluable insights into making your marketing strategy ready for 2025 and beyond. Also learn more about the impact of ADHD on Matt’s professional life. This episode is essential for professionals eager to understand what to expect from social media in the short term and to elevate their marketing to new heights in the long term.

In this episode, Sarah Claeys (from Emakina, an EPAM company) delves into the powerful synergy between behavioral science and experience design within marketing. She speaks with Sandra Tielemans (from Proximus) and Ivanel Pérez Bolívar, from Emakina) to understand how strategic design choices, informed by behavioral principles, can profoundly influence consumer interactions and decision-making. Together, they explore practical examples of how fine-tuned design elements can dramatically enhance user engagement and conversion rates. Gain insights into the methodologies for integrating behavioral insights into digital interfaces and physical spaces to create compelling, user-centric marketing campaigns. Learn how to harness the subtleties of behavioral science to innovate your approach to experience design, ensuring your marketing strategies resonate deeply and drive meaningful actions. This episode is invaluable for marketing professionals and Experience Designers seeking to elevate their craft through the lens of behavioral insights.

In this episode, Sarah Claeys (from Emakina, an EPAM company) speaks with Neil Patel to delve into the hot topics of digital marketing for next year’s marketing strategies and beyond. Together, they examine some selected topics and ask why they are important for marketers. Neil dives into topics like Search Everywhere Optimization, the role of AI and voice interfaces in SEO, the future of email marketing and the possibilities of hyper-personalisation. Discover what the future of SEO holds and gain invaluable insights into making your digital marketing strategy ready for 2025 and beyond. This episode is essential for professionals eager to understand what to expect from SEO in the short term and to elevate their overall digital marketing to new heights in the long term.

Isabel Donvil from AddRetail discussed the revolution in the retail world - from ecological, economical to the technological point of view - and how it is an incredible opportunity for change and to craft a unique experience for retail audiences. ------------ Casual Talks is a podcast by BAM Marketing Congress | Hosted by Rebecca Cox (AdSomeNoise) | Produced by De Praeters

What impact does and will artificial intelligence have on our society? How do we bring people and technology together? In this Casual Talks episode, Annette Doms and Daniel Hulme discuss these questions as well as digital ownership, Web3 and NFTs. ------------- Casual Talks is a podcast by BAM Marketing Congress | Hosted by Rebecca Cox (AdSomeNoise) | Produced by De Praeters

Episode 3 of our new Casual Talks series dives deep into the "age of chaos" with Bob Safian and Joeri Van den Bergh. Both speakers discuss how in this time of rapid high velocity change, generations are being influenced by this chaotic world and how this then affects how they look at society and therefore to marketing and brands. ------------ Casual Talks is a podcast by BAM Marketing Congress | Hosted by Rebecca Cox (AdSomeNoise) | Produced by De Praeters

Mark Schaefer and Joeri Billast join Rebecca Cox in this edition of Casual Talks to how important personal branding, community and feeling is in marketing within smaller businesses to large corporates and even within the metaverse. ________________ Casual Talks is a podcast by BAM Marketing Congress | Hosted by Rebecca Cox (AdSomeNoise) | Produced by De Praeters

In the first of our new season of Casual Talks, Samira Brophy and Victoria Hurth dive into sustainable impactful marketing. Samira Brophy dives into sustainability advertising and how companies can improve it to make more of an impact, while Victoria Hurth delves into a wellbeing economy and how it can be driven by purpose-driven organisations and meaningful work.

Robin Vissenaekens, director of JOE, explains in this podcast why the charity "Pakje van je hart" is still so necessary as 1 in 5 children in Belgium live in poverty. If you would like to donate, please visit the platform or buy a gift on Friday 8 December at the BAM Marketing Congress, as the JOE truck will be there all day. ________________ Casual Talks is a podcast by BAM Marketing Congress | Hosted by Steven Verbruggen | Produced by De Praeters

In this episode Karel Byloos of 49Meta explains us more about NFT's and web3 and how you can use it. He also explains how you can claim your "Re-think Token" made for the Marketing Congress. ________________ Casual Talks is a podcast by BAM Marketing Congress | Hosted by Steven Verbruggen | Produced by De Praeters

"Each company has a story to tell". In this episode podcast experts Koen Eykens & Pieter-Jan Theunis explain you why "Podcasts are here to stay". ________________ Casual Talks is a podcast by BAM Marketing Congress | Hosted by Steven Verbruggen | Produced by De Praeters

E-mail marketing behoudt haar onverminderde belang als een essentieel communicatiekanaal om een nauwe band te onderhouden met uw klanten. In deze aflevering deelt Michelle Dassen van Flexmail inzichten over effectieve methoden om in contact te blijven met uw klanten. ________________ Casual Talks is a podcast by BAM Marketing Congress | Hosted by Steven Verbruggen | Produced by De Praeters

Curious to understand the rationale behind selecting 'Re-think' as this year's Congress Theme and eager to discover what's in store for the upcoming Marketing Congress? Listen as Francis Lippens, CEO of FamousGrey, and Alex Thoré, Congress Captain, shed light on the reasons behind this choice and provide a sneak peek into this year's event. ________________ Casual Talks is a podcast by BAM Marketing Congress | Hosted by Steven Verbruggen | Produced by De Praeters