Think Fresh. A de Novo Marketing Podcast

Jen and Ryan are joined by de Novo's Website Development Lead, Brooke, to discuss why your website is actually your core marketing infrastructure. Learn their key tips, including strategy for navigation, designing for accessibility by default, and why everything should be led by user experience and backed by data. Plus, they dissect a new Burger King campaign and a shift to make the customer “King”. 

Creative Briefs: 

Burger King...

Join us for our 20th episode of Think Fresh, where you can listen… and watch (‼️) in our first ever video podcast. Jen & Ryan talk about the transition and the benefits of this new format. We also give an update on the state of trust and review a Super Bowl commercial that had us all singing. 

The conversation doesn't end here! Find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, sign up for our newsletter, or check out previous episod...

Think Fresh is back to start the new year with our 2026 Trends & Predictions in a “popcorn” episode! Various members of our team pop in to chat with Jen & Ryan about what they think the biggest trends in their areas of expertise will be in the coming year. 

It’s also our golden episode!  We celebrate 19 Think Fresh episodes as de Novo turns 19 this month ✨🍒

The conversation doesn't end here! Find us on Facebook, Instag...

For the final Think Fresh of 2025, we’re bringing you a short and sweet episode about the state of trust. Jen & Ryan discuss the Edelman Trust Barometer report, our “crisis of grievances”, and what marketers can do about it. We also cover a Google Pixel campaign with a clever take on a competitor. We’ll see you back for more Think Fresh in 2026! 

The conversation doesn't end here! Find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, ...

AI is everywhere now. How are people feeling about it? Can people really detect what’s AI and what’s not? In this episode, we welcome our Digital Marketing Coordinator Kim Bui to talk about attitudes towards AI. Drawing on the results of de Novo’s recent market research survey, we cover perceptions of AI, the importance of authenticity and human-first marketing, and the challenges of detecting AI-generated content. We also hold our...

Think Fresh is back with an episode packed with insights on influencer marketing! Fresh off the Creator Economy Live conference in NYC, Ashley and Annie join Jen and Ryan to share their takeaways about this ever-evolving marketing space. We explore strategy, authenticity, metrics, and the value of working with influencers. 

We also talk about the emerging pattern of “rage bait” campaigns and if we think brands are making missteps o...

They say the medium is the message, and in this episode, Think Fresh delves into the world of radio advertising with Eric Hanson and Clare Duffy from Z102.9’s The Morning Scramble! Discover how their local roots in Cedar Rapids and nimble content creation keep their show fresh and connected to the community. They also talk—by the bowlful—about cereal and go head-to-head in a pop quiz. Stay tuned through the end to find out which ce...

Steve and Robin Boehler of Mercer Island Group join us to explain what fuels the best work from the world’s biggest brands and agencies of all sizes. Industry veterans, they’ve seen firsthand the powerful combination of creativity and collaboration. Agency advantages. Industry trends. Discovering insights that shape campaigns. We cover it all. 

The conversation doesn't end here! Find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, sign u...

de Novo Account Manager Ashley Burdt joins the podcast to discuss all the ways you can see the bigger picture and connect the dots in your marketing. From maximizing your investment in content, to balancing data and numbers with impactful storytelling, we talk tips and tricks to keep things cohesive. We also cover the Met Gala, more Tariff Talk, and a fun (but practical!) campaign from Barilla pasta. 

The conversation doesn't end...

This month, Jen & Ryan welcome de Novo's Digital Lead, Ally Machala, to talk all things SEO and how AI is impacting the landscape for marketers and creators. They also dive into the WNBA draft, tariffs, and a wildly successful rebrand from a popular beverage company. 

The conversation doesn't end here! Find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, sign up for our newsletter, or send us an email at: info@thinkdenovo.com with th...

When everything starts looking the same, how do you stand out? Ryan is joined by our own Chad Cooper and Troy Willard, owner and CEO of Can Shed, for a conversation about marketing in the Age of Average. Bold branding has benefits, and our recent work with Can Shed is a perfect example. 

The conversation doesn't end here! Find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, sign up for our newsletter, or send us an email at: info@thinkde...

This month, Ryan and Jen are joined by our very own Annie Sexton-Stewart to talk all things video. They cover different ways to maximize the potential of video as part of your larger brand strategy, as well as some tips, tricks and best practices. They also talk Super Bowl ads, the Grammys, and dive into a Cheetos campaign that teaches them a new vocabulary word. 

The conversation doesn't end here! Find us on Facebook, Instagram ...

To kick off Season 2 of Think Fresh, Jen and Ryan welcome Laura Kuykendall, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Frontier Co-op, for a conversation about purpose-driven marketing. They dive into the challenge of balancing profit-driven business goals with maintaining a purpose-driven identity, streamlining authentic communication around your mission, and the accountability that consumers expect from purpose-driven brands. Plus, li...

We’re baaaack! We just couldn’t stay away and are back with one more episode of Think Fresh as this year draws to a close. In our actual final episode of season one, Jen and Ryan reflect on our first season of podcasting,  talk all things budgeting and planning for the year ahead, and share some helpful tools for taking the stress out of aligning your marketing plans and budget numbers.

Stay tuned for more Think Fresh in 2025 (f...

Join us for our final Think Fresh episode of the season as we chat with Lori Boren, Assistant City Administrator of Mt Vernon, about the power of effective City Communications. From transforming websites into vibrant hubs to streamlining requests with a CRM, we’ve got insights you won’t want to miss!

We’ll be back in 2025 with more fresh ideas. Stay tuned!

The conversation doesn't end here! Find us on Facebook, Instagram and L...

In this episode, we welcome Jill Mast, de Novo’s VP, Director of Client Services and former Pancheros commercial extra, to chat S&M (Sales & Marketing!) and how both departments can—and should—align for your business’ success. Speaking of things that are aligned, we also touch on pop culture trends and when/if you should leverage them in your marketing campaigns. 

The conversation doesn't end here! Find us on Facebook, In...

In this episode, we tackle all things messaging, from how to craft compelling stories and helpful copywriting structure tips to AI’s true value in creative development. We also cover a campaign from Dramamine that gave a boost to barf bags.

The conversation doesn't end here! Find us on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, sign up for our newsletter, or send us an email at: info@thinkdenovo.com with the subject "Dear de Novo." 

Lin...

In this episode, Ryan Shenefelt is joined by our expert digital strategists, Ally Machala and Julian Klepach, to reveal the potential of location analytics. Discover how tools like Placer.ai can harness the power of location intelligence to help you leverage area data to effectively target advertising, understand your audience base, and gain a competitive edge. We also discuss a recent Apple ad disaster and Samsung's quick and crea...

We translate the language of AI on our third episode of Think Fresh with our first guest, Kathleen Perley. Kathleen is an entrepreneur, Fulbright scholar, and all-around AI oracle. We discuss the AI aspects everyone needs to know to leverage it to its best potential–from use cases and structuring effective policies to new tools and budding innovations.     

The conversation doesn't end here! Find us on Facebook, Insta...