Why subscribe?

Pop culture is often dismissed as superficial. The spokespeople and slogans are treated like decorations coloring the landscape. But pop culture is not just window dressing. Ads are not just the things we skip. They are worthy of examination and contemplation. They color our moods, nudge our decisions, and subtly guide our experience of life.

As a VP at an advertising agency, I have a unique vantage point into how brands shape perception, warp behavior, and hack culture. The deeper I’ve gotten in this field, the more uneasy I’ve become about its inner workings. But by understanding how these forces operate we can restore some clarity to how we navigate the world.

In this series, I pose the questions I can’t ask out loud and share the view behind the curtain I’ve gotten to see.