In this episode, Matt sits down with Jules Chalkley, CCO at Ogilvy London, and one of the most globally awarded creatives working today.

He kicks off by tracing his origin story as a TV-obsessed, visually wired kid who failed all of his exams, found his way into art school, won a D&AD pencil, and landed dream placements at Saatchi & Saatchi and Lintas – before becoming a Creative Director at St Luke's aged just 27.

From there, the conversation goes where most industry chats don't.

Jules talks about how the pressure to produce brilliant work never goes away (even when you're 25 years into the business), the difference between external pressure and self-imposed pressure, what it was like to handle the sleepless nights, Friday night disintegration, and rollercoaster highs and lows early on, and how he learned to set the conditions for flow and sustainable high performance.

He goes on to share why rushing into the role of "Creative Director" too early can put distance between you and the work, and how to lead teams through deadline pressure by walking by their side, setting clear and honest expectations, and making the mission feel ambitious but achievable.

And of course, we dig into the emotional stuff that creatives rarely admit out loud: the black holes, the anger at unfairness, the hatred of credit-grabbing, the trapdoor of self-doubt, the target on your head, and the fear that creativity has an expiry date.

With a career that's been anything but ordinary, Jules is brutally honest about wanting to hit a personal bar he still feels he hasn't reached, and the urgency that comes with being "dangerously ambitious."

Along the way, you'll hear how much Jules still loves the job: the behind-the-curtain access, the weird and wonderful worlds brands live in, meeting founders, filmmakers, scientists, artists, and that addictive feeling of shifting the way people see the world... and themselves.

The episode finishes with a grounded reminder to pick a job you genuinely love. Something that will keep you fascinated and challenged. And accept the reality that the dips, the downs, and the deep self-doubt are all part of the deal.

If you've ever felt the stress, the anxiety, or the restless need to put stuff into that world that genuinely matters, this one will hit.

Like, subscribe, and share if you want more real conversations with the people who make the work work… and take the hits when it doesn't.

As well as being one of the earliest monks to form and help build the 6000 strong MediaMonks empire, Vincent possess one of the smartest, sharpest, most switched on creative brains I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. He's a leader, a creator, a husband and a father and I have no idea how he manages to fit it all in. And yes, he does so with grace, humour, and a shedload of relentless enthusiasm.

The word powerhouse was created for the creative brain that is Tony Malcolm. In a career spanning over 35 years he's written some of the most iconic headlines and commercials in the business. Yet, despite the fact his shelves are creaking under the weight of all the awards he's amassed over the years, he's remained one of the good guys, honest, humble and massively f'ing inspiring. Thanks for the chat Tony!