Mark Pollard’s podcast is a refreshing take on strategy and creativity, hosted by a strategist who isn’t afraid to dig deep and share his hard-earned wisdom. Mark’s authenticity and generosity set him apart, offering listeners practical insights that go beyond the usual clichés. He challenges you to think differently, pushing past the common denominator and inspiring you to elevate your strategic thinking. Whether you’re new to strategy or looking to sharpen your skills, Mark’s approach and wealth of experience make this podcast a must-listen for anyone eager to grow and explore new ideas.

Inspirational, informative, and entertaining. Excellent podcast!

This is one of the most insightful podcasts that I have ever come across! Mark does such a great job of sharing his wisdom and I love how he leads meaningful conversations with guests who bring so much experience to the table. Highly recommend checking this show out - you won’t be disappointed!

If you’re currently a Strategist looking to refine your craft. If you’ve ever thought, hey, Strategy sounds interesting but like, what’s all this nonsense about insights and tension? If you have nothing to do with Strategy but have a brain and have wondered what to do with all the thoughts, feelings and words that bounce around inside you. Well then, Sweathead is for you. Mark has had a major influence on me, on the Strategy team I lead, and even friends who work in entirely different fields but have been seriously moved to near tears by Mark’s vulnerability and sincerity (true story). Seriously recommend.

This podcast makes everything that may seem obscure, abstract and foggy about strategy clear as day. Mark has a passion for understanding that is unparalleled, and he does a brilliant job of using this vibrance to teach others what he’s uncovered after so many years in the industry. I am a senior in college, and would have never dreamed of consuming this much insight and knowledge about strategy before fully entering the industry itself. Because of this podcast, I came to the realization that my previous career path didn’t make me feel nearly as whole as strategy does, and Sweathead has given me the confidence to turn my trajectory around completely. It encouraged me to embrace the way that I think and train my analytical skills. Mark does a great job of keeping listeners engaged and has brought on so many incredible guests whom I’m happy to say are now part of my network as well. From someone eagerly starting out in the world of strategy, thank you for creating this much needed community and helping me discover what I love to do!

AMAZING!!! Such a fan. I listen once ,twice, sometimes more to each episode. So chock full of nuggets of wisdom regardless of your role in advertising or any other profession.. Truly worth the time. The pearls of wisdom, through vulnerable honesty, insight and clarity will aid you regardless of your professional roles. Heck it will aid in your personal life too! Mark is a master communicator. And the communityhe has and is building is pretty great too. I highly advice getting the book , jumping in on his network, joining the FB group, and follow Mark on CLUBHOUSE.

I paid $10K for a well-known strat bootcamp. I’d have paid $20K to be in an office with Mark for 12 weeks cuz I’d be worth 10x as much in salary. I spent a decade at Google around a bunch of ex-McKinsey / MIT / Wharton types and never saw anyone get to the nut of it the way Mark does. I live for each next episode. Appreciate you Mark. Also—sexy Aussie accents are a vibe. 🙏🏻

Mark saw a need - strategists need partners - and he created Sweathead an online and virtual community of strategists sharing and supporting each other. I come here to learn new skills, grow my network and to share.

Mark unmasks the perception of a secretive members-only club to demonstrate strategy needs to have more points of view. He invites people from various backgrounds and careers to give us a generous, fluid and informed approach to strategy. Thank you

Mark’s podcast, like no other I’ve encountered yet, reliably pulls me out of my own head and into the honest, thought-provoking and context-building minds of others. Most of whom share my curiosities and values. Beats any yoga class or networking event I’ve ever been to!

Mark and his incredible guests shine the brightest of lights on what it means to be the best human you can be while still staying true to your own journey! Engaging, inspiring, and informative are just a few of the words I’d use to describe the time you’ll spend with them. Thanks so much for putting out such a spectacular show Mark - keep up the great work!

I first learned about Mark years ago when he was running a hip-hop magazine. Fast forward and we're both living in NYC working at different agencies. I came across his writings on his website but stayed in touch and once he launched Sweatheads on FB and the podcast I listened to the first 15 episodes non-stop. If you are in strategy or in business, everyone will be able to learn something from these episodes. At the very least, it will re-ignite your excitment for sharing your ideas and gifts with the world.

This podcast is the real deal. Super helpful to be able to listen in on these thoughtful conversations with different kinds of people. Thank you very much for the work you do.

I've finally been binging a few episodes of Sweathead in a row, it's fantastic and I highly recommend it, particularly for people working in or around any kind of strategy / thinkery enclined job, and if you work in or are interested in advertising, media, and creative communications. Mark is a brilliant host; open, thoughtful, interested in the whole industry and questioning how to make it better or how to get the best and most interesting out of the guests he converses with. You'll just have to put up with his Australian accent! (though for some that might be an added benefit too)

Whether you’re new to strategy or have a decade of experience, you’ll find tons of wisdom and (dare I say) insights about becoming a more interesting and bold critical thinker. Mark is inquisitive and hosts a podcast that feels less like an interview and more like a natural, behind-the-scenes chat over a coffee or drink. Where you get the true, juicy nuggets - not the script. Highly recommend for anyone seeking to grasp a better understanding of the creative industry and hone their craft.

I’m a grad student in brand strategy. This podcast has been my favorite way to get to know the people and practices in the world of strategy right now.

So I started a business. And when you’re a smart individualist with freelance writing experience but no advertising or marketing experience it turns out the avalanche of information that wants to find you is... off-putting and like eating a chocolate chip pancake when you need anything, god anything, real. This podcast has helped so much.

Mark’s a brilliant strategist who’s all about the power of words, and his guests all speak words worth listening to. This podcast is full of stories, experiences, and perspectives that illuminate strategic thinking.

If you're a marketer—or are just curious about business and smart thinking—this podcast should be in your heavy rotation. Mark interviews intelligent guests from the marketing and business worlds, and each episode is an easy-to-listen-to discussion about insights, strategy, and how to do marketing better. Too many podcasts feel scripted and unnatural. This one feels like two smart people having a conversation. Plus the topics, the questions, and the answers will help you walk away feeling smarter.

The interview with Richard Shotton was very interesting. Some great counter-intuitive examples of bias. Why people buy or do stuff: always fascinating.

Mark is a much-needed voice of guidance and illumination for strategists and planners trying to make their way through an increasingly murky field. His ability to convey concepts simply and effectively speak to his own gifts as a strategist while training up his audience as a sort of remote mentor. A must-listen for anyone trying to do strategy better.

Really appreciate how open Mark (and his guests) are about a wide range of strategy topics. As the leader of a fast-paced strategy team, it’s easy to get insular and so important to continually get fresh insights and perspectives. Thank you for investing your time in this, Mark - it’s much appreciated!

Mark’s deep dive into the world of planning, data and strategy is amazing. His guests are very diverse and their own viewpoints into the ad world is very valuable. If you haven’t embraced the power of planning, this podcast is a treasure trove of information. My one criticism is that the audio quality is low-fi and in some earlier episodes guests were garbled or audio completely cut out. To Mark’s point he wants to keep things easy enough that when he wants to record he can record and publish. The content of these episodes is still worthy enough to wade in with some of these technical issues.

I’ve been in the ad industry for 7+ years, I was always looking for ways to better understand the industry and why we do what we do, to get better and to find my own way. This podcast by Mark nails it, it’s so down to earth and authentic you just wish you were in the room with these people just taking it all in; time flies in their company and before you know it it’s over. The questions are great, the number of times the guests say “that’s a great question...” and then wonder off, you can genuinely feel them thinking and reaching for a good answer, is astounding. Dig in and enjoy, people.

Hi. I make this podcast. Some of it deals with how to get good at thinking and ideas and a lot of it deals with how to have a good career, even life, by doing those things. When I was younger, it was hard to really get the lay of the land in this advertising industry we're in. As I aged, I got more access to those rare conversations and I decided I wanted to help others access those conversations, too... the types of conversations we have over a beer or in a corridor. Real talk. I know it's low-fi. It will improve. But I still think 5 stars is reasonable. I hope you enjoy it -> @markpollard