Tom Woodard spent decades shaping iconic advertising, from voicing the famous Budweiser frogs to producing national jingles for brands like Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. Now he’s channeling that creative experience into something bigger: The Ability Machine, a marketing initiative that intentionally collaborates with creatives with disabilities.
In this episode of We Built This Brand, Tom shares his journey through the golden era of advertising, the story behind one of the most memorable Super Bowl campaigns ever, and how giving people a seat at the creative table can unlock incredible talent, confidence, and community.
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Show Highlights:
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(00:00) Welcome and Introductions
(00:29) From Guitar to Jingles
(02:14) Iconic Campaign Highlights
(02:42) Budweiser Frogs Origin Story
(03:44) Animatronics and Super Bowl Magic
(04:54) Building Studios and Agency Life
(07:10) Founding Ability Machine
(11:51) Aha Moment with Goo Goo Clusters
(14:35) Hiring and Empowering Creatives
(22:10) Future, AI, and Wrap Up