Come join Janina Bak and Mick Griffin as they discuss the alpaca in the room. The business and marketing podcast with a strong dose of humor. In each episode Mick and Janina talk about what everyone is thinking, but nobody is saying. Like elderly alpacas, Janina and Mick have lost all ability to control what what they say, so join them as they talk before they think on the alpaca in the room, before they get cancelled.
Hellllllooooooo! We are back, back again, guess who's back.
In today's eposide we are reflecting on our own management skills, and what makes a good boss and a bad boss.
We talk about psychological safety and what are the triggers for encouraging and discouraging creativity. We also talk about how bosses can have emotions, but that the way they express them is the important part.
We also talk about how challenging it is to work with leaders like us who have sacrificed consistency for creativity, and just how challenging giving and receiving feedback truly is.
We hope you enjoy the episode!
18 Nov 2025
Ep 18 - We are back for season 3! We call this 'The small talk episode'
After a summer break, Janina and Mick are back!
After 17 episodes they realized they didn't have anything more cool to say, so they decided to take a break to gather more worldly knowledge, and they have done just that!
As it's the first time Mick and Janina have talked in person this is officially the ultimate small talk episode with so much randomness.
In this episode, Mick talks about his struggle with waiting for the green light to cross the road. Janina talks about internet haters. Mick shares his Tedx experience, and we talk about how AI makes originality more hard to find.
Let us know what you got up to during the summer in your comments and if you are reading this, thank you so much for being with us as we are back for SEASON 3!
12 May 2025
Ep 17 - What is still wrong with Linkedin? Its our Podcastaversary!
The Alpaca in the Room is 1 year old! Woop Woop.
To celebrate our 1 year birthday, it's only right that we go back to our origins!
Episode 1 was 'what is wrong with linkedin'. So today we ask asking ourselves 'How is Linkedin in 2025?'
How is activity on Linkedin affected by other social networks?
Are there any topics on Linkedin that don't reference AI?
Can we all agree everyone is on linkedin to take, rather than give?
All this and we debate if Stephen Hawking was eaten by a shark!
Enjoy and thank you for being with us this year.
10 Mar 2025
Ep 16 - 57 ways to be creative!
We are back! After a short recording break, Mick and Janina are back and this episode is all about generating creative energy.
Many people right now in 2025 have found that previous channels and projects have stopped working, and for the first time in a while they are being forced to come up with brand new things.
We talk about how to make group creative work, or not work, and how to find inspiration when you hit those mental blocks.
Janina confesses that she using AI for creative processes, and Mick doesn't hide his disappointment.
Mick and Janina also share why we were away for the last 8 weeks. I'm sure nobody would guess the reasons.
So thanks for waiting for us! We hope you like the episode and let us know in the comments!
20 Dec 2024
Ep 15 - Bye 2024! Company Xmas Gifts, New Year Resolutions and the BackStreet Boys!
Mick and Janina discuss the dos and don'ts of professional gift-giving, their New Year's resolutions, and the surprising impact of their podcast on Chinese listeners.
5 Dec 2024
Ep 14 - 10 Marketing Predictions for 2025!
Marketing experts Mick and Janina share their 10 bold predictions for 2025, revealing trends to grow, channels to revive, and campaigns to abandon in the rapidly evolving marketing landscape.
19 Nov 2024
Ep 13 - S2 is here! What you need to consider before Black Friday 2024!
Season 2 is here! The Alpaca in the Room podcast is back with an all new season!
Mick and Janina start with the topic all around Black Friday!
After years of the hype of Black Friday, what really should your business do on this very special day? Is it a day to win first time customers, or the day to convert your existing fan base?
Will it be the year of fewer discounts?
In this episode we cover these important questions, and also just how it is to be a consumer on Black Friday and work through the communication overload.
Mick of course overshares and discusses why he doesn't like people who pay with their watches. Some things don't change.
All this and of course more in the all new episode and season of The Alpaca in the Room podcast! Yay!
12 Sept 2024
Ep 12 - Season Finale! We made a game show. Alpaca vs Llama.
t’s episode 12! We made it!
The finale of Season 1!
During today’s episode Mick attempts to create and sing an all new The Alpaca in the Room theme tune.
If you make it past that insult to music, Mick and Janina talk all about their favourite episodes from the season. Mick also presents Janina with some surprising gifts.
Once that emotional rollercoaster ends Mick and Janina start the all new game. Alpaca vs Llama.
They ask each other about topics such as to TV adverts work, movies, historical figures, and they answer Alpaca if they love it, and Llama if they don’t. Yes, it's a fun and crazy as it sounds.
Come join us for this celebratory episode of The Alpaca in the Room Podcast
9 Jul 2024
Ep 11 - I have an idea, what’s next?
I have an idea, what’s next? On how to change your Great Business Idea into a side project.
In today’s episode Janina & Mick talk about putting into practice all those Great Business Idea that we all have. Does it make sense to drop your job immediately, in order to become second Steve Jobs in your parent’s garage? When does it make sense to turn the idea into a side project, and what to check and do before you actually start? They also discuss whether businesses and employers should encourage such projects, or just keep all the employee’s time to themselves?
As a reward for listening, at the end of the episode you will find the cherry on the cake, as Mick shares his Great Business Idea on how to make money out of dead people.
24 Jun 2024
Ep 10 - All about PRIDE Month
In this special episode we talk all about Pride Month!
During the episode Mick and Janina talk all about how businesses can interact with PRIDE, and the challenges that come with it.
While Janina is a lifelong ambassador of PRIDE, Mick is rather a novice so today’s episode covers both the basics and more developed approaches to PRIDE. Basically Mick is an uneducated Dinosaur, but he also brings up the fear of some businesses of trying to support and doing it wrong.
They talk about companies who rainbow their logo and is it enough? Janina shares about great examples of companies who don’t only support PRIDE externally, but also internally in their organisations.
Mick and Janina also talk about the fact that supporting PRIDE is not only a big company thing, and should companies worry that supporting PRIDE can lose them customers.
Mick also covers the other serious topic of the month. How long should you hold a door open for someone who is behind you?
All this and more in another episode of The Alpaca in the Room podcast!
12 Jun 2024
Ep 9 - Why do we all need creativity?
Let’s talk about one of the most needed skills in the current job market… creativity! In today’s episode Mick and Janina discuss how to boost creativity in yourself (fresh from Janina's amazing presentation at Infoshare), your team and you organization, what is the key business lesson brought to us by panda bear rolling down the hill, and how to create organizational culture which will make you become next Apple, Dyson and Tesla.
This is also the historical episode in which Janina and Mick meet in person for the first time ever!
5 Jun 2024
Ep 8 - Just Which Work Environments Work?!
2024 is the debate of our lives. Just how should businesses work and where?
Episode 8 is all about working remotely vs in office, and why it’s such an online battle to be proven right.
Mick and Janina talk about collaboration pros and cons for both tenured employees and brand new ones.
They cover the rise of offsite meetings, why throwing people together is not enough, and Janina’s hate for Kayaks.
Mick and Janina also cover the ‘workation’. Is it healthy or hipster. Is it for inspiration or instagram. Just how will you get sand out of your keyboard when you drop your laptop on the beach?
All this and more on another episode of The Alpaca in the Room Podcast!
P.s. Mick joined us from a different recording location this week and that’s why he sounds like he is in a cave. Mick has been punished for this poor planning and will have to consume one tomato one episode 12.
15 May 2024
Ep 7 - Professional Development vs Personal Health!
Does personal health take a back seat when your career accelerates upward?
How many times have you pushed 'through' an illness, just because you felt one more thing needed to be done?
In an episode that could be sponsored by Red Bull and Seven Days, Mick and Janina share their personal stories with developing their careers, and struggling to balance their personal health.
They talk about leaders and do you have a responsibility to be healthy to set a good example for your team members.
They also debate if businesses have a responsibility to help their employees be healthier?
Come join Mick and Janina on this rollercoaster episode, and please let us know your journey with career and health!
8 May 2024
Ep 6 - Casual vs formal relationships in business.
As AI summarized today’s episode: “today’s gonna be a little bit wild”.
Janina and Mick talk about all the awkwardness in business relationships. When greeting your business partner should you go for a hand shake, high five or a hug? Is it OK to be late to the meetings and how to handle it, if it happens? We also talk about judging one’s professionalism based on his or her clothing – both in face to face meetings and… on Linkedin profile picks.
These are just few topics we cover in this episode, not to mention the most important one, that is: Mick reveals his childhood trauma and it’s so good that you really need to hear about it.
30 Apr 2024
Ep 5 - Who would you be if you were not a marketer?
Who would you be if you were not a marketer?
In Episode 5 this is the question Mick and Janina discuss. While their answers are both funny and unexpected (super unexpected), it also opens the door as to why they discuss it and why it's such a common question therapists ask.
Working in marketing has changed. What was the fun, creative job of the past, has now developed into a more demanding role, full of expectations with a summit that cannot be reached. Conversions can always be improved.
All this plus a bunch of randomness in Episode 5! Come join in the fun and let us know what your perfect job would be if you could be anything you want.
23 Apr 2024
Ep 4 - Why and how to build a personal brand?
In this episode Janina and Mick talk about building a personal brand (that’s not strange) and about going to the gym (that’s soooo strange). As the gym stuff can’t really be explained and is a mystery to both of us, let’s address some alpacas in the room in terms of branding: does everyone need a personal brand nowadays? Is it possible to build it offline or do you need an online presence for that? How to decide whether you have something interesting to say and post about (spoiler alert: everyone has!!!)? And most importantly - what's the biggest mistake that you should avoid when building your brand?
We also give a shout out to Paweł Tkaczyk (or as AI calls him: Paweł Kaczek), as a man that knows everything about branding. And we reveal what was the craziest gift ever that Janina got from a brand as an influencer. Just to say it was a gift that would be highly appreciated by… alpacas and horses.
16 Apr 2024
Ep 3 - Event Season! How to get the most from conferences?
In episode #3 Mick and Janina are talking about events!
How to choose which you want to go to, and just how to plan, if you are an attendee, sponsor, or keynote speaker.
Can events have an ROI? Should events deliver leads or learning, or is attending events now an employee benefit with zero expectations?
How much does the agenda matter? Should you prioritise the speaker or the presentation topics? How to get started as a public speaker?
So many questions I know! All these questions and more are covered in this episode!
Added bonus content includes
🚀 What do Mick and Janina take with them when they attends events!
🚀 Just how much should you drink at the after parties?
🚀 Let's replace panels with battles.
If you like what you hear, please let Mick and Janina know in the comments, and hit subscribe!
9 Apr 2024
Ep 2 - What is wrong with you, marketing?!
In today's episode Mick and Janina talk about her recent trip to New York and why she didn't like it.
Then they move right on to why is marketing broken and how to fix it. Can we make marketing fun again? Why is it OK that sometimes your campaign fails? How to boost innovation in your marketing team?
This episode will bring you some answers and hopefully help relight the joy and excitement in your marketing activities. We also continue with the investigation of the anti-dog sentiment of a certain Polish celebrity.
2 Apr 2024
Ep 1 - Everything that is wrong with Linkedin
This is the historic first episode of the Alpaca in the room podcast, where we talk about what everybody thinks and nobody says about business, and other topics sometimes.
As it’s the Performance Review Season, this is the episode in which we offer feedback to… our favorite professional social media platform. What’s wrong with Linkedin and how to fix it? Do people on Linkedin lack a sense of humour? How many Linkedin messages do you need to sell somebody a Thermomix? Those are only some alpacas in the room that we will address!
Join us on this journey and please subscribe to receive notifications for our next epsiodes.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
4.9 / 5
26 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
16
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
77
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