’Tis The grinch holiday podcast
(seasons 1 & 2)
Creative Direction
Campaign & Media Strategy
Art Direction
Introducing The Grinch as a podcast host meant giving families a new way into a character they already knew. Across two seasons, I led creative direction, art direction and campaign/media strategy, carrying his unmistakable personality into Times Square, live-action social content, Alexa and Ring collaborations, and Holiday Adventureland at Westfield Century City. Each part of the campaign gave audiences another way to encounter him, from a towering animated billboard to a conversation with The Grinch himself.
how to podcast
The Grinch had advice for aspiring podcasters, whether they wanted it or not. We developed live-action social content around his dubious expertise, using character-led comedy to introduce him as a host. His personality carried the series across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
live stream with the grinch
A live stream put The Grinch in direct conversation with his audience. Improvisation and audience interaction gave his familiar personality room to surprise people, making the introduction to his podcast feel like time spent with the character himself.
TimeS square billboard: star-studded lineup (season 2)
For Season 2, we gave The Grinch a theatrical entrance in Times Square. A red curtain opened to reveal his celebrity guest lineup, with a more fully rendered, animated character taking center stage. The creative introduced the season with the scale and spectacle of an entertainment premiere.
TimeS square billboard: whoville ski stunt (season 1)
The first season arrived in Times Square with The Grinch hurtling down Whoville’s snowy slopes and into his late night host’s chair. Drawing on the character’s illustrated origins, the animation connected a familiar visual world to his unexpected new role behind a microphone.
Alexa collaboration
“Alexa, what’s The Grinch up to?” Custom responses brought his personality into homes, giving listeners another way to encounter the character beyond an episode. An ordinary question became an invitation into his holiday mischief.
ring collaboration
A custom Ring doorbell collaboration brought The Grinch to the front door. The campaign extended into a familiar part of everyday life, giving households an unexpected encounter with the character during the holiday season.
wsj press piece
The Wall Street Journal covered the campaign’s approach to launching The Grinch in audio. The coverage sits alongside the work here as a record of a podcast launch whose creative extended well beyond the listening experience.
Westfield century city activation (los angeles, ca)
At Westfield Century City, Holiday Adventureland gave families a place to discover The Grinch’s new world together. We developed the environment from 3D renders through the live experience, creating spaces to meet and take photos with The Grinch, write letters to Max and Santa, color and sip hot cocoa. Listening booths invited families to hear the podcast alongside other Wondery Kids & Family shows. The character drew people into the space; throughout their visit, they could discover the stories, voices and humor behind his arrival in audio.
The Hollywood Reporter: sponsored takeover
A sponsored takeover of The Hollywood Reporter introduced the podcast and its celebrity guest roster to entertainment audiences. Responsive page skins and custom video ads carried The Grinch’s visual world across the publication, giving the show a substantial presence within its coverage of film and television.
