The Alpaca in the room

Hosted by Janina Bak and Mick Griffin

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Mar 2026

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About the show

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.

Listen to episodes

19 recent

March 17, 2026Episode 21 hr 4 min

Ep 19 - Horrible Bosses

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!

November 18, 2025Episode 152 min

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!

May 12, 2025Episode 552 min

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.

March 10, 2025Episode 456 min

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!

December 20, 2024Episode 355 min

Ep 15 - Bye 2024! Company Xmas Gifts, New Year Resolutions and the BackStreet Boys!

Its the last episode of 2024 for the Alpaca in the room! We are going to give you 3 gifts as topics this episode! :D Gifts in business. What is hot and not about sending and receiving gifts professionally. Do you feel pressure to share gifts on social media? When is branding too much branding? Are socks still cool? New Year Resolutions that Mick and Janina have for 2025. What are the things they didn’t get around to in 2024, but are really looking forward to doing? What are they looking forward to in 2025? If anything! All this plus in this episode Janina somehow loses a sock mid episode, they talk all about how the podcast is blowing up in China and how we’ve been inspired by the story of the Backstreet Boys.

December 5, 2024Episode 256 min

Ep 14 - 10 Marketing Predictions for 2025!

2024 was a little crazy for marketing, especially with our future AI overlords disrupting more than ever. But we ask, will 2025 be any different!? During today’s episode Mick and Janina both share their 5 predictions for 2025 for Marketing. What do they think will be a trend that continues to grow, what channels will make a comeback and what campaigns will die in 2025. Who doesn’t want to end the year with 10 ideas of what they can use in Marketing next year? Only a Llama would be so crazy. So please join us and let us know in the comments what you feel about the 10 predictions we make, and which ones did we miss? We want to hear from you. Added Value! This is a very unique episode as it was recorded at 9am, which is way way earlier than when Janina normal starts her day! So we finally get to see a grumpy tired Janina, don’t say you were not warned.

November 19, 2024Episode 155 min

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!

September 12, 2024Episode 121 hr 1 min

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

July 9, 2024Episode 1156 min

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.

June 24, 2024Episode 101 hr 3 min

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!