Navigating Change: Chris Burkard on Creativity, Risk, and Authenticity

About this episode

Chris Burkard discusses the evolving role of creatives in the outdoor industry and the balance between creativity and data-driven decision-making.

In this episode (initially aired on June 18th, 2025) , Cole sits down with Chris Burkard —photographer, creative director, adventurer, and storyteller. Chris shares his unique perspective on navigating the constant changes shaping the outdoor industry, creativity, and marketing. They dive deep into the evolving role of creatives in a constantly changing outdoor industry. From the blurred lines between artistry and strategy to the challenges of maintaining authenticity in a data-driven world, Chris shares insights from his expansive career and unique perspectives on storytelling, marketing, and brand-building. This is part one of a two-part series featuring Chris. If you have a question for Chris on part 2 let us know . Key Takeaways The role of creatives is changing The path to success for a piece of creative has changed over the last 15 years Many brands are asking creatives to provide directions to a destination that doesn't exist. The balance between creative risk and data-backed decision-making Opportunities for creatives and feedback Enjoy this episode and discover other resources below: ‍ Booklist | Here's our curated list of recommended books over the years. LinkedIn |…

People in this episode

Host: Cole

Guest: Chris Burkard

Topics covered

• creativity
• risk
• authenticity
• outdoor industry
• storytelling
• marketing
• brand-building

Keywords

• creatives
• outdoor industry
• marketing
• storytelling
• authenticity
• creative risk
• data-driven

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Backcountry Marketing, Port Side

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