On My Radar: Shaun James Grant

What pieces of advertising do you find resonates with you the most?

I love work that feels grounded in genuine human response. Individuals striving to overcome something. Whether it’s an aspirational sports piece or a well-observed charity or healthcare spot, I’m always drawn to stories that capture something emotionally relatable. I also love restraint and simplicity in the approach. Simplicity is often mistaken for being easy when, in reality, it’s usually the opposite. The more effortless something appears on screen, the harder it often is to execute well. 

Some pieces that have stayed with me over the years are: 

Nike Find Your Greatness

Volvo Moving Out

Bupa Owning the Dancefloor [below]

All three are very different, but they share an ability to capture the human spirit in a way that feels truthful and relatable. That’s the kind of work that stays with you. 

What website(s) do you use most regularly?

YouTube. I watch a lot of YouTube videos, it’s my go-to for learning new skills. From working on my motorbike to figuring out food recipes and construction. You can watch a whole range of videos on the same subject, get multiple approaches and perspectives, then decide what’s right for you. It’s incredibly useful. 

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought?

A new Apple Watch. The durable one with the long battery life. I climbed Kilimanjaro in February and wanted something that could handle the environment. It did the job. 

What product could you not live without?

It’s tricky because I like things, but I don’t truly believe any are integral or necessary to your existence. You can always find a way without something. That said, a good pair of training shoes goes a long way in my life. Also, my motorbike, both for convenience and stress relief. 

What’s the best film you’ve seen over the last year?

I thoroughly enjoyed Marty Supreme. It was such fun, and earned energy. 

What film do you think everyone should have seen?

There are way too many to choose from, so I’m just going with one I recently rewatched and felt a strong connection to: Spotlight. It’s one of the clearest examples of filmmaking that completely trusts the audience. No sensationalism, no manipulation, no unnecessary spectacle. Just process, humanity and moral weight. It proves you can make something incredibly tense and emotionally devastating through restraint alone. It also sent me down a rabbit hole that led to me rewatching All the President's Men (also a must-see). I don’t think Spotlight exists without it. 

What’s your preferred social media platform?

Instagram, probably because it’s the only platform I still use with any regularity. Mostly for ideas and inspiration around motorbikes, film, photography, fitness and nutrition. I don’t really engage with it in the same way I did 10–15 years ago, when it was more about showcasing my work. Everything feels so algorithmically driven now that it can push people towards chasing virality over substance, which doesn’t really interest me.

What’s your favourite TV show?

I can’t choose between The Sopranos and The Wire. I love shows that don’t dictate what you’re supposed to think or feel about a character or situation, where morality constantly shifts depending on perspective and circumstance. Despite being vastly different shows, both are extraordinary examples of consistently high-level writing. For the most part, you’re just thrown into the world and made to get on with it. Minimal exposition. Minimal hand-holding. Just solid, unapologetic storytelling. 

The Sopranos was also hilarious. Particularly Uncle Junior: “You never did have the makings of a varsity athlete.” From a character perspective, I don’t think anybody has topped what James Gandolfini achieved over that many seasons in a lead role. The Wire, meanwhile, remains one of the most accurate portrayals of systemic institutions and how people survive within them. The ensemble cast was flawless. It’s heartbreaking, entertaining, intelligent and deeply human without ever feeling unnecessarily heightened. 

Honourable mention to True Detective (season one) too.

What’s your favourite podcast?

This American Life. It feels like an audio time capsule of modern history. You can revisit entire eras, communities and perspectives from around the world in a really effortless way. The stories are eclectic, but they’re always handled with integrity and balance. Its influence on modern podcast storytelling is pretty much unmatched in my opinion.

What have you been most inspired by recently?

My friends, when we climbed Kilimanjaro. How committed they were to succeeding. Always reaching for positivity in the darkest moments. I’m not a big hiker, so being around mates who wanted nothing more than to achieve something that made us deeply uncomfortable is something I’ll carry with me for a long time. 

If you could only listen to one music artist from now on, who would it be?

Too much of any one artist would probably drive me insane eventually. But if I had to choose, probably Frank Ocean. I love the balance in his work between vulnerability and precision. There’s also enough range in the music emotionally that it never feels one-note.