Rick Silber
Writer | Embarrassing Dad
Quick Bio
Rick Silber is a writer whose work is characterized by subversive, absurd, and dark humor. He's the creator of The Exiled Shaman Coffee co and The Sour Milk, and has written for comedians, creative agencies, and companies such as Nestle, Heineken, The Toronto Blue Jays.
More About
I once drank mushroom tea with a Colombian shaman and disconnected from my online following of over 100k in order to disconnect from my ego. But I made sure to keep just enough ego to remind my friends that I once had over 100k followers.I've written jokes that have been shared millions of times around the internet, bewildered audiences at standup comedy clubs, and been blocked by Rosie O'Donnell.
WHAT THEY SAY"Rick Silber scares me with his robot simplicity and android precision. Worship him or despair."
Alec Sulkin - Family guy"If Alec Sulkin likes this stuff then I do too."
Tom Gammill - The Simpsons"Original, inventive & fun. That’s Rick Silber. Enjoy him while he’s still affordable!"
David N. Weiss - Vice President, Writers Guild of America, Writer Shrek 2"Rick Silber is persistent, which means he has a vision of where he’s going and a good understanding of which roads might lead him there. That makes him smarter than about 95% of everybody."
Jerry Shereshewsky - Senior Executive, Yahoo!, Coca-Cola, Y&R, Wunderman"Beneath the crumbling ruins of a once proud civilization, Rick Silber slumbers in his obsidian sarcophagus, awaiting the deafening trumpet of doom that will signal his unholy return."
Andres du Bouchet- Writer, Conan O’Brien Show
Work
I create and write newsletters and landing pages for companies (not your usual corporate kinds).Parody sites & landing pagesI find the funny and subversive
I make companies more playful•Speeches •Greeting Cards •Newsletters •Copy
Brand Development & Strategy
The Exiled Shaman
Coffee Brand | Naming, Brand Development, Voice, MerchWhat it is
A rebellious coffee brand built for the misfits, outcasts, and daydreamers. Less a product, more a cult—fueled by nostalgia, chaos, and cartoon logic. Bold brews for those wired different.What I did
I built the brand world, voice, and launch creative—rooted in punk zine energy, cartoon anti-heros, and tactile culture drops. Every interaction, from website to merch, pulled people deeper into the mythos.Highlights
Narrative & Voice: Created a world around the “Exiled Shaman” and his dog disciples.Campaign & Copy:
‣ “Caffeinate Recklessly.”
‣ “Don’t blame me, I voted for coffee.”
‣ Sticker drops and merch teasers with QR-code lore reveals.Visual Direction: Grimy cartoons, hand-drawn typography, textured iconography.Brand Behavior: Emails and site copy written as initiations into the cult. Every order = a mission.Merch & IRL: Concepted posters, tees, mugs—made to be stolen, swapped, or worn out.Outcome
A fully distinct coffee brand with a sticky, ownable identity. Launch positioned it to evolve into a lifestyle brand with zines, collabs, and diehard fans.
Spacedog Shroomery
Organic Dog Supplements | Naming, Brand Development, Voice, MerchWhat it is
A healthy, organic supplement brand for dogs with a playful, psychedelic-inspired personality. Spacedog Shroomery turns everyday meals into a healthy, mushroom-powered adventure—vivid, irreverent, and visually trippy, but entirely safe and natural.What I did
Built the brand world, voice, and launch creative, rooted in smokeshop/shroomery aesthetics, bold colors, and humor. Every touchpoint, from packaging to social content, signals fun and curiosity, inviting dog owners into the brand’s playful universe.Highlights
Narrative & Voice: Created the Spacedog persona, a cosmic dog delivering wellness with humor and flair.Campaign & Copy:
Packaging and social posts presents each serving as a small, playful adventure.Visual Direction: Retro-futuristic illustrations, bold hand-drawn mushrooms, playful cartoon dogs, and vibrant textures inspired by psychedelic design—but fully safe and dog-friendly.Brand Behavior: Packaging, emails, and social media copy written as entertaining mini-guides for owners. Every serving = a moment of playful ritual.Merch & IRL: Concepted collectible bowls, tees, stickers, and tote bags that reinforce the brand’s quirky, trippy-inspired identity.Outcome
A healthy, organic dog supplement brand with a unique, playful aesthetic. Launch positioned it for repeat purchases, owner engagement, and a lifestyle-forward identity that feels memorable and fun without ever being unsafe or literal psychedelia.
Ideation
Nestlé
Global CPG Brand | Product Naming & Concept Development1. Overview:
Nestlé brought me on for creative concepting and product naming across multiple consumer product categories. The goal was to generate fresh, ownable, and globally viable product names that resonated with modern consumers while staying aligned with brand architecture and legal guidelines.2. Challenge:
Creating names for one of the world’s largest CPG companies involves striking a rare balance: global trademark availability, internal stakeholder alignment, cultural neutrality (or relevance), and consumer resonance—all while standing out in crowded markets.3. What I Did:
I delivered strategic and creative naming support that blended big-picture thinking with market awareness:• Generated high-volume name banks based on core concept territories and emotional positioning.
• Collaborated with legal and brand teams to assess fit and feasibility.
• Provided layered name frameworks (functional, evocative, coined) depending on project goals.
• Developed supporting taglines and storylines for name presentation decks.4. Key Highlights:• Worked across snack, beverage, and wellness categories.
• Created both standalone names and line extensions.
• Provided rationale-driven naming to support internal alignment and IP decision-making.
• Balanced playful creativity with corporate constraints to deliver market-ready options.5. Outcome:
Multiple names progressed to legal clearance and were adopted for testing or product launch. My work helped Nestlé move faster on innovation pipelines and inject fresh creative energy into legacy brand processes.
Heineken
Global Beverage Brand | Campaign Ideation & Creative Brainstorming1. Overview:
Heineken engaged me to contribute to early-stage ideation and campaign concepting. The goal was to generate bold, culturally attuned ideas that could evolve into full campaigns across digital, experiential, and social platforms.2. Challenge:
In a crowded global market where beer advertising is often predictable, Heineken wanted ideas that could break through the noise while staying aligned with their premium, cosmopolitan brand tone. The work needed to feel fresh but still rooted in brand values of openness, social connection, and global cool.3. What I Did:
I was brought in as a creative outsider to inject unconventional thinking and narrative hooks:• Delivered rapid-fire ideation across campaign angles, activations, and taglines.
• Explored character-driven storytelling, ironic twists, and absurdist visual setups.
• Brought in left-field humor and edge while maintaining brand polish.
• Aligned concepts to cross-channel execution: social, OOH, event-based, and digital stunts.4. Key Highlights:• Contributed to brainstorming sessions with agency and internal teams.
• Developed multiple campaign springboards and thought-starters.
• Focused on story-first ideas with viral potential and culture hacking appeal.
• Explored ways to reframe classic beer moments through unexpected emotional lenses (e.g., nostalgia, mischief, loneliness).5. Outcome:
Several ideas were shortlisted for further development and client presentation. My contribution helped expand the creative territory and bring irreverent, story-rich energy to an iconic global brand looking to stay ahead of the culture curve.
