Under the Influence gives listeners a rare backstage pass into the hallways, boardrooms and recording studios of the ad industry.Join host and adman Terry O’Reilly for fascinating (and humorous) stories that connect the dots between pop culture, marketing and human nature.
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Dramatic car stunts are not just the stuff of movies. They’re also the stuff of car commercials. We’ll talk about one ad where skydivers risked their lives spelling out the word “Honda” in the sky, a commercial where a car speeds on the roof of a skyscraper, and a story about a car that was dropped from an airplane - and the parachute didn’t work. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...
This week, we explore how advertisers market to people with disabilities. Disabled people are usually ignored in advertising campaigns. Yet people with disabilities control half a trillion dollars in spending money. We’ll look at four powerful campaigns that not only feature people with disabilities, but these commercials are disrupting the public’s negative perceptions of the disabled. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. ...
This week, it’s our annual Brand Envy episode. We look at four brands that I admire. One is a cosmetics empire started by a woman in an era when women couldn’t even vote. One is a band I have a soft spot for. Another is a family-owned business that has lasted 88 years. The fourth is a TV show that broke records. And they all have one thing in common – they succeeded against all odds. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hos...
This episode of Under the Influence explores the creative marketing strategies used in the booming pet industry. From Pedigree's adoption-focused campaigns to Dolly Parton's pet fashion line and IKEA's innovative cat and dog catalogs, the episode showcases how brands are tapping into the deep emotional connection people have with their pets. It also highlights humorous and altruistic approaches, like campaigns addressing dog waste and promoting shelter adoptions.
This week, it’s our annual “Bookmarks” episode. We read a lot of books to research this show, and often we stumble on great stories that don’t fit our regular episodes. So we save them up for this show. We’ll talk about a new book on SNL producer Lorne Michaels, we’ll take a few notes from a famous songwriter, and we’ll talk about a Bible with a wicked typo. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...
This week, we look at how the marketing industry seizes pop culture moments. We’ll talk about a website that got national attention by making a bold prediction about a TV show. How A1 Steak Sauce caught the funniest – and luckiest break. And how Pepsi grabbed a hilarious opportunity by following pizza delivery drivers. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
This week, we look at public service announcements. PSAs have to compete with - not just other PSAs - but with all other commercials out there. And do it with an iota of the budget. It requires exceptional creativity. We’ll talk about how Elvis got teens to get a polio vaccine, and a drinking & driving commercial recorded by drunk actors. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...
Peter Wilken has over 40 years experience working with the world’s top brands. He has run advertising agency networks around the world. In our far-reaching conversation, Peter brings battle-tested insights to the table, tells us interesting stories about the brands he’s worked for, how to manage creative people, and explains the critical difference between branding and brand building. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Ho...
Arkells frontman Max Kerman has written his first book, “Try Hard: Creative Work in Progress.” Max talks about what a lead singer for a band does all day, the nuts and bolts of song writing, how he prepares for a show - but more importantly - Max talks about how the creative process is not all about talent, it’s about curiosity, enthusiasm, and learning how to work hard and enjoy ever minute of it. And in this interview, Max gives you a framework for how to bring more creativity into your life a...
It was big news recently that Amazon is taking over creative control of the James Bond franchise. So this week, we look at how James Bond has been employed to pitch products over the years. From high-end watches, to beer, liquor and breakfast cereals, 007 has been busy. And even the Bond villains have been hawking products. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
This week, we have some fun and listen to commercial outtakes. Just like the movies, there are multiple takes, lots of pressure, and mistakes happen. Sometimes actors get the words all mixed up to hilarious results. Sometimes celebrities have melt-downs. And sometimes professional actors just break down in a fit of the giggles. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
This week, we’ll tell the stories behind some of the most famous – and infamous – sports star endorsements of all time. We’ll talk about a Rocket Richard commercial that spawned a catchphrase that nearly every Boomer can recite. We’ll look at a powerful Nike commercial Serena Williams did about women in sports. And we’ll talk about what it took to put quarterback Joe Namath in pantyhose. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here....
This week, we ask an interesting question: What is the busiest day of the year for pizza delivery companies, Airbnb, Emergency Rooms, Maternity Wards, restaurants and dating apps? What is the busiest day of the year for weddings? And what is the busiest day of the year for… plumbers? It’s all fascinating – and often very surprising. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...
This week, we thought it would be timely to retrieve this episode from our archives. A Brand Envy episode in celebration of Canadian brands. We’ll look at what may be the most successful global retailer Canada has ever built, a television pioneer worshipped and revered by generations of Canadians and a world-class brand that operates out of the smallest village in New Brunswick. We’ve certainly bred some amazing brands up here in the Great White North. We know you want to listen to all the ads i...
This week, we take a look at one of the tools of political marketing – the campaign song. Politicians have used songs going all the way back to at least the 1700s. Sometimes the songs are written expressly for the political party or candidate. Sometimes, politicians co-opt pop songs. And sometimes, pop artists have a major problem with that. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...
Recorded before a live audience at Reid’s Distillery, this episode lists some of the biggest brand fails of 2024. We’ll talk about when Apple launched its thinnest computer ever, which led to a big fat PR problem. We’ll look at a seasonal candle that fired up accusations of white supremacy. And we’ll try and figure out how a children’s doll package ended up listing the URL for a porn site. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free her...
This episode explores how movie theaters are innovating to attract audiences in the face of streaming services and home theater systems. It covers a range of strategies, including offering restaurant meals, bar service, loyalty programs, and immersive “atmospheric” movie experiences. The episode also discusses the use of AI in marketing and operations, highlighting the industry's efforts to stay competitive.
There are things in the world of marketing that are forbidden. It’s illegal to use certain sounds, for example. If an advertiser does use them, they are heavily fined. In some countries, there are rules around using national anthems in commercials. In other countries, there are no rules. And even Winnie the Pooh is forbidden in one country because it apparently makes fun of their leader. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here....
During SNL's recent 50th anniversary special, it showed a montage of their famous commercial parodies. Here’s an episode that talks about those and many others - and how SNL influenced the ad writers of my generation. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
This week, we look at how some companies advertise to haters. Every advertiser gets negative comments on social media. Some brands shrink away – and some take those negative comments and spin them into marketing gold. Supercuts took negative comments about cheap haircuts and created a hilarious advertising campaign. Spirit Airlines gave haters a place to vent – then offered them 8,000 free air miles. And drink maker Oatly, actually dedicated a website to their haters. We know you want to listen ...
This week, we take a whiff of some of the strangest fragrances being marketed today. Choosing a perfume or cologne is a form of personal expression. What you smell like says something about you. But does that include bacon perfume? Or mayonnaise cologne? There’s a fragrance that makes you smell like a bakery, and a soap for men that smells like gasoline. Uncommon Scents. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast....
This week, we talk about some of the most interesting people throughout history – and the fact they all had a consistent personal style. Consistency is the key to branding, and these famous people all understood that. We’ll take a look at Julius Caesar, who shocked fellow Romans with the way he dressed and acted. We’ll examine the incredible popularity of Charlie Chaplin’s “Little Tramp” character that never changed throughout 25 films. And we’ll talk about celebrities who adopted a singular col...
This week, we look at the marketing of ICE. It may sound like a strange topic, but our obsession with ice - as a product - is only 200 years old. The history of ice marketing starts with an amazing story about a bold entrepreneur with a vision, the cutthroat clash between competing ice companies, and the long list of ice brands and products that has transformed our lives. It's a remarkable story. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-f...
Terry O'Reilly examines "last chance tourism," a phenomenon where destinations like melting glaciers, polar bear habitats, and endangered ecosystems are marketed due to their imminent disappearance. The episode delves into the psychology of loss aversion driving this trend and its complex paradox: while tourism revenue often aids conservation, the increased travel can also accelerate environmental damage. It also highlights innovative approaches, such as ecotourism in the Amazon and the Great Barrier Reef's "guardian" program, which aim to leverage tourism for preservation.
In our first episode of 2025, we explore a strange aspect of advertising. Specifically, when TV and movie characters endorse products. Not the actors themselves - but the characters they portray. It's a trend that started in the early '60s with the Andy Griffith Show and Bonanza. Today, it includes characters like Breaking Bad's Walter White and even Phil Dunphy from Modern Family. Sometimes it's funny - and sometimes it bends the time/space continuum. We know you want to listen to all the ads i...
We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. As you might know, the team behind Under The Influence has more podcasts executive produced by Terry. The story in this episode of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe is the most requested Vinyl Cafe story of all time. "Today is the day Dave cooks the turkey!" Jess tells us why it gives her such pleasure to say those words, and plays the beloved story that has become a Christmas tradition for so...
Another one of our favourite episodes from our sister podcast We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast and just in time for the holiday, is the rejection story of the movie Elf. This beloved and timeless Christmas classic, starring Will Ferrell brought in over $200M at the box office. But, back in 2000 the script was rejected by production companies, studios, directors and actors. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. ...
Terry was recently interviewed on Dr. Andrea Wojnicki's podcast, Talk About Talk. Andrea is an executive communications coach. She helps executives improve their communication skills and elevate their confidence and credibility. It is an interesting chat about communication. Hope you enjoy it. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Believe it or not, this January will mark our 20th year on CBC. To celebrate the milestone, join us Feb 6th for a live podcast recording, a Q&A, live band, giveaways and yummy gin cocktails at Reid’s Distillery in Toronto. Time flies when you’re Under the Influence. Hope to see you there. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t , subscribe ad-free here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
I talk to director David Tedeschi about his new Beatles film. Produced by Martin Scorsese, it captures the mania of Beatlemania when the Fab Four land in New York for the first time in 1964, including their historic appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. David tells us how it all came together, and what surprising things he learned about this first Fab Four trip. The film contains 17 minutes of brand new footage (restored by Pater Jackson’s company), the soundtrack has been remixed by Giles Martin,...
