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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 08, 2025•27 min•Ep 9•Transcript available on Metacast Today, movie theatres have to compete with home theatre systems and streaming services. This week, we look at how cinemas are transforming to attract more movie goers. To survive, theatres now offer restaurant meals and full bar menus. They offer loyalty programs and special theme nights. And many cinemas now offer patrons “atmospheric” movie experiences – where wind blows through your hair, rain falls from the ceiling, and seats not only jolt back and forth, they also emit smells that mirror th...
Mar 01, 2025•27 min•Ep 8•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 22, 2025•27 min•Ep 7•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 20, 2025•27 min•Ep 1017•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast....
Feb 15, 2025•26 min•Ep 6•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 08, 2025•27 min•Ep 5•Transcript available on Metacast 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 celebritie...
Feb 01, 2025•27 min•Ep 4•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 25, 2025•27 min•Ep 3•Transcript available on Metacast This week, we take a look at Last Chance Tourism. Tourism companies around the world have started to advertise specific destinations to travelers, because those locations have a very unique offering. Namely, they are vanishing. From glaciers, to polar bears, to the Amazon Rainforest. Marketers are using a strategy called “Loss Aversion” – where the emotional impact of a loss is felt more intensely than a gain. So people are rushing to these locations, afraid they might miss their last chance to ...
Jan 18, 2025•27 min•Ep 2•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for ...
Jan 11, 2025•27 min•Ep 1•Transcript available on Metacast 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 many. So roll out the cookies, grab the wrapping paper or trim the tree as you enjoy "Dave Cooks the Tur...
Dec 23, 2024•39 min•Ep 1016•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 19, 2024•43 min•Ep 1015•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 14, 2024•46 min•Ep 1014•Transcript available on Metacast 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. Tickets here . Time flies when you’re Under the Influence. Hope to see you there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Dec 13, 2024•1 min•Transcript available on Metacast 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,...
Nov 25, 2024•43 min•Ep 1011•Transcript available on Metacast Mark has produced nine albums for Ringo. Before that, he was part of the Hudson Brothers. They had hit songs and the Hudson Brothers Razzle Dazzle TV show made them teen idols in the 70s. Mark is a huge Beatles fan and collector - and has spent time with all four Beatles. He’s a great storyteller. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 13, 2024•39 min•Ep 1010•Transcript available on Metacast Companies are spending big bucks advertising weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Rybelsus. This week, we’re dropping an episode of Brian Goldman’s White Coat, Black Art podcast into our feed. We thought you might find the topic interesting. In Canada, "reminder ads" can only give the medication's name, but they can’t tell you what the drug is for. They just tell people to ask their doctor for more information. I join Dr. Goldman in this episode to talk about those ads. Are those ads g...
Oct 05, 2024•27 min•Ep 1009•Transcript available on Metacast Mark Hamill not only owns collectibles, he is a collectible. Mark talks to us about his first blush with the Beatles, how he began collecting Beatles memorabilia, that time he met George Harrison on a plane, and whether or not he let his kids play with Star Wars toys. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 21, 2024•44 min•Ep 1008•Transcript available on Metacast In this interview, Max talks about his favourite Beatle albums, Ringo’s profound influence on rock drummers, and what happened onstage at a Springsteen concert the night Lennon was murdered. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 02, 2024•40 min•Ep 1007•Transcript available on Metacast Tom Halley was one of the brilliant animators on Yellow Submarine. The film is considered one of the most inventive animated films of all time. In this interview with the late animator, he tells us how he came to be involved, how they all managed to create this classic film in just 11 months. And much to our surprise, Tom tells us he was also an animator on the Beatles cartoon series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 14, 2024•46 min•Ep 1006•Transcript available on Metacast With the Paris Olympics in motion, it is a good time to revisit this episode from our archives. From the first ad at the first Olympics in 1896, to the hundreds of millions spent on today's advertising contracts, sponsorship money has always been a contentious issue. The Olympics cost a fortune to stage, and sponsorship money makes it possible. But there's a price to pay when there's a price to pay. How marketing has evolved at the Olympics is a fascinating story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...
Aug 10, 2024•30 min•Ep 26•Transcript available on Metacast David Sheff conducted the last major interview with John Lennon. Just as Double Fantasy was being released, Sheff interviewed John & Yoko for Playboy magazine. It was the famous interview where Lennon went through the Beatles catalogue song-by-song - just before he died. The backstory of that interview is fascinating. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 27, 2024•35 min•Ep 1005•Transcript available on Metacast I did a lot of commercials with Bob Newhart in the late 90s. He was one-in-a-million, a joy to work with, and he will be missed. And I want to tell you a very funny story that happened as a result of those commercials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 24, 2024•23 min•Ep 1004•Transcript available on Metacast Astrid Kirchherr holds a special place in the history of the Beatles. She took the famous Hamburg-era photos of the Beatles in their formative years, she inspired their “moptop” hairstyle, and she happened to fall in love with Stuart Sutcliffe, the fifth member of the Beatles. Her story is compelling, and her love of the Beatles, as friends, comes through in every word. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 20, 2024•26 min•Ep 1003•Transcript available on Metacast Join Terry O’Reilly for a brand new Beatles series, where he interviews celebrities and collectors on their love of the Fab Four. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 13, 2024•1 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, we answer listener questions. We’ll talk about how bands create theme songs for TV shows and how much they get paid. We’ll go back in time and talk about that flirtatious couple from that famous Nescafe TV campaign. And we’ll explore why condom makers now market different sizes, when it used to be one-size-fits-all. What’s goin’ on there? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 22, 2024•30 min•Ep 25•Transcript available on Metacast This week, it’s our annual Brand Envy episode. Every year, I list four brands I’ve admired from a distance. We’ll talk about a classic board game created by a Canadian couple. An ice cream chain founded by another Canadian. An iconic lighter that was named after a zipper. And a woman who is dominating television these days. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 15, 2024•29 min•Ep 24•Transcript available on Metacast Every company dreams of doubling its profit. It’s almost impossible to do. Yet, some companies do it by tweaking one tiny thing. We’ll talk about an industry that put three words on their packaging that doubled their profit. A company that created a catchy jingle that doubled their revenue overnight. And a business that changed one single word in a headline and their profit went up 100%. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 08, 2024•28 min•Ep 23•Transcript available on Metacast This week, we shoot for the moon. Now that commercialized space travel has arrived, the world of marketing is setting its sights on the stars. We’ll talk about ads on rocket ships, ads on spacesuits, and television commercials filmed on the International Space Station. There are companies who want to employ hundreds of tiny satellites to create logos in the night sky. Some companies even want to put ads on the moon. And those ads might even be cheaper than Supe...
Jun 01, 2024•27 min•Ep 22•Transcript available on Metacast Occasionally, an old advertising campaign is brought back from the dead. Even if it has been off the air for decades. This week, we’ll discuss a recurring Coke commercial that has been called the most popular ad of all time. A much-loved beer campaign that has been revived after 34 years. And a controversial commercial that was yanked off the air in 1989, but was re-run again recently. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 25, 2024•29 min•Ep 21•Transcript available on Metacast 
