Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly
398 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 426 ratingsUnder 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.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Ham on Wry: Sandwich Board Advertising
April 20, 2024 15:56 - 27 minutes - 24.7 MBTake a walk down any busy main street, and you’ll probably see one of the oldest forms of advertising: The sandwich board. They have been around for over 200 years. Cities try and ban them. Storekeepers love them. They can make you smile. They can make you angry. They can attract a lot of attention. They are the pop-up ads of the physical world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Pants on Fire: When Customers Lie to Marketers
April 13, 2024 15:56 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBCustomers often lie to companies in surveys, polls and focus groups. Yet advertisers rely on that flawed and false feedback to market brands and create advertising campaigns. So what are advertisers to do? One solution is Google. What we type into the Google search window is like a truth serum. We all pour our most intimate, honest questions into that search box. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Cheeky Advertising
April 06, 2024 15:56 - 27 minutes - 283 MB80% of all advertising is ignored. That’s why some advertisers employ cheeky advertising. It’s usually bold – outrageous – and sometimes even rude – but always with a playful undertone. We’ll talk about a fruit company that printed an open letter to the Pope. An airline campaign that told you to “keep it in your pants.” And a product that claims your grandparents had more sex than you. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Billionaire Tourism
March 30, 2024 15:56 - 27 minutes - 24.7 MBMost tourism marketing aims at the largest audience possible. This week, we look at a sub-category aimed at the smallest audience possible: Billionaire Tourism. The super wealthy get bored easily. That means luxury tour planners dream up extreme vacation ideas. From outer space, to the bottom of the ocean, to secretly getting the key to the Sistine Chapel, it’s a whole new pricey world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When You're This Big, They Call you Mister
March 16, 2024 15:56 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBThere are some time-honored honorifics in the world of marketing. “Honorifics” are titles like Mr., Mrs., Doctor, Captain or Colonel. Like Colonel Sanders, Dr. Scholl’s, Mr. Clean and Mrs. Butterworth’s. They’re usually leaders in their category. Is it because those products are the best? Or – is it because those brand names give the products a sense of respect and authority? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Terry Interviews Arkells Lead Singer Max Kerman
March 11, 2024 15:56 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBArkells is a band that likes to have fun.They are also a very smart band that understands the critical mix of artistry and marketing in a competitive industry. Frontman Max Kerman tells Terry the inventive ways they market their music, the creative ideas Arkells use to launch new material, and what marketing from other bands they admire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Buy-O-Pics: When Brands Become Movies
March 09, 2024 16:56 - 28 minutes - 287 MBAs Oscar night approaches, we head to theatres to figure out why movies about brands are so popular. “Barbie” is breaking box office records. “Air” tells the story of Nike signing Michael Jordan. “Blackberry” explains the spectacular rise and fall of the first smartphone – and is getting great reviews. And a movie about the origins of McDonald’s – starring Michael Keaton - just might surprise you. They don’t only tell the brand stories, they each ask big, existential questions. Ho...
Seeing is Believing: The Power of Demonstration Commercials - Part 2
March 02, 2024 16:56 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBLast week, we talked about the best historic demonstration commercials of all time. This week, we feature some of the most recent. Like an air freshener commercial that tricked blindfolded people into thinking a filthy toilet smelled like flowers. And a stunt where an ad agency put $3 million dollars between the glass of a bus shelter - unguarded, to demonstrate a point. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Seeing is Believing: The Power of Demonstration Commercials
February 24, 2024 16:56 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBThis week, I ask a dozen of the top creative directors in the advertising business to tell me the best “demonstration commercials” they have ever seen. Because there is nothing more powerful than a dramatic product demonstration. We’ll talk about a famous Krazy Glue commercial. And a Volvo ad where the ad writer risked his life to demonstrate a point. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Putting the Awe in Audio
February 10, 2024 16:56 - 26 minutes - 24.6 MBThis week, we look at the most creative audio ideas from around the world. Including a podcast for runners that only works if you’re actually running, a police recruitment campaign that capitalized on the popularity of True Crime, and a very ambitious alternative audio track created to be played over Disney’s Pocahontas movie – that tells the truth behind the fairy tale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Terry talks with a Cannabis Producer
February 05, 2024 16:56 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBRecently, we produced an episode on cannabis marketing. With cannabis legalization, it’s a brand-new, challenging marketing category. As a result of that episode, I asked the Ontario Cannabis Store to introduce me to an actual cannabis producer. I wanted to know how a cannabis producer becomes licensed, how a craft cannabis company competes with the big companies, and how a small cannabis company markets its products in such a highly regulated category. In this bonus episode, I talk to Wa...
The Marketing of Taylor Swift: (Taylor's Version)
February 03, 2024 16:56 - 27 minutes - 25 MBThis week, we analyze the remarkable marketing skills of one of the top music artists in the world – Taylor Swift. She has challenged the status quo at every turn – she regained ownership of her master recordings. She convinced Apple and Spotify to pay artists in a more equitable way. She defied Hollywood. She markets her music to her fans in very surprising ways. And holds over 70 Guinness World Records. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Cannabis Marketing
January 27, 2024 16:56 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBThis week, we go one toke over the line and look at the emerging world of cannabis marketing. We start with the question - just how does a plant become illegal? We’ll explore the history of cannabis. We’ll talk about which celebrities have their own brands (Hello Willie Nelson!) Which high-end retail stores are now selling expensive cannabis paraphernalia. And which non-cannabis businesses are seeing a surprising uptick in sales - like fertilizer companies and fast-food restaurants. ...
Copycat Brands
January 13, 2024 16:56 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBThis week, we look at copycat brands. Even though they walk a razor’s edge legally, copycat brands seem to pop up all over the world. You may like Walmart here, but there’s a Wumart in China. You may like North Face apparel, but did you know there was a South Butt brand? And, we’ll tell the story of a copycat cookie that overtook the original to become the best-selling cookie in the world. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Disappearing Acts: When Popular Brands Are Discontinued
January 06, 2024 16:56 - 27 minutes - 25 MBTo kick off our 2024 season, we look at a strange phenomenon happening in Canada. Well-established brands are suddenly leaving the country. Kleenex is leaving after nearly 100 years. Skippy Peanut Butter has skipped the country after nearly 90 years. And KFC actually held a funeral for their terrible-tasting French fries. What’s happening up here? Find out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We're back January 6th
January 02, 2024 16:35 - 1 minute - 1.24 MBHappy New Year. We have a fun 2024 season planned for you. Here'a a sneak peek at what's in store... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sounds That Sell
December 05, 2023 22:03 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBEvery once in a while, we drop an interesting show into our feed that we think you’ll like. This week, it’s “Twenty Thousand Hertz” - a show about the world’s most recognizable and interesting sounds. The show’s title comes from the highest frequency that can be perceived within the human hearing range. In this episode, host Dallas Taylor explores the world of advertising jingles. They used to be an advertising staple, but these days, most have disappeared. Except - for insurance compan...
Ask Terry (From AOP 2011)
November 25, 2023 16:26 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBThis week, we turn the show over to listeners. It’s our annual “As Terry” show. We asked you to submit any questions you had about the advertising world, and you responded with a record amount of very interesting, very insightful ones that touch on subjects like negative political advertising, why there are so many bad local commercials, and what do background actors really say when their lips move. Join us for some surprising answers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...
Ask Terry (From the AOP Archives)
November 25, 2023 16:26 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBThis week, we turn the show over to listeners. It’s our annual “As Terry” show. We asked you to submit any questions you had about the advertising world, and you responded with a record amount of very interesting, very insightful ones that touch on subjects like negative political advertising, why there are so many bad local commercials, and what do background actors really say when their lips move. Join us for some surprising answers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...
Terry's Book Club (From the AOP Archives)
November 04, 2023 16:14 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBThis week, we invite you to our Book Club. We'll be telling stories from Terry's favourite advertising books, and will examine the incredible lessons they contain that have served him well for his entire career. By the way, a few of those books aren’t even about advertising. In fact, one is a book about science, and another is about theatre actors. But each one contains incredible wisdom that can be applied directly to the world of advertising and marketing. And everyday life. Hosted o...
Terry's Book Club (From AOP 2011)
November 04, 2023 16:14 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBThis week, we invite you to our Book Club. We'll be telling stories from Terry's favourite advertising books, and will examine the incredible lessons they contain that have served him well for his entire career. By the way, a few of those books aren’t even about advertising. In fact, one is a book about science, and another is about theatre actors. But each one contains incredible wisdom that can be applied directly to the world of advertising and marketing. And everyday life. Hosted o...
We May Not Be Big, But We're Small - World's Smallest Record Store
October 21, 2023 16:00 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBAs you might know by now, the team behind Under The Influence has more podcasts executive produced by Terry. More on the Apostrophe Podcast Network can be found here. One of the podcasts we are very proud of just started its second season with Apostrophe. It's titled Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe. Backstage welcomes listeners into the warm and comforting world of the Vinyl Cafe. Each episode features stories about Canada’s favourite fictional family: Dave, Morley and the kids, narrated by the...
Three Foot Marketing (From the AOP Archives)
October 07, 2023 16:34 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBThis week we’re going shopping. The topic is “Three Foot Marketing.” Research shows that 75% of shopping decisions are made in the store, and they are all made within the last three feet – meaning that critical distance between your shopping cart and the shelf. We’ll examine how stores use design, technology and psychology to influence your decisions - from the moment you walk in to when you line up at the cash. We’ll also look at the interesting tug-of-war that happens between stores and bra...
Three Foot Marketing (From AOP 2011)
October 07, 2023 16:34 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBThis week we’re going shopping. The topic is “Three Foot Marketing.” Research shows that 75% of shopping decisions are made in the store, and they are all made within the last three feet – meaning that critical distance between your shopping cart and the shelf. We’ll examine how stores use design, technology and psychology to influence your decisions - from the moment you walk in to when you line up at the cash. We’ll also look at the interesting tug-of-war that happens between stores and bra...
Dynamic Duos: The Famous Partnerships in Advertising (From the AOP Archives)
September 23, 2023 16:28 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBThis week we look at “Dynamic Duos” - those rare ad agency/client relationships that resulted in some of the most famous advertising of all time. We’ll examine the relationship between Nike founder Phil Knight and his ad agency creative director Dan Wieden, Apple’s Steve Jobs and Creative Director Lee Clow, tempermental winery owner Julio Gallo and his legendary creative director and tough guy, Hal Riney, and we’ll tell the story of the creative director who created a Hall of Fame campaign a...
Dynamic Duos: The Famous Partnerships in Advertising (From AOP 2011)
September 23, 2023 16:28 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBThis week we look at “Dynamic Duos” - those rare ad agency/client relationships that resulted in some of the most famous advertising of all time. We’ll examine the relationship between Nike founder Phil Knight and his ad agency creative director Dan Wieden, Apple’s Steve Jobs and Creative Director Lee Clow, tempermental winery owner Julio Gallo and his legendary creative director and tough guy, Hal Riney, and we’ll tell the story of the creative director who created a Hall of Fame campaign a...
Speed Bumps: The Magical Ingredient in Marketing (From AOP 2011)
September 09, 2023 15:32 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBThis week we look at how smart marketers use Speed Bumps to generate greater sales. While modern marketing loves a friction-free fast transaction, smart marketers know that a perfectly-placed speed bump can slow the selling process down Plus, we reveal why Van Halen wanted all those brown M&Ms taken out of the bowls. You may be surprised. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Speed Bumps: The Magical Ingredient in Marketing (From the AOP Archives)
September 09, 2023 15:32 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBThis week we look at how smart marketers use Speed Bumps to generate greater sales. While modern marketing loves a friction-free fast transaction, smart marketers know that a perfectly-placed speed bump can slow the selling process down Plus, we reveal why Van Halen wanted all those brown M&Ms taken out of the bowls. You may be surprised. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Rejecting Mad Men
September 02, 2023 19:12 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBIn case you missed it, the team behind Under the Influence has more podcasts. Five, to be exact. Executive produced by Terry O', meet the Apostrophe Podcast Company. Apostrophe brings you Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe, Surviving Life with Survivorman Les Stroud and We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast – where we tell stories of how the world’s most celebrated people overcame debilitating career rejection to achieve mammoth success. We Regret To Inform You has 2 million downloads ac...
The Sound of Persuasion (From the AOP Archives)
August 21, 2023 13:14 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBThis week, Under The Influence listens to the sounds of persuasion. Advertising has used sound to sell for decades. But sound can be used for more than painting pictures on radio – sound can be carefully created to persuade. The stories behind those sounds are fascinating - from the earliest recorded sound, to the first use of sound in radio commercials, to signature sounds on famous ad campaigns, to the startup sound we hear on our computers every day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...
The Sound of Persuasion (From AOP 2011)
August 21, 2023 13:14 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBThis week, Under The Influence listens to the sounds of persuasion. Advertising has used sound to sell for decades. But sound can be used for more than painting pictures on radio – sound can be carefully created to persuade. The stories behind those sounds are fascinating - from the earliest recorded sound, to the first use of sound in radio commercials, to signature sounds on famous ad campaigns, to the startup sound we hear on our computers every day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...
Genericide: When A Brand Name Becomes Generic (From the AOP Archives)
August 05, 2023 13:53 - 27 minutes - 25 MBThis week, we look at the concept of “Genericide” – when brand names become generic. Many of the pioneering brands in our world risked losing their trademarks – as courts would rule that their names had become generic. Zipper, escalator and refrigerator were all trademarks at one time. The board game Monopoly just lost its trademark recently. Now brands like Kleenex and Band-Aid are fighting to save their valuable names. And their stories are fascinating. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
Genericide: When A Brand Name Becomes Generic (From AOP 2011)
August 05, 2023 13:53 - 27 minutes - 25 MBThis week, we look at the concept of “Genericide” – when brand names become generic. Many of the pioneering brands in our world risked losing their trademarks – as courts would rule that their names had become generic. Zipper, escalator and refrigerator were all trademarks at one time. The board game Monopoly just lost its trademark recently. Now brands like Kleenex and Band-Aid are fighting to save their valuable names. And their stories are fascinating. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
The Happy Homemaker: How Advertising Invented The Housewife - Part 2 (AOP 2011)
July 22, 2023 15:00 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBThis week, Part 2 of how Madison Avenue invented… the housewife. Over 100 years ago, the advertising industry realized they had thousands of household products to sell. All they needed was a customer. So they invented the Happy Homemaker, and for the next 25 years, encouraged women to be stay-at-home moms. That strategy created the biggest business in the world: Housekeeping. The rest is advertising history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Happy Homemaker: How Advertising Invented The Housewife - Part 2 (From the AOP Archives)
July 22, 2023 15:00 - 27 minutes - 25.1 MBThis week, Part 2 of how Madison Avenue invented… the housewife. Over 100 years ago, the advertising industry realized they had thousands of household products to sell. All they needed was a customer. So they invented the Happy Homemaker, and for the next 25 years, encouraged women to be stay-at-home moms. That strategy created the biggest business in the world: Housekeeping. The rest is advertising history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Happy Homemaker: How Advertising Invented The Housewife - Part 1 (From the AOP Archives)
July 08, 2023 16:20 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBThis week, we look at how Madison Avenue invented… the housewife. Over 100 years ago, the advertising industry realized they had thousands of household products to sell. All they needed was a customer. So they invented the Happy Homemaker, and for the next 25 years, encouraged women to be stay-at-home moms. That strategy created the biggest business in the world: Housekeeping. The rest is advertising history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Happy Homemaker: How Advertising Invented The Housewife - Part 1 (AOP 2011)
July 08, 2023 16:20 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBThis week, we look at how Madison Avenue invented… the housewife. Over 100 years ago, the advertising industry realized they had thousands of household products to sell. All they needed was a customer. So they invented the Happy Homemaker, and for the next 25 years, encouraged women to be stay-at-home moms. That strategy created the biggest business in the world: Housekeeping. The rest is advertising history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ask Terry 2023
June 24, 2023 15:45 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBIt’s our final episode of the season already. And as always, we throw the show open to our listeners. And answer your questions. We’ll explore why jingles have disappeared, how old jingles are being used to help Alzheimer’s patients, we’ll talk about Eddie Shack and his Pop Shoppe commercials, why the biggest companies have the dullest ads and we’ll answer that burning question: What ever happened to the “follow the bouncing ball” sing-along commercials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...
Hiding in Plain Sight: The Surprising Influence of Marketing
June 17, 2023 15:40 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBSo many things in our world are influenced by marketing. This week, we look at various aspects of our lives influenced by marketing. – but you wouldn’t know it. It’s marketing hiding in plain sight. Like the concept of jaywalking – born of marketing. How marketing created the 10,000-steps-a-day health goal. And how marketing was the inspiration for one of the most popular TV series that everyone is talking about right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...
Bookmarks 2023
June 10, 2023 16:00 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBThis week it’s our annual Bookmarks episode. I read a lot of books to research Under The Influence. But every season, there isn’t enough room to include all the great stories I find. So this episode is dedicated to those stories that didn’t fit into our regular episodes. But are so good, they are worth telling. We’ll tell an amazing story about the book Goodnight Moon. We’ll tell you why David Bowie seemed to have two different-coloured eyes. We’ll talk about why inspiration is 90% pe...
The Allure of the Bad-Ass: Advertising Antiheroes
June 03, 2023 16:17 - 28 minutes - 26 MB20th century movies and TV shows were dominated by the traditional “hero.” With high morals and an ethical code of honour. The 21st century has a different take. Today, we cheer the antihero. Like the Sopranos, Dexter and Breaking Bad. Antiheroes are liberated from that line in the sand that holds the rest of us back. They do things we are afraid to do. And do it unapologetically. And if advertising is the great mirror to pop culture, it just may explain the emergence of...
Nooner Nookie: The Allure of Marketing Freebies
May 27, 2023 15:46 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBFor over 100 years, “free” has been one of the most powerful words in the marketing world. And believe it or not, companies love freebies as much as their customers do. Because giving away free products generates a lot of goodwill. And goodwill generates free press. We’ll talk about a ketchup company who gave a man a free boat. A hotel who gave a couple 18 years of free stays because they had nookie in one of their rooms. And we’ll tell the story of how one company helped a teenager wit...
The Phrase That Pays: Marketing Contests
May 20, 2023 15:40 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBMarketing contests can be tricky business. On one hand, contests can be designed to help companies achieve certain business goals. On the other hand, companies can lose control over them pretty quickly. This week, we look at some of the most interesting – and hilarious – marketing contests. Including one about a city that held a contest to name a new building – and the public voted overwhelmingly to name it after a past mayor named Harry Baals. True story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
Canadaland Goes Under The Influence
May 13, 2023 14:27 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBJesse Brown, founder of Canadaland Podcast Network, and Terry O'Reilly have a fun conversation about the business of podcasting, the line between journalism and advertising and how Terry had to get used to being touched by strangers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Billboards Are Always in Bloom
May 06, 2023 15:45 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBBillboards are one of the biggest creative challenges in the marketing world. They need to be seven words or less. They need to contain an idea. And they need to communicate quickly as people speed by. This week on Under The Influence, we look at the most creative billboards from around the world. We’ll talk about a car maker that used tiny billboards to get inside their competitor’s vehicles. How one airline used a billboard that could detect planes passing overhead....
Brand Envy (2023)
April 29, 2023 15:40 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBThis week, we take a look at four brands that have found a way to survive for decades. One company has been entertaining crowds with wax for 200 years. One restaurant has been topping their ice cream cones with a unique swirl for over 80 years. Another company teamed up with a certain debonaire spy 60 years ago. And a fourth brand has made a fortune blowing bubbles for over 75 years. Their stories are fascinating. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hitting the Road with Marketing Mobiles
April 22, 2023 15:40 - 29 minutes - 26.7 MBYou’ve probably seen those Red Bull Mini Coopers driving around town with the giant Red Bull can on their roofs. This week on Under The Influence, we look at the wild and wacky world of marketing mobiles. They’ve actually been around for over 100 years. We’ll crack open the story behind the Planters Peanut Nutmobiles. We’ll take to the skies to tell you an amazing story behind the famous Goodyear blimps. And we’ll tell the story of the famous Oscar Meyer Wienermobiles. Hosted on Acast...
Johnny Wants the Jet: The Loopy World of Loopholes
April 15, 2023 15:41 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBThere are some very interesting loopholes in the world of marketing. Because businesses are always looking for an upper hand in a competitive category, loopholes can offer legal advantages. A loophole can help a company overcome barriers in the marketplace. Sometimes, the way a product is marketed can give customers a loophole they can take advantage of. And sometimes a 20-year-old kid can spot a loophole that panics a giant corporation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...
Hard Days & Golden Knights: The World of Brand Twins
April 08, 2023 15:40 - 28 minutes - 25.7 MBEven though brand names are often protected by trademarks and copyrights, it’s remarkable how many times companies end up with the same names. And they either get along – or they sue each other into oblivion. This week, we look at “Brand Twins.” We’ll talk about when Guns N’ Roses sued Guns and Rosé. We’ll explain why there used to be the Saskatchewan Roughriders AND the Ottawa Rough Riders in the CFL. And that time Ringo sued the Ring O sex toy company. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com...
Long Overdue: The Creative Boom of Library Marketing (Encore)
April 01, 2023 15:45 - 27 minutes - 24.9 MBThis week, we look at the ways libraries market themselves. If you think libraries are quiet, you’ve got another thing coming. We’ll talk about a library video series that played like a TV cop show - and - we’ll look at library wars - when libraries battle each other on social media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.