Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly
407 episodes - English - Latest episode: 21 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.
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Episodes
Ask Terry (2024)
June 22, 2024 15:56 - 30 minutes - 27.7 MBThis 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.
Brand Envy 2024
June 15, 2024 15:56 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBThis 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.
Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz: How Companies Double Their Profits
June 08, 2024 15:56 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBEvery 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.
Houston, We Have Pizza: Advertising in Outer Space
June 01, 2024 15:56 - 27 minutes - 24.7 MBThis 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 Super Bowl comm...
Die Another Day: Reviving Old Commercials
May 25, 2024 15:56 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBOccasionally, 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.
Bookmarks 2024
May 18, 2024 15:56 - 28 minutes - 25.6 MBThis week it’s our annual Bookmarks episode. We read a lot of books to research Under The Influence. But there’s never enough room to include all the great stories we find. So this episode is dedicated to those great stories that didn’t fit into our regular episodes. This year, our theme is bravery. We’ll tell an amusing story about how Danny DeVito made a bold decision when he was auditioning for the sitcom Taxi. We’ll salute Lucille Ball’s bravery. And we’ll talk about how Jacques...
Record the Under the Influence Fun Fact
May 16, 2024 19:17 - 30 seconds - 470 KBUnder the Influence fans know that at the very end of each episode there’s a Fun Fact – an interesting little tidbit related to the show. Well, this year we’re asking you, our listeners, to record that Fun Fact. All you need is a phone or computer. Just visit our Fun Fact Page, follow the prompts and have fun with it. We choose two listeners every week – to be featured in the podcast and on CBC Radio. Happy recording. Oh, and keep checking back. The latest Fun Fact is refreshed every week....
The Gong Show: Ads That Could Never (Ever) Run Today
May 04, 2024 15:56 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBThis week, we go back in advertising history and take a look at the ads and commercials that could never, ever, EVER run today. They are either so politically incorrect, so sexist, or so inappropriate, you won’t believe your ears. From doctors recommending cigarettes, to 7-Up advertising to babies, to everyone singing about the joys of DDT, it’s amazing to think they all ran back in the day. Ads that couldn’t run today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Cars Are The Stars: Automobile Brands in Hollywood
April 27, 2024 15:56 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBAlmost every movie and television show needs cars, and auto companies are happy to supply them – because it helps sell a lot of cars. We’ll look back at James Bond and Starsky & Hutch, and explore auto partnerships with movie franchises like Transformers and Marvel. We’ll also tell a crazy story of how the most sought-after car from a Steve McQueen movie was finally found – and the cosmic coincidence that led to its discovery. Cars are the stars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...
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 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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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 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.
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.
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...