Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

Do you know which mascot is the most recognized but least liked on TV? This week, we look at disgusting but effective advertising mascots. Fun, cuddly characters that personify our bodily functions the way human actors never could. But they all have one thing in common: they’re disgustingly lucrative. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you&nbsp...

This week, we explore the world of law firm advertising. Some of it good, some of it bad, but a handful of it highly creative. We’ll break down the lawyer advertising laws   that get some firms in trouble, we’ll look at the controversial billboard that got one lawyer death threats and the YouTube campaign that went viral - earning a divorce firm over 90M impressions.  We know y...

This week, we listen to the innovative ways marketers are using  sound  around the world. We’ll explore how the words of an anthem in South Africa were altered to send a powerful message about abuse, why Romanian radio stations switched over to mono to save lives and why some journalists are using music as a censorship loophole. Join us as we assess the current air quality. We know...

This week, we explore the world of distress purchases. Distress purchases are the things we need in life, but quietly resent having to pay for like insurance, car tires, laundry appliances and batteries. But the psychology marketers employ to  steer  you toward those purchases is fascinating. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you  do...

This week, we explore the world of unwitting endorsers. Sometimes a celebrity is featured in an advertising campaign without his or her knowledge or permission. There’s no denying the pull of celebrity, but a brand is a legal property. And if you trespass, you risk trouble. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you&nb...

This week, just in time for the Oscars, we look at some of the most innovative movie marketing. From advertising an R-rated superhero to marketing a silent horror film with virtually no dialogue, today’s movies aren’t just breaking records - they’re breaking all the rules. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On th...

This week, we tell the story of the most interesting adman in the world - Albert Lasker. Lasker had a hand in influencing professional baseball, Planned Parenthood, North American breakfast and not one, but two presidential elections. And he just happened to change the world of advertising in the process. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you  don’t ,&n...

This week, we look at the use of brand names in  songs.  Sometimes lyrical mentions lead to major brand success. Other times, to lawsuits and bans. But the stories behind each are fascinating. And our list may even include some of your favourite songs. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you  don’t ,  subscribe ad-free here. Hoste...

This week, we look at products made by  monks.  Monks create a myriad of merchandise that is sold to the public. Some sing and sell CDs of their chants. Others brew their own beer. A few even deal in  cannabis . But in almost all cases, the products sell well and sell  fast . And the reasons why…are fascinating. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On th...

This week, we explore the fascinating world of  vending machines . Vending machines aren’t just soft drink dispensers, they’re marketing machines. They’re portable, branded on all sides and are becoming smarter and smarter. The list of wacky items you can find in vending machines around the world may surprise you.   We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. O...

This week, we look at the history of commercial lengths. From the very first 10-minute radio commercial in 1922, to five-second commercials today, the length of ads has changed dramatically over the decades. But it’s not the changing  length s of commercials that’s so fascinating. It’s the reasons why. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you&nbs...

This week on Under The Influence, we look at unusual and unexpected advertising placements. As the world of marketing gets more and more cluttered every day, it’s forcing advertisers to get  creative . From urinals and sheep to foreheads and armpits, welcome to the world of wacky ad spaces. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you  don’t , ...

This week, we look at spokesperson disasters. Hiring a celebrity spokesperson is an advertising strategy many brands can only dream of. But famous names don’t come cheap. From Oprah Winfrey, to Gilbert Gottfried and Eric Clapton, celebs attract a lot of attention. But so do their mishaps.    We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you  don...

This week, it’s our annual Ask Terry episode - where we answer listener questions on the air. From the inspiration behind our theme song, to why some commercials overstay their welcome, to whether lawn signs really affect elections, this year’s questions were fun and insightful. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you  don’t ,  subscribe ad-free...

This week, we look at how self-driving cars affect the world of marketing. While it may seem like a bit of a novelty these days, the era of the autonomous car is fast approaching. And the implications for business, marketing and everyday life are astounding. Fasten your seatbelts.  We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you  don’t , ...

This week, we look at how tourism survives a tragedy. When a city experiences a massive crisis, it must find a way to restore its tourism. All cities rely on tourism – it is often one of the top revenue-generating industries and employs one of the biggest workforces. From Toronto’s SARS outbreak to Hurricane Katrina, it all comes down to a crisis plan, speed and smart marketing. We know...

This week, we look at the ad industry’s place in the Guinness Book of World Records. The aim of all advertising is to create selling ideas that are impossible to ignore. From the world’s largest coupon, to the most expensive commercial ever made, to the first ad visible from outer space, breaking a record can be a great marketing strategy. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this sho...

This week, we look at products invented by the military. The military has influenced more technology than any government, agency, business or organization in history. From the appliances in your kitchen, to the big screen in your living room, to the car you drive, you’d be surprised how much of your world is military-inspired.  We know you want to listen to all the ads in this...

This week, we explore the art of door-to-door sales. From encyclopaedias, to make-up, to vacuum cleaners, many corporations were built on the shoe leather of direct sales. It was a tough way to make a living. But the best salespeople never met a door they couldn't open. We’ll even look at the famous names in Hollywood that started out as door-to-door salespeople. The list may surprise yo...

This week, we look at brands that aren’t afraid to celebrate their weaknesses. As a rule, no company ever wants to point a neon sign at its flaws. But there are a few brave advertisers out there who know there can be incredible power in a negative. Like a brand that advertises the fact that its product tastes awful, or another that boasts being  second  in its category. We know...

This week, it’s our annual look at  brands  I admire. They may not be the hippest, the latest or the coolest, but I envy them for a reason. Like the most iconic studio in rock history, the first casual shoe ever invented or the world’s most timeless sunglasses. Join us for a peek at a few of my favourite things… We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On th...

This week, it’s our annual look at  brands  I admire. They may not be the hippest, the latest or the coolest, but I envy them for a reason. Like the most iconic studio in rock history, the first casual shoe ever invented or the world’s most timeless sunglasses. Join us for a peek at a few of my favourite things… We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On th...

This week, we look at commercials that made the unlikely leap…to Hollywood. Some became big hit movies, others inspired popular songs. One even became a TV series that was voted one of the worst sitcoms of all time. But that’s what can happen when an ad hitchhikes to Hollywood. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you  don’t ,  subscribe ad-...

This week, it’s part two of our Jingles episode. Jingles had a great run until the late ‘80s, then songs overtook them. But a few big jingles have beaten the trend in recent years – one in particular has even made one company billions of dollars… 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...

This week, we explore the use of  jingles  in advertising. So many brands were built on the backs of jingles. From the Big Mac, to Smarties, to Wheaties cereal. Successful jingles stay lodged in our minds forever. Once you hear them, learn the melody and start singing the lyrics,  you  become the advertiser.  We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show...