Pulsar

How Marketing Changed the World

Business EN ↓ 16 episodes

Culture changes constantly. Most of us think it happens organically, shaped by things like technology, art, politics, or activism. But you'd be surprised how many deep-seated behaviors and beliefs were actually created by carefully-crafted marketing campaigns. Smiling for photos, diamond engagement rings, even the pledge of allegiance - all of these were created by a corporation that was intentionally trying to change our minds, and it worked. In How Marketing Changed the World, we'll explore the fascinating true stories behind some of the most successful, and often unknown, marketing campaign...

Author

Pulsar

Episodes

The Oscars 14.05.2026 9:04

The Academy Awards established entertainment awards ceremonies and set the pattern for every other awards show.

Groundhog Day 18.02.2026 9:10

How Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania became the "Weather Capital of the World."

Pad Thai 24.01.2026 6:53

The dish that most people feel defines Thailand was intentionally invented and marketed by the country to do just that.

Christmas Lights 15.12.2025 5:47

The holiday tradition of decorating with lights was created by the combined efforts of the emerging electric industry and the White House.

Jeans 26.11.2025 6:51

How an old European fabric became the most iconic American piece of clothing.

Wrigley 17.09.2025 5:53

Many aspects of our shopping experience were shaped by a chewing gum magnate.

Spam 06.08.2025 7:34

Three stories that reveal the origin of spam.

Pedometers 11.06.2025 8:11

How pedometers became so popular, and why everyone tries to get 10,000 steps per day.

Mr. Potato Head 17.07.2024 7:26

A marketing experiment in 1952 led to the creation of one of the largest segments of the global retail economy.

Aluminum 22.06.2024 9:38

How one company not only changed the name and pronunciation of an element, but forged an entire industry.

Wine 10.05.2024 10:12

The marketing initiatives that not only created American wine culture, but transformed the global wine industry.

The Pledge of Allegiance 05.04.2024 6:49

A marketing idea to sell flags to public schools became one of the most iconic symbols of America.

The Olympics 07.03.2024 11:48

The 1936 Olympics not only created most of the pageantry for the games, but also established the sports industry.

Diamonds 09.02.2024 7:42

How De Beers created and shaped the practice of proposing marriage with diamond engagement rings in the 1940s.

Selfies 05.01.2024 6:59

The way the whole world takes, uses, and feels about photographs, including selfies, was created by Kodak in the early 1900s.

Introducing How Marketing Changed the World 20.12.2023 1:21

Introducing How Marketing Changed the World, a podcast that explores the fascinating true stories behind some of the most successful, and often unknown, marketing campaigns of all time.