Ducks Unplugged

It’s back — you asked, we answered.

Welcome to another round of Ask Us Anything on Ducks Unplugged. The questions? Varied. The answers? Even more so.

In this mini episode, we’re covering topics like:
🔥 How to stay motivated when momentum dips
📺 What reality TV show we’d absolutely be cast on
🤖 Insider tips for getting more out of AI (yes, we’re sharing the good stuff)
🦆 And a few unexpected turns, because… that's just us

These episodes are powered by you — so thank you to everyone who submitted questions. We love when this podcast turns into a two-way conversation.

🎧 Listen now and see if we answered yours.
And if not? Start thinking about what you want us to answer next.

Send us your thoughts or questions!

Why do animals work so well in marketing? Because emotion sells — and nothing sparks emotion faster than a camel yelling “Hump Day,” or a cute puppy becoming best friends with a Clydesdale.

In this episode of Ducks Unplugged, we explore why animals are such an effective marketing tactic — and why brands keep going back to them.

We’re talking:
🐫 The psychology behind animals in advertising
🐰 Our favorite animal marketing moments
🦁 A brand-to-animal pairing game
🦆 We answer: What animal are we, exactly?
🚗 And in our What the Duck we discuss why Waymo might need a timeout

🎧 Listen now and then tell us: what's your favorite animal-in-marketing moment?

Send us your thoughts or questions!

Welcome back to our monthly Duck Debate — where opinions fly and feathers get ruffled. 🦆

This episode ranges from mildly controversial to aggressively polarizing:

🧸 Are giant teddy bears a sweet gesture… or oversized clutter?
🍟 Is it completely acceptable to dip a fry in a milkshake… or should that be illegal?
🍔 Would you rather your burger be taller or wider? (Ashley briefly forgot the entire point of the game and asked why she had to choose. Because… it’s the game.)
🏠 Live in a shoe house or duck house — choose wisely.
📺 Is it socially unacceptable to sit next to someone on the couch and talk during TV time? (Ashley has very clear rules. Very clear.)

Plus, Deanna spills a little behind-the-scenes tea on how we prep Duck Debate — including what happens when we plan a disagreement… and someone changes her answer at the last minute. (Again.)

🎧 Stream Duck Debate: Mini wherever you get your podcasts — and tell us: are you Team Fry Dip or absolutely not?

Send us your thoughts or questions!

Leadership gets talked about a lot. This episode talks about it honestly.

In Leadership Unfiltered: Unplugged, Ashley and Deanna strip away the buzzwords and dig into how leadership actually shows up — especially as it continues to evolve in a virtual, fast-moving, high-expectation world. We talk about how leadership has changed… and why it had to.

We unpack what really makes a great leader — empathy, transparency, and trust — and challenge some commonly held beliefs along the way:

🤔 Can you be a strong leader in a fully virtual environment?
🔄 Is changing your mind a weakness… or a strength?
🧠 Do leaders really need to have all the answers?

Then we pressure-test real workplace situations — from high performers who can’t hit deadlines, to being called out in large meetings, to teams that just can’t seem to work together.

🎧 Listen to Leadership Unfiltered: Unplugged

Send us your thoughts or questions!

Short episode. Strong opinions. Questionable takes. 🦆🏈

In this Super Bowl–inspired mini episode, Ashley and Deanna debate everything football-adjacent as we start thinking about game-day plans — and somehow end up arguing about fingers, toes, and other things no one asked for.

🗣️ Is it okay to talk during the game?
📺 Are the commercials sacred?
🍽️ Can you trust homemade food from people whose kitchens you’ve never seen?
🏈 Quarterback or coach — where do you want to be?
🎤 And what really makes a Super Bowl halftime show great?

We cover celebrity-packed halftime shows, the art of the show versus just singing well, and yes — we unanimously agree: Tom Brady is the GOAT.

Short, opinionated, and completely unserious — just the way a Duck Debate should be.

🎧 Listen to Duck Debate: Super Bowl Edition

P.S. - GO PATS!!

Send us your thoughts or questions!

This one started with video… and spiraled into chaos (the good kind).

In this episode of Ducks Unplugged, Ashley and Deanna break down why video works, why it so often doesn’t, and what brands should actually be doing in 2026 to stop wasting time, money, and attention.

🎥 The video moments that changed us
🍼 A “What the Duck?” involving NYE diapers in NYC
❤️ Why one classic commercial (hi, Folgers) still proves the power of doing it right
🧠 Real talk on why most brand videos miss the mark
🔥 Rapid-fire hot takes (most videos are too long… fight us)

Along the way, we pitch how Pampers should open a commercial, how Amazon could use video way better, and why boutique agencies are uniquely built to fix the chaos.

This episode is equal parts strategy, nostalgia, and unfiltered opinions — with a side of creative pressure testing.

🎧 Listen now and decide: are you shooting this… or that?

Send us your thoughts or questions!

Memberships are everywhere. That doesn’t mean they’re working.

In this episode of Ducks Unplugged, we go deep on memberships — the good, the bad, and the ones that probably shouldn’t exist at all. We talk through why so many brands rush to launch a membership, what actually makes one valuable, and where things tend to fall apart.

We break down:
- The real difference between memberships, subscriptions, and loyalty programs
- What separates a compelling membership from a forgettable one
- Common mistakes brands keep making (yes, we’re looking at you)

And our favorite part: The Membership Draft — where we pair real brands with the membership ideas they should be launching.

Plus, Deanna learns what a Kölsch is. That alone might be worth the listen. 🍺

🎧 Membership Madness: Unplugged — streaming now wherever you get your podcasts.

Send us your thoughts or questions!

Everyone loves a comeback. From nostalgic brands and ‘90s icons to athletes, marketers, and real-life underdogs—there’s something about the rebound arc that hits every time.

In this episode of Ducks Unplugged, we dive into the power of the comeback:
🎯 Why redemption arcs resonate in marketing and life
🧃 Can nostalgic brands get a modern-day glow up? (BlackBerry, Rainforest Café...we’re looking at you)
🔥 Our Hot Take: Why isn’t there more guerrilla marketing?

Plus, Ashley and Deanna reveal which comebacks they’d love to see most.

🎧 Stream Comeback Stories: Unplugged wherever you get your podcasts—and tell us: what brand, celeb, or trend deserves a comeback?

Send us your thoughts or questions!

We're kicking off 2026 with big energy and a fresh mindset. In this episode, we’re talking about what it means to reset, recharge, and refocus—for your life and for business. This one’s full of insight and energy:

🧘‍♀️ What we’re leaving behind in 2025
📈 What we’re bringing into 2026
🎯 Predictions for the year in marketing
🎲 A 2026-themed Would You Rather game
😳 Brand-new What the Duck moments

🎧 Tune in wherever you get your podcasts and start your year unplugged.

Send us your thoughts or questions!

This was supposed to be a mini… but the Ducks got carried away.

In this full-on forecast episode, Ashley and Deanna look into their crystal ball and share their boldest predictions for 2026 — from marketing trends to business shifts to totally unhinged cultural guesses (aliens, anyone?)

✨ Will AI keep dominating?
📈 Is it the year of the boutique agency?
🧠 And what exactly does it mean to “start the year strong”?

You’ll laugh, you’ll think, and you might just spot a trend before it hits the mainstream.

🎧 Listen to Predictions: Unplugged

Send us your thoughts or questions!