This week, it’s our annual Brand Envy episode.

We look at four brands that I admire.

One is a cosmetics empire started by a woman in an era when women couldn’t even vote.

One is a band I have a soft spot for.

Another is a family-owned business that has lasted 88 years.

The fourth is a TV show that broke records.

And they all have one thing in common – they succeeded against all odds.

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 This week, we talk about Pet Marketing.

The pet products industry is worth about $150 billion dollars. And when you love a pet, money is no object.

We’ll listen to a pet food campaign that had dogs conduct a symphony orchestra.

We’ll flip through IKEA’s CAT-alogues and DOG-alogues.

And we’ll explore Dolly Parton’s “Doggy Parton” fashion line.

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This week, it’s our annual “Bookmarks” episode.

We read a lot of books to research this show, and often we stumble on great stories that don’t fit our regular episodes.

So we save them up for this show.

We’ll talk about a new book on SNL producer Lorne Michaels, we’ll take a few notes from a famous songwriter, and we’ll talk about a Bible with a wicked typo.

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This week, we look at how the marketing industry seizes pop culture moments.

We’ll talk about a website that got national attention by making a bold prediction about a TV show.

How A1 Steak Sauce caught the funniest – and luckiest break.

And how Pepsi grabbed a hilarious opportunity by following pizza delivery drivers. 

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This week, we look at public service announcements.

PSAs have to compete with - not just other PSAs - but with all other commercials out there.

And do it with an iota of the budget. It requires exceptional creativity. 

We’ll talk about how Elvis got teens to get a polio vaccine, and a drinking & driving commercial recorded by drunk actors. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It was big news recently that Amazon is taking over creative control of the James Bond franchise.

So this week, we look at how James Bond has been employed to pitch products over the years.

From high-end watches, to beer, liquor and breakfast cereals, 007 has been busy.

And even the Bond villains have been hawking products.

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This week, we have some fun and listen to commercial outtakes.

Just like the movies, there are multiple takes, lots of pressure, and mistakes happen.

Sometimes actors get the words all mixed up to hilarious results.

Sometimes celebrities have melt-downs.

And sometimes professional actors just break down in a fit of the giggles.

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This week, we’ll tell the stories behind some of the most famous – and infamous – sports star endorsements of all time.

We’ll talk about a Rocket Richard commercial that spawned a catchphrase that nearly every Boomer can recite.

We’ll look at a powerful Nike commercial Serena Williams did about women in sports.

And we’ll talk about what it took to put quarterback Joe Namath in pantyhose.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.