Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

Apostrophe Podcast Network · apostrophepodcasts.ca

Under 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.

432 episodes

8d ago latest

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English language

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Episodes 300

Putting the Awe in Audio
yesterday · 26:56
Taking a 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. Another favourite from the Archives. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Cars Are The Stars: Automobile Brands In Hollywood
8d ago · 28:53
Another favourite from our archives... Almost 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. We know you want to listen to all the ads in this show. On the off-chance you don’t, subscribe ad-free here. H
Ham on Wry: All About Sandwich Board Advertising
15d ago · 27:03
From the Under The Influence Archives, one of our favourites.... Take 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. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Pants are on Fire: When Customers Lie to Marketers
22d ago · 27:08
From The Under The Influence Archives... Customers 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. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Cheeky Advertising
29d ago · 27:48
A favourite episode from our Archives.... 80% 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. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Billionaire Tourism for the Super Wealthy
1mo ago · 27:03
An encore episode from the Under The Influence Archives. A very interesting favourite. Most 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. 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 Acas
When You're This Big, They Call You Mister
1mo ago · 27:35
From the Under The Influence Archives. One of our favourites. There 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. 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.com/privacy for more in
Seeing Is Believing: The Power of Demonstration Commercials - Part Two
1mo ago · 26:45
An encore episode of Under The Influence.... one of our favourites. Last 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 in a bus shelter, unguarded on the street - to demonstrate a point. 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.com/priv
Seeing Is Believing: The Power of Demonstration Commercials
1mo ago · 26:55
An encore episode of Under The Influence.... one of our favourites. This 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. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Ask Terry 2026
2mo ago · 27:45
This week, we open the show up to our listeners, and answer your very interesting questions. Ever wonder why gas station prices always include decimal points? Well, we’ll tell you why. We’ll listen to some memorable commercials starring kids, and play “Where are they now.” And we’ll talk about a famous luxury brand that is owned by a charity. And it will surprise you. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Creativity is the Most Powerful Business Tool: Canadian Marketing Awards 2026
2mo ago · 27:59
This week, we look at the level of advertising creativity north of the border. We’ll talk about a campaign that used real “sleep talking” to sell mattresses. We’ll explore a remarkable idea that transformed the annual migration of penguins into a protest march. And we’ll look at a campaign that convinced people to donate to a cause that started 45 years ago, but had faded from memory. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Flexi Discs
2mo ago · 27:45
This week, we look at a humble marketing tool. The Flexi Disc. These razor-thin, flexible vinyl records had poor sound quality, but they helped sell cars, hit songs, chewing gum, soap operas and even Beatle records. And in one case, a family won a million dollars with a flexi, and it nearly destroyed them. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Joe Sedelmaier Tribute
2mo ago · 27:47
This week, we pay tribute to one of the greatest commercial directors in the ad business. You may not know the late Joe Sedelmaier by name, but you certainly know his work. He directed the famous “Fast Talking Man” ad for FedEx and a landmark commercial for Wendy’s that contained the line “Where’s the beef?” I did several commercials with Sedelmaier, and he kicked me off the set of my own commercial once. It’s a great story. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Newsjacking
3mo ago · 27:18
This encore episode of Under The Influence is one of our favourites of 2026. Lately, companies have been hijacking breaking news stories to create ads. When thieves broke into the Louvre with a ladder, the ladder company quickly produced a tongue-in-cheek ad. When the Oscars read the wrong Best Picture winner, an optometry chain made fun of the mix-up. It’s called Newsjacking – and it’s becoming a powerful marketing tactic. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Bookmarks 2026
3mo ago · 27:34
This week, it’s our annual Bookmarks episode. We read a lot of books to research this show. And this episode is dedicated to the great stories that didn’t fit into our regular season. We’ll talk about the importance of numbers in marketing, and a hilarious tale about expense reports. And we’ll tell a story about a doctor who was drummed out of the medical establishment all because he insisted doctors wash their hands. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Terry Guests on "White Coat, Black Art" with Dr. Brian Goldman
3mo ago · 27:12
We're dropping an interview I recently did with Dr. Brian Goldman, host of White Coat, Black Art, an excellent CBC radio show and podcast into our feed. We're chatting about hospital advertising. And because they rely on fundraising, we discuss how effective hospital advertising is. We thought you might find this topic interesting. Enjoy. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Debut Commercials - Part Two
3mo ago · 26:35
It’s part two of our episode that revisits the very first commercials ever produced for famous products. From the very first commercial for something called the Big Mac, to the first TV ad for a new doll called Barbie, we take a trip back in time. Including the very first commercials starring a couple of struggling actors who would go on to win Academy Awards. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Debut Commercials
3mo ago · 27:45
This week, we take a look at marketing firsts. Specifically, the very first commercials ever produced for famous products and companies. From the debut of the Jolly Green Giant, to the first AIDS PSAs, to the very first pharmaceutical ad, all the way to the first iPhone commercial, we say hello to these products and issues for the very first time. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Monumental Advertisements: Branded Buildings
4mo ago · 27:31
This week, we talk about spectacular landmarks built by visionary entrepreneurs. These magnificent buildings stand in Toronto, New York and Chicago. They are all very different in design, built in different eras, but they share one thing in common. They are all named after famous brands. And it’s easy to forget that. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Brand Envy (2026)
4mo ago · 26:47
This week, it’s our annual Brand Envy episode, where I tip my hat to great ideas that have lasted for years. We’ll talk about a very funny character who has made the world laugh without uttering a single word. An idea that was born on the side of highways. And we’ll talk about a movie that has had the longest run in cinema history. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Rue McClanahan: Every Kick's A Boost
4mo ago · 12:39
This week, we're dropping an episode from our sister podcast, "We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast". In this podcast series, we talk about the mountain of rejections famous and successful people had to overcome and how they did it. In this episode, we talk about the golden piece of advice Rue McClanahan’s mother gave her when she was told she’d never make it in television. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Selling Violence: Marketing Combat Sports
4mo ago · 27:41
This week, we look at the marketing of violent sports. Starting with a man named Tex Rickard, who wrote the playbook on fight promotion back in the 1920s. We’ll analyze how WWE pro wrestling took a page from Rickard to create spectacles. And we look at the phenomenon that is the UFC – and how mixed martial arts promotion can be carbon-dated all the way back to Rickard in the ‘20s. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Unhinged Advertising: The Power of the Absurd
4mo ago · 27:52
This week, we look at weird, unhinged advertising. Like the “PuppyMonkeyBaby” Super Bowl commercial. The sad Skittles commercial where everything a man touches turns to Skittles. A leather diaper you can wear to heavy metal concerts so you won’t miss any songs. And a pizza that takes a year and a half to be delivered to your home. 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.com/privacy for more information.
Nobody's Ugly on Radio: The Superpower of Audio
5mo ago · 27:41
This week, we listen to the most creative use of sound and voice. Like the mattress company that gave people discounts based on how loud they snored. We’ll explore a radio campaign that says ugly is a superpower. And we’ll play a vinyl record that was left out in the sun that warns people about the harmful effects of UV rays. 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.com/privacy for more information.
It's a Floor Wax and a Dessert Topping: Unintended Product Uses
5mo ago · 27:48
There are many products in the world that have “unintended uses.” Originally designed for one purpose, the general public has discovered alternate uses for these items. From Windex to baking soda to Ozempic, the makers of these products had no idea they would be used for so many unimagined tasks. And in one story today, the alternate use of diapers may surprise you. 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.com/privacy for more information.

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