This podcast episode delves into brand envy, featuring a classic board game created by a Canadian couple, an ice cream chain founded by another Canadian, an iconic lighter named after a zipper, and the remarkable journey of a dominating television woman. The host also explores the success stories behind these brands driven by visionary leaders.

Every company dreams of doubling its profit. It’s almost impossible to do. Yet, some companies do it by tweaking one tiny thing. We’ll talk about an industry that put three words on their packaging that doubled their profit. A company that created a catchy jingle that doubled their revenue overnight. And a business that changed one single word in a headline and their profit went up 100%. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we shoot for the moon. Now that commercialized space travel has arrived, the world of marketing is setting its sights on the stars. We’ll talk about ads on rocket ships, ads on spacesuits, and television commercials filmed on the International Space Station. There are companies who want to employ hundreds of tiny satellites to create logos in the night sky. Some companies even want to put ads on the moon. And those ads might even be cheaper than Super Bowl commercials. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Occasionally, an old advertising campaign is brought back from the dead. Even if it has been off the air for decades. This week, we’ll discuss a recurring Coke commercial that has been called the most popular ad of all time. A much-loved beer campaign that has been revived after 34 years. And a controversial commercial that was yanked off the air in 1989, but was re-run again recently. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week it’s our annual Bookmarks episode.We read a lot of books to research Under The Influence. But there’s never enough room to include all the great stories we find.So this episode is dedicated to those great stories that didn’t fit into our regular episodes. This year, our theme is bravery.We’ll tell an amusing story about how Danny DeVito made a bold decision when he was auditioning for the sitcom Taxi.We’ll salute Lucille Ball’s bravery.And we’ll talk about how Jacques Plante revolutionized goaltending by being brave enough to defy his coach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Under the Influence fans know that at the very end of each episode there’s a Fun Fact – an interesting little tidbit related to the show. Well, this year we’re asking you, our listeners, to record that Fun Fact. All you need is a phone or computer. Just visit our Fun Fact Page, follow the prompts and have fun with it.We choose two listeners every week – to be featured in the podcast and on CBC Radio.Happy recording. Oh, and keep checking back. The latest Fun Fact is refreshed every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the controversial and outdated ads of the past that would never be allowed today. From doctors endorsing cigarettes to ads portraying sexist stereotypes, these commercials will make you cringe. Reflect on the evolution of advertising from the 50s to modern times, and see how marketing strategies have shifted over the years.

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

Exploring the historical roots and modern controversies surrounding sandwich board advertising, from its origins in the early 1800s to its role in historical events like the civil rights movement. Discover how these physical pop-up ads attract attention and spark creativity in the digital age.

Customers lie to marketers in surveys, but Google searches provide honest insights. Advertisers face an ethical dilemma in using traditional research methods vs. digital truth serum. Explore the impact of language on loan applications, AI integration in workday, Mother's Day gifts, and weight loss plans.