Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

A romp through how promoters turned brutal contests into mass spectacles. It traces a 1920s promoter’s playbook through boxing, pro wrestling’s MTV-fueled rise, and the UFC’s shock-to-sensation journey. The show maps spectacle, merchandising, TV strategies, and big-money deals that transformed combat sports into mainstream entertainment.

A romp through intentionally strange ads that grab attention with shock and surreal humor. Stories include bizarre Super Bowl spots, odd product stunts, and campaigns that trade polish for memorability. The conversation highlights how absurdity and deliberate weirdness help brands cut through online noise. Expect wild creative choices and marketing gambles that became unforgettable.

Creative uses of sound and voice drive surprising campaigns. Snoring recordings become mattress discounts. A warped vinyl warns about UV damage. Family-voiced hearing tests and MRI noise turned into stories show emotional audio solutions. A radio spot reframes ugliness as a selling point and funny ads sell remote meter readers.

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.

Creative movie stunts and why marketers choose bold approaches. Tiny billboards used to promote a superhero film. A sweating Hemsworth billboard engineered to go viral. Viral Zoom pranks and oversized branding for a surprise comedy hit. How a famous musician financed and bans boosted a controversial comedy’s success.

A celebration of tiny inventions that quietly changed daily life. Stories range from the bread clip and Q-Tips to the ballpoint pen’s tiny mechanism. Learn how a spilled coffee led to the coffee sleeve and how a small fuel-gauge arrow solved a common problem. Short tales show how little design touches boost safety, convenience and cut waste.

A playful look at the long, delicious ties between cars and food. Stories range from automakers making sausages, chocolates and honey to car-branded cookbooks and hot sauce. Discover car-named treats, restaurant ventures by luxury marques, and how dining and driving became clever marketing.

A lively look at how printed catalogues reshaped commerce, from Tiffany’s luxury Blue Book to Eaton’s nation-building mail order. Stories include Sears’ Wish Book, Canadian Tire’s cultural loyalty and an emotional Bike Story commercial. There’s also the J. Peterman catalogue’s cinematic prose and an odd link between a catalogue and a historic rifle order.

A celebratory dive into wildly creative radio ads from around the world. Short, funny spots and inventive casting tricks get highlighted. Campaigns range from reverse fairy tales selling car cameras to live-count road-death broadcasts and plastic-sounds-for-ocean awareness. Stories include a student sampling library that earned royalties and a fast-food series made for confusing times.

Super Bowl 60 had an interesting mix of commercials - from humorous to emotional to plain weird. Terry ranks his favs and compares his list to audience favs.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.