Best Apostrophe Podcast Network Podcasts (2023)

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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Sounds That Sell 35:51

17m ago35:51

35:51

Every once in a while, we drop an interesting show into our feed that we think you’ll like. This week, it’s “Twenty Thousand Hertz” - a show about the world’s most recognizable and interesting sounds. The show’s title comes from the highest frequency that can be perceived within the human hearing range. In this episode, host Dallas Taylor explores …

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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The Turkey Story - Dave Cooks the Turkey & Dave on the Roof 38:14

18m ago38:14

38:14

“Did you take the turkey out of the freezer?” Today is the day Dave Cooks the Turkey! Jess tells us why it gives her such pleasure to say those words on the pod today and plays the beloved turkey story that has become a Christmas tradition for so many. Also on today’s episode more of Dave’s festive shenanigans – in another hilarious story from the …

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Rejecting Jennifer Hudson 36:14

1d ago36:14

36:14

Like Rita Moreno last week, Jennifer Hudson is an EGOT winner. She’s won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony – not to mention a Golden Globe. But before earning THE major award in every major entertainment category, Hudson was eliminated from American Idol – twice. Rejected after her first Hollywood audition, she had fallen off the radar. That i…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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Ask Terry (From AOP 2011) 31:37

10d ago31:37

31:37

This week, we turn the show over to listeners. It’s our annual “As Terry” show. We asked you to submit any questions you had about the advertising world, and you responded with a record amount of very interesting, very insightful ones that touch on subjects like negative political advertising, why there are so many bad local commercials, and what d…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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Sounds Like… - Jim & Molly the Cat 41:07

5d ago41:07

41:07

“Jim never had any intention of having any pets at all” To be fair to the other household critters (and no, we’re not talking about headlice again!), last week was dogs, so today we have a story about cats. One of our favourite characters, Jim Scoffield, finds a new friend while caring for his cat Molly. And Jess gets into some of the practical and…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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Doggone It! - Stanley & Arthur Takes the Cake 40:08

12d ago40:08

40:08

“You know how loud he snores? Ninety decibels. That’s the equivalent of sleeping beside a pneumatic drill.” This week, two stories about dogs. Oh how we love them! Even if, like Stanley, they snore and have – um – “digestive problems”, or if, like Arthur, they add a whole new level of challenge to Dave and Morley’s important dinner party. Jess shar…

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Rejecting Rita Moreno 43:50

14d ago43:50

43:50

Rita Moreno is a member of the coveted and exclusive EGOT club. Meaning, throughout her career, she’s won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony. And not only that, Moreno is the first and only Latina EGOT winner in history. But before earning her Academy Award for West Side Story, Moreno was dropped by MGM. She spent years typecast – or simply not…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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Remembrance Day 57:21

19d ago57:21

57:21

“There’s something about the ghosts who live in the house where you live. Some kind of an inexpressible pull between the people who have lived and loved under the same roof as you have.” Today, a Dave and Morley story that is seldom heard: a story about place, about history, and about remembering and sharing those histories with the next generation…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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Terry's Book Club (From AOP 2011) 26:34

25d ago26:34

26:34

This week, we invite you to our Book Club. We'll be telling stories from Terry's favourite advertising books, and will examine the incredible lessons they contain that have served him well for his entire career. By the way, a few of those books aren’t even about advertising. In fact, one is a book about science, and another is about theatre actors.…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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Finding Beauty - Dave and Tommy & Murphy Kruger, Philatelist 58:33

27d ago58:33

58:33

“Our daughter is living with a man who takes pictures of roadkill!” We’re dealing with difficult and weighty matters on this week’s episode. Yes, this week is all about art and beauty. Dave is slightly perturbed and not a little afraid to receive an invite to an art exhibit about roadkill. The artist is his daughter’s boyfriend, Tommy. And Jess sha…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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After Dark - Halloween & Fireworks 49:14

1M ago49:14

49:14

“Let me state the case for Hallowe’en” The nights are getting longer, the air is getting colder, so this week on the pod, two stories about the season and about finding light in the darkness. In Halloween, Steph learns to trust her instincts (while Dave learns that a painted watermelon will never be a satisfactory replacement for a pumpkin); and in…

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Introducing Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe 43:38

1M ago43:38

43:38

This week we thought we’d do something a little different. The Apostrophe Podcast Network has several shows on its roster. Four, to be exact. And one of those shows just crossed 1M listens in its very first season. Introducing Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe. Backstage welcomes listeners into the warm and comforting world of the Vinyl Cafe. Each episod…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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We May Not Be Big, But We're Small - World's Smallest Record Store 34:15

2M ago34:15

34:15

As you might know by now, the team behind Under The Influence has more podcasts executive produced by Terry. More on the Apostrophe Podcast Network can be found here. One of the podcasts we are very proud of just started its second season with Apostrophe. It's titled Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe. Backstage welcomes listeners into the warm and comfor…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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Niagara Falls 1:04:34

2M ago1:04:34

1:04:34

“He was eye level with the falls…” This week on the show, something different. We’re playing one of Stuart McLean’s most requested stories and you might be surprised to hear it is not a Dave and Morley story. This week: the amazing and moving story of Roger Woodward, the boy who went over Niagara Falls. We play new music (that’s right – music!) by …

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Short Stories: Rejecting the Fathers of Hand Washing and Rocketry (Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis & Dr. Robert Goddard) 46:24

1M ago46:24

46:24

Did you know in the late 1800s, doctors didn’t wash their hands between procedures? When Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis – an obstetrician in Vienna – realized women in his hospital were dying at staggering rates, he implemented staff-wide mandatory hand washing. Maternal death rates dropped by 90%. But doctors weren’t happy. Semmelweis was called "crazy," to…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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The Truth is Stranger than Fiction - Shirts & Dave Crosses the Border 50:29

2M ago50:29

50:29

“That afternoon, in his first true act of citizenship, Dave wore five lacy bras across the border.” On today’s episode, Stuart tells two hilarious Vinyl Cafe stories about Dave’s encounters with deception. One of the stories ‘Shirts’, is an old one you may not have heard in a long time – but it is worth the wait! Dave’s favourite shirt goes missing…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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Three Foot Marketing (From AOP 2011) 28:38

2M ago28:38

28:38

This week we’re going shopping. The topic is “Three Foot Marketing.” Research shows that 75% of shopping decisions are made in the store, and they are all made within the last three feet – meaning that critical distance between your shopping cart and the shelf. We’ll examine how stores use design, technology and psychology to influence your decisio…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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The Arthur Awards 39:51

2M ago39:51

39:51

“When Stuart stepped off his bus and waved goodbye, he thought to himself: 'This guy deserves an award.'” Back by popular demand: it’s the Arthur Awards! You asked, we listened; so today on the pod, we’re delighted to share two of our favourite Arthur Award interviews of all time. Plus we’re reopening the polls for next year’s Arthurs, so start thi…

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Rejecting Johnny Unitas 42:46

2M ago42:46

42:46

Johnny Unitas is one of the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. But once upon a time, the boy with the big hands and the golden arm was 6’1 and 140 pounds. He was told he was too "slight" to play high school football. He was rejected by Notre Dame. He was drafted, then cut from the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was told he’d never make it in the NFL. J…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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The Beat and the Backbeat - The Lost Chords 32:35

2M ago32:35

32:35

“Dave thought, 'It will never get any better than this. Some people have God, and some people have money, and some people don’t have anything at all. I have this. I have the beat and the back beat.'” This week, a story that captures the joy of live music and performance. Jess reminisces about two amazing experiences on tour with Stuart and the Viny…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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Dynamic Duos: The Famous Partnerships in Advertising (From AOP 2011) 32:37

2M ago32:37

32:37

This week we look at “Dynamic Duos” - those rare ad agency/client relationships that resulted in some of the most famous advertising of all time. We’ll examine the relationship between Nike founder Phil Knight and his ad agency creative director Dan Wieden, Apple’s Steve Jobs and Creative Director Lee Clow, tempermental winery owner Julio Gallo and…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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We May Not Be Big, But We're Small - World's Smallest Record Store 32:55

2M ago32:55

32:55

“He had, intentionally, set his bar low. Really low. And now someone was telling him he wasn’t even big enough to be small.” Today’s episode turns out to be a bit of an ode to record stores. Jess talks about her experience working at the record store Sam the Record Man and in our story, World’s Smallest Record Store, Dave’s young employee teaches h…

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Rejecting Walt Disney, Part 2 43:21

2M ago43:21

43:21

In Part Two of Rejecting Walt Disney, Disney plays around with his ‘mouse’ idea – but is quickly deterred. Suits are afraid the public is afraid of mice – especially 10-foot-tall mice. Disney plays with sound, then colour. Then, he has his craziest idea of all: feature-length cartoons. Get to know Apostrophe: Instagram Twitter Threads YouTube Hoste…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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Back to School - School Lunch & Best Things 48:35

3M ago48:35

48:35

“Just one day, she wanted one of them to come home and say ‘Gee, lunch was good.’” On today’s episode, two stories about back to school: first a hilarious (and occasionally gross) account of a school lunch bag; then, in Best Things, a story from when Stephanie starts university and meets her boyfriend Tommy for the first time. And longtime Vinyl Ca…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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Speed Bumps: The Magical Ingredient in Marketing (From AOP 2011) 25:31

3M ago25:31

25:31

This week we look at how smart marketers use Speed Bumps to generate greater sales. While modern marketing loves a friction-free fast transaction, smart marketers know that a perfectly-placed speed bump can slow the selling process down Plus, we reveal why Van Halen wanted all those brown M&Ms taken out of the bowls. You may be surprised. Hosted on…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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There's Something About Mary - Mary Turlington has Lice & Defibrillator 56:31

3M ago56:31

56:31

"The best time to share bad news is almost always never.” Welcome back to Season Two of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe! We’re thrilled to be back and ready to kick off the new season with two Stuart McLean stories about Dave’s neighbourhood nemesis: the indefatigable Mary Turlington. This week Stuart tells two barn burners about Mary. First up, hypoch…

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Rejecting Walt Disney 38:23

3M ago38:23

38:23

The Walt Disney Company is worth $147B today. With over 800 films to its name, multiple television networks like ESPN and ABC, Pixar, Marvel, streaming, resorts and theme parks worldwide, it's the second-largest media conglomerate in the world. But before Mickey, before poisoned apples and before roller coasters, Walt Disney was rejected. He was fi…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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Rejecting Mad Men 34:14

3M ago34:14

34:14

In case you missed it, the team behind Under the Influence has more podcasts. Five, to be exact. Executive produced by Terry O', meet the Apostrophe Podcast Company. Apostrophe brings you Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe, Surviving Life with Survivorman Les Stroud and We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast – where we tell stories of how the worl…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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Season 2 - Starting September 8th 2:11

3M ago2:11

2:11

Charge your AirPods. Get your dog ready for her walk. Because we’re back next week with Season 02 of Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe. Join us for a new season of hilarious Vinyl Cafe stories and back stories. Here's a sneak peek... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Rejecting The Eiffel Tower 41:13

3M ago41:13

41:13

The Eiffel Tower is the most-visited paid monument in the world. 300 million people have climbed its stairs – or its elevators – since the landmark first opened in 1889. You’ve seen it in countless movies, you’ve marvelled at its 20,000 lights. But did you know back when the tower's design was first revealed to the public, 300 of France’s most-resp…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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The Sound of Persuasion (From AOP 2011) 28:18

3M ago28:18

28:18

This week, Under The Influence listens to the sounds of persuasion. Advertising has used sound to sell for decades. But sound can be used for more than painting pictures on radio – sound can be carefully created to persuade. The stories behind those sounds are fascinating - from the earliest recorded sound, to the first use of sound in radio commer…

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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ENCORE: Rejecting Leslie Jones 32:01

4M ago32:01

32:01

This week it's our mid-season break, and that means an encore presentation of one of our most-loved episodes: Rejecting Leslie Jones. Chris Rock once described Leslie Jones as “about as funny as a human being can be.” She was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live for six years, she’s a Ghostbuster and a three-time Emmy nominee. But before la…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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Genericide: When A Brand Name Becomes Generic (From AOP 2011) 27:22

4M ago27:22

27:22

This week, we look at the concept of “Genericide” – when brand names become generic. Many of the pioneering brands in our world risked losing their trademarks – as courts would rule that their names had become generic. Zipper, escalator and refrigerator were all trademarks at one time. The board game Monopoly just lost its trademark recently. Now b…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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Bonus Episode: The Long Suffering Story Editor 28:42

4M ago28:42

28:42

If you’ve listened to the podcast you’ve heard me talk about Stuart’s Long Suffering Story Editor, Meg Masters. I welcomed Meg into the Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe podcast studio for a chat recently and asked her the questions on all our minds: Why did Stuart call you Long Suffering? And just how badly did you suffer? So, on today’s bonus episode: …

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Rejecting Nina Simone 32:50

4M ago32:50

32:50

Nina Simone is ranked #21 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. She was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and released over 40 albums in her lifetime. But back when Simone was an 18-year-old pianist, she was rejected from music school. She faced doubt, racism and abuse at every turn. Th…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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The Happy Homemaker: How Advertising Invented The Housewife - Part 2 (AOP 2011) 27:26

4M ago27:26

27:26

This week, Part 2 of how Madison Avenue invented… the housewife. Over 100 years ago, the advertising industry realized they had thousands of household products to sell. All they needed was a customer. So they invented the Happy Homemaker, and for the next 25 years, encouraged women to be stay-at-home moms. That strategy created the biggest business…

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Rejecting Alan Ruck 40:37

5M ago40:37

40:37

Alan Ruck has several iconic roles under his belt. Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Stuart Bondek in Spin City. And most recently, the eldest Roy boy Connor in Succession. But would you believe that after Ferris Bueller, Ruck couldn't land a part and wound up taking a job at a local Sears warehouse? This week, it's a much requested post-su…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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The Happy Homemaker: How Advertising Invented The Housewife - Part 1 (AOP 2011) 29:21

5M ago29:21

29:21

This week, we look at how Madison Avenue invented… the housewife. Over 100 years ago, the advertising industry realized they had thousands of household products to sell. All they needed was a customer. So they invented the Happy Homemaker, and for the next 25 years, encouraged women to be stay-at-home moms. That strategy created the biggest busines…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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Bonus Episode: Postcards from Canada - Nelson & Danceland 32:41

5M ago32:41

32:41

In today’s bonus episode, two Postcards from Canada. When people think about the Vinyl Cafe, they often think about the concerts we did across Canada, in big towns and small. Stuart opened many of those concerts with an essay about the place and over the years it has added up to quite a collection. Here are two of our favourite ‘postcards’: one fro…

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Rejecting Simon & Garfunkel 36:57

5M ago36:57

36:57

Simon & Garfunkel is one of the greatest musical duos of all time. But before “The Sound of Silence” filled the airwaves, the pair’s debut album was a total flop. So much so that the partnership effectively split. Then their producer called – he'd remixed their best song. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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Ask Terry 2023 27:50

5M ago27:50

27:50

It’s our final episode of the season already. And as always, we throw the show open to our listeners. And answer your questions. We’ll explore why jingles have disappeared, how old jingles are being used to help Alzheimer’s patients, we’ll talk about Eddie Shack and his Pop Shoppe commercials, why the biggest companies have the dullest ads and we’l…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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Hiding in Plain Sight: The Surprising Influence of Marketing 27:57

6M ago27:57

27:57

So many things in our world are influenced by marketing. This week, we look at various aspects of our lives influenced by marketing. – but you wouldn’t know it. It’s marketing hiding in plain sight. Like the concept of jaywalking – born of marketing. How marketing created the 10,000-steps-a-day health goal. And how marketing was the inspiration for…

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Rejecting Hayley Wickenheiser, Part 2 40:22

6M ago40:22

40:22

In Part Two of Rejecting Hayley Wickenheiser, the results of the 1998 Canadian Olympic hockey games are brought to parliament. Pro teams come calling, then name-calling, then calling again. And Wickenheiser takes a shot at spinning her rejections into gold. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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Bookmarks 2023 28:54

6M ago28:54

28:54

This week it’s our annual Bookmarks episode. I read a lot of books to research Under The Influence. But every season, there isn’t enough room to include all the great stories I find. So this episode is dedicated to those stories that didn’t fit into our regular episodes. But are so good, they are worth telling. We’ll tell an amazing story about the…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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Bonus Episode: Bloopers 19:33

6M ago19:33

19:33

Something special for you for our first bonus episode. From one of my absolute favourite Vinyl Cafe radio shows, from 2011, this is Stuart and I in studio talking about bloopers! We laughed so hard recording this show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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The Allure of the Bad-Ass: Advertising Antiheroes 28:27

6M ago28:27

28:27

20th century movies and TV shows were dominated by the traditional “hero.” With high morals and an ethical code of honour. The 21st century has a different take. Today, we cheer the antihero. Like the Sopranos, Dexter and Breaking Bad. Antiheroes are liberated from that line in the sand that holds the rest of us back. They do things we are afraid t…

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We Regret To Inform You: The Rejection Podcast

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Rejecting Hayley Wickenheiser 31:35

6M ago31:35

31:35

Hayley Wickenheiser is widely considered one of the greatest female hockey players of all time. She’s the longest-serving member of Canada’s national team with seven World Championships and four Olympic gold medals to her name. But before becoming Canada’s women's all-time leader in international goals, assists and points, Wickenheiser was told hoc…

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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Nooner Nookie: The Allure of Marketing Freebies 28:10

6M ago28:10

28:10

For over 100 years, “free” has been one of the most powerful words in the marketing world. And believe it or not, companies love freebies as much as their customers do. Because giving away free products generates a lot of goodwill. And goodwill generates free press. We’ll talk about a ketchup company who gave a man a free boat. A hotel who gave a c…

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Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe

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Summer - A Letter from Camp & The Waterslide 53:39

6M ago53:39

53:39

"This waterslide was the waterslide to end all waterslides” We are taking a break over the summer, so in honour of our final episode of Season 1 we’ve got two Vinyl Cafe stories for you about summer. If you listen carefully you’ll hear something unusual in the first, A Letter from Camp, when Stuart inserts a personal story from his own days at his …

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Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

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The Phrase That Pays: Marketing Contests 27:18

7M ago27:18

27:18

Marketing contests can be tricky business. On one hand, contests can be designed to help companies achieve certain business goals. On the other hand, companies can lose control over them pretty quickly. This week, we look at some of the most interesting – and hilarious – marketing contests. Including one about a city that held a contest to name a n…

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