Under The Influencewith Terry O'Reilly
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Thanks to all our listeners for our 15th season
The 2020 Under the Influence season has come to a close. And as we do every year, we're turning this week's show over to you, our listeners, and answering questions you've sent us through social media.
He's been putting out fires for 75 years — but do you know his name?
"The Mandela Effect" is a term for collective false memory — when a group of people misremembers a fact the same way. A phenomenon this famous bear knows all too well.
How the Spanish Flu wasn't Spanish at all
Over 100 years later, it's still remembered as the Spanish Flu. But the pandemic didn't originate in Spain.
Why sometimes the best way to sell a product is to increase its price
An interesting lesson in marketing from one Bruce Lee.
The Sopranos gave 200 fans their own mob nicknames
When the 20th anniversary of the Sopranos rolled around in 2019, HBO wanted to entice people to watch the series again and celebrate the milestone. And their free strategy earned them 300 media impressions.
Why Coca-Cola railed against the nickname 'Coke'
"Coke" wasn't always a welcome nickname. In fact, early Coca-Cola ads attempted to dissuade the public from using the term.
How flowers were a secret language in the Victorian era
It's called "floriography." And it conveyed anything from conjugal love, to anxiety to celibacy.
These major brands created the biggest product failures
Come take a walk through the Museum of Failure.
Only these three movies have won all five major Oscars
It's an exclusive club, with one member from an unexpected genre.
How Mickey got Disney through the Great Depression
The unbelievable story of how Mickey Mouse went from movie character to movie merchandising icon.
How a fur trader trapped Harlequin romance novels
The unexpected history of Harlequin romance novels involves a Hudson's Bay fur trader and the Toronto Star.
How the CIA has used the Meow Mix jingle
The famous repeating Meow Mix jingle is one of the most memorable jingles of all time. A fact the CIA uses to their advantage.
Can you be sued for leaving a negative online review?
Over 90 per cent of us read online reviews before purchasing a product these days. And those ratings can make or break a company or product.
How Dove chocolate, Applebee's and IKEA are tingling your senses
ASMR, or Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, is a new phenomenon being embraced by brands everywhere, in an attempt to tingle your senses and open your wallet.
How matchbooks were used to track down Osama bin Laden
From big beer and tobacco companies, to the war effort, to Hollywood, to the smallest mom and pop businesses, matchbook advertising was effective and affordable for everyone. And believe it or not, even the U.S. State Department used matchbook advertising recently to hunt down Osama bin Laden.
How social media has influenced the wedding industry
There was a time when the only weddings we saw were the ones we attended. But in today’s social media world, we see thousands of weddings, from every imaginable angle.
The fascinating ways airports compete for your business
The word “airport” is also code for the word “brand.” Believe it or not, airports compete heavily for airlines, passengers and retail sales. As a result, airports have redesigned themselves to become highly competitive brands.
KFC came out with 'finger lickin' good' nail polish
The world of business is all about growth. To stimulate growth, companies have to win new customers by taking a chance and thinking outside the box. Or the bucket.
Why it's hard to find a Burger King in Australia
Companies often change valuable brand names when expanding to other countries. Sometimes the reason is a language issue. But other times, the reasons are far more interesting.
This was the first classified ad ever published in North America
It may have been the 1700s, but the early days of the classified ads were surprisingly relatable.
Why the mayor of Albuquerque didn't like Breaking Bad
The Emmy Award-winning television series Breaking Bad put Albuquerque on the map. But for less-than-desirable reasons.
Nirvana's Nevermind cover almost looked completely different
Before coming up with the dangling dollar bill, the grunge band had a few other ideas.
This band grounded flights at Heathrow in the name of album art
Some rock 'n' roll groups will go to great heights for an eye-catching record jacket.
How the Raptors turned hockey country into basketball nation
Sports teams can’t always count on winning games. That means marketing becomes the other player on the roster. A lesson the Toronto Raptors took straight to the bank.
How this brand has outsold Coke in Scotland for over a century
Sometimes, small brands manage to outsmart their giant counterparts. And this tiny soda brand has done it for over a century. Goliath, meet David.
