Under The Influencewith Terry O'Reilly

Sometimes a celebrity is featured in an advertising campaign without his or her knowledge or permission. There’s no denying the pull of celebrity, but a brand is a legal property. And if you trespass, you risk trouble.

From marketing a horror film with virtually no dialogue to advertising an R-rated superhero, today’s movies aren’t just breaking records - they’re breaking all the rules

From cereal to orange juice, this man is responsible for persuading North Americans toward our everyday breakfast choices.

Sometimes lyrical brand mentions lead to major success. Other times, to lawsuits and bans. But each tells a fascinating story.

Monks create a myriad of merchandise that is sold to the public. Some sing and sell CDs of their chants. Others brew their own beer. A few even deal in marijuana. But in almost all cases, the products sell well and sell fast. And the reasons why are fascinating.

Vending machines aren’t just soft drink dispensers, they’re marketing machines. They’re portable, branded on all sides and are becoming smarter and smarter. The list of items you can find in vending machines around the world may surprise you.

From the very first 10-minute radio commercial in 1922 to five-second commercials today, the length of ads has changed dramatically over the decades. But it isn't the changing lengths of commercials that’s so fascinating, it’s the reasons why.

As the world of marketing gets more and more cluttered every day, it’s forcing advertisers to get creative. And Audi rose to the challenge.

We're excited to announce that our Digital Box Set is here. For the first time ever, the entire Under The Influence archive of past episodes will be available for podcast download free of charge. No more waiting, no more paywalls.

In the world of advertising, landing a celebrity is a big deal. But celebrities attract a lot of attention. And so do their mishaps.

From Dr. Seuss to Obi-Wan Kenobi, the list may surprise you...

How Nivea pranked travelers, Evian made babies dance and other viral brand videos.

Why Texas grocery stores are using strategically-placed mirrors and self-image to steer customers toward the produce section.

Why Jaguar parodied Mercedes infamous chicken commercial, how Samsung poked fun at Apple and how Apple perfected advertising mockery with Microsoft.

From top coffee brand to favourite car make, the answers may surprise you.

From Marilyn Monroe to Charles Schulz, the world's top-earning deceased celebrities may surprise you...

After a night of partying, Keith Richards woke up to find that part of the evening was recorded on his cassette player.

Colonel Tom Parker, the mastermind behind Elvis's rise to fame, found a clever way to make money off Elvis fans and non-fans alike.

Over 60 per cent of prices end in the number 9. And the reason behind this odd phenomenon is more complex than you may think.

The elevator pitch Steve Jobs gave to Pepsi president John Sculley to convince him to join Apple is one of the best of all time.

From why some commercials overstay their welcome, to whether lawn signs really affect elections, to the inspiration behind the Under The Influence theme song, host Terry O'Reilly answers social media questions.

While it may seem like a bit of a novelty these days, the era of the autonomous car is fast approaching. And the implications for business, marketing and everyday life are astounding. Fasten your seatbelts.