If you searched the question:

“What player has won the most Wimbledon singles titles,” Google will tell you it’s Roger Federer with 8 wins.

But that’s incorrect. Martina Navratilova has 9.

This week, we look at remarkable ideas that promote gender equality.

Including an idea called Correct the Internet.com

And one that challenged menstruation taboos with a program called “Touch the pickle.”

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

The Beatlology Interviews (Season 2, Episode 1)

What if John Lennon had never died in 1980. What if George Harrison was still with us? What would it have taken to convince the Beatles to give one more major concert? In “Reunion: A Rock ’N Roll Fairy Tale” author Gary Burr tackles all those questions in a very entertaining novel. By the way, Gary has also played on nine Ringo Starr albums. He’s got some great inside stories.

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

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 anti-hero. Like the Sopranos, Dexter and Breaking Bad.

Anti-heroes are liberated from that line in the sand that holds the rest of us back. They do things we are afraid to do. And do it unapologetically.

And if advertising is the great mirror to pop culture, it just may explain the emergence of anti-hero brands – who dare you to like them.

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

From our Season 12 Archives...

This week, we look at companies that have spent decades advertising to only one gender - then suddenly decide to approach the opposite sex. L’Oreal is now marketing makeup to men. Scotch distillers are now targeting women. And lingerie companies are now designing intimates for men. It’s a brand new, gender-bending world.

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

From our Season 12 Archives.

Even though brand names are often protected by trademarks and copyrights, it’s remarkable how many times companies end up with the same names.

And they either get along – or they sue each other into oblivion.

This week, we look at “Brand Twins.”

We’ll talk about when Guns N’ Roses sued Guns and Rosé.

We’ll explain why there used to be the Saskatchewan Roughriders AND the Ottawa Rough Riders in the CFL.

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

From our Season 12 Archives, one of our favourites.

This week, we talk about hotel marketing.

Specifically, how some hotels attract guests by advertising specific rooms.

Some of those rooms are decorated like TV shows, some are inspired by movies, and some hotels advertise the fact something famous – or infamous - happened in their rooms.

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

From our Season 12 Archives, one of our favourites

This week, we’re talking about the creative ways Hollywood markets films.

We’ll talk about how a low-budget horror movie got a ton of press just by asking people to smile.

And we’ll examine the marketing of Top Gun: Maverick – the Tom Cruise sequel that Steven Spielberg says single-handedly saved the theatrical industry.

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

People often tell me they love the storytelling in Under the Influence. One of my favourite storytellers of all time is the late, great Stuart McLean. Which is why it’s been such a joy for our network to partner with Stuart’s long-time producer Jess Milton and the Vinyl Cafe team to bring you the podcast “Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe.”

Today we are sharing the very first episode of the podcast released in 2023. Not only are there two hilarious Dave and Morley stories but it’s a great introduction to the show. We hope you enjoy this one as much as I do.

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