From the internet phenom that is the Heard-Depp trial, to lessons from the maker of the iPod, through Playboy’s rebranding, Old Navy’s struggles, and so much more. Here are 10 podcast episodes from the past moth that people in marketing should give a listen to.
And no, they’re not about marketing. Because to be better at marketing, one also needs a ton of range.
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Why the internet hates Amber Heard (27 mins)
Today, Explained, 24 May 2022
It’s not just Johnny Depp’s fans — it’s Amber Heard’s anti-fans, too. The Atlantic’s Kaitlyn Tiffany explains the Depp-ressing social media hate campaign.
How the Depp v. Heard Trial Became a Meme (13 mins)
On the Media, 12 May 2022
This week, we take a look at the latest celebrity trial to ensnare the national attention. Johnny Depp is suing Amber Heard, his ex-wife, for defamation, and she’s counter suing him for the same. Depp’s suit takes issue with an op-ed Heard wrote back in 2018 for the Washington Post in which she identifies herself as a survivor of domestic violence. She first came forward with allegations against Depp in 2016. In 2018, Depp sued British tabloid, The Sun, for defamation over headlines that accused him of abuse, but he lost that case. Given the history, you might expect to see fewer headlines over this latest trial. But, not so. The ratings for Court TV, which is broadcasting every moment of the trial, have more than doubled. Pair the live visuals with Depp’s rabid online fanbase, and you’ve got a case being watched billions of times over — in fact, the #JusticeforJohnnyDepp hashtag has upwards of 10 billion views on TikTok and it’s spawned several viral sounds and trends and … comedy sketches. Guest host Brandy Zadrozny asks EJ Dickson, senior writer for Rolling Stone, about how pro-Depp coverage of the case took over TikTok, and its consequences.
TBD | Inside Trump’s Twitter Clone (22 mins)
What Next | Daily News and Analysis, 15 May 2022
Trump’s Truth Social network was supposed to be the right’s answer to Twitter. What happens to the company if Elon takes over? Guest: Drew Harwell, reporter for the Washington Post
Desperado: Formula Shortage and TikTok Healthcare (35 mins)
Skimm This, 19 May 2022
First: We’ve got some of the biggest headlines this week – an update on the war in Ukraine, Tuesday’s primary elections here in the US, COVID boosters for kids, and a major W for the US women’s soccer team.
Next: The baby formula shortage continues to keep parents up at night. We’ll speak to the US Surgeon General, Dr.Vivek Murthy, about the shortage and hear what the White House, government agencies, and lawmakers are doing to increase supply.
ICYMI: After last weekend’s mass shooting in Buffalo, we asked an expert about the rise of racially motivated domestic extremism,, and why politicians are now going after social media platforms in the wake of these attacks.
Later: Spirit and Frontier airlines were ready to say, “I do”. Then, JetBlue came along and shouted “I object”. We’ll break down the airline love triangle that has antitrust regulators’ heads spinning…in 60 seconds.
Finally: From hot girls with IBS to late-in-life ADHD diagnoses, TikTok has basically become the new WebMD. We’ll speak to a psychiatrist to learn why TikTok has turned into the new doctor’s office.
Playboy’s Pivot to a ‘Pleasure and Leisure’ Brand (37 mins)
Business Casual 26 May 2022
Nora and Scott speak with Ben Kohn, President, Chief Executive Officer & Director at PLBY Group, Inc, about the future of Playboy, where the brand is headed and its current development into spaces like NFTs, and an offering called Centerfold (which has been compared to OnlyFans) and more.
Old Navy Tried to Make Sizes for All. It Backfired (16 mins)
The Journal., 28 May 2022
Last year, Old Navy overhauled its women’s clothes to make sizing more inclusive. But then its sales started falling. WSJ’s Suzanne Kapner unpacks why the company’s plan to reach more customers didn’t work.
What can you learn from the guy who built the iPod? (54 mins)
Recode Daily, 31 May 2022
Peter Kafka talks with Tony Fadell, who helped bring the iPod and iPhone to life, and then built and sold Nest, the smart home company.
His new book is “Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things Worth Making.” Fadell talks about how developing a product begins with creating its “story,” and why he fought so hard to include a $3 screwdriver in Nest thermostat boxes. He also touches on some high-profile failures, unintended consequences, and why he doesn’t want to dance in the metaverse.
Listen Again: It Takes Time (53 mins)
TED Radio Hour, 31 May 2022
Original broadcast date: February 5, 2021. We live in an era of instant gratification. But some things–to reach their full potential–simply cannot be rushed. This hour, TED speakers explore what we can learn from ideas … that take time. Guests include zoologist Lucy Cooke, neuroscientist Matthew Walker, architect Julia Watson, and NASA engineer Nagin Cox.
Wikipedia’s enduring, nuanced perspective on truth | Katherine Maher (15 mins)
TED Talks Daily, 31 May 2022
Even with public trust at an all-time low, Wikipedia continues to maintain people’s confidence. How do they do it? Former CEO of Wikimedia Foundation Katherine Maher delves into the transparent, adaptable and community-building ways the online encyclopedia brings free and reliable information to the public — while also accounting for bias and difference of opinion. “The seeds of our disagreement can actually become the roots of our common purpose,” she says.
John Mulaney Returns (70 mins)
Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, 2 May 2022
Comedian John Mulaney feels irregardless about being Conan O’Brien’s friend.
John sits down with Conan once again to discuss what goes into crafting an SNL monologue, putting all of himself into his new special From Scratch, and seeing the world through the eyes of his son.