Super Bowl Ads, Celebrities, and the Death of Surprise

Send us Fan MailForget the game. This episode is all about what really mattered during the Super Bowl: the ads, the halftime show, and what they reveal about where brand, creativity, and culture are headed.Borzou Azabdaftari and Amanda Fisher break down why this year’s Super Bowl leaned harder than ever on celebrity over creativity, why surprise has quietly disappeared from advertising’s biggest stage, and which brands still managed to stand out anyway.They unpack Bad Bunny’s record-breaking halftime show and the cultural backlash around it, debate Coinbase’s polarizing karaoke ad, compare DoorDash and Instacart’s celebrity plays, and question why pharma brands felt especially strange during the broadcast.This episode is a sharp, honest look at what brands are afraid of right now—and what they need to relearn if they want to actually earn attention.Connect with usBorzou – ⁠Instagram⁠ & ⁠LinkedIn⁠Amanda – ⁠LinkedIn⁠And give some love to our sponsor ⁠NickelBronx⁠Brand strategy, websites, and content for companies that want a real edge.Some of the ads we mentioned:Coinbase Shatner BudLight DunkinThanks for tuning in to Where Brands Get Their Edge, brought to you by Nickel Bronx.If you enjoyed today’s episode, follow or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and leave us a review—it helps other brand builders like you discover the show.Want more insights? Visit nickelbronx.com for brand strategy tips and tools to help your business stand out.