Speaking Human

The Short Summary: We crank up the amps to analyze how bands like Nickelback, Creed, and Bush—as well as a couple once-hot brands—went from cultural domination to punchline status.Show Notes: Get more information at SpeakingHuman.comSearch Keyword(s): Episode 206The Long-Winded Description:In this episode of Speaking Human, we crank up the amps to look at how bands like Creed, Nickelback, and Bush went from dominating radios, CD collections, and MTV-fueled memories to becoming shorthand for “uncool.” We break down what changed, why the backlash hit, and whether nostalgia has started turning the tide.Along the way, we compare these bands to brands that followed similar paths — the once-hot names that became easy targets, only to find their way back into public affection… or at least ironic appreciation.It’s a conversation about popularity, taste, backlash, branding, and why culture loves building things up almost as much as it loves tearing them down.Find current and past episodes of the podcast at SpeakingHuman.com.

The Short Summary: We tip off a March Madness–style bracket to determine which pharmaceutical commercial deserves the crown as the cringiest ad on TV.Show Notes: Get more information at SpeakingHuman.comSearch Keyword(s): Episode 205The Long-Winded Description:What happens when you take the absurdly catchy jingles, forced cheerfulness, and side-effect speed-reading of pharmaceutical advertising… and turn it into a bracket competition?In this episode of Speaking Human, Patrick and Shad launch their own March Madness–style tournament to crown the most cringe-worthy pharma commercial, pitting unforgettable ad offenders like Ozempic, Jardiance, Skyrizi, and Humira against each other in a battle for awkward supremacy. From earworm jingles to aggressively upbeat storytelling about deeply unpleasant medical conditions, the hosts break down what makes these spots so strange, so memorable, and so impossible to escape.Along the way, they debate which ads are merely annoying, which cross the line into full-blown marketing madness, and why pharmaceutical brands seem uniquely gifted at making viewers cringe while still burning their product names into our brains forever. It’s catchy. It’s uncomfortable. It’s disturbingly effective. And yes, someone gets crowned champion.

The Short Summary: We exhume the bloated remains of this year’s Super Bowl commercials to argue whether the biggest night in advertising has flatlined for good.Show Notes: Get more information at SpeakingHuman.comSearch Keyword(s): Episode 204The Long-Winded Description: Are Super Bowl commercials still the pinnacle of advertising—or has the biggest night in marketing finally flatlined?In this episode of Speaking Human, Patrick and Shad dig into the bloated remains of Super Bowl 60’s ad lineup to debate whether the cultural moment of Super Bowl advertising is dying… or just in desperate need of resuscitation. What started as a completely different podcast recording quickly spiraled into a heated post-game analysis of this year’s commercials and whether they still deliver the creativity, excitement, and cultural buzz they once did.Along the way, the hosts each crown their best and worst ads of the Bowl, including a surprisingly tasty sandwich moment from Hellmann’s and a nostalgia-packed Dunkin’ cameo-fest that may have finally broken the celebrity marketing algorithm.

Winter is brutal. Unless you’re a brand built for it.This week, we spotlight the companies that thrive when the temperature drops. From mountaineering gear turned fashion staple with The North Face, to the merino evangelism of Smartwool, to the emotional insulation of Swiss Miss, we unpack why some brands don’t just endure winter—they own it. If you’ve ever looked forward to a season because of a product, this one’s for you.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #MarketingPodcast #WinterBrands #BusinessHumans

We prompt a showdown between recent commercials from AI power players ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini—and crown the spot that comes out on top.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#200 #Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #AI #Tech #ChatGPT #Claude #Anthropic #Google #Gemini

We stuff Thanksgiving with the latest technology — spotlighting humanoid helpers, robot-laced footwear, and the delightfully deranged inventions nobody ever asked to unwrap.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#200 #Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #Thanksgiving #Tech #Products #Gifts #MindThundering #Brainstorming

We toast the 200th episode of this podcast by sharing our (maybe) definitive list of the 200 most memorable brands of the modern era.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#200 #Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #logos #Definitive #List

We crunch into Doritos’ Stranger Things telethon stunt and unwrap the best of this year’s Halloween ad tricks and treats.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #logos #halloween #strangerthings #hawkins #candy #trickortreat

We risk agony, defeat, and heartache to share our thoughts on Nike’s reimaging of the brand’s iconic “Just Do It” campaign for a new generationGet show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #logos #justdoit #nike #whydoit #sports #taglines

We clock in to explore the great office exodus reversal, where companies are trading Zoom backgrounds for actual backgrounds and Gen Z is surprisingly leading the charge back to cubicle life.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #logos 

We take a road trip through the wild world of minor league baseball branding—uncovering team names and logos that knock it out of the park.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #logos #minorleague #baseball #family

We cue the dramatic music and rewind the tape as Warner Bros brings HBO back into the Max mix. Was the name change a bold move—or a branding blunder?Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #Taglines #hbo #hbomax #max #streaming

We spin the wheel of internet randomness to dissect the role of Reddit today and share wildcard Reddit threads to get you lost in the rabbit hole.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #Taglines #reddit #rickroll #bestreddit #Forum

We dance over treadmills and hop across phone screens to discuss two decades of mind-blowing music videos from the creative maniacs of OK Go.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #Taglines #OKGO #Movies #Trivia #Band

We think different by testing our tagline knowledge in a death match to see who can just do it to prove they're not just finger lickin’ good, they’re grrreat!Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #Taglines #Slogans #Movies #Trivia

We slather our sentiments on Hellman’s “When Harry Met Sally” reunion and sink our teeth into other overlooked content ripe for the commercial requel treatment.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #Mayo #HarryMetSally #Movies #Hellmanns

We stroll through the ascension, decline, and revival of the shopping mall to see if these once-mighty retail giants can regain their former glory.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #Malls #ShoppingCenters #History #shopping

We peel open the $6 million banana to explore how brands have leveraged this provocative piece of art for their own content creation.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #conceptual #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #CocaCola #banana #Comedian #MaurizioCattelan

We chug back in time to revisit the marketing campaigns of two legendary beverage busts to see how they go down a few decades later.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Coke #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #PEPSI #Brands #CocaCola #SodaWars #Blunders

We venture into deep space to explore how today’s brands are bringing their products, services, and marketing into the cosmos.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SPACE #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #Samsonite #Brands #UnderArmour #Columbia

We sense the power of Mastercard’s new haptic logo and explore how other brands can engage touch, smell, and taste to create more immersive experiences.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Vibrations #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #HapticLogo #Brands #Senses

We promulgate and elucidate ten arcane, recondite, and enigmatic lexemes we believe warrant greater attention in the marketing realm.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Bizarre #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #WordOfTheDay #Brands #Words #Definitions

We bring together the most unusual, unexpected, and unnatural brand bedfellows of the 2020s. Slap some caviar on your Pringles because worlds are about to collide!Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Bizarre #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #Collaborations #Brands #Collabs

We convene in the courtroom to adjudicate the cases of two recent commercials from big tech brands that stirred up controversy and got yanked from the airwaves.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Google #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #Gemini #Apple #Underdogs #Thailand #Controversial

We fight back against the powers of “big podcasting” by pouring out our thoughts about Oatly’s guerrilla marketing maneuver to protest the misleading mind control of big dairy.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #BigDairy #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #Oatly #Milk #Dairy

We salute six decades of America’s preeminent toaster pastry by serving up some notable pieces of Pop-Tarts marketing and ranking the most iconic Pop-Tarts flavors. Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #PopTarts #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #Kellanova #Strawberry #Kelloggs

We unlace ideas about the new Brooks “Let’s Run There” campaign featuring Jeremy Renner and jog through our rankings of the buzziest running shoe brands of the current moment. Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Brooks #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #JeremyRenner #Running #RunningShoes

We poke the potential bursting bubble of Logan Paul’s Prime drink brand to see if it pops and share a couple other products that consumers guzzled down in mass quantities then tossed aside.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Prime #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #LoganPaul #Snapple #PrimeEnergy #PrimeHydration

We discourage everyone from listening to this episode and hearing our thoughts on the new ad for NotMayo. Just rip out your earbuds now, because you do not want to know what we have to say.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Mayonnaise #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #MayoHaters #Dove #RealBeauty #Reactance

We turn our TV dials back four decades to analyze an iconic fast-food commercial featuring big fluffy buns and a spunky senior citizen asking one of the most important questions of our time.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Punctuation #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #Wendys #WheresTheBeef #Beef

We exclaim our questions about companies adding punctuation marks like apostrophes, periods, and exclamation points to their names and logos. Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Punctuation #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture

We head into overtime to huddle up on Schwarzenegger, Walken, and whether throwing famous faces into Super Bowl commercials still scores with viewers.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SuperBowl #Commercials #BigGame #Ads #simplify #popculture #walken #Arnold #StateFarm #BMW

We apply heat to Solo Stove’s decision to ax their CEO after a viral campaign failed to ignite sales and ask the essential question “what is successful marketing?” Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Television #snoop #solostove #Ads #simplify #popculture #snoopdogg

We drop the pieces in place to unlock how the best-selling video game of all time continues to obsess players 40 years after its creation.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Television #tetris #videogames #Ads #simplify #popculture

We smoke out the rough and rugged legacy of the iconic Marlboro Man marketing campaign that rode the trails of pop culture for over 40 years leaving many blackened lungs behind.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Television #Smoking #Marlboro #Ads #MarlboroMan

We tune in to the TV show opening intros that keep our thumbs off the fast forward button and our eyeballs glued to the screen.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #Television #Streaming #Design #TitleSequences

We vocalize our picks for the most memorable, effective, and iconic uses of celebrity voices in commercials and marketing.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.#Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business

We detonate our thoughts on the atomic pink meme machine that has swallowed summer 2023 and share candidates for potential future Barbenheimers.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.

We assassinate assumptions of what bottled water should be by spotlighting a canned brand disrupting the industry with some killer marketing efforts.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.

We think long and hard about Oscar Meyers’ decision to change the name of the Wienermobile and shake out a few other meat-based mobile marketing ideas.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.

We merge our thoughts on HBO Max deciding to drop the HBO, and surmise other abbreviated brand names we could see if more companies consolidated.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.

We go green and toast the top o’ the morning by dipping into our pot of marketing gold to share a notable St. Paddy's Day creative concoction.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.

We rack our brains trying to google the “KN car” before turning our attention to Kia’s controversial logo redesign.Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.

How can brands use Discord in their communication arsenal? We talk with Caitlyn Gow, a student at the University of Akron, about her social media marketing class assignment and the choice to write about Discord. Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.

We roast more than chestnuts as we answer a sackful of burning holiday questions about time-honored traditions, classic Christmas characters, and merry memorable marketing campaigns. This edition also has extra soundbites from the hosts, made especially for the fireplace edition of the podcast. Watch your free fireplace episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com. You can also search for it on your television by visiting the Speaking Human YouTube channel.

We whack around a few ideas on why pickleball has become the fastest growing sport in America and if it has what it takes to make it as a major league. Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.

We get a whiff of what the Twitterverse will look like under Elon Musk, and weigh in on whether that’s a good or bad thing for the social network’s future. Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.

We take stock of Patagonia’s bold move for future ownership and ponder if other corporations might start to consider similar unorthodox succession plans. Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.

We reanimate a selection of brands, startups, platforms, and apps that have gone belly up over the past 10 years. Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.

We hazard a second look at the AutoTrader spot that put the Duke boys back behind the wheel and burn rubber with our picks for the wildest auto ads ever to hit the airwaves. Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com.