The Daily Carnage Show

We're recapping social platform updates that turn ads into conversations, search into chat, and quietly reshape where content actually lives. Instagram launches Instants, an app to rival Snachat.TikTok now lets creators suggest relevant keywords for clips.YouTube tests comprehensive AI responses to search queries.Snapchat announces AI Sponsored Snaps, allowing brands to reach users in chat through AI agents.LinkedIn finally allows off‑platform Event Ads.

Shannon breaks down the "Walkers Tolerated" Nike controversy, and how competitors Altra, Asics, and Ecco responded with their own inclusive campaigns. Plus, ChatGPT ads move from outrageous CPMs to reasonable CPCs, Facebook wants to dip into your camera roll for inspiration, deviantArt sells its soul, and Starbucks and Little Caesars are taking orders through ChatGPT.

Shannon gives a brief history of out-of-home advertising—from ancient murals to Mail Pouch Tobacco barns to augmented reality—before diving in to examples of transgressive OOH in the 21st century that have disrupted how we move through space and time in fragmented digital world.

Shannon shares new research about a new occupational hazard: AI Brain Fry. Plus, will AI replace marketers? Why does Gen Z wish TikTok was never invented? What are Verts? And more.00:15 — AI Brain Fry04:10 — Will AI replace marketers?05:35 — Anthropic's decision pays off06:35 — Gen Z on TikTok08:51 — Disney+ Verts09:19 — YouTube Digital Literacy10:36 — Ad from The Past: Apple, 1983

This week, Shannon breaks down the ChatGPT boycotts after OpenAI's contract with the Pentagon. Plus, Meta's new creation and reporting features; why out-of-home campaigns are cool now; and the puzzling mukbang from McDonald's CEO.00:16 — OpenAI, Anthropic, and the Dept. of War04:25 — Meta Updates05:51 — OOH is Transgressive08:56 — McDonald's CEO Mukbang12:49 — Ad from The Past: McDonald's "Mac Tonight," 1986

Welcome back to Season 2, Carnies! Shannon kicks us off with an ethical discussion of ChatGPT's decision to integrate ads — along with Australia's youth social ban, TikTok's new Local Feed, Meta's sneaky facial-identification update, and Ring's Super Bowl campaign backlash.

The marketing and advertising world is in burnout crisis. Shannon outlines signs of burnout and some of the primary causes, including digital overload, multitasking, unsustainable demand and unrealistic expectations, role creep, generative AI, and more. Finally... how do we fix it?

Why are brands getting so weird? In this episode, Shannon traces the rise of unhinged marketing through the lens of postmodernism and surrealism—two art movements born from periods of cultural instability. Discover how marketers use chaos, irony, cynicism, and disruption to resonate in a fragmented, meme-driven media landscape.

Shannon discusses two recent studies that illuminate surprising realities in the industry and the culture at large:Collage Group's “Beyond Pride” suggests that, despite media narratives and brand hesitancy, the risk of consumer backlash to Pride Month campaigns has been over-exaggerated. Consumers want Pride Month communications and advocacy from brands, and they take note when corporations backtrack.“Unlocking Neurodiversity: A Creative Advantage," by Understood.org in collaboration with the 4As and Havas, reveals that nearly half of creatives in marketing, advertising, PR, and media are neurodivergent—and they're masking in the workplace, and suffering from discrimination and lack of accommodation. Shannon shares her personal experiences, tips for leadership, and more.

Shannon breaks down The Daily Carnage's top 8 picks from the 2025 Cannes Lions Titanium category shortlist, including:“Minefield Honey: Harvesting Hope” by Saatchi & Saatchi UkraineEDF “The Flame that Wasn’t a Flame” by BETCE.l.f Beauty “So Many Dicks” by OberlandAXA “Three Words” by Publicis ConseilFinch “36 Months”Powerade “The Athletes Code” by OgilvyMastercard “Life Donor Card” by MRM GermanyAcademy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Rakish, Chicago Hearing Society “Caption With Intention” by FCB Chicago

In the first installment of Brand vs. Planet, Shannon tells the tale of the so-called Chilean Sea Bass, a story about how a fishy rebrand created explosive demand and nearly collapsed supply. The Brand vs. Planet series explores stories of marketing and advertising's powerful effects on Earth's environment and cultures—for the worse and, sometimes, for the better.

In this episode:Duolingo's "AI-first" announcement backfires, so the social team goes rogue.Google's AI Overviews turn 1, and not everyone is celebrating.Jaguar reportedly looks for a new agency after the worst rebrand of the 2020s.HBO maxes out its allowable rebrands. The Onion's new creative agency is a haven for human writers.Oscar Mayer gets the Wienermobiles back together for Wiener 500 race.

Shannon recaps Katy Perry's controversial trip to space and how Wendy's threw rocket fuel on the fire, plus Google's ad monopoly and cookie policy reversal, corporate sponsorships at the White House, Fiverr's weird AI commercial, Welch's lunch box note generator, and more.

Shannon recaps marketing and advertising news from the week, including Linda McMahon's "AI" mixup, A.1. Steak Sauce's response, the AI Action Figure trend, BritBox's stop-motion project, vibe coding, Chili's fast food financing pop-up, Jet-Puffed's marshmallow dye kits, and more.

Shannon recaps this year's best and worst April Fools brand campaigns and stunts, from Molly Baz's breast milk areoli and Olipop's ranch flavors to Blackweek's powerful political statement and Duolingo's five-year cruise. Plus, Google's 2016 April Fools disaster.

Shannon chats about The Ordinary selling eggs, Signal and the security breach, Sesame Street's financial woes, Madwell's descent into madness, Saratoga Spring Water's viral splash, Quaker Oats' ugly campaign, and more.

Shannon covers a March Madness challenge from X, Vogue's controversial tribute to Hairspray, PepsiCo's acquisition of Poppi, Google's Wiz acquisition, the book that Zuckerberg doesn't want you to read, and Heinz chip dip.

Shannon breaks down the current challenges facing marketers, including the impact of tariffs on advertising budgets and the evolving landscape of DEI efforts. Plus, the rise of the silver influencer, Southwest's policy backlash, and more.

Shannon breaks down Oscars cringe, Bratz dolls’ cultural influence, AI shoppers, Taco Bell’s new menu, the end of Skype, the Google Ads outage, Play-Doh’s rebrand, boutique eggs, and more.

Shannon covers IKEA's cheeky Instagram strategy, Dairy Queen's creative OOH campaign, Duolingo's dead mascot, the shifting landscape of search marketing, DEI, and more.

Shannon covers TikTok's uncertain future in the US, Instagram's potential new downvote feature, perceptions of AI in the workplace, and the viral sensation HillmanTok.