An Advertising Education in your Earphones

The Nobel and Pulitzer prize winning American author Pearl S. Buck once said, in referring to history, “If you want to understand today you have to search yesterday”.Similarly, the ancient Greek historian Thucydides remarked, “History is philosophy teaching by examples.”

When applying these well-known quotes to the field of advertising, one name and one podcast should spring to mind: Terry O’Reilly’s The Age of Persuasion.

I first discovered this radio series on a road trip to Montreal a few years ago and quickly realized how valuable it is to anyone who has a interest in advertising and marketing. I can say without a doubt that it has been one of the greatest sources of my knowledge and inspiration as a Junior Copywriter joining Clout Marketing.

The CBC Radio One show has been around since 2006 and touts itself as an exposé on “the sociological and cultural impact of advertising on modern life” (Wiki). It delivers on its promise in a very in-depth way that is often done with a healthy amount of tongue-in-cheek humour: the host, Terry O’Reilly, is a former  award winning copywriter who has worked for Campbell-Ewald, Doyle Dane Bernbach and Chiat/Day.

Each episode (which last about thirty minutes) is based around a theme, such as: “Slogans,” “The Great Women of Advertising,” “Brand Loyalty,” “Marketing the Unpleasant,” etc.

Every segment goes over the rhyme and reason behind famous marketing and ad campaigns and the history of the copywriters who created them.

If you ever find yourself wondering the Who,What When, Why and How, about the nature of the industry of marketing this should be your starting point. While you can find all of the 2010 episodes on iTunes, older episodes are available here and the unofficial CBC Radio site here.

If you’re stuck in traffic or going for weekend jog, Age of Persuasion is a gift to give to yourself.