The MadMen Pod

Ep. #29 WebMD's Return to Office Video, That Calvin Klein ad, and Ikea plays in the big leagues

Summary
This conversation covers a range of topics including the importance of in-office work, challenges with internal communication, the impact of viral videos on personal brand, advertising strategies of Calvin Klein and IKEA, screen time management with Opal, and the future of Carta as a brand. The conversation also touches on political commentary.
Takeaways
In-office work has benefits such as collaboration, learning from others, and increased chances of promotion.
Effective internal communication is crucial for companies to avoid negative viral videos and maintain a positive work environment.
Viral videos can have both positive and negative impacts on personal brand, depending on the audience and the message conveyed.
Advertising strategies should align with the brand's target audience and values to be effective.
Screen time management tools like Opal can help reduce phone addiction and increase productivity.
Carta, a leading equity management cap table software company, is facing challenges in a competitive tech landscape and may need to pivot to stay ahead.
Potential acquisitions and political endorsements can impact the future of companies and individuals.

Ep. #28 The Collaboration Episode: Stanley Does it Again, Nike and Dove try to fix Body Image Issues, and Peloton Classes on TikTok

Summary
The conversation covers various collaborations, including Stanley Cups, Peloton's partnership with TikTok, and Nike's collaboration with Dove. The hosts discuss whether these collaborations are duds or studs. They also highlight Lil Nas X and Gardyn as brands to watch. 
 
Takeaways
Collaborations can be successful when they align with the brand's values and target audience.
Marketing plays a crucial role in the success of collaborations, as seen in Stanley's turnaround.
TikTok's collaboration with Peloton may not be a strategic move for both brands.
Nike's collaboration with Dove highlights the importance of body confidence in women's sports.
Lil Nas X's controversial statements and actions generate anticipation and buzz for his upcoming projects.
Gardyn by Brando's innovative home gardening system addresses the need for sustainable food production. Controversial statements made by company founders can have a significant impact on a brand's reputation and customer perception.

Ep. #27 How to Convince Anyone to do Anything: the 3 Pillars of Rhetoric

Adeel goes into the three pillars of rhetoric: logos, pathos, and ethos.

Ep. #26. Southwest’s Obesity Policy, IRL Brought to you by Hinge, Impossible Meat, and Motaz Azaiza

In this week's episode, we dive into the latest headlines making waves across the globe. Southwest Airlines recently gained attention for a decades-old policy benefiting plus-size travelers, leveraging the moment to nudge other airlines towards inclusivity. Meanwhile, dating app Hinge is making unexpected moves with its "one more hour" initiative, allocating a $1 million fund to foster in-person connections. Join the conversation as we debate whether this is a dud or stud move for a dating app.
Peter McGuinness, CEO of Impossible Foods, sheds light on the challenges facing the plant-based meat industry, suggesting a need for rebranding beyond taste and distribution. Does the category suffer from an image problem? We share our take on McGuinness's candid insights.
As America approaches its 250th birthday, the Semiquincentennial Commission unveils a controversial new logo. We break down the design and share professional designers' critiques, exploring its symbolism and the task of bringing people together in today's challenging times.
Our hearts turn to a different kind of brand to watch this week—Motaz Azaiza. In the midst of conflict in the Middle East, Motaz has become a symbol of truth, documenting the harsh realities on the ground in Palestine. We discuss the impact of his work, his growing following, and the resilience he embodies amidst the tragedy.
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on these topics and more in this week's Current Events Unplugged episode. Subscribe, like, and share your thoughts below. Let's stay informed together.
#CurrentEvents #SouthwestAirlines #Hinge #ImpossibleFoods #Semiquincentennial #MotazAzaiza #Podcast #NewsAnalysis

Episode #25: Musk vs. Iger & everyone else. Bath & Body Works stunt in NYC. Mark Cuban and Mustang City, TX. KitKat Iftar Bar. Farfetch is deep in debt.

Elon Musk goes after Disney CEO Bob Iger and the entire advertising world. Bath & Body Works drops a 10-foot tall candle in New York City to get you to slow down, reset and "Come Back to Your Senses." Mark Cuban cashes out of the Mavs and Shark Tank, and we have a theory as to what's next for him. KitKat wins the Inclusivity & Diversity Award for celebrating a break we tend to forget about. Farfetch is the latest luxury retailer to take a fall.

Episode #24: Black Friday Recap. Yowza, the new social network. Fashion goes Anti-Consumerism. goPuff launches Apple deals. Queen of Sparkles X Coke. Kohl’s on thin ice. Google News Network?

Coming off Black Friday, the MadMen debate some of the dumbest and coolest brand stunts of the weekend. Cards Against Humanity launches Yowza, a new social network where you can only do one thing. Mud Jeans and other fashion brands play in to anti-consumerism during Black Friday weekend. goPuff launches Apple Deals, with a lowercase A. Queen of Sparkles is collaborating with Coca-Cola. Kohl's will do anything to get you in their stores. Google makes some interesting hires that might indicate a move into news and publishing.

Episode #23: What is going on over at OpenAI? Stanley, the good samaritan. Hyundai wins the Buy Box on Amazon.com. Colostrum, the new wonder drug? Balenciaga’s towel skirt. Elon’s Grok x AI.

OpenIA fires Sam Altman, and the MadMen just can't keep up with the latest development of this dramatic storyline. Stanley can literally survive in a fire, and the CEO is a hero. Amazon will start selling Hyundai cars on Amazon.com. Adeel is watching ARMRA, a colostrum brand claiming to be the next wonder drug. Balenciago goes to head-to-head with... IKEA? Elon Musk unveils Grok x AI, which is powered by real-time Twitter/X data.

Episode #22: A Chat with Nicole Portwood, CMO of Salad and Go

A couple months ago Adeel shouted out Salad and Go as his next brand to watch. He is a fan of the rapidly growing Fast Food restaurant. Lo and behold Salad and Go reached out to Adeel to share their story, and fitting to the theme of the show, Adeel sits down with the CMO, Nicole Portwood, to discuss branding, marketing, pricing, growth, and more!
Let's go mad, men. 

Episode #21: Amazon and Meta join forces. Kraft Real Mayo is making ”Moist” the Word of the Year. SiriusXM is rebuilding. Can AI Pin replace the phone? Govee makes smart lights a social network.

Meta partnering with Amazon is a win-win-win situation. Brands can sell more. Meta gets the data. And users get a seamless shopping experience. Can Kraft Real Mayo make "moist" the Webster Word of the Year? Sirius XM is rebuilding and rebranding, becoming a winning audio company. But can it beat the big players out there? We finally have a replacement to the smartphone - AI Pin by Humane. Govee is more than just cool background lights - it's an entire community of artists.

Episode #20: Walmart is making ”fetch” happen. Grocery delivery... by TikTok? Yeti is Mapping the Gaps of Google Street View. The Dude Perfect Network. CGI is everywhere. WeWork is crashing again.

Walmart launches its Black Friday ad with iconic characters from Mean Girls, all grown up. TikTok Shop is exploring grocery delivery, but are they underestimating how complex that is? Yeti gets ambassadors to map their favorite hikes and upload them to Google Street View. Dude Perfect gets its own streaming service, signaling the next tier of creator content. CGI by fashion brands gives shoppers a whole new perspective of products. WeWork stock crashed, but they aren't the ones to watch.