News

Under the Influence is back on the air with a brand new 2020 season. It’s good to be back. Here’s where you can listen this year: CBC Radio: Thursdays and Saturdays at 11:30. Sirius [...]

Terry’s first book The Age of Persuasion: How Marketing Ate Our Culture is coming soon to Audible. Stay tuned…

This remarkable book mines the mysterious process of creativity. It’s one of the best books I’ve read on the subject and I would recommend it as a perfect bookend to Creativity, Inc by Ed [...]

We’re within earshot of our 2020 season! Under the Influence returns to the airwaves January 2 with a brand new season. From unique and innovative wedding marketing to how losing sports [...]

A massive thank you to all our loyal listeners who earned us a spot on Apple Podcasts Best Listens of 2019 list as one of the Most Popular Shows Overall. An honour. And it’s all thanks to you.

This month’s book recommendation is something a little different. Anyone who listens to our show or podcast knows I am endlessly curious about human behaviour. And I firmly believe that kind of [...]

Visit our Shop page for holiday gift ideas. Books, T-shirts, mugs and more. Including our Holiday Book Bundle – two hardcover books signed by Terry for the specialty price of $59. Happy holidays!

Managing a creative business is never easy. I did it for 25 years and I can say firsthand that a creative company is all about culture. And that creative ideas are as fragile as soap bubbles. But [...]

Our End of Summer Sale has officially kicked off. Buy a Terstream Tee, get a Terstream Mug free on our Shop page. No discount code required – mug automatically added at checkout. Limit one [...]

A few seasons ago, we did an episode on Albert D. Lasker, possibly the most fascinating adman of the 20th century. It was our most listened-to episode of the year. Lasker changed advertising for [...]

My favourite movie is To Kill A Mockingbird. The movie was based on a book written by the reclusive Harper Lee. Published in 1960, it still sells close to one million copies per year. Astounding. [...]

This week, we enter the delicate world of Sponsorship Marketing. Close to 20 billion sponsorship dollars are spent each year in North America. That money can keep a brand afloat, or it can cause [...]

Under the Influence is on hiatus until January. But our Summer Series of popular episodes from seasons 5 and 6 has officially kicked off. Here’s when to tune in: Hope you’ll join us.

This is a gem of a book. It’s not a long read – just 246 pages – perfect for airplane trips and vacations. First there’s the title. Mr. Kibblewhite was the headmaster who expelled [...]

This week, it’s the final episode of our 2019 season: Ask Terry. And as we do every year, we’re turning this show over to you, our listeners, and answering your questions on the air. From whether [...]

This week, we look at banned commercials. The majority of the time, ads are banned for being sexist or too suggestive. But many commercials are banned for other, more fascinating [...]

This week, we unpack the nuanced world of Advertising Disclaimers.  We’ll look at the most absurd product disclaimers of all time, why a shocking disclaimer on a brand of Lays chips sparked a 50% [...]

This week, it’s our annual Bookmarks episode – where we tell fascinating stories from our research that didn’t make it into the regular season. Like – the shocking reason Beatles [...]

I’ve started a Book Club. Every month I’ll make a recommendation and tell you why I think it’s worth reading. You can also recommend books to me there. Check back each month or follow us on [...]

This week, it’s our annual look at brands I admire. They may not be the coolest or the biggest brands – but they’re fascinating studies in marketing. From a record store with a sense of humour to [...]

This week, in an encore broadcast, we look at the fine art of selling the dream. The world of Real Estate Marketing has its own rules, its own techniques and its own unique breed of salespeople. [...]

This week, I’ll be sharing some of the major influences in my life that helped inform my thinking and shape my career. Including a snowplow ad from my childhood, the sound effects from one very [...]

This week, we look at celebrities with their own brands. From a small town general store owned by a comedian to a cosmetics empire started by an 18-year-old to a winery that was funded by [...]

This week, we explore Word of Mouth Advertising. Most businesses hope good products and excellent service are enough to encourage positive recommendations. But the smartest companies actually [...]

For the first time ever, our entire back catalogue will be available for podcast download – no more waiting, no more paywalls. So if you missed any of our earlier seasons, here’s your [...]

Fun fact: Did you know that Winkler, Manitoba was recently named the second most entrepreneurial city in Canada? I had the pleasure of talking to some of those entrepreneurs this month about how [...]

This week, we explore roadside attractions as marketing. Interesting and often quirky landmarks that put small towns on the map. We’ll look at one town that leveraged its name to bring [...]

Most products offer customers as many features and benefits as possible in order to lure shoppers toward a purchase. But then there are some companies that offer you less, and profit more. We’ll [...]

This week, we explore the world of law firm advertising. Some of it good, some of it bad, but a handful of it highly creative. We’ll break down the lawyer advertising lawsthat get some [...]

This week, we listen to the innovative ways marketers are using sound around the world. We’ll explore how the words of an anthem in South Africa were altered to send a powerful message about [...]

This week, we look at the use of brand names in songs. Sometimes lyrical mentions lead to major brand success. Other times, to lawsuits and bans. But the stories behind each are fascinating. And [...]

This week, we look at products made by monks. Monks create a myriad of merchandise that is sold to the public. Some sing and sell CDs of their chants. Others brew their own beer. A few even deal [...]

This week, we explore the fascinating world of vending machines. Vending machines aren’t just soft drink dispensers, they’re marketing machines. They’re portable, branded on all sides and are [...]

This week, we look at the history of commercial lengths. From the very first 10-minute radio commercial in 1922, to five-second commercials today, the length of ads has changed dramatically over [...]

This week on Under The Influence, we look at unusual and unexpected advertising placements. As the world of marketing gets more and more cluttered every day, it’s forcing advertisers to [...]

Our 2019 season returns to the airwaves Thursdays and Saturdays at 11:30am on CBC Radio One beginning January 3. We’ve got a fun season planned. See you in the New Year…

This November, Terry spoke at the 2018 Top Ten Event in support of Future Possibilities for Kids, where 10 speakers spoke for 10 minutes each about boycotting your old thoughts. A truly inspiring [...]

Terry spoke at the latest Walrus Talks event in Ottawa this past October on the subject of cannabis marketing in a post-legalization Canada. Head to the 7:30 mark below for Terry’s talk…

Big thanks to everyone who came out to the Algonquin Theatre in beautiful Huntsville for our event. So much fun.

It was a cornucopia of beautiful Airstreams up and down the main street of Collingwood, ON, this weekend. A mix of vintage and new trailers – all part of the first annual Urban Air North [...]

Big thank you to all our listeners for tuning into our 2018 season. Our show wouldn’t be possible without your ears. See our Events page for a list of events near you during the hiatus. [...]

This week, it’s the final show of our 2018 Summer Series. In this episode, we look at famous people who began their careers in advertising. Many of the people who have gone on to shape [...]

This week on our Under The Influence Summer Series, we look at the wild and crazy world of Viral Videos. Some brands spend big money on videos and nobody watches, meanwhile a cat video is viewed [...]

This week on our Under The Influence Summer Series, we look at the subtle art of “nudging.” Schools, marketers and even governments are now using small nudges to gently steer people toward making [...]

This week on our Summer Series, we look at brands that mock other brands. It’s a risky strategy, as one company has to ridicule another brand to make a point – and mocking a rival always [...]

Come on out to beautiful Huntsville, Ontario for an evening of marketing insights and fun stories at the Algonquin Theatre on Sept. 27. Join us for a book signing, grab an Under The Influence [...]

This week on our Summer Series, we look at Marketing Dead Celebrities. It’s become a $2 billion dollar industry. And the marketing of dead celebrities not only attracts lots of big brands, but [...]

This week, it’s Part Two of “Marketing Rock and Roll.” As the 1980s unfold, technology changes rock and roll marketing forever, with the arrival of MTV. The launch of MTV is one [...]

Welcome to our Under The Influence Summer Series, where we pull shows from deep in our archives to bring you a 10-episode encore season. This week, we’ll explore how we’re all influenced by [...]

Welcome to our Under The Influence Summer Series, where we pull shows from deep in our archives to bring you a 10-episode encore season. This week, we look at the art of the elevator pitch. The [...]

We’ve pulled 10 of our most popular episodes from deep in our archives to put together a mini encore season airing June-August. From Marketing Rock ‘n’ Roll to the Psychology of [...]

Had an amazing time speaking at this year’s Social West event in Calgary. Big thanks to the 500 people that came out and to the incredible event organizers. Phenomenal talks for business [...]

This week, it’s our annual Ask Terry episode – where we answer listener questions on the air. From the inspiration behind our theme song, to why some commercials overstay their welcome, to [...]

This week, we look at how tourism survives a tragedy. When a city experiences a massive crisis, it must find a way to restore its tourism. All cities rely on tourism – it is often one of the top [...]

Come celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Walrus with a 3-day gathering about on The Future of Everything. I’ll be speaking on June 14 about the fascinating marketing implications of [...]

Big thanks to the folks in St. John’s who came out to the Arts & Culture Centre for the Art of Influence event. And to our hosts – The Designers. Lovely city, lovely people.

This week, we look at the ad industry’s place in the Guinness Book of World Records. The aim of all advertising is to create selling ideas that are impossible to ignore. From the world’s largest [...]

I’m coming to speak at the Arts & Culture Centre in St. John’s, NFLD on May 19, followed by a fun conversation with old college roommate, Ted Blades of the CBC. Join us for fun [...]

In the world of marketing, the use of colour is a studied science. As a result, colours play a bigger role in your purchasing decisions than you may think. A colour can make you feel a certain [...]

Terry was recently interviewed by Victoria News after his talk at the Vancouver Island Construction Conference. Here’s an excerpt: “When there’s that much competition it really pays to have [...]

This week on Under The Influence, we look at brands that aren’t afraid to celebrate their weaknesses. As a rule, no company ever wants to point a neon sign at its flaws. But there are a few brave [...]

This week, it’s our annual episode dedicated to great stories from our Under The Influence research that didn’t make the regular season. We’ll tell the story of why Maple Leafs owner [...]

Last month, I had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tour Abbey Road Studios thanks to my longtime friend and composer, Trevor Morris. Trevor was recording two movie scores in London that [...]

This week, it’s our annual look at brands I admire. They may not be the hippest, the latest or the coolest, but I envy them for a reason. Like the most iconic studio in rock history, the first [...]

This week, we look at commercials that made the unlikely leap…to Hollywood. Some became big hit movies, others inspired popular songs. One even became a TV series that was voted one of the worst [...]

This week, we look at companies that go above and beyond the call. Companies that add smart, little touches that make all the difference. Like hotels that help you fall asleep at night with sleep [...]

This week, we explore the use of jingles in advertising. So many brands were built on the backs of jingles. From the Big Mac, to Smarties, to Wheaties cereal. Successful jingles stay lodged in [...]

Big thanks to the folks in Barrie who came out to the Georgian College campus for a fun talk about the Power of Storytelling. Loved meeting the next generation of marketers.   For more [...]

This week, we explore famous products named after their inventors. Some products are so cemented in our minds we forget their names once belonged to people. Shrapnel was invented by Henry [...]

So happy to announce that after countless hours in the Terstream, you can now find This I Know: Marketing Lessons from Under The Influence on both Audible and Kobo. I hope you enjoy it.

This week, we look at products that went from worthless to priceless. Products someone created out of something everyone else ignored. It might be scraps on the ground that people stepped over, [...]

This week, we explore the world of celebrities in advertising. We’ll tell the story of a super shy mega star at one of her very first gigs, how Alan Arkin defied all advertising norms and why an [...]

This week, we debunk urban brand myths. Myths that live on as assumed facts in marketing textbooks, MBA courses, endless business seminars and dinner parties. It’s easy to accept rumours as [...]

This week, we explore the fascinating world of Comic Book Advertising. A world where Sea-Monkeys could be trained, X-Ray Specs saw through clothes, Charles Atlas taught bodybuilding secrets and [...]

Terry was interviewed by the Globe and Mail on this year’s Super Bowl ad touchdowns and letdowns. “While the Ram commercial certainly got his attention, O’Reilly says overall [...]

This week, we explore how marketers solve difficult problems. We’ll look at how Monty Python stopped piracy by giving away content for free, how a wardrobe change transformed Steve Martin’s [...]

Terry will be speaking in Thompson Rivers University’s Grand Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m. as part of the university’s Common Voices Lecture Series. Tickets to the event are free, but [...]

This week, we explore how marketers saved certain foods from oblivion by changing…their names. Many foods you enjoy started out life with very unappetizing names. Some so off-putting, I’m willing [...]