Adsquawk

In this week's episode of AdSquawk, we talk about a recent PR disaster for Mastermind Agency, Kickass Masterminds in Austin, Texas surrounding their HR practices that went viral in the last few weeks with a candidate for a Marketing position with their company. We discuss the situation at length and analyze their crisis PR "scorched earth" strategy as well as their publicly facing responses and how they handled direct communication with the applicant. Grab a drink, pull up a chair and let's talk shop! 

Hello and welcome to #ThotsonSports... er... AdSquawk! In this week's episode we discuss the California "Fair Pay for Play" Act and its implications on the world of advertising, from sports endorsements to appearances and everything surrounding this monumental shift in how the nation perceives and treats amateur athletes and their likenesses. We talk what it means to advertising now, how it will affect the industry in the future and Sean and Ed go head to head in a battle to name as many D1-FBS schools in Texas as they can from memory. Grab a beer, take a seat on the couch and let's talk sports! 

In this week's episode of AdSquawk we take a deep dive into the Caroline Calloway, an Instagram influencer, and Natalie Beach situation. We talk in depth around a greater conversation surrounding influencers, ghostwriting and the presumptive nature of authenticity that audiences have and expect with brands and individuals they follow. Grab a drink, pull up a chair and let's talk shop! 

In this week's episode of AdSquawk we discuss the evolving situation in Hong Kong and their search for a Global PR firm to help refresh and rebrand their image during these tumultuous times. We then look to the agency world and discuss how, "The Variable," a North Carolina Ad Agency, is bringing their employee's brainchildren to life through an innovative product funding and marketing plan. Grab a drink, pull up a chair and let's talk shop! 

In this week's episode of AdSquawk, we talk about about Shaq signing on as Papa John's new #TripleThreat (because we're a fast food podcast...) and continue our conversation about YouTube from the week prior, discussing their decision to somewhat follow suit of Instagram and truncate follower numbers for power publishers on the platform. Grab some 'za, pull up a chair and let's talk shop! 

In this week's episode of AdSquawk we talk about the NFL's emerging partnership with TikTok and discuss a number of different potential integrations for this multi-year partnership. We also talk about the recent YouTube lawsuit and the corresponding $170M fine imposed by the FTC and New York State. Grab a drink, pull up a chair and let's talk shop! 

In this week's episode of AdSquawk we have a (surprise, surprise) fast food recap of everything going on in the delicious world of fast food advertising. From McDonald's abstract and oddly satisfying Egg McMuffin video to KFC's foray into Beyond Meat, and of course, Doritos nixing the brand and doing an ad with no logo. Grab your favorite fast food treat, pull up a chair and let's talk shop! 

In this week's episode of AdSquawk, the gang gets political! We kick off the show with a discussion surrounding a new Jimmy John's campaign where you can win a free house (In a Jimmy John's delivery area)! We then shift gears to talk about the brand of the United States, who is in charge of maintaining that brand and what has the brand been historically. Grab a drink (preferably a strong one!), pull up a chair and let's talk politics... er... shop! 

In this week's episode of AdSquawk, the team gets together to talk about the announcement of the upcoming Disney bundle, which includes Hulu, ESPN+ and Disney+ and the implications this has on the streaming industry. With ESPN's major streaming rights acquisitions and Disney's sole ownership of Hulu after their recent acquisition kick, how will this play out in the overall streaming landscape (and all at at a $12.99 price point!) We also talk chat bots, voice assistants and home devices in the age of privacy and how privacy and search are changing due to the evolution of technology. Grab a drink, pull up a chair and let's talk shop!

In this week's episode of AdSquawk, the team gets together to chat about Match.com's recent "Get Your Heart on Campaign," featuring Rebel Wilson. We also continue our discussion from a few weeks ago as the story evolves surrounding Instagram and their current expansion into new markets testing the removal of likes, and what it means for influencers around the globe. Grab a drink, pull up a chair and let's talk shop!

In this week's episode of AdSquawk, Kallee is in town! Coming off the tail end of our annual retreat, the crew circles up to talk all things Agency culture, AgencyLife and what makes the work we do so damn fulfilling. What is culture? What isn't culture? How can agencies work to build a better culture and foster an environment that will attract and retain talent? Grab a White Claw, pull up a chair and let's talk culture (er... shop!)

In this week's episode of AdSquawk, we talk about the recent FaceApp controversy, it's background and why we can expect to see Jodi's face on a Russian billboard at some point in the near future. We chat about similar apps from the past and tie this into other data security issues that we saw with Facebook, TikTok and how social trends can lead to significant breaches of personal data. Grab a drink, pull up a chair and let's talk shop! 

On this week's episode of AdSquawk we finish up our rounds of the intern takeover, this time featuring Annie and Chloe! We circle up to talk about corporations that are doing their part to move towards a more sustainable future, including REI, Adidas/Parley, Patagonia and Starbucks. We also chat about the importance of putting your money where your mouth is when it comes to social movements and corporate lobbying, as well as why it's important not to have a public freakout in a bagel shop while being filmed. Grab a mini bagel, pull up a chair and let's talk shop!

In this week's episode of AdSquawk we have our first official Intern takeover episode, featuring Spenser and Breelyn. We circle up to talk about the role of celebrities in social change and which high profile celebrities we feel are doing the best job to leverage their platform to incite social change of some form, including Jason Momoa, Jaden Smith, Ashton Kutcher and more. We also have a heart to heart about podcasts and gather thoughts from our Gen Z counterparts on what podcasting can do as a medium to engage with the younger audience. Grab a drink, pull up a chair and let's talk shop! 

In this week's episode of AdSquawk, the team gets together to discuss Beyond Meat and takes a deep dive into the product, audience, marketing, TV spots and partnerships, and share our thoughts on their overall strategy behind this protein replacement product. And of course, discuss our thoughts on their partnerships with fast food chains, because we're still just a fast food podcast. Grab a Beyond Taco, pull up a chair and let's talk shop! 

In this week's episode of AdSquawk, the gang concedes the fact that we have become a fast food podcast, and talks all things revenge tagging when looking at a recent defacing of the Burger King Instagram's tagged photos page. We also talk about further changes coming down the pipeline for YouTube and how breaking off into multiple products will affect advertisers. Grab a Whopper, pull up a chair and let's talk shop! 

In this week's episode of AdSquawk, the crew gets together to chat about all things Keanu and his recent videos that went viral in relation to his role in Toy Story 4 as well as his appearance at E3 to announce his role in the upcoming game CyberPunk 2077. We also discuss some AgencyTalk and chat with some of our junior staffers on things they wish they would have known coming into their first agency job as well as some things that helped prepare them for life after school. Grab your favorite Keanu Reeves film (read: Speed), pull up a chair and let's talk shop! 

In this week's episode, we discuss Apple's recent keynote where they announced a variety of new products hitting the market this year, including a $999 monitor stand and how backlash over the product was likely amplified by the Streisand Effect and Apple's takedown notices of videos shared showing crowd reactions. We also chat about Ryan Reynolds and #WhateverItTakes surrounding his latest campaign for Aviation Gin. Grab a gin and tonic, pull up a chair and let's talk shop!

On this week's episode of AdSquawk, we have a philosophical conversation around the nature of bad ads, what makes a bad ad and how low production ads can be effective. We also spread some love about a recent Ikea campaign from Publicis Spain that recreated some of our favorite pop culture homes built entirely out of Ikea products. Grab an Ikea meatball, pull up a chair and let's talk shop! 

On this week's episode of AdSquawk, the team caws about the recent Kim Kardashian and Jack in the Box interaction over Twitter and the fallout that comes from not putting a brand "fully" on blast. We also talk about red flags in early stages of the RFP process, what makes a poorly written RFP and how brands seeking out agency partners can forge strong partnerships by not asking for the world (or in this case, spec work). Grab a Jumbo Jack, pull up a chair and let's talk shop!