Calling all marketers and creatives: If you get sick of humdrum podcasts, there’s something else to binge on — and 30 seasons are waiting for you.
This podcast series is different. It’s waffle-free. You’ll be gripped, enlightened and inspired.
It’ll also improve your marketing — especially your storytelling.
The podcast is Business Wars from Wondery.
Each season tells the story of a monumental battle between rival companies with their break-through ideas, mercurial characters and high-stakes marketing plays.
If you enjoyed the TV series Mad Men, you’ll like Business Wars instantly.
Among the 30 seasons, my favourites are Hasbro vs Mattel, McDonald’s vs Burger King and Xbox vs Playstation.
But you’ll probably also be enthralled by Hershey vs Mars, and eBay vs PayPal, plus others battles over motorbikes, cereals, web browsers, guitars and energy drinks.
The story behind each story.
Business Wars gets under the skin of each battle — and reveals little-known twists and turns.
Often, these relate to marketing. The way Facebook and Snapchat have competed in positioning is intriguing. The sneaker wars (Nike vs Adidas) shows the value to marketing of celebrity endorsements from athletes and music stars. Then there’s Netflix vs Blockbuster … a wild ride for so many reasons.
Marketing meltdowns aplenty.
Business Wars captures the extremes of marketing. Coke vs Pepsi has classic campaigns, like the ingenious Pepsi Challenge. Soon after comes the dismal launch of New Coke where the media got served warm drinks that tasted watered down because the ice had melted.
Then there’s the dramatic shoots for Coke’s new TV ad. The disaster when 1,000 young people gather for filming on the White Cliff of Dover. Cokes are handed out, but the heavens open, everyone’s soaked to the skin and the shoot is ruined.
Things get even worse when production switches to the hills near Rome.
Hundreds of teenagers are bussed in and kept waiting. They get hot and angry, demanding to drink the coke intended for the shoot. There’s a full revolt, with teens hurling cans at the helicopter that’s trying to film overhead, claims Business Wars.
But another new shoot goes well. The commercial finally airs in 1971 and becomes one of the most iconic ads of the 20th century …
Keeping you hooked.
For me, the charm of Business Wars is the amazing storytelling. It’s got wonderful writers and a superb host — award-winning journalist David Brown.
Each story has poise, pace and drama. No words are wasted. It’s warm, personable and emotional.
I’ve listened so much, I think it’s sharpened my copywriting and the way I try to recount stories in daily life.
So why not binge on Business Wars? It might inspire you — and make a difference to marketing strategy and storytelling skills.