Salad: The Advertising Podcast

Cole and Zack sit down with Francesco Petruzzelli, Chief Technology Officer at Bidstack, to discuss the future of advertising in video games. From the ads you see lining stadiums in your favorite sports game to the exclusive virtual skins your character wears while playing, we've just scratched the surface of what in-game advertising is capable of. On this episode, Fran, Cole and Zack discuss it all.

After getting canceled last year due to the pandemic, the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity returned in 2021. Join the Salad Boys as they review the winners and share their thoughts on ads from the past two years that cleaned up shop on one of advertising's biggest stages.

Make sure to follow along with us on social @salad_podcast and please remember that the views and opinions expressed on this show are not respective of those of our employers'.

The Salad Boys are all coming back to you now. This week, Zack, Cole and Trent discuss a new ad for Mountain Dew Rise starring LeBron James like you've never seen him before. Then they break down what could be the best ad of quarantine- a two and a half minute spot from Extra Gum that will make you laugh, cry and feel so much joy about returning to life outside of your home. 

The boys are back at it again. After taking their second hiatus of the year (yes it's only April) Trent, Cole, Zack are in their home studios again to talk ads. Tune in to hear their thoughts on Apple's impeccably-crafted AirPods spot, Impossible Meat's attempt to look like real meat, and Ryan Reynold's latest ad for Mint Mobile starring a familiar looking Satan who now tortures customers as an employee at Big Wireless.

Thanks for listening as always! Please remember that the views expressed on this show are not representative of those of our employers'. And make sure to follow along on social @salad_podcast ;)

It's been a mellow few weeks in the ad world, but brands are slowly kicking back into gear. This week, the boys discuss the return of Fearless Girl with a new message for International Women's Day, the undeniable humor and charm of Phyllis from The Office crafting a wedding, and a rare misstep from Ryan Reynolds and Maximum Effort. Tune in and feast your ears. 

The boys are back! After taking a few weeks (or months) off, it's time to talk ads again. And what better way to start than with the biggest advertising event of the year. From Will Ferrel getting pissed at Norway to Oatly's CEO singing a song about milk, tune in to hear Trent, Cole, and Zack comment on and analyze the biggest ads of the 2021 Super Bowl.

Thanks for listening, it's great to be back! Make sure to follow along on social @salad_podcast and please remember that the views and opinions expressed on this show are not representative of those of our employers.

The festive ads keep on coming and Cole & Trent sit down to discuss a special slate of Gen Z ads in this Salad holiday show! The TikTok takeover of advertising continues with McDonalds starting their very own barbershop in Sweden to help fans give themselves very online haircuts. Coors brings us a rocking winter concert with their most recent Sad Snowman spot and RC Cola Philippines delivers possibly the strangest ad of the year. Happy Holidays leaflings, from your friends at Salad!

Thanks for listening and make sure to follow along with us on social @salad_podcast. And as always, please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show are not representative of those of our employers. 

It's the most wonderful time of the year in a year that's unlike any other. This week the Salad Boys breakdown a few of the ads that are kicking the holiday season into gear - a mesmerizing, delightfully choreographed film from Burberry, a holiday film from Gucci that's a little confused about what decade it's in, and a disturbingly hilarious ad from Plenty that highlights the messiness of the holidays and the importance of paper towels.

Thanks for listening and make sure to follow along with us on social @salad_podcast. And as always, please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show are not representative of those of our employers.

Spooky season has ended, but the holiday season has just begun. Join Cole and Zack as they discuss a new viral TikTok trend featuring everyone's favorite fast food chain to roast, Arby's. Then they break down two very different Oreo ads and close the episode analyzing a set of touching holiday ads from Etsy that expertly capture the emotion and feeling of receiving the perfect gift. 

A lot has happened since our last episode. Racism in advertising again took center stage after Stan Richard was reported to have made a racist comment about a campaign for Motel 6, Kraft launched a campaign asking you to send "noods" not "nudes" that frustrated parents everywhere, and Ocean Spray had a moment as its signature Cran-Raspberry juice became the star of TikTok.

Tune in to hear the Salad Boys discuss these stories as well as a weird but heartwarming ad about a cardboard Giants fan who's just trying to find some Bud Light.

As always, thanks for listening! Please consider following along on social @salad_podcast and dropping some support via the link below. And as always, please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show are not representative of those of our employers.

As Hugh Jackman once said, "when I say I'm in, I'm all in." This week, the boys go all in on some fresh new ads. First, they discuss an ad for R.M. Williams Boots, featuring a 100% naked Hugh Jackman that was created by Ryan Reynolds' production studio. Then, they analyze a pair of chilling ads with deepfake versions of Kim Jong-Un and Vladimir Putin. And finally, they break down Nike's zany new campaign about Esports. Enjoy. 

Thanks for listening and as always make sure to follow along @salad_podcast and please remember that the views and opinions expressed on this show are not representative of those of our employers.

Cole and Zack dive head first into a discussion about three big brands with three unique strategies. First, they discuss McDonald's new Travis Scott meal with a firsthand meal review from Zack. Next, they analyze Patagonia's hidden branding gem on the tag of a select pair of shorts. Finally, the boys break down Apple's iPhone-less special event and outline their plan to get you signed up for more services. Enjoy.

Thanks for listening and as always make sure to follow along @salad_podcast and please remember that the views and opinions expressed on this show are not representative of those of our employers.

As fires rage across the West Coast, Trent and Cole share their hot takes on two UK ads that take outside-of-the-box ideas and turn them into reality. First up, an ad from Jet Fuel that shows you not only the best way to fill up your baby grand, but is also an ode to Joe Jackson. The boys also dive into an IKEA fable from Mother London that brings the Tortoise and the Hare to the 21st Century. Take a listen leaflings, and try not to get burnt.

What's up Leaflings? Tune in this week to hear the boys break down Droga5 London's hilarious new work for SetApp, which involves a person being turned into a snake, a horrible game of hide and seek, and more. Then they discuss the sheer boldness (or stupidity) of Fortnite, who not only decided to sue Apple but also pissed them off by creating a parody of the ad that helped make them famous.

Make sure to follow along on social and YouTube @Salad_Podcast and as always, please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show are not representative of those of our respective employers.

We aren’t talking about advertising this week. Instead, we’re using this episode to discuss speaking up and fighting back against systemic and systematic racism, police brutality, and racial injustice in the United States. Hear Cole and Zack share a few thoughts on how we need to work harder to be antiracist allies, and also share resources you can use to educate yourself on America’s history of racism.

In the first episode of the week, the Salad boys take a look at some fresh ideas from quarantine. First they discuss Budweiser, who brought back their famous "Wassup" phrase with the help of some famous friends. Then, the boys revisit their love-hate (but mostly love) relationship with Burger King ads and discuss the new QR Whopper spot.

Make sure to follow along on social @salad_podcast and submit your questions for our upcoming AMA on social or at the link in this episode's description! As always, please remember that the views and opinions expressed on this show are not representative of those of our employers.

Our 60th episode! What a journey it's been. Thanks for listening and we hope Salad still sounds as fresh as it did the day you first gave us your ear. This week, Cole and Zack discuss the current state of advertising, point out some of the all too recognizable characteristics of COVID-19 related ads, and share their thoughts on Apple's portrayal of creativity in quarantine.

Make sure to follow along on social @salad_podcast! And please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show are not representative of our respective employers.

Another episode of Salad for your ears as you listen safely from home (we hope). This week the boys discuss new quarantine ads and continue to analyze how the market is shifting week by week. Tune in to hear a tasteful discussion about a car ad shot entirely from home and Ohio's PSA told by mousetraps and ping pong balls (we know what you're thinking, but it's 100% better than that PSA).

Make sure to follow along with us on social @salad_podcast and submit your questions for our upcoming AMA! And as always, please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show are not representative of those of our employers'.

The gang's not all back together yet, but Trent rejoins from his time away and opens the show with an update on what's to come for Salad during these hard times - don't worry though, we're not going anywhere! In this week's Bite-Sized Takes, Trent and Cole serve up their thoughts on two starkly different COVID-19 response ads from Facebook and MassMutual. As they discuss on the show, creating an ad is no longer about the friends you make along the way... it's about the Why. All this and more, streaming now.

Hope you enjoyed this week's dish! Make sure to follow along with us on social @salad_podcast and send us your questions for the AMA!

As always, please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show are not representative of those of our respective employers'.

All is well in ad wonderland. This week the boys discuss Jif's wonderful spot explaining the difference between Jif and Gif, cherish the mouthwatering taste of KFC's chicken (or literal fingers if you're Zack), and once again are left to analyze how Ryan Reynolds and Aviation Gin continually create hilarious and relevant ads.

Make sure to follow along with us on social @salad_podcast and please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show do not reflect those of our employers.

Well let's start with the mold first... Burger King made a bold move to promote their preservative-free burgers by showing what it looks like over a month later. Listen in to hear our thoughts on that as well as Supreme's continued reign over culture via their partnership with Oreo, as well as Lego's latest work.

As Always, thanks for listening! Make sure to follow along on social @salad_podcast and please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show do not necessarily reflect those of our employers.

The Super Bowl is old news and the brands are back to their regular scheduled advertising. Which means the Salad Boys are back to their regularly scheduled bantering. This week they discuss a new Harley campaign that's over a year in the making, try to understand BMW's "Option 2," and cringe (in a good way?) at Playstation's idea of putting your heart into gaming.

Make sure to follow along on social @salad_podcast and please remember that the thoughts and opinions expressed on the show are not reflective of those of our employers. 

The biggest day of the year for advertising just happened, and the boys have a lot to say. Using USA Today's Ad Meter as a reference, tune in to hear them break down the top 10 ads from the Big Game alongside some color commentary about their other favorite and not so favorite spots. Here's a preview: The Chiefs and Jeep won. The 49ers and Baby Nut lost.

Make sure to follow us on social @salad_podcast (especially if you want to see all of our ridiculous Super Bowl tweets) and please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show do not reflect those of our respective employers.

This week, the boys sifted through a sea of Super Bowl teaser ads and finally found two exciting campaigns to discuss. They analyze the effectiveness of Under Armour's new campaign and consider how it might set them apart in the fitness space. Then, they bring out the tissues to discuss a shockingly sad spot from Greenpeace that tells a powerful story about humanity's effects on the homes of sea turtles.

Thanks for listening and make sure to follow along with us on social @salad_podcast! And as always, please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show do not necessarily reflect those of our employers.

On the 50th episode (thanks all of you wonderful people, we

Thank you again for all your support this last year, it means the world to us. If you haven't yet, make sure to follow along on Twitter and Instagram @salad_podcast! And please remember that the views and opinions expressed in our show do no necessarily reflect those of our employers.

To wrap up the season, Cole and Zack analyze even more great holiday ads. Listen as they breakdown Chick-fil-A's charming animated short film about time, discuss the effectiveness of classic tourism posters revamped to fight climate change, marvel at unique Star Wars promotional posters, and talk through what might be the best holiday ad of the year (Trent here - it definitely is).

Make sure to follow along with us on Twitter and Instagram @salad_podcast and please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show do not necessarily reflect those of our employers.

On this special episode, Trent sits down with Cole Habersham, account manager at R/GA and founder of Real Agency Salaries, to discuss the motive behind the original spreadsheet that struck such a nerve in the industry. Tune in as they explore the importance of salary transparency and talk through how you can use this knowledge as a tool to empower yourself. Listen to the episode, then visit realagencysalaries.com to participate, learn, and see where Cole's project is geared to go next. Make sure to also follow along with them on Instagram @realagencysalaries.

As always, you can find us on social @salad_podcast and please remember that the views and opinions expressed in this show do not necessarily reflect those of our employers. See you back here next Tuesday!

You've had many helpings of Trent and Zack this Holiday season and now it's time for another hearty helping of Trent and Cole. Listen in as the two of them discuss AT&T's surprisingly great holiday ads, Chilly's funny take on gifting, a tear-jerker of a telecom ad, and Guinness' clear take on responsible drinking. As a bonus, you'll also get to hear them discuss how they've soured on Burger King's suddenly stale marketing. Plus, stay tuned for our interview with Cole Habersham, account manager at R/GA and the founder of Real Agency Salaries, which drops this Thursday!

Make sure to follow along with us on social @salad_podcast and as always, please remember that the views and opinions expressed on our show do not necessarily reflect those of our employers!

This week, The Boys spend most of their time trying to figure out what the hell is going on in South Dakota. Is the whole state smoking Meth? Are they supposed to be rallying together to fix the problem? Is the governor the one that's high? Who knows. They also discuss ads that help you understand what 5G is and warm their hearts with some poignant holiday storytelling for lottery tickets. But let's be honest, you're really here this week because of South Dakota, aren't you?

Make sure to follow on along on social @salad_podcast! And always please remember that the views and opinions expressed in this show do not necessarily reflect those of our employers'.

While Cole spends his day at the happiest place on Earth, Trent and Zack discuss ads in the healthiest podcast on Earth. Feast your ears on their analysis of Amazon's redacted front pages, a typeface created from graffiti of the Berlin Wall, a cute excitable dragon who ruins and then saves the holidays, and finally on Farrow & Ball's humorous response to an SNL skit.

Thanks for listening! Make sure to follow along on social @salad_podcast. And as always, please remember that the views and opinions expressed in the show do not necessarily reflect those of our employers.

Halloween is over, which means the holiday season has already begun. Which also means the holiday ads are already here. Join Trent, Zack, AND Cole (yes he's back) as they discuss holiday campaigns from Target and Argos, give you a taste of Bud Heavy, and marvel at the beauty of AirPods Pro and the outdoor ads promoting them.

Thanks for listening, make sure to follow along on social @salad_podcast and always remember that the opinions and views expressed in our show do not necessarily reflect those of our employers.

Cole's gone again. This time off to Hawaii to enjoy a well deserved vacation. Meanwhile, Trent and Zack are back to bring you some well deserved takes. They discuss the discomforting yet effective use of metaphor in PSAs, Miller Lite's push to get you off your phone and into bars with friends, GAP's new approach to holiday advertising, and the latest campaign from David Miami.

Thanks for listening and make sure to follow along with us on social @salad_podcast. And as always, please remember that the thoughts and opinions expressed in our show do not necessarily reflect those of our employers!

With Cole off doing good boyfriend things, Trent and Zack are left to keep the lettuce fresh. They discuss why you wish you had Dominos delivered last week, why Fortnite has remained relevant when all other battle royale games have died, why the best season ticket deal of the year is chicken, and why creating a schiti bank is actually one of the smartest idea for your business. Oh and Trent keeps schitting on Zencastr.

Thanks again for listening everyone! We won't be here Thursday but tune in again next Tuesday for another Bite-Sized Takes. Also make sure to follow us on social @salad_podcast! And as always, please remember that the opinions and thoughts we express in the show are not representative of those of our employers'.

After Zack spent an inspiring weekend at Phoenix Design Week, the salad boys come together to discuss the state of the ad industry. Inspired by an opinion piece from Leo Premutico, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder of Johannes Leonardo, this episode outlines how advertising got to where it is today and offers suggestions on where to go next. But first, the boys respectfully pay homage to one of the greats, Barton F. Graf, who held a funeral for themselves last week.

As always, thank you so much for listening in! Make sure to come back next Tuesday for another edition of our Bite-Sized Takes on the latest work from the industry. Also, please remember to follow us on social @salad_podcast and know that our opinions and views expressed in this show are not representative of those of our employers.

Tinder released Swipe Night. HBO uses fictional characters to get real about mental health. Harry Potter invades Time Square (you're a salad Harry). And Jeep reminds Apple why the blue SUV emoji is not a Jeep. Join the Salad Boys as they discuss standout ads from the past week, bicker about automotive advertising, and range about Zencastr.

As always thank you so much for listening and please remember that the views and opinions expressed in our show do not reflect the views and opinions of our wonderful employers! Make sure to tune in on Thursday for a discussion braveness in marketing and how it relates to the death of agencies.

This week Trent, Cole, and Zack share their thoughts on finding a good agency to work for by discussing their own experiences and shedding light on the reasons they ended up where they did. The boys also offer tips and suggestions on what you should look for and what questions to ask in interviews when searching for your first/next gig.

Make sure to follow along with us on social media @salad_podcast. And as always please know that the opinions and thoughts expressed in the show are not necessarily reflective of those of our employers. Love y'all, see you back here on Tuesday for another edition of Bite-Sized Takes!