AdMission
Episodes
The Netflix takeover of Hollywood
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We watch Droga5’s new 196 campaign & discuss what Netflix’s $83B move to buy Warner Bros means for Hollywood. See omnystudio...
Shania Twain, Uber & the Hollywood marketing crisis
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We share our thoughts on the new Uber x Shania Twain spot, Cowboy Colostrum, inside the Hollywood marketing crisis and ask if creativity is dead. ...
'The best 20 seconds of advertising produced in the history of advertising'
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie break down IKEA’s new campaign, look at Reuters’ first brand campaign in 175 years, unpack the viral Friend AI pendant ...
Robots, John Lewis & Coca Cola
10 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Christmas campaigns have started, subscription addictions, robots & ads that make you cry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...
How cereal built America
27 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ is in Tokyo, a history of cereal advertising and the Apple x Jane Goodall spot. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Social media ban; 'This campaign has me worried'
20 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie look at the social media ban, an 'utterly glorious' ad from The Ordinary & why the beauty industry is a fabrication people are ...
De Beers campaign has 'missed the mark'; 7-Eleven nails it
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie discuss De Beers' latest diamond campaign, 7-Eleven as a portrait of modern life and what people are actually looking at on TikTok....
ChatGPT's latest campaign & 'Va Va Voom' comeback
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie review ChatGPT'S most recent campaign, try to decipher Telstra's new billboards and explain why Renault is Renault is trying to bri...
Why 'brand purpose' doesn't really matter
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Defending simplicity, fun business names, advertising the upside of AI & why we think brand purpose is important (but it’s actually not).&nb...
Bumble, Apple & John Lewis
15 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie dissect Bumble's new campaign, explain why a new John Lewis ad hits the spot and decide Apple's new product launch is lackluster.&n...
Nike's new spot, smutty micro-dramas & beta blockers
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie discuss workplace productivity, viral micro-dramas & Nike’s new campaign talking to the 'hesitant generation'. &nbs...
'This is the funniest ad of the last 35 years'
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie introduce their favourite charts of the week, look at the ‘unbelievably funny’ new Cadbury ad, a campaign tackling micro-...
The crypto commercial everyone should see
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie talk about Irn-Bru & the greatest nonsense taglines, the Coinbase ad banned from UK TV and the Cracker Barrel re-brand outrage....
AI is Autocorrect AND Timothee Chalamet, pretentious or not? Hot or Not?
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie discuss a new venture for Timothee Chalamet, how an industry based off communication is horrible at it and the use and misuse of AI...
‘More creative is more effective’; With Telstra's CMO Brent Smart
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie chat to Brent Smart, CMO at Telstra, one of the most important creative leaders in marketing today. See omnystudio.com/...
That Sydney Sweeney ad
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie discuss the American Eagle ft. Sydney Sweeney campaign, why Gen Z is not actually the sober generation & the 'deeply concerning...
Qantas & the ultimate brand betrayal; With Joe Aston
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie chat to Joe Aston, founder of Rampart news & author of 'The Chairman's Lounge; The inside story of how Qantas sold us out'. We ...
Oasis, Adidas & CommBank's new campaign
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie discuss the Oasis x Adidas collaboration, ConmBank's new 'Doubt Never Did' campaign & Russ gets a few things off his chest.&nbs...
'The most beautiful ad I've seen in years'; Wes Anderson & Montblanc reunite
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We discuss how Zohran Mamdani used social media to fuel his upset win, Montblanc & Wes Anderson reunite with a 'beautiful' new spot and Freddie ha...
Oura’s 'powerful' new campaign & the future of luxury brands
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Oura's new campaign hits the mark, understanding the abundance agenda, why luxury fashion brands are in a tricky position, addressing intergenerationa...
The most important campaign in the world right now
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Webtoons are taking off in Asia, Apple designer Jony Ive partners with OpenAI & the most important campaign in the world right now - Register For ...
Inside Airbnb's 'midlife crisis'
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Parents for Climate settled with EnergyAustralia over greenwashing, spotlighting the murky space between marketing and carbon neutrality, Max is chang...
Lessons in branding from the Catholic Church
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie chat about the 'incredible' set design of the papal conclave, how to make gold relatable & desirable, the success & pitfall...
How Labor won the election
05 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie answer listener questions, offer some advice to the Liberal party after their massive defeat, look at a beautiful spot from Stella ...
The Trump effect & a history of diamond marketing
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie look at the Trump effect in Canada, review the lackluster political slogans from the Australian election & explain why the advert...
Robert Irwin's ‘bloody beautiful’ Bonds spot
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie chat about the lack of comedy in political advertising, Robert Irwins' Bonds debut, the rise of religion in Silicon Valley and AI C...
Puma's new campaign, DoorDash & ChatGPT
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie look at the new Puma campaign, DoorDash pushes buy-now-pay-later for fast foo, people are using ChatGPT to create Studio Ghibli-sty...
The AirPod ad
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie discuss the new Spike Jonez directed AirPod spot, Australia's place in the Harvard sophisticated economy index, why anti-weed campaig...
Brain rot and the politics of memes
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie talk about stuff the British stole, how the Liberal Party is using memes and explaining the 'Golden Fleece Awards'. Get in touc...
Brand smell, NASA & a pitch for Spotify
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie identify the smell of ambition, compare NASA logos, watch a new ad from the ALP and Freddie has a pitch for artists on Spotify. ...
Adidas, Amazon's take over of James Bond & the new BIC ad
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Adidas leans into it's new brand positioning, Amazon takes over creative rights to the James Bond franchise and the tale of two rivals: BIC vs Apple.&...
Mattress sales and the mythology behind ‘blue Monday’
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Get in touch with Russ & Freddie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/admissionpodcast/ LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/russelhowcroft/See omnystudi...
Ads at the Super Bowl
10 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie chat about the history of ads at the Super Bowl & how it's become the most important day of the year for brands. Get in tou...
Sunscreen, Kellogg's & how advertising saved the badlands of NYC
03 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie discuss Kellogg's new advertising campaign and the clever sunscreen launch from an Aussie agency. Get in touch with Russ & Freddi...
Harrison Ford, Hellmann's Mayonaise & DeepSeek
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie discuss how cities were designed to sell stuff, the 'when Harry met Sally' Reunion in Hellmann’s spot, reimagining pin security...
How David Lynch made advertising an art form
22 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie discuss Australia's most valuable brands (according to Brand Finance), the colour palette of 2025, Peter Dutton’s tax free busi...
'What the f...': Russ reacts to Maccas and Squid Game collab
08 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's the first AdMission for 2025! Russ and Freddie discuss rebranding the Australian flag, the Squid Game and McDonalds collaboration, AND Freddie br...
The two biggest brand moments of 2024, AND: Splitting the G
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode of AdMission, Russ and Freddie discuss if marketing success is causing a worldwide shortage of Guiness, the biggest brand momen...
Joe Rogan, Bluesky & the problem with Christmas ads
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie discuss the massive marketing opportunity in the 'manosphere', explain why Trump will change the decade, sign up for Bluesky and have...
The Jaguar ad
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie discuss the wildly controversial Jaguar ad and chat to Dr. Zac Seidler, Global Director of Men's Health Research at Movember about 't...
The ethics of advertising & Apple's campaign celebrating mediocrity
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie wonder if there's such a thing as ethical advertising, discuss the greatest guerilla marketing tactics, man-bags, the resurgence of ...
The future of AI and marketing: With Salesforce
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie explore the future of AI in marketing with Leandro Perez, Chief Marketing Officer for Salesforce Australia & New Zealand, as he s...
US ELECTION: Brand Trump v. Brand Harris
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie have a plan to bring chess to the masses and discuss the dollar breakdown of the US election ad spend from both camps and what it cou...
The Tesco ad 'taking the marketing world by storm'
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie discuss VCE exams, interesting people at the races, attempt to fix Facebook Marketplace, discuss JB Hi-Fi's new billboard strategy an...
Zendaya in the sneaker wars & inside China's micro-drama industry
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie weigh in on Zendaya's ON commercials, review South by Southwest in Sydney, look inside China's micro-drama industry and explain why t...
The jogging President, New Balance & the problem with political ads
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie weigh up the benefits of creativity versus practicality, compare brand strategies from the big sneaker companies, present the case fo...
People are losing faith in the power of ads
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ & Freddie discuss religion and faith in the craft of advertising, Woolmark's 'great new ad', how the NRL Grand Final stacks up against the AF...
Why Telstra was the real winner of the AFL Grand Final
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie talk about launching a fashion brand, yuppies making a comeback, AAMI’s Grand Final ad, the Telstra effect, how Halloween gets to A...
How to make the Brownlow interesting & Instagram for teens
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young discuss the problem with the Brownlow broadcast, Instagram's teen accounts, Tupperware filing for bankruptcy, why th...
Why Taylor Swift is a commercial machine, not a political one
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young discuss social media restrictions, Oasis ticket prices, Blundstone's new campaign, the commercial cost of Taylor Swi...
Kathmandu flop & the pitch for a universal basic income
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie discuss the latest Google court case in the US, social media bans for kids, 'the pity' about Kathmandu's latest campaign, review the ...
Snapchat, dupes and the most powerful word in marketing
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie debate the pros and cons of a universal basic income, Snapchat's 'less social media' campaign and how to out-dupe the dupes. Get in...
A Shameless AdMission
26 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie sit down with the co-founders of Shameless Media, Michelle Andrews and Zara McDonald, to chat about social media, advertising and bei...
'Stop it at the Start' campaign & saving Aussie music festivals
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young discuss what's missing from the 'Stop it at the Start' campaign (The Federal Government's National campaign that aim...
The warning for Raygun & lessons from Snoop Dogg
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft chats to Genevieve Reynolds from Sayers Group to discuss media consumption & time, the Raygun phenomenon and the unintended conseq...
'Tropical North Victoria' & crass commerce
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young discuss a small towns controversial re-brand and break down the cost of Kamala Harris' Presidential campaign. And ...
Paris Olympics & the new Nike ad Russ ‘loves beyond reason’
30 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The 'Ad Safari': Russel Howcroft discusses the Olympic Games from PARIS and Freddie Young critiques the 'Visit Türkiye' campaign from ISTANBUL. They ...
'The final straw' for Biden & the iconic account up for grabs
23 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young discuss Joe Biden's withdrawal from the Presidential race, the actual implications of Havas losing it's B Corp certi...
'It's like a Republican volcano'; The power of an image & AAMI’s Olympic ad
16 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young discuss the defining photo of the Trump rally shooting and take a look at AAMI's Olympic ad offering. Freddie has ...
'Good luck with that Charli XCX'; Brat girl summer and hi-vis at the Olympics
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young talk about mass media advertising, the success of Charli XCX album Brat and un-pack the brief Freddie 'failed misera...
Brand Biden, the Meta threat & a 'seriously good' tourism campaign
02 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young discuss the fallout of the Biden / Trump debate through an advertising lens, weigh up Meta's threat of an Australia ...
Brand ballads & why the new anti-vaping campaign 'makes no sense!'
25 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young discuss one of all time great brand ballads, nuclear energy, explain the "great difficulty" facing the ABC and tear ...
'Hungover is a big market'; The meat industry & Guzman y Gomez goes public
18 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young search for funny advertising, explain why the 'meat marketing model' works so well and offer some advice to Guzman y...
'They have more money than God': Telstra's new campaign and the woes of Gen Z
11 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young discuss the 10 principles of marketing warfare, take a look at Telstra's new regional ad campaign and break down the...
The ad ‘more popular than babies’ & the durability of Brand Trump
04 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young look at a mischievous ad from the US, explain the 'key pillars' of brand Trump and offer solutions to fill the gapin...
Inside out advertising, the ‘burger wars’ and Speedo’s new campaign
28 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young explain inside out and outside in advertising, the big mistake being made in 'the burger wars' and review the new Sp...
'It's really bloody gross': The decline of dating apps & Apple's big flop
21 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young look at Bumble's marketing campaign woes, Apple's tone deaf iPad spot and how they are both missing the triangle of ...
Is privacy a thing of the past? And why streaming giants are slipping
08 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young question the value of privacy, and have some ideas on how streaming companies can bolster their numbers, and lend Au...
Old El Paso's 'big leap' and anti violence against women campaigns
30 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young question the union of Old El Paso and the Australian Olympic team and try and lend a hand to come up with a campaign...
'I think we just fixed free to air TV!’ and the pointless Telstra Ad
23 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russel Howcroft and Freddie Young are on a mission to try and save free to air TV - did they succeed? And they try to get to the bottom of the purpose...
Coffee: Good-Cheap-Fast and Government restrictions
16 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
If you had to subtract Good, Cheap or Fast for your coffee - which one would it be? Russ and Freddie are here to let you know you can have all 3 thank...
‘We need 100 million’, Gather Round and ADF recruitment
09 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie are gearing up to ask a big spender for $100 Million for their new campaign. And after his weekend in South Australia, Russ explains ...
Apple and Splendour in the Grass
02 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's been 40 years since Apple released their iconic 1984 ad - Russ and Freddie discuss why it was seminal for it's time, and what big tech can learn ...
Tassie's new footy team & AI in advertising
26 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie go behind the scenes of Tasmania's freshly minted AFL (and marketing) team, and explain how Google & AI dominate the world of adv...
Guinness and the unsellable "Australian" beer
19 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie discuss when age matters for branding, and why the Guinness family are the cleverest advertisers of all time. Russ asks Freddie how...
Bunnings and Nuclear Power
12 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Bunnings has toppled Woolworths as Australia's most trusted brand. Russ and Freddie discuss why Bunnings is the best marketer in the country, the geni...
NRL and the Kia ute ad
05 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie discuss the genius of Fred Again, why the AFL should be paying close attention to the NRL launch in Vegas; And how going big, VERY BI...
Marketing the Matildas and Timid Australia
27 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie have ideas on how to market women's soccer, and make their pay packets reflect their success. They debate why Paul Keating thinks Aus...
Taylor Swift and The Right to Disconnect
20 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Russ and Freddie explain what The Wiggles and Taylor Swift have in common, and why she demonstrates the fundamentals of marketing. They clash over the...
Mad Men, Modern Men and Two-legged Goats
19 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This is AdMission: A place where ideas are had, dissected, destroyed and worshipped. In episode one, the 'old world' of advertising meets the new. R...
Trailer: AdMission
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This podcast missed the mark. The premise is all wrong - backwards, even.People want to buy things that make them smarter, stronger, safer, sexier an...