Manipulating The Masses
Episodes
How Coachella Became Ground Zero for Instagram Culture
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome back to Manipulating the Masses – the podcast where two marketers talk marketing and manipulation and how we're really good at both.This wee...
The Marketing of Casinos
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Manipulating The Masses, Zach and Kaitlin take a high-stakes dive into the brilliantly deceptive marketing tactics of casinos—fro...
The Marketing of Reese Witherspoon's Media Empire
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Manipulating The Masses, Zach and Kaitlin break down how Reese Witherspoon transformed herself from rom-com darling into one of Hol...
The Marketing of Marvel Movies
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Manipulating the Masses, Kaitlin and Zach dive deep into the evolution and marketing genius behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe (M...
The Marketing of the WNBA
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Manipulating the Masses, Kaitlin and Zach dive into the evolving marketing strategies of the WNBA and how the league has worked to ...
The Marketing of Cryptocurrency
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bitcoin didn’t just become a trillion-dollar asset because of technology—it became a movement through brilliant marketing, psychological manipulat...
Marketing of The Oscars
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Oscars have been Hollywood’s biggest night for nearly a century, but how has the Academy managed to keep audiences engaged in an era of declinin...
The Marketing of Weddings
09 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Any cursory search in Pinterest will show millions of boards dedicated to every aspect of a wedding. Dresses, venues, flowers, bridesmaid dresses, mak...
The Marketing of Ozempic
05 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Hollywood’s influence is nothing new. James Dean and Marlon Brando inspired the T-shirt craze. Marilyn Monroe kept hairdressers across the country b...
The Marketing of Russian Propaganda
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The story of Russia and the 2016 election has been beaten to death. Every news outlet has put its spin on the story, the FBI has released a non-blamin...
The Marketing of Shakespeare
30 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach look WAY back to see how Shakespeare's plays were marketed around London, and how his tactics led to the infamous acclaim he still ha...
The Marketing of Gatorade
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach explore the complicated history of Gatorade. How was it invented, first marketed, and the issue involving the University of Florida.A...
The Marketing of Fox News
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re going to be looking at the infamous and infuriating Fox News. The network that entered the media game in 1996, and shook up the entire ...
The Marketing of Diamonds
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re going to look at, what I feel, is one of the best cases of marketing that we’ve reviewed. We will sparkle, we will glimmer, we will s...
The Marketing of Taylor Swift
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We’re going to discuss the marketing tactics and growth of Taylor Swift.Currently, Taylor is known for crashing the Ticketmaster site, mastering the...
The Marketing of Sustainability
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Kaitlin and Zach will look at the evolution and growth of every brand’s new favorite phrase; sustainable. Reviewing how brands leve...
The Marketing of a UFO Whistleblower
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach have a follow-up to one of their most popular episodes discussing the PR strategy behind UFOs from the angle of the newest UFO whistl...
The Marketing of Barbie
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Kaitlin and Zach discuss the absolutely crazy story of how the iconic doll, Barbie was founded. And the unique marketing tactics the team a...
Marketing of Celebrity Brands with Felicia C. Sullivan
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Kaitlin and Zach sit down with branding & storytelling expert, Felicia C. Sullivan to discuss what makes or breaks celebrity brands.The...
The Rise & Fall of the Influencer with Nicole Lisson
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Zach and Kaitlin and joined by Content Director for M&P, Nicole Lisson. The group discusses how the term "influencer" has become soured, how brand...
Bracing For 2024: Emotional Morality
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach explore the emotional cues that make us all decide what is "right" and what is "wrong." How our emotional morality is manipulated by ...
Bracing For 2024: The History of Attack Ads
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today, we’re going to be breaking down some famous attack ads. We’re going to take a peek at the classic marketing tactic of positioning - how is ...
Bracing For 2024: Fast & Slow Thinking
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Zach and Kaitlin continue their series on manipulation tactics to be used during the 2024 presidential campaign.In the second episode, the duo reviews...
Bracing For 2024: What Is The October Surprise?
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach use their life as marketing agency owners to help prepare you for the ways candidates in the 2024 election will try to manipulate and...
The Marketing of Movie Theatres
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach explore the history of movie theatres, how they became a centerpiece to American culture, and how the pandemic (and home entertainmen...
The Pet Rock Craze
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach examine the history of the Pet Rock craze that took hold of the American public in the 1970s. The duo also explores what it would tak...
The Marketing of Alcohol
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach explore the history and drawbacks of the mega-marketing campaigns for alcohol. How government regulations are bearing down on the ind...
The Marketing of the Military
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zach and Kaitlin take a journey through history to review the marketing tactics used by the military to recruit new soldiers. How new media and messag...
The Downfall of Malls
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach explore the rapid rise and fall of the American Mall. How the original designer of the mall hated what they became, why they rose to ...
Campaign Breakdown: Old Spice
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach examine the beginnings, target demographic, and story behind the notorious "Old Spice Man" commercials. How new media leveraged the c...
The Marketing of Big Pharma
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zach and Kaitlin review the marketing and advertising tactics behind pharmaceutical companies. Particularly the marketing campaign behind the promotio...
Campaign Breakdown: Flo From Progressive
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach examine the history and impact of one of the longest-running character commercials, Flo from Progressive. As well as the impact chara...
The Buying Power of Kids
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zach and Kaitlin explore the multi-trillion dollar industry of marketing to children. More than toys & snacks, car companies and even insurance ag...
Brand Partnerships & Euphoria
03 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zach & Kaitlin explore the new world of brand partnerships for performers. How social media can be a positive and a negative for developing person...
Ronald Reagan & Media Bias
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach discuss the influence Ronald Reagan and the FCC had on dismantling the Fairness Doctrine, and how efforts to thwart debate on televis...
Data Collection & 23&Me
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zach and Kaitlin examine the data collection tactics behind the infamous company, 23 & me. How your genetic code can be sold and utilized by pharm...
Advertising Battles: Coke vs. Pepsi
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach explore the tactics and direct advertising battles that have taken place between Coca-Cola and Pepsi for over a century. From jingles...
ASMR In Commercials
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach explore how brands are utilizing the ASMR phenomenon to produce commercials designed to trigger "tingly" feelings in the brains of pe...
Content Creation & Cicero
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zach and Kaitlin compare modern content creators on social media to the OG influencer & Roman icon, Cicero. How Cicero's tactics to spread messagi...
Rebranding & The WWF
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach examine some good and bad rebranding efforts by companies, and also look at the legal battle over the branding of WWF.Follow us on so...
TV Media & The Satanic Panic
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin & Zach explore how the business of television helped spread the Satanic Panic that gripped families throughout the 80s, and how similar ta...
Donation Marketing & The Red Cross
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach explore the messaging and marketing tactics used by The American Red Cross, as well as some disinformation surrounding how the organi...
Company Culture & WeWork
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zach and Kaitlin explore the rise and fall of WeWork, and how company culture can benefit and hurt companies of all sizes.Want more details about the ...
The Marketing of Megachurches
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach look at the marketing tactics behind some of the most wealthy church leaders in the United States. Using their tool, the duo puts tog...
Gender Roles In Advertising | Part Two
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach examine the new age of hyper-sexualization of women in advertising, and how that trend has created a massive negative effect on body ...
Gender Roles In Advertising | Part One
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach explore the marketing tactics and long-term effects of gender roles portrayed in advertising throughout the 1800s - 1960s.Want more d...
E-Commerce & Holiday Shopping
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach review some of the below-board marketing tactics large companies use to gain a digital advantage during the holiday season.Follow Us ...
Campaign Breakdown: Got Milk?
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach look at the strategy, implementation, and results of the infamous Got Milk? campaigns that were utilized throughout the 90s and early...
Social Media & Anti-Vaxxers
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Zach and Kaitlin take a look at how social media algorithms have been used by a small number of people to promote Anti-Vax conspiracies, convince mill...
Data Analysis & The Bachelorette
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin & Zach dive into the historical data of the 42 seasons of The Bachelor / Bachelorette series. Using data analysis, they predict who will w...
Email Marketing & Nigerian Princes
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach explore the email marketing tactics behind the infamous Nigerian Prince scams that have plagued US citizens out of millions for over ...
Brand Storytelling & Elizabeth Holmes
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach examine the rise and fall of the notorious founder of Theranos, Elizabeth Holmes. How she utilized the art of PR and storytelling to ...
Branding & Subliminal Messaging
12 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin and Zach explore the effectiveness of subliminal messaging and how companies are utilizing subliminal tactics to increase sales and market sha...
Public Relations & UFO Cover-Ups
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin & Zach examine the press tactics used by the US Government over the past 70 years in regards to denying the existence of UFOs and witnesse...
Personal Branding & #GirlBoss
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin & Zach examine the rise and fall of the #GirlBoss movement. As well as the foundations of the movement, key players, and how the movement ...
SEO, PPC, & Scientology
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin & Zach examine the history and recruiting strategies for the notorious Church of Scientology. Including the sophisticated search engine ma...
Sales Strategy & MLMs
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin & Zach examine the sales tactics used by Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) companies, and how those companies dupe people into falling for the t...
Product Placement & Cannabis Legalization
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Kaitlin & Zach explore how the government utilized product placement campaigns within movies in the 30s to manipulate the public perception of can...