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The Cambridge Marketing Podcast offers unrivalled insight into all aspects of marketing, with detailed and informed expertise and analysis from weekly guests on a range of different subjects. A must-listen for anyone working in the industry or currently engaged in a marketing qualification.
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This episode looks at what happens when brands forget who they’re for.
We start with Prestat, the old Piccadilly chocolatier that lost its way after being bought by venture capital, cutting range, pushing expensive boxes and drifting from the customers who loved it. From there we discuss Bass securing the first UK trademark, NatWest chasing “mass affluence”, and why understanding your market still beats clever strategy every time.
[The book referenced towards the end of the episode is called How Africa Works: Success and Failure on The World's Last Developmental Frontier by Joe Studwell.]
This week we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week. Kiran Kapur is joined by Sophie Bolton to talk honestly about what apprenticeships are really like. Sophie shares her own route into marketing, how learning on the job built her confidence, and why apprenticeships can be a smart alternative to university for people at any stage of their career.
This episode is an essential listen for anyone either considering an apprenticeship or taking on an apprentice.
Kiran Kapur talks with Chris Woodward from Oliver Agency about how marketing agencies are using AI in everyday work.
They cover automation, Oliver’s in-house model, real cost savings, and training teams to use new tools. Chris also explains why many smaller businesses may get better results investing in AI software and skills instead of hiring another person.
This week our Opinionated Marketers look at how weight loss jabs are reshaping consumer behaviour. From smaller food portions and falling alcohol sales to booming fashion and fitness spending - everything's changing, and changing quickly.
Kiran and Charles also discuss pharma’s push towards pill versions, pressure on pubs and hospitality, the rise of alcohol-free drinks, and what these fast-moving shifts mean for marketers.
Read the article discussed here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj6wy85l3x5o
This episode explores the adverts that really work! We're joined by Lynne Deason of Kantar and look at everything from John Lewis Christmas classics and Coca-Cola’s personalised bottles to Amazon’s festive storytelling and Ariel’s “Share the Load” campaign.
Lynne reveals what these campaigns get right, how emotion and music shape impact, and why positive representation helps brands connect with audiences worldwide.
In this episode, Kiran Kapur and Charles Nixon dig into the GOOD news stories getting buried by bad headlines.
They talk about the retail successes at Next and Marks & Spencer, the truth behind 'Blue Monday', Universal Studios coming to the UK, and why adults are buying more toys!
This episode is about slowing down and doing marketing properly. Abe Kasbo of Verasoni argues that brands have become addicted to shortcuts, dashboards and shiny new tools.
We talk about why product, brand and customer experience matter more than platforms, why not everything should be “digital-first”, and how businesses can build real growth without gambling on trends or tech hype.
Kiran Kapur and Charles Nixon start with Peter Fisk’s Trend Kaleidoscope and use it as a way into what 2026 might really look like. They talk through AI, politics, economics, climate, and shifting behaviour, cutting through trend noise to focus on what feels solid, what feels overplayed, and what might genuinely affect how people live and work.
2026 sees Cambridge Marketing College launch its new AI-focused apprenticeships. Listen to Kiran Kapur, Charlotte Lestienne and Neil Wilkins discuss the new programmes, and find out how you can get involved as both an apprentice and employer.
As 2025 draws to a close, our Opinionated Marketers reflect on the year that was.
Among this week's topics - Kiran and Charles discuss the new 'Great British Railways' branding, and why no Marketing Agency will have a single positive word to say about it!
Marketing is fast, demanding and often overwhelming. In this episode, we talk honestly about why the job feels so stressful, how burnout shows up, and why resilience varies so much from person to person. Psychotherapist and marketing consultant Kim Tasso explains warning signs, team pressures, remote-work challenges, and simple ways to lower stress before it hits a breaking point.
In this episode, we explore the world of police communications with Janeen Harding, Digital Communications and Engagement Advisor for Lincolnshire Police.
We discuss crisis communications, media training, stakeholder engagement, and the challenge of reaching diverse rural communities. Janine also reveals how powerful campaigns like Think of Denii are created—and why the force launched a successful TikTok strategy to engage younger audiences.
It's a Perfect listen for those interested in public sector communications, digital strategy, and community engagement.
This week, Kiran and Charles discuss the 2025 UK Budget and what it really means for people and businesses. They dig into tax changes, rising costs, climate policy twists and why the headlines don’t tell the full story.
Charles and Kiran discuss whether the rapid rise in AI valuations is heading for a bubble burst, sparked by big investor moves and unrealistic expectations. They stress that AI is here to stay but due a reality check.
The conversation then turns to online pricing tactics; hidden fees, fake discounts and murky sales practices - and why marketers should stick to transparency if they want to keep their reputation intact.
Social media consultant Daisey Cooke joins Kiran Kapur for a lively conversation about showing up online without losing your mind.
They explore where your audience actually is, why consistency beats chasing trends, and how simple strategy brings calm to the chaos. Practical, honest and full of human insight, it’s a gentle guide to making social media work your way.
From China’s Singles Day to the rising price of gold - Kiran Kapur and Charles Nixon explore how global consumer habits, cultural events, and economic shifts shape marketing opportunities.
This week, they discuss adapting to new social and retail phenomena, the importance of wide-ranging news sources, and why smart marketers always look beyond the headlines.
Kiran Kapur talks to copywriter Jamie Thomson about why the best writing begins long before fingers touch the keyboard.
He explains his five-step “Brand New Copy” method, showing how understanding goals, psychology, and positioning makes copy clear, human and effective. A practical chat about thinking, not just typing — and why AI can’t replace that.
Kiran Kapur and Charles Nixon talk about the new John Lewis Christmas ad, the comfort of old-fashioned catalogues, and the joy of getting something in the post. They share memories of real shopping and chat about a brand that skips Black Friday discounts to give money to charity instead — proving kindness can stand out more than sales.
AI is reshaping everything—from business to our sense of what’s real. In this thought-provoking conversation, Kiran asks Neil Wilkins whether our unease around artificial intelligence is justified or simply misunderstood.
Together they explore AI-first businesses, human–machine “relationships,” and what happens when technology starts to feel a little too human.
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