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Welcome to Ducks Unplugged—where work, life, and a little bit of chaos come together. Hosted by two marketing minds who keep it real, we dive into business, creativity, and whatever else comes up—no fluff, just good conversation. Expect fresh takes, unexpected tangents, and special guests along the way. Whether you're here for the insights or just the banter, we’ve got you covered.
🎙️ New episodes drop every week(ish)—subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more!
53 Episodes
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Why do animals work so well in marketing? Because emotion sells — and nothing sparks emotion faster than a camel yelling “Hump Day,” or a cute puppy becoming best friends with a Clydesdale. In this episode of Ducks Unplugged, we explore why animals are such an effective marketing tactic — and why brands keep going back to them. We’re talking: 🐫 The psychology behind animals in advertising 🐰 Our favorite animal marketing moments 🦁 A brand-to-animal pairing game 🦆 We answer: What animal are w...
Welcome back to our monthly Duck Debate — where opinions fly and feathers get ruffled. 🦆 This episode ranges from mildly controversial to aggressively polarizing: 🧸 Are giant teddy bears a sweet gesture… or oversized clutter? 🍟 Is it completely acceptable to dip a fry in a milkshake… or should that be illegal? 🍔 Would you rather your burger be taller or wider? (Ashley briefly forgot the entire point of the game and asked why she had to choose. Because… it’s the game.) 🏠 Live in a shoe house...
Leadership gets talked about a lot. This episode talks about it honestly. In Leadership Unfiltered: Unplugged, Ashley and Deanna strip away the buzzwords and dig into how leadership actually shows up — especially as it continues to evolve in a virtual, fast-moving, high-expectation world. We talk about how leadership has changed… and why it had to. We unpack what really makes a great leader — empathy, transparency, and trust — and challenge some commonly held beliefs along the way: 🤔 Can y...
Short episode. Strong opinions. Questionable takes. 🦆🏈 In this Super Bowl–inspired mini episode, Ashley and Deanna debate everything football-adjacent as we start thinking about game-day plans — and somehow end up arguing about fingers, toes, and other things no one asked for. 🗣️ Is it okay to talk during the game? 📺 Are the commercials sacred? 🍽️ Can you trust homemade food from people whose kitchens you’ve never seen? 🏈 Quarterback or coach — where do you want to be? 🎤 And what really mak...
This one started with video… and spiraled into chaos (the good kind). In this episode of Ducks Unplugged, Ashley and Deanna break down why video works, why it so often doesn’t, and what brands should actually be doing in 2026 to stop wasting time, money, and attention. 🎥 The video moments that changed us 🍼 A “What the Duck?” involving NYE diapers in NYC ❤️ Why one classic commercial (hi, Folgers) still proves the power of doing it right 🧠 Real talk on why most brand videos miss the mark 🔥 R...
Memberships are everywhere. That doesn’t mean they’re working. In this episode of Ducks Unplugged, we go deep on memberships — the good, the bad, and the ones that probably shouldn’t exist at all. We talk through why so many brands rush to launch a membership, what actually makes one valuable, and where things tend to fall apart. We break down: - The real difference between memberships, subscriptions, and loyalty programs - What separates a compelling membership from a forgettable one - Com...
Everyone loves a comeback. From nostalgic brands and ‘90s icons to athletes, marketers, and real-life underdogs—there’s something about the rebound arc that hits every time. In this episode of Ducks Unplugged, we dive into the power of the comeback: 🎯 Why redemption arcs resonate in marketing and life 🧃 Can nostalgic brands get a modern-day glow up? (BlackBerry, Rainforest Café...we’re looking at you) 🔥 Our Hot Take: Why isn’t there more guerrilla marketing? Plus, Ashley and Deanna reveal w...
We're kicking off 2026 with big energy and a fresh mindset. In this episode, we’re talking about what it means to reset, recharge, and refocus—for your life and for business. This one’s full of insight and energy: 🧘♀️ What we’re leaving behind in 2025 📈 What we’re bringing into 2026 🎯 Predictions for the year in marketing 🎲 A 2026-themed Would You Rather game 😳 Brand-new What the Duck moments 🎧 Tune in wherever you get your podcasts and start your year unplugged.
This was supposed to be a mini… but the Ducks got carried away. In this full-on forecast episode, Ashley and Deanna look into their crystal ball and share their boldest predictions for 2026 — from marketing trends to business shifts to totally unhinged cultural guesses (aliens, anyone?) ✨ Will AI keep dominating? 📈 Is it the year of the boutique agency? 🧠 And what exactly does it mean to “start the year strong”? You’ll laugh, you’ll think, and you might just spot a trend before it hits the...
Happy Holidays from Ducks Unplugged! 🎄 This episode is wrapped in festive chaos and sprinkled with all the marketing magic (and meltdowns) December has to offer. From wild Christmas sweaters to the most mind-blowing way to tie your shoes (seriously 🤯), we’re here to spread cheer — and maybe a little unfiltered advice. ✨ Highlights include: 📞 The Holiday Crisis Hotline — listeners called in, we gave real(ish) solutions 🎯 Naughty or Nice: Marketing Edition 🥂 A heartfelt toast to 2025 🎁 And of...
You don’t always know it’s an ick… until it icks. 😬 In this episode, we unpack the rise of “the ick” — where it comes from, how personal icks can be, and how brands (for better or worse) try to use icks in marketing. Can marketers successfully lean into consumer turn-offs? Or does it backfire? Plus: 🔥 This week’s Marketing Hot Take ⚡ A rapid-fire round of Ick or Not That Deep? Play along! 🎧 Tune in now to The Icks: Unplugged!
2-4-6-8 — who do we appreciate? Mascots! In this episode, we're diving headfirst into the world of brand mascots. From the psychology behind why they work, to which ones are boosting brands… and which ones might actually be holding them back (hot take: is Flo from Progressive past her prime?). Who’s your favorite mascot of all time? Did they make our list? We’re also playing a game called Mascot Confessionals, where we imagine what mascots would say if they could finally speak their truth....
What do Victoria’s Secret, Peloton, and Toys R Us all have in common? They’ve made it to the hot seat on this week’s Fix That Brand episode! Join Ashley and Deanna as they go full strategy mode—rewriting taglines, reimagining brand positioning, and dishing out fresh marketing ideas to bring these iconic brands into their next era. Spoiler: we’re not afraid to say what needs to be said. Plus, in this week’s Marketing Hot Take, we’re shouting out Bark for their email game (yes, we open every ...
Pour the gravy and grab a seat — it’s a Ducksgiving special! In this episode of Ducksgiving: Unplugged, Deanna and Ashley carve into the Thanksgiving marketing landscape and uncover the truth behind marketing at this time of year. From tear-jerker ads to retail hysteria, we explore why brands go one of two ways — heartfelt or frenzied — and which actually works. We share the campaigns that hit us in the feels… and the ones that missed the mashed potatoes entirely. 🦃 Each Duck also shares tw...
It’s our monthly Duck Debate… Thanksgiving style! 🍗🍂 This one is stuffed with opinions, laughter, and a few debates that may ruin family dinners forever. We're diving headfirst into holiday hot topics like: 🥧 Is pie really a Thanksgiving-worthy dessert? 🍎 Is apple picking totally overrated? 🍺 Should kids be allowed in breweries? 🦃 And which of these horrifying fake side dishes would YOU rather eat? 🎧 Listen to Duck Debate (Turkey Day Edition): Mini.
This week, we’re tapping into every sense—because great marketing isn’t just seen… it’s smelled, heard, tasted, and felt. Marketing is a full‑body experience, and today we prove it. Erin Campbell joins us for a wild episode where we talk: 🧠 How senses shape what consumers buy (and what brands are doing it well) 🦆 What the Duck: Are you ready for… ads on your fridge?! 🤫 The 5 Senses Blind Marketing Test: We’re blindfolded, trying to guess the brand using only our senses. This one is meant to...
It’s officially official — Duck Debate is now a monthly fixture, and this one might ruffle a few feathers. 🦆 In this episode, Ashley and Deanna dive beak-first into the hot takes and heated debates—from pumpkin spice overload and dogs in the bed to whether Taylor Swift is (gasp) overhyped. Oh, and did someone say ketchup smoothie? 💬 Agree with us? Think we’re completely unhinged? Either way, we want to know. Join the debate and drop your thoughts on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook @DucksUnpl...
In this spooktacular Halloween edition of Ducks Unplugged, we’re serving up creative costumes (with an outfit change!) and clever marketing insights. 👻 💀 We’re talking FEAR in marketing — how it motivates consumers and when it actually works (looking at you, Mayhem from Allstate). 🎵 In What the Duck, we ask: where have all the theme songs gone?! 🎃 Plus, we reveal our Halloween costumes inspired by one of our favorite podcasts and some iconic brands, talk about the companies that own Hallowee...
Owning your like factor — it’s not a weakness, it’s your superpower. 💪 This week, we’re getting real about why being likeable gets such a bad rap — and how it’s actually key to building authentic connections, winning over clients, and creating a culture people want to be part of long-term. We also break down the “like factor” of a few familiar faces and brands (some surprising takes ahead 👀), then wrap with our fast round of *Swipe Right or Swipe Left: Likeability Edition*. 🎧...
It’s official — by popular demand, Duck Debate is now a monthly thing! Plus, we’re spicing our Mini episodes up with a brand‑new segment: Marketing Hot Takes. This week, we’re diving into: 🍳 Cracker Barrel's flash-in-the-pan rebrand (pun...see what we did there?) 🍪 Are Crumbl Cookies overrated? 📚 Does listening to an audiobook count as reading? 👍 And the age‑old debate — is a thumb actually a finger? Spoiler alert: Deanna and Ashley surprisingly agree on most of this one (for once). But wha...
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