The Takeaway: Unscripted

The season one finale ends with a few final thoughts on Elon the entertainer. A few marketing buzzwords Chike and Harrison are placing on the naughty list in the new year. And a few final comments on the trends discussed in the inaugural episode from a year ago. Because strategists should be as eager to amend their opinions as they are to voice them. Happy holidays to all and to all a good last listen.Thanks from everyone here at The Takeaway for your support this year! Audio editing by Alex Forster. Artwork by Zoe Munson. Music by Glow Mechanics.

After letting the acquisition sink in for a bit, Chike and Harrison discuss the future scenarios of the blue-check bird. Before positing what, if any, effect Apple's latest advertising platform will have on consumers. Before finally shifting gears to talk about the reputation of the advertising industry. Advertising - both the invisible economy underwriting creativity today and the (un)necessary evil interrupting consumers at every turn. Chike and Harrison touch on the record high ad annoyance and avoidance rates today, the maze of mistakes that has led to them, and how marketers and brands can get themselves back into consumer's good graces by acknowledging the reputation we've helped create. Audio editing by Alex Forster. Artwork by Zoe Munson. Music by Glow Mechanics.  

Takeaway hosts Chike and Harrison riff on Walmart's latest venture into the Metaverse, the power of OOH, and the latest QSR beef (pun intended). Before discussing how institutional distrust has heightened expectations for brands today. Coined the Branded Justice Society of America. The Takeaway unpacks the growing demand for brands to step in and improve societal issues. The challenges that come with living up to that expectation during economic hardships. And how marketers can strike the balance between profit and purpose. Audio editing by Alex Forster. Artwork by Zoe Munson. Music by Glow Mechanics.

Chike and Harrison give their unsolicited opinions on some recent brand acts from PacSun, Patrón, and Adidas. Before diving into two titans of effectiveness: relevance and differentiation. Can a piece of creative, a holistic campaign, or an entire company do both in today's marketing landscape? And if so, how can your brand's DNA, position in the category, and media approach help you balance the two successfully? Audio editing by Alex Forster. Artwork by Zoe Munson. Music by Glow Mechanics.

Chike and Harrison dive into how influencers are being used effectively in media today. Discuss some of the narratives working against them. And how brands can get it right more often.Audio editing by Alex Forster. Artwork by Zoe Munson. Music by Glow Mechanics.

Chike and Harrison discuss Netflix's recent fall in the stock market, the larger relationship between marketing and financial markets, and the pressure it puts on long term branding.Audio editing by Alex Forster. Artwork by Zoe Munson. Music by Glow Mechanics.

Chike and Harrison dive into the Metaverse. Discussing key issues that brands and marketers should consider before doing the same. Issues like access, self expression, and mobile web fidelity. (A point ironically emphasized by a small WiFi glitch in the first few minutes of this recording - thanks Spectrum.) To accountability, ownership, and the fallacy of a decentralized experience.Finally, they review recent brand activations in the space with a simple filter that works just as well in the virtual world as it does in the real one. Are you solving a problem?Audio editing by Alex Forster. Artwork by Zoe Munson. Music by Glow Mechanics.

Essence Strategists Chike Ume and Harrison Awe dive into the holy document known to all marketers as  "the cultural calendar" - discussing how service months and other cultural moments are used and abused by brands today. Before sharing why they believe better brand and business results come from a persistent commitment to communities rather than chasing dates on the calendar. Audio editing by Alex Forster. Artwork by Zoe Munson. Music by Glow Mechanics.

Chike and Harrison dig into losing strategies - such as the auto industry's electric sea of sameness, knee-jerk nostalgia-ism, and treating a Super Bowl spot as a fully baked media plan. Followed by celebrating the biggest winners - like the (albeit immeasurable) conversations Planters created in living rooms across America, the halftime show, and brand's willingness to break the rules on historic best practices. Before finally discussing the role and impact of the Super Bowl moment itself. And whether it still matters to the marketplace or just to marketers.Audio editing by Alex Forster. Artwork by Zoe Munson. Music by Glow Mechanics.

Chike and Harrison talk Twitter's new "Tweet it into existence" campaign. Prada using Jeff Goldblum to market in Milan (and why more brands should focus on marketing to folks his age). And the effects of behavioral targeting's presence on the Senate floor. All before giving their quick fire opinions on 2022 trends and which, if any, are worthy of your resources.Audio editing by Alex Forster. Artwork by Zoe Munson. Music by Glow Mechanics. 

Chike and Harrison get meta with oak milk, discuss how brands like Bumble are embracing the negatives of their category to make more category-defining work, and dig into the many tentacles of Squid Game spin-offs in this week's edition of The Takeaway Unscripted.  Audio editing by Alex Forster.Artwork by Zoe Munson. Music by Glow Mechanics.  

Essence's Chike Ume and Harrison Awe share their thoughts on the great re-evaluation affecting the US job market today, debate what "social media" means when all media is social, and dig into some atypical marketing moves from Crockpot and Balenciaga in this week's episode of The TakeAway Unscripted. Content inspired by Steph Rickards and Hilary Maloney, authors of The Blue Market (article available on EssenceGlobal.com)Audio editing by Alex Forster. Artwork by Zoe Munson. Music by Glow Mechanics.