Todd Liles and the Wizard of Ads

Todd Liles

Welcome to Todd Liles and The Wizard of Ads, a podcast for business owners who want to become remarkable. Todd Liles will take you deep into the mind of Roy H. Williams, the Wizard of Ads, to unleash the timeless truths and secret strategies that have helped him build dozens of America's most successful businesses. Do you want to build a brand that wins the heart, captures the mind, and creates lasting relationships? Take a deep breath and buckle up. It's time to fly.

  1. How You Build Trust With Specific Language (And Lose It With Vague Words)

    JAN 29

    How You Build Trust With Specific Language (And Lose It With Vague Words)

    Most businesses don't lose trust because they lie. They lose trust because they speak in generalities. In this episode of Todd Liles and the Wizard of Ads, Todd and Roy focus on a single principle that shows up everywhere once you see it clearly: People believe what they can picture. Specific language creates belief. Vague language creates distance. This conversation breaks down why general statements feel safe to the speaker but suspicious to the listener, and why the smallest details often carry the most persuasion. This isn't about clever copy or creative tricks. It's about how the human brain decides what feels real. In this episode, you'll learn: Why vague language weakens trust, even when intentions are good How specific details activate imagination and belief Why "show, don't tell" is about language, not visuals How tense, perspective, and word choice change persuasion Why specificity feels risky but is always more effective How this principle applies to advertising, leadership, and sales Once you understand this, you'll start hearing the difference immediately, in ads, in conversations, and in your own messaging. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe, review, and share the show with a business owner who refuses to be ordinary. Because in business, the bold win—and the remarkable reign. 📌 Connect with Todd Liles: Website | Instagram | Linkedin 🔗 Full show notes and resources: www.toddliles.com/wizard

    18 min
  2. This Is Why Your Ads Are Being Ignored (and the "Rhinoceros" Fix)

    JAN 22

    This Is Why Your Ads Are Being Ignored (and the "Rhinoceros" Fix)

    Advertising isn't a test of logic—it's a battle for memory. In this episode, Todd Liles sits down with Roy H. Williams, the Wizard of Ads, to dismantle one of the most expensive mistakes business owners make: trying to be "clear" by over-explaining. If your audience has to think too hard to understand your message, they've already forgotten you. We dive into the difference between "Porcupine" ads that prick with too many points and "Rhinoceros" ads that leave a single, massive dent in the mind. In this episode, you'll learn: The False Comfort of Explanation: The reason making people "understand" your business is actually killing your persuasion. Accuracy vs. Effectiveness: How perfectly true ads can be perfectly forgettable. Rhinoceros vs. Porcupine Ads: The framework for making one powerful point that sticks instead of a thousand small points that irritate. The Complexity Trap: The direct link between a complicated message and a lack of customer belief. Memory Over Education: The reality that the job of an ad isn't to teach the customer, but to be remembered when they are ready to buy. Refinement over Reduction: Methods to simplify your message without "dumbing it down." If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe, review, and share the show with a business owner who refuses to be ordinary. Because in business, the bold win—and the remarkable reign. 📌 Connect with Todd Liles: Website | Instagram | Linkedin 🔗 Full show notes and resources: www.toddliles.com/wizard

    45 min
  3. The Discipline That Separates Smart Advertising From Wasted Money

    JAN 15

    The Discipline That Separates Smart Advertising From Wasted Money

    Most businesses don't fail because they spend too little on advertising. They fail because they spend without discipline. In this episode of Todd Liles & The Wizard of Ads, Todd Liles and Roy H. Williams dismantle one of the most dangerous myths in marketing: that bigger budgets automatically win. They explain why spreading money across too many channels kills momentum, why repetition matters more than reach, and how focused campaigns routinely outperform competitors spending four times as much. This is a grounded, practical conversation about: Why weak reach everywhere is worse than strong reach somewhere How discipline—not dollars—creates competitive advantage The law of diminishing returns in mass media Why money amplifies what already works (and magnifies what doesn't) How creative constraints produce better advertising When scaling spend actually makes results worse, not better If you've ever felt like your marketing should be working—but isn't—this episode will give you the clarity most business owners never get. This isn't about tricks. It's about understanding what actually moves markets. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe, review, and share the show with a business owner who refuses to be ordinary. Because in business, the bold win—and the remarkable reign. 📌 Connect with Todd Liles: Website | Instagram | Linkedin 🔗 Full show notes and resources: www.toddliles.com/wizard

    42 min
  4. The Hidden Psychology Behind Influence: What Separates Ethical Persuasion From Manipulation

    12/18/2025

    The Hidden Psychology Behind Influence: What Separates Ethical Persuasion From Manipulation

    Persuasion and manipulation can look identical from the outside. Same words. Same tone. Same delivery. So what's the real difference? In this episode of Todd Liles & The Wizard of Ads, Todd and Roy break down the hidden psychology behind influence — and reveal why intent is what separates ethical persuasion from manipulation. Roy explains how perception shapes reality, why people argue personal preferences like they're facts, and how confidence transfers from a communicator to an audience. Todd brings the operator's lens, grounding the conversation in leadership, sales, and everyday decision-making. This is not an episode about tactics. It's a conversation about human behavior, trust, and the responsibility that comes with having influence. In this episode, you'll learn: Why persuasion is ethical when rooted in sincere belief How manipulation exposes itself through insecurity and fear The mechanics of confidence transfer and why it works Why people don't buy facts — they buy meaning Why illusions reveal how the mind actually interprets reality How leaders must speak to perception, not just information How sincerity beats "cleverness" in long-term persuasion Why intent determines the moral weight of influence If you communicate, sell, teach, lead, or create, this episode will reshape the way you think about persuasion — and how people make decisions. If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe, review, and share the show with a business owner who refuses to be ordinary. Because in business, the bold win—and the remarkable reign. 📌 Connect with Todd Liles: Website | Instagram | Linkedin 🔗 Full show notes and resources: www.toddliles.com/wizard

    45 min
5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Welcome to Todd Liles and The Wizard of Ads, a podcast for business owners who want to become remarkable. Todd Liles will take you deep into the mind of Roy H. Williams, the Wizard of Ads, to unleash the timeless truths and secret strategies that have helped him build dozens of America's most successful businesses. Do you want to build a brand that wins the heart, captures the mind, and creates lasting relationships? Take a deep breath and buckle up. It's time to fly.

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