Embracing Marketing Mistakes

Prohibition PR
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  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Embracing Marketing Mistakes, the world’s leading irreverent podcast for senior marketers who are tired of the polished corporate b*llshit.  Join Chris Norton and Will Ockenden, founders of the award-winning Prohibition PR, as they sit down with industry leaders to dissect the career-ending f*ck-ups they’d rather forget. The show moves past any pretty vanity metrics to uncover the brutal, honest truths behind marketing disasters, from £30,000 SEO black holes and completely failed companies, to social media crises that went globally viral for all the wrong reasons. We don't just celebrate the f*ck-ups; we extract the tactical blueprints you need to avoid them yourself. If you are a business owner, or a CMO looking for a competitive advantage that only comes from real-world experience, this is your weekly masterclass in resilience and strategy. Listen for: Raw stories from top brands, ex-McKinsey strategists, and industry disruptors.Learn from: The errors that cost thousands and the recoveries that saved careers.Get ahead by: Turning other people's nasty disasters into your unfair market advantage. If you have a story to tell and would like to appear on the show, tell us your biggest marketing mistake and drop us a line.

  1. 11H AGO

    Too Many Topics, Too Few Clients: David's YouTube Marketing Mistake

    David thought his YouTube channel was flying tens of thousands of views, rapid growth, big smiles all round. But behind the buzz was a costly mistake. By turning his finance channel into a jumble of lifestyle, language and fitness videos, he confused his audience and killed his conversions.  In this episode, David joins Chris Norton and Will Ockenden to share how he turned his “carnival channel” fail into a business lesson every marketer needs to hear. Discover why more views don’t mean more clients and how clarity beats clicks every time. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host: 👉 [Book your call with Chris now] 👈 Subscribe to our newsletter 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter here. 👈  Follow Chris: X, TikTok, LinkedIn Follow Will: LinkedIn Follow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram

    8 min

  2. 2D AGO ·  VIDEO

    EP 109: The Tweet That Broke Yorkshire Tea with Dom Dwight

    Dom Dwight joins Embracing Marketing Mistakes to share the reality of building a challenger brand that people genuinely care about. Across 18 years at Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate, Dom helped turn Yorkshire Tea into one of the UK’s most loved brands by backing creative risk, trusting people and stripping out layers of sign-off. In this episode, he talks candidly about the resistance that comes with brave marketing decisions, the value of long-term agency relationships and why safe ideas often create the biggest risk. The conversation also goes deep on social media mistakes, political pile-ons and the moment a single tweet spiralled into days of backlash, memes and headlines. This is an honest look at autonomy, humour and accountability when a brand finds itself in the spotlight. Dom Dwight spent nearly two decades shaping Yorkshire Tea’s brand voice and advertising, starting as a creative copywriter and later leading its early move into social media. He played a central role in the brand’s long-running, award-winning work with Lucky Generals and is now working independently, helping ambitious brands build culture-led marketing that resonates with real people. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host: 👉 [Book your call with Chris now] 👈 Subscribe to our newsletter 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter here. 👈  Follow Chris: X, TikTok, LinkedIn Follow Will: LinkedIn Follow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram

    52 min

  3. APR 30

    The Expensive Mistake of Starting a Shop You Don’t Believe In

    What happens when you pour your heart and money into a business you’re not truly passionate about? In this episode, we hear the candid story of Louise, who launched a bricks-and-mortar craft shop while juggling three kids and a career in IT project management. She opens up about: Growing up in an entrepreneurial family in Northern IrelandWhy she started a business that never really aligned with her interestsThe hard lessons she learned running a shop with no profitThe turning point when a mentor helped her see her real talent: social mediaHow following that spark led her to a business she genuinely lovesIt’s a raw, relatable conversation about the risks of chasing the wrong business, the importance of passion, and the power of pivoting when things don’t work out. If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re on the right business path or how to recognize when it’s time to change direction this episode is for you. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host: 👉 [Book your call with Chris now] 👈 Subscribe to our newsletter 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter here. 👈  Follow Chris: X, TikTok, LinkedIn Follow Will: LinkedIn Follow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram

    6 min

  4. APR 28

    EP 108: Why 95% Of Buying Happens On Autopilot

    Most marketers believe customers think carefully before they buy. Behavioural science shows that 95% of buying happens on autopilot, driven by subconscious shortcuts rather than logic. In this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, Nancy Harhut explains why framing, anchoring and presentation matter more than information. She shares real examples where small changes doubled results without changing the product. Nancy is the author of Using Behavioural Science in Marketing and founder of HBT Marketing. She has spent decades helping brands apply psychology and neuroscience to real campaigns, translating academic research into practical tactics that increase response and preference. This is a practical conversation for senior marketers who want better ROI without chasing discounts or gimmicks. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host: 👉 [Book your call with Chris now] 👈 Subscribe to our newsletter 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter here. 👈  Follow Chris: X, TikTok, LinkedIn Follow Will: LinkedIn Follow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram

    56 min

  5. APR 23

    The Weight We Carry: Authenticity and Mental Wellbeing in Corporate Life

    Mental health neglect emerges as the most impactful career mistake, affecting happiness, security, and stability in both personal and professional realms. Many people recognise mental health issues too late, silently carrying burdens that significantly impact their relationships and performance. Authentic Alex shares her story. • Tendency to ignore mental health concerns until they become impossible to dismiss • Personal anecdote about a friend struggling silently despite having a busy career • Started writing about therapy experiences seven years ago, and grief on LinkedIn five years ago • Corporate conversations about mental health have transformed dramatically in recent years • Current global circumstances continue to place extraordinary pressure on people's mental health • Many remain unaware of the burdens they're carrying and that they have the option to set them down • COVID-19 intensified universal experiences of grief and mental health challenges Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host: 👉 [Book your call with Chris now] 👈 Subscribe to our newsletter 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter here. 👈  Follow Chris: X, TikTok, LinkedIn Follow Will: LinkedIn Follow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram

    3 min

  6. APR 21

    EP 107: Award-winning ads stopped driving growth says Steve Harrison

    Steve Harrison has spent over 40 years in advertising. He rose to Creative Director at Ogilvy, then founded Harrison Troughton Wunderman, building one of the most awarded direct marketing agencies in the world and winning 18 Cannes Lions. In this episode, Steve argues the industry lost effectiveness when it stopped focusing on selling and started chasing societal impact. He explains why award-winning work stopped delivering commercial results and why purpose messaging rarely stuck with consumers. Steve also shares a personal leadership mistake. After selling his agency, he took a global role that cost him day-to-day control and real influence, a lesson many senior marketers will recognise. This is a direct conversation about effectiveness, growth, and why selling the product matters again. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host: 👉 [Book your call with Chris now] 👈 Subscribe to our newsletter 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter here. 👈  Follow Chris: X, TikTok, LinkedIn Follow Will: LinkedIn Follow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram

    46 min

  7. APR 16

    What Losing a £10K Tape Taught This BBC Journalist

    Veteran tech journalist Spencer doesn’t hold back in this refreshingly honest episode filled with media mishaps and marketing missteps. From confidently predicting the iPad would never take off to losing £10,000 worth of BBC footage in a single stairwell accident, Spencer shares the kind of hard-earned lessons that come from real-world chaos. It’s a funny, cringe-worthy, and surprisingly relatable look at how fast things can go wrong behind the scenes. You’ll hear what really happens when promised access on international press trips disappears on arrival, why having your PR contact on the same flight matters more than you'd think, and how a nonexistent motion-sensing TV led to an awkward bamboo laptop diversion. Whether you're in PR, media, or tech, this episode is a sharp reminder that mistakes are inevitable. They are also where the best stories usually begin. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host: 👉 [Book your call with Chris now] 👈 Subscribe to our newsletter 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter here. 👈  Follow Chris: X, TikTok, LinkedIn Follow Will: LinkedIn Follow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram

    8 min

  8. APR 10

    EP 106: Ant Cousins Explains Why Handing Empathy to AI Almost Went Wrong

    In this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes features Ant Cousins unpacking a moment where trusting AI with empathy nearly caused real harm. Ant Cousins is Vice President of Product at Meltwater and has spent over 25 years working across defence, public safety and AI. He previously advised the UK Ministry of Defence in Iraq and Afghanistan, worked in counterterrorism and strategic communications, and later led AI efforts to combat misinformation. Broadcasted live, the conversation captures the unfiltered reality of how AI decisions play out under pressure. Ant draws on experience from defence, counterterrorism and modern AI product leadership to explain why empathy is one area where automation still struggles. From deepfakes and crisis communications to a powerful real-world incident involving emergency response, this live discussion shows both the value of AI and its limits. The key lesson is about responsibility, judgement and knowing when human intervention must stay firmly in place. This episode is essential listening for senior marketers, comms leaders and anyone using AI in sensitive or high-risk situations. Is your strategy still right in 2026? Book a free 15-min no obligation discovery call with our host: 👉 [Book your call with Chris now] 👈 Subscribe to our newsletter 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter here. 👈  Follow Chris: X, TikTok, LinkedIn Follow Will: LinkedIn Follow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram

    1h 4m
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Trailers

About

Welcome to Embracing Marketing Mistakes, the world’s leading irreverent podcast for senior marketers who are tired of the polished corporate b*llshit.  Join Chris Norton and Will Ockenden, founders of the award-winning Prohibition PR, as they sit down with industry leaders to dissect the career-ending f*ck-ups they’d rather forget. The show moves past any pretty vanity metrics to uncover the brutal, honest truths behind marketing disasters, from £30,000 SEO black holes and completely failed companies, to social media crises that went globally viral for all the wrong reasons. We don't just celebrate the f*ck-ups; we extract the tactical blueprints you need to avoid them yourself. If you are a business owner, or a CMO looking for a competitive advantage that only comes from real-world experience, this is your weekly masterclass in resilience and strategy. Listen for: Raw stories from top brands, ex-McKinsey strategists, and industry disruptors.Learn from: The errors that cost thousands and the recoveries that saved careers.Get ahead by: Turning other people's nasty disasters into your unfair market advantage. If you have a story to tell and would like to appear on the show, tell us your biggest marketing mistake and drop us a line.

Information

  • Creator
    Prohibition PR
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    166
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Embracing Marketing Mistakes
  • Show Website
    Embracing Marketing Mistakes

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