Speaking Human

MONSTERS Unlimited
  • 5.0 (9)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Bimonthly

Simplifying the Marketing World for Humans. Speaking Human is hosted by Patrick Jebber and Shad Connelly from MONSTERS Unlimited, a Creative Agency with a Business Brain. Learn more at speakinghuman.com

  1. 1d ago

    #208: World Cup Winners & Losers

    The Short Summary: We blow the final whistle on the 2026 World Cup and hand out our unofficial awards for the biggest winners and losers in marketing, branding, advertising, and sponsorships. Show Notes: Get more information at SpeakingHuman.com Search Keyword(s): Episode 208 The Long-Winded Description:In this episode of Speaking Human, we blow the final whistle on the 2026 World Cup—not by debating goals, saves, or questionable officiating, but by naming some of the tournament’s biggest marketing winners and losers. From global sponsors spending enormous sums to claim a piece of the spotlight to unofficial brands finding creative ways around FIFA’s tightly controlled partnership rules, we explore the advertising, branding, and promotional efforts that scored big, missed the net, or got completely lost in the crowd. Along the way, we discuss official sponsors, banned brands, ambush marketing, generic soccer fever, celebrity appearances, national identities, and the challenge of standing out during one of the largest sporting events on the planet. Which brands made the most of the moment? Which campaigns tried a little too hard? And who deserves to lift the completely imaginary Speaking Human World Cup Marketing Trophy? It’s a conversation about soccer balls, sponsorship dollars, marketing fouls, branding brilliance, and what happens when nearly every company in the world suddenly wants to become a soccer brand. Find current and past episodes of the podcast at SpeakingHuman.com.

  2. Jun 12

    #207: McGruff & Most Memorable PSAs

    The Short Summary: We take a bite out of crime with McGruff, revisit the PSAs that scared themselves into our brains, and ask whether old-school public service messaging still works today. Show Notes: Get more information at SpeakingHuman.com Search Keyword(s): Episode 207 The Long-Winded Description: In this episode of Speaking Human, we sniff out whether McGruff the Crime Dog’s cartoon crime-fighting tactics still hold up — and revisit the public service announcements that scared, inspired, and permanently lodged themselves in our brains. From “Take a Bite Out of Crime” to “This is your brain on drugs,” “The More You Know,” Smokey Bear, crash test dummies, and late-night reminders about where your children are, we look back at the PSAs that turned simple messages into cultural memories. Along the way, we talk about mascots, fear tactics, catchy slogans, celebrity sincerity, and why some public service campaigns become unforgettable while others disappear like a forgotten after-school special. It’s a conversation about crime dogs, frying pans, shooting stars, safety messaging, and the strange power of marketing that tells you what not to do. Find current and past episodes of the podcast at SpeakingHuman.com.

  3. May 3

    #206: Uncool Bands & Uncool Brands

    The Short Summary: We crank up the amps to analyze how bands like Nickelback, Creed, and Bush—as well as a couple once-hot brands—went from cultural domination to punchline status. Show Notes: Get more information at SpeakingHuman.com Search Keyword(s): Episode 206 The Long-Winded Description: In this episode of Speaking Human, we crank up the amps to look at how bands like Creed, Nickelback, and Bush went from dominating radios, CD collections, and MTV-fueled memories to becoming shorthand for “uncool.” We break down what changed, why the backlash hit, and whether nostalgia has started turning the tide. Along the way, we compare these bands to brands that followed similar paths — the once-hot names that became easy targets, only to find their way back into public affection… or at least ironic appreciation. It’s a conversation about popularity, taste, backlash, branding, and why culture loves building things up almost as much as it loves tearing them down. Find current and past episodes of the podcast at SpeakingHuman.com.

  4. Apr 5

    #205: Cringiest Pharma Commercials

    The Short Summary: We tip off a March Madness–style bracket to determine which pharmaceutical commercial deserves the crown as the cringiest ad on TV. Show Notes: Get more information at SpeakingHuman.com Search Keyword(s): Episode 205 The Long-Winded Description: What happens when you take the absurdly catchy jingles, forced cheerfulness, and side-effect speed-reading of pharmaceutical advertising… and turn it into a bracket competition? In this episode of Speaking Human, Patrick and Shad launch their own March Madness–style tournament to crown the most cringe-worthy pharma commercial, pitting unforgettable ad offenders like Ozempic, Jardiance, Skyrizi, and Humira against each other in a battle for awkward supremacy. From earworm jingles to aggressively upbeat storytelling about deeply unpleasant medical conditions, the hosts break down what makes these spots so strange, so memorable, and so impossible to escape. Along the way, they debate which ads are merely annoying, which cross the line into full-blown marketing madness, and why pharmaceutical brands seem uniquely gifted at making viewers cringe while still burning their product names into our brains forever. It’s catchy. It’s uncomfortable. It’s disturbingly effective. And yes, someone gets crowned champion.

  5. Mar 6

    #204: Burying the Decaying Corpse of Super Bowl Advertising

    The Short Summary: We exhume the bloated remains of this year’s Super Bowl commercials to argue whether the biggest night in advertising has flatlined for good. Show Notes: Get more information at SpeakingHuman.com Search Keyword(s): Episode 204 The Long-Winded Description: Are Super Bowl commercials still the pinnacle of advertising—or has the biggest night in marketing finally flatlined? In this episode of Speaking Human, Patrick and Shad dig into the bloated remains of Super Bowl 60’s ad lineup to debate whether the cultural moment of Super Bowl advertising is dying… or just in desperate need of resuscitation. What started as a completely different podcast recording quickly spiraled into a heated post-game analysis of this year’s commercials and whether they still deliver the creativity, excitement, and cultural buzz they once did. Along the way, the hosts each crown their best and worst ads of the Bowl, including a surprisingly tasty sandwich moment from Hellmann’s and a nostalgia-packed Dunkin’ cameo-fest that may have finally broken the celebrity marketing algorithm.

  6. Feb 20

    #203: Cold-Weather Brands

    Winter is brutal. Unless you’re a brand built for it. This week, we spotlight the companies that thrive when the temperature drops. From mountaineering gear turned fashion staple with The North Face, to the merino evangelism of Smartwool, to the emotional insulation of Swiss Miss, we unpack why some brands don’t just endure winter—they own it.  If you’ve ever looked forward to a season because of a product, this one’s for you. Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com. #Podcast #SpeakingHuman #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #MarketingPodcast #WinterBrands #BusinessHumans

  7. 12/29/2025

    #202: Battle of the AI Ads

    We prompt a showdown between recent commercials from AI power players ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini—and crown the spot that comes out on top. Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com. #200 #Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #AI #Tech #ChatGPT #Claude #Anthropic #Google #Gemini

  8. 11/28/2025

    #201: Terrifying Turkey Day Tech Gifts You Never Asked For

    We stuff Thanksgiving with the latest technology — spotlighting humanoid helpers, robot-laced footwear, and the delightfully deranged inventions nobody ever asked to unwrap. Get show notes for this episode and check out past episodes of the Speaking Human podcast by visiting speakinghuman.com. #200 #Podcast #SpeakingHuman #VO #Branding #Marketing #Advertising #Business #SmallBiz #Brands #Ads #simplify #popculture #art #Brands #Thanksgiving #Tech #Products #Gifts #MindThundering #Brainstorming

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5
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Simplifying the Marketing World for Humans. Speaking Human is hosted by Patrick Jebber and Shad Connelly from MONSTERS Unlimited, a Creative Agency with a Business Brain. Learn more at speakinghuman.com

Information

  • Creator
    MONSTERS Unlimited
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    217
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright MONSTERS Unlimited
  • Show Website
    Speaking Human