Marketing & Advertising
214 episodes · 2018–2021 · 77 debates · 90 pieces of advice · 144 stories · 175 quotes
The Daily Talk Show — Australia’s daily podcast, hosted by Tommy Jackett and Josh Janssen — discussed marketing & advertising across 214 of its 1,022 daily episodes between 2018 and 2021. This page collects what was actually said: 175 verbatim quotes, 90 pieces of advice, 144 stories told on air, 77 on-air debates, each linked to the exact moment in the episode and on YouTube.
Where they stand
Moments where the table disagreed, straight from the transcripts.
Is skeptical of the weed business boom, comparing the hype to crypto and startup culture and criticizing how it's become over-commercialized ('Los Angeles-fied').
Draws a parallel to flavored alcohol products (spritzers, Saintly) as a similar commercial trend, without strongly endorsing or condemning it.
Says he would still say no to putting a paid decal or full wrap advertisement on his car, calling it 'toy' (old-fashioned/tacky).
Previously tried to get a full-wrap deal for the show and asks whether Tommy would reconsider now, seemingly more open to the idea.
If the quality is high enough, people will wear promo merch regardless of brand affinity, citing his CodePen hoodie and the Frame.io t-shirt.
Most giveaway merch is low-quality and only worn out of necessity when someone has run out of clean clothes, though a minority of brands produce genuinely good merch.
Argues the most important charities don't necessarily win funding; those with the best marketing and storytelling (e.g., expensive VR experiences, galas) raise the most money, and that spending on marketing can be justified by the impact achieved.
Agrees that charities with better advertising and marketing effectively 'win' in fundraising terms, illustrated by the failed but highly-publicized merry-go-round water pump charity.
Argues the industry is entitled, failed to adapt or serve listeners, and is now asking for money rather than demonstrating value, comparing it to a business that was already broken before COVID.
Agrees, mocking the appeal sarcastically and comparing it to historical cheap Foxtel trial deals from door-to-door salespeople.
Wants to step back from the effort of maintaining/recovering his personal Instagram and Facebook, preferring to focus time on making video content regardless of where it's distributed, and isn't ready to commit to a firm new strategy yet.
Pushes for a clear, decisive strategic plan on why and how they'd move away from social media, worried that an undefined 'feeling' of being done with Instagram isn't itself a business strategy.
Jokingly endorses the old saying that any publicity, even negative, is good publicity.
Disagrees professionally, arguing negative publicity can genuinely damage a brand.
Prefers to stay anonymous and apolitical, believing personal opinions and personalities are already overcrowded in media and that The Daily Aus should remain an objective, truth-telling model.
Suggests that building personal brand and 'getting themselves out there' might actually be a secret weapon for growth, citing the idea that 'people follow people.'
Feels whisky has more depth and sophistication as a drink identity than gin, calling it more of a 'wise' or older choice.
Associates gin with sophistication (citing Jason Fox) and floats being the 'fruity guy' as his own gin-based personal brand.
Wants a higher-quality, better-branded megaphone to keep long-term rather than the generic unbranded Officeworks one.
Finds the lack of branding on the current megaphone appealing and questions why a 'more serious' version is needed.
Suggests CommBank's app is the closest traditional bank to being good at technology.
Argues CommBank is good at marketing but only okay at technology, and that almost no banks globally (aside from exceptions like BBVA and DBS) are genuinely good at technology because it's treated as a cost centre rather than a core capability.
Initially states the agreed terms were that small PayPal donors do not get a read/mention on the megaphone.
Clarifies that after George's ad, the rule became that anyone donating over $5 gets a mention over the megaphone.
Advice from the show
all 90pieces →What was actually said, attributed and linked to the moment.
How can you tell if promotional merch is worth wearing?
Judge promotional clothing by its material quality rather than brand affinity — genuinely high-quality items (like a comfortable hoodie or tee) get worn regularly even without an emotional connection to the brand, while cheap giveaway tees end up ignored until you run out of clean clothes.
How should talent/influencers approach branded content deals?
Matty advises that branded content needs to give viewers something in return—either real informative value or genuine entertainment—since audiences have become savvy and turned off by purely promotional posts.
Should you use the same trimmer on your face and your pubic area?
Tommy suggests it's better to use a premium dedicated product like the Manscaped trimmer for sensitive areas rather than using the same shaver for both face and groin, noting the Manscaped tool is designed to prevent nicking in sensitive regions.
How do you handle unwanted PR gifts or freebies as a public figure?
Get taken off PR mailing lists if possible, and when gifts arrive unsolicited, be honest that you don't need or want them and suggest donating to charity rather than accepting out of obligation; if you want something, just buy it yourself.
How do you approach a big idea without being crushed by fear of failure?
Lead brainstorming with the question 'what if it does work?' rather than starting from risk and downside, since beginning with infinite possibility produces more inspired, effective ideation than starting from fear of reputational or financial risk.
How do I know if a compact mattress-in-a-box is good quality?
Don't assume a mattress that compresses into a small box is inferior; according to Josh, Sleep Republic's compact packaging actually comes with a higher-quality product, including dense pocket springs and solid edge support.
What should I look for when buying a bed/mattress size?
Tommy recommends always getting a king-size bed, even in a small apartment, on the principle that the bedroom should be about 80% filled by the bed for maximum comfort.
How should a creator figure out what content to focus on?
Start by asking what you enjoy doing most and what will bring you the most joy, then work out who you're creating for — once you have a clear sense of audience, everything else about the content strategy becomes easier.
How should a small business find its brand voice when writing website copy?
Don't outsource your voice to someone else — start writing as yourself first, then have someone review it, rather than trying to imitate another brand's tone.
Why is it worth using a specialist accountant/trust structure for a small business?
Josh explains that as a business grows from a simple ABN/sole trader setup, it's worth layering in structures like trusts and partnerships with professional advice, as their accountants at RBK caught costly issues (like an unlodged tax return and carried losses) that would have been expensive if missed.
What's a key tip for roasting a whole chicken?
Season the cavity of the chicken, not just the outside, and use whole garlic cloves along with onion wedges as a roasting base.
What should brands without an existing community focus on first?
Prioritise building a genuinely great product before investing heavily in community-building, since a strong product naturally attracts a loyal following.
How do you keep an overwhelming group chat manageable during a big production?
Expect to fall behind on individual chats; prioritise speaking out loud over reading every comment, and read comments only when they're important rather than scanning constantly while trying to talk.
How should a brand approach content creation and social media?
Content must stay relevant and meaningful to the brand's core DNA and mission rather than chasing generic trends or memes; every post should reflect the brand's positioning and tone of voice consistently.
What should you wear if you struggle to decide on formal outfits?
Get one semi-formal suit you can always rely on and wear repeatedly rather than stressing over new outfit choices each time.
How should creators decide whether to sell products or promote business during a crisis?
It's fine to sell products or services during a crisis if it means keeping employees on and the business running, but using the crisis purely to profiteer (e.g., marking up essential goods or exploiting fear in marketing) crosses a line.
How should I approach a product or book launch during a crisis?
Treat the launch as a start line rather than a finish line by committing to a long-term (e.g. 12-month) marketing effort, define an early 'win' condition so you can celebrate regardless of short-term results, and experiment with creative campaign ideas rather than relying only on launch-week hype.
How does the 'Tiny Habits' method suggest building new habits?
Forget willpower and big resolutions; make the new habit tiny, find where it fits naturally into your existing routine, and let it grow from there.
How do you fix your Instagram handle so people can find you by name?
Update your display name (not just your @handle) to your actual name, since Instagram search matches on display name, not handle.
Is it better to release more original content or pad out fewer episodes with extra clips?
Release original content as frequently as possible (even multiple times a day) rather than inflating numbers by splitting one episode into multiple clips or 'best bits,' which misleads on true audience size.
What should an organisation naming an industry-wide ranking system be careful of?
Don't use a generic, all-encompassing name (like 'Australian Podcast Ranker') unless the product actually represents the whole industry it claims to speak for—otherwise rename it to reflect its actual limited scope.
How can a busy freelancer/entrepreneur free up time for creative work?
Gemma recommends delegating incoming requests (e.g., forwarding or CC'ing a manager on Instagram/blog-related messages) so administrative tasks are handled by someone else, freeing up personal time for higher-value creative work.
Is it okay to call someone out publicly for their actions or affiliations?
If you're willing to call someone out, be ready to be called out yourself and be ready to be wrong — owning mistakes and having the conversation transparently is more powerful than being unwilling to engage.
How should radio hosts/producers handle mentioning brands or businesses in stories to avoid advertiser conflicts?
Avoid naming specific brands when telling potentially negative stories (e.g., finding something wrong in food) — instruct callers and hosts to say generic terms like "a burger place" instead of the actual brand name.
Stories told on air
1,000-episode recap video
Ep 10009:51George Martin's edited video runs through stats and highlights across 1,000 episodes: total minutes/hours, guest counts, COVID remote shows, a 24-hour livestream, breakdowns, and milestone moments like meeting Seth Godin and building the studio.
told by George Martin (narrated by Mason Lauder)
Josh recounts trying to organize a golf game with Scooter Derek, who gives confusing percentage-based commitment answers before eventually confirming once he finds his golf clubs in the back of his factory.
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy recounts a small, old car dealership called Tiny Town that refused to sell its corner lot despite major redevelopment around it, and now reportedly profits from billboard rental income.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh and Tommy planned a trip to LA to sell podcast sponsorships using a CPM-based pitch, personally funding flights for themselves and Mason on a credit card, but the sponsorship push generated zero dollars despite producing episodes with guests including Matt D'Avella and Tully.
told by Josh Janssen and Tommy Jackett
Tommy recounts being paid to appear on camera in front of a green screen for an app intended to read QR codes, backed by someone who invested about $200K, which ultimately failed as smartphones made the app redundant.
told by Tommy Jackett
Matty describes filming an awkward, candid dance video with Laura at a crowded Bondi Beach during a heatwave, with onlookers including a wedding party reacting with confusion.
told by Matty
A replayed vlog recounts how for episode 880 the hosts pushed their usual 'uncomfortable' format in reverse, unboxing and setting up new Sleep Republic mattresses and recording a live episode lying in bed, joking about pants and comfort.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh recounts how his Manscaped ball trimmer accidentally turned on during a home-office meeting while Bree's boss was visiting for a post-lockdown meeting, ending with the trimmer plugged into the boss's laptop USB port to charge.
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy recounts a celebrity-endorsed charity that installed merry-go-rounds in African villages designed to pump water as children played, which received huge funding and praise but failed because children got tired, forcing elderly women to operate the pumps instead.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh recounts posting an enthusiastic Instagram review of McDonald's 'Create Your Taste' menu, only to discover roughly six weeks later via Hamish Blake that his post had been used by McDonald's marketing team as example customer feedback at a corporate event.
told by Josh Janssen
Hamish recounts running into an old boxing trainer from a now-closed Richmond gym who insisted on giving him and Zoe branded merch jumpers despite Hamish repeatedly declining, illustrating the awkwardness of unsolicited gifting.
told by Hamish Blake
Josh describes his surprise at how small the mattress box was, his nervous anticipation based on videos of mattresses 'exploding' when unwrapped, and the anticlimactic but satisfying process of it expanding, followed by Bree making the bed immediately after.
told by Josh Janssen
Tommy finds a large bottle of branded hand sanitiser in his letterbox, left by the real estate agent who sold his property, and investigates its origin, comparing it to the agent's earlier handwritten-letter marketing stunt.
told by Tommy Jackett
Josh describes creating a simple tree logo in 30 seconds before a meeting at Envato, and his manager praising it as something an agency would charge $50,000 for.
told by Josh Janssen
Phoebe created a fake publicist identity and email to pitch a story about her own hunt for a UK-exclusive Cadbury pineapple lumps chocolate bar, which was picked up by the Daily Mail and went global, generating publicity for her podcast.
told by Phoebe Parsons
Tommy describes dealing with an ant problem in the office kitchen, including the philosophy of not wanting to kill ants, buying Ant Rid, and the resulting 'kill the queen, kill the nest' office joke.
told by Tommy Jackett
A boilermaker/plumber quoting Seth Godin for home work left a list of 8 past customers' names and numbers for Seth to call as references, winning the job instantly without Seth needing to call anyone.
told by Tim Reid
George reveals his mum, who runs a bookshop, sent the team gifts again — this time tea for Josh and Jess and a jar of Byron Bay peanut butter for Tommy and the office, continuing a running bit about Tommy feeling overlooked compared to Josh.
told by George Martin
In their words
“I filled it right up to the top as well with a fresh bag. I fucked up.”
“But, um, the total amount from the sponsorships equaled to $0.”
“No pay, no say, which is, which is fair.”
“On the back of the shirt, It just has this huge thing that says, "Your balls will thank you," in large text. Large.”
“People love that awkwardness.”
“80% bedroom is 80% bed.”
“Your balls will thank you.”
“If I want, like, you know, there's probably $8 of value in these sauces here.”
“Post 4 words, I mean are you, tag P&G, tag Unilever. The hashtag is #thankyoutotheworld.”
“I'm not fucking moving.”
“I think that this is the classic case of your business was fucked before COVID Is it that you've broken your leg and you're trying to limp it, you're trying to just walk it off?”
“I think that probably the biggest, the biggest challenge is having a personal brand that's not a niche, because then you— then what are you doing?”
“What does it say to you, JJ, the, the 30 minutes before a presentation that swayed a manager to think you're the— you're actually a reincarnation of God himself?”
“I've called the Daily Mail on myself before to get my podcast out there, and it works.”
“My view on all this is from the perception of a pretty shallow suburban bogan at the time.”
“All publicity is good publicity.”
“We just literally had a chat about what was going on for them and how they were feeling... but I think majority, I would say it was 80% escapism and light and fun.”
“Sorry to tell you guys, but you are going to get wrinkles.”