Episodes

  • Basketball shoe commercials: Air Jordans, Converse, and Reebok
    Mar 30 2026

    This is about basketball shoes and the journey we've gone through as a society to find the perfect sneaker for the sport. Hear how Nike, Converse, and Reebok battled it out on the court.

    "It's game time! Get your Hanes on, lace up your Nikes, grab your Wheaties and your Gatorade, and we'll pick up a Big Mac on the way to the ballpark." -Newman from Space Jam

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 8 mins
  • Santa Commercials: Norelco, Coca-Cola, and Cheese
    Dec 24 2025

    Ho Ho Ho! Just in time for the holidays, it's our annual Christmas episode. We've dedicated it to the big man himself, Santa Claus! We're looking at how the jolly magic man/third century saint has been portrayed by your favorite brands including Norelco, Coca-Cola, and...the dairy industry. Grab some milk and cookies and listen to this festive episode!


    Video links:

    • Norelco
    • Coca-Cola
    • The Power of Cheese
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Video Game Cereal Commercials: Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Pokemon
    Dec 8 2025

    In the 1980s, it was discovered that video games were part of a balanced breakfast, so the geniuses at Namco and Nintendo decided to inject some 8-bit glory into your morning. Pour a bowl of milk and get ready to chomp on some Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Pokemon!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 27 mins
  • Cookie Commercials: Oreo, Chips Ahoy, and Fruit Newtons
    Sep 29 2025

    Chips Ahoy there, matey! It's time to talk about everyone's favorite treat: cookies! grab a glass of milk and get ready to hear the fanciful stories of Oreos, Chips Ahoy, and Fig Newtons. Note: there are A LOT of mergers and acquisitions in this episode

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Film + Fast Food Commercials: Ghostbusters II, Batman Returns, Shrek
    Jun 30 2025

    Nothing says summer of yore like talking about big blockbuster films. But what really made those films great? That's right, fast food tie-ins. We're looking at big films that teamed up with big food to create big money. Listen to this episode to hear about Ghostbusters II + Hardee's, Batman Returns + McDonald's, and Shrek + Burger King.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 19 mins
  • Video Game & Junk Food Commercials: Sonic, Nathan Drake, and Banjo Kazooie
    Mar 12 2025

    What goes better with a video game than some junk food? We explore food commercials that feature famous video game characters Sonic the Hedgehog, Nathan Drake, and Banjo and Kazooie. What products are they shilling? Tune in to find out!

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 19 mins
  • Valentine's Commercials: eHarmony, Ashley Madison, Plenty of Fish
    Feb 14 2025

    It's the season of love. And what better way to spend it than listening to us talk about websites that claim to hook you up with an attractive person? We take a deep dive into the online dating world by checking out eHarmony, Ashley Madison, and Plenty of Fish. Run a bubble bath, crack open the champagne, and listen to this romantic episode.

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Christmas Commercial Controversy: Folgers, Kmart, and Mr. Kipling
    Dec 22 2024

    Our gift to you this holiday season is to bring you commercials that caused controversy! Sometimes Christmas commercials can bring a warm fuzzy feeling and other times...not so much. Crack open the eggnog, don your Santa hat, and listen to what Folgers, Kmart, and Mr. Kipling did on Christmas!


    Related episodes:

    • The last Christmas episode: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/retro-ad-review/episodes/Christmas-Commercials-Hess-Trucks--Coca-Cola-Polar-Bears--and-Ice-Skating-with-McDonalds-e2dfksg
    • Other commercial controversies: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/retro-ad-review/episodes/Contro-mercials-Ads-that-caused-controversy-e2fl1hm
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 19 mins