Podcast
Embracing Marketing Mistakes
Hosted by Prohibition PR · EN
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.
15episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
EP 121: I Invented a Category, Sold to Diageo, and Almost Lost It All
Yesterday00:55:39Summary readyBen Branson invented an entirely new drinks category from his kitchen. Then a £1 million hole nearly took it all away.In this episode, Ben explains how Seedlip, the world's first non-alcoholic spirit, grew twice as fast as the industry standard, and how that growth hid a working capital gap that surfaced mid-flight to Australia. He breaks down how the team traded their way out of the crisis in six months through relationships rather than financial engineering, why he launched straight into Selfridges instead of starting small, and why he chose to publicly embrace a review that called his product "witch's piss."You will learn how to spot the hidden financial risk behind fast growth, why polarizing feedback beats indifference when you're creating a new category, and why genuine relationships with customers and suppliers are the real safety net in a crisis.Send us Fan Mail 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, LinkedInFollow Will:LinkedInFollow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram
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EP 120: We Fired 30 People and Nothing Changed
1w ago00:40:07Summary readyA growth lead at a fast-scaling startup admits the truth: his old company cut a 30-person marketing and sales team, and sales didn't change at all.In this episode, Hector Hughes explains why a year of growth work, SEO, conversion rate optimization, and endless website testing achieved almost nothing, and how that failure led him to build Unplugged, a digital detox retreat business now serving thousands of guests across the UK and Spain. He breaks down why "tracking everything results in tracking nothing," why most companies never answer the one question that matters, and how stepping away from constant distraction became the foundation of his marketing philosophy.You will learn how trackable tactics replace the harder work of positioning without anyone noticing, what happens to your mind and body after three days offline, and why authenticity beats competing on someone else's terms.Send us Fan Mail 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, LinkedInFollow Will:LinkedInFollow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram
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EP 119: Moz Founder: 'I Was Making $50M a Year and Miserable'
2w ago01:01:03Summary readyRand Fishkin built Moz into the biggest name in SEO. Then he raised $30 million in venture capital and watched it nearly break him.In this episode, Rand explains why raising venture capital was his biggest mistake, how it led to a battle with depression and his resignation as CEO, and why he is happier, healthier, and making more money today running SparkToro, a company a twentieth the size of Moz. He also breaks down why traffic has always been a vanity metric, how to build a new analytics framework for the AI and zero-click era, and why your boss is wrong to give Google credit for your branded search traffic.If you're interested on how to track marketing influence beyond click-based analytics, why website traffic is dropping while revenue holds steady for many businesses, and why brand and positioning remain the most durable marketing assets in the AI era, then this episode is for you.Send us Fan Mail 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, LinkedInFollow Will:LinkedInFollow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram
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EP 118: This One Habit Cost Me 100 Million YouTube Views
3w ago01:06:06Summary readyA top YouTube strategist just revealed the single habit that cost him over 100 million views and then live-critiqued our own channel's titles on air.Leroy te Braak works with creators and brands doing hundreds of millions of views on YouTube. In this episode, he breaks down why most businesses get YouTube wrong, reveals his IDEAL framework (Idea, Data, Execution, Analysis, Longevity), and explains exactly how a 70-year-old soil-products founder grew from 30,000 to 100,000 subscribers with revenue up 60% month-over-month in just a few months.Chris and Will discuss why "packaging" (title + thumbnail) matters more than the video itself, why CTR and average view duration are misleading metrics, how to test thumbnails without wasting your best ideas, and why even videos with 100 million views still get revisited and improved.Send us Fan Mail 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, LinkedInFollow Will:LinkedInFollow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram
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From Petrified Wood to Pints Social Proof Gone Wrong
4w ago00:04:11Summary readyBehavioural science meets marketing mishaps back in episode 46 with Phill Agnew. As a specialist in testing what really works in ads, Phill exposes how well intentioned campaigns often push audiences in exactly the wrong direction. He unpacks the idea of negative social proof, where highlighting how many people binge drink, steal from parks or ignore donation prompts can actually signal that this behaviour is normal and acceptable. Phill shares stories from university alcohol campaigns, an American park full of disappearing petrified wood and even the familiar fundraising banner on Wikipedia to show how this plays out in the real world. He then explains how a small shift in wording, audience framing and local proof can dramatically change response rates. For marketers who love data but still rely on gut feel when choosing headlines, this conversation offers a smarter way to use social proof without accidentally encouraging the behaviour you are trying to reduce. Here's the link to the full episode 46.Send us Fan MailIs 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, LinkedInFollow Will:LinkedInFollow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram
SummaryEP 117: 70% of Teams Are Using AI With Zero Oversight. Here’s What Happened
4w ago00:44:58Summary readyMost companies have bought AI. Hardly any are actually using it properly inside their teams.In this episode, recorded live at the AI for PR conference in London, we break down the real reason AI adoption fails in marketing and communications, and what it takes to make tools like Microsoft Copilot genuinely valuable.Chris Norton is with two experienced voices from the PR and SEO world who share practical use cases, honest frustrations and proven ways to close the gap between AI ambition and execution.Stuart Bruce is a communications and PR consultant who specialises in helping organisations adopt and embed AI into real workflows. He has been working closely with Microsoft Copilot, including early access through its Frontier programme, giving him hands-on experience with how AI performs inside corporate environments.Darryl Sparey is Co-Founder of Hard Numbers, a data-led PR agency focused on measurement, SEO and GEO. He brings a performance-driven perspective on how AI search is evolving, how it links with traditional SEO, and how marketers can prove ROI in an increasingly complex landscape.Together, they unpack:Why most teams are underusing AI tools they already haveThe biggest mistakes marketers make with Copilot and generative AIReal examples of AI automation driving efficiency in PR workflowsHow SEO and GEO now intersect with AI search platformsThe risks of misinformation and manipulation in AI-driven discoveryThis is a candid conversation for marketing leaders who want to move beyond experimentation and start embedding AI into real business impact.Send us Fan Mail 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, LinkedInFollow Will:LinkedInFollow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram
SummaryHow a Transparency Slip Sparked a PR Firestorm
Jun 2500:06:43Summary readyIn this episode of Embracing Marketing Mistakes, Chris Pharo CEO from 72 Point talks through the controversy that erupted after critics on social media challenged the term guaranteed coverage. What began as a few confused comments quickly grew into a public discussion about ethics, transparency and how PR teams work behind the scenes. Chris explains how two members of his team were unexpectedly named online, why the situation became so stressful for everyone involved, and how a lack of clarity around their processes helped fuel the reaction. He also shares the steps 72 Point took in response, including bringing in industry expert Stuart Bruce to carry out a six-week review of their methods. The findings surprised many people and led to important changes in how the company communicates its approach. This episode offers valuable lessons on communication, expectation setting and how to respond when a story takes on a life of its own. Click on this link to listen to the full episode.Send us Fan MailIs 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, LinkedInFollow Will:LinkedInFollow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram
SummaryEP 116: "SEO Is Dead. It's an $85 Billion Market and It's Over"
Jun 2300:52:02Summary readyEveryone is talking about AI transformation. Almost no one is thinking about whether their brand shows up when customers ask AI what to buy.This episode breaks down the biggest mistake in modern marketing and why PR is quietly becoming the most powerful driver of visibility inside generative search.Recorded live at the AI for PR conference in London, this episode features Andrew Bruce Smith, Johnny Bentwood, and James Crawford. Each brings a different lens, from strategic AI adoption to data-driven marketing and PR measurement.Together, they unpack how AI is reshaping comms, why most organisations are focusing on the wrong problems, and what marketers need to do differently right now.You’ll hear:Why starting with “tools” is the wrong way to approach AIHow generative AI is changing buying behaviour across B2B and consumer marketsThe 4F framework to improve visibility in AI answersWhy earned media is driving the majority of AI citationsThe biggest commercial opportunity PR has had in yearsThis is a candid, no‑nonsense conversation about what actually matters when AI meets PR, and how to avoid getting lost in the noise.If you work in marketing, comms, or digital, this episode will help you refocus on what drives results rather than chasing the latest trend.Send us Fan Mail 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, LinkedInFollow Will:LinkedInFollow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram
SummaryThe Hangover That Landed Us A Major Client
Jun 1800:06:13Summary readyOur guest, Guy Utley CEO of Tall Agency, shares a candid story about winning a major pitch despite being severely hungover from celebrating a "Best Creative Agency" award the night before. This unexpected success led to a complete transformation in his approach to business presentations, moving away from over-preparation toward more authentic communication.• Celebrating winning "Best Creative Agency" award led to drinking too much the night before a 9 AM pitch• Despite being hungover and unable to remember the pitch itself, the presentation was successful• The partner agency didn't notice anything wrong with the presentation• They won the account from a major bread company despite the presenter's condition• The experience transformed his pitching approach from rigid over-preparation to more natural, flexible presentations• Focusing on knowledge and experience rather than memorised talking points creates more authentic client interactions• Being too rehearsed can make it difficult to pivot when necessary during presentations• Main lesson: "If I can win it drunk, then surely I can win it sober"Don't drink on a school night, even if it's an award celebration. And if you need help planning your diary better, speak to Will Ockenden - he's brilliant at it.Send us Fan MailIs 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, LinkedInFollow Will:LinkedInFollow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram
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EP 115: The Moment Claude Co-Work Replaced 4 Days of Work in 30 Minutes
Jun 1601:01:46Summary readyHe handed AI a full marketing project… and it came back finished in 30 minutes.What used to take 4 days of analysis, reporting, and presentation building was done in a single sitting with better insights included.In this episode, Andrew Bruce Smith breaks down how tools like Claude Co‑Work are changing the way marketers actually work. This is not about faster copy or better prompts. It is about delegating entire workflows to AI and shifting your role from execution to management.You will hear how AI can analyse raw marketing data, build reports, create presentations, and even improve on your thinking without being explicitly asked. The implications for agencies, in-house teams, and professional services are immediate.There is also a clear warning. Most organisations are still treating AI like a tool rather than a system. That gap is where both risk and opportunity now sit.If you work in marketing, this is already affecting your output, your value, and your role.Send us Fan Mail 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, LinkedInFollow Will:LinkedInFollow The Show: TikTok, YouTube Instagram
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