← Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly
Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly
Brand Envy (2025)
00:26:54
This week, it’s our annual Brand Envy episode.We look at four brands that I admire.One is a cosmetics empire started by a woman in an era when women couldn’t even vote.One is a band I have a soft spo…
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- [00:02]
Terry O'Reilly
Did you know that if you subscribe to our But Wait, There's More option, you get a bonus story in every episode of under the Influence. But Wait, There's More. For the price of a cup of coffee every month, you get early access so you hear every episode a full week before everybody else. Plus you enjoy that episode ad free. Tsk tsk. And by subscribing, you support our podcast. Just go to Apple Podcasts and subscribe to under the Influences. But Wait, There's More.
- [00:40]
Paige DeSorbo
This is Paige desorbo from Giggly Squad. Boost Mobile is no longer that prepaid wireless company you remember. They've invested billions into building their own 5G towers across America. With Boost Mobile's networks, customers enjoy the speed and service they'd expect from the big three players, plus groundbreaking benefits you'd only get from a true challenger of the industry. Boost Mobile will let you try the network risk free for 30 days. So visit your nearest Boost Mobile store or find us online@boostmobile.com today.
- [01:10]
Hannah Berner
Hi guys, it's Hannah from Giggly Squad with some around the corner. I wanted to tell you guys how I'm staying comfy and stylish. Lululemon is my secret weapon. There are plenty of copycats out there, but nothing compares to the Lululemon fabrics and fit. I've literally had my pair of Lululemon legging college and I'm out of college. I know I don't look it, but I am. The quality is next level. I especially love the Lululemon Align collection. It's made with this weightless buttery, soft nulu fabric that feels like next to nothing. It's so soft. Whether you're in aligned pants, shorts, a bra, tank, skirt, a dress, you get non stop flexibility in every direction so you can stretch the summer limits align even wicks sweat and as a sweaty girl, I love this. You know it's going to be my best friend when I play tennis this summer. SH aligned collection online@lululemon.com or your nearest Lululemon store.
- [02:05]
Adam Grant
Now at Verizon we have some big news for your peace of mind. For all our customers existing and new, we're locking in low prices for three years guaranteed on MyPlan and my home that's future you peace of mind and everyone can save on a brand new phone. On MyPlan when you trade in any phone from one of our top brands, that's new phone piece of mind. Because at Verizon, whether you're already a customer or you're just joining us, we got you visit Verizon today. Price guarantee applies to then current base monthly rate. Additional terms and conditions apply for all offers.
- [02:38]
Terry O'Reilly
This is an Apostrophe podcast production. We're going to show you our big new Studebaker. Start your car. Mamma Mia, that's a spicy meatball. What love doesn't conquer, Alka Seltzer will.
- [03:04]
Hannah Berner
What a relief you're under the influence.
- [03:15]
Terry O'Reilly
With Terry O'Reilly if you find yourself walking west on King street street in Toronto and you're nearing Roy Thompson hall, look down. Beneath your feet is Canada's Walk of fame. On 13 designated blocks in Toronto's entertainment district, maple leaves designed to look like stars, are embedded in the sidewalk with the names and signatures of famous Canadians. The Walk of Fame was conceived in 1996, was first implemented in 1998, and now includes 210 honorees as of this writing. Loosely modeled after the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Canadian Walk of Fame inducts people who have excelled in six arts and entertainment, sports and athletics, business and entrepreneurship, philanthropy and humanities, science and technology, and Legends, which is given out posthumously. The first induction ceremony, held in 1998, was hosted by Eugene Levy, who we'll hear more about a little later. Thirteen people were inducted that day. They were author Pierre Burton, actors John Candy and Christopher Plummer, director Norman Jewison, ballerina Karen Kane, comedian Rich Little, musicians Anne Murray, Gordon Lightfoot, Buffy St. Marie and Bryan Adams, hockey star Bobby Orr, figure skater Barbara Ann Scott, and race car driver Jacques Villeneuve. All Canadians are encouraged to submit nominations for Canada's Walk of Fame through the organization's website. Nominees must have been born in or spent their formative years in Canada, have had a minimum of 10 years experience in their field, and have impacted Canadian culture and or heritage either nationally or internationally. Then a board of directors reviews the submissions and selects which nominees will be inducted. There was one year where there were no inductees, but that was due to the 2020 pandemic. And in 2023, a record breaking 13 rock bands were inducted. Now, some stars on the Walk have taken a little damage over the years, mostly due to harsh weather and the odd snow plow. One day, William Shatner tweeted that he heard his star on the Canadian Walk of Fame was a little frazzled. Then Shatner added, but then again, so am I. Welcome to our annual Brand Envy episode. Today we'll talk about five brands that all have something in common. They are Canadian brands that have excelled. One was a pioneer in the cosmetics industry. One is a band that holds a special Place in my heart. One has survived for 86 years. Another is a family owned business that has survived for 88 years. And one is a television show that broke records. Think of them as my own little Canadian walk of fame. You're under the influence. Way back in 1884, a girl named Florence Nightingale Graham was born on a farm in Woodbridge, Ontario. When she was 5, she helped her father sell carrots and corn husks at the St Lawrence Market in Toronto. Young Florence loved the bartering and the deal making buzz at the market, and it made a big impression on her. She would eventually leave high school early to find employment. She worked as a cashier and a stenographer and as a dental assistant. While at that last job, Florence convinced the dentist to advertise and she wrote creative letters to patients warning them about missing checkups. In one year, the dental business doubled. In 1907, Florence followed her brother William to New York. She found work again as a stenographer. But it was her next job that would change her life. She landed a position working for a woman named Eleanor Adair, a beauty specialist. There, Florence learned the cosmetic industry from the ground up. Then in 1910, she started her own company with another woman named Elizabeth Hubbard. The partners agreed to name the company Elizabeth Hubbard and began to mix face creams, body lotions and oils. But the partners often clashed. So Florence decided to buy Elizabeth Hubbard out. Planning to name her solo business Florence Nightingale, she discovered she wasn't allowed to register the name as a trademark. The name Elizabeth was already painted on the shop window. So Florence scratched out Hubbard and added the word Arden instead, a word she had taken from a favorite Alfred Tennyson poem. With that, the Elizabeth Arden Company was born. Florence Nightingale Graham. Then, two momentous decisions. First, she decided to change her own name to Elizabeth Arden. And second, she hired a gifted chemist who would help her develop revolutionary new cosmetics. In 1915, Arden married an advertising man who helped her market and package her products. In the early 20th century, the use of cosmetics was considered low brow, only used by sex workers and showgirls. So Arden created advertising campaigns that changed women's perceptions of cosmetics. The use of close ups was also a new technique in motion pictures, and Arden demonstrated how the leading Hollywood stars all use makeup to look their best. Arden was also a dedicated suffragette, and in 1912, she marched for women's rights. The women all wore bright red lipstick as a form of protest, and Arden supplied most of it. By 1920, Elizabeth Arden was selling merchandise to over 5,000 drug and department stores. Arden opened up a salon on Fifth Avenue in New York and styled it with Persian rugs and upscale furniture. Time magazine reported that the Arden salon was guarded by a doorman. That door was painted red and simply said Elizabeth Arden. Women who entered that red door felt like they were swept into an exotic world of makeovers, manicures, pedicures, and even yoga, all revolutionary at the time. In 1917, Arden introduced eyeliner and mascara to North America. Her company grew at a furious pace. Five years later, she had established a Parisian salon as well as locations in London, Madrid, Rome and Berlin. Elizabeth Arden was creating an empire, one that even flourished during the Depression. Earning more than $4 million a year, she pioneered travel sized cosmetics. She was the first cosmetician to convince women to exercise. She was the first businesswoman to have her own radio show. And she was the first to create a line of cosmetics for women serving in the army during World War II. In 1946, Arden was also the first businesswoman to appear on the COVID of Time magazine. Fortune said Arden probably made more money than any other businesswoman in history. Elizabeth Arden eventually had many competitors, but her arch rival was Helena Rubinstein. Although the two never met, they feuded for 50 years, stealing employees back and forth, each trying to outdo. At one point, Arden divorced her husband, who then went to work for Rubinstein. You can imagine how that went over, but that rivalry fueled the growth of both companies. In the 1940s, Arden took an interest in raising thoroughbreds, and one of her horses won the Kentucky Derby in 1947. Elizabeth Arden always kept her age a secret, and when she died in 1966, the world was shocked to learn the slim, stylish head of the cosmetics empire was 88 years old. Today, Elizabeth Arden's company is worth over a billion dollars. Not bad for a Canadian farm girl from Woodbridge, Ontario. A lot of great musical artists have come out of the Guess who, April Wine Rush Triumph, Ian Thomas, Ann Murray, Bryan Adams, Shania Twain and Celine Dion, to name a few. But I have a soft spot for the very first concert I ever saw back at the Sudbury arena in the fall of 1972. The band was the Stampeders, and they had just had a breakout hit called Sweet City Woman. Sweet City Woman was written by lead guitarist Rich Dodson, who, by the way, was born in my hometown of Sudbury. The band had formed in Calgary, then moved to Toronto, and the song lyrics reflected that move to the big city. They had played at Expo 67, and Dodson's love of Montreal inspired the Bon c' est bon section of the song. The Stampeders were driving back to Toronto from a gig in Kingston in their old station wagon at 4 o' clock in the morning when a New York radio station, WABC, drifted onto the car's radio. As they listened, the DJ said here's the number one record this week, and played Sweet City Woman. The band couldn't believe it. They stopped the car, jumped up and down on the hood and cheered. It was only the beginning. The song won Best Single of the year at the 1971 Juno Awards and and the Stampeders won Best Group. Sweet City Woman stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for 16 weeks. In a recent poll, the song was voted one of the top 10 most recognizable songs from the 70s. The band had originally formed as a six man group called the Rebounds in Calgary in 1964. They became a trio in 1968 with Dodson on guitar, Ronny King on bass and Kim Burleigh on drums. They renamed themselves the Stampeders after the famous Calgary Stampede, donned cowboy hats and had their first big hit with a song called Carry Me. The hits just kept on coming. Devil you Then came the White Man, Monday Morning, Choo Choo, Wild Eyes, oh My Lady, Minstrel Gypsy and their cover of Hit the Road Jack, with a guest appearance from Wolfman Jack himself. The band broke up in the late 70s, but reunited in the 90s. In 2011, the Stampeders were given a Lifetime Achievement award for their body of work. Rich Dodson was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters hall of Fame. We lost ronnie King in 2024, but the band still tours today as a tribute to King. I'll always remember the Stampeders as my first rock concert. One night at my office many years ago, I was working late and the phone rang. It was someone looking for our music director. I said he had left for the day. Could I take a message? The caller said sure, Tell him Rich Dodson called. I just smiled to myself and said, will do Rich. When we return, we get the scoop on an ice cream company.
- [16:29]
Unknown
Hi, I'm Adam Grant, host of the podcast Work Life. For over 20 years, Paylocity has been simplifying work with innovative solutions that teams love like On Demand Payment, which offers employees access to wages prior to payday flexible time tracking features which enable staff to clock in and out through their mobile device and numerous other cutting edge solutions that simplify collaboration across hr, finance and it. Learn more about how Paylocity can help streamline work and enhance business outcomes for your organization@paylocity.com Simplified hi guys, it's Hannah.
- [17:03]
Hannah Berner
From Giggly Squad with some around the corner. I wanted to tell you guys how I'm staying comfy and stylish. Lululemon is my secret weapon. There are plenty of copycats out there, but nothing compares to the Lululemon fabrics and fit. I've literally had my pair of lul leggings since college and I'm out of college. I know I don't look it, but I am. The quality is next level. I especially love the Lululemon Align Collection. It's made with this weightless buttery, soft nulu fabric that feels like next to nothing. It's so soft, whether you're in aligned pants, shorts, a bra, tank, skirt, a dress, you get non stop flexibility in every direction so you can stretch the summer limits align. Even wicks sweat and as a sweaty girl I love this. You know it's going to be my best friend when I play tennis this summer. Shop the Align collection online@lululemon.com or your nearest Lululemon store.
- [17:57]
Terry O'Reilly
Better Help Online therapy bought this 30 second ad to remind you right now, wherever you are, to unclench your jaw, relax your shoulders, take a deep breath in and out. Feels better, right? That's 15 seconds of self care. Imagine what you could do with more. Visit betterhelp.com randompodcast for 10% off your first month of therapy. No pressure, just help. But for now, just just relax in our annual brand envy episodes. I'm particularly fond of companies and products that have managed to last for decades, mostly because it's so hard for a company to continue to grow through the ups and downs of the economy and the arrival of new competitors nipping at their heels. One day I was giving a speech in the States to a marketing conference. I was making a point about how Coffee Crisp chocolate bars are marketed. After my talk, there was a Q and A period and the first question from the audience was, what's a Coffee Crisp? I had no idea at that time that Coffee Crisp was a strictly Canadian bar. Coffee Crisp began life as a British chocolate bar called Roundtree's Wafer Crisp. In 1938, it was brought over to Canada as Bis crisp. Say that three times fast. Then a year later, in 1939, a coffee flavor was added and it became known as coffee crisp. By 1948, coffee crisp was one of Canada's most popular bars. The point I was making about it in the States that day was how it was so smartly positioned in the chocolate bar market. When Roundtree looked at the chocolate bar marketplace, they noticed that Every bar positioned itself as a treat. So Coffee Crisp spotted an opportunity. Instead of a treat, it positioned itself as a snack. Now, you may not think that's so brilliant, but I do. A treat can be once a week or maybe once a month, but a snack can be daily. And once Coffee Crisp positioned itself as a nice, light snack, sales soared. Remember this commercial? Coffee Crisp, you're more than a candy bar. Your layers of wafers, so crisp, so light, with a chocolatey coating that tastes just right. A center of coffee cream that's so bubbly, it's light as a dream. Then layers upon layers are all stacked and in a chocolatey coating, you're wrapped. Coffee Crisp, you're more than a candy bar. You're a nice, light snack. That's what you are. That commercial really launched not only the ingredients, but the slogan, a nice, light snack. You may remember this commercial too. So. So how do you like your Coffee Crisp? You like your Coffee Crisp? I like my Coffee Crisp. Oh, I'm supposed to laugh now? Nestle now owns Coffee Crisp and still makes millions of bars each year. And while it isn't sold in the United States, you can find them at the Canadian Pavilion at Epcot center at Walt Disney World. Coffee Crisp is a Canadian staple and has survived for 86 years and counting. While I'm drawn to companies that last for decades, it's especially hard for family owned companies to survive. But I want to talk about one such company. It may not be known in the rest of Canada, but it certainly is in Ontario. Back in 1935, Jack and Isla Crow were married in Oshawa. Jack was an employee at the Oshawa Dairy. Two years later, they moved to Bob Cajun in Ontario's cottage country, a town later memorialized in song by the tragically hip by the Way, the Crows settled down there and bought a modest dairy. In the 1930s, there was no high tech dairy equipment available, so the Crows would pick up raw milk every day from local farmers by horse and buggy in the warm months and horse and sleigh in the winter. Milk bottles were washed by hand and a boiler was used for heating as there was no electricity yet. Bottles of milk were stacked in a storage room, kept cold by big chunks of ice the Crows cut out of the lake. Milk was delivered to homes by horse and wagon and to cottages by boat. Jack and Isla did all this work together in a small three room building with the help of one single employee. They called their business Kawartha dairy. In the mid-50s, Jack Crow decided to take an ice cream making course at the Ontario College of Agriculture in Guelph. Little did he know how important that decision would be. Almost immediately there was a huge demand for Kawartha Dairy ice cream. So much so, the dairy tripled in size. They added outdoor walk up windows to serve summer visitors and began opening locations in other parts of Ontario. Every summer you still see long lines of people waiting at Kawartha Dairy windows for a delicious ice cream cone. While Kawartha Dairy serves its rich and creamy ice cream from many locations today, it's still headquartered out of the same Bobcagian site where it all began in 1937. And Mike Crow, who started working with his grandparents when he was 10 years old, is now a third generation owner. Hats off to a family business that recently opened a 54,000 square foot distribution center, has grown despite never advertising on television and has somehow managed to retain its small town family run feel for the past 88 years. When we come back, hijinks at the Rosebud Motel. God help us. But Canada has never been more interesting. What is happening now is urgent and important and and you need to stay on top of it. Every day on Canadaland we bring you.
- [25:09]
Adam Grant
The information you need about Canadian politics.
- [25:12]
Terry O'Reilly
And Canadian media through smart conversations and original investigations. This is Canada like you've never heard it before. Listen to Canadaland wherever you get your podcasts.
- [25:33]
Unknown
Hi, I'm Adam Grant, host of the podcast Work Life. For over 20 years, Paylocity has been simplifying work with innovative solutions that teams love like On Demand Payment, which offers employees access to wages prior to payday, flexible time tracking features which enable staff to clock in and out through their mobile device and numerous other cutting edge solutions that simplify collaboration across hr, finance and it. Learn more about how Paylocity can help streamline work and enhance business outcomes for your organization@paylocity.com Simplified hi guys, it's Hannah.
- [26:07]
Hannah Berner
From Giggly Squad with some around the corner. I want to tell you guys how I'm staying comfy and stylish. Lululemon is my secret weapon. There are plenty of copycats out there, but nothing compares to the Lululemon fabrics and fit. I've literally had my pair of Lululemon leggings since college and I'm out of college. I know I don't look it, but I am. The quality is next level. I especially love the Lululemon Align collection. It's made with this weightless, buttery, soft nulu fabric that feels like next to nothing. It's so soft. Whether you're in align pants, shorts, a bra, tank, skirt, a dress. You get non stop flexibility in every direction so you can stretch the summer limits. Align even wicks sweat and as a sweaty girl I love this. You know it's going to be my best friend when I play tennis this summer. Shop the Align collection online@lululemon.com or your nearest Lululemon store.
- [27:13]
Terry O'Reilly
My last but certainly not least Canadian brand Today is a television show. It was partially inspired by that time actress Kim Basinger actually bought a tiny town in Georgia in 1989 for $20 million cash. The CO creator of the show wondered what would happen if an ultra wealthy family lost everything and had to go live in a tiny town they once had purchased as a joke. And that's how Schitt's Creek came to be. Dan Levy thought up the idea while sitting in a cafe one day, then later pitched it to his dad, Eugene Levy. He asked his dad if he wanted to work on it with him. Eugene said yes. Dan and Eugene shopped the idea around to various American cable and broadcast networks and they all passed, every one of them. Eventually the levies cobbled together funding first from cbc, then Europe's ITV Studios came on board as distributor. And finally Pop tv, an American pay television channel owned by Paramount, stepped up to round out the budget. The family rose, with father Johnny, played by Eugene, mother Moira, played by Catherine o' Hara, and their pampered children. Daughter Alexis, played by Annie Murphy, and son David, played by Dan Levy, have all their wealth embezzled by an unscrupulous business manager and must now live by their wits. As the New York Times said, broke. With nothing but the couture on their backs, the flamboyant Rose family must now live in a tiny town in the boonies, in two adjacent rooms in a rundown motel, and coexist with the pragmatic townsfolk. As Catherine o' Hara put it, it's like we're aliens learning how to be humans. Schitt's Creek fostered a lot of gifs and memes, and Annie Murphy's A Little Bit Alexis song became a viral hit. While the show was a hilarious story of worlds colliding, there was also a lot of heart. The townsfolk learned to accept the roses. The Roses see the good in the townsfolk. David, as a gay character finds love in a community devoid of homophobia, and in the end the family learns that money is not the be all and end all. Dan Levy says that the fact they couldn't find any interest initially in the States was actually a blessing in disguise because producing it in Canada gave them an enormous degree of creative control. Levy feels the show would have probably been cancelled after one season in the States, and because it wouldn't have been given the time to grow and evolve. But once it landed on Netflix two years later, it had hit its stride and became a big hit. South of the Border. Interestingly, Dan and Eugene always viewed Schitt's Creek as a drama. A drama that happens to involve very funny circumstances and characters not equipped to handle those circumstances, which is always the key to great comedy. It's high drama to the characters and high comedy to viewers. Not only was the writing and casting superb, but the show made history in its sixth and final season at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards, Schitt's Creek won seven Emmys, breaking the record for the most wins by a comedy in a single season, winning for best writing, Directing and and best overall comedy series. And it broke another Emmy record by becoming the only show ever to win all four of the acting categories in the same year. It also won two additional awards for casting and costume for a grand total of nine Emmys. It had not won a single Emmy in its first five seasons. As Annie Murphy said as she accepted her Emmy, it's a show that stands for love and kindness and inclusivity and acceptance. It was a care package from Canada. U2's Bono once said, the world needs more Canada. I couldn't agree more. As a country we punch way above our weight. Were just quiet about it. But a closer look reveals a lot of remarkable talent at work. Elizabeth Arden was a farm girl from Woodbridge, Ontario who started an empire in an era where women couldn't even vote. And she had a lot to say about that too. The Stampeders broke into the American market at a time when almost no other Canadian bands did. Along with the guess who they just kept putting out gold records and are still touring. Today, people are still snacking on coffee crisp after 86 years. I tip my hat to Kawartha Dairy because it has remained a family owned business for close to 90 years, a feat that doesn't get enough attention in this day and age. Steadfast principles and a great product with no desire to sell out to a big corporation. And speaking of family run businesses, the levees aren't doing too bad either. They went out on top with six hilarious seasons and a shitstorm of Emmys. And that's the way we do it up here in the Great White north. When you're under the influence I'm Terry O'Reilly. This episode was recorded in the Tear Stream Mobile Recording studio producer Debbie O'Reilly chief sound engineer Jeff Devine under the Influence theme by Casey Pick, Jeremiah Pick and James Ayton Tunes provided by APM Music. Follow me at Terry oinfluence this podcast is powered by acast. See you next week. Fun Fact hi, this is Rudy from Winnipeg. Annie Murphy's house burnt down and she only had $3 left in her bank account when she landed the role in Schitt's Creek.
- [33:57]
Unknown
Hi, I'm Adam Grant, host of the podcast Work Life. For over 20 years, Paylocity has been simplifying work with innovative solutions that teams love. Like On Demand Payment which offers employees access to wages prior to payday, flexible time tracking features which enable staff to clock in and out through their mobile device and numerous other cutting edge solutions that simplify collaboration across hr, finance and it. Learn more about how Paylocity can help streamline work and enhance business outcomes for your organization@paylocity.com simplified now at Verizon we.
- [34:31]
Adam Grant
Have some big news for your peace of mind. For all our customers, existing and new. We're locking in low price for three years guaranteed on my plan and my home. That's future you peace of mind and everyone can save on a brand new phone on MyPlan. When you trade in any phone from one of our top brands, that's new phone peace of mind. Because at Verizon, whether you're already a customer or you're just joining us, we got you. Visit Verizon today. Price guarantee applies to then current base monthly rate. Additional terms and conditions apply for all offers.
- [35:00]
Hannah Berner
Hi guys, it's Hannah from Giggly Squad with some around the corner. I wanted to tell you guys how I'm staying comfy and stylish. Lululemon is my secret weapon. There are plenty of copycats out there, but nothing compares to the Lululemon fabrics and fit. I've literally had my pair of Lululemon leggings since college and I'm out of college. I know I don't look it, but I am. The quality is next level. I especially love the Lululemon Align collection. It's made with this weightless buttery soft nulu fabric that feels like next to nothing. It's so soft. Whether you're in align pants, shorts, a bra, tank, skirt, a dress, you get non stop in every direction so you can stretch the summer limits align even wick sweat and as a sweaty girl. I love this. You know it's going to be my best friend when I play tennis this summer. Shop the Aligned collection online@lululemon.com or your nearest Lululemon store.
- [35:56]
Paige DeSorbo
Hey, it's Paige from Giggly Squad. Real talk if there's one store that I absolutely love walking around, it's Sephora. It's my total guilty pleasure. They have amazing brands that other people don't have, and I find something great every time I walk in, and there's literally one down the street from me, so I do that a lot. It's so fun to shop in the store and online, and the products are just too good. No regrets ever. For example, one of my favorite beauty brands is makeup by Mario, who just launched his new lip gloss that I absolutely love. So the next time you're in the market for great beauty, shop all the hottest products and brands only at Sephora.