Clapback Advertising: The Art of the Response Ad

Summary

Podcast Summary: Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly

Episode: Clapback Advertising: The Art of the Response Ad
Release Date: January 24, 2026
Host: Terry O’Reilly (Apostrophe Podcast Network)

---

Episode Overview

This episode explores the intriguing world of "clapback advertising," where brands craft witty, strategic, or even humorous ads in direct response to criticism, rival campaigns, or PR crises. Terry O’Reilly demonstrates how companies—from local governments to global tech brands—have used the art of the response ad to defend their image, reframe the conversation, and sometimes turn controversy into unexpected opportunities. Through stories blending history, marketing, and pop culture, the episode illustrates the power and risk of the "clapback" approach.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Origins of Clapbacks: Answer Songs and Cultural Context

• Story of "Hound Dog" and "Bearcat" (04:23 – 09:21)
  • Terry O'Reilly recounts how the 1953 hit "Hound Dog" by Big Mama Thornton inspired not only success but a series of "answer songs"—precursors to the modern clapback.
  • "Bearcat," an "answer" from a male perspective, was so similar musically it led to a copyright dispute, placing Sun Records in severe financial trouble and indirectly influencing the sale of Elvis Presley's contract to RCA.
  • Quote:
    “The subtitle of Bearcat on the record itself said the answer to Hound Dog. The copyright infringement was right there on the label.” (07:41, Terry O'Reilly)
• Transition to Marketing:
  • O’Reilly draws a parallel between musical "answer songs" and the modern marketing clapback, framing them as methods for brands to reclaim narratives or push back against competitors. (09:21)

---

2. Newfoundland & Labrador vs. VRBO – Defending Cultural Identity

• Background:
  VRBO aired a Super Bowl ad using a treasured Newfoundland folk song, "Eyes the By," in a context that implied rural rentals were undesirable. The province’s residents and leadership saw this as an affront to their heritage.
• Response:
  Target Marketing and Communications, a Newfoundland agency, created a “clapback ad” in under 24 hours, highlighting the province’s beauty and celebrating "Eyes the By" as a symbol of resilience.
  • Quote:
    "A song so distinctly ours that you can almost feel the salt air on your skin when you hear it." (12:15, Newfoundland & Labrador Tourism statement)
• Impact:
  The province’s ad garnered massive media attention, over $500,000 in earned publicity, and led VRBO to pull its ad from Canadian airwaves.
  • Key Moment:
    “Within 48 hours, the ‘Our Song’ response ad itself became news…broadcast nationally by the CBC and CTV, and was written up in the National Post, Toronto Star, and the Globe and Mail, as well as in media across Canada, the USA and the UK.” (13:08)
• Timestamps:
  – Introduction and backstory (09:34 – 11:14)
  – Tourism board statement & ad impact (11:15 – 13:55)

---

3. Astronomer, Coldplay-Gate, and the Gwyneth Paltrow Response

• Incident:
  During a 2025 Coldplay concert, two Astronomer employees were caught embracing on the "Kiss Cam." Social media speculated an affair, and memes exploded after Chris Martin’s wry on-stage quip. Both employees resigned amidst the furor, dragging the company into unwanted headlines.
  • Quote:
    "From all appearances, it looked like Chris Martin was right. The incident became known as Coldplay gate." (14:56, Terry O'Reilly)
• Clapback Strategy:
  To seize the moment, Astronomer hired Maximum Effort, Ryan Reynolds’ agency, and drafted Gwyneth Paltrow—Chris Martin’s ex-wife—as spokesperson for a tongue-in-cheek response ad.
  • Quote:
    “Hi, I’m Gwyneth Paltrow. I’ve been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300 plus employees at Astronomer...” (18:26, Gwyneth Paltrow)
• Effectiveness:
  Instead of the usual somber corporate statement, Astronomer’s humorously self-aware response let them control the narrative and introduce their services to a new audience.
  • Quote:
    “By not avoiding the obvious scandal...and by using humor...Astronomer was able to reframe the narrative by not being overly defensive.” (19:24, Terry O'Reilly)
• Timestamps:
  – Incident description (14:53 – 17:30)
  – Clapback ad contents (18:24 – 19:24)

---

4. Moose Jaw vs. John Hamm – Small Town Leverages the Spotlight

• Setup:
  An ad for Skip the Dishes featured actor John Hamm naming Canadian cities, including Moose Jaw. John’s citizenship is denied, and he’s told to start ‘New Canada.’
  • Original Ad Sample:
    "What? But I already bought a Moose Jaw and a Yellowknife and a Sault Ste. Marie, whatever that is." (25:18, John Hamm)
• Mayor’s Response:
  Moose Jaw Mayor Fraser Tolmey filmed a tongue-in-cheek video inviting Hamm to become a ‘New Canadian’ and outlining the quirky perks of life in “New Canada.”
  • Quote:
    “John, we could do crazy things here. We could put the moose on the five dollar bill. We could have the loonie, the toonie, the Mooney.” (26:14, Mayor Tolmey)
• Results:
  The video, viewed 50,000+ times, boosted both local pride and tourism to Moose Jaw.
  • Quote:
    “People will be taking notice that Moose Jaw is a fun place to go and visit... Our locals are proud that we’re getting the attention.” (27:02, Mayor Tolmey)
• Timestamps:
  – Skip ad and setup (24:28 – 25:53)
  – Mayor’s response (25:53 – 27:02)

---

5. New Brunswick Youth Orchestra vs. Infiniti – Challenging Stereotypes

• Original Infiniti Ad:
  A woman in an SUV drowns out a noisy youth orchestra by closing her windows, suggesting the car can “quiet the chaos.” Many viewers found the portrayal unnecessarily disparaging to young musicians.
  • Public Reaction Quote:
    “I want to hug every one of those kids and encourage them in any way possible.” (32:13, Viewer Commentary via O'Reilly)
• Clapback Ad:
  The New Brunswick Youth Orchestra released its own video, joking that Infiniti should have just hired them, while showing their talented young musicians performing perfectly.
  • CEO Statement:
    “We felt because we’re a leader in this space of children and youth music that it was our duty...to somehow respond to this.” (33:29, Ken MacLeod)
• Outcomes:
  The video’s positive message resonated widely, with over 60,000 views and compliments from across North America. Infiniti acknowledged the clapback, reiterating their intent wasn’t to insult young musicians.
• Timestamps:
  – Infiniti ad description (31:29 – 32:13)
  – Youth orchestra response (32:19 – 34:19)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Cultural Symbols and Advertising Offense:
  “Aiz the by is not just a ditty, it is a cherished part of the province’s history. So much so that the lyric from the song has been featured on a Canadian postage stamp.” (34:37, Terry O'Reilly)
• On the Power of Humorous Response:
  “Press statements only make lawyers happy but leave a bad taste with the rest of the world. Astronomer chose to aim their message at the rest of the world.” (19:24, Terry O’Reilly)
• On the Responsibility to Clap Back:
  “In our experience, all kids have talent and can shine on any stage, anywhere.” (33:36, Ken MacLeod, CEO NBYO)
• Summing Up the Power of the Response:
  “In the world of clapback ads, your response defines you. You can be overly defensive or you can be smart. You can be high class or nothing but a hound dog when you’re under the influence.” (36:26, Terry O’Reilly)

---

Key Takeaways

• Clapback advertising leverages wit, speed, and cultural awareness to turn criticism or controversy into opportunity.
• Brands that respond quickly and creatively can reclaim their narrative, build loyalty with core audiences, and "win" unexpected publicity.
• Effective clapbacks match the tone of the moment—humor for harmless ribbing, pride and emotion for cultural slights, and humility or clarity for PR crises.
• In the age of social media, the public is watching not just what brands say, but how they choose to say it.

---

Important Timestamps

• [04:23 – 09:21]: Origin of answer songs and the roots of clapback culture
• [09:34 – 13:55]: VRBO vs. Newfoundland and Labrador tourism response
• [14:53 – 19:24]: Astronomer’s “Kiss Cam” crisis and Gwyneth Paltrow’s video
• [24:28 – 27:02]: Mayor of Moose Jaw’s playful response to John Hamm’s ad
• [31:29 – 34:39]: Infiniti ad backlash and the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra reply
• [36:26]: Episode wrap-up and overarching lessons

---

Episode Tone:
Terry O’Reilly blends humor, admiration for clever marketing, and respect for cultural sensitivity. The stories are lively, insightful, and underscore the ad industry’s intersection with pop culture and human emotion.

---

This summary covers the central stories, key teaching points, and standout moments with speaker attribution and timestamps for easy reference—a perfect primer for anyone interested in advertising, PR, and the art of the comeback.

Transcript

[Terry O'Reilly]

Hey, we've got some big news. For the first time ever, both Apple and Android users can subscribe to our shows. Introducing our new expanded podcast subscription called Apostrophe All Ears. For just the cost of a single cup of coffee every month, you get a lot of goodies ad free listening across our entire archive. Tsk tsk. I won't judge early access to new episodes before anybody else hears them. You get bonus stories, deeper dives and more color. You get Ask me Anything sessions that we'll have a lot of fun with. You get first jump at our live podcast recording events, which always sell out immediately. And here's another huge bonus. You get access to all of our other Apostrophe shows, including, We Regret to Inform you, and Backstage at the Vinyl Cafe and the Beatleology interviews. All ad free. All full of bonus fun. If you join in January. Enjoy 20% off your first three months. Just head to the link in the description of this episode and follow the prompts.

[BetterHelp Ad Voice]

This is an ad by BetterHelp.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Did I talk too much? Can't I just let it go?

[BetterHelp Ad Voice]

Take a breath.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

You're not alone. Let's talk about what's going on.

[BetterHelp Ad Voice]

Counseling helps you sort through the noise with qualified professionals, and online therapy makes it convenient. See if it's for you. Visit betterhelp.com randompodcast for 10% off your first month of online therapy and let life feel better.

[Commercial or Ad Voice (Workday Go, Mayor Fraser Tolmey)]

Think enterprise software is too costly, too complex, and takes too long to get up and running? Think again. Workday Go makes simplifying your small or mid sized business simple. HR and finance together on one powerful AI platform right at your fingertips. Workday Go gets you live fast and fits the needs of your business. Find out what Workday Go can do for you. Go with workday go.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

It's 2026 and if you're still paying rent without Bilt, it's time for a change. BILT is a loyalty program for renters that rewards you for your biggest monthly expense. Rent. I don't like paying rent, and I bet you don't either, but BILT makes it feel a little better. BILT is the loyalty program for renters that rewards you monthly with points and exclusive benefits in your neighborhood. Let me explain. With bilt, every rent payment earns you points that can be used towards flights, hotels, Lyft rides, Amazon.com purchases, and so much more. And here's something I'm really excited about. Starting in February, BILT members can earn points on mortgage payments for the first time. Soon you'll be able to get rewarded wherever you live and unlock exclusive benefits with more than 45,000 restaurants, fitness studios, pharmacies and other neighborhood partners. Personally, I'd use my built points for travel. Turning rent into flights feels like a win. It's simple. Paying rent is better with bilt and soon owning a home will be better with bilt too. Earn rewards and get something back wherever you live. Join the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com acast that's J-O-I N B I L T.com acast make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you.

[Terry O'Reilly]

This is an apostrophe podcast production. We're going to show you our big new Studebaker. Start the car. Mamma mia, that's a spicy meatball. What love doesn't conquer, Alka sells her will.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

What a relief. You're under the influence with Terry O'Reilly.

[Terry O'Reilly]

One day, two 19 year old teenagers named Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller were introduced to a singer named Big Mama Thornton. Big mama was about 350 pounds and Lieber said she was the biggest, baddest, saltiest woman he had ever seen, and he and Stoller were knocked out by her raucous vocal sound. Racing home. They wrote a song for her in just 15 minutes. It was called Hound Dog. When they brought it back to the studio, Big Mama Thornton gave it a go, but it sounded too bluesy. Lieber and Stoller wanted her to growl it. The song, after all, was about a woman who was throwing a gigolo out of her house, so Big Mama got her growl on. The song was released by Peacock Records in 1953. It was a huge hit, spending 14 weeks on the Billboard R&B chart with seven weeks at number one. It was such a smash, Peacock Records had three printing plants running full time to try and keep up with the demand. The song sold between 500,000 and 750,000 copies, and it would spawn a number of answer songs. An answer song is a so written to respond or clap back to a previous record by another artist. When Big Mama Thornton's Hound Dog hit number one long before Elvis took a swing at it, her version spawned no less than six answer songs. One answer song in particular, titled Bearcat, was sung by Rufus Thomas. Where Hound Dog was written from a woman's point of view, Bearcat was a response written from a man's point of view. In the Southern states, a Bearcat was, and I quote, a mean, bossy woman. Thomas recorded Bearcat at Sun Studios in Memphis owner Sam Phillips, who would discover Elvis Presley the very next year, rewrote the lyrics of Hound Dog, but kept the exact Hound Dog melody. Bearcat was released just two weeks after Hound Dog hit the charts. Bearcat was an immediate hit. When the first record store called to order copies, Sam Phillips asked how many they wanted. When they said 5,000, Sam nearly fell over. No sun record had ever sold 5,000 copies. But when Peacock Records heard Bearcat, it had a different reaction. It demanded that Sam Phillips pay them 2 cents a record for the fact Phillips had reproduced the exact Hound Dog melody and infringed their copyright. When Sam Phillips didn't reply, Peacock Records gave Phillips four days to respond or it would increase the penalty to 8 cents a record. Sam Phillips knew he was in trouble. The songs were identical. As a matter of fact, the subtitle of Bearcat on the record itself said the answer to Hound Dog. The copyright infringement was right there on the label. Sun Records was already in financial trouble, and Sam couldn't risk dragging out a losing battle in court, so he wrote a big check to Peacock Records and gave up all claims to the royalties. Bearcat was Sun Record's biggest hit, and it wasn't making any money from it. As a matter of fact, it was costing money. But here's why that answer song is so interesting. It is believed that Bearcat put Sun Records in such a precarious financial position that it would be one of the reasons why Sam Phillips would be forced to sell Elvis Presley's contract to RCA two years later for $35,000. Sun Records needed the money, and Elvis was the answer. The world of marketing has its own version of answer songs. They're called clapback ads. The word clapback is defined as a quick reply to a critical remark or unfair treatment. As we'll soon see, there have been some very interesting clapback ads recently. Some are retaliations to a perceived slight, some are created due to a crisis, and some are just plain fun.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

You're under the influence.

[Terry O'Reilly]

VRBO is an online marketplace for vacation rentals. A competitor to Airbnb, VRBO was created in 1995, and the name originally was an acronym for vacation rentals by owner vrbo. Not long ago, VRBAL ran a new TV commercial during the Grammys, then aired that same commercial in the Super Bowl. That's where it got a lot of attention. The commercial showed disappointed vacationers discovering their less than desirable rentals. This looks like an actual farm.

[Commercial or Ad Voice (Workday Go, Mayor Fraser Tolmey)]

Looks cute on the app.

[Terry O'Reilly]

One couple opens the door to a dilapidated trailer, only to find dogs living inside it. Another finds the rental overrun with chickens. Still another discovers the rental is a tent with a huge pig on an air mattress inside. As the music starts to speed up to a manic pace, it suddenly stops and VRBO delivers its message.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

Meanwhile, at a VRBO when other vacation rentals aren't what they're cracked up to be, try one where you know what you'll get.

[Terry O'Reilly]

The ad was saying VRBO would never rent you something horrible in the sticks. The people of Newfoundland and Labrador instantly took offense to the commercial. Even the provincial premier, Andrew Furey, called for the ad to be pulled. The backlash was fast and furious. The outcry received national news coverage. It wasn't the trust verbo message they took offense to. It was the music. The song Eyes the By is a cherished and important folk song in the province's history. Its lyrics depict life in Newfoundland, a song that celebrates singing, dancing and boat building. The song also mentions Newfoundland locations such as Fogo, Twillengate and Morton's Harbour. It's not just a folk song, it's a strong cultural symbol. And in the VRBO ad, the song was used to suggest that a rural rental will be subpar, almost hillbilly. So the province of Newfoundland and Labrador decided to clap back. Within minutes of the VRBO commercial airing on the Super Bowl, Newfoundland advertising agency Target Marketing and Communications started to brainstorm an appropriate response. Within 22 hours, they had written and produced a brand new Newfoundland and Labrador tourism clapback commercial and commissioned a brand new recording of the song Eyes the By Eyes the Byza builds a boat.

[Commercial or Ad Voice (Workday Go, Mayor Fraser Tolmey)]

Eyes the Bye Za sails her and.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Eyes the Byza catches the fish Brings them home to Liza Hip ya partner Sonny Depo Hip ya partner Sally Brown, Vogue, Tullingate, Morton's harbor, all around the circle. The commercial was titled Our Song and showed the real beauty of Newfoundland and Labrador. The tourism board posted the ad to their social media accounts along with the following It's a testament to our resilience, to our sense of humor, to our unwavering sense of community. It's history, culture, folklore and a guarantee to get Nan up on the dance floor. Bad hip and all. A song so distinctly ours that you can almost feel the salt air on your skin when you hear it. As Target's president Catherine Kelly said, the song is a testament to the province's resilience and heritage. The verbal controversy created an opportunity to capitalize on the attention the ad was getting, to instead highlight the beauty of the province and to tap into the vast pride that exists in Newfoundlanders and Labradorians. Within 48 hours, the our Song response ad itself became news, broadcast nationally by the CBC and ctv, and was written up in the National Post, Toronto Star, and the Globe and Mail, as well as in media across Canada, the USA and the UK earning over $500,000 worth of unpaid media publicity for Newfoundland and Labrador tourism. VRBO agreed to pull their ad from Canadian airwave. In July of 2025, Coldplay was appearing at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. At every Coldplay concert, there comes a moment when the band turns the cameras on the crowd. They put certain audience members up on the Jumbotron, and Chris Martin often makes up a song about them on the spot. Well, at this particular concert, the cameras caught two people in a sexy embrace.

[Commercial or Ad Voice (Workday Go, Mayor Fraser Tolmey)]

Yeah.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Oh, look at these two.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

All right.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Come on. You're okay. When the couple realized they were on the Jumbotron, they visibly panicked and suddenly ducked out of view, which prompted Chris Martin to say, either they're having an affair or they're just very shy. From all appearances, it looked like Chris Martin was right. The incident became known as Coldplay gate. Within 24 hours, the names of the two people caught on the cam were revealed. As it turned out, they both worked for a company called Astronomer. He was Andy Byron, the CEO, and she was Kristin Cabot, the head of human resources. Byron was married and Cabot was recently separated. And in a weird twist, her ex husband was at the concert too. When the clip was posted to TikTok, it received 100 million views. Within days, both Byron and Cabot resigned from Astronomer. News outlets from New York to Australia covered the story. Thousands of memes circulated, parodies flooded the Internet. The wife of the CEO immediately took down all her social media accounts. A few days later, at the next Coldplay concert, Chris Martin told the audience that the Kiss Cam was coming as fair warning. And the audience knew exactly what he meant. We'd like to say hello to some of you in the crowd. How we're going to do that is we're going to use our cameras and put some of you on the big screen. Before that incident, I doubt many people knew what Astronomer was or even did. But after that moment, visits to its website reportedly jumped 15,000%. Astronomer is a tech company. It helps companies leverage AI in their businesses and provides automation for a company's analytics and workflow. The company was now facing a big PR problem. Not many people knew what Astronomer did, but millions now knew it as the Kiss Cam company. And that wasn't good for business. So Astronomer decided to create a response video and hired Ryan Reynolds advertising agency Maximum effort. Ryan Reynolds Co. Is very very good at responding quickly to breaking news. Stor the first decision was to respond to the scandal with tongue in cheek humor. That was a very brave decision because humor rarely works in a crisis. The standard playbook usually involves issuing a sober lawyer vetted statement. But humor is another thing Maximum Effort is very, very good at. The next decision Astronomer and its advertising agency made was very bold. They hired Gwyneth Paltrow to be their temporary spokesperson. She had been married to Chris Martin for 10 years before they split up in a conscious uncoupling. So 10 days after the incident, this video was released titled thank you for your interest in Astronomer thank you for.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

Your interest in Astronomer. Hi, I'm Gwyneth Paltrow. I've been hired on a very temporary basis to speak on behalf of the 300 plus employees at Astronomer. Astronomer has gotten a lot of questions over the last few days and they wanted me to answer the most common ones.

[Terry O'Reilly]

The first question on the screen was oh my God, what the actual F happened?

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

Yes, Astronomer is the best place to run Apache airflow, unifying the experience of running data ML&AI pipelines at Science scale. We've been thrilled so many people have a newfound interest in data workflow automation. As for the other questions we received.

[Terry O'Reilly]

How is your social media team holding up?

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

Yes, there is still room available at our beyond analytics event in September. We will now be returning to what we do best, delivering game changing results for our customers. Thank you for your interest in Astronomer.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Winston Churchill is often credited with saying, never let a crisis go to waste, meaning that an inflection point is an opportunity to do things you could not do before. By not avoiding the obvious scandal vis a vis the questions, and by using humor vis a vis Paltrow's answers, Astronomer was able to reframe the narrative by not being overly defensive. Boring by the book. Press statements only make lawyers happy, but leave a bad taste with the rest of the world. Astronomer chose to aim their message at the rest of the world. And because the scandal wasn't about the company's product itself, it didn't cripple Astronomer going forward. And the resulting attention gave Astronomer a rare opportunity to introduce itself to the world on its own terms. Crisis experts gave that clapback video a big smooch. When we come back, the city of Moose Jaw responds to a madman.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

If you're enjoying this episode, you might also like the Times. They are a changin' brands Crushed by Zeitgeist Season 10 Episode 1 We Tell the story of brands that had to change their names after existing for over 100 years. You'll find the episode on your favorite podcast app.

[BetterHelp Ad Voice]

BetterHelp 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 relax.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

It's 2026 and if you're still paying rent without Bilt, it's time for a change. BILT is a loyalty program for renters that rewards you for your biggest monthly expense. Rent. I don't like paying rent, and I bet you don't either, but Bilt makes it feel a little better. BILT is the loyalty program for renters that rewards you monthly with points and exclusive benefits in your neighborhood. Let me explain. With Bilt, every rent payment earns you points that can be used towards flights, hotels, Lyft rides, Amazon.com purchases and so much more. And here's something I'm really excited about. Starting in February, BILT members can earn points on mortgage payments for the first time. Soon you'll be able to get rewarded wherever you live and unlock exclusive benefits with more than 45,000 restaurants, fitness studios, pharmacies and other neighborhood partners. Personally, I'd use my built points for travel. Turning rent into flights feels like a win. It's simple. Paying rent is better with Bilt and soon owning a home will be better with Bilt too. Earn rewards and get something back wherever you live. Join the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com acast that's J-O-I N B I L T.com acast make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you.

[Momentous Supplement Ad Voice]

January is when we recommit to the habits that support our health and well being. And naturally we start looking at what can support those goals, including supplements. The supplement industry is a low trust category. It's lightly regulated, products are easy to make, and companies don't even have to list everything on their label. That's exactly why I choose Momentus. They've become the high trust brand in a low trust category. They weren't satisfied with the industry standard, so they built the Momentus standard. Their commitment to doing things the right way, not the easy way. What truly sets Momentus apart is their testing and transparency. Every product is independently certified by NSF for sport, meaning it's tested for contaminants, heavy metals, banned substances, and verified for label accuracy. So you always know exactly what you're putting in your body. And if a product doesn't meet their standard, it never hits the shelves. In a space where trust is rare, Momentous is redefining what trust looks like. And I've genuinely felt the difference using their protein and creatine every day. Right now, Momentous is offering our listeners up to 35% off your first order with promo code PODCAST. Head to livemomentous.com and use promo code PODCAST for up to 35 percent off your first order. That's livemomentous.com promo code PODCAST.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Back In September of 2019, a new commercial for Skip the Dishes hit the air. Skip the Dishes, now rebranded as Skip, is an online food delivery service originally founded by a pair of brothers in Saskatoon in 2012, then it moved its head office to Winnipeg. The long running Skip advertising campaign features actor John Hamm of Mad Men fame. In each of the commercials, Hamm is trying to become an honorary Canadian in honour of the fact Skip the Dishes was founded in Canada. In this particular ad, Hamm learns that his citizenship request has been denied. Ooh, Brandon, it's official. I'm Canadian and I ordered from Skip the Dishes to celebrate. It's on the way, sir.

[Commercial or Ad Voice (Workday Go, Mayor Fraser Tolmey)]

Your citizenship was denied.

[Terry O'Reilly]

What? But I already bought a Moose Jaw and a yellow knife and a Sault St. Marie, whatever that is.

[Commercial or Ad Voice (Workday Go, Mayor Fraser Tolmey)]

You can start your own country. New Canada.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Brandon. No, I'm a real Canadian. Oh, food's here.

[Commercial or Ad Voice (Workday Go, Mayor Fraser Tolmey)]

Shall I get it?

[Terry O'Reilly]

Oui, oui.

[Momentous Supplement Ad Voice]

What?

[Terry O'Reilly]

Oh, Brandon, your American is showing Skip the Dishes. You deserve great delivery. While Ham was having fun with Canadian city names, the town of Moose Jaw decided to have a little fun in return. Mayor Fraser Tolmey filmed this response video.

[Commercial or Ad Voice (Workday Go, Mayor Fraser Tolmey)]

Mr. Ham, my name's Fraser Tolmey and I'm the mayor of the city of Moose Chow. I recently heard the sad news about your citizenship application being denied. John, if I were the Prime Minister of New Canada, I would have you swear allegiance to the moose, our national animal. John, we would do new things in New Canada. Thursdays would be the new Friday. Chocolate would be a vegetable. Maple syrup would be a beverage. Bacon would be our favorite color and flavor spelled with a U, of course. John, we could do crazy things here. We could put the moose on the five dollar bill. We could have the loonie, the toonie, the Mooney. This just cannot stand so I'm going to ask the people of New Canada to sign a petition to make John Ham a new Canadian citizen. And if we can get a thousand signatures, well, John, I'm going to do the most Canadian thing ever. I'm going to walk up to you, look you in the eye and I'm going to say, I'm sorry. It's all been a misunderstanding, eh? Why don't you come over to my house, we'll put on a hockey game and we'll order some food in.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Mayor Tolmey is a big believer in promoting Moose Jaw on social media wherever he can. He said the skip the dishes commercial was a great opportunity to capitalize on and to have a little fun. He went on to say, people will be taking notice that Moose Jaw is a fun place to go and visit, a great place to do business. And our locals are proud that we're getting the attention. His video got over 50,000 views. And guess what? Tourism to Moose Jaw is on the upswing. So he's doing something right. And by the way, at the end of the mayor's video, it also said this was the first time a sitting politician has ever said the word sorry. When we come back, a different car company gets tuned up by a high school band.

[Momentous Supplement Ad Voice]

January is when we recommit to the habits that support our health and well being. And naturally we start looking at what can support those goals, including supplements. The supplement industry is a low trust category. It's lightly regulated. Products are easy to make and companies don't even have to list everything on their label. That's exactly why I choose Momentous. They've become the high trust brand in a low trust category. They weren't satisfied with the industry standard, so they built the Momentus standard. Their commitment to doing things the right way, not the easy way. What truly sets Momentous apart is their testing and transparency. Every product is independently certified by NSF for sport, meaning it's tested for contaminants, heavy metals, banned substances and verified for label accuracy. So you always know exactly what you're putting in your body. And if a product doesn't meet their standard, it never hits the shelves. In a space where trust is rare, Momentous is redefining what trust looks like. And I've genuinely felt the difference using their protein and creatine every day. Right now, Momentous is offering our listeners up to 35% off your first order with promo code podcast. Head to livemomentous.com and use promo code podcast for up to 35% off your first order. That's livemomentous.com, promo code podcast it's 2026.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

And if you're still paying rent without Bilt, it's time for a change. BILT is a loyalty program for renters that rewards you for your biggest monthly expense. Rent. I don't like paying rent, and I bet you don't either, but BILT makes it feel a little better. BILT is the loyalty program for renters that rewards you monthly with points and exclusive benefits in your neighborhood. Let me explain. With bilt, every rent payment earns you points that can be used towards flights, hotels, Lyft rides, Amazon.com purchases and so much more. And here's something I'm really excited about. Starting in February, BILT members can earn points on mortgage payments for the first time. Soon you'll be able to get rewarded wherever you live and unlock exclusive benefits with more than 45,000 restaurants, fitness studios, pharmacies and other neighborhood partners. Personally, I'd use my BILT points for travel. Turning rent into flights feels like a win. It's simple. Paying rent is better with bilt, and soon owning a home will be better with BILT too. Earn rewards and get something back wherever you live. Join the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com acasta that's J-O-I-N B I L T.com acast make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you better help.

[BetterHelp Ad Voice]

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 relax.

[Terry O'Reilly]

When Infiniti was launching its brand new SUV, the QX60, it aired a commercial titled Beautiful Mess. In the ad, a woman is seated in the QX60 surrounded by a youth orchestra. As the orchestra starts playing Richard Strauss's famous composition, also Sprock Zarathustra, the music is, well, bad. Eventually, the woman rolls up the windows and closes the sunroof to tune out the music. The ad's description on YouTube said, Quiet the chaos in style.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

Introducing the all new Infiniti QX60 take on life in style.

[Terry O'Reilly]

That ad struck a negative chord with a lot of viewers. Most people came to the young musician's defense, saying the commercial was meant to be One person said, I want to hug every one of those kids and encourage them in any way possible. Another commented, saying, ouch. It's not the kids playing the music that's intolerable, but the attitude of the adults that feel the need to insult beginner instrumentalists. Someone suggested Infinity should donate the profits from the car to band programs across the country. But it was a youth orchestra who won the Internet on this one. They filmed a clapback video. In the video, the CEO of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra, Ken MacLeod, jumps out of what looks like a BMW. Hilarious. And he opens the door to the concert hall. Have you seen the new Nissan Infinity ad? Can you imagine a big company like that couldn't find a youth orchestra to play the music? They should have called us the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra Inside the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra is playing a flawless and powerful rendition of Also Sprock Zarathustra. The New Brunswick Youth Orchestra has an infinity of young talent, more than a thousand children and youth, 15 orchestras. Any one of them could have done the job. In our experience, all kids have talent and can shine on any stage anywhere. Founded in 1965, the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra has trained some of Canada's best musicians for almost 60 years. The orchestra is made up of around 80 musicians aged 11 to 24 who come from all over New Brunswick. As CEO McLeod explained, We felt because we're a leader in this space of children and youth music that it was our duty, maybe even our responsibility, to somehow respond to this. He went on to say that even though the Infinity ad was tongue in cheek, it promoted the tired old stereotype of youth and bad music. Infinity responded, saying it loved the youth orchestra's video and defended its QX60 commercial, saying it was only intended to showcase the vehicle's quiet interior. The New Brunswick Youth Orchestra video was viewed over 60,000 times, and the orchestra received messages from people all over North America complimenting them for their statement. And by the way, the title of the video was An Infinity of Young Talent. When Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism created a clapback ad to protest the VRBO commercial, it was because the people of the province saw a reflection of their identity in the song and were therefore deeply offended. Aiz the by is not just a ditty, it is a cherished part of the province's history. So much so that that the lyric from the song has been featured on a Canadian postage stamp. Astronomer found itself in a crisis. It couldn't afford to be defined by the alleged affair, so a humorous clapback ad allowed the company to take back control of their story. When Skip the Dishes was spending a lot of media money making fun of Moose Jaw. The city's mayor jumped on the opportunity to promote his city, and the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra couldn't sit still when Infinity suggested young musicians are bad musicians. In the world of clapback ads, your response defines you. You can be overly defensive or you can be smart. You can be high class or nothing but a hound dog 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 Research Shay Grindin Theme music by Casey Pick, Jeremiah Pick and James Ayton tunage provided by APM Music Follow me erryoinfluence this podcast is powered by Acast, Terry's top slogans of all time. Number 20American Express. Don't leave home without it. See you next week. In a world where January is supposed to be boring, one staple of the holidays refuses to end the great deals at Verizon. The joy just keeps on coming. Right now you can save on four new phones and four lines. Critics agree it's the deal that keeps on giving. Come into Verizon and save on four new phones and four lines on unlimited. Welcome additional terms. Apply seeverizon.com for details.

[Commercial or Ad Voice (Workday Go, Mayor Fraser Tolmey)]

Think enterprise software is too costly, too complex, and takes too long to get up and running? Think again. Workday Go makes simplifying your small or mid sized business simple. HR and finance together on one powerful AI platform right at your fingertips. Workday Go gets you live fast and fits the needs of your business. Find out what Workday Go can do for you. Go with Workday Go.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

Hey, it's Raj and Noah, and we're back with a new season of Am I Doing It Wrong? The show that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.

[Terry O'Reilly]

Because we're still doing a lot of stuff wrong.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

But who isn't? That's why each week we're talking about the topics that we could all use a little helping hit with. Whether it's making new friends as an adult, managing our emotions, or even dreaming.

[Terry O'Reilly]

We'Ll be talking to experts in their fields who are definitely doing things right so the rest of us can be a bit wiser and a lot better equipped to handle whatever life throws at us.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

Subscribe now and listen to new episodes of Am I Doing It Wrong? Dropping every Thursday starting January 1st, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Terry O'Reilly]

And for the first time ever, we're going to have full video episodes on YouTube. Because as long as there are things to get wrong, we're going to be right here to help you do them better.

[BetterHelp Ad Voice]

Love y'. All.

[Podcast Host or Narrator (possibly Raj or Noah)]

Shipping, billing, admin, payroll, marketing. You're managing all the things, so why waste time sending important documents the old fashioned way? Mail and ship when you want, how you want with stamps.com print postage on demand 247 and schedule pickups from your office or home. Home save up to 90% with automated rate shopping. That's why over 1 million small businesses trust stamps.com go to stamps.com and use code podcast to try stamps.com risk free for 60 days.