Indonesia’s tech scene is heating up. You might’ve heard of Gojek and Tokopedia in passing, but have no idea what they are. In this episode, we decode the two tech startups born out of Indonesia and talk about the merger that made global headlines and went down as the biggest deal ever in Indonesian history. 

A coffee shop disguised as a bank? Doesn’t really make sense at first glance. Surprisingly, Starbucks does function a lot like a bank. In this episode, we’re unpacking one of the most successful marketing strategies ever - The My Starbucks Rewards program and how it’s allowing the global coffee giant to borrow large sums of money from its loyal customers, at a 0% interest rate. 

Each year, more and more brands are jumping on the Pride bandwagon to promote themselves as allies to the LGBTQ community. But how many of these efforts are genuine, and not just brands cashing in on what’s trending? In this episode, we explore how Pride has evolved over the decades, how companies are capitalizing on a culture that’s reaching mainstream acceptance, and what they can do to be more than performative allies.

In May 2021, Shein overtook Amazon as the most downloaded shopping app in the US. If you haven’t heard of the company, it's probably because you aren’t its target audience.  The brand has been making waves in the Gen Z fashion scene selling the hottest trends at unbelievably low prices for a while now. In this episode, we delve into the origins of Shein, how it cracked the Gen Z online fashion market, and the culture of ultra fast fashion. 

The final episode of Friends may have aired in 2004, but the show remains popular as ever even in the digital world. In this episode, we unpack just how much of an influence the show has had on our lives, and how it changed the sitcom landscape inspiring many of our favourite shows which followed its path to success. 

Tesla has tasted sweet success in China. In this episode, we explore the unique symbiotic relationship between Tesla and China, and how the EV manufacturer entered the Chinese market and became the market leader.

While it may be a hot topic right now, Apple and Facebook have been at loggerheads regarding privacy for over a decade now. The two tech giants might not be direct competitors, but their moves have a huge impact on each other’s businesses. With Apple’s rollout of iOS 14.5, things for Facebook are about to change drastically. This episode explains how.

One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor! In short, that’s the answer. Tune into the episode as we explore how George Clooney made a fortune out of his tequila brand ‘Casamigos’ without intending to make a single penny out of it.

It’s been over sixty years since Swedish engineer Nils Bohlin invented the three-point seatbelt. The innovation has saved over a million lives, and continues to do so every day. In this episode, we explore how this invention came about and what has...

With more connected consumers than anywhere else in the world, China has made social media the backbone of commerce. In this episode, we’re unpacking how China is shaping the future of shopping, not just for itself but for the rest of the world - with a...

If you thought RedBull was an energy drink, think again. It is actually a marketing company, and a really good one at that. Instead of using traditional advertising methods, the brand associates itself with people and events that allow them...

Pepsi's marketing fiasco in Philippines, also known as the infamous '349 incident', is a cautionary tale for marketers today. How did a simple promotion lead to riots with grenades and the death of five innocents? 

Kylie Jenner, Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Katrina Kaif - the list goes on and on. Celebrities can’t seem to stop launching their own cosmetic brands. But what’s driving this trend? We find out in this episode of Let’s Do Shots.

Rihanna might have not dropped an album since 2016, but the pop-star’s lingerie label’s sales are skyrocketing, challenging the legacy of the Victoria’s Secret. This episode explores how Savage X Fenty has solidified itself to become a front runner in...

How did Whitney Wolfe Herd, co-founder and CEO of Bumble become the youngest woman to lead a company to an IPO and join the rare female billionaires club? Let’s find out.

As soon as the first vaccines were announced in countries like the UK and US, travel agents from around the globe began pitching vaccine tourism to the wealthy. But is it ethical?

Viagra was an accidental discovery, but once it showed up and never looked back. In this episode we talk about how Pfizer chanced upon the little blue pill and where the drug is today.

Pepsi's foray into the Soviet Union and the country's bizarre obsession with the cola beverage is a story for the ages. In fact, as a result of this obsession, for a brief moment in the 1980s, Pepsi was the 6th largest military operator in the world. 

The first Lamborghini ever was a tractor. The only reason they started making luxury sports car was because of a meeting with Enzo Ferrari which didn't end well.

In this episode we speak about the bizarre series of events that Ray Kroc (McDonald's) and Howard Schultz (Starbucks) went through early on in their career and how similar it was to each other, even though they were happening in different decades...

I watched 'The Social Dilemma' on Netflix, and couldn't resist speaking to you about how the entire 'attention grasping' construct works on social media, and how important features like 'push notifications' have changed over the years.

From a brand loved by everyone, to a brand caught in the middle of controversy, a lot has changed for Victoria's Secret in the last few years. In this episode we explore what led to their dramatic fall, and why they failed to reinvent themselves. 

The recent ban of PUBG from India and the immediate introduction of an Indian clone called FAU-G, is very similar to what happened in 1977 with Coca Cola. Coca Cola was driven out of the country, and a slew of home made cola brands were launched, Thums...

In 1997, Apple was on the brink of bankruptcy, when Steve Jobs made a deal with Bill Gates. Microsoft prevented Apple from going out of business, but why did Bill Gates spend money to save his fiercest rivals?

In Japan, KFC sells 10 times more chicken in December than they do in any other month. No Christmas celebration in Japan is complete without a KFC meal. In this episode we explore how this was made possible through a well planned marketing campaign...