I’ll admit, I’m a bit of a Kevin O’Leary fan. At one time or another, I’ll call him my favourite shark (although that title tends to rotate equally between five of the core six). I’ll put up with his blowhardedness, because I think much of it is a rouse, and his attention-seeking, because as long as he seeks attention, I’ve got content I enjoy consuming — whether that’s a new episode of Shark Tank or, very recently, the Mr. Wonderful podcast.
But that doesn’t excuse the quite strange, and giggle-inducing, product placement in Episode 2, “I love to go to bed richer than when I woke up (with Barbara Corcoran).” There’s the obvious and properly identified ad at the beginning for the podcast’s sponsor, a clothing company, and then there’s this odd segment where, seemingly out of nowhere, Kevin and Barbara are talking about acne.
(Part of O’Leary’s apparent podcast schtick is talking about a variety of issues. In Episode 1, he and his former CBC co-host Amanda Lang were debating whether kids should have nannies, and whether a liberal arts degree had any worth. Note to Mr. Wonderful: yes, it does).
But O’Leary telling a “caller” that there was medication to fight acne that takes about a year to do the job and that he should talk to his doctor about it — and Corcoran jumping in to say that a specific acne medication would help — was just, well, weird.
It was a weird spot in an otherwise enjoyable podcast. Corcoran tells a great story about suing Donald Trump — after some prodding from O’Leary, to whom she said more than once she didn’t want to talk about her dealings with Trump, lest the conversation drift into politics — saying yes, he owed her money, but he was going through a tough period and that happens in business. She was lucky to be having a good year, and therefore could afford the lawyer’s fees to actually sue. Then she tells this nice little tidbit about sending him flowers after she received each monthly payment, flowers that Trump promptly and consistently sent back.
(Barbara Corcoran’s own podcast, by the way, has useful tips like not overusing exclamation points in emails, but that’s the only episode I’ve listened to so far.)
I only ended up listening to that episode of Mr. Wonderful’s podcast because I went to iTunes, looking for a different podcast: Ram Dass. That, of course, has 137 episodes because — as far as I can tell, starting from the beginning — it’s not a podcast in the modern sense. Its first few chapters are lectures, more than 50 years old now, but still with a deep resonance for those of us “inclined that way,” — whatever way that is — which makes it a podcast with purpose. A podcast with a message, compared to just a new way to monetize content. I had the experience more than once of streaming the old lectures through Ram Dass’ Love, Serve, Remember Foundation and falling into peaceful sleep, with pleasant Ram Dass-infused dreams, and wanted to download the library. Call me crazy, but I hope I don’t have O’Leary and Corcoran-infused dreams, where the two are talking about acne medication.
Of course, the Ram Dass podcast has a sponsor too, a place in California called 1440. But Ram Dass doesn’t stop mid-lecture in 1967 to say, “India: when psychedelics fail to give you enlightenment, head east to find a guru.” Or, “Let’s take a coffee break. You know who makes the best coffee to help you achieve enlightenment? Sanka.”
Yes, I know. Product placement started way, way, back in the early days of television where the stars would smoke as part of the plot to plug the cigarettes. My favourite current sitcom, Superstore, had an entire episode that revolved around Target. But those made sense, unlike a property developer and venture capitalist giving out advice on acne medication.
But you know, if you want something weird in your business podcast, check it out. It is fun. More ideas, and ads, to fill our conscious space.
Sarah Field 