The Cambridge Marketing Podcast

Opinionated Marketers on: ADVERTS

This week Kiran and Charles talk about the Super Bowl ads and why they matter so much. They look at OpenAI bringing in advertising, a rival ad from Claude that questions bias, and Ring’s dog-finding campaign that many people found unsettling.

Opinionated Marketers on: LOSING YOUR WAY

This episode looks at what happens when brands forget who they’re for.
We start with Prestat, the old Piccadilly chocolatier that lost its way after being bought by venture capital, cutting range, pushing expensive boxes and drifting from the customers who loved it. From there we discuss Bass securing the first UK trademark, NatWest chasing “mass affluence”, and why understanding your market still beats clever strategy every time.
 
[The book referenced towards the end of the episode is called How Africa Works: Success and Failure on The World's Last Developmental Frontier by Joe Studwell.]

No Uni? No Problem! Building a Marketing Career Through Apprenticeships

This week we celebrate National Apprenticeship Week. Kiran Kapur is joined by Sophie Bolton to talk honestly about what apprenticeships are really like. Sophie shares her own route into marketing, how learning on the job built her confidence, and why apprenticeships can be a smart alternative to university for people at any stage of their career.
This episode is an essential listen for anyone either considering an apprenticeship or taking on an apprentice.
 

Growing Your Marketing Team: People, AI, or Both?

Kiran Kapur talks with Chris Woodward from Oliver Agency about how marketing agencies are using AI in everyday work.
They cover automation, Oliver’s in-house model, real cost savings, and training teams to use new tools. Chris also explains why many smaller businesses may get better results investing in AI software and skills instead of hiring another person.

Opinionated Marketers on: WEIGHTLOSS

This week our Opinionated Marketers look at how weight loss jabs are reshaping consumer behaviour.  From smaller food portions and falling alcohol sales to booming fashion and fitness spending - everything's changing, and changing quickly.
Kiran and Charles also discuss pharma’s push towards pill versions, pressure on pubs and hospitality, the rise of alcohol-free drinks, and what these fast-moving shifts mean for marketers.
Read the article discussed here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cj6wy85l3x5o

Inside the World’s Most Effective Ad Campaigns

This episode explores the adverts that really work!  We're joined by Lynne Deason of Kantar and look at everything from John Lewis Christmas classics and Coca-Cola’s personalised bottles to Amazon’s festive storytelling and Ariel’s “Share the Load” campaign.
Lynne reveals what these campaigns get right, how emotion and music shape impact, and why positive representation helps brands connect with audiences worldwide.
 

Opinionated Marketers on: GOOD NEWS

In this episode, Kiran Kapur and Charles Nixon dig into the GOOD news stories getting buried by bad headlines.
They talk about the retail successes at Next and Marks & Spencer, the truth behind 'Blue Monday', Universal Studios coming to the UK, and why adults are buying more toys!

Stop Chasing Algorithms: A Reality Check On Modern Marketing

This episode is about slowing down and doing marketing properly. Abe Kasbo of Verasoni argues that brands have become addicted to shortcuts, dashboards and shiny new tools.
We talk about why product, brand and customer experience matter more than platforms, why not everything should be “digital-first”, and how businesses can build real growth without gambling on trends or tech hype.

Opinionated Marketers on: 2026 TRENDS

Kiran Kapur and Charles Nixon start with Peter Fisk’s Trend Kaleidoscope and use it as a way into what 2026 might really look like. They talk through AI, politics, economics, climate, and shifting behaviour, cutting through trend noise to focus on what feels solid, what feels overplayed, and what might genuinely affect how people live and work.

Cambridge Marketing College launches NEW AI Focused Apprenticeships

2026 sees Cambridge Marketing College launch its new AI-focused apprenticeships. Listen to Kiran Kapur, Charlotte Lestienne and Neil Wilkins discuss the new programmes, and find out how you can get involved as both an apprentice and employer.