Welcome to Embracing Marketing Mistakes, the world’s leading irreverent podcast for senior marketers who are tired of the polished corporate b*llshit. Join Chris Norton and Will Ockenden, founders of the award-winning Prohibition PR, as they sit down with industry leaders to dissect the career-ending f*ck-ups they’d rather forget. The show moves past any pretty vanity metrics to uncover the brutal, honest truths behind marketing disasters, from £30,000 SEO black holes and completely failed companies, to social media crises that went globally viral for all the wrong reasons. We don't just celebrate the f*ck-ups; we extract the tactical blueprints you need to avoid them yourself. If you are a business owner, or a CMO looking for a competitive advantage that only comes from real-world experience, this is your weekly masterclass in resilience and strategy. • Listen for: Raw stories from top brands, ex-McKinsey strategists, and industry disruptors. • Learn from: The errors that cost thousands and the recoveries that saved careers. • Get ahead by: Turning other people's nasty disasters into your unfair market advantage. If you have a story to tell and would like to appear on the show, tell us your biggest marketing mistake and drop us a line.
What this show covers
resilienceB2B marketingmarketing strategyinfluencer marketingconversion optimizationsuccessTEDxreinventionfailurejournalist outreachSEOdigital PRmedia pitchingPRclarity
What listeners will find here
When the big moment flops: a candid look at failure, ego, and starting over
A TEDx talk that drew 2,000 views instead of 30,000 opens into a wider conversation about disappointment, reinvention, and resilience. Niraj Kapoor shares setbacks in work and life, and the episode explores why some success stories shine while others stall.
Why Britt Klontz says the best PR feedback might be a rejection
Digital PR consultant Britt Klontz explains how she went from SEO intern to landing Mashable coverage and why most failed pitches come down to avoidable mistakes. She shares a pitch error that became her go-to template, plus practical coverage tips for 2026.
After 30 years in PR, Mark Terry-Lush confronts the cost of saying yes to everything
Mark Terry-Lush reflects on a career shaped by magazines, PR, and iconic brands, and the realization that adaptability can become a trap. The episode explores what it costs to build everyone else’s story while losing sight of your own.
From Pizza Express revival to a costly client mistake: Gerry Hopkinson gets candid
Gerry Hopkinson discusses selling his agency, staying on for five years, and the decision he considers his biggest regret. The episode also explores the Pizza Express “living lab” and how Unity grew Absinthe by 300% before dropping the client for a bigger name.
When a tiny online backlash feels enormous
This episode explores trolling, online pile-ons, and the emotional weight of public criticism through Asif Choudry’s story of a superhero-themed event that sparked unexpected backlash. It focuses on resilience, visibility, and practical ways to handle negativity without letting mistakes define you.
Episodes
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