Episode 191

Lessons from the "When Life Gives You Lemons" Monologue

Published on: 3rd April, 2024

In the Netflix series "The Fall of the House of Usher," there's a monologue that delves deep into the dark heart of marketing's power over public perception. It's a chilling reminder of how easily we can be swayed, manipulated, and controlled by the relentless barrage of advertising, branding, and propaganda that saturates our everyday lives. "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade?" 

What we consume, where we put our money is deeply personal and this monologue made me do a double take and really begin to think about the companies and the motives behind the marketing - so I just wanted to share it with you to - because for some reason I can’t shake it.

Drink of the week…Limoncello Martini

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Transcript
Speaker:

When life hands you lemons make lemonade.

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It's a saying that's been attributed

to Dale Carnegie, Julius Rosenwald,

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Albert Hubbard, and others.

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It's the proverbial phrase.

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We all know that is used to encourage

optimism and a positive can-do attitude

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in the face of adversity or misfortune.

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But I recently heard a monologue

on this subject that I just

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can't get out of my head.

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Welcome to episode one 90.

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One of this shit works, a

podcast dedicated to all things,

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networking, relationship building

and business development.

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I'm your host, Julie Brown.

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Speaker author and networking coach.

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And today I'm delving deep into

the dark heart of marketing's

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power over public perception.

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In the Netflix series, the

fall of the house of usher.

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There's a monologue that delves deep

into the dark heart of marketing's power.

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Over public perception.

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It's a chilling reminder of

how easily we can be swayed.

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Manipulated and controlled by their

relentless barrage of advertising,

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branding, and propaganda that

saturates our everyday lives.

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When life hands you lemons make lemonade.

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The monologue happens in the

middle of the show's third episode

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and belongs to the stories.

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Narrator Roderick, usher.

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Roderick launches into a long

and winding description of why

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when life hands you lemons make

lemonade is far too simplistic.

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Rodrick answers that length.

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When life hands you lemons make lemonade.

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No.

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First you roll out a multimedia

campaign to convince people.

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Lemons are incredibly

scarce, which only works.

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If you stockpile, lemons.

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Control the supply.

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Then immediate blitz lemon is

the only way to say I love you.

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The must have accessory for

engagements or anniversaries.

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Roses are out.

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Lemons are in.

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Billboards that say she won't have

sex with you unless you've got lemons.

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You cut de beers in on it.

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Limited edition lemon bracelets,

yellow diamonds called lemon drops.

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You get apple to call

their new operating system.

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O S Lee Mon a little accent over the O.

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You charge 40% more for organic lemons,

50% more for conflict free lemons.

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You pack the Capitol with lemon

lobbyists, you get a Kardashians to

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suck a lemon wedge and leaked sex tape.

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Timothy shallow may where's

lemon shoes at cans.

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Get a hashtag campaign, something

isn't cool or tight or awesome.

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No, it's the Lennon's.

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Did you see that movie?

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Did you see that concert?

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It was effing lemon.

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Billie Eilish.

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Oh my God.

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Hashtag Lennon.

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You get Dr.

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Oz to recommend four lemons a

day, and a lemon suppository

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supplement to get rid of toxins.

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Cause there's nothing scarier than toxins.

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Then you patent the seeds.

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You write a line of genetic code that

makes the lemons look just a little

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more like tits, you get a gene patent

for the tit lemon DNA sequence, you

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cross pollinate, you get those seeds

circulating in the wild, and then you Sue

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the farmers for copyright infringement.

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When that genetic code

shows up on their land.

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Sit back rake in the millions.

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And then when you're done, when

you've sold your Len Pyre for a few

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billion dollars then, and only then.

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You make some fucking lemonade.

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Now.

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There's a lot wrong with this.

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Monologue roses are

always in the Kardashians.

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Sex tape is so old.

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It can legally purchase alcohol

hashtags are so off-brand,

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especially for Billie Eilish and Dr.

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Oz, his credibility is

in data, but you get it.

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The monologue delivers a satirical take

on modern marketing and consumer culture.

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And I haven't been able

to get it out of my head.

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I've thought about it over and over.

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And each time they get a little

bit more depressed by how

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the world and consumers are.

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So captivated by trends.

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How marketing can shape societal values.

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As scraps from the loft

writer puts it, quote.

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It's a powerful commentary on the lengths

to which individuals and corporations

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will go to manufacture desire.

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Manipulate markets.

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And commodify every aspect of human life,

including emotions and relationships

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and the pursuit of wealth and power.

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Unquote.

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What we consume, where we put our money

is deeply personal, and this monologue

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made me do a double-take and really

begin to think about the companies

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and the motives behind the marketing.

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So because I can't get it out of my head.

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I just wanted to share it with you.

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Cause I just can't shake it.

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Okay.

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Onto the drink of the week,

which of course is going to be

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a lemon cocktail of some sort.

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One of my favorite lemon

liquorice is Lehman cello.

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So this week we are indulging

in a Lehman cello martini.

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Here's what you're going to need.

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One and a half ounces or three

tablespoons of lemon cello, one ounce

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or two tablespoons vodka, half an

ounce, one tablespoon of fresh lemon

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juice, a half an ounce, one tablespoon

of simple syrup, which honestly,

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I don't think you need as Lehman.

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Cello is actually pretty sweet already,

but I'm going to leave that up to you.

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What you're going to do is add the

lemon cello vodka, lemon juice, and

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simple syrup to a cocktail shaker.

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Fill with ice and shake

structure trick until cold.

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And then strain that into a martini

glass and garnish with a lemon wedge.

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All right, friends.

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That's all for this week.

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If you like what you heard

today, please leave a review

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and subscribe to the podcast.

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Also, please remember

to share the podcast.

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to help it reach a larger audience.

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If you want more, Julie

Brown, you can find my book.

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The shit works on Amazon

or Barnes and noble.

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You can find me on

LinkedIn at Julie Brown BD.

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Just let me know where you

found me when you reach out.

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I am Julie Brown underscore BD

on the Instagram, or you can just

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pop on over to my website, Julie

Brown, bd.com until next week.

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Cheers.

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This Shit Works
The people you meet can 100% Change Your Life! Networking is how you meet those people. Which sucks because you hate networking, you think you're bad at networking, and you certainly don’t have time to network. Bullshit! Welcome to This Shit Works, a weekly podcast hosted by entrepreneur, CEO, public speaker, author, business development strategist and networking coach Julie Brown. Just don’t call her Downtown Julie Brown - she doesn’t like that.

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