The Media Download with John Ondo
The Media Download with John Ondo is a podcast packed with tips, tricks, and current media trends with practical ideas to help you improve your media quality. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just getting started with your own social media content, you will find time-saving, quality-increasing ideas here. Drawing on John's decades of Emmy Award-winning experience in broadcasting and digital media, John shares production shortcuts, & creative strategies to help your projects look and sound more polished. From video and audio to storytelling and workflow, The Media Download is your go-to resource for smarter, better media.
Episodes
John Ondo, a 40-year TV and filmmaking veteran, compares HBO’s The Pitt and Paramount’s Star Trek: Starfleet Academy—both are teacher-and-student shows with very different outcomes—to explain what content creators can learn about respecting audiences. He argues The Pit succeeds by trusting viewers with real-time, authentic hospital storytelling, minimal handholding, and relatable characters with consequences, helpin...
Names Always Matter: What the Corvette E-Ray Teaches About Branding
John Ondo explains how naming and branding shape perception, using the Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray as a case study. Though the 2024 E-Ray was a high-performance V8 hybrid with all-wheel drive and 0–60 in 2.5 seconds, many consumers assumed the “E” meant fully electric and treated it like a Tesla, hurting sales. In contrast, Chevrolet’s 2025 ZR...
The One Production Tool That Changed My Shoots: DJI Osmo Pocket 3
John Ondo explains how the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 has become the biggest production tool he’s bought and why it’s transformed his field workflow in an era of compressed budgets and schedules. With most clients expecting a half-day shoot and fast editing, he emphasizes “get in, get out” without sacrificing quality, especially for B-roll. He highlig...
Photoshop vs. Canva: Craft vs. Convenience for Media Creators
In this episode of The Media Download, John Ondo dives into the ongoing debate between Adobe Photoshop and Canva. He discusses the pros and cons of each tool—highlighting Photoshop's control, collaboration, and industry recognition versus Canva's speed, simplicity, and beginner-friendliness. Through thoughtful comparisons, John emphasiz...
Top Super Bowl Commercials of 2023: Hilarious & Heartfelt Reviews
In this week's episode of The Media Download, John Ondo and his wife Angel review some of the top Super Bowl commercials of 2023. Despite neither of their favorite teams playing, they delve into ads from big brands like Michelob, PepsiCo, Budweiser, GrubHub, Ring, Hellman's, and Instacart. With a mix of humor and heartfelt momen...
Join John Ondo on the Media Download this week as he walks through how Oasis City Church navigated a massive snowstorm that forced the cancellation of in-person services. Learn essential hacks and tips for pivoting to an online live-streamed service during emergencies. Discover the importance of pre-production communication, effective planning, and collaboration between media teams and church leadership to ensure a ...
In this episode of 'The Media Download,' Media Consultant, John Ondo talks with veteran radio broadcaster and podcaster Terry Dismore about the enduring power and unique advantages of audio podcasting. They delve into why podcasting remains an effective medium for communication, sharing personal viewpoints, and detailed discussion that isn't feasible on social media platforms like Instagram. The conve...
Analyzing the Iconic Mary Tyler Moore Show Opening
In this audio-adbridged episode of the Media Download, hosted by John Ondo, the focus is on the classic opening sequence of The Mary Tyler Moore Show. John delves into the techniques that made this sequence memorable, including insights into its editing, the significance of the music, and its visual storytelling. The episode highlights the importance of sto...
5 Hacks to Instantly Improve Your Voiceovers
In this episode of the Media Download, John Ando shares five practical tips to instantly enhance your voiceovers. Whether you're recording yourself, directing talent, or working with clients, these communication-focused hacks will help you achieve better results. Learn how to underline key words, give directions, project your voice, do a backup take, and eff...
Managing AI Impact on Media and Business: Avoiding AI Accidents
In this episode of Marketing Media and Cupcakes, John and Angel delve into the effects of AI on media and business. They discuss the potential pitfalls of AI-generated content, emphasizing the importance of human review and maintaining authenticity to avoid damaging one's brand. The discussion includes relatable anecdotes and statistics hi...
Marketing Media and Cupcakes: Cracker Barrel Rebranding and Its Fallout
In episode 78 of Marketing Media and Cupcakes, hosts John and Angel Ondo discuss various aspects of marketing and media amidst the seasonal joy of fall. They dive into the controversial rebranding of Cracker Barrel, analyzing its impact, audience reception, and the underlying reasons behind such changes. They critiqued the company'...
The Return of Marketing Media and Cupcakes: COVID, Struggles, and Resilience
On February 8th, 2021, John and Angel Ondo's podcast 'Marketing Media and Cupcakes' vanished, with no explanation. Returning after four years and seven months, the couple reveals the real story behind their hiatus. Following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis, Angel experienced health challenges that deeply impacted their life and ...
More interesting than the actual game, the commercials on this year's Super Game made some impressive statements. John and Angel review their favorite ads based on how well they made the connection between the brand and the content.
John's commercial and documentary background leads to his belief that its not enough to have a memorable ad, it must remind you of the actual brand who made the ad. ...
Welcome to episode 75 of Marketing Media & Cupcakes, where we bring best practices for your business. This week John and Angel discuss best practices for your business. Angel has been training staff at her Fortune 500 company for many years. Traning is critical to having a consistent voice for your customers and clients. She shares 4 quick tips that can help your training be more effective. John is a licensed dr...
Email remains the most accepted way to connect with business communications. Even more so after 2020 and social media platforms becoming less reliable for existing. Angel reviews her best practices for composing emails.
1) Be clear and concise
2) Proofread
3) Copy back important point or responses
4) Use subject lines keywords to get attention
5) Don't say anything you don't want ...
John and Angel are joined by guest Terry & Nay Dismore, small business owners, as they share ideas on how you can set effective realistic goals for 2021 for your business.
They suggest that you shoot for small wins, finding areas that are nagging your productivity and set to resolve those issues.
Listen to the right people. Don't let Covid talk discourage your mojo for success.
...
This week John & Angel discuss how the pandemic and the changing regulations have forced businesses to look at best practices. Angel shares tips on dealing with customers who are upset with late deliveries.
Then John shares 5 of his personal favorite documentaries and how they relate to telling a story in our media
Finally Angel shares 3 quick dishes you can make in just minutes to take to tha...
There are many words and phrases you should avoid in your marketing, advertising and just general communications. John will share 7 words or phrases that you should avoid in your online or broadcast advertising. Angel will share things your customer service team should never say to your clients or customers.
John's 7 Words or Phrases you should avoid in your ad copy
1) Quality
2) Contract<...
On this podcast:
- Angel Shares 5 tips that will help your customer relationships with your business.
- John will share changes we are making as of this episode to upgrade Marketing Media and Cupcakes
- Angel shares some holiday dessert ideas that are Easy As Pie!
5 Ways to improve Listening to your Customers
- Remove Distractions - and make sure your team know you want them to completely focus on the custome...
How important is believing and inspiring success in your business? Author & Podcast host Monica Guidry joins John and Angel to share about positive affirmation is not just some feel good team building activity but an actual best practice!
Find out more about Monica: monicacguidry.com and her podcast is at: wholeheART with Monica Guidry
For more on John's media business: OndoMedia.com
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