How many things do Americans buy, believe, or treat as tradition simply because somebody ran a brilliant advertising campaign?

Rick Robinson and Aggie take a funny, occasionally horrified trip through the marketing myths and spectacular product failures that helped shape American consumer culture. The conversation begins with De Beers and the campaign that transformed diamond engagement rings into a supposed measure of love, commitment, and salary.

From there, they examine how public relations helped establish bacon and eggs as the “proper” American breakfast, why generations were told to drink eight glasses of water every day, and how the 3,000-mile oil-change rule remained embedded in drivers’ minds long after automotive technology changed.

Then come the products nobody needed and some brands probably wish everyone would forget: Pepsi A.M., Crystal Pepsi, coffee pods, paper straws wrapped in plastic, disposable BIC underwear, Colgate frozen dinners, and even a perfume inspired by ‘The Bridges of Madison County.’

It’s a look at the difference between creating a useful product and convincing people they need one—with enough detours, coffee, diamonds, disposable underwear, and potential volcano-based recycling to make the Mad Men demand a refund.