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AdTechGod Pod

AdTechGod, The AdTech God

A Podcast For The People About The People. The AdTechGod ® Pod celebrates the Minds Behind Adtech and offers an engaging platform where listeners can discover the stories and insights of the individuals driving the advertising technology industry. This podcast shines a spotlight on the creative and innovative minds that make adtech great, providing a unique perspective on the people behind the technology that shapes our digital advertising experiences. All guests appearing on the adtech god podcast are invited participants; they do not provide compensation to AdTechGod for their appearance. The podcast's funding is provided through preroll and midroll advertisements, which are sponsored by various companies. If you are interested in being a guest or advertising on the AdTechGod Pod (The Adtech God Podcast) please visit https://www.adtechgod.com/adtechgod-pod.

Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact ⁠Marketecture Media.⁠

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Wednesday · 29 min
Beyond the Genre: Bill Condon on Gracenote’s Vision for CTV Transparency
AdTechGod is joined by Bill Condon, Head of Global Advertising Sales at Gracenote, to discuss why content-level transparency is becoming essential in connected TV advertising. They explore how Gracenote’s content intelligence gives advertisers a clearer picture of where their ads appear, improves brand suitability, and helps identify premium inventory. Bill also discusses the importance of persistent content signals, the rise of truly live sports inventory, Gracenote’s work with The Trade Desk and other programmatic platforms, and what’s next for CTV advertising. Takeaways: CTV needs greater transparency: Advertisers need clearer visibility into where their ads actually run. Content intelligence goes deeper: Gracenote provides detailed signals beyond broad genre categories. Better brand suitability: Content-level data helps brands choose what to align with or avoid. Transparency benefits buyers and publishers: Advertisers gain control while premium publishers can better demonstrate their value. “Live live” matters: More precise signals help distinguish truly live sports from other sports content. Content signals are becoming essential: Gracenote is bringing its content intelligence into major programmatic platforms. Outcomes are next: Content intelligence could help improve purchase intent, brand favorability, and campaign performance. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the AdTechGod Pod 00:13 Introducing Bill Condon of Gracenote 01:26 Bill’s Journey to Gracenote 03:13 The Convergence of Streaming and Traditional TV 03:42 Do Advertisers Really Know Where Their Ads Run? 05:17 Why CTV Still Has a Transparency Problem 06:40 Gracenote’s Content Intelligence and Metadata 08:23 Going Beyond Basic Genre Targeting 09:01 Building a Deeper Content Graph 10:42 Brand Suitability and Show-Level Signals 11:22 Persistent Content Signals Across Platforms 13:15 Three Key Use Cases for Content Intelligence 14:09 Transparency, CPMs and the True Value of Inventory 15:25 Show-Level Reporting and Post-Campaign Validation 16:02 How Content Signals Benefit the Sell Side 17:55 Why Premium Publishers Benefit From Transparency 19:13 Dos Equis, Dentsu and the Power of “Live Live” Sports 21:32 Gracenote’s Partnership With The Trade Desk 24:02 The Future of Connected TV Advertising 25:40 Connecting Content Intelligence to Outcomes 26:22 Why Transparency Will Shape the Future of TV Advertising 28:39 Closing Thoughts Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#150
Tuesday · 27 min
Ep 150: Apps, Ops and OEM with Mike Brooks
AdTechGod sits down with Mike Brooks, Founder of Brooks Industries, to explore the convergence of CTV and mobile apps, the future of TV data, performance CTV, product-market fit, and how AI is creating new opportunities across advertising. Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact ⁠ http://marketecturemedia.com Takeaways: CTV and mobile apps are converging: Mike sees significant opportunity as the app and connected TV ecosystems increasingly overlap. TV data is still evolving: Advances in streaming and ACR data could unlock a new generation of advertising products and targeting capabilities. Product-market fit comes first: Startups need to focus on solving a specific problem instead of chasing every new opportunity. Performance CTV has real potential: Mike believes TV can drive measurable installs and conversions, particularly for mobile-first brands looking beyond traditional acquisition channels. AI is making big data actionable: Mike sees practical AI value in modeling large datasets and turning complex signals into useful insights for advertisers and streaming companies. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the AdTechGod Pod 00:13 Meet Mike Brooks 01:05 Mike’s Journey Through Apps, Ad Tech, and CTV 05:06 Building Partnerships at LG Ad Solutions 06:10 The Convergence of CTV and Mobile Apps 08:27 What the Industry Is Underestimating 08:58 The Future of TV and Streaming Data 11:54 Why Product-Market Fit Matters 13:48 The Power of Focus for Startups 16:33 Is Performance CTV Really the Future? 18:06 Using CTV to Drive Installs and Conversions 20:00 Rethinking the “Performance TV” Label 21:58 AI’s Role in Advertising and Consulting 24:25 Final Thoughts and How to Connect Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 1 · 25 min
Ep 149: From Amazon to AI-Powered Commerce with Marissa Ramirez of ShopSense AI
AdTechGod is joined by Marissa Ramirez, Chief Commercial Officer at ShopSense AI, to discuss her journey from Amazon to the startup world, how AI is connecting content with commerce, the future of shoppable CTV, and why better ad experiences could help strengthen the open internet. Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact ⁠ http://marketecturemedia.com Takeaways: Marissa shares how her decade at Amazon shaped her approach to building and scaling ad tech products. ShopSense AI uses specialty AI to connect inspiration across video, audio, images, and text to commerce opportunities. Better, more relevant ad experiences could help the open internet compete with walled gardens. Shoppable CTV needs to go beyond simply adding QR codes and create more intentional consumer experiences. Specialty AI models could play an increasingly important role in media planning, creative, commerce, and advertising infrastructure. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the Ad Tech God Pod 00:47 Marissa Ramirez’s Journey Into Ad Tech 03:07 Building and Scaling Products at Amazon 04:04 What Kept Marissa at Amazon for a Decade 05:44 Moving From Amazon to ShopSense AI 06:00 What ShopSense AI Does 07:06 Why Marissa Made the Startup Leap 09:25 The Open Internet vs. Walled Gardens 10:23 Why Better Ad Experiences Matter 13:04 Building a New AI and Commerce Category 15:06 What Drives Shoppable Content Engagement 16:58 Misconceptions About Shoppable CTV 19:37 Moving Beyond the QR Code 20:53 ShopSense AI’s Role in the Advertising Ecosystem 21:51 The Future of AI and Ad Tech 23:19 Closing Thoughts Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 26 · 31 min
CTV Gets Smarter: James Grant of Equativ on AI, Identity & Outcomes
AdTechGod sits down with James Grant, SVP of Equativ, to explore the evolution of connected TV, AI-powered media planning, performance TV, and the future of streaming advertising. James also shares lessons from powering live sports advertising and why outcomes, identity, and new CTV ad formats are shaping the next era of ad tech. Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact ⁠http://marketecturemedia.com Takeaways: - AI agents are making media planning more efficient and dynamic. - Performance TV is creating new opportunities for measurable CTV outcomes. - Live sports streaming requires scalable ad serving, testing, and strong project management. - Pause ads and home-screen formats can create less intrusive CTV experiences. - Contextual signals, outcomes, and deterministic identity will shape CTV’s future. Chapters: 01:05 Introduction to the AdTechGod Pod 01:18 Meet James Grant of Equativ 02:17 James’ Career Across TV and Ad Tech 05:08 Building Equativ’s CTV Business 06:25 The Biggest Opportunities in Connected TV 08:40 AI and Equativ’s Media Planning Agent 10:41 Moving Beyond Copy-and-Paste Media Buying 12:51 AI, Workflow Efficiency and Creative 15:27 Combining AI, Creative and Media Buying 16:50 Live Sports and Streaming Advertising 17:34 Equativ and MagentaTV 18:55 Lessons From Large-Scale Live Streaming 21:10 What Broadcasters Need to Get Right 23:54 The Changing CTV Ad Experience 24:48 Why Pause Ads Are a Major Opportunity 27:13 Equativ’s TV Operating System Partnership 28:15 The Future of CTV and Streaming 31:11 Deterministic Identity and What Ad Tech Is Missing 32:07 Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 25 · 30 min
Ep 148: The Future of Ad Tech: AI, Agency M&A and the Return of Brand Building with Alex Brownstein
AdTechGod sits down with Alex Brownstein, CEO and Founder at AHB Advisors, to examine where advertising and ad tech are heading. They discuss The Trade Desk’s organizational evolution, why mid-size agencies could become active acquirers, how AI may reshape the agency model, and why the industry may need to rediscover memorable brand building alongside performance and measurement. Read more from Alex Brownstein by subscribing to his Substack: https://ahbadvisors.substack.com/ Interested in sponsoring the show? Contact http://marketecturemedia.com Takeaways Ad tech companies should evolve through thoughtful expansion rather than abrupt strategic pivots. Mid-size agencies could become more active acquirers as larger holding companies navigate structural complexity. AI will reshape agency work, shifting value from routine execution toward strategy and business outcomes. Agencies may find new value as intermediaries between brands and dominant technology platforms. Advertising needs a better balance between measurable performance and memorable, long-term brand building. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the AdTechGod Pod 00:18 Meet Alex Brownstein, Strategic Advisor, former 3C Ventures and McKinsey 01:22 From investment banking to LiveIntent and ad tech 03:18 What finance taught Alex about advertising and business strategy 05:17 The Trade Desk, CFO changes and organizational alignment 09:02 Why ad tech companies are evolving their core businesses 12:04 Why mid-size agencies could become major acquirers 16:00 The complexity of large agency organizations 17:13 What McKinsey’s operating model can teach agencies 18:29 Will AI kill agencies or change how they work? 20:56 A new potential role for agencies between brands and platforms 22:27 Alex’s prediction for the next three years of advertising 23:25 Why memorable brand building could make a comeback 25:17 What advertising lost in the influencer era 26:05 Have advertisers gone too far toward data and measurement? 27:53 Brand recognition and the top of the marketing funnel 28:21 Closing thoughts with Alex Brownstein 28:38 Outro Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 19 · 26 min
WURL’s Mikey Garcia on How AI and Contextual Intelligence Are Reshaping CTV Advertising
Mikey Garcia, VP of Advertising Engineering at Wurl, joins host AdTechGod to explore how AI, contextual intelligence, and FAST are reshaping connected TV advertising. They discuss scene-level targeting, smarter CTV signals, ad relevance, overlay ads, and why contextual advertising could unlock the next wave of CTV ad spend. Takeaways: AI is making scene-level contextual targeting in CTV more accurate and scalable. FAST enables real-time contextual signals that can better match ads to what viewers are watching. Whirl found viewers changed channels 60% more when ads were irrelevant. Contextual works best alongside audience targeting, adding relevance and improving performance. Better content intelligence could drive more transparency, smarter buying, and greater CTV ad spend. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the AdTechGod Pod 00:54 Meet Mikey Garcia of Wurl 01:27 From Maker Studios to a Career in Product 04:02 The Startup Lesson That Changed Mikey's Career 04:49 Joining Wurl and Building Streaming Products 05:40 From Creator Technology to Advertising 07:47 AppLovin, Wurl and the Meaning of Contextual CTV 09:29 How AI Changed Contextual Advertising 10:38 Bringing Scene-Level Signals to the Bid Stream 12:35 Why FAST Is Built for Real-Time Contextual Targeting 14:14 Can Contextual Targeting Work for VOD? 15:13 Contextual Advertising for Media Planners 16:19 Why Irrelevant Ads Make Viewers Tune Out 17:45 The Future of Contextual CTV 20:25 Why Contextual Is Reaching a Turning Point 21:43 Overlay Ads and the Next CTV Ad Experience 22:47 Programmatic Product Placement and AI 23:41 Why AI Still Needs Human Oversight 24:37 Final Thoughts from Mikey Garcia 25:28 Outro Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 18 · 27 min
Ep. 147: The Partnership Layer of AI with Google’s Ravi Viswanathan
AdTechGod sits down with Ravi Viswanathan, Strategic Partnerships Lead at Google, to discuss his journey from software engineering to partnerships, more than a decade at Google, and how AI could reshape advertising. They explore generative creative, new ad-supported business models, consumer value exchange, and Ravi’s approach to building trusted partnerships. Takeaways: A technical background can create credibility and deeper trust in strategic partnerships. AI’s impact extends beyond productivity into creative generation and entirely new advertising experiences. Advertising could increasingly subsidize services such as mobile plans, hardware, and other everyday costs. Successful ad-supported models require a transparent and fair value exchange with consumers. Great partnerships begin by understanding the partner’s problem rather than focusing on what you want to sell. Curiosity, technical fluency, and trust can lead to stronger client relationships and long-term career growth. Chapters: 00:00 Welcome to the AdTechGod Pod 00:13 Meet Ravi Viswanathan, Strategic Partnerships Lead at Google 01:12 Ravi’s Career Journey: Engineering to Strategic Partnerships 04:07 Why Technical Knowledge Matters in Partnerships 05:05 Why Ravi Has Stayed at Google for 11 Years 07:30 The Continuing Evolution of Advertising 08:09 How AI Is Changing Careers and Advertising 10:02 AI-Powered Pricing, Targeting, and Generative Creative 10:40 Will Consumers Accept Fully AI-Generated Advertising? 14:22 What’s Next for Advertising? 16:10 Advertising Across New Screens and Consumer Touchpoints 17:27 The Future of Ad-Supported Business Models 20:07 Creating a Fair Value Exchange for Consumers 20:45 Misconceptions About Working With Google 22:38 Ravi’s Career and Partnership Advice 24:23 Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 11 · 37 min
Ep. 146: Where Investors See Opportunity with Josef Najm of Thomson Reuters Ventures
Josef Najm, Principal Investor at Thomson Reuters Ventures, will discuss his career journey from MediaMath and global brands to venture investing. Josef shares what investors look for in founders, the technologies that stand out, the impact of AI on advertising, and where he sees the biggest opportunities for startups over the next five years. Takeaways: Josef Najm shares his journey from MediaMath, L'Oréal, and Diageo to Thomson Reuters Ventures. Learn how venture investors evaluate founders, products, and market timing. Discover why clean data, AI workflows, creator economy, and trust are shaping the future of ad tech. Hear Josef's predictions for AI agents, industry consolidation, and startup opportunities over the next five years. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:17 Meet Josef Najm, Principal Investor at Thomson Reuters Ventures 00:48 Josef's Career Journey into Ad Tech 05:23 Transition into Venture Capital 08:23 What Makes a Great Founder? 11:10 Identifying Long-Term AI & Ad Tech Opportunities 17:33 The Rise of the Creator Economy 19:24 Separating Innovation from Industry Hype 22:49 When Is the Right Time to Raise Funding? 29:10 The Future of AI, Data & Ad Tech 34:52 Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#145
August 4 · 28 min
Ep. 145 Why Creative Still Wins with Big Happy CEO Jonathan Frohlinger
Jonathan Frohlinger, CEO of Big Happy, shares why creative remains advertising's biggest competitive advantage. From building high-impact 3D and CGI campaigns to discussing the future of mobile, digital out-of-home, and AI, Jonathan explains how brands can stand out in an increasingly crowded marketplace. Takeaways Jonathan shares his journey from Starcom and Verve to founding Big Happy. Why creative is still the biggest driver of advertising effectiveness. How CGI and 3D advertising help brands stand out and improve recall. Why emotion is processed before logic and what that means for marketers. The role of mobile and digital out-of-home in modern media strategies. Why creative matters more than targeting once the right audience is reached. How AI should enhance creativity instead of replacing it. Why brands should focus on outcomes instead of simply being "AI-powered." Leadership lessons from growing Big Happy over the past seven years. Advice for marketers looking to build successful careers in advertising and technology. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jonathan Frohlinger & Big Happy 01:08 Jonathan's journey into advertising and founding Big Happy 03:18 What Big Happy does and its unique value proposition 04:02 Why high-impact creative and CGI capture attention 06:45 The emotional science behind memorable advertising 08:03 Why brands buy on emotion but stay for performance 09:22 Mobile and digital out-of-home as growth channels 10:55 Creative vs. targeting: Which matters more? 12:20 The future of mobile advertising and media investment 15:25 What's next for mobile, DOOH, and ad tech 16:02 AI's impact on creativity and advertising workflows 19:40 AI hype versus real business value 24:20 Scaling Big Happy and building a strong company culture 27:02 Closing thoughts and farewell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 28 · 27 min
Ep 144: Beehiiv’s Creator Operating System with Tyler Denk
AdTechGod sits down with Tyler Denk, Co-Founder & CEO of beehiiv, to discuss how beehiiv evolved from a newsletter platform into a complete creator operating system. Tyler shares lessons from Morning Brew, why creators should own their audience, AI's role in publishing, and how beehiiv is reshaping newsletter and podcast monetization. Takeaways: Tyler shares how Morning Brew inspired the creation of beehiiv. Learn why owning your audience matters more than relying on social platforms. Discover how AI and automation are simplifying creator workflows. Hear how beehiiv is expanding into podcasts, communities, and advertising. Learn how the beehiiv Ad Network helps creators monetize newsletters of every size. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Tyler Denk & beehiiv 00:41 Tyler's journey from Morning Brew to founding beehiiv 05:13 Reinventing newsletter publishing and growth 07:46 Website builder, SEO, and content automation 09:42 AI tools, MCP, and creator workflows 11:05 The future of AI for content creators 13:03 Building an all-in-one creator operating system 15:35 Why creators should own their audience 18:14 Social media strategy and platform integrations 19:49 Inside the beehiiv Ad Network and newsletter monetization 22:59 Helping small publishers earn advertising revenue 24:57 Final thoughts and Tyler's personal newsletter Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#143
July 21 · 29 min
Ep. 143: AI-Powered Content Automation, Creative Personalization with Andrew Swinand
AdTechGod sits down with Andrew Swinand, CEO of Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) and former CEO of Publicis Groupe Creative U.S. and Leo Burnett. Andrew shares how AI-powered content automation is helping global brands produce personalized creative at scale, reduce production costs by 50%, cut campaign timelines from 8 weeks to 2 weeks, and drive stronger marketing performance. They discuss operational AI vs generative AI, the future of agencies, creative effectiveness, personalization, and why the next decade may bring a creative renaissance instead of creative replacement. Takeaways AI-powered content automation is enabling brands to create personalized content at an unprecedented scale. ITG helps global brands localize campaigns across languages, markets, and audiences using AI. Brands are reducing production costs by roughly 50% while significantly speeding up go-to-market timelines. Operational AI delivers more immediate ROI than purely generative AI use cases. Most companies already possess valuable creative assets but struggle to find and utilize them efficiently. Effective personalization is not about one-to-one marketing but identifying "meaningful breaks" within audiences. Creative quality remains critical despite AI advancements. The future agency model will focus more on strategy, insights, and creative concepts while automation handles production. AI will eliminate repetitive production work but increase demand for higher-quality creative thinking. Andrew predicts a creative renaissance driven by the abundance of AI-generated content. Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Welcome 01:01 Andrew Swinand's Career Journey 04:36 From Publicis & Leo Burnett to ITG 06:20 What Inspired Thinking Group (ITG) Does 07:43 How AI Transforms Content Production 09:10 Cutting Costs, Speeding Up Campaigns & Personalization at Scale 11:00 Why More Creative Variations Drive Better Performance 12:42 Operational AI vs Generative AI 15:18 AI-Powered Asset Organization & Content Discovery 17:03 The Right Way to Personalize Advertising 20:00 Why Creative Matters More Than Ever 21:28 The Future of Agencies in an AI World 23:28 AI Slop, Content Overload & Marketing Challenges 26:36 What Marketers Are Overhyping About AI 27:03 Andrew's Vision for Advertising in 5 Years 28:23 Final Thoughts & Wrap-Up Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#142
July 14 · 35 min
Ep. 142: Programmatic Was Just the Beginning with Adam Soroca
Entrepreneur and former Magnite Chief Product Officer, Adam Soroca, joins AdTechGod to discuss his journey building ad tech infrastructure, the evolution of programmatic advertising, lessons from Magnite's growth, and why AI-driven agentic workflows could fundamentally transform media buying over the next few years. Takeaways Adam shares his journey from Wall Street to founding nToggle and leading product at Magnite. Learn why AI is shifting from workflow automation to completely rethinking advertising infrastructure. Discover how proprietary data, buyer agents, and AI-powered orchestration will shape the future of ad tech. Adam explains why proprietary data and supply position will become the biggest competitive advantages as AI transforms programmatic advertising. Learn how future AI-powered buyer agents could replace traditional campaign workflows and create a more autonomous, outcome-driven advertising ecosystem. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to Adam Soroca 01:51 From Wall Street to Building Products 05:40 The Birth of nToggle and Traffic Shaping 08:18 Startup Lessons and Trusting Your Convictions 10:52 Inside Magnite's Product Evolution and CTV Growth 14:23 Cannes Lions: The Biggest AI Trends in Ad Tech 17:35 Why Agentic AI Could Transform Media Buying 20:53 Rethinking Advertising Beyond Human Workflows 22:08 AI's Impact on Creative and Agencies 24:50 What's Next for Adam Soroca 25:58 The Future of Data, Buyer Agents, and New Media Lanes 32:32 Where Ad Tech Is Heading Next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#141
July 7 · 33 min
Ep. 141: Why Mobile Advertising Is Still Undervalued with Liftoff’s Casie Jordan
Casie Jordan, SVP of Programmatic Exchange & Commercial Solutions at Liftoff Mobile, joins AdTechGod to discuss Liftoff Mobile's IPO, the evolution of programmatic advertising, AI-powered creative optimization, the future of mobile app advertising, and why mobile remains the most undervalued advertising channel. Casie also shares her career journey, leadership lessons, and advice for women building careers in ad tech. Takeaways Liftoff Mobile's IPO marks a major milestone for the mobile advertising industry. AI is transforming mobile advertising through creative personalization and campaign optimization. Human creativity remains essential alongside generative AI. Mobile advertising continues to be one of the industry's most underpriced opportunities. Liftoff Mobile's unique DSP, SSP, and exchange ecosystem creates valuable data advantages. Transparency and direct publisher relationships are becoming increasingly important. Strong company culture and leadership played a key role in Casie's career growth. Preparation, confidence, and mentorship are critical for women succeeding in ad tech. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: Meet Casie Jordan, SVP of Programmatic Exchange & Commercial Solutions at Liftoff Mobile 01:48 Liftoff Mobile's IPO and what it means for the company 03:50 Casie's career journey from publishing to ad tech 09:19 From Twitter and MoPub to joining Liftoff Mobile 13:44 What an SVP of Programmatic Exchange actually does 16:47 How AI is changing programmatic advertising 19:19 Balancing AI with human creativity in ad creative 21:55 Inventory transparency and publisher trust 24:47 Why mobile advertising is still the most undervalued advertising channel 27:46 Liftoff Mobile's unique exchange, AI infrastructure, and competitive advantage 29:47 Career advice and leadership lessons for women in ad tech 32:33 Final thoughts and closing remarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#140
June 30 · 27 min
Ep. 140: Every Visitor Counts: Lori Tavoularis on AI, Agents, and Publisher Monetization
How can publishers earn more from every visitor in the AI era? Lori Tavoularis, President & CRO of MULA, joins the AdTechGod Podcast to discuss AI-powered monetization, agentic advertising, commerce, CTV innovation, and the future of publisher revenue. She also shares lessons from building a startup, leading revenue teams, and balancing leadership with family. Takeaways How AI agents optimize publisher revenue beyond traditional ads. Why engagement matters more than impressions. MULA's vision for commerce, newsletters, and CTV monetization. Separating AI hype from real business value. Leadership lessons from startups, publishing, and revenue growth. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Lori Tavoularis & MULA 01:29 From Publishing Executive to Startup Leader 06:06 How MULA Uses AI to Increase Publisher Revenue 11:39 Commerce, Content Recommendations & User Intent 13:02 Agentic AI and Smarter Monetization 14:20 Expanding into Newsletters and CTV 17:31 AI Hype vs. Real Business Impact 20:59 AI Tools for Sales and Revenue Teams 21:02 Women in AdTech Leadership 26:49 Final Thoughts & What's Next for MULA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#139
June 21 · 25 min
Ep. 139: TV Measurement, CTV Growth, Political Advertising with AdImpact's Don Norton
Don Norton, General Manager of Data Solutions at AdImpact, joins AdTechGod to discuss his journey from DoubleClick and Google to AdImpact, the evolution of TV measurement, the rise of CTV, political advertising trends, AI's role in media intelligence, and why relationships still matter in an increasingly automated industry. Takeaways Don shares lessons from DoubleClick, Google, Infillion, and AdImpact. AdImpact is expanding beyond political advertising into cross-TV intelligence. CTV and broadcast measurement require larger datasets and ACR technology for accuracy. Political advertising in 2026 is expected to rival presidential election spending levels. Local CTV presents one of the biggest growth opportunities in television advertising. AI is improving data processing, automation, and predictive insights. Despite automation, trust and human relationships remain critical in media buying and selling. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Don Norton and His Ad Tech Journey 01:05 Starting at DoubleClick During the Early Internet Boom 02:12 The Evolution from DoubleClick to Google 04:00 Leaving Google and Joining Infillion 05:31 Why Don Joined AdImpact 06:06 AdImpact's Growth Strategy and Expansion Beyond Political Advertising 07:05 Understanding Cross-TV Measurement: Broadcast, Cable & CTV 08:01 The Challenge of Measuring Linear TV and Streaming Audiences 10:09 What Advertisers Want from TV Measurement 11:31 How AdImpact Uses ACR Data and Large TV Panels 13:14 Who Uses AdImpact's Data and Insights? 14:26 The Biggest Data Challenges in Media Intelligence 16:34 AI, Data Validation, and Operational Efficiency 18:54 Political Advertising Outlook for 2026 20:27 The Future of Local CTV Advertising 23:10 What's Overhyped in Ad Tech? 24:00 Why Relationships Still Matter in an AI-Driven Industry 26:05 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#138
June 16 · 27 min
Ep.138: Why Digital Out-of-Home Is Advertising's Most Undervalued Channel with Craig Benner Accretive
Craig Benner, Founder & CEO of Accretive, joins the AdTechGod Pod to discuss the future of Digital Out of Home (DOOH), measurement, attribution, media buying, and why brands are increasingly investing in high-impact advertising beyond traditional digital channels. Takeaways DOOH remains one of the most underinvested channels despite its massive reach. Measurement has historically been the biggest challenge for out-of-home advertising. Accretive helps connect physical-world exposure to digital outcomes. Better attribution drives greater confidence and media investment. Search often captures intent rather than creating it. Out-of-home excels at generating awareness and demand. Brands are shifting budgets from linear TV into measurable alternatives. Mobility data plays a key role in audience targeting and measurement. Media Mix Modeling is helping validate the value of DOOH. Retail media presents a major opportunity for out-of-home advertising. AI and standardization are accelerating industry adoption. Education remains critical for broader DOOH growth. Chapters 00:00 Meet Craig Benner and Accretive 01:09 From Viant to founding Accretive 02:06 Discovering the opportunity in DOOH 03:45 Why out-of-home should command more ad spend 04:40 The measurement-first philosophy behind Accretive 05:47 Solving attribution challenges in DOOH 07:12 Which advertisers benefit most from out-of-home 08:49 How audience targeting works in DOOH 10:33 Measuring foot traffic, web lift, and outcomes 11:09 Where today's DOOH budgets come from 12:45 The industry's overreliance on lower-funnel marketing 13:51 Why out-of-home creates demand and intent 15:32 Giving DOOH the credit it deserves 16:53 How measurement changes media allocation decisions 18:01 The reality of search and retargeting attribution 19:49 The future of digital out-of-home advertising 20:46 AI, MMMs, and industry standardization 21:47 Educating agencies and media buyers 24:14 Retail media and the "last inch" opportunity 25:40 Resources for learning more about DOOH 26:52 Final thoughts and closing remarks Guests: AdTechGod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
June 15 · 32 min
BREAKING: Is Fox the New King of Connected TV? Breaking Down the Fox - Roku Deal
Fox's $22 billion acquisition of Roku is one of the biggest media and advertising technology stories in years, and it could fundamentally reshape connected TV. In this special breaking news episode of the AdTechGod Pod, AdTechGod is joined by Kyle Dozeman Co-Founder & CEO at Kovva and former CRO of PubMatic, Richie Hyden (SVP of Publisher Solutions at Viant Technologies), and David Nyurenberg (SVP at InterMedia Advertising) to discuss the strategic implications of the deal. This episode covers why Fox made this move, what Roku's 100+ million household footprint brings to the table, and why identity, audience data, and operating system ownership may be more valuable than streaming content itself. They also discuss how the acquisition could transform audience targeting, measurement, content discovery, programmatic advertising, and Fox's ability to compete with giants like Amazon, Google, Netflix, and Disney. Will this create a new advertising powerhouse? How will brands, agencies, and publishers be affected? And five years from now, will this be remembered as a content play, an identity play, or the deal that changed connected TV forever? Tune in for expert analysis on one of the most consequential acquisitions in the history of streaming. Key topics Fox's acquisition of Roku and its strategic implications The role of identity and audience data in the deal Impact on content distribution and platform dynamics Changes in ad tech and programmatic buying Future of streaming, content, and advertising Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Acquisition 01:50 Understanding the Strategic Importance of Roku 06:21 Identity and Audience Data: The Core Asset 10:16 The Impact on Ad Placements and Market Dynamics 14:01 Advertiser Perspectives on the Acquisition 16:55 Transparency in Advertising: A New Era? 21:18 User Acquisition and Market Positioning 23:19 Future Implications of the Acquisition 26:22 Looking Ahead: The Next Five Years Interested in attending Marketecture Live Chicago on September 23, 2026?. Attendance is free for qualified brands and agencies, and early bird pricing ends soon for everyone else. Register now to secure your spot at chicago.marketecturelive.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#137
June 9 · 29 min
Ep. 137: The Data Quality Crisis in Digital Advertising with Scott McKinley of Truthset
Scott McKinley, Founder & CEO of Truthset, discusses the state of data quality, identity, and measurement in digital advertising. Scott shares why the industry continues to prioritize scale over accuracy, how data quality deteriorates throughout the supply chain, and why advertisers need to rethink legacy metrics like reach and CPMs. The conversation also explores identity, walled gardens, authentication, and the future of the open internet. Takeaways Data accuracy often declines significantly as data moves through the ad tech supply chain. Scale is frequently prioritized over quality, leading to inefficient advertising spend. Advertisers should focus on precision and outcomes rather than reach alone. Authentication is critical to improving identity and publisher monetization. Independent measurement remains essential for trust and accountability in advertising. Walled gardens continue to outperform because of durable identity systems. IP addresses are an unreliable long-term replacement for cookies. The open internet must improve identity infrastructure to remain competitive. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Scott McKinley and Truthset 01:05 From Olympic cyclist to ad tech entrepreneur 03:01 The trust crisis in advertising and lessons from sports 05:25 Why advertising lacks accountability and regulation 07:00 Nielsen's role in independent measurement 09:00 Why Scott founded Truthset 11:17 Common misconceptions about data accuracy 14:20 The industry's obsession with scale over quality 17:53 Why reach is becoming an outdated metric 19:13 Signal loss, walled gardens, and measurement challenges 23:16 The future of identity in advertising 25:34 Why authentication is the path forward 25:51 The biggest misconception about IP addresses 26:43 What the open internet must do next 28:05 Closing thoughts Guests: AdTechGod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#136
June 2 · 23 min
Ep. 136: How Self-Service Advertising is Transforming Publisher Revenue with Ray Adamson at DanAds
In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, Ray Adamson, Head of Solution Sales at DanAds, discusses the evolution of self-service advertising, automation in ad operations, and the publisher monetization strategies, and how AI is reshaping the future of ad tech. Learn how leading Publishers are unlocking new revenue streams and improving efficiency through self-service platforms. Takeaways Automation is becoming a business imperative in ad operations. DanAds helps publishers unlock new advertiser segments. Self-service complements sales teams rather than replacing them. Successful self-service programs require active promotion DanAds offers more than self-service technology AI is reshaping operational workflows The future belongs to creative media leaders and innovative ad tech partners. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ray Adamson and DanAds 01:25 Ray's Journey into Ad Tech and Career Evolution 03:55 How Ad Operations Have Changed Over the Years 05:50 What DanAds Brings to the Market 07:55 The Rise of Self-Service Advertising Platforms 08:33 Build vs. Buy: Publisher Self-Service Strategies 10:09 The Impact of Self-Service on Sales Teams 10:54 Expanding Revenue Through Long-Tail Advertisers 13:19 Common Misconceptions About Self-Service Advertising 15:05 Publisher Playbooks and Marketing Support 15:52 Integrations, Workflow Automation, and Monetization Services 17:57 Which Publishers Benefit Most from DanAds? 20:28 The Future of Ad Tech, AI, and Automation 22:43 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
#135
May 26 · 23 min
Ep. 135: Crafting Big Ideas: Gina Michnowicz on Creativity, AI, and Experiential Marketing
In this episode, Gina Michnowicz, CEO of The Craftsman, joins AdTechGod to discuss building a creative agency focused on storytelling, experiential marketing, and integrated campaigns for global brands like Cisco, Disney, Marvel, and Godiva. Gina shares her journey from digital consulting to launching The Craftsman, how creative ideas come to life across physical and digital experiences, and why human creativity still matters in the age of AI. From building a 3,000-chocolate-bar train for Godiva and 20th Century Fox to discussing the future of branded content and creators, this conversation dives deep into the evolving world of marketing and advertising. Takeaways Human creativity remains essential despite advances in AI. Great marketing ideas come from non-linear creative thinking. Experiential campaigns work best when integrated with digital and PR. AI is useful for productivity, but not for original ideas. Emotional storytelling is difficult for AI to replicate. Brand awareness and experiential marketing are becoming more valuable. Creators will need to focus on authentic and original content. The best campaigns connect people emotionally to brands. Chapters 00:00 Gina Michnowicz joins the podcast and introduces The Craftsman. 01:09 Gina shares her journey from consulting to founding her agency. 03:44 How The Craftsman works with brands like Disney, Cisco, and Godiva. 06:32 Building integrated campaigns that combine experiential, PR, and social. 07:06 The story behind the 3,000 chocolate bar Godiva train campaign. 09:42 How Gina’s digital background shaped her creative approach. 11:12 Gina’s perspective on AI in creativity and advertising. 14:21 Why AI struggles with original creative ideas. 17:46 The emotional gap between AI-generated and human-made content. 20:45 Where creativity, branding, and marketing are heading next. 22:50 Gina shares her optimism for the future of creative work. Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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