The Digiday Podcast

Digiday

The Digiday Podcast is a weekly show on the big stories and issues that matter to brands, agencies and publishers as they transition to the digital age.

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503 episodes
Updated July 28

Episodes503

Newest first

Oct 14, 2025 · 46 min
The Sora-TikTok U.S. era of short-form video
This week’s episode recaps Instagram eyeing the launch of a CTV app and Perplexity putting its ad business on pause. Then Digiday platforms reporter Krystal Scanlon joins the show to to discuss the state of the short-form video market as all-AI entrants like OpenAI’s Sora and Meta’s Vibes enter the fray alongside the impending TikTok U.S.
Oct 7, 2025 · 50 min
The Trade Desk under pressure
This week’s episode unpacks OpenAI’s launch of the Sora app and what it reveals about the company’s push into advertising (2:39). We also dive into Meta’s plan to use AI chatbot data for ad targeting (12:59), and Paramount’s acquisition of The Free Press, with founder Bari Weiss set to lead CBS News as editor-in-chief (16:14). Then, Digiday’s Seb Joseph and Ronan Shields join the show to discuss The Trade Desk’s growing challenges (21:50).
Sep 30, 2025 · 56 min
OpenAI’s ad plan, Meta’s Vibes + a day in the life of Eater’s Stephanie Wu
This week’s episode recaps OpenAI’s latest steps towards launching an advertising business (2:25), new details about ByteDance’s reported involvement in TikTok U.S. (10:21) and Meta’s introduction of an all AI-generated content platform with Vibes (14:34). Then Eater’s editor-in-chief Stephanie Wu joins the show to share her systems and tips for getting through the average work day (23:58).
Sep 23, 2025 · 47 min
TikTok U.S., Disney-Kimmel + WTF is a chief AI officer with The Washington Post’s Sam Han
This week’s episode recaps the deal for a U.S.-only version of TikTok (4:15), Disney’s Jimmy Kimmel controversy (10:27) and Meta’s talks to license content from publishers (18:21). Then The Washington Post’s Sam Han joins the show to explain what the role of chief AI officer actually entails and why a media company would want to appoint an AI overseer (26:26). Related stories Even with a new U.S. TikTok deal in sight, marketers feel uneasy Overheard at the Digiday Publishing Summit, September 2025 Google search edition
Sep 16, 2025 · 41 min
Ferrero's Danielle Sporkin breaks down the reality behind retail media’s full-funnel promise
Retail media networks have been striking deals and inking partnerships with social and streaming platforms to open up ad inventory across the internet. It’s a push to get advertisers to see RMNs as full funnel marketing channels as opposed to a search and display one trick pony. Now, if advertisers like Ferrero see it as such, that’s still up for debate (18:29). Also on this episode, why Paramount Skydance is eyeing a bid for Warner Bros Discovery (3:18), what the Amazon and Netflix DSP deal could mean for The Trade Desk (8:47) and inside the FTC’s latest big tech probe (14:30).
Sep 9, 2025 · 50 min
How AI rewrites search for publishers
This week's episode goes inside the search wars. More people are starting their online search with AI-powered chatbots and publishers are feeling the effects. To breakdown what AI search means for publishers (15:22), Digiday staffers Jessica Davies, senior media editor and Sara Guaglione, senior media reporter, join the show. Also on this episode: Google won't have to sell Chrome after all (1:27), Apple plans its own AI-powered search engine (8:15) and publishers call to include Gemini in Google investigation (12:42).
Sep 2, 2025 · 37 min
The Summer Things Turned Messy
This week’s episode recaps what ended up being a messy summer, from corporate changeovers and AI existentialism to fresh competition for Google and a return to the TV bundle for streaming. Oh, and tariffs; we can’t forget tariffs. As stated, the season was kind of a mess, and Digiday managing editor Sara Jerde joined the show to help make sense of the events that transpired and what they portend for the rest of 2025. Related stories: WPP has its next CEO – but what do clients make of the heir apparent? The coalition of the willing (and unable): publishers rally to wall off AI’s free ride Google readies its last stand in latest antitrust trial The next browser wars are here — and AI wants the ad dollars too How tariffs have upended the back-to-school season
Aug 26, 2025 · 54 min
Why AI is agencies’ frenemy
This week’s episode recaps xAI’s lawsuit against Apple and OpenAI (3:58), retail media’s recent boom that could be a bubble (11:11), and publishers’ push to usage-based pricing in their AI deals (15:23). Then (18:50) Digiday editors Seb Joseph and Michael Bürgi join the show to discuss how generative AI technologies could spur agencies to lose client relationships or push brands to rely on agencies even more for AI access. Related articles: Why generative AI doesn’t fit into a standard in-housing playbook – yet As AI alters cost of creative, indie agencies review how they charge clients WTF is AI ‘grounding’ licensing, and why do publishers say it matters over training deals?
Aug 19, 2025 · 50 min
Retail Media Godmother Kristi Argyilan: "It's going to be a reset"
On this week's episode, AI startup Perplexity puts in its bid to buy Google Chrome and The Trade Desk loses exclusivity with Walmart DSP, signaling another tough loss for the tech titan. Then (19:00), Uber's global head of ads Kristi Argyilan shares how she got her job, and why her career path may no longer be replicable.
Aug 12, 2025 · 49 min
Streaming reshuffling, Omnicom-IPGs's second green light + inside Reddit's bet on becoming a search engine
On this week's episode, Disney phases out Hulu and launches ESPN streaming service, and that's just one part of streaming's current reshuffling. Meanwhile, the Omnicom-IPG d eal gets another go-ahead in the U.K.. Then, Reddit chief operating officer Jennifer Wong joins the Digiday Podcast to talk about Reddit's plans to become a go-to search engine.
Aug 5, 2025 · 49 min
Meta’s superintelligence, Amazon’s NYT deal, upfronts + publishers’ & IAB Tech Lab’s AI summit
This week’s episode recaps Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s personal superintelligence memo, the reported price Amazon is paying to license The New York Times’s content and a check-in on the TV and streaming advertising upfront as negotiations wrap up. Then (18:51), Digiday senior media reporter Sara Guaglione and executive editor of news Seb Joseph join the show to share their reporting on a recent meeting between IAB Tech Lab, more than 80 publishers and AI giants including Google and Meta to discuss how publishers can respond to AI companies scraping their sites.
Jul 29, 2025 · 46 min
Who’s winning the creator economy—and what the paramount merger & AI action plan signal next
This week's episode recaps the Trump administration’s greenlight of the $8 billion union of Paramount and Skydance, and the White House's AI Action plan. Then (16:11), Alexander Lee, senior entertainment media reporter, and Krystal Scanlon, platforms reporter, join the Digiday Podcast to parse through what’s in, what’s out and who’s getting paid in the creator economy right now.
Jul 22, 2025 · 52 min
Late night TV's shakeup, OpenAI's agentic AI tool, plus Walton Isaacson’s Albert Thompson on CTV’s ad product predicament
This week’s episode recaps what CBS's cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert says about the media business and takes a look at OpenAI's agentic AI offering. Then (24:20) Albert Thompson, head of digital innovation at ad agency Walton Isaacson, joins the show in a live recording from Digiday’s CTV Advertising Strategies event to break down why the CTV ad industry needs to prioritize more native ad formats.
Jul 15, 2025 · 47 min
Creator longevity with Brandon Edelman, Plus Linda Yaccarino's exit, WPP's Leadership shake up and the AI browser wars
Creator Brandon Edelman stops by the Digiday Podcast to talk about his pivot to full-time content creation, how he strikes brand deals and life after TikTok (22:00). Also on this episode, Digiday platforms reporter Krytsal Scanlon joins co-hosts Kimeko McCoy and Tim Peterson to talk about Linda Yaccarino’s exit from X, what WPP’s new CEO means for the holding company’s growth and how AI is shaping the next era of the browser wars.
Jul 8, 2025 · 45 min
Inside Michelle Khare's creator playbook, plus Paramount lawsuit, Google faces EU heat and TikTok plots a backup plan
YouTuber Michelle Khare joins the Digiday Podcast to break down how she’s leveling up her content — from viral challenges to Emmy buzz (18:24). Plus, co-hosts Kimeko McCoy and Tim Peterson unpack Paramount’s $16 million settlement with the Trump administration, why European publishers are taking aim at Google’s AI Overviews, and what TikTok’s rumored app reboot means for its U.S. future.
Jun 24, 2025 · 50 min
Meta, Netflix & FTC’s Omnicom-IPG approval + “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives”’ Danielle Pistotnik
This week’s episode recaps Meta’s reported look at acquiring Perplexity, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s conditional approval of the Omnicom-IPG merger and Netflix’s deal to carry traditional TV networks in France. Then Select Management Group’s Danielle Pistotnik (21:45) joins the show to go behind the scenes of developing “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” around a group of TikTok creators and selling the reality show to Disney-owned Hulu.
Jun 20, 2025 · 25 min
Digiday at Cannes: AI hype, data overload and other takeaways from Cannes Lions 2025
Amid the AI hype, increasingly fragmented media marketplace and economic headwinds, marketers this year came to the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity looking for answers. For Carly Carson, PMG’s head of integrated media, this year’s festival served as a temperature check for an industry in flux. As the book closes on another Cannes Lions, Carson has pocketed three takeaways: AI still needs a human infusion, Garbage in, garbage out and Ad dollars need to keep up with changing consumption habits.
Jun 19, 2025 · 25 min
Digiday at Cannes: Former Bachelorette Rachel Lindsay makes the case for creators
Between panels and parties, creators like former bachelorette Rachel Lindsay are looking to get face time with ad execs, brand marketers and partners like Spotify. However, rather than coming to the Croisette to strike deals, they’re playing a long game. Joined by Roman Wasenmüller, head of podcast business at Spotify, and Digiday Podcast co-host Kimeko McCoy, Lindsay pulls back the curtain on the creator at Cannes experience, monetization strategy and more.
Jun 18, 2025 · 24 min
Digiday at Cannes: From center stage to closed doors, inside X’s quiet Cannes strategy
A few years ago, Twitter Beach was one of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity places to be. Nowadays, the beach and Twitter execs are harder to find. Instead of the flashy fireside chats and branded lounges, X’s execs are found behind closed doors, quietly courting marketers and media buyers against a backdrop of lawsuits, Global Alliance for Responsible Media (GARM)’s disbanding and political crosshairs. It’s a clear sign that the platform’s role in the ad ecosystem– and culture overall–has dramatically shifted. In this episode of the podcast, platforms reporter Krystal Scanlon joins host Kimeko McCoy about Twitter, now X, and what its retreat from the Cannes beachfront says about its relationship with advertisers, as well as TikTok’s head in the sand mentality around the ban.
Jun 17, 2025 · 22 min
Digiday at Cannes: Ad networks take center stage — are buyers buying in?
If there was any doubt that everything is an ad network, this year’s Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity proves otherwise. To Peggy McCann, chief media officer at GSD&M ad agency, all signs point to one thing: retail media networks aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. It’s a tall order, but perhaps fits within the expectations of Cannes’ pageantry. For media planners like McCann, the question is: is the Cannes flash enough to attract ad spend?