In this episode of the AdTech God Pod, Zach Lain, Director of Global Data Partnerships at PepsiCo, dives into the evolving intersection of data, creativity, and marketing outcomes. He shares his unique path from Chinese language and law studies to running global data strategy at one of the world’s biggest brands. Zach discusses the importance of clean signal infrastructure, the cultural shift away from vanity metrics, and how clean rooms are reshaping collaboration. He also highlights AI's creative potential and the persistent challenge of ad fraud.

Chapters

03:25 The Unlikely Path to AdTech

08:25 Where Data Meets Art

14:00 Clean Rooms as Infrastructure

15:54 Culture Shift: Outcomes Over Impressions

22:56 Ad Fraud Is Everyone’s Problem

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In this July 14th edition of The Refresh, host Kait recaps a whirlwind week in advertising marked by major leadership changes, surprising earnings news, and critical shifts in the social media and AI sectors. From Linda Yaccarino's headline-making exit at X to the rise of Threads and AI-powered browsers challenging Google, this episode covers the most important updates marketers need to know. With WPP's new CEO pick and YouTube's monetization policy pivot, it's clear the industry is evolving rapidly, both in people and platforms.

After a tumultuous tenure trying to stabilize X’s advertiser relations post-Elon Musk acquisition, Yaccarino stepped down, raising fresh concerns over the platform’s future ad revenue and signaling a deeper pivot toward AI integration via XAI.

With a background at Microsoft, Virgin Media, and Disney, Rose’s appointment signals WPP’s strategic shift toward becoming a more AI- and tech-centric organization amid falling revenue forecasts and mounting competitive pressure.

In an unscheduled earnings update, WPP downgraded its 2025 outlook to a 3–5% decline, citing macroeconomic headwinds and major client losses including Coca-Cola and Paramount.

Threads hit 115 million daily mobile users in June, up 128% year-over-year, while X saw a 15% drop. The user shift, particularly in the U.S., signals growing momentum for Meta’s Twitter alternative.

Perplexity released its new Comet browser and OpenAI’s rumored offering aims to make browsing fully conversational. Both aim to reshape search and ads with real-time, assistant-driven experiences that could threaten Google’s dominance.

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In this episode of the Ad Tech Godpod, host AdTechGod speaks with Taylor Simons, founder of TCHT and former MediaMath executive. They discuss Taylor's intentional journey into ad tech, the lessons learned from MediaMath's bankruptcy, and the current trends in the industry, including the dynamics between SSPs and DSPs, bid duplication, and the role of SPO and curation. They also explore the limitations of the open exchange and the misaligned incentives within the ad tech ecosystem, concluding with a discussion on the future of AI in advertising.

takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Ad Tech and Taylor Simons

02:10 Taylor's Journey into Ad Tech

05:09 Lessons from MediaMath's Bankruptcy

06:48 Current Trends in Ad Tech

08:59 Understanding SSPs vs. DSPs

11:06 Bid Duplication and Its Impact

13:13 The Role of SPO and Curation

15:41 The Limitations of Open Exchange

18:51 Incentives in the Ad Tech Ecosystem

22:49 The Future of AI in Ad Tech

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In this week’s episode of The Refresh (July 7, 2025), Kait breaks down the top stories reshaping advertising and media. Apple’s massive push into theatrical releases hits a milestone with F1, raising questions about the long game for Apple’s entertainment ambitions. Meanwhile, Google launches OfferWall, a monetization tool built for the post-cookie, AI-dominated internet. And on Wall Street, Barclays delivers a sobering forecast for holding companies despite their AI investments. It’s a week that highlights how media, monetization, and market pressure are colliding across the ecosystem.

5 Key Highlights:

 Apple’s F1 film makes a strong debut, grossing $144 million globally in its opening weekend, but with production and marketing costs over $375 million, profitability is still uncertain.

Apple’s aggressive marketing strategy for F1 leveraged its entire ecosystem—from WWDC tie-ins and haptic trailers to in-phone ticket discounts via Apple Wallet—sparking debate over consumer boundaries. 

Google launches OfferWall, a new feature within Google Ad Manager allowing users to unlock premium content through ads, surveys, payments, or newsletter opt-ins, aiming to help publishers recover lost revenue in the AI-search era. 

OfferWall signals a move toward an incentivized internet, where users explicitly trade data, time, or small payments for content, though infrastructure and behavioral shifts are still major hurdles. • Barclays downgrades major ad holding companies (IPG, Omnicom, WPP), citing slow growth and AI disruption to traditional business models—but notes their current AI product launches and scale could pay off long-term.  

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In this episode of the AdTech Godpod, host AdTech God speaks with Fariba Zamaniyan, Global Vice President of Data Monetization at TiVo.

Fariba shares her journey from her immigrant roots to becoming a leader in the AdTech industry, discussing her experiences at Nielsen and the evolution of TiVo from a DVR company to a data powerhouse. The conversation explores the importance of metadata in advertising, the shift to streaming, and the exciting trends shaping the future of AdTech.

Takeaways

00:00 Introduction to Fariba Zamaniyan and TiVo

02:24 Fariba's Journey: From Immigrant Roots to AdTech Leader

09:32 The Evolution of TiVo: From DVR to Data Powerhouse

13:00 AdTech Transformation: Navigating the Shift to Streaming

17:30 The Importance of Metadata in a Cookie-less World

22:39 Looking Ahead: Exciting Trends in AdTech

27:21 What Keeps Fariba in the Industry?

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In this week’s episode of The Refresh, Kait unpacks a surprisingly calm post-Cannes news cycle, headlined by the FTC's conditional green light of the $13.5 billion Omnicom-IPG merger. She also breaks down the continuing slide in CTV CPMs despite a booming supply of inventory, and confronts the ongoing issue of harassment at the Cannes Lions festival, spotlighting industry efforts, shortcomings, and calls for real accountability.

5 Key Highlights:

Omnicom-IPG Merger Approved (with Conditions): The FTC conditionally approved the \$13.5B merger via a consent decree that prohibits coordinated ad boycotts based on political or ideological views. The approval remains subject to a 30-day public comment period and ongoing international regulatory review.

CTV CPMs Drop Sharply: CTV ad prices are down 10–30% year-over-year due to a surge in inventory, performance-driven buying, and broader programmatic access. Industry insiders expect a pricing divide between mass reach and outcome-driven premium inventory.

CTV’s Full-Funnel Evolution: Despite price drops, CTV is moving beyond awareness into full-funnel performance territory, supported by clean room integrations, data partnerships, and sharper buying strategies.

Cannes Harassment Issues Persist: Despite new safety measures like safe zones and panic buttons, reports of harassment at Cannes continue. Industry voices are pushing for broader, more systemic change and ongoing dialogue.

Industry Speaks Out: Public figures like Brian O’Kelley, Mike Brooks, and Emily Roberts have helped spotlight Cannes' darker undercurrents. Emily Roberts launched a petition for reform, urging the industry to prioritize safety and accountability beyond LinkedIn posts.

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In this episode of the AdTechGod pod, host AdTech God engages in a deep conversation with Matthew Black, exploring his unique journey in the advertising industry. Matt shares insights into his diverse background, the evolution of ad tech, and the impact of AI on advertising.

He discusses his career aspirations, the importance of gut instinct in ad operations, and the need for a supportive work environment. The conversation highlights the significance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in the ever-evolving landscape of advertising.

Takeaways

Chapters

05:01 Exploring the Evolution of Ad Tech

10:00 The Role of AI in Advertising

15:00 Navigating Career Aspirations in Ad Tech

19:57 Closing Thoughts and Future Opportunities

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In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, I’m joined by Tom Goodwin for a no-holds-barred conversation about the gap between marketing hype and real consumer experiences.

We dive into the current state of advertising from the pitfalls of performance obsession to the urgent need for brand building and creative reinvestment. Tom shares his take on AI’s growing role, why consumer sentiment around ads matters more than we admit, and how over-reliance on metrics can misguide strategy. His message is clear: the future belongs to brands that balance loyalty with results.

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Tom Goodwin and His Journey

03:01 The Disconnect in Modern Advertising

05:49 Brand Building vs. Performance Marketing

08:58 The Evolution of Marketing Strategies

12:05 The Role of AI in Advertising

14:55 Consumer Experience and Advertising Impact

17:49 The Need for Creative Investment

21:07 Balancing Brand and Performance

23:55 The Role of Metrics in Advertising

27:03 Consumer Attitudes Towards Advertising

30:10 The Future of Advertising Strategies

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In this week’s episode of The Refresh, Kait dives into the wave of major announcements that dominated Cannes Lions 2025 highlighting a shift inadvertising where TV and streaming platforms stole attention from AI. From exclusive inventory deals to AI-powered product placement, the episode unpacks how players like Amazon, Disney, Netflix, and Comcast are racing to transform TV into a full-funnel, performance-driven channel. As advertisers demand better data, measurement, and real-time capabilities, DSPs and media giants are forming strategic alliances to claim their spot at the top.

We cover:

Amazon and Roku Partner Up: Amazon secured exclusive access to Roku’s logged-in user base via its DSP, and integrated Disney’s Drax exchange to enable commerce-data targeting across Disney+ and Hulu inventory.

Disney Expands DSP Access: Disney added 12 new DSPs to its “Disney Live Certified” program and is scaling its Magic Words AI targeting product to enhance live event advertising.

Netflix Enters Virtual Ad Placement: Netflix is rolling out AI-driven dynamic ad products, including branded insertions during paused content—mirroring The Trade Desk and Rembrand’s new virtual product placement offerings.

Walmart x NBCU and Comcast’s Triple Play: Walmart’s new partnership with NBCUniversal unlocks shopper data for cross-platform targeting, while Comcast announced three major updates spanning outcome-based measurement, dynamic shoppable ads, and identity resolution.

Data Becomes the New Differentiator: With premium inventory access now considered baseline, platforms are competing on who can provide better data, targeting precision, and real-time performance insights—especially as programmatic buying expands in live content.

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In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, Giuseppe La Rocca, VP Global Enterprise at StackAdapt, shares his journey from a blue-collar background to becoming a leader in ad tech.

He discusses his experiences at Yahoo, the transition to StackAdapt, and the importance of understanding the differences between mid-market and enterprise clients. Giuseppe emphasizes the significance of customer outcomes and the evolving landscape of digital advertising, particularly in relation to live sports and the integration of AI. He concludes with a reflection on the positivity and innovation within the industry.

00:00 Introduction to Giuseppe La Rocca and His Journey

05:52 Transitioning to Enterprise Partnerships at StackAdapt

12:13 Understanding Mid-Market vs. Enterprise Clients

18:11 The Future of StackAdapt and Industry Trends

24:07 The Importance of Positivity in Ad Tech

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