AdTechGod Pod

By AdTechGod, The AdTech GodBusiness Entrepreneurship Marketing Careers

AdTechGod Pod episodes

May 21HELI-D CEO Simon Powell on Turning the Sky Into Digital Media
In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, Simon Powell, CEO of HELI-D, shares how his company is redefining out-of-home advertising with flying digital billboards attached to helicopters. From launching campaigns for MTV, Disney, Pepsi, Xbox, and VaynerX to creating immersive aerial activations that generate massive earned media, Simon breaks down the future of flying digital media and why emotional, high-impact advertising still matters.
The conversation explores the evolution of aerial advertising, the technology powering HELI-D's LED helicopter screens, QR code engagement at massive live events, and what comes next for digital out-of-home, including drones and integrated media experiences.
Takeaways
HELI-D evolved from traditional helicopter banners into fully digital flying LED billboards.

Simon Powell transitioned from investment banking into aviation and advertising entrepreneurship.

Early innovation included projection technology that turned helicopter banners into flying cinema screens.

HELI-D’s breakthrough campaign debuted at the MTV VMAs with Viacom in 2016.

Disney partnered with HELI-D for large-scale experiential aerial activations.

The company has executed campaigns for Pepsi, Star Trek, Catch-22, Xbox, and VaynerX.

COVID accelerated the development of HELI-D’s scalable LED screen technology.

The aerial ads create strong emotional reactions because of their size, movement, sound, and visibility.

HELI-D campaigns generate significant earned media through social sharing and inbound audience engagement.

QR code campaigns achieved massive interaction rates at live sporting events like the Melbourne Cup.

HELI-D partnered with Blue Bite for mobile retargeting and shadow fencing at Possible.

Xbox used Heli-D to create a flying live gaming experience with zero-latency gameplay.

Simon believes flying digital media will eventually include drones as lift and battery technology improves.

HELI-D sees itself as a premium “wow factor” integrated into broader DOOH campaigns rather than a standalone medium.
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction to HELI-D and the POSSIBLE event activation
00:46 – Simon Powell’s background in investment banking and aviation
01:34 – The origin of helicopter banner advertising
02:12 – Creating the first digital aerial projection system
03:26 – Pitching Viacom and launching at the MTV VMAs
04:18 – Disney partnership and major aerial campaigns
04:47 – Pepsi Super Bowl activations and entertainment stunts
05:01 – Star Trek, Catch-22, and large-scale aerial experiences
05:54 – COVID’s impact and developing HELI-D’s LED technology
06:51 – AdTechGod’s firsthand experience with the helicopter billboard
08:22 – Emotional impact and audience reactions to aerial advertising
09:06 – QR code engagement success at the Melbourne Cup
10:33 – Earned media and viral audience response
12:22 – Metrics, retargeting, and campaign measurement
13:16 – Xbox Ninja Gaiden activation and live gameplay in the sky
14:53 – The future of DOOH, drones, and flying digital media
16:39 – Cannes plans and future expansion for HELI-D

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17 min
May 19Ep. 134 Why Programmatic Advertising Needs a Reset with David Nyurenberg of InterMedia Advertising
David Nyurenberg, SVP of Digital at InterMedia Advertising, joins the AdTechGod Pod to discuss the realities of programmatic advertising, CTV transparency, and why the industry may need a complete reset. From his early days at Gameloft to building digital practices at major agencies, David shares sharp insights on media buying, innovation, AI hype cycles, and the future of CTV.
In this episode, David discusses why transparency matters, how linear TV shaped his perspective on media buying, and what advertisers still get wrong about optimization and data.
Takeaways
Programmatic advertising incentives have created long standing transparency issues.

Linear TV buying still offers valuable lessons for modern digital advertising.

CTV needs show level transparency to unlock its full optimization potential.

AI and agentic advertising are promising, but still unproven at scale.

More marketers are openly sharing ideas and challenging industry norms.

Strong thought leadership comes from driving real innovation, not just visibility.

Long tail content still matters when optimizing for reach and outcomes.

The industry is becoming more sophisticated and data driven overall.

Chapters
00:00 David Nyurenberg joins the AdTechGod Pod.
01:20 David explains how he accidentally entered the advertising industry through Gameloft.
03:51 Why David became outspoken about the flaws in programmatic advertising.
05:56 The biggest challenges facing the ad tech ecosystem today.
08:38 How working in linear TV changed David’s perspective on media buying.
11:25 David shares his thoughts on AI, agentic advertising, and AdCP hype.
15:24 What gives David optimism about the future of advertising.
17:27 Building a respected personal brand and becoming an award winning industry voice.
20:37 Why CTV transparency and show level data matter so much.
24:31 How David stays informed in the fast moving ad tech industry.
25:55 Final thoughts and closing remarks.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
27 min
May 15Can Neural Networks Transform Healthcare Advertising?
At Marketecture Live, Brad Fox, SVP, Health Media, dentsuX, joins Josh Walsh, Co-Founder & CEO, BranchLab, and Zach Rodgers, Founder, Sensical, to explore how AI and neural networks are reshaping healthcare advertising. From the rise of AI-driven patient behavior to the decline of traditional targeting methods, the conversation dives into privacy-safe audience strategies, evolving patient journeys, and what the future holds for pharma marketers in an AI-first world.

Takeaways
AI is rapidly changing how patients search for and consume health information

Healthcare advertising is shifting away from search, contextual, and retargeting

Neural networks enable privacy-safe prediction of patient populations

Audience targeting must be rebuilt using AI-driven models

Patient journeys are complex and require more nuanced segmentation

AI is making both patients and doctors more informed

True one-to-one personalization remains limited due to regulation

AI platforms may eventually monetize healthcare interactions

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to healthcare, AI, and advertising
00:18 Overview of the panel and discussion focus
01:04 AI as a primary tool for health information
01:53 Surge in AI-driven health queries and behavior shift
02:45 Changing role of search and health websites
03:40 Adoption of AI tools by physicians
04:31 Impact of AI on patient and doctor outcomes
06:33 Decline of traditional targeting and need for new strategies
07:40 Future of pharma ad spend in an AI-driven world
08:45 Neural networks and privacy-safe targeting explained
10:31 AI-driven audience targeting and patient lifecycle
12:28 Predictive modeling for healthcare populations
13:03 Importance of understanding patient journeys
15:57 Scaling AI audiences across media channels
17:11 Faster audience creation and activation
18:40 Personalization limits in healthcare marketing
20:12 Future of AI platforms and healthcare ads
22:01 Regulation and the future of pharma advertising

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25 min
May 12Ep. 133 How Fluency Is Automating AdOps Without Replacing Human Creativity with Eric Mayhew
Eric Mayhew, Chief Innovation Officer and Co-Founder of Fluency, shares how his experience in automotive advertising inspired the creation of Fluency and its mission to eliminate repetitive AdOps work through automation. Eric dives into the difference between automation and AI, the future of agentic systems, and why human creativity still matters most in advertising. From scaling ad operations to building compliant AI workflows, this conversation explores where marketing technology is headed next.
Takeaways
Automation should eliminate repetitive tasks so teams can focus on strategy and creativity.

AI and automation are complementary, but they are not the same thing.

Human oversight remains critical for compliance, governance, and brand safety.

AI is powerful, but context quality determines the reliability of outputs.

Personalization in advertising may finally become practical with AI and automation.

Agencies want customizable workflows, not one-size-fits-all automation.

Fluency focuses on deterministic workflows that execute advertiser strategies at scale.

Agentic systems will combine rule-based automation with probabilistic AI decision-making.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Eric Mayhew and Fluency
01:20 How Dealer.com Inspired the Creation of Fluency
04:07 The Real Problem with Manual AdOps Workflows
05:45 Fluency’s Approach to Automation and AdOps Efficiency
07:45 Why AdOps Professionals Should Embrace Automation
10:41 The Difference Between Automation and AI
15:21 AI Risks, Hallucinations, and Governance Challenges
19:21 Where Humans Still Outperform AI
22:54 How Fluency Onboards and Automates Campaign Workflows
27:02 The Future of Agentic AI and Advertising Personalization

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
31 min
May 06Everyone’s a Gamer Now: Unlocking the Full-Funnel Opportunity in Gaming with Scott Ensign
Scott Ensign, Chief Strategy Officer at Butler/Till, joins Amanda Grant, EVP, Global Head of Data and Tech Partnerships, WPP Media, and Chris Feo, SVP, Sales & Partnerships, Unity, to discuss why gaming remains misunderstood, how data unlocks its true value, and what advertisers need to do to tap into its full-funnel potential. From perception challenges to multi-screen behavior, this conversation reframes gaming as one of the biggest untapped opportunities in modern media.

Takeaways
Gaming reaches nearly all demographics, but is still misunderstood by brands

Perception issues and legacy media habits are limiting investment

Gaming environments offer highly engaged, data-rich audiences

Mobile gaming plays a key role in multi-screen consumer behavior

Brands should treat gaming as an audience strategy, not just a channel

Full-funnel opportunities exist beyond performance and installs

Data is the key to unlocking better targeting and planning

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to the episode and gaming opportunity
00:18 Why gaming now reaches all demographics
01:45 The gap between gaming usage and ad spend
02:38 Perception challenges holding brands back
04:08 Media buying habits and resistance to change
05:38 How data helps break gaming stereotypes
07:14 Gaming as a high-attention, “lean-in” environment
08:45 Multi-screen behavior and shifting consumption
10:06 Rethinking TV vs mobile in modern media
13:18 Performance vs brand investment in gaming
16:20 Gaming opportunities across industries like pharma
18:18 Unlocking commerce and purchase intent data
20:12 Treating gaming as an audience strategy
21:45 Favorite games and closing thoughts

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25 min
May 05Ep. 132 Programmatic, Fragmentation, and the AI Power Shift with Tom Burke from AI Digital
Tom Burke, Chief Revenue Officer of AI Digital, joins the show to break down the evolution of programmatic advertising, the realities of in-housing, and how AI is reshaping the media landscape. From his journey through AOL Basis and PMG to leading an AI native consultancy, Tom shares insights on fragmentation innovation and what it takes to stay competitive in today’s ad tech ecosystem

Takeaways
Programmatic has become too complex for simple in housing strategies

Fragmentation is a challenge but also a massive opportunity

AI Digital Open Garden approach prioritizes flexibility across platforms

AI is moving toward becoming the operating system of marketing

Success in the AI era depends on identifying what makes you uniquely valuable

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Tom Burke and AI Digital
01:15 Tom’s journey from Boston Globe to ad tech leadership
02:54 Why Tom joined AI Digital
04:13 What AI Digital does and its three core pillars
07:51 The evolution of housing programmatic
09:52 How agencies are adapting their pitches
11:30 The economics and challenges of in housing
13:25 How AI Digital supports brands and agencies
14:56 Key trends shaping the future of advertising
16:50 The role of AI and what is coming next

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
17 min
April 27Ep. 131 Scott Ensign of Butler/Till: The Blueprint for Trust-Driven, Future-Ready Agencies
Scott Ensign, Chief Strategy Officer at Butler/Till, shares how a fully employee-owned agency drives innovation, transparency, and growth.
From building trust in digital advertising to leveraging AI and agentic media, Scott breaks down how agencies can stay ahead while delivering real value to clients.

Takeaways
Butler/Till is 100 percent employee-owned, aligning incentives across teams and clients

Innovation in media requires breaking traditional planning cycles

AI should focus on building trust, not just efficiency

Transparency is a core differentiator in agency-client relationships

Innovation funds help test new strategies without risking core budgets

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Scott Ensign and Butler/Till
00:50 Career journey and why Scott stayed for 7 years
02:30 How employee ownership works at Butler/Till
04:20 What a Chief Strategy Officer actually does
06:10 Scott’s path through digital media and strategy
08:20 The future of digital advertising and AI
11:40 Transparency in partnerships and data
13:50 The Innovation Fund and why it matters
17:50 Real-world AI and agentic media testing
20:00 Closing thoughts and industry outlook

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
22 min
April 24When Agents Become the Customer
Jeremiah Owyang, General Partner, Blitzscaling Ventures, explains how AI agents representing consumers and business decision-makers are reshaping the relationship between marketers, publishers, and advertisers. As agents increasingly control discovery and purchasing decisions, traditional marketing strategies break down and must be reimagined. The talk outlines the five AI cultures companies need to adopt internally to compete in this new landscape. It also shows how the marketing funnel evolves when agents, not humans, become the primary decision-makers. The session closes with real-world examples and a clear prediction for the future of AI-driven marketing.

Takeaways
AI agents will increasingly act as the primary decision-makers for consumers

The AI-first approach prioritizes using AI before hiring humans

AI-native startups are achieving up to 10x revenue per employee

The customer journey is shifting from human-driven to agent-driven decisions

Ads may disappear or evolve into AI-to-AI negotiations

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to AI agents becoming customers
01:00 What is the agentic economy
02:30 Real-world examples of AI agents in action
04:30 The five AI cultures explained
06:30 The AI-first method (Adopt, Build, Hire)
07:30 Shopify case study and AI adoption
09:30 Revenue per employee and AI-native advantage
10:50 The agentic thesis and future of the internet
12:30 Why ads may disappear in an AI-driven world
13:00 What an AI agent actually is
14:50 The AI agent ecosystem explained
19:20 How the customer decision funnel is changing
21:30 AI agents making decisions for consumers
22:30 Web4 and the agentic internet
24:00 Real-world startups building agent-driven companies
26:20 Key insights and future outlook

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30 min
April 22Bonus Episode: Building the Heart of advertising: Jay Wolff on Community, Access, and 212NYC Future!
Jay Wolff, President at 212NYC, joins the AdTechGod pod to share his 20+ year journey in digital advertising and how he is helping shape the largest ad community in New York. From making industry access more affordable to rebuilding post pandemic networking, Jay dives into the power of human connection in an AI driven world, the rise of Gen Z influence, and what is next for the ad tech ecosystem.

Takeaways
Community and human connection remain critical even as AI transforms the industry

212NYC focuses on accessibility and affordability for emerging professionals

Diverse programming helps engage different audiences across career stages

Gen Z and the influencer economy are reshaping marketing strategies. Simplicity and consolidation will define the future of ad tech platforms

AI, search evolution, and robotics will influence the next wave of innovation

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Jay Wolff and 212NYC
01:30 Jay’s 20+ year journey in digital advertising
03:00 Making industry access affordable and inclusive
05:00 Rebuilding networking after the pandemic
07:00 Event strategy and engaging diverse audiences
10:30 Growth of 212NYC and community impact
12:30 The future of ad tech: AI, simplicity, and consolidation
15:30 Influencer economy and Gen Z trends
18:30 Emerging tech: AI saturation and robotics
20:30 How to join and get involved with 212NYC

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
23 min
April 21Ep. 130 The Power Flip: Joe Zappa on Why Leaders Must Become the Media
Joe Zappa, Founder and CEO of Sharp Pen Media, joins the AdTechGod Pod to break down how modern media has shifted power from institutions to individuals and why executives must become evangelists for their own brands.
From building in public to leveraging social platforms effectively, Joe shares how CEOs and industry leaders can drive awareness, generate inbound leads, and shape narratives in today’s ad tech landscape. The conversation also explores AI in content creation, the rise of commerce media, and where the industry is heading next.
Takeaways
Power in media has shifted from institutions to individuals

CEOs should act as chief evangelists for their companies

A consistent narrative is key to effective personal branding

Sharing insights builds trust more than self-promotion

Social media drives inbound leads when used authentically

AI is a tool, but human input is essential

Commerce media, AI, and CTV are key industry trends

Differentiation comes from people as much as products

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Joe Zappa and Sharp Pen Media
01:10 Joe’s background and founding his company
02:00 The shift from institutions to individuals
03:40 Why executive evangelism works
05:00 Building a strong brand narrative
06:00 Social media as a growth engine
08:00 Personal vs professional content strategy
09:30 Traditional PR vs modern communication
11:00 Differentiation in ad tech
12:40 AI content: value vs “AI slop.”
15:30 Trends: CTV, AI, and commerce media
17:20 Joe’s business growth and future focus

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
21 min

About AdTechGod Pod

From the publisher's feed

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.