AdTechGod Pod

By AdTechGod, The AdTech GodBusiness Entrepreneurship Marketing Careers

AdTechGod Pod episodes

March 10Ep. 124 Bridging the Gap Between AdTech and MarTech, with Alyssa Furth of Credera
In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, Alyssa Furth, Senior Manager at Credera, shares her journey in the marketing and technology sectors. She discusses her intentional path into the industry, her experiences at Horizon Media, and the importance of bridging the gap between AdTech and MarTech. Alyssa emphasizes the challenges of data integration and the need for a cohesive understanding of the customer journey. Additionally, she addresses the unique challenges women face in tech and the importance of confidence and community support.

Takeaways
Alyssa has been intentional about her career in marketing.

She credits her success to strong female leaders in her early career.

The industry is undergoing significant transitions, especially in data and technology.

Bridging AdTech and MarTech is crucial for effective marketing strategies.

Data integration is a major challenge for marketers today.

Alyssa emphasizes the importance of understanding the customer journey.

Women in tech face unique challenges but can find support in community.

Confidence is key in navigating the tech industry.

Asking questions is essential for learning and growth.

Alyssa enjoys breaking down complex problems into manageable solutions.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Alyssa Furth and the Podcast
02:28 Alyssa's Journey into AdTech and MarTech
13:04 Bridging AdTech and MarTech
17:50 Challenges in Data Integration
19:43 Alyssa's Career Insights and Personal Growth
21:53 Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Industry

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27 min
March 04Special Episode: Location, Loyalty, and Building a Super App: Life360’s Mike Zeman on Modern Marketing
In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, host AdTechGod interviews Mike Zeman, Chief Marketing Officer of Life360. They discuss Mike's journey through various prestigious companies to his current role at Life360, emphasizing the importance of customer centricity and trust in advertising. Mike shares insights on leveraging location data for advertising, evolving trends in the industry, and the significance of brand building. They also touch on the impact of AI on careers in marketing and the value of mentorship and networking in professional development.

Takeaways
Customer centricity is crucial in marketing.

Life360 aims to be a family super app.

Trust is essential when integrating advertising solutions.

Location data can enhance advertising relevance.

Marketing effectiveness lies in extremes: evocative and performant.

Brand building is gaining importance in the advertising landscape.

Emotional storytelling resonates with consumers.

AI is transforming the advertising industry and job roles.

Mentorship provides mutual learning opportunities.

Networking is vital for staying informed and connected.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Life360 and Mike Zeman
01:54 Mike's Journey to Life360
03:44 The Role of Trust in Advertising Solutions
06:21 Leveraging Location Data for Advertising
09:12 Trends in the Advertising Industry
12:55 The Importance of Brand Building
16:43 Navigating AI and Career Development
19:41 The Value of Mentorship and Networking

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25 min
March 03Ep. 123 From Incremental Reach to Performance Engine: NBCUniversals Kristina Shepard on Streaming TV
Kristina Shepard, EVP of Streaming and Performance Sales and Partnerships at NBCUniversal, joins the AdTechGod Pod to unpack the evolution of streaming from incremental reach to performance engine. Drawing on her experience at Roku and NBC Universal, she shares how live sports, cultural moments, and scale are reshaping media strategy. Kristina explains why streaming is still early in its performance journey, how automation and personalization will define the next phase, and what it takes to lead in ad tech while building a career and family.

Takeaways
Streaming has evolved to combine the best of digital and TV.

The pandemic accelerated the growth of streaming services.

Live content is crucial for audience engagement and brand visibility.

Advertisers are increasingly viewing streaming as a primary channel.

Diversity in content is key to attracting streaming audiences.

The future of streaming will be more interactive and personalized.

Women in leadership can bring unique perspectives to the industry.

Balancing career and family is a common challenge for women in tech.

Cultural moments drive significant engagement for brands.

Streaming allows for a more dynamic ad experience than traditional TV.

Chapters
00:00 The Rise of Streaming and Performance Advertising
05:07 The Evolution of Streaming Content and Monetization
10:19 The Importance of Live Content in Streaming
17:57 Future Trends in Streaming Television
21:12 Navigating Leadership as a Female in Ad Tech

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25 min
February 24Ep. 122 Smarter Media for Mid-Market Brands with Marilois Snowman from Mediastruction
Marilois Snowman, Founder and CEO of Mediastruction, discusses her journey in the media industry, focusing on the unique needs of mid-market brands. She highlights the evolution of media spending, the importance of measurement, and the role of AI in optimizing marketing strategies. The conversation delves into the significance of both digital and linear media, the impact of consumer behavior changes, and offers valuable advice for brands looking to enhance their media strategies.

Takeaways
Marilois Snowman founded Mediastruction to address mid-market brands' unique needs.

The evolution of media spending has shifted significantly towards digital.

Mid-market brands often lack the language and understanding of media mix modeling.

Education is crucial for brands to understand the algorithms behind media planning.

Customization of algorithms is essential for effective media mix modeling.

Connected TV is becoming a valuable medium for mid-market brands.

Linear TV still holds significant power in marketing strategies.

AI can enhance data analysis but requires careful oversight.

Consumer behavior is shifting, impacting web traffic and SEO strategies.

Brands need a data evangelist to navigate the complexities of marketing data.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Mediastruction and Marilois Snowman
01:02 The Genesis of Mediastruction and Marilois Background
02:04 Mid-Market Measurement Gaps and Growth Goals
02:42 The Rise of MMM and the Evolution of Media Spend and Measurement
04:35 Demystifying MMM and Building Customized Paid Media Solutions
06:59 Scaling Beyond Search and Social and Rethinking Channel Mix
08:16 CTV, Linear TV, and the Synergy Effect for Regional Brands
11:02 AI in Marketing Analytics, Hallucination Risk, and Guardrails
13:33 The Shift from SEO to AI-Driven Discovery and Declining Web Traffic
16:08 Advice for Brands: Hire a Data Evangelist and Build Smarter Measurement

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
20 min
February 17Ep. 121 The Future of Streaming: Live Sports, AI, and the New Ad Economy with Ying Wang
In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, Ying Wang, the General Manager of Xumo, shares her journey in the streaming television industry, discussing her career growth, the evolution of ad revenue, the significance of live sports, and the future of streaming. She emphasizes the importance of AI in personalizing user experiences and offers valuable advice for aspiring professionals in the industry.

Takeaways
Ying Wang's career path reflects her adaptability and pursuit of opportunities.

The streaming industry has evolved significantly in terms of ad revenue and content distribution.

Live sports present unique opportunities for engagement and monetization.

Xumo aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem around live sports events.

AI is integral to personalizing user experiences and optimizing advertising.

The streaming landscape is becoming more democratized with new players emerging.

Xumo's operating system approach differentiates it in the market.

Building relationships and understanding the nuances of ad tech is crucial.

The future of streaming will involve more personalized and immersive experiences.

Continuous learning and challenging assumptions are key to career growth.

Chapters
00:00 Ying Wang's Journey in Ad Tech
05:04 Evolution of Streaming and Advertising
09:55 The Impact of Live Sports on Streaming
14:03 Xumo's Future and Market Positioning
20:04 The Role of AI in Ad Tech
23:58 Advice for Aspiring Professionals in Streaming

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30 min
February 10Ep. 120 WPP’s Kate Scott-Dawkins on Predicting the Future of Data, AI, and Advertising’s Next Era
Kate Scott-Dawkins, Global President of Business Intelligence at WPP Media, joins AdTechGod to share how agencies use economic signals, advertiser trends, and emerging AI shifts to forecast the future of advertising while helping brands stay ahead in a rapidly changing world.
Takeaways
Kate’s early exposure to advertising storytelling sparked her marketing path.

A linguistics background trained her to spot patterns and build forecasts.

Staying at WPP let her shape long-term strategy and thought leadership.

Modern forecasting blends government, financial, and proprietary client signals.

Global events, politics, economics, and climate directly move the markets.

Industry consolidation is accelerating, concentrating ad revenue among a few sellers.

WPP packages insight via forecasts, weekly updates, and rapid client POVs.

AI adds speed by summarizing large datasets and supporting analysis workflows.

AI is less reliable for producing genuinely original insight on its own.

Commerce and creator ecosystems may be disrupted faster than search.

Authenticity, disclosure, and watermarking are becoming critical trust issues.

Verified human-made content could become a premium tier in the future economy.

Career Girls' work focuses on expanding STEAM imagination and opportunity for girls
Chapters
00:01 Introduction: Kate Scott-Dawkins joins the podcast and outlines her role at WPP Media.
01:30 Career inspiration: An early advertising example sparked her interest in storytelling.
02:45 Career foundation: How linguistics and international experience shaped her perspective.
03:35 WPP tenure: Why she stayed and how her remit evolved over time.
05:10 Long-range forecasting: Advertising trend planning through 2030 and beyond.
06:20 Data and regulation: How access constraints and policy changes reshaped the industry.
07:30 Intelligence inputs: Blending consumer data, government signals, and client investment insights.
08:10 Global framework: A structured view across politics, economics, society, and technology.
09:20 Market consolidation: Increasing concentration of ad revenue among top sellers.
10:40 Insight delivery: Cadences spanning major forecasts, weekly updates, and rapid client POVs.
12:55 AI applications: Operational support for analysis, synthesis, and speed at scale.
17:05 Early 2026 outlook: Emerging models, including advertising-supported AI consumer services.
26:05 Career Girls: Mission, impact, and Kate’s strategic support to expand STEAM opportunity.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30 min
February 03Special Episode: OhHello - Scott Hess on Leadership, Joy at Work, and Creating Opportunity Through Mentorship
Jeremy Bloom and Scott Hess, Chief Marketing Officer of Starcom and Chief Marketing Officer of Publicis Media, discuss the significance of the Chicago Advertising Federation's Career Day, the importance of mentorship and networking in the advertising industry, and personal experiences that shaped their careers. They reflect on the joy of working in advertising and the opportunities available for young professionals entering the field.

Takeaways
Scott Hess is the Chief Work Officer of Publicis Media.

The Chicago Advertising Federation's Career Day is crucial for networking.

Mentorship can significantly impact career paths in advertising.

Career Day demystifies the advertising industry for young people.

Networking events provide access to industry leaders and opportunities.

Scott's son found joy in advertising after initially pursuing engineering.

The advertising industry offers diverse career paths and opportunities.

Personal connections can lead to job opportunities and mentorship.

The excitement of young professionals can reinvigorate seasoned veterans.

Chicago's winter can be a downside, but the city has much to offer.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:43 The Importance of Career Day
05:37 Mentorship and Networking in Advertising
08:50 Personal Experiences and Career Paths
11:38 The Joy of Working in Advertising
14:37 Conclusion and Upcoming Events

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
17 min
February 03Ep. 119 Jennifer Louie Oon, DAX US, SVP of Sales on Audio’s Missing Middle and Monetization
Jennifer Louie Oon, Senior Vice President, Sales at DAX United States, shares her non-linear career path, why audio remains underfunded, and how premium ad-supported audio can unlock scale, measurement, and growth for brands and publishers.

Takeaways
Audio is underfunded largely due to education gaps and outdated measurement models.

The missing middle in audio leaves key demos and local markets underserved.

Host-read ads remain valuable because trust and opt-in listening drive attention.

Expanding audio reach improves effectiveness beyond a few major streaming platforms.

Better measurement will push audio spend closer to its share of daily consumer time.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Jennifer Louie Oon and her background in audio
02:20 Building a career by prioritizing learning over titles
07:50 The missing middle problem in audio advertising
11:30 Why audio budgets lag behind TV and social
14:50 Why host-read ads continue to perform
18:00 Programmatic audio and reducing friction for creators
21:30 What measurement changes mean for audio’s future

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
24 min
January 27Ep. 118 Inside 16 Years of AdTech: Nathan Thomas on Data, CTV, and What’s Next
Nathan Thomas, Principal at Thomas Media Consulting and former Playwire leader, joins the AdTechGod Pod to unpack his 16-year journey across publisher ops, programmatic sales, and data partnerships, plus his take on where the open web, CTV pricing, digital out-of-home, and publisher data control are heading next.

Takeaways
Nathan Thomas transitioned from a long career at Playwire to consulting.

The publishing industry has become increasingly complex and challenging.

Digital out-of-home advertising presents unique opportunities for engagement.

Monetization pressures are mounting for publishers due to rising content costs.

The open web is facing significant challenges with traffic decline.

Data management and privacy are critical for publishers moving forward.

AI is rapidly changing the landscape of advertising and content creation.

Gaming advertising is underutilized and has potential for growth.

Curation in advertising can be beneficial if managed properly.

Future trends in advertising will focus on innovation and data-driven strategies.

Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Nathan Thomas and His Journey
04:05 Transitioning to Consulting: A New Chapter
06:24 The Evolution of the Publishing Industry
09:18 Challenges in Monetization and Supply Chain
12:54 The Rise of Digital Out of Home Advertising
16:56 The Future of Open Web and Data Management
20:31 Navigating the Data Landscape in Advertising
24:14 Looking Ahead: Trends and Predictions for 2026

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30 min
January 20Ep. 117 From Hype to Reality: AI, Advertising, and What’s Next with David Cohen (IAB CEO)
In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, host AdTechGod sits down with David Cohen, CEO of the IAB, for a wide-ranging conversation ahead of IAB ALM in Palm Springs. They unpack how AI has moved from hype to real-world application, why the cookie conversation has faded, and what new challenges publishers, brands, and agencies now face as AI becomes the interface for discovery and commerce. David shares candid insights on industry fragmentation, the risks of rushing innovation without standards, the growth areas brands are betting on for 2026, and why effectiveness must replace efficiency as advertising’s north star. The episode closes with a look at how IAB ALM is shaping industry priorities and what it means to lead an ecosystem through rapid change.

Takeaways
AI has shifted from experimentation to real operational and creative use cases across the advertising ecosystem

The end of cookie deprecation as the dominant narrative marks a major industry turning point

Publishers face both opportunity and existential challenges as AI disrupts search, discovery, and monetization

Industry progress is being slowed by legacy infrastructure and a lack of clean, structured data foundations

The current AI land grab risks outpacing standards, testing, and alignment

CTV, commerce, and creators marketing are the strongest growth areas heading into 2026

Effectiveness, not efficiency or cheap scale, should define success in modern advertising

IAB ALM serves as a validation point for industry direction, not a fixed roadmap

Chapters
00:00 Welcome & Introduction
01:18 What’s Changed Since Last Year’s ALM
02:28 AI’s Real Impact on Creativity and Personalization
03:55 AI, Data, and the Need for Strong Foundations
05:12 Risks and Concerns Around AI Adoption
08:23 What Agencies and Brands Are Struggling With
10:14 What Brands Are Betting On for 2026
12:22 What David Hopes to Achieve at IAB ALM
14:48 How IAB Sets Its Agenda and Adapts to Change
17:02 Industry Norms That Need a Reset
18:29 How ALM Speakers and Programming Are Selected
21:58 The Future of ALM and IAB’s 30th Anniversary
24:25 Leaving the Industry Better Than We Found It
25:06 Closing Remarks

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25 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.