In our latest episode, Todd Juneau and Kelly Maguire dive into the complex world of retail media networks with strategic marketing leader and expert Matt Crincoli.

Drawing on his experience at Amazon, Walmart, Huckberry, Charlotte's Web and more, Matt explains what retail media networks really are.

He addresses why Amazon’s ad console is essential learning ground, and how marketers can avoid the trap of overhyped tools.

Matt addresses everything from leveraging data across platforms like Instacart and Chewy to understanding incrementality, and the illusion of silver-bullet solutions.

This is a no-fluff conversation for anyone looking to navigate the retail media network advertising landscape with clarity and solid strategy.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Why Amazon Runs the Retail Media World
• 00:00:38 - Let’s Challenge the Marketing Status Quo
• 00:01:04 - Retail Media Networks: Buzzword or Breakthrough?
• 00:02:36 - What the Heck Is a Retail Media Network Anyway?
• 00:04:46 - Who’s Who in the Retail Media Power Game
• 00:04:58 - Picking Platforms Without Losing Your Mind (or Budget)
• 00:13:58 - Untangling the Retail Media Web: Tools, Traps & Truths
• 00:24:00 - Can You Actually Measure Retail Media Success?
• 00:25:45 - Big Takeaways & Mic-Drop Moments

Links and Resources:

• Matt on LinkedIn
• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital 

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

In this episode, Todd and Kelly dive deep into the often-glamorized world of advertising awards.

As seasoned agency leaders and multi-award winners, they explore the true value of these accolades - beyond the entry fees, shiny trophies, and ego boosts. Is it worth the time and money? Do clients even care?

Drawing from their own experiences - including recent award wins - they weigh the tangible and intangible returns, uncover the hidden embellishments in case studies, and ask whether awards actually reflect performance or just marketing muscle.

If you're navigating agency credibility, media strategy, or the perception vs. reality gap in advertising, this episode will speak directly to your analytical, results-driven mind.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Kicking Off with a Hard Truth: Case Studies Aren’t Always Real
• 00:01:19 - Welcome to Award Season: Hype or Headache?
• 00:02:01 - What It Really Takes to Enter Industry Awards
• 00:03:17 - Do Clients Even Care About Your Trophies?
• 00:04:31 - The Ego Boost is Real—But Is It Worth It?
• 00:05:25 - Behind the Curtain: Politics, Perception & Pitfalls
• 00:13:23 - Submitting for Awards? Here’s the Unfiltered Reality
• 00:22:36 - Wrapping It Up: Are Awards a Must or a Marketing Mirage?

Links and Resources:

• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital 

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

In this episode, Todd Juneau and Kelly Maguire dive into one of marketing’s most pressing and ongoing debates: performance vs. brand marketing. They break down why relying on short-term wins alone is a risky game.

They explore the “orchard vs. fruit” analogy to illustrate the danger of ignoring long-term brand building.

They share insights on how media fragmentation disrupts consistency, and offer a compelling case for strategic, holistic marketing planning. They offer ways to put data in perspective—without becoming enslaved to it.

This is a must-listen for any brand or agency leader questioning where their next marketing dollar should really go.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Orchard vs. Fruit: A Juicy Metaphor for Modern Marketing
• 00:00:17 - Kicking Off Contrary to Popular Opinion: Bold Takes Begin
• 00:00:47 - Brand vs. Performance: Can You Really Have Both?
• 00:01:22 - Brand Voice Matters: Why Consistency is Your Secret Weapon
• 00:05:08 - Losing Control: The Chaos of Brand in a Fragmented Media World
• 00:10:27 - Data Overload: Are We Using It or Drowning in It?
• 00:12:11 - From Click to Customer: The Real Path Isn’t Linear
• 00:14:31 - Marketing as Craft: When Art Meets Attribution
• 00:23:34 - Brand Loyalty in Action: Why Marriott Got the Win
• 00:26:46 - Final Word: Don’t Just Sell—Build Something That Lasts

Links and Resources:

• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital 

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Social commerce is everywhere—but few are doing it right. In this episode, hosts Todd and Kelly are joined by Bijan Malaklou, a marketing executive with deep expertise in creator partnerships and commerce.

Together, they discuss the real meaning of social commerce, why traditional influencer marketing often falls short, and what must change for brands to achieve measurable results.

From TikTok Shop's behavioral influence to the monetization struggles of mid-tier creators, this conversation cuts through the noise.

If you’re tired of flashy influencer campaigns that don’t convert and curious about more authentic, scalable solutions—this one’s for you.

Chapter

• 00:00:00 - From Wheaties to TikTok: A Brief History of Influence
• 00:00:56 - Meet Bijan Malaklou: The String-Puller of Social
• 00:01:52 - Why Your Influencer Budget Isn’t Converting
• 00:03:18 - Social Commerce, Demystified
• 00:06:14 - How Creator-Brand Dynamics Are Being Rewritten
• 00:08:44 - What’s Broken in Social Commerce (And What’s Next)
• 00:11:58 - Real Talk: Making Influencer Collabs Actually Work
• 00:25:29 - Paying Creators Right: The Future of Monetization
• 00:29:36 - Final Drops of Wisdom + Todd’s Birthday Roast

Links and Resources:

• Bijan Malaklou on LinkedIn
• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital 

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

In this rewind episode, we cut through the noise surrounding marketing analytics, media mix modeling, and agency selection.

With marketing budgets tighter than ever, it's critical to understand what’s truly worth the investment and what’s just smoke and mirrors. We discuss how small and mid-sized brands can make smart, data-driven decisions without spending a fortune on high-end analytics tools.

Plus, we dive into the common pitfalls marketers face when selecting an agency and how to distinguish between real value and empty promises.

If you're tired of buzzwords and want actionable insights on optimizing your marketing spend, this episode is for you.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Cutting Through the Hype: What Performance Marketing Really Means
• 00:00:43 - Achieving Big Results on Tight Budgets
• 00:11:56 - Proving ROI in the Age of Media Fragmentation
• 00:19:02 - Beyond CPMs: Why Business Outcomes Surpass Traditional Metrics

Links and Resources:

• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital 

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Retail media is one of the hottest trends in e-commerce.

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Crincoli, a seasoned e-commerce expert with experience at Amazon and Walmart, to break down the marketplace landscape. 

Matt shares his insights on when and how brands should enter platforms like Amazon, Walmart Marketplace, and TikTok Shop—without losing profitability or control. 

He also cuts through the industry’s jargon, explains why marketplaces aren’t as different from DTC as you might think, and reveals the biggest mistakes brands make when expanding into retail media. 

If you’re looking for a data-driven, no-nonsense guide to navigating digital marketplaces, this episode is for you.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - The Rise of Retail Media and Why Marketplaces Matter
• 00:00:59 - Meet Matt Crincoli: From Amazon and Walmart to DTC Strategy Expert
• 00:02:59 - What is a Marketplace? Understanding Amazon, Walmart, and TikTok Shop
• 00:04:20 - How D2C Has Evolved and Why Marketplaces Are More Important Than Ever
• 00:07:31 - The Right Time to Enter Marketplaces Without Losing Control
• 00:09:27 - Avoiding Costly Mistakes in Marketplace Strategy
• 00:21:09 - How Influencers and Retail Media Are Changing E-commerce
• 00:24:41 - The Future of Retail Media and What’s Next for Brands

Links and Resources:

• Matt Crincoli on LinkedIn
• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital 

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Thirty years after the launch of the first banner ad, digital advertising has evolved dramatically—yet some misconceptions persist. 

Todd and Kelly dive into the history, challenges, and future of digital advertising, questioning whether click-through rates ever should have been the dominant metric. 

They explore how programmatic advertising continues to thrive despite consumer complaints, the role of branding in digital ads, and why privacy concerns and cookie deprecation might actually bring advertising full circle. 

What's the truth around measuring digital advertising effectiveness? Has it become less effective over time, or have we just been measuring it the wrong way? 

Tune in for a nuanced discussion on what really drives effective advertising in today’s market.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - The Hidden Price of Free Content: How Ads Power the Internet
• 00:00:57 - Valentine’s Day & Vintage Advertising: A Fun Throwback
• 00:01:31 - 30 Years of Banner Ads: From 40% CTR to Obsolescence?
• 00:03:31 - The Click-Through Rate Myth: Are We Measuring Ads All Wrong?
• 00:08:31 - Do People Really Hate Ads? The Surprising Truth
• 00:13:31 - The Privacy War: Cookies, Ad Targeting & What Comes Next
• 00:15:37 - The Privacy War: Cookies, Ad Targeting & What Comes Next
• 00:17:45 - Can Digital Ads Survive Without Data Tracking?
• 00:20:12 - Why the Internet Can’t Function Without Advertising
• 00:22:38 - The Trade-Off: Better Ads or Paid Content?
• 00:25:14 - The Future of Personalization in a Privacy-First World
• 00:27:59 - Why AI & Contextual Targeting Are the Next Big Thing
• 00:30:35 - Final Takeaways: The Future of Digital Advertising

Links and Resources:

• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital 

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Super Bowl ads are more than just million-dollar entertainment – they’re a glimpse into the ongoing battle and balance between brand and performance marketing. 

In this episode, Todd and Kelly break down why brand awareness is a fundamental necessity for every brand. 

They explore the shift away from short-term transactional marketing, discuss the role of media in shaping long-term customer relationships, and dive into the 95/5 rule – a fundamental principle that changes how businesses should allocate their marketing budgets. 

If you’ve ever debated whether Super Bowl ads are worth the investment or wondered how to balance branding with direct response, this episode is packed with insights that will reshape how you look at marketing strategies going forward.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Kicking Off: Super Bowl, Ads & Brand Talk
• 00:01:11 - Why Brand Building is More Important Than Ever
• 00:02:52 - Super Bowl Ads: Smart Investment or Just Hype?
• 00:03:53 - Lessons from Preston Rutherford on Branding
• 00:04:50 - Performance vs. Brand Marketing: Striking the Right Balance
• 00:05:17 - How Marketing Shapes Consumer Behavior
• 00:11:48 - The 95/5 Rule: Why Most Buyers Aren’t Ready Yet
• 00:21:46 - Proving ROI: How to Measure Brand Awareness
• 00:29:19 - Are Super Bowl Ads Worth the Millions?
• 00:32:27 - Key Takeaways & The Future of Brand Marketing

Links and Resources:

• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital 

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Hiring a marketing agency should be about what they will do, not just what they have done.

In this episode, Todd and Kelly challenge the widespread belief that industry specialization is necessary for agencies to deliver great results.

They discuss why curiosity, passion, and problem-solving should outweigh pre-existing case studies and rinse-and-repeat tactics.

If you're frustrated by traditional agency selection processes or questioning the value of past industry experience, this conversation will make you rethink how you hire marketing partners.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - Why Being a Big Fish in a Small Pond Matters
• 00:01:02 - Meet Kelly & Todd: Challenging the Agency Status Quo
• 00:01:10 - The Great Debate: Does Industry Specialization Really Matter?
• 00:04:16 - Why Personality Beats Capability in Agency Selection
• 00:05:08 - Rethinking Media Buying: Strategy Over Experience
• 00:08:23 - The Agency-Client Struggle: Why the Traditional Model Fails
• 00:13:45 - Fresh Thinking vs. Case Studies: What Actually Drives Results?
• 00:19:45 - Should a Custom-Tailored Agency Cost More?
• 00:23:04 - Smarter Ways to Evaluate Your Next Marketing Partner
• 00:28:06 - Final Thoughts: The Future of Hiring Better Agencies

Links and Resources:

• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital 

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Creative strategist Bijan Malaklou, joins Kelly Maguire and Todd Juneau to explore the evolving relationship between creative and media.

As AI reshapes content creation and targeting, brands must rethink their approach to storytelling, user-generated content (UGC), and performance-driven campaigns.

Bijan shares insights on how brands can bridge the gap between media strategy and creative execution, why AI should complement—not replace—human creativity, and how creator-led marketing is redefining consumer engagement.

Whether you're working with big-budget productions or scrappy, cost-effective content, this conversation reveals how intentionality, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making are key to modern marketing success.

Chapters:

• 00:00:00 - How AI is reshaping creative and lowering the barrier to entry
• 00:01:17 - Introducing Bijan Malaklou and his expertise in creative and media
• 00:02:59 - Why media and creative must work together for better performance
• 00:04:47 - Crafting creative strategies for both big-budget and scrappy brands
• 00:07:10 - The role of influencers, UGC, and third-party validation in marketing
• 00:12:31 - Using data to drive creative decisions and maximize impact
• 00:20:09 - AI’s role in personalization and the future of brand storytelling
• 00:26:10 - The importance of a holistic investment in creative and media
• 00:29:17 - Final thoughts on creative strategy, AI, and media collaboration

Links and Resources:

• Bijan Malaklou on LinkedIn
• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital 

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!