I Need More Coffee And Better Ideas

Search isn’t going away. Barry Adams returns to unpack Google’s rapid shift to AI, the rise of “AI Mode,” and what this means for user behavior and publisher traffic. He shares why live blogs and newsletters matter more than ever, and how publishers can prepare for a post-peak search world. He also dives into why classic brand signals shape AI answers, even if your content gets consumed differently than what you might wish for.

Are we truly digital-first — or just acting the part? Media veteran Lena K Samuelsson reflects on her transformative tenure at Aftonbladet, Sweden’s largest digital news outlet. Drawing on her experience at Schibsted, she shares three pivotal moments that shaped her leadership: empowering a new generation of editors, accelerating digital transformation during the pandemic, and grappling with the rise of AI in journalism.

Alexandra Chillag, Strategy & Portfolio Manager at NZZ, guides us through the unique strengths of the Swiss media landscape, the strategic importance of trust, and how NZZ is balancing its rich heritage with innovation. She highlights NZZ's early adoption of AI-driven technologies like propensity modeling for subscriptions, their approach to meeting younger audiences’ "liquid expectations," and the organization's conscious effort to build direct, loyal relationships with their readers in an increasingly fragmented digital ecosystem.

Lisa MacLeod from FT Strategies shares lessons from three decades in newsrooms. She explains why many media organizations still struggle to leave their print-first mindset behind, why newsroom and commercial teams need to collaborate much more closely — and why the future belongs to those who embrace experimentation, agility, and a new approach to digital storytelling.

Jan Schwalbe, Editor-in-Chief at Finanz und Wirtschaft (FuW), shares the story behind FuW’s transformation into one of TX Group’s fastest-growing digital brands. Under his leadership, the publication expanded beyond print—launching premium products, scaling up events, and embracing gamified formats like Fantasy Funds. These moves boosted brand visibility, attracted younger audiences, and drove subscription growth. Jan also reflects on the high-stakes nature of financial journalism, where precision isn’t just expected—it can move markets.

Tony Bangert, founder of Performance Labs and a seasoned media and tech executive, joins us to discuss how traditional media companies can leverage AI effectively for revenue operations, and the need for strategic adoption and internal buy-in. Tony also highlights how media startups are leveraging agility and tech to challenge legacy outlets, and how Performance Labs is building tools that make revenue diagnostics scalable and actionable.

In this episode, Tarjei Gilbrant, CEO of Kilkaya, joins us to challenge the way publishers think about analytics, engagement, and personalization. We explore why traditional KPIs like clicks and view time fall short, and how editorially guided personalization can drive loyalty and distinguish quality journalism from social media noise. From informed recommendations to homepage transformation, Tarjei shares insights on aligning analytics with publisher's core business, the risks of relying on tech giants, and the future of direct audience relationships.

Newsrooms aren't just about journalism anymore. Alexian Chiavegato from Marfeel breaks down why modern publishers must think beyond content creation—embracing SEO, AI, audience data, and even e-commerce. We dive into why engagement isn't just about clicks and why smaller publishers need to rethink revenue models beyond subscriptions.

Marina Sorg, Deputy Chief Product Officer at Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) shares how the German publisher is driving digital innovation and subscription growth in an evolving media landscape. She discusses the revamp of "FAZ Der Tag", featuring AI-generated summaries, audio integration, and interactive features to engage modern audiences.

Marina also explores FAZ’s Plus subscription strategy and efforts to reduce platform dependency by strengthening direct reader relationships.

We sit down with Renata Okrajni, CEO of PushPushGo, to chat about the role of push notifications in media and explore expert tips on making push notifications a powerful tool for your audience strategy. Renata shares insights on how segmentation, breaking news, and local journalism can drive audience engagement—while also highlighting what to watch out for to avoid notification fatigue.