Eric Franchi and Joe Zappa discuss the acquisition of IAS and the company's potential future directions, how an open internet adtech company could crack the SMB market and which companies are most likely to do it, and the surge of optimism around AI — from GEO to OpenAI to Silicon Valley's return to adtech investing.

U of Digital CEO and co-founder Shiv Gupta joins the pod to educate Joe and Eric on AI's transformation of adtech, the three legs of the modern sales stool, and how sales and marketing are blurring. Plus, Joe finds out about "jeans parties," an ancient practice handed down to Gen Xers from the Mesopotamians.

On the Friday before Labor Day, Joe and Eric got loose (or Joe got loose and Eric tolerated his shenanigans). Joe debriefs a recent hire that went wrong, Eric discusses Q4 adtech prep, and the guys debate who can do more pull-ups.

Joe goes solo to rattle off 10 common misconceptions adtech CEOs have about marketing. No way to grow a business like calling out your customer. Topics include how to find great marketers, how often to communicate, and how to measure the impact of adtech marketing.

Magnite CPO Adam Soroca and Streamr CEO and co-founder Jonathan Moffie join the pod to discuss the leading SSP buying the CTV creative automation platform. Adam and Jonathan break down the thinking behind the deal, how it came together, and what other startup founders can learn from Streamr's example. Joe posits that performance TV is the big thesis in adtech and asks the guys what Magnite needs to do to deliver on its promise.

Traditional PR is dead! But don't take our word for it. Ask an actual journalist, former Wall Street Journal and AdWeek reporter Mike Shields. Mike tells Joe and Eric why Joe's shtick about throwing out the 2005 marketing playbook resonates with him, how to actually succeed at traditional PR or media relations, and what adtech companies can do instead to get the word out.

Serial entrepreneur and investor Auren Hoffman joins Eric and Joe to discuss why he shouldn’t have sold LiveRamp and how he’d push the company forward today, what he’s excited about in adtech, how to spot great talent, and things most people he respects believe that he disagrees with. Tune in to find out whether EQ is overrated and why Auren might start another adtech company.

Universal Ads' James Borow joins Eric and Joe to discuss the key components of the performance TV category, Universal Ads' unique approach, how big an impact performance TV will have on the open web as a whole, and what he's learned from selling multiple companies. Hijinks about corporations ensue.

tvScientific CEO and co-founder Jason Fairchild joins the pod a second time to discuss fundraising strategies. Tips for Open Marketers include taking more at-bats, choosing the right timing and making the success of the company feel inevitable, making strategics' success a part of your success, and surrounding yourself with the right people, especially for your first company. Joe also lectures Jason and Eric on proper sunscreening habits.

PayPal's Dan Robbins joins Joe and the Italian Beef on the pod to discuss how management and collaboration changes as an organization grows from one person to over 100 (which Dan oversaw at Roku), heuristics and personality frameworks for understanding people's tendencies and motivations, and why marketing should be an input, not just an output. Plus, Joe tests the guys' patience with his fervor for astrology for business bros aka the enneagram.