On this week’s Aperiam Podcast, Joe and I were joined by Ari Paparo to talk about his new book.

For years, Ari’s been both a builder and a commentator in our industry. From helping shape the foundations of programmatic to calling it like it is on his blog, he’s influenced how many of us understand ad tech. His book takes that further—capturing the history of programmatic, the personalities behind it, and the lessons learned along the way.

What I appreciate is that Ari doesn’t write like an outsider looking in. He’s lived the ups and downs, and that perspective makes the book more than just a history—it’s a candid reflection on what worked, what didn’t, and why.

In our conversation, we talked about why he felt the timing was right to publish, the themes he wanted to highlight, and what he hopes readers—operators, investors, or just curious observers—take away.

If you care about how digital advertising evolved, how programmatic became the backbone of the industry, or just want an insider’s view told with humor and honesty, this is an episode worth listening to—and a book worth reading.