Hearst Consumer Media Chief Data Officer, Jessica Hogue, joins us to unpack how a 137-year-old publisher is rebuilding its data foundation—linking first-party identity, contextual intelligence, and tighter supply paths—to grow revenue beyond the open auction. We tackle AI’s “zero-click” squeeze, brand-safety overblocking, and the push for outcomes without backsliding into last-click.

This episode of Signal & Noise features industry veteran Lou Paskalis in a wide-ranging conversation on the state of advertising, brand safety, and the future of news media. The discussion explores why marketers have historically avoided advertising in news, the misguided reliance on keyword and domain blocking, and new research showing ads next to quality journalism don’t harm brand perception.

Paskalis also dives into how AI, programmatic buying, and publisher data strategies are reshaping the economics of journalism—and why supporting trustworthy reporting is both a civic duty and a smart business move

In this episode of Signal & Noise, Brett, Rio, and guest Shiv Gupta (Founder & CEO of U of Digital) dive into the seismic impact AI is having on the advertising industry. Listen as they explore Meta’s bold push toward fully automated media buying, question the future of the agency FTE model, and examine how AI could upend traditional workflows while opening the door for new roles, business models, and human-centered strategy.

In Episode 3, Brett and Rio take aim at a problem that quietly siphons billions of dollars and erodes trust every single day: digital ad fraud.

The question is neither theoretical nor hyperbole: for many brands, it genuinely feels like the bad guys are winning. Bot farms masquerade as premium publishers, MFA sites inflate metrics, and even “safe” channels like CTV are showing cracks with pervasive illicit activity.

No one agrees on exactly how much ad fraud is out there – but everyone agrees there is a lot. Most estimates say it amounts to multiple billions of dollars annually, a staggering total.With the stakes so high, this is an important topic.

That’s why we invited Dr. Augustine Fou, one of the industry’s most relentless fraud hunters, to cut through the noise. Over the next hour we’ll confront the uncomfortable truths, expose the latest tactics, and—crucially—outline concrete steps you can take before your next media plan goes live. Let’s roll up our sleeves and see who’s really winning.

In episode two, we dive deep into Georgian's research on AI adoption across marketing and technology teams, the opportunities and challenges associated current agentic and generative AI solutions, and potential impacts across industries.

While we believe AI augments existing software rather than replaces it, there will be impacts on specific job functions and work streams critical to marketing and advertising transformation.   Learn what organizational changes are needed for effective AI integration, how to get started, and the challenges you'll likely face as AI adoption increases across your organization.

Stephanie Layser joins us to discuss how publishers can adapt in a digital landscape dominated by tech giants. She explores the role of AI in improving monetization, the shift toward direct ad sales, and the need for innovation to stay competitive.

The episode covers brand safety, content control, and changing consumer habits—especially among younger audiences. Stephanie also highlights the importance of streamlining ad sales and using data to drive engagement and revenue.