In this episode, Barry returns from a week in Las Vegas for this year's installment of Adobe Summit. The theme of this year's Summit is 'Real World Application', wherein we discuss all the latest and greatest developments in the role of Generative AI in the Enterprise Content Supply Chain. We also discuss what might have been had the Figma acquisition gone through, and the power of community even among competitors. Enjoy!

Links: www.merkle.com, www.wongdoody.com

Drinks: J Wakefield Brewing New England Douple IPA, Just Water

In this episode, Barry and Phil welcome new guest Maury Postal, a strategist, Creative leader, digital nerd, and Principal of The Office of Maury Postal. Maury joins us for a drink and a chat about what predictions he has for 2024, and what he resolves to do about it. We discuss everything from craving technology that just works, to craving a return to the natural world and how the two are inextricably linked. We also lament the unfortunate demise of Invision, and an overall sense of the end of the "fun" Internet. It was such an engaging and wide-reaching conversation, Maury shared 8 predictions and we only had time to discuss 5! Enjoy!

Drinks: 3 Floyds Brewing Co. Pride & Joy Mild Ale, Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Hopkeeper Double IPA, Inky Spanish Red Wine

Links: https://mopostal.com/

You’ve heard of beer flights. Well, get ready for a podcast flight! Join Phil and Barry as they host their annual Year in Flights episode and sample a collection of great moments from their fourth season of podcast interviews, each clip paired with a different craft beer. It’s been a fantastic year, and we share the stats to prove it! Thanks for listening, commenting, sharing, and joining us for every episode on this crazy ride. Happy holidays and we’ll see you all in 2024 with a new season of What Bubbles Up!

Drinks: 

Barry - Athletic Brewing Company Netflix’s The Witcher’s Hoppy Helles Geralt’s Gold, Einbecker Brauherren Premium Pils, Wachusett Brewing Company Wally Juice New England IPA, Smuttynose Brewing Company Robust Porter, BuzzBallz Chillers Egg Nog

Phil - Starr Hill Brewery Snow Blind Doppelbock, Cantina Cantina Arrange Disorder Double IPA, Samuel Smith Old Brewery Nut Brown Ale, Alewerks Brewing Company Coffeehouse Milk Stout, Hardywood Brewing Company Gingerbread Stout

Links: http://www.whatbubblesup.com

Barry and Phil are joined by Holden Bale, the Global Head of Experience and Commerce at Merkle, for a drink and a chat about where digital experiences are heading in the (not too distant) future. In this far-reaching and engaging conversation, we discuss the Four Forces that are impacting Experience today, and the ways they are making companies fundamentally shift their channel strategies. We also discuss how 'the collapse of the funnel', once a punchline at conferences and lectures, is now a stark truth for both CTO's and CMO's, requiring enterprises to be able to draw a straight line from their business strategy to their technology strategy. Enjoy!

Drinks: Downeast Cider House White Slushie, Suarez Family Brewery Nimble Pils, Pennings Farm Iron Mountain Hard Cider

Links: https://www.merkle.com/en/merkle-now/ebooks/b2b-futures-.html

In this episode, we are joined by Rocco Albano, a professional artist and classical art aficionado (plus VP of Customer Experience at Merkle). But in Rocco’s youth – he was PEZ, the infamous Philadelphia Graffiti artist. Today’s episode is the very personal story of Rocco’s evolution - from graffiti artist and high-school drop-out, to contemporary artist and digital experience strategist & consultant.  It’s a story of the power of art to transform lives. In Rocco’s case, art was the catalyst helping him heal from childhood trauma, getting him sober (35+ years and counting), propelling him into college and into his successful professional career. During our freewheeling conversation we discuss how "unplanned moments" highlight Rocco’s path through both dark times and light, including a chance encounter with Jane Golden, an American muralist and art educator, who became a significant influence in Rocco's life. We also talk about Rocco's kinship with the artist Caravaggio, and how 'living in interesting times' can create pathways to creativity. Enjoy!

Drinks:

Fresca, Poppi Prebiotic Orange Soda, Starbucks Strawberry Acai Lemonade

Links:

Rocco’s Gallery: https://www.syncgallery.com/albano

Rocco’s artistic journey - https://pezroc.com/vision-of-artist-rocco-albano 

Rocco’s Art

The Art of Graffiti - https://pezroc.com/the-art-of-graffiti

Ghost Tag - https://pezroc.com/ghost-tag

Museum in my Backyard - in the Merkle corporate collection: https://pezroc.com/museum-in-my-backyard

Baroque Supernova - https://pezroc.com/baroque-supernova

In this episode, long-time and multiple repeat guest Val Vacante, VP of Innovation at Dentsu Solutions, joins us for a drink and a chat about AI in gaming. Going all the way back to its 40-plus year origins in Pac-Man, Val discusses all the ways that gaming has sparked innovations in AI, and vice versa, including present-day experiments with companies like Niantic and Lego. We also delve into both the complexities and benefits of children interacting with AI in the state of play, and how these AI gaming experiences are informing and improving 'more serious' enterprise software experiences. Another fun and engaging conversation with Val - enjoy!

Drinks: 3 Floyds Brewing Co. LazerSnake IPA, 3 Floyds Brewing Co. Gumballhead American Pale Wheat Beer, Tito's Vodka with Kombucha and Ginger

Links: https://www.dentsu.com/us/en/solutions

In this episode, longtime friend and colleague Marco Ambrosio joins us for a beer and a chat about his new Generative AI storytelling platform, Magicbook. We discuss how becoming a parent inspired him to create his startup after a career in CX consulting and product innovation, and how technology and Generative AI can be a positive force in the parent-child relationship. We also touch on how fear of regret can be a bigger motivator than the fear of failure, and how science, creativity, and technology can combine to provide meaningful, positive social benefits. Enjoy!

Drinks: Cisco Brewers Inc. Gripah Grapefruit IPA, Brooklyn Brewery Bodega Run Well-Stocked IPA, Quilmes Premium Lager

Links: https://www.magicbook.kids/

In this episode, our friend and colleague Tod Rathbone, Global Chief Strategy Officer at WongDoody, joins us for a drink and a chat about the world of Experience Strategy and its role in Digital Transformation. We frame up the two leadership mindsets of 'ambition v. fear', and explore which one led him to pivot away from advertising in order to focus solely on digital. We also discuss what Strategy means in the age of AI, the balance a strategist must strike when considering both 'what if' and 'what is', and Tod's concept of the 'the tyranny of enablement'.

Drinks: Fort Hill Brewery Fresh Pick American IPA, New Realm Brewing Company Hoptropolis Tropical IPA, Brewery Ommegang Neon Rainbows New England Hazy IPA

Links: www.wongdoody.com