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Make it WARC. Make it Effective. Get closer to insights, stories and lessons behind great marketing with conversations hosted by the world’s leading authority on marketing effectiveness.

WARC


    • Jul 21, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 32m AVG DURATION
    • 466 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The WARC Podcast

    The harsh reality of advertising's shift to 'churn and burn'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2026 37:52


    New data from CreativeX reveals the alarming extent of 'churn and burn' short-termism among advertisers, based on a study of 633,000 ads over two years. Content volume is way up, but media budgets aren't. So what's going on? Anastasia Leng, CEO of CreativeX, joins WARC's David Tiltman to break down the data, examine the most concerning trends, and discuss how brands can turn the ship around.  Guests: Anastasia Leng, CEO, CreativeX Chapters: 00:00 – Fragmentation of creativity and the ‘more with less' challenge 04:12 – From pre-testing to creative auditing at scale 05:18 – Why media and creative must come back together 06:54 – Explaining ‘fewer, bigger, longer, better' 09:19 – From scarcity to abundance: when ‘more content' goes wrong 10:14 – Inside the study: 633k ads, $2bn spend, 143 Fortune 500 brands 12:52 – Content production up 29% in two years 14:01 – Media spend per ad down 15%: weaker support for each asset 15:34 – Short runs: 32 days for direct response ads, 40 days for brand ads 17:28 – Algorithms as creative directors and a crisis of confidence 19:49 – 93% of ads under $10k; 70% under $1k in spend 21:32 – Low-budget ads score 20% lower on creative quality 24:48 – Sub-$10k ads absorbing 30% of a $2bn media budget 32:05 – Three fixes: big ideas, media thresholds, better learning loops 35:29 – ‘Big swings': $100k+ ads run 89 days but get only 18% of spend For 40 years, WARC has been providing the marketing industry with rigorous, unbiased evidence and expert effectiveness guidance. The WARC Podcast publishes a new episode every Tuesday and Thursday. Subscribe to The WARC Podcast here: https://www.warc.com/en/warc-podcastsSign up to daily WARC News for free: https://www.warc.com/en/latestBook a demo: https://www.warc.com/en/subscribe

    Strategy standouts from Cannes Lions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2026 29:48


    Creative Strategy Lions jury president Sarah Lemarié and juror Dan Hill share powerful advice on how to level up strategic thinking, their stand out campaigns from Cannes Lions, why they look for 'strategic firsts' in the jury room, and a warning on using AI in awards entries. Hosted by Effie Insight's John Bizzell. Guests: Sarah Lemarié, Chief Strategy Officer, Publicis France Dan Hill, Global Chief Strategy Officer, Wieden+Kennedy Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Cannes Lions Creative Strategy Winners 2026 01:46 – Meet the Jury: Sarah Lemarié & Dan Hill on Judging Creative Strategy Lions 03:43 – Creating a Benchmark: Why Creative Strategy Lions Build a “Body of Work” 07:11 – Defining ‘What Good Looks Like' in Creative Strategy at Cannes Lions 10:21 – Human Ingenuity & Empathy in a World of AI: What the Winners Proved 11:38 – Grand Prix Breakdown: Heineken's “The Pub That Refused to Die” in Ireland 13:18 – Community Ownership & Brand Purpose: How Heineken Helped Save Local Pubs 16:09 – Gold Winner Spotlight: Faroe Islands Space Program and Tidal Energy Reframing 17:48 – “Simple but Clever” Strategy: Making Sustainable Tech Feel Playful & B2B-Friendly 20:12 – AI and Creative Strategy: Dove Real Reviews, Claude and LLM‑Ready Ideas 23:37 – Classic vs New Media: How Dove and Claude Blend Old CPG and New Tech 24:38 – How to Win a Creative Strategy Lion: Entry Writing, Storytelling & Results 26:40 – The Fosbury Flop of Strategy: Novelty, Firsts and Playful Creativity at Cannes For 40 years, WARC has been providing the marketing industry with rigorous, unbiased evidence and expert effectiveness guidance. The WARC Podcast publishes a new episode every Tuesday and Thursday. Subscribe to The WARC Podcast here: https://www.warc.com/en/warc-podcastsSign up to daily WARC News for free: https://www.warc.com/en/latestBook a demo: https://www.warc.com/en/subscribe

    Mark Ritson versus marketing's 'culture of bullsh*t'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2026 37:36


    Mark Ritson is back to talk all things marketing skills, back-to-basics brand fundamentals, the impact of AI on the marketing workforce and why he's tired of marketing's 'culture of bullsh*t'. Hosted by WARC's David Tiltman. Guest: Mark Ritson, Founder, miniMBA Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Mark Ritson joins The WARC Podcast 02:33 – Ritson & Byron Sharp: surprising areas of agreement 07:40 – The Multiplier Playbook and the effectiveness “say–do” gap 09:09 – Ipsos x Ritson test: two‑thirds of marketers fail basics 11:28 – Marketing's skillset problem 15:20 – Fewer, bigger, longer: brand building vs short‑termism 18:58 – Why “idiot competitors” help smart brands win in recessions 19:41 – CreativeX data: 93% of big‑brand digital ads spend under $10k 22:38 – When performance thinking invades long‑term brand building 23:08 – AI and synthetic data: what will really change in marketing 24:56 – AI‑built marketing plans and a 60–65% cut in jobs 28:45 – Creator marketing, TikTok and the distinctiveness challenge 32:31 – The “uncivil war” in effectiveness and why debate matters For 40 years, WARC has been providing the marketing industry with rigorous, unbiased evidence and expert effectiveness guidance. The WARC Podcast publishes a new episode every Tuesday and Thursday. Subscribe to The WARC Podcast here: https://www.warc.com/en/warc-podcastsSign up to daily WARC News for free: https://www.warc.com/en/latestBook a demo: https://www.warc.com/en/subscribe

    Inside the Cannes Lions Creative Effectiveness jury

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2026 29:53


    Cannes Lions jury president Bertille Toledano and juror Jane Wakely share tips for aspiring winners of the Creative Effectiveness Lions, including lessons from this year's Grand Prix and Gold winners, how to present data, outline cultural context & and demonstrate brand growth with rigorous evidence. Guests: Bertille Toledano, CEO of BETC and Havas Creative Middle East, President of Havas Creative Network Jane Wakely, EVP, Chief Consumer & Marketing Officer, PepsiCo; Chief Growth Officer, International Foods Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Welcome to The WARC Podcast 01:32 – Meet the Jury: Bertille Toledano & Jane Wakely 02:47 – Inside the Jury Room: Setting a Vision for Creative Effectiveness 04:25 – Diversity, Debate & Data: How the Jury Worked Together 06:51 – Measuring Impact: Retention, Acquisition & Growth Metrics 08:25 – Case Study: ‘My Japan Railway' and Design Meets Effectiveness 10:26 – Is Creative Effectiveness Getting Stronger? 13:15 – Grand Prix Decision: Why AXA's ‘Three Words' Won 15:51 – Reframing Low-Interest Categories with Human-Centric Ideas 18:10 – Pedigree in Brazil: Mutt Adoption, Culture and Category Growth 22:17 – Another Standout Case: IKEA's ‘Hidden Tags' 25:25 – How to Write a Winning Effectiveness Paper: Data & Sources 28:36 – Cultural Context for Global Juries: Don't Assume Understanding 29:25 – Category Growth vs Share Growth: What Really Matters For 40 years, WARC has been providing the marketing industry with rigorous, unbiased evidence and expert effectiveness guidance. The WARC Podcast publishes a new episode every Tuesday and Thursday. Subscribe to The WARC Podcast here: https://www.warc.com/en/warc-podcastsSign up to daily WARC News for free: https://www.warc.com/en/latestBook a demo: https://www.warc.com/en/subscribe

    How Fitflop broke through the performance plateau

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2026 47:38


    How do you break out of a performance plateau without extra budget? Footwear brand FitFlop is walking the talk (in FitFlops, of course). Fitflop's Brittany Ellam and Ash Singh from Jellyfish join WARC's David Tiltman to discuss how the brand tapped into thinking from The Multiplier Effect, and the impressive results it achieved by embracing a better approach to investing in brand and performance marketing. Guests: Brittany Ellam, Interim Global Head of Acquisition & Media, FitFlop Ashwin Singh, Media Strategy Director, Jellyfish Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: Why FitFlop is a ‘multiplier effect' case study 02:57 – FitFlop's story: from comfort innovation to global brand 04:46 – Hitting the performance plateau: shrinking baselines, falling CVR 08:00 – Jellyfish's diagnosis: mental availability, not demand, is the problem 12:59 – Funding brand without extra budget: cutting low-intent traffic 17:46 – The “dynamic replenishment loop” explained 22:17 – Build–Nudge–Connect: rethinking creative and social proof 29:35 – Results: +68% ROAS, +30% revenue and rising conversion rates 36:24 – Internal buy-in, learnings and advice for marketers For 40 years, WARC has been providing the marketing industry with rigorous, unbiased evidence and expert effectiveness guidance. The WARC Podcast publishes a new episode every Tuesday and Thursday. Subscribe to The WARC Podcast here: https://www.warc.com/en/warc-podcastsSign up to daily WARC News for free: https://www.warc.com/en/latestBook a demo: https://www.warc.com/en/subscribe

    The Effective CMO: Land O'Lakes' Heather Malenshek

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2026 27:22


    Land O' Lakes is working to change the cultural narrative around rural America while building B2B and B2C brands trusted by generations of farmers and consumers alike. CMO Heather Malenshek joins WARC's Ann Marie Kerwin to discuss why representation is key to building brand trust, overcoming AI biases, and much more.   For 40 years, WARC has been providing the marketing industry with rigorous, unbiased evidence and expert effectiveness guidance. The WARC Podcast publishes a new episode every Tuesday and Thursday.  Subscribe to The WARC Podcast here:  https://www.warc.com/en/warc-podcasts Sign up to daily WARC News for free:   https://www.warc.com/en/latest Book a demo: https://www.warc.com/en/subscribe

    Why C-suite alignment is an urgent marketing priority

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2026 36:29


    CMOs often struggle to secure long-term brand investment, missing out on its multiplier effect on performance. Mike Menkes and Jason McNellis of Analytic Partners explain why performance metrics mislead, how to align with CFOs using incremental measurement, and why scenario planning builds trust and defends budgets effectively, based on WARC's Multiplier Playbook research. Hosted by Ann Marie Kerwin. Guests: Mike Menkes, Group Senior Vice President, Analytic Partners Jason McNellis, Vice President, Commercial Analytics, Analytic Partners Ann Marie Kerwin, Americas Editor, WARC Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction: Welcome to The WARC Podcast 01:44 – Why CMOs struggle to secure brand investment 02:45 – The risks of over-focusing on performance metrics 03:46 – Are CMOs and CFOs speaking different languages? 06:58 – What “incrementality” really means for marketers 08:54 – Matching marketing metrics to CFO and investor language 10:40 – Inside the “doom loop” of last-click and search over-crediting 13:28 – Balancing brand building and performance marketing 14:26 – Why most brands overspend on performance media 18:08 – Redefining ROI and ROMI with finance 20:22 – Short-term vs long-term effects of marketing investment 22:52 – Proving marketing as a growth investment, not a cost 29:03 – Using scenario planning to defend marketing budgets 31:19 – Case study: Luxury retailer increases spend instead of cutting 33:07 – One action CMOs can take tomorrow with finance For 40 years, WARC has been providing the marketing industry with rigorous, unbiased evidence and expert effectiveness guidance. The WARC Podcast publishes a new episode every Tuesday and Thursday. Subscribe to The WARC Podcast here: https://www.warc.com/en/warc-podcastsSign up to daily WARC News for free: https://www.warc.com/en/latestBook a demo: https://www.warc.com/en/subscribe

    Live in Cannes: The new, old rules of brand growth

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2026 62:34


    Bonsoir from Cannes Lions! On our last daily pod, we chat to Les Binet and Mel Arrow on the new /old rules of brand growth, Coinbase discusses brand building through crypto winter and finally, creative effectiveness themes with Gurdeep Puri and Emma de la Fosse. The WARC Podcast in Cannes is sponsored by Circana. Learn more at circana.com/warc   For 40 years, WARC has been providing the marketing industry with rigorous, unbiased evidence and expert effectiveness guidance. The WARC Podcast publishes a new episode every Tuesday and Thursday.  Subscribe to The WARC Podcast here:  https://www.warc.com/en/warc-podcasts Sign up to daily WARC News for free:   https://www.warc.com/en/latest Book a demo: https://www.warc.com/en/subscribe

    Live in Cannes: Building brands in the efficiency era

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2026 51:15


    It's day 4 in Cannes. Today, 12x Cannes Lions winner Fernando Machado joins to discuss why creativity matters more than ever in the 'efficiency era', Mastercard shares the secrets of building brands with creators, and Kantar offers a new framework to avoid greenwashing. Hosted by WARC's Alex Brownsell. The WARC Podcast in Cannes is sponsored by Circana. Download the latest insights at circana.com/warc For 40 years, WARC has been providing the marketing industry with rigorous, unbiased evidence and expert effectiveness guidance. The WARC Podcast publishes a new episode every Tuesday and Thursday. Subscribe to The WARC Podcast here: https://www.warc.com/en/warc-podcastsSign up to daily WARC News for free: https://www.warc.com/en/latestBook a demo: https://www.warc.com/en/subscribe

    Live in Cannes: SURPRISE! and other ways to win

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2026 55:08


    Bonjour! On day 3 in Cannes, we learn more about the power of surprise with Jon Evans and Adam Morgan, TNT Sports and Twitch take on Gen Z sports media trends, and finally, insights from new B2B buyability research with LinkedIn and ServiceNow. The WARC Podcast in Cannes is sponsored by Circana. Download the latest insights today at circana.com/warc.   For 40 years, WARC has been providing the marketing industry with rigorous, unbiased evidence and expert effectiveness guidance. The WARC Podcast publishes a new episode every Tuesday and Thursday.  Subscribe to The WARC Podcast here:  https://www.warc.com/en/warc-podcasts Sign up to daily WARC News for free:   https://www.warc.com/en/latest Book a demo: https://www.warc.com/en/subscribe

    Live in Cannes: The effectiveness experts will see you now

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2026 44:29


    It's day 2 at Cannes Lions! Today we're talking all things effectiveness with new research from Effie, EOS Products shares how it became a marketing effectiveness leader, we review 'effectiveness frenemies' session starring Byron Sharp vs Mark Ritson, and discuss new data on influencer effectiveness based on new data from Circana. Hosted by WARC's Ann Marie Kerwin. The WARC Podcast in Cannes is sponsored by Circana. Download the latest insights today at circana.com/warc.   For 40 years, WARC has been providing the marketing industry with rigorous, unbiased evidence and expert effectiveness guidance. The WARC Podcast publishes a new episode every Tuesday and Thursday.  Subscribe to The WARC Podcast here:  https://www.warc.com/en/warc-podcasts Sign up to daily WARC News for free:   https://www.warc.com/en/latest Book a demo: https://www.warc.com/en/subscribe

    Live in Cannes: Creative strategy in a changing world

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2026 45:06


    It's Day 1 of Cannes Lions! Today, new research reveals that the top 10 ads preferred by AI versus humans are almost completely different, BYD's extraordinary journey from homegrown China brand to global automotive giant, and lessons in localising global brands from Heineken. Hosted by WARC's Rica Facundo.

    Economic volatility stress-tests the global advertising market

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2026 25:53


    The months-long closure of the Strait of Hormuz remains a serious test of global ad market resilience. WARC Media's Alex Brownsell and Kate Scott-Dawkins, Global President for Business Intelligence at WPP Media, join WARC's Anna Hamill to make sense of complicated dynamics for advertisers in 2026. This episode of The WARC Podcast is sponsored by Criteo.

    Advice for aspiring CMOs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2026 40:44


    Jim Stengel has spent his career shaping the practice of modern marketing, and helping aspiring CMOs to take the next step in their career. He joins WARC's Catherine Driscoll to reflect on what he's learned about leadership, creativity and growth from his conversations with hundreds of marketers, and to discuss what today's marketers can do to build influence, navigate change and create lasting impact at their brands.

    How L'Oréal thinks about creator ROI

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2026 28:13


    Beauty giants L'Oréal have built a new framework to quantify the impact of creators on marketing effectiveness. L'Oréal's Vas Kourakis and Meta's Maria Pavlova join WARC's Anna Hamill to discuss how the measurement framework came together, essential best practices, and what marketers can learn from their experience.

    Breaking down the nostalgia industrial complex

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2026 38:36


    Nostalgia. Cultural déjà vu. Kidulting. Why are so many people desperate to escape the present? Welcome to our new sister podcast, This Is Contagious. In this episode, Contagious investigates everything from why adults are rebuilding their teenage bedrooms, to landlines for kids and the return of the iPod, and revealing why the past has become one of culture's most powerful refuges. If you work in marketing, you should almost definitely subscribe to Contagious IQ - an intelligence platform that helps brands and agencies supercharge their creativity by learning from the world's most impactful brands, campaigns and trends. Hosted by Contagious's Alex Jenkins, Chloe Markowicz and Katrina Stirton Dodd.

    Changing the playbook: Sports marketing's next era

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2026 38:37


    With billions pouring into sports marketing this year, the stakes are high for brands. Ahead of the FIFA World Cup, and with more advertisers backing women's sports, We Are Social Sport's Joe Weston and Fuse's Matt Bailey join WARC's Anna Hamill to discuss the emerging trends in sports marketing.

    Connecting sustainability with marketing effectiveness

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026 39:51


    How do social values and environmental sustainability boost marketing effectiveness? Goodvertising's Thomas Kolster joins WARC's Amy Rodgers to discuss how sustainability is a driving factor on the most effective advertising campaigns, based on WARC Rankings data.

    The Effective CMO: The New York Times' Amy Weisenbach

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2026 41:06


    How does a 175-year-old news brand thrive in a volatile media economy? Amy Weisenbach, Chief Marketing Officer at The New York Times, joins WARC's Anna Hamill to discuss the strategies behind the publication's outsized revenue growth, as well as how to build brand trust and daily habits across news, games, sports and much more.

    Five 2026 consumer trends you need to know

    Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026 26:50


    AI companions, social media concerns and 'comfort spending' are among key trends shaping consumer behaviour in 2026. WARC's Adi Kishore speaks to Stephanie Siew and GWI's Jason Mander about the big changes marketers need to know, based on WARC's 2026 Consumer Trends Report.

    The Multiplier Playbook: your guide to better marketing

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 23:57


    Are you stuck in the ROAS death spiral? Marketers have long struggled to prove the ROI of brand building, relying on flawed, short-term metrics that erode long-term value. BERA's Michael Reh and WARC's Ann Marie Kerwin explore how to accurately track and quantify the Multiplier Effect—the compound growth achieved when brand and performance marketing work together.

    How Meta evolved its advertising proposition

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2026 22:10


    Meta's ad business funds an aggressive AI programme which, in turn, fuels the flywheel through further increases in ad revenue. WARC's Alex Brownsell joins Anna Hamill explore Meta's hyper-efficient ad business, evaluate usage across its apps, and assess the performance of Meta campaigns.

    The Multiplier Effect: what we know so far

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 29:02


    WARC's research The Multiplier Effect proved that stronger brand equity acts as a multiplier, driving greater impact and efficiency for performance advertising. Ahead of the next stage of the project, WARC's Ann Marie Kerwin spoke to David Tiltman and the ANA's Stephanie Fierman about new survey data and what we've learned so far.

    How marketing measurement is evolving in 2026

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2026 33:40


    Michael Kaminsky, co-founder of Recast, joins Paul Stringer to discuss media's shift to outcomes measurement and the impact of AI on measurement, as they try to disentangle AI hype from reality.

    The daytime drop: rethinking social media effectiveness

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2026 36:56


    Not all time spent with social media is equal, according to new research. Social effectiveness varies significantly by time of day, giving out of home media an important role in priming and amplifying social media campaigns. Posterscope's Russell Smither and Dentsu's Ciara Smyth join WARC's Alex Brownsell to discuss.

    Marketing frameworks for a digital-first world

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2026 48:31


    Effectiveness expert James Hankins joins the pod to analyse influential ideas in marketing effectiveness, including the Hankins hexagon, share of search, digital availability, and the gravity of e-commerce. Hosted by WARC's David Tiltman.

    What resilience means for brands right now

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 35:43


    What does brand resiliency mean in a polycrisis? Fast Venture's Wade Eagar shares a four-phase framework for marketers to navigate geopolitical and economic uncertainty with WARC's Catherine Driscoll.

    The Effective CMO: Sephora's Zena Arnold

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2026 41:10


    Sephora is one of the world's biggest beauty retailers. Zena Arnold, US CMO, joins the pod to discuss 'the lipstick effect', why Sephora is investing in women's sports, emerging retail trends and the importance of brand building. Hosted by WARC's Anna Hamill.

    Effective marketing is built on soft skills

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2026 32:22


    Ideas on their own don't deliver marketing effectiveness. What if the real driver is something less visible? BMF Australia's Anna Bollinger and Christina Aventi join WARC's Rica Facundo to discuss the outsized influence of soft skills including trust, psychological safety and simplicity.

    AI vs. retail media: why brand trust still wins

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2026 30:40


    From LLM platforms for discovery through to 'bot-to-bot commerce', agentic commerce is already revolutionizing the retail media space. WARC's Ann Marie Kerwin is joined by Andrew Lipsman and Alex Brownsell to discuss WARC's new Retail Media Radar report.

    Four frameworks marketers need to know

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2026 49:02


    Effectiveness expert Tom Roach joins the pod to analyse some essential ideas in marketing effectiveness, including the performance plateau, the modified funnel, 'lots of little' and share of model. Hosted by WARC's David Tiltman.

    Why brand is critical in the age of generative AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2026 44:55


    In a generative AI world, strong and consistent brands act as a bulwark against LLM confusion. But how can marketers equip themselves for success? WARC's Cathy Taylor talks to WARC guide contributors Gary J. Nix and Kate Watts how to build iconic or enduring brands in the AI era.

    Systems thinking: what it is and what it's not

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2026 41:16


    Brands act as systems of meaning, with flexibility preferred over rigid guidelines. So what does 'complex systems management' mean for marketers? JP Castlin joins WARC's David Tiltman to break down the terminology of systems, the complexity of modern marketing and the need to find answers to that complexity.

    Implications of the Gulf energy crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2026 21:26


    WARC's new Global Ad Forecast maps out three scenarios for media spend as a result of war in the Middle East. WARC's James McDonald and Alex Brownsell make sense of the data, and what the current volatility will mean for advertisers in 2026.

    Here comes System 3: a theory of artificial cognition

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2026 45:19


    System 3 thinking recognises that AI now functions as an external cognitive partner in human decision-making, not just a tool. Thinkerbell's Adam Ferrier and Matt Plant join WARC's Lena Roland to discuss its impact on the customer journey, brand fame, and the cognitive surrender trap.

    Football fever: why this year's World Cup will be different

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2026 21:57


    The 2026 men's FIFA World Cup is expected to inject $10.5bn into the ad market, but media fragmentation is changing the game for advertisers. WARC's Alex Brownsell talks to Omar Oakes, founder of Oomph, about media trends covered in the new Global Ad Trends: FIFA World Cup 2026 report. Thanks to Criteo for sponsoring this episode. There's a lot of noise about AI, but here's the news you need to know: Criteo is the first advertising company to integrate with OpenAI as part of ChatGPT's advertising pilot, bringing commerce media into one of the fastest-growing AI platforms. If you want stay competitive in this new era of AI-driven shopping and advertising, Criteo's new report: CommerceAI Trends 2026, is the essential intelligence you need to succeed.  Level up your marketing in the AI era: check out Criteo's free trends report here: www4.criteo.com/en/2026_commerceai_trends/

    WARC Rankings 2026: Dove's 'Real Beauty' wins the Effective 100

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2026 23:50


    Dove's 'Real Beauty' platform has driven brand growth for more than 20 years. Now, it's won the Effective 100. Zoe Hamilton, Chief Strategy Officer for Unilever at Ogilvy London, and WARC's Amy Rodgers discuss why Real Beauty's impact proves the power of longevity in boosting marketing effectiveness.

    The Effective CMO: AIA's Stuart A. Spencer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2026 39:55


    Insurance brand AIA believes that scaring people undermines the very outcomes insurance marketers are trying to achieve. CMO Stuart Spencer talks to WARC's Jenny Chan about AIA's behavioral economics model,  how vulnerability = authenticity, and why tackling deeply entrenched health stereotypes and rebuilding category trust is essential to drive behavioral change.

    Storytelling is an increasingly overlooked art form

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2026 36:07


    An Ipsos analysis of 15,000 ads showed that half of advertisers overlook the power of storytelling. Ipsos's Adam Sheridan joins WARC's Paul Stringer to discuss why storytelling is such a powerful creative approach.

    The creative dividend: media spend and creative quality are better together

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2026 49:59


    Research from System1 & Effie found that combining creative quality with media spend significantly accelerates business outcomes. System1's Andrew Tindall and Effie's Juliet Haygarth join WARC's David Tiltman to discuss the "Creative Dividend" study, which highlights the importance of integrating media and creative strategies for commercial growth. The "Creative Dividend" index measures creative efficiency, predicting 60.1% of business outcomes when combined with media spend. The study also identifies "super touch points" that effectively build brand effects and capture in-market revenue.

    WARC Rankings: AXA's 'Three Words' wins the Creative 100

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026 34:40


    AXA is the first financial services brand to top the WARC Creative 100. The creative minds behind the 'Three Words' campaign join WARC's Amy Rodgers to share insights and lessons from AXA's efforts to help relocate victims of domestic violence.

    Tackling the twin pace effectiveness gap

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2026 29:54


    New WARC data reveals most marketers understand effectiveness, but internal pressures, governance, and risk dynamics limit consistent execution. WARC's Jenny Chan and Rica Facundo discuss how the 'twin pace' effectiveness gap is impacting brands in Asia-Pacific, and how markteers can fight back. WARC subscribers can read the report here, and Non-WARC subscribers can download the full report here.

    The 'two-audience problem': brand building in the age of AI

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026 47:31


    Brand building in the AI era is creating profound new tensions that tear at the very fabric of traditional brand strategy. T&P's Oliver Feldwick joins WARC's Lena Roland to discuss the most critical question for marketers today: If brands are shortcuts for humans, what happens when machines start using them too?

    Shanghai Tang's Derek Sulger on the next era of luxury growth

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 3, 2026 44:38


    The next era of luxury growth will be selective, elevated, and culture-led. Derek Sulger, Chairman of luxury retailer Shanghai Tang, joins WARC's Jenny Chan to discuss how luxury has shifted from product ownership to lived experiences, and what it takes to build fashion, dining, and hospitality ecosystems that resonate.

    The evolution of media's connected consumer

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 26:47


    Media distribution models are being continually disrupted by new platforms and viewing habits. WARC's Alex Brownsell interviews industry leaders at the Media Insights & Engagement Conference in Miami about what's next for connected media consumers.

    How Netflix became an advertising behemoth

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 24, 2026 25:41


    Netflix has entered its advertising era, building a significant revenue driver. And it's just getting started. WARC's Alex Brownsell and Celeste Huang offer a deep dive into Netflix's approach and potential next steps, from its potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery to new ventures in podcasts, gaming and live events.  WARC subscribers can access the full report 'Platform Insights: Netflix' report on WARC.com here

    What's actually working in sports marketing

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 15:33


    Global sports fans spend over three trillion hours with sports each year, with another trillion hours set to be added by 2034. Sporting events are monocultural moments to reach multiple segments and demographics at once. ​WARC's Vaniele Casimir joins Anna Hamill to discuss best practice for sports marketing, based on the new report 'What's Working In Sports Marketing'. WARC subscribers can access the full report on WARC.com now: https://www.warc.com/content/article/warc-wwi/whats-working-in-sports-marketing/en-gb/162354

    Media's shift from eyeballs to outcomes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 46:45


    Outcomes are increasingly important as a form of media measurement, and how campaigns are planned and budgets are allocated. What role remains for traditional media effectiveness metrics? ITV's Sameer Modha and Kate Brinkley from The Specialist Works join WARC's Alex Brownsell to discuss the evolution of media measurement.

    Anatomy of a 2026 Super Bowl campaign

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 34:26


    Liquid Death's Andy Pearson shares secrets of the brand's 2026 Super Bowl campaign: developing the idea, the creative process, and the highlights and hurdles of advertising in the biggest TV moment of the year. Hosted by WARC's Ann Marie Kerwin.

    Super Bowl 2026: the ads that won

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2026 33:03


    Our team of experts from WARC, System 1 and LIONS review this year's Super Bowl ads, and what they tell us about advertising in 2026. Guests: Vanessa Chin, System1 Chris Barth, LIONS Advisory Cathy Taylor, WARC

    A new model for media planning

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2026 32:45


    Established models for media planning and buying are breaking. ‘Systems planning' describes a new approach. Omnicom Media's Global CSO, Jonathan Rigby, joins WARC's Paul Stringer to discuss trends in media planning, advertising investments and the media ecosystem.

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