Podcasts about DSPS

Yancey Strickler is a writer and entrepreneur that co-founded Kickstarter (and was CEO for 3 years), Metalabel, The Creative Independent, and A-Corp (Artist Corporations). Essentially, each of these ventures exist to equip creative people with capabilities, knowledge, and tools that make them more powerful. We cover the different facets of this at length, especially his concept of, and push to create Artist Corporations, the systemic exploitation of artists, how DSPs trade convenience for meaning and depth, platform boycotts, "winning" in it's purest sense, and a whole lot more.Get more access and support this show by subscribing to our Patreon, right here.Links:Yancey StricklerA-CorpsMetaLabelThe Creative IndependentHipgnosisNirvanaThe Royal Alberta AdvantageEp 68 - Evan Honer“All The King's Men”Virgil AblohBentoismCS Lewis - “The Inner Ring”Click here to watch this conversation on YouTube.Social Media:The Other 22 Hours InstagramThe Other 22 Hours TikTokMichaela Anne InstagramAaron Shafer-Haiss InstagramAll music written, performed, and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Become a subscribing member on our Patreon to gain more inside access including exclusive content, workshops, the chance to have your questions answered by our upcoming guests, and more.

In this episode of the Programmatic Digest, host Ellen Parker welcomes two of LinkedIn's most active programmatic voices: Gary Guarnaccia and Ryan Verklin. Together, they dive into the realities of in-housing, retail media, DSP strategy, and the ongoing shifts in supply path optimization (SPO). Ryan shares his journey from agency life to in-house at Bayer, where he helped lead the transition to hands-on programmatic buying before moving into retail media. Gary reflects on his role supporting Bayer's in-house teams through ad tech partnerships, ensuring programmatic and retail investments drive real business outcomes. We dig into hot-button industry debates, including: In-house vs. agency vs. retail media networks – how traders' roles are evolving. DSP strategy – why more DSPs don't automatically mean more reach. Retail media networks – the difference between on-site and off-site, and how CPG brands leverage retailer data for incremental reach. Amazon DSP – is it really positioned to replace other omni-channel platforms? Traders' perspective – why user-friendly DSPs, efficient reporting, and reduced friction are critical to long-term success. SPO and transparency – reacting to Index Exchange's announcement and The Trade Desk's move to categorize SSPs as resellers. The conversation highlights a recurring theme: programmatic traders need more love. Empowering the hands-on-keyboard teams with better tools, education, and collaboration leads to stronger business results—and less burnout. If you're a programmatic trader, strategist, or leader navigating the complexities of DSPs, SSPs, and retail media, this episode is packed with insights and candid perspectives you won't want to miss. Additional resource: Gary LinkedIn post    About Us: We teach historically excluded individuals how to break into programmatic media buying and land their dream jobs. Through our Reach and Frequency® program, an engaged community, and expert coaching, we offer:   Programmatic Training & Coaching: Executive Membership: for the busy mid-level to senior or director-level programmatic ninja looking for a structured, high-impact way to stay ahead of evolving trends, sharpen your optimization skills, and connect with like-minded experts. Join Here: https://programmaticdigest14822.ac-page.com/executivemembership   Accelerator Program: A 6-week structured program with live coaching, hands-on DSP exercises, and real-time feedback. Sign Up: https://reachandfrequencycourse.thinkific.com/courses/program   Self-Paced Course: Learn at your own speed with full content access. Enroll Here: https://reachandfrequencycourse.thinkific.com/bundles/the-reach-frequency-full-course   Timestamps 00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introductions 03:11 – From Agency to In-House: Ryan & Gary's Journeys 08:35 – The Rise of Retail Media at Bayer 14:20 – DSP Strategy: Why More Doesn't Always Mean Better Reach 20:02 – Retail Media Networks: On-Site vs. Off-Site Explained 26:41 – Amazon DSP: Threat or Opportunity? 33:17 – Why Traders Deserve More Love in Ad Tech 40:05 – Reporting, AI, and Reducing Friction for Traders 46:28 – SPO Debate: Resellers, Transparency & Control 53:19 – Final Thoughts & Industry Takeaways   Meet Our Guest: Gary Guarnaccia – Ad Tech Partnerships, Bayer https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-g-16328640/   Ryan Verklin – Retail Media Lead, Bayer https://www.linkedin.com/in/verklin/ https://www.instagram.com/verklin/ https://x.com/verklin   Meet The Team: Hélène Parker - Chief Programmatic Coach https://www.heleneparker.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/helene-parker   Manuela Cortes - Co-Host  Programmatic Digest In Espanol:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuela-cortes-   Learn Programmatic As a TEAM: https://www.heleneparker.com/workshop/ As a Programmatic Ninja: https://www.heleneparker.com/course/ Programmatic Coaching Newsletter:https://www.heleneparker.com/newsletter/   Programmatic Digest https://www.linkedin.com/company/programmatic-digest-podcast https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBGMMRsZkw0IIUbQIJmMBxw   Looking for programmatic training/coaching?  Sign up to our Accelerator Program: A 6-week structured program with live coaching, hands-on within DSP(s) exercises, and real-time feedback—perfect for those who thrive on accountability and community, and looking to grow their technical skillset https://reachandfrequencycourse.thinkific.com/courses/program   Self-Paced Course: Full access to course content anytime, allowing independent learners to study at their own speed with complete flexibility. https://reachandfrequencycourse.thinkific.com/bundles/the-reach-frequency-full-course   Join our next workshop by signing up to our waitlist below:  https://www.heleneparker.com/waitlist/  

Publishers face mounting pressure as AI disrupts traditional traffic sources. Amanda Martin, Chief Revenue Officer at Mediavine, explains how the largest independent ad management firm helps publishers navigate programmatic complexity and declining search visibility. She discusses implementing crawler blocking technology through Cloudflare, developing diversified traffic acquisition strategies beyond Google Search dependency, and creating network-scale negotiating power with AI companies for content licensing deals.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Publishers face mounting pressure as AI disrupts traditional traffic sources. Amanda Martin, Chief Revenue Officer at Mediavine, explains how the largest independent ad management firm helps publishers navigate programmatic complexity and declining search visibility. She discusses implementing crawler blocking technology through Cloudflare, developing diversified traffic acquisition strategies beyond Google Search dependency, and creating network-scale negotiating power with AI companies for content licensing deals.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Landing BACK on Mazi's World for a 3RD TIME is Friend and FAMILY of the SHOW! xBValentine bringing a NEW and reinvigorating sound with her NEW SINGLE called "SUENO" available NOW on all DSPs! Mazi and Co. catch up with xB and talk about her evolution till this point with this new spanish music she's making, working with LEGENDS! finding herself and her SOUND. Her incredible support in the LGBTQ+ Community and standing TALL in her beliefs in her community! ROLL IT!

In this episode, we're joined by Felix Braberg, an ad monetization expert who has helped app studios generate over $450 million in ad revenue.With experience across two DSPs, one ad network, and leadership roles at Tetris and East Side Games, Felix now consults with studios to skyrocket their ad revenue. He also co-hosts the 2.5 Gamers YouTube channel, where he shares actionable ad monetization strategies.Felix will reveal real case studies and proven tactics covering AdMob monetization models, segmentation strategies, mediation systems, and the key players driving ad revenue today.If you've ever wondered how to unlock serious ad revenue growth the right way, this episode is your blueprint.You will discover:✅ A real-world ad monetization case study behind $450M in revenue✅ Ad monetization models that unlock massive growth✅ Mediation system secrets, how to pick and optimize like a pro✅ Who the true power players are in ad monetization todayLearn More:Subscribe to Felix's newsletter:https://felixbraberg.substack.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/3cQAE-IbLxkWant expert guidance to grow your app? Book a quick call with App Masters:https://appmasters.com/contact-us/Indie App Santa: https://www.indieappsanta.comGet training, coaching, and community: ⁠https://appmastersacademy.com/*********************************************SPONSORSArcads is the fastest and best indie-friendly platform to create authentic, AI-powered UGC-style video ads — all from just text input.- Emotionally resonant, human-like videos- Perfect for app demos, testimonials, and paid social creatives- Built for speed, built to convertWhether you're launching or scaling, Arcads makes it easy to test and iterate video ads.Try it now: https://www.arcads.ai/?comet_custom=appmasters*********************************************Everyone's talking about web2app funnels - the breakthrough strategy maximizing mobile revenue. But building them in-house takes months of development. web2wave eliminates the complexity with their innovative all-in-one platform✅ AI funnel generator✅ powerful drag-and-drop quiz builder✅ streamlined payments✅ comprehensive analytics✅ smart A/B testing✅ and moreLaunch high-performing web2app funnels in days, not months.Visit https://web2wave.com/ to create your web2app funnel for free.*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

According to research from Gartner, buyer uncertainty leads to a 30% reduction in a buyer's ability to make a purchase decision at all. So, how can you create a buying experience that builds confidence, drives engagement, and ultimately improves win rates? Riley Rogers: Hi, and welcome to the Win-Win podcast. I’m your host, Riley Rogers. Join us as we dive into changing trends in the workplace and how to navigate them successfully. Here to discuss this topic is Annabel Hosking, Global Sales Enablement Manager at LexiNexis Risk Solutions. Thank you so much for joining us, Annabel. Just to kick us off, I’d love if you could tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, and your role. Annabel Hosking: Hi everyone. I currently work as a global sales network manager at LexisNexis Risk Solutions within the data services brand, so I’m very fortunate to work across. Four different brands that will work within the data space. And within my role, I lead the sales enablement team. We’re a global team. We’re a small team, small but mighty, and we work across methodology enablement. So all about our sales methodology, how we go to market, how our customers. Experiences. And I also work across all of our onboarding as well as all of our tech stack as well. So my role is really varied. I’m very lucky I get to work with some really great people across the world. And yeah, it was never a dull moment, I’ll say. RR: Isn’t that always the case? Small scrappy teams. Wearing a lot of hats and it’s always exciting. We’re super excited to have you here because I know you have experience spanning a lot of core parts of enablement, so I think there’s a lot to dig into there. Could you walk us through, because I think everybody’s story is different, maybe your professional journey and then how that background led you to enablement, and then how it’s kind of shaped your approach to enablement today. AH: Absolutely. I have what I like to think of as, and it comes from a podcast I’ve been listening to recently, it’s called Squiggly Careers, and I feel like my career was like a very squiggly career of how I ended up in enablement, because I did not at school think, oh, I’m gonna become a. Sales enabler whatsoever. But my background is very much actually in content management and platform management and communication. And how I moved into enablement was I was actually hired in my current company and one of the brands, the beginning of the pandemic. To essentially deliver enablement content. So I worked on delivery of content, content management, delivery of our Highspot system as well. And that was how I started to move into the enablement realm. And I will say it was completely unknown to me originally. I. Wasn’t even clear that I was doing sales enablement per se, but at least a good 18 months in my role here. I thought I was just delivering content and it wasn’t until working with vendors like Highspot where. That term enablement started to come out and it started to change, I suppose, how I delivered my content and it’s really come into its own where now I’m very fortunate where I’m have on my team who does phenomenal content and through my experience. It’s really understanding who my audience is, understanding how they like to consume their enablement, but also how can we consistently stay, um, ahead of what the trends are and how people like to change, how they like to consume, what they’re seeing A meeting was held by our team on Monday with the client team for the Zephyr project to review the status of the forthcoming Q3 launch campaign. The campaign, originally built as a omnichannel activation across CTV, paid social and programmatic display, is now subject to substantial midstream revisions—following newly surfaced client directives. The feedback introduce a material shift in strategic framing under a compressed delivery window. There will be a pivot as Zephyr deprioritizing the performance-tracking narrative to favor of a broader “everyday wellness and inclusivity” story which will require an immidiate reframe of our messaging, architecture and associated visuals. To addressed the revised scope, I've assigned immediate follow-ups actions across the team. Visual art will lead conversations with post-production around stock content intergration. Ad sales will recalibrating the media plan in light of the repositioned messaging and will coordinate with DSPs to avoid penalties related on insertion order delays. Copy desk is to be tasked with stripping all unsubstantiated medical claims from copy, implementing the new CTA and managing a parallel review with legal. We conduct a daily internal stand-up each morning through end of week to identify blockers. The next client check-in is scheduled for July 3rd, where we preview asset revisions and confirm compliance milestones. Final go/no-go is slated for July 7th at 17:00 PDT. We are proceeding with all mitigations in parallel, and escalated any dependency delays as they surface. day to day, because that has vastly changed as well in the last six years. So. Thankfully my background and being adaptable, working globally, working with a lot of different people has really helped shape that. Because you know, I always say if there’s one thing, so my career of, you know, working in content management and working with platforms, working in technology. It has really shaped who I am today because it’s all really embedded in those user Jo Journeys user stories, and that translates into what I hope is a good enablement experience. RR: Well, amazing. I love the phrase squiggly career. I think I am certainly going to have to steal that one, and I think it’s such a good way to describe how so many folks end up at enablement. You start in one place and you bring all of that knowledge that you acquire in that early discipline. Into enablement programming that’s more effective for it. And thinking about, you know, your background in content management and creating content and all of that fun stuff, I’d be curious to know how they kind of come together. So you recently spoke at Spark EA and highlighted the importance of the buying experience, so. What are you seeing as some of those biggest challenges in engaging today’s buyers and how are you addressing them? Maybe through content, maybe through enablement? What does that look like to you? AH: I mean, I think the buying experience today in 2025 is unlike anything we have seen. Ever. It is a completely different world for both salespeople and for buyers as well. And what I’m seeing is, you know, buyers are not only overwhelmed with information, they’re also inundated with it. There is so much content out there for a buyer to consume and not just through their sales individual. This is content that they can easily go and either get themselves or with things like AI and Copilot, they can have. Harness and surface to them. So that makes the role of the seller that much harder because we don’t always know what the buyer is viewing and whether it’s of value to them, and that means that their time, the buyer’s time is so precious. We are seeing that, you know, buyers, and I mentioned this when I was at Spark, there are so many people now involved in the buying decision. We’ve moved, I think it was from about three people a few years ago. We’re now at. Six to 10 people. And if you think about it, those are all new personas that sellers have to understand, have to get to know, potentially map out, connect with. And what’s really unfortunate is we’re also seeing that for a lot of sellers, our buyers are actually taking. Long to make a decision that they kind of get to a point of no decision. We’re at this decision fatigue. We’re a information fatigue, we’re a decision fatigue. And I think on the whole, our buyers are they tired. And I can talk as a buyer, myself as a customer, it’s really exhausting. And so what we try to encourage where I am in data services is sales have to differentiate themselves. If you wanna get in front of buyers nowadays, you have to think what are you bringing to the table that’s different from them? That’s a unique experience, that’s an experience that makes ’em feel important, makes ’em feel, listened to, makes them feel like they really can understand why we are doing business together. And that starts in how we as enablement get that content to our salespeople. If we are not able to identify the value that we are bringing as brands into that conversation, it becomes really hard for sales to know how to articulate that to the buyers as well. And so. As enablement, we are that bridge between the, a lot of other functions and the sales teams and the commercial teams of making sure that value identification is really clear. So by the time it reaches the buyer, they absolutely know why they’re having that conversation. They absolutely know what the value of that conversation is going to be. And that really does start with how are you getting that information into the hands of your salespeople? How are you making that content? Really accessible, really palatable as well. I think traditional enablement, we defer to a lot of very wordy, very long documents, which from experience, no salesperson really wants to read or look at or go through. So just as we’re seeing the buyers experience evolve, the enablement experience has to evolve as well in order to stay ahead of that and to give them the best experience to our salespeople. RR: I think you’re absolutely right on all of that. It is only getting more difficult, and as things change externally, you need to adapt internally. And so kind of thinking about how you’re making that change, and to your point, how you’re distributing materials in a way that is usable and usable for a sales audience that maybe isn’t gonna read 10 pages of written content. What would you say then is kind of the unique value for an enablement platform when it comes to helping sellers? Create and deliver these impactful and differentiated buying experiences that you’re looking for? AH: Oh, huge value, absolutely huge value. The power of enablement comes in the ability to be able to streamline that messaging. But in order to do so, we do need a channel to do that, you know, and that can’t exist. In ad hoc documents that you just hold on someone’s computer. Our journey with Highspot started many, many years ago. I think it was about sort five or six years ago, very early days for Highspot even themselves. And we set out with a mission statement, which was that Highspot would be a single source of truth holding up UpToDate relevant sales content. And I am happy to say that five years later we still maintain that mission statement. The platform has got bigger. There’s more people, there’s more content, as I’m sure you can imagine, but we have stuck to our statement that it is a single source of truth. It is up to date, it is valid information that sales are getting, but that all comes from having a channel with a witch to push that through to the sales audience. It just makes your role as an enabler that much easier, you know, day to day. As you know, we spoke about at the top of the call is no one day looks the same for enablement. It will always be different. There’ll be different priorities. There’ll be different go to market, there’ll be different initiatives. But if you know that at least you have somewhere that you can reliably put information in front of sales and then see how it’s being used, how it’s being impacted, how the seller is using it, how the buyer’s consuming it. Your role as enablement starts to become just a little bit easier. And so I would say for anyone who’s within the enablement sphere and looking at their tech stack, having a solid CMS is really gonna be a, a strong cornerstone of that. RR: I love the perspective on an enablement platform as kind of a source of consistency. Almost everything is changing. Your day in enablement is different. Buyers are behaving differently. Reps need to do different things to engage ’em, but at least you have one place that is reliable. But I will say, I know that. Strong buying experiences aren’t necessarily contingent just on technology. They also require a lot of hard work internally. And as one of the things that you, I’ve seen you mention on LinkedIn is that a core foundation of LexisNexis Risk Solution Services is ensuring that customers really recognize the value that you provide. And that kind of starts internally. With sales and leadership alignment. So I’m curious, how are you aligning those internal stakeholders so that way your teams are set up for success when they’re shaping those buyer experiences externally AH: with immense difficulty, I’ll say, and I think any enabler that sits here and says that it’s an easy job is lying through their team. It is, I think, one of the hardest, the hardest roles. Of enablement is getting everybody aligned, getting everyone to agree, and especially I work, as I say, across a lot of businesses. You know, I have four MDs, I have four heads of sales, I have a lot of sales leadership and a lot of sellers, and I’m sure that’s the case for a lot of people working in large enterprise organizations, stakeholders. Can be difficult to align, especially when you have a lot of different priorities and a lot going on. But what I would say is, is really identify what is the core value that you as a company or you as a business, as a brand can all agree on. Our MD has this thing, he says that all of our kickoffs, which is, you know, value is not on the lips of the seller, but is in the eyes of the customer. And that mission statement as it were. Has sort of brought all the stakeholders together to agree that even if there’s misalignment or disagreement on how we do things, we can all agree that we want to give the best experience for our customer and the best value to our customer. And so for enablement, it’s then saying, okay, so we have this mission statement, we have this belief that we want to be customer centric. We want to be value focused. What does that actually mean? For each internal stakeholder, what’s important for them? What are the metrics that they’re looking at day to day, month to month, quarter to quarter, and how is what we are doing with an enablement? How is it actually starting to impact that? Where is their focus? What are they going after? And the only way you are really gonna get those answers is by talking to your stakeholders. If you’re an enablement and you’re not a people person, it’s probably gonna be quite a tough job because a lot of our job is just talking. It’s talking with people, talking, you know, at people, sometimes listening to people, taking in information. I would say spend time with your stakeholders. You are there to listen first and foremost. You can’t solve every single problem that they come up with, and you shouldn’t try to. But if you can really understand what their world looks like and what’s really important to them, and what are the behaviors, what are the metrics that are gonna move the dial for your stakeholders? You’ll eventually start to map out, which is what we did. But actually a lot of them start to align. And even though they might be saying different things, the reality is that for a lot of sales leadership, they want similar things. You know, they want to have better pipeline hygiene, they wanna have higher wind rate. They wanna see, you know, large opportunity amounts more in the qualifying, the identify stage, that early sales stages, they wanna increase, you know, the ramping of new starters. We start to get these similar uniform metrics and so then we as enablement can start to work that into our strategy. Although we as enablement can really start to build what we are working on to align with our internal stakeholders and start to deliver for them. RR: I really appreciate that you had some really tactical and helpful tips in there, but also that you led with, this is not easy. That’s the big part, is there’s so many kind of lofty initiatives that you are like, how do I even tackle this? And it sounds so overwhelming. So I appreciate the acknowledgement there. Kind of wanna shift gears a little bit maybe towards some of the capabilities that you’re using and finding some success with. So one of the things that we’ve heard is that digital rooms have been a lever for kind of creating those differentiated buying experiences. So what are some of your best practices for creating effective digital rooms and then maybe getting your teams to leverage them. AH: Mm, absolutely. We have a brand who is using digital rooms really fantastically, and they’re teaching our other brands how they’ve used them. So, you know, I, I wholeheartedly agree they can make such a difference in the buying experience and if you’re not using them, you should a hundred percent be looking into where you can use them. So I would say when you are looking to start with a digital room is really understand. Why are you doing this? Like what’s the purpose of actually taking the time and the effort to work probably with your product marketing team or with your marketing teams as a whole to put together something that looks really professional. Looks on brand, but is also really easy for sales to go in and start to customize. I would recommend not having sales do it fully themselves. They have very busy day jobs, and I think if you’re gonna say to any sales person, okay, over to you to go and create this, you might run. Some adoption issues, however, working, you know, this is where your cross-functional working really becomes essential, is working with the individuals who can make good content, who can deliver good, uh, visuals, good framework for the salespeople to literally just be able to, within their sales cycle, adopt this, lift it, and send it to the customer. Because then we start to see, okay, where are we actually starting seeing the customer impact? Has it changed how the customer engages with the content? Are they revisiting? And so what we’ve seen is we’re actually looking at, you know, we see a much higher engagement rate when we have the customers viewing content through a digital room as opposed to simply. Static content, and we can see that obviously with the Highspot metrics, which you know, are a real gold dust when it comes to that. We can also see that, you know, we have repeat visits, so something that we wanted to drive was customers coming back and revisiting the content rather than just clicking in, seeing it once and then never viewing it again, was actually having that revisit of them continually coming back to their individual microsite, if you will. You know, we spoken a lot about a differentiated. Differentiated buying experience. And that can be challenging for salespeople because unless you are fortunate enough to only have you know four or five accounts, the likelihood is your book of business is probably quite vast. And so the expectation that you are consistently offering a differentiated variance for every single customer is just not sustainable. And so using these digital rooms, you are able to. Have, you know, a differentiated experience that is scalable. That it makes a buyer feel like it’s a really individualized experience when the reality is for sales, it’s probably quite an easy thing for them to put together, but it does take some uplift front end with your other teams and your cross departmental functions. RR: Yeah. I wanna double click it as something you said there, which was, if you’re asking reps to build it themselves, you’re probably not gonna see much in the way of adoption. I, I kind of wanna. Speak about that idea of what you can do to drive adoption more broadly. Because looking at the data, you’ve achieved a really impressive 82% recurring usage rate in Highspot. So in addition to that kind of approach to digital rooms, how are you driving adoption more broadly across your revenue teams, whether that’s internal reps, partners, whomever, what are you thinking about that’s helping you? Get people in the platform and keep them there. AH: Yeah. That’s been, you know, a metric we’re very proud of. And it’s been something where, you know, going back to what I said earlier, which is Highspot was set out to be the single source of truth. As soon as we turned on Highspot, for lack of a better word, we pretty much turned off every single other site. So there was nowhere else. For sales to go to get this information apart from this one platform. And I’ve seen this done various ways. I’ve seen people where they have, you know, duplicates and, oh, we’re doing a slow migration. We’re gonna keep SharePoint for a while, and then we’ll have Highspot as well. And you know, there’s no right answer to this, but ultimately, if you are looking to put out a message that this is your single source of truth, this is where you need to go to speak to sales. Our adoption has come because we really drove that and we continue to drive that. If you want content in front of sales, if you want success stories in front of sales, whatever it might be, it has to live in Highspot because there just simply isn’t anywhere else to go. And this is for a couple of reasons. The main one being that, you know, the actual management of the content is far easier. And if you think about the trickle down effect, the user needs the best experience possible. And so if they have all of this disjointed experience of going to multiple places to find multiple pieces of content that look different, that sound different, they’re not getting the best experience and they’re probably not gonna come back to Highspot. So for us, it’s really making sure I’m maintaining. The consistency in the user experience, and that comes from feedback as well. So we will regularly have feedback forums with our salespeople, with our sales leadership, and we’re very open within our team to hearing, listen, this is actually getting quite complicated to navigate. I dunno how to find content. And so then we as a team, as an enablement team, go, okay, what do we need to do to make it easier? How do we start to surface more content directly in front of our users? Because if they’re not having a good experience, then we are not doing our role as enablement. And you know, you don’t have to, if you do have a large sales team, you don’t have to have that verbatim feedback. You can use things like the search reports in Highspot to see, you know, what are people searching, what are the terms they’re looking for and the pieces of content, how can you start to surface that in front of them in a much easier way? Putting it on the homepage, putting it into their specific areas, really thinking about how you. Manage, maintain and govern that content to give your users a really solid experience. And that’s what we’ve done and it’s reflected, as I say, in the adoption and in the revisit rates as well. RR: I really like that you called out that search results report because I think that’s such a great way to kind of get a pulse on your people without having to go dig around and have a bunch of conversations. So thinking in addition to that, how do you leverage data and insights in the platform to help you inform and improve the programs you’re leading? AH: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, I have actually had to learn to, I suppose, step away from data slightly. Um, so that’s been feedback I’ve had as I’ve moved more into a, I suppose a leadership role is actually the data can’t always tell the whole story, although my heart and enablement goes, yes, it can, it can. But yeah, the. The, the scorecards that we have in high spots. So really for us, you know, looking at things like that play scorecard, we deliver a lot of sales plays. They’re the best way to get our enablement in front of people. They’re enjoyed and they’re liked by sales. But I can see very clearly what is the percentage of my audience that is viewing this play? How long are they spending? You know, what are the outcomes of the, you know, the business impact? At what point in the sales cycle as well? If there’s external content in there, for example, the marketing collateral, are they deploying this collateral and is it actually having any impact on the customer? Those sorts of insights. You just do not get anywhere else within any other content platform that we have. And so when it’s come to say, onboarding our marketing team or our product team into contributing content, being able to give them this insight helps them understand that the work they’re doing on building the content, maintaining the content is actually worth something because we can directly see the correlation with business outcome, which has always been one of our biggest challenges. Beyond that, our company does a lot with actually pulling the data out of Highspot. So we make use of the Highspot data lake, and we’ve actually pulled that into our own BI platform where we’ve started to look at things around, you know, how many channels and how much activity per opportunity are we seeing within sales. Something at the moment that we’d really drive on. Going back to that differentiated experience for the buyer is looking at a multi-channel approach when it comes to how we prospect and how we outreach. And that really started from using information that came from Highspot, looking at information that comes from Salesforce and going, okay, how many channels do people currently use when they’re outreaching? We’re only maybe seeing a couple, you know, one or two channels. But we know in today’s buying world that it’s gonna take between six to eight. Channels to get through to a buyer and to actually have a meeting. So what can we do to start to move the dial and start to build our programs across driving that? And so that’s how we use data and enablement is actually saying, what are we seeing today? What are the outcomes we want to see in the next quarter? What do we need to do in order to get there? There’s always a lot of talk on LinkedIn. I always see it about, you know, you need to be data driven and enablement. If you’re not offering insight, if you’re not offering analytics, you’re not doing your job. And that can be kind of hard to hear when actually, I think there’s almost too much data sometimes, and it can be quite complicated to understand. And this is why I, I personally really like how it is viewed in Highspot because the scorecards make it very accessible, very easy to consume, but also it doesn’t matter whether you’re an enabler, a seller, or a senior leader, you can be presented a scorecard and you can very quickly see what you need to get out of that and what your conclusions you’re drawing from it. RR: Yeah, I think it’s that. The difficulty of democratizing data into meaningful, actionable insights is sometimes impossible. You have so much at your disposal, and so making it useful is sometimes a challenge, so I love hearing that. You’re finding a way to use it well and inform your programs well. So we’ve heard a little bit about engaging buyers driving adoption. Tracking your impact and seeing how it’s kind of helping you do the things that you need to. So just one last question for you to close this out. For other enablement leaders looking to improve the buyer experience in today’s very digital first world, what is the biggest advice you would give ’em? AH: Oh, that’s a great question. I would say if you are in a position where you’re fortunate enough to be the buyer, think about how you want to experience that life cycle. You know, as someone who is a buyer day to day, as well as an enabler. You know, I always ask myself through, when we do our methodology onboarding, I will go and speak to the sales people about actually what it’s like from a buyer’s experience today, and that really helps. Give them that insight into what is sometimes a little bit of an elusive world that we know the buyer’s world, the buyer’s experience. So I would say for other enablers is how do you like to speak to your vendors? How often you know, what makes them stand out? What makes them noisy in your inbox, you know? When do you get those emails or outreach that you think, wow, I really wanna continue a conversation with that person. What did that person do? How can you bring that into your go to market? How can you bring that into your sales team if you’re an enabler who is perhaps not in the buying cycle? I would say. Spend time with your salespeople, really understanding the customer experience, and there are many ways that we can do this. Nowadays with technology, obviously everybody’s got call recording software, so we have a lot of our sales calls recorded. If you as an enabler are not digging in and really understanding what’s happening in those customer conversations, it’s going to be harder for yourself to be able to really get into the world of salespeople. So I would say, you know, you really need to experience. What the customer is going through. And that can be simply by having a look at those calls. Where were they successful? Where was there a positive outcome? Where did the buyer enjoy it? But then also where did the buyer sometimes mention things that were pains to them or where they would like to see improvements? What were the questions? That is where we really need our enablers to be on the front foot of really digging into the customer experience and almost spend as much time as you know with your customers, as you do with your salespeople, to really get that insight. RR: I think that’s fantastic advice to close on, is to put yourself in the buyer’s shoes, understand what they’re going through, and know for yourself what good looks like to you and drive that in your own business. So thank you again, Anabel. This has been a wonderful conversation full of all sorts of good insights that I really can’t wait to share with our community. I appreciate you joining us so much. AH: Thank you so much. Thank you so much for having me as well. Fantastic questions. RR: Amazing. Well, to our listeners, thank you for listening to this episode of the Win-Win podcast. Be sure to tune in next time for more insights on how you can maximize enablement successful Highspot.

Amazon and Netflix have joined forces with a deal that will soon see Amazon DSP granted access to Netflix's premium ad inventory, expanding the pool of audiences available to Amazon Ads's clients.On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, host Joe is joined my PMW's Editor, Robin Langford, and News Reporter, Reem Makari, to unpack exactly what this partnership means for the industry. From how it impacts competing DSPs and the broader open web, to what changes it will prompt among advertisers and consumers.This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.~ Episode breakdown ~ Who wins and loses from Netflix and Amazon's partnership? (0:59)How will this partnership impact consumers? (14:16)~ Further reading ~ ‘A win-win for advertisers, Netflix and Amazon': Industry reacts to Amazon Ads' partnership with NetflixAmazon Ads and Netflix team up for programmatic buying on ad-tier audience Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the latest episode of The Big Impression, Nestlé's Antonia Farquhar talks about striking unexpected partnerships, like KitKat with Formula One, to keep the 90-year-old chocolate brand fresh. It's part of a larger strategy to connect with new audiences through live cultural moments.  Episode TranscriptPlease note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio.Damian Fowler (00:00):I'm Damian Fowler.Ilyse Liffreing (00:01):And I'm Ilyse Liffreing.Damian Fowler (00:02):And welcome to this edition of The Big Impression.Ilyse Liffreing (00:09):Today we're spotlighting one of the most ambitious shifts happening in brand marketing, Nestle's global push to redefine performance in a world where reach, relevance and streaming. Now go hand in hand.Damian Fowler (00:21):Our guest is Antonia Farquhar, global head of Media and partnerships at Nestle. Antonia has been at the forefront of Nestle's pivot towards connected TV and long-term brand building across categories, continents, and campaigns.Ilyse Liffreing (00:35):From Formula One to Gen Z coffee drinkers, she's helping Nestle rethink what media performance really means in a CTV first world and how brands can use new tools and data to close the loop between awareness and action.Damian Fowler (00:50):Let's get into it.Ilyse Liffreing (00:52):Antonia. So I understand that you guys are sponsoring Kit Kat's Formula One. I'm very curious to learn more about that.Antonia Farquhar (01:03):Yeah, one of the reasons that the Kit Kat team put that sponsorship together was to really, they've got an existing brand strategy, have a break, have a Kit Kat, right?Damian Fowler (01:14):Everybody loves that.Antonia Farquhar (01:14):Which is decades and decades old. I think it's way over 75 years old, that consistency of brand message is there and it's really part of the foundations of that brand. But the break is more important than ever in a busy world that we all live in today. And so it was really putting the brand at the heart of also everybody needs a break. How can we capitalize on that? And F1 has gone from being very much, I think known as a petrol head sports, to really bringing in different audiences, so younger, more diverse across the genders and it's global and Kit Kat is a major global brand of ours. So it was an excellent opportunity to really bring together the brand and I guess wouldn't have been an expected place. And then to capitalize on that, on giving people a better break as well.Ilyse Liffreing (02:08):Can you give me a little bit of background about why sports and why Formula One?Antonia Farquhar (02:15):I think for me, sports is one of the last truly appointment of view. Live viewing. You do not want to miss the race. You do not want to miss the final, you do not. There's so many of those moments now where it is also, people are talking about it, who won, how's the lineup, where is it? Et cetera. So it's part of cultural conversations and really the opportunity for our brands is to connect into what's happening, making sure we are injecting our brands with freshness and bringing in that new conversations. And I think sponsorship like the F1, and we also did Coffee Mate and the Super Bowl early this year, again, to really capitalize on where's the real excitement happening and how do we inject our brands in a distinct way. Obviously being true to their brand codes to new and different audiences,Damian Fowler (03:13):A thought a 30,000 foot view, you look across the landscaping like, well, these are the moments where we need to show upAntonia Farquhar (03:20):For sure. I mean, one of the role within the team is to really inspire and provoke and drive that distinctiveness for our brands. We are privileged to have a lot of huge global brands, but we're also over 150 years old as a company. So it's how do you inject that freshness? How do you stand out in a increasingly fragmented media landscape? So I think this is where we want brands to really lean in and as I said, it is holding on what is your brand territory? Where is that strategic foundations that hold true and need to be consistent, but how do you punch and become a little bit more maybe unexpected? Unexpected places is clearly one of the themes that I'm seeing in the industry lately that it drives that attention.Damian Fowler (04:20):When you talk about unexpected places. Could you say a bit more about that?Antonia Farquhar (04:26):I mean, we all know we are living in a very attention. Yeah, the second you wake up the phones, the amount of apps on your phones, it's increasingly hard and I think it'll continue to get harder to really drive connectivity to brands with people. And so I think doing something a little bit different and perhaps wouldn't, it's not predictable for that brand to be in that particular place or speaking in a different environment. I think that's an opportunity going forward. And I think when you look at a lot of the award-winning work globally this year, that's one theme that I really see coming through and I kind of love it. It's bringing a bit of fresh, it's bringing an edge, and I think it's pushing people and brand experiences to a different level to where they were before. SoIlyse Liffreing (05:18):Yeah,Antonia Farquhar (05:19):I'm enjoyingIlyse Liffreing (05:19):It and it's fun.Antonia Farquhar (05:20):Exactly. It's fun. And I feel like it's almost, there's different areas where different brands have different tone of voice, and so it's working out really what is that? And then perhaps tapping into a community really engaged in a particular community and how can you link your brand and derive some insights from that behavior to speak in that way.Ilyse Liffreing (05:45):Certainly. Now, I know you were talking about using sports to tap into that audience around appointment tv. Are there other channels that you guys are particularly leaned into at this time? Are there ones that you're experimenting with? How is that going?Antonia Farquhar (06:03):Yeah, so I think the more you know about marketing science, and I'm quite a nerd when it comes to marketing science, but the more channels you are in, the higher your effectiveness of course. So again, it's about how do we do fewer, bigger, better campaigns.(06:21):And media activations to really get that consistent cut through. But in terms of channels, when you look at where the growth is at the moment, retail, digital media is growing at an increasingly fast rate year on year. But connected TV is another one that I am really excited to discover the future of that particular medium. I mean, even in the last few years, the amount of ads that we serve on connected TV devices is more than doubled. The adoption rate is huge and it's from where you'd expect the more advanced markets where most of the streaming services for the US and the uk, but also in markets like India, the Philippines, Australia, the viewing habits are really shifting. I think COVID drove that acceleration and we all spent a lot more time at home and people probably spent money on better TVs because there wasn't as much to do outside. And so yeah, that's one I'm excited about.Ilyse Liffreing (07:29):And I would imagine for a brand like Nestle that the intersection of CTV and retail media and e-commerce is really exciting now that you can practically shop through your TV too.Antonia Farquhar (07:43):Yes. Yeah, it is. I think it's a great opportunity. I love the fact that that medium is back in the living room but advanced and it's now how do you make sure you are able to do a brand building experience and build an emotional connection, but also give people the prompt to buy perhaps through a QR code or through the retailer websites. And obviously the audiences piece is super attractive as well when you're really trying to nudge people to close the sale. So yeah, I think it's very exciting. It's amazing.Damian Fowler (08:23):I was interested in what you said just then about fewer, bigger, better, which is easy to say, but perhaps not easy to execute. What kind of mindset shifts were needed to get your teams to rally behind that concept and how does it kind of show up?Antonia Farquhar (08:41):Yeah, fewer, bigger, better is a phrase I feel like I say every single day in the office. We started on a journey a few years ago and it's all about the focus. So focusing on the brands, ensuring they're well fed with the right amount of investment because we know that's one of the key factors of marketing effectiveness. But so from where do we invest, how many briefs, et cetera, but actually also through to our agency partners as well. So we've done a big transformation across lots of parts of the globe to really consolidate our agency model, which has been a mindset shift to your point around if we scale and standardize, then we free up more time and brainpower to really create outstanding media activations and planning. And so we are in the transformation area of that at the moment. But yeah, it's bringing a lot of great benefits, good talent, better work, and a more we can scale faster. We are a huge organization. We operate in 188 markets, and so therefore scaling information and driving that best practice is going to go so much faster through the consolidation.Ilyse Liffreing (10:13):When it comes to CTV, are there specific brands that Nestle owns that kind of fit that target audience a little better?Antonia Farquhar (10:24):I think it's a great question. I think it fits a lot of our brands, but to your point, it depends on where that behavior is happening. Often it can be younger audiences, but we are seeing it growing to really, really broad audiences as well. And especially the move we've had in the industry from really subscription to the ad model piece allows that larger access as well. What I also am interested in this space is the type of content as well. So there's obviously a huge diversity in terms of super high production and Netflix style content all the way through to the UGC or that type of content as well. So again, going back to the point earlier about different audiences and their interests, to me that brings a really thoughtful opportunity about are there different types of content that makes sense for different brands, to your point, versus doing a one size fits all. So I think that's super interesting as we see the, well, the more and more content that comes out and the consumption increase as well.Damian Fowler (11:37):And what's also interesting I guess, is the global differences. I mean, I know the APAC market is very mobile first and different markets, more mature markets like the US CTV is strong. I wonder from your perspective, where do you see the big growth opportunities around the world from a media perspective?Antonia Farquhar (12:02):Like you say in Asia, we see huge growth of shopping online. It's seamless and you can really go from discovering a product to buying it within 10 seconds. And so that is challenging some of the norms about the amount of time but that people need. So yeah, again, it depends on the category and the purchase cycle there, but I think that's a great opportunity. Things like WhatsApp I think will be increasingly utilized by brands as a way, a more seamless way of connecting with shoppers as well. But I think social retail media and connected TV are the three areas that we really focus on, but then the important ask within that is how do we do it in a way that is quality, culturally relevant with the right context, so we are able to cut through in an effective way.Damian Fowler (13:07):So you're working closely with different agencies in each of those distinct markets.Antonia Farquhar (13:12):Yeah, exactly. To find the right opportunity and what are the local opportunities there too. AreDamian Fowler (13:20):There any surprises from your point of view? And I just want to say I grew up in York and it was the home of Roundtree Macintosh, which where Kit Kat started. And then over the years we've seen Kit Kat show up in different places, like in Japan, I think there's a version with green tea or green. So that's an interesting kind of wayIlyse Liffreing (13:41):A lot to collect them from around the world.Damian Fowler (13:43):And I think it is remarkable how the brand sort of KitKat brand has scaled across the world, but it's still kind true to that chocolate bar that I knew in York when I used to wake up. You could smell the cocoa. So are you kind of thinking about things like that?Antonia Farquhar (14:02):I think for me and with the brand team, it's about staying true to those foundations. Have a break, have a kick at, and that core bar that you grew up smelling,(14:16):But how can you flex into those local regions and opportunities, flavors tastes? And I think that's exciting opportunity. And obviously Japan, in fact, yesterday someone was saying about how they flew to Japan to buy the different types of KitKats. Clearly a lot of people get excited about that, but we also have factories all over the world. So it allows us to diversify and able to deliver to some of the nature, some of the local taste preferences. But for me it's about staying core to that brand really, because the foundation behind the piece. But yeah, you can also have fun with it with different flavor rotations too. Yeah.Ilyse Liffreing (15:04):Is there any advice that you would give marketers looking to make the same shift as you guys are doing from short term return on investment to long-term brand building?Damian Fowler (15:16):Fewer, bigger, better, right? Fewer, bigger better. Is that what you say?Antonia Farquhar (15:19):A rally cry. I'm going to have it on a T-shirt. Exactly. But no, you should sell those too. Exactly. So I think it's about focus, right? And it's about really focusing on where are the areas of the greatest opportunity. I'm also a big believer in having data points at hand. So whenever we are challenged around some of the decisions that we are aiming to drive across the business, having that the audience has actually grown by 50, 60, 70 or whatever percent, and it's no longer just teams, it's a very broad audience and our products are super broad and it allows us to connect with people daily, weekly. Again, it's that consistent piece that I think is really attractive there.Damian Fowler (16:12):What are you obsessed with figuring out right now?Antonia Farquhar (16:16):So many, many things at the moment. I just thinking about the conversation that we were having about quality of media and connected tv, I would love more understanding on the impact of ad loads. As I said, it does vary hugely across the different providers from six minutes an hour to, I dunno, probably 35 minutes an hour. And again, I'm a big believer and you get what you pay for. So if it is a higher cost, then the effectiveness is hopefully and likely higher. But again, proving the house I think would be really interesting as well and what effect, what it has on the effectiveness of that.Ilyse Liffreing (16:59):Yeah. So what would you say is missing from the CTV marketplace as it stands today?Antonia Farquhar (17:04):I would love more unification to manage, this is a very technical media answer, but to manage reach and frequency more consistently. I think that's been a bit of a downfall of the growth of things like BVO and CTV was that ability to effectively manage and not feel like you're wasting or annoying people with too many ads. So the unification of that across many devices would be my dream to be able to do. And it was never possible to unlock on linear TV for very obvious reasons, but as we are in a much more digitized world, it does feel possible. I'm not sure we'll get there. But yeah, any unification that a lot of the DSPs offer to me, they're incredibly valuable to ensure we're being more efficient and effective with our investment.Ilyse Liffreing (17:59):Very cool. Now I actually do have a follow up to what you said before about effective reach and cost. Do you feel like there, do you feel like most marketers still have the mindset that they want to buy in at the cheapest they can, no matter the effectiveness?Antonia Farquhar (18:21):Or is that changing? Do you think it's changing? I think it is changing. I do. I'm a believer that the more great effective research and the more case studies and that sort of part you read, it's not about that to me. These are soft metrics in terms of did the campaign deliver what you signed for on your media plan? But really we are here to drive business and brands and whether it's cross between equity and sales and category growth. So to me, you have to come back to, is it driving business results, making sure you're able to measure and manage those effectively because yeah, if you can't measure it, you can't manage it and you can't go back and say, well, we reached this many people, but did they convert? Did they do anything? Did they feel differently about your brands? These are the questions I'm really interested to answer.Damian Fowler (19:15):I guess final question, what's one of your favorite Nestle ad campaigns? Past or present?Antonia Farquhar (19:21):This is a tough question to answer because as my role is global, the brands are equal. I have to say some of my favorite, or I think it's timeless, is the George Clooney and espresso pieces as well. The art direction there I always think is beautiful. And I'm a big Nespresso fan, I have to say from a personal perspective. And also in Australia and New Zealand and Asia, there's a brand called Milo, and that is all about sport being a great way of bringing together people to learn and play and have fun. And they've done some fantastic ads throughout the time, really showing that resilience and the grit as well that it comes to what sport can teach you to do. So that's some of my favorite ads that we've done.Damian Fowler (20:29):And that's it for this edition of The Big Impression.Ilyse Liffreing (20:31):This show is produced by Molten Hart. Our theme is by love and caliber, and our associate producer isAntonia Farquhar (20:37):Sydney Cairns.Damian Fowler (20:38):And remember,Antonia Farquhar (20:39):Yeah, fewer, bigger, better is a phrase I feel like I say every single day.Damian Fowler (20:43):I'm DamianAntonia Farquhar (20:44):And I'm Ilyse,Damian Fowler (20:45):And we'll see you next time.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the Marketecture Podcast, hosts Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi engage with Art Muldoon, Co-Founder of ArcSpan, to discuss the changing landscape of publisher data in ad tech. They explore topics such as leveraging AI to scale first-party data, the evolving future of the open web, and the intricacies of curation and transaction IDs (TIDs), emphasizing how publishers can regain control and succeed in a dynamic environment. The latter part of the episode covers industry updates, including mergers and acquisitions, shifts in DSPs, AI-driven creative tools, legal challenges facing Google, and the completion of the TikTok US deal. Takeaways ArcSpan helps publishers unify data and scale audiences. Publishers should expand beyond logged-in users using AI and surveys. Third-party validation boosts buy-side confidence. The open web is evolving, not dying. Curation can be a revenue opportunity if it is transparent. TIDs raise questions about fairness. M&A shows AI merging with media solutions. DSP competition is intensifying. Agencies are shifting towards AI workflows. Legal pressures on Google are increasing. Chapters00:00 - Ari and Eric introduce Art Muldoon from ArcSpan.02:00 - Explanation of Aggregate, Amplify, Activate.06:30 - Strategies for making 100% of audiences addressable.09:30 - Market caution and publisher pain points discussed.12:00 - How ArcSpan builds confidence on the buy-side.15:00 - Is it an opportunity or are margins being siphoned?17:00 - Comparing gaming, news, and sports publishers.19:00 - Reformulation, AI's role, and the future of publishing.21:00 - TIDs, Prebid, and the risks of arbitrage.25:00 - Partnerships: Rembrandt + Spaceback, Verve + Captify.30:00 - Amazon's GenAI tools and Yahoo's discount strategy vs. TTD.35:00 - Agency transformation insights.38:00 - Privacy remedies and lawsuits involving Magnite & Pubmatic.42:00 - Discussion on a US-led governance framework.45:00 - Reflections and a preview of next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of Talks with Trivium, we honor our Direct Support Professionals who are the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to support our clients. You'll hear heartfelt messages of appreciation from leaders, supervisors, clients, and fellow DSPs, each sharing a few words to recognize the compassion, commitment, and hard work of those who make the biggest difference in our client'slives. Join us in celebrating the everyday heroes who are the heart of our organization.

In this episode, Emma and Patrick break down Walmart ending its exclusive partnership with The Trade Desk and explore what that means for DSPs and advertisers. Next, they tackle the end of the de minimis tax exemption, unpacking the impact for global marketplaces, sellers, and small businesses. Finally, they debate whether agentic AI is truly the future of commerce or just the latest tech mirage.

Cookies are out, context is in. People Inc.'s Jonathan Roberts joins The Big Impression to talk about how America's biggest publisher is using AI to reinvent contextual advertising with real-time intent.From Game of Thrones maps to the open web, Roberts believes content is king in the AI economy. Episode TranscriptPlease note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio.Damian Fowler (00:00):I'm Damian Fowler, and welcome to this edition of The Big Impression. Today we're looking at how publishers are using AI to reinvent contextual advertising and why it's becoming an important and powerful alternative to identity-based targeting. My guest is Jonathan Roberts, chief Innovation Officer at People Inc. America's largest publisher, formerly known as Meredith. He's leading the charge with decipher an AI platform that helps advertisers reach audiences based on real time intent across all of People Inc. Site and the Open Web. We're going to break down how it works, what it means for advertisers in a privacy first world and why Jonathan's side hustle. Creating maps for Game of Thrones has something for teachers about building smarter ad tech. So let's get into it. One note, this episode was recorded before the company changed its name. After the Meredith merger, you had some challenges getting the business going again. What made you realize that sort of rethinking targeting with decipher could be the way to go?Jonathan Roberts (01:17):We had a really strong belief and always have had a strong belief in the power of great content and also great content that helps people do things. Notably and Meredith are both in the olden times, you would call them service journalism. They help people do things, they inspire people. It's not news, it's not sports. If you go to Better Homes and Gardens to understand how to refresh your living room for spring, you're going to go into purchase a lot of stuff for your living room. If you're planting seeds for a great garden, you're also going to buy garden furniture. If you're going to health.com, you're there because you're managing a condition. If you're going to all recipes, you're shopping for dinner. These are all places where the publisher and the content is a critical path on the purchase to doing something like an economically valuable something. And so putting these two businesses together to build the largest publisher in the US and one of the largest in the world was a real privilege. All combinations are hard. When we acquired Meredith, it is a big, big business. We became the largest print publisher overnight.(02:23):What we see now, because we've been growing strongly for many, many quarters, and that growth is continuing, we're public. You can see our numbers, the performance is there, the premium is there, and you can always sell anything once. The trick is will people renew when they come back? And now we're in a world where our advertising revenue, which is the majority of our digital revenue, is stable and growing, deeply reliable and just really large. And we underpin that with decipher. Decipher simply is a belief that what you're reading right now tells a lot more about who you are and what you are going to do than a cookie signal, which is two days late and not relevant. What you did yesterday is less relevant to what you need to do than what you're doing right now. And so using content as a real time predictive signal is very, very performant. It's a hundred percent addressable, right? Everyone's reading content when we target to, they're on our content and we guaranteed it would outperform cookies, and we run a huge amount of ad revenue and we've never had to pay it in a guarantee.Damian Fowler (03:34):It's interesting that you're talking about contextual, but you're talking about contextual in real time, which seems to be the difference. I mean, because some people hear contextually, they go, oh, well, that's what you used to do, place an ad next to a piece of content in the garden supplement or the lifestyle supplement, but this is different.Jonathan Roberts (03:53):Yes. Yeah. I mean, ensemble say it's 2001 called and once it's at Targeting strategy back, but all things are new again, and I think they're newly fresh and newly relevant, newly accurate because it can do things now that we were never able to do before. So one of the huge strengths of Meredith as a platform is because we own People magazine, we dominate entertainment, we have better homes and gardens and spruce, we really cover home. We have all recipes. We literally have all the recipes plus cereal, seeds plus food and wine. So we cover food. We also do tech, travel, finance and health, and you could run those as a hazard brands, and they're all great in their own, but there's no network effect. What we discovered was because I know we have a pet site and we also have real simple, and we know that if you are getting a puppy or you have an aging dog, which we know from the pet site, we know you massively over index for interest in cleaning products and cleaning ideas on real simple, right?Damian Fowler (04:55):Yeah.Jonathan Roberts (04:55):This doesn't seem like a shocking conclusion to have, but the fact that we have both tells us both, which also means that if you take a health site where we're helping people with their chronic conditions, we can see all the signals of exactly what help you need with your diet. Huge overlaps. So we have all the recipe content and we know exactly how that cross correlates with chronic conditions. We also know how those health conditions correlate into skincare because we have Brody, which deals with makeup and beauty, but also all the skincare conditions and finance, right? Health is a financial situation as much as it is a health situation, particularly in the us. And so by tying these together, because most of these situations are whole lifestyle questions, we can understand that if you're thinking about planning a cruise in the Mediterranean, you're a good target for Vanguard to market mutual funds to. Whereas if we didn't have both investipedia and travel leisure, we couldn't do that. And so there's nothing on that cruise page, on the page in the words that allows you to do keyword targeting for mutual funds.(05:55):But we're using the fact that we know that cruise is a predictor of a mutual fund purchase so that we can actually market to anyone in market per cruise. We know they've got disposable income, they're likely low risk, long-term buy andhold investors with value investing needs. And we know that because we have these assets now, we have about 1500 different topics that we track across all of DDM across 1.5 million articles, tens of millions of visits a day, billions a year. If you just look at the possible correlations between any of those taxonomies that's over a million, or if we go a level deeper, over a hundred million connected data points, you can score. We've scored all of them with billions of visits, and so we have that full map of all consumers.Damian Fowler (06:42):I wanted to ask you, of course, and you always get this question I'm sure, but you have a pretty unusual background for ad tech theoretical physics as you mentioned, and researcher at CERN and Mapmaker as well for Game of Thrones, but this isn't standard publisher experience, but how did all that scientific background play into the way you approached building this innovation?Jonathan Roberts (07:03):Yeah, I think when I first joined the company, which was a long time ago now, and one of the original bits of this company was about.com, one of the internet oh 0.1 OG sites, and there was daily data on human interest going back to January 1st, 2000 across over a thousand different topics. And in that case, tens of millions of articles. And the team said, is this useful? Is there anything here that's interesting? I was like, oh my god, you don't know what you've got because if you treat as a physicist coming in, I looked at this and was like, this is a, it's like a telescope recording all of human interest. Each piece of content is like a single pixel of your telescope. And so if somebody comes and visit, you're like, oh, I'm recording the interest of this person in this topic, and you've got this incredibly fine grained understanding of the world because you've got all these people coming to us telling us what they want every day.(08:05):If I'm a classic news publisher, I look at my data and I find out what headlines I broke, I look at my data and I learn more about my own editorial strategy than I do about the world. We do not as much tell the world what to think about. The world tells us what they care about. And so that if you treat that as just a pure experimental framework where this incredible lens into an understanding of the world, lots of things are very stable. Many questions that people ask, they always ask, but you understand why do they ask them today? What's causing the to what are the correlations between what they are understanding around our finance business through the financial crash, our health business, I ran directly through COVID. So you see this kind of real time change of the world reacting to big shocks and it allows you to predict what comes next, right? Data's lovely, but unless you can do something with it, it's useless.Damian Fowler (08:59):It's interesting to hear you talk about that consistency, the sort of predictability in some ways of, I guess intense signals or should we just say human behavior, but now we've got AI further, deeper into the mix.Jonathan Roberts (09:13):So we were the first US publisher to do a deal with open ai, and that comes in three parts. They paid for training on our content. They also agreed within the contract to source and cite our content when it was used. And the third part, the particularly interesting part, is co-development of new things. So we've been involved with them as they've been building out their search product. They've been involved with us as we've been evolving decipher, one of the pieces of decipher is saying, can I understand which content is related to which other content? And in old fashioned pre AI days when it was just machine learning and natural language processing, you would just look at words and word occurrence and important words, and you'd correlate them that way. With ai, you go from the word to the concept to the reasoning behind it to a latent understanding of these kind of deeper, deeper connections.(10:09):And so when we changed over literally like, is this content related to that content? Is this article similar in what it's treating to that article? If they didn't use the same words but they were talking about the same topic, the previous system would've missed it. This system gets deeper. It's like, oh, this is the same concept. This is the same user need. These are the same intentions. And so when we overhauled this kind of multimillion point to point connection calculation, we drastically changed about 30% of those connections and significantly improved them, gives a much reacher, much deeper understanding of our content. What we've also done is said, and this is a year thing that we launched it at the beginning of the year, we have decipher, which runs on site. We launched Decipher Plus Inventively named right? I like it. We debated Max or Max Plus, but we went with Plus.(10:59):And what this says is we understand the user intent on our sites. We know when somebody's reading content, we have a very strong predictor model of what that person's going to need to do next. And we said, well, we're not the only people with intent driven content and intent driven audiences. So we know that if you're reading about newborn health topics, you are three and a half times more likely than average to be in market for a stroller. We're not the only people that write about newborn health. So we can find the individual pages on the rest of the web that do talk about newborn health, and we can unlock that very strong prediction that this purchase intent there. And so then we can have a premium service that buy those ads and delivers that value to our clients. Now we do that mapping and we've indexed hundreds of premium domains with opening eyes vector, embedding architecture to build that logic.Damian Fowler (11:56):That's fascinating. So in lots of ways, you're helping other publishers beyond your owned and operated properties.Jonathan Roberts (12:02):We believed that there was a premium in publishing that hadn't been tapped. We proved that to be true. Our numbers support it. We bet 2.7 billion on that bet, and it worked. So we really put our money where our mouth is. We know there's a premium outside of our walls that isn't being unlocked, and we have an information advantage so we can bring more premium to the publishers who have that quality content.Damian Fowler (12:24):I've got lots of questions about that, but one of them is, alright. I guess the first one is why have publishers been so slow out of the starting blocks to get this right when on the media buying side you have all of this ad tech that's going on, DSPs, et cetera.Jonathan Roberts (12:42):I think partly it's because publishers have always been a participant in the ad tech market off to one side. I put this back to the original sin of Ad Tech, which is coming in and saying, don't worry about it, publishers, we know your audience better than you ever will. That wasn't true then, and it's not true today, but Ad Tech pivoted the market to that position and that meant the publishers were dependent upon ad Tech's understanding of their audience. Now, if you've got a cookie-based understanding of an audience, how does a publisher make that cookie-based audience more valuable? Well, they don't because you're valuing the cookie, not the real time signal. And there is no such thing as cookie targeting. It's all retargeting. All the cookie signal is yesterday Signal. It's only what they did before they came to your site, dead star like or something, right? The publisher definitionally isn't influencing the value of that cookie. So an ad tech is valuing the cookie. The only thing the publisher can do to make more money is add scale, which is either generate clickbait because that's the cheapest way to get audience scale or run more ads on the page.(13:57):Cookies as a currency for advertising and targeting is the reason we currently have the internet We deserve, not the internet we want because the incentive is to cheap scale. If instead you can prove that the content is driving the value, the content is driving the decision and the content is driving the outcome, then you invest in more premium content. If you're a publisher, the second world is the one you want. But we had a 20 year distraction from understanding the value of content. And we're only now coming back to, I think one thing I'm very really happy to see is since we launched a cipher two years ago, there are now multiple publishers coming out with similarly inspired targeting architecture or ideas about how to reach quality, which is just a sign that the market has moved, right? Or the market moving and retargeting still works. Cookies are good currency, they do drive performance. If they didn't, it would never worked in the first place. But the ability to understand and classify premium content at web scale, which is what decipher Plus is a map for all intent across the entire open web is the thing that's required for quality content to be competitive with cookies as targeting mechanism and to beat it atDamian Fowler (15:15):Scale. You mentioned how this helps you reach all these third party sites beyond your properties. How do you ensure that there's still quality in the, there's quality content that match the kind of signals that makes decipher work?Jonathan Roberts (15:32):Tell me, not all content on the internet is beautiful, clean and wonderful. Not allDamian Fowler (15:36):Premium is it?Jonathan Roberts (15:36):I know there's a lot of made for arbitrage out there. Look, we, we've been a publisher for a long time. We've acquired a lot of publishers over the years, and every time we have bought a publisher, we have had to clean up the content because cheap content for scale is a siren call of publishing. Like, oh, I can get these eyeballs cheaper. Oh, wonderful. I know I just do that. And everyone gives it on some level to that, right? So we have consistently cleaned up content libraries every time we've acquired publishers. Look at the very beginning about had maybe 10 to 15 million euros. By the time we launched these artists and these individual vertical sites were down to 250,000 pages of content. It was a bigger business and it was a better business. The other side is the actual ad layout has to be good,Damian Fowler (16:29):ButJonathan Roberts (16:29):Every time we've picked up a publisher, we've removed ads from the site. Increase, yeah, experience quality,Damian Fowler (16:33):Right?Jonathan Roberts (16:36):Because we've audited multiple publishers for the cleanup, we have an incredibly detailed understanding of what quality content is. We have lots of, this is our special skill as a publisher. We can go into a publisher, identify the content and see what's good.Damian Fowler (16:54):Is that part of your pitch as it were, to people who advertisers?Jonathan Roberts (16:58):We work lots of advertisers. We're a huge part of the advertising market because we cover all the verticals. We have endemics in every space. If you're trying to do targeting based on identity, we have tens of millions of people a day. It'll work. You will find them with us, we reach the entire country every month. We are a platform scale publisher. So at no point do we saying don't do that, obviously do that, right? But what we're saying is there's a whole bunch of people who you can't identify, either they don't have cookies or IDs or because the useful data doesn't exist yet. It's not attached to those IDs. So incremental, supplementary and additional to reach the people in the moment with a hundred percent addressability, full national reach, complete privacy compliance, just the content, total brand safety. And we will put these two things side by side and we will guarantee that the decipher targeting will outperform the cookie targeting, which isn't say don't do cookie targeting, obviously do it. It works, it's successful. This is incremental and also will outperform. And then it just depends on the client, right? Some people want brand lift and brand consideration. They want big flashy things. We run People Magazine, we host the Grammy after party. We can do all the things you need from a large partner more than just media, but also we can get you right down to, for some partners with big deals, we guarantee incremental roas,Damian Fowler (18:26):ActualJonathan Roberts (18:26):In-store sales, incremental lift.Damian Fowler (18:29):So let's talk about roas. What's driving advertisers to lean in so heavily?Jonathan Roberts (18:34):Well, I think everybody's seen this over the last couple of years. In a high interest or environment, the CMOs getting asked, what's the return on my ad spend? So whereas previously you might've just been able to do a big flashy execution or activation. Now everybody wants some level of that media spend to be attributable to lift to dollars, to return to performance, because every single person who comes through our sites is going to do something after they come. We're never the last stop in that journey, and we don't sell you those garden seeds. We do not sell you the diabetes medication directly. We are going to have to hand you off to a partner who is going to be the place you take the economic action. So we are in the path to purchase for every single purchase on Earth.(19:19):And what we've proven with decipher is not only that we can be in that pathway and put the message in the path of that person who is going to make a decision, has not made one yet. But when we put the messaging in front of it of that person at the time, it changes their decisions, which is why it's not just roas, which could just be handing out coupons in the line to the pizza store. It's incremental to us, if you did not do this, you would have made less money. When you do this, you'll make more money. And having got to a point where we've now got multiple large campaigns, both for online action and brick and mortar stores that prove that when we advertise the person at this moment, they change their decision and they make their brand more money. Turns out that's not the hardest conversation to have with marketers. Truly, truly, if you catch people at the right moment, you will change their mind.Damian Fowler (20:10):They'll happily go back to their CFO and say, look at this. This is workingJonathan Roberts (20:15):No controversially at can. During the festival of advertising that we have as a publisher, we may be the most confident to say, you know what? Advertising works.Damian Fowler (20:27):You recently brought in a dedicated president to leadJonathan Roberts (20:30):Decipher,Damian Fowler (20:30):Right? So how does that help you take what started out as this in-house innovation that you've been working on and turn it into something even bigger?Jonathan Roberts (20:39):Yeah, I think my background is physics. I was a theoretical physicist for a decade. Theoretical physicists have some good and bad traits. A good trait is a belief that everything can be solved. Because my previous job was wake up in the morning and figure out how the universe began and like, well, today I'll figure it out. And nobody else has, right? There's a level of, let's call it intellectual confidence or arrogance in that approach. How hard can it be? The answer is very, but it also means you're a little bit of a diante, right? You're coming like, oh, it's ad tech. How hard can it be? And the just vary, right? So there's a benefit. I mean, I've done a lot of work in ad tech over the last couple of years. Jim Lawson, our president of Decipher, ran a publicly listed DSP, right? He was a public company, CEO, he knows this stuff inside a and back to front, Lindsay Van Kirk on the Cipher team launched the ADN Nexus, DSP, Patrick McCarthy, who runs all of our open web and a lot of our trade desk partnerships and the execution of all of the ways we connect into the entire ecosystem.(21:38):Ran product for AppNexus. Sam Selgin on the data science team wrote that Nexus bitter. I've got a good idea where we're going with this and where we should go with this and the direction we should be pointed in. But we have seasoned multi-decade experience pros doing the work because if you don't, you can have a good idea and bad execution, then you didn't do anything. Unless you can execute to the highest level, it won't actually work. And so we've had to bring in, I'm very glad we have brought in and love having them on the team. These people who can really take the beginnings of what we have and really take this to the scale that needs to be. Decipher. Plus is a framework for understanding user intent at Webscale and getting performance for our clients and unlocking a premium at Webscale. That is a huge project to go after and pull off. We have so many case studies proving that it will work, but we have a long way to go between where we are and where this thing naturally gets to. And that takes a lot of people with a lot of professional skills to go to.Damian Fowler (22:43):What's one thing right now that you're obsessed with figuring outJonathan Roberts (22:46):To take a complete left turn, but it is the topic up and down the Cosette this summer. There isn't currently any viable model for information economy in an AI future. There's lots of ideas of what it would be, but there isn't a subtle marketplace for this. We've got a very big two-sided marketplace for information. It's called Google and search. That's obviously changing. We haven't got to a point to understand what that future is. But if AI is powered by chips, power and content, if you're a chip investor, you're in a good place. If you're investing energy, you're in a good place of the three picks and shovels investments, content is probably the most undervalued at the moment. Lots of people are starting to realize that and building under the hood what that could look like. How that evolves in the next year is going to really determine what kind of information gets created because markets align to their incentives. If you build the marketplace well, you're going to end up with great content, great journalism, great creativity. If you build it wrong, you're going to have a bunch of cheap slop getting flooded the marketplace. And we are not going to fund great journalism. So that's at a moment in time where that future is getting determined and we have a very strong set of opinions on the publishing side, what that should look like. And I am very keen to make sure it gets done. You soundDamian Fowler (24:17):Optimistic.Jonathan Roberts (24:19):A year ago, the VCs and the technologists believed if you just slammed enough information into an AI system, you'd never need content ever again. And that the brain itself was the moat. Then deep seek proved that the brain wasn't a moat. That reasoning is a commodity because we found out that China could do it cheaper and faster, and we were shocked, shocked that China could do it cheaper and faster. And then the open source community rebuilt deep to in 48 hours, which was the real killer. So if reasoning is a commodity, which it is now, then content is king, right? Because reasoning on its own is free, but if you're grounding it in quality content, your answer's better. But the market dynamics have not caught up to that reality. But that is the reality. So I am optimistic that content goes back to our premium position in this. Now we just have to do all the boring stuff of figuring out what a viable marketplace looks like, how people get paid, all of this, all the hard work, but there's now a future model to align to.Damian Fowler (25:23):I love that. Alright, I've got to ask you this question. It's the last one, but I was going to ask it. You spent time building maps, visualizing data, and I've looked at your site, it's brilliant. Is there anything from that side of your creativity that helped you think differently about building say something like decipher?Jonathan Roberts (25:42):Yeah. So I think it won't surprise anyone to find out that I'm a massive nerd, right? I used to play d and d, I still do. We have my old high school group still convenes on Sunday afternoons, and we play d and d over Discord. Fantasy maps have been an obsession of mine for a long time. I did the fantasy maps of Game of Thrones. I'm George r Martin's cartographer. I published the book Lands of Ice and Fire with him. Maps are infographics. A map is a way of taking a complex system that you cannot visualize and bringing it to a world in which you can reason about it. I spent a lot of my life taking complex systems that nobody can visualize and building models and frameworks that help people reason about 'em and make decisions in a shared way. At this moment, as you're walking up and down the cosette, there is no map for the future. Nobody has a map, nobody has a plan. Not Google, not Microsoft, not Amazon, not our friends at OpenAI. Nobody knows what's coming. And so even just getting, but lots of people have ideas and opinions and thoughts and directions. So taking all that input and rationalize again to like, okay, if we lay it out like this, what breaks? Being able to logically reason about those virtual scenario. It is exactly the same process, that mental model as Matt.Damian Fowler (27:12):And that's it for this edition of The Big Impression. This show is produced by Molten Hart. Our theme is by loving caliber, and our associate producer is Sydney Cairns. And remember,Jonathan Roberts (27:22):We do not as much tell the world what to think about. The world tells us what they care about. Data's lovely, but unless you do something with it, it's useless.Damian Fowler (27:31):I'm Damian, and we'll see you next time.

Michelle Chu is a seasoned program and community builder with over a decade of dedication towards fostering inclusion and connecting people to essential resources. Currently, she works in the Community Connections department at Job Path, where her efforts are directed towards supporting adults with autism and other disabilities. Michelle plays an integral role in the Guac Committee, which stands for Growth, Unity, Accessibility, and Community, working tirelessly to create an inclusive workplace at Job Path. With a unique background in improvisational theater and extensive experience in tech and design operations, Michelle brings innovative approaches to her social work, making people feel understood and encouraging community growth.Episode Summary:In this episode of DSP Talk, host Asheley Blaise speaks with Michelle Chu, an extraordinary program builder dedicated to supporting adults with autism and other disabilities at Job Path. Michelle delves into her role as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) and shares her unique perspective, incorporating her background in improvisational theater into her social work. The conversation explores Michelle's innovative approaches to community building and the impact of fostering inclusivity in workplaces, setting the tone for a thought-provoking discussion on the challenges and rewards of being a DSP.Michelle insights reveal the emotional depth and commitment required in the DSP role, describing it as more than just a job, but a vocation filled with meaningful connections and personal growth. The episode uncovers both the rewarding experiences and the challenges faced by DSPs, highlighting Michelle's creative solutions, such as adapting games like Uno to assist participants in expressing their emotions. Throughout the podcast, valuable keywords such as "fostering inclusion," "creative expression," "emotional connection," and "community growth" echo the essence of Michelle's impactful work. Her ability to transform daily interactions into profound experiences underpins the core theme of the episode, focusing strongly on empowerment and self-direction within the communities she supports.Key Takeaways:The role of a Direct Support Professional (DSP) is about empowering people to achieve personal goals.Michelle Chu leverages her improvisational theater background to create innovative solutions that facilitate emotional expression for those with disabilities.Building strong support systems and maintaining open communication with team members and families are vital for successfully overcoming challenges in the DSP role.Recognizing and celebrating small wins can significantly affirm the importance and impact of a DSP's work, offering deep professional satisfaction.Emotional resilience, combined with creativity, can transform everyday interactions into meaningful growth opportunities for individuals and communities.Notable Quotes:"I think for me, definitely one of the most rewarding, because who would have thought that you could take a deck of Uno and turn it into, like, a vehicle for helping somebody better communicate how they feel emotionally?""I really think that the participants we serve are capable of so much more than they're given credit for.""Sometimes it's just like a gentle nudge to do something that we don't know is a possibility that makes it happen.""At the end of the day, what I most care about is making sure my team felt supported.""I think the heart of being a DSP is really empowering them to feel like they can do it."Resources:JobPath : Home - Job Path NYC Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation, Ari Paparo interviews Ajit Thupil, Chief Product Officer of Bombora, discussing the unique challenges and strategies in B2B marketing. They explore how Bombora leverages data to enhance sales and marketing efforts, the importance of audience targeting, and the evolving role of AI in the industry. Ajit shares insights on the competitive landscape and the significance of understanding the distinct nature of B2B compared to B2C marketing. Takeaways Bombora focuses on the P2P space, serving sales and marketing needs. B2B marketing involves long and complex sales cycles. Data is crucial for targeting the right accounts in B2B. Activation of data is available through major DSPs and social channels. Granularity in audience targeting helps overcome company size disparities. AI's role in B2B marketing is evolving but remains data-dependent. Understanding customer behavior is key to effective targeting. Frequency capping at the account level is essential for B2B campaigns. Bombora's partnerships with publishers enhance data quality. Specialization in B2B marketing differentiates Bombora from larger platforms. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Bombora and Its Mission 03:07 Understanding B2B Marketing Dynamics 06:09 Data Utilization in B2B Marketing 08:47 Targeting Strategies and Audience Granularity 11:50 The Role of AI in B2B Marketing 14:58 Competitive Landscape and Challenges 18:01 Lightning Round and Fun Insights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Atlanta Rapper TIGO stops by The Hussle Report to chopped it up with Hussle Porter about his new project Evolution of Tigo. The Ep is available on all DSPs. @hussle_porter : Instagram @abovewatermuzik TIGO Instagram @hussleporter | TIKTOK @bead.tigo | TIKTOK https://music.apple.com/us/album/evolution-of-tigo/1833775318

In this week's episode, John and Cynthia discuss creative ways to show DSP appreciation year-round, exploring the five languages of appreciation and offering budget-friendly ideas such as custom playlists, personalized video messages, and meaningful conversations about talents and interests. Resources mentioned in the episode: Patti Scott Video Your Gifts Are Important Too  Episode Transcript Want to share stories with us? Email us at Quillopod@myquillo.com To learn more about Quillo Connect visit MyQuillo.com

In this episode of the Ad TechGod Pod, host AdTechGod speaks with Sharon Taylor, Chief Revenue Officer at Triton Digital, about podcasting and audio advertising. They discuss Sharon's journey into the audio space, the growth and trends of podcasting in different regions, and the role of Triton in monetizing podcasts. The conversation also touches on the challenges of attribution and measurement in audio advertising, the importance of understanding podcast metrics, and the cultural shifts driving the appeal of podcasting among younger audiences. Sharon emphasizes the intimate nature of podcasting and its potential for advertisers to engage with a captive audience. Takeaways Podcasting is an intimate medium that engages listeners deeply. The growth of podcasting varies by region, with the US leading. Canada's podcasting market is growing but is more collaborative than competitive. The barrier to entry for podcasting is low, allowing diverse voices. Video is becoming increasingly important in the podcasting space. Triton Digital supports both large publishers and independent podcasters. Programmatic advertising in podcasting is still developing. Attribution and measurement in audio advertising are complex but improving. Podcasters should provide multiple metrics to advertisers for clarity. Podcasting offers a calming alternative to the noise of social media. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Audio Space 01:38 Sharon's Journey in Audio 03:39 Podcasting Trends in Different Regions 05:26 The Growth of Podcasting 08:15 Maturity and Future of Podcasting 10:05 Triton's Role in Podcast Monetization 12:03 Evolution of Programmatic Advertising in Podcasting 14:45 Attribution and Measurement in Audio Advertising 17:30 Understanding Podcast Metrics 21:02 Cultural Shifts and Podcasting's Appeal 23:59 The Therapeutic Nature of Podcasting Pause Ads, AI Browsers, and Programmatic Transparency: This Week in Advertising The Refresh News: September 2: Pause Ads, AI Browsers, and Programmatic Transparency: This Week in Advertising In this episode of The Refresh, Kait covers three big developments in advertising and adtech. Magnite is rolling out pause ads programmatically across major streaming providers, Anthropic has launched a cautious pilot of its AI-powered Chrome extension Claude, and the ANA has released its Q2 2025 Programmatic Transparency Benchmark report, highlighting both progress and persistent challenges in ad spend efficiency. 5 Key Highlights: Magnite is enabling programmatic buying of pause ads across platforms like DirecTV, Dish, and Fubo, with access through Clearline and DSPs such as Curve AI, Mountain, and Yahoo. Pause ads are proving popular with both advertisers and consumers, with studies showing over 50% of viewers take action after seeing one. Concerns remain that programmatic scale could dilute the contextual creativity that makes pause ads engaging. Anthropic is piloting a Chrome extension for its Claude AI, focused on browsing assistance while implementing strong safeguards against risks like prompt injection attacks. The ANA's Q2 2025 report shows programmatic waste rising to $26.8B, but also notes improvements: private marketplace deals now represent 88% of transactions, CTV programmatic spend has increased, and MFA spending has dropped sharply to 0.8%. Would you like me to also create a short LinkedIn post version of this recap, optimized for reach and engagement? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the AdTechGod pod, Elizabeth Donovan, SVP Global Head of Commerce and Retail Media Networks at Kinesso/Acxiom/IPG , shares her journey into the retail media space, discussing her experiences at Marriott Media Networks and AccuWeather. She emphasizes the importance of first-party data, the transformation in retail media, and the challenges she faced as a woman in a predominantly male industry. Elizabeth also highlights the significance of work-life balance and her aspirations for the next generation in the advertising industry. Takeaways Elizabeth Donovan has a rich background in retail media, having worked at Marriott Media Networks and AccuWeather. She emphasizes the importance of first-party data in enhancing customer experiences. Kineso positions itself as a leader in retail and commerce networks, focusing on data-driven strategies. The retail media landscape is rapidly evolving, with a focus on personalization and customer engagement. Elizabeth believes in meeting clients where they are in their retail media journey. She highlights the importance of collaboration and support within the industry, especially for women. Work-life balance is crucial, and Elizabeth dedicates time to self-care amidst her busy schedule. She encourages the next generation to pursue their passions, regardless of industry. Elizabeth's journey reflects the challenges and triumphs of women in leadership roles in ad tech. The conversation underscores the need for continuous learning and adaptation in the fast-paced advertising landscape. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Retail Media Expertise 01:08 Elizabeth's Journey into Retail Media 04:44 Kineso's Positioning in the Market 07:07 Transformation in Retail Media 09:52 The Role of First-Party Data 14:02 Challenges and Triumphs as a Woman in Ad Tech 19:06 Balancing Work and Personal Life 22:14 Future Aspirations for the Next Generation On Today's The Refresh News: Walmart, Google, and the Shifting Ad Market The Refresh breaks down three of the week's biggest stories in advertising: Walmart opening up its relationship with The Trade Desk, Google's use of advanced AI to combat ad fraud, and a recap of Upfront ad commitments that reveal the growing dominance of streaming. The conversation touches on the challenges facing independent DSPs, how advertisers continue to chase performance-driven platforms, and why streaming continues to pull dollars away from broadcast and cable. 5 Key Highlights: Walmart and The Trade Desk's partnership, once exclusive, is now open—raising questions about Walmart's long-term retail media strategy. The Trade Desk faces pressure from big tech platforms like Amazon and Google, who offer first-party data and vertically integrated capabilities independent DSPs can't match. Google has been quietly using multimodal large language models to reduce invalid traffic, achieving a reported 40% drop in mobile ad fraud. Variety reports that primetime TV ad commitments declined again in 2025, while streaming saw nearly an 18% increase in ad spend. Advertisers are chasing targeted audiences and programmatic opportunities in streaming, while networks push premium primetime content—including live sports—onto digital platforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Geneira Poulis is a seasoned Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS) with over 14 years of experience in the field of developmental disabilities. She has served in various pivotal roles, ranging from Assistant Program Director to Program Director, and is now dedicated to fostering person-centered, equitable behavior support. Geneira 's approach is deeply informed by her firsthand experiences with systemic injustice. Holding a Master's of Social Work from Stony Brook University, she uniquely blends clinical expertise with a strong commitment to social justice, aiming to empower both the individuals served and the professionals who support them.Episode Summary:In this insightful episode of DSP Talk, host Asheley Blaise engages in a rich dialogue with Geneira Poulis, a respected Behavior Intervention Specialist (BIS), to explore the critical role that Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) play in the development and execution of behavior intervention plans. Geneira emphasizes the importance of including DSPs in the creation process, describing them as the 'backbone' of behavior support plans, and illustrating how their firsthand experiences, insights, and daily interactions with individuals can significantly enhance the efficacy and relevance of these plans.Geneira Poulis provides an innovative perspective on empowering DSPs through collaboration and inclusion in the planning process. By underscoring the importance of fostering environments where DSPs can actively contribute, ask questions, and feel valued, Geneira outlines strategies to bridge the gap between clinical teams and direct support staff. This approach not only improves behavioral outcomes but also nurtures professional growth and satisfaction among DSPs. This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in the field of developmental disabilities, offering practical advice and key strategies for improving team collaboration and client care.Key Takeaways:DSPs are the "backbone" of behavior support plans, providing crucial insights from their close work with individuals.Collaboration between DSPs and clinicians is essential for crafting effective, real-world interventions that cater to individuals' specific needs.Empowering DSPs through dialogue and understanding the why behind behavior plans enhances their ability to implement these plans effectively.The inclusion of DSP experiences and observations in behavioral planning fosters a sense of pride and ownership, leading to better adherence and outcomes.Notable Quotes from Geneira Poulis:" I often feel like they're [DSPs] the writers and the behavior intervention specialists are the editors..""An observation gives us a snapshot, but the DSP gives us the whole picture. They're able to paint everything they see.""When we include them in creating the plan, it gives them a certain kind of pride behind the plan.""A strong, trusting relationship between the DSP and the people that they're supporting always gives positive behavior outcomes.""Make collaboration a built-in part of your system and not an afterthought."Discover more about creating effective behavior support strategies and empowering those on the front lines by tuning in to the full episode. Stay engaged for more enlightening content from DSP Talk, where we continue to explore pivotal topics in the developmental disabilities field. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Enjoy this week's episode with producer & Dj JUANNY BRAVO. Juany Bravo fuses his love of Latin influenced grooves, and tribal percussion through his house music productions, which have seen him release tracks on labels such as Make the Girls Dance Records, INSOMNIAC INRotation, Nervous, Connected, Made in Miami, Union, Hurry Up Slowly, Terms and Conditions, Afrodise and Kindisch, amongst others. Juany's releases have topped the Beatport charts, and have landed him countless playlists additions on Spotify and other DSPs. It's easy to hear why support for Juany's music comes from world renowned DJ's including Diplo, Black Coffee, Hugel, Aaron Sevilla, Gordo, Tom & Collins, AMEME, and the list goes on. Traveling the world, and filling dancefloors one continent at a time, his extensive touring schedule has so far reached the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia & Indonesia. Juany Bravo, Dean Mickoski, Ale Kuma ft. KELILA - ID Fiin, Pezlo MD, Vikina - Mi Tierra (La Santa, G. Zamora Remix) REDOLENT Augusto Yepes, Maité Inaé, Talón (US) - Oxossi REDOLENT Fernando Campo - Feel The Bass (Juany Bravo Remix) David Tort x Juany Bravo - Partelo ft. Ghetto Flow HUGEL, DRAXX (ITA), CAVALLI - Ride or Die Eran Hersh, Juany Bravo - ID Nautik, Juany Bravo Feat. Oba Frank - Dark Beat (Extended Mix) Juany Bravo, Akami, Nomadune - ID MANU BS, Moree Mk Feat. Tastytru - Molly NODUS - Famy Aya Chus & Ceballos, Dennis Cruz - The Sun (Vocal Mix) David Tort - Addict (Juany Bravo x David Tort HoTL Mix) This show is syndicated & distributed exclusively by Syndicast. If you are a radio station interested in airing the show or would like to distribute your podcast / radio show please register here: https://syndicast.co.uk/distribution/registration

On this episode: Welcome to episode 376 of The Rise & Grind Podcast! Roderick & Cari dive into fresh album reviews from JID's God Does Like Ugly, Gunna's The Last Wun, and Bryson Tiller's Solace & The Vices. Plus, they break down the upcoming drops from Chance the Rapper's Star Line (8/15) and the newly delayed The Leak$ by Lil Baby, now arriving 8/22.   In other mentions, the crew reacts to NBA Youngboy & DJ Khaled's new tape — including their talk about kids and comments on Yaya Mayweather's pregnancy.   In news, YNW Melly's retrial is delayed until 2027, and Lil Wayne's Da Drought mixtape series was abruptly pulled from DSPs after it was uploaded without clearance.     Intro: Don Toliver- NO COMMENTS   Roderick | Sasha Keable- FEEL SOMETHING   Cari | Yeat- COMË N GO   Subscribe to Apple Music now to hear all of the new albums & tracks we discuss: https://apple.co/3NgdXW

The fellas recap the week that was: Dizzle - Anniversary weekend vibes! Killa - back issues, paying the mortgage, back to school! Kev - working & planning. Sports Talk: NBA Christmas Day schedules, Joel Embiid's knee is reportedly in bad shape, D-Wade & A.I. to be Carmelo's H.O.F. presenters, WNBA talk, and Shedeur Sanders make his debut, and more. Entertainment: Diddy update, A judge has authorized Drake to serve an elusive key witness is case vs UGM, Kendrick Lamar is nominated for 10 awards at the 2025 #VMAs, Lil Wayne drops classic mixtapes on DSPs, and more. Quick Hitters: Exterminators found a massive 22-inch rat in U.K. home, new food items on the way, Welsh IT engineer who accidentally threw away a hard drive holding 8,000 Bitcoin in 2013, has officially ended his 12-year search, and a Video game update.

It's been over 2 years since we had a talk with our guy CAEV and right off the heels of his release of "JUNGLEJUXE" it's a perfect time to catch up and find out what the Dorchester-bred artist has been up to! CAEV is an artist who has always kept re-inventing himself musically and creatively and with his latest project he's shown how that part of him hasn't changed at all. In what sounds like a fusion of Caribbean heritage and Rap, his latest project has grabbed the attention of many all while making them dance. The most impressive part of his roll-out is the album is not on any DSPs, but was sold as a merch-pack direct to consumer. This has got a lot of people talking and also showing independent artists that there is always a way to get pain from your art. This week, join Charlie MaSheen & Bellez as we welcome CAEV back to the pod and talk about a recent rant he went in on ig, JUNGLEJUXE, copycats, & SO MUCH MORE! CAEV also tells up about another project he has dropping sometime in August that will be on all DSPs, titled "DayzAfterJuxe". This was a very refreshing, entertaining and also insightful talk as we dove into into the world of CAEV! Be sure to check out his #RedCupsAndRap Freestyle available on our YouTube channel! Tap Innnn!!!! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - follow on ig: @CWTFBradio @Charlie.MaSheen @BellezTheGreat @CAEV_ CHECK OUT ALL OF OUR CONTENT: www.CWTFB.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DSPs are building tools to bypass SSPs, and SSPs are trying to cut out the buy side. But the real question in the noise is whether the technology improves effectiveness, says Kara Puccinelli, chief customer officer at Nexxen, which just so happens to describe itself as an end-to-end platform.

For today's episode, you will hear my conversation with the Polaris-nominated rapper and multi-disciplinary artist Kimmortal. Kim joins me to discuss their new EP, the road to liberation, and our shared love of Turnstile. We also compare our birth charts and discover that we're both fire and air signs. ✨ MORE ABOUT KIMMORTAL ✨Kimmortal is a Polaris-nominated artist and rapper from Vancouver whose work traverses the intersections of their FilipinX background and queer identity. They've shared stages with Thundercat and Saul Williams, received a shoutout from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and had their song "This Dyke" appear on an episode of The L Word: Generation Q. Their new EP 'Sunniest of Days' is out now on all DSPs. ✨ KEEP UP TO DATE WITH KIMMORTAL ✨Instagram: instagram.com/kimmortaltheartistTwitter: https://x.com/kimmortalartTikTok: tiktok.com/@kimmortalportalYouTube: youtube.com/@kimmortaltheartistSpotify: open.spotify.com/artist/0ioYxkShKhYOKpQh0ERVFSApple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/kimmortal/1122421604✨ CONNECT WITH IZZY ✨Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://agrrrlstwosoundcents.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/channel/UCv6SBgiYCpYbx9BOYNefkIg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/agrrrlstwosoundcents/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/grrrlsoundcents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Biz on IG:https://www.instagram.com/jacobbizmorrisTimestamp:1:03 Building a Team vs. Handling it AllBiz emphasizes the benefits of artists building a team from the outset, highlighting that it reduces stress, allows for shared workload, and enables everyone to grow financially as the artist succeeds. He notes that while some artists can do everything themselves, it often leads to burnout.2:36 Artist Mixing Their Own MusicBiz acknowledges that some artists are capable of producing good mixes, especially when they are trying to maintain a specific vibe. However, he believes the majority of artists who mix their own music should stop, as the quality is often not up to par. He attributes this to "demo-it is," where artists become too accustomed to the sound of their self-mixed demos.3:58 Impact of Mix Quality on StreamsBiz explains that a bad mix can lead to a high skip rate on streaming platforms, meaning artists don't get paid if listeners don't make it past 30 seconds. He also points out that poor mix quality can hinder a song from being placed on playlists or accepted by influencers, as it can reflect poorly on their brand.6:26 Defining a Good MixA good mix, according to Biz, translates well across all devices (car, AirPods, Bluetooth speakers) and has no distractions, allowing the listener to fully grasp the artist's vision and emotion. A bad mix often has buried or muddy vocals, excessive reverb, or poor-sounding drums.9:20 Biz's Background and Favorite GenresBiz shares his journey, starting as a recording engineer at 14 and falling in love with mixing after moving to Atlanta in 2012. He has worked with artists like Lrae, David Kushner, and Surfaces. While a majority of his credits are in hip-hop, he enjoys mixing pop music more due to the challenge of achieving a clean, pristine sound.13:09 AI in Mixing and MasteringBiz sees AI mastering as useful for creating better-sounding demos, especially for producers and songwriters pitching songs. However, he believes AI mixing is not yet good. He recounts his past experience with an automated mixing service ("Mixed") which, while successful for some tracks, was ultimately shut down because artists preferred human engineers. He emphasizes that people seek human artists for their unique point of view and taste.allowing artists to submit notes through a dashboard.21:29 Spatial Audio Biz is a fan of Atmos, believing it makes records sound better. He highlights that Apple Music pays 10% higher royalties for songs provided in spatial audio, even if the Atmos version isn't played. He built his studio to support Atmos mixing to help independent artists "play the game" and compete with major labels that have more resources.• 27:50 Responsible AI Training and OwnershipBiz raises questions about how AI song creators acquire their data models, suggesting they might be scraping from DSPs like Spotify and YouTube. He discusses the challenge of creating an AI mixing model due to the need for vast amounts of diverse genre data, which major labels primarily own. He expresses concern that labels might create AI mixing platforms that save them money without necessarily benefiting the artist.38:48 "Too Cheap to be Good" PerceptionBiz addresses the perception that "Get Mixed" is too cheap to offer good quality. He assures that the quality, gear, setup, and studio are the same as his high-end services, but the lower price is due to the streamlined system and convenience. He also acknowledges that some artists find the price too high, leading him to offer discounts.This channel is ran by the founders of No Labels Necessary, Sean "Brandman" Taylor and Jacorey "Kohrey" Barkley. No Labels Necessary is a music-first marketing agency that helps artists impact culture through digital content and marketing. Want to grow your music career . Join our community

In this episode of the Ad Tech Godpod, host AdTechGod speaks with Taylor Simons, founder of TCHT and former MediaMath executive. They discuss Taylor's intentional journey into ad tech, the lessons learned from MediaMath's bankruptcy, and the current trends in the industry, including the dynamics between SSPs and DSPs, bid duplication, and the role of SPO and curation. They also explore the limitations of the open exchange and the misaligned incentives within the ad tech ecosystem, concluding with a discussion on the future of AI in advertising. takeaways Taylor Simons intentionally entered the ad tech industry. MediaMath's bankruptcy was a painful experience for Taylor. Turning failures into successes is possible with the right mindset. SPO is still developing and has potential for growth. There are over 200 SSPs actively participating in the market. Misaligned incentives between SSPs and DSPs create challenges. The open exchange has significant limitations for advertisers. Publishers need to consolidate their SSP partnerships for better results. Sharing campaign KPIs can improve trust and performance in the ecosystem. AI has the potential to create new programmatic channels in advertising. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ad Tech and Taylor Simons 02:10 Taylor's Journey into Ad Tech 05:09 Lessons from MediaMath's Bankruptcy 06:48 Current Trends in Ad Tech 08:59 Understanding SSPs vs. DSPs 11:06 Bid Duplication and Its Impact 13:13 The Role of SPO and Curation 15:41 The Limitations of Open Exchange 18:51 Incentives in the Ad Tech Ecosystem 22:49 The Future of AI in Ad Tech Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded June 20, 2025 In this explosive Independence Day special, the AV SuperFriends celebrate five years of podcasting with a bang! Join Chris, Jamie, Larry, and Justin as they blow up the things they dislike about AV and IT in higher education. From cloud-based control systems to oversized DSPs, the panel tackles the industry's most frustrating trends and technologies that have overstayed their welcome. With fireworks and laughter, they share their grievances, offering a cathartic release for anyone who's ever felt overwhelmed by the complexities of modern AV solutions. une in for a fun-filled episode that's equal parts celebration and critique, and discover what the AV SuperFriends want to blow up next!   If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your fellow AV enthusiasts and consider supporting the AV SuperFriends!   We stream live every Friday at about 300p Eastern/1200p Pacific and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com    ▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀ ► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com ► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends ► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends ► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends ► Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/avsuperfriends.bsky.social ► Email: mailbag@avsuperfriends.com ► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rss   Donate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support

AV SuperFriends On Topic Episode 60: Fourth of July SpecialRecorded June 20, 2025In this explosive Independence Day special, the AV SuperFriends celebrate five years of podcasting with a bang! Join Chris, Jamie, Larry, and Justin as they blow up the things they dislike about AV and IT in higher education.From cloud-based control systems to oversized DSPs, the panel tackles the industry's most frustrating trends and technologies that have overstayed their welcome. With fireworks and laughter, they share their grievances, offering a cathartic release for anyone who's ever felt overwhelmed by the complexities of modern AV solutions.Tune in for a fun-filled episode that's equal parts celebration and critique, and discover what the AV SuperFriends want to blow up next!If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your fellow AV enthusiasts and consider supporting the AV SuperFriends!We stream live every Friday at about 300p Eastern/1200p Pacific and you can listen to everything we record over at AVSuperFriends.com▀▄▀▄▀ CONTACT LINKS ▀▄▀▄▀► Website: https://www.avsuperfriends.com► Twitter: https://twitter.com/avsuperfriends► LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avsuperfriends► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@avsuperfriends► Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/avsuperfriends.bsky.social► Email: mailbag@avsuperfriends.com► RSS: https://avsuperfriends.libsyn.com/rssDonate to AVSF: https://www.avsuperfriends.com/support

In this week's episode of The Refresh, Kait dives into the wave of major announcements that dominated Cannes Lions 2025 highlighting a shift inadvertising where TV and streaming platforms stole attention from AI. From exclusive inventory deals to AI-powered product placement, the episode unpacks how players like Amazon, Disney, Netflix, and Comcast are racing to transform TV into a full-funnel, performance-driven channel. As advertisers demand better data, measurement, and real-time capabilities, DSPs and media giants are forming strategic alliances to claim their spot at the top. We cover: Amazon and Roku Partner Up: Amazon secured exclusive access to Roku's logged-in user base via its DSP, and integrated Disney's Drax exchange to enable commerce-data targeting across Disney+ and Hulu inventory. Disney Expands DSP Access: Disney added 12 new DSPs to its “Disney Live Certified” program and is scaling its Magic Words AI targeting product to enhance live event advertising. Netflix Enters Virtual Ad Placement: Netflix is rolling out AI-driven dynamic ad products, including branded insertions during paused content—mirroring The Trade Desk and Rembrand's new virtual product placement offerings. Walmart x NBCU and Comcast's Triple Play: Walmart's new partnership with NBCUniversal unlocks shopper data for cross-platform targeting, while Comcast announced three major updates spanning outcome-based measurement, dynamic shoppable ads, and identity resolution. Data Becomes the New Differentiator: With premium inventory access now considered baseline, platforms are competing on who can provide better data, targeting precision, and real-time performance insights—especially as programmatic buying expands in live content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With websites covering topics like entertainment (ScreenRant), gaming (Polygon) and automotive (CarBuzz), Valnet caters to users across a wide array of interests.But according to Ji Heon Kim, Valnet's head of monetization, Valnet realized it could create more value for its users by encouraging them to subscribe or authenticate themselves.Maybe a “mass scale” of users wouldn't sign up for their websites, but perhaps 10% would. And, as Kim puts it, that “10% would still be valuable, and we can do a lot with that 10%.”“We created more value to [those] users, more exclusive content and high-quality content,” Kim says. “All of that became an initiative on the content side for us to deliver a premium model and give users an incentive to sign up.”Kim further talked with The Current Podcast about balancing advertiser value, user experience and performance, which he says are “always affecting each other.” Episode TranscriptPlease note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio.Damian Fowler (00:00):I'm Damian Fowler, and welcome to The Current Podcast. Today we're talking to one of the biggest digital publishers. You might not know by name, but you've definitely read their stuff. I'm talking about Net. The company behind Screen Rant, the Gamer, Kaleida make use of, and a bunch of other sites that rack up hundreds of millions of sessions every month. Joining me today is Ji Kim Valnet's, head of monetization. Ji'S been leading the charge on everything from supply path optimization to first party data to figuring out how to drive real revenue without compromising the reader experience. We'll get into some of the big shifts they've made in their tech stack and how they're bringing newly acquired brands like Polygon into their ecosystem and what other publishers can learn from their approach.Ji Kim (00:52):At Valnet, I'd like to think of us as a publishing powerhouse. We started very small. Our motto is humble and hungry. We like to remind ourselves that it's always good to keep a humble mindset. I've been at NET for 10 years and we've grown tremendously. We've went through a lot ups and downs, but even as we grow, we like to think that we're small and agile and the publications we range from automotive, gaming, technology, entertainment, but entertainment has always been our flagship, but we've been kind of branching outside of that and trying to expand more and more. And then we have some lifestyle brands as well as sports.Damian Fowler (01:35):Let's talk about a moment that changed the game for Net. Can you walk us through your, I guess we're going to talk about supply path optimization at first anyway, which is a hot topic around these parts and what work you did around supply path optimization, like cutting resellers and boosting direct inventory. Could you talk us through that a little?Ji Kim (01:57):It's an ongoing process. It's certainly, I think most people agree that SPO is not an easy thing to achieve. You can commit to it one shot, but that's much harder to do considering that there will be a revenue impact. So for us, we tried both ways. We took a few sites and we took the direct approach and we saw a pretty decent stability, and then some other sites did not, and then we have to kind of revert back to it. SPO, it was always a topic that was talked about but not well enforced. And tradedesk took a big initiative to push publishers towards it. And then we started working closely with Jounce Media as well, with Chris Kane started kind of talking through some of the ideas, how should we go about it? How do we retain the value and still achieve removing the resale alliance and keep our inventory as clean as possible?(02:51):But initially our outlook of SPO was about making our inventory as clean and transparent as possible. Net considers ourselves as a premium publisher and we want to make sure that the advertisers see that as well. So we were heading in that direction. But ultimately, I think the biggest challenge with SPO was it's impossible to do an AB test because you have one A TXT file and you can't test one setup with the resell alliance, one setup without. So that's been pretty challenging to understand where's the value going, where is it coming from? And even with the Resell Alliance, when you talk to the SSPs with Resell Alliance, they'll go, oh, these are PP deals. These are not just rebroadcasting and all this stuff. So trying to understand the granularity and all that details of what each resale align means was very difficult. But ultimately we know we have to go in that direction, but we know it's not going to happen overnight, so we're kind of just taking a step at a time.Damian Fowler (03:51):That's great. What would you say was the kind of catalyst or moment that sparked that shift?Ji Kim (03:57):We always talked about advertiser value. It is important to yield as much value as possible and get the performance that we need. We always think that advertiser value is important, and when we think about that, it's like you go through stages. You go, okay, viewability needs to be important. Let's get viewability up to above standard, above average, make sure our CTR is good, but it's high quality clicks. It's not just users just clicking on stuff. Then you go through the lines and eventually you get to SPOs. Make sure that advertisers know what inventory they're getting access to, what they're buying, and make sure that they're getting insights. The transparency is there. Then we've increased the value of our inventory.Damian Fowler (04:46):Yeah, I mean that's the key, right, obviously. And speaking of that, having made these changes, are you in a position to be able to see the kind of impact that they've had from a revenueJi Kim (04:58):Perspective? Honestly, I don't think I can everything, especially with these kinds of stuff, what I've learned is it doesn't change overnight. Let's say we remove all the reseller lines yesterday. Today, likely the performance is going to drop initially and maybe things recover over time, but there's so many moving parts that it's hard to associate the value towards SPO, and that's a lot of things that we do in this industry. But I think that's when we like to look at it as, you know what? Ultimately we are improving the quality of our inventory, so we will get rewarded at some point. And that's how you move forward. But with SPO, I think the other side is that it's not just about removing reseller lines. You also have to market yourself and tell the advertisers that, Hey, we have gone in this direction. We have removed the reseller lines. All of our inventory is direct. It's clean. And that part is also hard to do. We haven't spent a lot of time or resources into marketing ourselves, and that's why we talked about, people may not know net, but they know our brands. It's the same thing. It's like we are now making a big push to let people know who Val net is, and that's going to go in hand in hand with this stuff.Damian Fowler (06:21):In terms of that messaging around the surgery as it were you're doing on the supply path, does that land well with advertisers?Ji Kim (06:32):I think it's always positively looked at when you tell them, it's like everybody, it is never negative, but I don't know if actually if it's meaningful for them because at scale, they're buying at scale. So yeah, we're a big publisher, but they're also buying at multiple publishers. Maybe only small portion of their budgets come to us. So it's positive, but I don't know if it's all that meaningful to them. At least that's what I've felt.Damian Fowler (07:04):So in addition to the SPO, what other tweaks or changes are you as head of monetization looking at to basically bring in those ad dollars and keep readers satisfied, I suppose?Ji Kim (07:17):Yeah, so there's three things. So we looked at the advertiser value, but then there's the user experience and then the performance side. So always those three things, there's constantly affecting each other. Ad density is probably one of the biggest part of advertiser value and performance and user experience. So we are constantly trying to reduce our density, and we look at this metric impressions per session and request per session. So we look at that and injections our injections based on content length, a paragraph breaks and all that stuff. So we'll try to work with the content team to create optimal breaks. I'll have a little sit down session with the content team. The leads say, okay, this is how the admin injection works, and how you break out your content really does impact, because we won't break a paragraph in half to inject an ad. So there needs to be natural breaks for the ads to inject. So if you have massive paragraphs, we're going to have less ad injections, which is fine if the content works like that, but they also need to think about how all this stuff works.Damian Fowler (08:26):That's really interesting. I mean, I think that sweet spot between not being the Vegas strip, but also ads have to populate at the right time to have value.Ji Kim (08:35):For net, we've focused mostly on open market programmatic spend. We have a small direct initiative. This is something that we've been trying to grow, but when you don't have huge direct sales initiative and direct spend coming in, you kind of need the density because the CPMs that you get from open market is much lower. So we want to try to move away from that as much as possible. I don't think found that will ever be a publisher where we drive like 50% of the revenue from direct sales, but we want to grow it to maybe 15, 20%. And once we do that, we can yield higher CPMs, which allows us to reduce the density, which would be better for advertiser value, better for user experience, and we'll still get the performance that we need to kind of go forward.Damian Fowler (09:24):So it's a balance.Ji Kim (09:25):Yeah. Yeah. I think if we can drive higher CPMs, we would love to reduce density, but it's always the constant battle between the two of, okay, well we reduced density. Oh, we went too far. Okay, we got to bring it back a little bit.Damian Fowler (09:38):How difficult is it to kind of innovate in ad tech? This is a broader question, I guess given how fast things are changing, especially on the programmatic front,Ji Kim (09:47):It's been very, very difficult. Rapidly changing environment is definitely one of them, and you have to adapt quickly. For example, the video definition of having instream outstream, and then now there's a third definition of accompanying that stuff. When it happened, the enforcement happened quickly, so we had to adapt quickly, and that's difficult. But innovating is, I think, much more difficult than just adapting to the new policies and new rules. So many different ways to innovate pre, for example, you have the open source code, you build that, but there's so many customizations that you can do and even a single customization, you interpret how you should approach that topic and how you should build your tech. So you kind of have to talk to your developers and walk through. And our biggest challenge I would say was bridging the gap between developers and ad ops. I was like, because I am an ad ops guy, I understand programmatic landscape very well, but our developers do not. And I'm not a developer, I'm not a technical guy. Obviously through 10 years I've learned a lot of stuff, but still, if I needed to build something, I'm not going to be able to tell them exactly how to build it. So you need somebody in the middle that understands both sides,(11:03):And that was the most difficult part. And eventually we did find resources that they were able to bridge that gap and were able to build stuff. But ultimately, there's just so many different ways to build your product and you want to make sure that product that you build or tech stack that you build is going to keep that balance that you need between the user experience, the performance, and the density, everything that pertains to page speed as well. If you build it to be too slow, everything gets affected as well, and that's harder to tell. So yeah.Damian Fowler (11:37):So how have some of these technical changes influenced your broad and monetization philosophy?Ji Kim (11:43):Yeah, so I guess one of the things, if we talk about authentication, we talk about cookie deprecation and why authentication became so important to majority of the publishers. And I remember our thought process around authentication was pretty pessimistic, I would say. But eventually we said know what? We can create content or value for the users that's going to want them to sign up and want them to get authenticated. And we said we got to start somewhere. Ultimately, maybe we've become a little bit more realistic about what critical mass of a value would be if we're at, if we're expecting 50% of users will log in, that's not going to happen, but 10% is still very meaningful. So it was about our philosophy was changing, about our expectations changing and still understanding that 10% could be very valuable and we can do a lot with that 10%. So we created more value to the users are more exclusive content, high quality content, high quality videos. All of that stuff became an initiative on the content side for us to deliver the premium model and to give users the incentive to authenticate a sign up on.Damian Fowler (13:03):That's really interesting. I think one of the things that also I'm hearing is that you kind of have different audiences, but you're getting to understand your audiences. I mean, this strategy gives you more insight into who's coming.Ji Kim (13:15):Yeah. We also created what we call threads. They can talk about the article, talk about topics that we're discussing, and that really improved our engagement.Damian Fowler (13:30):As you look to the future, how do you think about, as it were, locking in some of these changes and this value that you see from this audience?Ji Kim (13:40):So I want to go back a little bit about innovating and how difficult it is. So I went through the stages of, okay, what am I focusing on to optimize to yield more value? And initially it was demand. Okay, we want to work with as many high quality as P as possible, but then you do work with all of them. There are going to be going to be one or two that come here and there, but generally speaking, they're not going to create incremental value. They'll just take a piece of pie that was taken by somebody else, not meaningful value. Then you work on ad tech innovation, all that stuff, and that we'll continuously work on that, but that also has lots of limitations, and you eventually reach a plateau point of say, you're not going to find a lot low hanging fruits. So now we come to premium inventory, which we need to learn our users, we need to learn who they are so we can offer these users to our advertisers to grow our PMP programmatic direct, as well as your conventional IO based direct deals that's going to yield as higher CPMs.Damian Fowler (14:53):Yeah, I mean, talk of premium inventories is characteristic of the moment we are in when it comes to programmatic sales for publishers.Ji Kim (15:02):Yeah.Damian Fowler (15:04):Let's draw back and look at the big picture and some of the kind of industry context. I guess think I'm correct in saying Valnet reach has more than 400 million sessions a month across its network. That's correct. And how do you think about that, that kind of scale when every property has its own audience profile and publishing rhythm?Ji Kim (15:30):Yeah, it's sometimes a bit overwhelming how much reach our sites have, but I always try to look at it as our advantage, and this is the opportunity that hasn't been tapped into, is that okay, we're 95% of our inventory is sold in the open market, and we have so much data that we could collect and leverage in order to drive higher value. And it's just looking at it, it's overwhelming, but you start to see the real value that hasn't been tapped into, and that's exciting, but it's also very, very difficult to manage all that information, manage that data, and use it properly. So yeah, I mean it excites me, but also I know how challenging it can be to create value through that. So we're taking one step at a time, even first party data collection. I wouldn't say we're crazy sophisticated, but we're keeping it a level that we know how to manage and understanding it well first and then starting to kind of grow a step-by-step.Damian Fowler (16:45):Yeah, I mean, I suppose the whole back and forth about third party cookies may have provided a spark. I know it lit a fire under the industry. Speaking of first party data, so that is a focus for you?Ji Kim (16:56):Yes, yes. But I believe when it was really a huge focus for the industry was when Google had first announced that they're going to deprecate third party cookies, and we had the initial moment of, oh, you know what? We also need to look into this, but we didn't want to panic. Our outlook was, I'm sure everybody went through the initial panic. We did too, but we didn't want to stay in that moment. And we said, okay, what's realistically going to happen for publishers like us? How much first party data can we collect and really sell because we don't have a huge direct sales initiative? And at that point we had none. And you can't grow direct sales overnight. It's a highly competitive environment, and you're entering that new market. You have to build relationships, you have to have crazy amount of salespeople that are constantly going out there representing balance inventory.(17:55):And we weren't set up for that, and we weren't willing to just fully invest everything into growing that at the time. So we said, well, maybe first party data isn't as important. Collecting first part data isn't as important as just understanding how to go about direct sales. So that's what we worked on. We've hired salespeople, we enter that space. I was very naive about how direct sales worked, and now we have a better understanding. We have good salespeople that understand our values as well. We don't want to just go out and sell anything and everything. We want to understand the creative types that we're also selling isn't going to impact user experience horribly and negatively. The high impact guys, the site scans when they're done, right, it's great user experience, but it could also go the other way. So we wanted to build a baseline first, and that's what we did the last few years. And now we can go after the first party data in a more sustainable way for us.Damian Fowler (18:56):Let's talk about your acquisition of Polygon from Vox Media. Speaking of inventory that expands the real estate, how does that property fit into what you're doing?Ji Kim (19:07):So Polygon, obviously, we go through a lot of due diligences. We look at different opportunities, and Polygon was an easy one to go through because we knew Polygon has great content, it has a great foundation of creating high quality content. But the difference was that Fox has a lot of direct sales. I can't remember the exact number, but it could have been 75%, 80% of their revenue was generated, direct sold inventory, and then 20% was open market. And for us, it would've been the other way around, flipped around even less. Maybe 95% open market, 5% directive. Initially when we acquired it would've been a hundred percent open market, but that's also why it excite us because it's a premium inventory that doesn't get seen in the open market. Open market buyers don't see the bid requests coming from that website as much. So we're super happy, but we knew this was a high quality inventory, high quality website, and we knew that there was a very small chance that it was going to go poorly.Damian Fowler (20:20):Interesting. When you buy a property like that, you're actually buying an audience to a certain extent.Ji Kim (20:25):Yeah, absolutely.Damian Fowler (20:27):Do you think about audiences as discreet to the publications or do you see crossover?Ji Kim (20:34):Crossover? Yeah, lots of crossover.Damian Fowler (20:37):Yeah. Alright. So I guess the big question here is for other publishers looking to upgrade this strategy that we're talking about, especially in this very complex environment, which is something you clearly understand very deeply, what's one piece of advice that you might offer?Ji Kim (20:54):I think you have to think about realistically what you should go after, what opportunities you should go after. So many things that come up right now, I think the big thing is curated media. And on our end, a lot of the SSPs and DSPs are doing the work for us. They going out and curating our inventory for us, and that's fine. But if you were to go after that and trying to grow it, but you don't really have the resources, it's easy to just kind of see everybody, what everyone else is doing, like, oh, I want a piece of that too, but it's not going to yield the value. Same value if you don't have the right resources in place if you're not focused on that opportunity. So my advice would be to understand which opportunities realistically are you able to get and have the right resources who are going to be passionate about that. Take accountability. That's huge, the accountability part. And that's not something you can just kind of force people. You have to believe that this person that's taking on this project can be really passionate and sink their teeth into it. If you got that, then go after those things. But it's too hard to go after every single opportunity there is. Even if seemingly it seems like a low hanging fruit. Nothing is really that simple in this industry.Damian Fowler (22:15):That's for sure. So finally, we're going to wrap this up with some what we call hot seat questions. So what's one thing you're obsessed with figuring out right now?Ji Kim (22:27):How to yield more value? No, no, no. I'll give a better answer than that right now. For me, it's how to grow direct sales sustainably and scale it in a way that we don't get too bloated. Because through acquisitions, one of the most valuable things that I get is insight. I get to see under the hood of a lot of publishers, small to medium to large, how they operate, what is their strategy and direct sales. I've learned some of the big publishers do it extremely well. It's a well-oiled machine, it's not bloated. They generate a ton of revenue, but some have a huge cost, and that's what we were afraid of. And right now it's very hard to do. So you need the right sales team, you need the right operational guys, you need account representation, you need reporting guide and all this stuff. And right now I am trying to find a way to scale it, but without having massive costs, just kind of take over and then expect this to yield value in the next year or two. I want that line to kind of grow together. And that's not an easy thing to do, obviously. And I'm looking for the right resources. I'm looking to build relationships with agencies with limited guys, just hustle through it and offer them our inventory, charm them, whatever it may take. But yeah, that's what I'm currently obsessed.Damian Fowler (24:01):Okay. What's still missing in the ad tech stack that you wish someone would build?Ji Kim (24:07):I don't know if this would fall under their ad tech stack, but I think we could really benefit from a bit more standardization around, it could be reporting and creatives. Maybe I'm speaking out of line because I'm on the inventory side, so I don't know everything that goes on the buy side and the creative side. But what I see is that there's so many different creatives that just either break the page, the creative's broken, it's too heavy, it slows down the page, and it's hard to target those and remove those. It can come through so many different channels. So if there is a bit more standardization around what kind of creatives are acceptable, I'm sure there is some or a standard already, but it needs to be honed in a bit more maybe.Damian Fowler (25:00):What's one thing advertisers misunderstand about monetizing Publish it inventory today?Ji Kim (25:08):So I thought about this and something that it's more of my frustration around advertisers perspective. I understand it, but a bit more frustration because it's hard to create context around it, which is brand safety. I understand the brand side. I advertise side on why they wouldn't want to associate their brand with certain content, but brand safety is police by keyword list and it's very restrictive. And some of the,Damian Fowler (25:37):It's one toolJi Kim (25:38):And it's like, okay, and we have gaming sites that will, a lot of gaming, natural will talk about shooting, but some of the game developers won't want to associate with those articles. And it's like, hang on, hang on. Now you bet you guys also have games that are first person shooter or whatnot. You don't want to associate with those type of articles. There's a bit of a mismatch, and I think it's just hard to manage that. So they go with a broader approach and I get it, but I think it's just there needs to be more about understanding the context of certain articles. And it's like the word shooting can be anything, everything. Right?Damian Fowler (26:22):Yeah, I like that. I've been hearing more about a shift from brand safety to brand suitability, which brings in the concept of context. What's something unexpected you've learned from reader data or behavior recently?Ji Kim (26:39):So I wouldn't say it's recent, but it's something that's surprises me how the smallest change that I, from my perspective is like, is that really going to do anything? But at our scale, the numbers changed so drastically. Recently we were playing around with the video size because our outstream unit will float once the user are scrolling and the size of that unit. Obviously we want to give advertiser value, so we want to make it as big as possible. But then user experience wise, it could be very bothersome because as they're trying to read, there's a video playing. So we want to keep mindful of that. And we're constantly testing the size of that unit and we decreased by 10% and 10%. While it's significant, if you look at the actual size of the unit to the naked eye, you really wouldn't be able to tell what the difference is. But the CTR of that video unit changed drastically. It was cut in half, actually. And that's the thing is like, okay, users are really sensitive to these things. And to me it's not, maybe I'm looking at it too often, but that's always, that boggles my mind and it always catches me by surprise when I see the numbers is like, wow, I did not expect that. I did not expect users to behave this way.Damian Fowler (28:00):That's amazing. The details really matter.Ji Kim (28:02):Yeah, Big time. Damian Fowler (28:03):And that's it for this edition of The Current Podcast. We'll be back next week. The Current Podcast is produced by Molten Hart. A theme is by Love and Caliber, and our associate producer is Sydney Cairns. And remember,Ji Kim (28:21):I like to think of us as a publishing powerhouse. We started very small. Our motto is humble and hungry. We like to remind ourselves that it's always good to keep a humble mindset.Damian Fowler (28:34):I'm Damian, and we'll see you next time.

Joseph Macbeth: Joseph Macbeth, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), boasts over 40 years of experience in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field. He began his career as a direct support professional and has become a prominent leader in workforce advocacy. Joe has significantly contributed to the advancement of direct support initiatives, particularly in New York and has been pivotal in establishing NADSP as a national movement representing over 60,000 professionals. Among his notable achievements are co-authoring a presidential report on the direct support workforce crisis and developing the E-badge Academy. Additionally, he serves on various national boards and committees, including a presidential appointment to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID).Episode Summary:In this 2-part episode of DSP Talk, host Ashley Blaise engages in a meaningful conversation with Joseph Macbeth, an influential figure in the field of direct support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Joe shares insights from his extensive experience advocating for direct support professionals (DSPs), discussing the urgent need for policy changes that affect DSPs and their ability to provide essential services. He emphasizes the potential impact of impending Medicaid cuts and the importance of DSP-led advocacy to confront these challenges.In an exploration filled with crucial insights, Joe Macbeth delves into significant policy issues facing DSPs today, highlighting the often invisible and undervalued status of these professionals. He elaborates on the profound effects of potential Medicaid cuts, advocating for direct support professionals to mobilize and advocate on their own behalf. Throughout the discussion, Joe underscores the vital role of DSPs in achieving quality care and the pressing need for proper recognition within the profession. The conversation further explores the necessity for systemic support, training, and direct involvement of DSPs in policy advocacy, emphasizing the role of personal stories in influencing legislative change.Key Takeaways:Direct support professionals face potential setbacks due to proposed Medicaid cuts, which could impact both their livelihoods, and the quality of care provided.Joe Macbeth encourages DSPs to take charge and advocate for themselves, drawing a parallel to successful social justice movements led from within.Recognition and support for DSPs extend beyond monetary compensation to include career development, decision-making power, and strategic involvement in organizational processes.There is a critical need for a unique occupational classification for DSPs to ensure accurate workforce data, essential for informed policy decisions.Notable Quotes:1. "I see this as a social justice type of issue. People who support people with all types of disabilities need to be valued and respected as a true professional” – Joe Macbeth2. "Honoring is a practice, not a performance." – Ashley Blaise3. "Medicaid is not an entitlement. Medicaid feeds back into community and people with disabilities…contribute greatly to our communities." – Joe Macbeth4. "Nobody's a good direct support professional on day one. It takes time to be a good direct support professional."– Joe MacbethResources:National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)Advocacy CenterDisability Policy Forum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ari Paparo talks with Philip Inghelbrecht, CEO and co-founder of Tatari, about how TV advertising is changing. They cover outcome-based measurement, the role of DSPs in connected TV, and how Tatari is using AI in creative workflows and media planning. The conversation also touches on how brands of different sizes approach TV and what trends are shaping the space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Oscar Höglund, the co-founder and CEO of Epidemic Sound. Epidemic Sound is a leading music and soundtracking platform for content creators. They have garnered attention for its digital rights model and soundtracking tools that help creators to elevate their content with music, while simultaneously supporting artists financially. Oscar shares insights from his journey launching Epidemic after working with Sweden's renowned Zodiak Television.In their episode, Ari and Oscar unpack critical issues impacting independent artists, including royalty structures, streaming economics, and the evolving landscape of music licensing. They explore Epidemic Sound's unique approach to artist compensation, discuss how digital streaming has pushed music toward playlist-driven consumption, and tackle the creative tension artists face when making commercially viable music. This episode offers an in-depth look at one of the industry's most influential platforms shaping the future of music in content creation.Chapters00:00 The Changing Landscape of Music Royalties06:00 Epidemic Sound: A New Model for Music Distribution12:14 Artist Compensation and Ownership Rights17:46 Innovative Approaches to Music Licensing24:09 The Impact of Epidemic Sound on Independent Artists29:53 Future of Music in the Digital Age42:16 The Evolution of Music Consumption46:21 Negotiating with DSPs and Licensing Rates49:52 The Rise of Epidemic Sound55:31 The Artist's Identity Crisis01:08:01 Future Innovations and AI in Music01:21:12 Becoming a Full-Service Music PlatformEdited and mixed by Ari DavidsMusic by Brassroots DistrictProduced by the team at Ari's TakeOrder the THIRD EDITION of How to Make It in the New Music Business: https://book.aristake.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joseph Macbeth: Joseph Macbeth, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), boasts over 40 years of experience in the intellectual and developmental disabilities field. He began his career as a direct support professional and has become a prominent leader in workforce advocacy. Joe has significantly contributed to the advancement of direct support initiatives, particularly in New York and has been pivotal in establishing NADSP as a national movement representing over 60,000 professionals. Among his notable achievements are co-authoring a presidential report on the direct support workforce crisis and developing the E-badge Academy. Additionally, he serves on various national boards and committees, including a presidential appointment to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (PCPID).Episode Summary:In this 2-part episode of DSP Talk, host Ashley Blaise engages in a meaningful conversation with Joseph Macbeth, an influential figure in the field of direct support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Joe shares insights from his extensive experience advocating for direct support professionals (DSPs), discussing the urgent need for policy changes that affect DSPs and their ability to provide essential services. He emphasizes the potential impact of impending Medicaid cuts and the importance of DSP-led advocacy to confront these challenges.In an exploration filled with crucial insights, Joe Macbeth delves into significant policy issues facing DSPs today, highlighting the often invisible and undervalued status of these professionals. He elaborates on the profound effects of potential Medicaid cuts, advocating for direct support professionals to mobilize and advocate on their own behalf. Throughout the discussion, Joe underscores the vital role of DSPs in achieving quality care and the pressing need for proper recognition within the profession. The conversation further explores the necessity for systemic support, training, and direct involvement of DSPs in policy advocacy, emphasizing the role of personal stories in influencing legislative change.Key Takeaways:Direct support professionals face potential setbacks due to proposed Medicaid cuts, which could impact both their livelihoods, and the quality of care provided.Joe Macbeth encourages DSPs to take charge and advocate for themselves, drawing a parallel to successful social justice movements led from within.Recognition and support for DSPs extend beyond monetary compensation to include career development, decision-making power, and strategic involvement in organizational processes.There is a critical need for a unique occupational classification for DSPs to ensure accurate workforce data, essential for informed policy decisions.Notable Quotes:1. "I see this as a social justice type of issue. People who support people with all types of disabilities need to be valued and respected as a true professional” – Joe Macbeth2. "Honoring is a practice, not a performance." – Ashley Blaise3. "Medicaid is not an entitlement. Medicaid feeds back into community and people with disabilities…contribute greatly to our communities." – Joe Macbeth4. "Nobody's a good direct support professional on day one. It takes time to be a good direct support professional."– Joe MacbethResources:National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP)Advocacy CenterDisability Policy Forum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of IDD Health Matters, Dr. Craig Escudé is joined by Ricardo Ortega and Babar Nawaz of iCare Manager—an innovative electronic health record (EHR) company revolutionizing care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Together, they explore how technology can improve efficiency, documentation, and most importantly, the quality of care delivered by providers across 25 states and counting. Ricardo and Babar share their insights into the unique challenges of healthcare in the IDD field, such as state-specific compliance, staffing shortages, and underfunding. Learn how iCare Manager was built from the ground up—with direct input from DSPs, nurses, coordinators, and executives—to create a one-stop, user-friendly solution that empowers providers to spend more time supporting individuals and less time on paperwork. The conversation also looks ahead to the future of healthcare technology, highlighting the exciting (and sometimes scary!) potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in automating assessments, generating personalized care plans, and enhancing service delivery—all while preserving the vital human touch. Topics include: The origin and mission of iCare Manager Addressing compliance across state systems EHR systems built by providers, for providers How AI can improve outcomes and efficiency The importance of person-centered planning and funding in the IDD space Whether you're a provider, administrator, or simply passionate about inclusive healthcare, this episode offers powerful insight into how technology and compassion can go hand-in-hand to support people with IDD.

In this week's episode, John and Cynthia explore the incredible insights and untapped potential of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs). Our conversation will cover: Why DSPs often feel unheard within their organizations and how to change that Practical strategies for breaking down "invisible barriers" between leadership and frontline staff The importance of cultural awareness and diversity in our caregiving workforce Creative ways to show appreciation that truly resonate with different people We'll share actionable tips for creating genuine listening opportunities, whether you're a family member working with DSPs, an organizational leader, or a DSP yourself looking to make your voice heard. Got a story about feeling truly heard and valued in your work supporting people with I/DD? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at Quillopod@myquillo.com. Episode Transcript

For today's episode, you will hear my conversation with Constance Keane, the front-person and drummer of feminist Irish post-punk band M(h)aol. Connie joins me to discuss the band's brand new album 'Something Soft,' a blisteringly loud and hair-raising screed on the emotional and political undercurrents of her life over the past few years. ✨ MORE ABOUT M(H)AOL ✨M(h)aol is a feminist post-punk band from Ireland who grabbed the attention of global DIY punk circles with their debut album 'Attachment Styles' in 2023. Now after two years of relentless touring and a significant lineup change, the band has unleashed their brand new offering 'Something Soft,' available now on all DSPs. ✨ KEEP UP TO DATE WITH M(H)AOL ✨Instagram: instagram.com/mhaolmusic/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mhaolTwitter: https://x.com/mhaolmusicBandcamp: mhaol.bandcamp.com/album/something-softApple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/mhaol/1496839296Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/3YQdlHhWbhvV46g0bDtaFN✨ CONNECT WITH IZZY ✨Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://agrrrlstwosoundcents.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/channel/UCv6SBgiYCpYbx9BOYNefkIg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/agrrrlstwosoundcents/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/grrrlsoundcents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Next week is DSP Recognition Week (September 8-14, 2024). In this REPLAY episode from 2023, John and Cynthia sit down with John Raffaele, the Director of Educational Services at NADSP. We discuss DSPs (Direct Support Professionals), who they are, and their impact on the IDD community.  Resources mentioned in the episode: NADSP Want to share stories with us? Email us at Quillopod@myquillo.com To learn more about Quillo Connect visit MyQuillo.com  

Anthony Pappas: A seasoned Direct Support Professional with over 15 years of experience, Anthony Pappas is deeply involved in the realm of self-directed services for individuals with developmental disabilities. His unique approach incorporates creative elements such as music, songwriting, and creative writing to foster personal development and achieve person-centered goals. A musician, recording artist, and published author, Anthony has a rich history of collaborating with families and participants to cultivate meaningful and empowering support systems.Episode Summary:In this episode of DSP Talk, host Ashley Blaise delves into the transformative world of self-direction with Anthony Pappas, a Direct Support Professional who has an innovative approach to person-centered care. This episode focuses on the intricacies and benefits of self-direction as people with developmental disabilities are empowered to make significant life choices about their care, supported by a close-knit team of family and DSPs. Anthony shares his insights from over 15 years in this field, emphasizing the importance of flexibility, mutual respect, and collaboration between DSPs, participants, and families.Throughout the conversation, Anthony highlights how working closely with families changes the traditional DSP role, offering a more personalized approach to care. Terms like "self-direction," "collaborative teams," and "individualized goals" permeate the discussion as Anthony reflects on his innovative methods, such as using music to enhance vocabulary and creative expression. The discussion underscores the challenges and rewarding moments of self-direction, showcasing real-life examples that emphasize empowering choice and finding common ground in decision-making processes.Key Takeaways:Self-direction thrives on collaboration, creativity, and respecting personal choice, with the participant's voice central to decision-making.Effective communication between families and DSPs is crucial for successfully navigating challenges and fostering growth in participants.Utilizing creative approaches like music can significantly enhance personal development and engagement of individuals being supported.Compromise and flexibility are necessary for achieving shared goals and maintaining productive relationships between families and DSPs.Anthony's experiences illustrate the transformative power of self-direction in instilling independence and confidence in participants.Resources:Book: Gifts From the Autistic Community - by Anthony PappasListening Workshop: Listen and Unwind - Contact AMPappas620@gmail.comDefinitions:Participant – In this episode, participant refers to the person being supported in self-directed services.FI – Fiscal Intermediary is the agency of records. The FI handles DSP onboarding, payroll, mandatory training of DSPs and families, as well as Human Resources needs such as tax information and health insurance benefits for the DSP. The FI ensures that all DSPs on the participant's team, as well as the participant's budget, are compliant with the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).Tune in to the full episode to deepen your understanding of person-centered care and see firsthand how the DSP Talk series uplifts the invaluable work of direct support professionals. Stay connected for more conversations that inspire and inform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ad industry is seeing major shifts, with Microsoft stepping back from Xandr amidst the rise of AI and the complexities of CTV advertising at the forefronts. Meanwhile, the value of local advertising is in question, as it struggles to keep up with the evolution of digital platforms and measurement.

For today's episode, I am joined by Maia Friedman to discuss her brand new album Goodbye Long Winter Shadow, a collection of meticulously crafted songs about the cyclical nature of life and the personal tragedies and new beginnings that inspired the trajectory of the album. ✨ MORE ABOUT MAIA FRIEDMAN ✨Maia Friedman is an artist based in Brooklyn, known for her work with the Dirty Projectors and Coco. Coming off the heels of her 2022 solo debut Under The New Light which was crafted through improvisational sessions, her sophomore effort Goodbye Long Winter Shadow, was the result of intensive and rigorous writing sessions. The record is available now on all DSPs. ✨ CONNECT WITH IZZY ✨Blog: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://agrrrlstwosoundcents.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠youtube.com/channel/UCv6SBgiYCpYbx9BOYNefkIg⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/agrrrlstwosoundcents/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/grrrlsoundcents⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On today's show, we chat with Melody Noel!For Melody Noel, music is a life force. Born into a family of mariachis spanning across seven generations — with the earliest musician dating back to the 1870s — Melody forged her own path as the first to create music outside the Mexican folk genre.  Melody began her journey in pop music as a member of teen girl group Runway MMC. This experience opened her eyes to the American music scene, working with the likes of Grammy nominated Alex Cantrall (“Leave (Get Out)” by JoJo) and Brandon Howard (“I Ain't Gotta Tell You” by Ne-Yo) for Runway MMC's debut EP “Forever Yours” (2008).  Melody pursued higher education at NYU's Clive Davis School of Recorded Music, graduating in 2014.  Her class project, an EP titled “The Living Room Sessions,” sparked the interest of music publisher Imagem Music; they signed her soon after in 2012.She continued her path as a songsmith in Los Angeles, toplining for songs such as “IDon't Wanna Love You” (Casablanca Records/UMG) by Prince Fox, “In My Head (feat.Georgia Ku)” (Mad Decent) by Party Favor, and “Paper Roses” (Spinnin' Records) by Kura.  In 2016, she co-wrote the single “Love Make the World Go Round” recorded by Jennifer Lopez and Lin Manuel Miranda. Released exclusively on iTunes, all proceeds were donated to those affected by the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, FL. The song peaked at no. 72 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and no. 9 on the Digital Songs chart. After feeling the pull to write songs for something bigger than herself, Melody pivoted to the Christian music genre, establishing Influence Music in 2017. In 2018, Melody led the worship collective in creating iTunes no. 1 and Billboard no. 2 album “Touching Heaven.” Melody's single “Mistakes” made it on Billboard's Christian Airplay chart for 20weeks. She continues writing and performing songs that are utilized by churches globally.  To date, Melody's songs have been streamed 228 million times across DSPs. Whether writing music for pop icons, film and television or for local congregants, the banner Melody carries over it all is "Soli Deo gloria,” meaning “Glory to God alone.With the release of “Back to Praise” via Influence Music (distr. via Capitol Christian Music Group), Melody is stepping out in faith to accomplish such a mission. This EP consists of five pop-infused worship songs that remind believers that no matter what life brings, God is good, and our response is to keep coming “Back to Praise.” melodynoelmusic.com@melodynoelmusicchristianmusicguys.com@christianmusicguys

If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more!My guest this week is Vermont-via-Chicago producer, multiinstrumentalist, and record shop owner Greg Davis, also known by his beatmaking alias, Asterisk. We spoke about Perfect Days, the Star Wars franchise, particularly Revenge of the Sith, Legend of Ochi, A Clockwork Orange, falling in love with hip-hop, how studying music in college set him up to expand his vision, running a record store, bridging the gaps between the old and the new, and the creative process behind No School, his return to the world of hip-hop beatmaking. Come fuck with us. No School is currently available exclusively on Greg's Bandcamp. Find it on all other DSPs starting June 6. Follow Greg on Instagram (@gregorytylerdavis) and Twitter (@asterisk_802), follow his record store, Autumn Records, on Instagram, and check them out if you're in the Vermont area.My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), Bluesky (@cinemasai.bsky.social), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped into all things Dylan Green.  Support the show

This week, Mike and Emily dive into the recent positive performance of The Trade Desk, questioning if the earlier concerns about the ad tech market were overblown, and then shift gears to discuss the evolving landscape of search with the rise of sophisticated AI prompting and its implications for information access and optimization.

Kenya's rising Afro-pop sensation Keemlyf gets hyped with your Queen Wanjira Longauer, chatting about his new release ‘OUTSIDE,' out on all DSPs, his artistic journey and more!

Next in Media spoke with Tim Vanderhook and Chris Vanderhook, co-Founders of Viant Technologies. The CEO and COO of the ad tech firm talked about their Trade Desk rivalry, whether a Google breakup will be good for their business and the open web, and why CTV offers a chance for fewer monopolies.

"I think it will be blunt and arbitrary" - Goodway Group CEO Jay Friedman on what happens if marketers have to slash budget during TariffmageodonNext in Media talked to Goodway Group CEO Jay Friedman about the state of brands' decision making amidst an uncertain economy and a rise in AI automation.  And of course, we talked about cookies and the various court decisions facing Google.

Host Mike Shields and ad consultant Emily Riley return to break down the major developments in media and advertising, from the Google antitrust trial to the latest on Google's cookie changes.