Where Retail Media, Payments, and Consumer Dollars Actually Go

Commerce is shapeshifting right in front of us, and if you blink, you might miss the moment everything clicks into place. This special edition of Liftoff Journeys is all about what's really happening at the intersection of retail, media, and AI, and why the smartest leaders in the room are rethinking everything from how customers discover brands to how retailers build entirely new revenue streams.This week I sat down with some seriously plugged-in voices who break down why the traditional marketing funnel is dead (think pinball machines and tornadoes instead), how commerce media is becoming a flywheel for growth rather than just a margin play, and what it actually means to be "AI native" as a brand in 2025. You'll hear from Mark Grether, GM/SVP PayPal Ads, PayPal, Ashley Miles, CEO Co-founder, Franklyn West and Christine Russo, CEO Co-founder, What Just Happened, talk about why some retailers are thriving while others are falling behind, what PayPal's transaction data has to do with the future of advertising, and why customer obsession isn't just a buzzword but the actual engine behind every winning strategy discussed in this episode.Whether you're a CMO trying to future-proof your brand, a retail leader exploring your first media network, or an entrepreneur looking for the signals that separate hype from real opportunity, this one's packed with perspective you can actually use. Tune in, take notes, and get ready to rethink what commerce looks like from here.