Ahead of the Game
by Digital Marketing Institute
Want a taste of the real-life digital marketing game? Supercharge your marketing skills and sharpen your mindset with incisive insights from industry experts. The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by The Digital Marketing Institute, hosted by Will Francis. Subscribe to all DMI Ahead of the Game podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or watch on video at YouTube. And check out the DMI's extensive knowledge library and join up for free. https://my.digitalmarketinginstitute.com/auth/register?podcast
Episodes
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Why Reddit Matters for Marketers
Ever wondered why so many people add “Reddit” to their Google searches? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Sam Hughes, Head of Industry at Reddit, about what makes the platform such a trusted source of information and advice. Sam explores how people use Reddit to...
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How to Organize Your Digital Workspace
Ever feel like your digital life is getting harder to manage? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Shawn Lemon, founder of The Digital Organizer, about creating simpler systems for managing files, email, tasks, and the growing number of tools we use every day. Shawn...
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Building Audience Through Content
What does content marketing look like when creating more content is no longer enough? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Chima Mmeje, Senior Content Marketing Manager at Moz, about how marketers can stand out as AI transforms search, content, and the way audiences...
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Understanding AI Search Visibility
How does your brand stay visible when search is shifting from rankings and clicks to mentions, citations, and AI-driven answers? And did you know that AI can't yet read the Javascript on your site? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis talks to Aimee Jurenka, founder of SEO...
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Stories From an Entrepreneur
Ever wondered why some brands earn attention while others get overlooked? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with entrepreneur Ernest Cantillon about what it really takes to build brands people remember. Ernest is co-founder of Black Emerald Irish Whiskey, COO of LYQD…
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How AI is Changing Search
Search is changing faster than most marketers realize. In this episode, Will Francis speaks with Crystal Carter, Head of AI Search and SEO Communications at Wix Studio, a role focused on helping brands understand how AI-powered search is reshaping online visibility and discovery. They discuss the...
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Responsible AI in the Workplace
What does “responsible AI” look like in practice? In one of our most engaging episodes of the year, host Will Francis speaks with Gordon Ryan, Senior Managing Consultant and Design Process Lead at Sopra Steria, about the growing impact of AI on work, business, and society, and the hidden…
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Inside Social Creativity and Virality
Ever wondered what really makes social content go viral? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Stuart Larkin about viral social campaigns, creativity on social media, and why “going viral” is rarely the right starting point for a brand strategy. Drawing on his…
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How AI is Reshaping Recruitment and Careers
Wondering how AI is changing the hiring process? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Katie Fortunato, Co-Founder and EVP of Innovation and Platform Strategy at Hire Innovations, about how AI is transforming recruitment, reshaping the job market, and creating new...
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Sustainability in Retail
Ever wondered how fast fashion brands tackle sustainability? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Sarah Whittaker, Head of Sustainability Communications at Primark, about how one of the world’s largest fashion retailers is navigating the challenge of becoming more...
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Practical Lessons from Female Founders
In this special episode of the DMI Podcast for International Women’s Day, host Taz Kelleher speaks with Areej AbuAli, founder of Women in Tech SEO, and Maeve Kneafsey, entrepreneur, host of the Transform Gov podcast, and long-time leader in digital and public sector innovation. They share…
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What You Need to Know About PPC in 2026
Not getting the results you used to from your paid search? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with PPC specialist Cathal Melinn about the current state and future of pay-per-click advertising. With rising costs, AI-driven automation, and new campaign types like Demand…
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Cybersecurity for Marketers
Worried about your organisation’s security, or not worried enough? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Rebecca Robinson, cybersecurity expert and founder of Cybec Consulting. Rebecca breaks down why cybersecurity isn’t just an IT issue, but a business, brand,...
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2026 Trends in Digital Marketing
A new year is here, and 2026 brings a new wave of marketing predictions. In our most anticipated episode of the year, the 2026 Trends edition of Ahead of the Game, DMI podcast host Will Francis explores the biggest changes, challenges, and opportunities facing marketers in the year ahead. As...
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Inside Media Planning in Mena
How do you build a media plan for a region where social usage is among the highest in the world? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Ibrahim Jabri, Client Solutions at Meta and host of the Below the Fold podcast, about what makes media planning across MENA so...
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GDPR and AI Regulation for Marketers
Finding it difficult to navigate the changing landscape of data protection? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Steven Roberts, Group Head of Marketing at Griffith College, Chartered Director, certified Data Protection Officer, and long-time marketing leader. Steven...
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Inside the World of Hotel Marketing
Ever wondered what it’s like to be a luxury hotel marketer? In this episode of the DMI Podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Mary Beth O’Connor, an experienced hospitality marketing professional whose career has taken her from international sales to Director of Sales & Marketing at the...
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An Insider’s Look at Product Marketing
How often do innovators ask themselves if someone really needs their products? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Laurier Mandin, founder of Graphos Product and author of I Need That. With over 30 years helping innovators bring ideas to life, Laurier reveals how...
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Smarter Marketing with Better Insights
What’s the key to turning research into lasting brand growth? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Heather O’Shea, Chief Research Officer at Alter Agents. With a career spanning Snapchat, Twitter, and Kantar, Heather shares her expertise on consumer insights,...
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Global Marketing Job Trends
Looking for a new role and disheartened by the job market? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis chats with Terry Payne of Aspire Recruitment and Executive Edge about the findings from Aspire’s recent report on digital marketing salaries across 5 different territories. They...
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Practical Entrepreneurship for Marketers
In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Faisal Laljee, entrepreneur and growth strategist, about the intersection of entrepreneurship and marketing. Faisal shares his insights on risk-taking, growth hacking, customer acquisition, and building brands that last. From the...
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How to Get Youth Marketing Right
In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Maurice Wheeler, CEO of We Are Family, a specialist agency focused on research, strategy, and creative work for brands that market to children, teens, and families. Maurice shares how his agency helps household-name brands...
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Inside the Rise of Agentic AI
In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis chats with Dikshant Dave, CEO of Zigment, about the fast-evolving world of agentic AI — autonomous AI agents that execute multi-step marketing and sales tasks. Dikshant shares how agentic AI goes beyond basic automation to adapt,...
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The Next Wave of AI in Marketing
In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Jim Lecinski, marketing professor at Northwestern University, Kellogg and co-author of The AI Marketing Canvas. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping marketing — from reducing cycle times and…
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Influencer Marketing - the Influencer
In the second part of our influencer marketing series, we shift focus from the marketer to the creator. Host Will Francis chats with Ben Kaluza, a former Twitch ad ops professional turned full-time content creator. Ben shares his candid journey into content creation—from gaming streams…
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Influencer Marketing - the Marketer
On the DMI podcast, we're devoting the next 2 episodes to going deep into influencer marketing. First from the marketer's viewpoint and then from the creator's. In this first episode host Will Francis chats with Sarah Adam, Head of Partnerships and Influencer Marketing at Wix. Sarah shares…
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How to Go to Network (Not Market)
In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Mark Kilens, CEO and co-founder of Tack, a community and consultancy focused on helping companies go to market. Mark shares a fresh perspective on how go-to-market strategies must evolve by putting people, not companies, at…
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The Rise of Sustainable Marketing
In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Laura Costello, Head of Sustainability and Planet Services at youth agency Thinkhouse, as well as Ireland lead at Purpose Disruptors. Starting with having Ben & Jerry's as her first client, Laura shares her deep…
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The Expert's Guide to Amazon Ads
In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Elizabeth Greene, co-founder of Junglr, a specialist agency for Amazon advertising. As someone who works in a niche world of Amazon ads, Elizabeth breaks down how they actually function within the wider Amazon ecosystem, and...
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Why Community Matters More than Followers
In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis sits down with Kineta Kelsall, founder of School of Social and LinkedIn trainer, to dive into the art of building genuine communities in social media. Kineta challenges the traditional notion of brand-centric marketing, emphasizing that true...
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Making Smarter Marketing Decisions with Clickstream Data
How can marketers use data effectively without getting completely lost in the numbers? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis sits down with Eli Goodman, CEO and founder of Datos, a company specializing in clickstream data. They discuss how anonymous, large-scale data can help...
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What Does a Fractional CMO Do?
The word "fractional" gets bandied around a lot these days. But what does it really mean, and how can a CMO be fractional? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis sits down with Peter Murphy Lewis of StrategicPete.com and a successful fractional CMO. Peter shares his journey from...
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2025 Trends in Digital Marketing - Part 2
In this second episode of our trends insights for 2025, host Will Francis introduces the ideas and tips brought to bear in the DMI's trends webinar held on December 2024. We talked to lots of other experts about their predictions for this year, and you can listen to them in Part 1 here. In...
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2025 Trends in Digital Marketing - Part 1
New year = new predictions for the world of digital marketing! The DMI's podcast host Will Francis talked to eight experts across digital marketing about what marketers can expect to see and what they should focus on during 2025. We have so many amazing insights to share, so we've broken this...
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The Beauty of DTC Marketing
Want to look inside the strategies of a successful DTC agency working in the beauty and lifestyle area? This week, host Will Francis chats with Nikki Lindgren, founder of digital agency Pennock, about where she's seeing the best ROI for DTC beauty and lifestyle brands. Nikki shares unexpected...
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Make a Podcast for your Brand
Want to know how to get your own podcast up and running as part of your branding strategy? This week, host Will Francis is joined by Harry Morton, founder of top podcasting agency Lower Street, who talks us through how to develop a show strategy, production best practices, and effective…
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Being Creative with B2B Marketing
On this week's episode of Ahead of the Game, Will Francis is joined by Catherine Flynn, Director for Agency Development and Marketing Education at LinkedIn APAC. From her early days at Eircell and Facebook (Meta) to her current role, Catherine discusses her 20+ year career in marketing, touching…
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Owning your Brand on Google
Are you making sure your brand appears the way you want to when people search for it in Google? That's what Jason Barnard has set out to tackle for his clients, and in thie episode he downloads plenty of tips to host Will Francis on how to own your profile on Google and AI-driven search. Check...
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Use your Personal Brand to Build a Business
In this week's episode, host Will Francis speaks with Niamh Delaney, co-founder of TeamVirtual, who shares her journey from providing virtual assistant services to coaching others in building their own businesses. They chat about the role of different social media platforms and strategies, as…
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Behavioral Science and Digital Marketing
In front of the microphone this week is DMI's own head of marketing, Mischa McInerney. Her particular passion is the psychology of marketing and she chats with Will Francis about all aspects on the "Why", covering examples of some key brands who have benefitted from smart application of the...
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How To Build Your Brand On Pinterest
In this episode, host Will Francis chats with Archana Haarnack, Pinterest specialist. They explore what makes Pinterest such a unique social platform, and how organizations can build their brands there. (It’s not just for arts and crafts!) They also tease out some best practices and…
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What Does Today's CMO Really Do?
In this episode - our 100th! - host Will Francis chats with Brian Finnerty, the CMO of educational software company D2L. They look at Brian's long career in educational technology where he sees the learner as always taking the central role, especially in the age of AI. He explains how he...
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Trends in Digital Marketing Jobs
How does the current job market look for digital marketing professionals? How is AI impacting the jobs scene? In this episode, Will Francis interviews Terry Payne, Global Managing Director at Aspire Recruitment and learns about: the demand for digital marketing skills in high-growth markets,...
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Is PPC Still Worth It?
Paid search, or pay-per-click (PPP) advertising, has always been a core part of any digital marketing strategy, and a perfect complement to SEO tactics. However, with the changes in users' search behavior and the rise of AI-powered search, such as Google's Search Generative Experience (SGE), is…
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How to Get Your Strategy off the Ground
In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis talks to serial entrepreneur and digital marketing advisor Maeve Kneafsey about crafting a strategic marketing plan for new businesses. They dive deep on going to market strategies, conducting audience research through personas, mapping the...
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Optimize Your LinkedIn Routine
LinkedIn is 20 years old, and it's never been so popular! In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis chats with Luan Wise, a long-time LinkedIn user and trainer and all-round social media consultant. They look at how you can use LinkedIn to fit your needs, the best ways to interact,...
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How to be a Digital Nomad
Travel the world in this week's episode! Host Will Francis peeks into the digital nomad life, chatting with Chris Cerra and Michelle Coulson. Chris founded the platform RemoteBase for finding remote accommodation and Michelle built HR platform Remote Rebellion out of frustration with companies...
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The Evolving State of AI Search
There's a lot going on with search and the effects of AI, and no-one's sure where it's all headed! One voice of reason is this week's guest, Luke O'Leary, who emphasizes the fundamentals of search marketing that won't change: good UX and optimization, understanding your audience, solid content…
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Professional Services Marketing with Heart
How do you market an organization made up of diverse individuals - in this case a global firm of over 700 legal professionals? We were delighted to have an insightful conversation with Roy Sexton, head of marketing at Clark Hill, on how marketing can be a force for good, the overlap between B2B…
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Understanding Your Audience with Rand Fishkin
In this episode, we get to mine the mind of marketing great, Rand Fishkin, creator of Moz and SparkToro, among other ventures. Rand and our host Will Francis have a wide-ranging discussion covering the state of marketing in 2024, how he created SparkToro to allow marketers a better way to...
About this show
Want a taste of the real-life digital marketing game? Supercharge your marketing skills and sharpen your mindset with incisive insights from industry experts. The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by The Digital Marketing Institute, hosted by Will Francis. Subscribe to all DMI Ahead of the Game podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or watch on video at YouTube. And check out the DMI's extensive knowledge library and join up for free. https://my.digitalmarketinginstitute.com/auth/register?podcast
Hosted by
Digital Marketing Institute