Marketecture: Get Smart. Fast.

Ari Paparo and guest co-host Paul Knegten sit down with Jack Raines, author of Young Money, to discuss how viral LinkedIn posts, humor, and attention-driven marketing helped him build a 61,000-subscriber newsletter, land a book deal, and create a personal brand. The episode also covers OpenAI, WPP, Walmart Connect, Taboola, Google’s AI advertising strategy, LiveRamp, and Higgsfield. Takeaways: Jack Raines turned provocative LinkedIn posts into a subscriber acquisition engine for his newsletter. Authentic personality and calculated controversy can generate attention, but the product still needs to deliver. Free content can create indirect value through book sales, consulting opportunities, and deal flow. Making a product or brand easy and fun to share can create an organic marketing flywheel. The episode also explores major developments across AI, retail media, ad tech, and the open web. Chapters:00:00 Introduction with Ari Paparo and Paul Knegten02:20 Meet Jack Raines, Author of Young Money04:02 Turning LinkedIn Trolling Into a Growth Strategy07:23 The Viral Hotel Breakfast Post10:32 Is Shitposting a Real Marketing Strategy?13:16 Knowing Where to Draw the Line14:38 From Viral Posts to Newsletter, VC, and a Book Deal18:00 Writing and Marketing Young Money24:23 Building Buzz Around a Book Launch27:03 The Marketing Lessons Behind Jack’s Strategy29:17 What Brands Can Learn From Internet Personalities31:47 OpenAI Leadership Shakeup33:55 WPP Rebate Fraud Allegations37:31 Walmart Connect’s Advertising Growth40:55 Teads, Taboola, and NBCUniversal44:56 Are Ad Networks Making a Comeback?45:01 Google’s AI-Powered Advertising Strategy47:44 LiveRamp Deal and Executive Pay51:47 Higgsfield and the Future of AI Video Advertising54:04 Closing Guests: Ari Paparo, Jack Raines, Paul Knegten Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi sit down with Matthew Drengler, Head of Partnerships at Podscribe, to unpack the messy reality of podcast measurement. They explore attribution, incrementality, the shift from audio to video, social clips, HLS, and why advertisers still need reliable performance data.The conversation then turns to the changing ad tech landscape, including the open web, Nielsen’s acquisition of DoubleVerify, measurement industry pressure, The Trade Desk’s earnings, PubMatic, Viant, and advertising to AI agents. Takeaways: Video is expanding podcast audiences, but it is also creating new measurement silos across YouTube, Spotify, Apple, and other platforms. Podcast attribution can use RSS prefixes, pixels, and listener-level signals, but those approaches become harder as consumption spreads beyond traditional RSS. Promo codes and vanity URLs capture only part of podcast-driven conversions, making more sophisticated attribution important for performance advertisers. Measurement can unlock more advertiser investment, while independent measurement and trust remain major industry concerns. Ad tech is shifting toward CTV, retail media, apps, creator channels, and AI while traditional open-web and measurement businesses face increasing pressure. Chapters:00:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction02:04 Marketecture Live Chicago03:08 Meet Matthew Drengler, Head of Partnerships at Podscribe04:43 What Podscribe Does05:45 Why Podcasts Are Moving to Video07:56 The Growing Podcast Platform Problem08:32 Apple HLS and the Future of Video Podcast Measurement09:58 What Actually Counts as a Podcast?11:41 Should Social Clips Be Part of Podcast Ad Packages?13:15 Why Social Podcast Clips Are Hard to Measure15:07 How Podcast Attribution and Incrementality Work18:02 Should Podcasts Be Treated Like Influencer Marketing?20:27 Why Better Measurement Unlocks Advertising Budgets20:47 Networks, Independent Podcasts and Performance22:17 AI-Powered Podcast Ad Verification23:55 Spotify's Podcast Ad Skip Discussion26:07 Ad Tech News Begins26:51 Is the Open Web Dying?34:38 Phia and the Cookie-Stuffing Controversy37:36 Nielsen Acquires DoubleVerify40:19 Independence and Trust in Measurement43:40 Comscore and the Measurement Market Shakeup45:45 Viant's Measurement Layoffs and AI Push46:33 The Trade Desk Earnings Breakdown50:03 PubMatic's Growth and Agentic Opportunity51:26 Viant, CTV and the MySpace Question54:00 Perplexity, Mobian and Ads Targeted to AI Agents55:47 Closing With Matthew Drengler Ari Paparo, Eric Franchi, Matt Drengler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi are joined by Nikhil Lai, Principal Analyst at Forrester, to discuss the evolution of performance marketing, Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), connected TV, incrementality, AI-powered advertising, and the future of marketing measurement. They also examine the latest ad tech news, including ChatGPT advertising, Walmart's acquisition of Vibe, AppLovin, retail media, and Q2 earnings across the digital advertising industry. Takeaways Why Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is fundamentally different from SEO and how brands should prepare. How marketers are redefining performance measurement with blended ROAS and incrementality. The opportunities and challenges of Performance TV, connected TV, and AI-driven advertising. What ChatGPT, AI agents, and creative automation mean for the future of marketing. Key insights from the latest ad tech acquisitions, earnings, and industry trends. Chapters00:00 Introduction and Summer Catch-Up01:24 Phishing Scam Warning for Advertising Professionals03:42 Introducing Guest Nikhil Lai, Principal Analyst at Forrester04:01 Nikhil Lai's Career Journey05:22 Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) vs SEO09:01 The Evolution of Performance Marketing11:09 Measuring Brand Advertising Effectiveness12:57 Incrementality and Modern Attribution14:28 AppLovin and Performance Advertising15:46 Performance TV and Connected TV18:38 Walmart Acquires Vibe and Pinterest's TV Strategy21:26 Is There an AppLovin for the Open Web?22:17 The Future of Marketing Automation and Creative23:59 Weekly Ad Tech News Begins24:38 BMW, Spider-Man, and In-Car Advertising30:31 Agentic Advertising and AI Search34:32 ChatGPT Advertising and Brand Agents40:02 Ad Tech Earnings Highlights45:18 Is MySpace Making a Comeback?46:50 Meta and LiveRamp Partnership47:58 Closing Remarks Guests: Ari Paparo, Eric Franchi, Nikhil Lai Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Edelman, independent consultant and longtime ad fraud investigator, joins Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi to discuss the Phia affiliate controversy, the evolution of ad fraud, AppLovin's install practices, and what marketers should know about trust and attribution. They also cover Meta and Microsoft earnings, Google's Buyer Direct, creator marketing trends, FreeWheel's latest CTV update, and more. Takeaways: - Ben Edelman explains how affiliate fraud has evolved and why it remains a major issue. - A deep dive into the Phia browser extension controversy and affiliate attribution. - Lessons from the Blinkx adware scandal and AppLovin's forced install investigation. - Ari and Eric discuss Meta and Microsoft earnings, Google's Buyer Direct, and the future of creator marketing. - The latest updates from FreeWheel, Amazon, X, and the broader ad tech industry. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:12 Podcast updates and industry news preview 02:19 Meet Ben Edelman 03:20 The Blinkx adware investigation 10:04 How Ben investigates ad fraud 13:28 The Phia affiliate controversy explained 19:02 Can affiliate marketing be trusted? 23:50 AppLovin's install practices 27:37 Where to follow Ben Edelman 27:51 Meta and Microsoft earnings 33:37 Amazon becomes the largest Fortune 500 company 36:06 Google's Buyer Direct and antitrust concerns 40:14 The rise of micro and nano creators 42:44 AI-generated content in programmatic advertising 43:59 FreeWheel's new CTV reporting capabilities 45:08 X and the WFA legal settlement 46:25 Final thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi welcome Olivia Kory, Chief Marketing Strategy Officer at Haus, to unpack one of advertising's biggest questions: do ads actually work? Olivia explains the critical difference between attribution and incrementality, shares why AppLovin has become a standout performance channel. She discusses the future of media measurement, AI-driven optimization, and agentic media buying. The episode also covers Google's latest earnings, AI search trends, OpenAI's advertising ambitions, and the challenges of measuring podcast advertising. Takeaways: Olivia explains why incrementality measures causation while attribution measures correlation. AppLovin delivers strong short-term performance, particularly for lower-cost, impulse purchases. Incrementality testing is becoming essential for validating ad platform performance. AI is reshaping media measurement, budget allocation, and campaign optimization. The hosts discuss Google's AI investments, OpenAI's potential ad network, and why podcast measurement still needs major improvements. Chapters:00:00 Introduction & Olivia Kory Returns05:47 Attribution vs. Incrementality Explained07:48 Do AppLovin Ads Really Work?10:53 Which Products Perform Best on AppLovin?12:30 Affiliate Marketing & Incrementality Challenges16:04 CAPI vs. Pixels: The Future of Measurement20:13 AppsFlyer, Attribution & Daily Optimization23:30 AI-Powered Budget Allocation & Agentic Media Buying28:48 Google's Earnings & AI Growth32:36 AI Search and Google's Changing SERP34:30 Is OpenAI Building an Ad Network?41:51 Business Insider's FAST Channel Launch43:50 Why Podcast Measurement Is Still Broken49:16 Should Olivia Start Her Own Podcast?50:19 Closing Remarks Guests: Ari Paparo, Eric Franchi, Olivia Kory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AppsFlyer President and General Manager Brian Quinn joins Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi to discuss the company’s $1 billion funding round backed by Google, Meta, Unity, and Moloco. They explore independent measurement, mobile commerce, CTV attribution, and the future of AI advertising. Takeaways: - AppsFlyer’s strategic investors hold minority, non-controlling stakes, allowing the company to remain independent. - Google, Meta, Unity, and Moloco rely on independent measurement signals to improve advertising optimization. - E-commerce and retail are among AppsFlyer’s fastest-growing categories. - Connecting CTV, web, and app activity is essential for measuring the complete customer journey. - Last-click attribution remains vulnerable to manipulation and affiliate fraud. - AI advertising growth will depend on proving incremental returns for marketers. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction with Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi 01:09 Marketecture’s new MADDB MCP server 04:14 Brian Quinn joins the conversation 04:45 What is AppsFlyer? 05:39 Inside AppsFlyer’s $1 billion funding round 06:41 Why AppsFlyer selected strategic investors 07:19 Protecting independent measurement 08:34 Why Google and Meta invested 09:49 AppsFlyer as an optimization signal 11:28 How the unusual funding round came together 12:31 Strategic investors versus private equity 13:20 Competing with Adjust while partnering with AppLovin 15:56 Mobile advertising beyond gaming 17:35 Growth in retail and e-commerce apps 19:25 Connecting CTV, web, and mobile measurement 23:52 Ad tech news of the week 25:19 Fia and the affiliate attribution controversy 27:35 The problems with last-click attribution 31:13 Can AI advertising meet its revenue forecasts? 35:01 Questions around IP-based CTV targeting 37:03 Open-web ad supply falls sharply 38:35 The Trade Desk expands its leadership team 40:20 PubMatic exits the wrapper-management business 41:28 Closing thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when AI agents become media buyers and shopping assistants? Ari Paparo sits down with Abhay Singhal, Co-Founder and CEO of InMobi Advertising, to discuss the future of agentic advertising, AI-powered commerce, and conversational ad experiences, and how InMobi is preparing for a world where AI makes purchasing decisions. They also explore Glance's expansion to Samsung TVs, InMobi's acquisition of MobileAction, and how traditional ad tech workflows are being reimagined through AI. Takeaways: - Why AI agents will fundamentally change digital advertising - How InMobi's Agentic Selling Platform works - The future of conversational advertising - Glance's expansion to Samsung TVs and AI-powered shopping - How AI is reshaping the customer journey - Why advertisers need to move closer to the point of transaction - What the MobileAction acquisition means for app marketers - How conversational CTV ads are improving engagement Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:07 InMobi's Agentic Advertising vision 01:58 Inside the Agentic Selling Platform 03:01 Why advertising is moving closer to conversion 04:27 AI agents, DSPs & the future of media buying 06:34 Glance explained 08:13 Samsung TV partnership 09:38 Measuring AI-powered commerce 11:07 Why InMobi acquired MobileAction 12:58 Conversational AI ads on Connected TV 15:36 Lightning Round 16:01 Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Kantrowitz, Founder of Big Technology, joins Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi to discuss how OpenAI, Google, Meta, Anthropic, Amazon, and other tech leaders are transforming digital advertising. They also dive into AI-powered media buying, agentic commerce, Criteo acquisition rumors, Cloudflare's monetization strategy, and the future of ad tech. Takeaways:- Why OpenAI is rapidly building an advertising business.- How Meta, Google, and Anthropic are approaching AI differently.- The future of AI-powered advertising and agentic commerce.- Why Criteo could become an attractive acquisition target.- How Cloudflare is changing publisher monetization with AI payments. Chapters:00:00 Introduction & Marketecture Live Chicago01:55 Meet Alex Kantrowitz05:20 OpenAI's Advertising Strategy12:07 Why Anthropic Is Avoiding Ads14:45 Meta's AI and Advertising Future17:45 Snap's Business Challenges18:55 Pinterest's Advertising Opportunity21:54 Amazon's Sports & AI Strategy24:15 AppLovin's Rise in Mobile Advertising25:15 Criteo Acquisition Rumors30:57 AI Negotiating Media Deals (ADCP)33:05 Cloudflare's AI Monetization Gateway36:40 Warner Bros. Discovery's AI Ad Tech38:40 WPP's AI Consulting Expansion42:25 Leadership Changes at IAS44:20 Final Thoughts Guests: Ari Paparo, Eric Franchi, Alex Kantrowitz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo speaks with Grant Gudgel, Chief Marketing Officer at Locala, about adaptive advertising, AI-powered planning, location intelligence, omnichannel marketing, privacy, and how brands can improve campaign performance through localized insights. Takeaways Locala helps brands optimize campaigns using market-level insights instead of national averages. AI agents analyze local data to improve campaign planning and performance. The platform supports omnichannel activation across CTV, DOOH, mobile, audio, and more. Adaptive advertising enables brands to adjust budgets, messaging, and channels by market. Privacy and location intelligence remain central to Locala's long-term strategy. Chapters00:00 Introduction00:21 Grant Gudgel joins Locala as CMO00:37 What Locala does and its evolution01:30 Planning platform vs. traditional DSPs02:15 How brands optimize campaigns market by market03:37 Measuring campaign performance and learnings03:52 AI's role in campaign planning05:42 Solving complex retail and QSR marketing challenges07:08 What adaptive advertising means08:07 Location intelligence beyond retail09:30 Competitive analysis with location data09:58 Omnichannel planning with DOOH and CTV10:22 Privacy and location data11:05 Locala's goals at Cannes11:35 Competitive advantages and growth challenges12:21 Lightning round: Why Locala is a narwhal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo sits down with Todd Parsons, President of Performance Media and Chief Product Officer at Criteo, to discuss the launch of Criteo GO, an AI-powered performance platform that unifies cross-channel advertising across the open web, Meta, TikTok, and OpenAI. They explore AI-driven campaign automation, commerce data, retail media, agentic AI, GEO, and what the future of digital advertising looks like. Takeaways Criteo GO simplifies cross-channel performance marketing with AI. Commerce intelligence powers better campaign optimization and outcomes. AI reduces onboarding from weeks to just hours. Agentic AI is beginning to automate media planning and execution. GEO could reshape how brands compete for AI-driven discovery. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Todd Parsons and Criteo00:50 What is Criteo GO?02:05 Who is Criteo GO built for?03:12 Cross-channel performance marketing explained04:00 Commerce data and retail media strategy06:00 Measuring real performance outcomes09:20 How AI powers Criteo GO11:45 Agentic AI and the future of media buying13:05 Self-service advertising and SMB growth15:38 Lightning round: competition, roadmap, and GEO18:08 Closing thoughts Guests: Ari Paparo, Todd Parsons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo talks with Jennifer Quigley-Jones of PMG, about the ins and outs of working with creators. Takeaways Why creator marketing has become a must-have channel for brands.How PMG uses AI and proprietary data to improve influencer campaigns. The importance of platform APIs, measurement, and creator relationships. Why authenticity consistently outperforms scripted influencer content. Industry updates on OpenAI, Comcast, Meta, and the evolving ad tech landscape. Chapters00:00 Welcome Back From Cannes02:55 Meet Jennifer Quigley-Jones, VP of Strategy & Innovation at PMG04:39 Building Digital Voices and Selling to PMG08:53 How Brands Approach Creator Marketing11:54 Using Data and AI to Find the Right Creators14:38 Why Authentic Content Beats Scripts18:38 Creator Ads, Media Strategy, and Platform APIs22:46 Creators Beyond Social Media29:16 The Future of AI and Creator Marketing32:06 Advertising News: OpenAI, Comcast, Meta & More Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live at Cannes, Ari Paparo sits down with René Raiss, Founder of SQREEM, to discuss how the company's Large Behavioral Model (LBM) analyzes real-world behavior instead of language to predict intent, improve advertising performance, and power AI-driven insights across industries. Takeaways- Why SQREEM built a Large Behavioral Model instead of a Large Language Model.- How behavioral data provides deeper consumer insights than keywords alone.- Why AI models, not proprietary data, are becoming the competitive advantage.- How brands use SQREEM to improve targeting and lower customer acquisition costs.- Real-world applications of behavioral AI across media, healthcare, finance, and government.- How AI libraries and MCPs are replacing traditional software platforms.- - - Why understanding intent is the future of marketing and advertising. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to René Raiss and SQREEM00:49 The Story Behind the SQREEM Name01:20 What Is a Large Behavioral Model (LBM)?02:11 Why Consumer Behavior Matters More Than Keywords04:21 How SQREEM Collects and Models Behavioral Data05:44 AI Libraries vs Traditional Marketing Platforms06:48 Using Behavioral AI for Better Ad Targeting07:31 Campaign Performance and Lower CPA Results08:11 Applications Beyond Advertising and Marketing09:11 MCPs and the Future of AI Workflows09:43 SQREEM's Growth Strategy and Competitive Advantage10:24 Why the Model Matters More Than the Data11:14 Lightning Round and Closing Remarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At Cannes Lions, Criteo CEO Michael Komasinski joins Ari Paparo to discuss the future of commerce media, OpenAI advertising, AI-powered discovery, retail media, agentic commerce, and how brands can measure success in the evolving AI ecosystem. Takeaways How Criteo's OpenAI partnership is reshaping AI advertising. Why commerce media is expanding beyond traditional retail media. The importance of measurement, incrementality, and AI-driven discovery. How retailers can stay competitive in the era of AI shopping assistants. Chapters00:00 Welcome & Criteo's Evolution01:31 Privacy Sandbox, AI & Industry Changes04:31 Inside Criteo's OpenAI Partnership06:16 How OpenAI Advertising Works for Brands08:19 Where AI Ad Budgets Will Come From10:17 The Reality of Agentic Commerce11:40 AI Shopping Assistants & Retail Media15:12 Measuring AI Advertising Success17:46 Retail Media Challenges & Brand Expectations19:13 Why Criteo's Buy & Sell Strategy Matters20:51 The Future of Commerce Media22:24 Why Retailers Can Win in the AI Era Guests: Ari Paparo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Set against the backdrop of UTA Beach at Cannes Lions, Ari Paparo sits down with Michael Burke, Principal at UTA and MediaLink, to discuss creator-led marketing, cultural relevance, AI adoption, brand discovery, and why human relationships matter more than ever in the AI era. Takeaways Culture and creators are becoming core media channels for brands. AI success depends on strong data, processes, and infrastructure. Brand discovery in AI is driven by reputation, reviews, and open web presence. Human relationships become more valuable as AI automates workflows. Curiosity and adaptability are critical skills for future marketing leaders. Chapters00:00 Welcome from UTA Beach at Cannes Lions 01:14 Why UTA invests heavily in Cannes 02:23 The creator, media, and brand triangle 03:06 How brands should approach influencer strategy 04:05 The role of data and technology in culture marketing 05:30 Why cultural relevance is every marketer's priority 06:29 AI's biggest impact: workflow and discovery 07:16 Why AI requires better data foundations 08:07 GEO, AEO, and the future of brand discovery 10:09 Marketers' interest in OpenAI advertising 10:55 Publicis and LiveRamp industry implications 12:28 Why AI won't replace Cannes networking 13:10 The human skills that matter in an AI era 15:19 What Michael Burke is most excited about at Cannes Guests: Ari Paparo, Michael Burke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Cannes Lions, Ari Paparo sits down with Vibe.co CEO Arthur Querou, following the announcement that Walmart is acquiring Vibe.co. Arthur shares the company's journey from a French startup to a leading performance TV platform, how Vibe.co was funded after selling KMTX, and what the future of performance CTV looks like inside Walmart Connect. Takeaways Walmart announced plans to acquire Vibe.co, with reports valuing the deal at approximately $1.2 billion plus incentives. Vibe.co originated as a spin-off of KMTX, a QR-targeting company founded in France. The founders sold KMTX to fund and accelerate Vibe.co's growth. Vibe.co grew rapidly by focusing on performance-driven CTV advertising for SMBs and performance marketers. The company achieved a reported run rate of approximately $227 million ARR. Vibe.co operates primarily in the U.S., while maintaining its product and engineering team in France. Arthur credits France's strong ad tech ecosystem for helping produce global success stories. Walmart Connect and Vibe.co serve complementary customer segments, creating expansion opportunities. The entire Vibe.co team is expected to join Walmart following the acquisition. Arthur's focus remains on building technology that unlocks the full potential of performance TV advertising. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Walmart Acquisition Announcement00:23 Why Announcing the Deal at Cannes Was Special01:00 The Origin Story of Vibe.co01:12 Selling KMTX to Fund Vibe.co01:49 Building a French Ad Tech Success Story02:18 France's Impact on Global Ad Tech02:30 Vibe.co vs. Mountain: Market Comparisons03:22 Growth Metrics and ARR Discussion03:40 What Happens Next at Walmart04:18 The Future of Performance TV05:10 Why Vibe.co Focuses on SMB Advertisers05:47 How Vibe.co Complements Walmart Connect06:01 The Entire Team Is Joining Walmart06:16 Arthur's Walmart Story07:01 Final Congratulations and Closing Remarks Guests: Ari Paparo, Arthur QUEROU Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Schonfeld, CRO of Tatari, joins Ari Paparo from Cannes Lions to discuss Tatari’s bold message to the DSP ecosystem, why programmatic TV only captures a fraction of the market, the evolution of convergent TV buying, and how direct access to premium inventory is reshaping the future of television advertising. They also explore Tatari’s Upstream platform, the role of data and AI in media planning, recent industry shakeups involving Publicis, The Trade Desk, Fox, and Roku, and why transparency and supply paths are becoming table stakes in CTV. Takeaways Tatari’s Cannes campaign highlights the limitations of relying exclusively on programmatic TV buying. Major tentpole events like the Super Bowl, Olympics, and World Cup are still primarily bought through direct relationships. Convergent TV requires access to both linear and streaming inventory to maximize reach and outcomes. Data remains a key differentiator, but inventory access is equally important in a supply-constrained TV market. Tatari leverages more than a decade of performance data to optimize campaigns based on outcomes. Tatari’s Upstream platform enables direct publisher integrations, reducing intermediaries and improving transparency across CTV buying. Increased scrutiny around fees and transparency is prompting agencies and brands to reevaluate their supply chains. The Fox-Roku partnership signals a shift toward deeper integration between content owners and distribution platforms. AI is accelerating media planning and workflow automation, but its effectiveness depends on the quality of underlying data. Chapters 00:09 Introduction and Tatari’s Cannes Billboard Campaign01:03 Why Tatari Says DSPs Are on the TV Sidelines02:44 Can You Buy Sports and Premium TV Through a DSP?03:56 Why Inventory Matters as Much as Data06:14 What Is Tatari’s Upstream Platform?07:15 Direct Publisher Integrations and Supply Path Optimization08:12 Publicis and The Trade Desk Reconciliation Explained08:54 Why Brands Are Reexamining Transparency and Fees09:22 What the Fox-Roku Partnership Means for CTV10:02 Why Direct Relationships Matter More in Streaming11:11 AI, Automation, and Agentic Buying12:00 How Tatari Uses Historical Performance Data13:07 Tatari’s Biggest Advantage13:10 Tatari’s Biggest Challenge13:13 Lightning Round: If Tatari Were an Animal Guests: Ari Paparo, Andy Schonfeld Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patrick Dolan, COO of the Out of Home Advertising Association of America (OAAA), joins Ari Paparo to discuss the rapid evolution of out-of-home advertising. From digital billboards and programmatic buying to retail media integration, CTV convergence, measurement challenges, and the growing role of AI, Patrick explains why out-of-home is experiencing renewed growth and how marketers can take advantage of its expanding capabilities. Takeaways OOH has grown for 19 consecutive quarters and continues to set revenue records. Digital OOH now represents 36% of total OOH revenue. Programmatic buying is making OOH more accessible to modern marketers. Retail media and OOH are increasingly converging around the path to purchase. Measurement standards continue to evolve with industry collaboration. CTV and OOH are creating new hybrid advertising opportunities. AI is improving workflows, planning, and campaign execution across OOH. National advertisers increasingly view OOH as part of omnichannel campaigns. Standardization and taxonomy remain key industry priorities. OOH benefits from strong real-world visibility and consumer attention. Chapters 00:00 Cannes Travel & AdTech Tuxedo Discussion07:18 Introduction to Patrick Dolan and OOH Advertising09:20 What OOH, DOOH, and Industry Acronyms Mean10:54 Current State of the OOH Industry12:11 Digital OOH Growth and Programmatic Adoption15:02 How Advertisers Buy and Plan OOH Campaigns15:58 Measurement Challenges and Attribution18:03 The Convergence of OOH and Connected TV19:48 Retail Media's Expanding Role in OOH22:11 Connecting In-Store and Out-of-Store Media24:11 AI's Impact on OOH Advertising26:07 AI, Automation, and Workflow Improvements28:03 Lessons from Digital Advertising's Early Days30:01 The Future of AI and OOH30:51 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks Guests: Ari Paparo, Patrick Dolan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ryan Mayward, SVP and GM of Walmart Connect, joins Ari Paparo to discuss Walmart's new partnership with Yahoo and Magnite, the role of Vizio in Walmart's CTV strategy, retail media measurement, incrementality, and the future of in-store advertising. Learn how Walmart is making its audience data more accessible while focusing on outcomes and advertiser flexibility. Takeaways Walmart Connect integrated its audience and measurement capabilities with Magnite, enabling Yahoo DSP advertisers to activate campaigns on Vizio inventory. The partnership aims to make Walmart data more accessible while maintaining control over audience targeting and measurement. Walmart plans to expand access to additional DSPs and buying paths over time. Vizio OS has become a major growth driver, powering a significant share of smart TVs sold in the U.S. Walmart Connect is focused on outcomes-based advertising, including customer acquisition, sales lift, and incremental return on ad spend (iROAS). Walmart is expanding in-store media opportunities through digital screens and retail media innovations. Chapters00:00 Introduction & Walmart Connect Overview00:36 Walmart, Yahoo, Magnite & Vizio Partnership Explained03:34 Why Walmart Chose a Sell-Side Integration Strategy04:25 Future DSP Expansion Plans05:42 The Evolution of Connected TV Advertising06:50 Outcomes-Based Measurement & Walmart DSP08:56 Incrementality and iROAS in Retail Media10:24 Measuring Online vs. In-Store Sales Impact11:32 Walmart's In-Store Media & Digital Screen Strategy13:28 Walmart Connect's Biggest Advantage13:54 Walmart Connect's Biggest Challenge14:20 Lightning Round: If Walmart Connect Were an Animal15:17 Closing Remarks Guests: Ari Paparo, Ryan Mayward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott Ensign, Chief Strategy Officer at Butler/Till, joins Ari Paparo to discuss the advantages of being a 100% employee-owned agency, the rise of agentic AI in media buying, AdCP adoption, and the future of pharmaceutical advertising. Learn how Butler/Till is leveraging AI-powered workflows, healthcare expertise, mobile gaming inventory, and programmatic innovation to drive growth in a rapidly evolving media landscape. Takeaways Butler/Till operates as a 100% employee-owned ESOP, giving employees ownership stakes and allowing the agency to remain independent and agile. The agency is a women-owned and women-led business, with roughly two-thirds of employees being women. Thanks to its status as an independent agency, Butler/Till can operate with agility, making faster decisions and investing strategically without outside shareholder pressure. Butler/Till takes a product-focused approach, building technology and solutions around client needs rather than creating products solely for commercialization. Pharmaceutical advertising is shifting away from broad-reach TV campaigns toward addressable, data-driven digital media channels. Even if pharmaceutical advertising regulations change, opportunities will remain through disease-state education and targeted healthcare professional outreach. Mobile gaming remains an undervalued advertising channel, particularly for reaching healthcare professionals during everyday moments. Butler/Till participated in one of the industry's earliest agentic AI-powered media transactions using AdCP technology. Agentic AI can automate traditionally manual workflows such as RFPs, publisher negotiations, and media planning. The agency views AI primarily as a tool for accelerating work and solving talent shortages rather than replacing employees. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Scott Ensign and Butler/Till00:41 What makes Butler/Till unique as an employee-owned agency01:24 The history behind Butler/Till's ESOP structure02:25 Independent agencies vs. holding companies03:47 Product development and technology investments at Butler/Till04:33 Why Butler/Till hired a Chief Product Officer05:08 How clients approach AI and workflow innovation06:33 The changing landscape of pharmaceutical advertising08:31 Regulatory concerns and the future of pharma marketing10:44 Reaching healthcare professionals in the digital age12:15 Why mobile gaming is an overlooked advertising opportunity14:19 Butler/Till's early agentic AI and AdCP media transaction16:25 How buyer and seller AI agents could negotiate media deals19:28 Why pharma is a strong fit for agentic media buying21:24 Expanding AdCP into audio and offline media channels23:01 AI, efficiency, and the future of agency work23:57 Butler/Till's growth, hiring plans, and closing thoughts Guests: Ari Paparo, Scott Ensign Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo sits down with Damian Garbaccio, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer at Affinity Solutions, and Doug Campbell, Chief Strategy Officer at DoubleVerify, to discuss why 91% of marketers distrust platform-reported results, the rise of outcome-based measurement, the role of verified purchase data, AI-driven optimization, media waste, and the future of advertising accountability.  Takeaways  91% of marketers distrust platform-reported results, signaling a major measurement credibility gap. Brands want to optimize toward real purchase outcomes, but technical and organizational barriers remain. Verified transaction data and independent measurement are becoming essential for improving accountability.  Reducing delays and complexity between purchase data and optimization systems can improve campaign performance.  AI can enhance marketing outcomes, but its effectiveness depends on the quality of the data it receives.  CMOs face growing pressure to prove measurable business results and justify marketing investments.  Chapters  00:00 Introduction to the Affinity Solutions Outcome Marketing Council  00:29 Why the council was created and its mission  01:34 The new report: Measurement's Tipping Point  02:28 Challenges connecting ad exposure to purchase behavior  03:06 Key survey findings and marketer sentiment  03:19 Why 91% of marketers distrust platform-reported results  05:31 Why marketers still rely on proxy metrics  07:10 The value of real purchase and transaction data  08:21 Barriers preventing outcome-based optimization  09:17 Platform measurement challenges and attribution overlap  09:38 Speed, data paths, and optimization challenges  10:53 The importance of third-party measurement  11:10 How much waste exists in media measurement?  13:04 Best practices for verified outcomes and optimization  14:20 How far the industry has progressed in recent years  14:44 AI, data quality, and marketing performance  16:45 Advice for CMOs navigating measurement uncertainty  17:43 Organizational change and financial accountability  18:30 Why the opportunity for innovation remains strong  Guests: Ari Paparo, Damian Garbaccio, Doug Campbell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Chatfield, Co-Founder and President of Endorsable, joins Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi to discuss how data technology is transforming influencer and celebrity marketing. Drawing on his ad tech background from AppNexus, Alex explains how brands can move beyond traditional influencer metrics by leveraging fandom intelligence, audience data, and identity signals to build more effective endorsement partnerships. The conversation explores the growing intersection of influencer marketing, audience ownership, first-party data, programmatic advertising, and measurement. Takeaways Most creators and athletes don't truly own their audience data. Ticketing platforms, merch providers, social networks, and link-in-bio tools often control valuable fan information. Organic social reach continues to decline. Brands increasingly need paid amplification beyond social platforms to effectively reach a creator's fan base. Measurement remains a major challenge in influencer marketing. Many partnerships are still structured around content deliverables rather than business outcomes or audience performance metrics. Social platforms have an opportunity to improve influencer measurement. Platforms like Meta and YouTube could make campaign reporting more transparent and actionable for brands. Alex credits his AppNexus experience for shaping his entrepreneurial journey. His current business combines expertise in programmatic advertising, identity, and data with the entertainment and talent ecosystem. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and podcast preview  01:50 Meet Alex Chatfield and the story behind Endorsable  02:17 What is a "fandom intelligence engine"?  02:55 How Endorsable differs from traditional influencer marketing platforms 04:07 Understanding celebrity fandom and audience profiling  04:47 Why creators and athletes lack ownership of fan data 0 6:27 Lessons from fan databases and audience relationships  06:41 Building a modern fan database through digital platforms  07:44 How link-in-bio platforms generate audience identity signals  08:39 Why audience ownership matters for creators and athletes  09:10 How fandom data changes brand sponsorship negotiations  10:21 Extending influencer campaigns beyond social media  11:14 The impact of declining organic social reach  11:58 How brands and agencies currently discover influencers  13:20 The limitations of platform-native influencer discovery tools  14:06 The influencer negotiation process and talent representation  14:59 Audience data gaps in influencer marketing today  16:38 Why measurement remains difficult in influencer campaigns  17:36 Can Meta, YouTube, and social platforms solve measurement?  18:37 Lessons from AppNexus and becoming an entrepreneur  20:08 Bridging ad tech and Hollywood  20:50 Why talent should demand access to audience data  21:06 The significance of Ticketmaster data access for artists  21:32 Closing thoughts and where to learn more about Endorsable Guests: Ari Paparo, Eric Franchi, Alex Chatfield Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Marketecture Live session, Keith Petri, SVP of Data, Identity, and Supply at Viant, and Sam Khoury of Marketecture Media discuss deterministic identity, supply path optimization (SPO), contextual targeting, attribution, and the challenges of measuring true advertising effectiveness in CTV. Learn why advertisers need proof, not promises, to maximize performance and incrementality. Takeaways - Deterministic Identity Requires Proof - Publisher Login Data Isn't Fully Available to Buyers - IP Addresses Are an Imperfect Identity Signal - Too Many Supply Chain Intermediaries Create Problems - Supply Path Optimization Is About Quality, Not Just Cost Savings - Identity and Context Must Work Together - Content-Level Context Remains Limited in CTV - Incrementality Is the Ultimate Goal - Identity Resolution Requires a Holistic View - Collaboration Across the Ecosystem Is Critical Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Session Overview 00:27 Why CTV Identity Is More Complicated Than Expected 01:43 The MacKenzie-Childs Case Study: The Ideal CTV Attribution Story 03:03 Why Publisher Data Doesn't Reach Buyers 04:25 What "Deterministic, Prove It" Really Means 05:35 Where Identity Breaks Down in Programmatic Advertising 07:23 The Real Purpose of Supply Path Optimization 09:05 Identity vs. Context: Why Both Matter 10:37 The Contextual Targeting Gap in CTV 11:58 The Measurement and Attribution Unlock 14:15 Advice for Advertisers and Buyers 16:00 Closing Remarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tejas Manohar, co-founder and co-CEO of Hightouch, joins Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi to discuss composable CDPs, replacing LiveRamp, enterprise AI workflows, and why marketers still need SaaS in the age of vibe coding. They also cover Meta’s new apps, OpenAI ads, AppLovin’s social ambitions, X’s ad business, and the rise of clipping in political campaigns. Takeaways: - Hightouch is emerging as a strong alternative to LiveRamp for identity onboarding and data activation. - Tejas Manohar explains why composable CDPs and enterprise AI workflows are gaining momentum. - The team discusses agentic AI, OpenAI ads, Meta’s new apps, and the future of marketing automation. - X, AppLovin, and Meta are all evolving their platforms around AI, data, and advertising scale. - Political campaigns are increasingly using clipping and influencer distribution over traditional media. Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Marketecture Live Chicago announcement 01:28 IAB Tech Summit and industry association discussion 02:43 Introducing Hightouch co-founder Tejas Manohar 04:20 What Hightouch actually does 05:22 Composable CDPs explained 07:32 SaaS apocalypse vs enterprise software reality 11:08 Can Hightouch replace LiveRamp? 13:58 Hightouch’s vision for agentic AI marketing 17:09 Why CDPs matter for AI workflows 20:48 Tejas Manohar’s background and Segment experience 23:32 Running Hightouch as co-CEOs 24:37 AppLovin launches social app “Gist” 28:11 Meta launches Reddit-style Forums app 30:41 Meta’s AI consulting and enterprise ambitions 34:42 X ad revenue, xAI, and social graph advantages 37:14 OpenAI ads and “conversational intent” 40:51 The rise of clipping in politics and media 44:28 FTC settlement over “active listening” claims 46:52 All Eyes On raises funding in the CTV space 48:57 Closing thoughts and outro Guests: Ari Paparo, Eric Franchi, Tejas Manohar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At Marketecture Live III in New York, James Wilhite, VP of Product, Index Exchange, sat down with Alan Wolk, Co-Founder & Lead Analyst, TVREV, to discuss how advertisers can still reach massive audiences in today’s fragmented media landscape. The conversation explores the evolution of CTV advertising, the rise of contextual targeting, transparency challenges, privacy-safe audience activation, and how Index Exchange is helping brands better understand and curate streaming inventory. Takeaways - Mass audiences still exist, but they’re spread across fragmented platforms. - Contextual targeting is becoming critical for CTV advertising. - Show-level transparency helps buyers understand what they’re purchasing. - Privacy regulations are accelerating interest in contextual solutions. - Curation at the SSP level gives advertisers better inventory visibility. - AI and metadata partnerships are improving scene-level targeting. - Probabilistic targeting helps estimate who is watching in a household. - Contextual advertising reduces brand safety risks in CTV. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the James Wilhite and Alan Wolk 01:00 How media activation has changed from traditional TV to streaming 02:27 Why fragmented audiences are still massive audiences 03:42 The transparency challenges in CTV advertising 05:10 What contextual targeting actually means 06:14 How scene-level and show-level contextual data works 07:13 Why contextual targeting is growing now 07:57 AI and Gracenote’s role in metadata analysis 09:35 How Index Exchange enables contextual targeting in CTV 11:15 Why curation is moving to the SSP layer 12:35 Probabilistic targeting and household viewing data 13:35 How contextual targeting improves brand safety 14:53 The future of contextual targeting in CTV 16:20 Challenges with first-party data quality 17:27 Why privacy concerns differ between web and CTV 18:31 Final thoughts on reaching mass audiences today Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Auren Hoffman, founder of LiveRamp, joins Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi to discuss Publicis’ acquisition of LiveRamp, the company’s biggest missed opportunities, and why connectivity is becoming even more important in the AI era.  They also dive into Google I/O, AI-powered search, publisher challenges, product-led companies, and how AI is changing the way operators work.  Takeaways  LiveRamp’s biggest strength is still its network and connectivity.  Auren believes better product execution could unlock much larger growth.  AI agents will increase the need for fast data movement across platforms.  Product-focused leadership continues to define successful ad tech companies.  Google’s AI-first search experience is reshaping web traffic and publishing.  AI tools are rapidly changing how executives and teams operate.  Chapters  00:00 Publicis acquires LiveRamp  01:14 Auren’s perspective on LiveRamp’s evolution  02:17 The biggest product opportunities ahead  05:35 Middleware, clean rooms, and connectivity  07:20 Pricing and growth challenges  09:13 Why AI changes the value of data infrastructure  12:03 What Publicis could improve  15:37 Product leadership in ad tech  19:45 Trade Desk, UID2, and the competitive landscape  21:13 Google I/O and AI-powered search  26:27 Why AI is changing how operators work  29:28 The changing economics of publishing  34:21 Vox, podcasts, and creator-led media  36:32 Amazon affiliate cuts and publisher impact Guests: Ari Paparo, Eric Franchi, Auren Hoffman Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Marketecture Live session, Harry Tong from PubMatic and Georgie Haig from MiQ demonstrate how ADCP and AI agents can automate campaign setup, audience discovery, supply recommendations, and media activation in seconds instead of days. They also explore how agentic workflows and open standards are shaping the future of programmatic advertising.  Takeaways  ADCP standardizes communication and workflows across the advertising ecosystem.  PubMatic and MiQ demonstrated live AI-powered media buying workflows.  Campaign setup times were reduced from days to seconds.  MiQ reported up to 98% time savings in campaign setup testing.  Human approval and transparency remain central to agentic workflows.  Existing RTB infrastructure is being augmented, not replaced.  AI agents can automate discovery, setup, optimization, and reporting.  Open standards like ADCP help scale agentic advertising collaboration.  Buyers gain more visibility into fees and optimization opportunities.  Early testing and experimentation create long-term competitive advantages.  Chapters  00:00 Introduction to ADCP and Agentic Advertising  01:21 Harry Tong and Georgie Haig Introductions  02:23 What ADCP Actually Means  03:18 Why the Current RTB Ecosystem Needs Improvement  04:21 ADCP vs MCP vs A2A Explained  05:38 How MiQ Is Using ADCP Today  07:18 MiQ’s 98% Campaign Setup Time Savings  08:35 Overview of the Live Demo Workflow  10:18 Connecting Claude to PubMatic’s Agentic OS  11:26 AI-Powered Supply and Product Discovery  13:17 Audience Discovery and Signal Recommendations  14:39 Creating the Media Buy with AI  15:48 Campaign Goes Live Inside PubMatic  16:12 Shrinking Multi-Day Workflows into Seconds  16:49 Future Features and Automated Optimizations  18:39 Biggest Learnings from Testing ADCP  19:28 Will Agentic Advertising Become Mainstream?  20:28 Final Thoughts on the Future of AI in Advertising Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi take an in-depth look at the evolving landscape of sports advertising, featuring insights from Tony Marlow. The conversation explores the latest innovations in how brands and media companies are approaching sponsorship, fan engagement, and measurement within live sports environments. Marlow addresses current market challenges, including increased audience fragmentation and the complexities brands face in creating meaningful connections both in-stadium and across digital channels. The episode also dives into the impact of data and technology on sports marketing. In the "Refresh" segment, Eric shifts gears to spotlight a rising trend in global entertainment: Chinese microdramas. He breaks down the commercial logic behind ultra-short scripted video, its surging popularity with younger audiences, and why Western media companies are keeping a close eye on this format. The discussion offers context on the opportunities and challenges presented by micro-content ecosystems in a rapidly changing attention economy. Key topics covered include: - How innovations in sports advertising are changing the way marketers connect with fans and measure impact - The increasing role of sponsorship data and analytics in sports media deals - Sports media fragmentation and its effect on brand strategy - The rise of Chinese microdramas and what advertisers can learn from their rapid adoption - Practical recommendations for advertisers navigating new consumer behaviors and digital platforms The Marketecture Podcast, hosted by Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi, delivers expert interviews and analysis every week, drawing on deep knowledge of media, advertising, and ad tech. Stay up to date on the latest trends, strategic insights, and behind-the-scenes perspectives shaping the industry. For the full interview archive and video episodes, visit Marketecture.tv. Guests: Ari Paparo, Eric Franchi, Tony Marlow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At Marketecture Live, David Dworin, Chief Product Officer, FreeWheel, with Mike Treon, Head of CTV Strategy, PMG, shares how AI and agentic workflows are reshaping marketing and media operations. From accelerating campaign execution to enabling real-time decision making, David dives into how AI is unlocking speed, scale, and creativity across programmatic ecosystems. This conversation highlights how building with AI is not just about efficiency, but about fundamentally improving marketing performance. Takeaways • AI agents dramatically increase workflow speed and campaign output • Automation removes friction from reporting and analysis processes • Custom workflows can now be built rapidly outside traditional development cycles • Clean, connected data is critical for AI-driven decision making • Marketers are shifting toward becoming technology-enabled operators • AI enables deeper campaign optimization through micro segmentation • Capturing institutional knowledge allows repeatable and scalable execution Chapters 00:10 Introduction to David Dworin and AI in marketing 01:04 AI and agents enter the spotlight in media workflows 02:19 Faster development and collaboration with AI tools 02:35 Rapid prototyping and idea validation with AI 03:24 Transforming CTV campaign management with automation 04:50 AI agents handling daily campaign analysis tasks 05:53 Automating workflows to unlock productivity gains 06:35 The role of Alley and structured data in AI readiness 09:07 Balancing scalable products with rapid experimentation 10:37 Rise of vibe coding and agentic engineering 12:01 Alley Labs and democratizing internal innovation 14:06 Built-in vs built-on AI product strategy 15:17 The future of programmatic flexibility and APIs 16:36 Empowering marketers to build with AI 18:32 Importance of documenting workflows for AI success 20:04 AI infrastructure, APIs, and customization at FreeWheel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo and guest co host Paul Knegten are joined by Mark Stenberg, Senior Media Reporter at Adweek, for a conversation about the current state of digital media and publishing. They discuss Vox Media’s reported plans around its podcast business, how publishers are adjusting to declining search and social traffic, and why newsletters, podcasts, and direct audience relationships are becoming more important. The episode also touches on OpenAI’s advertising plans, Ziff Davis acquisitions, AppLovin’s growth, and broader shifts happening across media and ad tech. Takeaways Podcasts are becoming more valuable media assets than traditional websites. Publishers are shifting away from dependence on search and social traffic. Peer to peer sharing and push notifications are growing distribution channels. AI platforms are changing how users discover products and content. Ziff Davis is betting that legacy media brands still hold strong value. Media companies are increasingly focused on owning direct audience relationships. OpenAI advertising products could become a meaningful channel for marketers. AppLovin continues to expand its influence across digital advertising. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and guest welcome 01:59 Marketecture Live heads to Chicago 05:30 Why digital media is in chaos 06:23 Vox Media podcast network sale discussions 08:53 The future of Vox Media’s remaining brands 10:27 How media business models evolved over time 11:51 Why podcasts are more defensible than websites 16:04 Verson’s media acquisition strategy 18:08 Ziff Davis buying digital media brands 22:23 Publishers leaning into push notifications and sharing 26:02 The rise of dark social and private sharing 29:58 OpenAI launches advertising products 32:52 AI generated podcasts and content experiments 37:01 AppLovin’s continued growth in ad tech 40:19 Taboola earnings and publisher strategy 46:31 Kochava FTC settlement discussion 48:45 The end of Ask Jeeves Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Marketecture Live session, Alex Boras (President of Bliss, part of T-Mobile Advertising) joins Crissi Cupak (Head of Product at PMG) to unpack how advertising is evolving in the era of consumer control. They explore why one-to-one targeting is fading, how agencies are building proprietary tech, and why data alone isn’t enough without intelligence. From AI foundations to new measurement frameworks, this conversation dives into how marketers can balance precision, scale, and privacy while still driving real business outcomes. Takeaways Data is everywhere, but real value comes from turning it into actionable intelligence One-to-one targeting is evolving toward cohort-based strategies Strong data foundations are critical for effective AI models Agencies must invest in proprietary technology to stay competitive Measurement is shifting from last-touch attribution to broader brand and population signals Consumer control is reshaping how brands build relationships and use data Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Marketecture Live and session topic 00:40 Bliss and T-Mobile’s omnichannel data strategy 01:12 The rise of product leadership inside agencies 03:15 Challenges of building AI models with messy data 05:04 Why intelligence matters more than raw data 06:20 Moving from individual IDs to cohort-based targeting 08:02 Consumer control and the shift in data dynamics 09:02 Building digital twins for audience planning 11:08 The decline of cookie-based attribution 12:18 New measurement models using brand signals 15:10 Is one-to-one identity dead? 17:31 Data collaboration and industry-wide intelligence 18:10 Creating meaningful value exchange with consumers 20:12 Key takeaway: the future beyond one-to-one Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mary Gabrielyan, Chief Strategy Officer at AI Digital, joins Ari Paparo to learn about AI-driven supply path optimization, value-based bidding, media planning, and the future of ad tech. Insights on AI adoption, training gaps, and what skills will remain human. Takeaways AI Digital is an AI-native media consultancy built on machine learning and now evolving with generative AI and LLMs. The company offers managed services, smart supply curation, and AI Labs for client transformation and training. Elevate, their platform, provides end-to-end campaign management, including research, planning, reporting, and MMM insights. True AI-powered supply path optimization should be predictive and real-time, not just based on historical data. The industry is shifting from metric-based optimization (CPM, CTR) to value-based, outcome-driven AI bidding. AI-driven ad curation is evolving toward dynamic, real-time inventory optimization rather than static deal packaging. LLMs improve contextual targeting by understanding semantics, not just categories or keywords. Companies are underinvesting in AI training and tool adoption, limiting their ability to fully benefit from AI. Human skills like intuition, taste, empathy, and authenticity remain irreplaceable in an AI-driven world. Chapters 00:00 Introduction & Guest Overview 00:28 What is AI Digital? 01:21 Core Services: Managed Service, Smart Supply & AI Labs 02:07 Inside Elevate: AI-Powered Media Intelligence Platform 03:00 Target Customers & Market Positioning 03:41 How Elevate Works: Research, Planning & Reporting 05:26 AI in Supply Path Optimization (SPO) 06:40 Reactive vs Predictive AI in Programmatic Supply 08:25 AI Optimization: Metrics vs Outcomes 09:26 Value-Based AI Bidding Explained 10:14 AI in Ad Curation & Programmatic Future 11:20 Dynamic Curation & Real-Time Inventory Optimization 11:58 Contextual AI & Semantic Targeting with LLMs 13:31 Client Reactions to AI: Fear vs Adoption 13:58 AI Training & Talent Gaps in Organizations 14:27 Will AI Replace Jobs? Skills That Still Matter 15:09 Human Advantages: Intuition, Taste & Empathy 16:51 Lightning Round: Competitive Edge & Challenges 17:46 Fun Question: If AI Digital Were an Animal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, Ari Paparo sits down with Andrew Casale, CEO of Index Exchange, for a detailed look at the company’s latest push into cloud containerization. The discussion explores how deploying DSPs and data applications directly inside Index’s cloud infrastructure could reframe economic and technical dynamics across programmatic advertising. Key themes include maturing industry standards (ARTF), how the move impacts privacy, data security, and efficiency, and the wider implications for buyers and partners. Ari and Andrew break down technical trade-offs, the economic upside, and what shifting core infrastructure into exchange clouds could mean for the future of bidding, measurement, and AI-driven performance. The episode also delivers a recap of the Possible event and analyzes current trends: ad tech consolidation, the expanding footprint of CTV and commerce media, identity solution shifts, and ongoing investment in AI and cloud from major platforms. If you want a practical take on current ad tech developments and where things are headed, this conversation is worth your time. Guests: Ari Paparo, Andrew Casale Chapters 00:00 Possible event recap and industry themes 02:00 Ad tech maturity and consolidation trends 05:00 AI, measurement, and optimism in the market 07:10 Episode format and upcoming interview preview 10:28 Big Tech earnings overview begins 10:43 Meta performance and AI driven growth 15:44 Google, Microsoft, and Amazon cloud surge 18:28 Key announcements from Possible 18:58 Pinterest data expands into CTV 19:54 PayPal launches deterministic Ad ID 21:12 TTD and commerce media integrations 23:03 Walmart pushes into CTV and SMB market 24:19 Magnite introduces agentic AI tools 26:03 HighTouch funding and CDP evolution 27:53 Universal Commerce Protocol adoption 29:45 Interview with Andrew Casale begins 30:47 Index Exchange containerization explained 33:16 Cost and speed advantages of edge compute 35:16 Agentic frameworks and future potential 39:03 DSP orchestration challenges 41:11 Privacy and data control benefits 44:29 Future of bidding and exchange infrastructure Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At Possible in Miami, Ari Paparo sits down with Mike Fogarty, Head of Client Development, Brand & Agency Partnerships at Tatari, for a fast-moving conversation on how TV advertising is being rewritten in real time. They dig into the shift from legacy metrics like reach and frequency toward outcome-driven measurement, unpack the evolving balance between programmatic and direct buying, and explore why “convergent TV” is becoming less of a buzzword and more of an operating system. Along the way, they touch on everything from pause ads and shoppable formats to AI-powered media planning and the future of linear in a streaming-first world. If you’re thinking about how brands actually drive results across modern TV, this one delivers clarity without the fluff. Takeaways TV measurement is shifting from GRPs and reach toward real business outcomes. Advertisers are demanding clearer proof of performance across linear and streaming. Convergent TV is becoming a unified way to plan, buy, and measure across channels. Programmatic CTV still has limitations compared to direct buying. Not all inventory is equally accessible or measurable in automated systems. Live sports and major events remain critical for scale and attention. New ad formats like pause ads and shoppable units are expanding creative options. AI is starting to influence both creative production and media planning. Adoption of AI varies, with some teams moving faster than others. Data and automation are improving how campaigns are executed and optimized. Linear TV continues to play a role alongside streaming platforms. The industry is still working through how to standardize measurement across environments. Chapters 00:00 Welcome & Possible Conference Vibes 00:48 The Shift in TV: From GRPs to Outcomes 01:27 What “Outcomes” Really Mean 02:21 Measurement Challenges & Testing Methods 03:06 Buildable vs. Non-Biddable Inventory Explained 04:43 The Reality of Programmatic CTV 05:20 Sports & Tentpole Events 06:00 Interactive TV Ads & Creative Innovation 07:15 AI in Creative Production 08:08 AI in Media Planning & Buying 09:25 How Brands & Agencies Are Adopting AI 10:31 AI in Execution & Buying Intelligence 11:05 The Future of Convergent TV 12:12 Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At Marketecture Live, Peter Birsinger, Founder & CEO, Podscribe, with Matthew Drengler, Head of Partnerships, Podscribe, breaks down the current state of audio measurement and what the data really shows about podcast and streaming performance. From conversion benchmarks to ad formats and incrementality, this session reveals how brands can measure, optimize, and scale audio advertising like any other digital channel. Takeaways Audio is fully measurable today with real-time dashboards, attribution, and incrementality Podcast ads often outperform streaming audio in conversion efficiency Host-read ads deliver stronger performance and lower acquisition costs Buying individual shows drives better engagement, but programmatic can balance cost Earlier ad placement in episodes leads to higher conversion rates Longer ads tend to perform better due to storytelling and host trust Frequency caps are critical to avoid diminishing returns Incrementality is key to understanding true performance beyond attribution Chapters 00:00 Introduction to audio measurement and Podscribe 01:03 Audio is now a fully measurable digital channel 04:12 Podcast industry growth and market opportunity 06:19 Benchmark data on conversion rates and performance 08:14 Why host-read ads perform best 09:20 Single show vs. programmatic buying strategies 11:13 Best ad placement within podcast episodes 12:46 Why longer ads drive better results 15:04 Frequency caps and diminishing returns 17:10 Attribution vs. incrementality explained 20:25 Audience reach and overlap in audio channels Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Carson, Co-founder and CEO of Antenna, discusses how measurement in streaming is evolving and why it remains inconsistent across platforms. With experience from Nielsen, The Trade Desk, and Vevo, he shares how subscription data, signups, and shifting viewing behavior are influencing how performance is tracked today. The conversation looks at the gap between traditional measurement approaches and the current streaming landscape.  Takeaways The shift from linear TV to streaming is complex and requires measuring both systems at the same time Measurement challenges are driven more by industry transition than by any single company’s failure Nielsen’s role is evolving, but legacy pressures make rapid change difficult Subscription, churn, and content engagement data are becoming increasingly important signals Programming plays a major role in driving signups and cancellations across streaming platforms The future of measurement will involve multiple providers rather than a single standard Data’s role in CTV is significantly larger than it was in traditional linear TV Sports and live content are accelerating the need for better streaming measurement Ad-supported streaming tiers are growing quickly and changing how inventory is sold Measurement is expanding beyond audience reach into performance, retention, and content impact Chapters 00:02 Introduction to Jonathan Carson and streaming measurement 03:26 The state of chaos in streaming measurement 06:56 What Nielsen’s Gauge is and why it matters 09:44 Alternative currencies and the post-Nielsen measurement push 12:32 What Antenna does and its subscriber measurement model 13:30 Subscriber Views and content-driven churn 14:52 Netflix ad-plan growth and show-based CTV buying 16:15 The future: multiple measurement providers 17:41 Podcasting, YouTube, and measurement fragmentation 19:08 Sports rights and streaming measurement pressure 20:41 Paramount, UFC, and subscriber retention 22:01 News refresh: platforms, AI, and people moves 22:20 Index Cloud and SSP-side compute 26:12 Unity data through Index curated marketplaces 27:06 The Trade Desk launches Kokai Agents 29:49 TTD replaces the periodic table UI 30:35 Claude Design and AI-generated collateral 33:14 ChatGPT ad pricing shifts to CPC and lower CPMs 34:19 Kevin Weil leaves OpenAI 34:42 Magnite executive departures 35:55 Fluency hires Eric Picard 36:20 Netflix ad revenue and programmatic growth 37:24 Ari’s Beeswax SSP integration dilemma 38:28 Closing and where to find Jonathan Carson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Lane, CEO of Fluency, explains how automation and AI are transforming digital ad execution at scale. Learn how brands and agencies save time, reduce errors, and scale campaigns across channels. Takeaways Fluency positions itself as a digital advertising operating system, automating the full execution layer of campaigns. The platform eliminates manual ad ops work, saving up to 92% of time and clicks through automation. It enables massive-scale execution, such as launching hundreds of TikTok accounts instantly instead of taking years to do manually. Brands and agencies use Fluency to do more with constrained budgets and limited headcount. AI (via Muse) enhances workflows with automated reporting, insights, and even video summaries for clients. The platform supports rule-based automation, allowing campaigns to react dynamically to data like weather, inventory, or occupancy. Cross-channel execution is unified, helping teams manage budgets and performance across platforms in one system. Media companies use Fluency to scale advertising services for small businesses efficiently through automation and AI-generated creative. AI is lowering creative costs dramatically, making high-quality ads accessible even to small advertisers. The biggest market challenge today is AI confusion and decision paralysis among businesses. Chapters 00:10 Intro & Guest Welcome 00:22 What is Fluency? 00:54 Digital Advertising Operating System Explained 01:46 Who Uses Fluency? (Brands vs Agencies) 04:08 Real Example: Launching TikTok at Scale 05:34 Smart Automation & Data-Driven Campaign Logic 05:49 AI vs Automation in Ad Ops 07:08 Introducing Muse AI 08:18 Automated Reporting & AI-Generated Video Summaries 09:14 Cross-Channel Advertising Challenges 10:29 Sell-Side & Media Company Use Cases 12:07 AI’s Impact on Creative Production Costs 13:29 Vision: Scaling to $100B in Ad Spend 15:30 Biggest Market Challenge: AI Overload 15:56 Competitive Advantage & Ecosystem Role 16:46 Lightning Round & Fun Close Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Ligé, Founder & CEO, Culture Hive Media Group, explains why culture, not identity, drives performance in advertising. We break down cultural targeting, AI-powered ad relevance, and how brands can avoid “cringe” marketing moments. Plus: Meta vs. Google ad revenue, OpenAI’s ad future, and Viant’s latest acquisition strategy. Takeaways Culture Demographics Bad ads come from cultural blind spots Cultural relevance can be measured Brands should focus on rituals, communities, and moments Programmatic is shifting from “who” to “where.” Authenticity beats proximity Meta’s growth is accelerating OpenAI ads are coming Chapters 00:00 Intro + Ari’s tech meltdown 00:45 Guest intro Joe Ligé Culture Hive Media Group 02:03 What is Culture Hive Media Group 03:17 Origin story behind the culture, first advertising 05:42 Culture vs ethnicity explained 07:59 Rethinking targeting beyond demographics 08:46 Cultural cornerstones, rituals, communities, moments 09:56 How the Cultural Relevancy Score CRS works 12:22 Using AI to detect bias and bad ads 15:24 Authenticity vs cringe marketing 16:42 Case study Mountain Dew and gaming culture 19:01 How the tech and programmatic integration works 21:21 Culture first strategy and audience expansion 25:04 News Meta vs Google OpenAI ads Viant deal 49:32 Wrap up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At Marketecture Live III in New York City, Mario Diez, Chief Executive Officer, Peer39, and David Nyurenberg, SVP of Digital, InterMedia Advertising, broke down the biggest challenge in CTV today: the lack of signal transparency. They explored how missing or inconsistent data in the bidstream leads to inefficient buying, commoditized inventory, and limited optimization. Backed by real research and case studies, the conversation highlights why richer signals, better supply paths, and industry-wide transparency are critical to unlocking CTV’s full performance potential. Takeaways 60% of CTV inventory is blind, lacking usable signals for buyers Without signals, algorithms cannot optimize effectively Completion rates can be misleading without content-level context Signal transparency enables better performance even at higher CPMs Supply path optimization should prioritize signal quality, not just cost Publishers can increase value by sharing more data, not less Lack of transparency leads to commoditization of premium inventory. Industry-wide collaboration is needed to improve signal standards Chapters 00:00 Introduction to CTV signal challenges and transparency 01:19 How CTV evolved from linear but lost signal clarity 02:29 Why buyers struggle without content-level data 04:44 Research reveals 60% of CTV inventory is blind 06:01 Example: the same content appears differently across platforms 07:05 Supply path optimization and signal quality 10:14 Why completion rate is a misleading metric 11:10 Impact of UGC and misclassified content on campaigns 12:05 Why transparency is key to performance CTV 13:12 Case study: Full transparency drives better results 14:26 Improvements in program-level signals across the market 15:38 Challenges in valuing premium content like sports 17:22 Transparency as a choice for buyers and publishers 18:16 Industry barriers, including outdated privacy laws 20:40 What buyers and publishers can do moving forward Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Hoctor, CEO of Newton Research, joins Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi to break down how AI agents are reshaping marketing analytics. From automating complex workflows to enabling faster experimentation, the conversation explores what “agent-native” really means and how brands can move beyond basic AI usage. Takeaways AI agents act like junior data scientists, automating complex analytics workflows. Consistency and methodology matter more than raw AI capability in enterprise use. Most companies still underutilize their data despite having access to it. Incrementality testing becomes more scalable when automation removes setup friction. The future isn’t just AI tools—it’s structured, repeatable workflows built around them. Chapters 00:00 Intro & Guest (John Hoctor, Newton Research) 01:06 Ari’s CBS Sunday Morning Appearance 02:32 Podcast Updates & Website Move 04:06 What is Newton Research? 06:49 Early AI Agents & ReAct Framework 09:54 How the Agents Work (Architecture) 11:43 Training Agents Like Data Scientists 14:40 Workflows vs Prompting (Execution) 16:38 Incrementality & Automated Testing 19:07 Causal Models & Advanced Analytics 23:12 Advice for Marketers Using AI 28:03 News Segment Begins (TBP / OpenAI Deal) 34:59 Mediaocean + Agentic Buying Discussion 38:18 MiQ Growth & Publicis + Microsoft Deal 44:59 Meta AI, Claude Mythos & Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neil Vogel, Chief Executive Officer, People Inc., and Mark Stenberg, Senior Media Reporter, ADWEEK, share how modern publishers can survive and thrive amid declining search traffic and the rise of AI. From diversifying revenue streams to building durable brands, Neil breaks down the strategies that helped People Inc. achieve consistent growth despite industry disruption. Takeaways Strong brands are the most valuable asset in media today Relying on a single platform like Google is risky Diversification across platforms and revenue streams is essential Direct relationships with audiences and advertisers drive durability AI licensing is becoming a major revenue opportunity Media success requires constant adaptation, not entitlement Growth comes from scaling new channels while managing legacy ones Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the AI era challenges in publishing 01:52 The origin of People Inc.’s strategy and acquisitions 03:45 The “Google Zero” mindset and early adaptation 05:52 Shifting from search reliance to diversified channels 06:45 Balancing declining web traffic with new growth areas 08:38 Why constant change is normal in media 09:20 AI licensing deals and new revenue models 10:05 Types of AI content licensing agreements explained 12:14 Why publishers must demand fair compensation from AI 13:24 The challenge of negotiating with Google 15:48 Why only strong brands will survive long term 16:42 Focusing on top-performing brands in a portfolio 18:40 The limits of service-based publishing brands 20:06 The importance of diversification in audience and revenue 21:13 Final thoughts on building a resilient media business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob Emrich, Founder and Executive Chairman of Infillion, joins to talk about the Catalina acquisition, why retail data matters, and how his company is building a full-stack ad tech platform through acquisitions and integration. The conversation touches on DSP strategy, data advantages, and how the industry is shifting toward outcomes-driven advertising. Takeaways Catalina evolved from coupon printing into a powerful retail data asset SKU-level purchase data is a key differentiator in advertising Infillion’s strategy is to integrate data, media, and tech into one platform DSPs are increasingly defined by proprietary data and a unique supply Acquisition strategy matters more than just collecting assets Retail media is a continuation of older data-driven advertising models Financial vs strategic ownership can shape how companies evolve Chapters 00:00 Intro & Guest Tease 01:20 April Fool’s Day Banter 04:15 Guest Introduction Rob Emrich 05:36 Catalina Acquisition Explained 07:09 Evolution from Coupons to Data Business 09:06 SKU Level Data & Its Value 11:14 How the Deal Happened 13:46 Infilion Strategy DSP and Data 15:35 Rob’s Background & Company Origins 19:46 Acquisition Strategy 22:18 The Factory Model of Ad Tech 26:05 Customer Profile & Verticals 31:07 Amazon Ads Tops Forrester Wave 38:47 New DSP Tools & Market Expansion 44:27 OpenAI Massive Fundraise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At Marketecture Live, Ari Paparo from Marketecture Media joins Philip Inghelbrecht, Co-Founder & CEO at Tatari, Bill Murray, Head of Growth and Performance at Warner Bros Discovery, and Michael Reidy, Senior Vice President, Ad Sales at NBCUniversal. They unpack how streaming inventory is bought and sold, the balance between programmatic and direct deals, and why premium inventory often sits outside traditional programmatic pipes. The discussion also explores live events, automation, and how new solutions like Tatari’s Upstream aim to reshape access to high-quality CTV inventory. Takeaways The U.S. TV ad market is ~$90B, with $60B still in linear and $30B in streaming Only about half of streaming inventory is programmatic, and much of the premium supply is sold directly Direct buying offers advantages like guaranteed inventory, brand safety, and fewer intermediary fees Programmatic excels in targeting, flexibility, and discovery of new audience opportunities Publishers view direct and programmatic as complementary, not competing channels Live events and moment-driven content create spikes that favor guaranteed direct deals Automation is reshaping direct buying, making premium inventory more accessible to smaller advertisers Tatari’s Upstream aims to automate direct deals and bypass traditional programmatic layers The future of CTV will likely be hybrid, combining automation, data, and direct relationships Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Marketecture Live discussion 00:21 Breaking down the $90B TV and CTV market 02:04 Overlap between direct and programmatic inventory 02:30 Publisher perspective on inventory strategy 04:03 Advertiser value targeting vs premium placement 05:03 Why direct and programmatic are complementary 06:07 Benefits of direct buying for brands 07:30 Brand safety, fraud, and cost efficiencies 08:40 The importance of publisher relationships 09:30 Live events and operational challenges 10:08 Peacock strategy and nowness content 11:35 Dynamic ad insertion vs linear pass-through 12:34 Audience behavior and shared viewing moments 13:14 Managing unpredictable live inventory 14:08 Introducing Tatari’s Upstream platform 15:40 Automation of direct deals 16:00 Concentration of CTV supply among top publishers 17:04 Lowering barriers for new advertisers 18:15 How Upstream benefits publishers and buyers 19:45 Future roadmap and machine learning optimization 22:07 Performance vs brand programmatic vs direct debate 22:33 Growth of CTV and advertiser adoption 23:12 The future coexistence of direct and programmatic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alicia Richardson, co-founder and managing partner of CrowdAxis and winner of the Markecture Live Startup Showcase, joins the pod to break down how brands approach experiential marketing, how to measure its impact, and whether major events like Cannes are actually worth the investment. Takeaways Experiential marketing connects brands directly with consumers in physical settings. Marketers often rely on gut and repeat past event choices. Measurement is inconsistent and still focused on basic metrics. The industry lacks a standardized way to evaluate performance. ROI depends on both the event and the brand’s execution. Delayed data limits post-event conversion opportunities. Chapters 00:09 Intro & Guest Introduction 03:33 What is Experiential Marketing 04:20 The Measurement Problem 07:11 CrowdAxis Solution 08:05 Experiential Power Index 10:08 Marketer Perspective 13:35 Data Sources 21:19 Founding Story of CrowdAxis 25:11 Paid Marketing Debate 43:22 Shopify Agentic Storefronts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Terence Kawaja, founder and CEO of LUMA Partners, took the stage live at Marketecture Live to break down the collision of AI and advertising with his signature mix of candor and sharp analysis. While acknowledging the uncertainty ahead, he made one thing clear: the industry is moving fast from AI hype to real, measurable impact, and the winners will be the ones who prove it in their numbers. Takeaways Show me the money for AI in 2026 Advertising will fuel LLMs Shift from CPM to performance-based models Intent data is the most valuable signal Rise of the LLM ad ecosystem AI-driven transparency in media buying Creative as a performance driver Ad tech consolidation Agility is the key skill set New entrants reshaping the industry Chapters 00:00 Introduction from Marketecture Live 00:48 Why “No One Knows” What Happens Next in AI + Ads 02:11 Prediction #1: AI Hype vs. Real Financial Results 05:06 Prediction #2: Ads as the Core LLM Business Model 06:32 Prediction #3: The Shift to Performance & Intent Based Ads 09:46 Prediction #4: The LLM Ecosystem Opportunity 11:45 Prediction #5: Transparency vs. Agency Economics 13:23 Prediction #6: The Push for AI Standards 14:28 Prediction #7: Creative as the New Performance Lever 16:04 Prediction #8: Ad Tech Consolidation & Evolution 17:39 Prediction #9: Agility as the Ultimate Advantage 19:11 Prediction #10: New Entrants & M&A Wave 20:14 Bonus Prediction & Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Burdick of Pacvue breaks down how commerce media is evolving beyond retail, why fragmentation is still the biggest challenge for brands, and how AI is reshaping product discovery across platforms. The conversation covers the rise of agentic commerce, Amazon’s dominance, and what the future of buying, measurement, and optimization looks like in a rapidly changing ecosystem. Takeaways Commerce media goes beyond retail and includes discovery, AI driven experiences, and new buying environments. Fragmentation across retailers remains a major challenge for brands managing multiple platforms. Amazon still dominates commerce media with the majority of market share. AI is shifting search from keywords to prompts and changing how products are discovered. Agentic commerce is early but expected to evolve significantly in the coming years. Incrementality in retail media is complex and difficult to measure accurately. Chapters 00:00 Intro + Marketecture Live recap 03:22 Startup showcase + guest intro (Pacvue) 06:58 Retail media vs. commerce media 10:42 Fragmentation + Amazon dominance 14:17 AI shopping, Rufus, and agentic commerce 20:11 In-store media + incrementality debate 25:11 AI in commerce and discovery shifts 30:00 AI campaign tools (Trade Desk, PubMatic, MiQ) 36:40 Publicis vs. TTD + transparency issues 45:34 Walmart, OpenAI, Meta, and future outlook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo sits down with Jeff Green, CEO of The Trade Desk, at Marketecture Live for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of advertising. Jeff discusses his massive insider stock purchase, the evolving role of AI in programmatic advertising, and potential new ad opportunities inside AI chat platforms and retail media. The discussion also covers the future of Amazon’s DSP, open vs. closed advertising ecosystems, OpenPath supply chain efficiency, CTV strategy through Ventura, and why programmatic advertising may be one of the industries best suited for agentic AI. Takeaways AI chat platforms could become a major new advertising channel Programmatic advertising is highly suited for AI and automation Retail media and sponsored listings remain powerful ad formats Amazon’s DSP future may be limited by broader business risks The industry debate is shifting from transparency to open vs. closed systems “Practical transparency” matters more than excessive reporting OpenPath aims to improve supply chain efficiency AI will increasingly automate campaign management Ventura aims to power the streaming ad ecosystem on connected TVs Premium content remains central to ad value Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Marketecture Live recap 01:27 Jeff Green’s insider stock purchase and market signals 02:45 The potential for ads inside AI chat platforms 05:11 Retail media and product listing ads 08:02 Why Amazon’s DSP may not exist in five years 12:00 Transparency versus outcomes in digital advertising 16:17 OpenPath and supply chain efficiency 20:31 The Trade Desk’s AI strategy 25:00 AI tools for campaign creation 25:40 The rise of CTV and Ventura’s strategy 29:14 Hedge gardens like Reddit and Spotify 31:30 Closing remarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Wieser, founder of Madison and Wall, joins Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi to discuss why the digital ad market is stronger than expected and what recent earnings reveal about platforms and ad tech companies. The conversation covers retail media growth, DSP competition, and how companies like Amazon, OpenAI, and The Trade Desk are approaching the next phase of advertising, along with Brian’s view on AI’s impact on agencies, CTV, and the broader ad ecosystem. Takeaways The digital ad market is strong, growing about 15 percent despite economic uncertainty. Ad growth is driven more by competition and new categories than by GDP. Retail media is expanding as retailers increase competition between brands. Agencies may benefit from AI, as marketers still need human guidance. AI platforms are starting to explore new advertising models. Chapters 00:00 Intro and Marketecture Live preview 03:10 The state of the digital advertising market 07:00 What drives ad market growth today 10:30 DSP competition and The Trade Desk’s market share 15:00 Retail media growth and Walmart’s momentum 20:30 AI disruption, SaaS concerns, and agencies 27:00 Streaming consolidation and CTV economics 33:40 OpenAI partnerships and the future of AI advertising 39:30 Amazon expanding its advertising ecosystem 45:00 AI marketing tools and Jeff Green’s $150M Trade Desk stock purchase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Seufert (Mobile Dev Memo) joins Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of apps, AI agents, walled gardens, and the shifting power dynamics in digital advertising. They dive into the so-called “SaaS-pocalypse” and discuss whether AI agents could replace apps entirely. They also discuss Apple’s emerging AI gatekeeping strategy (and what it means for developers), Meta’s acquisition of Manus and the automation of advertising, and AppLovin’s reported ambitions to build a social network from scratch. Along the way, they explore whether independent ad tech can survive in a world dominated by Meta and Google, how AI is reshaping landing pages and commerce journeys, and why fully autonomous “agentic commerce” may be more mirage than inevitability. Takeaways AI agents may change how people use apps, but apps will not disappear.  Owning the user surface area matters because it protects monetization and customer relationships.  Agentic commerce sounds compelling, but platform incentives make full disintermediation unlikely.  Apple is tightening rules around sending personal data to third-party AI services, and enforcement is increasing through app rejections.  Apple keeps definitions vague to preserve latitude, which can create uncertainty for developers.  Apple may use Private Cloud Compute partnerships to control AI distribution and take a share of revenue.  Running meaningful AI inference on a device is limited by memory, so cloud processing remains central.  Meta’s Manus acquisition reinforces the push toward end-to-end campaign automation in Ads Manager.  The next step is AI that improves the post-click journey, not just the ad setup.  Meta’s business AI vision could move optimization from landing pages into conversational purchase guidance.  Some startups should look beyond Meta’s core strengths and build in channels that Meta is less focused on.  Building a new social network requires massive spending, but AppLovin has the cash flow and distribution to attempt it. Chapters 00:00 Intro & Eric Seufert Returns 02:26 Marketecture Live Announcements 06:11 The SaaS-pocalypse 10:14 Why Apps Won’t Die 11:54 Why Super Apps Failed in the West 13:27 Private Markets & AI Valuations 14:10 Apple’s AI Tracking Transparency 17:08 Apple’s Gatekeeping Strategy 21:15 App Store Delays & Vibe Coding 22:24 Meta’s Manus Acquisition 24:12 Meta’s Business AI Vision 29:44 Can Anyone Compete With Meta? 30:45 AppLovin’s Social Network Ambitions 36:04 Infillion Acquires Catalina 41:26 The Trade Desk Earnings Breakdown 46:23 Executive Turnover & Competitive Landscape 50:38 Profound’s $1B Valuation 54:14 AdSense for AI & LLM Monetization 58:00 Walmart Connect Growth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nate Elliott, Principal Analyst at eMarketer, joins Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi to talk through what’s actually happening with AI adoption in marketing and commerce. He shares a practical view on how many consumers actively use AI tools, why usage stats are often misleading, and why most AI influence on shopping still happens outside chatbots. The group also digs into GEO and AEO, agency and CMO priorities, and the growing debate over content licensing and the health of the open web. Takeaways Only about 15–20% of US online consumers use AI tools weekly, despite AI touching nearly every digital experience. Most AI-influenced commerce happens through research and discovery, not direct purchases inside chatbots. GEO feels like SEO in 1998, full of experimentation, aggressive tactics, and unclear measurement. CMOs are focused more on internal AI productivity gains than flashy external AI activations. Agencies may reach near-universal AI usage internally, but that does not mean AI replaces 95% of marketing output. The health of the open web is critical to AI platforms, making content licensing a long-term strategic issue. Chapters 00:00 Nate Elliott’s background and role leading AI research at eMarketer 07:30 How many consumers are actually active AI users 11:50 AI and commerce: direct transactions vs influence 14:40 GEO and the Wild West phase of AI search optimization 18:30 What CMOs are prioritizing in their AI strategy 23:20 Agencies, AI adoption, and the 95% marketing debate 26:00 AI disclosure, creative production, and labeling concerns 32:00 Content marketplaces and whether Google will pay publishers 38:00 Reddit, AI optimization, and measurement challenges 44:00 Agency rebates and media transparency 47:30 Amazon becomes Fortune’s number one company Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Matthew Egol, Founder & CEO of JourneySpark Consulting, joins Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi to break down agentic advertising and what AdCP means for the industry, from AI’s Super Bowl moment to standards governance, Prebid collaboration, IAB alignment, and how AI agents are reshaping planning, creative, and measurement across marketing. Takeaways AI took over the Super Bowl, with roughly a quarter of ads tied to AI. Agentic advertising expands from buying to planning, discovery, and measurement. AgenticAdvertising.org focuses on standards, governance, and certification. Prebid runs the sell-side AdCP code while AAO drives the protocol and adoption. AdCP is still mostly in pilot mode, not scaled revenue. AI creative testing is beating traditional DCO in performance. LLM ads could reshape search, retail media, and content economics. Chapters 00:00 Opening & Guest Introduction 01:29 Marketecture Live & Super Bowl Banter 03:58 Matt Egol Joins from CES 06:49 What Is AgenticAdvertising.org? 08:16 Certification & Trust 11:11 Why Another Organization? 13:43 Prebid Partnership Explained 16:08 Expanding Beyond Programmatic 18:23 Relationship with the IAB 22:30 Adoption Update: February 2026 24:08 Governance & Board Structure 26:16 The AI Super Bowl 33:47 ChatGPT Launches Ads 44:20 Amazon Content Marketplace Rumors 52:19 Closing & Sign-Off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices