Research Revolutionaries Podcast

How do insight agencies keep up when tech companies and clients have access to more tools than they do? In Season 2, Episode 14, JT Turner sits down with John-William Awbrey, Head of Brand & Campaign Insights at Sky, to explore where agency value really sits as data becomes easier to access and analysis becomes faster to produce.Together, they argue that data doesn’t create value; perspective does. Competitive advantage is shifting away from owning data toward interpretation, synthesis, and a point of view leaders trust.They explore what the research agency of the future could, and should, look like: moving beyond static deliverables and slow, one-off projects to more embedded partnerships that combine human expertise, technology, and AI to deliver faster, more iterative, decision-ready insight for modern, always-on businesses.

AI and automation promise research that’s cheaper and faster. But is the output actually better? In this episode, JT talks with insights leader Tina Tonielli, former US Lead of Insights & Analytics at Haleon, about what “good” looks like when brands adopt AI at scale. They unpack the trade-offs between speed, cost and quality, how “always on” data can overwhelm teams, when decision cadence matters more than data cadence, and where procurement and onboarding slow things down. They also explore where AI truly helps in insight work, and the skills leaders need next: a growth mindset and the courage to experiment, fail fast and learn in public.

In this episode, JT sits down with Nick Graham, Founder of Vertemis and former Global Head of Insights at Mondelez, to explore why the insights function must reinvent itself for the AI era.Nick argues that insights teams need to move beyond being data suppliers to become true decision drivers—owning the full “insights impact” chain and acting as co-pilots to business growth. Together, they discuss the courage required to let go of legacy approaches, the role of automation in freeing capacity for leadership, and how AI is more than an efficiency tool—it’s a catalyst for transformation.Nick shares why the future of insights is less about the “what” and more about the “why” and “so what,” leveraging human empathy, curiosity, and storytelling to deliver real business impact.

Matrix organisations can feel like a maze — multiple stakeholders, competing priorities, and shifting structures. But what if you could do more than just survive? In this episode, James Turner (CEO, Delineate) speaks with Alex Hardy, Consumer & Market Insight and Analytics Director, Nomad Foods about the real-world experience of leading insight work in complex, layered client environments. Together, they unpack the challenges of operating inside the matrix — and share strategies for making real impact despite the chaos.

Hear from Vera Chien, Executive Director, Global Corporate Strategy & Insights at Warner Brothers Discovery. She has over 20 years experience in insights, analytics, CX, and UX - spanning entertainment, media, gaming, technology, and consumer products. Sponsored by delineate.ai

In this episode, we talk with Tim Treagus founder of Yazi and dive into the transformative role of WhatsApp and chat-based platforms in modern research. We explore the unique advantages of WhatsApp for consumer research in emerging markets, where accessibility, trust, and reach are crucial. Learn how WhatsApp’s native AI capabilities enable a 6x higher response rate, making it a powerful tool for collecting insights in hard-to-reach areas. We'll also cover the latest in privacy and security within WhatsApp, and how this trusted channel opens new doors for more inclusive and representative research. Thank you to our sponsors Delineate.

The old ways just aren’t cutting it anymore. Consumers expect a good experience from brands. No ifs and buts about it. So, how marketers use research to keep tabs on their brands needs to evolve with that expectation. But how? We discuss that on Episode 8 of Research Revolutionaries – live. Host James (JT) Turner is joined by Fiona Blades to discuss this important topic. Fiona is the Chief Experience Officer at MESH Experience. She founded MESH in 2006 to fill a gap in the market - to understand every interaction people have with brands – the whole customer experience. Join us for this live conversation to continue being part of the research revolution. Research Revolutionaries is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Delineate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, your real-time insights partner, helping you make smarter decisions quickly. Learn more: ⁠http://delineate.ai

On Episode 7, host James (JT) Turner chats with Mike Stevens, the founder of Insight Platforms, the leading online directory and learning and events site for modern research and insights. His consultancy, What Next Strategy & Planning, helps client teams, agencies, and tech firms develop skills, adopt technology and implement process change. So, he certainly has a pulse on research technology and where it’s heading. Join us for this episode of “Research Revolutionaries” to look ahead. Learn more about Insight Platforms: https://www.insightplatforms.com Research Revolutionaries is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Delineate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, your real-time insights partner, helping you make smarter decisions quickly. Learn more: http://delineate.ai

On Episode 6, we dive into the topic of synthetic data and how it’s already affecting and will affect the industry in the years to come. To discuss the topic, James (JT) Turner is joined by Kathryn Topp. Kathryn is the founder of Yabble and an award-winning researcher and AI entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience.  She was named a Top 250 global insights leaders by ESOMAR and is leading the way in the field of AI insights with her company Yabble – a cutting-edge generative AI company that's revolutionizing the world of insights, working with Fortune 500 companies globally to bring AI into their insights practice.  Join us. Research Revolutionaries is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Delineate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, your real-time insights partner, helping you make smarter decisions quickly.

Self-serve research tools have given many brands – with both big and small budgets – the chance to understand their target market better and in ways that would have been unheard of decades or even years ago. But there are some definite highs and lows as well, which we will discuss on Episode 5. To discuss the topic, Host James Turner is joined by Charlie Butler, co-founder of Bounce Insights, a market research platform that combines research consultancy with generative AI to help brands solve business problems with insights at speed. Research Revolutionaries is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠Delineate⁠⁠⁠⁠, your real-time insights partner, helping you make smarter decisions quickly. 

That Coca-Cola drink certainly is quenching consumer thirst in the moment. Just like consumers enjoy their drinks now, marketers at Coca-Cola understand consumer feedback in real-time as well. Welcome to the 21st Century. On Episode 4 of “Research Revolutionaries,” James (JT) Turner is joined by Greg Pharo, senior global director, holistic communications and marketing effectiveness at The Coca-Cola Company. They dive into how the team has moved into the 21st century and unlocks marketing effectiveness through real-time campaign tracking. Research Revolutionaries is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠Delineate⁠⁠⁠, your real-time insights partner, helping you make smarter decisions quickly. 

Join Host James Turner as he chats with research revolutionary Caroline Frankum about striking the balance in the fast-paced world of research technology. Caroline is a multi-award-winning CEO with a high level of expertise in PE-backed transformation and M&A. She amplifies expertise with Tech and AI to deliver unprecedented commercial growth and ensures diversity is a business imperative for optimizing social and business value. She is part of the Executive Team at Kantar. You don’t want to miss this conversation. Research Revolutionaries is brought to you by ⁠⁠Delineate⁠⁠, your real-time insights partner, helping you make smarter decisions quickly. 

The right processes are essential for insights teams today to drive business outcomes. But how can insights leaders manage their teams and processes? Research Revolutionary Babita Earle, managing director of international at Zappi, joins James Turner on Episode 2 to share how Zappi has partnered with brands to create lasting processes.Join us. Research Revolutionaries is brought to you by ⁠Delineate⁠, your real-time insights partner, helping you make smarter decisions quickly. 

James (JT) Turner is joined on our first episode of "Research Revolutionaries" by Giles Palmer, a true research revolutionary and CEO at Cint, a global research technology provider that enables brands, agencies, and other businesses to gain more efficient and impactful insights. In their hour-long chat, they discuss: Background on Giles Palmer and his career journey Overview of his role as CEO of survey provider Cint The Value of Brand Tracking Ensuring Quality in Online Survey Panels Optimizing Respondent Experience Turning Research into Business Impact Skills and Mindsets for Research Revolutionaries Research Revolutionaries is brought to you by Delineate, your real-time insights partner, helping you make smarter decisions quickly. 

The world of consumer insights is changing faster than ever.    How are today's top companies staying ahead of the curve and gaining actionable insights? Find out from the brands leading the field on “Research Revolutionaries.”  Discover how they leverage technology and data to gain a competitive edge. The insights that will shape the future start here. Subscribe today so you don’t miss new episodes.   "Research Revolutionaries" is hosted by James "JT" Turner, a leader in the insights and analytics field.