Podcast
AdTechGod Pod
Hosted by AdTechGod, The AdTech God · EN
A Podcast For The People About The People. The AdTechGod ® Pod celebrates the Minds Behind Adtech and offers an engaging platform where listeners can discover the stories and insights of the individuals driving the advertising technology industry. This podcast shines a spotlight on the creative and innovative minds that make adtech great, providing a unique perspective on the people behind the technology that shapes our digital advertising experiences. All guests appearing on the adtech god podcast are invited participants; they do not provide compensation to AdTechGod for their appearance. The podcast's funding is provided through preroll and midroll advertisements, which are sponsored by various companies. If you are interested in being a guest or advertising on the AdTechGod Pod (The Adtech God Podcast) please visit https://www.adtechgod.com/adtechgod-pod.
130episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
AI Is Rewriting the Rules of Healthcare Advertising
Yesterday00:24:48Summary readyAt Marketecture Live, Brad Fox (SVP, Health Media, Dentsu) joins industry leaders to explore how AI and neural networks are reshaping healthcare advertising. From the rise of AI-driven patient behavior to the decline of traditional targeting methods, the conversation dives into privacy-safe audience strategies, evolving patient journeys, and what the future holds for pharma marketers in an AI-first world. Takeaways AI is rapidly changing how patients search for and consume health information Healthcare advertising is shifting away from search, contextual, and retargeting Neural networks enable privacy-safe prediction of patient populations Audience targeting must be rebuilt using AI-driven models Patient journeys are complex and require more nuanced segmentation AI is making both patients and doctors more informed True one-to-one personalization remains limited due to regulation AI platforms may eventually monetize healthcare interactions Chapters 00:00 Introduction to healthcare, AI, and advertising 00:18 Overview of the panel and discussion focus 01:04 AI as a primary tool for health information 01:53 Surge in AI-driven health queries and behavior shift 02:45 Changing role of search and health websites 03:40 Adoption of AI tools by physicians 04:31 Impact of AI on patient and doctor outcomes 06:33 Decline of traditional targeting and need for new strategies 07:40 Future of pharma ad spend in an AI-driven world 08:45 Neural networks and privacy-safe targeting explained 10:31 AI-driven audience targeting and patient lifecycle 12:28 Predictive modeling for healthcare populations 13:03 Importance of understanding patient journeys 15:57 Scaling AI audiences across media channels 17:11 Faster audience creation and activation 18:40 Personalization limits in healthcare marketing 20:12 Future of AI platforms and healthcare ads 22:01 Regulation and the future of pharma advertising Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryEp. 133 How Fluency Is Automating AdOps Without Replacing Human Creativity with Eric Mayhew
4d ago00:30:18Summary readyEric Mayhew, Chief Innovation Officer and Co-Founder of Fluency, shares how his experience in automotive advertising inspired the creation of Fluency and its mission to eliminate repetitive AdOps work through automation. Eric dives into the difference between automation and AI, the future of agentic systems, and why human creativity still matters most in advertising. From scaling ad operations to building compliant AI workflows, this conversation explores where marketing technology is headed next. Takeaways • Automation should eliminate repetitive tasks so teams can focus on strategy and creativity. • AI and automation are complementary, but they are not the same thing. • Human oversight remains critical for compliance, governance, and brand safety. • AI is powerful, but context quality determines the reliability of outputs. • Personalization in advertising may finally become practical with AI and automation. • Agencies want customizable workflows, not one-size-fits-all automation. • Fluency focuses on deterministic workflows that execute advertiser strategies at scale. • Agentic systems will combine rule-based automation with probabilistic AI decision-making. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Eric Mayhew and Fluency 01:20 How Dealer.com Inspired the Creation of Fluency 04:07 The Real Problem with Manual AdOps Workflows 05:45 Fluency’s Approach to Automation and AdOps Efficiency 07:45 Why AdOps Professionals Should Embrace Automation 10:41 The Difference Between Automation and AI 15:21 AI Risks, Hallucinations, and Governance Challenges 19:21 Where Humans Still Outperform AI 22:54 How Fluency Onboards and Automates Campaign Workflows 27:02 The Future of Agentic AI and Advertising Personalization Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryEveryone’s a Gamer Now: Unlocking the Full-Funnel Opportunity in Gaming with Scott Ensign
1w ago00:24:04Summary readyScott Ensign, Chief Strategy Officer at Butler/Till, joins Amanda Grant, EVP, Global Head of Data and Tech Partnerships, WPP Media, and Chris Feo, SVP, Sales & Partnerships, Unity, to discuss why gaming remains misunderstood, how data unlocks its true value, and what advertisers need to do to tap into its full-funnel potential. From perception challenges to multi-screen behavior, this conversation reframes gaming as one of the biggest untapped opportunities in modern media. Takeaways Gaming reaches nearly all demographics, but is still misunderstood by brands Perception issues and legacy media habits are limiting investment Gaming environments offer highly engaged, data-rich audiences Mobile gaming plays a key role in multi-screen consumer behavior Brands should treat gaming as an audience strategy, not just a channel Full-funnel opportunities exist beyond performance and installs Data is the key to unlocking better targeting and planning Chapters00:00 Introduction to the episode and gaming opportunity 00:18 Why gaming now reaches all demographics 01:45 The gap between gaming usage and ad spend 02:38 Perception challenges holding brands back 04:08 Media buying habits and resistance to change 05:38 How data helps break gaming stereotypes 07:14 Gaming as a high-attention, “lean-in” environment 08:45 Multi-screen behavior and shifting consumption 10:06 Rethinking TV vs mobile in modern media 13:18 Performance vs brand investment in gaming 16:20 Gaming opportunities across industries like pharma 18:18 Unlocking commerce and purchase intent data 20:12 Treating gaming as an audience strategy 21:45 Favorite games and closing thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryEp. 132 Programmatic, Fragmentation, and the AI Power Shift with Tom Burke from AI Digital
2w ago00:16:16Summary readyTom Burke, Chief Revenue Officer of AI Digital, joins the show to break down the evolution of programmatic advertising, the realities of in-housing, and how AI is reshaping the media landscape. From his journey through AOL Basis and PMG to leading an AI native consultancy, Tom shares insights on fragmentation innovation and what it takes to stay competitive in today’s ad tech ecosystem Takeaways Programmatic has become too complex for simple in housing strategies Fragmentation is a challenge but also a massive opportunity AI Digital Open Garden approach prioritizes flexibility across platforms AI is moving toward becoming the operating system of marketing Success in the AI era depends on identifying what makes you uniquely valuable Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Tom Burke and AI Digital 01:15 Tom’s journey from Boston Globe to ad tech leadership 02:54 Why Tom joined AI Digital 04:13 What AI Digital does and its three core pillars 07:51 The evolution of housing programmatic 09:52 How agencies are adapting their pitches 11:30 The economics and challenges of in housing 13:25 How AI Digital supports brands and agencies 14:56 Key trends shaping the future of advertising 16:50 The role of AI and what is coming next Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryEp. 131 Scott Ensign of Butler/Till: The Blueprint for Trust-Driven, Future-Ready Agencies
3w ago00:21:18Summary readyScott Ensign, Chief Strategy Officer at Butler/Till, shares how a fully employee-owned agency drives innovation, transparency, and growth. From building trust in digital advertising to leveraging AI and agentic media, Scott breaks down how agencies can stay ahead while delivering real value to clients. Takeaways Butler/Till is 100 percent employee-owned, aligning incentives across teams and clients Innovation in media requires breaking traditional planning cycles AI should focus on building trust, not just efficiency Transparency is a core differentiator in agency-client relationships Innovation funds help test new strategies without risking core budgets Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Scott Ensign and Butler/Till 00:50 Career journey and why Scott stayed for 7 years 02:30 How employee ownership works at Butler/Till 04:20 What a Chief Strategy Officer actually does 06:10 Scott’s path through digital media and strategy 08:20 The future of digital advertising and AI 11:40 Transparency in partnerships and data 13:50 The Innovation Fund and why it matters 17:50 Real-world AI and agentic media testing 20:00 Closing thoughts and industry outlook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryWhen Agents Become the Customer
3w ago00:29:21Summary readyJeremiah Owyang, General Partner, Blitzscaling Ventures, explains how AI agents representing consumers and business decision-makers are reshaping the relationship between marketers, publishers, and advertisers. As agents increasingly control discovery and purchasing decisions, traditional marketing strategies break down and must be reimagined. The talk outlines the five AI cultures companies need to adopt internally to compete in this new landscape. It also shows how the marketing funnel evolves when agents, not humans, become the primary decision-makers. The session closes with real-world examples and a clear prediction for the future of AI-driven marketing. Takeaways AI agents will increasingly act as the primary decision-makers for consumers The AI-first approach prioritizes using AI before hiring humans AI-native startups are achieving up to 10x revenue per employee The customer journey is shifting from human-driven to agent-driven decisions Ads may disappear or evolve into AI-to-AI negotiations Chapters 00:00 Introduction to AI agents becoming customers 01:00 What is the agentic economy 02:30 Real-world examples of AI agents in action 04:30 The five AI cultures explained 06:30 The AI-first method (Adopt, Build, Hire) 07:30 Shopify case study and AI adoption 09:30 Revenue per employee and AI-native advantage 10:50 The agentic thesis and future of the internet 12:30 Why ads may disappear in an AI-driven world 13:00 What an AI agent actually is 14:50 The AI agent ecosystem explained 19:20 How the customer decision funnel is changing 21:30 AI agents making decisions for consumers 22:30 Web4 and the agentic internet 24:00 Real-world startups building agent-driven companies 26:20 Key insights and future outlook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryBonus Episode: Building the Heart of advertising: Jay Wolff on Community, Access, and 212NYC Future!
3w ago00:22:19Summary readyJay Wolff, President at 212NYC, joins the AdTechGod pod to share his 20+ year journey in digital advertising and how he is helping shape the largest ad community in New York. From making industry access more affordable to rebuilding post pandemic networking, Jay dives into the power of human connection in an AI driven world, the rise of Gen Z influence, and what is next for the ad tech ecosystem. Takeaways Community and human connection remain critical even as AI transforms the industry 212NYC focuses on accessibility and affordability for emerging professionals Diverse programming helps engage different audiences across career stages Gen Z and the influencer economy are reshaping marketing strategies. Simplicity and consolidation will define the future of ad tech platforms AI, search evolution, and robotics will influence the next wave of innovation Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jay Wolff and 212NYC 01:30 Jay’s 20+ year journey in digital advertising 03:00 Making industry access affordable and inclusive 05:00 Rebuilding networking after the pandemic 07:00 Event strategy and engaging diverse audiences 10:30 Growth of 212NYC and community impact 12:30 The future of ad tech: AI, simplicity, and consolidation 15:30 Influencer economy and Gen Z trends 18:30 Emerging tech: AI saturation and robotics 20:30 How to join and get involved with 212NYC Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryEp. 130 The Power Flip: Joe Zappa on Why Leaders Must Become the Media
4w ago00:20:05Summary readyJoe Zappa, Founder and CEO of Sharp Pen Media, joins the AdTechGod Pod to break down how modern media has shifted power from institutions to individuals and why executives must become evangelists for their own brands. From building in public to leveraging social platforms effectively, Joe shares how CEOs and industry leaders can drive awareness, generate inbound leads, and shape narratives in today’s ad tech landscape. The conversation also explores AI in content creation, the rise of commerce media, and where the industry is heading next. Takeaways - Power in media has shifted from institutions to individuals - CEOs should act as chief evangelists for their companies - A consistent narrative is key to effective personal branding - Sharing insights builds trust more than self-promotion - Social media drives inbound leads when used authentically - AI is a tool, but human input is essential - Commerce media, AI, and CTV are key industry trends - Differentiation comes from people as much as products Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Joe Zappa and Sharp Pen Media 01:10 Joe’s background and founding his company 02:00 The shift from institutions to individuals 03:40 Why executive evangelism works 05:00 Building a strong brand narrative 06:00 Social media as a growth engine 08:00 Personal vs professional content strategy 09:30 Traditional PR vs modern communication 11:00 Differentiation in ad tech 12:40 AI content: value vs “AI slop.” 15:30 Trends: CTV, AI, and commerce media 17:20 Joe’s business growth and future focus Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryRethinking Your Brand Growth Framework to Maximize Influence
4w ago00:24:34Summary readyJoanna O'Connell, Chief Intelligence Officer, Omnicom Media Group, breaks down the new brand growth framework, why emotional connection matters more than ever, and how marketers must adapt to Gen AI, shifting trust, and ad avoidance. Takeaways Consumers are influenced by more sources than ever Information asymmetry is gone Trust is shifting from institutions to people and AI Attention is fragmented and declining Gen AI is now an influencer and gatekeeper Ad avoidance is a major barrier Economic pressure is reshaping buying behavior Traditional brand frameworks are no longer enough Emotional connection is now critical Brands must market to both people and machines Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the AdTechGod Pod and Joanna O’Connell 00:23 Why this conversation matters in today’s media landscape 02:05 How consumer influence has evolved 03:18 The explosion of information 03:49 The death of information asymmetry 04:26 The new trust economy 04:59 Fragmented attention and digital overload 05:28 Gen AI as a new influencer 06:14 The reality of ad avoidance 06:25 Economic pressures shaping consumer behavior 08:05 What a brand means today 09:10 The growing disconnect between brands and consumers 10:33 Brand versus performance marketing tension 11:44 Rethinking the brand growth framework 11:58 The evolution of physical availability 13:06 The challenge of mental availability 14:10 Introducing emotional availability 15:53 Building real consumer connection 17:37 The new three-pillar brand model 18:11 Practical strategies for modern brands 19:56 Marketing to people and machines 20:09 Where brands should show up today 21:53 The rise of AI-driven discovery 22:24 Final framework and closing thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
SummaryBonus episode From Impressions to Attention: Inside Viant’s TVision Deal
Apr 1500:22:01Summary readyLearn how Viant’s acquisition of TVision is intended to reshape advertising measurement, with a focus on bringing attention metrics and deeper insights into media buying. As brands continue searching for more effective ways to evaluate campaign performance, this move reflects an effort to shift toward measuring real viewer engagement. In this interview, we explore what the acquisition is designed to achieve and what it could mean for the future of advertising measurement. Featuring Tim Vanderhook, CEO of Viant, and Yan Liu, CEO and Co-founder of TVision, this episode examines developments in TV measurement, the role of attention metrics, and how these approaches may influence evolving advertising strategies. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Viant's Acquisition of TVision 01:34 Understanding TVision's Unique Approach 05:11 Viant's Strategy and Market Positioning 10:21 The Importance of Independent Measurement 13:22 Panel-Based Data Collection and Its Implications 14:47 Attention-Adjusted CPMs and Pricing Models 17:12 Integration Timeline and Future Developments 19:06 Excitement for the Future with Viant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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