Podcast
Open Market
Hosted by Joe Zappa & Eric Franchi · EN
Open Market is a podcast about building companies in the advertising industry. This is not another news podcast. Rather, hosts Eric Franchi and Joe Zappa dive into the stories of successful companies to help listeners understand how to replicate that success. Guests such as Brian O'Kelley, Jonah Goodhart, and the Vanderhooks join to share their advice.
30episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Episode 109 with Adam Singer- VP Marketing of AdQuick
3d ago00:31:05Tap to summarizeAdam Singer, VP of Marketing at AdQuick, joins Joe Zappa and Eric Franchi to explain why there are no shortcuts to building an audience, how out-of-home advertising combines measurable outcomes with lasting brand impact, and why ad tech companies must invest more seriously in their own marketing.
Transcribe →Episode 108 with Heather Macaulay of MadConnect.ai
1w ago00:39:13Tap to summarizeHeather Macaulay, co-founder of MadConnect, joins Joe Zappa and Eric Franchi to discuss building a company after 40, balancing motherhood and leadership, and turning a career setback into a new opportunity. She also explains how MadConnect solves connectivity challenges across AdTech and MarTech, why experienced founders can make better decisions, and why you can have it all, just not all at once. Plus, Heather challenges Adam Epstein to a five-mile run, and Joe puts his 20 chin-ups claim on the record.
Transcribe →Episode 107 Gigico.ai CEO and founder Adam Epstein
2w ago00:53:04Tap to summarizeAdam Epstein, founder and CEO of Gigi, joins Joe Zappa and Eric Franchi to discuss how AI is reshaping agencies, adtech services and the future of work. From scaling revenue without scaling headcount to treating AI agents like actual team members, Adam breaks down what it takes to build an AI-first business, with a few detours into pull-ups, Miami and peptides.
Transcribe →Episode 106 James Borow GM of Universal Ads at Comcast
3w ago00:40:08Tap to summarizeWhat happens when TV advertising becomes as easy to buy as search and social? James Borow, GM of Universal Ads at Comcast, joins Joe Zappa and Eric Franchi to discuss performance TV, incrementality, AI creative and Comcast’s ambition to build the “AppLovin of TV.” James also explains why ChatGPT ads could become a monster business and why the next major adtech company may be built by four people and a check from Aperiam.
Transcribe →Episode 105 with Rio Longacre and the influence of AI in Adtech
Jul 800:47:34Tap to summarizeRio Longacre joins Joe Zappa and Eric Franchi to discuss the future of advertising, the growing influence of AI and what it takes to stay ahead in an industry that never stops changing.
Transcribe →Episode 104: Myles Younger on Enterprise Sales, AI Training and the Future of Media
Jul 100:45:11Tap to summarizeMyles Younger, Chief Growth Officer at U of Digital, joins Joe Zappa and Eric Franchi for a wide-ranging conversation about what it takes to grow an adtech business, win enterprise clients and keep pace with an industry changing in real time. Plus, Joe learns what Diageo is, Eric defends his YouTube viewing habits, and the group closes with a rapid-fire round covering ChatGPT, DSPs, SSPs, New York and San Francisco.
Transcribe →Episode 103 Branchlab Co-Founder and CEO Josh Walsh
Jun 1700:34:55Tap to summarizeJosh Walsh, Co-Founder & CEO of BranchLab, joins Eric and Joe to discuss transforming pharma advertising with AI, scaling a second startup, and an unexpectedly important LinkedIn message from Lance Armstrong.
Transcribe →Bringing Performance Audio to the US with Audion CEO Arthur Larrey
Jun 1000:37:54Tap to summarizeAudion CEO Arthur Larrey joins Eric Franchi and Joe Zappa to discuss why performance audio could become the next major performance advertising channel and how Audion is helping make that vision a reality. They break down how performance audio works in practice, how it compares to performance TV, and what advertisers are looking for as the channel matures. Arthur also shares lessons from raising a significant funding round in today's market, how AI is shaping both Audion's product and internal operations, and what it takes to expand a fast-growing European AdTech company into the US.
Transcribe →Eric sits down with Aaron Goldman, CMO of Mediaocean
Jun 300:43:00Tap to summarizeWho let G-dog Aaron loose and who would dare fact check Eric besides Joe Zappa?!! In this engaging interview, industry veteran Aaron discusses his journey from sales to marketing, the importance of personal branding, and the evolving role of AI in ad tech. He shares insights on strategic acquisitions, building a personal brand, and the creative side of marketing, all while revealing his unique personality and passions. We also learn what Eric would have done had he not become a VC. Let's just say no one saw this riding in!
Transcribe →The Next Era of Adtech
May 2700:33:38Tap to summarizeEric Franchi and Joe Zappa break down the biggest trends they’re seeing in early-stage adtech deal flow, including the rise of chatbot and LLM ad networks, integrated marketing platforms, creator infrastructure, and a renewed wave of innovation around mobile apps. They discuss why mobile remains such an attractive market, what kinds of startups are emerging in each category, and where investors and operators are spending the most time right now. The conversation then shifts to the next phase of the Outcomes Era — where simply claiming “outcomes” is no longer enough and companies need differentiated data, supply, or technology to prove it.
Transcribe →