Best Ad Lib Actualize Podcasts (2024)

1
Why Rick Astley is never gonna give up snacks or drums 39:31

3+ y ago39:31

39:31

The 80s pop star takes a break from shooting a Frito-Lay commercial to discuss the music industry, becoming a meme, and what he's been up to during the pandemic.By Jessica Wohl

1
How The Lincoln Project’s endless stream of viral ads were actually made (in record time) 41:00

3+ y ago41:00

41:00

Ben Howe of Howe Creative, one of The Lincoln Project’s key video collaborators, on the making of ‘Mourning in America’—and what it takes to go viralBy Ad Age

1
Behind Hendrick's Gin's quirky ad approach 29:51

4y ago29:51

29:51

On this week's episode of Ad Lib, E.J. Schultz is joined by Harvey Purchese, senior VP of marketing at liquor marketer William Grant & Sons. We get behind Hendrick's quirky ad approach, which has included stunts like the "Hendrick’s High Wheel,” a decidedly old-fashioned exercise bike. It's part of the brand’s Luddite marketing shtick, which has in…

1
Behind Calm's unexpected Election Night win 28:49

4y ago28:49

28:49

In this week's episode Ad Age's Jeanine Poggi is joined by Katie Shill, senior director of brand marketing at Calm. The meditation app won election night with its sponsorship of CNN’s “Key Race” alerts, encouraging viewers to take a break and find a moment of calm. Shill discusses how the sponsorship came together, results of the buy and how the me…

1
How Activision Blizzard found success amid a global pandemic 32:37

4y ago32:37

32:37

On this week's episode of Ad Age Ad Lib, senior editor Jeanine Poggi speaks with Brandon Snow, senior VP, chief revenue officer, esports, Activision Blizzard. Pandemic lockdowns were a boon for esports, with viewers flocking to gaming as other live sports and entertainment were shut down. Activision Blizzard was one of the benefactors of the pandem…

1
How streaming news channels made their mark in the 2020 election 22:18

4y ago22:18

22:18

On this week's episode of Ad Age Ad Lib, senior editor Jeanine Poggi speaks with Christy Tanner, executive VP and general manager of CBS News Digital, and Elaine Quijano, anchor, CBSN, about the state of the streaming news marketplace.By Jeanine Poggi

1
How to not miss the mark in multicultural marketing 43:38

4y ago43:38

43:38

Senior editor Jeanine Poggi and agency reporter Lindsay Rittenhouse, speak with industry leaders Jill Kelly, U.S. chief marketing officer, GroupM, Kimberly Paige, exec VP and chief marketing officer, BET Networks, Soon Mee Kim, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer and executive VP at Omnicom Public Relations Group, and Tiffany Edwards, glo…

1
The state of the CMO 31:05

4y ago31:05

31:05

Lisa Mann, a former CPG marketer who recently joined an executive search firm, joins to discuss CMO hiring trends and look at how the role is changing—in some cases for the worse.By Ad Age

1
How a microbe from Yellowstone could shake up the food industry 28:38

4y ago28:38

28:38

When Karuna Rawal got a call from a recruiter about a marketing gig at a startup using a microbe to make protein-packed, animal-free food, she was intrigued. The lifelong vegetarian joined the company, now called Nature's Fynd, as its chief marketing officer and first marketing hire. Now, she and her Chicago-based team are just starting to get the …

1
LinkedIn’s head of global sales on the early pandemic ad panic 33:01

4y ago33:01

33:01

Ad Age spoke with Penry Price, LinkedIn’s VP of global sales, to understand how the site managed through the crises that have hit all industries. The pandemic affected digital advertising as sectors like travel pulled back on spending while other industries pulled ads temporarily to make them more appropriate for the national mood.…

1
Omnicom Media Group CEO on how covid has changed the ad landscape 26:58

4y ago26:58

26:58

In a time period when there seems to be little cause for optimism, Ad Age spoke with Omnicom Media Group CEO Scott Hagedorn on where he sees bright spots starting to emerge within his agency and the industry overall.By Lindsay Rittenhouse

1
Marketing a Mexican import 38:01

4y ago38:01

38:01

Oscar Martinez, Senior Brand Director of Tecate, joins the pod to talk about the brand’s marketing overhaul, which includes a move away from boxing and into music. We break down the brew’s “Mexico is in US” campaign that emphasizes the brand’s border-town heritage while seeking to appeal to drinkers who are unapologetically Mexican-American.…

1
Main Street One CEO Curtis Hougland on the launch of a senior political influencer network 32:23

4y ago32:23

32:23

Curtis Hougland, the founder and CEO of communications and strategy shop Main Street One, explains the social and political science behind voter/consumer persuasion, and why the time is right for campaigns and brands to leverage older (55+) influencers.By Ad Age

1
Defeating D.C. Council's ad and personal information tax 27:50

4y ago27:50

27:50

4A's Executive VP of Government Relations Alison Pepper discusses how she and other industry organizations fought a 3 percent tax on advertising services and the sale of “personal information" proposed by The Washington, D.C. City Council as part of a plan to combat a growing budget deficit, and won. She says the fight isn't over though.…

1
Moving from CMO to CEO 32:42

4y ago32:42

32:42

Pernod Ricard North America CEO Ann Mukherjee describes why the liquor marketer will resume social media spending after pausing it in July. The longtime marketer also describes what it’s like moving into the CEO job, and she explains her leadership style, which involves bringing your personal experiences to the job.…

1
Marketing the (delayed) Olympics 33:08

4y ago33:08

33:08

Christopher Carroll, director of digital engagement and marketing for the International Olympic Committee, joins the pod to talk about how the IOC is going about plugging the Tokyo games, which were delayed by a year due to the pandemic.By Ad Age

1
The latest ad law news 35:54

4y ago35:54

35:54

Ad lawyer Linda Goldstein joins to discuss what brands need to know about sponsorship contract changes during COVID-19, new ‘Made in the USA,’ ad regulations and what to expect at the FTC if Democrats take over. Plus, she explains how ad lawyers can co-exist with creatives.By Ad Age

1
Mark Robinson 50:32

4y ago50:32

50:32

The author of “Black on Madison Avenue” talks about what it was like getting a job in advertising 40 years ago and how much the industry has failed to change since that time.By Ad Age

1
Taking Latin-inspired creative to the mainstream 40:06

4y ago40:06

40:06

Former LatinWorks chief creative Sergio Alcocer joins to talk about his 3-year-old cultural marketing shop Rest of the World and give his take on how brands and agencies should respond to new calls for diversity. He weighs in on other topics, like his love of jazz music and how he would rebrand the Catholic Church.…

1
Publicis CMO Justin Billingsley on the Power of One and what his client-side past brings to his new role 42:01

4y ago42:01

42:01

Justin Billingsley has one hell of a Lego set. Publicis Groupe’s first global chief marketing officer used the famed building blocks in an analogy during the Ad Age Ad Lib podcast to explain how the holding company’s Power of One works for clients. Billingsley said that for client Mercedes-Benz the company constructed a shop, Publicis Emil, compose…

1
Behind the AP’s new marketing push 39:04

4y ago39:04

39:04

Julie Tucker, global marketing director for the Associated Press, on the news wire service’s new marketing and what separates it from the ‘Truth’ campaign she oversaw at The New York Times. We also discuss newsroom diversity and how the AP is preparing for the 2020 election. Plus, Tucker explains why she left agency life behind.…

1
There’s no mistaking Leeann Leahy 38:31

4y ago38:31

38:31

Portland Maine’s Via agency CEO talks about the moral renaissance, directing a commercial with Jim Perdue via iPhone, her Catholic school education and the disco ball in her home.By Ad Age's Judy Pollack

1
Auto marketing during the pandemic 34:55

4+ y ago34:55

34:55

Allyson Witherspoon, VP of marketing communications and media at Nissan North America, on how the automaker responded in the early days of the coronavirus outbreak and what it is doing now to restore buyer confidence. She also weighs in on online car-buying and why she thinks it’s here to stay. Plus, she shares management tips she learned while wor…

1
The pandemic paradox 37:25

4+ y ago37:25

37:25

Anush Prabhu, chief strategy officer at Mediacom, talks about the new—and often contrasting—behaviors that have come about since COVID, and how smart marketers should navigate them as the world opens up.By Ad Age's Judy Pollack

1
Marketing cannabis during the pandemic 43:29

4+ y ago43:29

43:29

Greg Butler, chief commercial officer at Cresco Labs, explains how the cannabis firm has pivoted during COVID-19, which has forced the firm to rely more on digital and less on retail and experiential activations that had been critical components of cannabis marketing. The former Molson Coors marketer also discusses Cresco’s strategy on taking a bra…

1
Finding creative inspiration in a pandemic 38:07

4+ y ago38:07

38:07

Goodby, Silverstein & Partners’ Chief Creative Officer Margaret Johnson explains how the agency has created more than 30 campaigns for 80 percent of its clients remotely--and how working from home has opened up new avenues of inspiration.By Ad Age's Judy Pollack

1
Behind the e-commerce surge 32:36

4+ y ago32:36

32:36

Longtime agency exec Sarah Hofstetter joins to talk about her new role as president of e-commerce analytics firm Profitero, which serves more than 4,000 clients. We discuss the coronavirus-induced e-commerce surge and whether or not it’s sustainable. She also talks about her career journey and why she took this job after previous stints at 360i and…

1
Brian Braiker, former editor, Ad Age 48:16

4+ y ago48:16

48:16

Today's podcast guest is, well, me. After three wonderful, challenging, intense, stressful and exhilarating years, I’m sad to say I’m parting ways with this iconic institution. Friday was my last day. Working with the Ad Age newsroom in both good times and weird has been an honor. In a conversation with my colleagues Judy Pollack and Alfred Maskero…

1
Jason DeLand, founding partner, Anomaly 38:31

4+ y ago38:31

38:31

Ad Age is working from home, just like you. As the coronavirus has become the new reality for all of us, Jason DeLand has some thoughts about the likely lasting implications of the pandemic on all aspects of life and business, from brand behavior to consumer behavior, the environment, the cannabis industry and more. There will be no "returning" to …

1
Nick Kokonas, author and restaurateur 26:25

4+ y ago26:25

26:25

The U.S. restaurant industry is in a grim predicament, particularly high-end, dine-in restaurants that can't be open as the coronavirus pandemic grinds on. Chicago-based restaurant executive Nick Kokonas has helped prepared his restaurants as well as others to navigate the situation in creative ways. The moves include a shift to carryout, something…

1
Mira Kaddoura, founder and ECD, Red &. Co. 34:48

4+ y ago34:48

34:48

Mira Kaddoura grew up in Beirut, where she witnessed war firsthand. With a striking head of frizzy red hair, Kaddoura learned early on how to live life as someone who stands out: The themes of inclusion, representation and the other have all colored her work. Kaddoura joins the podcast to discuss the Red & Co. ethos. The agency has partnered with G…

1
Debra Lee, former Chairman and CEO, BET 46:01

4+ y ago46:01

46:01

When Debra Lee stepped down as Chairman and CEO of BET in May of 2018, she put a cap on a 32-year run at the network. Today, we talk about her legacy—among other things, she took programming in a new direction, pivoting away from music videos and into original fare. We discuss life after BET and the media landscape today compared to three decades a…

1
Taylor Lorenz, New York Times reporter 37:47

4+ y ago37:47

37:47

Taylor Lorenz covers internet culture and trends for the Gray Lady--memes, yes, but also influencers, TikTok, YouTubers and more. She has a knack for identifying zeitgeisty moments just before they break through to mainstream consciousness. Her recent headlines include a look at the Bloomberg campaign’s meme strategy, a visit to the so-called Hype …

1
Bill Koenigsberg, founder and CEO, Horizon Media 42:17

4+ y ago42:17

42:17

The founder of the world’s largest privately held media company joins us to look back on a career that flourished along with the rise of the modern media agency era. We talk about the explosion of data that digital has brought with it, and why he has chosen to rent rather than own data. We look at the streaming wars and talk about Horizon's loss of…

1
Louisa Wong, COO, Carat 36:47

4+ y ago36:47

36:47

For the first decade of her career, Louisa Wong worked at pioneering digital media outlets in the U.K., starting with CNET and then Skye. Today, as the chief operating officer at Carat, Dentsu Aegis Network’s flagship media agency, Wong applies that background in media as she navigates at the intersection of tech and disruption. Here, we discuss ad…

1
Martin Sorrell, S4 Capital 57:23

4+ y ago57:23

57:23

Today’s guest needs no introduction. And yet, over the past 21 months, the financial wizard who built WPP into the world’s largest advertising holding company has been busy reintroducing himself as the executive chairman of S4 capital. Days before his 75th birthday, we discuss everything from what motivates him today, why the holding company model …

1
Jeff Goodby and Rich Silverstein, founders of Goodby Silverstein & Partners 40:00

4+ y ago40:00

40:00

Jeff Goodby and Rich Silverstein, founders of Goodby Silverstein & Partners, worked on four Super Bowl brands this year, including Pepsi, Cheetos, Doritos and SodaStream. The team who created the infamous “Got, Milk?” slogan is taking their advertising expertise to the MasterClass platform where they will lead a series of classes, including one on …

1
Amy Astley, editor-in-chief, Architectural Digest 35:03

4+ y ago35:03

35:03

In 2016 Astley, a Condé Nast lifer, inherited a stodgy brand and was tasked with brining a fresh voice and new vision to it. Architectural Digest, which turns 100 this month, had hardly any digital presence to speak of: No video footprint, fewer than a million followers on Instagram. Today it is coming up on 5 million Instagram followers and has mo…

1
Mark Read, CEO/executive director, WPP 45:01

4+ y ago45:01

45:01

In a wide-ranging conversation on all things WPP, Read discusses his early moves, including merging agency brands VML with Y&R and JWT with Wunderman. In the past 18 months, WPP has shared more than 40 assets in a bid to become more streamlined. Read, the chief executive of the world's largest advertising holding company, talks about creativity, an…

1
Wyclef Jean 57:08

4+ y ago57:08

57:08

The founding Fugee has in recent years become a fixture at CES and at Cannes Lions, where he will be the president of the music jury this year. Here, he describes what brands can better understand about working with music and musicians. We talk about his childhood in Haiti, where he lived until he was 9 before emigrating to Brooklyn. He also shares…

1
David Droga (Repeat) 27:23

4+ y ago27:23

27:23

The industry’s collective mind was blown when David Droga announced in April that his namesake agency, Droga5, would be acquired by Accenture Interactive. The consultants are coming for the creatives, the narrative went. Not so fast, says Droga. In this conversation, recorded in July, he discusses the three-year journey toward acquisition—and what …

1
Andrew Robertson, CEO, BBDO Worldwide 35:00

4+ y ago35:00

35:00

Andrew Robertson is by all accounts the longest-running agency CEO working today. And he's got a track record to back it up: Renowned for its creativity, you've seen BBDO Worldwide’s imprint on work for Ford, for which it is the lead agency, Snickers, Macy's, M&Ms, Sandy Hook Promise, Avocados from Mexico and more. It's been named network of the ye…

1
Terence Kawaja, CEO, Luma Partners 42:52

5y ago42:52

42:52

In a conversation that ranges from the upcoming streaming wars to the ongoing direct-to-consumer trend to a look ahead at next month’s CES, Terence Kawaja gives a general sense of the state of things from his vantage point of an investment banker obsessed with digital media and marketing. Oh, he is also, pretty funny. For an investment banker.…

1
David-Michel Davies, CEO, the Webby Awards 39:15

5y ago39:15

39:15

Now in their 24th year, the Webbys are currently accepting submissions for what’s been called the Oscars of the internet. Joining the podcast today is David-Michel Davies, the CEO of the Webbys, presented annually by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. We discuss the trends he’s been watching in the online space and what it even…

1
Live from Ad Age: Next 35:47

5y ago35:47

35:47

Last week in New York, Ad Age brought together executives from some of the best media brands in the world to explore the industry’s challenges and, more interesting, opportunities. This podcast is a live recording of a conversation with three media execs about what they’ve learned from leaning into the subscription model. Joining us on stage were P…

1
David Angelo, co-founder, David & Goliath 36:01

5y ago36:01

36:01

David & Goliath founder David Angelo looks back at a three decade career that started as a junior art director at DDB New York, followed by stints at Chiat/Day and Cliff Freeman & Partners. We talk about what prompted him to hang his own shingle 20 years ago and how the industry has changed in the past three decades. David & Goliath, a creative ind…

1
Jarrod Dicker, vp commercial technology and development, Washington Post 48:22

5y ago48:22

48:22

In a space where the word “innovation” gets tossed around a lot, Jarrod Dicker seems to actually be building a better mousetrap. Dicker’s remit is to make advertising, subscriptions and technology better at the Bezos-owned media giant. He’ll discuss how media companies can no longer rely solely on advertiser and subscriber revenue alone, plus we ge…

1
Paul Woolmington, CEO, Canvas 44:36

5y ago44:36

44:36

A three-time entrepreneur, Paul Woolmington is the founding CEO of media agency Canvas Worldwide and a keen observer of the marketing landscape. He is a former vet of holding companies IPG and WPP, founded and ran Media Kitchen, an MDC Partners agency, and he can rock a jaunty cravat. Paul joins us for a wide ranging conversation on just about ever…

1
Jessica Pels, editor-in-chief, Cosmopolitan 36:35

5y ago36:35

36:35

In October of last year, at just 32 Jessica Pels was named the youngest-ever editor in chief at Cosmopolitan. Now exactly one year into the gig, web traffic is through the roof, even as single issue print sales continue to decline (just as they do everywhere else). We dig into her web-driven, data-centric approach to content strategy as we discuss …

1
Barak Moffit, Universal Music Group 35:46

5y ago35:46

35:46

A producer, composer and technologist, Barak Moffat heads UMG's content and strategy. UMG's massive catalog includes 40 percent of all of the world's music. He discusses that, and what it means to be creating new commercial opportunities for audio visual content across all of UMG’s labels. Essentially tasked with charting the company's next chapter…

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Ad Lib Actualize Podcasts

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