Show overview
Ad Age Insider has been publishing since 2017, and across the 9 years since has built a catalogue of 206 episodes, alongside 6 trailers or bonus episodes. That works out to roughly 110 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 27 min and 39 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language News show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 3 days ago, with 26 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2019, with 54 episodes published. Published by Ad Age Podcasts.
From the publisher
Every week, Ad Age Insider helps make sense of what's happening across advertising, marketing and media—and why it matters. Hosted by Parker Herren, the show features conversations with Ad Age editors and reporters unpacking the stories they're covering, with context, skepticism and perspective beyond the headlines. From shifts in power and strategy to cultural moments shaping the business of brands, Insider connects the dots across the industry. Subscribe to stay current—and see the industry more clearly.
Latest Episodes
View all 206 episodesCannes Lions takeaways: Lessons for marketers to carry through 2026
Cannes Lions pre-brief: indies and creators surge plus key topics, with Brian Bonilla and Ewan Larkin
CMOs on CMOs: Hippo and Solo Stove on AI and grassroots marketing tactics
Best World Cup campaigns and the new sports marketing playbook, with Tim Nudd and Jon Springer
Publicis-LiveRamp deal: what to know and how to react, with Garett Sloane
AI marketing brief: trust, creativity and careers—ICYMI
CMO Lessons: Brand trust, creative strategy and agency audits—ICYMI
Winning Gen Z brand loyalty—quality, service and community, with Erika Wheless
Inside the TV upfronts—winners and losers, measurement and AI, with Brandon Doerrer
Agency hiring in the AI era: What grads need now, with Lindsay Rittenhouse
What's driving marketing impact: lessons from award-winning campaigns, with Tim Nudd
Testing ChatGPT ads—what brands need to know about AI strategy, with Asa Hiken
Ep 29Brand community strategy: turning reach into participation, with Mark Fischer and Sabrina Sanchez
Senior Engagement Editor Mark Fischer interviews Ad Age's communities and Substack strategy leaders Sabrina Sanchez and Parker Herren on how brands are turning consumers into brand builders. Learn how brands are meeting audiences where they are, designing repeatable, low‑lift interactions and choosing platforms that teams can sustain. Sanchez and Herren also outline first steps for marketers and agencies: audit existing audiences, prioritize trust and feedback loops, and treat community as a long‑term distribution and relationship strategy. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Subscribe to Ad Age's Substack ~More on Ad Age's The List community ~If you're an early-career professional and want to sign up for Ad Age's NextGen community, send an email to [email protected] ~Applications for Ad Age's Small Agency Network will reopen this summer. Stay tuned at AdAge.com for more information ~Read Ad Age's NextGen Marketing Playbook ~How brands can help Gen Z find fulfillment beyond curated feeds ~Listen to Ad Age's Marketer's Brief podcast
Ep 28'Fruit Love Island' brand lessons: skip this viral trend, with Gillian Follett
Brain rot content has become a staple of virality on TikTok. But brands eager to jump into trending conversations should be wary of "Fruit Love Island" and similar AI-generated posts. Users will be far less kind to corporations than their peers. Influencer and Social Media Marketing Reporter Gillian Follett breaks down the "Fruit Love Island" trend, why it's become so popular and what it reveals about brands on social media. Plus, the shift of content toward entertainment and brands that have successfully tapped into emerging formats. And, what you need to know about Kristen Cavallo's return to the ad industry as well as CVS Health's creative and media agency reviews. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~What brands need to know about "Fruit Love Island" ~Creator takeaways from this year's NewFronts ~Submit for Ad Age's Small Agency Awards ~Listen to Ad Age's Marketer's Brief podcast
Ep 27Identity marketing and how beverage brands are winning Gen Z, with Jon Springer
Senior Reporter Jon Springer breaks into the rise of identity marketing, including how soda brands like Poppi, Dr. Pepper and Diet Coke are winning with Gen Z. Plus, how all marketers can incorporate better social listening and fan engagement to turn their branding into cultural currency. And why ChatGPT's Instant Checkout ad product flopped, and Apple's plans to bring brands to Maps. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Why the drinks people carry matter more to marketers now ~Takeaways from Ad Age's NextGen Marketing Playbook ~Behind the rise of alcoholic sports drinks ~Summer alcohol marketing trends to know ~Listen to the Marketer's Brief podcast
Ep 26NewFronts 2026 survival guide, with Garett Sloane, Brandon Doerrer and Gillian Follett
As the industry gears up for a week of presentations from YouTube, Meta, TikTok, Tubi and more, Ad Age reporters break down the topics trending at this year's NewFronts, from AI and agentic tools to creator amplification. Hear how to decipher hype from reality, how digital ad dollars are being spent in 2026 and why these presentations matter to the industry. Plus, why Publicis is calling out the Trade Desk. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~2026 NewFronts trends ~2026 NewFronts calendar ~Inside Q2 media budgets ~Listen to the Marketer's Brief podcast
Ep 25How to win the Ad Age A-List, with Judann Pollack
Executive Editor and editorial lead of the Ad Age A-List Judann (Judy) Pollack talks the value of industry awards, and tips for climbing Ad Age's annual list of top agencies. She describes what defines success despite industry challenges, what judges look for in award submissions, the dos and don'ts of a good entry and trends to watch for next year's A-List. Plus, DraftKings' new creative agencies. And what Milan Cortina Winter Olympics marketers learned about brand safety, and how to apply those lessons to the FIFA World Cup. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~See 2026 Ad Age A-List winners ~Attend Ad Age's Editors Roundtable on March 26 ~Listen to the Marketer's Brief podcast
Ep 24How to win new business in 2026, with Brian Bonilla
Senior agency reporter Brian Bonilla goes deep on the current new business marketplace, including how government policy, tech and AI innovation and industry consolidation are impacting agency account reviews. Bonilla shares current brand needs, explains how those are different from recent years, and provides tips for brands to get a leg up in pitches. Plus, tips for marketers overwhelmed by the review process. Plus, the lesson for brands in McDonald's cringe CEO taste test and what ChatGPT's first third-party ad tech partner means for brands. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~What separates agencies winning 2026 reviews ~How agencies are helping clients become more self-sufficient ~Inside agencies' new self-service platforms ~What are media rebates? Agency transparency in the hot seat
Ep 23What are media rebates? Agency transparency in the hot seat, with Ewan Larkin
Agency reporter Ewan Larkin decodes a recent lawsuit against WPP Media that has made agency transparency the industry's buzziest topic. Larkin defines media rebates and principal media buying, explaining how agencies aggregate billions in client ad budgets to negotiate volume deals with platforms such as Google, Meta and Amazon, and how those arrangements can create conflicts over who benefits from discounted or proprietary inventory. He describes potential red flags in these practices and lists what questions marketers should be asking their agencies to protect their marketing budgets. Plus, Estée Lauder's media agency shakeup, and a shocking agency executive exit. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Inside the lawsuit against WPP Media ~Acadia's CEO on media rebate transparency ~Get tickets to Ad Age's NextGen Marketing Summit ~Listen to the Marketer's Brief podcast
Ep 22Your AI ad playbook: red flags, hard lessons and brand wins, with Asa Hiken
Ad Age Tech Reporter Asa Hiken chronicles the evolution of generative AI use in major brands' advertising, the common mistakes that upset viewers and the checklist every marketer needs to know if they plan to scale generative AI use. Plus, why agencies are rushing to get their clients on ChatGPT, including the benefits they predict will come from being a first mover. And Raymour & Flanigan's new media agency. Dig deeper on the topics mentioned in this week's episode: ~Subscribe to Ad Age's Emerging Tech newsletter ~See AI generated work from Coca-Cola, Google, Progressive, Svedka, McDonald's and Kalshi ~Register for Ad Age's AI-focused Editor's Roundtable ~Listen to Ad Age's Marketer's Brief podcast