Marketecture: Get Smart. Fast.

Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi speak with Adam Epstein, co-founder and CEO of Gigi, an AI assistant focused on automating tasks within the Amazon DSP. Adam shares how the product evolved from a streaming TV tool to a broader AI-powered platform for media agencies. He discusses the challenges of training a vertical AI agent using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), the reasoning behind a chat-based interface, and how agencies are integrating their own processes into Gigi. The conversation also touches on the potential impact of agentic AI on agency workflows and team structures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo talks with Justin Evans, Head of Innovation and Insights at Samsung Ads and author of The Little Book of Data. They discuss the core ideas behind the book, how data concepts apply across industries, and why clear thinking rather than technical expertise is often what matters most. The conversation also touches on Evans’s time in ad tech, his writing process, and what data can (and can’t) explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari and Eric recap key themes from Cannes 2025, including the ongoing conversation around AI in advertising and media, the presence of creator and sports partnerships, and recent developments in commerce media. They share observations on industry announcements, AI's progress (and limitations), and structural changes in the ad tech space. The discussion also covers how Cannes operates behind the scenes, from sponsorship deals to the growing presence of technology companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo chats with Milly Botes, VP of Product Management at Acast, about how the company’s podcast monetization platform and ad network. Milly breaks down the evolution of dynamic ad insertion, what makes host-read ads so effective, and how Acast is using AI to help with podcast discovery for advertisers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo sits down with Oleg Korenfeld, CTO of CMI Media Group, to discuss their experience integrating AI into agency media planning. They explore the challenges of working with multiple data sets, the limitations of generative AI in answering precise data queries, and how they adjusted their approach to automation. Oleg also shares insights on legal considerations, practical rollout hurdles, and the future potential of AI in media insights and planning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo talks with Sean Muller, CEO of iSpot, about the challenges and opportunities in measuring video across platforms such as linear TV, streaming, and social media. They explore how AI is helping to accelerate insights and enhance creative planning, and how marketers are adapting to changes in video consumption and advertising strategies. The conversation also touches on how paid and earned media are managed within marketing teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo sits down with Tony Marlow, CMO of LG Ad Solutions, at Cannes to unpack trends in connected TV. They cover ad innovation on smart TVs, the role of OEMs in media strategy, and how AI is starting to shape both targeting and creative. A grounded conversation on where CTV is headed—and what challenges remain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo talks with Philip Inghelbrecht, CEO and co-founder of Tatari, about how TV advertising is changing. They cover outcome-based measurement, the role of DSPs in connected TV, and how Tatari is using AI in creative workflows and media planning. The conversation also touches on how brands of different sizes approach TV and what trends are shaping the space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Grether, GM of PayPal Ads, joins Ari Paparo to break down how PayPal is approaching ads using data from PayPal, Venmo, and Honey. They talk about off-site targeting, commerce media, and why PayPal’s position in the market might be more powerful than people realize. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo speaks with Louqman Parampath, VP of Product for Ads and Commerce at Roblox, to break down how the company is building out its ad business. They discuss Roblox's massive user base, its immersive environment, and how creators and brands are monetizing the platform. Topics include ad formats like rewarded video, the role of programmatic, brand safety in a youth-dominated space, and what the future looks like for ads in the Roblox universe. It's a detailed look at how a gaming platform is redefining digital engagement and advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Todd Braverman, CRO of Ampersand, joins to explain how the company is navigating the shift from linear TV to streaming and data-driven advertising. Plus, Ari and Eric break down Meta’s AI ad plans, Amazon’s DSP pricing push, WPP and MIQ’s new AI platforms, and the latest in the Google antitrust case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo speaks with Matthew Doherty, CEO of EXTE North America, about the company’s recent rebranding and its approach to entering the U.S. market. They cover EXTE’s contextual targeting technology, how its optimization functions across various media environments, and the challenges of fitting into existing ad tech workflows. The discussion also explores broader industry topics such as supply-side developments and the influence of creativity on performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi are joined by David Berkowitz, a longtime marketer and founder of Serial Marketers and the AI Marketers Guild. They talk about the evolving role of community in marketing, how AI is reshaping creative work, and the uncertain future of entry-level marketing jobs. Plus, reflections on Mountain’s IPO, WPP’s AI push, and what it’s like to build a brand when your name comes with unexpected baggage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo speaks with Aaron McKee, CTO of Blis, recently acquired by T-Mobile. They discuss Blis’s unique geo-based approach to omnichannel media planning and measurement, how it delivers performance across hard-to-reach environments like iOS and CTV, and why traditional cookie-dependent strategies may fall short. Aaron also explains how Blis handles optimization, measurement through geo holdout groups, and compliance in a shifting regulatory landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric and Ari are joined by Jenny Wall, CMO of VideoAmp, to discuss the week's biggest stories—from DoubleVerify’s defamation lawsuit to Walmart’s retail media momentum. Jenny shares her perspective on the state of measurement, advanced audiences, and why the industry still has work to do when it comes to connecting data, outcomes, and real consumer behavior. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

GroupM COO JiYoung Kim talks about the agency’s evolving role in data collaboration, why signal-based models may outperform ID-based ones, and how privacy and performance can coexist. She also reflects on AI’s growing influence and the industry's need to rethink long-held assumptions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric Franchi and Ari Paparo are joined by Olivia Kory, Chief Strategy Officer at Haus, Olivia explains her research on YouTube and AppLovin as well as how the methodology can work across media. The group discusses the big news that Xandr Invest is shutting and recaps the DMS conference. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bluefish CEO Alex Sherman talks with Erin Lanuti, Chief Innovation Officer at Omnicom PR Group, about how AI is reshaping the way consumers discover brands. They explore the risks of misinformation in AI-generated responses, the shift from traditional SEO to conversational AI, and what brands need to do to stay visible and accurate in AI-driven search environments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taboola CEO Adam Singolda joins Ari Paparo to explore the company’s role in the open web, from evolving publisher monetization models to the impact of AI on content personalization. They discuss the balance between relevance and quality, the rise of commerce content, and how platforms like Taboola are navigating scale and trust in a changing digital landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dan Goikhman (CEO) and Krish Arvapally (CTO) of Dappier join the show to discuss how their company helps media brands deploy AI agents across websites and messaging platforms. They talk about real-world use cases, monetization strategies, and the shift from traditional web pages to AI-powered interactions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric and Ari catch up with Teads CEO David Kostman to discuss the company’s merger with Outbrain, navigating between brand and performance goals, and how the open internet fits into today’s media landscape. They also break down what stood out at Possible, the latest in Google’s antitrust case, Apple’s courtroom loss to Epic, and growing questions around PMAX and CTV strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo speaks with Andy Batkin, CEO of Duration Media, about the launch of Curation Media, a new approach to programmatic advertising. They explore the shift away from middlemen, how real-time viewability tech is creating unique, high-quality ad impressions, and what “scarcity at scale” really means for both publishers and buyers. It’s a thoughtful dive into how supply path optimization and sustainability intersect with innovation in the ad tech space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Walrath, CEO of Yext, discusses the evolution of digital presence and the growing importance of structured data in an AI-driven landscape. He reflects on local-first marketing and the challenges of visibility at scale. Eric and Ari also examine Google's delayed cookie deprecation, its impact on ad tech, and broader regulatory pressures, while touching on emerging trends in digital media and AI. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TripleLift CEO Dave Helmreich joins Ari Paparo to discuss his first 60 days at the helm and how the company is evolving beyond its native roots. They explore TripleLift’s push into creative as a differentiator for programmatic, its role in powering retail media through adaptive commerce solutions, and how it’s helping publishers and advertisers innovate in CTV. Dave also shares thoughts on balancing infrastructure with innovation, where the biggest growth opportunities lie, and why he thinks TripleLift is like a hummingbird. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DoubleVerify CEO Mark Zagorski joins to discuss the evolving role of measurement, the use of AI, and how DV is addressing scrutiny, while Arielle Garcia and Alan Chapell break down the recent antitrust decision against Google’s ad tech stack and explore what it could mean for the future of competition and accountability in digital advertising. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Ari Paparo interviews Eric Tilbury, Head of Operations at Inouvo, to explore how their platform moves beyond traditional keyword targeting using a proprietary “concept graph.” Tilbury explains how Inouvo identifies the underlying meaning and sentiment of content at the sentence level, enabling more precise ad targeting—even without user identifiers. He shares the company’s origins from a UCLA machine learning lab, their dual business model spanning ad tech and publishing, and the ongoing challenge of attribution in a post-ID world. The conversation also touches on how Inouvo integrates with Microsoft’s SSP and why building trust around alternative measurement remains a key hurdle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anthony Katsur explores the Trusted Server initiative, its impact on ad tech, and how it addresses challenges like browser privacy, signal loss, and ad blocking while enhancing attribution and transparency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Marketecture, Ari Paparo sits down with Gary Mittman, CEO of KERV.ai, to discuss how AI-driven video analysis is transforming contextual relevance and shopability. Mittman explains how KERV’s technology identifies key moments in video content to enable dynamic, targeted ad placements, creating new opportunities for publishers and advertisers. The conversation covers use cases with major media companies, the role of AI in ad compliance, and the challenges of integrating contextual targeting into the evolving ad tech landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Kane, and Mike O'Sullivan have a spirited debate on the Marketecture Live stage. Eric and Ari break down the latest on ad verification, Applovin’s response to short-seller attacks, the ongoing DSP fee wars, and major moves by X and XAi. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marketecture’s Jeremy Bloom and co-host Josh Palau go deep on what matters to brands. Each week the Brand Forum brings in leading brand marketers to talk advertising, media, and marketing through an insider's lens. In our inaugural episode, Josh and Jeremy sit down with Alex Birchmeier of Conagra Brands. Alex talks through testing new channels, pushing new boundaries, and all in all how he balances time and efforts across a powerhouse portfolio of brands. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This interview was recorded at Marketecture Live. Sean Black from DailyMotion talks about myths and misunderstandings in the CTV market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari, Eric, and Brian Wieser dive into the revised 2025 ad forecast, what’s driving uncertainty, and the potential impact of pharma ad bans. Plus, AI advancements reshaping media buying, IAB’s latest technology, and YouTube allowing host-read ads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the Marketecture Live event, Bill Wise (CEO of Mediaocean) and Grant Parker (President of Innovid) discussed the merger of Flashtalking and Innovid, emphasizing scale, independence, and AI-driven innovation in ad tech. They highlighted balancing control and transparency for advertisers while competing with Google’s ecosystem. The conversation covered AI’s role in campaign automation, supply path optimization, and the Harmony initiative, which enhances ad performance across multiple channels. They also touched on brand safety, DSP market fragmentation, and future ad tech trends, underscoring their commitment to neutral, scalable solutions for enterprise advertisers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian O'Kelley joins Ari on stage at Marketecture Live where they go in depth on the latest product announcements from Scope3. Also, Ari and Eric discuss highlights from Marketecture Live, including Innovid’s brand launch, Netflix’s Ad Suite, updates in ad tech, and recent media M&A activity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sovrn's Signal product is an on-page measurement and data enrichment tool designed to help publishers increase the value of their ad inventory. In the interview, Peter Cunha, Managing Director of Signal at Sovrn, explains that the product enhances bid requests by incorporating attention metrics, dynamic floor pricing, and identity signals to improve ad performance. Signal originated from Sovrn’s acquisition of OnScroll, a company that pioneered viewable engaged time as an early attention metric. Sovrn differentiates itself by eliminating revenue share on its SSP and instead charging publishers a volumetric CPM fee only when Signal improves yield. The conversation also touches on the growing role of attention-based advertising, the challenges of industry adoption, and why major platforms like Google and Amazon don’t offer similar data transparency to publishers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SuperAwesome is a leading marketing company focused on kids and teens. Kate, the CEO, comes on the show to talk about the challenges with marketing to this regulated market. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The interview with Alex Persky-Stern, CEO of Waymark, explores the company's AI-powered video production platform, which simplifies ad creation for media companies and advertisers. Waymark automates video generation by pulling assets from business websites, leveraging AI to create motion graphics, voiceovers, and scripting, while integrating with Shutterstock for additional content. The platform primarily serves TV, streaming, and ad tech industries, enabling efficient video ad creation for mid-market and local advertisers. Persky-Stern highlights Waymark’s shift towards automated, large-scale video generation and its expansion into ad tech. The company follows a SaaS-based pricing model and sees platforms, not advertisers, as the key stakeholders in AI-powered ad creation. Addressing concerns about AI limitations, he emphasizes Waymark’s focus on real business assets rather than purely AI-generated visuals. Looking ahead, he foresees the rise of automated, data-optimized video content as a major industry shift. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lotame acquired by Publicis Lockr acquired by Viant Blis acquired by T-Mobile Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cheq.ai is a cybersecurity company that specializes in protecting marketers from various forms of fraud, data manipulation, and bot-driven attacks. Their platform helps businesses detect and block fake users, prevent click fraud in digital advertising, and ensure marketing analytics remain accurate by filtering out non-human traffic. Cheq.ai also addresses broader security risks, such as preventing unauthorized data collection by third-party marketing tools. Their solutions cater primarily to enterprises but also offer self-serve options for small businesses, helping them reduce wasted ad spend and improve decision-making by mitigating fraudulent activities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Telly is giving away free TVs. Seriously. We find out how exactly they can make enough money on ads to support this. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ross Benes has been a senior analyst at eMarketer for over seven years. He shares some stats, and some color on how the stats are created. Plus Juggalos! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We have a frank conversation with Krzysztof Franaszek of Adalytics about the finding of ad-supported child sexual content and how the government got involved. We also ask him about his unconventional methods and the controversies around how his company does business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ron Jacobson from Rockerbox joins Ari and Eric to talk about Media Mix Modeling (MMM) and why Google and Meta have embraced it. Plus everything else you care about in measurement. We also discuss the news of the week, including the massive StackAdapt funding round, along with TVScientific's "B" round that included Roku as an investor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Overwolf provides developers with an app store for PC games, where third-party creators can build overlays that enhance gameplay with real-time information, tools, and enhancements. These apps function as add-ons to existing games, offering features like real-time strategy guides, in-game analytics, and other utilities that improve user experience. Overwolf monetizes through an advertising model, where independent developers earn revenue via in-app ads while game publishers benefit from increased player engagement without direct monetization. The company operates out of Tel Aviv and has raised significant funding from investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Griffin Gaming Partners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brett Wilson was the founder and CEO of TubeMogul through its sale to Adobe. Now he's the founder of Swift.vc, a fund focused on AI enablement. Eric and Ari talk to Brett about what he's seeing in the market and where there are opportunities. In the news of the week we discuss Nielsen's move to stop selling panel data as a stand-alone service, Facebook's monster earnings, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AdBridge is a creative technology startup that focuses on enhancing contextual relevance in native advertising. Founded by James O'Connor, the company aims to improve ad memorability by blending editorial content with pre-approved brand messaging through a transitionary language they call "The Bridge." Their initial product targets web-based environments, where ads integrate seamlessly into articles while maintaining clear disclosure as advertisements. AdBridge is in its early stages, with plans to expand beyond its current ad-serving fee model and build publisher partnerships to scale. The company distinguishes itself by prioritizing context within the creative process, aiming to refine its solution and expand into other channels over time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paige Bilins is the SVP of product for Magnite. She joined me at CES in Las Vegas to talk about the future of CTV and what is in store. Eric and Ari talk TikTok getting saved by Trump, Nielsen getting its groove back (or at least its certification), WPP employees rebelling against RTO, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

VidMob is a creative data company that helps marketers optimize their advertising by analyzing the creative elements of ads and linking them to performance metrics. It uses proprietary models to process data from platforms like Meta, Google, TikTok, and Amazon, examining millions of ad creatives frame by frame to identify factors like production style, narrative arc, and audience preferences. The platform enables brands to make data-driven creative decisions, leading to substantial performance improvements. VidMob also integrates AI tools to enhance creative workflows and supports clients through a pay-per-impression pricing model, focusing primarily on large enterprise marketers. Founded in 2014, VidMob operates globally, emphasizing the growing importance of creative data in effective marketing strategies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eric and Ari are joined by digital out of home expert Tim Rowe who helps us dissect the $600 million acquisition of Vistar by T-Mobile. We also discuss the surprise Sincera acquisition by The Trade Desk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AD-ID is owned by two non-profits organizations and provides a universal identifier for advertising creatives, akin to a UPC code for ads, enabling standardized tracking and management throughout the advertising ecosystem. Used by over 80% of Fortune 500 companies, AD-ID's system supports transparency, accountability, and cross-platform measurement by encoding essential metadata like brand, product, and format. The platform offers flexible creation methods, including APIs and spreadsheets, and charges based on usage volume to encourage widespread adoption. Despite its utility, challenges remain in achieving full ecosystem compliance, especially with large platforms and ensuring integration into legacy systems. AD-ID also plays a critical role in talent payment tracking through agreements with organizations like SAG-AFTRA, emphasizing its significance in both operational and creative aspects of the advertising industry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices