Behind the Numbers: an EMARKETER Podcast

Latest Episodes:

AI Can Recommend. But Can It Sell? | Behind the Numbers Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

In today's podcast episode, we discuss why ChatGPT's Instant Checkout didn't take off, the strengths and weaknesses of today's third-party AI shopping assistants, why they struggle with conversion, and what AI shopping might look like a year from now.

Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with analysts Grace Harmon and Rachel Wolff. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.

Report mentioned in this episode: https://content-na1.emarketer.com/state-of-ai-shopping-assistants

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For a transcript of this episode click here:
https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-ai-recommend-sell-behind-numbers

Rokt is the global leader in ecommerce, unlocking real-time relevance in the Transaction Moment. Rokt's AI Brain and Ecommerce Network help the world’s leading companies deliver more relevant customer experiences and unlock incremental value from every transaction. Learn more at rokt.com

What Every Retailer Can Learn from the Value Apparel Shopper with Rainbow Apparel | Reimagining Retail Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how technology has changed the way Rainbow's customers research, compare, and ultimately make purchasing decisions; what the retailer has learned about serving customers that higher-end, luxury, and mainstream retailers could benefit from; and why "every AI experiment designed to replace a person failed, while every experiment designed to make a talented person better succeeded."

Tune in to hear the discussion featuring Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst Zak Stambor, and David Cost, Chief Digital Officer at Rainbow Apparel.

Mind, Body, Basket: The Rise of the Wellness Shopper | Behind the Numbers Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

In today’s podcast episode, we discuss what “wellness” means to Americans today, the relationship between the wellness movement and the traditional healthcare industry, and how brands and retailers are redesigning their offerings for wellness-conscious shoppers.

Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Analysts Rajiv Leventhal and Beth Snyder Bulik. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.

Report mentioned:

https://content-na1.emarketer.com/health-wellness-market-2026?_gl=1*1qdd2uu*_gcl_au*NDI1MjU0MDE2LjE3NzY3MTc1NzcuNDUxNDk0NDA3LjE3ODA5MzUzMzYuMTc4MDkzNjM2NQ..*_ga*OTE2NTYwMDAxLjE2ODk3OTEzNTc.*_ga_XXYLHB9SXG*czE3ODEwMTk2NzkkbzQ2JGcxJHQxNzgxMDE5Njg0JGo1NSRsMCRoNzUzODM2MjAy

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For a transcript of this episode, click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-mind-body-basket-rise-of-wellness-shopper-behind-numbers

© 2026 EMARKETER
Rokt is the global leader in ecommerce, unlocking real-time relevance in the Transaction Moment. Rokt's AI Brain and Ecommerce Network help the world’s leading companies deliver more relevant customer experiences and unlock incremental value from every transaction. Learn more at rokt.com.

Touch Grass Marketing: How Digital Brands Go IRL | Behind the Numbers Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

In today’s podcast episode, we discuss what the data says about young people actually going out and touching grass, what “logging off” really looks like, whether this trend is a temporary backlash or the beginning of a long-term cultural shift away from screens, and some of the best examples of brands taking note of this trend by creating real-world experiences.

Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Vice President of Content Suzy Davidkhanian, Analyst Paola Flores-Marquez, and Senior Analyst Gadjo Sevilla. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.

Britain’s Retail King: Tesco’s Next Chapter | Reimagining Retail Jun 03, 2026

Show notes

In today’s podcast episode, we discuss UK supermarket giant Tesco: its true superpower, its next big bet, and what it should cut—and keep—to maintain its position as the UK’s #1 retailer. Listen to the discussion featuring Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst Bill Fisher, and Senior Analyst Carina Lamb.

Google Reinvents Search as OpenAI Gets Cleared for Takeoff | Behind the Numbers Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

In today’s podcast episode, we discuss how significant Google’s new “Intelligent Search Box” is, whether Google has already dethroned OpenAI as the leader in consumer AI, and the key takeaways from the Musk–Altman trial. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Analyst Jacob Bourne and Principal Analyst Nate Elliott. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.

Subscribe to EMARKETER's newsletters. Go to https://www.emarketer.com/newsletters

For sponsorship opportunities, contact us: advertising@emarketer.com

For more information, visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/

Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com

For a transcript of this episode, click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-google-reinvents-search-openai-gets-cleared-takeoff-behind-numbers

Social Media Is Quietly Taking Over Your Living Room | Behind the Numbers May 29, 2026

Show notes

In today’s podcast episode, we explore what happens when social media moves from our phones to our living room TV screens, what to make of Meta’s new “Instagram for TV” app, and which formats social media companies might develop beyond short-form video to capture TV audiences. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with analysts Marisa Jones and Emmy Liederman. Listen anywhere, or watch on YouTube or Spotify.

Swatch x Audemars Piguet’s “Royal Pop” Collab Chaos, Miller's Soccer Ball Cooler, and More | Reimagining Retail May 27, 2026

Show notes

On today’s podcast episode, we present our “Unofficial Monthly Retailer Awards” (UMRAs) for May, including “Most Impactful Campaign,” “Best IRL Initiative,” and “Greatest Under-the-Radar Move.” Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst Sky Canaves, and Analysts Arielle Feger and Rachel Wolff.

AI Might Be Wiping Out Entry-Level Jobs — and Changing the Ones That Survive | Behind the Numbers May 26, 2026

Show notes

In today’s podcast episode, we discuss whether AI is actually wiping out entry-level jobs, how it’s changing marketing jobs, and whether employee backlash to AI is a flash in the pan or something deeper and more systemic. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Analyst Grace Harmon and Senior Analyst Gadjo Sevilla. Listen anywhere, or watch on YouTube or Spotify. Get more insights like these with our free, industry-leading newsletters covering advertising, marketing, and commerce. Sign up at emarketer.com/newsletters
Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/
For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com
For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/
Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com
For a transcript of this episode click here:
https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-ai-might-wiping-entry-level-jobs-changing-ones-that-survive-behind-numbers
© 2026 EMARKETER

Caitlin Clark and the Women’s Sports Gold Rush | In the Game May 21, 2026

Show notes

On today’s podcast episode, we explore the “Clarkonomics” phenomenon by examining basketball superstar Caitlin Clark’s massive economic impact, discuss which women’s sport and athlete could be next to break out, and look at how marketers can capitalize on the growing popularity of women’s sports without getting left behind.

Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Principal Forecasting Writer Ethan Cramer-Flood and Analyst Paola Flores-Marquez. Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch on YouTube and Spotify.

Subscribe to EMARKETER's newsletters. Go to https://www.emarketer.com/newsletters

For sponsorship opportunities, contact us: advertising@emarketer.com

For more information, visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/

Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com

For a transcript of this episode, click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-caitlin-clark-women-s-sports-gold-rush-game