The Ad Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Cannes 2026: Direct Talent Models and Athletic Governance | Damaune Journey, 72andSunny, Global Growth Chief Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Relying entirely on static slide portfolios can expose emerging creative agencies to declining client conversion rates and high procurement resistance.

Dylan Conroy sits down with Damaune Journey, Global Chief Growth Officer at 72andSunny, to outline the structural framework used to transition legacy account acquisition models into unfragmented experiential marketing networks.

Experiential New Business Engines: How deploying original live real estate across global forums acts as a walking case study to close enterprise accounts.

Direct Talent Architectures: Why bypassing legacy representation networks to build text-chain relationships with athletes uncovers authentic brand storytelling lines.

High-Performance Workforce Design: Tactical lessons from Doc Rivers and Candace Parker on applying sports team metrics to manage corporate groups.

The Collective Scale Playbook: How 72andSunny restructured its international presence across six global offices to support global brand allocations.

Damaune Journey is an experienced global client strategist and the Global Chief Growth Officer at 72andSunny, commanding multi-continental agency footprints, high-prestige brand operations, and omni-channel conversion loops.

Connect with Damaune Journey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damaunejourney/

Explore the 72andSunny Global Collective Framework: https://www.72andsunny.com/

Optimize your automated performance media channel returns with Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-paid-social-media-ads-outcomes/

Follow host Dylan Conroy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanconroy/

Cannes 2026: Why 60% of Digital Interactions End in Zero Clicks | Dani Cushion, Teads, Chief Marketing Officer Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

As consumer attention jumps fluidly across diverse digital interfaces, enterprise brand leaders struggle with software overhead from fragmented programmatic point-solutions.

Meanwhile, open-web digital publishers face serious revenue drops caused by a massive shift toward zero-click interactions and AI scrapers training models on original journalism.

Dylan Conroy sits down with Dani Cushion, Chief Marketing Officer of Teads, to map out the technical architectures solving these cross-screen distribution issues.

Key Themes Covered:

Consolidating web, mobile, and Connected TV spend into unified ad managers.

Developing OEM home screen units like "CTV Ensemble" to target premium inventory amid peak FAST saturation.

Deploying publisher tech architectures like "Engage OS" to stabilize programmatic auction yields.

Tracking enterprise event investments down to second-half and multi-year pipeline development.

Mitigating the risks of closed streaming data environments to protect open programmatic ecosystems.

Dani Cushion is the global Chief Marketing Officer at Teads, where she leads international B2B marketing systems and brand strategy across more than 30 countries. She brings deep expertise from a long career in adtech, managing full-funnel media platform growth.

Connect with Dani Cushion on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danicushion/

Explore Teads Ad Management Platform: https://www.teads.com/

Optimize your enterprise marketing ROI with Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-paid-social-media-ads-outcomes/

Cannes 2026: Beyond Multicultural Marketing | Chaucer Barnes, Translation + UnitedMasters, Chief Marketing Officer Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Relying on traditional demographic categories and static company profiles can expose enterprise brands to high campaign fragmentation and falling consumer resonance.

Dylan Conroy sits down with Chaucer Barnes, Chief Marketing Officer at Translation and UnitedMasters, to analyze the framework for converting standard ethnic marketing models into unfragmented identity tracking networks.

Shifting to Identity Networks: Why targeting active psychographic subcultures (sports, music, entertainment) outperforms old demographic data blocks.

The Product-as-Canvas Model: Strategic guidelines from Vans and Converse on turning consumer goods into creative self-expression platforms.

Real-World Visibility Engineering: Bypassing laptop presentation decks to maintain consistent real-world hubs that secure B2B connections.

Intersecting Peak Ambition: The business development strategy used to lock down long-term contracts during key industry planning cycles.

Chaucer Barnes is a prominent brand strategist and the Chief Marketing Officer at Translation and UnitedMasters, where he commands international client growth, context planning, and direct artist monetization networks.

Connect with Chaucer Barnes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chaucer-barnes-98a8545/

Explore the Translation Agency Optimization Portfolio: https://translationllc.com/

Optimize your automated performance media returns with Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-paid-social-media-ads-outcomes/

Cannes 2026: Machine Learning and 0.00003-Second Attribution | Shachar Scott, Sunbit, Chief Marketing Officer Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Relying entirely on point-of-sale merchant channels can leave fintech platforms exposed to low consumer visibility and channel dependencies.

Dylan Conroy sits down with Shachar Scott, Chief Marketing Officer at Sunbit, to map out the operational framework used to transition legacy merchant infrastructure into an unfragmented consumer brand footprint.

Moving Past Transaction Layers: How to structure a direct consumer brand that transcends merchant checkout counters to capture top-of-wallet placement.

Accelerated Corporate Modernization: The behind-the-scenes mechanics of executing an enterprise rebrand within an intense 60-day operational window.

Predictive Risk Engineering: Why deploying machine-learning loops to analyze full financial histories delivers personalized options within 0.00003 seconds.

Radical Timelines Flattening: Leveraging automated orchestration platforms to condense campaign delivery loops from weeks to hours.

Shachar Scott is a veteran technology marketing strategist and the Chief Marketing Officer at Sunbit, directing global brand narrative, machine-learning data integrations, and omni-channel client scale for an enterprise holding over 5.5 million consumers.

Connect with Shachar Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shacharscott/

Explore the Sunbit Personal Finance Roadmap: https://sunbit.com/

Optimize your automated performance media channels with Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-paid-social-media-ads-outcomes/

Follow host Dylan Conroy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanconroy/

Cannes 2026: Surviving the Zero-Click Search Landscape | Dean Broadhead, Broadhead, CEO Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Relying entirely on old web index approaches can leave enterprise brands facing severe visibility loss as generative search systems change consumer behavior.

Dylan Conroy sits down with Dean Broadhead, Founder and CEO of Broadhead, to analyze the framework for converting corporate public relations into unfragmented Answer Engine Optimization networks.

The AEO Playbook: How structuring digital assets for LLM indexing protects market placement as traditional web traffic falls.

Surviving Zero-Click Search: The technical strategy required to secure direct machine citations inside automated layouts.

The Emotional Procurement Stake: Re-engineering B2B creative assets to handle individual job security risks among buyers.

Corporate Visibility Mandates: Why developing visible personal branding channels for executives drives modern customer pipelines.

Dean Broadhead is an experienced brand strategist and the Founder and CEO of broadhead, commanding a 150-person independent full-service agency network that directs performance media integrations across major B2B and B2C channels.

Connect with Dean Broadhead on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/broadheadco/

Explore the Broadhead Agency Optimization Catalog: https://broadheadco.com/

Optimize your automated performance media channels with Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-paid-social-media-ads-outcomes/

Follow host Dylan Conroy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanconroy/

Human-in-the-Loop AI Production Architecture | Scott Gardner, Liquid Agency, CEO and Co-Founder Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Operating entirely inside highly commoditized price competition can expose legacy industrial businesses to falling profit margins and extreme market indifference.

Dylan Conroy sits down with Scott Gardner, CEO and Co-Founder of Liquid Agency, to detail the operational framework used to transition traditional manufacturing networks into experience-led design entities.

The Decommoditization Playbook: How adapting rapid Silicon Valley design thinking loops can lift product value inside traditional 80-year-old giants.

Fractional CMO Leadership Models: The strategic business framework of placing external board advisors to direct corporate modernization.

Human-in-the-Loop Automation: Why elite creative networks restrict generative tools to processing tasks to defend against brand style replication.

The Low-Fi Performance Shift: Analyzing why raw, unpolished social videos systematically out-engage high-budget assets for workplace recruitment.

Scott Gardner is a veteran brand strategy architect and the CEO of Liquid Agency, commanding global category co-creation and cross-cycle technology implementation for tech and lifestyle giants including Google, Intel, and Nike.

Connect with Scott Gardner on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scotthgardner/

Explore the Liquid Agency Strategic Design Framework: https://www.liquidagency.com/

Optimize your automated performance media channel returns with Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-paid-social-media-ads-outcomes/

Follow host Dylan Conroy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanconroy/

Cannes 2026: Scaling Thought Leader Ads for 10x Engagement | Heather Freeland, LinkedIn, Chief Brand Officer Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Relying entirely on dry corporate updates can leave B2B marketing teams with falling click-through rates and high target audience indifference.

Dylan Conroy sits down with Heather Freeland, Chief Brand Officer at LinkedIn, to unpack the operational blueprint for converting cold company pages into unfragmented human storytelling networks.

The Verified Identity Blueprint: How building an identity layer using third-party validation tools removes anonymous online noise to protect brand safety.

The Creator Marketplace Engine: Navigating the platform's custom portal to connect enterprise brands with authoritative, professional voices.

The 10x Engagement Lift: Deconstructing the data metrics behind Thought Leader Ads and sponsored employee accounts.

Defeating Content Dilution: Why human personal narrative serves as the ultimate creative defense against automated AI-generated noise.

Heather Hopkins Freeland is a prominent brand executive and the Chief Brand Officer at LinkedIn, commanding international consumer marketing, creator product implementation, and cross-channel community strategy.

Connect with Heather Freeland on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hhfreeland/

Explore the LinkedIn Creator Marketplace: https://www.linkedin.com/

Optimize your automated performance media channels with Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-paid-social-media-ads-outcomes/

Follow host Dylan Conroy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanconroy/

Cannes 2026: Branded Entertainment Assets and Consumer Retention | Melissa Hobley, Tinder, Global CMO Jun 30, 2026

Show notes

Relying purely on disruptive digital banner ads can expose consumer brands to high audience fatigue and lower conversion performance.

Dylan Conroy sits down with Melissa Hobley, Global CMO of Tinder, to analyze the framework for converting core product insights into unfragmented vertical entertainment networks.

The Branded Entertainment Pivot: Why integrating product breakthroughs into original show IP beats traditional commercial models.

Native Vertical Mobile Design: The production requirements of filming natively in a 9:16 aspect ratio to maximize mobile video views.

Storytelling Beyond Algorithms: Evolving digital application frameworks to address social isolation and encourage real-world interaction.

Social Network Co-Creation: The business strategy for building distribution deals with networks like TikTok and ITV.

Melissa Hobley is an experienced consumer lifestyle executive and the Global CMO of Tinder, where she commands international brand architecture, co-created media licensing, and cross-platform mobile marketing campaigns.

Connect with Melissa Hobley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissahobley/

Explore the Tinder Product Feature Roadmap: https://tinder.com/

Optimize your cross-channel automated media performance with Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-paid-social-media-ads-outcomes/

Follow host Dylan Conroy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanconroy/

Cannes 2026: Scaling Creator Ecosystems for Enterprise Brands | Laura McAllister Davis, Publicis Production, Chief Client Officer Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

Relying entirely on isolated creative concepts during agency reviews can leave enterprise brands without clear blueprints for real-world execution.

Dylan Conroy sits down with Laura McAllister Davis, Chief Client Officer of Publicis Production U.S., to examine the framework for positioning scalable production assets at the core of multi-channel brand distribution networks.

The Production Pitch Imperative: Why connecting execution capabilities with live cultural trends serves as a decisive differentiator in major agency reviews.
Unified Creator Ecosystems: The strategic business reason for combining broad influencer networks with internal tabletop studios to optimize content velocity.
Navigating Compressed Cycles: How to manage tight, six-hour production windows to capitalize on social trends without losing message quality.
Practical Workspace Automation: Shifting routine administration like call sheets and pre-production packaging to digital tools to free up senior creative leadership.

Laura McAllister Davis is an experienced brand and agency executive, serving as the Chief Client Officer at Publicis Production U.S., where she commands global client strategy, scalable production pipelines, and unfragmented creative operations.

Connect with Laura McAllister Davis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-mcallister-davis-3b03657/

Explore Publicis Production Capabilities: https://www.publicisgroupe.com/

Optimize your multi-channel digital performance with Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-paid-social-media-ads-outcomes/

Follow host Dylan Conroy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanconroy/

Know more about Cannes Lions: https://www.canneslions.com/

Cannes 2026: Modernizing a Global Media Empire | Elizabeth Herbst-Brady, Condé Nast, Chief Revenue Officer Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

Relying purely on programmatic platform distribution can expose heritage brands to message fragmentation and diminish overall user trust.

Dylan Conroy sits down with Elizabeth Herbst-Brady, Chief Revenue Officer at Condé Nast, to map out the playbook for transitioning legacy publishing systems into unfragmented multimedia networks.

Strategic Brand Modernization: How Condé Nast restructures traditional print portfolios to command billions of cross-channel video views.

Purposeful Large Language Model Licensing: The commercial strategy behind partnering with frontier AI labs to establish clear content protection guardrails.

Experiential Revenue Optimization: Deconstructing the business design behind a 40% year-over-year jump across high-end real-world media properties.

Neurological Pattern Interruption: Reviewing Harvard and NIH data patterns to explain the transactional value of face-to-face dealmaking forums.

Elizabeth Herbst-Brady is a prominent advertising executive and the Chief Revenue Officer at Condé Nast, directing international ad monetization, strategic platform alignment, and e-commerce growth networks for premium properties including Vogue, Wired, and The New Yorker.

Connect with Elizabeth Herbst-Brady on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethherbstbrady/

Explore the Condé Nast Multimedia Portfolio: https://www.condenast.com/

Optimize your automated performance media ad channels with Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-paid-social-media-ads-outcomes/

Follow host Dylan Conroy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylanconroy/

Know more about Cannes Lions: https://www.canneslions.com/

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