The Ad Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ameetess Dira - Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) - Petzey Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Ameetess Dira is a strategic marketing leader and the current Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Petzey, a digital health platform disrupting the veterinary space with on-demand pet telehealth.

Known for her "purpose-driven" approach to brand building, Ameetess has become a prominent voice in the 2024–2026 marketing landscape, particularly within the pet-tech and health-tech sectors.

CMO at Petzey: At Petzey, she has spearheaded the brand’s mission to provide affordable, 24/7 access to veterinary professionals. Her strategy focuses on replacing "Dr. Google" with expert-led triage, positioning the company as a low-cost entry point ($20 consultations) for pet wellness.
Industry Thought Leader: She is a frequent guest on high-level industry programs, including The Ad Podcast with Dylan Conroy and the YouShouldTalkTo podcast. Her insights often center on how startups can build trust through authenticity and how to leverage agency partnerships to scale effectively.
Marketing Philosophy: Ameetess is a proponent of "value-first" marketing. She advocates for brands to solve real-world consumer anxieties—in her case, pet health scares—rather than simply selling a product. She has been vocal about the responsibility brands have to operate with a clear sense of purpose and ethical integrity.
Agency & Partnership Strategy: She is recognized for her sophisticated approach to the client-agency relationship, emphasizing deep collaboration and transparency as the primary drivers of marketing ROI.

David Berkowitz - Founder, Serial Marketer & AI Marketers Guild Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

David Berkowitz is a world-renowned marketing strategist, community builder, and author who has spent over 20 years at the intersection of technology and brand communication. He is currently the Principal of Serial Marketer, a consultancy where he generates demand for growth-mode technology firms and agencies.

Community Architect: David founded Serial Marketers, a thriving community of over 3,500 marketing professionals, and the AI Marketers Guild (AIMG), which focuses on the practical application of artificial intelligence in marketing. In 2025, he notably sold both communities to Marketecture Media.
Agency Veteran: Before launching his own consultancy, he held top-tier leadership roles including Chief Marketing Officer at MRY (Publicis Groupe) and SVP of Emerging Media at 360i (Dentsu), where he helped build the social media practices for brands like Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and Mondelez.
AI Thought Leadership: He is the author of The Non-Obvious Guide to Using AI for Marketing (2025), a foundational text for professionals looking to navigate the AI revolution without the hype.
Prolific Content Creator: David has penned more than 600 columns for outlets like Ad Age, MediaPost, and VentureBeat, and has been an active blogger via MarketersStudio.com since 2005.

The "Serial" Approach: His philosophy centers on constant experimentation and "serial" learning. He is known for being "unapologetically real" on stage and in his consulting, often sharing both his successes and his failures to help others grow.
Speaker: A global fixture on the marketing circuit, he has spoken at over 400 events worldwide, including SXSW, CES, and Advertising Week.

Key Expertise & Career HighlightsPersonal InsightsBackground: A lifelong New Yorker, he holds a B.A. in Psychology from Binghamton University. He is also a professional voiceover enthusiast and a Lego builder in his spare time.

Les Kollegian - Founder & CEO - Jacob Tyler Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Les Kollegian is an award-winning creative director and brand strategist with over 25 years of experience in the advertising and design industry. As the founder of Jacob Tyler, a global creative agency headquartered in San Diego, he has built a reputation for blending high-level brand storytelling with data-driven marketing results.

Agency Leadership: Under his guidance, Jacob Tyler has evolved from a small design boutique into a full-service global agency that has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies multiple times.
Brand Architect: Les has led successful branding and marketing initiatives for a diverse array of clients, ranging from startups to Fortune 500 giants, including Sony, TEDx, Hilton Hotels, and the San Diego Chargers.
Integrated Strategy: His expertise lies in "Human-Centric Branding"—ensuring that every digital touchpoint, from web design to social media, resonates emotionally with the target audience while meeting business KPIs.
Creative Recognition: His work has earned over 500 industry awards, including numerous ADDYs and Tellys, and he is a frequent keynote speaker on the topics of brand authenticity and the future of creative technology.

The "Brand Soul": Les is a firm believer that a brand is not a logo, but a "gut feeling" a customer has about a product or service. He focuses on uncovering the "soul" of a company to create lasting market differentiation.
Industry Contributor: He is deeply involved in the creative community, often serving as a mentor to emerging designers and a consultant for business incubators.

Career Highlights & ExpertisePhilosophy & CommunityBackground: Prior to founding Jacob Tyler in 2000, Les honed his craft at several top-tier West Coast agencies, giving him a balanced perspective on both the creative and operational sides of the business.

David Zucker - Chief Marketing Officer - King Ranch Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

David Zucker is a senior marketing executive and currently serves as Chief Marketing Officer at King Ranch, a historic U.S. agribusiness known for ranching, farming, and retail operations. He is an analytically driven, “AI-forward” marketing leader with over 20 years of experience in digital strategy, brand development, and customer acquisition.

Before joining King Ranch, Zucker held leadership roles across retail and e-commerce companies, including serving as CMO at Vitacost and working with brands like Dell and Home Shopping Network, where he focused on growth, performance marketing, and omnichannel strategy.

He is known for combining data-driven decision-making with creative brand strategy to drive business growth and modernize marketing operations.

Timothy Peterson - President & CEO -Rob Roy Apr 25, 2026

Show notes

Timothy Peterson is a forward-thinking executive and strategist serving as the President and CEO of Rob Roy. He is recognized for his expertise at the intersection of retail innovation, artificial intelligence, and evolving consumer demographics—specifically Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

Under Peterson’s leadership, Rob Roy has focused on navigating the shift from "AI hype" to "AI utility." He is a vocal proponent of Agentic Commerce, the idea that AI agents will soon handle the heavy lifting of product discovery and purchasing for consumers.

His work at Rob Roy often centers on:

Gender-Fluid Fashion: Peterson has championed the "gender-free" movement in retail, viewing it not just as a cultural shift but as a manufacturing efficiency play.
Operational Excellence: He advocates for "boring" AI applications—those that solve specific business problems like supply chain logistics and sizing accuracy (such as the "1/8th inch" manufacturing secret) rather than just chasing "shiny object" trends.
Community-Driven Branding: He emphasizes building niche, high-trust communities as the primary defense against the commoditization of retail.

Peterson is a frequent speaker and guest on high-level industry platforms (including The Ad Podcast with Dylan Conroy), where he discusses the future of the 2026 hype cycle and how brands can survive the transition to automated commerce. He is known for a "problem-first" approach to technology, advising executives to identify a business pain point before selecting a technical tool.

Grace Teng - Partner & Chief Media Officer - Zambezi Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

Grace Teng is a highly seasoned advertising executive with over 20 years of experience spanning politics, advertising, and media strategy. At Zambezi, one of the largest female-owned independent agencies in the U.S., she serves as Partner and Chief Media Officer. She also leads Scale by Zambezi, the agency’s dedicated media arm which she helped grow into a division managing over $50 million in billings. Key Expertise & Career Highlights Multidisciplinary Background: Her career includes leadership roles at major agencies such as Mindshare, Deutsch LA, BBDO Worldwide, and Team One (Saatchi & Saatchi). Brand Experience: She has developed integrated communication strategies for global "blue-chip" brands, including Lexus, Google, The Walt Disney Company, Starbucks, Goldman Sachs, and Health-Ade Kombucha.

Jonathan Lee - co-founder -CraveX Apr 18, 2026

Show notes

The Ad Podcast Gen Z edition with guest host Lauren Bennett. Jonathan Lee is a standout student and entrepreneur from University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business. He was recently recognized as one of Poets & Quants’ Best & Brightest Business Majors in the Class of 2026. Jonathan is the co-founder of CraveX, a science-backed health startup rethinking how we approach sugar cravings and everyday behavior change, starting with their functional gum. In just over a month, CraveX has already sold hundreds of units, built a fast-growing community, and reached hundreds of thousands of people—all without spending on ads. Beyond the numbers, Jonathan’s story is about building at the intersection of science, identity, and purpose.

Erich Parker - SVP of Integrated Media - Blue Chip Worldwide Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

Erich Parker, a seasoned marketing leader who currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Integrated Media at Blue Chip Worldwide. Based in Chicago, he is a key driver of the agency’s media strategy, specializing in bridging the gap between brand storytelling and transactional shopper marketing. Professional Background Blue Chip Worldwide (2013–Present): Erich has spent over a decade rising through the ranks at Blue Chip. He began as an Account Supervisor in Shopper Marketing and progressed through leadership roles, including VP of Client Leadership and VP of Integrated Media, before reaching his current SVP position. Integrated Media Specialist: He is known for building media plans that "drive commerce," ensuring that big creative ideas translate into measurable success at the point of sale.

Daale Carter - Global Chief Client Experience Officer - BBDO Worldwide Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

Daale Carter is a powerhouse creative executive and the first-ever Global Chief Client Experience Officer at BBDO Worldwide. Appointed in early 2026, her role signals a major evolution for the agency network, shifting the focus from traditional "account management" toward a holistic, experience-driven partnership model. Professional Background Agency Pedigree: Before stepping into her global role, Daale served as EVP and Managing Director at Energy BBDO, where she was known for bridging the gap between high-level strategy and experiential marketing. Eclectic Roots: Her career began in entertainment law before she moved into music event production and media strategy. This diverse background—combining legal rigor, event logistics, and brand empathy—allows her to view the client-agency relationship through a unique lens.

Brook Jay - CEO - All Terrain Collective, Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Brook Jay is the Founder and CEO of All Terrain Collective, widely recognized as the first female-founded experiential marketing agency in the U.S.. With over 25 years of industry experience, she is a pioneer in shifting brands from "shouting" one-way advertisements to creating authentic, 360-degree consumer encounters. Professional Background Agency Leadership: She co-founded All Terrain in 1998, inspired by the "guerilla" marketing tactics she witnessed at the 1996 Atlanta International Olympic Committee – IOC. In 2017, she evolved the brand into the All Terrain Collective, a hybrid model designed for the modern, tech-empowered consumer. High-Impact Clients: She has led strategic campaigns for global giants, including Nike, Ferrari, Airbnb, General Motors, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected