The Ad Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Aaron and Samantha Edwards - founders - THE CHARLES GROUP Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Aaron and Samantha Edwards are a sibling entrepreneurial duo based in New York City, best known as the founders of THE CHARLES GROUP, a premier, strategy-first creative agency. The Charles Group Founded in 2011, The Charles Group has grown into an award-winning agency with offices in New York, Chicago, and London. The agency is known for its focus on high-end luxury, lifestyle, and financial services brands, including Cartier, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, HP, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), and Estée Lauder. Creative Philosophy: The siblings share a "Brandformance" philosophy—a term coined by Aaron to describe the fusion of high-level brand strategy with performance accountability. Aaron Edwards Co-Founder & CEO Aaron brings an analytical and financial rigor to the creative world. Samantha Edwards Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer Samantha is the creative engine of the duo, focusing on narrative, design, and "sincere" storytelling.

James A Boyle - Chief Marketing - Communications Officer (CMCO) - BBB National Programs Apr 16, 2026

Show notes

Jim Boyle is a high-level communications and marketing strategist currently serving as the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer (CMCO) at BBB National Programs. With a career spanning over 30 years, he is known for his expertise in navigating complex regulatory environments and pioneering digital marketing in the public sector. Professional Career & Leadership BBB National Programs: Since joining in 2020, Jim has been responsible for the brand strategy of over 20 industry self-regulation programs, including those focused on advertising and data privacy. Discovery Inc: In the 1990s, he served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at Discovery. He was a key figure during the company’s massive growth period, helping transform Discovery Channel into a globally recognized media powerhouse.

Steve Schofield - Founder and CCO - Schofield's Flowers Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

Steve Schofield, universally known in the industry as "Scof," is a high-octane creative strategist, producer, and the Founder and CCO of Schofield’s Flowers. He is widely regarded as a "one-man headline machine" with a career that spans law enforcement, visual effects, and groundbreaking advertising. Professional Background The "Schofield’s Flowers" Legacy: In 2019, Steve revived his family’s business name—originally a Chicago flower shop founded in 1924 by his grandfather (and famously linked to North Side mob history)—and transformed it into a modern creative solutions studio. The agency specializes in "impossible" experiential projects, content creation, and social media activations.

Aditya Halan - ceo - Floship Apr 15, 2026

Show notes

Aditya Halan is a veteran technology leader and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in scaling startups and optimizing global supply chains. He is currently the CEO & CTO of Floship, a leading logistics technology firm based in Hong Kong that specializes in global fulfillment for e-commerce brands.

Since joining Floship in 2020, Halan has transitioned from Chief Technology Officer to the dual role of CEO and CTO.

LogTech Innovation: He is the architect behind Floship's intelligent supply chain portal, which uses an automated rule engine to streamline global logistics.
AI & Sustainability: In 2026, his focus has shifted toward integrating AI and robotics into warehouse operations to increase efficiency while reducing the carbon footprint of cross-border e-commerce.
Global Strategy: He frequently speaks at high-level summits, such as CIO Innovation Hong Kong, regarding the "Co-Ownership Model" and agile digital delivery in the logistics sector.

Before his leadership at Floship, Halan built a reputation as a serial entrepreneur and "fixer" for early-stage startups:

Antler Singapore: He served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the global venture capital firm Antler, mentoring and building new ventures.
OkSir: He was the CTO & COO of OkSir, an on-demand real-time marketplace in Hong Kong.
Founding Roles: He founded and led several companies, including Zento Business (an expense management platform) and General Data P. Limited.

Technical Architecture: His background is rooted in Computer Software Engineering (B.Tech from Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University), with specialized knowledge in embedded systems and mobile app development.
Agile Strategy: He is known for his "holistic" approach to business, blending deep technical architecture with practical business development to bridge the gap between a founder’s vision and execution.
Advisory: He holds numerous professional certifications in product management, customer development, and team leadership, making him a sought-after mentor in the Asian startup ecosystem.

Professional Leadership at FloshipEntrepreneurial BackgroundCore Expertise

Eric Stein - CEO - Actual (formerly Microblink) Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Eric Stein

CEO of Commerce at Actual (formerly Microblink)Eric Stein is a Silicon Valley veteran and high-tech entrepreneur who specializes in scaling businesses that sit at the intersection of data, AI, and consumer behavior. He currently leads Actual, the purchase data platform that spun out of Microblink to provide real-time product intelligence for the world’s largest rewards and loyalty programs.

The Rebrand to Actual: Stein oversaw the transition from "BlinkReceipt" to Actual. The new name highlights the platform’s core differentiator: providing "actual" purchase data from physical and digital receipts, rather than relying on consumer surveys or guesswork.
Core Mission: Under Stein’s leadership, Actual has become an essential "intelligence layer" for retail and CPG brands, allowing them to see exactly what consumers are buying across all retailers in real-time to drive hyper-personalized engagement.
Google & DoubleClick Pedigree: Before his pivot to commerce AI, Stein was a key figure at Google, where he served as Director of Local Markets and Director of DoubleClick. His work there helped build the foundational pipes for how local and display advertising function today.
Deep Linking & Scale: He previously served as EVP and GM at Branch Metrics, where he scaled the mobile deep-linking platform into a global standard, and was EVP of Online Solutions for Epsilon.

Strategic Roots: Stein co-founded Majestic Research, a pioneering data-driven investment research firm that was successfully sold to ITG in 2008. He also served as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Bessemer Venture Partners.
Education: He holds a BA in European History and Italian from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Philanthropy: Outside of tech, he is a dedicated philanthropist, serving as President of the AFHU Pacific Northwest Region and on the board of the Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School.

Entrepreneurial & Academic Background

Leslie Ann Hall – CEO & Founder - Iced Media Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Leslie Ann Hall is a digital pioneer and the CEO and Founder of Iced Media, a performance marketing agency that has become a powerhouse in the beauty and wellness industries.

Industry Dominance: Since founding Iced Media in 1999, she has guided global giants like L’Oréal, Walmart, and Paula’s Choice through the complexities of social commerce. She is credited with helping multiple brands achieve billion-dollar exits.
TikTok Shop Pioneer: In 2026, she remains the foremost expert on social commerce. Iced Media was one of the first credentialed partners for TikTok Shop, and she is a go-to educator for brands trying to navigate "discovery-to-checkout" loops.
AI Innovation: Under her leadership, Iced Media has integrated proprietary AI technology to optimize paid social performance, focusing on predictive modeling for creative assets.
Recognition: She is a frequent speaker at major summits like Advertising Week and Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW). She is also an active mentor for Black Girl Ventures.

⁠Keith Bendes⁠ - Chief Strategy Officer - ⁠Linqia⁠ Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Keith Bendes is a prominent marketing strategist, thought leader, and executive currently serving as the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at Linqia, the leading influencer marketing agency for enterprise brands.

Professional LeadershipLinqia: Since joining the firm, Bendes has been instrumental in shifting influencer marketing from a "social-only" tactic to a scalable, data-driven business strategy. He advocates for using creator content across the entire marketing funnel—including TV commercials, out-of-home (OOH) ads, and retail media.

Creator Economy Authority: He is a frequent contributor to the Forbes Communications Council and a globally recognized speaker on the evolution of the creator economy.

Eric Sheinkop - Co-Founder and CEO - The Desire Company Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Eric Sheinkop is a Chicago-based entrepreneur, author, and tech innovator known for disrupting legacy industries through expert-driven content and music technology. He is currently the Co-Founder and CEO of The Desire Company.

Launched in 2018 (originally as DesireList), The Desire Company is a content-as-a-service platform that replaces traditional "influencer marketing" with "expert marketing."

Mission: The company builds trust in e-commerce by providing video reviews, how-tos, and classes from vetted professionals—such as NFL trainers, celebrity stylists, and master mechanics—rather than paid social media influencers.
Scale: Under his leadership, the company has raised over $25 million and provides expert content for major retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy.
AI Focus: In 2026, Sheinkop has been a vocal advocate for the "humanity" of expertise, arguing that while AI can generate content, real human experience is the only way to maintain consumer trust in an increasingly automated world.

Before his pivot to retail tech, Sheinkop revolutionized how brands use music.

Music Licensing: He co-founded Music Dealers, which became the world’s largest independent music licensing platform.
Coca-Cola Partnership: He famously sold a stake in the company to The Coca-Cola Company, becoming their exclusive global music partner and generating millions in royalties for independent artists.

Bestselling Author: He has written two books on the intersection of music and marketing: Building Brands with Music and the Amazon #1 bestseller Return of the Hustle. Both are used in university curricula at institutions like NYU and Princeton.
Recognition: He has been featured in Billboard’s “30 Under 30” and Crain’s “Tech 50.” His work has earned multiple Cannes Lions and Clio Awards.
Personal: Sheinkop often speaks about his experience with dyslexia, using his journey as a published author to inspire other entrepreneurs to view their differences as strategic advantages.

Current Venture: The Desire CompanyPrevious Success: Music DealersAuthor & Accolades

Claire Shalbrack - VP of Growth, Americas at DEPT® Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Shalbrack is a seasoned marketing executive and the VP of Growth (Creative & Media), Americas at DEPT®, a global digital agency. With over 15 years of experience, she has specialized in the intersection of technology, entertainment, and social media. Professional Background Agency Leadership: At DEPT®, she serves as a Managing Director and Partner, overseeing growth strategies that integrate creative output with media performance. Core Expertise: She is an expert in navigating the "cringe cycle of virality" and influencer marketing, often advocating for brands to "relinquish control" to creators to achieve true authenticity. Previous Roles: Her career was "born and bred" in social media agencies, including high-impact roles such as: Byte: Client Planning Director and Lead Account Planner. Refinery29: Brand Experiences Manager.

Stefanie Beach - Founder and CEO - The Marketeer Group Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

Stefanie Beach is an award-winning digital marketing executive and the Founder and CEO of The Marketeer Group (formerly SMB Media Consulting). A veteran of the ad tech world with over 15 years of experience, she is widely recognized for her leadership in programmatic strategy and her advocacy for flexible, expert-led talent models.

Under Beach’s leadership, the firm rebranded from SMB Media Consulting to The Marketeer Group to reflect its expansion into a full-funnel marketing partner.

Model: The agency is built on a "flexible talent" framework, providing brands and publishers with high-level media expertise (all staff are Director-level or above) without the overhead of a traditional large agency.
Specialization: Beach oversees a team that specializes in Paid Search, Social, Programmatic, and Retail Media Networks (RMNs). In 2026, she has focused the firm on the transition from "GenAI hype" to "Agentic AI," prioritizing AI tools that drive measurable business outcomes.
Growth: The firm’s rapid trajectory earned it a spot on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America.

Beach is the host of the industry-leading podcast The Digital Marketeer. On the show, she interviews top CMOs and founders about the evolving landscape of performance media, data privacy, and the "Movable Middles" growth framework. Recent episodes have focused heavily on navigating the fragmentation of retail media and improving the post-purchase consumer experience.

Corporate Roots: Before founding her own company, Beach held senior roles at major ad tech and media firms, including PubMatic, MediaMath, Conversant, and Initiative (IPG).
Work-Life Balance: A vocal proponent of "Human-First" leadership, she founded her agency specifically to challenge the rigid structures of the 9-to-5 world. She frequently speaks on her decision to refuse venture funding in favor of independence and her commitment to being a present parent while scaling a multi-million dollar business.
Awards: She has been honored as a Stevie Award winner for Female Executive of the Year and received the Enterprising Women of the Year award for her contributions to the marketing community.

The Marketeer Group & Professional LeadershipThe Digital Marketeer PodcastBackground & Advocacy

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected