Adspeak

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Brittaney Kiefer sits down with Roy Fleeman to explore how Vacation transformed sunscreen from a functional necessity into an immersive lifestyle brand. Roy shares how the team uses nostalgia, sensory design, and meticulous attention to detail to create products that feel joyful and collectible. They discuss why brands should be informed by trends without being defined by them, how packagi...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, Jeremy Fain, CEO and Co-founder of Cognitiv, explores how deep learning is reshaping the future of advertising. Jeremy explains why the true power of AI in marketing comes from leveraging massive data sets, predictive algorithms, and real-time optimization, not just generative tools. He breaks down how marketers can use first-party data, granular audience signals, and continuous learning loops ...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Zoë Ruderman, Chief Content Officer at Adweek, sits down with Wes Felix, Co-Founder of Always Alpha and Co-Founder and CEO of Saysh; Allyson Felix, Co-Founder of Always Alpha, Co-Founder and President at Saysh, and International Olympic Committee Member; and Cosette Chaput, CEO and Co-Founder of Always Alpha, to explore why women’s sports represents one of the biggest untapped opport...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Mike Beyman sits down with Jonathan Hunt, VP of Media at HubSpot, to explore how a software company built a global media engine reaching 50 million people every month. Jonathan shares why owning distribution has become a competitive advantage, how HubSpot transformed content into a customer acquisition channel, and why editorial independence is critical when building trusted media brands.&...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Ryan Joe sits down with Matty Beckerman, Founder and CEO of IRCODE, to explore how image recognition technology is transforming the future of marketing engagement, measurement, and commerce. They discuss how computer vision AI is replacing traditional QR codes by allowing consumers to interact directly with real-world content across TV, out-of-home, and retail. 

Matty shares how IR...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, Keith Bendes, Chief Strategy Officer at Linqia, and Denise Vitola, Founder and CEO of Vitola Strategies, explore how enterprise brands can move influencer marketing from a tactical experiment into a scalable growth engine. They discuss the challenges of building internal alignment, earning stakeholder buy-in, and creating measurement frameworks that prove real business impact. 

The conv...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Rebecca Stewart leads a live BrandWeek conversation with Matt Kerbel of Turo, Scott Baker of Porsche, and Doug Zarkin of Take 5 Oil Change on the future of automotive branding. As electrification, AI, and changing ownership models transform the industry, the panel explores why trust, accessibility, and human connection remain the foundations of successful brands. The discussion covers rede...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Jesse Kirshbaum, Chief Executive Officer of Nue Agency, sits down with Jermaine Dupri, Songwriter Hall of Famer, Grammy Award-winning producer, and founder of the So So Def recording label, to explore the intersection of culture, creativity, and marketing. Jermaine shares how he has built iconic cultural moments by creating immersive worlds around artists, brands, and ideas, from the Kriss...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Rich Battista, Executive Chairman at ADWEEK,  sits down with Steve Koonin, CEO of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena, to explore how marketing can transform a sports franchise into a cultural institution. Steve shares how the Hawks built one of the NBA’s most engaged fan bases by focusing on experience, community, and audience relevance rather than relying solely on wins and...

In this episode of Adspeak, host Mark Stenberg is joined by Lark-Marie Anton, Chief Communications and Brand Officer, and Kristin Roberts, President of Media at USA Today Co., to unpack the company's landmark transition from Gannett to USA Today Co. and what it signals for the future of publishing in the AI era. The conversation explores how unifying more than 200 local media brands under a single trusted identity strengthens audie...

On this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Kim Einan sits down with Jim Cowsert to unpack how AI is transforming advertising without sacrificing creativity, trust, or brand identity. Jim explains how brands can use AI to strengthen insights, improve consistency, and personalize campaigns at scale while still preserving the emotional nuance that only humans can provide.

Together, they explore the dangers of “apathy in using...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Madeline Nelson sits down with Wyclef Jean and Jaeson Ma for a live conversation from BrandWeek about the future of the creator economy. The discussion explores how OpenWav is helping artists break free from streaming algorithms and traditional gatekeepers by enabling direct ownership of fan relationships, data, and revenue. 

Wyclef and Jaeson explain why smaller, highly engaged co...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Zoe Ruderman, Chief Content Officer at ADWEEK, sits down with Brooklyn Peltz Beckham to unpack the unconventional strategy behind building Cloud 23 into a credible, long-term consumer brand. Rather than relying on celebrity hype, Brooklyn spent four years obsessing over product design, packaging, and quality to create a condiment brand built on authenticity and repeat purchase behavior.&nb...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Ryan Joe sits down with Stacey Hartnett, SVP of Brand and Marketing at Chomps, for a conversation recorded live at Brandweek. They explore the strategic journey of how a "scrappy startup" moved from a purely direct-to-consumer performance marketing play into a powerhouse brand that competes with industry giants. Stacey details how Chomps successfully shifted the perception of meat sticks f...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, Jennifer Meehan joins 55+ creators Stewart Reynolds (Brittlestar) and Granny Guns for a sharp conversation on one of marketing’s biggest blind spots: older audiences. Despite controlling nearly half of global spending power, the 55+ demographic receives only a fraction of advertising investment. The discussion explores why older creators consistently outperform younger influencers in auth...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Jenny Rooney speaks with Jason White (Board Member at Caldera Arts), Lina Polimeni (SVP and CMO at Eli Lilly and Company), and Nita Danielle (Content Creator and Influencer) about how health brands can earn trust in a skeptical, consumer-driven world. The conversation explores why pharmaceutical marketing must move beyond clinical messaging toward authentic storytelling, cultural relevance...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Jenny Rooney sits down with Josh Dean, Founder of Dean and Daughters, and former Global VP of Johnnie Walker at Diageo,  to unpack how Johnnie Walker has remained culturally relevant for more than two centuries while attracting a new generation of consumers. Josh explains how the iconic “Keep Walking” platform serves as a creative north star, enabling authentic collaborati...

In this solo episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Richelle Batuigas challenges one of marketing’s biggest assumptions: that likes, views, and impressions reflect real success. Drawing on her work as EVP at Viral Nation, she introduces the Cultural Relevance Score, a practical framework designed to measure what actually drives business outcomes.

Richelle breaks down how marketers can move beyond vanity metrics by tracking awa...

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Will Lee leads a Brandweek roundtable on how national brands win through local relevance. Featuring Kim Yates, (Chief Commercial Officer at Atlanta Journal-Constitution), Jeremy Heilpern, (Founder and CEO of Ammunition Ventures), Tom Gargiulo, (Chief Marketing Officer, BodyArmor Sports Nutrition at Coca-Cola), Matt Wikstrom, (Chief of Partnership Sales at LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games)...