MEDIASCAPE: Insights From Digital Changemakers

From text-based browsers to generative AI, the digital marketing landscape has transformed dramatically since the 1990s. Eric Layland, Chief Executive of the Matters Group, takes us on a journey through this evolution while revealing timeless principles that still guide effective marketing today.

Leyland's career began in 1996 when he purchased "Internet in a Box" from CompUSA and discovered the power of ele...

The technological landscape is shifting beneath our feet, and Dan Baird stands confidently at the intersection of entrepreneurship and artificial intelligence. In this riveting conversation, the co-founder and product lead at Wrench.ai delivers both a wake-up call and an invitation to the AI revolution that's already transforming business.

Baird's journey from selling beanbag chairs at Lovesac (which began as a j...

Monetization remains the great unsolved puzzle for most podcasters, with traditional advertising models serving only the top 5% of shows. But what if the problem isn't your audience size, but rather the broken business model itself?

Jeffrey Specter, founder of CodeADX and former radio executive, pulls back the curtain on why the podcast industry's CPM (cost per thousand) approach fundamentally fails smaller creat...

What if the secret to massive e-commerce growth wasn't a marketing gimmick, but something as simple as improving by just 1% every day? Meet Sabir Semerkant, the accidental marketing genius whose systematic approach has generated over $1 billion in incremental revenue for more than 200 brands worldwide.

Sabir's journey began as a programming prodigy at age six, eventually leading to a pivotal moment when he was ta...

Every business owner dreams of growth systems that work automatically while they focus on what they love. Reed Hansen, founder of Market Surge, has turned this dream into reality for service-based businesses across multiple industries by combining powerful CRM systems with cutting-edge AI.

The journey began with his wife's photography business. Unlike most creatives, she was incredibly process-oriented, allowing her t...

Katie Gray's journey from traditional agency work to founding her own marketing collective reveals a refreshing new model for the industry. After experiencing the limitations of conventional agency structures—where junior marketers get thrust into high-stakes roles prematurely and burnout leads to high turnover—she built Kinetic Marketing Communications as a solution.

The secret? A nationwide network of senior-level s...

What does it truly mean to be human in an age of artificial intelligence? David DeWolf, founder of KnownWell, offers a refreshingly nuanced perspective on how AI should enhance our humanity rather than diminish it.

Having built and sold a 2,500-person digital products company before founding KnownWell in 2023, DeWolf observed a critical gap in how businesses were approaching AI. While many focused solely on advancing the t...

When you ask "Mexican food for dinner?" you're engaging in the most basic form of survey methodology—but as Dr. Philip Garland reveals, there's a profound science to questioning that shapes everything from presidential elections to product development.

Dr. Garland's remarkable journey began with a personal mission. As a freshman experiencing racism at University of Washington, he abandoned engineer...

Elizabeth Bieniek takes us on a fascinating journey from aspiring creative writer to tech innovator, challenging our assumptions about career paths and technology's purpose along the way. With refreshing candor and New York-style directness, she reveals how her English degree and outsider perspective became unexpected assets in the tech world.

At the heart of our conversation lies a powerful message: technology should...

When Stephen Sakash began his journey from journalism school to digital marketing, he never imagined he'd be at the forefront of using artificial intelligence to make marketing more human. Yet that's exactly where his path has led him – developing an AI Chief Marketing Officer tool that helps businesses uncover their higher purpose and translate it into emotionally resonant campaigns.

At the heart of Sakash'...

What if everything you thought you knew about sales and personal branding was backward? Rob Durant, CEO, US Operations of The Institute for Sales Professionals, challenges conventional wisdom by revealing that successful sales and compelling personal brands aren't actually about you—they're about solving problems for others.

Durant's mission to transform the sales profession began with his own experience as ...

Marc Viale takes us on a fascinating journey through the evolution of digital marketing, from the early dot-com days to today's AI revolution, revealing profound insights about growth strategy that challenge conventional wisdom.

Starting in Philadelphia before moving to San Francisco in 1991, Viale's path from direct mail shops to founding Lab415 wasn't straightforward. His breakthrough came when he taught h...

Jeffrey Thompson embodies what it means to be a transformational leader in today's rapidly evolving media landscape. With remarkable clarity, he walks us through his journey from being the first Chief Diversity Officer at Disney to spearheading digital strategy at Condé Nast, bringing a unique perspective on navigating massive organizational change amid technological disruption.

Thompson's approach to diversity a...

Mariam Chtchyan never planned to enter the tech world. With a linguistics degree and plans to become a teacher, she accidentally found herself in an interview for a tech company when she thought she was applying for a translator position. Today, she's the COO of HackTech, an Armenian software development company that partners with clients across the United States and Europe.

This unexpected journey forms the backdrop ...

What happens when a seasoned digital marketer embraces AI not just as a tool, but as a foundational part of their entire business operation? Justin Lane of Adalane Media Group pulls back the curtain on his agency's remarkable AI transformation in this eye-opening conversation.

Justin reveals how he's built a sophisticated system of custom AI agents that have fundamentally changed his marketing approach. "I f...

What if the secret to digital success isn't just about who you know, but how authentically you connect with them? Greg Wasserman reveals his powerful philosophy—"Life is about time and relationships. You have no clue where one conversation is going to lead"—that has guided his journey from traditional media sales through Yahoo and CBS to becoming a respected voice in the podcasting industry.

This conversatio...

The battle between beneficial AI innovation and malicious exploitation is intensifying daily. Anatoly Kvitnitsky, USC Marshall alum and founder of AI or Not, takes us deep into this crucial conflict where digital trust hangs in the balance.

Drawing from his extensive background in fintech, venture capital, and fraud prevention, Kvitnitsky created a company with a deceptively simple name but profoundly important mission: di...

Jimmy Clare, the digital changemaker behind Crazy Fitness Guy, shares his inspiring journey from overcoming early challenges with autism and a nonverbal learning disorder to becoming a prominent advocate and influencer. We dive into Jimmy's unique perspective on the intersection of autism and fitness, and how his personal experiences shape his advocacy. His passion for technology and media, nurtured by his family, has led him ...

Curious about the key to unlocking the potential of digital accessibility and effective public speaking? Join us as we sit down with Cam Beaudoin, a digital accessibility guru who has transformed his career from a web developer to an influential thought leader. Cam shares his intriguing journey from IT to becoming a "Rainmaker," someone who naturally attracts attention and business by showcasing company strengths. Listen ...