The Aperiam Podcast

What really goes into building a custom algorithm? Tylynn Pettrey, VP of Data Science at Chalice, joins us to unpack how marketers are shifting from out-of-the-box algos to precision-built decision engines. We cover:  ✅ The path to becoming a VP of Data Science (spoiler: it's rarely linear)  ✅ How Chalice builds reusable AI microservices  ✅ When to use platform algorithms vs. custom models  ✅...

How do brands really think—and what do startups get wrong when selling to them? In this episode of The Aperiam Podcast , Joe and Corey sit down with our partner Danilo Toro, who brings a rare perspective as a marketer-turned-technologist with experience at P&G, Amazon, and Uber. The team discusses: What’s actually top of mind for CMOs in 2025 (spoiler: it’s not just AI) Why the “job to be done...

If you had a blank slate—what kind of AdTech company would you build? On this episode of the Aperiam Podcast , Joe and Corey kick around startup concepts, inspired by a little help from ChatGPT. From closed-loop attribution in Canada to influencer infrastructure, orchestration platforms, and agentic media buying—we cover the real whitespace in today’s adtech landscape. We talk: What LLM-native ad...

Joe and Corey give their thoughts on this year's Cannes Lion conference and unpack the many retail media announcements.  From Amazon’s partnerships with Roku and Disney to the rise of verticalized commerce stacks, it’s clear: retail media is no longer a niche—it’s the connective tissue of modern advertising. We explore: Was AI the only theme in Cannes? Whether "retail media" is still a useful term...

On the latest episode of The Aperiam Podcast , Corey Ferengul moderates…sort of a debate…between Joe Zawadzki and Erica Chriss on whether cookie deprecation was a crisis or a catalyst . Was identity always essential—or have retail media and curation shown us a better path? Smart, fast-paced, and full of insights for CMOs, investors, and adtech insiders.

On this episode of The Aperiam Podcast , Corey Ferengul and Joe Zawadzki go deep on what really drives investment decisions and even surface some disagreements.  From exit potential and market understanding to founder grit and AI integration, what factors into the thinking. No checklists. Just real talk on how VCs actually evaluate opportunities—and why trust, logic, and the route to market matter...

M&A in AdTech: Dead or Just Sleeping? In this week's Aperiam Podcast, Corey and Joe dive into what’s really happening in the M&A market, why being “ready” matters even when you're not for sale, and how founders should think about story, data, and the art of the soft pitch.  Get an indepth view on how Corey and Joe think about running an M&A process. Plus, an Easter egg offer for our li...

  Is Microsoft’s DSP shutdown a bold AI bet or a quiet surrender?  In this episode, Joe Zawadzki and Corey Ferengul unpack Microsoft's decision to wind down Xandr by 2026 — and what it signals about the future of DSPs in an agentic, AI-driven world. 🚫📈🤖  We talk:  Why big companies fail at ad tech rollups How agentic AI disrupts the programmatic model The rise of modular, API-first ad stacks Wh...

In this spirited edition of The Aperiam Podcast, Corey Ferengul moderates a dynamic debate between Joe Zawadzki and Erica Chriss on one of ad tech's most pressing questions: Is the future of programmatic driven by curated SSPs or discovery-oriented DSPs? Framed around the buzzword “curation,” the trio unpacks whether the power in ad tech is shifting toward pre-packaged inventory strategies or rema...

Fresh off the beach and deep in conversation, Joe Zawadzki and Corey Ferengul break down everything they saw and heard at Possible 2025 in Miami—from the undercurrent of AI innovation to the silence around macroeconomics. They discuss: Why AI was everywhere —but not just as a buzzword. The conspicuous absence of macroeconomic discussion—and why politics might be the reason. The impact of the Googl...

In this episode of The Aperiam Podcast , Corey Ferengul and Joe Zawadzki are joined by Ana Milicevic—ad tech pioneer, board member at ID5, and co-founder of Sparrow Advisers—for a deep dive into the intersection of telco, identity, and innovation. The trio unpacks: How Bell Canada is building a future-facing retail media stack Why Canada is the ideal test market for global media innovation The evo...

Joe and Corey discuss a different take on the federal ruling that Google is a monopoly.  They focus on what's next for marketeers, publishers and start ups.

Media companies are bouncing between open and closed ecosystems for their CTV inventory.  Joe and guest Erica Chriss debate the both sides - should a media provider have an open garden or an closed one?

Joe and Corey discuss the state of creative tech in the market and where it's going.

Joe and Corey discuss the current Connected TV landscape and business models for the technology players.

Joe and Corey discuss the AI impact the advertising world, now and in the future. Also, updates on Aperiam Ventures.