Dig In

It's the Season 4 finale of Dig In! On the final episode Jess Gaedeke revisits the most memorable moments from Season 4, featuring clips from conversations that explored everything from why getting into consumers' homes still changes everything, to how alligator farms unlock contact lens insights, to the agile innovation sprint behind Danone's GLP-1 product launch. We'll see you soon for Season 5....

Bonjour! On this week's episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Julien Naggar, SVP of Client Partnerships at Dig Insights, to explore why ethnographic research surfaces the consumer truths that surveys will never capture, how the insights function is evolving from data aggregator to strategic decision influencer, and what French consumer culture can teach global brands about empathy, sustainabilit...

On this week’s episode, Jess Gaedeke is joined by Amy Baer, Head of Strategic Insights North America at Bel Group, to explore why getting marketers into consumers’ homes still unlocks the most powerful insights, how ethnographic research is shaping a more consumer-first culture at Bel, and why human connection remains essential in the age of AI.

We’re doing a throwback episode this week! In the episode Jess was joined by Anna Estlund, Vice President of Insights & Strategy at Pernod Ricard, to explore how the team navigated the canned cocktail boom by rooting strategy in consumer behavior, the importance of cultivating empathy across global stakeholders, and why shopper insights is the most underrated (and sexiest) area in the insights...

On this week’s episode, Jess Gaedeke is joined by Betsy Pendergast, VP, Future Strategy & Innovation at Dig, to explore how community is reshaping the future of entertainment, why fragmentation is driving a renewed need for connection, and how insights teams can move beyond reporting to create real organizational impact.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Vera Chien, Executive Director of Global Corporate Strategy and Insights at Warner Bros. Discovery, to explore how rethinking segmentation can turn insights into real business impact, why “knowing is only half the battle” when it comes to research, and how stronger stakeholder collaboration makes insights actually stick.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Kelly Nielsen, SVP of Global Client Development at Dig Insights, to explore why great campaigns often fail in execution rather than strategy, how brands can better connect insight to shelf and win key consumer occasions, and what it takes to stay relevant with evolving audiences in a rapidly changing landscape.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Katie Curler, National Account Manager at Campari Group, to explore how insights and creativity come together to win the “first drink” at retail, what it takes to turn campaigns into in-store experiences that actually convert, and why brands must continuously engage consumers or risk losing them altogether.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Shelby Walsh, VP of Future Strategy & Innovation at Dig Insights, to explore how shifting consumer expectations—from instant gratification to AI-shaped education—are redefining wellness, and why brands must bridge immediate benefits with long-term value, show up in new ecosystems of influence, and build rituals to earn lasting loyalty.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Tracey Halama, CEO of Supergut and former CEO of Vital Proteins, to explore how a sales-driven mindset shapes CPG leadership, why aligning messaging to channel is critical for growth, and how personal consumer insight is fueling the next wave of “food as medicine” innovation.

On this week’s episode, Jess is joined by Paul Gaudette, CEO here at Dig Insights, to unpack the evolving role of the insights function, exploring why insights must move beyond being misframed as a data factory to become a true growth driver, how to balance speed with substance and rigor in an era of overpromised technology, and what it takes to translate “the what” into the “so what” that fuels s...

On this week’s episode, Jess Gaedeke is joined by Douglas Healy, Head of Consumer Insights — North America at Kraft Heinz, to unpack why heritage brands like Quaker win when they embrace their origins, how insights teams must evolve from data providers to true growth drivers, and why a learning mindset (not faster tools) is the real competitive advantage in today’s AI-fueled landscape.

On this week’s episode, Jess is joined by Patricia King, EVP Global Client Partner at Dig Insights, to unpack the tension between speed and substance in the age of AI, the difference between fast answers and confident decisions, and why strategic clarity, human judgment, and true partnership are what ultimately turn outputs into meaningful outcomes.

On this week’s episode, Jess Gaedeke is joined by Kendra Speed, Founder & Principal at Klarion Group and former Director of Consumer Market Insights and Marketing Strategy at LinkedIn, to unpack how she rebuilt LinkedIn’s brand tracking program to drive real strategic action, what it takes to lead insights through organizational change, and why human curiosity—not just AI—is the key to the fut...

On this week’s episode, Jess Gaedeke is joined by Marcie Connan, EVP of Delivery Excellence & Client Experience at Dig Insights, to unpack why global insights only work when paired with local context, how scaling without flattening markets leads to better decisions, and what human-centered leadership looks like in complex, global organizations.

On this week’s episode, Jess is joined by Cristina Marinucci, VP Global Growth & Omni Commercial Insights at Mondelez, to unpack how starting with real snacking moments helps close the say–do gap, why system-led innovation beats one-off launches, and what it takes to build scalable growth platforms that actually show up on shelf.

On this week’s episode, Jess is joined by DIG’s VP of Marketing and Brand Strategy Meagan Healey to unpack how AI is reshaping agency discovery and marketing decision-making, why human judgment and trust still matter most, and what it means to be a modern marketer in an AI-accelerated world.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Saverio Spontella, (newly appointed!) Chief Commercial Officer, at Land O’Frost, to discuss how marketing leaders can practically embed AI into everyday decision-making, use it to accelerate insight-to-action workflows, and why embracing AI is quickly becoming table stakes for modern marketing and insights teams.

On this week’s episode, Jess is joined by Kevin Hare, EVP here at Dig, to unpack how agile iteration, predictive insights, and social context are transforming innovation from early signals to validated concepts. 

On this week’s episode, Jess is joined by Jenna Levine, Senior Manager, Agile Strategic Priorities at Danone, to explore how consumer empathy fuels breakthrough innovation, why nuanced understanding maters when  designing for complex needs, and how agile, insight-led ways of working help teams move faster without sacrificing rigor. 

On this week’s episode, Jess is joined by Frank Serpico, EVP at Dig, to unpack how true conviction (without ego) helps overcome pushback, why the real power of segmentation lies in activation and stakeholder alignment, and what Gen Z’s BS radar means for brands trying to earn authentic credibility.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Amir Jamil, Associate Director of Analytics, Insights and Capabilities at Barilla, to discuss how he navigated stakeholder pushback to rebuild Barilla’s consumer segmentation, why trust and empathy are the real drivers of insights impact, and how Gen Z, AI, and shifting food trends are reshaping the future of the category.

On this week’s episode, Jess is joined by Erin Mays, EVP of Trends & Innovation at Dig Insights, to unpack how protein evolved from a niche fitness ingredient into a powerful cultural and brand signal, what its rise reveals about the shift from diet culture to resilience-driven wellness, and the lessons brand leaders can take from protein’s inclusive, insight-led path to mainstream relevance.

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke is joined by Brian Lechner, Senior Director of Category Leadership at Premier Nutrition, to unpack how the protein category defied traditional CPG rules to become a mass-market force, why retailers who “build it” are winning big, how innovation is shifting toward new formats and demand moments, and what GLP-1–driven behavior changes mean for the future of...

On this week’s episode, host Jess Gaedeke chats with Dig’s very own SVP, Lesley Sloggett, to unpack how real customer stories fueled an empathy-rich financial campaign, why seamless collaboration between insights and marketing creates game-changing work, and how Gen Z’s nonlinear approach to money and life is reshaping the future of financial brands.