Next in Media

In this episode, I sit down with David Freeman , who just launched Kynetic Media Partners after an incredible 15-year run at CAA . David was one of the first executives I knew who truly understood the business impact of digital talent and the creator economy - back when most people in Hollywood were still asking "why do you care about that?" He walks us through his journey from starting CAA's digi...

In this episode of Next in Media , I sit down with Kiri Masters , host of the Retail Media Breakfast Club podcast, to explore the biggest shifts happening in retail media advertising . We dive into the recent announcement about ads coming to ChatGPT and what that means for brands trying to meet consumers where they are. Kiri shares her perspective on whether AI-powered shopping will truly disrupt...

In this week's episode of Next in Media , I sat down with Ian Trombetta , SVP of Social Influencer and Content Marketing for the NFL . We dove deep into how the league is winning the creator economy by building long-term partnerships with rising stars like Kai Cenat , Sketch , and Mr. Beast . Ian shared how his team identifies talent before they blow up , creating authentic relationships that bene...

I never thought I'd be running a 70-employee media company built around two guys who started making Pokemon sketches in their bedroom. But here we are. When I stepped into the role of CEO of Smosh in early 2023, I wasn't just taking on a business - I was stewarding a 20-year legacy that spans five active YouTube channels , a 15-person cast , and millions of fans worldwide. My background in talent...

I sat down with Evan Shapiro , the legendary media cartographer and author of the must-read substack Media War and Peace , to kick off 2026 with bold predictions about where our industry is heading. Evan didn't hold back as he unpacked the tension between AI-driven automation and the raw authenticity that makes creators so powerful. We explored how scale and reach are becoming vanity metrics , whi...

This week on Next in Media , I sat down with Shane Atchison , CEO of Zaaz Collective , and Seth Gordon , a film director and co-founder of Zaaz . We dove into their mission to help micro and mid-level creators (those with 5,000 to 100,000 followers) think and act like media companies . With 96% of creators making minimum wage or less , Shane and Seth saw an opportunity to build a collective where...

This week I had the chance to sit down with two fascinating guests who are at the forefront of bridging the worlds of digital performance marketing and traditional television advertising. Nick Fairbairn , VP of Growth Marketing at Chime , and Andy Schonfeld , CRO at Tatari , walked me through how they've transformed Chime from a pure digital-first, DTC neobank brand built on social and search into...

I had the incredible opportunity to bring together some of the brightest minds in the creator economy for an evening of candid conversation about where this industry is headed. From ad tech innovations to creator authenticity , we covered the full spectrum of what it takes to turn creator content into scalable, revenue-generating partnerships . Conor McKenna from Luma and Zoe Soon from the IAB kic...

I sat down with Tusar Barik , the SVP of Marketing at the New York Times , who's just past his first year in this newly created role. We explored how the Times has transformed from a traditional newspaper into a multifaceted media company spanning news, games, podcasts, cooking, sports, and more. Tusar leads a comprehensive team managing everything from measurement and data insights to product mar...

Summary: This week on Next in Media , Mike Shields talks with Erick Opeka, President & Chief Strategy Officer at Cineverse and board member at the startup Micro Co. Opeka breaks down how short-form “micro-dramas”—already attracting hundreds of millions of daily viewers in China—are taking shape in the U.S. and why they could become a $20 billion category. He explains how Cineverse’s 22 streaming s...

Why Brands Should Stop Avoiding News with Jack Marshall Brands have long shied away from advertising in news, fearing controversy or association with “negative” stories; but that hesitation is costing them results. This week, Mike Shields talks with Jack Marshall, Head of News at DoubleVerify, about why avoiding news is a missed opportunity and how advertisers can take a smarter, more nuanced appr...

In this special episode recorded live at Amazon UnBox in Nashville, I sit down with Charlotte Maines, Head of Device Advertising for Fire TV at Amazon. We dive into the massive reach of Fire TV—over 300 million devices sold globally—and what that means for brands aiming to connect with high-value, logged-in Amazon customers. Charlotte shares how Amazon is evolving the ad experience from simple tun...

This week on Next in Media , I sat down with Nielsen CEO Karthik Rao to get an inside look at the company’s transformation in a fast-evolving media landscape. From the explosive rise of YouTube on connected TVs to tackling fragmentation across platforms, Karthik breaks down how Nielsen is reinventing itself with big data, AI, and a mission to future-proof measurement. We talked about the company’s...

Robert Wheeler — longtime communications leader at WarnerMedia, AT&T/Xandr, and GroupM — shares why he left the corporate world to build At the Moment Media (ATM), a people-first, video-led publication spotlighting personalities across advertising, technology, and media. He walks through how the brand came to life — from the black-and-white design and animated “M” mascot to its 5–6 minute storytel...

Google Ads just turned 25, and it’s entering a new era—one driven by AI, conversations, and context. In this episode, Dan Taylor, VP of Global Ads at Google, joins Mike Shields to unpack how the search giant is transforming its ads business for the age of AI Overviews, Performance Max, and long-form conversational queries. He explains why this shift feels bigger than mobile, how advertisers are ad...

In this episode of Next in Media , Mike Shields speaks with Peter Hamilton, Head of Ad Innovation at Roku, about the rapid evolution of connected TV (CTV) advertising and how Roku is bridging the gap between big-brand budgets and small-business accessibility. Peter shares what’s really happening behind the scenes as digital-first advertisers and DTC brands move into television, the challenges of o...

In this episode of Next in Media , Mike Shields sits down with Jordan Matter, the YouTuber, photographer, and entrepreneur behind one of the most surprising creator success stories of the year. What started as a simple series of dance photography videos turned into a global family brand with more than 300 million monthly views—and now, a Sephora skincare line that drew an unbelievable 87,000 fans...

In this episode of Next in Media , Mike Shields sits down with Janina Lundy, EVP and Head of Marketing & Brand Partnerships at Hartbeat, the production company founded by comedian and actor Kevin Hart. Heartbeat has become a creative force at the intersection of comedy, culture, and branded entertainment — developing hit shows like Cold as Balls with Old Spice and original films like Group Therapy...

In this episode of Next in Media , Mike Shields sits down with Michael Komasinski, CEO of Criteo, to unpack how one of ad tech’s best-known companies has reinvented itself for a privacy-first world. Once synonymous with retargeting, Criteo has successfully evolved into a powerhouse in retail media, supporting more than 230 retailers and $160 billion in GMV. Michael shares how the company’s early i...

Next in Media talked to Michael Wayne, co-founder and CEO of Kin, about his nearly 20-year journey building a media company alongside YouTube's evolution. Wayne shared how his company navigated multiple business model shifts—from the MCN era to working with traditional celebrities on digital platforms, licensing content to streaming services and cable networks during the pandemic, and experimentin...

Next in Media talked to Selina Sykes, Global Marketing Transformation Leader for Beauty and Wellbeing at Unilever, about the company's ambitious goal to allocate half of its media budget to creators. The conversation explored how a legacy CPG giant is reimagining its marketing model to stay relevant in a social-first world. Sykes discussed Unilever's shift from traditional broadcast advertising to...

Next in Media talked to Dhar Mann, Creator and founder of Dhar Mann Studios, and Sean Atkins, CEO of Dhar Mann Studios, about building one of YouTube's most successful scripted content operations. They discussed creating family-friendly scripted series at scale, working with brands beyond traditional advertising, and expanding their studio model to support other creators. Mann and Atkins also cove...

🔖Chapters: [00:01:12] - Kelly's Background: From Soccer to Ad Tech [00:03:22] - Making the Move from Meta to Amazon [00:04:44] - Amazon DSP's Evolution from Single to Multi-Purpose [00:06:10] - Adapting to the Streaming TV Revolution [00:07:31] - Technical Differentiators and Competitive Positioning [00:13:30] - AI Integration and the "Crystal Box" Approach [00:16:54] - The Future of Automated Ad...

  🔖Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and DAZN Overview 01:12 - DAZN's Global Sports Streaming Scale 03:58 - Creating the FIFA Club World Cup Tournament 07:43 - Managing Complex Global Live Streaming 14:26 - The State of Sports and Streaming Industry 18:40 - Lessons from Amazon's Thursday Night Football Launch 27:30 - DAZN's US Growth Strategy and Original Content 💡Takeaways: 🌍 DAZN operates as the...

Next in Media spoke with Drew Muller, VP and General Manager of House of Highlights, about how the Warner Discovery-owned property is looking to bridge sports fandom with top creators' content via the Creator League. The event, founded in 2023, features top creators such as Kai Cenat, Jesser and FaZe Rug playing a series of tournaments in sports such as slamball, dodgeball and basketball for big p...