The Ad Podcast

Alex "Fro" Frommeyer is an American entrepreneur and executive best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Beam Benefits (originally launched as Beam Dental/Beam Technologies). He started the company in 2012 with a background in engineering (educated at the University of Louisville), initially focusing on innovative dental insurance tied to smart toothbrush technology and rewards for...

David Angelo is the Founder & Creative Chairman of David&Goliath, a Los Angeles-based advertising agency known for its challenger mindset and “Brave” philosophy. With a career spanning over three decades, Angelo has built award-winning work for major brands including KIA Motors , The Coca-Cola Company , Lexus , Michelin , Reebok and the National Football League (NFL) , and has earned more...

Francesca Kennedy is a social entrepreneur, brand leader, and former fashion founder known for building purpose-driven businesses that blend design with social impact. She is the founder of Ix Style , a fashion and lifestyle brand that works with artisan makers in Guatemala to produce handmade goods while helping provide clean drinking water and economic opportunities for local communities — a mis...

Falk Eumann is the Executive Vice President of Creative, North America at WongDoody (a global creative technology agency and Infosys company), based in New York City. An Executive Creative Director with over 15 years of international experience in digital, he blends technology, design, human-centered storytelling, and innovation to bring brands to life—focusing on purpose-driven work, next-gen tec...

Crystal Foote is the Founder & CEO (also Head of Partnerships) of Digital Culture Group (DCG), an award-winning, Atlanta-based ad tech company she launched in 2023 as the industry's only Black- and woman-owned firm in the space. DCG bridges data and humanity through innovative audience targeting (e.g., her Audience Resonance Index™ or ARI), real-time cultural insights, and inclusive advert...

Dan Fernandez is the Vice President of Digital Marketing and Strategy at Concord Hospitality Enterprises, a leading U.S. hotel management and development company. He's a recognized leader in digital marketing, branding, and hospitality strategy with over 15 years of experience in luxury and lifestyle segments. He has led high-performing teams at top agencies and shaped digital strategies for i...

Tara Oporto (also known as Tara Oporto) is the Founder & CEO of Enchantra, Inc., a New York City-based modern brand house (C-Corp) focused on creating innovative lifestyle and wellness brands. A longtime marketing leader and mom of five, she founded Temperates ( temperates.com ) in 2025—an intentional non-alcoholic beverage brand and lifestyle platform exploring the "new culture of drinki...

James Nord is the Founder & CEO of Fohr ( fohr.co ), the first influencer/ambassador marketing agency and platform in the U.S., launched in 2012 in New York City. A true pioneer in the creator economy, he transitioned from Wall Street finance to fashion photography (shooting behind-the-scenes for Oscar de la Renta and Thom Browne, Inc. ) after gaining massive fame as one of Tumblr 's most-...

Evin Shutt is a visionary leader in the advertising industry, serving as Global CEO and Partner at 72andSunny, a globally acclaimed creative agency (part of MDC Partners/Stagwell) known for cultural impact campaigns (e.g., redefining music distribution with Samsung/Jay-Z, elevating the NFL as the most valuable pro sports league, United Airlines' "biggest and best" seat innovations, T...

John Carstens is the Chief Creative Officer at Team DDB (Omnicom), leading creative efforts for the US Army account—a massive, multidisciplinary consortium of 11+ agencies. A seasoned writer, strategist, and creative leader, he specializes in building and managing large teams to deliver innovative storytelling across brand categories. His career includes roles at SapientNitro (where he led digital...

Allison Arling-Giorgi is the Head of Brand at Method1, a Chicago-based advertising and strategy agency focused on behavioral science-driven marketing. She's a seasoned brand strategist and behavioral-science expert with deep experience in consumer insights, particularly for Millennials and Gen Z. She harnesses human behavior research to build memorable brands, craft high-impact campaigns, and...

Nick Miaritis is a prominent advertising and marketing executive, serving as Global Chief Client Officer at VaynerMedia (a leading creative and media agency under VaynerX), based in New York. He joined in 2018 and leads brand partnerships, accelerates client growth, builds new agency capabilities, and oversees high-profile campaigns (e.g., Super Bowl work for clients like WK Kellogg Co).Prior to V...

Jake Kitchiner is a UK-based entrepreneur and Co-Founder of ChannelCrawler ( channelcrawler.com ), a powerful YouTube influencer discovery and database tool. Launched after he identified a gap in existing solutions while working on prior ventures, the platform allows users to search and filter YouTube channels using 40+ criteria—including category, subscriber size, location, engagement metrics, an...

Steve Katelman is a veteran advertising and digital media executive with nearly three decades of experience in strategic partnerships, media innovation, and growth for major agencies and tech platforms. He currently serves as Chief Partnership Officer at Fyllo (a compliance-first SaaS platform for regulated industries like cannabis, sports betting, and alcohol), where he oversees partnerships acro...

Brian Gross is the President of Bach to Rock (often called "America's Music School"), a leading national franchise of contemporary music schools offering private and group lessons in guitar, piano, drums, voice, bass, and more for students of all ages and skill levels. He has held this role since 2011, after serving as Vice President of Marketing and Operations starting in 2008.Bach...

Bill Lea is the Vice President of Media at rEvolution (often stylized as Revolution), a global integrated sports marketing agency headquartered in Chicago. With over 18 years in media planning and buying, he's a strategic, analytics-driven leader specializing in digital, sponsorship, and performance media for sports and entertainment brands. He's led media strategies for clients like Betfr...

Isha Patel is the co-founder and CEO of Kale ( kalecard.com ), a New York-based startup platform that lets everyday social media users (superfans, not just big influencers) earn cash rewards for sharing authentic content about brands they love—like Rare Beauty , Glossier, Inc. , sweetgreen , and Chili's .She previously worked at LinkedIn (where she met co-founder Luis Molina ), graduated from...

Lindsey Carnett is an accomplished entrepreneur, marketing executive, and public relations expert. She is the Founder, CEO, and President of Marketing Maven, an integrated marketing and PR agency she established in 2009, specializing in helping businesses grow through strategic communications, digital marketing, and reputation management. A graduate of California Lutheran University with a B.A. in...

Dustin Black is the Executive Creative Director at Preston Spire, where he leads the agency’s award-winning creative team with curiosity and bold thinking. With over 25 years of experience in the advertising industry, he’s worked at top agencies including BBDO Worldwide, Colle McVoy, MONO, and Carmichael Lynch, crafting standout work for brands like Perdue Farms, Frank’s RedHot, Craftsman, Subaru...

Robb Hittner is a Co-Founder of Hackett Brooks, a creative agency built around using comedy and humor as a strategic driver in advertising and workplace culture. Steve Mallory is a Co-Founder of Hackett Brooks, where he brings creative and storytelling expertise to the agency’s mission of making advertising fun and culturally relevant. Alongside Robb Hittner and others, he helps lead creative stra...

Michael Ellery is the Chief Creative Officer at Sparks , a creative agency known for experiential design and large-scale event marketing. With more than two decades of experience in creative strategy and execution, Michael leads creative direction and innovation, helping brands deliver immersive, memorable experiences across events, environments, and integrated campaigns. His background includes s...

Cliff Kim is a senior leader at Fender Musical Instruments Corporation , currently serving as Vice President of Growth Strategy, Digital Products and President of Fender Play , the company’s digital learning platform. At Fender, he leads efforts to grow both physical and digital business through data-driven insights, conversion optimization, and consumer research , helping evolve how players disco...

Roy Sexton is the Chief Marketing Officer at Vedder , where he leads the firm’s overall marketing strategy, brand positioning, and business development initiatives across the legal sector. With more than 25 years of experience in marketing and strategic communications—including nearly 15 years focused in legal marketing—Roy has shaped campaigns, digital outreach, and organizational storytelling th...

Gigi Harville is an entrepreneur, talent manager, and CEO of The Paul Harville Group , a Los Angeles–based management and consulting company focused on music artists and social media creators. With over 25 years in the music and creator space, she helps talent develop their brands, build careers, and navigate digital strategy. Harville’s work has earned media recognition and industry nominations —...

Marcus Chan is the founder and CEO of Venli Consulting Group and the creator of Real B2B Sales Training, where he helps B2B sales teams drive predictable revenue through modern, buyer-centric selling. A former enterprise sales leader, Marcus is known for his practical, no-fluff approach to sales execution, coaching teams on pipeline strategy, deal acceleration, and closing complex enterprise accou...