The Big Impression

Mike O’Sullivan (Co-Founder of Sincera and GM of Product at The Trade Desk) sits down with Michael Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Firsthand, for a candid founder-to-founder conversation about innovation, risk, and leadership in the age of AI. From DoubleClick to AppNexus to Firsthand, Michael shares lessons from decades at the forefront of ad tech: what it means to build with purpose, how to...

On the latest episode of The Big Impression podcast, Samsung’s Allison Stransky discusses the company’s new AI-focused campaign, “Your Home Speaks You.” She explains the importance of conveying how Samsung’s AI-powered home-automation features benefit the consumer.    Episode Transcript Please note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio.   Damian Fowler (...

On the latest episode of The Big Impression, Nestlé’s Antonia Farquhar talks about striking unexpected partnerships, like KitKat with Formula One, to keep the 90-year-old chocolate brand fresh. It’s part of a larger strategy to connect with new audiences through live cultural moments.    Episode Transcript Please note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audi...

Connected TV is no longer just a buzzword in the ad world — it’s where the industry is being reinvented. Audiences aren’t just watching differently; they’re shopping, engaging, and co-viewing in ways that open new creative doors for brands. And sitting at the intersection of entertainment and advertising is Roku, a company that’s helping marketers meet these shifts head-on. In this episode of The...

Cookies are out, context is in. People Inc.’s Jonathan Roberts joins The Big Impression to talk about how America’s biggest publisher is using AI to reinvent contextual advertising with real-time intent. From Game of Thrones maps to the open web, Roberts believes content is king in the AI economy.   Episode Transcript Please note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the...

Spotify’s Brian Berner joins The Big Impression to talk about how brands are looking for speed, flexibility and smarter ways to connect with audiences.      Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship was still only a fresh rumor in 2023, when State Farm brought together Travis’ mother, Donna Kelce, and Jake from State Farm at an NFL game. On a new episode of The Big Impression, State Farm’s Patty Morris dives into how the company quickly capitalized on the opportunity despite being risk-averse.    Episode Transcript Please note, this transcript  may...

In this episode of The Big Impression, Kelly breaks down how Diageo is turning tequila into a global cultural force. One standout example: a six-city collaboration with DJ and fashion icon Peggy Gou that combined out-of-home, merch drops, pop-up events and hyperlocal storytelling.   From a Hong Kong hot pot party to a Milan piazza activation, every detail was designed to blur the line between bran...

In this episode of The Big Impression, we’re joined by James Rothwell, managing director of brand marketing at Kinective Media. Rothwell walks us through what’s changed since launch — from major brand partnerships and custom content integrations to a headline-making alliance with JetBlue. With over 110 million traveler profiles and 63 million MileagePlus members, Kinective is fast becoming one of...

This week, we’re talking to Ryu Yokoi, chief media and marketing capabilities officer for North America at Unilever, about Dove’s “Hot Seats” campaign — a bold, culture-hacking activation that shows up where the sweat is real and the stakes are surprisingly high.    Episode Transcript Please note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio. Damian Fowler ( 00:...

B2B marketing has long been stuck with a somewhat boring reputation: rational, buttoned-up and forgettable. Tim Hoppin is on a mission to change that. As chief brand and creative officer at SAP, he’s helping one of the world’s largest software companies embrace big creative swings — and prove that business buyers are humans too.   Episode Transcript Please note, this transcript  may contain minor...

With websites covering topics like entertainment (ScreenRant), gaming (Polygon) and automotive (CarBuzz), Valnet caters to users across a wide array of interests. But according to Ji Heon Kim, Valnet’s head of monetization, Valnet realized it could create more value for its users by encouraging them to subscribe or authenticate themselves. Maybe a “mass scale” of users wouldn’t sign up for their w...

In this episode of The Current Podcast, hosts Damian Fowler and Ilyse Liffreing sit down with Amy Lund, VP of integrated marketing and corporate communications at E. & J. Gallo Winery, to talk about Barefoot’s bold move to become the official wine sponsor of the NFL. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for adve...

In this episode of The Current Podcast, we’re joined by Rob Bradley, SVP of digital revenue, strategy and operations at CNN International Commercial. He shares how CNN has evolved far beyond its broadcast roots — and how it’s now helping brands tell more impactful stories across everything from connected TV (CTV) and free ad-supported television (FAST) channels to TikTok and LinkedIn.   Episode Tr...

Chuck E. Cheese's Melissa McLeanas joins hosts Damian Fowler and Ilyse Liffreing on The Current Podcast to discuss how Chuck E. Cheese is leveraging its iconic IP for the streaming era, what advertisers are excited about and more.   Episode Transcript Please note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio. Damian Fowler ( 00:00 ): I'm Damian Fowler Ilyse Liff...

Jenna Griffith, VP of global ad operations at PayPal, shares how the fintech giant is using shopper insights to power a new kind of media network.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

One year into her role as global CMO at Designer Shoe Warehouse (DSW), Sarah Crockett is reimagining how the legacy retailer shows up for today’s consumer — across 500 stores, an upgraded e-commerce experience and a newly expanded digital media mix. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Milk is back in the cultural conversation. Miranda Abney,  MilkPEP’s VP of marketing joined The Current Podcast to explain how a marathon for women helped boost milk’s messaging.     Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Firestone Walker Brewing Company’s CMO says connected TV has made it easier to reach its sports-loving customers.   Episode Transcript Please note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio. Damian ( 00:01 ): I'm Damian Fowler. Ilyse ( 00:02 ): And I'm Ilyse Liffreing. Damian ( 00:03 ): This week we're really excited to talk with Dustin Hinz, the Chief market...

Dow Jones CMO Sherry Weiss reveals the marketing strategy behind growing subscription businesses for publications like The Wall Street Journal.    Episode Transcript Please note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio.   Damian Fowler ( 00:00 ): I'm Damian Fowler. Ilyse Liffreing ( 00:01 ): And I'm Ilyse Liffreing Damian Fowler ( 00:02 ): And welcome to th...

Stellantis’ CMO Raj Register talks about building consistent storytelling across channels, what she’s learning from AI and why she’s obsessed with connecting marketing action to tangible business outcomes.  Episode Transcript Please note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio. Damian Fowler ( 00:00 ): I'm Damian Fowler. Ilyse Liffreing ( 00:01 ): And I'm...

At SXSW, The Current Podcast partnered with The Female Quotient to spotlight trailblazing women in media and marketing to mark International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. In this episode, we sit down with Andrea Gilman, chief marketing officer at Early Warning, owner of digital payments services Paze and Zelle, to discuss how she’s driving innovation in digital payments.  Hosted by Simple...

At SXSW, The Current Podcast partnered with The Female Quotient to spotlight trailblazing women in media and marketing to mark International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. In this episode, we sit down with Melissa Giordano, chief client officer at CMI Media Group, to discuss how AI, data, and personalized messaging are reshaping healthcare marketing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz compan...

Rebecca Dye Yonushonis, CMO of New Belgium Brewing, discusses the brand’s bold strategy to connect with Gen Z consumers through its new launch, Lightstrike. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Genentech VP, CMO Erica Taylor joins The Current Podcast to share her unique journey from immunology to biotech marketing, and the evolving role of biotech brands in mainstream media.    Episode Transcript Please note, this transcript  may contain minor inconsistencies compared to the episode audio. Kat Vesce ( 00:00 ): I'm Kat Vesce. And I'm Ilyse Liffreing and welcome to this edition of The Curr...