The Marketing Rapport

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport podcast, host Tim Finnigan sits down with Steve Rafferty, CEO and Founder of ActiveProspect , for a candid conversation about one of the most significant moves in the lead generation industry in years: ActiveProspect's acquisition of InfutorData (formerly Verisk Marketing Solutions).  Steve walks through the origin story of ActiveProspect, the unexpect...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with Amie Owen, Chief Client Officer at Flywheel . They explore how brands can connect with consumers through a stronger commerce strategy. Amie says marketers need to treat commerce as more than a media buy. She maps that idea across four pillars: media, creative, technology, and retail readiness. The conversation shows how th...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with Lÿden Foust, CEO of Spatial.ai , a company that has spent 10 years building behavioral segmentation that goes far beyond demographics. The central argument of the episode is simple and disruptive: the assumptions brands make about their customers based on age, income, and zip code are the things everyone already knows.  Co...

In this special edition of The Marketing Rapport, host Tim Finnigan records live from the POSSIBLE Conference in South Beach, Miami (poolside, no less) sitting down with five guests who are shaping the future of marketing technology and data strategy.  The episode features Gregg Johnson, CEO of Invoca; Jason Ford, VP of Alliances at InfutorData; Michelle Walker, POSSIBLE Conference ambassador; and...

AI is changing everything about how consumers interact with brands, and not always for the better. In this episode, Tim Finnigan speaks with Professor Quentin André from the University of Colorado Boulder. André researches how consumers and marketing managers make decisions, with a growing focus on AI's role in both. The conversation revisits a paper André co-authored in 2018 and examines how...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with Jeff Piotrowski, Chief Customer Officer at Customer Solutions Group . They explore how insurance marketers are moving past mass marketing and toward data-led outreach. Jeff explains why better segmentation, shared metrics, and stronger data quality matter more than bigger lead volumes, especially as teams try to personaliz...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport, host Tim Finnigan sits down with Drew Warmington, Founder at iLeads. They explore what still drives lead generation: matching consumer intent with real capability, then using data to sort serious buyers from weak signals. Drew argues that the mechanics of leads have changed less than most marketers think. Better ads, cleaner funnels, and more data science...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with Gina Ive, Senior Director, Partnerships at VideoAmp. They explore cross-platform media measurement and why identity resolution keeps reporting honest. Gina describes how viewership data arrives with many identifiers from linear and digital sources. VideoAmp matches those signals to an identity spine, then resolves and dedu...

At CES in Las Vegas, Tim Finnigan takes The Marketing Rapport on the road to examine how marketing teams are adapting to AI, data, and shifting buyer behavior. Joined by leaders from product, events, and go-to-market strategy, the episode focuses on what it takes to stay relevant as technology and expectations change. Kelly Barrett, SVP of Product Management at Samba, explains why data strategy mu...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with Pat Sullivan, Senior Editor and Conference Co-Chairman at Risk Information . They explore how shifting consumer expectations, economic pressure, and technology are reshaping both auto and home insurance. Pat shares data-driven insights on why more consumers are shopping for new policies, the rising importance of customer e...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with Rustam Irani, Founder and CEO at RGI Marketing. They explore the real challenges behind lead generation in education and other considered purchase categories, focusing on why efficiency and data-driven decision-making matter more than just filling the funnel.  Rustam shares practical stories from his work across engineerin...

Kalli Chapman, VP of Global Media and Sponsorships at Prudential Financial, joins host Tim Finnigan to dismantle the wall between brand and performance marketing. Kalli argues this separation hurts the industry. She believes all marketing efforts must drive outcomes, whether through immediate sales or long-term growth.  The conversation shifts to data strategies. Kalli warns against hoarding data...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with Michelle Barbeau, Chief Revenue Officer at eHealth . They explore the power of authentic brand transformation in a complex and highly regulated industry, focusing on the importance of putting the consumer at the center of every decision.  Michelle shares how eHealth rebuilt its brand by listening to real consumer feedback...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport, host Tim Finnigan sits down with Stephen Crewdson, Managing Director at J.D. Power. They explore how consumer expectations, not just price, drive choices in today’s auto insurance market. Stephen draws on years of research to show that while advertising builds brand awareness, it’s the promise of good service and a smooth experience that moves shoppers fur...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with Ian Dewar, Senior Director of Global Strategy at Anthropologie . Together, they explore how brands can move beyond simple transactions to create loyalty that feels personal and relevant. Ian shares how his team uses both transactional and non-transactional data to better understand customer motivation, curating collections...

How do you build loyalty in a category with high-frequency visits and low brand attachment? In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with David Galinsky, Senior Director of Omnichannel Analytics at The Wendy’s Company, to explore that question. David walks through three foundational models for understanding and engaging customers: loyalty segmentation, behavioral patt...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with Nola Solomon, Founder and Tech Executive at Sage Quill. They explore how clear storytelling and strong value propositions drive better marketing outcomes, especially in B2B environments. Nola shares why companies must move beyond features and instead focus on the real problems they solve for customers.  As the conversation...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with Josh Pisano, Global Head of Product for Media at NielsenIQ. They unpack what it really takes to turn data into decisions—from identity resolution to clean room collaboration. Josh explains why first-party data, while valuable, often misses key signals and population segments. He shares how clean room technology and smarter...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , Tim Finnigan hosts Susan Finerty, president of Finerty Consulting , to discuss why most organizations struggle to get things done across departments. Matrix organizations try to break down silos through cross-functional teams and shared services. Still, they often fail at medium-sized decisions—the everyday choices that fall between major strategic moves...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport, Tim Finnigan speaks with Iain Steeves , Senior Managing Director at Farmers Insurance , about the evolving landscape of insurance marketing. Iain discusses the challenges of customer acquisition in the digital age, emphasizing the need to balance profitability with data-driven growth strategies. He highlights the increasing importance of meeting customers...

In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with Matt Tillman, founder of Tillman Consulting Group, to unpack the evolution of lead generation and the critical role of data in modern marketing. With over 25 years of experience, Matt traces the journey from printing leads on paper to leveraging verified data that transforms leads into qualified prospects.  Matt explains h...

Sasha DiGiulian, world-class rock climber and entrepreneur, joins Tim Finnigan on The Marketing Rapport to discuss her journey building Send Bars , a nutrition bar company. Sasha explains how her experience as a professional athlete shaped her approach to business. She emphasizes the importance of an "athlete mindset," focusing on continuous improvement and adapting to challenges. Sasha...

On this episode of The Marketing Rapport, Tim Finnigan talks with Andy Davidson, Chief Data & Analytics Officer at Bright Mountain Media, about the importance of market research. Andy explains how Bright Mountain helps brands personalize outreach and services using data-driven insights. He reveals the disconnect between research and activation, where audience specifics get lost during campaign...

How are data, identity, and privacy shaping the future of advertising? In this episode of The Marketing Rapport, host Tim Finnigan sits down with Carmela Fournier, VP & GM of Data at Comcast Advertising, to break it down. From her early days at Nielsen to leading data innovation at Comcast, Carmela shares how measurement has evolved—and where it's headed next.    They discuss the growing...

Marketers are shifting away from outdated data practices and embracing privacy-first strategies. In this episode of The Marketing Rapport , host Tim Finnigan sits down with Lauren Wetzel, CEO and Board Director at InfoSum, to explore the evolving landscape of data collaboration, privacy-enhancing technology, and first-party data strategies. Lauren explains why brands no longer trust third-party da...