Episode 127: Mark Grether on What PayPal Ads Is Building

Ramsey McGrory, newly appointed President of Prisma at MediaOcean, joins Ari Paparo to discuss how the company is evolving its platform across linear and digital media. They unpack the implications of MediaOcean’s acquisitions, including Innovid and Protected, and what it means to consolidate media planning, buying, and verification in an increasingly fragmented ad ecosystem. Ramsey also reflects on the role of buy-side ad serving today, the integration of AI, and how Prisma is adapting to agency and brand needs in the age of converged TV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo and Eric Franchi speak with Adam Epstein, co-founder and CEO of Gigi, an AI assistant focused on automating tasks within the Amazon DSP. Adam shares how the product evolved from a streaming TV tool to a broader AI-powered platform for media agencies. He discusses the challenges of training a vertical AI agent using retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), the reasoning behind a chat-based interface, and how agencies are integrating their own processes into Gigi. The conversation also touches on the potential impact of agentic AI on agency workflows and team structures. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo talks with Justin Evans, Head of Innovation and Insights at Samsung Ads and author of The Little Book of Data. They discuss the core ideas behind the book, how data concepts apply across industries, and why clear thinking rather than technical expertise is often what matters most. The conversation also touches on Evans’s time in ad tech, his writing process, and what data can (and can’t) explain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari and Eric recap key themes from Cannes 2025, including the ongoing conversation around AI in advertising and media, the presence of creator and sports partnerships, and recent developments in commerce media. They share observations on industry announcements, AI's progress (and limitations), and structural changes in the ad tech space. The discussion also covers how Cannes operates behind the scenes, from sponsorship deals to the growing presence of technology companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo chats with Milly Botes, VP of Product Management at Acast, about how the company’s podcast monetization platform and ad network. Milly breaks down the evolution of dynamic ad insertion, what makes host-read ads so effective, and how Acast is using AI to help with podcast discovery for advertisers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo sits down with Oleg Korenfeld, CTO of CMI Media Group, to discuss their experience integrating AI into agency media planning. They explore the challenges of working with multiple data sets, the limitations of generative AI in answering precise data queries, and how they adjusted their approach to automation. Oleg also shares insights on legal considerations, practical rollout hurdles, and the future potential of AI in media insights and planning. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo talks with Sean Muller, CEO of iSpot, about the challenges and opportunities in measuring video across platforms such as linear TV, streaming, and social media. They explore how AI is helping to accelerate insights and enhance creative planning, and how marketers are adapting to changes in video consumption and advertising strategies. The conversation also touches on how paid and earned media are managed within marketing teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo sits down with Tony Marlow, CMO of LG Ad Solutions, at Cannes to unpack trends in connected TV. They cover ad innovation on smart TVs, the role of OEMs in media strategy, and how AI is starting to shape both targeting and creative. A grounded conversation on where CTV is headed—and what challenges remain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ari Paparo talks with Philip Inghelbrecht, CEO and co-founder of Tatari, about how TV advertising is changing. They cover outcome-based measurement, the role of DSPs in connected TV, and how Tatari is using AI in creative workflows and media planning. The conversation also touches on how brands of different sizes approach TV and what trends are shaping the space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mark Grether, GM of PayPal Ads, joins Ari Paparo to break down how PayPal is approaching ads using data from PayPal, Venmo, and Honey. They talk about off-site targeting, commerce media, and why PayPal’s position in the market might be more powerful than people realize. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices