Ep 48: Elizabeth Donovan & Austin Leonard - Unlocked Crossover

What’s the true value of attention in advertising — and how can brands finally measure it in ways that drive real business outcomes?In this episode of The Snarketing Podcast, hosts Matt Wurst and Valerie Vespa sit down with Neala Brown, SVP of Strategy & Operations at Teads, to unpack how marketers can connect attention, creative quality, and outcomes across CTV, video, and omnichannel media.From defining the elusive “attention threshold” and understanding KPI correlations, to exploring new research on CTV home screen performance and the rise of shoppable, interactive video formats — Neala shares a practical, no-jargon playbook for turning data into decisions.Plus:Why 95% of marketers are increasing video investmentHow AI is accelerating insights without replacing human strategyThe future of brand vs. performance measurementAnd a fun detour through Neala’s Boston-meets-Dublin accent origin story 🍀🎧 Tune in for a smart, funny, and refreshingly human conversation about attention, innovation, and what really earns it.

What’s the true value of attention in advertising — and how can brands finally measure it in ways that drive real business outcomes?In this episode of The Snarketing Podcast, hosts Matt Wurst and Valerie Vespa sit down with Neala Brown, SVP of Strategy & Operations at Teads, to unpack how marketers can connect attention, creative quality, and outcomes across CTV, video, and omnichannel media.From defining the elusive “attention threshold” and understanding KPI correlations, to exploring new research on CTV home screen performance and the rise of shoppable, interactive video formats — Neala shares a practical, no-jargon playbook for turning data into decisions.Plus:Why 95% of marketers are increasing video investmentHow AI is accelerating insights without replacing human strategyThe future of brand vs. performance measurementAnd a fun detour through Neala’s Boston-meets-Dublin accent origin story 🍀🎧 Tune in for a smart, funny, and refreshingly human conversation about attention, innovation, and what really earns it.

Retail media isn’t just another revenue stream. It’s becoming existential to the future of retail.In this episode of The Snarketing Podcast, we sit down with Brian Monahan, SVP at Albertsons Media Collective, to unpack the past, present, and future of retail media networks. From helping launch Walmart’s billion-dollar ad business to leading Albertsons into its next phase, Brian shares lessons learned from agencies, big tech, and retail giants.We cover:- The birth of retail media at Walmart and why it became a $5B+ business- How Albertsons builds collective growth for advertisers, merchants, and customers- Why content and creative—not just data and ROAS—power retail media- The role of loyalty, shoppable recipes, gamified shopping, and new experiences- What’s overhyped (programmatic targeting) and what’s underhyped (shopper utility)- The balance between purpose, community, and profitHosted by Matt Wurst and Valerie Vespa, this conversation dives deep into what’s next for retail media and why the grocery store still matters as a pillar of community life.

Nobody wants to go to your webinar. Nobody wants to read your white paper. And unless you’re doing it right, nobody’s listening to your podcast either.In this episode of the Snarketing Podcast, we sit down with Lauren Douglass, CEO of Reverve and veteran marketing leader (ex-SVP Channel Factory, VP Teads, Criteo alum), to talk about what’s broken in B2B marketing—and how to fix it.We cover:• Why so much B2B content sounds the same• How to avoid “bad” marketing strategies and box-checking tactics• The power of executive thought leadership (with a little AI help)• Why authenticity—even typos—can be a differentiator• Repackaging content across 7 channels and 7 formats• Reinventing your career at 40 and beyondAuthentic voices matter more than ever. Tune in for sharp insights, a little snark, and practical takeaways you can put to work today.

In Episode 49 of the Snarketing Podcast, Matt Wurst and Valerie Vespa stop at the midway of Season 3, go guestless and gloves off, and reflect on the chaotic first half of 2025 and what’s ahead for the back half.We’re talking:👉 AI acceleration (and existential dread)👉 Marketing to bots (because… that’s happening now)👉 Social media's grip on teen brains👉 Why “authentic” isn't good enough anymore👉 The death of SEO (RIP)It’s snarky. It’s sharp. It’s… unsettling?

Two podcasts. Four marketers. One big reckoning.In our Snarketing x Unlocked crossover, AI declared our episode "a moment of truth" for marketing’s future.It's a deep-dive into retail and commerce media, and we leaned in: With co-hosts Valerie Vespa, Elizabeth Donovan & Austin Leonard unpacking what all this (with and without AI) means for the industry and the people building it.Come for the crossover chaos, stay for the existential questions.

Live from the sweltering sands of Stagwell’s Sport Beach at Cannes Lions 2025, Matt Wurst sits down with Jody Hallman, the VP of Integrated Marketing at Perdue Farms — and yes, the woman behind your favorite dino nuggets.(While Valerie Vespa works the Croisette for future guests.)In this cluck-worthy conversation, Jody shares how Perdue is evolving its iconic brand legacy — from Frank Perdue’s trust-me-I’m-on-TV era to today’s demand for transparency, traceability, and TikTok-ready storytelling. We cover:Why audio marketing and sonic branding are now essentialWhat Perdue’s farmers really think of social media (spoiler: ChikTok is coming)How to win loyalty in a commodity categoryAnd yes… the definitive answer to the chicken vs. egg debateThis episode slaps harder than a crispy tender.#SnarketingPodcast #PerdueFarms #CannesLions2025 #JodyHallman #MattWurst #ValerieVespa #FoodMarketing #BrandStorytelling #SonicBranding #ChickenOrEgg

Ready to find out why your podcast strategy is probably wrong, and how to fix it? In this full episode of the Snarketing Podcast, co-hosts Matt Wurst and Valerie Vespa sit down with Jordan Fox, CEO of Ad Results Media (ARM), to talk about the fast-evolving world of audio, the YouTube-ification of podcasts, and what it really takes to build brand relevance in a content-obsessed world.Jordan pulls back the curtain on the business of podcasting—from host-read ad secrets to why radio isn’t dead (it’s just quietly outperforming your CTV). He dishes on AI’s place in creative production (spoiler: your favorite host may have cloned their voice), and explains why ARM’s specialization gives them a serious edge over big, bloated media AORs.Oh, and there’s also a spontaneous bromance, a story about cold-calling MGM as a teenager, and some seriously hot takes on Cannes networking and agency acquisition trends. It’s smart, snarky, and just the right amount of self-aware.Topics covered: The rise of audio-first creators and cross-platform podcast strategy; Host-read ads vs. AI-generated content; Why YouTube is eating podcasting; Radio’s surprising ROI (yes, really); Building brand deals at scale; Agency specialization vs. Holdco homogenization; Cannes serendipity, bromantic energy, and more

What do Bragg vinegar, brandformance backlash, AI limericks, and startup survival in a pandemic have in common? Jessica Blumberg, co-founder of indie media agency hunterblu, unpacks it all on this week’s Snarketing Podcast with hosts Matt Wurst and Valerie Vespa.From redefining media planning with genuine enthusiasm to calling out holding company nonsense, Jessica shares what it really takes to grow a people-first agency that wins business (and awards) without selling its soul. We talk client fit, culture wins, AI that does the dirty work, and why happy employees equal loyal clients.If you're a marketer, founder, strategist—or someone who’s just tired of the industry’s buzzword buffet—this one’s for you.

What do you get when a data-driven futurist, a frustrated former pre-med student, and a zero-BS strategist walk into a podcast? You get George Musi, Chief Business Officer at Night Market—and one of the sharpest minds in media, marketing, and advanced analytics.In this episode, George joins co-hosts Matt Wurst and Valerie Vespa for a fast-paced, no-fluff conversation that hits everything from the fallacy of ROAS to the rise of independent agencies, the myth of attention, and why the so-called “consumer journey” is now a VR-powered fever dream. Oh, and he has thoughts on holding companies. Spoiler: they’re not moving fast enough.Topics include:Why media creativity is about context, culture & commerce—not just clicksThe rise of the “pervasive store” and what it means for marketersThe strategic trifecta: Partner. Buy. Build.Why ROAS is killing your brand (and George has receipts)The truth about incrementality, influenceability, and those mythical “aperture moments”Why independent agencies are thriving while legacy giants get stuck in complexityIf you're a brand marketer, strategist, media lead, or just someone who still thinks funnels are a thing—this episode is your wake-up call.