Ep 55: Justin Johnson - Acorns - Former Head of Market Development

Uber is one of the most used consumer apps on the planet. But behind the scenes, a fast-growing advertising business is reshaping how brands reach people in motion.In this episode of The Snarketing Podcast, Matt Wurst and Valerie Vespa sit down with Megan Ramm, Global Head of Sales at Uber Advertising, to unpack how a “startup inside Uber” has scaled across 70 countries and 10,000 cities.Megan shares how Uber Advertising drives outcomes across rides and delivery, why attention in motion converts differently, and how creative, commerce, and context now collide in a single moment. The conversation covers Uber’s Creative Studio, Gen Uber research, evolving ad formats, attention-based measurement, and what’s next as Uber expands far beyond rides and food.It’s a candid look at growth, innovation, and what happens when media meets real life.

In this Thanksgiving edition of The Snarketing Podcast, Matt and Valerie sit down with Anjali Virmani, Global Head of Creative Solutions at Time Out Media, for a fast, funny, and wildly thoughtful conversation about culture, creativity, community, and the messy state of modern media.Anjali shares her journey from Manchester to Maryland to Manhattan, how being raised in a South Asian immigrant household shaped her voice, and why empathy and lived experience still fuel the best creative work. She breaks down Time Out’s evolution from a print listings guide to a global cultural brand spanning 300 plus cities, food markets, festivals, and digital storytelling.They dive into why AI is killing originality, how to build trust with audiences, why advertisers need to earn their moments—not force them—and what she’d fix if she could rebuild the media industry from scratch. Plus: espresso martinis, parenting twins, the value of wandering alone in a new city, and what “taking time out” really looks like.A warm, sharp, honest conversation to close out the year—and one of our most inspiring episodes yet.

From Meta to MoonPay to Acorns... It's The Modern Creator Playbook Episode with JJ: In this episode, Matt Wurst and Valerie Vespa sit down with Justin Johnson, former Head of Market Development at Acorns and a leading voice at the intersection of creators, culture, and commerce.Justin shares his journey from Meta to MoonPay to Acorns, unpacking what each chapter taught him about building authentic creator partnerships, driving brand relevance, and turning culture into conversion.You’ll hear stories from working with MrBeast, Michelle Obama, Theo Von, and more, plus insights on:• The rise of the creator economy and where it’s heading• How authenticity beats algorithms every time• Why AI and community are reshaping brand discoveryWhether you’re a marketer, creator, or just curious how influence becomes impact, this episode is your courtside seat to the next playbook in modern marketing.

Recorded live at the ANA Masters of Marketing in Orlando, this episode of The Snarketing Podcast features Lucy Markowitz, SVP and GM of U.S. Marketplace at Vistar Media — one of the most influential voices in out-of-home and data-driven advertising.Lucy joins Matt Wurst and Valerie Vespa to talk about the evolution of out-of-home (OOH) and in-real-life media, the growing power of data through T-Mobile’s acquisition of Vistar, and how AI, creativity, and leadership are reshaping marketing from the ground up.From AI-assisted car manufacturing and ad creation to retailers reclaiming their data and brands like Netflix buying their own billboards, Lucy breaks down what’s next for marketers navigating change, scale, and measurement in a fast-moving industry.🎙️ Topics include:- The T-Mobile x Vistar data advantage- Why OOH is becoming “IRL media”- Retailers taking back data ownership- AI’s real impact on creativity and production- Leadership lessons from 12 years in adtechWhether you’re a marketer, media exec, or tech innovator, this episode delivers sharp insights with a healthy dose of snark.

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.