AdTechGod Pod

Hosted by AdTechGod, The AdTech God

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189

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Jun 2026

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About the show

A Podcast For The People About The People. The AdTechGod ® Pod celebrates the Minds Behind Adtech and offers an engaging platform where listeners can discover the stories and insights of the individuals driving the advertising technology industry. This podcast shines a spotlight on the creative and innovative minds that make adtech great, providing a unique perspective on the people behind the technology that shapes our digital advertising experiences. All guests appearing on the adtech god podcast are invited participants; they do not provide compensation to AdTechGod for their appearance. The podcast's funding is provided through preroll and midroll advertisements, which are sponsored by various companies. If you are interested in being a guest or advertising on the AdTechGod Pod (The Adtech God Podcast) please visit https://www.adtechgod.com/adtechgod-pod.

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June 16, 202627 min

Ep.138 Why Digital Out-of-Home Is Advertising's Most Undervalued Channel with Craig Benner Accretive

Craig Benner, Founder & CEO of Accretive, joins the AdTechGod Pod to discuss the future of Digital Out of Home (DOOH), measurement, attribution, media buying, and why brands are increasingly investing in high-impact advertising beyond traditional digital channels. Takeaways DOOH remains one of the most underinvested channels despite its massive reach. Measurement has historically been the biggest challenge for out-of-home advertising. Accretive helps connect physical-world exposure to digital outcomes. Better attribution drives greater confidence and media investment. Search often captures intent rather than creating it. Out-of-home excels at generating awareness and demand. Brands are shifting budgets from linear TV into measurable alternatives. Mobility data plays a key role in audience targeting and measurement. Media Mix Modeling is helping validate the value of DOOH. Retail media presents a major opportunity for out-of-home advertising. AI and standardization are accelerating industry adoption. Education remains critical for broader DOOH growth. Chapters00:00 Meet Craig Benner and Accretive 01:09 From Viant to founding Accretive 02:06 Discovering the opportunity in DOOH 03:45 Why out-of-home should command more ad spend 04:40 The measurement-first philosophy behind Accretive 05:47 Solving attribution challenges in DOOH 07:12 Which advertisers benefit most from out-of-home 08:49 How audience targeting works in DOOH 10:33 Measuring foot traffic, web lift, and outcomes 11:09 Where today's DOOH budgets come from 12:45 The industry's overreliance on lower-funnel marketing 13:51 Why out-of-home creates demand and intent 15:32 Giving DOOH the credit it deserves 16:53 How measurement changes media allocation decisions 18:01 The reality of search and retargeting attribution 19:49 The future of digital out-of-home advertising 20:46 AI, MMMs, and industry standardization 21:47 Educating agencies and media buyers 24:14 Retail media and the "last inch" opportunity 25:40 Resources for learning more about DOOH 26:52 Final thoughts and closing remarks Guests: AdTechGod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 15, 202632 min

BREAKING: Is Fox the New King of Connected TV? Breaking Down the Fox - Roku Deal

Fox's $22 billion acquisition of Roku is one of the biggest media and advertising technology stories in years, and it could fundamentally reshape connected TV. In this special breaking news episode of the AdTechGod Pod, AdTechGod is joined by Kyle Dozeman Co-Founder & CEO at Kovva and former CRO of PubMatic, Richie Hyden (SVP of Publisher Solutions at Viant Technologies), and David Nyurenberg (SVP at InterMedia Advertising) to discuss the strategic implications of the deal. This episode covers why Fox made this move, what Roku's 100+ million household footprint brings to the table, and why identity, audience data, and operating system ownership may be more valuable than streaming content itself. They also discuss how the acquisition could transform audience targeting, measurement, content discovery, programmatic advertising, and Fox's ability to compete with giants like Amazon, Google, Netflix, and Disney. Will this create a new advertising powerhouse? How will brands, agencies, and publishers be affected? And five years from now, will this be remembered as a content play, an identity play, or the deal that changed connected TV forever? Tune in for expert analysis on one of the most consequential acquisitions in the history of streaming. Key topics Fox's acquisition of Roku and its strategic implications The role of identity and audience data in the deal Impact on content distribution and platform dynamics Changes in ad tech and programmatic buying Future of streaming, content, and advertising Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Acquisition 01:50 Understanding the Strategic Importance of Roku 06:21 Identity and Audience Data: The Core Asset 10:16 The Impact on Ad Placements and Market Dynamics 14:01 Advertiser Perspectives on the Acquisition 16:55 Transparency in Advertising: A New Era? 21:18 User Acquisition and Market Positioning 23:19 Future Implications of the Acquisition 26:22 Looking Ahead: The Next Five Years Interested in attending Marketecture Live Chicago on September 23, 2026?. Attendance is free for qualified brands and agencies, and early bird pricing ends soon for everyone else. Register now to secure your spot at chicago.marketecturelive.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 9, 202629 min

Ep. 137: The Data Quality Crisis in Digital Advertising with Scott McKinley of Truthset

Scott McKinley, Founder & CEO of Truthset, discusses the state of data quality, identity, and measurement in digital advertising. Scott shares why the industry continues to prioritize scale over accuracy, how data quality deteriorates throughout the supply chain, and why advertisers need to rethink legacy metrics like reach and CPMs. The conversation also explores identity, walled gardens, authentication, and the future of the open internet. Takeaways Data accuracy often declines significantly as data moves through the ad tech supply chain. Scale is frequently prioritized over quality, leading to inefficient advertising spend. Advertisers should focus on precision and outcomes rather than reach alone. Authentication is critical to improving identity and publisher monetization. Independent measurement remains essential for trust and accountability in advertising. Walled gardens continue to outperform because of durable identity systems. IP addresses are an unreliable long-term replacement for cookies. The open internet must improve identity infrastructure to remain competitive. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Scott McKinley and Truthset 01:05 From Olympic cyclist to ad tech entrepreneur 03:01 The trust crisis in advertising and lessons from sports 05:25 Why advertising lacks accountability and regulation 07:00 Nielsen's role in independent measurement 09:00 Why Scott founded Truthset 11:17 Common misconceptions about data accuracy 14:20 The industry's obsession with scale over quality 17:53 Why reach is becoming an outdated metric 19:13 Signal loss, walled gardens, and measurement challenges 23:16 The future of identity in advertising 25:34 Why authentication is the path forward 25:51 The biggest misconception about IP addresses 26:43 What the open internet must do next 28:05 Closing thoughts Guests: AdTechGod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 2, 202623 min

Ep. 136: How Self-Service Advertising is Transforming Publisher Revenue with Ray Adamson at DanAds

In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, Ray Adamson, Head of Solution Sales at DanAds, discusses the evolution of self-service advertising, automation in ad operations, and the publisher monetization strategies, and how AI is reshaping the future of ad tech. Learn how leading Publishers are unlocking new revenue streams and improving efficiency through self-service platforms. Takeaways Automation is becoming a business imperative in ad operations. DanAds helps publishers unlock new advertiser segments. Self-service complements sales teams rather than replacing them. Successful self-service programs require active promotion DanAds offers more than self-service technology AI is reshaping operational workflows The future belongs to creative media leaders and innovative ad tech partners. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ray Adamson and DanAds 01:25 Ray's Journey into Ad Tech and Career Evolution 03:55 How Ad Operations Have Changed Over the Years 05:50 What DanAds Brings to the Market 07:55 The Rise of Self-Service Advertising Platforms 08:33 Build vs. Buy: Publisher Self-Service Strategies 10:09 The Impact of Self-Service on Sales Teams 10:54 Expanding Revenue Through Long-Tail Advertisers 13:19 Common Misconceptions About Self-Service Advertising 15:05 Publisher Playbooks and Marketing Support 15:52 Integrations, Workflow Automation, and Monetization Services 17:57 Which Publishers Benefit Most from DanAds? 20:28 The Future of Ad Tech, AI, and Automation 22:43 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 26, 202623 min

Ep. 135: Crafting Big Ideas: Gina Michnowicz on Creativity, AI, and Experiential Marketing

In this episode, Gina Michnowicz, CEO of The Craftsman, joins AdTechGod to discuss building a creative agency focused on storytelling, experiential marketing, and integrated campaigns for global brands like Cisco, Disney, Marvel, and Godiva. Gina shares her journey from digital consulting to launching The Craftsman, how creative ideas come to life across physical and digital experiences, and why human creativity still matters in the age of AI. From building a 3,000-chocolate-bar train for Godiva and 20th Century Fox to discussing the future of branded content and creators, this conversation dives deep into the evolving world of marketing and advertising. Takeaways Human creativity remains essential despite advances in AI. Great marketing ideas come from non-linear creative thinking. Experiential campaigns work best when integrated with digital and PR. AI is useful for productivity, but not for original ideas. Emotional storytelling is difficult for AI to replicate. Brand awareness and experiential marketing are becoming more valuable. Creators will need to focus on authentic and original content. The best campaigns connect people emotionally to brands. Chapters 00:00 Gina Michnowicz joins the podcast and introduces The Craftsman. 01:09 Gina shares her journey from consulting to founding her agency. 03:44 How The Craftsman works with brands like Disney, Cisco, and Godiva. 06:32 Building integrated campaigns that combine experiential, PR, and social. 07:06 The story behind the 3,000 chocolate bar Godiva train campaign. 09:42 How Gina’s digital background shaped her creative approach. 11:12 Gina’s perspective on AI in creativity and advertising. 14:21 Why AI struggles with original creative ideas. 17:46 The emotional gap between AI-generated and human-made content. 20:45 Where creativity, branding, and marketing are heading next. 22:50 Gina shares her optimism for the future of creative work. Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 21, 202616 min

HELI-D CEO Simon Powell on Turning the Sky Into Digital Media

In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, Simon Powell, CEO of HELI-D, shares how his company is redefining out-of-home advertising with flying digital billboards attached to helicopters. From launching campaigns for MTV, Disney, Pepsi, Xbox, and VaynerX to creating immersive aerial activations that generate massive earned media, Simon breaks down the future of flying digital media and why emotional, high-impact advertising still matters. The conversation explores the evolution of aerial advertising, the technology powering HELI-D's LED helicopter screens, QR code engagement at massive live events, and what comes next for digital out-of-home, including drones and integrated media experiences. Takeaways HELI-D evolved from traditional helicopter banners into fully digital flying LED billboards. Simon Powell transitioned from investment banking into aviation and advertising entrepreneurship. Early innovation included projection technology that turned helicopter banners into flying cinema screens. HELI-D’s breakthrough campaign debuted at the MTV VMAs with Viacom in 2016. Disney partnered with HELI-D for large-scale experiential aerial activations. The company has executed campaigns for Pepsi, Star Trek, Catch-22, Xbox, and VaynerX. COVID accelerated the development of HELI-D’s scalable LED screen technology. The aerial ads create strong emotional reactions because of their size, movement, sound, and visibility. HELI-D campaigns generate significant earned media through social sharing and inbound audience engagement. QR code campaigns achieved massive interaction rates at live sporting events like the Melbourne Cup. HELI-D partnered with Blue Bite for mobile retargeting and shadow fencing at Possible. Xbox used Heli-D to create a flying live gaming experience with zero-latency gameplay. Simon believes flying digital media will eventually include drones as lift and battery technology improves. HELI-D sees itself as a premium “wow factor” integrated into broader DOOH campaigns rather than a standalone medium. Chapters 00:00 – Introduction to HELI-D and the POSSIBLE event activation 00:46 – Simon Powell’s background in investment banking and aviation 01:34 – The origin of helicopter banner advertising 02:12 – Creating the first digital aerial projection system 03:26 – Pitching Viacom and launching at the MTV VMAs 04:18 – Disney partnership and major aerial campaigns 04:47 – Pepsi Super Bowl activations and entertainment stunts 05:01 – Star Trek, Catch-22, and large-scale aerial experiences 05:54 – COVID’s impact and developing HELI-D’s LED technology 06:51 – AdTechGod’s firsthand experience with the helicopter billboard 08:22 – Emotional impact and audience reactions to aerial advertising 09:06 – QR code engagement success at the Melbourne Cup 10:33 – Earned media and viral audience response 12:22 – Metrics, retargeting, and campaign measurement 13:16 – Xbox Ninja Gaiden activation and live gameplay in the sky 14:53 – The future of DOOH, drones, and flying digital media 16:39 – Cannes plans and future expansion for HELI-D Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 19, 202626 min

Ep. 134 Why Programmatic Advertising Needs a Reset with David Nyurenberg of InterMedia Advertising

David Nyurenberg, SVP of Digital at InterMedia Advertising, joins the AdTechGod Pod to discuss the realities of programmatic advertising, CTV transparency, and why the industry may need a complete reset. From his early days at Gameloft to building digital practices at major agencies, David shares sharp insights on media buying, innovation, AI hype cycles, and the future of CTV. In this episode, David discusses why transparency matters, how linear TV shaped his perspective on media buying, and what advertisers still get wrong about optimization and data. Takeaways Programmatic advertising incentives have created long standing transparency issues. Linear TV buying still offers valuable lessons for modern digital advertising. CTV needs show level transparency to unlock its full optimization potential. AI and agentic advertising are promising, but still unproven at scale. More marketers are openly sharing ideas and challenging industry norms. Strong thought leadership comes from driving real innovation, not just visibility. Long tail content still matters when optimizing for reach and outcomes. The industry is becoming more sophisticated and data driven overall. Chapters 00:00 David Nyurenberg joins the AdTechGod Pod. 01:20 David explains how he accidentally entered the advertising industry through Gameloft. 03:51 Why David became outspoken about the flaws in programmatic advertising. 05:56 The biggest challenges facing the ad tech ecosystem today. 08:38 How working in linear TV changed David’s perspective on media buying. 11:25 David shares his thoughts on AI, agentic advertising, and AdCP hype. 15:24 What gives David optimism about the future of advertising. 17:27 Building a respected personal brand and becoming an award winning industry voice. 20:37 Why CTV transparency and show level data matter so much. 24:31 How David stays informed in the fast moving ad tech industry. 25:55 Final thoughts and closing remarks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 15, 202624 min

Can Neural Networks Transform Healthcare Advertising?

At Marketecture Live, Brad Fox, SVP, Health Media, dentsuX, joins Josh Walsh, Co-Founder & CEO, BranchLab, and Zach Rodgers, Founder, Sensical, to explore how AI and neural networks are reshaping healthcare advertising. From the rise of AI-driven patient behavior to the decline of traditional targeting methods, the conversation dives into privacy-safe audience strategies, evolving patient journeys, and what the future holds for pharma marketers in an AI-first world. Takeaways AI is rapidly changing how patients search for and consume health information Healthcare advertising is shifting away from search, contextual, and retargeting Neural networks enable privacy-safe prediction of patient populations Audience targeting must be rebuilt using AI-driven models Patient journeys are complex and require more nuanced segmentation AI is making both patients and doctors more informed True one-to-one personalization remains limited due to regulation AI platforms may eventually monetize healthcare interactions Chapters 00:00 Introduction to healthcare, AI, and advertising 00:18 Overview of the panel and discussion focus 01:04 AI as a primary tool for health information 01:53 Surge in AI-driven health queries and behavior shift 02:45 Changing role of search and health websites 03:40 Adoption of AI tools by physicians 04:31 Impact of AI on patient and doctor outcomes 06:33 Decline of traditional targeting and need for new strategies 07:40 Future of pharma ad spend in an AI-driven world 08:45 Neural networks and privacy-safe targeting explained 10:31 AI-driven audience targeting and patient lifecycle 12:28 Predictive modeling for healthcare populations 13:03 Importance of understanding patient journeys 15:57 Scaling AI audiences across media channels 17:11 Faster audience creation and activation 18:40 Personalization limits in healthcare marketing 20:12 Future of AI platforms and healthcare ads 22:01 Regulation and the future of pharma advertising Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 12, 202630 min

Ep. 133 How Fluency Is Automating AdOps Without Replacing Human Creativity with Eric Mayhew

Eric Mayhew, Chief Innovation Officer and Co-Founder of Fluency, shares how his experience in automotive advertising inspired the creation of Fluency and its mission to eliminate repetitive AdOps work through automation. Eric dives into the difference between automation and AI, the future of agentic systems, and why human creativity still matters most in advertising. From scaling ad operations to building compliant AI workflows, this conversation explores where marketing technology is headed next. Takeaways Automation should eliminate repetitive tasks so teams can focus on strategy and creativity. AI and automation are complementary, but they are not the same thing. Human oversight remains critical for compliance, governance, and brand safety. AI is powerful, but context quality determines the reliability of outputs. Personalization in advertising may finally become practical with AI and automation. Agencies want customizable workflows, not one-size-fits-all automation. Fluency focuses on deterministic workflows that execute advertiser strategies at scale. Agentic systems will combine rule-based automation with probabilistic AI decision-making. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Eric Mayhew and Fluency 01:20 How Dealer.com Inspired the Creation of Fluency 04:07 The Real Problem with Manual AdOps Workflows 05:45 Fluency’s Approach to Automation and AdOps Efficiency 07:45 Why AdOps Professionals Should Embrace Automation 10:41 The Difference Between Automation and AI 15:21 AI Risks, Hallucinations, and Governance Challenges 19:21 Where Humans Still Outperform AI 22:54 How Fluency Onboards and Automates Campaign Workflows 27:02 The Future of Agentic AI and Advertising Personalization Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 6, 202624 min

Everyone’s a Gamer Now: Unlocking the Full-Funnel Opportunity in Gaming with Scott Ensign

Scott Ensign, Chief Strategy Officer at Butler/Till, joins Amanda Grant, EVP, Global Head of Data and Tech Partnerships, WPP Media, and Chris Feo, SVP, Sales & Partnerships, Unity, to discuss why gaming remains misunderstood, how data unlocks its true value, and what advertisers need to do to tap into its full-funnel potential. From perception challenges to multi-screen behavior, this conversation reframes gaming as one of the biggest untapped opportunities in modern media. Takeaways Gaming reaches nearly all demographics, but is still misunderstood by brands Perception issues and legacy media habits are limiting investment Gaming environments offer highly engaged, data-rich audiences Mobile gaming plays a key role in multi-screen consumer behavior Brands should treat gaming as an audience strategy, not just a channel Full-funnel opportunities exist beyond performance and installs Data is the key to unlocking better targeting and planning Chapters00:00 Introduction to the episode and gaming opportunity 00:18 Why gaming now reaches all demographics 01:45 The gap between gaming usage and ad spend 02:38 Perception challenges holding brands back 04:08 Media buying habits and resistance to change 05:38 How data helps break gaming stereotypes 07:14 Gaming as a high-attention, “lean-in” environment 08:45 Multi-screen behavior and shifting consumption 10:06 Rethinking TV vs mobile in modern media 13:18 Performance vs brand investment in gaming 16:20 Gaming opportunities across industries like pharma 18:18 Unlocking commerce and purchase intent data 20:12 Treating gaming as an audience strategy 21:45 Favorite games and closing thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices