Welcome to Experts Empowering Experts, the podcast by Freestar where industry leaders share the strategies, stories, and insights that shaped their path to success. Each episode features candid conversations with CEOs, founders, revenue pros, and other innovators across the ad tech landscape and beyond. From unpacking trends and sharing hard-won business lessons to exploring the personal moments that made the difference, we’re all about conversations that matter.Freestar is Publisher First—but this podcast is for everyone.
We’re kicking off a brand-new season with a new name, a fresh look, and an expanded mission—welcome to Experts Empowering Experts! In this episode, host Kurt Donnell sits down with Jackie Lord, Founding Principal and CEO of Elevate Consulting Group, for a powerful conversation on leadership, growth, and the human element behind business success. They dive into the transformative impact of the Culture Index, explore the difference between good and great leadership, and unpack what Jackie calls a leader’s moral obligation to their people. Whether you're a CEO, people manager, or aspiring leader, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.Connect with Jackie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackienlord/Culture Index Platform: https://www.cultureindex.com/Learn more about FreestarEmail: podcast@freestar.com Website: http://freestar.com/A #PublisherFirst Production
29 min
30 December 2024
Bonus Episode: Publisher Predictions for 2025 (Webinar)
52 min
4 November 2024
Ep 57: Lucy Rogers (LiveRamp)
Learn more about FreestarEmail: podcast@freestar.com Website: http://freestar.com/A #PublisherFirst Production
27 min
1 October 2024
Ep. 56: Ken Harlan (MobileFuse)
In this episode, host Kurt Donnell sits down with Ken Harlan, Founder and CEO of MobileFuse, one of the leading in-app advertising platforms in the U.S. They dive into the current state of in-app advertising, the transition to Connected TV (CTV), and what it means to be sustainable in this industry. Ken's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenharlan/ Podcast Website: https://anchor.fm/freestar Learn more about Freestar Email: podcast@freestar.com Website: http://freestar.com/ A #PublisherFirst Production
31 min
10 July 2024
Ep. 55: Gareth Glaser (Gamera, Inc)
In this episode, our host Kurt Donnell chats with Gareth Glaser, CEO of Gamera, Inc, about important topics spanning from the state of the open web to the demonization of paid traffic Gareth's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethglaser/ Podcast Website: https://anchor.fm/freestar Learn more about Freestar Email: podcast@freestar.com Website: http://freestar.com/ A #PublisherFirst Production
38 min
7 May 2024
Ep. 54: Nick Hill (EssenceMediacom)
In this episode, our host Kurt Donnell chats with Nick Hill, Head of Programmatic EMEA for EssenceMediacom, about the buy-side perspective of the industry as it stands today and the importance of company culture and "getting out of the way". Nick's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-hill-776b0b44/ Podcast Website: https://anchor.fm/freestar Learn more about Freestar Email: podcast@freestar.com Website: http://freestar.com/ A #PublisherFirst Production
30 min
29 March 2024
Ep. 53: Julia Wilson (Automattic)
In this special episode in honor of Women's History Month, our host Kurt Donnell is joined by Freestar CRO, Heather Carver as they chat with special guest Julia Wilson, VP of Ad Partnerships and Product Strategy at Automattic. They dive into the changes in business strategy post-Automattic's purchase of Tumblr, Julia's involvement with women's organizations like Chief and Nerdy Girl Success, and the reality of Imposter Syndrome as a woman in tech. Julia's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwilson254/ Podcast Website: https://anchor.fm/freestar Learn more about Freestar Email: podcast@freestar.com Website: http://freestar.com/ A #PublisherFirst Production
34 min
27 February 2024
Ep. 52: Keith Petri (lockr)
In this episode, our host Kurt Donnell chats with Keith Petri, CEO and Founder of lockr about the lockr story, the future of identity and authenticated traffic, and the importance of taking that first step in business. Keith's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpetri/ Podcast Website: https://anchor.fm/freestar Learn more about Freestar Email: podcast@freestar.com Website: http://freestar.com/ A #PublisherFirst Production
34 min
31 January 2024
Ep. 51: Ian Baer (Sooth)
In this episode, our host Kurt Donnell chats with Ian Baer, Founder of Sooth about the evolving emotional landscape of today's consumers, the unique buying behaviors of Gen-Z, and the psyche of marketing. Ian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ianbaer/ Podcast Website: https://anchor.fm/freestar Learn more about Freestar Email: podcast@freestar.com Website: http://freestar.com/ A #PublisherFirst Production
37 min
28 December 2023
Ep. 50: Ratko Vidakovic (AdProfs)
In this episode, our host Kurt Donnell chats with Ratko Vidakovic about the cost of sustainability, the reality of AI, and everything publishers should expect in 2024. Ratko's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ratkovidakovic/ Podcast Website: https://anchor.fm/freestar Learn more about Freestar Email: podcast@freestar.com Website: http://freestar.com/ A #PublisherFirst Production
