The Speed of Culture Podcast

Hosted by ADWEEK & Suzy

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Episodes

272

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Oct 2026

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About the show

To thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape, brands must move at The Speed of Culture. Join Matt Britton, Founder and CEO of Suzy, and key industry leaders, as they dive deep into shifting consumer trends within their industry, why it matters now, and how you can keep up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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60 recent

October 27, 202627 min

Consumers Hold the Mic: Fanta Gives Them Something to Talk About

Can legacy brands transcend into becoming their own entertainment platform? In this episode of The Speed of Culture, Ibrahim Khan, Global Vice President of Marketing at Fanta, explores how one of the world’s biggest beverage brands balances global consistency with local culture, why packaging matters more in an infinite digital shelf, and how they’re turning Halloween from an annual campaign into its own entertainment platform. He also discusses the role of AI in creative work, why brands should resist attaching themselves to every cultural moment, and why the next generation of marketers needs to think beyond the 30-second TV spot. Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBiz Follow Ibrahim Khan on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 20, 202630 min

Past the Skip Button: Gerry Rich on Marketing That Holds Attention

Whatever happened to the golden years of Hollywood? The attention economy, apparently. This episode of The Speed of Culture podcast welcomes Gerry Rich, film marketing consultant and author of Chasing Hollywood: A Marketing Chief’s Lessons on Breaking Through . Bringing over three decades of experience marketing films across Columbia Pictures, Miramax, MGM, Paramount, Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, Gerry explains why creating mass awareness has become harder. He zooms in on what makes a trailer genuinely break through, why engagement matters more than raw views, and Gen Z’s appetite for originality. The conversation also explores the growing importance of talent’s social presence, the risks of volume-driven filmmaking, and how AI can support the work without replacing the authenticity audiences expect. Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBiz Follow Gerry Rich n on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 13, 202636 min

Pivot or Perish: Kargo's Bet on AI Media Buying

What does it take to genuinely reinvent yourself in the world of advertising, and to do it in a way that’s valuable? This episode of The Speed of Culture Podcast welcomes Harry Kargman, Founder and CEO of Kargo, for a reflection on 23 years of building through constant change in advertising. From mobile and the open web to social, CTV, and now AI-powered media buying, he explains why good timing starts with knowing which market signals actually matter, and how Kargo built a culture that expects reinvention. Harry also gives us an inside look at why its new platform, Karlo, is designed to make sophisticated media buying more accessible to mid-market brands. Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBiz Follow Harry Kargman on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

October 7, 202626 min

Lifestyle First: How the Next Generation Is Rewriting Luxury Real Estate

This episode of The Speed of Culture Podcast welcomes Brad Nelson, Chief Marketing Officer at Sotheby’s International Realty. Taking us behind the scenes of a 50-year-old legacy, Brad explains how the brand has stayed relevant by focusing on quality over price, and adapting to how affluent consumers define luxury today. He zooms in on the rise of lifestyle-first buying, the impact of AI-driven wealth creation, the role of social media in building credibility, and why trusted human relationships still matter most in high-value decisions. Celebrate 50 years of Sotheby’s International Realty with a new advertising campaign highlighting connections built over the decades and The Art of Refined Living, created with Assouline to showcase the brand’s heritage through extraordinary properties, architecture, and cultural moments. Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBiz Follow Brad Nelson on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 29, 202621 min

From Heritage to Happy Hour: How Campari Keeps Iconic Brands Moving With Culture

This episode of The Speed of Culture Podcast welcomes Allison Varone, Head of Marketing at Campari America. The conversation explores how heritage brands can evolve with changing consumer behavior without losing the rituals and emotional connections that made them distinctive. She breaks down the growth of the spritz category, the rise of mindful drinking, the role of experiential marketing, and bartender education, and why curiosity and commercial awareness are becoming essential skills for modern marketers. Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBiz Follow Allison Varone on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 22, 202627 min

The Mediterranean Way, at Scale: CAVA's Growth Story

This episode of The Speed of Culture Podcast features Nitya Madhavan, Senior Vice President of Brand Strategy and Marketing at CAVA. Nitya explains how the fast-growing restaurant brand is scaling its national footprint while protecting the warmth, hospitality and human connection at its core. She breaks down the role of experiential marketing, social micro-communities, creator partnerships, loyalty data and AI, while sharing why the strongest brands use growth to deepen relationships rather than dilute them. Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBiz Follow Nitya Madhavan on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 15, 202629 min

Offline by Design: How Pinterest Turned Disconnection Into Earned Media

This episode of The Speed of Culture podcast welcomes Claudine Cheever, the Chief Marketing Officer at Pinterest. Claudine outlines how the platform is evolving from a space for major life projects to a daily companion for shopping and creative inspiration. She details the importance of the intention economy, the role of visual search in fostering human curiosity, and why encouraging users to step away from their screens instead of going deeper into it is actually a winning business strategy. The conversation also examines her career journey through the world of advertising and her perspective on radical ownership as a leadership superpower. Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBiz Follow Claudine Cheever on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 8, 202626 min

Kitchen Table Finances: Intuit on AI and Everyday Money Management

In this episode of The Speed of Culture podcast , Matt Britton connects with Mark Notarainni, EVP & General Manager of Intuit’s Consumer Group . They discuss how consumer finance through platforms like TurboTax and Credit Karma have evolved over the years. The conversation covers how AI helps people manage debt, the power of human expertise in digital tools, and why financial literacy is hitting younger generations differently. Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBiz Follow Mark Notarainni on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

September 1, 202629 min

Playing the Long Game: CarMax on Turning Fandom Into Brand Loyalty

Sarah Lane, Chief Marketing Officer at CarMax, joins Matt Britton on the Speed of Culture podcast to detail how the brand transformed the automotive retail experience through transparency and a commitment to women’s sports. Sarah explains the journey from local team sponsorships to high-profile national partnerships with the WNBA and NBA, highlighting how authentic fan engagement builds lasting trust. The conversation also covers the impact of emerging technologies like Large Language Models on the car-buying process. Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBiz Follow Sarah Lane on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

August 25, 202628 min

Fans Have More Friends: Heineken's formula for real-life connection

This episode of The Speed of Culture podcast features Alison Payne, Chief Marketing Officer at Heineken USA. Alison explains how one of the world’s most recognizable beer brands stays culturally relevant without forgetting what it authentically stands for. She breaks down the changing role of live experiences, fandom, creators, AI, packaging and non-alcoholic beer, while sharing why strategic restraint and protecting creativity are essential leadership skills for modern marketers. Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBiz Follow Alison Payne on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform. And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.