AdTechGod Pod

In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, guests Aaron Goldman (Mediaocean), Tony Marlow (LG Ads), and Jackelyn Keller (Jackwell Partners) reflect on the past year in advertising, the impact of AI, and the trends shaping the future. The conversation covers everything from weird meetings in 2025 to the overhyped nature of AI and retail media. The guests share insights on the importance of understanding data, the challenges of attribution, and the need for creativity in marketing. The episode concludes with a rapid-fire round of questions, revealing personal opinions and humorous takes on the industry. Takeaways AI has significantly influenced all industries, not just advertising. Naming and branding can lead to intense discussions in meetings. AI-powered solutions are often overhyped in the industry. Retail media networks may struggle to survive without scale. Attribution methods in advertising are complex and often debated. Predictions in the industry can be unnecessary and overdone. Creative optimization is essential for effective marketing campaigns. Understanding data is crucial for marketers to make informed decisions. The future of advertising may involve more interactive and engaging ad formats. The importance of chilling out about industry drama and focusing on collaboration. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and ugly sweaters 03:40 50 Cent and NewFront prep 06:20 AI hype vs reality 08:45 Curation and other buzzwords 12:10 AdCP and why it is hard 14:30 Creative optimization A/B to A-Z 17:45 Ads inside AI chat experiences 18:45 Regifting trends, retail media, and clean rooms 22:10 Agentic commerce debate 25:40 What the industry should chill about 29:30 Rapid-fire questions 36:00 Wrap-up and holiday sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew Cassin, Senior Director of Programmatic Partnerships at Cadent, joins AdTechGod to discuss what strong programmatic partnerships look like today, how the industry has moved beyond a “set it and forget it” mindset, the importance of building clean supply paths, and how to stay human as the industry continues to evolve. Takeaways Partnerships now require active, outcome-driven deal design. “Set it and forget it” is gone, optimization and communication matter. Buyers expect cleaner supply paths and real transparency. Cadent’s ViewPlanner supports planning across linear, CTV, OLV, and YouTube. Brands and agencies lean on partners to navigate privacy, brand safety, and AI shifts. Career growth came from staying curious and learning by doing across roles. Hard moments reshaped Andrew’s leadership style toward empathy and authenticity. Chapters 00:05 Andrew’s background and getting into programmatic early 01:13 Career path from Forbes to Rubicon, JWP Connatix, Equativ, and Cadent 05:37 What’s stayed constant through industry change 07:16 How brands and agencies rely on partners amid privacy, brand safety, and AI shifts 08:08 Cadent’s ViewPlanner acquisition and why YouTube matters 09:24 Why partnerships moved past “set it and forget it” deals 10:46 Clean supply, transparency, and standards expectations 12:33 How cancer changed Andrew’s perspective on relationships and work 18:08 Advice for newcomers: resources, mentors, and using LinkedIn well 21:07 What Andrew is excited about heading into 2026 24:12 Closing and holiday sendoff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Thompson from MediaGo, a Baidu Company, joins AdTechGod on the AdTechGod Podcast to break down how SMB advertisers are using performance DSPs as a bridge from walled gardens into open web programmatic. Brad shares his path from agency work to platforms like AOL and MediaMath, why simplifying programmatic is essential for growth, how he uses LinkedIn and X differently to build partnerships, and what 2026 may look like as AI reshapes ad ops and optimization. The episode closes with Brad’s view that AdCP can steer the industry back toward strong messaging and smart media choices, not just data-driven outcomes. Takeaways SMB marketers know Amazon, Meta, and TikTok well, but many need a simpler on-ramp to open web programmatic, creating a clear role for performance DSPs. AI will most improve optimization and creative workflows, while ad ops shifts through fewer manual tasks and slower net new hiring. LinkedIn works best for personal marketing and steady industry updates, while X is better for real-time discussion and learning. Strong relationships are still the edge in sales and BD because people handle the messy moments that tech cannot. AdCP is a major 2026 opportunity that can refocus digital advertising on message and media quality. Chapters 00:00 Brad’s background and why he chose ad tech. 03:55 How MediaGo brings SMBs from walled gardens into programmatic. 05:00 Social selling in practice, LinkedIn versus X. 12:15 2026 outlook, AI reality versus hype, and job impact. 20:40 Why AdCP could be the biggest growth lever next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tal Shaked, Chief Business Officer and co-founder of Rise, joins AdTechGod to trace his unconventional path into ad tech, from early toolbar monetization to driving alternative revenue at Babylon and later helping grow IronSource through strategic acquisitions. He explains how Rise emerged as a necessary spin out ahead of IronSource’s IPO, why the team first focused on web video and display, and how their Smart Auction Management platform uses machine learning to optimize pricing and supply paths at massive scale. Tal also shares what AI driven search shifts mean for publishers, why traffic shaping is becoming a core differentiator, and where agentic advertising could take creative, buying, and ops workflows in 2026. Takeaways Rise spun out of IronSource, and starting on the web turned into an advantage. SAM and traffic shaping are the core levers for auction and revenue lift. AI search is cutting web traffic, forcing publishers to adapt fast. Mobile monetization looks steadier, with upside in performance and commerce. Agentic ads will automate busywork while keeping relationships central. Chapters 00:00 Rise split from IronSource and made web first work. 19:10 SAM plus traffic shaping drive gains. 22:50 AI search is shrinking web traffic. 26:10 Mobile revenue is more stable. 31:00 Agentic ads automate tasks, relationships still win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AdTechGod speaks with Priti Ohri, Co-Founder and CEO of Advertible, about how she turned a layoff into a launchpad for innovation. From her early days at MTV Networks and LVMH to founding a company reshaping native advertising, Priti shares how Advertible simplifies native ad delivery for SSPs while improving user experience across formats and devices. They discuss the challenges of building infrastructure in ad tech, the importance of community and representation, and how the industry’s next big transformation might come from agentic AI and automation. Takeaways Advertible streamlines native ad delivery with a plug-in solution for SSPs. Priti’s path from luxury brands to ad tech highlights the power of data-driven creativity. The startup journey demands resilience, community, and constant iteration. Representation and visibility fuel empowerment across underrepresented founders. Agentic AI could redefine how programmatic systems communicate and scale. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Priti’s Career Journey 02:00 From Viacom to Programmatic: Following the Data 05:00 Why Native Ads Still Matte 07:00 Building Advertible After Ericsson 09:00 Startup Challenges and Finding Product-Market Fit 12:00 The Role of Community and Support Systems 15:00 Female Founders and South Asian Representation 19:00 Agentic AI and the Future of Ad Tech 22:00 Final Thoughts and Advice for Founders Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices