Adspeak

Adweek Podcast Network
Adweek Podcast Network
  • 4.6 (15)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Love it or hate it, the advertising and marketing industry is the ultimate broker of power and influence in the world today. Adspeak, hosted by ADWEEK editor in chief Ryan Joe, brings to life stories from our top reporters, delving into the people, brands, ad agencies, and adtech giants that shape how we view the world, the products we buy, and the entertainment we enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 4 hrs ago

    How Tracee Ellis Ross Built a Beauty Brand That Became a Cultural Movement

    The beauty market is flooded with new launches and celebrity-backed brands. Therefore, few manage to break through with both cultural credibility and real business results. Yet Pattern Beauty, founded by Tracee Ellis Ross after a decade of rejected pitches, is one of them. Recorded live at Brandweek, in this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Imani Ellis speaks with Christiane Pendarvis, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Pattern Beauty, and Kristen King, Executive Vice President and Managing Director of ATTN:. Together, they discuss how a challenger beauty brand leveraged culture, comedy, and community insight to achieve 50 million impressions and drive 200% growth in customer site traffic. What You'll Learn: How Pattern Beauty challenged outdated industry testing protocolsWhy comedy became the brand’s creative differentiatorHow a Girlfriends reunion cameo helped generate over a billion earned media impressions on a modest budgetWhat it means to build a brand where culture is the strategy About the Guests: Christiane Pendarvis is the Co-CEO at Pattern Beauty. Joining the brand a little over two years ago, Christiane has led Pattern through a key growth phase: spearheading mass awareness campaigns, overseeing the launch of Pattern Body, and pushing the beauty industry to rethink standards that have historically excluded textured hair consumers. Under her leadership, Pattern has landed in the top 10 fastest-growing beauty brands in social influence and overall brand popularity, while staying deeply rooted in the community it serves. Kristen King is the Executive Vice President and Managing Director of ATTN:. Kristen partnered with the Pattern Beauty team to develop the brand's breakout Pattern Lounge campaign, which repositioned Tracee Ellis Ross from model to facilitator, leaned into sitcom-style comedy, and incorporated the iconic Girlfriends reunion, all on a limited media budget. Her approach centers on creating work that earns cultural conversation rather than buying its way into it, and she views the agency-brand relationship with Pattern as a rare case of instant creative chemistry that elevated the work from the start. Host and Guest Resources: Imani Ellis on LinkedInChristiane Pendarvis on LinkedInKristen King on LinkedInPattern Beauty WebsiteBlue Hour Studios WebsiteATTN: WebsiteADWEEK Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. 2d ago

    Reimagining Social Drinking in America’s THC Market with Jake Bullock

    What if the next big opportunity in beverage marketing wasn't about alcohol, but about reimagining social drinking altogether? In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Mark Stenberg speaks with Jake Bullock, co-founder and CEO of Cann, about building one of the fastest-growing names in the THC beverage space. Jake explains how Cann is redefining social drinking by creating low-dose, hemp-derived products designed for mainstream consumers. He discusses the challenges of marketing in a fragmented regulatory environment, why authentic influencer partnerships outperform traditional advertising, and how Cann balances e-commerce with expanding retail distribution.  The conversation also explores the rise of sober-curious consumers, the importance of taste in category adoption, and the company's strategy for scaling nationally through alcohol distribution channels. Jake shares valuable lessons on creating new consumer habits while navigating compliance, retail partnerships, and the future of adult beverages across the United States in an increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving consumer market.  What You'll Learn: How to Position a New Category in a Crowded Retail EnvironmentWhy Influencer Marketing Outperforms Direct Advertising in Cannabis EducationThe Regulatory Arbitrage Strategy for National ExpansionHow to Build a Subscription and Multi-Channel Revenue ModelThe "Sessionability" Framework for Adult Beverage InnovationHow to Navigate Venue Partnerships and Liability Complexity About the Guest: Jake Bullock is the co-founder and CEO of Cann, a pioneering cannabis beverage brand revolutionizing the adult drinking category through microdosed THC drinks. With deep expertise in cannabis product innovation, regulatory navigation, and brand building across fragmented state markets, Jake has scaled Cann from a niche dispensary product to a multi-channel consumer brand available in liquor stores nationwide. Host and Guest Resources: Jake Bullock on LinkedInCann WebsiteADWEEK Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Jul 30

    How Brands Can Help Save Lives: A Conversation with Jaymes Black

    What if your brand could become a lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth in crisis? In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, we turn the mic over to Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project. A nationally recognized LGBTQ+ advocate and nonprofit leader, Jaymes oversees the organization’s crisis intervention, research, education, advocacy, and peer support programs serving LGBTQ+ young people across the United States. Jaymes shares how brands can become powerful allies in suicide prevention by moving beyond sponsorships and embracing meaningful partnerships. They explore why LGBTQ+ youth mental health should be treated as a universal human issue, how authentic storytelling and celebrity engagement can amplify impact, and why visibility matters during moments of crisis.  From mobilizing corporate resources to building long-term trust, Jaymes offers a compelling look at how creativity, compassion, and collaboration can help create lifesaving outcomes for young people who need support the most. How to reframe corporate engagement from transactional to transformational Why depoliticizing LGBTQ+ youth mental health positions your brand as a defender of universal human valuesThe "Field Catalyst" framework for scaling impactHow to mobilize celebrity partnerships and authentic storytelling Why brand presence functions as a lifeline for at-risk youthHow to move from judgment to partnership with brands navigating fear and uncertainty About the Guest: Jaymes Black is CEO of The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people. With more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning the nonprofit, technology, and finance sectors. She has led teams at organizations including Family Equality, Charles Schwab, Sabre Corporation, and Northrop Grumman. Jaymes made history as The Trevor Project’s first Black and first nonbinary CEO and has been recognized by TIME, Out Magazine, and numerous advocacy organizations for their leadership and impact.  Host and Guest Resources: Jaymes Black on LinkedInJaymes Black on InstagramThe Trevor Project WebsiteADWEEK Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Jul 28

    Balancing Brand Equity and Innovation with Jamie Warner and Trent Thacker

    In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, Jamie Warner sits down with Trent Thacker, Senior Director of Market and Customer Research at Cox Automotive Inc. and currently Senior Director of Industry Intelligence, to explore how iconic brands like AutoTrader and Kelley Blue Book consistently produce high-performing creative in an increasingly competitive media landscape. Trent shares Cox Automotive's research-first approach to campaign development, revealing how consumer tracking, competitive intelligence, and multi-stage testing help reduce risk while improving results. The conversation dives into why automotive advertising demands a different playbook, with consumers spending up to 100 days researching vehicles and relying heavily on informative content. Trent also explains how Cox Automotive is embracing AI, from generating animatics for rapid testing to creating AI-powered consumer personas, without losing the human judgment required to protect brand equity.  What You'll Learn: How to structure a creative development process that mitigates riskWhy the Information Score matters more than you think in automotive advertisingHow to use AI to accelerate creative iterations without sacrificing qualityThe strategic value of AI-powered generational personas for script refinementHow to protect brand equity while staying competitiveWhy cross-brand integration amplifies performance About the Guest:  Trent Thacker is the Senior Director of Market and Customer Research at Cox Automotive Inc. and currently Senior Director of Industry Intelligence at Cox Automotive, where he leads research and market intelligence initiatives for major consumer-facing brands including AutoTrader and Kelley Blue Book. With over a decade of experience at Cox Automotive and previous roles at Phillips and AT&T, Thacker has developed deep expertise in campaign development, consumer research methodologies, and creative testing across competitive markets. Jamie Warner is a highly motivated sales leader with a proven track record of exceeding goals and building lasting client relationships. As Enterprise Account Executive of Brand Partnerships at iSpot, Jamie brings extensive experience in business development, revenue generation, and account management. Known for a solution-oriented approach, Jamie excels at identifying client pain points and creating mutually beneficial outcomes. A positive leader, strong motivator, and effective communicator, Jamie is passionate about helping brands achieve measurable success through strategic partnerships. Host and Guest Resources: Trent Thacker on LinkedInCox Automotive Inc. WebsiteJamie Warner on LinkedIn iSpot WebsiteADWEEK Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Jul 23

    John Solomon on Building Brand Momentum When Markets Turn Against You

    How do you maintain brand momentum when tariffs spike, supply chains collapse, and private equity demands quick returns? In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, Audrey Kemp sits down with John Solomon, Ex CMO at Therabody and currently CMO at Mozilla,  to explore how bold marketing decisions can drive growth during periods of uncertainty. Drawing on his experience leading marketing at Therabody, John shares why brands shouldn't automatically cut marketing spend during economic pressure and how strategic investments can create long-term momentum.  He explains the shift from thinking about brand versus performance marketing to demand creation versus demand capture, offering a framework that resonates with investors and leadership teams. John also discusses building specialist agency partnerships, developing an agile in-house creative studio, leveraging celebrity collaborations authentically, and measuring both hard and soft marketing metrics.  From navigating tariffs and supply chain disruptions to making asymmetric bets on innovation, this conversation offers practical lessons for ambitious marketers leading through change.  What You'll Learn: How to reframe marketing budgets to private equity stakeholders by shifting language from "brand marketing vs. performance marketing" to "demand creation vs. demand capture" Why cutting performance marketing spend instead of brand spend is the counterintuitive move that allows retailers to thrive  The asymmetric bet framework for pitching bold creative ideasHow to build a specialist agency model instead of relying on an all-knowing AORThe in-house creative studio strategy for content velocity How to use science-backed differentiation as a moat in crowded categoriesWhy measuring soft metrics alongside hard KPIs matters for stakeholder confidence About the Guest: John Solomon is the ex-Chief Marketing Officer at Therabody and currently CMO at Mozilla. He brings over 15 years of experience in navigating complex market challenges, from supply chain disruptions and tariff pressures to private equity dynamics. John has established himself as a strategic marketer who refuses to compromise brand investment during crises. Previously at Beats by Dre, he brings deep expertise in building cultural relevance and driving growth through innovative creative partnerships and omnichannel expansion. Host and Guest Resources: John Solomon on LinkedInTherabody WebsiteMozilla WebsiteAudrey Kemp on LinkedIn Courier WebsiteADWEEK Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Jul 21

    How Jen Zeszut Built a Mac and Cheese Brand by Out-Weirding Industry Giants

    What if your biggest competitive advantage wasn't outspending your CPG rivals, but out-weirding them? In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Rebecca Stewart sits down with Jen Zeszut, CEO and founder of Goodles, to explore how a bootstrapped startup transformed one of the most established categories in grocery retail. Jen shares why taste, not health claims, became the foundation of the brand, how bold creativity helped Goodles compete against industry giants, and why taking calculated risks often delivers bigger rewards than playing it safe.  The conversation covers building a mission-driven culture, creating marketing that sparks attention and conversation, and scaling a business without relying on traditional agency support. Jen also reveals the unconventional tactics that helped Goodles win retail distribution, grow rapidly, and turn mac and cheese into a cultural phenomenon while staying focused on joy, purpose, and innovation.  What You'll Learn: How to identify billion-dollar opportunities in "sleepy" categoriesThe "Lead with Yum" principle for health-forward productsWhy you must out-weird competitors when you can't out-spend themHow to build a category-growth motion, not just share-stealingThe operational mandate for scaling creative cultureHow to navigate retail without industry connections About the Guest: Jen Zeszut is the Founder and CEO of Goodles, the fast-growing CPG brand reinventing the mac and cheese category through bold branding, nutritional innovation, and unconventional marketing. A seasoned business leader and product marketer, she has more than 15 years of experience driving brand growth, launching products, and leading high-performing teams. Having founded four companies across software and consumer goods, Jen combines creative thinking with strategic execution to build mission-driven brands that challenge convention and deliver extraordinary results. Guest Resources: Jen Zeszut on LinkedInGoodles WebsiteADWEEK Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Jul 16

    Turning Sunscreen Into a Lifestyle Brand: Lessons from Roy Fleeman

    In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Brittaney Kiefer sits down with Roy Fleeman to explore how Vacation transformed sunscreen from a functional necessity into an immersive lifestyle brand. Roy shares how the team uses nostalgia, sensory design, and meticulous attention to detail to create products that feel joyful and collectible. They discuss why brands should be informed by trends without being defined by them, how packaging can become a powerful storytelling tool, and why designing every customer touchpoint matters. From fragrances and campaign concepts to shipping experiences and social content, Roy reveals how Vacation builds cultural relevance by creating moments that customers want to share, remember, and revisit long after their vacation-inspired purchase. What You'll Learn: How to reposition a commodity category by identifying emotional gapsThe "This Not That" design framework for authentic brand differentiationWhy broad nostalgia outperforms decade-specific retro aestheticsHow to weaponize packaging inconsistency as a collectibility strategyThe power of hyper-specific moment marketing to drive product narrativeHow to design every touchpoint as an immersive brand experience About the Guest: Roy Fleeman is VP of Design at Vacation, the leisure-enhancing sunscreen brand that's revolutionizing how consumers think about sun protection. With a background in advertising and brand design, Roy has spearheaded Vacation's distinctive visual identity, transforming sunscreen from a clinical necessity into a coveted lifestyle product through meticulously crafted packaging, nostalgic aesthetics, and immersive brand experiences. Guest Resources: Roy Fleeman on LinkedInVacation Inc WebsiteADWEEK Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Jul 14

    The Future of Advertising Is Predictive: How Deep Learning Is Transforming Marketing with Jeremy Fain

    In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, Jeremy Fain, CEO and Co-founder of Cognitiv, explores how deep learning is reshaping the future of advertising. Jeremy explains why the true power of AI in marketing comes from leveraging massive data sets, predictive algorithms, and real-time optimization, not just generative tools. He breaks down how marketers can use first-party data, granular audience signals, and continuous learning loops to improve targeting, personalize creative, and drive stronger campaign outcomes.  From predicting creative performance before impressions are purchased to unlocking incremental gains at scale, Jeremy shares how brands can turn AI into a competitive advantage and help marketing teams operate more effectively in an increasingly data-driven advertising landscape. What You'll Learn: Why deep learning is fundamentally a big data problem, not a creative toolHow to position media as the middle, not the end of your marketing processThe log-level data framework for maximum algorithm performanceHow to predict creative performance before you buy the impressionThe competitive advantage of 3% incremental improvements at scaleHow to deploy AI as an efficiency multiplier, not a headcount reducer About the Guest: Jeremy Fain is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cognitiv and a thought leader in AI and deep learning applications for advertising, known for his expertise in leveraging machine learning to optimize marketing performance and campaign targeting. With a background in interactive marketing and experience at firms like Digitas, he has pioneered approaches to applying deep learning algorithms specifically to advertising data, moving beyond generative AI to unlock the full potential of first-party data and consumer behavior prediction. His work at Cognitiv has demonstrated measurable improvements in campaign efficiency and creative performance, making this conversation essential for marketing leaders seeking to stay competitive through data-driven innovation and algorithmic optimization. Guest Resources: Jeremy Fain on LinkedInCognitiv WebsiteADWEEK Website  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Love it or hate it, the advertising and marketing industry is the ultimate broker of power and influence in the world today. Adspeak, hosted by ADWEEK editor in chief Ryan Joe, brings to life stories from our top reporters, delving into the people, brands, ad agencies, and adtech giants that shape how we view the world, the products we buy, and the entertainment we enjoy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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