The Advertising Forum by Marketecture

AdTechGod and Jeremy Bloom

The Advertising Forum was created to address popular adtech, media and advertising topics and foster innovation by bringing together industry thought leaders, innovators, and experts from AdTech, Agency, and Brand sectors. Recognizing the industry's thirst for knowledge, we empower the community through open discussions with industry experts. Each series will focus on a topic ranging from creative to yield with a goal of eliminating industry noise and getting straight to the topic. Together, we can create a brighter future for advertising. To learn more about The AdTech Forum contact us at www.theadvertisingforum.com

  1. 12/18/2025

    Domenic Venuto on Trust as the New Media Currency in an AI Driven Advertising World

    In episode 4 of the Brand Trust series sponsored by Mozilla Ads, Jeremy Bloom and AdTechGod sit down with Horizon Media Chief Product and Data Officer Domenic Venuto, who unpacks why trust has become central to modern advertising. He explains how Horizon’s AI native Blu Platform uses first-party data enrichment and transparent LLM workflows to speed up insight and decision-making without turning media into a black box. The group also digs into privacy-first browsers, shifting consumer search behavior, and why agencies must prove trust both during upfront diligence and in day-to-day operations. Finally, Venuto shares a pragmatic view of AI as both smarter and riskier, and argues that ethical, observable systems are the path to protecting brands and improving outcomes. Takeaways Trust is no longer a brand value alone; it is a business requirement driving media and technology decisions AI accelerates insight and decision-making, but only works when transparency and data integrity are built in Clients demand visibility into how AI models work, what data is used, and how outputs are generated Privacy-first platforms and shifting consumer behavior are fundamentally changing search and personalization Horizon’s hands-on keys approach removes delays and empowers clients with the same tools used internally Ethical, observable AI can reduce risk while making media buying smarter and more accountable The future of advertising depends on trust-first models becoming the industry standard Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Brand Trust Series and guest Domenic Venuto 00:49 What “trusted environments” really mean for clients today 01:15 Horizon’s AI-native Blu Platform and first-party data enrichment 02:41 Why trust matters when AI drives critical business decisions 03:33 Adapting to privacy-first browsers and rapid innovation cycles 04:38 How client expectations around trust have evolved 05:59 Operational trust and decision-making at scale 06:29 Proving trust and performance through hands-on technology access 07:28 Reinventing the agency model while keeping business personal 09:00 Is AI making media buying smarter or riskier for brand safety 10:36 Using ethical, transparent AI to rebuild trust 11:04 The future of trust-first models in advertising 11:52 Closing thoughts and sponsor acknowledgments

    12 min
  2. 12/16/2025

    Brand Trust and Performance in Modern Advertising with Natasha Shaikh and AI Privacy First Media

    Natasha Shaikh, Head of Paid Media Center of Excellence at Wells Fargo, joins the Brand Trust series sponsored by Mozilla Ads to unpack how brand safety has expanded beyond placement into sentiment, especially as AI shapes how brands appear to consumers. She explains why trust can break in a single ad, how subjective audiences make safety decisions harder, and why marketers must balance privacy-first environments with effective targeting. The conversation also dives into the rise of user-generated content, the challenge of distinguishing real from fake in a GenAI world, and why long-term ROI depends on pairing smart targeting with layered safeguards. Takeaways Brand safety now includes brand sentiment because AI systems influence how consumers perceive a brand. Trust can fracture instantly, and what feels unsafe is often determined by highly subjective audience beliefs. Privacy-safe media can boost trust but may limit efficient discovery of the right customers. User-generated content and GenAI blur reality, making safety controls harder and more necessary. The best path forward is balanced spending that protects environments without losing targeting performance. Chapter 00:00 Natasha explains how brand safety now goes beyond placements to include sentiment and AI-driven perception. 02:14 She shares why trust can break instantly from one ad or sponsorship because offense is subjective. 04:05 Natasha describes choosing trusted environments that match where real customers spend time. 05:46 She outlines the challenge of balancing privacy first media with effective targeting. 07:17 Natasha talks about how social and user generated content make trust harder to control. 11:26 She argues for combining precise targeting with layered safety to protect long term brand value. 13:09 The episode wraps with a look at what is next for trust focused media strategies.

    13 min
  3. 12/11/2025

    Privacy First Ads and the Future of Brand Trust with Orville McDonald from Mozilla

    Orville McDonald, Senior Director of Ads Products at Mozilla, joins the Brand Trust series sponsored by Mozilla Ads to unpack why advertising is essential to keeping the open web alive, and why the industry must move past surveillance-based models. He explains Mozilla’s approach to “privacy plus performance,” where user choice, aggregated measurement, and new privacy-enhancing tech make ads effective without exposing people’s identities. The conversation also looks at how Firefox’s audience and long-term perspective position Mozilla to rebuild trust across digital advertising. Takeaways Advertising can fund the open web without tracking people, if measurement shifts to privacy-safe methods. User choice is the foundation of trust, and Firefox builds ads around opt-in controls and minimal data use. The path forward is not tearing down ad tech, but upgrading it with privacy-enhancing technology that still delivers ROI. Brand trust grows when products prove they put users first and make data flows transparent and respectful. Chapters 00:00 Orville’s role at Mozilla and why trusted advertising matters. 02:30 What a privacy-first ad experience looks like inside Firefox. 03:27 How targeting and measurement can work without collecting PII. 05:46 Using aggregate verification to keep ads accountable and effective. 07:54 Why advertising is core to the open web and how to remove surveillance. 10:19 Drawing the line between personalization and privacy as a human right. 12:06 Mozilla’s long game for rebuilding brand trust online.

    14 min
  4. 12/04/2025

    Brand Trust in Programmatic with Mike McNeeley of Index Exchange

    In Episode 1 of the Brand Trust series, sponsored by Mozilla Ads, Mike McNeeley, SVP of Product at Index Exchange, joins the Advertising Forum to unpack why trust and transparency are still active challenges in programmatic. The conversation covers privacy-first monetization with Mozilla Ads, the real cost of chasing cheap reach, why brand safety needs to operate faster as URLs change daily, and how premium programmatic should be defined by recognizable, trusted publishers across the open web. Takeaways Brand trust is an ongoing challenge that requires constant attention. Privacy-first advertising can still be effective without traditional tracking methods. Brand safety measures need to adapt to the fast-paced nature of content creation. Transparency in programmatic advertising varies across platforms. Marketers must balance trust and performance in their advertising strategies. The open web offers valuable opportunities for advertisers if navigated correctly. Premium programmatic includes well-known brands and quality content. Innovative partnerships can enhance advertising effectiveness and transparency. Dynamic creative solutions are becoming essential for marketers. The advertising ecosystem is becoming more complex, but offers better tools for advertisers. Chapters 00:00 Intro to the Brand Trust series and why trust and transparency still matter in programmatic. 01:42 Why Mozilla Ads' privacy safe home screen ads are an innovative publisher partnership. 02:39 Can privacy-first advertising deliver outcomes without cookie-based tracking? 04:18 How brand safety has to speed up as the open web produces massive daily URL turnover. 06:18 Where transparency still breaks in programmatic and what better reporting looks like. 07:42 Advice for CMOs planning 2026 on balancing walled gardens with the open web. 09:05 Defining premium programmatic through trusted, recognizable publishers and content.

    11 min
  5. 11/13/2025

    Brandon O’Neal (On3) & Stephanie Mazzamaro (Arena Group) on Building Smarter AI Communities

    Jeremy Bloom and AdTechGod engage with guests Brandon O'Neal, Chief Revenue Officer of On3 and Stephanie Mazzamaro, Head of Programmatic, Addressability & Ops of The Arena Group to discuss the evolving landscape of digital media, the importance of community in sports publishing, and the role of innovation in ad tech. They explore how companies like Moola are shaping the future of publishing through data-driven insights and AI, emphasizing the need for meaningful audience engagement and monetization strategies. Takeaways Scaling meaningful relationships means focusing on relevance, not just reach. Encore is a centralized intelligence system that enhances user experiences. Building community is crucial for sports publishers to thrive. AI has been a part of the ecosystem for many years. Moola is innovating in the ad tech space to support publishers. Mass producing content is ineffective in today's market. The future of publishing will require hard work and adaptability. New opportunities for revenue generation are always emerging. Connecting audience and storytelling is essential for success. Data-driven insights are key to monetization strategies. Chapters 00:00 Scaling Meaningful Relationships in Digital Media 03:00 Building Community in Sports Publishing 05:57 Innovations in AdTech and Publisher Collaboration 09:04 The Future of Publishing: Insights and Predictions

    12 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

The Advertising Forum was created to address popular adtech, media and advertising topics and foster innovation by bringing together industry thought leaders, innovators, and experts from AdTech, Agency, and Brand sectors. Recognizing the industry's thirst for knowledge, we empower the community through open discussions with industry experts. Each series will focus on a topic ranging from creative to yield with a goal of eliminating industry noise and getting straight to the topic. Together, we can create a brighter future for advertising. To learn more about The AdTech Forum contact us at www.theadvertisingforum.com