Adspeak

Adweek Podcast Network
  • 4.7 (153)
  • 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. 3H AGO

    From Hooters to Building a Health Empire: Rewriting the Wellness Playbook with Kat Cole

    Recorded on the sidelines of Brandweek, this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK features Ryan Joe in conversation with AG1 CEO Kat Cole. Kat shares her journey from a Hooters hostess to leading a global wellness brand, unpacking how resilience and intuition shape bold leadership decisions. She explains AG1’s evolution from a single-product DTC business to a multi-product, multi-channel brand, including its first global “Good Morning Moon” campaign created in-house with Rick Rubin. Cole also reveals why AG1 redirected marketing spend into $20M of clinical research, upgraded its core formula, and positioned a new sleep product to compete with Netflix, not supplements. What You'll Learn: How to involve your CEO in creative development from concept to launchWhy rebranding at $160M in revenue is worth the riskThe power of listening to customers closest to the transactionHow to redirect marketing spend toward clinical credibility in saturated categoriesWhy reformulating a bestselling product is a calculated courage playThe importance of knowing who you actually compete against About the Guest: Kat Cole is Chief Executive Officer of AG1, the leading daily health drink brand. With a distinctive career trajectory spanning restaurant franchising, brand turnarounds, and large-scale portfolio management at Focus Brands (overseeing $4B+ in annual revenue across nine brands), Kat brings operational excellence and entrepreneurial thinking to the health and wellness space. She transformed Cinnabon from a $300 million struggling brand to over $1 billion in revenue within two years and spearheaded the evolution of Carvel, Jamba Juice, and other iconic franchises. Guest Resources:  Kat Cole on LinkedInAG 1 Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min

  2. 6D AGO

    Trust Yourself First: Bozoma Saint John on Leading Without Permission

    What if the most powerful career advice is to stop listening to everyone else? In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, recorded live at Brandweek, host Ryan Joe sits down with marketing powerhouse Bozoma Saint John to unpack how intuition and not approval has guided her career across Apple, Uber, Netflix, and beyond. Bozoma shares why traditional mentorship is overrated, how fear often disguises itself as “good advice,” and what it really takes to assert authority in rigid corporate environments. From building intuition through everyday decisions to planning intentional pivots, this conversation is a masterclass in leading authentically and confidently on your own terms. What You'll Learn: How to Assert Authority in Established Organizations Why Traditional Mentorship and Champions Are OverratedThe Practice Framework for Building Unshakeable IntuitionHow to Distinguish Fear-Based Advice from IntuitionThe Strategic Planning Method for Pivoting.How Mentoring Reveals Leadership Blind Spots About the Guest: Bozoma Saint John is the Creator and CEO of Eve by Boz, a culturally rooted hair and hair care brand celebrating Black women and women of color, and a Hall of Fame–inducted marketing executive, author, and unapologetic badass. She built an iconic career at SpikeDDB, PepsiCo, Apple, Uber, Endeavor, and Netflix, where she served as Global CMO. Bozoma is the author of The Urgent Life, a Harvard Business School case study subject, and creator of leadership programs including The Anatomy of a Badass. She serves on multiple boards, is an Ambassador for the African Diaspora to Ghana, and proudly considers motherhood her greatest achievement. Guest Resources:  Bozoma Saint John on LinkedInEve by Boz Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min

  3. JAN 6

    How Cultural Relevance Builds Billion-Dollar Brands with Elizabeth Banks

    Disrupting a legacy category takes more than buzz; it takes clarity, conviction, and consumer empathy. In this Adspeak by ADWEEK episode, host Zoë Ruderman speaks with Elizabeth Banks and Marian Leitner-Waldman about how Archer Roose Wines reimagined the wine industry by solving real consumer problems, embracing humor, and refusing growth that didn’t align with their brand voice. From treating product launches like entertainment premieres to choosing partnerships that show up in real-life moments of celebration, the conversation unpacks how authentic disruption, cultural relevance, and disciplined decision-making can build sustainable, billion-dollar brands without chasing viral hype. What You'll Learn: How to identify category disruption opportunities by solving real consumer problemsWhy accessibility and humor are competitive weapons in traditional categoriesThe velocity-over-volume framework for sustainable growthHow to apply entertainment industry playbooks to consumer brandsThe partnership strategy for innovation adoptionHow to evaluate partnership fit using cultural zeitgeist alignment About the Guest: Elizabeth Banks is an award-winning actor, director, producer, and entrepreneur, born Elizabeth Mitchell in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she trained at the American Conservatory Theater before building her career in theatre, television, and film. Banks broke out in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man and went on to star in hits including The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Pitch Perfect, and The Hunger Games, earning Emmy nominations for her role on 30 Rock. Known for her wit and range, she also co-founded Archer Roose Wines, bringing the same creative disruption to consumer brands as she has to Hollywood. Guest Resources:  Elizabeth Banks on IMDb Archer Roose Wines Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min

  4. 12/02/2025

    Scale or Stale? Omnicom’s Big Bet on the Future

    As Omnicom reveals its new structure after completing its $13 billion acquisition of IPG, is it building the modern holdco of the future or repeating an old playbook? On this episode of Adspeak, we explore the deal’s consolidation of brands, cuts in staffing, and push into data and buying power. Ibotta Founder & CEO, Bryan Leach joins Ryan at the end of this episode to discuss why “performance” and “measurement” are the words on every brand marketer’s mind right now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  5. 11/25/2025

    Inside Houseplant’s Growth Play

    Houseplant CEO and co-founder Mikey Mohr details how he and Seth Rogen used ceramics and home goods to build trust before entering the THC market. He explains the evolution from ashtrays to CPG and what it takes to survive a volatile category. Also, Treasure Data CMO Karen Wood joins Ryan in a mid-episode sidebar to discuss the biggest opportunities and challenges for companies leaning into autonomous hyper-relevant AI. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    32 min

  6. 11/18/2025

    Amazon’s Next Ad War

    Amazon spent this year making an aggressive bid for the ad industry’s future, and the ripple effects were felt across agencies, tech vendors, and rival platforms. Ryan Joe and Adweek Retail & Commerce editor Kathryn Lundstrom break down Amazon's new tech that could challenge Meta, Google, and The Trade Desk for 2026 budgets. They also unpack why buyers were buzzing, why some partners were sweating, and why Amazon’s deeper push into the open internet and premium video may reshape the entire media landscape. ADWEEK shifts into high gear this November as we head to Las Vegas during formula racing season. Sports marketing has never been bigger, and we’re bringing together the industry leaders who are in the fast lane to brand growth and peak consumer engagement. Register now: http://bit.ly/3JrXXEH Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    27 min

  7. 11/11/2025

    Warner Bros. Discovery's M&A Madness

    All eyes in the media world are on Warner Bros. Discovery's decision to hang up a "for-sale" sign, with a potential deal rippling across the media space. Lauren Johnson and Bill Bradley unpack the media giant's move and why Paramount may be the big winner. ADWEEK shifts into high gear this November as we head to Las Vegas during formula racing season. Sports marketing has never been bigger, and we’re bringing together the industry leaders who are in the fast lane to brand growth and peak consumer engagement. Register now: http://bit.ly/3JrXXEH Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    22 min

  8. 11/04/2025

    Hot Santa vs. The Grinch

    Target’s Hot Santa is back, and Walmart’s going full Dr. Seuss. Ryan Joe and Brittaney Kiefer unpack two wildly different holiday ad strategies and what they reveal about each retailer’s fortunes heading into the season. ADWEEK shifts into high gear this November as we head to Las Vegas during formula racing season. Sports marketing has never been bigger, and we’re bringing together the industry leaders who are in the fast lane to brand growth and peak consumer engagement. Register now: http://bit.ly/3JrXXEH Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    20 min
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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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