Digital Horizons

James Walker & Brian Hastings
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Welcome to Digital Horizons, where today's strategies meet tomorrow's innovations in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing. Dive deep with industry trailblazers and thought leaders as we uncover what's driving success right now and forecast the trends that will shape the digital landscape in the years to come. In each episode, we'll decode the tactics, tools, and techniques that are transforming the way businesses connect with their audience, ensuring that you stay ahead of the curve. From social media shifts to the newest SEO advancements, e-commerce innovations to content marketing insights, Digital Horizons is your essential guide to the future of online marketing. Join us on this journey, and let's shape the future of digital, together. Subscribe now, and never let the digital future catch you by surprise.

  1. 11/04/2025

    Ben Stiller’s Throwback Soda Launch That Nails Branding And Audience Fit

    A throwback soda with a modern brain? We dive into a new brand launch tied to Ben Stiller and explore why it dodges the usual celebrity-brand traps. Instead of another tequila or gin, this play embraces classic soda cues—natural ingredients, low sugar, and a fully realized retro identity that looks like it fell out of a 1980s corner store ad. The result feels intentional rather than opportunistic, and it opens a lane that most celebrity ventures ignore. We break down the decisions that matter: why leading with design beats shouting health claims, how a vintage logo and filmic launch video build instant trust, and where humor helps without turning the can into a billboard for a famous face. The product story comes through clean—three flavors, including a polarizing-but-perfect root beer—and the positioning is exact: adults over 30 who want a better mixer or a tasteful alternative to the usual zero-cal staples. If you care about brand craft, you’ll hear how typography, color, and naming carry more weight than any influencer shoutout. We also compare this move with the broader landscape of celebrity-led brands, from Reynolds’ content-native plays to the flood of spirits labels, and explain why credibility lives in the details. When design coherence meets a clear audience and a simple promise—good soda, done right—you can feel quality before the first sip. Curious whether nostalgia can power repeat purchase, not just first-click novelty? Press play, then tell us what would make you try a can. If this breakdown helps you spot smarter brand plays, follow the show, share it with a friend who obsesses over packaging, and leave a quick review to help others find us. The Digital Horizons Podcast is hosted by: James Walker - Managing Director WHD Brian Hastings - Managing Director Nous

    5 min

  2. 10/29/2025

    How OpenAI’s Ad Platform Could Reshape Marketing Strategy Overnight

    We unpack OpenAI’s move toward an ad platform inside ChatGPT and what Atlas on Mac means for how people browse, search, and buy. We share why trust, memory, and hyper personalization could reshape ad strategy and where agencies can still add an edge. • mission to help marketers use AI tools, tactics, and news • OpenAI hiring for ads and what it signals • Atlas browser setup experience and default switch • ad formats likely mirroring SEM with clear labels • evolution from mass media to conversational intent • trust-driven recommendations and faster buying • privacy tradeoffs with memories and personalization • agency role shifting from platform ops to strategy • risks of platform defaults and wasted spend • early adopter advantage with cheaper CPMs • test budgets and measurement for quality outcomes If you're a brand marketer or a digital agency or an agency of any kind, keep an eye out for the launch of the OpenAI advertising model and make sure you've got a test budget set aside to be on the platform early and try to extract as much value out of being an early adopter as possible The Digital Horizons Podcast is hosted by: James Walker - Managing Director WHD Brian Hastings - Managing Director Nous

    17 min

  3. 10/25/2025

    Spreadsheet God Mode With AI

    Ever wish you could stop wrestling with formulas and just tell your spreadsheet what you need? We walk through how Gemini inside Google Sheets—and a layer of voice control with Super Whisper—turned complex budgeting and profitability analysis into a fast, conversational workflow. No screenshots, no hunting for VLOOKUP syntax, no bouncing between tabs. Just clear requests, instant structure, and explanations that make the model a true collaborator instead of a black box. We start with the pain: years of copy-pasting, brittle dashboards, and stalled projects. Then we show the shift to a live, guided build where we ask for rolling revenue, service-line profitability, and client reporting, and watch Gemini assemble the logic. Super Whisper cleans up our speech so we can think out loud, move faster than typing, and reduce friction to near zero. The result isn’t a toy; it’s a working control panel that helps us make decisions on pricing, staffing, and priorities without waiting on someone else’s queue. From there we zoom out. As Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Claude’s new data analysis expand, the local “AI implementation” layer gets thinner. Strategy still matters—deciding what to measure and why—but stitching apps and wrangling formulas moves into DIY territory for founders and operators. We compare when to stay in Sheets for a living dashboard versus when Claude can ingest exports and produce narrative reports with charts that rival consulting decks. We also talk about the next frontier: asking the model to write formulas directly into cells, maintaining a changelog, and building guardrails like validation rules and data dictionaries for trust and auditability. If you’re ready to turn data into a conversation, this one lays out the exact steps, tools, and mindset shifts to get there. Subscribe, share this with a teammate who lives in spreadsheets, and leave a review telling us the first workflow you’ll rebuild with AI. The Digital Horizons Podcast is hosted by: James Walker - Managing Director WHD Brian Hastings - Managing Director Nous

    8 min

  4. 10/22/2025

    Zero-Click Shopping Comes To ChatGPT

    We break down how ChatGPT’s instant checkout compresses research and purchase into a single flow and what that means for Google Shopping, merchants, and the next wave of SEO. We share real buying journeys, explore integrations with Shopify, Etsy, and Stripe, and forecast how ads and trust will evolve inside AI. • Zero‑click commerce and compressed purchase journeys • OpenAI’s instant checkout and product cards with images • Shopify, Etsy, and Stripe integrations for fast onboarding • Merchant fees on the platform side, no user surcharge • Google Shopping pressure and PLA shifts into AI summaries • Real example of buying without using Google • The rise of AI‑native SEO and answer equity • Possible ads inside AI results and trust implications • How to prepare feeds, content, and measurement Thanks for watching The Digital Horizons Podcast is hosted by: James Walker - Managing Director WHD Brian Hastings - Managing Director Nous

    9 min

  5. 10/19/2025

    Building A Content Locker For Meta’s Andromeda Update

    We break down Meta’s Andromeda shift from manual targeting to creative-led delivery and share a practical framework for building a content locker that the algorithm can use to match the right message to the right person. We map ten content buckets to the buyer journey and explain how to plan, produce, and optimise within ad limits. • Andromeda’s move from targeting to content-led delivery • The ten content buckets and why they matter • How to plan a content locker across formats • Balancing quick wins with complex productions • Mapping ads to the messy path to purchase • Using UGC, testimonials, and confidence ads • When trend content fits the brand and when it doesn’t • Turning objections into high-performing creatives • Working around ad count limits and refreshing cadence • Next steps on optimisation and measurement Thanks for watching today. Really excited about these new Andromeda updates and hope that the information we're bringing is going to help you get better results with your Meta Ads campaigns. The Digital Horizons Podcast is hosted by: James Walker - Managing Director WHD Brian Hastings - Managing Director Nous

    14 min

  6. 10/16/2025

    Why 95% of AI Projects Are Failing (and What’s Actually Working)

    The AI revolution isn't playing out as expected. While tech headlines herald the transformative potential of artificial intelligence for business, a surprising reality is emerging: 95% of enterprise-level AI implementations have failed to deliver financial returns within six months, according to recent MIT research. Meanwhile, small to medium enterprises are quietly succeeding where giants stumble. Between 30-40% of SMEs report achieving meaningful cost efficiencies from their AI investments. What explains this counterintuitive outcome? The answer lies in approach and execution. Large organizations typically pursue custom-built solutions requiring significant investment and organizational change, while smaller businesses leverage ready-made tools that solve specific problems immediately. The most successful implementations aren't replacing creative functions but optimizing repetitive tasks—automating finance operations, streamlining data entry, and reducing time spent on menial work. This pattern suggests today's AI is best suited for process optimization rather than completely replacing specialized human roles. We've seen this reality check play out at major companies like Commonwealth Bank, where an AI call center implementation initially backfired, increasing call volumes and necessitating the rehiring of human staff. Looking ahead, AI implementation is becoming increasingly accessible through platforms like N8N and Make.com, which create low-code environments where even non-technical users can build powerful automations. This democratization will likely accelerate adoption among smaller businesses that can quickly implement and iterate without massive investments. However, as businesses grow more dependent on these AI platforms, we should expect subscription costs to rise significantly—following the pattern of other essential business tools. What repetitive processes in your business could benefit from AI automation today? The opportunity is clear: start small, focus on specific pain points, and leverage existing solutions rather than reinventing the wheel. The Digital Horizons Podcast is hosted by: James Walker - Managing Director WHD Brian Hastings - Managing Director Nous

    7 min

  7. 09/11/2025

    AI Shopping: How GPT Changed My Buying Process Forever

    Remember when "Google it" was the automatic response to any purchasing decision? Those days might be numbered. We're witnessing a fundamental shift in consumer behavior that could reshape digital marketing forever. I recently bought a washing machine without using Google once—not for research, price comparison, or even finding the store. Instead, I turned to ChatGPT, which recommended models, found the best prices in Australia, and even searched for coupon codes. I completed the entire purchase journey without encountering a single Google ad or search result. This wasn't a conscious choice to avoid Google; it simply felt like the most efficient path. This pattern extends beyond personal purchases into business decisions too. When evaluating technologies like digital asset management platforms, AI provides comprehensive comparisons without the need to visit multiple websites or wade through marketing fluff and questionable reviews. The implications for advertisers are enormous—where will they place ads if consumers bypass traditional search engines? Will "Large Language Model Optimization" replace SEO as companies adapt to having their products recommended by AI systems? Could ChatGPT introduce its own advertising platform? As our behaviors continue evolving across platforms like Meta and TikTok (which some of us still regularly delete to reclaim our attention spans), the digital marketing landscape faces unprecedented disruption. The question isn't just how consumers will adapt to AI tools, but how advertising platforms will transform to reach us in this new paradigm. What do your AI-assisted purchasing journeys look like? We'd love to hear how your habits are changing too. The Digital Horizons Podcast is hosted by: James Walker - Managing Director WHD Brian Hastings - Managing Director Nous

    4 min

  8. 09/08/2025

    Good Genes, Great Dancing: The Battle of Viral Denim Campaigns

    The fashion advertising landscape has been dramatically shaken by two competing denim campaigns that have captivated audiences worldwide. Our latest episode dives deep into this unexpected cultural moment, examining how American Eagle and Gap have approached selling essentially the same product with wildly different strategies—both achieving remarkable success. American Eagle's controversial campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney centered around a clever "good genes" wordplay that sparked heated debates across social platforms. Despite (or perhaps because of) the controversy surrounding a blue-eyed blonde spokesperson making this particular joke, American Eagle saw sales surge by an impressive 10% immediately following the campaign launch. This raises fascinating questions about whether controversy might sometimes be a strategic advantage rather than a liability. Meanwhile, Gap countered with their signature high-production music video approach featuring Cat's Eye performing to Kelis's "Milkshake" with mesmerizing choreography. The ad has proven so captivating that shoppers are literally stopping in their tracks at mall entrances to watch—a remarkable achievement in our attention-scarce world. What makes this particularly noteworthy is how it challenges current marketing wisdom. While platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels have pushed brands toward raw, authentic-feeling content, Gap's polished production demonstrates that exceptionally executed creative can still outperform the homemade aesthetic when it delivers something influencers simply cannot replicate from their bedrooms. Have you noticed these campaigns while scrolling? We'd love to hear which approach resonated more with you and why. Subscribe to Digital Horizons for more analysis of the trends reshaping marketing in real-time, and share your thoughts with us on social media! The Digital Horizons Podcast is hosted by: James Walker - Managing Director WHD Brian Hastings - Managing Director Nous

    6 min
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About

Welcome to Digital Horizons, where today's strategies meet tomorrow's innovations in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing. Dive deep with industry trailblazers and thought leaders as we uncover what's driving success right now and forecast the trends that will shape the digital landscape in the years to come. In each episode, we'll decode the tactics, tools, and techniques that are transforming the way businesses connect with their audience, ensuring that you stay ahead of the curve. From social media shifts to the newest SEO advancements, e-commerce innovations to content marketing insights, Digital Horizons is your essential guide to the future of online marketing. Join us on this journey, and let's shape the future of digital, together. Subscribe now, and never let the digital future catch you by surprise.

Information

  • Creator
    James Walker & Brian Hastings
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    74
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Digital Horizons
  • Show Website
    Digital Horizons