The Marketing Architects

Marketing Architects
  • 4.7 (46)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Introducing a research-first podcast that builds revenue, not condos. Answer questions on the biggest marketing trends and news with discussions based in marketing, psychology and economics research. Along the way, learn about marketing accountability, category leadership, brand-building and much more. Featuring a team of experienced marketers whose blueprints for success are marketing strategies actually proven to work.

  1. 23h ago

    AI Didn’t Ruin Your Ads with Steve Babcock

    83% of ad executives now use AI in the creative process, up from 60% two years ago. But only 45% of young consumers feel positive about AI-made ads. Advertisers guess that number is 82%. This week, Elena and Angela are joined by Chief Creative Officer Steve Babcock to dig into that gap. Cost efficiency is now the top reason marketers reach for AI. It ranked fifth two years ago. Steve explains where AI slop really comes from, why TV punishes cut corners far more than social does, and what still has to stay human. Plus, why cutting production costs means improving the smallest line item on the page.  Topics covered:  [01:40] Why cost efficiency became AI's top-cited benefit  [04:00] Where AI slop comes from and the uncanny valley  [11:50] Should brands disclose when an ad was made with AI?  [15:00] How AI shows up in briefs, idea generation and pretesting  [22:15] Why TV is the least forgiving channel for AI creative  [27:30] The case for raising the creative ceiling, not lowering the price floor  [30:30] Steve's contrarian take on creating with AI    To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.    Resources:  2026 IAB and Sonata Insights Study: https://www.iab.com/insights/the-ai-gap-widens/   Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    AI Didn’t Ruin Your Ads with Steve Babcock

  2. 5d ago

    Nerd Alert: When to Admit Your Brand's Mistakes

    Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We’re breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use. In this episode, Elena and Rob look at why burying a mistake isn't always the right call. They learn how an honest flaw in a product's story can make it feel rare, one of a kind and worth paying more for. Plus, the two limits every marketer should know before trying it. Topics covered:    [02:05] "Made by Mistake: When Mistakes Increase Product Preference"  [03:15] The chocolate that people picked over cash  [04:05] Why a flaw made a drawing sell for more  [04:20] Intentionality bias and the appeal of the improbable  [04:45] Mistakes only pay off when you're already skilled  [06:00] Fun products versus function, and the $6 eBay premium    To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.    Resources:  Reich, T., Kupor, D. M., & Smith, R. K. (2018). Made by mistake: When mistakes increase product preference. Journal of Consumer Research, 44(5), 1085–1103. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucx089    Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Nerd Alert: When to Admit Your Brand's Mistakes

  3. Sep 8

    Betting on the Long with Aaron Pelander, Chief Brand Officer, GOVX

    The IPA analyzed nearly 1,000 campaigns and found a 60/40 split between brand and performance marketing drives the strongest long-term growth. GOVX tested that research and broke free of a plateau. This week, Elena, Angela, and Rob talk with Aaron Pelander, Chief Brand Officer at GOVX, the largest online retailer serving the US military and first responder community. Aaron shares how GOVX moved from a performance-only mindset to a balanced brand strategy. He breaks down the leading indicators his team tracks, from share of search to direct traffic. Marketers on a plateau will get a real plan for building brand strength.  Topics covered:  [04:00] GOVX marketing before the plateau hit  [07:00] What clicked after reading The Long and the Short of It  [09:00] Splitting budget into member and brand marketing  [14:00] Leading indicators like share of search and direct traffic  [21:00] Earning executive buy-in for TV and sponsorships  [33:00] Aaron's advice for brands stuck on a plateau  [34:00] Why precise attribution is overrated  To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.    Resources:  2013 IPA Report: https://ipa.co.uk/knowledge/publications-reports/the-long-and-the-short-of-it-balancing-short-and-long-term-marketing-strategies/ GOVX Website: https://www.govx.com/ Aaron Pelander’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronpelander/ Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Betting on the Long with Aaron Pelander, Chief Brand Officer, GOVX

  4. Sep 3

    Nerd Alert: Does a Family Name Make People Trust Your Brand?

    Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We’re breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use. In this episode, Elena and Rob explore why family-owned branding builds consumer trust. They dig into new research testing whether a family name on the label actually changes how people feel about a brand, and which categories benefit most. Topics covered:    [02:00] "I Vouch for It with My Name"  [00:35] Why a family name feels like an emotional shortcut  [03:00] Testing the same cheese ad with two different backstories  [04:00] How sincerity turns into brand credibility  [05:35] Which categories benefit most from family ownership  [07:00] Takeaways for marketers, plus real brand examples    To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.    Resources:  Schramm, H., & Zinser, A. (2025). "I vouch for it with my name." The influence of brand perception of family businesses on their credibility and the purchase intention of consumers. Frontiers in Communication, 10, Article 1607511. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2025.1607511    Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Nerd Alert: Does a Family Name Make People Trust Your Brand?

  5. Sep 1

    The World Cup Just Redefined Sports Advertising

    FIFA's 2026 World Cup pulled in more than $9 billion in tournament revenue. A single rule change around new hydration breaks is expected to net Fox at least $250 million in ad revenue alone. This week, Elena, Angela, and Rob break down what the World Cup's record-breaking business means for marketers investing in live sports. They dig into whether mega events can crowd out regular advertisers, if sponsorships or TV spots make the smarter sports buy, and how brands of any size can get into the game without overspending. Plus, hear creative tips for keeping viewers engaged when 71% of fans admit their attention is split during the game. Topics covered:  [00:00] The record-breaking business of the 2026 World Cup  [03:00] Why the "Americanization" backlash didn't dent demand  [08:00] How mega events affect TV pricing for other advertisers  [10:00] Why live sports still build a brand's memory structures  [14:00] Making creative work for second-screen viewers  [15:00] Sponsorships vs. TV spots: which buy works best    To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.    Resources:  2026 SportsPro Article: https://www.sportspro.com/analysis/sponsorship-marketing/fifa-world-cup-2026-business-revenue-ticketing-broadcast-sponsorship/ 2026 WARC Article: FIFA World Cup: https://www.warc.com/en/article/almost-nine-in-ten-fans-plan-to-engage-with-world-cup-games-across-channels-d6e7955af51540c791c76b231ac1eeca 2026 WARC Article: World Cup Engagement: https://www.warc.com/en/article/almost-nine-in-ten-fans-plan-to-engage-with-world-cup-games-across-channels-d6e7955af51540c791c76b231ac1eeca   Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

  6. Aug 27

    Nerd Alert: Outrage Sells

    Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We’re breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use. In this episode, Elena and Rob explore how anger changes the way people shop. They break down new research showing angry buyers move faster, skip the safe middle option, and end up more satisfied with what they choose. Topics covered:    [02:00] "The Unique Role of Anger Among Negative Emotions in Goal-Directed Decision Making"  [03:00] Does anger lead to better or worse buying choices?  [04:00] The compromise effect and the safe middle option  [05:00] Angry shoppers click less and decide faster  [06:00] Are angry buyers happier with their choices?  [07:00] Turning anger appeals into action  [08:00] How brands can use a "villain" to tap into emotion    To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.    Resources:  Khan, U., DePaoli, A., & Maimaran, M. (2019). The unique role of anger among negative emotions in goal-directed decision making. Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 4(1), 64–76. https://doi.org/10.1086/701028    Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Nerd Alert: Outrage Sells

  7. Aug 25

    How to be a Confident Marketer with Daniel Sills and Dagmara Szulce

    B2B marketer confidence jumped this year. But when researchers asked finance leaders the same questions, only 12% said marketing's financial impact holds up under pressure. This week, Elena and Rob talk with Daniel Sills of NewtonX and Dagmara Szulce of the ANA about their new Confident B2B Marketer study. They unpack why marketer confidence is rising, and why finance and revenue leaders aren't yet convinced. The group breaks down the vocabulary gap driving that disconnect, and how confident marketers grew brand investment in a year when most companies cut back. Topics covered:  [03:00] Key findings from the Confident B2B Marketer study  [04:00] What's driving marketer confidence up this year  [09:00] The vocabulary gap between marketing and finance  [12:00] How confident marketers grew brand budgets under pressure  [18:00] Marketing to complex buying groups and AI search  [22:00] Using AI without losing your data foundation  [26:00] The one move to make before your next budget cycle  To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.  Resources:  2025 ANA and NewtonX Confident B2B Marketer Study: https://www.newtonx.com/article/confident-b2b-marketer-2026/ Daniel Sills’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielpsills/ Dagmara Szulce’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dagmaraszulce/ NewtonX Website: https://www.newtonx.com/work-with-us/?utm_campaign=50131755-PER-PC-General-Podcast-Campaign-All-2026-01-01&utm_source=Podcast&utm_medium=Marketing%20Architects ANA Website: https://www.ana.net/   Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    How to be a Confident Marketer with Daniel Sills and Dagmara Szulce

  8. Aug 20

    Nerd Alert: Betting Small on Everything

    Welcome to Nerd Alert, a series of special episodes bridging the gap between marketing academia and practitioners. We’re breaking down highly involved, complex research into plain language and takeaways any marketer can use. In this episode, Elena and Rob dig into new data showing most Fortune 500 ads run on next to nothing, and why the real problem isn't budget size. It's confidence in the ideas worth backing. Topics covered:    [02:32] "Fewer, Bigger, Longer, Better" — Creative X's new ad spend study  [03:47] 93% of ads run on less than $10,000  [05:02] Production is up 29%, but spend per ad is down 15%  [07:02] Small tests eat 30% of budget, top ads get just 18%  [08:02] Why this is a confidence problem, not a budget problem  [08:32] What marketers should do with the data  To learn more, visit marketingarchitects.com/podcast or subscribe to our newsletter at marketingarchitects.com/newsletter.    Resources:  WARC. (2026, June 22). Most big-brand ads run on digital platforms have tiny budgets. WARC. https://www.warc.com/en/feed/most-big-brand-ads-run-on-digital-platforms-have-tiny-budgets-16a01f05c2ba4a1bbdc515099bb8acb2    Get more research-backed marketing strategies by subscribing to The Marketing Architects on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

    Nerd Alert: Betting Small on Everything
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4.7
out of 5
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About

Introducing a research-first podcast that builds revenue, not condos. Answer questions on the biggest marketing trends and news with discussions based in marketing, psychology and economics research. Along the way, learn about marketing accountability, category leadership, brand-building and much more. Featuring a team of experienced marketers whose blueprints for success are marketing strategies actually proven to work.

Information

  • Creator
    Marketing Architects
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    309
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Marketing Architects
  • Show Website
    The Marketing Architects

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