Signal & Noise

Signal & Noise

Join advertising industry veterans Brett House and Rio Longacre as they share regular updates and analysis on the changing world of data, tech, and AI. You’ll hear real talk from thought leaders across industries about the latest trends having the biggest impact on our jobs… and lives. Signal & Noise means no BS - only straight talk and first-hand insights from leading operators, creators, and founders.

Episodes

  1. Referee to Co-Pilot: Ad Verification in the Age of AI with Mark Zagorski, CEO of DoubleVerify

    2D AGO

    Referee to Co-Pilot: Ad Verification in the Age of AI with Mark Zagorski, CEO of DoubleVerify

    Ad verification is no longer just about blocking bad ads—it’s becoming a core input into how media is planned, optimized, and measured. In this episode of Signal & Noise, hosts Rio Longacre and Brett House sit down with Mark Zagorski, CEO of DoubleVerify, to unpack how verification is evolving in the age of AI.Mark brings a rare perspective, having led multiple AdTech companies across market cycles—from building and selling eXelate to Nielsen, to turning around Telaria, and now steering DoubleVerify as a public company. We discuss how that background shapes his philosophy as DV moves from being the industry’s “referee” to a more active co-pilot for marketers focused on outcomes.The conversation covers a wide range of timely topics: DV’s strong recent performance and what’s driving it, the shift from protection to performance and attention, and how acquisitions like Scibids AI and Rockerbox signal a tighter connection between media quality and business results. We also tackle some of the industry’s toughest debates—over-blocking and its impact on quality news, the role of AI in verification and optimization, CTV fraud and measurement gaps, sustainability and carbon signals, and how brands can invest confidently in credible journalism without sacrificing suitability.This is a candid, operator-level discussion about trust, transparency, and accountability in modern media—and what it really takes to connect quality signals to outcomes in a rapidly changing ecosystem.

    47 min
  2. JAN 20

    CES 2026: The Signal Clearly — Special Episode, Live from Las Vegas with Rio Longacre & Brett House

    From the show floor to the executive suites, CES 2026 wasn’t just another technology expo — it was a global turning point for AI, media, data, and the future of digital experiences. In this special edition of Signal & Noise, co-hosts Rio Longacre and Brett House bring you their top takeaways, on-the-ground interviews, and operator-first analysis straight from Las Vegas. In this finale episode of our CES series, Rio and Brett break down how AI has moved from feature to foundation — reshaping go-to-market strategies, content ecosystems, and the connective tissue between brands, agencies, and consumers. They dive into why AI isn’t just automating yesterday’s playbook but reinventing how decisions get made and value gets created. Along the way, you’ll hear candid field notes and executive voices from across the ecosystem — from founders and technologists to data leaders — illuminating what matters most heading into 2026 and beyond. Whether it’s AI infrastructure, data ontology, media activation, or the renewed energy of in-person connections after years of remote events, this episode captures the signal above the noise.Hit play to learn:- Why AI is now the operating system of modern business- How semantic layers and probabilistic data are reshaping media performance- What executives are prioritizing in a future where trust and context matter more than ever- Real talk on the return of deep human interaction in a digital worldThis is Signal & Noise CES 2026 — an operator’s view on what’s next. Tune in.

    1h 17m
  3. AWS re:Invent 2025: Beyond the Hype—Agentic AI, Interoperability, and the Return of IRL

    JAN 16

    AWS re:Invent 2025: Beyond the Hype—Agentic AI, Interoperability, and the Return of IRL

    What actually mattered at AWS re:Invent 2025—once the keynotes ended and the hype faded? In this belated, boots-on-the-ground debrief from Las Vegas, Signal & Noise hosts Brett House and Rio Longacre break down the real signals from re:Invent 2025, drawing on executive conversations, daily floor recaps, and firsthand time with partners and practitioners across the ecosystem. Joined throughout by Credera's Alyssa Furth, the episode focuses less on announcements, and more on what’s actually changing inside modern data, marketing, and AI stacks. Across conversations with partners including Databricks, Tealium, Treasure Data, Claravine, and Jasper, a few themes came through loud and clear: Agentic AI is real now — moving from buzzword to builder toolkit with services like Nova, Bedrock, Transform, and MCP Interoperability matters more than ever — as brands struggle to connect fragmented MarTech and AdTech stacks without massive re-platforming Data foundations are non-negotiable — governance, consent, metadata, and taxonomy are still the gating factors for everything AI promises IRL is back — re:Invent proved that real relationships and in-person collaboration are accelerating progress faster than months of remote meetings ever could Rather than chasing shiny objects, this episode surfaces a more grounded truth: AI doesn’t replace fundamentals—it exposes where they’re broken. And the organizations making progress are the ones investing in connective tissue, not just new tools. If you’re navigating agentic AI, modern data stacks, or the future of marketing and analytics—and want to know what actually changed at re:Invent—this episode separates signal from noise. Enjoy!

    1h 8m

About

Join advertising industry veterans Brett House and Rio Longacre as they share regular updates and analysis on the changing world of data, tech, and AI. You’ll hear real talk from thought leaders across industries about the latest trends having the biggest impact on our jobs… and lives. Signal & Noise means no BS - only straight talk and first-hand insights from leading operators, creators, and founders.