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. 20H AGO

    How Experiential Retail Drives Loyalty at a Heritage Brand with David Lafitte

    In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Mark Stenberg speaks with David Lafitte, President and CEO at Tecovas, about scaling a heritage brand without losing authenticity. David explains how the brand expands into new markets while staying rooted in Western storytelling, invests in experiential retail to build loyalty, and balances performance marketing with long-term brand building. He highlights the importance of using cultural trends as tailwinds, not as a core strategy, while maintaining craft quality as a core differentiator. The conversation also explores AI’s role in operations, not creativity, and how an omnichannel approach, including digital, retail, and wholesale, drives sustainable growth for modern DTC brands. What You'll Learn: How to thread the authenticity needle when expanding into non-traditional marketsWhy full-funnel marketing outperforms lower-funnel strategies for premium products The radical hospitality framework for creating defensible retail experiencesHow to leverage cultural momentum without chasing trendsWhy AI should enhance operations, not replace authentic creative contentThe omnichannel growth playbook for DTC brands About the Guest: David Lafitte is the President and CEO of Tecovas, a leading and heritage western wear retailer. David is recognised for his expertise in scaling authentic heritage brands while maintaining cultural integrity in competitive markets. With a background in brand strategy and retail expansion, he has successfully transformed Tecovas from a digitally native direct-to-consumer company into an omnichannel powerhouse with 56 locations across 24 states, wholesale partnerships, and a distinctive retail experience centered on "radical hospitality." Guest Resources:  David Lafitte on LinkedInTecovas Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    17 min

  2. MAR 31

    How CorePower Yoga Turned Fitness Into a Movement with Sarah Choi

    In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Alison Weisbrott, Executive Editor at ADWEEK, speaks with Sarah Choi, Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer at CorePower Yoga. Sarah shares how CorePower Yoga is redefining modern wellness, and how the brand reframes yoga as a physically intensive, results-driven workout grounded in mindfulness, while scaling community through 5,000+ teacher ambassadors. The conversation explores blending digital tools with in-studio experiences, using science-backed mental health research to strengthen brand credibility, and building loyalty through inclusive, Gen Z-focused strategies. It’s a practical look at turning a fitness brand into a community-led movement that extends far beyond the mat. What You'll Learn: How to drive conversion through free trial funnelingWhy teacher spotlighting outperforms traditional influencer partnershipsThe dual-role technology strategy that strengthens the in-studio communityHow to ground wellness claims in Harvard-backed research for competitive positioningThe Gen Z wellness opportunity beyond the fitness categoryHow to balance product expansion while maintaining brand clarity About the Guest: Sarah Choi is Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer at CorePower Yoga, where she leads the brand's strategic initiatives in wellness marketing and consumer engagement. With expertise in omnichannel marketing, brand accessibility, and community-driven loyalty programs, Choi has pioneered CorePower's evolution from traditional yoga positioning to an intensively physical, science-backed wellness experience. Guest Resources:  Sarah Choi on LinkedInCorePower Yoga Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    19 min

  3. MAR 24

    The Authenticity Playbook in Personal Branding: Featuring Mina Park & Alyson Stoner

    In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, Mina Park, CEO and co-founder of Crispy Chicken Social Media Agency, and Alyson Stoner, Founder and CEO at Movement Genius, explore how celebrities can balance authenticity with strategy on social media. They discuss calculated transparency, using trends without losing originality, and building values-driven narratives that outlast algorithms. The conversation also highlights team-based content creation, thoughtful brand partnerships, and structuring content to deepen audience connection. Together, they reveal how intentional storytelling, not constant virality, is key to creating sustainable, meaningful personal brands in today's fast-moving digital landscape and culture shifts. What You'll Learn: How to reframe "authenticity" as calculated transparencyThe anti-marketing marketing approach.How to inject originality into viral trends without sacrificing reachThe grid management strategy for audience developmentWhy celebrity social media requires a team-based infrastructure, not solo management The vetting framework for brand partnershipsAbout the Guests: Mina Park is the CEO of Crispy Chicken Social Media Agency, a social-first agency specializing in organic content creation for brands, entertainment studios, and talent accounts. With over five years of experience managing high-profile celebrity social media presence, including clients like Chelsea Handler and Awkwafina, Mina brings strategic expertise in building authentic digital narratives. Alyson Stoner is a certified mental health practitioner and author who brings 25 years of entertainment industry experience to her work at the intersection of child safety, mental health, and media. As a New York Times bestselling author and long-term collaborator with Crispy Chicken, Alyson provides insights into navigating brand collaborations with integrity while maintaining an authentic public presence. Guest Resources:  Mina Park on LinkedInCrispy Chicken Social Media Agency WebsiteAlyson Stoner on LinkedInMovement Genius Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min

  4. MAR 17

    Reinventing a 77-Year-Old Brand: NASCAR’s Modern Playbook with Tim Clark and Jimmie Johnson

    In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Alison Weissbrot speaks with Tim Clark, EVP and Chief Brand Officer at NASCAR, and Jimmie Johnson, seven-time champion, about how NASCAR is reinventing itself for a fragmented media landscape. They explore staging races in unconventional venues, expanding through gaming and digital platforms, and turning motorsport into a broader lifestyle brand. The conversation highlights how legacy organizations can evolve culturally, reshape audience perception, and stay authentic while engaging new generations of fans. What You'll Learn: How to overcome the "barrier to entry" problem in motorsports The critical difference between brand awareness and brand perceptionWhy authentic brand integration generates 10x more loyalty than logo placementHow to use gaming and simulation as legitimate talent pipelines The Formula 1 brand playbook lesson for legacy sports How to build athlete-driven brands that transcend competition About the GuestsTim Clark is the Chief Brand Officer at NASCAR, leading the organization's strategic positioning and modernization efforts. With expertise in brand perception management and legacy brand transformation, Clark oversees NASCAR's expansion into new markets, digital platforms, and lifestyle categories. Jimmie Johnson is a seven-time NASCAR champion and owner of Legacy Motor Club, bringing both competitive racing expertise and entrepreneurial business acumen to the motorsports industry. With a career spanning two decades as a professional driver and recent expansion into team ownership and brand building, Johnson represents the modern athlete-entrepreneur model. Guest Resources: Tim Clark on LinkedInJimmie Johnson on LinkedInNASCAR Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min

  5. MAR 10

    Jeff Greenspoon of Kantar on Brand Power

    This week on Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Will Lee speaks with Jeff Greenspoon, CEO of The Americas at Kantar, on the sidelines of BrandWeek, about why brand tension fuels growth. From meaningfulness versus differentiation to short-term performance versus long-term investment, Jeff shares Kantar’s framework for predicting brand success. With examples like Nespresso and Barbie, he explains how CMOs protect their North Star while experimenting boldly, and why sustained brand investment drives stronger ROI, resilience, and lasting enterprise value. What You'll Learn: The "Meaningful and Different" FrameworkHow to Protect Your Brand's North Star While ExperimentingWhy Cutting Brand Spend During Budget Constraints Sacrifices 3-5 Years of GrowthThe Four-to-One ROI Ratio of Brand SalienceNespresso and Barbie as Case Studies in Navigating Competing Tensions)How to Translate Brand Metrics into CFO Language in B2B Organizations About the Guest and Host: Jeff Greenspoon is CEO of The Americas at Kantar, a global leader in brand measurement and marketing effectiveness backed by 50 years of proprietary research. Previously with Dentsu, he brings deep expertise in brand strategy and marketing transformation. Jeff partners with organisations to navigate the tensions between consistency and innovation, and short-term performance and long-term growth, helping brands unlock sustainable, measurable impact. Will Lee is CEO of ADWEEK, the leading media platform serving the marketing and advertising industry. Previously, he was Chief Operating Officer of NPR, where he oversaw strategy, transformation, and growth across its national network of member stations. He has also led digital businesses for PEOPLE, Entertainment Weekly, Sports Illustrated, and The Hollywood Reporter. With two decades in content, audience growth, and brand development, Will is based in New York City with his family. Guest Resources:  Jeff Greenspoon on LinkedInKantar Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 min

  6. MAR 5

    The Trust Advantage in a Misinformation Era: Dr. Sanjay Gupta

    In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, recorded live at Brandweek, Dr. Sanjay Gupta sits down with Brianna Burtman to explore how trusted communication becomes a competitive advantage. Gupta reflects on 25 years at CNN, sharing how to translate complex medical information into accessible, actionable knowledge. The conversation examines authentic storytelling, combating misinformation without amplifying it, and using multi-platform formats intentionally to deepen audience trust and create lasting cultural impact in a fragmented media landscape. What You'll Learn: How to distill complex medical information into actionable insightsWhy isolation is your audience's biggest health threat, and how to make it relatableThe difference between information and knowledge in health storytellingHow to maintain trust when audiences already know the story before you report it The strategic approach to combating misinformation without playing whack-a-moleWhy multi-platform storytelling requires intentional format selection About the Guests: Dr. Sanjay Gupta is Chief Medical Correspondent at CNN and a practicing neurosurgeon, bringing 25 years of experience translating complex health and medical stories for public audiences. With a unique background spanning both clinical medicine and broadcast journalism, Dr. Gupta has covered major global health crises, conflicts, and natural disasters while simultaneously practicing medicine in crisis zones, including Haiti, Iraq, and beyond. Brianna Burtman is currently the VP of CNN Digital Strategy and Network Partnerships at CNN, where she has worked since August 2008. Brianna holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Policy Studies, Economics, and Women's Studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, and a Master's degree in Public Administration from Baruch College. Guest Resources:  Dr. Sanjay Gupta at CNN Brianna Burtman on LinkedIn Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    23 min

  7. FEB 24

    Fandom Over Funnels: Marian Lee of Netflix on Culture-Led Brand Growth

    This week on Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Rebecca Stewart speaks with Netflix CMO Marian Lee about building culture-first marketing that fuels fandom and organic conversation. From flexible campaign planning to live events and immersive brand experiences, Lee shares how Netflix balances authentic partnerships, IP protection, and ad-supported growth, positioning the brand as a cultural force, not just a streaming platform. What You'll Learn: How to build a marketing strategy around culture, not campaignsThe "Flexibility-First" marketing framework Why authentic brand partnerships require custodianship of storytellingHow to translate digital fandom into measurable real-world experiences The dual-role advantage: buying media as a marketer teaches you how to sell it How to develop appointment viewing behavior for streaming platforms About the Guest: Marian Lee is Chief Marketing Officer at Netflix, appointed in 2022 after serving as VP of UCAN Marketing. She leads a global team driving culture-shaping campaigns that connect audiences worldwide. Previously, she was VP & Co-Head of Music at Spotify, spearheading artist marketing and partnerships. Her career spans Condé Nast, J.Crew and PwC. She holds a BA from Barnard College. Guest Resources:  Marian Lee on LinkedInNetflix Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    29 min

  8. FEB 17

    How Atlanta Became a Marketing, Music, and Sports Powerhouse

    In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Will Lee sits down with Tony Ressler, Co-founder and Executive Chairman of Ares Management Corporation, and Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, a Grammy-Winning Artist, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist, for a fast-moving conversation on culture, community, and the business mechanics behind Atlanta’s rise. What You'll Learn: How to identify and leverage your city's unique creative assetsWhy diversification across entertainment, tech, and philanthropy protects long-term brand valueHow to transform real estate into a brand catalystThe strategic importance of non-core revenue streams in sports venuesWhy community investment and brand building are inseparable business strategies About the Guests: Chris "Ludacris" Bridges is a Grammy-winning artist, entrepreneur, and cultural innovator with over 25 years of industry experience spanning music, film, and technology. Known for defining Atlanta's cultural landscape through his influence on hip-hop, film production, and emerging trends, Ludacris has successfully diversified his portfolio into philanthropy, brand partnerships, and tech startups focused on the next generation. Tony Ressler is the Principal Owner of the Atlanta Hawks, a prominent sports executive and real estate developer driving transformative urban development across the Southeast. With expertise in sports franchise management, community investment, and large-scale real estate projects, Ressler has spearheaded initiatives including the revitalization of downtown Atlanta and the expansion of youth education and opportunity programs throughout the region. Guest Resources:  Tony Ressler’s ProfileThe Ludacris Foundation WebsiteAres Management Corporation WebsiteAtlanta Hawks Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 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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