Media Roundtable

A king who forged an empire. The birth of an upstart prince. A battle for control. It’s not the new Game of Thrones, it’s a historical dive into the rise of audio, from the early days of radio to the explosion of podcasts and beyond.The world’s only podcast solely dedicated to audio ads is back with a one-of-a-kind episode that will change your understanding of the medium forever. Presenting the Ad Infinitum Season 3 finale, Episode 16: "The Royal and The Regent: The Audio Monarchy.”Hosted by Stew Redwine (Executive Creative Director, Oxford Road) and guided by the “esteemed bard” and guest producer Jeanna Isham (Owner, Dreamr Productions), this episode takes you on a journey back in time to explore the "Audio Monarchy."Throw out your dry history books and put on your headphones. This unusual episode explores why audio became dominant and how the kingdom can thrive moving forward. The narrative spans from early TV jingles to YouTube CTAs, anchoring itself in the Six Sonic Laws of Audio Advertising established by His Royal Highness, King Radio:AttentionTrustMemoryProximityMonetizationThe Covenant: The promise not to abuse the listener's time and to respect their loyalty.To discuss "The Covenant," "Who Owns Audio?", and "The Grateful Pod," the show has assembled true audio royalty. The Council includes:• Chancellor of the Airwaves: Kraig T. Kitchin (Senior Strategic Advisor for Oxford Road)• Royal Historian: Cynthia Meyers (Professor Emerita, College of Mount Saint Vincent)• Royal Scribes: Tom Webster (Partner, Sounds Profitable) and Paul Riismandel (President, Signal Hill Insights)• Royal Troubadours: Arielle Nissenblatt (Founder, Earbuds Podcast Collective), Dallas Taylor (host of Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast), and Shaun Michael Colón (Director, The Age of Audio)Hear ye, hear ye: This is a must-listen for anyone interested in the business of sound. Join the Royal Council of Audio and step into the context of the monarchy.“ Prince Podcasting was born on the principles of abundance, not scarcity, and focused on purposeful communication, not time sold to brands.”  – Jeanna Isham (Owner, Dreamr Productions) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When do ads build trust and when do they break it? That’s the question at the center of this week’s Media Roundtable: Industry Edition.Stew Redwine (Executive Creative Director, Oxford Road) is joined by Oxford Road experts Jillian Garner (Account Manager), Neal Lucey (EVP, Strategy & Product), and Kyle Jelinek (VP of Client Services) to break down what’s actually driving performance in podcasting right now.From Podtrac’s new multi-channel ranker to Podscribe’s latest incrementality report, the team explores what matters beyond downloads. They debate long-form’s staying power, the durability of history podcasts, and what happens if ChatGPT introduces ads. Let’s dig in.“Seeing that history podcasts are as popular as they are, it's a good reminder that people aren't actually moving away from depth. They're just adding short form on top of it.- Jillian Garner (Account Manager, Oxford Road)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Imagine you’re the best at what you do… and you didn’t realize it until now.In a creator spotlight episode of Media Roundtable: Special Edition, Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) welcomes Gina Ryan (Host of The Anxiety Coaches Podcast).Gina’s podcast is a quiet powerhouse that ORBIT ranked #1 in our Self-Improvement list. But because brands don’t usually share results with creators, she didn’t know she was a low-key marketing superstar.Dan sat down to understand the secrets to her (formerly) secret success. They’re talking: Honest Ads, The Listening Family, and Hyper Organic Growth. Let’s dig in.“ I just talk about it as if it's still me. I don't all of a sudden switch into: ‘And now a word from our sponsor,’ and become a radio advertisement.”Gina Ryan (Host of The Anxiety Coaches Podcast)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when a podcasting powerhouse is also an elite marketer?Find out in a creator spotlight episode of Media Roundtable: Special Edition.This week, Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) welcomes The Podcast Princess herself, Hala Taha (CEO & Founder, YAP Media, host of Young and Profiting). It's hard to overstate what big Hala fans we all are at Oxford Road. She’s one of the few creators who cares as much as we do about making the ads work. (Check out her Ad Infinitum episode with our very own Stew Redwine.)Hala’s delivered great reads and results for clients for years, and ORBIT has the receipts. Young and Profiting was #4 on our OG Podcast list, and it’s #2 in this month’s Self-Improvement ranking. But hearing how Hala approaches the ads, that performance is the least surprising thing. Dan and Hala put on a masterclass of creator marketing, talking: The Power of Demonstration, Letting Creators Cook, and Getting in the Weeds. Let’s dig in.“ It's not about the channel. It's not about audio, YouTube, social, it doesn't matter. What you’re picking is the creator.”- Hala Taha (CEO & Founder, YAP Media, host of Young and Profiting)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Podcasts have walked the red carpet and settled into your living room. But where’s the industry heading next? Find out on a new Media Roundtable: Industry Edition.Stew Redwine (Executive Creative Director, Oxford Road) breaks down the biggest stories with fellow audiophiles:Bart Roselli (EVP Media, Oxford Road)Courtney O'Connor, (Director, Podcast Media, Oxford Road)Giles Martin, (EVP Strategy, Oxford Road)The team is talking: The End of Ads, PodFraud, the Living Room Podcast, and more. Let’s dig in.“ Is it the end of ads? No, but I do think that it's potentially an end of an era.”-Courtney O'Connor (Director, Podcast Media, Oxford Road)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Happy 2026! Time to dust off the crystal ball.Will we finally get standardized measurement? Will podcasters still pick video over audio? How should you navigate a seller’s market?Find out as we make big, bold (and accurate) predictions for 2026. All on a new Media Roundtable: Special Edition.Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) welcomes back a stacked team of podcast nostradamuses:Hernan Lopez, (Founder of Owl & Co)James Cridland (Editor, Podnews & Podcast Business Journal)Kyle Jelinek, (VP of Client Services, Oxford Road)Neal Lucey, (EVP, Strategy & Product, Oxford Road)They’re talking: Audio’s Rise, Standardization (Finally!), Seller’s Markets, and more. Let’s dig in.“ My prediction is: the buyer's market has officially ended.”Neal Lucey, (EVP, Strategy & Product, Oxford Road)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What’s one podcast genre that’s successful for advertisers but is often overlooked?Find out in a creator spotlight episode of Media Roundtable: Special Edition.Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) welcomes the co-hosts of the hit, faith-based podcast Girls Gone Bible, Angela Halili & Arielle Reitsma.They’re talking: A Meteoric Rise, Brand Love, and Marketing with Faith. Let’s dig in.“ There's no dollar amount that's worth doing anything that goes against our core mission.”– Angela Halili, (Co-Host, Girls Gone Bible)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Does video beat audio for ROI?The industry has pivoted hard to video. It offers massive scale and new discovery opportunities. But for years, we’ve operated inside a measurement "black box," forcing marketers to assume that a YouTube view is worth the same as a podcast download.We now know that assumption is potentially costing brands millions.In this Media Roundtable: Special Edition, Giles Martin (EVP of Strategy & Insights, Oxford Road) welcomes Pete Birsinger (CEO & Founder, Podscribe) to reveal the results of our industry-first report, “Re-Thinking YouTube: Why Your YouTube Ads Are Converting 25% Worse Than Audio.”[LINK] After analyzing over 1,000 campaigns across 100+ brands, the data has revealed a shocking performance gap.They’re talking: The Black Box, Smart Methodology, and Lean-In Audiences. Let’s dig in.“ The biggest unlocker of revenue is some way to measure the host-read embedded ads on YouTube.”- Pete Birsinger (CEO & Founder, Podscribe)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Video podcast wars. Reaching critical mass. Radio’s reckoning… or reinvention. What was the biggest story of 2025, and how will it shape 2026?Find out as we look back on 2025 in a new Media Roundtable: Industry Edition.Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) breaks down the stories that shaped the year with fellow audio luminaries:Hernan Lopez (Founder, Owl & Co)James Cridland (Editor, Podnews & Podcast Business Journal)Kyle Jelinek (VP, Client Services, Oxford Road)Neal Lucey (EVP, Strategy & Product, Oxford Road)The team is talking: Video Everything, Critical Mass, and Radio’s Next Act. Let’s dig in.“ Video is definitely the big story for 2025.”Neal Lucey, (EVP, Strategy & Product, Oxford Road)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As a marketer, you have to guess what will make people act. But what if you could just know?The world’s only podcast solely dedicated to audio ads is back! Presenting Ad Infinitum Season 3, Episode 15: "Human Hacks."Host Stew Redwine (Executive Creative Director, Oxford Road) welcomes best-selling behavioral science author Richard Shotton (The Choice Factory, Hacking the Human Mind). They’re looking at some of the most relevant behavioral studies for marketers and applying that lens to top-spending podcast ads from McAfee, AmBev, Tide Pods, and IBM.Stew and Richard talk Simplicity, Big Ladles, Concrete, and more. Let’s dig in…“[It’s] always easier to work with human nature than against it.” - Richard Shotton (Author, Hacking the Human Mind)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How will the industry shift with 200k AI episodes? Or with Netflix’s $400M podcast push? How do audio and video podcasts actually stack up for attention? Find out on a new Media Roundtable: Industry Edition, sponsored by our friends at ALLCITY Network.Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) breaks down the biggest stories and their potential impacts on the industry with fellow audiophiles:James Cridland (Editor, Podnews & Podcast Business Journal)Spencer Semonson (Media Supervisor, Oxford Road)Todd Elbrink (Director of Strategy & Performance, Oxford Road)Tucker Peleuses (VP of Strategy & Insights, Oxford Road)The team is talking: Cheap TV, Video vs. Audio Attention, and Wading Past AI Slop. Let’s dig in.“How do we make sure that we don't get run over, for those of us that really care about the human connection piece?”– Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How can audio ads break through in a world of AI ads and boring reads? By being relentlessly real.The world’s only podcast solely dedicated to audio ads is back! Presenting Ad Infinitum Season 3, Episode 14: "This is My Real Voice". Host Stew Redwine (Executive Creative Director, Oxford Road) welcomes Brandon Beville (Producer, Morning Wire). They get to the root of authenticity, tapping into Brandon’s special insight as both producer and ad-reader (real comment: his voice is like “ a frat guy from Boston”). Together, they put up one of Brandon’s spots against top-spending podcast ads from Google, ParkWhiz, LG, and Wells Fargo using the Audiolytics™ framework. Which spot will come out on top? Stew and Brandon talk The Real You, The 3-4 Rule, Active Listening, and more. Let’s dig in…“ Make it as much you as you can.”- Brandon Beville (Producer, Morning Wire)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Did you have Netflix becoming a major audio platform on your bingo card? If you’re surprised, we’re here to help you make sense of the big moves by the industry’s (new) big players.This week on The Media Roundtable: Industry Edition, Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) hosts audio experts:James Ingrassia (EVP, Strategy & Insights, Oxford Road)Shannon Quintana, (VP, Account Management, Oxford Road)Stew Redwine (Executive Creative Director, Oxford Road)The team is talking: Netflix x Spotify, Thinking Locally, Podcast’s Growth, and more. Let’s dig in.“ We're in the right space. I think we all just wish there were fewer leashes to hold as you're trying to make sense of all of it.”- Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when you invite AI into the Ad Infinitum hot seat?The world’s only podcast solely dedicated to audio ads is back! Presenting Ad Infinitum Season 3, Episode 12: "Infinite Prompts."Host Stew Redwine (Executive Creative Director, Oxford Road) welcomes Juniper GPT for a Human/AI collab session. Together, they break down Magellan AI’s July 2025 Movers & Shakers report, grading fresh podcast ads from My Mochi, Activision's Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4, Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, and JCPenney using the Audiolytics™ framework. Will Juniper’s AI instincts line up with human judgment?Stew and Juniper talk Tools of the Trade, Having Fun, Painting Audio Pictures and more. Let’s dig in…“ For people in creative fields, it's about embracing AI as a kind of creative partner. It can help you work faster and open up new possibilities, but the heart and soul of the work will still come from you.”– Juniper GPTSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Advertisers want to spend an extra $1B in podcasting; but they’re holding back until we address the industry’s biggest issues.This week on The Media Roundtable, we’ve assembled a powerhouse of CAOs to talk about the findings of our 2025 What Brands Want report.At this summer’s CAO Summit, we learned that podcasting could be one billion dollars bigger… if brands had what they need today. After polling brand leaders on their hurdles and needs, the results are in. Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) breaks down the findings with:• Justin Fitzpatrick (Head of Performance Marketing, Found) • Julianna Crozier (Associate Director, Influencer Partnerships & Growth Marketing, Thrive Market)• Will Flaherty (SVP, Growth, Ro), and• Giles Martin (EVP, Strategy, Oxford Road)The team is talking: Closing the Measurement Gap, Beating the Clutter, Minding the Macro, and more. Let’s dig in.“Any sort of improvement that we can make on the measurement side to prove the efficacy of our ad dollars is going to only enable us to put more and more budget into the channel.” -Justin Fitzpatrick (Head of Performance Marketing, Found) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CAOs: We analyzed $1.6 billion in podcast ads. Here's what actually drives ROI.The team at Oxford Road unveils ORBIT, the Oxford Road Benchmark Intelligence Tool, built on $1.6 billion in actual campaign performance data. Not estimates. Not surveys. Real results from real advertisers spending real money.This is the planning tool we've been chasing for a decade. ORBIT doesn't just tell you which podcasts are popular. It tells you which ones drive ROI. Which ones convert. Which ones are worth the check you're about to write.Joining Dan are the data wizards who made it real: • Brian Kim (Director of Analytics, Oxford Road) • Mike Dunsmore (Director of Analytics, Reporting and Insights, Oxford Road)• Tucker Peleuses (VP of Strategy, Oxford Road)The team unpacks: Why Joe Rogan didn't crack the Top 15, the faith-based performance secret, the genre trap costing you money, and more. Let's get into it."This is what happened when real companies spent real money. If you want to know which podcasts work, start here."– Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To make an industry better, sometimes you gotta shake things up. We’re celebrating one full year since two competitors, Oxford Road and Veritone One, joined forces to become the world's largest podcast and creator-based video agency.Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) gathered leaders from across the new org to talk wins, hard-fought lessons, and tips for anyone looking to self-disrupt for the better. It’s part victory lap, part therapy, and part masterclass.Joining are some of the fearless leaders who made it happen:• Bart Roselli (EVP of Media, Oxford Road)• Courtney O’Connor (Director, Podcast Media, Oxford Road)• Hilary Shafer (SVP of Podcast & Influencer, Oxford Road)• Kyle Jelinek (VP of Client Services, Oxford Road), and• Miranda Romano (SVP of Media, Oxford Road)The team’s talking: Slow and Steady, Spider-Man’s Wisdom, Staying Humble, and more. Let’s dig in.“ You need to come in and you need to be ready to listen, you need to be ready to observe, and be ready to admit where maybe we were wrong in the past and that there's a better path forward. With that, I think anything's possible.”• Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the Media Roundtable, we’re sitting down with Lex Friedman (not to be confused with Lex Fridman), one of podcasting’s original builders and a leader who’s shaped the business of podcasting since Day 1.Before launching his own consulting business, Lex played a part in nearly every major chapter of the industry, including Chief Business Development at Midroll, Chief Revenue Officer at ART19, Head of Podcast Partnerships at Amazon, and Head of Podcast Strategy at Wondery. Along the way, he’s helped define how ads get sold, how shows get funded, and how podcasting itself gets defined.In this episode, Lex opens up on what made podcast ads such a “win-win-win” from the start, why early pitches were simply “talk radio…on demand,” and how a listenership of “completionists” continue to set podcasts apart. He even drops an acoustic guitar analogy to explain why the word podcast isn’t going anywhere, no matter how the platforms try to rebrand it."Stop apologizing for podcasting being what it is—because it’s clearly working."—Lex FriedmanThe conversation covers: Ad Load Tipping Points, Completionist Behavior, Consolidation and Mega-Deals, and more.Let’s go.Watch the conversation on Youtube: https://youtu.be/HjDmqUiBSQgSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Finally, some insights brand builders and performance marketers can agree on.We gathered CAOs in finance, food, jobs, and boots to share everything they’ve learned as they’ve scaled podcasting to enviable levels–and whether you’re brand or performance, you’ll benefit from their wealth of experience.On The Media Roundtable, we have one of our favorite conversations from the 2025 CAO Summit. Conor Doyle (President, Oxford Road) moderated ”No More Maybes: Scaling Podcast Performance with Precision,” where he gathered some of the sharpest CAOs who have scaled podcasts and agreed to share their secrets. Conor sat down with:• Gladwell Mwangi (Director of Paid Media, Whole Foods)• Kezia Koo (Former Sr. Director, Global Growth & Performance Marketing, Indeed),• Megan Smith (Director, Media Strategy, Tecovas), and• Nick Fairbairn (Vice President, Growth Marketing, Chime)These audio evangelists candidly shared how they grew podcasts with confidence and their hard-won lessons from the journey.They’re talking: Measurement Quality, Podcasts Play Nice, Thoughtful Success, and more. Let’s dig in.“ Every single time we ratchet up the quality of our measurement, it's telling us time and time again, that podcast is efficient, it's driving revenue and bringing customers in.”– Kezia Koo (Former Sr. Director, Global Growth & Performance Marketing, Indeed)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want to see more clearly in podcasting? You need to hear the audio experts who’ve returned from the Summit.The world’s only podcast solely dedicated to audio ads is back! Presenting Ad Infinitum Season 3, Episode 11 - "When the Helmets Come Off: Kraig T. Kitchin at CAO Summit 2025"Host Stew Redwine (Executive Creative Director, Oxford Road ) welcomes back Kraig T. Kitchin (Senior Strategic Advisor for Oxford Road & Bonafide Audio Legend) to break down their biggest takeaways from an inspiring 2025 Chief Audio Officer Summit.“[The CAOs] brought their best material and they didn't hold back vulnerabilities of the goods, the bads, and the uglies of what it is they do.”-Kraig T. Kitchin (Senior Strategic Advisor for Oxford Road & Bonafide Audio Legend) Our dynamic duo’s talking: Taking Off Your Helmet, Audio’s Edge, Human in Middle, and more. Let’s dig in.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.