Research Reframed

Studios and streamers are still writing the playbook for a generation that has never known a world without iPads or social feeds. In this episode, Ashleigh Bohr, EVP of Content Development and Marketing Strategy at NRG, sits down with Jan Ward, VP of Content Development and Marketing Strategy at NRG, and Vera Chien, Executive Director of Global Corporate Strategy and Insights at Warner Bros. Discovery, a Skydance Corporation. The group discusses a study of children aged 5 to 12, built around simulated streaming environments, custom avatars and emoji-led questions, that set out to learn exactly what kids choose to watch and why. Along the way, they look at how long-form and short-form content feed one another, and what this generation’s tastes can signal about the future of entertainment.Please note: This episode was recorded before the finalized combination of Warner Bros. Discovery and Skydance. References to Warner Bros. Discovery reflect the company as it was at the time of recording.www.nrgmr.com

Knowing your research objectives is the easy part, but getting a room full of strangers to tell you something honest and unguarded is something else entirely. In this episode, Jasmina sits down with Andy Fielder and Jeff Hall, two of NRG's most experienced moderators with over 40 years of combined experience, to unpack the craft behind qualitative research. They get into active listening, managing group dynamics, adapting across formats from audience screenings to online IDIs, and how to hold space for genuinely difficult moments without losing the thread of a session. They also tackle the bigger question hanging over the industry: what can an AI moderator actually replicate, and what remains stubbornly human?

Long-held assumptions about high-quality production are being dismantled in the social video era. In this episode, Jasmina is joined by Hena Naghmi and Max Thomson from NRG’s Streaming and Creator Platforms practice to unpack a major shift in audience behavior: why viewers are increasingly categorizing short-form content as "premium." Drawing on key insights from NRG’s Future of Social Video research, the conversation traces how traditional definitions of video craft and authentic storytelling are being rewritten across every screen, including the rapid growth of social content on Connected TVs (CTVs).

Qual-at-scale is redefining how we approach open-ended research, with AI-driven methodologies turning individual responses into scalable insight. In this episode, Jasmina is joined by AJ Giovannetti, Senior VP of Theatrical Strategy, to unpack how NRG is using AI moderation and emerging platforms to engage hundreds of consumers all at once, uncovering meaningful patterns at speed. The pair assess what today’s tools can deliver and where qual-at-scale creates real value. They also look at what this shift means for the future of research, highlighting the core importance of combining AI with human interpretation.

Small to medium-sized business (SMB) marketers are chasing reach when the data shows precision drives growth. In this live episode, recorded at SXSW 2026, Jasmina is joined by Vita Molis, Head of B2B Institute Editorial at LinkedIn, to unpack what’s really working for small businesses today and why the conventional B2B marketing playbook may be working against them. Drawing on new research from NRG and LinkedIn, they explore how SMBs are approaching AI adoption, prioritizing high-quality audiences over scale, and using thought leadership to build trust and drive results.