The Ad Podcast

Peter Pinfold is Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer at Darabase, a London-based prop-tech platform pioneering “digital property rights” and augmented reality media networks. He leads commercial strategy and expansion into new markets, including recent growth into Canada. With a background in innovative digital media and technology, Peter is focused on helping advertisers, property owners and cities unlock value by layering digital experiences over physical space.Paula Chiocchi is the President and Founder of Outward Media, Inc. (OMI), a Los Angeles-based marketing firm specializing in high-quality, multi-channel B2B data and campaign execution.They are the sponsor of today's show.

Jonathan King is Head of Growth at Quality Meats Creative, where he oversees agency expansion, pitch strategy, and partnership development.With more than a decade of advertising and brand-growth experience, Jonathan joins Quality Meats from Havas Chicago, where he served as EVP, Head of Growth, and previously held senior roles at agencies including VMLY&R (MA), DDB and Deutsch. His portfolio includes working on major brands like Kraft Heinz, Molson Coors Beverage Company and Capital One, and he has been recognized with industry accolades including Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and Effies. Based in Chicago, Jonathan brings an entrepreneurial mindset and growth-oriented leadership to the young and dynamic Quality Meats team.

Lisa Messina is currently the Chief Sales Officer at Visit Orlando, where she oversees meeting & convention sales, travel industry partnerships, membership and supporting services. Her career spans more than three decades in the hospitality and meetings industry — including leadership roles at Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority and Caesars Entertainment. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration from Cornell University. Known for her strategic leadership, she has been recognized among the most influential professionals in the meetings field and serves on key industry boards.

Fredrik Skantze is Co‑Founder and CEO of Funnel, a marketing intelligence platform that helps organizations unify, analyze, and act on their marketing data. With a background in engineering and business from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University, Fredrik combines technical expertise with entrepreneurial leadership to help companies turn complex data into actionable insights. For a free 30 days trial to HighLevel and to support the show sponsor click here: https://lnkd.in/gytNmse2

Kevin Hein is Chief Growth Officer at GIPHY, where he leads revenue growth, product partnerships, and strategic marketing for the platform used by over a billion people daily. With more than 20 years in tech and advertising, Kevin previously directed U.S. agency and partnership leadership at Meta Platforms and held key roles at Yahoo! and CNET. He’s known for building high-performance teams, complex go-to-market strategies, and helping brands tap cultural moments through expressive media. This episode is brought to you by HighLevel, use the link for 30 days free https://lnkd.in/gytNmse2

Monica Monique is a visionary leader bridging creativity and technology at the intersection of media, streaming, and innovation. As Founder of Chain Reaction, she is passionate about pushing the boundaries of entertainment and immersive experiences through artificial intelligence, storytelling, and next-gen platforms. Before launching Chain Reaction, Monica served as Head of Studio at Secret Level, where she drove creative strategy and led multidisciplinary teams in designing interactive content. Her deep experience in content creation, digital media, and tech gives her a unique ability to fuse artistic vision with the demands of modern platforms.Monica is also an advocate for diversity and representation in tech and entertainment. On social media, she presents herself as a Latina creator navigating both the cultural and technical realms as she builds out Chain Reaction’s mission. Her leadership style is deeply collaborative, rooted in curiosity and experimentation. She sees evolving technologies — from AI to immersive media — not as replacements for human creativity, but as tools to elevate it. Under her guidance, Chain Reaction aims to cultivate new forms of storytelling that resonate across audiences and platforms.

DNY Matt Baker is a seasoned advertising and strategy executive currently serving as President at Deutsch NY (after being elevated from Chief Strategy Officer in 2021). He joined Deutsch in early 2018, overseeing brand planning, data analytics, and communications teams, and has led strategy work for major brands including Budweiser Brewing Group (AB InBev), Reebok, and Cetaphil. Before Deutsch, Matt worked at THOMPSON (J. Walter Thompson) as Head of Planning and CSO, and held strategy and innovation roles at Anomaly, Arnold Worldwide, and RAPP — contributing to campaigns for clients like Google, Nestlé, and Unilever. Known for bridging analytical rigor and creative insight, Matt describes himself as an “odd-shaped strategist” — someone whose non-traditional path gives him a unique perspective. Little Black Book. Click here to support our Sponsor HighLevel. https://lnkd.in/gytNmse2

Lynn Power is the Co-Founder and CEO of MASAMI, a clean, premium haircare brand she launched in February 2020 after a nearly 30-year career in advertising — including as CEO of J. Walter Thompson NY. Built on the Japanese ocean botanical Mekabu, MASAMI delivers weightless hydration for virtually all hair types, committing to formulas free of sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. Beyond the product line, Lynn founded the Conscious Beauty Collective to support and elevate indie clean beauty brands, and launched the MASAMI Institute to give back through ocean research in northeastern Japan — where MASAMI sources its hero ingredient.

Stephen Yalof is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tanger®, a leading operator of upscale, open-air shopping centers across 22 U.S. states and Canada, with a team dedicated to delivering the best entertainment, experience and opportunity for Tanger's communities, stakeholders, and partners.

Connor Archbold is the Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Tracksuit, a fast-growing brand tracking platform that helps companies measure and communicate brand value in real time. With a background spanning law, startups, and global business building, Connor has scaled Tracksuit from its New Zealand roots to offices across Sydney, New York, and London, with a mission to make brand data the common language in every boardroom.

Andy Tretiak is the Chief Marketing Officer at Airshare, where he leads brand strategy, marketing, and communications for the private aviation company as it celebrates its 25th anniversary. With more than 25 years of experience, Andy has held senior marketing roles in sports, entertainment, and technology, including helping rebrand Sporting Kansas City during his time as an MLS CMO. Before joining Airshare, he co-founded a marketing agency and led fan engagement efforts at FanThreeSixty.

Chris Kneeland is the Chief Marketing Officer at Spikeball Inc., responsible for leading the brand’s marketing strategy, growth initiatives, and consumer engagement. With over 20 years of experience in marketing, he previously co-founded the marketing agency Cult Collective Ltd. and played key roles in building collaborative platforms for creative professionals. Chris is passionate about community, connection, and bringing people together—on and off the field—to enjoy the game of Roundnet.

Eric Zuncic is Global Managing Director & Chief Product Officer at Forsman & Bodenfors, leading the intersection of business strategy and creative innovation across the agency’s global operations. Previously, he served as Chief Strategy Officer at DDB North America, and held senior strategic roles at agencies like Crispin Porter + Bogusky and Mekanism, working with major brands such as McDonald's’ PepsiCo, and American Airlines. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and has a reputation for bridging creativity, product thinking, and business strategy in the agency world.

Ed See is Chief Growth Officer at Zeta Global, leveraging over 30 years of experience in marketing, analytics, and growth strategy to help brands scale through AI and technology. Prior to joining Zeta, he was a Partner with McKinsey & Company’s Marketing & Sales practice for eight years, advising top CMOs on digital transformation, marketing effectiveness, and customer-centric strategies. Earlier in his career, Ed held senior positions at Deloitte, IBM, and leading analytics and research firms, helping shape the intersection of data, technology, and business growth

Monica Chun serves as President of Acceleration Community of Companies (ACC), where she oversees growth strategy, marketing innovation, and integration across the agency network. Before ACC, she spent over two decades at PMK•BNC, rising to agency President and COO of Brands, where she built out the experiential, influencer, digital, social, and analytics divisions. She is also co-author of The Art of Branded Entertainment, combining her passion for storytelling and brand-led experiences

Aron Bohlig is a seasoned global digital media executive, currently serving as the Managing Partner at ComCap Holdings LLC in San Francisco. With a diverse background that spans startups and multinational corporations, he has successfully navigated the complexities of international markets across the US, Europe, and Asia. Aron has a unique blend of technical and operational expertise, having developed software for major telecommunications companies and led significant corporate transformations in the ecommerce sector. His strategic vision focuses on leveraging unique assets and forming innovative partnerships to drive business growth. Passionate about enhancing consumer experiences, he is dedicated to fostering innovation in digital media and ecommerce. Aron holds an MBA from the Wharton School and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Business from the University of Puget Sound.

Jean is Principal + CEO of Zambezi, an integrated & independent creative communications agency. Jean has successfully grown Zambezi from a startup to what it is today – a thriving agency twice named Small Agency of the Year by Ad Age and one of the fastest-growing businesses by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

David’s the kind of guy who can make Miracle Whip cool again—literally. A former comedian and improviser, he spent nearly 20 years leading creative teams at top ad agencies like Publicis.Sapient and VaynerMedia. Along the way, he cooked up national campaigns for iconic brands like Ferrari, Samsung Electronics, Mountain Dew Ice, and AT&T. His pièce de résistance? A Miracle Whip campaign that broke a decade-long sales slump, racked up over a billion media impressions, snagged a USA Today cover, and brought home a Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Silver Lion. Not bad for a guy who started out cracking jokes!

Ricky Abbott is President, Americas at Transmission, where he leads the agency’s growth and client partnerships across the region. With more than 20 years of experience in B2B marketing, he has helped global brands align brand, demand, and ABM strategies to drive measurable business impact.

CARA is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. After the tragic loss of hermother and brother, music became her way to reclaim her story and process grief. Herupcoming autobiographical album, THE KRONICLES, set to release in 2026 which she writesand executive produces herself, blends multiple genres and highlights her longtime passion forflute, which she’s played since age 12.The album’s first single, “BLVD” released in fall 2024, celebrates unapologetic self-expression and features a flute solo CARA incorporates into her live shows. CARAreached #2 on the Top 40 Radio Independent Artist Chart and TEARS reached #41 onthe Pop Top 40 Mediabase. The follow-up single, “TEARS” released in summer 2025, isa raw reflection on grief and loss, reaching #6 and #47 at its peak on those charts,respectively.THE KRONICLES is dedicated to CARA’s brothers including her late brother Alex,mother Mary, and dear friend and mentor Gangsta Boo. CARA hopes that through hermusic, listeners can feel solidarity with their own life chapters and lost loved ones tocreate a community of people who feel less alone in their journey of processing grief.