If you’ve ever wondered whether Google’s ad products are helping your business—or bleeding it dry—this episode of The Skeptical Marketer with guest Arielle Garcia is essential listening.

Arielle is the Chief Operating Officer of Check My Ads Institute, an independent nonprofit watchdog advocating for transparency in digital advertising. A former Chief Privacy & Responsibility Officer at a global media agency, Arielle has seen the ecosystem from both the inside and outside—and she’s not holding back.

Key takeaways & lessons:

The market has failed: Arielle explains why digital advertising today is riddled with conflicts of interest, opacity, and unchecked platform power. Google sets the rules, controls the auction, and serves both sides—and that’s a recipe for systemic failure, not free market success.

Performance Max, exposed: You’ll hear what happened when Check My Ads ran a small business-style test campaign using Google’s default Performance Max settings. Spoiler: zero legit publisher placements, kids’ videos, and park domains galore. It’s a damning look at how Google quietly profits off ad dollars without oversight.

From watchdogs to whistleblowers: Arielle walks through why she left the holding company model, how Check My Ads is helping shape regulatory policy, and why self-regulation in digital media just doesn’t cut it anymore.

Brand safety and the CSAM scandal: This episode dives into shocking recent research showing major ad platforms—including Google—serving ads on websites known for child sexual abuse material. Arielle explains why this isn’t a tech glitch—it’s a lack of due diligence and accountability.

What marketers can do: Jake and Arielle close out with practical advice for marketing leaders: don’t blindly trust platform defaults, demand transparency, and stay skeptical. Because what you don’t know about where your ads are running can hurt your brand—and your bottom line.

Arielle Garcia’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ariellesgarcia

Check My Ads Institute: https://checkmyads.org/

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