Adspeak

As Omnicom reveals its new structure after completing its $13 billion acquisition of IPG, is it building the modern holdco of the future or repeating an old playbook? On this episode of Adspeak, we explore the deal’s consolidation of brands, cuts in staffing, and push into data and buying power.Ibotta Founder & CEO, Bryan Leach joins Ryan at the end of this episode to discuss why “performance” and “measurement” are the words on every brand marketer’s mind right now.

Houseplant CEO and co-founder Mikey Mohr details how he and Seth Rogen used ceramics and home goods to build trust before entering the THC market. He explains the evolution from ashtrays to CPG and what it takes to survive a volatile category.Also, Treasure Data CMO Karen Wood joins Ryan in a mid-episode sidebar to discuss the biggest opportunities and challenges for companies leaning into autonomous hyper-relevant AI.

Amazon spent this year making an aggressive bid for the ad industry’s future, and the ripple effects were felt across agencies, tech vendors, and rival platforms. Ryan Joe and Adweek Retail & Commerce editor Kathryn Lundstrom break down Amazon's new tech that could challenge Meta, Google, and The Trade Desk for 2026 budgets. They also unpack why buyers were buzzing, why some partners were sweating, and why Amazon’s deeper push into the open internet and premium video may reshape the entire media landscape.ADWEEK shifts into high gear this November as we head to Las Vegas during formula racing season. Sports marketing has never been bigger, and we’re bringing together the industry leaders who are in the fast lane to brand growth and peak consumer engagement.Register now: http://bit.ly/3JrXXEH

All eyes in the media world are on Warner Bros. Discovery's decision to hang up a "for-sale" sign, with a potential deal rippling across the media space. Lauren Johnson and Bill Bradley unpack the media giant's move and why Paramount may be the big winner.ADWEEK shifts into high gear this November as we head to Las Vegas during formula racing season. Sports marketing has never been bigger, and we’re bringing together the industry leaders who are in the fast lane to brand growth and peak consumer engagement.Register now: http://bit.ly/3JrXXEH

Target’s Hot Santa is back, and Walmart’s going full Dr. Seuss. Ryan Joe and Brittaney Kiefer unpack two wildly different holiday ad strategies and what they reveal about each retailer’s fortunes heading into the season.ADWEEK shifts into high gear this November as we head to Las Vegas during formula racing season. Sports marketing has never been bigger, and we’re bringing together the industry leaders who are in the fast lane to brand growth and peak consumer engagement.Register now: http://bit.ly/3JrXXEH

Santa’s out, chatbots are in. As Walmart, Shopify, and Etsy plug into ChatGPT, agentic AI is reshaping how consumers discover and buy gifts. Ryan Joe talks with ADWEEK deputy editor Lauren Johnson about what’s real, what’s hype, and how brands can prep for an AI-driven holiday rush.ADWEEK shifts into high gear this November as we head to Las Vegas during formula racing season. Sports marketing has never been bigger, and we’re bringing together the industry leaders who are in the fast lane to brand growth and peak consumer engagement.Register now: http://bit.ly/3JrXXEH

From OpenAI to Anthropic, the machines have feelings now — or at least, really good creative directors. ADWEEK's Rebecca Stewart, Brittaney Kiefer, and Trishla Ostwal unpack how AI companies are humanizing their brands with some help from Madison Avenue, and how those efforts are landing with consumers.

From Google and PayPal to Red Bull and Bitcoin, the brands we trust say a lot about the generations we’re part of. In this episode, Morning Consult CMO Jeff Cartwright unpacks which brands Millennials and Gen Z trust most—and what their choices reveal about hustle culture, digital skepticism, and the future of brand loyalty.

Digital_chadvertising built a meme account, got a flood of sources, and now shapes the industry’s inside jokes. We go deep on verification, fake‑tip paranoia, and why the coffee chart broke his DMs.