The Speed of Culture Podcast

Can legacy brands transcend into becoming their own entertainment platform? In this episode of The Speed of Culture, Ibrahim Khan, Global Vice President of Marketing at Fanta, explores how one of the world’s biggest beverage brands balances global consistency with local culture, why packaging matters more in an infinite digital shelf, and how they’re turning Halloween from an annual campaign into its own entertainment platform. He also discusses the role of AI in creative work, why brands should resist attaching themselves to every cultural moment, and why the next generation of marketers needs to think beyond the 30-second TV spot.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Ibrahim Khan on LinkedInSubscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform.And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com

Whatever happened to the golden years of Hollywood? The attention economy, apparently.This episode of The Speed of Culture podcast welcomes Gerry Rich, film marketing consultant and author of Chasing Hollywood: A Marketing Chief’s Lessons on Breaking Through. Bringing over three decades of experience marketing films across Columbia Pictures, Miramax, MGM, Paramount, Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, Gerry explains why creating mass awareness has become harder. He zooms in on what makes a trailer genuinely break through, why engagement matters more than raw views, and Gen Z’s appetite for originality. The conversation also explores the growing importance of talent’s social presence, the risks of volume-driven filmmaking, and how AI can support the work without replacing the authenticity audiences expect.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Gerry Rich n on LinkedInSubscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform.And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com

What does it take to genuinely reinvent yourself in the world of advertising, and to do it in a way that’s valuable? This episode of The Speed of Culture Podcast welcomes Harry Kargman, Founder and CEO of Kargo, for a reflection on 23 years of building through constant change in advertising. From mobile and the open web to social, CTV, and now AI-powered media buying, he explains why good timing starts with knowing which market signals actually matter, and how Kargo built a culture that expects reinvention. Harry also gives us an inside look at why its new platform, Karlo, is designed to make sophisticated media buying more accessible to mid-market brands.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Harry Kargman on LinkedInSubscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform.And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com

This episode of The Speed of Culture Podcast welcomes Brad Nelson, Chief Marketing Officer at Sotheby’s International Realty. Taking us behind the scenes of a 50-year-old legacy, Brad explains how the brand has stayed relevant by focusing on quality over price, and adapting to how affluent consumers define luxury today. He zooms in on the rise of lifestyle-first buying, the impact of AI-driven wealth creation, the role of social media in building credibility, and why trusted human relationships still matter most in high-value decisions.Celebrate 50 years of Sotheby’s International Realty with a new advertising campaign highlighting connections built over the decades and The Art of Refined Living, created with Assouline to showcase the brand’s heritage through extraordinary properties, architecture, and cultural moments.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Brad Nelson on LinkedInSubscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform.And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com

This episode of The Speed of Culture Podcast welcomes Allison Varone, Head of Marketing at Campari America. The conversation explores how heritage brands can evolve with changing consumer behavior without losing the rituals and emotional connections that made them distinctive. She breaks down the growth of the spritz category, the rise of mindful drinking, the role of experiential marketing, and bartender education, and why curiosity and commercial awareness are becoming essential skills for modern marketers.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Allison Varone on LinkedInSubscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform.And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com

This episode of The Speed of Culture Podcast features Nitya Madhavan, Senior Vice President of Brand Strategy and Marketing at CAVA. Nitya explains how the fast-growing restaurant brand is scaling its national footprint while protecting the warmth, hospitality and human connection at its core. She breaks down the role of experiential marketing, social micro-communities, creator partnerships, loyalty data and AI, while sharing why the strongest brands use growth to deepen relationships rather than dilute them.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Nitya Madhavan on LinkedInSubscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform.And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com

This episode of The Speed of Culture podcast welcomes Claudine Cheever, the Chief Marketing Officer at Pinterest. Claudine outlines how the platform is evolving from a space for major life projects to a daily companion for shopping and creative inspiration. She details the importance of the intention economy, the role of visual search in fostering human curiosity, and why encouraging users to step away from their screens instead of going deeper into it is actually a winning business strategy. The conversation also examines her career journey through the world of advertising and her perspective on radical ownership as a leadership superpower.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Claudine Cheever on LinkedInSubscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform.And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com

In this episode of The Speed of Culture podcast, Matt Britton connects with Mark Notarainni, EVP & General Manager of Intuit’s Consumer Group. They discuss how consumer finance through platforms like TurboTax and Credit Karma have evolved over the years. The conversation covers how AI helps people manage debt, the power of human expertise in digital tools, and why financial literacy is hitting younger generations differently.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Mark Notarainni on LinkedInSubscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform.And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com

Sarah Lane, Chief Marketing Officer at CarMax, joins Matt Britton on the Speed of Culture podcast to detail how the brand transformed the automotive retail experience through transparency and a commitment to women’s sports. Sarah explains the journey from local team sponsorships to high-profile national partnerships with the WNBA and NBA, highlighting how authentic fan engagement builds lasting trust. The conversation also covers the impact of emerging technologies like Large Language Models on the car-buying process.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Sarah Lane on LinkedInSubscribe to The Speed of Culture on your favorite podcast platform.And if you have a question or suggestions for the show, send us an email at suzy@suzy.com