The Speed of Culture Podcast

In this episode of The Speed of Culture podcast, Margot Hauer-King, SVP Creative Strategy at United Talent Agency and Founder and Owner of People’s, joins Matt Britton live from the POSSIBLE conference in South Beach. Margot shares how UTA's deep roots in talent and entertainment give brands a unique advantage in building authentic cultural relevance. The conversation covers the tension between monoculture and micro-community, how brands can earn the right to participate in fast-moving trends, and why the best marketing often looks more like hosting a great dinner party than running a campaign. Margot also opens up about her parallel life as a bar owner in New York, the power of persuasive storytelling, and why leaving people happier than you found them is the career advice that has guided her most.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Margot Hauer-King 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

Live from South Beach, Matt Britton sits down with Miguel Lorenzo and Miguel Gurwitz from NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises to explore the future of soccer in North America. They discuss the logistical complexity of the 104 game FIFA World Cup and how Telemundo is leveraging Peacock and FAST channels to engage fans. The conversation dives into the art of sports storytelling and the role of technology in bringing viewers closer to the athletes.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Miguel Lorenzo on LinkedInFollow Miguel Gurwitz 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, Ginny McCormick, Chief Experience Officer at tonies, joins Matt Britton to explore the delicate balance of technology in the modern household and how tonies is pioneering a new category of screen-free entertainment. The conversation examines evolving parenting habits of Gen Z, while highlighting how audio-first experiences foster child independence. Ginny also shares insights from her career at brands like Hasbro and Amazon, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of AI, storytelling, and childhood development.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Ginny McCormick 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, Todd Kaplan, Chief Marketing Officer at Kraft Heinz North America, joins Matt Britton live from the POSSIBLE conference in South Beach. Todd shares how one of the world's largest food and beverage companies manages 70 iconic brands with 96 percent household penetration across a rapidly shifting cultural landscape. The conversation covers the generational divide in media consumption, Kraft Heinz’s new five-year partnership with the NFL, what it takes to build an entrepreneurial mindset inside a Fortune 500 company, and how AI is playing a supporting — not starring — role in the brand’s future.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Todd Kaplan 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 sits down with Andrea Brimmer, Chief Marketing and Public Relations Officer at Ally Financial, live from the POSSIBLE conference in Miami. Andrea discusses how Ally established itself as the original digital disruptor during the great financial crisis and continues to lead by prioritizing cultural relevance and consumer trust. They speak about the shifting financial behaviors of Gen Z, the psychological relationship people have with their money, and Ally’s groundbreaking 50/50 Pledge to level the playing field in sports media. The conversation also covers the integration of AI in marketing and why authentic brand acts matter more than traditional advertising in a digital world.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Andrea Brimmer 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 sits down with Doug Sweeny, Chief Marketing Officer at ŌURA, to explore the evolution of the smart ring from a niche sleep tracker into a cultural symbol for performance and longevity. Doug shares how ŌURA leverages the accuracy of the finger to provide a holistic view of health, including women’s health and stress tracking, while integrating AI to act as a personal health advisor. The conversation also covers ŌURA’s unique approach to brand building through the "Give Us the Finger" campaign and the importance of resilience in a fast moving marketing landscape.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Doug Sweeny 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 sits down with Rachel Thornton, CMO of Adobe Enterprise, live from CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Rachel unpacks how Adobe helps brands move from raw customer data to genuine personalization at scale, why she believes everyone is a creator, and how agentic AI is used in a marketing team. The conversation also covers Adobe's push into sports and fan engagement, the Semrush acquisition, and how to build brand integrity in a world where AI can generate content faster than any team can review it.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Rachel Thornton 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 sits down with Allison Stransky, Chief Marketing Officer at Samsung Electronics America, live from CES 2026 in Las Vegas. In this interview, Allison unpacks how Samsung's "AI for All" vision – anchored in its promise to be “Your Companion to AI Living” – is transforming connected living across entertainment, the home, and everyday wellbeing. They discuss how Samsung is shifting from feature-based marketing to selling higher-order benefits, why data has become the ultimate brand differentiator, and how creator content and live commerce are reshaping how the brand reaches consumers. The conversation also explores Samsung's SmartThings ecosystem, the evolving role of the CMO in an AI-driven world, and what it takes to lead transformation inside one of the world's largest technology companies.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Allison Stransky 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 sits down with Rustom Dastoor, EVP, Head of Marketing and Communications, Americas at Mastercard, live from CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Rustom talks about why most brands are using AI to reinforce what already works rather than unlock what was never possible before. He introduces the concept of technical branding and explains why marketers will soon need to build their brands for AI agents rather than human consumers. The conversation also covers how Mastercard reads 150 billion annual transactions to spot real consumer behavior, why sports has become the most valuable media environment for marketers, and what resilience, and hustle still mean in a technology-saturated world.Follow Suzy on Twitter: @AskSuzyBizFollow Rustom Dastoor 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