The IAB UK Podcast

In the first episode of our summer sports mini-series, we dive into how major sporting events like the World Cup have evolved into cultural moments that extend far beyond the final whistle.Host James Chandler is joined by Matt Eschert, Head of Industry at Reddit, Imogen Blackwood, Business Director at Publicis Media, and Paul Lowery, Director of Solutions Marketing & Enablement at GumGum, to explore how fans engage with sport across social platforms, communities, creators and group chats.Together, they discuss why some of the most memorable moments happen away from the action itself, how fandom is becoming more accessible to new audiences, and why participation, conversation and community are increasingly shaping the sports experience.The conversation also looks at how brands are adapting to this changing landscape, from understanding fan sentiment and audience mindset to finding authentic ways to show up during major sporting moments without simply capitalising on them.Whether you're interested in sport, media, culture or advertising, this episode explores what modern fandom looks like and why the biggest opportunities often exist beyond the game itself.

In this special episode of the IAB UK Podcast, recorded live from SXSW London, James Chandler is joined by Sir Martin Sorrell for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of advertising, media and technology.As one of the industry's most influential figures, Sir Martin shares his perspective on the trends reshaping the marketing landscape, from the rapid rise of AI and changing consumer behaviours to the evolving relationship between brands, platforms and agencies.Together, they discuss the opportunities and challenges facing businesses today, how marketers can navigate an increasingly complex media environment, and what the industry needs to do to remain competitive in an era defined by innovation and disruption.Recorded live at SXSW London, this episode offers a candid look at where advertising is heading next, and the forces that will shape its future.

In this episode of the IAB UK Podcast, James Chandler is joined by Jake Thomas, UK General Manager at Snap Inc., to explore how Snapchat has evolved from its early beginnings into a platform that plays a growing role across the entire customer journey.They discuss the biggest misconceptions that still persist about Snapchat, the unique company culture that helps shape decision-making at Snap, and how the platform has adapted alongside its audience over time.Jake also shares his perspective on the future of the marketing funnel, why Snapchat is often underestimated as a performance channel, and how innovations in augmented reality and AI-powered lenses are creating new opportunities for brands to engage audiences in more creative and meaningful ways.From changing audience behaviours to major life milestones and purchase decisions, the conversation explores how brands can show up authentically on Snap and what the platform’s future priorities reveal about the next chapter of digital advertising.

In this episode of the IAB UK Podcast, James Chandler is joined by Anne-Marie Lavan, CMO at Bauer Media, to unpack the recent rebrand of one of the UK’s most recognisable audio brands: KISS.From refreshed visuals and unique identities across each KISS channel to the development of a new audio language and a high-profile launch event, the rebrand marks a major evolution for the brand.Anne-Marie shares the strategic thinking behind the transformation, the challenge of balancing individuality with a cohesive masterbrand, and how the team ensured the changes resonated beyond just aesthetics. They also discuss the future of audio branding, the role of live experiences in launching a new identity, and the moments that made the whole project feel like a success.Plus, a look at what this rebrand signals for the future of audio brands more broadly.

Trust has become one of the advertising industry’s biggest talking points, but what does it actually mean in practice for brands, publishers and audiences?In this episode of the IAB UK Podcast, Alex Kozloff sits down with Imogen Fox from The Guardian and Theo Luke from The Trade Desk to unpack the relationship between media environments, trust and advertising effectiveness. Together, they explore new research into how context influences the way advertising is received, remembered and believed, and discuss why premium publishers continue to play a critical role in building stronger connections between brands and consumers.From the commercial value of quality journalism to the tension between scale and responsibility, the conversation examines what it really means for brands to “show up well”, and why trusted environments can drive better outcomes for advertisers.Whether you’re a marketer, media planner or publisher, this episode offers practical insight into why trust and context should be central to every advertising strategy.

In this episode of The IAB UK Podcast, James is joined by Cecilia Morelli, Director of Marketing at SXSW London, to explore how one of the world’s most influential festivals is making the leap from Austin to Europe.From the challenges of launching in a new market to the core idea of 'convergence', where tech, music, film, business and innovation collide, the conversation unpacks what makes SXSW such a unique cultural and creative event.They also discuss how AI is influencing every discipline represented at the festival, how SXSW is using audience 'excitement points' to evolve the event experience year on year, and what attendees can expect from this year’s line-up of speakers and sessions.Whether you’re attending for the first time or simply curious about the future of creativity and innovation, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the thinking shaping SXSW London.

Recorded live at the IAB’s Last Thursday Club, this special episode of Open Web Surgery brings together leading voices from across the industry to explore the evolving role of the open web.Hosted by IAB’s Pat Hann, the discussion features Joel Livesey (The Trade Desk), Samara Hocihara (The Telegraph) and Max Gold (the7stars), offering a mix of brand, publisher and platform perspectives. Together, they unpack the realities of today’s digital ecosystem — from the challenges facing the open web to the opportunities for collaboration, innovation and growth.Expect candid conversation, practical insight and a clear view of how different parts of the industry are thinking about what comes next.

In this episode of the IAB UK Podcast, we explore the rapid rise of retail media, and why it’s become one of the most important areas of innovation in digital advertising.What began as sponsored product listings and shopper marketing has quickly evolved into something much broader: an ecosystem built on first-party data, customer trust and closer proximity to purchase, with the ability to demonstrate real-world outcomes.Host James Chandler is joined by Olivia McCullagh, IAB UK’s Retail Media Lead, to unpack what’s driving this growth and how retail media is expanding beyond its performance roots. Together, they discuss how the opportunity grows across on-site, off-site, in-store and emerging channels like CTV, and what this means for brands, retailers and agencies.The conversation also looks at the challenges ahead, from standards and transparency to measurement and planning, and what the industry needs to address if retail media is to unlock larger, longer-term investment.If you’re looking to understand where retail media is heading next, and what will separate the leaders from the rest, this episode offers a clear and practical view of the market.

Host James Chandler is joined by Andy Harmer OBE, Managing Director of the Cruise Lines International Association, and Robertina Tompa, Head of Cruise at Mail Metro Media, to unpack what’s driving this shift and why cruise is becoming an increasingly important growth area for publishers.The conversation looks at how storytelling is helping to reposition the category, with a focus on Mail Metro Media’s Ship Shape series, and why putting entertainment and editorial thinking first is key to building trust with audiences.We also explore what “good” publisher storytelling looks like in practice, how success is measured when the goal is changing perceptions rather than driving immediate conversion, and why video is playing a growing role alongside audio in content strategies.