Insider Interviews with E.B. Moss

Thanks to The Podcast Academy, Ti King and I got to attend #PopCon with the intention of evangelizing podcasting (and the Academy, of course! See links for joining, below.) After I got used to the costumed attendees of PopCon, and fan-girled a few anime voice talents and celebrities on site, I got down to business and led a panel of podcasting experts on how to create, market, and monetize a podcast.

Guests include Brittany Bigelow of Bigelow Creative, Dawn-Michelle Lewis of Salutations Media, filmmaker and podcast host Vergie Rodriguez, and James Starace of Focus 360/Creator Square. 

The first time I heard voices I thought I was losing my mind. AI-generated voices, that is. Because I couldn’t believe how “real” they sounded. Listen to the intro to this episode and tell me what YOU think. Then find the little samples of producer Jim Mullen’s voice later in this episode!

I’m still wrapping my head around all that is possible — and all that has changed in the world of content creation and media production. That’s exactly why I knew I had to bring together two of the most credentialed producers I know to talk a...

In 10 quick but memorable minutes I’m sharing my observations and experiences with marketing strategies I had close encounters with over the recent Memorial Day weekend. From an innovative Fresh Direct pop-up, to a Rosé Soirée in the Hamptons with missed promotional opportunities, these are my thoughts on some effective …and ineffective … marketing tactics. And I borrow from one of the 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing, by brilliant marketing strategist, Jack Trout.

It’s two exclusive conversations in one episode! During the recent #possible2025 conference in Miami* I conducted two short insider interviews that were long on advertising industry insights.

Peter Jones, VP of Revenue at Premion, explained why local advertising is booming, the importance of data-driven strategies, and how omnichannel measurement is revolutionizing campaign attribution Then, Sheila Marmon, Founder and CEO of Mirror Digital discussed the $6.8 trillion buying power of diverse audiences, digital innovation for inclusive marketing, and why brand are best served by connecting with multicultural consumers.

Take a listen (or, watch/listen via YouTube ) an...

In a never-more-important throwback episode from 2021, hear again from KoAnn Skrzyniarz – who for years has been making a strong case for building Sustainable Brands in global conversations with some of the world’s biggest advertisers. Learn why there’s STILL a business — and social — value to purpose, perhaps even more so as environmental gains and progress towards sustainability are being undone with ‘drill, baby, drill’ threats and short-sighted profit-driven agendas.

In time for Earth Month, or any time, KoAnn (frequently known by just her first name) shares not just the “whys”, but some “hows”: how sustainability has moved the needle for l...

What happens when leadership loses its way — and work loses its soul, let alone its staff? In S2 Ep37 the impressive Rishad Tobaccowala, futurist, author, and former Chief Strategy / Growth Officer (now Senior Advisor) of Publicis Groupe joins me on Insider Interviews to offer a refreshingly human take on the future of work.

And yes, we have a musical interlude….

The author of “Restoring the Soul of Business” and his latest,  “Rethinking Work,” explains what it really takes to stay relevant in marketing — and business in general. As Rishad says,

“Change Sucks. But irrelevance is wo...

Wendy Lund isn’t just a powerhouse in healthcare marketing — she’s also a longtime family friend, thanks to her working alongside my sister Lisa years ago — also in healthcare marketing — then becoming neighbors and “besties.”  As a result, I also know Wendy is a longtime advocate for women’s health, and is as passionate about promoting good information as she is about, well, her dog, Yogi!

And that is one cute dog: spoiler alert in case you miss the video.

As Chief Client Officer of Health@WPP, former CEO of GCI Health, and former Chief Comm...

Mack McKelvey, Founder and CEO of SalientMG, joins me to explain why “being uncomfortable” has been a great recipe for success throughout her award-winning career in tech and marketing.

With remarkable candor, Mack reveals how disruption propelled her from big tech brands like Lucent, Verisign, and British Telecom to the startup world, where she mastered being an “intrapreneur” before launching her own ventures.

While I almost give away what my initials (E.B.) stand for, Mack shares the fun but sobering story behind her own name change—and a realization about “what’s in a name.” It defi...

Out-of-home advertising isn’t just about billboards anymore.

With data-driven targeting, creative innovations, and deep measurement capabilities, the OOH industry has transformed into a sophisticated media channel that deserves a bigger seat at the table. In this episode of Insider Interviews, I got to explore the great outdoors with David Krupp, Global CEO of Billups, and Jaime Byrdak, CEO of North America, to go beyond the boards and explore how out-of-home (‘OOH’ and ‘DOOH’) is making an undeniable impact on today’s media mix.

David and Jaime bring decades of experience in the industry, having worked toget...

For my 2025 kickoff of Insider Interviews marketing luminaries Lou Paskalis and David Sable joined me for one of the most candid conversations on the media and ad world that cuts through the “digibabble” – the term David famously coined a few years back.

We moved from their personal passions (don’t get David started on The Doors!) to how advertising evolved in the tech era… to its future, jam packed with opinions based on their decades of award-winning experience.

(Lou, who previously ran global marketing at a couple of small brands you may have heard of...

Fresh from the floor of CES 2025, I grabbed about 10 minutes each with two brilliant minds in technology and innovation who shared fascinating insights about where we’re headed in this AI-driven world for a fast but powerful bonus episode.

Andrew Klein, who leads creative technology and innovation at PMCI (Publicis Media Content and Innovation Team), dove straight into how generative AI is becoming increasingly woven into our daily lives.

He painted a vivid picture of our near future, where wearable AI technology won’t just sit on our desks but...

Navigating the chaos of the advertising world can be daunting (for advertisers AND journalists!), but Jason Brown, Chief Revenue Officer of SpectrumReach, helped simplify our wild industry in this Epi 32 of Insider Interviews – just like he and his team do for their 20,000+ advertisers nationwide. From big-picture strategy to the nitty-gritty of local targeting, Jason shared how the sales arm of Charter Communications delivers on its mission to simplify and supercharge advertising success.

How does Spectrum Reach make it all work?

Well, think premium inventory, measurable outcomes, and advanced targeting.  Plus a new partnership with Amazon Ads...

We’ve heard “doing good” can be good for business. But Chad Hickey, CEO of Givsly, is helping brands do more than “good,” but to align their values with consumers to drive growth and meaningful impact. And in just six years his company has directed over $2 million to nearly 500 nonprofits and likely made 8 out of 10 consumers happier!

On this last 2024 episode of Insider Interviews, I couldn’t think of a better way to give back to YOU, my valued readers, listeners and watchers, than to have Chad share how Givsly helps companies weave their corporate values into traditional...

I’m heading off to the Sports Business Journal’s 25th annual celebration tonight (11/22), toasting “40 Under 40” in Sports Marketing, which includes the CEO of USA Fencing, Phil Andrews. So, in homage, and since his triumphant return from the Olympics and Paralympics which took place after this recording, I’m sharing a replay of our Insider Interviews episode, ICYMI!
And, if you were living under a rock, know that history was made. I asked Phil for his recap and he said:

“We made history at Paris 2024 on and off the piste, sharing the gold medal lead for the first ti...

In a fast run through the Javits Center prepping for 120,000 visitors, here’s a BONUS episode with exclusive behind-the-scenes conversations with sponsors of the TCS New York City Marathon!

Thanks to NY Road Runners – the creator of the largest marathon in the world — I spontaneously interviewed five lead NYRR partners about why these brands invest in events.

Gain insights from representatives of TCS, New Balance, United Airlines, MasterCard, and Citizens Bank, as they discuss their motivations and the impact of their sponsorship. Highlights include New Balance’s massive retail setup, TCS’s Future Athlete Pr...

Learn why I asked Razorfish Chief Creative Officer, Anthony Yell, for a Vulcan mind meld.

He’s not your typical CCO. With a reverence — and professional envy — for drummers who keep things moving, he is a digital marketer who dances to a different beat: Anthony credits a passion for Legos (!), emblematic of analog games, as an antidote to screen time and keeping him balanced in his work at the digital-first shop.

As a multi-Cannes Lion and Clio winner, it must be working. But his understanding and application of cutting-edge digital strategies and tech applied to creati...

What do you get when you combine a Grammy winning billionaire rapper with the content marketer of a multi-billion dollar brand… A multicultural content amplifier expert with a free wheelin’ media pro?

You get insights from four incredible individuals who gave spontaneous Insider Interviews to me during Advertising Week New York 2024.

Guests and Highlights

1. Kris Magel, VP, Head of Global Agency Partnerships – Freewheel:

Kris discusses his new role and how Freewheel is making things easier for #CTV providers and advertisers. 

He explains the company’s efforts to “demurkify”...

I connected with Jill Schnitt, President of Omnicom’s Outdoor Media Group (OMG), to explore how they’re connecting with audiences on every step of the customer journey through innovative uses of Out of Home (OOH) and Digital Out of Home (DOOH) media.

Jill shares insights on everything from how her team leverages programmatic Digital Out-of-Home (pDOOH!) to the creative campaigns that literally make brands jump out, whether in Times Square or at a gas pump.

Jill breaks down the evolution of OOH, where digital formats and data are reshaping the landscape and the growing role...

Matt Repicky, Chief Brand Officer of Tailored Brands – known for Men’s Wearhouse and Jos. A. Bank – shares what he’s learned about making iconic brands more culturally relevant. With a career trajectory that included Accenture to Amazon, a stint in Pharma, even leading global brand marketing for the Barbie brand at Mattel, I call Matt a “marketing polymath.”

(Don’t blink and miss his star turn in “Tiny Shoulders” – the great documentary on evolving Barbie’s very shape.)  

Learn what Matt’s learned — going from dolls to men. In his current home of the past five years he’s been mo...

Get two insider scoops in Epi 26 on how to create — then share — top podcasts: First up, podcast veteran Jason Hoch, creator of many number one shows, shares with host E.B. Moss how he made stuff work at HowStuffWorks…. Then Jason tells how serendipity led him to collaborate with Tenderfoot TV to make the groundbreaking show, Atlanta Monster …and what he thinks are the ingredients for not just chart-toppers, but compelling stories that are essential listening today.

Jason’s success continued at Imperative Entertainment with Boomtown, (soon to be cross-over IP as a TV show!) which was an eye-ope...

Steve Lickteig has the monumental task of ensuring that CNN’s podcasting content is as compelling and trustworthy as its news broadcasts. Gina Garrubbo leverages the value of NPR being one of the most trusted brands in the world to entice sponsors. These two highly respected executives spoke with me spontaneously during the recent Podcast Movement conferences held in Washington, DC, on all things podcasting for a well-rounded Episode 25 of Insider Interviews.

The Multifaceted Role of a Podcast Executive

When asked about his daily responsibilities, Steve Lickteig explained how an Executive Producer has to...

Content USED TO BE “king”. But according to Premion, the Customer rules over all in the land of CTV, streaming and local Advertising. Learn about all the advantages of streaming media.

New research out of Premion and Advertiser Perceptions revealed significant trends in ad spend shifting towards streaming and away from traditional media channels and increases in CTV budgets overall. (See links and download their survey results for free, here!)  

Their former head of sales, John Vilade, has a knack for explaining complex concepts like targeting, programmatic buying, and brand safety in a way tha...

In this bonus episode of Insider Interviews, I’m narrating an article I published in trade pub, The Customer, on how podcasting drives real love… and emotional connections.

I’ll describe a  personal story about how my podcast actually helped a friend find love! But it’s really more about the importance of humanizing content and creating brand appeal.  I explain my approach that generates this kind of response form guests:

Ever wonder how niche sports like fencing stay relevant and grow their fanbase? In Epi 23 of Insider Interviews, I chat with Phil Andrews, who I call the British Ted Lasso for bringing a Midas touch to the world of parries and ripostes as CEO of USA Fencing. Fresh from transforming USA Weightlifting, Phil is now wielding his marketing saber to make fencing a “thing” with record-setting results.

In time to understand the sport in advance of the Paris Olympic Games, Phil and I explore how he’s applying creative strategies to boost awareness, revenue, and membership in a spor...

At an age when most are consumed with after-school activities, 17-year-old Braden Blacker is consumed with generating a billion-views a month. The entrepreneurial high schooler is disrupting the creator marketing industry, helping manage staggering monthly viewership for top influencers like The Botez Sisters and Sketch, across platforms like YouTube and Twitch. Listen to Braden to understand how to maximize visibility and influence in the digital media world.

And in an almost impossible feat, Evan Shapiro has corralled the comparative sizes and revenue of every media entity onto a single sheet of paper, making this cartographer a media...

Can AI revolutionize media without sacrificing creativity and jobs? My latest episode was recorded spontaneously at the Streaming Media Conference in New York, starting with media cartographer Evan Shapiro to explain and caution us about the current media landscape, especially regarding connected TV challenges.

Evan, who helmed and shaped the conference, walks the innovation talk, opting to spark  debate and dialogue instead of the usual talking head format. 

“We wanted this to be a collision of different points of view and honest conversations about the real problems the media universe is facing right now,” Evan explai...

To learn about how audio and advertising is evolving — in an enjoyable way — there’s really no one better to hear from than John Rosso. While I’ll forever be grateful that perhaps helping him pivot to avoid a close encounter with potato salad (you’ll just have to listen to understand) led me to work for him at then Citadel Media, he has since continued to hold pivotal roles and helped shape the audio landscape.

For example, during his current tenure as President/CEO of Triton Digital, the company has acquired a cutting edge service to aid in con...

Hear from the Angie behind Angi – the home services powerhouse formerly known as Angie’s List. Imagine being a shy recent college grad and launching a service business — by knocking on doors…. Now imagine evolving it into an international corporation. Angie Hicks describes this remarkable entrepreneurial story – and why she is encouraging others on their own business path – in the skilled trades. Oh, and why she would never encourage anyone to try to hang wallpaper with their spouse!

Marketers will appreciate this informative conversation around Angie’s 25+ year story of brand building, innovative growth strategies, and how tenacity can ma...

Some of podcasting’s pros shared what’s new in the industry that’s making life easier for creators, advertisers and fans! While at Podcast Movement Evolutions in Los Angeles, I spoke with Justine Benjamin of AdsWizz/Simplecast, Todd Cochrane of Blubrry Podcasting, and Sam Sethi – who I know and love from his own co-hosting of PodNews Weekly Review podcast, but now also the founder of a whole new way to monetize podcasts.

Here’s what you’ll learn from these on-the-fly conversations with industry trailblazers who are shaping the future of podcasting:

First up, Justine Benj...

Another Podcast Movement show is coming up — the “Evolutions” version, out of Los Angeles, with a focus on creators. I’ll be sharing some takeaways from that conference in an upcoming episode. But in the meantime, here’s a repeat episode to get you in the mood, with still highly valuable info gathered in June ’23 during the main PodcastMovement conference – with a focus on the business and production.

You’ll hear all about how a “holistic” approach applied to the business of podcasting helps leverage all aspects of it to drive growth. In this episode of Insider Interviews I spoke w...

Before she became an expert in video commerce, Cynthia Nelson participated in developing some of the first e-commerce and shopping sites, which paved the way for platforms like Amazon. Now in Epi 17 of Insider Interviews with E.B. Moss she offers practically a master class in the evolving world of shoppable video — or as she prefers to call it (and hear why): “video commerce.”

After a stint in early Silicon Valley days (think pre-eBay/HSN!) Cynthia tackled a new approach to packaging content for Spanish-speaking parents with a TV meets 360-platform, Todo Bebe. And now, through her curren...

CES (now an acronym, but AKA the Consumer Electronics Show) has grown beyond just a cool tool and tech showcase to being a place ripe for conversations on cool marketing and ad tech. It was a watershed moment for the attendee count of my media industry cohort, with many remarking that it was like a reunion from the old cable conference days. 

I took advantage of seeing friends before leaving Las Vegas to have three enlightening discussions: From Prohaska Consulting and E.W. Scripps’ effort to Rebrand the News and rehabilitate its brand safety perceptions, to Marketing Arch...

I strolled CES with thought leaders David Berkowitz, founder of Serial Marketers, AIMG and FOAF, Jeff Minsky, Founder, Mediawhizards, LLC, and longtime media sales pro, Kathy Newberger.

In this bonus episode, we touched on a wide range of topics shaping the future of the industry…and covered some literal miles, too.  We compared firsthand experiences, some cutting-edge technologies, innovative products, and inspiring activations from global companies.

David Berkowitz explained his own AI Marketers Guild and what’s intrigued him – like AI-powered beauty makeovers to AR projected in Zoom rooms. Is there still a place for the IOT...

Kicking off 2024, my fellow podcaster – but really more known as the expert in shoppable video, Cynthia Nelson – turned the mic on me, inviting me to guest on her show “Let’s Talk About Live Shopping.” Being in the hot seat myself was instructive as I thought back to the many takeaways of my inspiring guests in the media and marketing landscape this past year. Then we vamped about what’s coming down the pike as I head to CES this week! (I encourage listeners to catch the last couple minutes to see if you can spot the AI version of me!)

Did you know being “Hispanic” is not a thing in Europe? Just ask Claudia Romo Edelman.

While living in many countries — as a Head of Public Relations for the World Economic Forum, to a Marketing Professor in Geneva — she was simply Mexican, no different from how her friends from Venezuela or Guatemala were identified by their own nationalities. Then, Edelman moved to the U.S. and got a new label – “Hispanic” or “Latina.” She’s embraced the description with the same spirit she welcomes any respectful nod to her heritage. For her, it’s all about just making sure she and th...

Can branded entertainment be “bingeable?” If it’s engaging and the characters are relatable!

What if no one watches? They will if that branded content is made — then promoted — by Leap Media.

That’s what I learned from speaking with Chris Pizzurro, Co-Founder and Principal of Leap Media Group, and Michele Fino, Head of Branded Entertainment at Crackle.

Here’s how they do it:

Chris Pizzurro has had an award-winning career in media, including a dozen years at Turner Broadcasting where he was involved in an early-stage form of branded entertainment. (And, he shared...

When you think about it, national advertising can definitely build awareness — or brand equity. But as Keith Kazerman, President of Locality Streaming pointed out, every purchase made actually occurs LOCALLY.  Hmm. There was a lot more food for thought in Episode “lucky” 13 when I sat down with Keith and his counterpart, Ann Hailer, President, Locality Broadcast.

Ann and Keith are like a “Local Ads Power Couple.” They are so on the same page about the of power of pairing broadcast and streaming you’ll hear that they sometimes finish each other’s sentences. We need more of this approach i...

In this bonus episode of Insider Interviews, captured during Advertising Week 2023, I spontaneously interviewed three impressive executives on how each injects the human touch to various aspects of culture in media: Sports, Multicultural and Podcasting content.

First, Marissa Solis, SVP of Marketing for the NFL, discusses how the NFL is incorporating AI to generate game highlights, enhance player safety and even to to engage younger audiences, all while still maintaining a human touch on and off the field. 

“Through the power of AI technology, we were able to take the game in real time and ani...

It’s a jam-packed Epi 12 with my longtime industry friend, Lou Paskalis, CEO and Founder of AJL Advisory and strategic advisor to Ad Fontes Media.

We had a lively stroll down memory lane (and, yes, I sing to him), reminiscing about working on promotions for E&J Gallo Winery/Food Network years ago to rubbing elbows at Cannes Lions this past year.

Then he shared some solid food for thought – especially around the gauntlet he’s become known for throwing down lately: supporting quality journalism through brands...

Head of marketing for T-Ads, the advertising solutions division of T-Mobile, Cherian Thomas describes the evolution of his rideshare entertainment platform, Octopus, to creating brand love across all digital out of home screens. In this upbeat but informative conversation with the high-energy “Doctor Thomas,” Insider Interviews host E.B. Moss also gets the download on DOOH from DPAA CEO, Barry Frey, to offer listeners and viewers a complete picture of the state of screens today.

QUOTES AND TIMESTAMPS