The Marketing & AI Podcast: The MAP

The Human Challenge of AI Transformation

Successful AI adoption is not just a technology challenge — it is a human one too, shaped by culture, diversity of perspective, governance and trust.

In this episode, Deepak Patel joins us to discuss the human responsibilities that come with AI transformation. Deepak is an experienced transformation leader and Managing Director of DSP Consulting Ltd, and has previously held senior roles at Deutsche Bank, Nomura and Hitachi.

We explore how AI can amplify an organisation’s institutional knowledge and strengths, but also how, when implemented poorly, it can rein...

More than 35% of product discovery is already happening inside AI-driven search experiences rather than on retailer websites.

In this episode of The MAP, Hal Kimber and Nick Darby speak with Raj Balasundaram, Founder and CEO of Bayezon AI, about what this shift means for marketers, retailers, and the future of e-commerce.

Hal first heard Raj speak at the Digital Leaders Summit, where he described the rise of agentic commerce — a world where AI agents increasingly sit between customers and brands.

Instead of browsing product pages and comparing websites, customers can now describe what th...

What is really happening with AI adoption in the US?

In this episode, Hal Kimber and Nick Darby speak to San Francisco–based Mark Fallows - an experienced digital strategist, creative leader and consultant - about what AI transformation actually looks like inside businesses today.

While many assume American companies are racing ahead with AI, the reality is more nuanced. Experimentation is widespread — but true transformation remains uneven.

Mark’s deeper insight?

AI transformation starts with human transformation.

The real competitive advantage isn’t access to tools — it’s unlocking in...

Can a UK based AI Start-up Take Businesses to the Next Level?

Many organisations are now experimenting with AI tools across different functions, but what does a true enterprise AI solution actually look like?

In this episode of The Marketing & AI Podcast, we speak to the founders of Nimbus AI about their vision for AI operating at the very heart of the enterprise, not just as a collection of disconnected tools.

We explore how Nimbus is approaching enterprise AI adoption, the problems they believe businesses need to solve next, and what it means...

Over the last year on The MAP, we’ve explored how AI is being adopted by marketers — but what impact is it having on our colleagues in Product?

In this episode, we speak to Dave Martin, an experienced product leader, consultant, advisor, mentor, and fractional CPO.

Dave shares his perspective on how AI is changing the way product teams process customer insight, prototype ideas, and move from concept to delivery at greater speed. We also explore how AI can support the transition from Manager to Leader, helping new leaders communicate more clearly, build trust, and navi...

From Policy to Practice: Building the UK's AI Advantage

Every week we talk about how marketers are adapting to AI. But behind the scenes, there’s also a policy process shaping the rules, skills, and investment environment that will decide how fast UK businesses can really move.

In this episode, we speak with Tim Flagg, CEO of UKAI, the new trade body helping accelerate responsible AI adoption across the UK. From major corporations to start-ups, UKAI is uniting the ecosystem to turn policy into practice championing skills, smarter regulation, innovation, and trust.

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How is AI impacting the world of HR — and what do we all need to know to be ready?

In this episode, we speak to Sarah Harris, Managing Director at HR People Support, to understand how the workplace itself is being reshaped from the inside out as we step further into this AI-led future — and the pitfalls to avoid, whether you’re a recruiter, candidate, employer, or employee.

Is your HR team ready for AI?

AI video tools are exploding, but can they make creative production faster without stripping out the human touch?

In this episode we speak to John Gargiulo, founder and CEO of Airpost, an “expert-led” video ad platform. John shares how he’s aiming to democratise and automate video ad production, turning high-volume social video creation into a genuine game changer for brands of all sizes. All while keeping a human expert involved to take the AI the last five miles and keep things real.

How do we move beyond the hype and use AI to genuinely amplify talent and growth?

In this episode, we speak with Dino Gane-Palmer, founder and CEO of innovation consultancy PreScouter, and author of Do More With Less: The AI Playbook for Amplifying Talent and Output. Dino shares how businesses can avoid common pitfalls and build an AI playbook that delivers real results — in as little as eight hours.

What does a dead shark have to do with the future of branding?

In this episode of The MAP, brand expert Bob Sheard, Co-Founder of FreshBritain and author of The Brand New Future: How Brands Can Save the World, shares the story of his “shark epiphany” — and how it reshaped his perspective on using AI for brands.

We explore how FreshBritain is using AI to help brands swim faster and grow bigger — without drowning. From producing films in record time, to creating AI-driven marketplaces, to designing richer brand experiences, Bob explains what remains timeless in branding...

Will AI unleash a new wave of human creativity?

In this episode, we speak with Philip Marshall, Executive Creative Director, consultant, and lecturer on culture at the University of West London. Philip explains why he sees AI as a golden opportunity for creatives to refocus on the inspiring, original, and brave work that builds brands — while leaving AI to handle the day-to-day, run-of-the-mill output that too often feels like the default setting in 2025.

"Learn the tools and break the rules!"

You can subscribe to Philip’s thought-provoking pieces on LinkedIn here: Philip Marshall on Lin...

When AI Overviews slash your organic traffic, what do you do next?

In this episode, we speak with Alex Brown — a consultant in the fiercely competitive world of business school admissions, and course leader in Digital Marketing and Digital Strategy at both Emeritus and London Business School.

Alex shares how the GEO shockwave hit his marketing efforts at Clear Admit — and the smart, practical steps he's taken to stay visible in an AI-dominated search landscape.

🔗 Ask Clear Admit: https://ai.clearadmit.com/ask-clear-admit/

🔗 Connect with Alex: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexbrownracing/

With AI overviews slashing organic traffic, how do brands win share of voice in the age of GEO?

In this episode we speak to Michael Hermon, founder of Spotlight - https://www.get-spotlight.com - the first share of voice tool built for LLMs. He takes us through the how fast this shift is happening, what risks businesses face if they ignore this, and the strategies you need to adopt to get AI talking about your brand.

If not all followers are equal, should total follower count really be your KPI?

In today’s social-media-driven economy, around 10% of your audience typically generates 70% of your value. In this episode, we speak with Ethan Monkhouse, Founder & CTO of Naviro.ai, about how Precision AI helps brands and creators identify and nurture the signals, content, and followers that truly matter. We explore how these insights can transform marketing strategy, sharpen budget allocation, and drive measurable business impact — without chasing vanity metrics.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Naviro.ai – Precision AI for creators

Should we be more optimistic about our future with AI?

In this inspiring episode, Jason Thomson, Senior Vice President at Mintel, explains how he is not only leading AI innovation at global market intelligence giant Mintel, but also why he believes the future for our jobs with AI is not nearly as stark as some have been predicting.

How should marketers work with their tech colleagues in the age of AI?

In this episode, we speak with Sandeep Seeripat, Global Business Transformation and Technology Officer at TwiningsOvo, to explore how tech and marketing teams must work hand-in-hand to seize AI opportunities without losing control. From strategic alignment to risk mitigation, Sandeep shares how Twinings is navigating the AI revolution—and what every marketer needs to know now

To what extent should businesses consider the ethical implications of AI transformation?

In this highly stimulating episode McKinley Hyden, Director of Data Value and Strategy at the Financial Times, shares the work she has been doing on AI transformation that led to the FT recently winning "Generative AI Initiative of the Year" at the 2025 British Data Awards.

She is utterly compelling in her view that AI transformation is not just a technical challenge - but one that goes to the very heart of ethics in business.

Can AI make us better leaders?

Leadership isn’t a job. It’s a privilege — because one conversation can change someone’s future. In this episode, Brett Engeman, founder of Aspirational Leaders Co., shares how he’s using AI to augment leadership — helping leaders lead with insight, set smarter goals, and build stronger teams.

How is AI helping advertisers radically improve on the limits of programmatic advertising?

In this latest episode to look at how AI is rapidly transforming the world of media we speak to Tom Quick, CEO and founder of Entity X, about how his company is using AI to quantify cultural intelligence and enable cultural activation for brands, helping agencies and clients create more relevant, impactful campaigns.

What does Agentic AI mean for the future of Consumer Insight teams?

In this episode, we speak with Justin Ibbett, founder and CEO of Focaldata, the world's first AI co-worker for consumer insight.

In the near term, Justin believes Agentic AI will "give researchers superpowers." But he's also clear-eyed about the long-term. Consumer Insight has traditionally been about predicting the future to spot business opportunities....

...but what now does the future hold for researchers themselves?

AI is fundamentally disrupting both content marketing and SEO. By 2026, 90% of all online content is projected to be AI-generated, according to Europol. So what opportunities does this create for marketers?

In this episode, we speak to Erik Wikander, co-founder and CEO of Wilgot.ai, a start-up redefining how high-quality content is created and scaled in the era of AI search. He gives his invaluable perspective on how rapidly the landscape is changing— and why most marketers are still stuck recycling, rather than amplifying, their ideas.

He also unpacks why he calls AI “the ultimate unlock for the i...

Does AI spell the end of SEO as we know it?

2024 was a landmark year for AI in search — and if Google & Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai’s latest insights are anything to go by, 2025 will be even bigger. In this episode, we speak to Nathan Mzumara, Head of SEO at OneAdvanced Software Solutions, about how he and his peers are adapting to the rapidly evolving SEO landscape.

Will Agentic AI Spell the Death of the Creative Agency?

In this episode, we speak to Kate Ross, MD of social and content agency eight&four, about the impact AI has had on creative agencies and how her agency has responded.

In a passionate and highly entertaining discussion, Kate unpicks the current reality of AI versus its initial promise, shares how eight&four has adapted, and raises some timely questions for those considering a shift to an agentic marketing model.

In this episode, we speak with Tim Sparke, a founder of Congregation.io, a talent practice that builds change-ready marketing teams.

Tim shares insights from the AI adoption workshops he's been leading for major global brands like Coca-Cola and over 50 in-house creative teams—revealing what he’s learned about navigating AI-driven transformation in marketing and creativity.

How can AI help entrepreneurs bring their ideas to life faster and level the playing field?

In this episode, we speak to Imogen Wethered, a former B2B SaaS founder and CEO who successfully exited her company and now advises and invests in startups and scale-ups. We explore how AI is reshaping entrepreneurship, making innovation more accessible, and how the landscape has evolved since she launched her first business in 2012."

What pitfalls do businesses need to avoid when devising their AI strategy?

In this episode, we hear from Aron Cody Boucher, founder of the Marketing Foundry consultancy and a seasoned fractional CMO.

With senior marketing experience at OnBuy and Sea Salt, Aron shares his insights into the risks AI presents to businesses—and why these risks must be carefully managed.

How are AI and Robotics Reshaping Retail?

In this episode, we speak with retail expert Gary McDonald from Limitless Insights, a leading retail analytics platform. He shares how AI and robotics are changing the retail industry, driving efficiency and enhancing customer experiences. But while automation is on the rise, Gary reminds us of the critical role of 'humans in the loop'—not just in decision-making but also on the shop floor.

In this episode, we hear from Al Berry, an award-winning brand storyteller and brand growth and innovation partner at global brand consultancy Pay Close Attention.

Brand storytelling isn’t just a marketing tool—it’s a strategic imperative. Stories shape how brands present themselves to the world.

The challenge for marketing professionals is to harness storytelling responsibly—using AI to enhance creativity while safeguarding the authenticity that gives stories their power. Compelling stuff.

In this episode we speak to Haya Barlas, Head of Product Marketing at justgiving.com and hear how using AI to help fundraiser storytelling has increased Charity donations by 25% on the platform!

In this episode we interview Rachael Grieve, Global Head of Learning and Development for Technology at a major global investment bank and securities firm. In a truly inspiring episode, Rachael shares how she devised and delivered a hackathon for AI that not only achieved unprecedented engagement globally at every level of the business but over 400 ideas from employees for how AI can enhance their areas and roles.

If you are looking for inspiration to drive change at enterprise level and inspire and engage your workforce, this episode is a must listen!

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Are British business leaders gearing up to be AI-ready? This question is explored with our guest on this episode, Helen Ritchie. Helen is a Digital Marketing and Transformation Specialist, and as a consultant and lecturer has designed and delivered learning programmes on leading digital transformation for such esteemed institutions as the London Business School, the UN, as well as business schools and Universities in India and Singapore.

Helen is a passionate advocate for the swift adoption of AI by British businesses and has successfully placed it at the heart of her digital marketing and transformation courses. But...

In this episode we speak to Pete Robins, founder of Project 5 - a specialist commerce, marketplace and retail media agency. Pete shares his vision for the future of media empowered by AI, the opportunity presented by AI insights from customer data - and the advent of the new 'AI enhanced' media planner.! A truly fascinating discussion! For more information please contact Pete via his LinkedIn bio here https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterobins/

In this episode we are joined by Alan Mulrooney, an experienced advisor to businesses on training and apprenticeships. Alan tells us about the work he is doing with AI in preparing young people for the workplace and has useful practical tips for marketers of all levels seeking to develop their skills.

If you'd like to get in touch with Alan following this episode his LinkedIn details are here https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-m-6a408b252/

In this episode we speak to Andy Tarnai. Over a highly distinguished career, Andy has held various regional and global marketing roles in consumer healthcare, leading to general management and now consulting. In a highly stimulating conversation he shares insights from his learning journey with AI and how he applies it to his experience as a classically trained marketer. Dave shares his views on the importance of a sandbox and Nick points out not if his cat Raymond has been anywhere near it....

Hal, Nick and Dave introduce who they are, why they are starting a podcast, why marketers should start thinking about AI now and what common misconceptions they've seen to date. And why a pencil case for Christmas is an excellent idea...

The launch trailer for the Marketing and AI podcast - a new podcast helping marketers navigate this new AI-driven World.