AdTechGod Pod

Don Norton, General Manager of Data Solutions at AdImpact, joins AdTechGod to discuss his journey from DoubleClick and Google to AdImpact, the evolution of TV measurement, the rise of CTV, political advertising trends, AI's role in media intelligence, and why relationships still matter in an increasingly automated industry. Takeaways Don shares lessons from DoubleClick, Google, Infillion, and AdImpact. AdImpact is expanding beyond political advertising into cross-TV intelligence. CTV and broadcast measurement require larger datasets and ACR technology for accuracy. Political advertising in 2026 is expected to rival presidential election spending levels. Local CTV presents one of the biggest growth opportunities in television advertising. AI is improving data processing, automation, and predictive insights. Despite automation, trust and human relationships remain critical in media buying and selling. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Don Norton and His Ad Tech Journey01:05 Starting at DoubleClick During the Early Internet Boom02:12 The Evolution from DoubleClick to Google04:00 Leaving Google and Joining Infillion05:31 Why Don Joined AdImpact06:06 AdImpact's Growth Strategy and Expansion Beyond Political Advertising07:05 Understanding Cross-TV Measurement: Broadcast, Cable & CTV08:01 The Challenge of Measuring Linear TV and Streaming Audiences10:09 What Advertisers Want from TV Measurement11:31 How AdImpact Uses ACR Data and Large TV Panels13:14 Who Uses AdImpact's Data and Insights?14:26 The Biggest Data Challenges in Media Intelligence16:34 AI, Data Validation, and Operational Efficiency18:54 Political Advertising Outlook for 202620:27 The Future of Local CTV Advertising23:10 What's Overhyped in Ad Tech?24:00 Why Relationships Still Matter in an AI-Driven Industry26:05 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fox's $22 billion acquisition of Roku is one of the biggest media and advertising technology stories in years, and it could fundamentally reshape connected TV. In this special breaking news episode of the AdTechGod Pod, AdTechGod is joined by Kyle Dozeman Co-Founder & CEO at Kovva and former CRO of PubMatic, Richie Hyden (SVP of Publisher Solutions at Viant Technologies), and David Nyurenberg (SVP at InterMedia Advertising) to discuss the strategic implications of the deal. This episode covers why Fox made this move, what Roku's 100+ million household footprint brings to the table, and why identity, audience data, and operating system ownership may be more valuable than streaming content itself. They also discuss how the acquisition could transform audience targeting, measurement, content discovery, programmatic advertising, and Fox's ability to compete with giants like Amazon, Google, Netflix, and Disney. Will this create a new advertising powerhouse? How will brands, agencies, and publishers be affected? And five years from now, will this be remembered as a content play, an identity play, or the deal that changed connected TV forever? Tune in for expert analysis on one of the most consequential acquisitions in the history of streaming. Key topics Fox's acquisition of Roku and its strategic implications The role of identity and audience data in the deal Impact on content distribution and platform dynamics Changes in ad tech and programmatic buying Future of streaming, content, and advertising Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Acquisition 01:50 Understanding the Strategic Importance of Roku 06:21 Identity and Audience Data: The Core Asset 10:16 The Impact on Ad Placements and Market Dynamics 14:01 Advertiser Perspectives on the Acquisition 16:55 Transparency in Advertising: A New Era? 21:18 User Acquisition and Market Positioning 23:19 Future Implications of the Acquisition 26:22 Looking Ahead: The Next Five Years Interested in attending Marketecture Live Chicago on September 23, 2026?. Attendance is free for qualified brands and agencies, and early bird pricing ends soon for everyone else. Register now to secure your spot at chicago.marketecturelive.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scott McKinley, Founder & CEO of Truthset, discusses the state of data quality, identity, and measurement in digital advertising. Scott shares why the industry continues to prioritize scale over accuracy, how data quality deteriorates throughout the supply chain, and why advertisers need to rethink legacy metrics like reach and CPMs. The conversation also explores identity, walled gardens, authentication, and the future of the open internet. Takeaways Data accuracy often declines significantly as data moves through the ad tech supply chain. Scale is frequently prioritized over quality, leading to inefficient advertising spend. Advertisers should focus on precision and outcomes rather than reach alone. Authentication is critical to improving identity and publisher monetization. Independent measurement remains essential for trust and accountability in advertising. Walled gardens continue to outperform because of durable identity systems. IP addresses are an unreliable long-term replacement for cookies. The open internet must improve identity infrastructure to remain competitive. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Scott McKinley and Truthset 01:05 From Olympic cyclist to ad tech entrepreneur 03:01 The trust crisis in advertising and lessons from sports 05:25 Why advertising lacks accountability and regulation 07:00 Nielsen's role in independent measurement 09:00 Why Scott founded Truthset 11:17 Common misconceptions about data accuracy 14:20 The industry's obsession with scale over quality 17:53 Why reach is becoming an outdated metric 19:13 Signal loss, walled gardens, and measurement challenges 23:16 The future of identity in advertising 25:34 Why authentication is the path forward 25:51 The biggest misconception about IP addresses 26:43 What the open internet must do next 28:05 Closing thoughts Guests: AdTechGod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the AdTechGod Pod, Ray Adamson, Head of Solution Sales at DanAds, discusses the evolution of self-service advertising, automation in ad operations, and the publisher monetization strategies, and how AI is reshaping the future of ad tech. Learn how leading Publishers are unlocking new revenue streams and improving efficiency through self-service platforms. Takeaways Automation is becoming a business imperative in ad operations. DanAds helps publishers unlock new advertiser segments. Self-service complements sales teams rather than replacing them. Successful self-service programs require active promotion DanAds offers more than self-service technology AI is reshaping operational workflows The future belongs to creative media leaders and innovative ad tech partners. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Ray Adamson and DanAds 01:25 Ray's Journey into Ad Tech and Career Evolution 03:55 How Ad Operations Have Changed Over the Years 05:50 What DanAds Brings to the Market 07:55 The Rise of Self-Service Advertising Platforms 08:33 Build vs. Buy: Publisher Self-Service Strategies 10:09 The Impact of Self-Service on Sales Teams 10:54 Expanding Revenue Through Long-Tail Advertisers 13:19 Common Misconceptions About Self-Service Advertising 15:05 Publisher Playbooks and Marketing Support 15:52 Integrations, Workflow Automation, and Monetization Services 17:57 Which Publishers Benefit Most from DanAds? 20:28 The Future of Ad Tech, AI, and Automation 22:43 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Gina Michnowicz, CEO of The Craftsman, joins AdTechGod to discuss building a creative agency focused on storytelling, experiential marketing, and integrated campaigns for global brands like Cisco, Disney, Marvel, and Godiva. Gina shares her journey from digital consulting to launching The Craftsman, how creative ideas come to life across physical and digital experiences, and why human creativity still matters in the age of AI. From building a 3,000-chocolate-bar train for Godiva and 20th Century Fox to discussing the future of branded content and creators, this conversation dives deep into the evolving world of marketing and advertising. Takeaways Human creativity remains essential despite advances in AI. Great marketing ideas come from non-linear creative thinking. Experiential campaigns work best when integrated with digital and PR. AI is useful for productivity, but not for original ideas. Emotional storytelling is difficult for AI to replicate. Brand awareness and experiential marketing are becoming more valuable. Creators will need to focus on authentic and original content. The best campaigns connect people emotionally to brands. Chapters 00:00 Gina Michnowicz joins the podcast and introduces The Craftsman. 01:09 Gina shares her journey from consulting to founding her agency. 03:44 How The Craftsman works with brands like Disney, Cisco, and Godiva. 06:32 Building integrated campaigns that combine experiential, PR, and social. 07:06 The story behind the 3,000 chocolate bar Godiva train campaign. 09:42 How Gina’s digital background shaped her creative approach. 11:12 Gina’s perspective on AI in creativity and advertising. 14:21 Why AI struggles with original creative ideas. 17:46 The emotional gap between AI-generated and human-made content. 20:45 Where creativity, branding, and marketing are heading next. 22:50 Gina shares her optimism for the future of creative work. Guests: AdTech God Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices