Insider Interviews: Media and Marketing Pros

Privacy is one of those topics everyone knows they should understand better—right up until it becomes urgent. Headline: it’s urgent. That’s exactly why I wanted Richy Glassberg, CoFounder / CEO of SafeGuard Privacy, on the show: to tackle what may be the most complex challenge marketers face: privacy compliance at scale. Sample Page: SafeGuard Privacy Playbook Richy brings big credibility to the conversation. You’ll hear the stories of a career that included helping launch CNN.com and its digital business, co-founding the IAB, and building an advertising infrastructure still used across the industry. He likes to build things. And we’re the better for it. Because he’s THE person to help explain why privacy laws aren’t just legal issues—they’re structural ones. And why, if you work in marketing, advertising, media, or tech, these laws apply to you whether you realize it or not. “These laws don’t care what kind of digital advertising you do. They ask one question: ‘do you have data on a consumer, and what are you doing with it?’” Richy breaks down what regulators are actually asking, why enforcement is picking up, and why brands are now responsible not only for themselves, but for their entire partner ecosystem. “Privacy doesn’t have to slow growth. If you standardize it, make it auditable, and prove it once, it becomes a competitive advantage.” What I appreciate most about Richy’s approach is that it’s practical, and empathetic. He understands the values and the limitations of AI. He knows human attorneys need to be involved. He has made sure that SafeGuard is nimble and building systems that make compliance auditable, efficient, and—yes—actually helpful to growth, even when the rules keep changing. We also talk about: Why inboxes listed on privacy policies are now enforcement targets How standardization saved digital advertising once before…and why it’s key to compliance now Where AI fits into privacy workflows (and where it shouldn’t) Why proving compliance matters more than promising it If privacy still feels abstract or overwhelming, this conversation will give you clarity—and probably a healthy nudge to check a few things you’ve been meaning to look at. Speaking of healthy, I’m so honored to have Richy on for 23 million additional reasons: he is also a founding force behind BreastCancer.org, (did we mention they are matching donations through December?) It’s now one of the most recognizable, trusted, peer-reviewed health information sites in the world. Richy put his powers to use, from grabbing the URL to creating the revenue streams that are the foundation for its viability and ability to serve more than 20 million women globally, and counting. Richy Glassberg works in a world defined by discretion and safeguards, yet remains an open book—grounded in purpose, devoted to his wife and best friend Katy, loyal to his Jack Russells, disciplined through 30 years of training in Shorin-Ryu Karate, and committed to making privacy compliance clearer, calmer, and more human. Key Moments: 00:00 – Why privacy compliance has become a business risk CMOs can’t ignore 4:10 – How data privacy laws impact all forms of digital advertising 8:55 – How Richy’s sneakers explain privacy really well 12:40 – Why brands are now responsible for vendors…and their vendors’ vendors 17:05 – What enforcement really looks like (and why it’s accelerating) 22:30 – How standardization turns compliance into a competitive advantage 26:15 – Using AI to assist privacy teams without replacing legal judgment 30:45 – From building CNN.com to how a pixel protected Ted Turner’s business 34:50 – The origins of BreastCancer.org and why it’s the work Richy’s most proud of 39:10 – Putting digital to good while keeping the open internet viable 41:55 – What’s next at SafeGuard Privacy Connect with Richy Glassberg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richy-glassberg-49a915 Visit SafeGuard Privacy for more resources: http://www.safeguardprivacy.com Connect with E.B. Moss and Insider Interviews: With Media & Marketing Experts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mossappeal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insiderinterviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsiderInterviewsPodcast/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@insiderinterviews Please follow Insider Interviews, share with another smart business leader, and leave a comment on @Apple or @Spotify… or a tip in my jar!: https://buymeacoffee.com/mossappeal! THANK YOU for listening!

Neil Vogel, CEO of People Inc., has done something remarkable in an industry that’s been writing its own eulogy for years. He’s made legacy media look relevant and publishing thrive. As the head of America’s largest magazine publisher—home to People, Travel & Leisure, Better Homes & Gardens and more—he’s navigated one of the most turbulent periods in magazine, let alone media, history with a perspective that’s refreshingly unsentimental and, frankly, bullish on publishing. The Mindset That Matters What becomes clear quickly is that Neil operates from a different premise than a lot of industry vets. Neil Vogel, CEO, People Inc. He doesn’t see change as something to fear or fight. Instead, he sees it as the operating environment: “We’re going to happen to things. Things are not going to happen to us.” It’s a subtle shift, but it changes everything about how you approach strategy. He also refuses to accept the tired narrative that media is dying. “Media is a fantastic business,” he told me. “People are on media more now than ever before, and there’s more money being spent against media in various ways.” The problem isn’t media; it’s when companies cling to old business models instead of adapting the execution while keeping the core mission intact. The Search Reality Check One of the sharpest insights from our conversation centered on the collapse of search dominance. When Dotdash was independent, 70 percent of traffic came from search. That was their “mall.” But the mall blew up. Search traffic dropped to 30 percent of total traffic over time. The expected outcome? Disaster. What actually happened, thanks to Neil’s approach? Total traffic grew. They built. They diversified into direct traffic, email, social platforms, Apple News, and owned properties like recipe lockers. A key lesson: “We’re not entitled to search traffic, just like we’re not entitled to Facebook traffic. You have to earn it.” The People Magazine Blueprint The restructuring of People, Inc. offers a masterclass in letting go of control. Before, one print editor-in-chief made every decision across every platform. But these days he wondered how a print editor could understand everything and all platforms, like TikTok. They couldn’t. So they decentralized. Execs like Charlotte Triggs now set the brand direction—the ethos that drives all teams—and then fully independent editorial teams handle the magazine, website, Apple News, the app, and yes, Instagram and TikTok. There’s no forced repurposing. Each platform team creates natively for their audience. The result: People grew from six or seven million daily visitors to ten million, with explosive growth on social. The Data-Driven Philosophy Neil’s Wall Street background shaped how People Inc. approaches analytics, but he’s careful not to let math override instinct, noting: “If you don’t make stuff people love, it doesn’t matter what your math says.” The real insight is this: strategic ad placement and clean design mean you can generate more revenue with fewer intrusions on the audience. Better experience. Better margins. That’s the math he wants to do. The Bigger Picture What makes this conversation valuable is that Neil isn’t selling a complicated theory. He’s demonstrating a mindset: stay forward-looking, embrace change, remain unsentimental, and never stop making things people genuinely want. Key Moments and Highlights 00:38 From Dotdash to acquiring Meredith: becoming America’s largest publisher 01:25 Why media remains a fantastic business despite industry pessimism 04:15 The search shift: 70% dependence became 30%, yet total traffic grew 06:29 Restructuring People magazine with independent platform teams and no forced repurposing 09:41 Data and creative working together: how math serves, not dictates, content decisions Connect with E.B. Moss and Insider Interviews: With Media & Marketing Experts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mossappeal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insiderinterviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsiderInterviewsPodcast/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@insiderinterviews If you enjoyed this episode, follow Insider Interviews, share with another smart business leader, and leave a comment on @Apple or @Spotify… or a tip in my jar!: https://buymeacoffee.com/mossappeal!

How can mentoring lead to a whole new career? How do dinner conversations and AI come together to drive entrepreneurship? How are some people changing the world as they change gears? Talk about REINVENTION! Well, I did. Meet two more honorees of the Folio: awards named to the Hall of Fame, in this “two-fer” episode on Doug Olson and David Adler, both of whom have gone from being presidents of publishing companies to reinventing themselves…and parts of the industry. First up: Doug Olson. Doug went from a career in the tech side to the publishing side, ultimately running Meredith Magazines (think: “Time,” “People,” “Better Homes & Gardens”…) to NOW hangin’ with the digital natives doing bling-meets-social media, as Co-CEO of “Bomb Party,” with its TikTok-famous jewelry reveals! Bet you didn’t see THAT coming. Creating Partnerships He discusses the evolution of Meredith, its major acquisitions, the partnership he headed with Walmart, and how Meredith navigated its own transition — adding digital to print media. “Reveals” on TikTok Doug also describes his transition to #BombParty, a thriving and unique jewelry company that uses social media to engage customers.   Then there’s David Adler. I cannot even keep track of all the ways David has reinvented himself: from launching a magazine on DC society back in the 70s, which he sold 10 years later for a handy profit — and is now turning those archival images into songs and content! I kid you not. But wait, there’s more. He helmed big PR shops, but is perhaps best know for founding one of the best magazines on events, called “BizBash.” And now? SO MUCH — from recently launching an online events mag, “GatheringPoint.news” to yet another startup. gatheringoint.news He highlights how he is an unabashed #AI acolyte and explains how it has revolutionized his latest ventures, supporting creative storytelling and increased efficiency. But David is also stopping to smell “The Roses”, making the most of his author father’s legacy by helping enable that current box office hit! from “The Roses” Like roses themselves, these guests exemplify the concept of ‘perennials,’ described by David as individuals who continuously evolve and remain curious, regardless of generational labels. Their stories illustrate the importance of adaptability, lifelong learning, and embracing new technologies in media or just for mental well-being! KEY MOMENTS: 00:00 Meet Doug Olson and David Adler 02:44 Doug Olson: From Tech to Media Mogul to… 05:36 The Better Homes & Gardens / Walmart Omnichannel Strategy 08:03 The Future of Print Publications 11:20 Golfing or Jewelry? Doug Olson’s New Venture: Bomb Party 14:56 David Adler: A Perennial Journey Through Media 19:55 Adler on AI and Innovation 24:09 Washington Insider, A Big Screen Legacy and MORE Current Projects Please add a “like” or share this episode to encourage MORE “reinventionists!” And see you at the Folio: Hall of Fame 10/6. Here’s Doug’s info: LinkedIn Bomb Party Here’s David’s info: LinkedIn Managing Director- Living Room Labs (start-up) Founder- BizBash www.bizbash.com Author- Harnessingserendipity.com Partner- AdlerEntertainmentTrust.com Owner- Dossierhistoricalphotos.com Connect with E.B. Moss and Insider Interviews: With Media & Marketing Experts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mossappeal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insiderinterviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsiderInterviewsPodcast/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@insiderinterviews If you enjoyed this episode, follow Insider Interviews, share with another smart business leader, and leave a comment on @Apple or @Spotify… or a tip in my jar to help me tip my producer, Jim Mullen!: https://buymeacoffee.com/mossappeal!

Host E.B. Moss interviews "polymath" Jim McKelvey, who, with Jack Dorsey, turned a simple frustration with credit card processing into Square – the company that revolutionized mobile payments and upset the Amazon apple cart. But McKelvey's story gets way more interesting from there. As he describes himself: "I’m a guy that’s had no focus for 30 years. I was a professional glass artist. I am a transport category pilot. I’m a glass artist with industrial designs in MoMA and the Smithsonian. I’m a computer scientist. I was on the Federal Reserve and used to vote on interest rates. That was fun. I started Square, which we now call Block, and built the hardware for it. I have started a bunch of other companies. But look, it’s a mess. Basically what I do is I build tools. McKelvey reveals how he predicted (in his book, "The Innovation Stack") a Southwest Airlines years in advance, explains how frustration becomes his greatest innovation fuel, such as what motivatived his latest ventures: PwrScore, an AI-powered brand compatibility tool he's giving away completely free. Learn what motivates data capture these days and how he's applying that at Invisibly. And, how he's walking the pro-social talk with his work on biodegradable diapers that could eliminate billions of pieces of thousand-year plastic waste. "Diapers last for a thousand years and they become these horrible microplastics that are bad for the world, and I just thought it could be possible to do it without plastic. So I've been working on it for five years with a team. We're this close to a breakthrough..." Listeners will discover McKelvey's methodology for building products that resonate deeply with audiences, his insights on brand compatibility and association risks (including lessons from major corporate failures), and details how to access PwrScore for measuring brand resonance for free. Speaking of free, McKelvey also shares his remarkable commitment to philanthropy, having taken the giving pledge to donate his entire fortune while continuing to pursue high-impact, pro-social innovations. Learn why A.P. Gianini (founder of Bank of America) is one of McKelvey's heroes, and how he is most happy taking to the sky... This is an incredibly inspiring conversation. NOTE: This episode is part of a special series featuring Eddie & Ozzie Award winners being inducted into the Folio: Legends Hall of Fame in October 2025. The common thread among these industry legends? Each has reinvented themselves or their company in extraordinary ways. Watch for upcoming episodes with Neil Vogel, David Adler, and other Hall of Fame inductees. Enjoyed this episode? Make like Jim and give your money away! ;-) Tip Jar: https://buymeacoffee.com/mossappeal Kind comments, reviews and shares are equally welcome.

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 about what’s really happening behind the scenes with AI in our industry. The Real vs. The AI – A Producer’s Perspective Jim Mullen (Mullen Media) and Yossi Kimberg are the real deal – we’re talking Seinfeld, Food Network, Super Bowl halftime shows, and decades of work on Lorne Michaels shows. These guys aren’t just talking theory; they’re actually using these tools in production right now. AI-Generated Yossi Kimberg AI-Generated Jim Mullen What Really Struck Me Yossi’s journey into AI started by making masterful still images with Leonardo, as in Leonardo.AI. As he put it: “The idea that text generates an image was beyond imagination. I was just amazed by it.” But then he progressed to motion, face-swapping himself into different editing scenarios (find those in this episode, too!), and even bringing children’s artwork to life. But learn what happened next that was “a bridge too far” for one particular client. Now, while Yossi’s moved on to scripted motion videos all AI-generated, Jim’s been experimenting with ElevenLabs for voiceovers, though he hit a hilarious snag on a project about a lack of libraries: “I couldn’t get the bot to say ‘desert’. It kept saying, New York City has book desserts.” Not so funny to me, because once it learns contextual pronunciations, my gigs doing voiceover will dry up like a desert. (Note: I found out just today while producing this episode that I literally lost a job to an AI-generated voice. True story.) The Uncomfortable Truth Both producers agree we’re not just approaching a tipping point – we’re already there. Yossi believes that within 2-3 years, even the very role of managing AI might become obsolete. The technology is learning to be funny, dramatic, and emotional without human instruction. Jim pointed out something that made my stomach drop: if you can create an entire commercial with AI actors and voices (which is already happening), you eliminate hair and makeup artists, grips, gaffers, location scouts – entire production crews become unnecessary. As such, we talked about the fear factor. You know how I feel about voiceovers. Though AI helped me immensely in honing these show notes. But it’s not just job displacement we’re facing; it’s questioning our creative thumbprint and what makes us uniquely human in this process. Plus… Copyright and Ownership Minefield We touched on some fascinating legal territory that’s still being sorted out. Yossi mentioned reading legal briefs about using copyrighted images in AI training, and the emerging trend of celebrity estates licensing deceased stars’ likenesses for AI projects – Steve McQueen’s estate is apparently leasing his character for AI-generated content. The whole landscape of intellectual property, name-image-likeness rights, and even the ability to deny you said something (“I didn’t say that, it was AI”) creates a complicated web that we’re all navigating in real time. (I recommend taking a listen to the brilliant Robert Tercek who allays some of those legal fears in this Insider Interviews episode from last year: https://bit.ly/Insider21-Shapiro-Tercek .) The Human Pushback But here’s what gives me hope: Yossi shared how his client loved his AI-enhanced children’s artwork until clients pushed back, saying it wasn’t authentic to what the kids actually created. They pulled back some of the AI elements. It reminded us of the vinyl comeback – sometimes we crave imperfection and authenticity. He thinks we’ll find our middle ground once this trend becomes trite. Practical Advice For anyone starting out, Jim recommends experimenting with the free trials but warns against buying credits with “one-trick ponies” – platforms that only do one gimmicky thing. Yossi suggests testing the same prompt across different platforms since each has unique strengths. The tools they’re using: ElevenLabs (voice), Runway, Kling, Higgsfield, Leonardo.ai (images), and the premium Veo3 — for dialogue-driven video at $250/month. I was simply wow’d by the basics of NotebookLM that I used in my intro. But I hope you’ll still call ME for doing the real deal as a human. The Big Question As we face this rapid evolution, seems many will become “AI wranglers” rather than traditional producers. The question isn’t whether this technology will change everything – it’s how we adapt while maintaining the humanity that makes content actually connect with people. I have a feeling we’ll need to revisit this conversation in six months because everything will be dramatically different again. The real producers Key Moments & Time Codes: [01:36] – AI voices fool me twice – shame on me — on client websites [05:13] – Yossi’s journey from Leonardo still images to motion graphics [08:34] – Scholastic project: bringing children’s artwork to life [11:12] – Jim’s Eleven Labs experiments and the “desserts” problem [13:58] – Discussion of celebrity estate licensing for AI (Steve McQueen example) [18:57] – Who gets replaced first: voice actors, then editors [25:01] – Too much of a good thing: Client pushback on AI-enhanced artwork [28:17] – Tool recommendations and experimentation advice Follow, Connect & Share the Love Connect with E.B. Moss and Insider Interviews: With Media & Marketing Experts LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mossappeal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insiderinterviews Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsiderInterviewsPodcast/ Threads: https://www.threads.net/@insiderinterviews If you enjoyed this episode, follow Insider Interviews, share with another smart business leader, and leave a comment on @Apple or @Spotify… or a tip in my jar to help me tip my producer, Jim Mullen!: https://buymeacoffee.com/mossappeal! Share Share