AI Is Frosting, Not Sprinkles: Kurt Donnell’s Sanity Guide to Adtech - ADTECH Gods, Adtech Dictionary

What happens when you walk away from adtech chaos for the so-called serenity of the yoga industry—only to discover the “founder as guru” cult is just as messy as programmatic? You come back stronger, sharper, and funnier. That’s exactly what Kurt Donnell, CEO of Freestar, did. In this episode of The ADOTAT Show, Pesach Lattin digs into Donnell’s journey from Om shante to OpenRTB, and why he’s leading a quiet rebellion against the industry’s addiction to “more.”

This isn’t your usual buttoned-up PR fluff. Kurt lays it out:

Why publishers need to stop hoarding partners and ad slots—and how cutting down can actually raise CPMs and RPMs.

The OpenPath effect: 3× win rates, 20% CPM lifts, and why direct pipes don’t always cannibalize SSP spend.

How buyers are now sniper-rifle hunting, not shotgunning impressions, and what that means for publishers stuck in the “more is better” trap.

The hard truth on identity providers, SSP sprawl, and M&A roll-ups—why half the logos in Lumascape could disappear without anyone shedding a tear.

Freestar’s remote culture playbook: cameras on, uncomfortable transparency, radical trust, and llama yoga jokes that actually matter.

The eternal culture debate: is a hot dog a sandwich? Kurt’s team still hasn’t solved it.

And yes—we talk AI. Kurt’s take? “AI has to be the frosting on the cupcake, not the sprinkles.” In other words: stop slapping AI labels on useless chatbots that make customers want to throw their laptops. Use AI to exceed human potential, not replace it.

If you’re in programmatic advertising, digital media, CTV, yield optimization, supply path efficiency, or even identity solutions, this episode is your cheat sheet to what’s next. From snipers vs. shotguns to remote leadership hacks, Donnell’s lessons are both tactical and big-picture—and you’ll leave either smarter, more paranoid, or both.

👉 Don’t just read the headlines—watch the full interview and hear why sometimes subtraction is the real growth hack.

🙏 Thank You to Our Sponsors

This episode of The Dōdge Show is made possible by:

Troutman Amin LLP — the legal heavyweights keeping adtech honest.

Incremental.com — the measurement pros helping brands prove what really works.

Without their support, we wouldn’t get to ask the kind of questions that make PR teams sweat.

Keywords: Freestar, Kurt Donnell, Pesach Lattin, The Dōdge Show, programmatic advertising, adtech podcast, adtech interview, header bidding, OpenRTB, SSP, DSP, identity solutions, supply path optimization, CTV advertising, digital media, AI in adtech, advertising technology, marketing technology, yield optimization, RPM, CPM, advertising consolidation, mergers and acquisitions, remote culture, ad management, OpenPath, future of programmatic.