The Pub Way: A Podcast for Publishers

Tony Katsur, CEO of IAB Tech Lab, shares his nearly three decades of expertise in digital advertising. He dives into the evolving ad tech landscape, emphasizing the need for innovation and open-source solutions. The discussion highlights challenges in measuring connected TV advertising, the significance of the Trusted Server initiative, and the balance between consumer privacy and effective advertising. Katsur also reflects on personal lessons learned in the industry and the importance of maintaining integrity and security in open-source projects.

In this episode of The PubWay podcast, hosts Tina and Mike welcome Tony Franklin, CEO of Tidbit Consulting, to explore the challenges of programmatic advertising, the importance of understanding both sides of the market, and the value of mid-tier publishers.They also cover the evolving landscape of media and advertising, from the transition from print to digital, to the impact of AI on future trends.Interested in being a guest? Contact us: thepubwaypodcast.com/contact

In this special episode for International Women's Month 2025, we bring together female leaders across adtech & media to explore how we can #AccelerateAction for gender equality: Jackelyn Keller (CMO, Comscore), Natasha Byrne (Global Business Lead, Omnicom Media Group), Luisa Izquierdo (CHRO, Seedtag). Hosted by Tina Iannacchino (VP, Publisher Partnerships NA, Seedtag) the conversation highlights leadership, industry transformation, diversity, & actionable solutions.Interested in being a guest? Contact us: thepubwaypodcast.com/contact

In this episode, Tina and Mike were joined by Don Valdez, during his time as Head of Ad Tech and Publisher Partnerships at The Media Trust. Don explored how AI can enhance content quality, protect user data, and ensure regulatory compliance in publishing. He shared practical strategies for building user trust through transparency, verification, and collaboration with brands. Also, Don emphasizes the importance of using AI to improve efficiency and encourages publishers to embrace and effectively utilize these tools.

In this episode of The PubWay podcast, Mike Villalobos speaks with Jessica Breslav, Chief Customer Officer at Index Exchange, about the evolution of Supply-Side Platforms (SSPs) in the AdTech ecosystem.  They discuss the critical role of automation, the importance of value creation for publishers, and the challenges posed by privacy regulations. Jessica shares insights on sustainability initiatives within the industry and offers predictions for the future of ad tech, emphasizing the need for innovation and collaboration.

In this episode of The Pub Way podcast, hosts Tina Iannacchino and Mike Villalobos sit down with Dan Benyamin, founder and CEO of Aeon, to discuss the evolving landscape of publishing and advertising. They explore the challenges faced by publishers in the adtech space, the impact of the creator economy and the necessity for collaboration between traditional publishers and modern creators. The conversation also delves into the rise of AI influencers, the importance of regulation in AI usage and how publishers can leverage AI for better monetization strategies. Dan emphasizes the need for publishers to prioritize their audience and adapt to the rapidly changing digital environment.Key topics with timestamps:00:00 Early Facebook ads were limited, unrefined opportunities.03:31 Advertising's main challenge: remaining user-focused and adaptable.06:44 Video evolution challenges traditional quality standards.11:13 Personal branding is crucial for brand success.14:00 Teens dismiss AI; others embrace generated visuals.16:44 AI misinformation and its impact during elections.19:49 Good working relationships prevent issues like boycotts.25:30 AI enables faster, more agile customer segmentation.27:56 Prioritize the audience; treat attention as a battlefield.Don't forget to leave us a review if you enjoyed the episode, and feel free to reach out with any feedback or suggestions for future guests or topics.

In the first episode of Season Two of "Pub way," hosts Tina Iannachino and Mike Villalobos sit down with Miles Fisher, Senior Director of Strategic Advertising Partnerships at Roku, to delve into the evolving landscape of Connected TV (CTV) and its implications for digital advertising. Having held significant positions at T-Mobile Advertising and Google Marketing Platform, Fisher provides expert insights on Roku’s transformation from a hardware-based company to a software-centered powerhouse. With nearly two decades of experience, Roku has effectively shifted from manufacturing streaming dongles and sticks to offering Roku-branded TVs, significantly enhancing consumer experience and driving major ad innovations.The conversation covers essential acronyms in the CTV industry: FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV), AVOD (Ad-Supported Video on Demand), SVOD (Subscription Video on Demand), and MVPD (Virtual Multichannel Video Programming Distributor). F explains Roku’s advancements in shoppable media, which integrate advertising seamlessly into user experiences using collected user data to facilitate low-friction transactions. The episode also explores the broader scope of content discovery, highlighting Roku's curated content zones aimed at reducing the time users spend searching for shows and movies, thereby improving overall user satisfaction.In terms of advertising trends and opportunities, Fisher and the hosts discuss the transition traditional broadcasters must undergo to adapt to streaming. They highlight the significance of first-party data in driving successful ad campaigns on streaming platforms, mirroring the data-driven approaches seen on social media. Innovations like Roku's "Action Ads" enable users to make purchases directly via their remotes, enhancing the interactive ad experience. The episode concludes by emphasizing the importance of transparency in advertising, effective content partnerships, and forward-looking predictions for CTV’s role in the future of digital marketing. 

In this episode of the Pub Way podcast, hosts Tina Iannacchino and Mike Villalobos welcome Katherine Tuluzova, the CEO of Sigma Americas, who brings 16 years of experience at Sigma Software. The conversation focuses on data management in the publishing industry, emphasizing the growing importance of data-driven decisions as publishers transition beyond traditional models. Katherine shares her insights on how effective use of data can not only increase revenue but also open up new business opportunities. She discusses the critical need for clean data, especially in the context of AI, and outlines key steps in data management like collection, normalization, analysis, and visualization.Katherine and the hosts also delve into the role of AI in advertising, weighing its generative capabilities against the necessity for human creativity and oversight. With the rise of AI, establishing robust industry frameworks becomes crucial to prevent misuse.On October 7th, Katherine and her team are hosting the exclusive Sigma Software Group AdTech Poker Night, part of Advertising Week New York 2024. Join fellow AdTech enthusiasts and grow your network at this special event by registering here: events.sigmasoftware.solutions/adtechpokernight2024Key topics with timestamps:00:00 Evolving Publishers: Transitioning into Data-Driven Businesses 03:57 The Importance of AI and Data for Business Success 08:00 Balancing AI's Creative Potential with Ethical Usage 12:31 Strategies for Reducing Data Storage Costs 13:35 Identifying Business Goals, Market Fit, and Data Needs 19:21 Tools for Migration: Choosing the Best Option 23:14 Collaborative Approach to Product Development Options 26:59 Minimizing Errors in Data Organization with Sigma Software 28:24 Insufficient Data Drives Demand for First-Party DataDon't forget to leave us a review if you enjoyed the episode, and feel free to reach out with any feedback or suggestions for future guests or topics.

Keith Gooberman, CEO and Co-Founder of Pontiac Intelligence, dives into the future of contextual advertising in Connected TV. He discusses how AI is revolutionizing ad targeting by analyzing video content for emotional context, moving past standard inventory categorizations. Keith emphasizes the shift towards private marketplace deals for efficient data management in a cookie-less world. He also draws intriguing parallels between historical warfare and modern business strategies, highlighting lessons for today's advertisers.

In this episode, our hosts Tina Iannachino and Mike Villalobos engage in an enlightening discussion with Nii A. Ahene,  Chief Strategy Officer at Tinuiti. The episode navigates the complexities of the fast-paced digital marketing world, particularly emphasizing the challenge for brands to produce rapid, yet effective, content for vertical video platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Nii Ahene underscores the value of employing social listening techniques to quickly adapt content strategies and stresses the importance of a proactive business mindset. The discussion further explores the impact of digital platforms on marketing, emphasizing the necessity for brands and publishers to embrace video content and remain agile. Additionally, the episode highlights the growing influence of creators on platforms such as TikTok, where creators can often rival traditional publishers in sway and reach. This shift poses both opportunities and challenges for brands, particularly in terms of attribution and ROI measurement for creator campaigns. The episode also addresses the different shopping behaviors between Gen Z and millennials, noting that while Gen Z might lean towards direct purchases on platforms, millennials typically prefer making substantial purchases through their computers. The discussion concludes with insights into future advertising trends, the importance of customer retention alongside acquisition, and the evolving ecosystem of digital marketing in a rapidly changing content landscape.Key topics with timestamps:00:00 Navigating Consumer Attention in a Changing Landscape 05:40 Adapting to Changing Consumer Behavior in Video Marketing 08:40 The Vital Influence of Creators in Marketing 12:02 Optimizing Multi-Channel Marketing for Better ROI 16:02 Ad Fatigue: Shifting Focus to Existing Customers 18:46 The Evolution of Customer Targeting in Digital Advertising 22:38 Adapting to the Speed of Vertical Video 25:11 Strategies for Successful Content Production and AmplificationSchedule a call with one of our contextual advertising experts today at seedtag.comDon't forget to leave us a review if you enjoyed the episode, and feel free to reach out with any feedback or suggestions for future guests or topics.