

Behind the Numbers: an EMARKETER Podcast
EMARKETER
EMARKETER’s podcast, Behind the Numbers, helps marketers, retailers, and advertisers understand the rapidly changing landscape of digital media. EMARKETER analysts and industry experts come together to analyze a wide variety of critical topics, from the transformative influence of AI to the dynamic world of social media, and the evolving landscape of consumer shopping habits. Stay informed and stay ahead with insights and analysis that matter. Tune in to new episodes published Monday through Friday wherever you find podcasts.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 15, 2025 • 27min
What If? Sports Team Sponsorships, TikTok Shop's Ceiling, and a Creator–Retail Media Network Marriage | Behind the Numbers
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss our “very specific but highly unlikely” predictions for 2026: sports team sponsorships pushing the envelope, the ceiling for TikTok Shop, and a budding relationship between creators and retail media networks. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analyst Ross Benes, Senior Forecasting Analyst Oscar Orozco, and Principal Analyst Max Willens. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
To learn more about our research and get access to PRO+, go to EMARKETER.com
Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/
For sponsorship opportunities, contact us: advertising@emarketer.com
For more information, visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/
Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com
For a transcript of this episode, click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-what-if-sports-team-sponsorships-tiktok-shop-s-ceiling-creator-retail-media-network-marriage
© 2025 EMARKETER
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Dec 13, 2025 • 20min
Redefining Commerce Media Through the Eyes of Shoppers | Behind the Numbers Special Edition
In this special edition podcast episode, EMARKETER Principal Analyst Sarah Marzano sits down for a conversation with Shawn McGahee, Senior Director, Performance and Insights, from Roundel. Together they explore audience value, why target guests are brand believers, measurement strategy and incrementality, off-site retail media strategy and more. Listen to Behind the Numbers everywhere you find podcasts and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
To learn more about our research and get access to PRO+ go to EMARKETER.com
Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/
For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com
For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/
Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com
© 2025 EMARKETER

Dec 12, 2025 • 37min
The Great BTN Bake (Take) Off — Top Trends for 2026: Micro-Dramas Break Out and Online Consumer Trust Tanks | Behind the Numbers
Max Willens, a principal analyst specializing in social media's economic impact, predicts that micro-dramas will birth a new wave of creators, supported by social platforms and entertainment studios. Jacob Bourne, an analyst focused on AI, warns that the rapid creation of AI-generated content could undermine consumer trust. They delve into how micro-dramas cater to young audiences and the likelihood of AI altering viewer perceptions of authenticity. This dynamic discussion offers unique insights into upcoming trends shaping digital content.

Dec 11, 2025 • 17min
A Blueprint for Better Measurement (Part 1) with Amazon Ads | EMARKETER Miniseries
On today’s EMARKETER Miniseries—A Blueprint to Better Measurement—we explore the appeal of Amazon not just as a sales platform but also as an advertiser, how Amazon Ads defines omnichannel metrics, and a few examples of campaigns that have performed particularly well. EMARKETER Principal Analyst Sky Canaves speaks with Kolby Capelouto, Head of Sales for Durables at Amazon Ads. Listen everywhere you find podcasts, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
To learn more about our research and get access to PRO+ go to EMARKETER.com
Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/
For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com
For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/
Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com
For a transcript of this episode click here:
https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-blueprint-better-measurement-part-1-with-amazon-ads-emarketer-miniseries
© 2025 EMARKETER
Amazon Ads offers full-funnel advertising solutions to help businesses of all sizes achieve their marketing goals at scale. Amazon Ads connects advertisers to highly relevant audiences through first-party insights; extensive reach across premium content like Prime Video, Twitch, and third-party publishers; the ability to connect and directly measure campaign tactics across awareness, consideration, and conversion; and generative AI to deliver appropriate creative at each step. Amazon Ads helps advertisers reach an average monthly ad-supported audience of more than 300 million in the U.S. across Amazon's owned and operated properties and third-party publishers.

Dec 10, 2025 • 20min
What the 2025 Thanksgiving Period Told Us About This Year’s Holiday Shopping Season | Reimagining Retail
On today's podcast episode, we discuss the Thanksgiving shopping season—what surprised us most, what it revealed about the fragility of the US consumer, and how much AI moved the needle for shoppers, and retailers. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Senior Analyst Zak Stambor, and Analyst Rachel Wolff.
To learn more about our research and get access to PRO+, go to EMARKETER.com
Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/
For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com
For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/
Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com
For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-what-2025-thanksgiving-period-told-us-about-this-year-s-holiday-shopping-season-reimagining-
© 2025 EMARKETER
Campaigns take flight with Viasat Ads. Unlock access to over 250 million passengers annually across leading global airlines, with high-engagement ad formats and real-time delivery. Viasat Ads provides access to a verified audience in a captive environment, so your message reaches passengers when they are ready to engage. Join their journey with Viasat Ads.

Dec 8, 2025 • 33min
Better Understanding LGBTQ+ Media Content—and What Brands Get Wrong About Queer Audiences, with Revry | Behind the Numbers
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how LGBTQ+ streaming platform Revry has been able to gain traction in a crowded, highly competitive streaming TV universe; what advertisers misunderstand about marketing to the queer community; and some examples of when queer representation in media hit the nail on the head—and when it missed the mark. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with analysts Paola Flores-Marquez and Emmy Liederman, and Revry CEO and Co-Founder Damian Pelliccione. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
To learn more about our research and get access to PRO+ go to EMARKETER.com
Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/
For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com
For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/
Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com
For a transcript of this episode click here:
https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-behind-numbers-better-understanding-lgbtq-media-content-and-brands-queer-audiences-revry
© 2025 EMARKETER
Campaigns take flight with Viasat Ads. Unlock access to over 250 million passengers annually across leading global airlines, with high-engagement ad formats and real-time delivery. Viasat Ads provides access to a verified audience in a captive environment, so your message reaches passengers when they are ready to engage. Join their journey with Viasat Ads.

Dec 5, 2025 • 30min
AI’s Real Impact on Search So Far—What’s Coming Next, and Can Google Keep Pace? | Behind the Numbers
Nate Elliot, a principal analyst focused on AI's impact on search, and Jacob Bourne, an analyst covering AI and consumer behavior, delve into AI's transformative effect on search. They discuss how AI has already altered search habits, the stability of traditional search platforms, and the implications for Google. Insights reveal generational shifts towards AI and the potential long-term changes in search behavior. Brands are advised to embrace AI now to stay relevant as these trends continue to evolve.

Dec 3, 2025 • 23min
Amazon’s Grocery Dilemma: Challenges, Missed Opportunities, and the Key Ingredient | Reimagining Retail
Blake Droesch, a Senior Analyst specializing in retail and e-commerce, joins Skye Canaves, a Principal Analyst focusing on grocery trends. They dive into Amazon's persistent grocery challenges, such as its insufficient store footprint and confusing online experiences. The duo critiques Whole Foods' niche positioning and discusses the sterile in-store atmosphere. Skye highlights the need for a unified grocery delivery experience, while Blake proposes a shift towards efficient same-day perishable delivery, suggesting that consolidation could enhance Amazon's grocery strategy.

Dec 2, 2025 • 32min
CTV and Streaming Advertising Trends for 2026 Summit Panel: AI's Impact on Streaming's Ad Creative | Behind the Numbers Special Edition
On today’s special edition podcast episode, we explore how artificial intelligence is changing the way content and marketing is being produced for streaming and CTV. EMARKETER Principal Analyst, Nate Elliott, hosts a panel with Caroline Giegerich, VP, AI, Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB); Todd Feitlin, VP, Creative Lead, One Horizon, and Jonathan Watkins, Head of Optimization, tvScientific. Listen everywhere you find podcasts and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
To learn more about our research and get access to PRO+ go to EMARKETER.com
Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/
For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com
For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/
Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com
© 2025 EMARKETER

Dec 1, 2025 • 24min
Advertisers Continue to Brace for Impact: How Market Pressures Are Reshaping Ad Spending Milestones This Year and Next | Behind the Numbers
On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how advertisers are faring amid the current economic backdrop of tariffs, inflation, and a government shutdown; how the digital ad triopoly is changing; and the biggest ad spending milestones this year and in 2026. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Director of Forecasting Oscar Orozco and Principal Analyst Yory Wurmser. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.
To learn more about our research and get access to PRO+ go to EMARKETER.com
Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/
For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com
For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/
Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com
For a transcript of this episode click here:
https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-advertisers-continue-brace-impact-how-market-pressures-reshaping-ad-spending-behind-numbers
© 2025 EMARKETER
Campaigns take flight with Viasat Ads. Unlock access to over 250 million passengers annually across leading global airlines, with high-engagement ad formats and real-time delivery. Viasat Ads provides access to a verified audience in a captive environment, so your message reaches passengers when they are ready to engage. Join their journey with Viasat Ads.


