On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Jonah Goodhart, Co-Founder and CEO of Mobian. In our discussion, MSG and Jonah discuss:

• Jonah’s career journey from founding early internet ventures to co-creating Right Media, Moat, and now Mobian
• Lessons from building and scaling companies that reshaped digital advertising, measurement, and verification
• Why attention—not impressions—is the scarcest resource in today’s media ecosystem
• How Moat pioneered viewability and attention analytics, and what it taught about publisher–advertiser dynamics
• The disruptive impact of AI on brand safety, verification, and the contextual value of content
• How publishers are losing monetization opportunities due to misclassified “unsafe” inventory—and what can be done about it
• Why context, data, and content remain critical assets in an AI-first world
• The future of publishing, personalization, and community in a zero-click environment

And more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Sam Mellor - VP, Marketing and Commercial Growth, NA, BBC. In our discussion, MSG and Sam discuss:

• Sam’s career journey as a transformation marketer, leading organizations through inflection points across sports, media, and entertainment
• The role of strategy, mission clarity, and organizational design in navigating change and growth
• How the BBC translates brand value into measurable outcomes for both audiences and advertisers
• Why prioritizing the end user is critical in building loyalty, trust, and long-term engagement
• The disruptive impact of AI, Google Zero, and shifting search behaviors on publishing and media models
• The need for publishers and AI companies to establish new frameworks for data use, content value, and accountability
• Why community, storytelling, and brand ecosystems are key to sustainable audience relationships
• Her outlook on the future of media, including personalization, platform diversity, and the role of friction in driving innovation

And more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Ken Blom, Chief Business Officer at BuzzFeed. In our discussion, MSG and Ken discuss:

• Ken’s career path from search and agency work to joining BuzzFeed in its early social-first days
• Lessons from scaling BuzzFeed through the rise of Facebook distribution, Tasty, and branded content
• The challenges of platform dependency and what publishers can learn from the “Facebook era”
• How affiliate and commerce revenue models evolved into major drivers for digital media
• The disruptive impact of AI, LLMs, and “Google Zero” on traffic, discovery, and publisher economics
• Why attribution, data access, and payment marketplaces will define publisher–AI relationships
• The role of community, creators, and brand-owned platforms in building sustainable engagement
• What the next generation of publishing innovation may look like, from apps to the “agentic web”

And more.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Nina Gould, Chief Innovation Officer at Forbes.

In our discussion, MSG and Nina discuss:

• Nina’s career journey from designer and coder at Forbes.com to Chief Product Officer and now Chief Innovation Officer
• The shift from print to digital and how legacy publishers adapted business models and workflows
• Product’s unique role sitting between editorial, business, and technology inside media companies
• Why innovation in publishing must go beyond “cool tech” and focus on solving real business and audience problems
• How AI, GenAI, and “Google Zero” are reshaping audience expectations, traffic, and discovery
• The rising importance of personalization, community, and user experience in digital publishing
• Which engagement metrics matter most for measuring content success in today’s environment
• The need to reinvent advertising models for a post-scale era, focusing on engagement and value

And more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Tatyana Zlotsky, CEO at A Place for Mom.

In our discussion, MSG and Tatyana discuss:

• Tatyana’s career journey from marketing leadership at American Express to becoming CEO of A Place for Mom
• Lessons from building customer-centric innovation at scale, including launching Small Business Saturday
• The evolution of performance marketing and what today’s shifts in channels mean for brands and publishers
• How content, data, and SEO can serve as strategic growth engines for any business
• The role of community and trust in building enduring consumer relationships
• Rebranding lessons: moving beyond spokespeople to creating authentic, mission-driven brand identities
• The disruptive impact of AI, Google Zero, and changing user behavior on traffic and discovery
• Why the future of marketing and publishing depends on trust, transparency, and proactive planning

And more.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Jim Daily, CEO at OpenWeb. In our discussion, Jim and MSG cover:

• Jim’s journey from aspiring golf pro to global ad tech executive and CEO of OpenWeb
• Scaling Teads from a $10M French startup to a $700M global business and lessons from hypergrowth
• The importance of hiring smarter people, empowering teams, and building disruptive products
• The shift from centralized platforms to decentralized publisher-owned communities
• AI disruption, the threat of “Google Zero,” and the future of traffic, monetization, and publisher sustainability
• The untapped value of comments, user engagement data, and potential AI data marketplaces
• Running global teams across multiple time zones and cultures
• Building sustainability for publishers through first-party engagement, distinct audience experiences, and vibrant communities

And more.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Pam Wasserstein, President and Vice Chair at Vox Media. In our discussion, MSG and Pam discuss:

• Pam’s journey from Harvard Law to M&A, private equity, and creative leadership at Tribeca Enterprises, New York Magazine, and Vox Media
• Lessons from leading New York Magazine’s digital transformation and brand portfolio expansion
• The 2019 Vox Media–New York Magazine merger and building a diversified revenue model across content, commerce, and subscriptions
• How publishers can navigate AI disruption, copyright challenges, and shifting value exchanges with platforms
• The threat of “Google Zero” and strategies for reducing platform dependency
• The enduring importance of journalism in the age of misinformation and AI-generated content
• Community building through SB Nation’s sports fandom networks and audience engagement
• Why first-party relationships and differentiated experiences matter more than ever in publishing

And more.

Check out all of our other conversations from Season 3 for great conversations with industry experts.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Jessica Giles, Managing Director, Media and Publishing, Code and Theory.

In our discussion, MSG and Jess discuss:

• Jess’s unconventional path from film school to brand strategy leadership via The New Yorker, Vogue, and Condé Nast
• The early magazine media and leadership lessons from Condé Nast culture
• Evolving brand strategy for publishers in the digital age and shifting away from platform dependency
• The role of first-party data, loyalty loops, and closed ecosystems in audience engagement and monetization
• Community-building and utility-focused product design as under-leveraged assets for publishers
• The disruptive impact of AI and LLMs on lifestyle content, content parity, and search behavior
• What makes a differentiated content experience in a commoditized internet
• Her outlook on the next generation of creative leadership in media and publishing

And more.

Check out all of our other conversations from Season 3 for great conversations with industry experts.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Louise Story, Chief Executive Officer at Atlas Obscura.

In our discussion, Louise and MSG cover:

• Louise’s rise from award-winning investigative journalist to Chief Product & Technology Officer and now CEO of Atlas Obscura
• How Google and social algorithms reshaped newsrooms, and why AI may flip the script again
• Why “new news” is now more valuable than ever in the age of LLMs
• Challenges facing publishers reliant on evergreen or repackaged content
• Shifts in user behavior around search, queries, and the desire for answers
• Lessons from building product, editorial, and tech at legacy media giants
• What content companies must do to survive in a post-cookie, post-search world
• The power of community contribution, curiosity, and mission-driven journalism

And more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week.

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Bridget Williams, Chief Product and Strategy Officer at Hearst Newspapers. In our discussion, MSG and Bridget discuss:

• Bridget’s dynamic 20+ year career across Business Insider, startups, and ultimately Hearst Newspapers
• The rebirth of local journalism and its national relevance
• Building digital products for real communities — not just consumers
• Bridging editorial and product strategy in a legacy newsroom
• How AI is powering new experiences for local reporting
• The importance of first-party data in a cookie-less future
• Hearst’s innovative DevHub and tools like Assembly for government transparency
• Creating data-driven advertising opportunities for local businesses
• The vision for journalism in an age of mistrust and AI

And more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week.

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Lindsay Van Kirk, SVP and General Manager of Decipher at People Inc., to discuss:

• Her early days at AppNexus, scaling sales operations and learning from tough feedback
• Transitioning across ops, strategy, and product roles to drive publisher-side innovation
• The strategic foundation behind Decipher: intent-based data, cookieless targeting, and scalable ad solutions
• The unique partnership between People Inc. and OpenAI
• What “Google Zero” means for publishers and the push for diversified traffic and monetization
• The evolving role of AI in content creation, attribution, and marketplace equity
• Why original human-created content is still irreplaceable in an AI-driven world
• A positive outlook for the open internet built around first-party data and publisher empowerment

And more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week.

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

This is The Community Exchange Podcast, brought to you by OpenWeb: an interview podcast series featuring the leaders building the media ecosystem of the future.

This season, our host is industry veteran Matthew Scott Goldstein (a.k.a. MSG). Each episode, he explores our guests’ journeys through the media world, the work they are currently doing, and how they’re shaping the media and publishing industry.

Learn more about OpenWeb at ⁠http://www.openweb.com⁠

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Jennifer Salant, VP of Global Partnerships & Business Development at Conde Nast. In our discussion MSG and Jennifer cover:

• Jennifer’s journey from early business development roles to VP at Condé Nast
• Pioneering strategic partnerships and revenue streams at iVillage and Glam Media
• The evolution of digital media: From blogging networks to influencer-driven content
• How Condé Nast successfully built and monetized digital video on YouTube and FAST channels
• The role of AI in publishing: Challenges, opportunities, and strategies for monetization
• Content licensing, partnerships, and the future of publisher-platform relationships
• The shifting landscape of media consumption and the rise of direct audience engagement
• Predictions for the future of publishing, AI’s impact, and protecting high-quality content

And more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week.

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Will Lee, CEO of Adweek.

In our discussion, MSG and Will cover:

• Will Lee’s journey from finance to leading major media brands
• The transformation of digital media from print to online journalism
• How AI is reshaping advertising, creativity, and media strategy
• The evolving role of agencies and marketers in a digital-first world
• The business of media: monetization strategies and revenue models
• The growing importance of first-party data and audience engagement
• The future of industry events and their impact on media networking
• Leadership lessons from running top media organizations

And more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week.

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

In this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Gabriel DeWitt, Head of Monetization at Yahoo.
In our discussion, MSG and Gabriel cover:

• Gabriel’s journey from software engineering to ad tech leadership
  
• Digital advertising's evolution from direct sales to programmatic
  
• Header bidding's rise and its impact on the open internet
  
• Challenges of monetization, privacy regulations, and the cookie collapse
  
• The ongoing battle between the open internet and walled gardens
  
• Yahoo's role in shaping the future of digital advertising
  
• The impact of AI and automation on ad tech and monetization strategies
  
• How publishers can adapt to a post-cookie world
  
• The future of identity and targeting in a privacy-first landscape
  

And more.
New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week.

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Mike O'Sullivan, Co-Founder and CEO at Sincera. In our discussion MSG and Mike cover:

• Mike O’Sullivan’s journey from Microsoft to founding Sincera
• The evolution of programmatic advertising and ad tech
• Challenges in reporting, transparency, and data management
• Google’s antitrust cases and its impact on the ad tech ecosystem
• Unlocking hidden revenue and optimizing publisher monetization
• The role of first-party data in ad sales and strategy
• Gaining control over the publisher tech stack and supply chain
• The future of publishing: mixed media and investing in editorial talent

And more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week.

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Rich Caccappolo, Vice Chair, Media at Daily Mail General Trust (DMGT).

In our discussion MSG and Rich cover:

• Rich’s journey from CTO at iVillage to Vice Chairman at Daily Mail
• The future of direct traffic and its role in publisher growth
• Post-cookie challenges and the rise of curated audiences
• Fixing attribution to prove ROI for advertisers
• AI's impact on content creation and monetization
• Building publisher collaboration
• Leveraging audience engagement across platforms like TikTok
• Opportunities for publishers in a changing media ecosystem

And more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week.

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Dr. Jonathan Roberts, Chief Innovation Officer at Dotdash Meredith.

In our discussion MSG and Jonathan cover:

• Jonathan’s journey from physicist to media and publishing innovator
• Becoming the official cartographer for Game of Thrones
• Adapting legacy brands like About.com to the digital-first era through verticalization
• Building audience connections through intent-driven, high-quality content
• Leveraging audience data to shape editorial and business strategies
• The importance of community and engagement in the future of publishing
• Revenue strategies in an ad-supported, privacy-conscious ecosystem
• Engaging younger, digital-native audiences with personalized, relevant content
• Publisher-advertiser dynamics in a privacy-first, post-cookie world
• The evolving role of AI in content production, personalization, trend analysis, and more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week. Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.

On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome David Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer and President at Contxtful to discuss:

• David’s debut at Advertising.com during the early days of digital advertising
• The potential breakup of Google and its impact on the publishing industry
• The rise of competition in ad servers and its implications for publishers
• Challenges for publishers as search traffic from Google declines
• Importance of providing value signals to advertisers in a cookie-less world
• Potential shift toward e-commerce ads and away from search ads
• Evolving role of AI and machine learning in ad targeting and consumer receptivity
• David’s overall experience as an adtech professional
• The uncertain future of digital advertising revenue models and potential subscription-based alternatives

And more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week.

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On this episode of The Community Exchange Podcast, we welcome Jeremy Kaplan, Content Director at Future PLC. In our discussion, Jeremy and MSG cover:

And more.

New episodes of The Community Exchange Podcast are released each week.

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts to get the latest right in your feed.