Advertisers want to spend an extra $1B in podcasting; but they’re holding back until we address the industry’s biggest issues. This week on The Media Roundtable, we’ve assembled a powerhouse of CAOs to talk about the findings of our 2025 What Brands Want report. At this summer’s CAO Summit, we learned that podcasting could be one billion dollars bigger… if brands had what they need today. After polling brand leaders on their hurdles and needs, the results are in. Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) breaks down the findings with: • Justin Fitzpatrick (Head of Performance Marketing, Found)  • Julianna Crozier (Associate Director, Influencer Partnerships & Growth Marketing, Thrive Market) • Will Flaherty (SVP, Growth, Ro), and • Giles Martin (EVP, Strategy, Oxford Road) The team is talking: Closing the Measurement Gap, Beating the Clutter, Minding the Macro, and more. Let’s dig in: “Any sort of improvement that we can make on the measurement side to prove the efficacy of our ad dollars is going to only enable us to put more and more budget into the channel.”  -Justin Fitzpatrick (Head of Performance Marketing, Found)  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CAOs: We analyzed $1.6 billion in podcast ads. Here's what actually drives ROI. The team at Oxford Road unveils ORBIT, the Oxford Road Benchmark Intelligence Tool, built on $1.6 billion in actual campaign performance data. Not estimates. Not surveys. Real results from real advertisers spending real money. This is the planning tool we've been chasing for a decade. ORBIT doesn't just tell you which podcasts are popular. It tells you which ones drive ROI. Which ones convert. Which ones are worth the check you're about to write. Joining Dan are the data wizards who made it real:  • Brian Kim (Director of Analytics, Oxford Road)  • Mike Dunsmore (Director of Analytics, Reporting and Insights, Oxford Road) • Tucker Peleuses (VP of Strategy, Oxford Road) The team unpacks: Why Joe Rogan didn't crack the Top 15, the faith-based performance secret, the genre trap costing you money, and more. Let's get into it. "This is what happened when real companies spent real money. If you want to know which podcasts work, start here." – Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To make an industry better, sometimes you gotta shake things up.  We’re celebrating one full year since two competitors, Oxford Road and Veritone One, joined forces to become the world's largest podcast and creator-based video agency. Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) gathered leaders from across the new org to talk wins, hard-fought lessons, and tips for anyone looking to self-disrupt for the better. It’s part victory lap, part therapy, and part masterclass. Joining are some of the fearless leaders who made it happen: • Bart Roselli (EVP of Media, Oxford Road) • Courtney O’Connor (Director, Podcast Media, Oxford Road) • Hilary Shafer (SVP of Podcast & Influencer, Oxford Road) • Kyle Jelinek (VP of Client Services, Oxford Road), and • Miranda Romano (SVP of Media, Oxford Road) The team’s talking: Slow and Steady, Spider-Man’s Wisdom, Staying Humble, and more. Let’s dig in. “ You need to come in and you need to be ready to listen, you need to be ready to observe, and be ready to admit where maybe we were wrong in the past and that there's a better path forward. With that, I think anything's possible.” • Dan Granger (CEO & Founder, Oxford Road) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the Media Roundtable, we’re sitting down with Lex Friedman (not to be confused with Lex Fridman), one of podcasting’s original builders and a leader who’s shaped the business of podcasting since Day 1. Before launching his own consulting business, Lex played a part in nearly every major chapter of the industry, including Chief Business Development at Midroll, Chief Revenue Officer at ART19, Head of Podcast Partnerships at Amazon, and Head of Podcast Strategy at Wondery. Along the way, he’s helped define how ads get sold, how shows get funded, and how podcasting itself gets defined. In this episode, Lex opens up on what made podcast ads such a “win-win-win” from the start, why early pitches were simply “talk radio…on demand,” and how a listenership of “completionists” continue to set podcasts apart. He even drops an acoustic guitar analogy to explain why the word podcast isn’t going anywhere, no matter how the platforms try to rebrand it. "Stop apologizing for podcasting being what it is—because it’s clearly working." —Lex Friedman The conversation covers: Ad Load Tipping Points, Completionist Behavior, Consolidation and Mega-Deals, and more. Let’s go. Watch the conversation on Youtube: https://youtu.be/HjDmqUiBSQg See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Finally, some insights brand builders and performance marketers can agree on. We gathered CAOs in finance, food, jobs, and boots to share everything they’ve learned as they’ve scaled podcasting to enviable levels–and whether you’re brand or performance, you’ll benefit from their wealth of experience On The Media Roundtable, we have one of our favorite conversations from the 2025 CAO Summit. Conor Doyle (President, Oxford Road) moderated ”No More Maybes: Scaling Podcast Performance with Precision,” where he gathered some of the sharpest CAOs who have scaled podcasts and agreed to share their secrets.  Conor sat down with: • Gladwell Mwangi (Director of Paid Media, Whole Foods) • Kezia Koo (Former Sr. Director, Global Growth & Performance Marketing, Indeed), • Megan Smith (Director, Media Strategy, Tecovas), and • Nick Fairbairn (Vice President, Growth Marketing, Chime) These audio evangelists candidly shared how they grew podcasts with confidence and their hard-won lessons from the journey. They’re talking: Measurement Quality, Podcasts Play Nice, Thoughtful Success, and more. Let’s dig in. “ Every single time we ratchet up the quality of our measurement, it's telling us time and time again, that podcast is efficient, it's driving revenue and bringing customers in.” – Kezia Koo (Former Sr. Director, Global Growth & Performance Marketing, Indeed) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Want to see more clearly in podcasting? You need to hear the audio experts who’ve returned from the Summit. The world’s only podcast solely dedicated to audio ads is back! Presenting Ad Infinitum Season 3, Episode 11 - "When the Helmets Come Off: Kraig T. Kitchin at CAO Summit 2025" Host Stew Redwine (Executive Creative Director, Oxford Road ) welcomes back Kraig T. Kitchin (Senior Strategic Advisor for Oxford Road & Bonafide Audio Legend) to break down their biggest takeaways from an inspiring 2025 Chief Audio Officer Summit. “[The CAOs] brought their best material and they didn't hold back vulnerabilities of the goods, the bads, and the uglies of what it is they do.” Kraig T. Kitchin (Senior Strategic Advisor for Oxford Road & Bonafide Audio Legend)  Our dynamic duo’s talking: Taking Off Your Helmet, Audio’s Edge, Human in Middle, and more. Let’s dig in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the Media Roundtable, we’re taking you back to the CAO Summit for a tactical conversation on one of media’s most resilient channels: radio. Guest moderator and radio legend Kim Komando leads a panel featuring Nick Macco (Legacybox), Mike Janigian (DraftKings), and Rion Swartz (brand-side growth leader, previously at LegalZoom) on why we shouldn’t write the obituary for broadcast radio just yet. “Radio is a ‘cucaracha’—we keep trying to stamp it out, and it just keeps coming back.” —Kim Komando The panel’s playbook for turning “old-school” radio into modern performance media includes Not Overcomplicating Attribution, Fostering Creative Continuity, Thinking Beyond Genre, and more. One thing’s for sure about radio: it’s ALIIIIIIVEEEEEEE! Let’s get into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, the Media Roundtable is giving you an all-access pass to one of the most talked-about sessions from this year’s Chief Audio Officer Summit: Flipping the Script: Feedback From Hosts to Brands. Our own Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road) sat down with three powerhouse hosts: Ashley Flowers (Crime Junkie), Nick Viall (The Viall Files), and Kim Komando (The Kim Komando Show) to share what they really need from advertisers to create great ads that actually work! “Brands, I understand you want to be safe and risk-averse... but know your audience. My audience wants to talk about dating, and there's a little bit of raunchiness and just a little bit of honesty... [an unconventional ad read] worked with that audience. It's memorable; it made them laugh. It also connected what the brand was trying to get across.” —Nick Viall (The Viall Files) The panel delivered a playbook of what works—and, crucially, what doesn’t—when engaging top creators. Let's dive in! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the Media Roundtable, we’re bringing you inside the opening fireside chat from the 2025 Chief Audio Officer Summit, featuring two of the most influential independent voices in media today: Steven Bartlett (Host of Diary of a CEO, Founder of FLIGHTSTORY) and Ben Shapiro (Host of The Ben Shapiro Show, Co-Founder of The Daily Wire). In conversation with Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road), and with a stunning oceanfront sunset as their backdrop, our guests get into the real trade-offs of staying independent, even and especially in the face of nine-figure offers; the discipline behind their respective growth; and how brands can unlock outsized results when they lean into creator-led partnerships. “Independence, in this moment, is a good marker for a lot of listeners and audiences of authenticity. People want to feel like they're not just tuning into an institution. They want to feel like they're turning into a person.” —Ben Shapiro (Host of The Ben Shapiro Show, Co-Founder of The Daily Wire) The fireside chat covers: Experimenting for Exponential Growth, Striking the Right Ad Load Balance, and Letting Creators Cook.  Let’s dive in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the Media Roundtable, we’re taking you inside Podcast Movement 2025, where the industry gathered in Dallas just as breaking news hit the scene: Sounds Profitable has merged with Podcast Movement. On this episode, host Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road) recaps the event with team members Courtney O’Connor, Julia Palermo, and James Ingrassia—plus a special guest appearance from Bryan Barletta, the founder of Sounds Profitable and newly named President of Podcast Movement. Together, they unpack what the merger means for creators, advertisers, and the future of industry events–and everything else they took away from this year’s Podcast Movement. Bryan shares how he plans to evolve the conferences, balance creator and advertiser needs, and bring new focus to content and measurement. The team reflects on hot topics and perennial trends from the week: rising podcast consumption, the video surge, programmatic momentum, and frequency as the new buzzword. These topics are not going away–so get the scoop from those with boots on the ground. ““The [podcasting] space changes every two years. It feels like a brand new industry.” —Bryan Barletta, founder of Sounds Profitable and President of Podcast Movement The recap covers: the Sounds Profitable + Podcast Movement deal, why the flagship event is moving to New York, for good; what advertisers should expect next year; and our team’s takes on the evolving conversations on video, attribution, and programmatic. Let’s get into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the Media Roundtable, we’re bringing you the inside story from the 2025 Chief Audio Officer Summit, where the people shaping the future of podcasting and audio advertising gathered to ask one big question: Where do we go from here? This episode is a recording of Dan Granger’s keynote presentation of Oxford Road’s annual State of Audio Advertising report, which gave attendees the answer. The free report is now available too–download it now for the full experience at oxfordroad.com/soaa25. In his address, Dan touches the industry’s most pressing topics—attribution, fragmentation, and the rise of video—and calls for marketers to mobilize around standards that unlock growth. He introduces new data from Oxford Road’s “What Brands Want” survey, challenges assumptions about channel spend versus consumption, and gives Chief Audio Officers in attendance a road map for the year ahead. “When we define the medium, we can align on metrics. And when we align on metrics, we can unlock scale.” —Dan Granger, CEO of Oxford Road See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the Media Roundtable, we’re giving you a front-row seat to the 2025 Chief Audio Officer Summit for a case study breakthrough that could change the way podcast advertisers think about YouTube—or at least how they measure it–forever. Led by our own Giles Martin (EVP, Strategy & Insights, Oxford Road), this session marks an industry first: using passive panel data to measure the true impact of podcast simulcasts on YouTube. The pilot study, developed in partnership with Keith Friedenberg of Media IDentity Graph (MIDG), measures what marketers have only guessed at—and proves YouTube podcast ads can deliver statistically significant lift. This episode is a companion to our groundbreaking white paper, Inside the Walled Garden: Breaking New Ground on YouTube Podcast Measurement, available NOW for free download: https://oxfordroad.com/simulcast. The team is talking: Cracking the Simulcast Code, What YouTube Viewers Really Look Like, The Lift That Bucks the Trend, and more. "To our knowledge, this is the first time YouTube podcast impressions have been specifically measured—and we’ve been able to put a number on what they contribute to a client’s business." —Giles Martin See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week’s archival pull from What’s a Podcast? The Extended Interviews features one of the voices that helped build the podcast industry as we know it: Guy Raz. Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road) sits down with the creator of How I Built This to talk about how we built this—i.e. how podcasting went from media exile to mainstream power player—and what’s worth protecting as the lines between audio, video, and algorithm blur. “[As a listener], you’re giving me your time—and your time is more valuable than money.” —Guy Raz The team is talking: The Podcast Intimacy Advantage, Video as an Add-On, Goodbye to Gatekeepers, and more.  Let’s dive in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"The best of everything you can really ask for."  This special edition of Media Roundtable offers a front-row seat to our third annual CAO Summit, held at the stunning Terranea Resort. Hosted by Giles Martin (EVP, Strategy, Oxford Road) and featuring guests Alia Smith (Associate Manager, Acquisition, Boll & Branch), Megan Smith (Director of Media Strategy, Tecovas), and Oxford Road’s own James Ingrassia (EVP, Client Services), the episode captured the insights, inspiration, community—and gorgeous sunsets—that defined this year’s event. The team is talking: Hosts Know Their Audience Best, Industry-First Simulcast Measurement, Breakout Sessions FTW, and more. Let’s jump in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CAOs, always remember: being exclusive isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when open distribution is a growth strategy. This week on the Media Roundtable: Special Edition, Dan Granger (CEO and Founder, Oxford Road) welcomes Christiana Brenton, Co-Founder & CRO of FlightStory, the media company behind Diary of a CEO (the fastest-growing podcast brand in the world!). This episode is sponsored by our friends at Libsyn. The team is talking: Decentralized Growth, Measurement Headaches, and Why Humility Wins. Let’s jump in… “We want to be everywhere, all the time—and never reliant on one singular platform.” —Christiana Brenton (Co-Founder & CRO, FlightStory) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on “What’s a Podcast? - The Extended Interviews,” Evan Shapiro (renowned Media Universe Cartographer) brings his latest industry map to share with Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road & Veritone One) how and why podcasts should expand into other mediums.  At IFC, Evan pioneered the podcast-to-TV pipeline (Comedy Bang Bang, WTF with Marc Maron). Now he navigates uncharted media waters with his show The Media Odyssey. He’s a perfect guide for this podcast voyage.  The team is talking: In Creators We Trust, Podcasting’s New Identity, Audience Connection, and more. Let’s dig in. “[Podcasting] was the first form of the creator economy.”Evan Shapiro (renowned Media Universe Cartographer)  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kill the word podcast? Our guest votes yes. This week on “What’s a Podcast? - The Extended Interviews,” Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road & Veritone One) hosts AJ Feliciano (former GM of The Roost Network) for a deep dive on how The Roost became the in-house “media company of tomorrow.” AJ is all-in on 360 content. He even built a flywheel for how podcasts can pivot into video so they can “pump [distribution platforms] with all types of content.” Oh. And in the podcast vs. simulcast debate? He’s 11/10 “simulcast.”  Dan and AJ are also talking: Be a Mini-Disney, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Find What Clicks, and more. Let’s get into it. “Simulcast doesn't put itself in a box necessarily. When I'm talking to creators or fans and I say the word ‘simulcast,’ they see it’s in multiple places. It just sort of clicks immediately without having to explain it.” – AJ Feliciano (former GM of The Roost Network) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week on the Media Roundtable, Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road & Veritone One) hosts Steve Pratt (Founder, The Creativity Business, author of Earn It: Unconventional Strategies for Brave Marketers) for a debate about Steve’s article on Joe Rogan’s podcast status. Why? Because a podcast is still the best place for an open exchange of ideas–even ideas about what is and isn’t a podcast. Plus, the cement’s still wet on our new podcast definition, so it’s time for a gut check.  Dan and Steve also cover Picking a Platform, Earning Attention, and more. This week's episode is sponsored by The Daily Wire. “Consumers hold all the power. They can bypass anything they don't want. So the opportunity for most marketers that isn't being taken advantage of is: make something that people want.” - Steve Pratt (Founder, The Creativity Business) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Reminder: Shows don’t need a million downloads to make an impact. This week, in a podcast studio, somewhere on the final frontier, Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road & Veritone One) and John McDermott (Co-Founder, Caloroga Shark Media) boldly go where nobody’s gone before, to discuss how there’s plenty of room in podcasting for celebrities AND friends to talk Star Trek and beyond. This episode of “What’s a Podcast? - The Extended Interviews” is sponsored by Claritas. “I'm not the anti-video guy. I just want to stick up for, hey, there's nothing wrong with heading down to the basement and talking about Star Trek with your friends.” John McDermott (Co-Founder, Caloroga Shark Media) The team is talking: Jimmy Buffett’s Business Model, YouTube’s Numbers Game, Podcast Peer Pressure, and more. Let’s voyage in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hope you’re good at math, because podcasting is about to multiply. This week on the Media Roundtable limited series “What’s a Podcast? - The Extended Interviews,” Dan Granger (CEO, Oxford Road & Veritone One) hosts Bryan Barletta (Founder and Partner, Sound Profitable) to peel back the layers of podcasting.  “I want it [the podcast definition] to be a virus… If we let it grow, it's easier to kick out the things that are very clearly not it.” - Bryan Barletta The team is talking: the Popular Kids, YouTube’s Top Shelf, Identity Crises, and more. Let’s dig in. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.