The Ad Podcast

Jens Stoelken - founder - Ceremony Botanical Brews

Jens Stoelken - founder - Ceremony Botanical Brews & co founder of The Many Jens Stoelken is the founder of Ceremony Botanical Brewing, a recently launched independent beverage brand based in Austin, Texas. Professional Background & Inspiration Heritage: Stoelken grew up in Germany, where he developed a deep appreciation for the cultural significance and heritage of beer. Japan Influence: In 2024, while traveling in Japan, he encountered a matcha beer at the Kyoto Brewing Company. This sparked the idea that botanicals could serve as the primary foundation for a new category of brewing, rather than just being used as a flavoring additive. The Concept: He returned to Austin to develop "Botanical Brewing," a category that treats botanicals as the "architect" of the drink. This involves building the entire recipe—balance, aroma, and structure—around the natural character of a specific plant. Current Venture: Ceremony Botanical Brewing

Todd Irwin - Founder - Fazer

Todd Irwin is a brand strategy veteran with over 30 years of experience who currently serves as the Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Fazer, a New York-based brand strategy and creative agency. He is widely recognized for pioneering the De-Positioning methodology, a strategy designed to turn a competitor's strengths into liabilities. Professional Background Industry Expertise: He has led large-scale identity and strategy projects for Fortune 500 giants (including The Coca-Cola Company, Verizon, Walmart, and Nikon) as well as venture-backed startups from Sequoia Capital and GV (Google Ventures). Fazer Agency: Under Irwin's leadership, Fazer operates as a "new-model" agency where branding experts lead all other teams (advertising, PR, digital) to ensure a unified, competitive strategy. Author: He is the author of De-Positioning: The Secret Brand Strategy for Creating Competitive Advantage, released in November 2025.

Travis McEwan - CEO - 1 At Bat Media

Travis McEwan is an entrepreneur and marketing strategist who serves as the CEO of 1 At Bat Media, a digital marketing agency specialized in high-growth strategies for modern brands. Under McEwan’s leadership, 1 At Bat Media focuses on performance marketing, customer acquisition, and the integration of emerging technologies into brand strategy. * AI & Personalization: He is recognized in the industry as an advocate for hyper-personalization in marketing. He frequently contributes insights on how AI can be used to tailor user experiences, enhance audience segmentation, and optimize inventory management for e-commerce brands. * Luxury & Niche Markets: His agency often works with luxury and high-end lifestyle brands, applying data-driven storytelling to help them scale in competitive digital landscapes. * Growth Strategy: Developing full-funnel marketing systems that prioritize sustainable customer lifetime value. * Customer Insights: Using advanced data analytics to provide brands with deeper behavioral insights into their target demographics. * Digital Innovation: Staying at the forefront of marketing trends, particularly the shift toward AI-driven customer journeys. Professional FocusCore Expertise

Jitesh Vaswani - Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) - Shankara Naturals

Jitesh Vaswani is a prominent breathwork teacher, transformational speaker, and marketing executive known for bridging corporate leadership with holistic wellness. * Wellness & Meditation: He is a senior faculty member with the Art of Living Foundation, where he teaches SKY Breath Meditation. He is a frequent speaker on mindfulness and intuition, having delivered a TEDx talk ("Use Your Breath") and led sessions for organizations like Google and various U.S. universities. * Professional Leadership: He serves as the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for Shankara Naturals, a high-end Ayurvedic skincare brand. He also leads strategic partnerships for Sri Sri Tattva USA. * Media: He is the host of the podcast Beyond The Known, where he interviews entrepreneurs and thinkers about personal growth, leadership, and inner transformation. * Engineering: Before transitioning fully into leadership and wellness, he earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University. * Advocacy: During his time at ASU, he co-founded the "Be Happy ASU" movement to promote mental well-being on campus through meditation workshops.

Sebastian Margaglio - Senior Manager of Brand & Marketing - Long Weekend

Sebastian Margaglio is the Senior Manager of Brand & Marketing for Long Weekend, a sustainable food and lifestyle brand operating under the Sumitomo Corporation of Americas (SCOA). Margaglio is a central figure in the launch and scaling of Long Weekend, which focuses on high-quality, plant-based products designed for modern, busy lifestyles. He is specifically noted for: * Market Launch: Transitioning the brand from a concept to a scalable business in the U.S. market. * Product Strategy: Leading the marketing for their flagship product—freeze-dried soups. These are positioned as a healthy, "one-step" meal option for health-conscious consumers. * Philosophy: He has described the brand's goal as providing an "emotional reset" for customers, emphasizing convenience without sacrificing nutritional value or sustainability. * CPG Expertise: He has a deep background in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), specializing in brand storytelling and e-commerce growth. * Team Leadership: He works alongside a specialized team within SCOA's Food & Lifestyle Group to bridge the gap between traditional corporate structures and the agility of a startup brand.