Focus on Partnerships, Not Paychecks: Why Agencies Must Reinvent Themselves

The Strategy Behind USA Today Co.'s Big Identity Shift with Kristin Roberts and Lark-Marie Anton

In this episode of Adspeak, host Mark Stenberg is joined by Lark-Marie Anton, Chief Communications and Brand Officer, and Kristin Roberts, President of Media at USA Today Co., to unpack the company's landmark transition from Gannett to USA Today Co. and what it signals for the future of publishing in the AI era. The conversation explores how unifying more than 200 local media brands under a single trusted identity strengthens audience recognition, advertiser value, and AI attribution.  Lark-Marie and Kristin discuss the research behind the rebrand, the company's unique local-to-national reach, and how proprietary tools like Deeper Dive help keep audiences engaged within trusted publisher ecosystems. They also examine AI partnerships, evolving search behavior, and why a strong, recognizable brand may be a publisher's most valuable asset in an increasingly AI-driven media landscape.  What You'll Learn: * How to leverage brand consolidation as a defensive strategy against AI answer engines  * Why data-driven brand decisions outweigh aesthetic rebrands * The "Local-to-National Platform" positioning  for capturing advertiser attention  * How to embed proprietary AI tools (like Deeper Dive) as brand moats  * The negotiating leverage principle for AI partnerships * Why internal narrative alignment matters as much as external branding About the Guests: Lark-Marie Anton is Chief Communications and Brand Officer at USA TODAY Co., where she leads communications and brand strategy in support of the company’s mission to strengthen local communities. With more than two decades of experience in strategic communications and integrated marketing, she has held senior leadership roles at Hertz, Verizon, Loews Hotels, and Aura, and previously served in New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration. A recognized communications leader, she serves on multiple nonprofit and educational boards and was named one of Ragan’s Top Women in Communications.  Kristin Roberts is President of USA TODAY Media, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience across journalism, media, and business transformation. Before joining USA TODAY, she served as Chief Content Officer at McClatchy, where she led 30 newsrooms and helped develop a new business model for local media. She previously held leadership roles at POLITICO and Reuters, overseeing major political, business, and international coverage. Roberts holds degrees from Georgetown, Columbia, and George Washington University and is actively involved in community leadership in Miami.  Guest Resources: * Kirsten Roberts on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/-kristin-roberts/] * Lark-Marie Anton on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/larkmarieanton/] * USA Today Website [https://www.usatoday.com/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

AI and Advertising: Protecting Creativity in an Automated World with Jim Cowsert and Kim Einan

On this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Kim Einan sits down with Jim Cowsert to unpack how AI is transforming advertising without sacrificing creativity, trust, or brand identity. Jim explains how brands can use AI to strengthen insights, improve consistency, and personalize campaigns at scale while still preserving the emotional nuance that only humans can provide. Together, they explore the dangers of “apathy in using AI,” why generic AI-driven work weakens differentiation, and how brands can build stronger creative briefs by feeding proprietary brand DNA into AI systems. The conversation also covers bias mitigation, human review loops, audience testing, and why skeptical, curious talent will define the future of AI-powered marketing.  What You'll Learn: * How to position AI as a creative amplifier, not a replacement * Why "apathy in using AI" is the real enemy * The pattern-breaking framework for differentiation * How to audit and remediate AI bias proactively * Why brand-specific guardrails are non-negotiable * The three-to-five-year vision: balancing technology with human touch About the Guests: Kim Einan is a proven leader with 25 years of agency experience, known as a brave change agent who pursues opportunities with energy and rigor, and as a supportive coach who creates a safe and inclusive space for her team to grow. As Chief Strategy Officer at OMD, she is passionately dedicated to ensuring alignment between brand and media strategies across the entire marketing ecosystem and inspiring others to re-imagine what’s possible in order to unlock new sources of growth for clients. Jim Cowsert is the VP of Enterprise Brand, Advertising, and Media at Voya Financial, bringing extensive expertise in creative strategy, AI integration, and brand differentiation within the highly regulated financial services sector. With a focus on leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance creativity while maintaining brand authenticity, Jim has pioneered approaches to AI-enabled production, brand-voice consistency, and risk mitigation within marketing workflows. Guest Resources: * Jim Cowsert on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimcowsert/] * Voya Financial Website [https://www.voya.com/] * Kim Einan on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-einan-13a7734/] * OMD Website [https://www.omd.com/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Wyclef Jean on Owning the Future of the Creator Economy

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Madeline Nelson sits down with Wyclef Jean and Jaeson Ma for a live conversation from BrandWeek about the future of the creator economy. The discussion explores how OpenWav is helping artists break free from streaming algorithms and traditional gatekeepers by enabling direct ownership of fan relationships, data, and revenue.  Wyclef and Jaeson explain why smaller, highly engaged communities are becoming more valuable than mass audiences, and how independent creators can build sustainable businesses through exclusive content, merchandise, and direct-to-fan experiences. The episode also examines what this shift means for brands seeking more authentic partnerships with creators and niche communities in 2026.  What You'll Learn: * How the "1,000 True Fans" model generates more revenue than streaming platforms  * Why direct-to-fan commerce is the antidote to platform dependency  * The framework for building authentic engagement beyond clicks * How on-demand manufacturing and supply chain technology eliminate inventory barriers for independent creators * Why bigger isn't better in 2026, smaller, intentional communities drive higher monetization * How brands can partner with OpenWav for competitions, exclusive drops, and co-branded initiatives About the Guests: Wyclef Jean is a legendary music artist and engineer with decades of experience navigating the music industry from independent artist to Grammy-winning performer. Known for co-founding The Fugees and pioneering independent production methods, Wyclef brings an invaluable perspective on artist empowerment and creative ownership. Jaeson Ma is the CEO at OpenWav and a tech investor and entrepreneur who founded ADA Rising, one of the fastest-growing independent digital music labels, and serves as a key architect behind OpenWav, a platform designed to empower artists through direct fan engagement and commerce. With expertise bridging technology, supply chain innovation, and creator economies, Jason has invested in transformative platforms, including early-stage investments in Musical.ly (which became TikTok). Madeline Nelson is a music industry executive, entrepreneur, and advocate for independent artists with more than two decades of experience. She is the founder and CEO of Purple Cow Innovation, a women-led agency and consultancy focused on music, entertainment, and brand strategy. Previously, she served as U.S. Head of Independent Label Relations at Amazon Music, overseeing partnerships with hundreds of independent labels and distributors. Guest Resources: * Wyclef Jean on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wyclefjean/] * Wyclef Jean on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/wyclefjean/] * Jaeson Ma on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaesonma/] * Madeline Nelson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeline-nelson-ba640467/] * OpenWav Website [https://openwav.ai/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

From Passion Project to Pantry Staple: Brooklyn Peltz Beckham

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Zoe Ruderman, Chief Content Officer at ADWEEK, sits down with Brooklyn Peltz Beckham to unpack the unconventional strategy behind building Cloud 23 into a credible, long-term consumer brand. Rather than relying on celebrity hype, Brooklyn spent four years obsessing over product design, packaging, and quality to create a condiment brand built on authenticity and repeat purchase behavior.  He explains why organic growth matters more than launch spikes, how selective partnerships with brands like Airbnb and Whole Foods strengthened credibility, and why saying no to misaligned opportunities protected long-term brand equity. The conversation also explores founder-led storytelling, experiential marketing, and the importance of designing brands with generational legacy and multi-category expansion in mind from day one.  What You'll Learn: * How to resist the vanity project trap by designing every detail yourself * Why controlled growth beats explosive launches * The partnership vetting framework that protects brand equity * How to leverage founder credibility strategically through experiential partnerships  * The repurchase metric as your north star for success * Why multi-category expansion with intentional rollout builds dynasty-worthy brands About the Guest: Brooklyn Peltz Beckham is the founder and creative director of Cloud 23, a premium condiment brand launched after four years of meticulous product development. With a background in photography and design, Brooklyn brings a distinctly creative approach to brand building, overseeing every detail from bottle design to ingredient sourcing.  Guest Resources: * Brooklyn Peltz Beckham on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/brooklynpeltzbeckham/] * Cloud 23 Website [https://www.c23.com/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Beyond the Meat Stick: How Chomps Built a Brand with Emotional Bite

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Ryan Joe sits down with Stacey Hartnett, SVP of Brand and Marketing at Chomps, for a conversation recorded live at Brandweek. They explore the strategic journey of how a "scrappy startup" moved from a purely direct-to-consumer performance marketing play into a powerhouse brand that competes with industry giants. Stacey details how Chomps successfully shifted the perception of meat sticks from "mystery meat" to a high-quality protein staple by obsessing over their community and finding an unexpected primary audience: Zillennial moms. The discussion dives deep into the mechanics of scaling, including the evolution from functional messaging to emotional storytelling, the role of retail media networks like Amazon, and the brand's bold testing of high-impact cultural moments like Thursday Night Football. Packed with practical insights on research-led pivots and maintaining "social currency," this episode provides a blueprint for any brand looking to expand its reach without losing its core identity. What You'll Learn: * How to transition from ROI-focused performance media to long-term branding. * The strategy behind identifying and leaning into a surprising 70% female audience. * How to evolve messaging from functional product attributes to emotional connection. * The role of "experiential" marketing in taking tasks off your consumer’s to-do list. * Testing high-impact media like the NFL and Dancing with the Stars. * How to build brand loyalty that withstands the threat of private label competitors. About the Guests: Stacey Hartnett is the SVP of Brand and Marketing at Chomps, where she has spent over six years helping scale the brand from a niche D2C player to a major retail presence. With a background starting on the media side, she has been instrumental in navigating Chomps' disciplined growth, overseeing its transition into emotional storytelling and high-impact brand awareness campaigns. Under her leadership, Chomps has cultivated a dedicated community known as the "Champions". Ryan Joe is the Editor in Chief at ADWEEK and the host of the Adspeak podcast. In his role, he leads the editorial direction of the publication and facilitates high-level conversations focused on the mechanics of power and influence within the advertising and marketing industries. As a seasoned reporter and host, he specializes in reporter-led storytelling, providing listeners with practical "masterclasses" through interviews with the industry's most influential leaders. Guest Resources: * Stacey Hartnett LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-hartnett-berger-6b2aa124/] * Chomps Official Website [https://chomps.com/] * Ryan Joe LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-joe-9b97947/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.