186. Why More DSPs ≠ More Reach: Programmatic Deep Dive with Gary Guarnaccia & Ryan Verklin
Release Date: 10/08/2025
189. How To Turn Curated Audience Into Insights with GDB
Programmatic Digest
Preview of the Sell-Side Foundations for Traders workshop sponsored by ! Sign up to this FREE workshop: Summary: A fast, practical deep dive into how GDB redefined programmatic curation from their early roots as a DSP to becoming an SSP focused on “Curation as a Service.” John Dittar and Felipe share how refining supply paths, removing low-quality inventory, and layering intelligence into deals leads to cleaner, smarter buying. They explain how curation powers stronger brand safety, reduces pre-fraud exposure, and replaces guesswork with predictable,...
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188. Past the Hype: How to Buy Smarter After TTD’s Reseller Update
Programmatic Digest
A fast, practical deep dive into The Trade Desk’s move to label all SSPs as “resellers” — what that label actually means, why it has a bad rap, and where it’s fair vs. misleading. Gareth breaks down value-add resellers (e.g., unique widgets/placements) vs. pure pass-through reselling, explains OpenPath in plain English, and demystifies the Transaction ID debate: what it is, why TTD wants it, and how it impacts buy-side efficiency and supply transparency. We wrap with actionable steps for traders — how to pressure-test paths, when to go direct with publishers/PMPs, and how to...
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187. What Traders/Buyers Should Know About Publisher’s Ad Stack Relating To SPO with Jana Meron
Programmatic Digest
In this episode of the Programmatic Digest, host Helene Parker sits down with Jana Meron, programmatic veteran and sell-side expert, for a deep dive into how the buy side and sell side can finally bridge the gap. This episode serves as a preview of their upcoming joint workshop — The Sell-Side Programmatic Foundation for Buyers — designed to help traders, buyers, and ad ops professionals better understand how publishers, SSPs, and ad tech integrations actually work. Jana shares her fascinating career journey, from early media buying days to leading programmatic and data operations at...
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186. Why More DSPs ≠ More Reach: Programmatic Deep Dive with Gary Guarnaccia & Ryan Verklin
Programmatic Digest
In this episode of the Programmatic Digest, host Ellen Parker welcomes two of LinkedIn’s most active programmatic voices: Gary Guarnaccia and Ryan Verklin. Together, they dive into the realities of in-housing, retail media, DSP strategy, and the ongoing shifts in supply path optimization (SPO). Ryan shares his journey from agency life to in-house at Bayer, where he helped lead the transition to hands-on programmatic buying before moving into retail media. Gary reflects on his role supporting Bayer’s in-house teams through ad tech partnerships, ensuring programmatic and retail investments...
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185. From Brand to Demand: B2B Programmatic with Rosey Sutton
Programmatic Digest
In this episode of the Programmatic Digest, host Helene Parker welcomes Rosey Sutton, Head of Programmatic at Leadswell, for a deep dive into the world of B2B programmatic advertising. Rosey shares her journey from traditional broadcast buying to programmatic leadership, offering practical insights into brand-to-demand strategy, content syndication, and how to connect brand awareness with demand generation for better results. We explore the importance of aligning creative messaging with funnel stages, why programmatic often serves as the accelerator in B2B, and how intent data can transform...
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184. AI, Attribution & Attention: Insights from IAB’s Angelina Eng | Programmatic Digest Podcast
Programmatic Digest
In this episode of the Programmatic Digest, host Manuela Cortes sits down with Angelina Eng, Vice President at IAB, to unpack the evolving world of measurement, attribution, and attention in digital advertising. Angelina shares her deep expertise in helping reduce friction across the ad tech ecosystem and establishing industry best practices through IAB’s Measurement, Addressability, and Data Center. She breaks down the misconceptions around last-touch attribution, the importance of assisted attribution, and how weighting ad formats can better reflect their role in the funnel. We also...
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183. Curate the Path: How DPO + AI Boost Publisher Yield with Petri Kokkonen from Relevant Digital
Programmatic Digest
Petri Kokkonen from Relevant Yield explains how his team helps publishers grow revenue through Demand Path Optimization (DPO), curation, and AI-driven decisioning.
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182. How LATAM is Reimagining CTV with Alberto Grande from EXTE– Live Episode from Cannes Lions 2025
Programmatic Digest
In this special Cannes Lions edition of the Programmatic Digest Podcast (Español), host Manuela Cortes sits down with Alberto Grande, Regional Lead at EXTE, to explore the evolving media landscape in Latin America. Alberto shares how his team built a creative-first programmatic powerhouse from scratch, the growing impact of Connected TV (CTV) across LATAM, and how partnerships like LG are redefining attention metrics. They also dive into market-specific buying behavior, cultural preferences in ad formats, and the challenge of measuring outcomes beyond CTR. If you're curious about how CTV is...
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181. How Programmatic Buyers Think About UGC with Andrew Super from Nextdoor - Live Episode from Cannes Lions 2025
Programmatic Digest
Direct from La Croisette, The Programmatic Digest lands at Cannes Lions 2025 to unpack the biggest stories, trends, and power players shaping the future of advertising. Join us as we interview industry leaders, innovators, and disruptors live from the Croisette—diving into everything from UCG to data privacy and the evolving programmatic landscape. Bite-sized insights. Big-league conversations. Fresh from the beach.
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180. From History Major to MadTech Leader: Heather Macaulay on Tech Stack Clarity, Connectivity, and Career Advice
Programmatic Digest
In this episode of the Programmatic Digest, we sit down with Heather Macaulay, President of MadTech, an AdTech consultancy transforming how teams approach data, integrations, and strategy. Heather shares her unexpected journey into ad tech—from Newbury Street project management to Pubmatic to founding MadTech—and the lessons she’s picked up along the way. We dive into what it really means to have a strong, scalable tech stack, the common mistakes advertisers make when choosing tools, and why platform connectivity is now mission-critical. Heather also breaks down how MadConnect,...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Programmatic Digest, host Ellen Parker welcomes two of LinkedIn’s most active programmatic voices: Gary Guarnaccia and Ryan Verklin. Together, they dive into the realities of in-housing, retail media, DSP strategy, and the ongoing shifts in supply path optimization (SPO).
Ryan shares his journey from agency life to in-house at Bayer, where he helped lead the transition to hands-on programmatic buying before moving into retail media. Gary reflects on his role supporting Bayer’s in-house teams through ad tech partnerships, ensuring programmatic and retail investments drive real business outcomes.
We dig into hot-button industry debates, including:
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In-house vs. agency vs. retail media networks – how traders’ roles are evolving.
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DSP strategy – why more DSPs don’t automatically mean more reach.
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Retail media networks – the difference between on-site and off-site, and how CPG brands leverage retailer data for incremental reach.
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Amazon DSP – is it really positioned to replace other omni-channel platforms?
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Traders’ perspective – why user-friendly DSPs, efficient reporting, and reduced friction are critical to long-term success.
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SPO and transparency – reacting to Index Exchange’s announcement and The Trade Desk’s move to categorize SSPs as resellers.
The conversation highlights a recurring theme: programmatic traders need more love. Empowering the hands-on-keyboard teams with better tools, education, and collaboration leads to stronger business results—and less burnout.
If you’re a programmatic trader, strategist, or leader navigating the complexities of DSPs, SSPs, and retail media, this episode is packed with insights and candid perspectives you won’t want to miss.
Additional resource:
About Us:
We teach historically excluded individuals how to break into programmatic media buying and land their dream jobs. Through our Reach and Frequency® program, an engaged community, and expert coaching, we offer:
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Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introductions
03:11 – From Agency to In-House: Ryan & Gary’s Journeys
08:35 – The Rise of Retail Media at Bayer
14:20 – DSP Strategy: Why More Doesn’t Always Mean Better Reach
20:02 – Retail Media Networks: On-Site vs. Off-Site Explained
26:41 – Amazon DSP: Threat or Opportunity?
33:17 – Why Traders Deserve More Love in Ad Tech
40:05 – Reporting, AI, and Reducing Friction for Traders
46:28 – SPO Debate: Resellers, Transparency & Control
53:19 – Final Thoughts & Industry Takeaways
Meet Our Guest:
Gary Guarnaccia – Ad Tech Partnerships, Bayer
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-g-16328640/
Ryan Verklin – Retail Media Lead, Bayer
https://www.linkedin.com/in/verklin/
https://www.instagram.com/verklin/
Meet The Team:
Hélène Parker - Chief Programmatic Coach
https://www.heleneparker.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/helene-parker
Manuela Cortes - Co-Host
Programmatic Digest In Espanol:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuela-cortes-
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Programmatic Digest
https://www.linkedin.com/company/programmatic-digest-podcast
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBGMMRsZkw0IIUbQIJmMBxw
Looking for programmatic training/coaching?
Sign up to our Accelerator Program: A 6-week structured program with live coaching, hands-on within DSP(s) exercises, and real-time feedback—perfect for those who thrive on accountability and community, and looking to grow their technical skillset
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