167. SPO, AI, and Attention: the New Era of Programmatic Advertising with Albert Thompson
Release Date: 02/04/2025
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 insightful episode, Albert Thompson, Managing Director, Digital Innovation at Walton Isaacson (https://www.waltonisaacson.com/), shares his forward-thinking take on where programmatic advertising is headed. He challenges the industry to rethink outdated processes, improve partnerships, and embrace smarter ways of working. Looking ahead to 2025, Albert highlights AI’s potential to eliminate inefficiencies, spark creativity, and redefine how brands tell their stories and connect with audiences.
Beyond technology, Albert dives into the importance of training—not just for newcomers, but for everyone. He emphasizes that staying curious and continuously learning is the key to staying relevant in a fast-changing, AI-driven world. He shares personal experiences and strategic insights on why companies should prioritize education at all levels to stay ahead of the curve.
One of the most exciting parts of the discussion? Albert’s take on "agentic AI"—a game-changing concept where AI-powered agents go beyond human capabilities to transform industries. He explores how this shift will impact everything from creative strategy to how brands measure and capture consumer attention.
From the evolving role of AI in programmatic advertising to the future of consumer engagement, Albert offers a fresh and engaging perspective on what’s next in the digital space.
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(00:02) - Future of Programmatic
(07:50) - Training and Implementing AI in Advertising
(16:18) - The Future of Artificial Intelligence
(28:47) - Redefining Creative in Programmatic Advertising
(36:00) - The War for Attention in Programmatic
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