188. Past the Hype: How to Buy Smarter After TTD’s Reseller Update
Release Date: 10/30/2025
211. Understanding Programmatic Sustainability with Brian O’Kelley
Programmatic Digest
Let’s first highlight some “not so fun facts” about the topic covered in this episode, according to Anne Coghlan, COO of Scope3 in . Programmatic advertising creates 100,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide every month in the United States, which is equivalent to burning about 11.2 million gallons of gas. Serving 1,000 digital ad impressions uses the same amount of energy as doing a load of laundry in a washing machine — excluding the dryer — which produces a global average of 514.8 grams of CO2. Brian O’Kelley co-founder and CEO joins the programmatic meetup, a...
info_outline
210. How A Nurse Started in Programmatic Media
Programmatic Digest
Gulshan started as a nurse and realised that her passion was outside of the medical field. She knew she wanted to work in Marketing but did not know where to start. Luckily, her grad school professor recommended that she looked into programmatic and that is how she “fell” into the programmatic industry where she is now working for an ad agency who specialise in pharma and healthcare brands. Gulshan is such an inspiration for standing up for herself and pursuing something she wanted to and not being afraid to start “again” and take risk learning something new. It’s never too...
info_outline
209. The Future of Ecommerce: AEO, AI, and One-to-One Personalization
Programmatic Digest
In Episode 209 of the Programmatic Digest Podcast, Hélène Parker sits down with Avani Oswal, founder of Catalyst, to explore what retail and ecommerce leaders need to know as AI reshapes discovery, technology decisions, and customer experiences. Avani shares how her career moved from finance and consulting at EY to strategy at Macy’s, operational roles across ecommerce brands including IPSY, and eventually building Catalyst, a community that connects retail operators with emerging technology companies. She explains why understanding the numbers, listening closely to operators, and building...
info_outline
208. The Data Is Technical, but the Decision Is Human with Carole Lawson
Programmatic Digest
Programmatic advertising gives us more data, automation, and targeting options than ever. But behind every impression, click, and conversion is a real person whose circumstances, attention, and needs can change. In this episode of the Programmatic Digest Podcast, Hélène Parker speaks with Carole Lawson, founding partner of Marketstorm, about the relationship between data, technology, AI, and human behavior. Carole shares how her experience in technology, government innovation, behavioral economics, and data science led her into programmatic advertising. She also explains why traders should...
info_outline
207. The AI Middle Layer: The Next Brand Safety Battleground
Programmatic Digest
In this podcast episode, Dr. Cecilia Dones and Iesha White discuss the complex evolution of artificial intelligence within the marketing and advertising industries. They explore the shift of AI becoming a "middle layer" between brands and consumers, highlighting how automated systems can influence purchasing decisions using unverified information. These outstanding ladies distinguish between closed and open AI systems, warning that proprietary models often lack transparency and can lead to brand safety issues like hallucinations or data poisoning. They emphasize that while AI...
info_outline
206. A Discussion on The signal brief, AI Search, and Ozone
Programmatic Digest
AI-driven search is changing how people discover information, and challenging the intent-based funnel publishers and advertisers have relied on for years. In this episode of the Programmatic Digest Podcast, I sit down with Christian Robinson of Ozone to explore what this shift means for publishers, programmatic traders, and the future of the open web. Christian shares how Ozone helps advertisers reach audiences across trusted, premium publisher environments while reducing duplication and wasted media spend. We discuss why first-party data, authenticated audiences, and journalistically safe...
info_outline
205. Conversational Ad Ops, AI agents, and Model Context Protocol (MCP) with Rob Janes
Programmatic Digest
In this episode of the Programmatic Digest Podcast, host and guest Rob JAnes, Head of Product at AdButler, discuss the rapidly changing landscape of publisher monetization and programmatic ad operations heading into 2025. Check out the interview on YouTube here: They break down the industry-wide adjustments following Google's unexpected decision not to deprecate third-party cookies and the subsequent pivot to internal identity resolution systems. A major focus of the conversation is the existential crisis content creators face due to declining traffic, driven by generative...
info_outline
204. Martech Architecture Explained: The Missing Layer in Ad Tech
Programmatic Digest
🎧 Summary: In this episode of the Programmatic Digest Podcast, Hélène Parker sits down with Sanarr McLaughlin to unpack one of the most overlooked challenges in programmatic advertising and digital marketing: martech structure. From disconnected tools and messy integrations to reporting confusion and operational inefficiencies, Sanarr explains why many agencies, brands, and media teams are struggling under the weight of their own systems. Together, they explore how poor martech architecture impacts campaign execution, data accuracy, internal productivity, and ultimately business growth....
info_outline
203. Are We Optimizing for Bots? Unpacking AI, CTR, and Ad Fraud with Dr. Fou
Programmatic Digest
In this episode of the Programmatic Digest, Hélène Parker sits down with Dr. Augustine Fou, founder of Fou Analytics, to unpack the realities of ad fraud, attribution, AI, and programmatic optimization. Dr. Fou challenges some of the metrics and tools our industry has relied on for years, explaining how bots can manipulate signals like CTR and how algorithms can unintentionally optimize toward fraudulent inventory. The conversation also explores the limitations of traditional fraud detection, the importance of independent verification, and how traders can use more granular data, including...
info_outline
202. Mastering Audience Optimization & DSP Transparency with Jenn Ha and Ed Hackney from Pearl Diver
Programmatic Digest
In part two of this special episode of the Programmatic Digest podcast, host Hélène Parker welcomes back Ed and introduces Jenny, the Head of Customer Experience at Pearl Diver Building on the previous episode's focus on audience discovery, this conversation dives deeply into audience optimization and the critical role of true partnership in ad tech. Jenny and Ed share insights on the optimal times to introduce new audience segments, highlighting that the best time to test an adjacent audience is actually when current campaigns are already performing well They also discuss their...
info_outlineA 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 optimize beyond a basic domain list.
Here’s What You’ll Learn
-
Reseller ≠ automatically bad: the original IAB intent vs. today’s nuanced reality.
-
OpenPath vs. exchanges: what “direct to publisher” actually changes (and what it doesn’t).
-
Transaction ID, explained simply: one auction ➝ one ID ➝ fewer dupes and smarter SPO.
-
How to buy smarter right now: talk to publishers, ask for goal-specific PMPs, and evaluate placements/experiences — not just domains.
-
Buyer playbook upgrades: site list ➝ supply-path & placement-level decisions; pair KPI outcomes with quality signals (viewability, density, layout).
Sign up to this FREE workshop:
https://programmaticdigest14822.ac-page.com/sell-side-workshop
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:
Programmatic Training & Coaching:
Executive Membership: for the busy mid-level to senior or director-level programmatic ninja looking for a structured, high-impact way to stay ahead of evolving trends, sharpen your optimization skills, and connect with like-minded experts. Join Here: https://programmaticdigest14822.ac-page.com/executivemembership
Accelerator Program: A 6-week structured program with live coaching, hands-on DSP exercises, and real-time feedback. Sign Up: https://reachandfrequencycourse.thinkific.com/courses/program
Self-Paced Course: Learn at your own speed with full content access. Enroll Here: https://reachandfrequencycourse.thinkific.com/bundles/the-reach-frequency-full-course
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro & why this special episode
02:05 – Gareth’s background (AppNexus ➝ RTK ➝ Magnite ➝ Gamera)
07:45 – “Reseller” 101: what the IAB meant vs. how it’s used today
12:30 – Value-add resellers & unique placements (widgets, comments, InfoLinks)
18:20 – Why TTD labeled SSPs as resellers; how OpenPath fits
23:40 – Optics, trust, and buyer confusion: are we only supposed to buy OpenPath?
28:15 – Transaction ID in plain English + why it matters for SPO
34:50 – What changes for traders day-to-day (and what doesn’t)
39:25 – Practical playbook: talk to publishers, ask for KPI-aligned PMPs
44:10 – Gamera’s approach to real-time, on-page quality signals
49:00 – Final takeaways & where buyers should focus next
52:30 – How to reach Gareth (site & LinkedIn)
Meet Our Guest:
Gareth Glaser – CEO of Gamera
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garethglaser
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-
Learn Programmatic
As a TEAM: https://www.heleneparker.com/workshop/
As a Programmatic Ninja: https://www.heleneparker.com/course/
Programmatic Coaching Newsletter:https://www.heleneparker.com/newsletter/
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
https://reachandfrequencycourse.thinkific.com/courses/program
Self-Paced Course:
Full access to course content anytime, allowing independent learners to study at their own speed with complete flexibility.
https://reachandfrequencycourse.thinkific.com/bundles/the-reach-frequency-full-course
Sign up to this FREE workshop:
https://programmaticdigest14822.ac-page.com/sell-side-workshop