188. Past the Hype: How to Buy Smarter After TTD’s Reseller Update
Release Date: 10/30/2025
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...
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201. Activating High-Intent Audiences with Ed Hackney and Trinity Lawry from Pearl Diver
Programmatic Digest
Most advertisers focus on people who are ready to buy today. But what happens when that audience runs out? In this episode, I chat with Ed Hackney and Trinity Lawry from Pearl Diver about how to find high-intent audiences, why balancing every stage of the marketing funnel matters, and how AI is making audience discovery easier for media buyers. This podcast was made possible thanks to the incredible support from Pearl Diver. In This Episode Why focusing only on conversions can quickly exhaust your audience. How behavioral data helps identify where consumers are in their buying...
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200. Behind 200 Episodes: The Real Work, the Real Joy, and the Real Impact with Manuela Cortes and Hélène Parker
Programmatic Digest
Celebrating 200 Episodes: Community, Representation, and the Future of Programmatic Digest Reaching 200 episodes is more than a milestone. It's a celebration of the incredible community that has supported Programmatic Digest from day one. In this special episode, Hélène Parker and Manuela Cortez reflect on the journey that brought them here, the lessons they've learned along the way, and the vision they're building for the future. From expanding the podcast into Spanish to creating opportunities for more diverse voices in ad tech, this conversation is a reminder that meaningful change...
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198. Performance Advertising in Programmatic
Programmatic Digest
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199. How To Be A Performance Marketer in Programmatic Media
Programmatic Digest
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197. July Focus: WTF is Programmatic Performance Media
Programmatic Digest
I attended a performance advertising workshop hosted by MediaMath and it reminded me of something I truly believe: The best way to learn something is to teach it. So this July, I'm dedicating all of our content to one topic: Programmatic Performance Advertising. Predictive targeting. Identity resolution. Dynamic budget allocation. Attribution. And more. New content every week. All month long. About Us: We help historically excluded individuals break into programmatic media buying and land jobs they love. Through our Reach and Frequency® program, coaching, and community, we make...
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196. AI Meets Programmatic: How Media Buyers Can Optimize with AI
Programmatic Digest
In this episode of the Programmatic Digest, Hélène Parker and Assetou Kone dive into the evolving role of AI in programmatic advertising and campaign optimization. The conversation explores how media buyers and traders can use tools like ChatGPT and Claude to streamline workflows, analyze campaign data more efficiently, and uncover deeper optimization insights. Hélène opens the session by reframing optimization as more than simple “bid up, bid down” tactics. Instead, she explains how successful optimization requires hypothesis testing, strategic thinking, and understanding how DSP...
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195. From Cookies to Context: Rethinking Targeting in Ad Tech
Programmatic Digest
In this episode of the Programmatic Digest, Manuela Cortes sits down with Eric Tilbury, Head of Programmatic and Solutions Engineering at Anuvo, to discuss the evolution of ad tech and the industry's shift away from traditional identity-based targeting. With over 14 years in the space, Eric shares insights from his unique background working on both the supply side (monetization) and the buy side, explaining how balancing the needs of both publishers and advertisers has shaped his perspective on the ecosystem. The conversation highlights a major flaw in current programmatic practices: the...
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194. Resilience in Ad Tech: What Agency Life Teaches Every Programmatic Trader
Programmatic Digest
Sign up to our FREE workshop on March 31st: In this episode of Programmatic Digest, Hélène Parker sits down with Assetou Kone, programmatic expert and consultant, for a real conversation about resilience in programmatic advertising and agency life. Assetou shares her journey into ad tech, from studying political science and mass communication to discovering programmatic during a digital marketing bootcamp. What started as a curiosity about digital media quickly became a career built on solving complex marketing problems across multiple verticals, including political campaigns,...
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From Data to Insight: How Curation Drives Smarter Optimization
Programmatic Digest
Our Let’s Talk Curation series was created in partnership with GDB, our curated data partner, to help demystify curated audiences, what they are, how they work, and when and why you should consider using them. Check out this lesson, From Data to Insight: How Curation Drives Smarter Optimization. #ProgrammaticAdvertising #Curation #AdTechEducation #MediaBuying #ProgrammaticTips About our Partner: GDB is a curated audience data partner focused on combining quality inventory and audience signals to support smarter testing and cleaner measurement in programmatic campaigns.
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
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Reseller ≠ automatically bad: the original IAB intent vs. today’s nuanced reality.
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OpenPath vs. exchanges: what “direct to publisher” actually changes (and what it doesn’t).
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Transaction ID, explained simply: one auction ➝ one ID ➝ fewer dupes and smarter SPO.
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How to buy smarter right now: talk to publishers, ask for goal-specific PMPs, and evaluate placements/experiences — not just domains.
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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