200. Behind 200 Episodes: The Real Work, the Real Joy, and the Real Impact with Manuela Cortes and Hélène Parker
Release Date: 07/21/2026
212. What’s Behind Your Location Targeting? Privacy, Risk, and Results with Charlie Simon
Programmatic Digest
🎧 Summary: When you select location targeting in your DSP, do you know what data you’re actually using? In this episode of the Programmatic Digest Podcast, Hélène Parker sits down with Charlie Simon, Global VP for Private Advertising at RTB House, to unpack the data behind location targeting and the questions media buyers should ask before using it. Charlie discusses how privacy rules are changing, why consumer consent may not answer every question, and why being near a store doesn’t necessarily mean someone intends to buy. They also explore a fashion retailer example that challenges...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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....
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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_outlineCelebrating 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 happens one conversation at a time.
Whether you've been listening since Episode 1 or you're just discovering Programmatic Digest, thank you for being part of this community.
In This Episode
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Why launching Spanish-language episodes has helped amplify voices across Latin America and made programmatic education more accessible.
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How podcasting has transformed our own careers by helping us become better listeners, stronger leaders, and lifelong students of the industry.
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Why representation isn't just a goal. It's a responsibility. We discuss our commitment to featuring more women and underrepresented professionals across every area of ad tech.
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The reality of producing an independent podcast, including the time, financial investment, and consistency required to reach 200 episodes.
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Why creating a safe space for honest conversations has always been at the heart of Programmatic Digest.
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What's ahead for the second half of the year, including meeting in person at Programmatic I/O New York, growing our Latin American community, and expanding new ways to connect with listeners.
Key Takeaways
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Every conversation is an opportunity to learn something new.
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Representation creates opportunity and helps the next generation see what's possible.
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Community will always be more important than competition.
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Consistency isn't always easy, but it's what turns a vision into something lasting.
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The best ideas often come from people who simply have the courage to share their voice.
Looking Ahead
As we celebrate 200 episodes, we're just getting started.
Our focus for the next chapter includes:
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Growing both our English and Spanish podcast communities.
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Building meaningful partnerships with sponsors who believe in education and representation.
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Creating more opportunities for in-person networking and learning.
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Continuing to spotlight the people and ideas shaping the future of programmatic advertising.
Thank you to every guest, listener, sponsor, and community member who has been part of this journey. We couldn't have reached this milestone without you, and we're excited for what's next.
Connect With Us
🎙️ Subscribe to Programmatic Digest wherever you listen to podcasts and on YouTube.
💼 Follow Hélène Parker and Manuela Cortez on LinkedIn for podcast updates, industry insights, and upcoming events.
🎧 Interested in being a guest or partnering with the podcast? We'd love to hear from you. Send us a message and join the conversation.
Memorable Quote
"Everybody has a voice. Everybody should have a podcast, in my opinion. The most important thing is asking yourself: How are we helping someone learn?"Hélène Parker
🧠 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 learning programmatic clear, practical, and welcoming.
Join once, stay learning forever. Past workshops, paid gems, and every new recording + resource added as we go. This library isn’t a one-time thing, it’s the full vault plus all future trainings, recordings, and guides.
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⏱ Timestamps:
[00:00] – Welcome and Host Introductions
[02:18] – The Impact of Spanish-Language Content
[03:41] – Downloads and Audience Growth
[04:47] – Career Evolution and Professional Impact
[06:33] – Curation of Information in the AI Era
[09:30] – Plans for Meeting at Programmatic IO
[10:14] – The Struggle with Female Representation
[13:17] – Uplifting Diverse and Minority Voices
[15:58] – Meaningful Campaigns and Social Good in Ad Tech
[17:28] – Professional Expression and Finding Your Calling
[20:12] – The Financial Reality of Independent Podcasting
[23:08] – Future Vision and Goals for H2
[25:01] – Closing and Call to Action
👤 Meet the Co-Hosts:
Manuela Cortes – Programmatic | AdTech | Speaker | Programmatic Digest Podcast
is a programmatic advertising professional with more than eight years of experience in digital media strategy, performance marketing, and AdTech. Based in Argentina, she is the Spanish-language co-host of the Programmatic Digest Podcast, where she amplifies voices from across Latin America and helps make programmatic education more accessible to a global audience. She is passionate about building community, advancing representation in AdTech, and empowering the next generation of programmatic professionals
📎 Connect on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuela-cortes-/
Helene Parker – Programmatic Media Expert | DSP Whisperer | Corporate Training | Podcast Host | Speaker
is a programmatic advertising sales leader, educator, and founder of Helene Parker Consulting LLC. With more than a decade of experience in digital advertising, she has helped agencies, brands, publishers, and technology partners grow through programmatic strategy, business development, and education. Hélène is the host of the Programmatic Digest Podcast, where she brings together industry leaders to share practical insights, elevate diverse voices, and make programmatic advertising more accessible for professionals around the world.
📎 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helene-parker/
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