IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jen Moss of JAR Podcast Solutions explains how brands can create podcasts audiences love. Jen reveals why most branded podcasts fail—they're boring and too promotional—and shares her "JAR" (Job, Audience, Result) system for success. Using case studies from clients like Amazon, she details how to offer true value instead of a sales pitch. Learn how to choose between audio and video, engage specific audiences, and achieve measurable business results through strategic storytelling.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Hollywood executive turned tech CEO Steven Puri of The Sukha Co shares his playbook for leading remote creative teams. Drawing lessons from producing special effects for blockbuster films like Independence Day, Steven reveals the science behind "flow states" and how to create conditions for deep, meaningful work. He discusses overcoming procrastination, the creative power of working on "the other thing," and why leaders must protect uninterrupted time for their teams to thrive.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Guests Shanté Micah and Joshua Moody, co-founders of Good News, reveal how earned media builds unmatched credibility in today's fragmented attention landscape. They discuss the Good News Blueprint for systematic PR success, outdated practices to avoid, data-driven audience targeting, and creating compelling pitches under 200 words. Listen now to discover strategies for turning earned media coverage into lasting business assets.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Seasoned marketing executive and serial entrepreneur Mark Stouse discusses the importance of analytics and having a single source of truth for informed business decision-making. Mark explains how his platform, ProofAnalytics.ai, aids businesses in tracking progress and making strategic decisions supported by artificial intelligence. Mark also reflects on the critical differences between being data-driven and analytics-led, sharing leadership insights from his forthcoming book.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: The first episode of our 13th season examines connected packaging with Jenny Stanley of Appetite Creative. Jenny explains how smart packaging bridges the gap between physical and digital commerce, enabling CPG brands to engage with consumers in innovative ways. We discuss how connected packaging provides invaluable data to improve marketing strategies and supply chain processes. Plus, new creative possibilities for brands and smart packaging's role in sustainability messaging.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Marking the final episode of this season, Bigeye insights intern Miguel Zarzuela hosts the podcast, examining the complexities of US Hispanic identity. Miguel explores the history of Hispanic Heritage Month and engages in lively conversation with special guests Dr. Antoinette Perez, Andrea Diaz, and Romulo Zuzunaga. Hear how to avoid common stereotypes and misconceptions, and learn how brands can authentically market to and connect with the diverse US Hispanic community.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: This week's guest is programmatic media expert Lewis Rothkopf, CRO at Pairzon. Without relying on third-party cookies, Pairzon's customer data platform facilitates precise audience targeting for omnichannel, DTC, and physical retailers. Lewis explains the importance of first-party data and how Pairzon's platform tracks consumer actions after ad exposure. We also discuss the role that machine learning and AI play in Pairzon, illustrated by real-world examples and case studies.  

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Robert Rose is the author of "Content Marketing Strategy," October's Bigeye Book Club selection. In this episode, Robert explains why coordinated communication and well-managed operations are key to establishing a successful content marketing strategy. We discuss the value of thinking like a media company, team structure, and outsourcing. Listeners receive a 25 percent discount on "Content Marketing Strategy" at KoganPage.com by using the promo code BIGEYE25 at checkout.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Guest Katie King is the author of "AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing." In this encore episode, Katie offers practical advice on how agencies can leverage AI, providing case studies illustrating how AI in marketing is impacting several different industry sectors, plus a practical framework for managing the introduction of AI tools. Listeners receive a 25 percent discount on "AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing" at KoganPage.com by using the promo code BIGEYE25 at checkout.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Market research innovators Holland Martini and Maria Vorovich, the co-founders of GoodQues, discuss why they're on a mission to humanize research data. Learn how their unorthodox methods yield emotionally intelligent insights, the benefits of conducting taste tests in bars, and how using storytelling makes data more 'sticky.' Holland and Maria also address the role of AI in research and discuss examples where techniques drawn from psychotherapy yielded deeper consumer insights.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Bioethicist Dr. Jessica Pierce joins us to discuss her newest book, “Who's A Good Dog?” Our conversation addresses US dog ownership and pet care marketing, the trend of humanizing pets, and the ethical considerations it raises. Dr. Pierce also introduces us to three 'C's that she believes are essential for a fulfilling human-dog relationship: Collaboration, Curiosity, and Compassion. A must-listen episode for all dog owners and anyone responsible for pet product marketing.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: A thought-provoking discussion with Pepper Miller, author of "Let Me Explain Black Again," about Black Americans' lived experiences. Pepper sheds light on some of the historical misunderstandings about Black consumers and common missteps in multicultural marketing. Pepper also explains the growing influence of Black Millennials and the shift in societal consciousness surrounding race, calling for more accurate, respectful representations of the Black community in advertising.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Marcus Sheridan, the author of "Endless Customers: A Proven System to Build Trust, Drive Sales, and Become the Market Leader," explores thriving in the zero-click economy where customers get answers without visiting websites. Marcus discusses four pillars from his book: addressing "the big five" topics, leveraging video content, creating seller-free experiences, and humanizing brands. Discover strategies for building trust when AI recommendations dominate the zero-click landscape.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Dr. Andrea Laurent-Simpson of SMU discusses Bigeye's 2023 US Pet Owners Study, revealing that 97 percent consider their pets family members. Hear how owners derive personal happiness and emotional support from having pets, and why the data reflects consumers' desire for healthier lifestyles, holistic well-being, and the growing number of child-free or involuntarily childless individuals who treat their pets as family. Download the full report at bigeyagency.com/pets-23

IN CLEAR FOCUS: As advertising grapples with the challenge of capturing and holding viewers' attention, Lumen Research has emerged as an industry leader, providing innovative solutions to help brands develop effective creative and plan media more efficiently. Bill Forelli, Lumen's VP of Sales for North America, explains the components of Lumen Research's suite of attention measurement, targeting, and activation tools and discusses the impact they can have on clients' campaign performance.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: This week's guest is Lydia Michael, CEO of multicultural marketing consultancy Blended Collective. Lydia discusses her new book, Brand Love, explaining the eight stages of brand love, the importance of incorporating emotional and rational drivers, and the power of multisensory marketing. We also examine how brands like Warby Parker and Trader Joe's cultivate meaningful customer relationships. For a 25 percent discount on Brand Love, use promo code BIGEYE25 at KoganPage.com.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Greg Dolan of Keen Decision Systems joins us to demystify Marketing Mix Modeling. Greg explains how Keen's AI-driven model offers real-time insights and simulations, facilitating financial optimization and long-term brand value creation. Greg emphasizes the need for continuity in marketing, citing case studies that illustrate how going dark can result in loss of profitable demand. Learn how MMM supports decision-making with Keen's predictive and prescriptive planning outputs.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: With 43 million rental units in the US, it's crucial to stand out from the crowd. Bigeye's Tom Mahoney and Rhett Withey discuss property marketing strategies for today's competitive housing market and share insights about building successful multi-family and student housing brands. Learn about Bigeye's 4-step process for creating distinctive property brands, including logo creation, designing color palettes, and drawing inspiration from nature and neighborhood elements.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: An interview with Jay Mandel, author of Brand Strategy in Three Steps: A Purpose-Driven Approach to Branding, Bigeye's featured book for July. Jay discusses how, after leaving corporate America, he spent five years teaching, consulting, and coaching - and why he wanted to reflect on his experiences in this book. Blending marketing principles with personal insights, and guided by candor, curiosity, and collaboration, Jay explains how to adopt a more meaningful marketing mindset. 

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Experts in sustainable development, retail, innovation, and consumer behavior explore the challenges and opportunities for marketing sustainability. We discuss topics including the shift to a purpose-driven economy, the advertising industry's impact on carbon emissions, and ways in which brand marketers can influence eco-friendly consumer choices with verifiable claims. To receive a 25 percent discount on books published by Kogan Page, use promo code BIGEYE25 at KoganPage.com.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Brainsights' CEO Kevin Keane discusses leveraging consumer brain data for creative effectiveness and optimizing brand integrations through salience, storytelling, and support. Based on consumer research, Kevin also reveals new data on the power of audio branding and explains how brands can imbue fresh meaning with the strategic use of sonic assets to support memory activation. We also discuss the roles of extrinsic and intrinsic attention and the future of insights and data.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Josh Bernoff, author of "Build a Better Business Book," shares insights about writing and publishing successful business books. Josh offers tips for planning, outlining chapters, and eliminating writer's block. He discusses co-authoring, ghostwriting, and publishing models. Josh also provides expert advice on promotion and timing marketing efforts effectively. For readers and aspiring authors alike, this is a rare opportunity to hear from an accomplished industry insider. 

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Solitaire Townsend, co-founder of change agency Futerra, joins us to discuss her book, The Solutionists: How Businesses Can Fix The Future. Solitaire shares insights about creating effective sustainability marketing and offers guidance on communications using a practical framework based on psychographics. We also explore a new green claims directive and the role of social media creators in promoting sustainability. Use promo code BIGEYE25 for a 25% discount at KoganPage.com.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Kate Mackie, EY partner and the author of July's Bigeye Book Club selection "B2B Marketing Fundamentals," explores four pillars of success: brand, reputation, relationships, and revenue. Kate discusses why brand matters in B2B Marketing, managing complex buyer journeys, leveraging AI for connected data, and translating marketing impact into business language. Kate shares her proven strategies for building stronger B2B brands and driving measurable revenue outcomes.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Dr. Emmanuel Probst, Global Lead, Brand Thought-Leadership at Ipsos, discusses his book, Assemblage: The Art and Science of Brand Transformation. Emmanuel explains why, to be successful, brands need to focus on three dimensions: shaping expectations, harnessing context, and demonstrating empathy. We also discuss contextual brand tracking and how understanding the occasions that drive the choice of one brand over another can be more beneficial than analyzing the competitive set.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Exploring the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence in marketing, we revisit conversations with recent guests, including Katie King, Renee Hartmann, Nick Wolny, Dave Kaye, Paul Sloane, Rohit Bhargava, and Martin Oxley. Conversations examine the ways in which AI is being used in sales and marketing, retail, consumer research, translation, and content creation with relevant examples and case studies. Links to the books mentioned in this episode are provided in the transcript.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: A discussion about evidence-based marketing with Richard Bambrick, founder of Bamboozled, a UK-based research agency. Richard shares the importance of testing distinctive brand assets and a four-stage process for doing so. He also explains his approach to measuring brand health and how it differs from traditional awareness tracking. Plus, we learn about Bamboozled's focus on action-oriented insights and how they can help brands make better-informed marketing decisions.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Martin Oxley, Managing Director of buzzback, discusses the evolving landscape of consumer research. Martin talks about the importance of understanding emotions in decision-making, the role of AI in research, and global collaborations in the industry. He also shares his personal experiences working with clients such as BMW, L'Oreal, and Verizon. Stay tuned to hear how his playlist was inspired by Dolly Parton and the key lessons he has learned throughout his career in this field.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jenni Romaniuk is the International Associate Director of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science at the University of South Australia. In the second part of our podcast interview about Jenni's new book, Better Brand Health, we dive deeper into Category Entry Points (CEPs), the 7Ws Framework, and metrics, including mental market share, mental penetration, network size, and share of mind. Hear Jenni unpack key concepts for understanding and improving brand health.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Jenni Romaniuk is the International Associate Director of the Ehrenberg-Bass Institute for Marketing Science at the University of South Australia. In the first of two episodes discussing her new book, Better Brand Health: Measures And Metrics For A 'How Brands Grow' World, Jenni shares insights about how brands grow, why small brands should adjust expectations when assessing brand metrics, and the ways that advertising can most effectively create category buyer memories.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Sandy Skees, author of the new book, Purposeful Brands, discusses brand purpose, sustainability, and ESG communications. We examine how marketers can foster positive environmental and social outcomes and why Sandy believes businesses must commit to their purpose in order to create a flourishing planet and equitable society. IN CLEAR FOCUS listeners can claim a 25 percent discount on Purposeful Brands at KoganPage.com by using the promo code BIGEYE25 at the checkout.

In Clear Focus: Inside Coverings 2023, North America's largest tile and stone trade show. Recorded during the event, three guests join host Adrian Tennant to discuss the latest trends, innovations, and technologies in the tile and stone industry, Bigeye's role in creating marketing materials for Coverings, and how attending the event benefits designers such as Christina Rexford, who shares her excitement about new products, innovations, and some of her favorite exhibitors.

In Clear Focus: Dr. Rachel Lawes returns to discuss the newly expanded second edition of her book, Using Semiotics in Marketing, which takes readers on a complete journey from identifying business problems to publishing and debriefing. Learn how to develop publishable semiotics research by following the step-by-step guides in the book. In Clear Focus listeners can claim a 25 percent discount on Using Semiotics in Marketing at KoganPage.com by using the promo code BIGEYE25 at the checkout.

In Clear Focus: We delve into Bigeye's national pet ownership study alongside Dr. Andrea Laurent-Simpson, examining the legal recognition of animals as sentient beings. We also investigate the impact of social media, with Bigeye's Savannah Santiago explaining how she selects pet influencers. And we learn about medical breakthroughs that could extend the lifespans of dogs and humans. The multifaceted aspects of pet ownership and advertising: download the full report at bigeyagency.com/pets-23

IN CLEAR FOCUS: John Gargiulo, founder and CEO of Airpost.ai, explores how AI is revolutionizing video ad creation for brands. With 400,000+ UGC clips and advanced computer vision, Airpost enables professional video ads at scale. John discusses the shift from static to dynamic content, maintaining authenticity in AI-generated ads, and why he believes AI agents will replace traditional agencies within the next decade. Discover how brands can unlock consistent, high-quality video content creation.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: Concluding our tenth podcast season, a look back at some of the topics and books featured in the Bigeye Book Club. IN CLEAR FOCUS listeners can claim a 25 percent discount on all our selections at KoganPage.com by using the promo code BIGEYE25 at the checkout. You can also find full transcripts and links to resources on our website at https://www.bigeyeagency.com/insights/#podcast. We return with the eleventh season of IN CLEAR FOCUS on Tuesday, April 18.

In Clear Focus: Dr. Andrea Laurent-Simpson of SMU discusses Bigeye's 2023 US Pet Owners Study, revealing that 97 percent consider their pets family members. Hear how owners derive personal happiness and emotional support from having pets, and why the data reflects consumers' desire for healthier lifestyles, holistic well-being, and the growing number of child-free or involuntarily childless individuals who treat their pets as family. Download the full report at bigeyagency.com/pets-23

In Clear Focus: Expert Dave Kaye talks about his love for qualitative research. Dave discusses his mobile-based ethnographic research platform, Field Notes, which allows researchers to capture consumers' lives through their smartphones using video, photos, text, and screen recording features. We also explore some case studies and talk about how Dave's business, Peek Content, guarantees high-quality videos for clients seeking to gain a deep understanding of people's lives and behaviors. 

In Clear Focus: This week's podcast guest Renee Hartmann is the co-author of the Bigeye Book Club selection for March, Next Generation Retail: How To Use New Technology To Innovate For The Future. In this episode, Renee discusses how retailers and brand marketers can embrace new technologies to respond to consumers' changing demands. IN CLEAR FOCUS listeners can claim a 25 percent discount on Next Generation Retail at KoganPage.com by using the promo code BIGEYE25 at the checkout.

In Clear Focus: Rohit Bhargava is the co-author of The Future Normal, a new book featuring 30 non-obvious ideas and consumer trends that will shape the next decade. Rohit joins us on the day of the book's publication to discuss how he identifies and curates non-obvious ideas, and how his background in ad agency strategy influences his approach to writing. Rohit also explains what motivated him to establish his own publishing company, IdeaPress, and why he's positive about the future of humanity.

In Clear Focus: Sonia Thompson is a recognized expert on inclusive marketing. In this encore episode, Sonia shares her experiences as a Black woman that led her to notice how brands and retailers struggled to engage people who didn't fit into what has been considered mainstream. Sonia discusses the success of Rihanna's Fenty brand and Target's focus on co-creating with Black employees and suppliers. Sonia also addresses common misconceptions about the Black community and representation in ads.

In Clear Focus: Combining food ideas and tips for an attainable eco-friendly lifestyle, Marley's Menu is a web-based collection of recipes that promote sustainable living. It's the brainchild of our guest this week, Marley Goldin, who labels herself as a mom, foodie, creator, and qualified environmental scientist. Marley shares her personal story about career switching, discusses food waste and sustainability, and offers insights about the business side of influencer marketing.

In Clear Focus: Michael Solomon is an expert on consumer psychology and why people buy. He joins us to discuss his new online course focused on consumer engagement. Called Engage! How To Turn Your Bored Customers Into Brand Fanatics, the online course provides six hours of tuition. Michael gives us a taste of what to expect from the course and provides some examples drawn directly from the content. Listeners can save $100 with promo codes provided in the transcript accompanying this episode.

In Clear Focus: Guest Paul Sloane is the author of Lateral Thinking For Every Day: Extraordinary solutions to ordinary problems, this month's Bigeye Book Club selection. Paul shares practical ways for marketing professionals to harness lateral thinking, explaining techniques for generating fresh, unexpected ideas and tackling problems more creatively. ICF listeners can claim a 25 percent discount on Lateral Thinking For Every Day at KoganPage.com by using the promo code BIGEYE25 at checkout.

In Clear Focus: Guest Chris Harvey is the founder of Activate Research, based in the UK, and an expert in helping market researchers yield deeper consumer insights. Chris has developed research methods that leverage consumer psychology, especially behavioral science, to help better understand, predict, and influence target audience behaviors. He shares some of his favorite models and frameworks that can help researchers look for new ways to understand - and change - consumer behaviors.

IN CLEAR FOCUS: For Juneteenth and Pride Month, Bigeye Strategy intern Wilberline Previlon explores inclusive marketing. We revisit podcast interviews wth thought leaders, including Pepper Miller and Sonia Thompson, and rediscover how understanding history, language, and identity can shape authentic brand strategies. We hear from Sandy Skees about the difference between being an ally, advocate, or activist, and why cultural nuance is essential for connecting with LGBTQIA+ and minority audiences.

In Clear Focus: Guest Katie King is the author of AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing, this month's Bigeye Book Club selection. Katie offers practical advice on how creative agencies can use AI, providing inspiring case studies illustrating how AI is already impacting sales, marketing, and CX across several different industry sectors. In Clear Focus listeners can claim a 25 percent discount on AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing at KoganPage.com by using the promo code BIGEYE25 at checkout.

In Clear Focus: Making his third appearance on the podcast, Nick Wolny is the Senior Editor of the Financial Independence Vertical at NextAdvisor, in partnership with Time. Nick's career includes freelance writing, business consulting, and he's a leading voice on LGBTQ+ capitalism. Nick joins us for a lively discussion about the evolution of the creator economy, and how new AI tools such as DALL-E and ChatGPT will impact marketers and creators in 2023.

In Clear Focus returns for a tenth season, with thought leaders discussing issues affecting advertisers and marketers. New episodes will explore the impact of artificial intelligence on the industry, the evolution of the creator economy, and innovations in retail media and technology. In this preview, Karsten Kjems and Anton Sherar of Sonic Minds discuss audio branding. Dr. Andrea Laurent-Simpson reflects on the humanization of pet products ahead of the release of a national study from Bigeye.