Explore every episode of the podcast Ad It Up+: Making Ad Tech Simple(r)

What the heck is AI search? What is AEO? How does it work?

In this episode of Ad It Up+, Kristin Sanford explores how AI search is reshaping the holiday shopping journey for retail and CPG brands. Instead of simply searching for products and clicking through traditional search results, consumers can now ask AI highly specific questions and receive curated recommendations based on their intent.

The episode breaks down why this shift matters for advertisers, how AI is changing the traditional search funnel, and what brands can do to increase their chances of appearing in AI-generated answers. Kristin also explains Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and why marketers should focus on creating clear, useful and authoritative information that answers the questions consumers are actually asking.

From product descriptions and reviews to FAQs, use cases and information across the broader digital ecosystem, discover how marketers can prepare their brands for the next evolution of search, just in time for the holiday shopping season.

AI is everywhere in advertising—but what is it actually capable of today?

In this episode of Ad It Up+, we cut through the AI hype to explore how artificial intelligence is already changing ad tech, from campaign optimization and creative generation to audience targeting, predictive analytics, and agentic AI.

We break down what AI can automate, where it can help marketers make faster and smarter decisions, and—just as importantly—where human expertise is still essential. From optimizing bids and budgets in real time to generating creative variations and predicting consumer behavior, AI is moving beyond content creation and becoming a powerful decision-making and optimization engine.

But AI isn't a replacement for marketers. The real advantage comes from knowing where to use it, when to trust it, and when human strategy, creativity, and judgment need to take the lead.

In this mini episode, we're tackling one of ad tech's biggest pain points: acronyms. From DCO and CTV to ROAS, KPI, and MTA, the industry is full of shorthand that can make even seasoned marketers feel lost. We break down some of the most common creative, media, and measurement acronyms in plain English, explaining not just what they stand for, but why they matter.

Ever wonder why you keep seeing certain ads, or why some seem perfectly timed? It's not random.

In this episode, we're breaking down the fundamentals of digital advertising delivery. Learn the different types of ad placements, how advertisers decide who sees an ad, and the optimization strategies that help campaigns perform better.

Listen for an easy-to-understand break down ad servers, diving into what they are, how they work, and why they're so important in modern advertising.

In episode 2, we dive deeper into the ad tech ecosystem, breaking down how the process works from ideating an ad, to setting it live, to fine tuning it, and more.

Tune in for a breakdown of the key players in advertising technology, and how they all come together to power the digital ads of today.