Explore every episode of the podcast Performance Marketing Unlocked

Governments, regulators and competitors are doing what they can to stifle Big Tech's dominance across adland. Yet, key players such as Google, Meta and Amazon continue to reign supreme despite a myriad of legal troubles. Can the open web survive?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, host Joe is joined by PMW's Senior News Reporter to analyse if Big Tech has become indestructible, and whether or not this spells disaster for the future of the open internet and its supporters like The Trade Desk.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:14) Big Tech's legal troubles

(10:47) The moral dilemma of Meta

(19:16) Where to next?

~ Further reading ~

‘Wrist-slaps for anti-competitive conduct’: Does adland agree with the DOJ’s Google AdX verdict?

‘Brands are stuck in a moral dilemma’: Is Meta’s $18bn settlement a sign to cut adspend on social?

The Trade Desk to cut 15% of global workforce in restructuring

Amazon slams FTC's ad auction lawsuit as 'misguided'

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AI answers, social search, and evolving consumer intent have completely rewritten the rules of discovery. So, what is actually happening to purchase decisions – and how do you measure success when the click vanishes?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, host Joe is joined by Lottie Namakando, SVP of the Total Search Practice at WPP Media UK, to explore how advertisers can traverse AI Overviews, fragmented discovery, and the growing search trust gap.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:10) How are AI answers changing consumers' buying behaviours?

(11:11) Do sponsored AI search results risk eroding user trust?

(20:31) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

80% of Google searches with AI-generated summaries end without a click

Consumers now trust AI for shopping decisions more than social media – report

‘OpenAI is about to monetise conversation itself’: Adland reacts to ChatGPT Ads reaching the UK

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YouTube just changed the rules regarding its view metric, counting views the second a video or Short begins as opposed to after a certain amount of engagement, likely causing a dramatic spike in viewership without an increase in watch hours. On the surface, it feels like a step away from modern measurement metrics – which focus more on engagement rather than impressions – but it might point to a deeper repositioning of the platform.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's Editor Robin Langford joins host Joe to discuss whether or not YouTube is pivoting away from being a streamer towards re-focusing on its bread and butter, social video.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:39) Why did YouTube just change its view threshold?

(8:22) Should creators be concerned?

(12:52) Are TV Home Screen ads as effective as advertisers hope?

~ Further reading ~

YouTube changes view count metric and doubles monetisation threshold

Did YouTube just ruin the view?

Teads and Hisense OS V partner on 10-day Black Friday TV home screen takeover

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Standard digital dashboards tell you where the click happened, but they miss where the purchase was born. Fortunately, returning to an older medium with a modern twist can help fill this critical measurement gap.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Charmaine Tavassoly Moss, Programmatic Business Development Manager, UK, Bauer Media Outdoor, explains how programmatic digital-out-of-home (DOOH) and marketing mix modelling (MMM) are working together to fix your attribution crisis.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:32) Why is OOH making a comeback?

(12:35) How can we ensure pDOOH is incremental?

(17:39) Overrated/underrated

~ Further reading ~

‘A refreshingly upbeat set of numbers to see’: Industry thoughts on latest AA/WARC report

AA/WARC: UK adspend grows 9.3% to open 2026

IPA Bellwether: ‘We must move beyond isolated channel performance’

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How does Andy Burnham's subscriptions crackdown impact advertisers? Does Nielsen's acquisition of DoubleVerify put independent measurement under more pressure? And should your brand have a podcast?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's Senior News Reporter Bethany Lee joins host Joe for a quick-fire news round-up. The pair discuss all the big headlines from across the marketing landscape you can't afford to miss, from our new Prime Minister's "everyday fixes" to another big adtech acquisition.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(1:26) Andy Burnham is changing the subscription game

(7:37) Nielsen purchases DoubleVerify – what happens to measurement now?

(14:00) How podcasts are helping brands win over consumers

~ Further reading ~

Andy Burnham vows to end ‘subscription traps’

Nielsen to buy DoubleVerify in $2.15bn media measurement deal

‘Could be exactly what advertisers and publishers need’: How does Nielsen’s DoubleVerify acquisition impact adland?

Should every brand have a podcast?

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In the wake of the FIFA World Cup, how can performance marketers better turn streaming TV into a high-impact, programmatic ad format?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Julie Selman, SVP Head of EMEA at Magnite, joins host Joe to outline the future of connected TV (CTV). Together, the pair dissect how live events like the FIFA World Cup have changed the game, the impact of second screening on attribution, and whether or not TV has truly become a performance marketing channel.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(4:23) What did the World Cup teach us?

(13:20) Filling CTV's measurement gaps

(19:15) Overrated/Underrated

(22:25) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

How live sport puts advertisers in a position to score

IPA Bellwhether: ‘A strong golden quarter will hopefully lie ahead’

Cannes Lions predictions 2026: ‘Specificity will win – less narrative, more proof’

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The latest IPA Bellwether report reveals an optimistic advertising industry continually mired by broader geopolitical turmoil. Marketers want to spend, but are being hampered by conditions beyond their control – leaving much of the industry stuck in a state of uncertainty and subsequently, feeling unsure about their future prospects.

In this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's Editor Robin Langford and Senior News Reporter Bethany Lee joined host Joe to analyse the deeper meaning behind the IPA's latest figures. The trio talk consumer sentiment, the opportunities and threats that come with AI, and whether or not marketers should be more buoyant about the months ahead.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(4:28) Analysing the IPA Bellwether's top-line takeaways

(8:55) Which channels are an opportunity and which are a waste?

(16:45) Are we ignoring consumers?

~ Further reading ~

IPA Bellwether: UK adspend enjoys second successive quarter of growth, up 6.9%

IPA Bellwether: ‘There's just too much competition’

IPA Bellwether: ‘We must move beyond isolated channel performance’

IPA Bellwether: Is AI starting to disrupt adspend?

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AI is making product search increasingly seamless for consumers, but it risks blanking out the trackable data that funds the very ecosystem powering AI summaries. In the era of zero click search, how can publishers, comparison sites and even influencers survive?

To explain the future of attribution, and offer some much needed hope, Adam Ross, CEO of affiliate network Awin, joins host Joe. Together, the pair outline the challenges the industry is facing and map out the blueprint for a resolution.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:24) How is consumer discovery changing?

(12:54) Are affiliate networks evolving into data brokers and compliance partners?

(20:10) Is marketing to machines different to marketing to people?

(23:51) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

UK affiliate marketing spend up 7.3% YoY as brands pivot away from traditional advertising

Affiliate performance shifts as consumers buy less but spend more

Brands are chasing AI visibility. They’re ignoring the sources both consumers and AI actually trust

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The traditional marketing funnel hasn't just changed – it has completely collapsed. With consumer-focused AI models taking the reins, we are rapidly moving toward a future where algorithms, not humans, make the final purchasing decisions.

In this live-panel episode of Performance Marketing Unlocked, Sammy Parker, Brand Partnerships Lead for Calfreezy, and Dimitris Beis, Data & Innovation Strategist at IAB Europe, join PMW's Editor Robin Langford to dive deep into this massive paradigm shift.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Editor, Robin Langford.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(4:37) Has AI broken the marketing funnel?

(17:25) Which brands become more important when machines make purchase recommendations?

(25:10) What mistakes are marketers making in the era of AI?

~ Further reading ~

5 things I learned at Cannes Lions (that have nothing to do with AI*)

‘Not everyone is prepared for how fast the ground is moving’: Cannes fallout continues

The ad ecosystem is facing a once-in-a-generation change – Meta is building what’s next

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The platforms gave us the tools, but how can actually use them to drive growth? Welcome to episode two of Performance Marketing Unlocked's Cannes Lions podcast miniseries, where we step off the tech yachts and into the brand war rooms.

In this episode, leading executives from Tesco, Spotify, AEG Global Partnerships, BeReal and Specsavers offer a blueprint for moving past the top-line AI optimism and into the real-world strategy for building a lasting brand in an automated world.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(6:23) What dominated the discourse at Cannes Lions?

(20:34) What will we be talking about more at Cannes Lions 2027?

(34:08) Surprises and highlights from Cannes Lions 2026

~ Further reading ~

5 things I learned at Cannes Lions (that have nothing to do with AI*)

‘Not everyone is prepared for how fast the ground is moving’: Cannes fallout continues

‘AI was the connecting thread running through everything’: Cannes Lions 2026 review

Cannes Lions Live round up: We’re drowning in data – so why are we still so thirsty?

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What is the future of performance?

For the final episode of this year’s Digital Disruptors miniseries, we’re looking to the future with Sarah Shum, Paid Performance Director at Brave Bison, Nat Abell, Senior ASO Manager at Yodel Mobile, and Charles Taylor, Senior Marketing Manager at Herdify. 

They discuss whether the industry is too obsessed with digital, how audience behaviour is changing, and why data is so important to keeping track of it all.

This podcast episode was hosted by PMW's Senior News Reporter, Bethany Lee.

All episodes of this four-part miniseries can now be found on your preferred podcast platform of choice. Click this link to view the winners from this year’s 30 under 30 awards.

~ Further reading ~

30 Winners in 30 Days: Sarah Wan Yu Shum, Brave Bison

30 Winners in 30 Days: Nat Abell, Yodel Mobile (part of NP Digital)

30 Winners in 30 Days: Charles Taylor, Herdify

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What happens when you bring the world’s leading minds in AI, entertainment, retail, and tech together at Cannes Lions? You get the ultimate roadmap for the future of performance marketing.

In episode one of Performance Marketing Unlocked's annual Cannes Lions podcast miniseries, we’re cutting through all the 'Cannesdemonium' to bring you direct insights from the industry giants shaping tomorrow. Listen to leaders and executives from OpenAI, Disney Advertising, Amazon, Yahoo, Snap, and Wolt as they pull back the curtain on what's actually moving the needle along the Croisette.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(10:48) What will make Cannes Lions 2026 a success?

(20:09) How has Cannes Lions changed?

(29:32) What is making the biggest tech platforms at Cannes most excited?

~ Further reading ~

Cannes Lions 2026: Google unveils new Gemini-powered YouTube tools and Amazon Retail Ad Service hits the UK

Cannes Lions Live Day 3: What happens when we can measure everything?

What is a problem you wish Cannes would solve?

‘Scale plus AI does not equal client value’: dentsu CEO Takeshi Sano reveals fresh playbook

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How can you scale performance beyond the obvious channels? 

For episode 3 of this year’s Digital Disruptors miniseries, Sasha Sadovaia, Product Marketing Manager at Taboola, Cam McIntyre, Campaign Director at The Goat Agency, and Claudia Sava, Senior Paid Social Manager at PureGym share their insights. 

They discuss how they are adapting to new technologies, which channels should be always-on, and what it takes to put your trust, and money, into new channels.

This podcast episode was hosted by PMW's Senior News Reporter, Bethany Lee.

New episodes of this four-part miniseries will be released weekly alongside our main show, Performance Marketing Unlocked. Click this link to view the winners from this year’s 30 under 30 awards.

~ Further reading ~

30 Winners in 30 Days: Sasha Sadovaia, Taboola

30 Winners in 30 Days: Cam McIntyre, The Goat Agency

30 Winners in 30 Days: Claudia Sava, PureGym

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Are marketers still stuck in a binary of data and creative?

In the second episode of this year’s Digital Disruptors miniseries, host Bethany speaks with Molly Peake, Head of Customer Success and Partnerships at AUDIENCES and Eraj Lodhi, Founder of marketing agency Plot Out Loud and Creator of Plotcast. 

They dive into what metrics still matter, whether a false divide between data and creative is holding back results, and whether brands truly know what to do with their data, even if they have it. 

This podcast episode was hosted by PMW's Senior News Reporter, Bethany Lee.

New episodes of this four-part miniseries will be released weekly alongside our main show, Performance Marketing Unlocked. Click this link to view the winners from this year’s 30 under 30 awards.

~ Further reading ~

30 Winners in 30 Days: Eraj Lodhi, Plot Out Loud

30 Winners in 30 Days: Molly Peake, AUDIENCES

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As the World Cup gets underway, how can performance marketers best leverage the opportunity before them?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Alex Maude, Head of Insight & Research at Ozone, joins host Joe to assess the best ways for brands to win a share of attention during the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026.

Are traditional ad placements the way to go, or is the real attention battle taking place on second screens? Also, where does the premium web come into this? Listen on to uncover the answers to these burning questions and many more.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(3:30) Bigger tournament, bigger advertising opportunity?

(10:46) Ensuring social media is an asset, not a burden

(21:35) Making the World Cup count beyond June and July

(24:05) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

Everything advertisers need to focus on ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The ads scoring biggest ahead of the World Cup

Half of the World Cup audience doesn’t watch weekly football. Are you planning for them?

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Can marketers afford to still be siloed by channel?

In the first episode of this year’s Digital Disruptors miniseries, host Bethany speaks with Chanelle Urquico, International DSP Engagement Lead at TripleLift, Jack Murray, Senior Paid Social Search Account Manager at Incubeta, and Michael Holloway, SEO manager at Hookflash. 

Together, they discuss how the performance stack is converging and where each of their specialisms sit in a strategy, touching on the biggest changes they’ve seen since the beginning of their careers and the challenges they are anticipating facing in the years to come.

This podcast episode was hosted by PMW's Senior News Reporter, Bethany Lee.

New episodes of this four-part miniseries will be released weekly alongside our main show, Performance Marketing Unlocked. Click this link to view the winners from this year’s 30 under 30 awards.

~ Further reading ~

30 Winners in 30 Days: Jack Murray, Incubeta

30 Winners in 30 Days: Chanelle Urquico, TripleLift

30 Winners in 30 Days: Michael Holloway, SEO Manager, Hookflash

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Performance marketing is officially at an impasse. Employers are squeezing budgets and reconsidering headcount, while employees are ready to walk away entirely. How has adland found itself trapped in a state of mutual unrest?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's Editor Robin Langford joins host Joe to break down the core findings of PMW’s 2026 Workforce Report. The pair explore the stand-off between junior talent and AI, how the economy is killing salary growth, and why a market that was supposed to stabilise is feeling more volatile – and less diverse – than ever.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(4:30) How under threat is your role from AI?

(10:35) The rise of fractional jobs

(19:12) Have we seen the death of the generalist?

~ Further reading ~

The State of Hiring: Is a restless workforce at risk of losing out to AI?

The State of Diversity: Why is so much of adland's diverse talent abandoning the industry?

The State of Pay: Stable salaries are masking the real change at the heart of adland

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Performance marketers are desperately trying to master ever-changing algorithms in the pursuit of securing attention in an attention-poor economy – but where are they going wrong?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Orlando Wood, Chief Creative Officer of System1, joins host Joe to discuss how shifting from 'salesmanship' to 'showmanship' can build a brand that performs in the both the short and long-term.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(3:26) How do the left and right brain impact advertising?

(8:05) Are we focusing too much on salesmanship and not enough on showmanship?

(23:34) Who is getting the 'brandformance' balance right?

(28:47) Overrated or underrated

(31:24) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

Top 6 adtech tools this week: System1, Airship, GlobalData, Ampd, Talon.One and DAIVID

Top 10 Easter ads: How are brands navigating the junk food ban?

Top 10 Winter Olympics ads: Michelob, Peacock and Corona take the podium

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The marketers seeing real results with AI aren’t worrying about implementing the right tech – they’re rethinking how decisions get made, who makes them and what role human instinct should play.

This Performance Marketing World podcast episode, produced in partnership with Upp.ai, unpacks why so many AI-led media strategies stall before they scale – and what it actually takes to close the gap with the brands pulling ahead. We’ll share practical advice on where performance is really being lost, and how to realign teams, governance and ways of working to get the most out of AI.

The industry is having plenty of AI conversations, generative AI, agency AI washing, in-housing, measurement, productivity savings. 

All real, all familiar to the people listening. But the conversation that actually determines whether AI-led media performs is the one nobody is having. 

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

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The agency model is facing a perfect storm: in-housing is gutting the middle, independent agencies are winning on agility, and AI is automating the ‘making’ part of marketing. So how is the big six responding?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Jessica Tamsedge, UK CEO of Dentsu Creative, joins host Joe to outline how Dentsu is blowing up traditional silos to prepare for a world where a brand’s survival depends on being ‘machine-readable’ and ‘human-referenceable’. 

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:58) What does it mean to be ‘machine-readable’?

(12:23) How does Dentsu keep itself agile?

(19:51) Overrated or underrated?

(25:00) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

ChatGPT Ads to hit the UK

IPA Bellwether: ‘Where is the confidence coming from?’

Top 6 adtech tools this week: Reddit, SMG, Merkle, Lifesight, Adform and Dentsu

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Zero party has search killed the click. At least, that's the narrative marketers have been sold – but is it true?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's Editor Robin Langford and Senior News Reporter Bethany Lee join host Joe to talk about the future of the click, and why Google might be trying to bring it back for the sake of publishers and advertisers.

Also on this episode, the trio discuss some standout winners from the 2026 PMW Powerlist, which is available in its entirety here.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:30) The click is dead... right?

(14:55) PMW Powerlist 2026 highlights

(22:00) What makes a good Powerlist winner?

~ Further reading ~

Google expands AI Search features to boost website and community discovery

The PMW Powerlist 2026

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We’ve entered the ‘synthetic era’ of social media. AI can now try to generate a viral video, clone a creator’s voice, and optimise a hook for the algorithm in seconds. But there's a catch, consumers want more authentic content, not less.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Chris Parnell, co-founder and CCO of social-first creator agency NewGen, joins host Joe to discuss how advertisers can use AI to enhance their social media marketing and creator partnerships, without removing the 'human in the loop' and jeopardising consumer trust.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:18) How is AI impacting social media marketing and the creator economy?

(18:05) Does AI help or hinder brand safety on social media?

(27:52) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

IPA Bellwether reaction: 13 experts on AI’s tipping point, live events comeback and beating the cookie-free rush

What Unilever's influencer-first strategy means for marketers

‘It's a land grab for talent’: Meta, YouTube and Goalhanger bet big on creators

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POSSIBLE Miami is the pretty new thing in the world of advertising events, but is it already becoming a mini-Cannes?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's Editor Robin Langford and Senior News Reporter Bethany Lee join host Joe to discuss whether there is scope for POSSIBLE to carve out a necessary niche in an already oversaturated roster of annual advertising events.

Also, retail media's growth is quietly beginning to sputter and the top brass among some key UK players have been let go as a result – what does this mean for the channel's future?

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:54) The 2026 PMW International Powerlist 100 is here

(10:59) Why has POSSIBLE made such an impression?

(19:10) PMW puts retail media under the microscope

~ Further reading ~

Exclusive: Is retail media running out of road? ‘Surviving this crunch requires a rapid pivot’

The PMW International Powerlist 2026

PMW to host Powerlist Watch Party live at Cannes Lions 2026

‘It’s landing at a strange time’: Can POSSIBLE shed light on adland’s black boxes?

Five things adtech will be debating at POSSIBLE this week

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Search is becoming increasingly fragmented for users, spread across traditional browsers, largue-language-models (LLMs), social media platforms and more. In turn, search competition is increasing among advertisers, leaving many marketers looking for new ways to reach audiences.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Andy Squire, RVP Sales, EMEA at Brave, outlines how brands can stop feeding the blackbox oligopoly and learn to reach high-value audiences on the open web, without the walled garden tax.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:15) How can businesses stop relying on walled gardens?

(17:10) Balancing personalisation and privacy

(25:03) Overrated or underrated...

(27:34) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

Does the open web have a glass ceiling?

‘A severe blow’: Adland’s take on Dentsu and WPP abandoning The Trade Desk’s Openpath

Are AI platforms starving untapped audiences of ad investment?

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Experts have billed 2026 as 'the year of the independent agency', so what does this mean for the future of holding companies?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's entire editorial team is in studio to talk about everything going on in the world of marketing that doesn't involve AI. From an uptick in agency mergers and acquisitions to the channels marketers continue to ignore, the team discuss all you might have missed during AI's takeover of your psyche.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:32) Why does it feel like M&A activity has gone into overdrive?

(9:00) Everything marketers have been ignoring in 2026 so far

(21:35) Overrated or underrated...

~ Further reading ~

Publicis wins Microsoft’s AI biz and Anthropic’s revenue surges: Latest industry moves

ROAST expands to US and impact.com helps YouTube launch Creator Partnerships API: Latest industry moves

Global consumer media usage to rise after 2025 slump

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The need for AI-literacy has never been higher among marketers, but how can anyone stay on top of the ever-changing AI-landscape?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Lee Henshaw and Dino Myers-Lamptey, co-founder of The Marketer in The Loop AI certification course, outline why getting back to basics and focusing on the foundational knowledge from marketing's past is the best way for preparing to acquire the skills needed in marketing's future.

Also, the pair of industry veterans talk about some of advertising's most hotly debated topics, deciding if things like 'first party data' and 'the traditional marketing funnel' are overrated or underrated.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:58) Why is now the right time to invest in AI-literacy?

(10:03) What do we need more of and less of from marketing in 2026?

(21:26) Overrated or underrated

(28:35) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

Industry moves: Omnicom reportedly sunsetting DDB brand

Barb appoints partner for third phase of its API as Twilio partners with AEG: Latest industry moves

Jamie Laing, Grace Miller and Jon Evans to speak at PMW Unlocked 2026

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The first quarter of 2026 has come to an end. It was full of expectation, innovation and cautious optimism – but how did it really play out?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, host Joe is joined by PMW's Editor Robin Langford to discuss the factors, events and trading conditions that have marked the opening quarter of the year, diving into the state of play as we begin Q2 by addressing everything from business confidence and investment opportunities to new in-demand skills among marketers and everything in between.

Also, the pair provide an update on OpenAI's ChatGPT Ads pilot, which has made headlines for a consecutive week. Despite murky early returns, OpenAI has announced an expansion of the pilot to new regions and an extension to its original timeline – but will the gamble pay off?

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:04) How has Q1 played out across adland?

(10:12) OpenAI expands and extends its ChatGPT Ads pilot

(19:10) Specificity is LLMs' superpower

~ Further reading ~

'The horse is definitely cantering!': 81% of UK performance agencies report upbeat start to 2026

Is the ChatGPT honeymoon over? 59% of UK performance agencies embedding bespoke AI in their work

‘The war could change business confidence’: UK marketing sentiment plummets 30% in a month

Top 4 agency 'hiring headaches': Analytics skills top shortage list

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'Big Six' holding companies appears to be quickly losing faith The Trade Desk (TTD). Publicis is no longer recommending the demand side platform to its clients, Dentsu and WPP abandoned Openpath and Omnicom has reportedly commissioned an audit of its relationship with the company – but why?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's Senior News Reporter Bethany Lee joins host Joe to discuss what these changes mean for the broader programmatic landscape and whether or not operating in the open web puts a ceiling on a company's success.

Also, the pair discuss ChatGPT Ads' ongoing advertising trial. Early returns are in and measurement appears to be the biggest hurdle for advertisers, but what do consumers think of the new format – and does it matter?

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:36) What next for the open web?

(10:01) Is ChatGPT playing measurement catch-up?

(20:10) Why ads in ChatGPT has to work for OpenAI

~ Further reading ~

Omnicom commissions audit of The Trade Desk

Why are holdcos turning on The Trade Desk?

‘We have a responsibility to our clients’: Publicis explains The Trade Desk pull back

‘It is a paid beta test’: Has ChatGPT Ads jumped the gun?

‘Still finding its feet’: Underwhelming early returns for ChatGPT Ads

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The advertising industry can't decide how to best optimise the media mix for modern channels and metrics such as AI-powered search and retail media.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Dom Coleridge, Co-founder and Commercial Director of Scale Digital, joins host Joe to argue why quality always beats quantity in the world of marketing. Across content, media, partnerships and channels, Dom believes that investing in premium solutions will always be the best way to ensure long-term, future-proofed performance.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:00) Are premium solutions worth the cost?

(15:52) How much of a sticking point is trust?

(27:58) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

Airbnb claims AI search has higher conversion than Google – but does adland agree?

‘We are still only at the tip of the AI iceberg’: Adland’s 2026 predictions

IPA Bellwether: ‘Much of today’s AI investment is being wasted’

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The click era is over, prompts will soon equal profit, and creative is now a pivotal part of performance. These are just a snapshot of the takeaways from Performance Marketing World Unlocked 2026.

One this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's editorial team is in the studio to talk all things PMW Unlocked 2026. With the annual confex now in the rear view, the trio discuss the biggest talking points, lessons learned, surprises and highlights from across two packed out days at London's Business Design Centre.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(3:54) Which sessions won the team over?

(13:05) The key themes from PMW Unlocked 2026

(18:11) What were the biggest surprises from the event?

~ Further reading ~

A visitor’s guide to PMW Unlocked 2026: From Candy Kittens to the confessional booth

Everything advertisers are ignoring (but shouldn't be) in 2026

Jamie Laing, Grace Miller and Jon Evans to speak at PMW Unlocked 2026

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LinkedIn is the second most cited domain among large-langauge-models (LLMs). As such, is has become a hub of content discovery and advertising opportunities.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Andrew Monu, VP of Marketing at LinkedIn, joins host Joe to reveal how the social media platform manages to stay ahead of the ever-changing AI-powered algorithms. From using social to build trust, leverage search and implement new advertising formats, Andrew offers a blueprint for B2B marketers to thrive in the new era of digital marketing.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:04) How is LinkedIn staying ahead of LLMs?

(12:20) Dark social and building communities

(20:26) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

PMW’s New Year’s Resolutions: marketing experts on the future of search, data, and privacy

‘The first 20% of your text is the most important’: Research reveals how to get cited by AI

‘Brands will simply have to work harder for attention’: How a social media crackdown could impact marketers

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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced plans to introduce increased social media regulations to protect the wellbeing of vulnerable people, particularly children. It stands to dramatically impact the advertising industry, shifting brand's access to particular audiences across social media formats.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's Senior News Reporter Bethany Lee joins host Joe for a whistle-stop tour of the biggest headlines from across the industry over the past fortnight.

The pair touch on social media's future as an advertising channel, whether or not ads belong in large-language-models (LLMs), and if consumers are becoming fed-up with 'intrusive' new formats.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:15) Are we going to see a social media ban for under-16s in the UK?

(11:18) Will people trust LLMs if they have ads?

(19:28) Are consumers fed up with new ad formats?

~ Further reading ~

‘Brands will simply have to work harder for attention’: How a social media crackdown could impact marketers

Perplexity pulls the plug on ads, citing trust concerns for AI

Two-thirds of Six Nations fans reject ‘annoying’ in-game ads

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AI systems are now allocating budget and optimising media in real time. The operational heavy lifting of performance marketing is increasingly automated.

And that changes the economics.

If execution no longer depends on constant, hands-on optimisation, does performance naturally move closer to the business? Could this be the moment in-housing finally accelerates? And if it does, where does that leave agencies?

To unpack it all, PMW deputy editor Joseph Arthur sits down with Drew Smith, co-founder and chief product officer at Upp.ai, and Steve Warrington, senior vice president of client and industry engagement.

This episode of The Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast is sponsored by Upp.ai

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The advertising industry loves to talk, and yet, some of the most important topics within the space are often ignored.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, four marketing experts come together to put the spotlight on several topics they don't think are getting the attention they deserve. Hosted by Paul Evans, founder of V2RSION, with Tony Miller, Interim CMO of Direct Line Group, Supriya Dev-Purkayastha, founder of Connect Growth and Emily Roberts, Head of Digital at Responsible Marketing Advisory, the group touch on accessible advertising, inclusivity in marketing, how to avoid short-terminism and why performance marketing shouldn't be retired.

To hear more from our panel of experts, each of them will be in attendance and on stage at PMW Unlocked, our annual confex at the Business Design Centre in London, taking place on the 3rd and 4th of March. Limited delegate tickets are still available here: https://www.performancemarketingunlocked.com/book-your-place

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:38) Don't discount disabilities

(13:30) Inclusivity is the essence of performance marketing

(30:50) Short-terminism is just papering over the cracks

(40:22) Performance marketing still belongs

~ Further reading ~

Jamie Laing, Grace Miller and Jon Evans to speak at PMW Unlocked 2026

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Super Bowl LX may have failed to deliver the sporting spectacle that many fans were hoping for, but the annual Super Bowl ads certainly got people talking – particularly those framed around AI.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's new Senior News Reporter Bethany Lee joins host Joe to unpack the key themes from this year's batch of ads, turning to a litany of data detailing the early advertising winners and losers. Together, the pair discuss whether or not celebrity still matters, if animals are the ultimate recipe for success and crucially, why marketers seem so determined to lean on AI despite its lack of popularity among consumers.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:04) Did Super Bowl LX's ads deliver?

(14:46) Where did brands go wrong?

(17:20) Anthropic versus the LLM world

~ Further reading ~

Super Bowl LX review: AI flops on the big stage

Top 10 Super Bowl ads – according to consumers

PMW’s top 3 Super Bowl ads to watch before Sunday

Super Bowl LX: PMW’s pre-game (advertising) run-down

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The in-housing versus agency debate has become a hot topic within the world of advertising, but does in-housing really deliver in practice?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Honor Baldry, Digital Marketing Director at PureGym, outlines how marketers can effectively determine which parts of their strategy to own and which parts to let go.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(1:47) How can brands decide if in-housing will work for them?

(16:38) What trends should marketers be getting excited about?

(25:01) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

Puregym, McDonald’s, Toyota, James Villas and Crunch Fitness: Top 5 performance marketing campaigns

Team of the Year winner: PureGym

Almost half of marketers now contact their agencies ‘less than once a week’

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Affiliate marketing represents a significant piece of the UK's performance marketing pie, generating over £19bn in sales last year alone. However, despite its ongoing growth, the affiliate space continues to polarise marketers.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlcoked podcast, PMW's Editor Robin Langford joins host Joe to discuss affiliate marketing's latest setback, namely Paypal's ongoing payments scandal surrounding its Honey Browser extension.

The pair detail the story and assess how it underscores the broader challenges affiliate marketing is facing, specifically, measurement, visibility and trust.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(1:53) What has Honey done wrong?

(10:56) How can affiliate marketing improve its perception among marketers?

~ Further reading ~

Awin announces 'confirmed breaches'; becomes latest affiliate network to update stance on Honey

Rakuten cuts ties with Honey following commissions scandal

Despite generating £19bn in sales in 2025, UK affiliate marketing is only just scratching the surface

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In an era built around creating automated efficiency, the ultimate competitive advantage isn't a better algorithm – it’s a deeper understanding of the human behind it.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, behavioural psychologist Lea Karam, founder and CEO of Mindscope, exposes the invisible forces driving consumer decisions that your dashboard is currently missing, revealing how you can fill the gaps and future-proof your performance strategy.

For more of Lea, she will be taking the stage at PMW Unlocked 2026 from 3-4 March at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London – find out more and get your tickets here.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(3:20) Bridging the gap between hard data and human psychology

(18:32) Which marketing trends are overrated or underrated?

(27:11) PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge

~ Further reading ~

‘GEO becomes a core capability for staying visible’: 17 marketers on how AI will change adland in 2026

An AI would never design Cannes Lions – and that should give us all some comfort

Riding the TikTok algorithm: with great power comes great responsibility

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The Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast is back for another season! PMW's editorial team kick things off with a quickfire round-up of all the biggest advertising stories to open 2026, from Reddit's boom in reach to how FMCG brand's can navigate the UK's junk food advertising ban and everything in between.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Deputy Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(2:45) Reddit surpasses TikTok in UK reach

(10:40) The UK's less healthy food ad ban is here

(17:15) Quickfire review of the newsdesk's biggest headlines

~ Further reading ~

Reddit overtakes TikTok to become UK’s fourth most visited social platform

UK junk food ban goes live: How FMCG brands can win in a restricted ad landscape

The Guardian and Buzzfeed headline first Publishing Partners for The Trade Desk’s OpenAds

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PMW's editorial team is back for its annual Christmas Special. A podcast where we reflect on the biggest themes, trends and stories from the year and look ahead to the future, making some predictions for what the next 12 months might hold.

From AI's impact on search to Amazon's booming DSP ecosystem and everything in between, PMW's Editor Robin Langford, News Reporter Reem Makari and host Joe leave no stone unturned, also revealing some hot takes and fast favourites from 2025.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

(3:57) Reflections on 2025

(21:50) Predictions for 2026

(35:01) The PMW team's fast favourites from the past 12 months

~ Further reading ~

‘We are still only at the tip of the AI iceberg’: Adland’s 2026 predictions

‘Marketers don’t care where consumers buy, only that they buy’: Adland’s 2026 predictions

‘People won’t trust AI – but they’ll use it for everything’: 15 expert marketing predictions for 2026

‘2026 will drop a brutal marketing truth’: 18 experts on adland's biggest challenges

Performance Marketing World Awards: All 26 winners announced

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Consumers are more concerned about privacy than ever before and yet they are demanding more personalisation from advertisers. How can brands walk this tightrope and balance privacy and transparency with an effective strategy for gathering and utilising data? The answer is simple, trust. Unfortunately, building trust is not quite so simple.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Zac Eller, General Manager, Global Partnerships & Business Development at ExpressVPN, joins host Joe to detail exactly how marketers can make privacy a unique selling point for their brand and crucially, use it to build and maintain customer loyalty.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~ 

Why has privacy become even more important in 2025? (1:55)

What exactly does a VPN do? (14:59)

PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge (26:35)

~ Further reading ~ 

AI browsers, Netflix's advertising boom and Apple's privacy warning

85% of agencies are turning to third-party data to reduce reliance on advertisers

Could 2025 be the start of the golden age of marketing measurement?

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The annual Black Friday Cyber Monday weekend is regularly bookmarked on marketers' calendars as one of the biggest sales opportunities of the year, but with 2025's edition coinciding with tax increases from the UK Labour Government's latest budget and increasing levels of "sales fatigue" among Brits, are consumers going to be willing to spend?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's Editor Robin Langford joins host Joe to talk about Black Friday 2025, and why retailers' fears over whether or not shoppers will respond to their advertising is not the biggest talking point of the upcoming event, positing that a much bigger trend is looming over the weekend – AI-fuelled shopping.

With AI agents such as Amazon's Rufus now at consumers' disposal, we are about to see an early litmus test for the AI-era of commerce.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~ 

How are brands feeling ahead of BFCM 2025? (2:15)

Is AI about to uproot everything we know about shopping? (8:19)

Are marketers losing the freedom to experiment? (15:22)

~ Further reading ~ 

OpenAI introduces shopping research within ChatGPT

Almost half of consumers 'trust AI summaries without clicking'

Black Friday Cyber Monday weekend set to deliver £9.52bn for retailers

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Product sampling has often been maligned as one of marketing's dirtiest habits – simply palm off your samples to whoever you can find and call it a day.

However, on this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Matthew Huntly, co-founder and CEO of Sampl, explains exactly how the practice has modernised and why the digital-first reinvention of Sampling is one of the best kept secrets for advertisers to leverage ahead of 2026.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~ 

What happened to product sampling's reputation? (1:47)

Digital sampling in action (17:43)

PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge (29:27)

~ Further reading ~ 

‘Digital sampling is a great way for brands to get data’: Q&A with Matthew Huntly, Sampl

Top 5 adtech tools this week: VideoAmp, Hightouch, Sampl, DoubleVerify, and Unilever

Matthew Huntly

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New data has revealed that retail media adspend is set to surpass $200bn by 2027, but where does this place the channel compared to others such as connected TV and social media?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's Editor Robin Langford joins host Joe to talk about the future of retail media, from its potential to hit an investment ceiling to whether or not it, and other popular advertising channels, are becoming too fragmented.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~ 

Is retail media about to hit its peak? (1:54)

How will agentic AI impact retail media? (13:03)

~ Further reading ~ 

Retail media adspend to clear $200bn by 2027 – but is a plateau on the horizon?

Are you ready for retail media 2.0?

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Where have marketers missed out in 2025? And more importantly, how can they avoid leaving growth opportunities on the table in 2026

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Esme Robinson, Director of Platform Solutions at Epsilon, and PMW 2025 Powerlist member, reveals where marketers have gone wrong this year and how they can remedy things over the next 12 months.

From neglecting the basics to building out AI models on incomplete data, she details the areas marketers are over-emphasising and where their attention should be going instead.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~ 

What has been the biggest missed opportunity in 2025 for marketers? (2:30)

How can marketers avoid missing out in 2026? (17:41)

~ Further reading ~ 

How to stop survivorship bias haunting your marketing efforts

Esme Robinson

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AI browsers are here, streaming giants have become ad platforms and tech giant's are warning of being 'forced' to remove privacy regulations – how's that for news?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's News Reporter Reem Makari joins host Joe to discuss several of the industry's biggest headlines from the past couple of weeks. In an attempt to help you keep up with a news cycle that never stops, consider this a quick-fire round-up of everything marketers need to be aware of heading into November.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Does the introduction of ChatGPT Atlas represent a paradigm shift in search? (2:17)

Netflix's ad sales are booming, so why are its earnings down? (11:43)

~ Further reading ~

OpenAI launches ChatGPT’s first web browser, Atlas

‘A new milestone in the AI browser arms race’: What ChatGPT Atlas means for marketers

Netflix records ‘best ad sales quarter ever’ despite disappointing earnings

US and China ‘nearly finalise’ TikTok sale deal

Apple claims it may be ‘forced’ to disable ATT across Europe

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Retail media is no longer a plucky, upstart new channel. It's rode the first wave of investment and excitement, but now is the time to prove its staying power.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, host Joe sits down with two retail media experts, Ollie Shayer, Senior Director, Global Strategy and Innovation at SMG, and Daniel Knapp, Chief Economist, IAB Europe, to talk about the future of the channel.

Recorded on the ground at Retail Media Summit UK 2025, the respective interviews dive into what the "second phase" of retail media is going to look like, from deployment of the channel in the UK versus the US to its growth prospects amid a turbulent economy.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

Ollie Shayer on his move to SMG and the challenges surrounding retail media (1:29)

Daniel Knapp forecasts retail media's future and talks differences between the UK and US (9:03)

~ Further reading ~

Six spicy predictions for retail media in 2026

Rory Sutherland explains everything wrong with performance marketing

Iceland expands retail media network through Epsilon partnership

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Rory Sutherland famously dislikes much of what performance marketing offers, acknowledging that while the lower-funnel is important, many marketers are "painting themselves into a performance corner" to justify their existence.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Sutherland explains what marketers are doing wrong and how they can better utilise performance-orientated data to generate sustainable brand building. He also outlines retail media's role in generating 'brandformance' and why the success of the frozen paratha should propel a return to frozen food in Britain.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

What's wrong with performance marketing? (1:48)

How retail media can build a bridge between brand and performance (23:15)

Why frozen food needs to make a return in Britain (31:31)

~ Further reading ~

Investing in performance marketing is not enough, a view from Rory Sutherland

Havas Market’s Alex Walker on navigating adland in a time of ‘information overload’

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With OpenAI officially seeking a 'Growth Paid Marketing Platform Engineer', it appears that ChatGPT becoming an advertising platform is finally upon us.

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, PMW's editorial team dissect industry leaders' hot takes on the rumours, outlining how the innovation may impact marketers, whether or not competing large-language-models will follow suit, and how regulators can catch-up with generative AI's ever-growing expansion.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

What does adland make of ChatGPT's advertising potential? (1:26)

Are we about to see the formation of yet another monopoly? (13:39)

~ Further reading ~

ChatGPT ad plans revealed? OpenAI seeks ‘paid marketing’ engineer

‘A seismic shift’: How ChatGPT becoming an ad platform would impact adland

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The final quarter of the year is often a tense time for marketers. Despite the festive atmosphere, many get swept up in quarterly KPIs and a need to please the CFO with a short-term sales boost – but is this best way to make the most of peak season?

On this episode of the Performance Marketing Unlocked podcast, Suzanna Chaplin, founder and CEO of esbconnect, argues that a long-term approach focused on customer retention and first-party data collection is the best way to utilise Q4's annual spending surge.

This podcast was hosted by PMW's Multimedia Editor, Joseph Arthur.

~ Episode breakdown ~

How can marketers and advertisers best deal with Q4's sales expectations? (2:14)

Which metrics matter most during peak season? (15:30)

PMW's Resell Me a Pen Challenge (25:35)

~ Further reading ~

PMW Retail Playbook 2025: Dreaming of an AI Christmas?

Where marketers should spend (and save) this Christmas

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