Mozilla | Lindsey Shepard On today's show, we figure out how to unfck the internet. Helping us on that journey to discovery is Lindsey Shepard. Lindsey, who also goes by Shep, is the Chief Marketing Officer of Mozilla. You probably best know them by their FireFox browser. (Maybe you're reading this through it right now!) Shep is interesting because she comes from Facebook, where she led, among other things...integrity. So naturally I was curious about her journey away from the social...

Rival | Dan Parise, Chief Marketing Officer Today: how to bring together the worlds of real and virtual sport -- plus, how to bring brands into the fold. My conversation today is with Dan Parise. Dan is about a year into his role as the Chief Marketing Officer of Rival, which is a B2B enterprise solution creating community through gaming and interactive experiences. Now when I think of video games, my mind doesn't immediately jump to the B2B world, and it's possible that yours doesn't...

Ascension | Nick Ragone, EVP, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer Today: how a $24B Catholic healthcare system unites. I'm on with Nick Ragone, the EVP, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Ascension. Nick pursued law to start his career, and found that marketing carries the same linear storytelling style. Today, Nick continues to tell the story he's spread for the last seven years at Ascension, which advocates for a compassionate and just society as it expands access to...

Sunwink | Jordan Schenck, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer Here's a story about lightning in a bottle...in a bottle. Today we explore Sunwink through the eyes of their Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Jordan Schenck. Jordan's a celebrated marketer in the plant-based world, having previously been Head of Consumer Marketing for Impossible Foods. She was also recently named to the Forbes CMO Next 2021 list. Sunwink is a consumer brand producing "super clean plant powered Sparkling...

PLBY | Rachel Webber, Chief Brand & Strategy Officer Today: how a flagship name in sexual wellness and creative expression has evolved from its heritage to its NFT age. It's PLBY Group, which you'll know from its flagship brand Playboy. Rachel Webber is their Chief Brand & Strategy Officer, who joined the group two years ago from NatGeo following years in mass media, consumer tech, and other brands. Today we discuss a number of things, like: Rachel's story of joining the brand,...

The Beachbody Company | Carl Daikeler, Co-Founder and CEO Today we take the science of at-home fitness and the art of the SPAC...and myx them together. (Not a typo.) My guest is Carl Daikeler, co-founder and CEO of The Beachbody Company. Beachbody is dedicated to help people achieve their goals and enjoy healthy, fulfilling lives. Carl, a marketer at heart rather than a fitness junkie, has built the business (on cash flow only) to today's $1 billion annual revenue. I checked in with Carl...

OkCupid | Melissa Hobley, Global CMO Today my conversation is with someone who I think is one of the better communicators among marketers that I've ever chatted with. Melissa Hobley is Global CMO of OkCupid (part of Match Group), and shares hers perspective on effective communication on today's show. I found this particularly interesting because a surprising percentage of my guests are...let's say, just OK at having a conversation. Totally fine, but not like "no wonder you're leading this...

Kinship | Leonid Sudakov, President How do you enhance humanity through non-humans? My guest today can help with that question. I'm chatting with Leonid Sudakov, the President of Kinship. Kinship is a coalition of brands seeking to bring more to pet care. Specifically today we explore two pairs of words which have their nuances but within which Leonid sees a strong intersection as part of his work. The first, which titles this show, is humanity and care. Leonid has found that caring for...

Hershey | Jill Baskin, Chief Marketing Officer On today's show, a sweet conversation with one of my personal favorite guests. I'm learning more from Hershey's today!! A brand which needs no introduction, the chocolate champ is home to Jill Baskin, their Chief Marketing Officer. And while we talk plenty about our (mostly my) favorite candy (which, right now, is the Mini Robin Egg...link below), we talk even more about Jill's perspective on self-discovery. After all, it is a critical...

Party City | Julie Roehm, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer Break out the balloons for today's episode of Authentic Avenue. My guest is Julie Roehm, the Chief Marketing and Experience Officer of Party City. I was particularly interested in talking with Julie not just because of her rich background across brands (including within auto, which is a current interest of mine), but because of her dual role. While I've interviewed plenty of CMOs, Julie didn't start out as that -- but rather,...

New Balance | Chris Davis, Chief Marketing Officer Today I have a podcast with one of my favorite guests, SOLEly based on how genuine the chat is. Seriously. You'd be surprised how many times I have conversations on this podcast that are super rehearsed and guardrailed. It's an unfortunate part of the game. So, consider today a fortunate edition of Authentic Avenue. My conversation is with Chris Davis, who serves as Chief Marketing Officer of New Balance. Chris has been with the brand for...

Age of Learning | Sunil Gunderia, Chief Innovation Officer and Head of Mastery and Adaptive Product If you have children, how are they being schooled right now? Are they back in the classroom? Fully remote? A mixture? Today my guest is Sunil Gunderia. He's the Chief Innovation Officer, and Head of Mastery & Adaptive Product, for Age of Learning. Age of Learning blends education best practices, innovative technology, and insightful creativity to bring learning to life for children across...

Rakuten | Dana Marineau, Chief Marketing Officer, Rakuten Rewards What if I told you there was a company out there that's basically Google plus Amazon plus Verizon plus Kaiser combined? Would you be surprised to learn it's right here in the US? Well it is -- just not in that form. Yet. Let's learn more about it on this Authentic Avenue. Rakuten. An ecommerce company that pays you cash back to do your usual shopping. Dana Marineau is the Chief Marketing Officer for Rakuten Rewards. In her...

Who Gives a Crap | Danny Alexander, Co-Founder, Chief of Product & Purpose Here's a title I never thought I'd interview: the Chief of PP. You got that right. And for a toilet paper brand, no less. Of course, that's just wordplay. (And the guest gave me the green light to use it, so, even better.) Today my guest is Danny Alexander, the Co-Founder and Chief of Product & Purpose (see what I mean) for Who Gives a Crap (see what I mean!!!), the toilet paper brand which builds toilets...

Carat | Robert Schwartz, Global CMO and Kris Doerfler, Media & Data Ethicist and Applied Futurist We've talked about "sustainability" from time to time on this podcast. After all, many brands, especially those in consumer goods, are currently prioritizing it as integral to being an authentic provider or product. Product. That's where I've heard this s-word. I haven't heard it before in terms of media. "Sustainable Media?" What is that? How do you make media more sustainable? And, by the...

Art of Sport | Matthias Metternich, Co-Founder and CEO Today, for the first time on Authentic Avenue, I feature a brand co-founded with superstar support -- and what a story to start with: Art of Sport, which was built in part by Kobe Bryant. One of his co-founders, Matthias Metternich, is my featured guest today. After founding brands across the globe, he brought his talents to LA and built this brand with The Black Mamba and Brian Lee (LegalZoom, The Honest Company). Today, we talk about...

No Days Wasted | Nishal Kumar, Founder & CEO Today, I have a real-life dragon slayer on the podcast. Nishal Kumar founded a brand with a wordplay I greatly appreciate: No Days Wasted. The brand has a mission of maximizing life's moments -- "from proactively providing immune support, keeping you optimally hydrated, to simply helping you get up and going after a night out with friends (maybe after a drink or two)." Point is, if 2021 means getting back to hanging with friends and related...

Coldwell Banker | David Marine, Chief Marketing Officer Imagine you've spent nearly your entire career committed to a single business. You perform so well that, after almost 20 years of service, you sit at the very top. The business, over a century old in its own right, is to undergo a rebrand which will give it a new look for the first time in 40 years -- and you're the one leading the charge. To most people, this would be a career-defining moment. It would for this interviewer. Now...

Authentic Avenue Media | Adam Conner, Founder / Host / Self If you’ve taken a glance at the title of today’s podcast, you’ll notice something slightly different -- the lack of a guest. No illustrious mind, no illuminating marketer. Instead, it’s my name -- and today, I’ll be telling, albeit briefly, my own story. After all, you may have wondered at one point or another -- what’s this guy doing this for? Why did he choose this path? And for goodness sake, why’s he doing it full time? All good...

Bud Light Seltzer | Conor Mason, Sr. Director 2021 is upon us, and that means: New Year, New...Beer? At least that's what our premiere guest would perhaps like to see. Conor Mason is the subject of today's show. At just 28 years of age, he's risen the ranks within Anheuser-Busch (check out my interview with the highest rank, Marcel Marcondes, at this link) to become Sr. Director over Bud Light Seltzer. Seltzer in general has been flying high over the past few years, and Conor now manages to...

Holden | Andrew Lim, Co-Founder I've noticed this year that people I know are getting engaged at a faster clip than normal. Maybe it's because I'm in my late 20s...but I think it has something to do with the fact that people have taken 2020 stay-at-home life as a sort of proving ground. Regardless, if you've started thinking about putting a ring on your roommate, I've got the Authentic Avenue episode for you. (And I have a promo code for you. Think of it as an early wedding present.) Andrew...

Holler | Sarah Aitken, Chief Marketing Officer When you're in charge of revolutionizing conversation, what happens when revolutionary conversation comes to you? Today on Authentic Avenue, my guest is Sarah Aitken. She's the Chief Marketing Officer of Holler, a next-gen tech company which aims to overhaul our digital person-to-person communications with richer, more engaging media than your typical text. On today's show, we discuss what exactly a "next-gen" tech company is (shouldn't all...

Tecovas | Paul Hedrick, Founder & CEO The cowboy boot: an American staple known for its durability and worn by some of the more "real" people you'll meet in this country. Today on Authentic Avenue, I've got a founder who, like the wearers of the boots his brand produces, promises to shoot me (and us) straight. Paul Hedrick is the founder and CEO of Tecovas, and today he shares not only why he founded a western boot and accessories brand specifically, but why he felt that he must be the...

Chipotle | Adam Ornelas, Social Media and Influencer Strategist Today on Authentic Avenue, I get to interview someone from what is possibly the most socially omnipresent brand I've ever seen. No matter where I go on social media (or the internet, really), there they are. I'm referring to Chipotle (and you just might agree with me), and my guest today is 1 of their 3 web wizards. Adam Ornelas plays the part of Social Media and Influencer Strategist for the boss of the burrito and bowl, and he...

Foot Locker | Sarah Houseknecht, Sr. Director of Public Relations & Influencer Marketing Get on your feet! We've got an episode of Authentic Avenue today with a brand I like for their ability to tap into cult followings. It's Foot Locker, and the cult followings I speak are those both of footwear brands like Jordan and sneakerheads as individuals. My guest today is Sarah Houseknecht, who is their Sr. Director overseeing Public Relations and Influencer Marketing. Sarah has seen Foot...