Best VML Podcasts (2025)

1
Bridging Gaps and Breaking Silos - How IT Drives Growth with Jon Harding of Conair and Lauren Livak Gilbert of DSI 28:50

4d ago28:50

28:50

Welcome to our first cross over podcast with eCommerce Braintrust. I joined Jordan Ripley & Julie Spear from Acadia as we chatted with Jon Harding, CIO of Conair about the latest DSI research report. We dug into how IT and the rest of the business need to collaborate to see success in 2025!By Digital Shelf Institute

1
Welcome to Kansas City Marketing Legends Season 2 36:37

5d ago36:37

36:37

Send us a text Welcome to Season Two of Kansas City Marketing Legends! After the incredible energy and inspiring conversations of Season One, we knew we had to come back for more. This season, we’re diving even deeper into the stories and insights of the people who have helped make Kansas City a marketing powerhouse. A special shoutout to our frien…

1
The Coalition of the Willing, with Heather Campain, VP, CPG Integrated Go-to-Market Strategy at Epsilon 39:29

10d ago39:29

39:29

1
Strategies for Winning the MegaSales, with Sunava Dutta, Chief Product Officer at Pacvue 34:25

18d ago34:25

34:25

The MegaSales of the big retailers represent both risk and opportunity, and the size of both are constantly changing. Today’s guest, Sunava Dutta, Chief Product Officer at Pacvue, brings a ton of insights around overall strategic organizational and process best practices and a dive into the data and what it portends for this season of the Prime Day…

1
Questions Are the Future: Redefining Creativity in an AI World 39:57

22d ago39:57

39:57

On this episode of Human Centered, host Nick Brunker welcomes Jason Gaikowski, VML's Chief Transformation Officer, to explore how AI is transforming creativity in marketing. Jason describes our industry's "engagement addiction" as creating "junk food for the soul" and argues we're experiencing an "event horizon" - a profound shift comparable to the…

1
“How Can We Get More Product Content to the PDP Faster”?, with Carolan Di Fiore, Digital Content Deployment Manager at Hershey 42:36

25d ago42:36

42:36

“How Can We Get More Product Content to the PDP Faster”? That question is top of mind every day for Carolan Di Fiore, Digital Content Deployment Manager at Hershey. Drawing from her prior experience in Ecommerce and digital roles at other global companies like Bimbo Bakeries, Carolan hit the ground running at Hershey a year and a half ago, and join…

1
It’s Our 300th Episode - What Have We Learned?, with co-hosts Peter Crosby, Lauren Livak Gilbert, and Rob Gonzalez 44:05

1M ago44:05

44:05

Three hundred freakin’ episodes of Unpacking the Digital Shelf! We celebrate by bringing together the 3 co-hosts to squeeze out the lessons learned from our generous and brilliant guests, and highlight where we think you’ll want to put your energies to make sure you, and your organization, are ready for the opportunities to come.…

1
The Power of Love: Lean Into Loyalty, with Chris Perry, Chief Learning Officer at firstmovr 37:55

1M ago37:55

37:55

Loyalty is one of the most important components of love. It can also be one of the greatest drivers of your competitive advantage and growth in financially challenging times. Chris Perry, Chief Learning Officer at firstmovr and our own Lauren Livak Gilbert teamed up to dig into the best new practices of loyalty and describe them in a new research r…

1
Are You a Leader or a Laggard in Your Retail Media Operation?, with Russ Dieringer, founder and CEO of Stratably 38:36

2M ago38:36

38:36

Retail media has been around long enough now for some clear trends to develop in terms of the best practices that lead to the best outcomes from your investment. Russ Dieringer, founder and CEO of Stratably, has returned with a refresh to their “How Brands Do Retail Media” report, which uses both quantitative and qualitative data from more than 70 …

1
From SEO to GEO - How to Win the Battle for the AI Agent’s Attention, with Max Sinclair, Founder & CEO at Ecomtent 36:36

2M ago36:36

36:36

In the 2024 holiday shopping season, use of AI chatbot shopping rose 6,000% over the prior year, according to Adobe. Those are searches driven by the intent of the shopper, and many never even make it to a product page. Winning your place in those shopping journeys will require mastering the new capabilities of generative engine optimization, or GE…

1
Riding the Waves of AI Innovation, with Brian Yamada, Chief Innovation Officer at VML 27:43

2M ago27:43

27:43

Brian Yamada, Chief Innovation Officer at VML, says this era of AI innovation could be best described using the title of the Oscar Winner for Best Picture at the 2023: Everything, Everywhere All at Once. So Brian joined the podcast to take some of the craziness out of it all by digging into the 3 waves of AI innovation - content, experience, and ag…

1
Reimagining Websites for the Age of AI and Hyper-Personalization 44:40

2M ago44:40

44:40

On this episode of Human Centered, host Nick Brunker welcomes Dave Altis, Chief Experience Design Officer at VML, to explore the future of websites. As AI and Web3 technologies rapidly evolve, they discuss the limitations of current platforms and the impending shift towards agent-driven, hyper-personalized experiences. Dave shares insights on how b…

1
Creating A Global Approach to Omnichannel Execution Excellence with Local Control, with Vivian Valks, Global Ecommerce Acceleration Manager at Arla Foods 33:23

2M ago33:23

33:23

After a decade of rapid growth and experimentation, ecommerce for many is moving into a more mature phase, while of course still being incredibly dynamic. Many companies are finding that the new opportunities for category growth lie in establishing the best practices for omnichannel execution and then scaling those capabilities while adapting it to…

1
35 Years of Leading Transformation at a Global CPG Powerhouse, with Angela Mangiapane, President, Mars Global Services 50:52

2M ago50:52

50:52

During her 35 years at Mars, Angela Mangiapane has been a leader in the front office, the middle office, and the back office, most recently as President of Mars Global Services for the last 9 years.. She has been a witness to, and a driver of, the digital era. And from those experiences come great wisdom and principles that should be guides to the …

1
Limiting Beliefs Holding Back? You Can S.N.A.P. Out of It, with Erica Anderson Rooney, author of Glass Ceilings and Sticky Floors 42:47

3M ago42:47

42:47

I’m assuming all of you listening are human, so I also assume all of you, like me, struggle with beliefs about ourselves and our capabilities that hold us back from our full potential. If you’re not human, please connect up with me on LinkedIn, because I have questions. In the meantime, though, for us humans, and because of systemic barriers, parti…

1
That Social Commerce Thing is Really Going to Happen This Time, with Andrew Criezis, President at NIQ 27:52

3M ago27:52

27:52

When it comes to the promise of Social Commerce, we have the Social part down, but the Commerce part is still very much a work in progress. We have news on that front. Andrew Criezis, President at NIQ, recently returned from a trip to China with insights, data, and experiences that foretell new social commerce experiences and formats that might jus…

1
The ENDCAPS: Celebrating Best-in-Class Digital Merchandising and PDP Activation 38:14

3M ago38:14

38:14

The best part of being in the digital commerce community is how we are all continuously sharing with, and learning from, each other. It’s especially helpful when an independent, unbiased organization like say, firstmovr, creates an opportunity to find the best and turn it into best practices. And then share freely. That’s why firstmovr’s Chief Lear…

1
NRF 2025 Recap: Retail Innovation and the Trends Shaping 2025 29:45

3M ago29:45

29:45

Digital shelf talkers, virtual try-ons, AI warehouse robots - these were just some of the technology that Andrea K.Leigh and I saw at NRF 2025 last week. We are at a critical time in our industry where technology can fundamentally change how we do business and enhance the consumer experience. Tune in to hear how brands and retailers are using techn…

1
Smart Tech Gets Smarter: Innovation Insights from CES 2025 35:56

3M ago35:56

35:56

On this episode of Human Centered, VML Chief Innovation Officer Brian Yamada joins host Nick Brunker fresh from CES 2025 to discuss the latest technological innovations shaping our future. From AI's evolution into the experience era to emotionally intelligent robots and breakthrough developments in health and accessibility, Brian unpacks how artifi…

1
Navigating the Digital Data Ecosystem to Unlock Growth, Tim Caggiano, Head of eCommerce Reporting & Analytics at Nestle, Salim Bachatene, SVP Global Sales, Ecommerce NielsenIQ, Michael Nunes, Director ... 57:24

4M ago57:24

57:24

The digital data ecosystem is constantly evolving and changing as new data sets become available and brands work to connect the dots between each piece of the ecosystem. The important element for brands is learning how to navigate the complexity, break down silos in their organizations and turn insights into action at every step on the consumer jou…

1
The "X" Factor: Elevating Retailer eCommerce Through Experience-Driven Product Content, with Amanda Wolff, CRO at Jenda, and Bailie Duncan, Lead Product Owner at Jackson Family Wines 59:47

4M ago59:47

59:47

Technologists who work on DTC and retailer.com sites spend a lot of time doing things like building personas, creating customer journey maps and service blueprints, and conducting usability studies. But if you're a brand selling your products on a retailer's platform, you don't need to worry about that, right? After all, you don't control the user …

1
From Tools to Companions: How AI Will Transform CX in 2025 31:58

4M ago31:58

31:58

In our annual predictions special of Human Centered, VML's Global CXDO Karen Boswell joins host Nick Brunker to forecast the major customer experience trends for 2025. Building on her accurate predictions from last year, Karen explores how AI will evolve from a transactional tool to an intelligent companion, reshaping how brands connect with custom…

1
Decoding Consumer Behaviors: Insights On How to Better Reach Your Consumer, with Jeriad Zoghby, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer at Interpublic Group (IPG) 53:37

4M ago53:37

53:37

Consumers' shopping behaviors are ever changing and they are rewriting the rules. Brands who understand their consumer preferences and desires, what channels they prefer and how they want to receive their products will be a step ahead. This is an audio rebroadcast of a webinar focused on just that, led by Lauren Livak Gilbert, with guest expert Jer…

1
Maximizing Retailer Relationships: How to Win with Joint Business Planning, with Lynsey Sweales, Partner & Global Omni-Channel Strategist at Cognitive Union 47:01

4M ago47:01

47:01

In an ever changing eCommerce environment both brands and retailers need to collaborate together in order to align on initiatives and goals that are beneficial for both sides. Many of these conversations happen during Joint Business Planning (JBP), but it is often not standardized across retailers, and brands might not know the right questions to a…

1
Commerce Opportunities Down Under, with Teresa Sperti, Founder & Director at Arktic Fox 38:10

5M ago38:10

38:10

G’day Mates! That’s right, listeners, today we are going down under, to dive deep into the intricacies and opportunities for brands in the Australian market. Our expert on the ground is Teresa Sperti, Founder & Director at digital commerce advisory and education consultancy Arktic Fox, and even if you’re not considering Australia as a market you’ll…

1
Composing the Next Wave of Contextual Shopping Experiences, with James Semple, Product Management Director at Salesforce 40:36

5M ago40:36

40:36

For our listeners who sell direct to their consumers or buyers, a composable tech stack is pretty much a necessity these days to keep up with the buying experiences your customers expect. And in the next era, it will be essential to achieve the kind of more niche and personalized experiences that will be necessary to drive growth and win market sha…

1
Decoding AI-Powered Content Production with Nicholas Yeam 30:06

5M ago30:06

30:06

On this episode of Commerce Confidential - APAC Edition, host Aadit Bimbhet talks with Nicholas Yeam, Head of Content at VML APAC, about the future of content production. They explore the opportunities and challenges of AI-driven content creation, focusing on efficiency, risk management, and the role of technology in streamlining workflows. Nichola…

1
Retail Media 2025, with Russ Dieringer, Founder and CEO of Stratably 42:47

5M ago42:47

42:47

Our listeners have a love/hate relationship with retail media and every organization continues to wrestle with how to organize, execute, and measure it while keeping up with the vast amount of change coming from the big players in the market. And what about all the others? We invited Russ Dieringer, Founder and CEO of Stratably, back on the podcast…

1
The Extended Peak: Reimagining Holiday Season CX 37:22

5M ago37:22

37:22

On this episode of Human Centered, host Nick Brunker, Group Director of Experience Strategy at VML, dives into the evolving landscape of holiday shopping just as Black Friday approaches. Joined by Michelle Baumann, VML's Chief Strategy Officer, they explore how brands are navigating what promises to be the most channel-diverse and technologically a…

1
Audience and Content Come Before Product, with Ash McMullen, Head of Ecommerce at Advantice Health 39:35

5M ago39:35

39:35

Product innovation has been around for centuries, ever since cave dwellers invented the first club to make dinnertime easier. In this new commerce era, however, with digital upstarts, algorithms, influencers, and other disruptors of consideration sets and shopping journeys, product innovation must change as well. Ash McMullen, Head of Ecommerce at …

1
What’s My iROAS and Other Questions that Demand Answers, with Andrew Criezis, President at NIQ 29:59

5M ago29:59

29:59

Getting clear answers to critical questions about your return on ad spend is, let’s just call it - a freaking nightmare. There are as yet no clear standards to compare retailer media apples to apples, no easy path to ROAS or, even more importantly, incremental ROAS, or iROAS. With the data being all over the place across retailers, and the incentiv…

1
The Future of Shopping is Nearer Than You Think, with Natalija Pavic, Sr. Product Marketing Manager for Commerce Cloud at Salesforce 42:37

6M ago42:37

42:37

Sometimes talking about the Future of Shopping, in capital letters, can be so annoying. Well, thanks for telling me someday we will be flying like the Jetsons, look it up GenZ, but what good does that do me now? That’s why it was so satisfying to talk about the near future of shopping - the cool, impactful experiences that are being created now by …

1
Become a Beloved Brand, with Andrea Leigh, Founder & CEO, Allume Group 39:39

6M ago39:39

39:39

Every quarter, the ecommerce education consultancy Allume Group consolidates the output of expert conversations, annual reports, and the latest data to create their Allume Insider report, or AIR. It’s chock a block full of the most current insights into the present and future of ecommerce. Andrea Leigh, Founder & CEO of Allume Group rejoins the pod…

1
Amazon AI is Changing the Rules of the Search Game On You, with Spencer Millerberg, Founding Partner at DetailPage.com 31:43

6M ago31:43

31:43

A few weeks ago, Spencer Millerberg, Founding Partner at DetailPage.com was on the podcast talking about the latest in SEO trends in digital commerce. But we invited him back for a deeper dive on Amazon AI, as they are the bellwether of where SEO will go in the next few years. The changes are ones no brand should sleep on, and the opportunities to …

1
Transforming for the Era of Profitability, with Jamie Schwab, Vice President, Global Digital Commerce at Colgate-Palmolive 38:13

6M ago38:13

38:13

The pressure to achieve omnichannel growth profitably is on, and it’s changing the way brands need to operate. Jamie Schwab, now Vice President, Global Digital Commerce at Colgate-Palmolive, has lived through the stages of ecommerce from being the secret side show to its role as a driver of growth at companies like Unilever, Newell, and Dole. Now h…

1
Empathy and Envy Can Drive Your Org to Customer Centricity, with Jennie Alexander, Ecommerce and Digital Consultant 40:59

7M ago40:59

40:59

With 25 years in digital commerce, seasoned by tenures at Estee Lauder and J&J, Jennie Alexander has learned the essential ingredient of commerce - always keeping the customer at the center. Easier said than done, and Jennie is now sharing her data, organizational, and humanistic lessons from her work with others through her work as an ecommerce an…

1
Season 1 // It's a Wrap 31:27

7M ago31:27

31:27

Send us a text As they say, it's a wrap! Season One of Kansas City Marketing Legends is in the books. We are extremely grateful to all of you who have listened to our conversations with the legends of Season One and look forward to offering up more legends when we launch Season Two in early 2025. This final episode of our first season gives us a ch…

1
The Ecommerce SEO Game is Shifting Dramatically, with Spencer Millerberg 39:24

7M ago39:24

39:24

Did you know over 70% of traffic to a detail page is organic? Now that you are aware, do you know what you need to do to win your share of that traffic, and hopefully some of someone else’s? The answers to that question have changed right underneath our feet, and winning has become much more of a science than an art than ever before, driven by the …

1
Demystify AI with Daniel Hulme, CEO of Satalia 46:13

7M ago46:13

46:13

This week on Commerce Confidential - APAC Edition, we're diving into the fascinating world of AI with Daniel Hulme, CEO of Satalia, a WPP company. Join host Aadit Bimbhet as he chats with Daniel about the real potential of AI for brands and agencies. Get ready to unpack some surprising truths, like why automation isn't as intelligent as we think an…

1
The Art and Science of Driving Growth, with AJ Patel, VP of Global Growth at U Beauty 34:28

7M ago34:28

34:28

When money was free, the term “profitable growth” used to be an oxymoron in the world of startup DTC brands. But no longer. Profitably attracting and keeping consumers has become essential for today’s DTC challenger brands. And it turns out that achieving that is a deep mix of analytics, media, and creative skills that are constantly in a mix of te…

1
Defensive Selling Strategies at Amazon, with Martin Heubel, founder of Amazon consultancy Consulterce 36:32

7M ago36:32

36:32

It was Jeff Bezos who first said “your margin is my opportunity”, and the Andy Jassy regime continues that strategy as Amazon continuously adjusts vendor terms to maximize profitability and win the price war. Amazon consultancy Consulterce and our friends at Stratably recently teamed up on a survey of brands about their Amazon relationship. Martin …

1
To Operationalize AI, Take the Blue Pill and Enter the MAITRIX, with Chris Perry and Oskar Kaszubski, Co-Founders of firstmovr 42:10

8M ago42:10

42:10

We are definitely in test and learn mode in AI, and many organizations are struggling with how to structure and focus their experiments to move past the hype towards impact. Well, struggle no longer! Or, at least, struggle less, thanks to the learned minds at firstmovr, who have taken the fruits of their AI strategy engagements with their clients a…

1
Mapping Your Way to the Digital Product Passport, with Raphael Gutierrez, Director of Global PXM and Product Strategy at Valtech 38:26

8M ago38:26

38:26

The drive towards a more sustainable future is gaining a lot of momentum under the requirements of the Digital Product Passport regulations passed recently by the EU. The DPP will reshape data transparency across the value chain to allow retailers, distributors, and ultimately consumers to select products that match their environmental values. We h…

1
Becky Blades // Blades & Associates 1:09:18

8M ago1:09:18

1:09:18

Send us a text Becky Blades is the ultimate startist. Her second book is titled Start More Than You Can Finish. That certainly describes Becky to a tee. As you will hear into this episode of Kansas City Marketing Legends, Becky not only started a lot of things, but she finished a few as well. And how well she did finish. But as you will hear, after…

1
A New Playbook for In-Store Retail Media in an Omnichannel Age, with Jeffrey Bustos, VP Measurement Addressability Data at IAB and Mike Wessel, Director of In-store Media at Kroger Precision Marketing 31:53

8M ago31:53

31:53

The criss-cross journey of today’s omnichannel shopper, from digital to in-store and back again, means that your retail media messages of inspiration, value, and convenience must follow them wherever they go. The IAB recently issued a new playbook for in-store media in this omnichannel world, a guide for testing, measuring, and learning in the mess…

1
Using Data to Identify and Drive Omnichannel Growth Use Cases, with Andy Beilke, Sr. Development Manager, eCommerce Strategy & Capabilities at General Mills 34:00

8M ago34:00

34:00

The zig zag shopping journey of the consumer has completely disrupted the organizational silos of brick and mortar vs. digital commerce at many brands. Driving growth requires cross-functional teams to pick omnichannel use cases and devise, launch, measure, and optimize them together. The fuel of that process is data, and Andy Beilke, Sr. Developme…

1
The Power of Payments with Chetna Bastani, Head of Alliances & Channels at Stripe 27:27

8M ago27:27

27:27

In this episode of Commerce Confidential - APAC Edition, hosted by VML's Aadit Bimbhet, we dive into the transformative role of payments in creating frictionless commerce experiences. Our guest, Chetna Bastani, Head of Alliances & Channels for APAC at Stripe, joins us from Singapore to share her insights. From compressed commerce trends to the impo…

1
Scott McCormick // VML 49:09

8M ago49:09

49:09

Send us a text So, three ad guys are sitting around in one of their homes one summer talking about how to create a new approach in the marketing business. No this is not the start of a joke. It’s exactly how the world’s largest agency was born right here in Kansas City. Scott McCormick and his founding partners, John Valentine, and Craig Ligabel, l…

1
Why We are Like Bees, and Why it Really, Really Matters, with Byron Reese, Futurist and Author of “We Are Agora” 38:12

9M ago38:12

38:12

Almost 2 months ago to the day, we had Futurist and Author Byron Reese on the podcast to talk about AI and its possibilities and risks. I warned you all then that I would have him back on to talk about his new book, We Are Agora, in which he sets out to scientifically prove that humans together make a superorganism, like bees make a hive, and what …

1
The New Dawn of Customer Experience: Evolving Strategies, Accountability, and Collaboration in Modern CX 30:46

9M ago30:46

30:46

In this episode of Human Centered, host Nick Brunker and Ben Geheb, VML's global chief experience strategy officer, discuss the evolving landscape of customer experience. They explore why CX index scores are at their lowest point, the challenges of measuring CX ROI, and the shift away from CX being owned by a single department. The conversation del…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

VML Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen