Best Dan Starr Podcasts (2025)

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#741: Managing your brand reputation in real-time with Jeff Hahn, Hahn Agency 30:17

Play Pause

23h ago30:17

30:17

AI, real-time marketing, and influencer partnerships can be amazing ways to reach customers, but how do you manage the risk they could potentially bring to your brand and reputation—in an instant? Agility requires a willingness to adapt quickly to changing market conditions and customer expectations. It also demands the ability to experiment, learn…

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#740: Navigating Build vs. Buy with Luv Kapur, Bit 30:23

2d ago30:23

30:23

This episode is brought to you by Bit. In the age of AI, don’t just generate code - compose software. Bit helps you create and reuse independent components to build reliable, scalable applications. Stop rebuilding and start shipping with the AI-powered composition platform at www.bit.dev Agility requires a nuanced understanding of not just the tech…

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Medieval Wills and Testaments with Robert A. Wood 28:38

6m ago28:38

28:38

One of the difficult truths of life in the Middle Ages is that death was never far away. While the vast majority of medieval people owned far fewer possessions than we do today, they were just as concerned with making sure everything was taken care of according to their wishes before they passed. This week, Danièle speaks with Robert A. Wood about …

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#739: Doing Gen Z marketing right with Smita Wadhawan, Constant Contact 21:49

3d ago21:49

21:49

Is your brand's marketing strategy feeling a little… seasoned? In today's social media landscape, clinging to outdated tactics can mean clinging to what was hot just last week. If you feel like it's time to inject some youthful energy into your approach, how can you do it authentically? Agility requires a willingness to experiment, learn, and adapt…

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#738: Building marketing strategy when change is the constant with Heidi Bullock, Tealium 29:30

5d ago29:30

29:30

Successful marketers are able to anticipate and act on opportunities and trends, but what happens when the next 10 days can be as difficult to predict as the next 10 years? Agility requires not only rapid responses to changing market conditions, but also the ability to anticipate and proactively shape those conditions to your advantage. It's no lon…

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#737: Unlocking sustainable growth using AI with Bryan Gernert, Resonate 25:44

8d ago25:44

25:44

Is artificial intelligence just another shiny toy for marketers, or is it the key to unlocking true agility and sustainable growth in today's turbulent landscape? Agility requires not only rapid adaptation to change, but also the ability to anticipate future trends and proactively adjust strategies. This means leveraging data and technology, like A…

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Forensic Medicine and Death Investigation with Sara Butler 49:24

9d ago49:24

49:24

Everyone loves a good medieval whodunit, but how did real people investigate homicides in the Middle Ages? What did they look for? And how did they decide if a person’s death was an unfortunate accident or foul play? This week, Danièle speaks with Sara Butler about forensic medicine, and how death investigation was conducted in medieval England. Yo…

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#736: Taking ROI models from confusion to clarity with Carlos Manalo, The Office of Experience 34:55

9d ago34:55

34:55

Are your marketing investments driving real business value, or are you simply throwing money at the latest trends? Agility means being able to react to change while knowing which strategies, processes, and technologies are ultimately moving the needle and driving real business outcomes. This episode is brought to you by The Office of Experience, a …

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#735: Creating a winning personalization and testing approach with Muqtadaa Miandara, Upbound Grou 31:44

10d ago31:44

31:44

When it’s a struggle for marketers to even keep up with the latest trends, are brands truly keeping pace with their customers, or are they stuck playing catch-up with outdated strategies and technologies? Agility requires a willingness to experiment, learn, and adapt quickly. It also demands a deep understanding of your customer and the ability to …

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#734: Focusing on the marketing that matters with Tara Corey, Optimizely 26:02

12d ago26:02

26:02

With so much noise around AI, changing customer expectations, and the ever-evolving martech landscape, how can marketing leaders avoid the noise to focus on what truly drives long-term value? Agility requires not only adapting to change but also anticipating it. It demands a willingness to experiment, learn, and iterate quickly, especially when it …

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#733: Agentic AI delivering business value with Rupali Jain and Kevin Li, Optimizely 30:22

15d ago30:22

30:22

Marketers' roles are changing, but their goals are still the same: reach and engage customers, meeting them where they are, and for better or worse, often needing to do more with less while delivering greater value. Agility requires both adapting to change quickly while also having the wisdom to know which changes truly matter. It demands a delicat…

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History in Flames with Robert Bartlett 46:08

16d ago46:08

46:08

Part of the reason a lot of people figure nothing much went on during the Middle Ages is because we’ve lost a whole lot of sources telling us what actually did happen. Through malice and misfortune, medieval manuscripts have been destroyed in their thousands. So, how do we know what may have gone up in smoke? And what can we do to keep our beloved …

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#732: Using AI to see video content with Meenal Nalwaya, Reka 20:33

16d ago20:33

20:33

This episode is brought to you by Reka, a developer of industry-leading, multimodal, AI models that enable individuals and organizations to deploy generative AI applications. Agility requires brands to utilize technology like AI in new and innovative ways to better understand information and interact with their customers, giving them what they want…

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#731: Automation and innovation with Karthik Ramakrishnan, Tapestry 24:55

17d ago24:55

24:55

Being strategic means asking the right questions and meaningfully applying the learnings. How do you do this while innovating and outpacing the competition? Agility requires a willingness to experiment and adapt quickly to changing market conditions and customer preferences. It also demands breaking down silos and fostering collaboration across tea…

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#730: Chasing perfection when agility is what's needed with Tom Schmitt, CEO of Radial 29:25

19d ago29:25

29:25

Is the pursuit of the "perfect" customer experience actually holding brands back from achieving true agility? Agility requires a willingness to embrace calculated risks and adapt quickly to changing market dynamics. It also demands a shift in mindset, from a focus on rigid planning to iterative experimentation and continuous learning. Today, we're …

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#729: The mindset shift needed for AI integration success with Rafael Flores, Treasure Data 29:12

22d ago29:12

29:12

Is the hype around AI in marketing justified, or are we setting ourselves up for another "tech bubble" disappointment? Agility requires not only embracing new technologies like AI, but also a fundamental shift in mindset, processes, and even organizational structure. It demands a willingness to experiment, learn, and adapt quickly to the ever-chang…

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#728: The marketing jobs market and AI's role in the job search with Sue Keith, Landrum Talent Solutions 19:39

23d ago19:39

19:39

This episode is brought to you by Landrum Talent Solutions, a national recruiting firm specializing in marketing and HR positions. My guest today has been keeping us up to date with the current state of hiring for marketers on a quarterly basis, and there is surely never a dull moment. Today we’re going to look at how marketing and communication ex…

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Æthelstan, First King of England with David Woodman 48:31

23d ago48:31

48:31

On September 4, 925 – 1100 years to the day this episode is released – King Æthelstan was crowned at Kingston-upon-Thames. Æthelstan is most often talked about in the context of the famous Battle of Brunanburh, but maybe we should remember him instead as the first king of England. This week, Danièle speaks with David Woodman about Æthelstan’s life,…

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#727: Growing sales in uncertain times with Chris Cubba, Snipp 27:10

24d ago27:10

27:10

What happens when your best sales strategy from a year ago is now driving customer attrition instead of acquisition? Agility requires brands to rethink how they create consumer value in real time, especially when traditional strategies no longer work as consumer behavior shifts unpredictably. Today we’re going to talk about driving sales growth ami…

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#726: How AI is changing the search experience and what to do about it with Sean King, Chief Revenue Officer at Veritone 25:49

26d ago25:49

25:49

If Google sent you zero traffic tomorrow morning, would your P&L still be breathing by lunchtime? Agility requires re-engineering your revenue model at the speed of AI. Today we’re going to talk about how AI chatbots are siphoning off audience attention—and what forward-thinking publishers can do about it instead of panic-refreshing their analytics…

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#725: Consumer confidence...and caution...with Eric Miao, Attentive 25:00

29d ago25:00

25:00

Are brands prepared for a consumer base that's simultaneously more confident and more cautious? Agility requires not just reacting to current consumer behavior but anticipating the shifts to come. It also requires a deep understanding of the nuances within different consumer segments, particularly as generational behaviors diverge. Today, we're goi…

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Robert DeVere, Royal Favourite with James Ross 50:00

1M ago50:00

50:00

When the power of an entire kingdom rests in the hands of just one man, it’s both incredibly valuable and incredibly dangerous to be that man’s bestie - and the legacies of royal favourites tend to retain the taint of contemporary snark. So, maybe it’s about time we take a second look. This week, Danièle speaks with James Ross about the life of Rob…

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#724: Social commerce and the customer journey with Janna Navarro, Wpromote 19:50

1M ago19:50

19:50

Are most brands still designing customer journeys, or are they just trying to keep up with where their customers are leading them? Agility requires a willingness to meet your customers where they are—not just where you wish they’d convert. In an era where the consumer journey can begin and end on a social platform or anywhere in between, brands mus…

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#723: Building loyalty across different generations of travelers with Jeff Zotara, arrivia 28:56

1M ago28:56

28:56

If you had to pick one of the biggest challenges facing CMOs today, how high on your list would customer loyalty be? Agility requires a deep understanding of your customer and the ability to adapt to their ever-changing needs and expectations. It also requires a willingness to experiment and learn from failures, quickly iterating on strategies and …

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#722: Agentic AI in retail with Dan Russotto, Furniture.com 21:24

1M ago21:24

21:24

Building on the talk of AI in recent years, Agentic AI is an exciting area for retailers. But beyond talk, finding real-world examples and best practices can be tricky. Today we are here at eTail Boston, and I am excited to talk today about a company that is innovating in this space, not a traditional retailer, but an innovative aggregator using AI…

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Joan of Arc with Deborah McGrady 59:54

1M ago59:54

59:54

Maid, hero, heretic, saint - Joan of Arc is one of the most fascinating figures of the Middle Ages. This week, Danièle speaks with Deborah McGrady about Joan’s incredible life and death, her voice, and her complex and enduring legacy. You can enrol in Danièle's online course Calamity and Change: An Introduction to the Fourteenth Century at https://…

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#721: Making the most of peak season with Helaine Rich, ePost 22:47

1M ago22:47

22:47

Is your brand ready to thrive, not just survive, in the face of evolving global consumer expectations and market shifts? Agility requires more than just quick reactions; it demands proactive foresight, strategic adaptability, and a willingness to embrace continuous evolution. This is particularly critical in today's ever-changing global ecommerce l…

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#720: Building stronger customer relationships using AI with Noah Zamansky, Stitch Fix 22:44

1M ago22:44

22:44

AI can create immersive, human-centric experiences that not only drive sales but also foster enduring brand relationships in a rapidly evolving market. Today we’re going to talk about how AI-driven personalization allows retailers to move beyond generic experiences, crafting unique interactions that resonate with individual preferences and behavior…

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#719: Composable Customer Data Platforms with Tejas Manohar, Hightouch 26:37

1M ago26:37

26:37

Are you building your customer data strategy around your goals, or are your goals constrained by your data platform? Agility in today’s marketing technology landscape isn’t just about speed—it’s about flexibility. Brands need data architectures that adapt to their needs, not the other way around. And with the right approach, that agility can fuel p…

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Medieval Love Letters with Ad Putter and Myra Stokes 42:30

1M ago42:30

42:30

The people of the Middle Ages were no strangers to Cupid’s arrows, and just like us, they loved a good love letter. But in a world where literacy rates were far below what they are today, who was writing their most heartfelt feelings down? And how do we know? This week, Danièle speaks with Myra Stokes and Ad Putter about where we find love letters,…

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#718: Building trust while building a brand with Meika Hollender, Nara Organics 27:26

2M ago27:26

27:26

When consumer trust is more fragile than ever, how can brands, particularly in highly scrutinized categories like infant nutrition, utilize the latest approaches to not only build trust but also deepen consumer relationships? Agility requires not only adapting to evolving consumer expectations and technological advancements but also maintaining eth…

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#717: Understanding customers by simulating them first with Mike Taylor, Ask Rally 28:28

2M ago28:28

28:28

Is the most effective way to understand real human behavior to simulate it first? Agility requires a willingness to test ideas that sound strange at first—like asking bots to act more human by narrowing their point of view, or treating synthetic personas as real sources of insight. But when applied correctly, this thinking unlocks entirely new ways…

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#716: Streamlining brand partnerships with Alan Gould, Mutual Markets 26:44

2M ago26:44

26:44

What if building a brand partnership with a major entertainment property could happen in 5 minutes instead of 6 months—and drive 10x better results? What would that change for your marketing strategy? Today I’m joined by Alan Gould, CEO of Mutual Markets. Alan is at the forefront of a major shift in digital marketing and advertising—using AI to red…

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Marco Polo and his World with Sharon Kinoshita 48:04

2M ago48:04

48:04

He's one of the most popular figures in all of medieval history, and his book was a bestseller for literally centuries. So what do we know about the life and times of Marco Polo? This week, Danièle speaks with Sharon Kinoshita about why Marco travelled so far, what sort of detail he wanted to share with his readers, and what was going on in the wor…

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#715: Increasing speed to insights with Sid Banerjee, Medallia 29:32

2M ago29:32

29:32

What could your CX teams do to strategically move your brand forward if they weren’t tethered to dashboards? Agility requires CX teams to move beyond reactive reporting and embrace proactive insight delivery. In an era where insights are instantly available through conversational AI, the strategic role of CX is about to shift—big time. Today we’re …

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#714: Keeping up with e-commerce evolution with Lena Moriarty, eTail and Worldwide Business Research 20:40

2M ago20:40

20:40

One thing is for certain: the world of e-commerce never sits still. But what should retailers be paying attention to now? Agility requires not only adapting to changing consumer behaviors but also anticipating them. It's about proactively shaping the future of retail, not just reacting to it. Today, we're going to talk about navigating the ever-shi…

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#713: Agentic AI that improves the customer experience, with Manisha Powar, Qualtrics 26:36

2M ago26:36

26:36

Agility requires more than just speed—it demands relevance and empathy, especially when AI is stepping in to play a bigger role in the customer experience. What if the problem isn’t that AI moves too slowly—but that it moves without context, without empathy, and without earning trust? Today we’re going to talk about how Agentic AI is changing that—…

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#712: Compounding returns on your marketing campaigns with Chris O'Neill, GrowthLoop 30:22

2M ago30:22

30:22

If your marketing grew like a dividend-reinvestment plan, would you still let a quarterly target dictate every decision? Agility requires stacking returning gains faster than the market changes—think compound interest, but for marketing campaigns. Today we’re going to talk about the Compound Marketing Engine, agentic AI, and why “data-driven” still…

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#711: Making accessibility a priority with Make Paciello, AudioEye 30:14

2M ago30:14

30:14

The 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was July 26, so today's episode is a special one. Most companies obsess over SEO, performance, and conversion rates—but overlook 25% of their audience entirely. Why do so many businesses miss the opportunity to serve users with disabilities, and what are they leaving on the table? To…

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#710: Empowering Employees to Lead Meaningful Change from Within with Steven Malony, CEO of Belkin 29:06

2M ago29:06

29:06

How often do big, meaningful shifts inside a company actually start small? And more importantly, how do you avoid squashing them before they have a chance to grow? Agility requires more than vision—it requires giving your team the power to act on that vision. Today we’re going to talk about how a global company like Belkin empowered its employees t…

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Episode 300! 48:20

2M ago48:20

48:20

This week, in celebration of Episode 300, Danièle answers your questions on everything from Hastings to hose, with a couple of surprises along the way. You can support this podcast on Patreon - go to https://www.patreon.com/medievalists And join on This is History's Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/thisishistory and use the code 'glassking' to ge…

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#709: The state of CX and the value of hyperpersonalization with Adrian Swinscoe, Punk CX Podcast 1:01:13

2M ago1:01:13

1:01:13

Agility requires that brands have a fundamental understanding of why they’re doing things, and what customer expectations are, rather than chasing trends and implementing the latest tech. Without this, customer satisfaction will continue to slide, and brands won’t be any closer to knowing what to do to solve for that. I am here in Edinburgh with my…

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#708: How commerce media is changing advertising with Eric Brackmann, Koddi 28:15

2M ago28:15

28:15

If you think commerce media is just a buzzword or a trend, think again. It’s reshaping the ad landscape—fueled by AI, first-party data, and sector-specific solutions that leave the legacy one-size-fits-all approach in the dust. What’s coming next? Grocery? Autos? Quick commerce? If your brand isn’t already exploring commerce media, it’s probably fa…

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#707: Building ROI in the Creator Economy with Brit Starr, CreatorIQ 25:52

2M ago25:52

25:52

Agility requires marketing leaders to evolve from campaign-based thinking to relationship-based strategy—especially when working with creators who influence not just clicks, but for a meaningful connection with customers. Today we’re going to talk about the creator economy and how brands like PepsiCo, Unilever, and more are leaning into long-term c…

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#706: Building more connected digital experiences with Eric Stine, CEO of Sitecore 29:45

2M ago29:45

29:45

If the web is no longer one-size-fits-all and instead geared towards segments of one, how do brands avoid creating a thousand disconnected experiences, and manage each experience effectively? Agility requires embracing both technology and customer behavior shifts at the same time—without losing your brand voice. Today we’re going to talk about how …

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Vikings Behaving Reasonably with Robert Lively 43:48

2M ago43:48

43:48

If you asked the average person how Vikings solved their problems, they probably wouldn’t say through lawyers. And yet, early Scandinavian people were sticklers for due process. This week, Danièle speaks with Robert Lively about how a person became a Viking lawyer, what the process was for solving disputes, and how fixing bad behaviour worked in th…

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#705: What happens to your KPIs when both CLV and Customer Acquisition Costs rise? With Jamie Domenici, Klaviyo 24:43

2M ago24:43

24:43

Customer lifetime value is a critical KPI, but with customer acquisition costs rapidly rising, what can brands do to successfully build long-term value for the business? Agility requires seeing past vanity metrics to the durable value hidden in customer relationships. When customer acquisition costs climb and privacy affects easy targeting, only ni…

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#704: Delivering personalization at scale with Yaniv Navot, Mastercard 31:05

3M ago31:05

31:05

With all the data at our fingertips, why do so many companies still struggle to deliver truly personalized experiences at scale? Agility requires being able to cut through the noise of data and culture shifts to deliver experiences that truly resonate with each individual. Today we’re going to talk about personalization maturity, the role of machin…

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#703: How AI and Deep Learning is affecting advertising with Jaysen Gillespie, RTB House 27:36

3M ago27:36

27:36

Are we on the brink of advertising becoming too smart for its own good, or is Deep Learning finally getting us closer to what customers actually want? Agility requires us to constantly evaluate how technology like AI reshapes the relationships between brands and consumers—sometimes for better, sometimes for far more complex. The advertising landsca…

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#702: What it takes to keep customers loyal with Anna Convery, Verint 29:52

3M ago29:52

29:52

Does your brand deliver answers faster than your customer can send a text message? Agility in CX is about answering customers before they finish the thought. If you can’t evolve at that pace, you’re already behind. Today we’re going to talk about what Verint’s brand‑new 2025 State of Customer Experience report tells us about loyalty, automation, an…