Best Sean Downey Podcasts (2025)

1
17: Google it: Smarter marketing with AI: Insights from Sean Downey, president of Americas & Global Partners at Google 33:59

Play Pause

17d ago33:59

33:59

Sean Downey is the president of Americas & Global Partners at Google, overseeing the company’s expansive advertising business, including Google Search and YouTube. With a background rooted in the earliest days of digital marketing startups and leadership roles at DoubleClick and Google, Sean draws on leadership lessons learned from his father, part…

1
19: Standing out in a ‘sea of sameness’: Insights from Tati Lindenberg, chief brand officer at Dirt Is Good 36:15

5h ago36:15

36:15

In today’s episode, Alan wraps up our Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity content series with Tati Lindenberg, chief brand officer at Dirt Is Good. Together, they explore global brand strategy for balancing consistency with local relevance, the origin and evolution of the Dirt Is Good brand, and the brand’s deliberate movement through…

1
How Steve Burns Found His Aliveness Again 56:11

6d ago56:11

56:11

Steve Burns is best known for being the host of a beloved 90s children’s show, Blue’s Clues, so I didn’t expect this interview to be about Samuel Beckett. But it turns out that Steve and I share a deep admiration for the writer, as well as a lot of other common ground. Steve went quiet for about two decades after rumors of his death took over the i…

1
18: The secret to Klarna’s AI advantage: Insights from David Sandstrom, chief marketing officer at Klarna 20:55

7d ago20:55

20:55

In today’s episode, we continue our Cannes Lions series as Alan and David Sandstrom, chief marketing officer at Klarna, discuss how embracing change, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI), and balancing data-driven efficiency with creativity are shaping the future of marketing and brand-building. Klarna is a financial technology company that is w…

1
Tom Pelphrey Wouldn’t Change a Day 53:00

13d ago53:00

53:00

A decade ago, the actor Tom Pelphrey couldn’t have imagined the shape his life would take today: a father to a two-year-old daughter, starring in the new HBO series Task alongside Mark Ruffalo, and engaged to actress Kaley Cuoco. He was gripped by alcoholism and dissociation, having spent years working long, demanding days on the soap opera Guiding…

1
Gene Simmons: The Demon Loves His Mom 1:00:47

20d ago1:00:47

1:00:47

If Gene Simmons’ hard exterior scared you off, it did its job. As a founding member of the band KISS, Gene has spent decades putting on what he calls a persona, and today it comes off — at least a little. We talk about Gene’s journey, including being raised by a single, adoring mother, the origins of KISS, and why Ozzy Osbourne’s down-to-earth deme…

1
16: Driving audience engagement with the magic of Disney: Insights from Andrew Messina, senior vice president at Disney Advertising 20:11

21d ago20:11

20:11

Andrew Messina is a Senior Vice President at Disney Advertising. He began his career on the agency side before moving into daytime sales at ABC, then advancing to a primetime senior account executive role, and ultimately rising to his current position. For the past 17 years, Andrew has led all brand advertising initiatives at Disney Advertising, in…

1
Check It Out: Building a Legacy with Tisha Campbell (Legacy Talk) 53:23

27d ago53:23

53:23

Hey, Fail Better listeners — here’s a great show I think you should know about: Legacy Talk, hosted by the Emmy-winning writer, actor, and producer Lena Waithe. It’s a part of the Lemonada network, and it’s kicking off a second season of incredible episodes featuring trailblazing Black artists and makers. You’re about to hear the first episode of s…

1
15: Live from Cannes Lions 2025: Candid conversations on the future of marketing 20:20

28d ago20:20

20:20

Each year, top creative minds gather at the Cannes Lions Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity for a week of innovations, awards, and candid conversations about the future of marketing. Over the next month, you will get exclusive insight into the latest trends and stories shaping the industry through interviews with leaders from some of…

1
Amanda Knox’s Story Isn’t Over 1:07:25

1M ago1:07:25

1:07:25

Amanda Knox was a young student in a foreign country when she was thrust into an international media firestorm, accused — and then ultimately acquitted — of the murder of her roommate. Now an author and public speaker, she’s the executive producer of the new scripted drama “The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox”, an attempt to finally tell her story on h…

1
The Pitfalls of Manhood with Terry Real 1:00:25

1M ago1:00:25

1:00:25

I should’ve known I was in for a revelatory conversation when I met with the family therapist Terry Real. He pioneered a book on male depression in the ‘90s, and he’s been helping countless people break through mental and relational barriers in the years since. I start the conversation by inquiring about how Terry knew he would be good at this work…

1
An Hour with Melissa Febos About a Year Without Sex 1:02:14

2M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

Memoirists do the generous work of letting us into their lives, and then there are ones like Melissa Febos who also graciously entertain all the new questions their work inspires. Melissa lets me in on the elements of her life and experiences that I’m curious about, from people’s reaction to her job as a dominatrix (as documented in her book Whipsm…

1
Jess Walter Can Hoop (and Write) 1:08:30

2M ago1:08:30

1:08:30

I’m coming to you live from Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, California, where I got to sit down with my friend, author Jess Walter. We chatted in front of a packed house (including a few friendly dogs) and now we’re sharing that event with the rest of you. Jess is not only my go-to buddy to text about all things basketball; he’s an accomplished nov…

1
14: Bridging the gap between marketers and consumers: Insights from Gayle Troberman, executive advisor at iHeartMedia 36:44

2M ago36:44

36:44

Are your ads landing with consumers? According to iHeartMedia's “The New American Consumer 2.0” study, 44% of Americans feel ignored by most media and advertisers .1 In today’s episode, Alan chats with Gayle Troberman, executive advisor at iHeartMedia, about the gap between marketers and consumers, ways for marketers to bridge this gap, and the mar…

1
Tim Minchin’s Infinite Universes 52:38

2M ago52:38

52:38

The musician (-comedian-actor-composer-director-Californication guest star) Tim Minchin is an aspirational figure. He brings an unmatched level of precision and thoughtfulness to conversations, whether he’s discussing word play or the Catholic church. And he extends that scrutiny to his concepts of success and failure, which I welcome. Tim and I si…

1
The Family Business with Robert Downey Jr. 56:24

2M ago56:24

56:24

The spotlight has certainly taken its toll on Robert Downey Jr. over the years. But much like his beloved MCU character Tony Stark, there's an undeniably powerful force inside Robert that keeps him pushing forward. When we sat down over iced coffees, we found ourselves unpacking the fraught relationship Robert had with his father — the experimental…

1
13: Ways to nail your product positioning: Insights from Sjoerd Handgraaf, chief marketing officer at Sharetribe 47:36

2M ago47:36

47:36

How do you determine your product's market value beyond its features? In today’s episode, Alan and Sjoerd Handgraaf, Sharetribe's chief marketing officer (CMO), discuss Sharetribe’s origins, product evolution, and how Sjoerd’s team identified its ideal product positioning by evaluating the true value it provides to marketplace founders. Sjoerd shar…

1
What Jake Clark Wants You To Know About Trauma 56:23

3M ago56:23

56:23

Jake Clark is an unexpected hero. As the founder of the Save a Warrior program for veterans and first responders, he helps those suffering from post-traumatic stress uncover the core of their pain, which often stems from trauma that came before combat or violence. His work has led to surprising breakthroughs for many people, mirroring his own journ…

1
A Forensic Analysis with Emily Deschanel 59:09

3M ago59:09

59:09

Emily Deschanel spent over a decade portraying the brilliant and meticulous forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan on the hit crime procedural Bones. Yet, what many viewers never knew about was her personal battle behind that confident performance: diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia at a young age, Emily often struggled to master the intricat…

1
12: Forging a regenerative future for fashion: Insights from Eric Liedtke, executive vice president of brand strategy at Under Armour and founder and chief executive officer of UNLESS Collective 38:39

3M ago38:39

38:39

Can streetwear be made with zero plastic? Eric Liedtke says it can be, and he is on a mission to systematically change the fashion industry by shifting away from petroleum-based materials to plant-based materials. In 2014, Eric was already a leader in the fashion industry as the Head of Sports Performance at Adidas when the issues of micro and nano…

1
Check It Out: The Disappearance of Eric Robinson (Uinta Triangle) 1:02:13

3M ago1:02:13

1:02:13

For the Fourth of July holiday, we’re taking you on a getaway of sorts. It’s one that brings you to the beautiful mountains of New Zealand… but is decidedly less relaxing than a summer vacation. Today we’re sharing the first episode of a new podcast called Uinta Triangle, which documents the disappearance of a solo hiker named Eric Robinson. It’s a…

1
Truth and Lies with James Frey 53:47

3M ago53:47

53:47

In his aimless youth, the author James Frey yearned to be the Sex Pistols of literature. Then he learned to be careful what you wish for. His memoir, A Million Little Pieces, shot to the top of bestseller lists, thanks in part to Oprah's endorsement. Then fact-checkers unmasked its fabrications, and James found himself being more of an outcast than…

1
11: Exploring the “2025 CMO Tenure Study”: Insights from Richard Sanderson, marketing, sales, and communications practice leader at Spencer Stuart 42:43

3M ago42:43

42:43

What do executive recruiters look for when placing chief marketing officer (CMO) candidates? Why do CMOs have some of the shortest average tenures among the C-suite? Richard Sanderson has spent nearly his entire career as an executive recruiter. He began as an intern at Russell Reynolds Associates in the United Kingdom, then eventually joined them …

1
From “Junkie Doctor” to Addiction Specialist with Dr. Jason Giles 1:01:30

3M ago1:01:30

1:01:30

Dr. Jason Giles is an addiction specialist and a helper and friend to many, including me. When the rigors of life in the ER became too much to cope with, Jason turned to the very narcotics he was trained to supply to patients as a trauma anesthesiologist. As his successful life disintegrated, he was forced to face his own doubts and delusions, and …

1
AI Should Fear Justine Bateman 1:03:22

4M ago1:03:22

1:03:22

I’ve known for years that the actor and filmmaker Justine Bateman had prescient thoughts about art and society. But now, we need her (and her complementary background in computer science) more than ever. Far-removed from her teen stardom on Family Ties, Justine and I talk about how artificial intelligence threatens the existence of movies, books, a…

1
10: The strategic genius of Taylor Swift: Insights from Kevin Evers, senior editor at Harvard Business Review 38:36

4M ago38:36

38:36

What lessons can marketers learn from Taylor Swift’s massive success? In today's episode, Alan Hart talks with Kevin Evers, senior editor at Harvard Business Review and author of the book There’s Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift, about the branding and strategy lessons marketers can learn from the record-breaking artist. He r…

1
Chris Carter Wants You To Believe 1:03:50

4M ago1:03:50

1:03:50

The X-Files was always about turning something mysterious and untraceable into something known — so what better time to capture the elusive podcast interview on camera? That’s right: Fail Better is now on video, and we’re kicking off this new chapter with the one and only Chris Carter, the creator of The X-Files. And he came prepared, alien embryo …

1
Check it Out: Ira Glass on Three Decades of ‘This American Life’ Magic 1:23:52

4M ago1:23:52

1:23:52

Hey, everyone. Today I wanted to share a special conversation from another Lemonada show: Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso. For those who aren’t already familiar with this great podcast, the show started all the way back in 2016 and airs every Sunday. The episode you’re about to hear is a recent one. It’s a great talk between Sam and the broadcast legend…

1
Not Reading the Comments with Maureen Dowd 48:49

4M ago48:49

48:49

The journalist Maureen Dowd has many notches in her belt, from feats like winning a Pulitzer Prize and writing pivotal profiles on some of the world’s most powerful people. She shone light on Elon Musk before DOGE and Uma Thurman’s emotional struggle with Quentin Tarantino, all of which is captured in her latest book, Notorious. Even for her, thoug…

1
9: What’s next for performance marketing? Insights from Ed Kennedy, group product marketing manager at Adobe 32:57

4M ago32:57

32:57

What if you could know how new creative would perform before you invest in it? This is the exact functionality Adobe's latest creative intelligence tools are working towards. In today's episode, Alan chats with Ed Kennedy, group product marketing manager at Adobe, to explore their new Generative AI (GenAI) tools. These tools provide a gateway for m…

1
Remembering to Forget with Lewis Hyde 47:46

5M ago47:46

47:46

Lewis Hyde is one of those contemporary authors whose work I think about a lot. He’s spent years reflecting on and writing about topics of great interest to me, like forgetting and forgiveness, but the true trademark of his work is how he processes concepts and describes them. He approaches his work like chasing a butterfly (a lifelong hobby of his…

1
Playing God with Jonathan Roumie 59:56

5M ago59:56

59:56

Jonathan Roumie is a genuinely charismatic individual, which is understandable given his acclaimed portrayal of Jesus in the immensely popular Christian historical drama The Chosen. However, long before embodying arguably the most significant main character in history, Jonathan was, to borrow the familiar lyric, “just a slob like one of us.” He spe…

1
8: Agentic AI and the attention economy: Insights from Ryan Fleisch, head of product marketing for Adobe Real-Time CDP, and audience manager at Adobe 32:17

5M ago32:17

32:17

Ryan Fleisch is the head of product marketing for Adobe Real-Time Customer Data Platform (CDP), and audience manager at Adobe. He is also a recent first-time girl dad and Alan's go-to technology whisperer. Ryan has experience on both the agency and brand sides of digital marketing and has been with Adobe since 2014. His current role, coupled with h…

1
Looking Back: One Year of Fail Better 59:40

5M ago59:40

59:40

It’s finally here: the one-year anniversary of the launch of Fail Better. This moment brought out a lot of feelings and jokes about what it’s meant to make this show and have the conversations I’ve had, and you get to hear me talk about that here. Then I play one of my favorite interviews I’ve had, with the one and only Rosie O’Donnell, who enthusi…

1
Chris Evert Hates To Lose More Than She Loves To Win 54:01

5M ago54:01

54:01

After an illustrious tennis career, of course Chris Evert cherishes the wins and broken records. Yet, the sting of defeat is also etched in her memory, marked by days secluded in hotel rooms with the worst missteps replaying in her mind. Life as a high-profile athlete began for Chris as a teenager, and it opened her up to intense scrutiny from tabl…

1
7: How GIFs deliver branding magic: Insights from Kevin Hein, CGO at GIPHY 46:06

6M ago46:06

46:06

Kevin Hein is the chief growth officer (CGO) at GIPHY. He began his print publishing career with Ziff Davis when print and tech were merging. Here, he learned the fundamentals of strategic selling while working on the PC magazine account. Kevin joined GIPHY in August 2024 and has since been instrumental in transforming GIPHY into a unique platform …

1
The Grit and Grind of Steve Lukather 49:06

6M ago49:06

49:06

As a founding member of the band Toto, Steve Lukather is well aware of the song you probably know him for. But Steve, known to most as “Luke”, has plenty of other claims to fame. Luke is a seriously talented guitarist and writer with more than a dozen albums to his name from Toto alone, not to mention an almost infinite number of credits and Grammy…