ADSN
By James Borow and Daniel Druger
Join the ADSN crew every Tuesday 🗓️
GameStop Wants to Buy eBay, Parker Card Dies Overnight & Every Platform Goes API-First | ADSN Ep. 18
Ryan Cohen wants to buy eBay with half cash, half stock. Parker Card raised $200M and vanished overnight. OpenAI shipped a full ads manager. Shopify, Meta, Mercury, and Spotify all launched AI connectors in the same week. Stripe Atlas data shows new AI-era companies are 2x the size of last year's cohort. Plus: why Unilever is betting on 300K creators, and the one skill creative strategists are missing.
This is ADSN — the ad tech and media show for operators who want signal, not noise.
Sponsors: AdQuick, Thrad, Beehiiv, The Farm LLP
Elon's $60B Lego Set and How PE Firms Are Using Claude Code to Kill Deals
Private equity firms are spending weekends rebuilding acquisition targets in Claude Code. If the clone works, the deal dies. It's the cheapest moat test in human history.This week James and Daniel dig into:• Why token pricing today looks exactly like mobile data pricing 15 years ago• Sam Altman rethinking OS design and the OpenAI phone rumors• GPT Image generating LEGO sets with real BrickLink part IDs• SpaceX acquiring Cursor for up to $60 billion• China blocking Meta's Manus acquisition. Is this the balkanization of AI talent?• Anthropic paying $400K/year for an events role• Chinese micro-dramas: this year's ad platform growth driverPlus: Evan Spiegel called software dead 15 years ago, Sean Frank asks why you still aren't building, and AI agents negotiating your BNPL rates in real time.Thank you to our sponsors:
• AdQuick — adquick.com
• beehiiv — beehiiv.comSTAY CONNECTEDJames on Twitter & LinkedIn – /jamesborowDaniel on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldrugerSubscribe & leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
The Death of SaaS, OpenAI's Ad Problem, and Tim Cook Steps Down
Sequoia just dropped a thesis that's shaking up the industry: the next trillion-dollar company won't sell software — it'll sell work. Meanwhile, founders are cutting SaaS tools to pay for AI tokens, Block built a "Claude for money" inside Cash App, and OpenAI can't figure out how to spend advertisers' money.This week James and Daniel dig into:• Sequoia's bold thesis: sell work, not software — and what it means for the SaaS era• Why founders are cutting SaaS tools to pay for more AI tokens• Block's Moneybot and what a "Claude for money" looks like• The clipping economy explosion — MTS, the 24/7 show trying to replace TBPN• OpenAI's ad inventory problem: $200K committed, barely $2K spent• Notion's 2026 "no roadmap" strategy• Breaking: Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO — hardware leaders are the futurePlus: Why AI without a clear plan is actually dangerous for your productivity, Olympic fencing now looks like a lightsaber fight, and Larry Ellison's legendary defense of Elon Musk.Sponsors:• AdQuick — Making OOH advertising as easy to plan, buy, and measure as digital. adquick.com• Thrad.ai — Building the advertising infrastructure for AI. thrad.aiSTAY CONNECTEDJames on Twitter & LinkedIn – /jamesborowDaniel on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldrugerSubscribe & leave a 5-star review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and helps others discover ADSN.
She Rebuilt Her Entire Agency with AI in 3 Weeks ft. Julia Knight
Julia Knight rebuilt every single workflow at her agency Knight Vision using Claude. Condensing 5 people’s roles into one in just 3 weeks. James and Daniel sit down with Julia to talk about what it actually looks like to scale a marketing agency with AI.
In this episode:
• How Julia used Claude to rebuild Knight Vision’s entire backend
• Why volume beats perfection in content marketing (posting = shots on goal)
• What creator partnership programs actually cost and how attribution works
• B2B influencers are at 0.5 out of 10. Massive opportunity ahead
• The viral marketing playbook: content + distribution + speed
• Differences working with Gen Z and millennial founders
Julia also shares what she’s building next and why having an open mind is the biggest advantage right now.
Follow Julia Knight:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/julia-knight-565b48127
Knight Vision: trycutie.com (subscribe to her newsletter)
Sponsors:
• AdQuick – Making OOH advertising as easy to plan, buy, and measure as digital. adquick.com
• Thrad.ai — Building the advertising infrastructure for AI. thrad.ai
STAY CONNECTED
JAMES on Twitter & LinkedIn – /jamesborow
DANIEL on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldruger
👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
The Masters vs. AI, Meta Muse is Everywhere, Why Diplo Thinks You Can’t Beat AI (And How You Can Use It)
It's bizarro world this week with James going phoneless for 10 hours, his new found respect for IBM, and why he's so bullish on out of home (OOH) advertising. Then it's back to digital land with Meta launching Muse, another week of OpenAI ads announcements, and the one thing you can do to stop AI bad actors (hint: call your country leader a big fat pig). Also in this episode is Diplo, Rick Rubin, and Andrew Sorkin...?A special thanks to our newest sponsors:
- AdQuick, the platform making out-of-home advertising as easy to plan, buy, and measure as your digital campaigns. James and Daniel have been following AdQuick for a long time and big proponents that if OOH isn't in your media mix yet, AdQuick will change your mind. Check them out at adquick.com
- Thrad.ai, the platform building the advertising infrastructure for AI. Helping publishers monetize with in-chat ads and advertisers buy ads in AI. Thrad is building the AI ad future that James and Daniel talk about in nearly every episode. Learn more at thrad.ai.
STAY CONNECTEDJAMES on Twitter & LinkedIn – /jamesborowDANIEL on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldruger👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
OpenAI's $100M Grab, Elon Forces Grok on Wall Street & Ads for AI Agents
This week: OpenAI just paid $100M+ for a business show — and it's not really about content. James and Daniel break down what that acquisition signals for AI, media, and anyone building right now.
Plus they talk about the founder literally talking to AI notetakers instead of humans and why if you are still building like it is 2022, you might already be behind.James and Daniel get into why APIs are becoming the only thing that matters, how Musk is flexing distribution in ways no one else can, and if you are not building for agents, you might not be building for the future at all.
STAY CONNECTEDJAMES on Twitter & LinkedIn – /jamesborowDANIEL on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldruger👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
Snapchat's $8M Turnaround Plan: Can This 6-Point Strategy Actually Save Snap?
An 8 million dollar bet, a 6 point plan, and a lot of opinions. Snapchat has the product, the data, and the audience… so what’s missing?
James and Daniel dive into Snapchat’s no-filter plan for 7x growth, think cost cuts, smarter monetization, and finally using its AI edge the right way. It’s part serious strategy, part reality check, and honestly kind of wild that it’s come to this.STAY CONNECTEDJAMES on Twitter & Linkedin – /jamesborowDANIEL on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldruger👉 Hit
See Irenic’s full report: https://www.savesnapnow.com
Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
Token Spend Is the New Salary & AI Is Choosing Your Stack
AI, Meta, Amazon… yeah, it’s one of those weeks.Token spend is replacing salaries; AI is calling the shots; and distribution is still the hardest game. James and Daniel break down why the Apple App Store might look like chaos (#StopTheSlop), but it can be an opportunity, how Meta is restructuring, and why Mark Zuckerberg keeps starting over.Plus: wild efficiency numbers, AI-driven growth loops, and what happens when software starts to feel like ecommerce.STAY CONNECTEDJAMES on Twitter & Linkedin – /jamesborowDANIEL on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldruger👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
Ads, AI, and the Internet Meltdown
AI founders are finally turning to paid marketing… and the internet is losing its mind!This week, James and Daniel unpack the debate sparked by Andrew Chen and Bill Gurley, and question whether paid marketing really kills creativity.
They also explore why, despite 25+ years of data, there’s still no clear startup playbook and why that might never change.
Plus: the shift from hiring people to hiring tech, why AI could reward leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, and a few bold takes from Paul Graham.
It’s the funniest era of tech, where everything is easier to build, harder to grow, and somehow… ads still work.
STAY CONNECTEDJAMES on Twitter & Linkedin – /jamesborowDANIEL on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldruger
👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
The New Marketing Playbook That's Leaving Most Brands Behind (ft. Olivia Kory, Haus)
The ecommerce marketing playbook has evolved and most brands haven’t caught up yet. In this episode, guys sit down with Olivia Kory, Chief Strategy Officer at Haus, to talk about why the modern marketing stack is more complex, more fragmented, and more important than ever.
Olivia explains how brand strategy has evolved in the age of omnichannel, what it actually takes to measure marketing effectiveness across channels, and why the brands winning right now are the ones treating measurement as a competitive advantage from day 0.
STAY CONNECTEDJAMES on Twitter & Linkedin – /jamesborowDANIEL on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldruger
👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
Travis Kalanick’s Founder Pump-up Speech, and Why 40 Is Not the Deadline, It’s the Starting Line
This week is a bit of a reality check (in a good way). If you think you’ve missed your window, this episode might change your mind.
James and Daniel talk about why execution is becoming more important than ever, how having a clear “playbook” can be a cheat code, and why the ability to tell a great story is quickly becoming one of the most valuable skills you can have.
On the AI side, things are getting interesting—algorithms are becoming less secret, entire marketing teams are shrinking to one person, and the barrier to building something is basically gone.
We also get into why things that used to feel like weaknesses (being chronically online, ADHD brain, etc.) might actually be the biggest edge in today’s world.
Building something has never been easier. Getting people to notice? That’s a different story.
STAY CONNECTEDJAMES on Twitter & Linkedin – /jamesborowDANIEL on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldruger
👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
How this founder is taking Cheetos head on w/ AI and Grass Fed Beef
Hear the #1 food trend coming out of the biggest food show in the world and how George Zhou, founder of BUFFS, is transforming salty snacks with a better tasting, better for you, "beef Cheetos".
George shares his experience at Expo West, one of the biggest food trade shows in the world, what trends he's seeing in food and beverage, how he built BUFFS while still in college, and why the next wave of food brands might look a lot more like farm-to-table than lab-to-shelf.
George also shares the unexpected role AI played in building Buffs, how trial-and-error (and a lot of ChatGPT) helped shape the product, and why tools like Claude are becoming part of the modern founder toolkit.
Plus, George shares a few insights on the wild world of TikTok and what it really takes to earn consumer attention.
STAY CONNECTEDJAMES on Twitter & Linkedin – /jamesborowDANIEL on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldruger
👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
Meta's AI crackdown faces advertiser backlash, Visa gives cards to agents, and a new definition of SaaS
This week it’s all about AI optimism and looking at the posts that really dig into what happens when AI starts working with us…instead of just for us.
James and Daniel dig into the viral chart on AI that’s been making the rounds and what it reveals about where AI is actually showing up across industries and where it still has a ways to go. This opens up a bigger question: are we further along than we think, or still just scratching the surface?
They also talk about what jobs will get replaced by AI, those that will evolve, and even some jobs that get more valuable in an AI world. SaaS-pocalypse isn’t quite what it’s made out to be, and who will be the ultimate winners.
And this week’s primary posts feature data from Ramp’s Economics Data Lab and how starting from scratch may be an easier path forward than fixing old problems.
STAY CONNECTEDJAMES on Twitter & Linkedin – /jamesborowDANIEL on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldruger
👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
Block Cuts 40%, Data Centers vs Offices, and Bots on Bots on Bots | Ft. Bock Exec Dante DiCicco
What do Nikita Bier, zerohedge, Ben Horowitz, and Burger King all have in common? Their Twitter takes were all featured on this week’s ADSN.
James and Daniel check out the decline of office construction while data center construction is skyrocketing, clear signal that we’re moving even faster from physical to digital. The guys also unpack what that means for the future of work (hint: Revenue Per Agent is coming), the rise of bots creating bots, and why we’re in the geocities era. They also talk about why great salespeople are even more valuable in an AI world. And of course don’t miss this week’s primary posts.
Joining the guys is Dante Dicicco, restaurant owner and product leader at Block, also known as Square, who brings a grounded, real world perspective on how AI is affecting operators today. They discuss procurement, payment processing economics, customer support, and how platforms like Square and Toast are getting restaurants to adopt AI. Dante also brings his experience being a restaurant owner to the show and shares first hand how he’s building tech into his main street business.
STAY CONNECTED
JAMES on Twitter & Linkedin – /jamesborow
DANIEL on LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok – /danieldruger
👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
a16z's Bryan Kim on why adtech is investable again, plus the energy space race, AI monetizing, and web 4.0
In this episode of ADSN, James and Daniel follow the money. We break down the new monetization plays and where dollars are starting to flow. Including how Gemini and Amazon's Rufus are already printing billions, Snap embracing even more creator monetization, and what Web 4.0 means for revenue and payments, and much more.
Bryan Kim, partner at Andreessen Horowitz, joins the show to talk about why adtech is having a moment again, how AI is ushering in a new era of engagement and distribution, and where the future is heading.
STAY CONNECTED
JAMES
Twitter – /jamesborow
LinkedIn — /jamesborow
DANIEL
Instagram — /danieldruger
TikTok — /danieldruger
LinkedIn — /danieldruger
👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
The Agent Era: OpenAI Scoops OpenClaw, Manus Meets Ads Manager & Ben Putley on AI-Crypto Convergence
James and Daniel break down Peter Steinberger's massive move taking OpenClaw to OpenAI, Meta’s counter by integrating its recent Manus acquisition directly into ad and chat platforms. We also dive into why media and IP are in trouble, what ice dancing and AI have in common, and Netflix’s little brother moment.
Later in the show, we sit down with Ben Putley, CEO of Alkimi, to discuss the fascinating convergence of AI and crypto. We explore how stablecoins and agent-to-agent payments are poised to fundamentally rewire digital ads.
STAY CONNECTED
JAMES Twitter – /jamesborow LinkedIn — /jamesborow
DANIEL Instagram — /danieldruger TikTok — /danieldruger LinkedIn — /danieldruger
👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
From Moltbook to Mars, ADSN Heading to the Olympics, Netflix Meets the Senate
In this episode, James and Daniel break down the rise of agentic social networks with Moltbook and what AI to AI interaction means for the future of ads and monetization. They dive into Elons's space moves, X moving closer to an everything app, and how ads are now rocket science.
They also talk Netflix’s antitrust hearing, the Claude vs. OpenAI ad wars, the CAPEX spending spree, and more including this week's primary posts.
Steven Liss, CEO of OpenAds, joins ADSN to explain how advertising works when the audience isn’t human; from marketing to AI agents, controlling data feeds, and why a well-aligned AI may be the ultimate ad blocker.
STAY CONNECTED
JAMES Twitter – /jamesborow LinkedIn — /jamesborow
DANIEL Instagram — /danieldruger TikTok — /danieldruger LinkedIn — /danieldruger
👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
Sam Khoury on B2B Creator Businesses, Netflix+WB4EVA, the $1B Digital Twin, and Meta the Energy Company
In this episode, James and Daniel break down Meta's monster earnings ($200B revenue, 3.58B daily users, $44B FCF), the marketing masterclass from Netflix and Warner Bros, the creator-to-$2M viral Dr. Pepper ad that's rewriting the creative playbook.
We also explore the massive tech layoffs at Amazon, Pinterest, and others, and why AI may just be an excuse. Plus, Khaby Lame's $1 billion deal and vibe coding at the Super Bowl.
Sam Khoury joins us to talk all things B2B creators and why the natural progression is from clips to live events. He's alsogiving ADSN listeners 30% off the Marketecture Live event using code SAM30.
STAY CONNECTED
JAMES Twitter – /jamesborow LinkedIn — /jamesborow
DANIEL Instagram — /danieldruger TikTok — /danieldruger LinkedIn — /danieldruger
👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts. It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN.
AI ad wars with Eric Seufert, Netflix (social) media battle, and OpenAI’s ecomm money grab.
In this ADSN episode, James and Daniel chat with Eric Seufert to discuss the varying strategies of AI ad monetization and where it all leads.
We dive into Netflix’s latest earnings, highlighting what the company said about the state of their advertising business and the competitors they’re keeping an eye on. We cover the Netflix app redesign, battle for shorts, and why we’re now in a world where ‘media is media’. There’s plenty of ad news including the OpenAI announcements, Meta’s Reel revenue, and Amazon’s Rufus.
STAY CONNECTED
*JAMES*
Twitter – /jamesborow
LinkedIn — /jamesborow
*DANIEL*
Instagram — /danieldruger
TikTok — /ddruger
LinkedIn — /danieldruger
👉 Hit Subscribe, then leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ review on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
It takes 10 seconds and makes all the difference in helping other people discover ADSN
ADSN is back! Agentic Commerce, Converging Media, and Mike Khristo on going from idea to launch with AI
ADSN returns with a with a big first episode back. James Borow and Daniel Druger break down the Gemini-Apple deal and the potential for AI assistants to be a new social network. They look at the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) with Google, Shopify, and others and what it could mean for agentic commerce.
Mike Khristo CEO and co-founder of Layers.com joins James and Daniel to discuss the magic of Anthropic's Claude and how the release of Opus 4.5 has led to a step change in web, cross-platform, and desktop agents. He also gives real life examples of how vibe coding is bringing founders of any technical level from idea to launch.
ADSN | Ari Paparo on Google's path to ad tech dominance and stories along the way
Ari Paparo sits down to talk about his new book Yield: How Google Bought, Built, and Bullied Its Way to Advertising Dominance, and talk about some of the defining moment of ad tech.
Buy the book at https://www.amazon.com/Yield-Google-Bullied-Advertising-Dominance/dp/B0F67HV2BBFollow ADSN: https://TheADSN.comhttps://x.com/The_ADSNhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3JyftL7aNBc7Q5axOdIaovhttps://youtube.com/@theadsn
ASDSN | 1000s of new marketers are about to come online and the MCP effect
ADSN is made possible by:dash.fi - https://dash.fiMeasured - https://measured.com/Follow ADSN: https://TheADSN.comhttps://x.com/The_ADSNhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3JyftL7aNBc7Q5axOdIaov?si=4b9b1c3697944021https://youtube.com/@theadsn
ASDSN | Andrew Covato on the latest on ad measurement and takeaways from Possible
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Sponsored by DashFi
If You’re Spending $100K+ Per Month on Ads, You’re Probably Overpaying.
DashFi is the corporate charge card built for advertisers spending heavily on Meta and Google. Our AI-powered Ad Pay Protection uncovers hidden overcharges and billing discrepancies—protecting your campaigns from costly billing failures and putting real money back into your business.
In the last $20M of audited ad spend, DashFi uncovered an average of 12% in discrepancies, with advertisers receiving up to 6% back in ad credits. With high flexible limits, no personal guarantee, and fast approvals, you can scale spend without financial roadblocks.
👉 Want to see how much you’re leaving on the table?
Email phat@dash.fi to request a VIP application today.
ADSN | Payments are the new cookies, ads in AI, and more AI ads.
ADSN is made possible by dash.fi & Measured.
Today on ADSN, James Borow & Daniel Druger dive into:
💸 Why payments are the new cookies and why this is so money for Dr. Mark Grether and the PayPal Ads team.
🍎 Why Apple should adopt the same philosophy and go all in.
👻 Snap Inc.'s affiliate program and why Fintan Gillespie & Ali Rana are geniuses.
🤖 How ad tech is fundable again (h/t Icon) and the future of ad supported AI.
And talk with Waymark's Alex Persky-Stern about the future of AI video ads and which models you should know about ASAP.
ADSN | Alex Heath reports on the Google & Meta legal sagas
ADSN is made possible by:
DashFi - https://dash.fi
Measured - https://measured.com/
Follow ADSN: https://TheADSN.com
https://x.com/The_ADSN
https://open.spotify.com/show/3JyftL7aNBc7Q5axOdIaov?si=4b9b1c3697944021
https://youtube.com/@theadsn
____________________________________
Sponsored by DashFi
If You’re Spending $100K+ Per Month on Ads, You’re Probably Overpaying.
DashFi is the corporate charge card built for advertisers spending heavily on Meta and Google. Our AI-powered Ad Pay Protection uncovers hidden overcharges and billing discrepancies—protecting your campaigns from costly billing failures and putting real money back into your business.
In the last $20M of audited ad spend, DashFi uncovered an average of 12% in discrepancies, with advertisers receiving up to 6% back in ad credits. With high flexible limits, no personal guarantee, and fast approvals, you can scale spend without financial roadblocks.
👉 Want to see how much you’re leaving on the table?
Email phat@dash.fi to request a VIP application today.
ADSN | Guest Commentators: Eric Seufert & Taylor Holiday
ADSN is the ESPN for the ads/marketing industry. This week, hosts James Borow and Daniel welcome guest commentators Eric Seufert and Taylor Holiday to talk about current market volatility, tariffs, and the impact on ad platforms and DTC brands.
ADSN is made possible by:
dash.fi - https://dash.fi
Measured - https://measured.com/Follow ADSN:
Keep up with ADSN:
https://TheADSN.com
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https://youtube.com/@theadsn
ADSN | Tariffs, AI, more AI, and M&A
ADSN is the ESPN for the ads/marketing industry. This week, hosts James Borow and Daniel talk all things tariffs, AI, even more AI, and M&A with a special guest appearance from Conor McKenna from LUMA Partners.
ADSN is made possible by:dash.fi - https://dash.fiMeasured - https://measured.com/Follow ADSN: https://TheADSN.comhttps://x.com/The_ADSNhttps://open.spotify.com/show/3JyftL7aNBc7Q5axOdIaov?si=4b9b1c3697944021https://youtube.com/@theadsn
Taking Inventory is now ADSN: The Ads Network
ADSN is the ESPN for the ads/marketing industry. This week, hosts James Borow and Daniel talk all things vibe coding, AI ads, why Zuck claims Meta is not an ads co and have a special guest appearance from the Boring Marketer (aka James Dickerson) to do a deep dive on Vibe Marketing - the term and concept that he created - and why marketers and advertisers should care.
ADSN is made possible by:
dash.fi - https://dash.fi
Measured - https://measured.com/
Rebuilding LA #2: Housing & Zoning with Cover's Alexis Rivas
Alexis Rivas, co-founder and CEO of Cover, talks rebuilding LA after the recent wildfires. Explore how Cover's innovative use of technology is transforming home construction, and how this approach could impact the recovery efforts - making it faster, efficient, and affordable. Tune in to learn how Alexis sees the future of residential building and zoning - and how Cover is playing a pivotal role in the city's recovery.
Rebuilding LA: EP1 Fire Insurance
The Taking Inventory podcast was originally about the digital economy and advertising, but after our co-host's house burned down—thanks to LA’s chaos—we’ve shifted our focus to fixing what could be the best city in the world. In our first episode about rebuilding LA, we have Jennifer Fitzgerald, the co-founder and former CEO of Policy Genius. Jennifer is working full-time on recovery and rebuilding efforts after losing her home and most of her neighborhood in the 2025 Palisades Fire in LA.
MAJOR UPDATE from James & Daniel + Conor McKenna, Partner at LUMA, on the state of M&A markets and what to watch for heading into 2025
Snap Mafia: David Shim, founder of Read AI, on building a better future of work with AI and the story of his $175M acquisition by Snap
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Read a transcript of the full episode from Read AI: app.read.ai/analytics/meetings/01J486QZFQ1JVSEY6BR92K77RP
David Shim is the founder and CEO of Read AI, the leader in gen AI meeting summaries. David and his co-founders started Read AI with a mission of building the future of work, where every interaction is improved with AI. Read AI has raised over $32M and is applying AI and analytics to video conferencing that analyzes, prescribes, and prevents bad meetings.
Prior to founding Read AI, David was the CEO of Foursquare and before that was the founder and CEO of Placed, which was acquired by Snap for $175M in 2017. Hear David talk about his “aha” moment going all in on location measurement, the Placed acquisition story and what he wished he knew then, why meeting summaries will be most people’s first experience with AI, and what the future of AI has in store.
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter
The rise of self-service and what it means for advertisers, publishers, and markets with Jeffrey Mayer, Managing Director, US at DanAds
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Jeffrey Mayer is the Managing Director, US, and Head of Product at DanAds, which is an industry leading provider of self-serve technology. They power fully automated, and white-labeled self-serve infrastructure that enables global media owners like Roku, Spotify, Paramount, Zillow, WSJ, and more to support advertisers interested in buying ad inventory through owned tools. During our conversation Jeffrey discusses the importance of self-service tools and their growth over the years, how publishers are using AI automation to drastically reduce costs, and the impact of ad platform fragmentation.
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Gokul Rajaram on one of the biggest mistakes startups and founders make, the role of board members, and leadership qualities from some of the greats
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Gokul Rajaram has been an integral part of the digital ad ecosystem for more than 20 years. He was a product leader on Google’s AdSense, product director of ads at Facebook, and is on the boards of The Trade Desk, Pinterest, and Coinbase among others.
Gokul now invests in early-stage technology startups and partners with founders to help them build enduring companies. As he puts it, he’s “an investor and company helper”. This is one of the most thought provoking episodes of Taking Inventory. Hear Gokul talk about one of the biggest mistakes founders and early stage companies make, how the role of board members is changing, similarities among the great leaders he’s worked with, and much more.
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
What any company can do to can improve ad measurement today, and the top measurement trends to know, with Andrew Covato
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Andrew Covato, Founder and CEO of Growth by Science and former measurement lead at Netflix, Meta, Snap, and Google, returns to the podcast to provide an update on the measurement trends that advertisers need know and what big and small companies can do to improve their measurement today.
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Brendan McCarthy, CMO of Criteo, on marketing during periods of transformation and how to maintain customer trust
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Brendan McCarthy is Chief Marketing Officer at Criteo. He joined Criteo in late 2020, bringing nearly 20 years of Fortune 500 strategic marketing and communications experience to the company. Under his leadership, Brendan spearheaded key transformational initiatives at Criteo, including a brand refresh and an integrated marketing campaign, “The Future is Wide Open,” which signaled the company’s new vision and commerce media strategy.
Previously, Brendan was Head of Communications and Product Marketing for Nielsen Global Media, where he spent five years helping to transform the company’s reputation from a legacy television ratings provider to a leading-edge data and technology company.
Brendan joins the podcast to discuss all facets of marketing including marketing during company transformation, the importance of embedding within cross-functional teams, how to build a marketing org that supports multiple stakeholders.
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
What startups get wrong about lawyers and how to use legal for growth, with Adam Greenberg, former GC / head of legal at Warby Parker, Ro, and Blank Street
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Adam Greenberg is a former attorney from Skadden Arps who left big law to join Warby Parker as their second legal hire, later joined health platform Ro as their General Counsel, and most recently joining Tiger-backed Blank Street as General Counsel. He’s helped startups scale legal teams from a team of 1, working primarily with outside counsel, to full legal teams supporting all aspects of the business.
During our conversation Adam shares his experience growing the legal functions at three high-growth startups and the legal framework that supported all aspects of the business. He shares stories from his time lobbying and working with politicians, his view on how legal can be set up to support teams across a company, how to turn legal into an offensive asset for company growth, and much more.
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Gabriel Ornelas, host and creator of “On The Pass” podcast, talks the rise of chef influencers and the intersection of media, food, and hospitality,
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In this episode of Taking Inventory we welcome Gabriel Ornelas, a renowned strategist and producer in the hospitality, food and beverage, entertainment, and lifestyle industries. Gabriel works with brands to develop and produce impactful branded experiences through content, media, and strategic partnerships. His portfolio includes collaborations with industry giants like Faena Group, Sbe, Mercedes Benz, Perfect Day Foods, Citi, Perrier-Jouet Champagne, Moet Hennessy, and Valrhona.
As the host, creator, and producer of "On The Pass," a Top 100 podcast in Food, Gabriel brings listeners engaging conversations with leading figures in the food and beverage, hospitality, and travel industries.
In this episode, discover how Gabriel’s global experiences and innovative approach have driven growth for major brands, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how he built "On The Pass" from the ground up. Tune in for an inspiring discussion that promises to deliver valuable insights and motivation for anyone interested in the intersections of food, travel, hospitality, and culture. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one of the industry's most dynamic figures.
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Nik Milanović, founder of “This Week in Fintech” and The Fintech Fund, on current trends and the future of Fintech
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Nik Milanović is one of the leading figures in fintech as the founder of “This Week in Fintech” a global newsletter with over 100K subscribers and the General Partner at The Fintech Fund where he invests in early-stage companies. Before founding his newsletter and fund, Nik was an exec at Google Pay, Petal, and Funding Circle. Nik breaks down what’s happening in fintech, why international markets will create the next unicorns, how tech is democratizing financial products, and more.
Note: This episode was recorded several weeks ago prior to several of the recent headlines involving Synapse, Evolve, etc.
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter: James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Turner Novak, founder of Banana Capital, talks VC investing and the power of meme accounts
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Turner Novak is a former banker turned Twitter / meme influencer with 170K followers, and has built that account into an empire with newsletter, podcast, and early stage investment fund Banana Capital. Through the fund Turner has made 50+ investments, including companies like BrowseAI, BinStar and Chaingaurd. During our conversation Turner explains the meaning behind the Banana Capital name, how a single Twitter account was the jumping off point for all of his businesses, and where he thinks we are in the investment cycle.
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Snap’s President of Americas, Patrick Harris, from Meta to Snap and the changes driving its breakout
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Patrick Harris is the President of Americas at Snap where he’s brought his 10+ years of experience from Meta and 5+ years from Microsoft. Hear what it was like building the organization at Meta and what he’s bringing to Snap to change the culture and advertiser experience. Patrick talks about the misconceptions that the market has about Snap, how it has turned a corner on performance / DR, and how Snap continues to lead the market when it comes to consumer experiences.
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Snap Mafia: Rajan Vaish, founder of Easel, on building at the intersection of social and Gen AI and what he learned doing research at Stanford and Snap
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Rajan Vaish is the founder and CEO of Easel, an AI-powered app that lets you create scenes with your AI avatar to express yourself with friends in fun and imaginative ways, all directly from iMessage. Prior to founding Easel, Rajan was a senior research scientists in Snap Research's HCI Group working on projects across AR, smart glasses, and social computing. During our conversation Rajan shares his story going from academic research to Snap, how a research mentality is critical for founders, and why the next wave of social will be built alongside generative AI.
Download Easel at easelapps.ai/
Check out Rajan's research: www.rajanvaish.com/index.html
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
If you like Taking Inventory, do us a favor and give us a 5-star rating and review. It’s the best way to help support us. And subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Mike Dupree, CRO of Teads, gives us an insider's look at the Twitter to X transition and why he made the move from walled garden to open web
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Mike Dupree is the Chief Revenue Officer at Teads where he oversees the commercial organization, including field sales, agency partnerships and strategic sales initiatives. Mike joined Teads after spending nearly 10 years at Twitter / X where he was leading the brand and performance advertising business across verticals including entertainment, sports, news, tech and audio. During his time at Twitter he oversaw Ads Policy development globally, directed ad product and measurement strategies, and developed new categories for the business. During our conversation we talk about Mike's experience during the Twitter-to-X transition, his POV on open web vs walled gardens, how Teads is tackling cookie deprecation, and more.
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
The State of the Podcast Industry with with Bryan Barletta, founder of Sounds Profitable
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Bryan Barletta is the founder of Sounds Profitable, a trade association for the podcast industry. As a seasoned professional with over 16 years in the advertising and technology space, Barletta played a key role in the world’s first shakeable ad in 2009 and held leadership positions at prominent podcast companies like Megaphone and Claritas. He’s an advocate for digital audio, pioneering the first-ever Podcasting at SXSW- Sound Summit in 2024, which brought big players – like ESPN, Wondery, SiriusXM and more – together with celebrities and podcast hosts, including Marsha Cooke, Nick Viall and others, to give the industry the recognition it deserves.
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Why the app economy is booming w/ the President of AppsFlyer, Brian Quinn
Amazon’s $50B ads business still hasn’t scratched the surface, and why non-endemic and social partnerships are the future, with Amazon expert Daniel Tejada
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Daniel Tejada is Co-founder and Chief Learning Office at Straight Up Growth, the Amazon agency that has nearly $750M in Amazon sales. Daniel was one of the first people to start advertising on Amazon and has since become a global leader in Amazon ads and sales strategy. Daniel helps make sense of Amazon’s full ad suite, why the platform is still in its infancy, and what Amazon has in store for the future (hint: non-endemic ads, more cross-channel partnerships, and AI).
Check out Straight Up Growth: straightupgrowth.com/
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Snap Mafia Edition: Garrett Rothstein, founder of Queue, the modern day TV guide, on partnering with Zillow’s founder and getting on Chamath's radar
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Garrett Rothstein is the founder and CEO of Queue, an app that helps user keep track of all the content across streaming services and queue movies and shows to watch. Hear Garrett’s story going from Snap to Quibi, and then having the idea for Queue and linking up with famed founder and investor Spencer Rascoff. Garrett tells us the story of starting Queue, going from zero to growth, and where the company is today.
Download Queue on Apple and Android
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
If you like Taking Inventory, do us a favor and give us a 5-star rating and review. It’s the best way to help support us. And subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
Selling Undertone, setting up a family office, and reinventing retail ads with M3’s Michael Cassidy
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Michael Cassidy is an entrepreneur who has started and exited multiple companies, including founding and serving as Undertone CEO for 14 years (acquired by Perion). Hear his journey from the early 2000’s of tech (the wild west!), to exiting, then creating a family office (August Spark) to make direct investments, including purchasing BVA, the largest Shopify Plus agency in the US (acquired by Accenture). Michael talks about his 3rd act, M3 (Make Merchants Money), where he’s helping retailers unlock new revenue streams while creating impactful opportunities for brands to reach audiences when they're most open to new ideas.
Visit M3: www.m-three.co/
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
AI & Big Tech w/ Big Technology’s Alex Kantrowitz
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Alex Kantrowitz is an independent journalist that started Big Technology, which has more than 150K newsletter subscribers and is a top 10 tech podcast with more than 1M annual downloads. He jumped on the Taking Inventory podcast to discuss all things AI, from how fast everything is moving, the startup vs. big tech battle, changing corporate culture across tech, the move to self-driving, and more.
Big Technology Newsletter: www.bigtechnology.com/
Big Technology Podcast: pod.link/1522960417/
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!
The WTF is Roblox and how brands play in the metaverse episode w/ F84’s Geoffrey Reed
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Geoffrey Reed is the COO of Floor 84, a digital game and experience studio that that works with brands like the NBA, Disney, Mattel, Lego, and more. Geoff has a stacked background as a lawyer, McKinsey consultant, strategy at Mattel, strategy at Snap, and now COO. He helps us understand what's happening on Roblox, how brands are getting involved, and the future of new digital experiences like Roblox, Fortnite, and others.
Floor 84: floor84studio.com/
F84's Roblox NBA Avatar Catalog: www.roblox.com/games/15515610365/EARN-FREE-UGC-NBA-Avatar-Catalog
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Connect with James and Daniel!
LinkedIn:
James: www.linkedin.com/in/jamesborow/
Daniel: www.linkedin.com/in/danieldruger/
Twitter:
James: twitter.com/jamesborow
Daniel: twitter.com/ddruger
Subscribe to our newsletter: www.takinginventorypod.com/ and follow Taking Inventory on LinkedIn and Twitter!