Breaking Through The Mayhem

CTV performs best when ads align with the moment, not just the screen. As content intelligence and AI mature, contextual precision becomes the real growth lever.This episode unpacks how deeper content signals, better measurement, and scene-level alignment are shaping the future of CTV.
Key takeaways:
Why contextual relevance outperforms blunt reach
How IRIS.TV’s content ID scales CTV intelligence
What scene-level targeting unlocks for brands
Where live sports and real-time CTV are headed
How AI strengthens human-led strategy
Recorded live at ADWeek with Adam Katz and Nancy Grey.

As AI accelerates change across advertising, true advantage comes from clarity, creativity, and outcome-driven decision-making. This conversation explores how modern media leaders are redefining value, empowering teams, and using technology to elevate—not replace—human strategy. Featuring insights from Jacob Davis, Global Head of Media at Crossmedia, a respected leader shaping the future of independent media, in conversation with host Adam Katz.
Key takeaways:
Why value is shifting from time spent to outcomes delivered
How AI should remove friction, not replace thinking
What smarter partnerships unlock beyond platform defaults
Why human creativity remains the ultimate differentiator
How trust and clarity lead to better media performance

In this episode of Breaking Through the Mayhem, host Adam Katz sits down with Tammy Henault, a transformational marketing leader whose career spans The New York Times, CBS/Paramount+, and the NBA—organizations that have reinvented themselves in the face of massive industry shifts.
Tammy shares how she has built her career at the crossroads of media, entertainment, and sports, stepping into roles during moments of disruption—from the launch of digital subscriptions and direct-to-consumer streaming to global sports innovation. Across every chapter, her success has been rooted in embracing change, building for what doesn’t exist yet, and staying relentlessly close to the audience.
The conversation dives into:
Transforming industries from the inside
How Tammy led marketing through pivotal transitions—NYT’s paywall era, Paramount’s leap into streaming, and the NBA’s launch of the In-Season Tournament—while driving global reach and daily cultural relevance.
Fandom as an always-on relationship
Why “marketing with fans, not to fans” fuels deeply personal engagement, and how local culture and access shape global audience growth.
Subscription models that scale
Why long-term success requires data, technology, and lifecycle design long before acquisition—and how infrastructure becomes the true engine of retention.
AI with humanity
Tammy’s take on AI’s promise: faster storytelling, smarter research, and personalized creative at scale—but with a warning against over-automation and content that loses authenticity.
Leadership through clarity and curiosity
Her philosophy of defining goals, championing empathy, celebrating wins and smart failures, and creating teams where everyone’s success rises together.
Tammy also opens up about what’s next: the collision of tech, fandom, and experiential storytelling — from consumer innovation and health & wellness to immersive cultural spaces that tap into how people truly connect.
With thoughtful candor and bold optimism, Tammy offers a compelling look at leading innovation across iconic brands—and why staying scrappy, human, and culturally fluent will define the future of marketing.

In this episode of Breaking Through the Mayhem live from Adweek, host Adam Katz sits down with Terrence Moduthagam, VP at Media.net, to reflect on a year of partnership, cultural alignment, and shared innovation between their companies. Terrence leads the curation business for Media.net Exchange — a nearly 2,000-person, product-led organization shaping the future of sell-side media targeting.
Terrence explains how curation is evolving beyond data signals alone — toward pairing intelligence with culturally relevant moments that matter to real people. He discusses why collaboration with partners like Sightly has helped unlock growth through culturally aligned activation and stronger marketplace influence.
The conversation dives deep into:
AI’s true role in advertising — not replacing people, but elevating creativity and decision-making
How democratized knowledge is expanding global maturity and leveling access to innovation
The importance of product experimentation and tinkering to drive what’s next
How Media.net builds global culture and scale while still operating like a scrappy startup
Terrence also shares his passion for mentorship — helping others break into the industry — and how teaching empathy to his daughters keeps him grounded, optimistic, and focused on what matters most.
This episode is an inside look at where ad tech, culture, and humanity meet — and how leaders like Terrence are steering the industry into its next wave of intelligent change.
 

On this episode of Breaking Through the Mayhem, Adam sits down with Michelle Niblock, SVP and Client Lead at Digitas, representing Publicis and leading the McDonald’s business. Michelle dives into how McDonald’s stays culturally relevant by moving at the speed of fans—from playful real-time CRM moments (like the viral “seemingly ranch” Taylor Swift activation) to reviving nostalgia with digital-first initiatives like Monopoly.
She explains why she deeply believes in CRM, loyalty, and using data responsibly to create meaningful value for customers, not just conversions. Michelle also breaks down how Digitas’ SWAT (Shareworthy and Trending) product helps brands identify culture-right moments they can authentically own. She shares her excitement about AI’s power to unlock creativity—not replace it—and predicts a rise in AI wearables that improve both everyday convenience and emotional well-being.
From Bills fandom to cultural insights to where marketing is heading next, Michelle brings sharp strategy, optimism, and a human-first POV to one of the world’s most iconic brands.

In this episode of Breaking Through the Mayhem, host Adam Katz sits down with Melissa Berger, Chief Solutions Officer at Digitas, for a lively and insightful conversation about leadership, innovation, and loyalty in the modern marketing era.
Known simply as “Berger,” Melissa shares how her evolving role at Digitas bridges media, commerce, CRM, and creative to help brands drive meaningful growth. She discusses her work leading a small but mighty “solutions” team that builds scalable strategies and products—like the SWAT Suite—to connect creativity, data, and technology.
The conversation explores:
AI and application: How Digitas integrates AI agents and workflows across teams to boost efficiency while keeping human creativity at the center.
SWAT and speed-to-culture: Why authenticity beats trend-chasing when connecting brands to real cultural moments.
Loyalty redefined: Insights from her podcast Building the Loyalty on how brands earn genuine preference—not just program participation.
Leadership and collaboration: How a diverse executive team drives “networked experiences” and kinetic ideas that move people and brands forward.
Balance and growth: Why Melissa admires Arianna Huffington’s message of wellness and balance, and how she applies that mindset amid a fast-paced career.
Outside of work, Berger talks about her love for travel, golf, champagne with friends, and her obsession with neon aesthetics and nostalgic 90s fashion.
This episode captures a dynamic mix of humor, authenticity, and strategic depth—showing how Melissa Berger and Digitas are shaping the future of connected marketing with both speed and soul.
 

In this episode of Breaking Through the Mayhem, host Adam Katz sits down with Samantha Rose, EVP of Digital & Video Investment at Horizon Media, live from Adweek. With nearly 19 years at Horizon, Sam reflects on how staying curious, collaborative, and adaptable has allowed her to grow alongside one of the industry’s most influential independent agencies.
Sam shares how her career evolved from traditional TV buying to leading digital, video, and programmatic investment, and why Horizon’s unique scale and agility make it possible to innovate fast without losing cultural closeness. She talks about the value of combining different types of expertise—technical programmatic knowledge with strategic investment intuition—and why great decisions come from the most informed voice in the room, not just the most senior one.
The conversation explores:
The evolution of investment leadership across TV, digital, and data-driven buying.
How Horizon fosters collaboration and innovation while staying nimble.
The launch of Horizon’s new global joint venture and what global expansion unlocks.
Learning new technologies and AI in real time without losing authenticity or voice.
Leading with transparency and empathy while moving fast in a high-pressure landscape.
Sam also opens up about travel, family, music, and the importance of making time for team connection—plus her takes on Broadway concerts, AI-written emails, vacation in Greece, and who she’d choose for a dream dinner in the West Village (spoiler: George Clooney and Jason Sudeikis).
A grounded, insightful conversation from a leader who shows that confidence, curiosity, and humor can coexist—and that strong relationships are still the heart of modern media.

In this episode of Breaking Through the Mayhem, host Adam Katz sits down with Janet Levine, Head of Global Invention at Mindshare (WPP Media), to unpack her creative philosophy, career journey, and the groundbreaking concept she calls world building.
Janet shares how her lifelong curiosity evolved into a leadership mindset that blends imagination with structure. Over her 16 years at WPP, she’s held roles across media planning, client leadership, and creative strategy—each one contributing to her latest innovation: world building, a strategic framework for modern brand growth.
The conversation dives deep into:
World building explained: Why enduring, evergreen brand ecosystems matter more than fleeting campaigns and moments.
Modern growth mindset: How world building helps brands evolve beyond old-school thinking to reach new audiences and pull multiple levers of growth.
Collaboration as fuel: Why innovation at WPP thrives on cross-team creativity—from data and commerce to audience and creative teams.
Culture and speed: How understanding culture’s rhythm and striking with impact—not just speed—creates more meaningful brand moments.
Leadership and confidence: How Janet built her voice over time, turning curiosity into influence and creating space for teams to expand her ideas.
Janet also reflects on the importance of mentorship, creative bravery, and the marketers she admires—from Vaseline’s award-winning cultural work to the enduring storytelling of brands like Snickers. Off the clock, she shares her deep love for Broadway and rap music, citing Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jay-Z as creative icons who, like her, master the art of storytelling and rhythm.
This episode offers a masterclass in modern brand strategy, combining curiosity, culture, and creativity to show how world building can reshape the future of marketing.

In this episode of Breaking Through the Mayhem, host Adam Katz sits down with Brian Albert, Managing Director at Google, to unpack his 15-year journey leading transformative initiatives at YouTube. From the platform’s early days as a desktop video site to becoming the largest CTV platform in the U.S., Brian shares how passion, team culture, and bold innovation have fueled his career.
Brian dives into YouTube’s role at the epicenter of culture, from NFL Sunday Ticket and the groundbreaking Brazil game stream to creator partnerships that elevate brands in new ways. He explains how marketers can harness creator strategies—ads, integrations, branded shorts—and pair them with YouTube’s high-impact formats for maximum impact.
The conversation also explores:
Leadership playbook: Four principles—focus, execution, humility, and team—that guide Brian’s approach to building new capabilities and empowering the next generation.
Humility in business: Why win-win partnerships matter more than zero-sum competition.
Learning & growth: Why making time for deep thinking and iteration is key to sustainable innovation.
AI as a tool: How Gemini helps him process feedback and boost efficiency—while keeping human empathy at the center.
Brian also reflects on sports and leadership, from lessons learned through Tom Brady’s team-first mentality to a personal Michael Jordan story that underscores the power of showing up at 100% every day.
This episode blends practical frameworks, cultural insights, and human lessons on what it takes to lead at scale in today’s ever-evolving media landscape.

In this episode of Breaking Through the Mayhem, host Danielle Calciano, Senior Director of Sales at Sightly, sits down with Barbara Riley, President & CEO (and fractional CMO) of The AD Club of New England, to trace her path from Boston radio and early agency roles to leading a regional marketing community and advising brands.
Barb shares how detours shaped her career—trading broadcast dreams for media and marketing, building client- and agency-side experience (Arnold Worldwide; CMO stints including Kaplan University and PopCorners), and why “showing up” changed her leadership style, from weekly New York runs to an 18-month Fort Lauderdale assignment.
The conversation dives deep into:
Community as advantage: Why Boston’s unique mix of youth, heritage, and cross-industry depth powers creativity—and why in-person energy matters again.
Mentorship redefined: Barb’s “Fusion Hour” and “Walkie Talkie” formats that replace top-down mentoring with cross-learning (junior↔senior, peer, cross-functional) and intentional, small-group connections.
Authenticity vs. automation: A practical AI stance—use tech for speed and scale, preserve human empathy and trust at key moments across service, sales, and marketing funnels.
Brand values & consumers: How two-way dialogue and value alignment (employees and audiences) make brands better—and how partners help audit options and move faster.
Culture by design: Create spaces people want to return to; avoid punitive “must return” narratives; build respect and flexibility for real lives.
Barb closes with a call to action: help The AD Club be a “master connector and fueler” for marketers in New England—share what’s missing so the organization delivers real, measurable value.