2024 IAB Podcast Upfront

Jenna Kutcher, a renowned entrepreneur, educator, author and host of the “Goal Digger” podcast. A Minnesota mom of two, she empowers thousands worldwide with her desire to help others redefine success on their own terms. From corporate dropout to multi-million dollar business owner, Jenna’s journey inspires aspiring entrepreneurs to chase their dreams fearlessly. With authenticity and practical wisdom, she revolutionizes the way we approach business and life.

Rachel Rodgers is the CEO/Founder of Hello Seven, a company that teaches women, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA people how to build a seven-figure business and create generational wealth.

She’s the author of We Should All Be Millionaires: A Woman’s Guide to Earning More, Building Wealth, and Gaining Economic Power, a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Bestseller, named one of Audible’s top Audiobooks of the Year, with more than 200,000 copies sold. Other books include We Should All Be Millionaires: The Workbook (February 2024) and Plan Your Year Like a Millionaire, Million Dollar Habits, and Six Figure Side Hustle (Audible Originals).

You’ve seen Rachel spilling the tea on business, money, and mindset on Good Morning America, The Drew Barrymore Show, and in The New York Times, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc, Cheddar, PopSugar, and Women’s Health.

Her mission is to help you end the cycle of over-working, under-earning, and financial stress—once and for all.

Lenard “Charlamagne Tha God” McKelvey is an entertainment mogul who has earned a reputation as one of the most authentic voices in media. As a Radio Hall of Fame inductee, best-selling author, in-demand TV personality, and producer, he is a singular shaper of culture.

An innovator and industry leader in audio, he is the co-host of iHeartMedia’s The Breakfast Club morning show, which drives millions of listeners and viewers daily on radio and BET. Charlamagne expanded his collaboration with iHeart to create The Black Effect Podcast Network, home to multiple chart-topping podcasts and the first podcast network specifically built for Black listeners. Alongside Kevin Hart, he is also the executive producer of scripted podcasts like Brokedown Prophets, Finding Tamika, Unleash for Love, and Summer of ‘85, which have won an Audie, Webby, and the prestigious duPont award. He is also the co-creator and host of the popular podcast The Brilliant Idiots.

Charlamange is the author of The New York Times Best Seller Black Privilege: Opportunity Comes to Those Who Create It and the best-selling Shook One: Anxiety Playing Tricks on Me. His tremendous success as an author led to a partnership with Simon & Schuster Publishing, now home to his imprint Black Privilege Publishing that has curated books such as Invisible Generals, My Black Country and Shallow Waters.

Charlamagne is an Emmy-winning producer through his production company CThaGod World. He has hosted several network TV programs, including the Stephen Colbert executive-produced Hell of a Week on Comedy Central.

Acting on his passion for mental health awareness, Charlamagne founded the Mental Wealth Alliance. The foundation works to destigmatize mental health in the Black community by expanding the pool of professionals in the health and wellness space. Additionally, he is an Ambassador for the Food Bank for New York City.

Liz Alesse is Vice President of Audio at ABC News where she leads the podcast and radio divisions. She previously served as Executive Producer and Director of Podcast Programming during which time she oversaw the expansion of ABC Audio’s podcast operation and the launch of several new series, including 2023 Edward R. Murrow Award-winner Reclaimed: The Story of Mamie Till-Mobley. ABC Audio’s podcast library includes the award-winning daily news podcast Start Here, chat shows like The View: Behind the Table, Pop Culture Moms and The Book Case with Kate and Charlie Gibson, and true crime hits like The Dropout, The King Road Killings, Truth & Lies, and the Walt Disney Company’s top performing podcast, 20/20. Liz began her career in local television news. She joined ABC News in 2015 as Senior Producer of This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

Pierre Bouvard is Chief Insights Officer for Cumulus Media and Westwood One and leads their Audio Active Group, a media and creative advisory service. The Audio Active Group is a full-service advisory offering national brands media planning recommendations, creative best practices, and measurement services.


Previously, Pierre was SVP of Sales for TiVo Research & Analytics, leading cross-media measurement engagements for Procter & Gamble, Comcast, Turner Broadcasting, and NBCU. As President of Sales and Marketing for Arbitron Inc., Bouvard launched Arbitron’s Portable People Meter (PPM) and created the out-of-home and custom research divisions.

Simone Boyce is an Emmy-nominated journalist, TV host, and Co-host of The Bright Side, a new podcast from Hello Sunshine and iHeart Radio.

Simone swiftly ascended the ranks of local television news, becoming a fixture on-air at NBC News. There, she reported from Category 5 hurricanes for Nightly News, provided live election results on MSNBC, and offered rich cultural commentary on The Today Show. In 2018, NBC News tapped Simone to lead NBC News Signal, a new kind of news program that redefined the medium for a millennial audience. As an anchor and correspondent at NBC News Now, Simone adeptly guided viewers through the headlines that will define a generation: from the 2020 presidential election and Covid-19 to reproductive rights and climate change.

Simone has an unparalleled ability to deftly navigate both highbrow issues and lowbrow escapism. She shines as a guest host on Access Hollywood, a taste tester for The Roku Channel, and a live host on the red carpet of MTV’s “Top Gun: Maverick” world premiere. She even showcased her domestic DIY skills as the bubbly host of “Junkcyclers,” a design show pilot for Peacock Kids. Always going the extra mile for the laugh, Simone brings her full self to set, with no costume, game, or gag off limits. Her wildly entertaining interviews with stars like Dolly Parton, Brad Pitt, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Kevin Hart, Hugh Jackman, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Neil DeGrasse Tyson have garnered millions of views.

A newsmaker in her own right, Simone’s viral advocacy for natural hair earned her a seat at the table discussing racial workplace discrimination on The Kelly Clarkson Show. When she’s not on set, she’s likely expanding her vintage furniture collection, plotting her next solo travel adventure or chasing a SoCal waterfall with her sons.

Conal Byrne is the Chief Executive Officer of the iHeartMedia Digital Audio Group, which includes the company’s fast-growing and high-profile podcasting business and #1 podcast publisher globally according to Podtrac, as well as the industry-leading iHeartRadio digital service; the company’s digital sites, services, newsletters and programs; and its digital advertising technology companies, including Jelli, RadioJar, Unified, Voxnest and the recently-announced Triton Digital acquisition, upon its completion.

Prior to joining iHeartMedia, Byrne was President and CEO of Stuff Media, Inc., home of the incredibly popular HowStuffWorks (HSW), which pioneered the podcast space with leading shows including “Stuff You Missed in History Class” and “Stuff You Should Know.” Byrne joined iHeartMedia when the company acquired Stuff Media in October 2018. Prior to Stuff Media, Byrne served as Senior Vice President of Digital Media for Discovery Communications, where he ran digital for all of Discovery’s U.S. networks’ sites and social platforms and led the launch of Discovery VR.

Jaclyn Cardin is the chief brand officer at Organic Valley, a mission-driven brand committed to the principles of organic agriculture, sustainable farming practices and the production of wholesome and nutritious organic dairy products. As CBO, Cardin works toward growing the organic movement and protecting where our food comes from by inspiring consumers and retailers to support some of the hardest working among us — farmers on small organic family farms.


Cardin has nearly two decades of experience and is a passionate leader who empowers an award-winning team of marketers, creatives and strategists to push the limits.


She understands the significant role of engaging consumers in the journey toward safeguarding the food system. In 2023, she spearheaded a national media campaign that significantly increased awareness, consideration and purchase intent, surpassing the results from the previous two years.


Apart from her work, Cardin frequently speaks at industry events and serves on the board of directors for the Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP). She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse and is a graduate of the CMO Program at Kellogg School of Management and the Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership (GICL). She is a dog mom and an animal lover, residing in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Brittany has led the largest podcast advertising budget globally for the last 3.5 years on behalf of BetterHelp – the world’s leading online therapy platform. Her specialty is in combining authentic storytelling with growth marketing strategies to help brands scale. Combining agency, publisher, and brand-side experience, she’s become a leader in audio, shaping the world of podcasting and supporting creators, brands and publishers worldwide.

Gary Coichy is the founder of Pod Digital Media, a leading multicultural podcast network that connects advertisers with diverse audiences. Leveraging his extensive experience in marketing and digital campaigns, he identified a niche for a platform that serves both advertisers aiming to tap into multicultural buying power and podcasters seeking monetization opportunities.


Pod Digital Media stands out as a pioneer in the industry, being the first of its kind to focus on the multicultural space within the podcasting world. The agency’s success is underscored by its swift acquisition of numerous prominent advertisers shortly after launch. Coichy’s vision and leadership have propelled the company to the forefront of the podcasting industry, ensuring that it is well-positioned for continued growth and innovation.

Scott Davis is SVP of NPR Corporate Sponsorship at National Public Media (NPM). With 30 years of work in radio and media sales at both public and commercial organizations, Davis has helped hundreds of brands share their story through audio. His team fuels the growth of NPR and public media by securing revenue from corporate sponsors. In 2018, the Network Sponsorship team led by Davis was recognized by Digiday Awards’ Most Effective Sales Team category. Davis lives with his family in Brooklyn, NY, is a member of the Board of Visitors for the University of Illinois’ Department of Political Science, a runner, and a diehard fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Bears.

In addition to being Vice President of Sponsorship at New York Public Radio, Jake Dobkin is also the co-founder of Gothamist and author of Ask a Native New Yorker.

Tori Dunlap is an internationally-recognized money and career expert, bestselling author, and podcast host. After saving $100,000 at age 25, Tori quit her corporate job in marketing and founded Her First $100K to fight financial inequality by giving women actionable resources to better their money. She has helped over four million women negotiate salary, pay off debt, build savings, and invest.


Author of the instant New York Times bestselling book “Financial Feminist”; host of the #1 Business Podcast, Financial Feminist; a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree; and co-creator of Treasury, an investing education platform that has over $60M invested (featured on New York Times Business front page), Tori’s work has been featured on Good Morning America, the Today Show, the New York Times, CNN, BBC and more.


Tori now travels the world writing and speaking about personal finance, online businesses, and confidence for women.

Steve Ellis is the Chief Operating Officer at Paramount Advertising. Steve oversees strategy and operations for the advertising business for CBS, CBS Sports, Paramount +, the Paramount cable networks, and Pluto. In this role Steve has been responsible for overseeing the transformation and unification of the Paramount advertising team since the merger of CBS, CBS interactive, and Viacom.


Steve also oversees the development of Paramount Ad Manager, a new advertising platform and product that will provide SMBs direct access to Paramount’s ad supported streaming inventory. Prior to Paramount, Steve was the Founder and CEO of WHOSAY, an early venture-backed influencer and social marketing company founded in 2009. WHOSAY was instrumental in establishing the marketplace for the creator economy among agencies and brands. Paramount acquired WHOSAY in Jan 2018.


Before WHOSAY, Steve was founder and CEO of Pump Audio, a music licensing company that created a marketplace for independent artists and their music for placement in TV shows and advertising. Pump Audio was acquired by Getty Images in June 2007. Steve Ellis is originally from England but moved to the USA in 1988 to attend the Wharton School of Business, where he earned a BSC in Economics and Management.

John Fix has joined the Westwood One Sales team as a Consultant.  John led a consumer goods giant’s return to audio advertising and will draw from his considerable experience across multiple P&G divisions to help advise brands on how they can invest in Westwood One to better leverage audio to drive greater reach and efficiency.

John enjoyed a 27-year career at P&G, where now more than 40 brands rely on audio in their media plans. John’s career at P&G spanned Engineering, R&D, Market Research and Marketing, giving him a very well-rounded view of products and branding.

John has presented at various forums including Advanced Research Forum (ARF), AMA, and NAB events and is currently partnering with the IAB and RAB.

Before joining the IAB, Cintia Gabilan had experience working across global ad agencies (Wunderman Thompson and Dentsu), CPG (Unilever), and tech companies (Facebook and Amazon). She has global experience driving growth by overseeing marketing, communications, and sales strategy. With a Master’s in Business, she most recently built many strategic and significant marketing programs at Amazon Ads, such as their Customer Advisory Boards, Analysts Relations, Competitive Intelligence program, and more. You can find her exploring nature, playing sports, and baking with her husband and daughter in her free time.

Gina Garrubbo is President and CEO of National Public Media (NPM), a subsidiary of NPR owned in partnership with PBS and WGBH. As a full-service corporate sponsorship organization, National Public Media supports the continued growth of NPR and the public media system via funding from corporate sponsors across multiple platforms, from broadcast radio and podcasts, to the NPR app and NPR.org. National Public Media includes NPM Creative, its in-house creative studio offering brands long-form custom audio production, including branded podcast production. NPM Creative won the 2022 PR Daily Content Marketing Award for Best Branded Podcast in partnership with YouTube.


Outside of National Public Media, Garrubbo sits on the IAB Executive, IAB Finance and IAB Audio Committees, working with leaders across the industry to build industry standards, best practices and resources for audio marketing.


Prior to NPR, Garrubbo spent more than 20 years growing marketing and sales teams, launching brands and building companies, with extensive experience in both legacy and emerging media. She was one of the builders of women.com, one of the first websites for women, and BlogHer, a network of bloggers which brought independent voices to millions of readers. Garrubbo built advertising sales teams for Oxygen Media, Discovery Communications and in syndicated television. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), and Glen Highland Farm.

Greg Glenday is the Chief Business Officer at Acast and a 25 year veteran of the media industry. In his role, Glenday leads Acast’s global content, revenue, and strategic growth in key markets. Glenday is the former CEO at Lightbox Video Network, the leading digital out-of-home video network where he led an aggressive transformation that included a complete rebrand, tech innovation, record revenue, and ultimately an acquisition. Prior to Lightbox, Glenday spent more than two decades working in various leadership roles across media, with a focus on audio, including Global Chief Revenue Officer for Shazam, the beloved music app acquired by Apple; the same role for digital high impact ad network, Undertone; and founder and President of iHeartMedia’s award winning Connections division focused on strategic creative partnerships with the largest brands in the world.

Alexandra Gonzalez is part of the founding team of Sonoro in the United States. With deep roots in podcasting, she manages Sonoro’s content partnerships and talent relationships. She is instrumental in shaping the themes, content ideas, formats, and structure of all new Sonoro programming.

Dan Granger is Founder and CEO of Oxford Road, an independent audio agency in the U.S. Oxford Road that has helped hundreds of DTC companies scale their efforts in audio using Podcast, Radio, Streaming, Connected Voice and more. Recently named among Inc 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies, Dan is also the host of The Media Roundtable, carried by PodcastOne. As a Founding Partner of The Media Roundtable, Dan has been leading the way to mobilize marketers to promote truth and civility in ad-supported media.

Marc Guldimann is the Founder and CEO of Adelaide, the industry leader in attention-based media quality measurement. Adelaide puts evidence-based measurement into practice using AU, an omnichannel metric proven to measure media quality more accurately than existing verification metrics.

Before creating Adelaide, Marc founded Parsec, the first marketplace to sell media based on time spent. He also served as the founding CEO of Enliken and Spongecell. Prior to digital media, Marc worked in the wireless network security industry, where he developed the first wireless virus filter. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Marc holds a degree in Social Decision Sciences.

Jess Hilarious is a dynamic force in comedy, known for her incisive wit and engaging persona. Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Jess gained widespread acclaim through her viral social media videos, which showcase her unique take on everyday life and pop culture. She has brought her considerable talents to television as well, starring in the Fox sitcom “Rel” and making memorable appearances on VH1’s “Wild ‘N Out.” Beyond the screen, Jess connects with fans via her popular Instagram series and a personal podcast “Carefully Reckless “ , where she offers a candid look at her life and the world around her. Recently, Jess has taken on a thrilling new role as the newest co-host of The Breakfast Club, one of the most influential radio shows in urban music and culture. Here, she continues to shine, bringing fresh perspectives and humor to a wide audience. As she tours nationally, Jess Hilarious remains a beloved figure in comedy, constantly evolving and pushing the boundaries of entertainment.

Saeed Jones is an essential author as well as a powerful voice in the world of literary activism, and his writing often engages the questions and nuances of identity. He has shaped his platform into a tool for social awareness, breakthroughs and connections with his no-holds-barred personality and unforgettable voice. Vibe Check, the weekly news and culture podcast he hosts with Sam Sanders and Zach Stafford, has been lauded as one of the Best Podcasts of the Year by the New York Times, Vogue, and CBC Radio.


Saeed was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in Lewisville, Texas. His debut poetry collection, Prelude to Bruise, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and was awarded the 2015 PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award for Poetry. The collection also received a starred review in Publishers Weekly, which described the book as, “a fever dream, something akin to magic.” NPR described Prelude as a “book seamed in smoke; it is a dance that invites you to admire the supple twist of its narrative spine; it is hard and glaring and Brilliant.”


In 2019, Saeed released his highly anticipated memoir, How We Fight for Our Lives. NPR raved “Jones’s voice and sensibility are so distinct that he turns one of the oldest of literary genres inside out and upside down.” The memoir won the 2019 Kirkus Prize for Nonfiction, a 2020 Lambda Literary Award, as well as a 2020 Stonewall Book Award.


His most recent collection, Alive at the End of the World, was published in 2022 and awarded the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Poetry. The New Yorker says, “Jones unravels and reconfigures language like he’s untying a knot, then rethreads the strands in a delicate new construction.” They also added this to their “Best Books of 2022” list. Poet Rita Dove calls the book “an aching reminder that a queer Black man leads a meta existence; he cannot live without thinking about living, constantly negotiating the everyday with an eye to the peril that can intrude at any time, from police violence to the minutest reactions from highbrow bigots.” The collection was also a finalist for both the 2023 Lambda Literary Award in Gay Poetry and the Publishing Triangle 2023 Thom Gunn Award for Gay Poetry.

One of the team’s leading philanthropists, recognized as the 2017 and 2021 club nominee for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year…A regular visitor to the Ochsner Medical Center pediatric ward and to area schools to discuss topics such as literacy, importance of academics and physical fitness…Participated in Rebuilding Together’s “Kickoff to Rebuild” prior to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans, where he assisted in painting several houses and served as a celebrity judge for a barbeque competition…In 2013, he and teammates hosted a toy and bike giveaway with the club and the United States Marines…In 2016, collaborated with TNT of the Harlem Globetrotters to appear at the International School in Metairie to visit with students and emphasize an anti-bullying theme…In 2017, participated in a karaoke contest aboard a cruise ship against Mark Ingram, which he won. In his honor, $10,000 was donated in his name to the United Way…Hosted annual football camps for youth in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022…Participates in ACME Truck Line school visits at high schools to promote the importance of safe driving…Visited NOCCA with Ingram and Alvin Kamara to encourage students who created the featured son ‘Shut ’Em Down’ for the 2018 Saints-Falcons Thanksgiving game…In 2017 and 2019, participated in USO Tours to visit with and support troops stationed abroad…In 2019, participated in “#DoRight4LA Day with the Saints and Dudley DeBosier” volunteering with teammates to completion renovations to the exterior of a house…In 2020, participated in a Thanksgiving meal with members of the New Orleans Youth Empowerment Project and the following month surprised 25 kids from the YEP with a special visit and shopping spree at a local department store…

Craig Karmazin is the founder and chief executive officer of Good Karma Brands, a media and marketing company with expertise in the leveraging the power of sports to build
brands.


As a proud partner of ESPN, Good Karma Brands (GKB) represents the ESPN Radio Network and Podcasts, the full portfolio of ESPN Digital Products, ESPN Events and local ESPN affiliated radio stations in eight markets including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. GKB’s other audio assets include Newsradio 620 WTMJ and 101.7 The Truth in Milwaukee, and 95.3 WBEV in Beaver Dam WI. With offices throughout the country and our home office in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, GKB’s team includes over 550 teammates and was recognized as a “Best Place to Work” Front Office Sports two-years in row, as well as a Top Workplace eleven times. GKB’s home solutions and events division includes a home furnishings and interior decorating business, The Home Market, and luxury tailgate homes in Green Bay, WI adjacent to Lambeau Field.


In 2014, Craig became a minority owner of the Milwaukee Bucks NBA franchise, joining several local Milwaukee business owners to create a new era for the team. Craig has received numerous recognitions throughout his career, including Sports Business Journal’s Forty under 40, Advertising Age’s 30 Under 30, Milwaukee Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 and Most Influential People in Sports Power List, and in 2010 he was named a finalist for Ernst and Young’s Midwest Region Entrepreneur of the Year.


Craig serves on the board of the Karma Foundation, Milwaukee College Prep, the Dodge Health Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland and is the founder of the Children’s Radiothon in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, which has raised over $2 million for local children’s charities since its inception in 1998.Craig was raised in New Jersey and graduated from Emory University in 1997. He resides in Fox Point, Wis., with his daughter Harper.

Jessie Katz is an award-winning creative executive who has led the audio division for some of the world’s biggest media and entertainment brands, most recently at A+E Networks where she launched original and adapted podcasts for A&E, The History Channel and Lifetime. Prior to A+E she managed the sports podcast network for Bleacher Report as well as the audio slates at Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter.

Still recovering from when Rolling Stone called him a “Rock n roll Judge Reinhold,” Dylan came to Radiolab after selling his soul at the crossroads of Marcy Playground Ally and Calle de WNYC. Carrying only a Fender P Bass and a shotgun microphone, Dylan was met at midnight first by Brooke Gladstone of On the Media, then John Hockenberry of The Takeaway and finally by a curly haired demon named Jad. All of whom detuned his bass and redirected his mic. Having actually wanted Carl Sagan to show up, Dylan decided the curly guy was close enough. Now he owes him his soul.

Lala Kent is a singer, actress, & TV personality. Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Lala decided to make her way to Los Angeles at the age of 23 where she landed her spot on Lisa Vanderpump’s hit show, Vanderpump Rules on Bravo. Lala made her entrance with a bold attitude, expressing herself not only through music and scripts but advocacy for female empowerment. Her song “Boy” ranked #1 on iTunes for EDM. Her beauty line, tagged #GiveThemLala Beauty, exceeded expectations in the cosmetic world, labeling it as one of the highest earning privately owned cosmetic companies. She appeared alongside Joe Keery & Mischa Barton in the film Spree, which made its debut in Sundance 2020. She played opposite Samira Wiley in the heist film, Vault, starring Theo Rossi & Clive Standen. She shared the screen with Bruce Willis as his daughter in the film Open Source in 2020 & continues to be a star on Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules.

Pat LaCroix is the EVP, Strategic Partnerships at Seekr, an artificial intelligence company building trustworthy large language models that identify, score, and generate reliable content at scale. The recently launched Seekr Align uses patented contextual AI to help brands and publishers reach the broadest, most brand-suitable audiences through accurate and transparent content evaluation. Previously, Pat held global marketing leadership roles at Bose, where he was responsible for brand marketing, media, and partnerships with the NFL, Spotify, and more. He received the “40 under 40” award from Sports Business Journal.

Susan Leland provides research insights to support NPR’s corporate sponsorship and development efforts as well as NPR brand development. Recent work has included research on the role of radio in media consumption, impact of sponsorship on brand image, effectiveness of public radio sponsorship vs. commercial media advertising, and NPR brand reach and positioning. Prior to joining NPR, Susan worked in consumer insights at Discovery Communications and at the research consulting firm, Lieberman Research Worldwide.


Susan received her BS in Marketing from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo and a Master’s degree in Information Studies from the University of Maryland.

Marshall Lewy is the Chief Content Officer of Wondery, and oversees all original podcast content for Wondery and Amazon Music. Lewy oversees the slate of productions and development through release, as well as the television/film development and production pipeline. He has overseen the launch of notable podcasts, including Dr. Death, Business Wars, Even the Rich, The Apology Line, Against the Odds, and many others. Lewy is listed as an executive producer on the many Wondery original shows that have been adapted for scripted television or streaming series. These adaptations include Dr. Death on Peacock and The Shrink Next Door and WeCrashed, both on Apple TV+.


Lewy and the content team also collaborate on co-productions with many leading creators and prominent news organizations, including kids and family podcast company Tinkercast, the hosts of Morbid, Pineapple Street Studios, Bloomberg, and The Boston Globe.


The Harvard and Columbia graduate has been nominated for a Primetime Emmy as an Executive Producer for HBO’s Project Greenlight, has been a contributor to This American Life, and has written and directed two feature films that have premiered at both the Sundance and Tribeca Film Festivals.

Erik Lundberg, Claritas Chief Growth Officer, Agency and Media, is a 25-year industry veteran with a proven track record of innovation and growth.

At Claritas, Lundberg leads the commercial team working collaboratively with Media Companies & Agencies across Claritas’ full spectrum of AI, measurement, data, and personalization solutions.

Lundberg’s career is marked by a pioneering spirit. He was a Charter Member of the IAB and developed the first interactive audio ads using RealAudio technology for Sony. He even co-founded the Professional Gamers League (PGL) and initiated one of the first five search engine keyword ad buys online.

This leadership in innovation translates to business success. Lundberg’s leadership as CRO at ArtsAI resulted in their recognition as the fastest growing private ad technology company in America by Inc. Magazine and the merger with Claritas. He has a history of driving significant growth, previously achieved at Kleiner Perkins funded pogo.com (acquired by EA) and NativeX (acquired by Mobvista). He also founded the AddRev agency.

Lundberg graduated with a double major from Middlebury College.

Cesar Martinez is a multicultural entertainment and digital executive with almost two decades of experience. He passionately champions youth focused media businesses, cross-cultural voices, and brands. Prior to joining Sonoro, Cesar served as the Chief Revenue Officer at Remezcla and as the Chief Revenue & Partnerships Officer at mitú.

Lulu Miller is a Peabody award-winning science journalist, co-host of the award-winning WNYC Studios show Radiolab, and cofounder of NPR’s Invisibilia—a show about the invisible forces that shape human behavior (which received over 50 million downloads in its first season). She is the author of Why Fish Don’t Exist, a nonfiction scientific thriller and memoir that The National Book Review called a “small marvel of a book” and left the New York Times “smitten.” Her written work has been published in The New Yorker, VQR, Catapult and beyond. Her reporting interests include disability, mental health, and, inexplicably, entomology. Radiolab was the show that made her fall hard for radio and it is a surreal honor to be joining the team as cohost.

Chad Millman is Chief Content Officer of The Action Network, a leading source for sports betting news, information and data. Millman launched The Action Network with The Chernin Group in 2018 and helped drive its $240M sale to Better Collective in 2021. Each month, through its award-winning app, website, podcasts, live shows, videos and social handles as well as partnerships across leagues, sportsbooks and media outlets, Action serves tens of millions of fans. Millman also hosts the No. 1-ranked betting podcast, The Favorites.


Prior to Action, Millman was ESPN Digital’s Editorial Director and editor-in-chief of ESPN The Magazine. At ESPN he made regular appearances across SportsCenter, E60 and other programs, wrote weekly columns and hosted a weekly podcast, Behind The Bets. He has also written seven books, including four bestsellers, ranging from the autobiography of Howard Stern producer Baba Booey to The Odds, about the lives of Vegas bookmakers and bettors.

Angie More is the Head of Advertising at Wondery and resides in Los Angeles, CA. In her role at Wondery, she is responsible for delivering unique and scalable advertising solutions to podcast marketers – developing the podcast monetization business through operational framework, go to market, content migration and show management. Prior to joining Wondery, she was the Global Head of Podcast Sales at Spotify. Angie has over 25 years building and leading revenue teams across audio, content, digital and advertising technology.

Latif Nasser is co-host of the award-winning WNYC Studios show Radiolab, where he has reported stories on everything from snowflake photography to medieval robots to a polar bear who liked to have sex with grizzly bears. Earlier this year, he hosted the miniseries The Other Latif, about his Moroccan namesake who happens to be Detainee 244 at Guantanamo Bay.In addition to his work in audio, Latif is the host and executive producer of the Netflix science documentary series, Connected. He has also given two TED talks, and written for the Boston Globe Ideas section. He has a PhD from Harvard’s History of Science department.

Sky Opila is the Vice President of Growth Marketing at Policygenius, focused on efficiently driving revenue growth through customer acquisition marketing. Prior to joining Policygenius, Sky worked for nearly a decade on life, annuities, and identity protection customer acquisition for Allstate. Prior to this, he spent six years at marketing communications agencies around Chicago helping support clients in B2B tech, health care, and insurance. Sky has a MBA from Dominican University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois.

Will Pearson oversees the company’s podcast operations, leading the growth strategy of iHeartPodcasts, the development of its original podcast IP and all partner audio content. iHeartPodcasts amasses more than 386 million global downloads a month, making iHeart the No. 1 podcast publisher globally. In Pearson’s time at iHeart, the podcast division has developed and launched several slates of top tier sports networks with partners including Sports Illustrated, NBA and NFL as well as individual sports focused fan favorites like “All The Smoke,” “Snacks” and outdoor sporting podcast network Meateater. Additionally, iHeartPodcasts is home to the Big Money Players slate with Will Ferrell, a Shondaland Audio slate with Shonda Rhimes, and co-production slates with Pushkin Industries, Bloomberg and more. With a focus on bringing greater diversity into podcasting iHeartPodcasts has also launched The Black Effect Network with Charlamagne Tha God, the world’s largest podcast network dedicated to Black voices; My Cultura, the fastest growing podcast network dedicated to Latinx voices; and most recently, Outspoken which aims to amplify, elevate and reflect the diversity, richness and humanity of the voices throughout the LGBTQ+ community. Pearson joined iHeartMedia in 2018 when the company acquired Stuff Media. At Stuff Media, he served on the leadership team responsible for growing the podcast division, secured an investment from the Raine Group and led the integration of the division into iHeartMedia. Prior to joining HowStuffWorks, Pearson was the Co-Founder and President of Mental Floss, a media company he launched in 2001 with co-founder Mangesh Hattikudur. Over his 16-year leadership at Mental Floss, Pearson oversaw the launch of Mental Floss Magazine, the publication of several bestselling books, the creation of a children’s education series called SmartyPants and the growth of a digital audience of more than 20 million regular readers and viewers. In 2011, Pearson and Hattikudur sold Mental Floss to Dennis Publishing. In his spare time, Pearson and his wife Georgia work together to support organizations in their hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, including Magic Moments, a wish-granting organization where he served as board chairman, The Nature Conservancy and Glenwood, which provides services to those in the autism community.

Stephen Pickens is SVP of Host Read Advertising at Libsyn Ads where he has partnered with hundreds of world class podcasts such as ABC’s 20/20, Good Morning America, World News Tonight, Start Here, 538 Politics as well as independent powerhouses The Viall Files, Lore, Dr. Phil, Darknet Diaries, The Roseanne Barr podcast and more. Prior to Libsyn Ads, Stephen spent more than a decade leading business development and account services at boutique TV advertising agencies, overseeing media strategy for brands such as Zulily, ASU Online, Fiverr, OnDeck, PokerStars, NordVPN, Betterhelp, Rover, and more.

Amy Porterfield is an ex-corporate girl turned online marketing expert, author of the New York Times bestselling book Two Weeks Notice, and owner of a multimillion-dollar business.

During her corporate days, Amy worked with mega-brands like Harley-Davidson, as well as Peak Performance Coach Tony Robbins. After one fateful boardroom meeting and witnessing the lifestyle, financial, and work freedom an online business has to offer, Amy developed her nine-to-five exit plan and never looked back.

Through her best-selling book, digital courses, and top-ranked marketing podcast Online Marketing Made Easy, Amy has helped hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs turn in their two weeks’ notice and trade burnout for freedom, income, and impact. Amy’s action-by-action teaching style provides aspiring business owners with the tools they need to bypass the overwhelm and build a business they love.

Amy empowers women across the globe to take their futures into their own hands and find professional autonomy, independence, achievement, and success far beyond what a corporate glass ceiling would traditionally allow. Amy’s work has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, CNBC, Business Insider, Entrepreneur, and more.

Her company has twice been awarded the Inc. 5000 Award as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the U.S. Today, she runs her growing business from Nashville, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband, Hobie, and their Labradoodle, Scout. Learn more.

Steve Raizes is the EVP Podcasting & Audio for Paramount Global where he oversees the strategy, marketing, operations and creative for the company’s successful audio business. Under the banner Paramount Audio, he and his team produce award winning podcasts such as The Daily Show: Ears Edition, MTV’s Official Challenge Podcast, On Fire with Jeff Probst, 48 Hours and more. As the audio production arm for all of Paramount Global, Paramount Audio is in a unique position to utilize the vast IP from the entire company and bring it to the world of podcasts.


Paramount Audio collaborates with leading entertainment brands including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, SHOWTIME and others to develop fan-forward podcasts that drive deeper engagement with iconic and beloved franchises. His role speaks to his background as both a business and creative executive, allowing him to tell stories that create meaningful connections between fans and world-renowned IP. Raizes is based in New York.

Melisa Ramos has a proven track record of managing campaigns and branded content with some of the world’s most recognizable brands. With over a decade of experience spearheading multi-faceted programs, Melisa heads up all client programs across Sonoro in pre-and post sale.

Danielle Robay is a TV host, journalist, and content creator known for her open-hearted questions + compelling interview style. Noted by Forbes as a “game changer,” she is recognized for creating the podcast “PRETTYSMART,” the bestselling card game Question Everything, and hosting E!’s “While You Were Streaming.” She’s chatted with everyone from Taylor Swift + Michael B. Jordan, to Viola Davis, Helen Mirren, Alexis Ohanian, +Tom Hanks. Even Larry King has commented on her compelling interview style: “Danielle is the millennial Barbara Walter’s. She has the ability to make people feel seen.” With a loyal social media following of over 350,000 followers across platforms, Danielle’s goal is that we learn to live better through each other’s stories.

Juliana is the EVP of Advanced Analytics at Horizon Next has spent her career using statistical techniques to developing models that can determine media effectiveness. She bridges the gap between business intelligence, technology integrations, and advanced modeling, significantly enhancing Horizon Next’s analytics capabilities. Holding a Master’s in Statistics from Cornell University, Juliana’s expertise spans a broad range of verticals, including eCommerce, retail, insurance, security, and technology.


She led developments in the measurement focused on the audio space. Juliana and team spearheaded the development of a closed-loop fractional attribution model that incorporates audio exposure data, such as podcasts and streaming. This innovative measurement framework has catalyzed a shift in media investment strategies among Horizon Next clients, advocating for a more diversified media mix that extends beyond traditional video environments to include rich audio content. Under her guidance, Horizon Next has seen a marked increase in media investment in the audio space, highlighting her role in leveraging podcasts and streaming as powerful channels for audience engagement and brand growth.

Sam Sanders is an award-winning reporter, radio host and podcaster. He currently cohosts Vibe Check from Stitcher Podcasts, with Zach Stafford and Saeed Jones. In 2022, The New York Times named Vibe Check one of the 10 best podcasts of the year and the show was awarded with a Signal Award in 2022 for best pop culture podcast. Previously, Sam Sanders launched and hosted the NPR radio show and podcast It’s Been A Minute, in which Sam was heard on over 400 public radio stations across the country every week, interviewing luminaries ranging from JLo to Maya Rudolph to Beto O’Rourke. Sanders was also a founding host of the NPR Politics Podcast while covering Election 2016 for NPR. Sanders founded the pop culture podcast Into It at Vulture and New York Magazine, and it was named a best podcast of the year in 2022 by both Spotify and VOGUE. Sanders has been named best podcast host by both the Ambies and the IHeart Podcast Awards, and his work has been honored by the LA Press Club, the National Association of LJBTQ+ Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists. His written work has appeared in New York Magazine, Politico Magazine, and the Columbia Journalism Review. Sanders has a bachelor’s degree from the University of the Incarnate Word and a Master’s degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and has taught radio at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Anthony Savelli is the SVP of YouTube & Influencer Advertising at Libsyn Ads. With years of experience guiding podcasters on best practices for monetization across audio & video platforms, Anthony now supports Libsyn’s YouTube, simulcast, and social media advertising efforts. Prior to working at Libsyn, he co-founded Podcast Ad Reps (PAR) in 2018 after recognizing an increased demand for monetization guidance amongst independent podcasters, and a lack of solutions for brands targeting niche audiences. Podcast Ad Reps was acquired by Libsyn in 2022 and is now part of Libsyn’s Ads.

Ben Shapiro is the co-founder and Editor Emeritus of The Daily Wire and host of “The Ben Shapiro Show,” the largest conservative podcast in the nation. In addition, he also hosts “Facts,” “The Search,” and “The Sunday Special.”

Matt Shapo is a product development and digital strategy leader who brings more than 20 years of experience overseeing the creation and multi-platform delivery of online content and internet advertising to his role as the Director of Digital Audio and Video at the IAB.

Before IAB, Matt served as VP of Digital Content for the All Access Music Group, a music marketing company and audio industry news publisher where he planned and led advertising, editorial, and other growth initiatives for AllAccess.com, a B2B website that delivers breaking news, data, and commentary to an audience of professional audio content creators, salespeople, and decisionmakers.

Over the course of his career, Matt has directed and measured the effectiveness of integrated advertising and email marketing campaigns for multiple leading record labels and radio companies. He has also led the ideation, development, launch, and continuous iteration of profitable digital media products, including an industry leading digital audio distribution platform that delivers new music and related content to a nationwide user base of radio stations, streaming services, tv networks, podcasters, and others.

Matt holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Relations from Tufts University and an M.F.A. in Radio, TV, and Film Production from Florida State University, and he is a devoted fan of his hometown Miami Dolphins. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their wonderful son Evan, in Randolph, NJ where he is an enthusiastic hiker and a proud member of the Randolph High School Marching Rams parents’ road crew.

Phil Simms, Super Bowl XXI MVP and 15-year NFL veteran, is the host of Simms Complete on Bleav. Simms covers all things NFL with his son and former NFL quarterback Matt. Phil is also a studio analyst for THE NFL TODAY on CBS. As an All-Pro quarterback, Simms led the New York Giants to two Super Bowl titles. Upon retirement, he established team marks for most passes completed and attempted for one game, season and career, most career touchdown passes and most 300-yard games in a career. Simms was the Giants’ first selection in the 1979 NFL Draft.

Matt Simms is a former NFL quarterback and host of Simms Complete on Bleav with his father, Phil. Matt played college football at the University of Tennessee, and was later picked up by the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2012. He also played on the Bills and Falcons. Matt runs his own quarterback training program called Simms Complete QB. The podcast features in-depth football analysis, quarterback insight and NFL game breakdowns.

Zach Stafford is an award-winning journalist, editor, and Tony award-winning producer of the Broadway musical A STRANGE LOOP. He is the co-host of the Stitcher/SiriusXM podcast VIBE CHECK, which the New York Times named one of the best podcasts of 2022. Stafford was the first Black editor-in-chief of THE ADVOCATE, served as the chief content officer of GRINDR, and was a journalist at THE GUARDIAN. He is the author of two books titled BOYS and WHEN DOGS HEAL, and currently serves on the board of directors of the American LGBTQ+ Museum. In 2019, he was included in the Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list and named as one of the 100 most influential Black people living today by The Root.

Hala Taha dubbed the “The Podcast Princess,” is the host of Young and Profiting (YAP) Podcast, frequently ranked as a #1 Business and Entrepreneurship podcast. Hala is also the founder and CEO of YAP Media, the premier podcast network for business and self-improvement podcasts with a full-service social media and podcast marketing agency for top podcasters, celebrities and CEOs. She is well-known for her engaged following and influence on Linkedin.


Young and Profiting podcast is a Top 100 podcast globally, and Hala has interviewed star-studded guests from the likes of Matthew McConaughey, Alex Hormozi, Deepak Chopra, Daymond John, Seth Godin and countless others. Her show was recognized as a 2022 Webby Honoree.

Veronika Taylor is Senior Vice President of the Creator Network at Acast, the world’s largest independent podcast company, which has a portfolio of more than 100,000 podcasts. She directs the company’s strategy for attracting the biggest and best podcasts all around the globe.


Prior to Acast, she spent a decade at Rodale, where she oversaw 100+ international partnerships of the company’s health and wellness magazine/digital brands, including Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Prevention, and Runner’s World.


Veronika received her bachelor’s from Vassar College and a masters in international affairs and journalism from Columbia University. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and three kids.

Sarah van Mosel is Senior Vice President of Podcast Strategy at SiriusXM. She is also on the board of Death by Duck Games. She was previously a Strategic Advisor and Executive Vice President of Podcast Revenue at iHeartMedia. Prior to joining iHeart, she was the Chief Revenue Officer of Stitcher.


A long-time champion of the industry and creator community, van Mosel held multiple executive roles within the podcast space. As Chief Podcast Sales and Strategy Officer at Market Enginuity, van Mosel built the monetization engine for podcasts from PRX, Radiotopia, The Moth, and TED Talks Daily. Prior to Market Enginuity, van Mosel launched the U.S. sales operations of Acast. Under her leadership, Acast signed partners such as Buzzfeed, Mic, First Look Media, Conde Nast, and many other independent creators. Before joining Acast, van Mosel was VP, Sponsorship at WNYC.


There, she built the ad tech and revenue infrastructure around podcasts including Radiolab, Freakonomics, and Here’s the Thing with Alec Baldwin, and launched public radio podcast network, WNYC Studios. She was a founding member of the IAB Podcast Working Group in 2013, which established best practices in podcast measurement, and served as the working group co-chair for many years.

Nick Viall is an LA-based award-winning podcast host, best-selling author, entrepreneur, and television personality. He is known for his weekly multi-episode podcast The Viall Files as well as his leading audio-first lifestyle media company with a focus on pop culture and relationship-themed shows. The Viall Files discusses relationships, pop culture, and provides unfiltered dating advice, and has amassed over 150 million downloads with an average of 5 million monthly listens.

Lizzie Widhelm is Senior Vice President, B2B Marketing and Ad Innovation at SiriusXM Media, the advertising arm of SiriusXM and the gateway for marketers to the largest digital audio advertising ecosystem in North America. There, she oversees B2B marketing, ad product marketing, creative agency Studio Resonate, and research and analytics divisions. Hired as Pandora’s first salesperson in 2006, Lizzie is a passionate storyteller with 15+ years of experience at the forefront of audio innovation. Under Lizzie’s leadership, SiriusXM Media supports the monetization of the most dynamic, cross-platform addressable audio offering for advertisers nationally, reaching over 150 million monthly listeners across streaming, satellite and podcasting. An Advertising Hall of Achievement inductee, Lizzie lives in Los Angeles with her family.