Episode 17: Hint Inc’ Founder, Kara Goldin’s Journey to Creating Values-Driven Brand
Entrepreneur, disrupter, and recent author, Kara Goldin is Founder & CEO of the fabulously successful Hint Inc., where she successfully created a category for unsweetened flavored water, transitioned from reliance on retail to opening D2C, and proved naysayers wrong at every turn.
Everything about Kara and the company she founded shows that doing well by doing good can be wildly successful. As our guest on this episode of The Media Roundtable, she shares lessons from her journey that led to her publishing best-selling book, Undaunted: Overcoming Doubts and Doubters.
In this episode, she shares how the genesis of her company and the successes along the way generally came from organic experiences that led to organic products and later profit. One of the key takeaways is that to truly make an impact, you’ve got to pick your shots instead of being all things to all people.
This is a welcome conversation in an age where societal pressures encourage us to dive into every conflict. For those of us trying to work out how to make a truly positive impact from the products and services we create to the voices we support, we would all do well to take a page from Kara.
Episode 16: The Unwinnable Culture War: A Conversation with Radio Host Steve Deace
Media Roundtable aims to provide views from left, right, and center, in hopes that through presenting perspectives different than our own, listening with intent to understand, and being open to opinions different than our own, we can begin to lower the level of polarization in this country. It’s to this end we invited Steve Deace to come on the show.
Deace is a conservative Christian broadcaster and his podcast The Steve Deace show is part of the Blaze family. On the surface, you’d label him a party-line conservative, but as you dig in deeper, you find he’s willing to go after people on his own side (R) and is a self-proclaimed member of “Team Elizabeth Warren” as it relates to treating social media as public utilities.
Steve shares some very strong views, diving into the role social platforms have played in making us more selfish, how we’ve built a system where profit incentivizes propaganda, and how politics has torn apart the fabric of American society, turning neighbors into enemies.
Deace takes several positions that do not align with the values of Media Roundtable, in particular his decision to reluctantly participate in our modern culture war and his corresponding tactics. But make no mistake, Deace speaks for millions of Americans and issues a dire warning to brands that weigh in on thorny political topics. Some choice quotes on the subject here:
“The next generation of Republicans will not protect business.”
“I have to warn folks in the corporate sector of the enmity you are creating. The reverb on this is going to be a son of a gun. Are you sure you want to go down this road?”
“These corporations are putting us in a position where you’re leaving us no choice but to punitively strike back.”
Recent actions by conservatives looking to answer groups like Media Matters and Sleeping Giants may prove Deace to be prescient.
As you determine your approach to Corporate Social Responsibility, the decisions you make are not to be taken lightly.
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Episode 15: Using Conflict to Bring Peace; How One Marketer Leans Into Conflicts to Bring People Closer Together
What happens when the first job of your political career results in the historical presidential win for Barack Obama? Consider a lifelong career in politics? What if your second political job had you thrown into the midst of an ever-deepening social divide after the loss of Hillary Clinton eight years later? For our guest this week, it spawned action.
This week on The Media Roundtable, we are joined by Ciaran O’Connor, Chief Marketing Officer at Braver Angels, an organization founded after the 2016 election, in order to bridge our divided country by engaging with communities directly.
O’Connor knows we have deep disagreements in this country but believes that's the way it's supposed to be; it’s how we interact with whom we disagree that needs to change. His organization aims to bring both sides together through media content, workshops, skills training, weekly civil debates, and local community alliances.
Braver Angel’s goal is to have 1% of the population committed to their cause, and they’re breaking all the rules in getting attention. As CMO for the organization, O’Connor ironically uses conflict to bring people together, and his approach is something from which all marketers can learn.
Many marketers actively avoid or ignore conflict altogether (especially the political variety), but Braver Angel faces it head-on; encouraging debate and finding peace by uncovering common ground in the process. O’Connor walks us through how he does it and shares some of the resources his organization has created to facilitate constructive conversations while addressing hot button issues. It’s not a popular path, but as a country, we need to stop making people “bad’ just because we disagree, and diving into the deep end may be just the place to start. Learn more in this week’s episode.
Episode 14: T-Pain Takes a Seat at The Media Roundtable and Buys Us a Drank
The Media Roundtable has played host to multiple Emmy Award-Winning Journalists, Media Titans, Podcast Personalities, and a former Speaker of the House. Still, we’ve never had a guest like T-Pain. This Rapper turned Singer turned Entrepreneur has won two Grammys, has collaborated with everyone from Lil Wayne to Taylor Swift, and disrupted the music industry with his innovative use of Autotune. Then he lost everything. Years later, T-Pain has reinvented himself by expanding his record label Nappy Boy Entertainment into a multifaceted media company with revenue streams including a Record Label, Gaming, Drifting, and his newest venture, Nappy Boy Radio. On this NSFW episode, T-Pain describes his journey and POV on the media landscape today as it impacts culture.
We cover the usual topics like the Attention Economy, Cancel Culture, and Social Media and expand into how he approaches marketing, his brand, and the lessons he’s learned going up the ladder of success, falling down, and going back up again. This is easily the most fun we’ve had on the show, but you will be even more impressed by his vulnerability, insights, and inspiration.
T-Pain lives the Media Roundtable values, and based on how persuasive his lyrics are (you’ll have to listen to get this one), we may have to ask him to rewrite it in his own persuasive style. T-Pain is on the cusp of launching his own show, the Nappy Boy Radio Podcast, with our friends at PodcastOne. Once you listen to this episode, you’ll know why.
Episode 13: Brad Berens PhD., IAB Editor-In-Chief Takes Us to School on the Impact of News on Brand Sponsors,
And Everything Else
“We don’t advertise in news content; it’s too controversial,” said a cacophony of brands just prior to the fall of our democracy. What happens to a society if the institution tasked with holding the powerful to account loses trust or retreats behind paywalls so that only the wealthiest in society have access to facts. This is the long-term risk as many brands abandon sponsor support of our Fourth Estate.
Irrespective of societal impact, forgoing news content may be to the immediate detriment of your business if you are in the avoidance camp.
This week on The Media Roundtable, we are joined by Brad Berens, Editor in Chief at the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), whose membership accounts for 86% of online advertising in the US, including podcasts.
The conversation begins with Brad discussing the recently released, News Trust Halo Report conducted by the IAB which found that 84% of consumers feel advertising within the news increases or maintains brand trust. He also shares his perspective on the limitations of keyword blocking, choosing brand values that don’t alienate people, and data suggesting advertising in the news can increase customer perception.
This discussion travels from the history of journalism to the present, and into the future. This includes the sudden rise (and potential fall) of Clubhouse, Facebook’s firm step into audio, and how the new privacy standards surrounding Apple will affect brand advertisers. Brad is not only one of the best-informed minds in our industry, but he also brings keen insights to bear. Among them, he describes a likely future where many corporations do not survive. This and many more insights are now available for free, in this week’s episode of The Media Roundtable. Futuristorian.
Episode 12: Emmy Award-Winning Journalists Crack The Code To Reporting The News Without the Venom
As values-driven brands seek to “Do well by doing good,” they may find themselves biting off more than they can chew when they start making public statements about political issues, as many are experiencing following new Georgia Election laws. We covered ad nauseam the recent findings from the Edelman Trust Barometer, where corporations are more trusted for competence and ethics than government, media, and even non-profits. But how far should they go in weighing in on controversial matters of public concern? With companies to run and only so many hours in the day, where should they draw the line? How long can they maintain that public trust if they get pulled into the divisions that have been plaguing our country in recent years?
Among other topics, this is one of the areas discussed on this week’s episode of The Media Roundtable, where we are joined by Emmy award-winning journalists Jill Wagner and Carlo Versano. Jill is an anchor for Financial News Network at Cheddar, where Carlo is a Senior Producer. Together they Co-host Need2Know, a daily consumer-focused newsletter, and podcast. Jill and Carlo seem to have found a formula for reporting the news, sharing perspectives, but removing the vitriol that can so easily descend into division, and they do this every day on the Need2Know podcast.
As the duo sits ringside on business news and issues that keep executives up at night, they bring a unique perspective as practitioners committed to advancing truth and civility in journalism.
Episode 11: How The World’s Largest Brands and Agencies are Taking on Brand Safety
This week, Dan sits down with two masters of media; Marla Kaplowitz and Rob Rakowitz. Marla is CEO of the 4A’s, the advertising and trade association that works with over 700 agencies (including Oxford Road). Rob is the Initiative Lead at GARM, a chapter within the World Federation of Advertisers.
Between these two groups, they support over 90% of global marketing spend, including every brand you can think of, including; Airbnb, P&G, Pepsi Co, Ikea, Kelloggs, CAA, Unilever, General Mills, Mastercard, GM, Adidas, Mars, McDonald’s, Nike, Spotify, T-Mobile, Volkswagen, and hundreds more. Tasked with addressing the largest problems facing marketers, brand safety is a primary focus.
The discussion includes doing well by doing good through marketing, the importance of news, and the future of the industry. If you want a view from the top, this episode provides specific advice for brands and agencies and outlines the tools and resources to help companies live their values while protecting their brands.
Episode 10: hugh Hewitt, A Republican you should sponsor
When Joe Biden said, “We need a Republican Party. We need an opposition that’s principled and strong,” he was talking about Hugh Hewitt. Hugh is an enigma. The Hugh Hewitt Show, through Salem Communications, reaches 2M+ listeners per week. Hugh is also the President of the Richard Nixon Foundation and proud to talk about his relationship with the former president, his affection for Mitch McConnell, and his three Trump Tattoos (one for each time the other former President insulted him publicly), whom he still voted for twice. But he’s equally proud of his relationship with personalities that many Republicans despise, including Al Sharpton, Joy Reid, and Dr. Fauci, who is Hugh’s favorite person in government.
Hugh is not your typical conservative talk show host. He’s never done a show about Cancel Culture. He refuses to gaslight his listeners for ratings, doesn’t interrupt, and never asks “Gotcha” questions whether he agrees with his guest or not. He chooses to appear on MSNBC over Fox and is a regular on Meet The Press. People who have known Hugh over the years will attest to his humility and fundamental decency in the way he treats all people. Perhaps this is why when he’s slandered, it is usually Democrats who are first to rush to his defense, as did Ron Klain in the not-too-distant past.
Hugh’s focus is on being “NPR” for Republicans and, we discuss what that means at length in this week’s episode of The Media Roundtable Podcast. When you listen, you’ll hear pearls that can help guide the way you program, sponsor, or treat the next person you see. "You can be wrong and not rotten, you can be right and awful. That's the big distinction in this world. I want no part if right and awful, I just want people who are level-headed." Hugh believes every content producer needs to “counter-program, within [their] program” inviting opinions differing from [their] own and giving them the floor. He advises broadcasters to “Get out of the Professional Wrestling Business.”
Bringing it back around to advertising, Hugh provides a call to action we can all get behind: “find the good and buy ads on it.” I hope you’ll give Hugh the same courtesy and consideration he gives those who disagree with him. If nothing else, it’s a fun conversation that folks on both sides of the aisle can benefit from hearing.
Episode 9: The World’s First 100% Brand Safe Podcast Episode
This week on the Media Roundtable, Dan shares the blueprint to achieve 100% effectiveness in brand-safety. As a leader in the Podcast space, so many brands and content creators ask how our mission to advance truth and civility in journalism is really achievable. Advertisers always ask us, “How can we be sure what we are sponsoring won’t be susceptible to controversy.” In partnership with AdFontes, since launching the Media Bias Chart for Podcasts, lots of networks are now asking, “what does a brand-safe podcast even sound like?” This week we answer the question once and for all.
For the first time ever, we’ve conducted a live content demonstration of a 100% brand-safe show. So sit back, relax, and enjoy as we show you how it’s done. Tune in to hear the details on how your brand can sponsor the type of shows that will never cause any potential negative feedback in the marketplace.
Episode 8: Harder Than Sending a Rocket to Pluto, Former NASA Space Engineer and current CEO of Ground News Addresses Challenge of Media Bias
This week on Media Roundtable, Dan interviews former NASA space engineer, youngest and first female Vice President for Rolls Royce, and current CEO and co-founder of the news comparison website Ground News, Harleen Kaur, to discuss her solution to bias in the media.
The topic of media bias hits close to home for Kaur. Having been born in India, she describes a world where misinformation leads to mob violence and lynchings, EVEN TODAY. Living abroad before coming to the US, she describes the toll that state-sponsored media and unchecked bias can take on a nation. For Kaur, January 6th should be a wake-up call to stop using the news to spread a narrative.
Kaur shares how she used her engineering mind to solve the problem of identifying media bias and evaluating news stories from a more diverse, global perspective. Between sending rockets to space and fighting media bias, she finds the latter to be much, much harder.
Ground News’ comparison platform showcases how media outlets across the political spectrum and around the world are presenting stories, and then classifies those sources according to third-party evaluations of political bias. According to Kaur, “If you were to just rely on a single news source or single set of news sources in that settled spectrum, then you'll miss out on the big picture.” While many may think media slant occurs predominantly from one political position, Kaur believes both sides are equally guilty of injecting bias into the stories they tell.
“Storytelling is SO important in good journalism. It’s not just about putting in the facts. It’s about having an opinion based on their training, based on research, and what they understand of the issue. A fair opinion is not just purely there to enrage you or make you angry or click it. That’s not helping anybody.”
We couldn’t agree more. As consumers, we need to be aware of when this is happening, and as marketers, we need to support good journalism.
That’s what we’re committed to doing with this podcast and with the Media Roundtable, mobilizing Marketers to support truth and civility in journalism. With the help of leaders like Harleen Kaur and her work with Ground News and Ad Fontes’ work with Podcast Bias Chart, we hope to help marketers find a balance between their brand values and business objectives. Contact our team to find out more.
Episode 7: Much more than an “Idiot Box.” NPR’s Media Critic, Eric Deggans Joins The Media Roundtable to Discuss TV.
This week on The Media Roundtable, Dan sits down with NPR’s media critic, Eric Deggans. Much more than an “idiot box,” Deggans argues TV is not just important; it is the “heartbeat of society.”
Deggans KNOWS television at a level 99.9% of the population simply can’t. He’s been a TV critic since 1997 and has had"a front-row seat to the industry exploding, first with cable tv then the streaming explosion, ”where he sees parallels in the exponential growth in the volume of available programs.
“TV is important because it's both a mirror and a catalyst in society that allows us to look at why something is popular, who it's aimed at or why a show gets made, doesn't get made, renewed or canceled.” He believes television “ultimately tells us things about society and the conversations we're having about family, romance, employment, race, and gender."
This comes through in many ways across all forms of media, but specifically, as it relates to tv, Deggans walks us through a few examples of where progress has been made and where it still has far to go. Further to the point, "the attention economy is the media economy now" and believes his role is "to help people figure out when something is trying to generate or grab their attention in a way that's inauthentic or damaging or misleading or if something is really truly worth their time and attention." With the current state of polarization, misinformation, disinformation, and hostility in the media, we couldn't agree more.
Episode 6: Great Minds Don’t Always Think Alike - Bipodisan Shows How Media Can Help Us Heal with Jean Card and Robert Schlesinger
This week onMedia Roundtable, Dan interviews two guests who personify what we’re trying to achieve on this podcast.Jean Cardworked as a top Republican communicator, including cabinet-level speechwriting in the George W. Bush administration, whileRobert Schlesingerbuilt a career as a journalist and Managing Editor for Opinion at U.S. News & World Report. On paper, their political views are miles apart, yet Jean and Robert can find common ground based on mutual respect and a 30+ year friendship since College. On their podcast,Bipodisian, Jean and Robert meet every week to engage in political conversations civilly. In a world where dehumanizing people on the other side passes for intelligent political discussion, the two show us how it should be done in this interview.
While they know finding common ground in politics is not a recipe for massive ratings, Jean and Robert discuss sacrificing short-term gains for the long-term future they’re trying to build, as Dan says,“it's ok that this will not be the most sensational - we're trying to build a house of bricks.”
Toward the end of the conversation, Jean maps out how the media industry’s transformation has lowered the bar for journalism. When the news was printed and channels were limited, the quality was the expectation. Today, “everyone is a columnist” all they need to do is create their platform, present company included...
This episode sets the bar for content creators to approach the potentially polarizing subject matter with grace and inclusion. For marketers, it’s an example of the type of content that anyone can endorse. And for humans, it’s a model we can all lean into with those around us who have a different opinion or perspective from our own.
Episode 5: What Makes Endorsements Work? A Radio Legend and Advertising Oracle Show Us The Way
This week on Media Roundtable, we shift to a more traditional “roundtable format”, with Dan interviewing two veteran media practitioners who describe how to use endorsements to change the course of a business. Bill Handel, is the polarizing, yet wildly entertaining morning drive host on Los Angeles Talk-Radio powerhouse, KFI, and the host of the top, nationally syndicated legal advice show in the country, Handel on The Law. Joining Dan and Handel is Scott MacDonell, former Head of Marketing for LegalZoom, and current Co-Founder and CMO of BizCounsel.
This trio has a lot of history. Dan used to sell advertising space for Bill’s radio station in LA, and Scott was one of Dan’s first real clients, buying ad space on Bill’s show. While the story of how they all came together years ago is almost a podcast episode in itself, the wisdom that has been acquired by these three since they first met, makes this episode a workshop for brand and performance marketers alike.
Scott provides the client’s perspective. Cutting his teeth at Leo Burnett in Chicago, MacDonell gives listeners his blueprint for how to use the copy as a tool for lightening growth. He also discusses how his buying strategy has changed over the years given the shifting political climate.
Bill Handel provides an influencer’s perspective. Having read advertising copy that has transformed hundreds of companies on air for more than 30 years, Handel says the audience can tell immediately if a host is just reading ads to get paid, or if they believe in a product. He has credibility with his audience and with those who run ads on his shows and doesn’t sugarcoat how much has changed in the process of approving brand advertisers.
When these three first met, the advertising landscape was a different world. Hosts who determined whether or not they would promote a business, now brands are approving (or disapproving) hosts and we dive into the complexity of meeting your business objectives while honoring your brand values. It’s a complex topic on most of our minds and who better to dive into it than these three who have been walking that line for decades together.
Episode 4: Frank Sesno Says, "The State of the Fourth Estate is a Mess; Questions are the Answer"
Building on last week’s episode with Carl Cameron from Fox News, part two offers a behind-the-scenes look at journalism’s devolution on Media Roundtable, with Frank Sesno, the Emmy Award-Winning, CNN Washington Bureau Chief, and Director at George Washington University. Frank IS journalistic integrity in human form. He presided over the end of an era at CNN and bemoans the current state of the fourth estate, declaring, “It’s a Mess.”
Frank discusses his experience as a career journalist and the decline in focus on facts before ratings while recounting his direction to reporters during his time at CNN, asking them to “Avoid two words when live on the air, ‘I Think.’” Frank believes we lack curiosity in the media and in our culture, prioritizing assertions and accusations over investigation. Diving into the on-going challenge of urgency over accuracy, he says we use “Too many exclamation points and not enough question marks.”
Frank acknowledges both sides are to blame for our polarized state, with bib throwers on the right and the existence of left-wing media bias, which has been met with defensiveness instead of accountability. Going on to add he “loves opinion”, but in order to have a healthy, engaged, and informed culture, opinion should be based on fact, or it becomes very dangerous. Toward the end of the episode, Frank has strong thoughts on the difficulty brands face to reach a divided populace but sees a profound opportunity for those who will embrace a values-based approach and develop "over the horizon" strategies about who they want to be and why.
As the author of, Ask More: The Power of Questions to Open Doors, Uncover Solutions, and Spark Change, it’s evident Frank is passionate about questions, making a compelling case for curiosity as a cure for what ails us. You can hear more from him in his new PBS special, Peril & Promise, as well as on his podcast, Healthy You: Surviving a Pandemic. You will leave this episode enlightened but also sad that Frank may be a remnant of a bygone era of journalism that truly sought truth with humility. The silver lining here is that Frank plays a crucial role in helping train journalists of the future through his work with GWU.
Episode 3: State of the Fourth Estate, Part I: Carl Cameron, 20 Year Fox News Veteran, Chief White House Correspondent
In this week’s edition of The Media Roundtable, Dan sits down with “Campaign Carl,” Chief White House Correspondent and 20 Year Fox News Veteran, Carl Cameron.
Cameron takes us behind the scenes from 1996 when he started at Fox News and the change from an honest pursuit of “fair and balanced” to the present self-proclaimed, approach to “Standing up for what’s right”. Carl has interviewed every US President since Ronald Reagan and pulls no punches in this candid and sometimes scathing retelling of his experience.
While Fox may be the network that everyone loves to hate, we discuss the pervasive challenges in the Fourth Estate. As our journalistic institutions become increasingly partisan, chasing attention and competing with infinite online competitors, the loss of trust in media, and the inability to hold power to account is now causing cracks in the system and putting our republic in jeopardy. Carl describes the broader issue as “malicious partisanship of lies mixed with a business model that is solely focused on the numbers.”
As brands retreat from the news format and quality journalism retreats behind paywalls, we have to wonder what happens to a country where only the most wealthy citizens can afford quality journalism. As the attention economy drives ad-supported media in a race to the bottom, polarization, misinformation, and violence increase.
It may be time for the business community to step in and raise the bar on ad-supported news and opinion journalism.
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Episode 2: David French(ism) Takes a Seat at the Media Roundtable
In this episode, David French opens up about threats he and his family received in the wake of being a Republican who publicly denounced Trump, shows us how increased cultural fragmentation has ignited a sense of real threat to our country, and calls us to choose the kind of people and brands we want to support for reasons we can defend in the public square of today's society.
Episode 1: The Knights of the Media Roundtable
In episode one, Knights of the Media Roundtable, we assemble our Media Roundtable Founding Partners, Shane Pittson, Head of Growth Marketing at Quip, Vanessa Otero, Founder & CEO at Ad Fontes Media, Bob Bardone, Director of the Cambridge Negotiation Institute, Keith Allred, Director of the National Institute for Civil Discourse, and Jennifer Laine, Executive Director of the Media Roundtable for a panel discussion about the divided state of our union, sharing our vision and plans to make positive change.
Season Two
Episode 13: The John Batchelor Show Interviews Dan Granger
Civility in podcasting and broadcasting is good business for clients, customers and talent. - Dan Granger, Founder & CEO of Oxford Road
Episode 12: On The Media’s Bob Garfield on Election Results, Media Bias, and the Culpability of Brands
Less than 24 hours from the polls closing, legendary NPR host and decorated journalist Bob Garfield joins us in a state he describes as “filterless and at my wits’ end”. Beyond being an award winning Radio Host, Podcaster, six time book Author, Bob is also the founder of the Purple Project for Democracy - a non-partisan coalition, campaign and movement to rediscover and recommit to our democratic values and institutions. During our conversation, Bob shared his exhaustion and disenchantment with seeking to understand and find common ground with those who support, “Trumpism”. His descriptions of those on the Trump side of the polarization spectrum ranged between “having much to answer for” and “blood on their hands”. He had similarly harsh words for sponsors of Fox News. Not unlike last week’s interview with Newt Gingrich, Bob is someone who spent part of the discussion talking about past efforts to find common ground but who generally sees both sides of the spectrum reaching a place of incompatibility (my words, not his). Like Newt, Bob is in what he sees as a fight to save democracy. He also believes in the impact that Brands can make through their stewardship of ad dollars. The other area where they both seem to agree is in the idea that I’m living in a fantasy world. My belief is that reconciliation is possible, but only if one side will have the humility to lay down their weapons and take responsibility for the problem. Then it will be safe for the other side to follow suit. As we move through our next series of decisions about what programs we will sponsor and how we will respond as citizens to already disputed election results, you will have to choose which reality you believe.
Episode 11: Newt Gingrich on Sponsorship, Polarization, and Achieving Unity “After the War” - This Week on The Divided States of Media
Pro Tip: When speaking about polarization with Newt Gingrich within seven days of a Presidential Election, prepare for a wild ride. Our thirty-five minutes together is all at once the shortest, most dense, and perhaps most consequential discussion we've had on this series. At 77, Newt is at once the storied Republican Warrior, fighting an existential threat with this election as the fate of America hangs in the balance, and concurrently the softened Elder Statesman, calling conservatives to listen and seek common ground with the other side. In our short time, he offers his thoughts on the history of our divisions, systemic racism, and prescriptions for how businesses, media, and politicians can pull us out of our "cycle of cynicism and negativism." Newt’s comparison of today to the pre-Civil War era, where the prospect of war became inevitable, is concerning, to say the least. As a historian and political practitioner, few people have known more about the occupants of our Highest Office. We explore our contrasting expectations of Trump's behavior, George Washington's position on parties, and the secret to Newt’s success in collaborating with Bill Clinton. For extra credit, he regales us with a story about the time Richard Nixon gifted him a strategy that later resulted in the Republican Revolution, his position as House Speaker, and perhaps a clue that explains our union's current state. If it makes you feel better, we also talk about podcasts. "For the country's sake, it would be really helpful if starting in December or January, people could just listen to each other." Chances are, something in this podcast will cause some to take offense, but conversation across differences is really the point, isn’t it? Whether you love or hate the man or his policy positions, this interview is an education.
Episode 10: The Power of Marketers To Shape Media Products - With Vox Co-Founder Matthew Yglesias.
Matthew Yglesias represents a rare breed of journalists: both cerebral and compassionate, partisan and intellectually honest, progressive and unabashedly patriotic. Matthew is also Co-Founder of left-leaning Vox Media, signer of the now-infamous Harper’s Letter on cancel culture, and author of the new book, One Billion Americans - The Case for Thinking Bigger. Part of his promotional strategy was to enter remarkably civil interviews with the likes of Ben Shapiro and Glenn Beck. This week, Matthew joins us on The Divided States of Media to discuss how we can engage our differences across the political divide and find common points of agreement — which he has successfully achieved in the marketing of his book. He also describes the influence that advertisers have on the media products our nation has gone from devouring to choking on: “The advertising business fundamentally decides what kinds of media are worth creating.” His advice to the advertising community: “think about the consequences of your actions and the power that you have to shape the media going forward.” For marketers feeling sidelined by the vitriolic nature of modern media, this episode is your rallying cry to be part of the solution. Listening to Matthew not only makes you smarter, but it’s also a fun ride. Let me know what you think.
Episode 9: Mainlining Controversy: Carly Fiorina talks us through media’s contribution to the polarized state of our nation and how leaders can turn things around by taking the long view.
During her time with HP, Carly Fiorina was pushing Stakeholder Capitalism before it was cool. In this hour plus conversation, she details her philosophy, “market share grows when customers and employees believe they are doing with a company that is principled.” It’s what she calls, “enlightened self-interest”. More than virtue signaling, she breaks down the ways the media is failing its customers by allowing “entertainers masquerading as journalists” to rile us up, instead of putting in the time and energy to hear from both sides, encouraging collaboration and problem solving to occur over time. She also explains how this correlates with distrust in media reaching an all time high. My conversation with Carly was refreshingly clarifying, if sobering. It’s a call to action for our industry to do the hard work, even if that feels like swimming upstream in our present climate. I hope you’ll make time for this one.
Episode 8: Conversation with Director, David Smick about his New Film, “Stars and Strife” with a Call to Arms for Media and Brands
This week on The Divided States of Media, Dan sits down with David Smick, Director of Stars and Strife, a new film that should be required viewing for all Americans as an antidote to the hate and divisions that plague us. The film was co-produced by Barry Levinson (think Rain Man, Good Morning Vietnam, The Natural) and includes interviews with Rahm Emanuel, James Baker, Leon Panetta, Alan Greenspan, and a host of other powerhouse contributors. Stars and Strife offers a history lesson in how our society has become so addicted to hate, the media’s role in the decline of civility, and the antidote to what ails us. In this interview, we dive deeper into the ways that we as business leaders and people in media can do our part to help heal as a nation. The film will bring you to tears, while this interview will give you a deeper understanding.
Episode 7: Drinking from a firehose with Jason Calacanis: polarization, racism, capitalism and how we can find a better future.
Last night, I asked my 15-year-old daughter to watch the debate with my wife and me so she might better understand major issues during our national inflection point from different perspectives. At the end, I apologized for exposing her to the dumpster fire that ensued. If the dangers of our polarized republic were ever unclear, the “debate” was like a Superbowl ad for our inability to work through differences in a constructive way.
The timing of all this is strange poetry, because this week on The Divided States of Media, I talk with Jason Calcanis, Podcaster, Angel Investor (he turned a $100k investment into over $100 million), and philanthropist, who is delightfully outspoken about the economics of polarization and manages to provide a refreshing case for American optimism.
Jason gives us a tech mogul’s view into the causes and solutions around the issues that plague us. He makes a sound argument for why podcasts are the answer to Media’s suicidal tendencies and has practical solutions for how the private sector can join forces to solve some of this country’s most difficult problems. For those of us who find our spirits hungover from yesterday’s gong show, Jason is a welcome breath of fresh air…
Episode 6: How Biased is a Media Outlet? Are you getting facts or opinion? We chat with Vanesa Otero from Ad Fontes Media to find out just that.
This one’s for the data geeks. Marketers — wouldn’t it be great if you had a simple chart that could show how fair and objective the media you’re sponsoring truly is? This week on The Divided States of Media, Dan sits down with Vanessa Otero, founder and CEO of Ad Fontes Media. Using a weighting algorithm, her company’s Interactive Media Bias Chart®, objectively rates media outlets based on bias and reliability. Vanessa and her team’s efforts are helping advertisers and agencies get a clearer picture of how and where they invest their ad dollars.
Episode 5: According to Katie Herzog, getting to know your neighbors is the key to a more unified country and we agree with her.
“Quit your job and start a podcast!” This week on The Divided States of Media, Dan sits down with someone who actually “walks the walk” — Katie Herzog, reporter & Co-Host of the podcast “Blocked and Reported”. As a former journalist and new Podcaster, Katie discusses freedom and gratitude for independence amid shifting journalistic norms, and why after being canceled and harassed multiple times, she made the switch from traditional journalism (as a writer for The Stranger) to podcasting. From her show to her neighborhood, Katie’s on a mission to bring us all together — and that journey begins with empathy.
Episode 4: After time at CNN & Fox News, Steve Krakauer shares how to recognize truth and find middle ground.
“Media”, the Fourth Estate, is meant to act as an independent watchdog for the other branches of government. But these days, our media system is as polarized as our nation. This week on The Divided States of Media, Dan sits down with media executive, journalist, and founder of Fourth Watch, Steve Krakauer. Having worked for both Fox News and CNN, Steve gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the media works, shares his thoughts on how we got here, and provides a plan to get back to where we need to be. Steve’s insights can help marketers and American citizens as a whole navigate through today’s divided media landscape.
Episode 3: Jordan harbinger on who’s hijacking media, fifth state journalism and the importanc of education
This week on The Divided States of Media, Dan sits down with fellow Michiganian and Wall Street lawyer-turned-podcast interviewer, Jordan Harbinger. As a podcaster who’s interviewed everyone from Kobe Bryant to Ray Dalio, Jordan has a strong word of caution to the media system as it stands, and a warning to all if we don’t turn things around soon.
Episode 2: Neal Simon Speaks to balancing business, politics & the “hidden majority’ of america
This week on The Divided States of Media, Dan sits down with entrepreneur, political figure, and author of “Contract to Unite America”, Neal Simon. Dan and Neal discuss how by being unaffiliated with any political party, Neal was able to lead a charge to unite the country and bring pragmatism back to Washington and Madison Ave. For marketers dealing with a seemingly polarized consumer base, Neal shares practical insights to gain an edge by reaching out to the “Hidden Majority”.
Episode 1: Our Collaboration with the national institute for civil Discourse
This week, we launch our second podcast season: The Divided States of Media.
70% of customers believe it’s important for brands to take a stand on political and social issues.
Over half of Americans think executives who donate to the two major political candidates in this year’s election SHOULD BE FIRED — 31% for Trump and 22% for Biden.
62% of Americans are afraid to make their political views public.
America is fractured by extreme partisanship and brands are stuck in the middle.
How can you do the most good for your business and stakeholders without exploiting the divisions in this country?
Oxford Road has joined with the National Institute for Civil Discourse to help, starting with the re-launch of our podcast, Oxford Road Presents: The Divided States of Media.
In the season 2 kick-off episode, Dan sits down with Keith Allred, the Executive Director of the National Institute for Civil Discourse, to discuss the increasingly polarized American landscape and the steps that leaders in media and marketing can take to heal the divides while building their business.