This episode of 'Let's Talk Marketing' explores the intersection of AI and workforce transformation. Host Katya Allison interviews Ben Tasker, a recognized leader in AI education and workforce transformation, about navigating what he calls the "AI between times"—the transitional period where we're moving from traditional ways of working toward an AI-integrated future. Ben shares insights on skills-based learning, the emerging AI economy, implementing AI in education and business, and why building your personal brand is more critical than ever. Listeners will discover practical strategies for upskilling and reskilling, how to use AI as a tool rather than a replacement, and why human skills remain essential even as AI capabilities advance.

Listeners will walk away with insights on:

• Skills-based learning allows mastery in shorter timeframes compared to traditional four-year degrees
• The AI economy creates new job opportunities while requiring continuous learning and adaptation
• AI implementation in classrooms can reduce cheating by 30% and increase learning speed by 50%
• Learning just a few AI skills can command a 52% salary premium in today's job market
• Companies investing in AI with proper learning plans see three times revenue growth
• Personal brand development is crucial as AI becomes the new search and recommendation engine
• The future requires balancing AI skills with human skills like communication, leadership, and empathy
• Upskilling means improving at your current role while reskilling means transitioning to adjacent fields
• Education and workforce will merge into learning ecosystems with constant skill currency exchange
• AI should be built into workflows, not worked around, for maximum effectiveness and adoption
• The "garbage in, garbage out" principle applies to both AI implementation and learning outcomes
• We're approaching an "uh oh moment" that will force thoughtful AI governance and ethical implementation

This episode of 'Let's Talk Marketing' explores Google's transformation from search engine to advertising monopolist. Host Katya Allison interviews Ari Paparo, author of "Yield" and ad tech veteran, about Google's systematic conquest of digital advertising. Paparo reveals how Google leveraged programmatic advertising to control both sides of ad transactions, effectively cornering the market through strategic acquisitions like DoubleClick. The conversation unpacks the antitrust implications, discusses AI's role in further consolidating power, and examines what this dominance means for marketers navigating attribution challenges, platform dependency, and the evolving landscape of connected TV and open web advertising.

Listeners will walk away with insights on:

• Google controls 90% market share in some advertising sectors outside search
• Programmatic advertising revolution allowed Google to dominate buy and sell sides simultaneously
• Antitrust trial revealed internal emails showing deliberate customer manipulation tactics
• AI-driven advertising platforms are pushing "give us your budget, we'll handle everything" approach
• Attribution measurement remains problematic across all platforms, not just Google
• Connected TV offers marketers more control and granular targeting than traditional channels
• Open web definition has expanded beyond banner ads to include streaming platforms
• Turning off marketing channels temporarily provides most accurate attribution testing
• Google Analytics 4 transition exemplifies how platform changes can hurt user experience
• Marketing scaling strategy should add platforms incrementally based on budget growth

This episode of 'Let's Talk Marketing' explores rebranding strategy with real-world insights. Host Katya Allison interviews Andrew Thomas, Head of Marketing at Archer Meat Snacks, about transforming Country Archer Provisions into a distinctive, consumer-focused brand. Thomas shares his journey from General Mills to leading Archer's comprehensive rebrand, revealing how data-driven consumer insights, internal stakeholder alignment, and strategic positioning created a bold new brand identity. Listeners will discover the critical importance of brand distinctiveness, the lengthy timeline of successful rebranding, and practical frameworks for evaluating when a rebrand is necessary versus optimizing existing assets.

Listeners will walk away with insights on:

• Consumer insights become more valuable when you're not the target customer yourself
• Meeting-heavy culture can stifle rapid growth companies' strategic thinking capabilities
• LinkedIn curation and pattern recognition help identify emerging marketing trends effectively
• Detaching trend discussions from business creates subconscious creative connections over time
• Traffic time and constrained environments often generate the most innovative marketing ideas
• Consumer segmentation studies require 6-8 months minimum for proper foundation building
• Brand books should extend beyond packaging to create versatile asset suites
• Internal selling requires different approaches for executives, boards, and key customers
• Visual distinctiveness testing through Google Images reveals competitive brand positioning gaps
• Sales team connectivity early in marketing careers strengthens overall business understanding