Good Company with Michael Kassan

Epizody

• Mind the Rails: Bill Wise and Zvika Netter on Reclaiming Control and Transparency in Modern Advertising 20.05.2026 40min

  Bill Wise and Zvika Netter have spent decades building the invisible machinery that powers modern advertising — and now, with Mediaocean and Innovid under one roof, they’re creating a rare alternative to the industry’s increasingly closed ecosystems. In this candid conversation, the two architects of modern ad tech unpack the collapse of the traditional marketing funnel, the AI revolution reshaping media and creativity, and how they’re positioning advertisers to reclaim greater control, transparency, and independence in a market increasingly dominated by big tech.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Do the Hustle: Don Kurz on Resilience, Reinvention, and Trusting Your Gut 06.05.2026 37min

  Don Kurz has lived enough lives for three careers - from championship lacrosse fields to Studio 54 dance floors to Wall Street trading desks to the boardrooms of modern advertising - and in this candid conversation with Michael Kassan, he reflects on the chaos, reinvention, and hard-earned instincts that shaped them all. With the release of his new book, Do the Hustle, Don opens up about resilience, risk, leadership, and why the most valuable lessons rarely come from the wins, but from the moments when everything veers off script.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Between the Lyrics: Genius' Jackie Vignone on Music, Culture, and Connection 15.04.2026 32min

  Music is no longer just something we listen to... it’s something we interpret, share, and use to make sense of the world around us. In this episode, Michael Kassan sits down with Jackie Vignone, CRO of Genius, to explore how the platform has evolved from a lyrics destination into a powerful meeting point for artists, fans, and brands. Together, they unpack what music reveals about culture, why context now carries as much weight as content, and how the relationship between artists and audiences is evolving in a more participatory world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The Possible Effect: Christian Muche on the Currency of Time ... and Connection 01.04.2026 36min

  Christian Muche has built his career on a contrarian instinct: when the world pulls back, he builds opportunities that bring people together. From co-founding DMEXCO during the 2008 financial crisis to launching POSSIBLE in the middle of COVID, Christian has consistently bet on one idea: real progress happens when the right people are in the same room. In this episode, he joins Michael Kassan to unpack the limitations of the traditional conference model, why scale is no longer the defining metric of success, and how curated connections, not crowded stages, drive business forward. They explore what makes POSSIBLE different, the growing complexity of the marketing ecosystem, and why in a world of AI, remote work, and constant digital noise, showing up in person may be more valuable than ever. At the center of it all is a simple idea: “POSSIBLE” It is so much more than the name of an event, it’s a mindset. One that reframes complexity as opportunity and focuses the industry on what can be built, together.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The Business of Gratitude with Elery Pfeffer, CEO & Founder, NIFT 18.03.2026 33min

  What if the most powerful growth strategy isn’t another ad, but a simple “thank you”? Nift Founder and CEO, Elery Pfeffer, joins Michael Kassan to unpack why gratitude may be the most overlooked engine in modern commerce, how AI can create meaningful discovery instead of digital noise, and why the brands that recognize customers as people (not just wallets) will win the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Main Screen Energy: Serge Matta, President of Global Ad Sales, LG Ad Solutions on Turning Smart TVs into Command Centers 04.03.2026 38min

  Serge Matta, President of Global Ad Sales at LG Ad Solutions, is turning the TV from a passive box in the corner into the most valuable real estate in media - an interactive command center where content, data, and commerce meet in real time. In this episode, he joins Michael Kassan to talk candidly about making connected TV accountable to real business results, why independent measurement and true partnerships matter, how smarter TV operating systems could reshape how we shop and watch, and the same grounded values that drive his philanthropy off-screen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Neural Ties: Jeremy Fain and Dr. Aaron Andalman on Building Cognitiv and the Science of Predicting Consumer Behavior 18.02.2026 38min

  Childhood friends turned Cognitiv co-founders, Jeremy Fain and Dr. Aaron Andalman, went from zebrafish brains and ad-tech trenches to rewiring how brands predict human behavior in an AI-saturated marketplace. Together, they draw a sharp line between predictive and generative AI, show what first-party data can really do, and demystify context and “agents” so marketers can push performance further without losing the plot ... or their customers’ trust.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• En Route with Lynnwood Bibbens, Chairman & CEO, ReachTV 04.02.2026 40min

  Lynnwood Bibbens isn’t chasing viewers; he’s owning the traveler. While most brands struggle to capture this high-intent audience, he built ReachTV around winning that moment. From “dreaming-only” sessions that reshaped the company to rewiring the travel ecosystem with live sports, precision data, and relentless service, he lays out his entrepreneur’s code: bet on what others ignore, turn relationships into resilience when everything’s on the line, and stay fiercely disciplined about what matters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• From Kabul to Cable: Tom Freston on Taking Risks, Defining Culture, and Doing Good 21.01.2026 37min

  Tom Freston turned a bohemian streak, entrepreneurial hustle, and serious wanderlust into one of the most consequential runs in modern media. He co-founded MTV, busted through gatekeepers with an original DTC playbook, and built a creative-first house of brands that reshaped music, fashion, art, politics, and advertising. In this episode, the legendary architect of the MTV generation joins Michael to unpack losing it all and rebooting with a single self-help book, what it really takes to empower brilliant misfits and wield cultural power with humility, and what his journey from building a business in South Asia to steering a global media empire to helping fight extreme poverty reveals about balancing instinct, responsibility, and relentless curiosity in an age of disruption.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• CES 2026 Insider Edition 15.01.2026 44min

  Recorded at the 3CV Villa in the heart of CES 2026, this special episode curates standout insights from executives shaping how people watch, shop, pay, and belong. They unpack the biggest themes of CES, reflect on broader industry shifts, and share what they’re prioritizing as the year ahead takes shape. Along the way, they share practical insights for marketers navigating a world where media, commerce, and community are increasingly connected. It’s a thoughtful look at where the market is moving, and how to stay ahead. Featured Voices Include: Ali Miller, GM, Ad Products, Instacart Nili Klenoff, EVP, Mastercard Commerce Media Jeremi Gorman, Chief Revenue Officer, Fanatics Dan Robbins, Head of Growth & Strategy, PayPal Bethany Eppner, VP, Global Business Marketing, Fandom Jeff Lucas, Chief Revenue Officer, Tubi See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The Middle Child Advantage: SNAP's Ajit Mohan on Connection, Trust, and Scale 17.12.2025 40min

  Ajit Mohan, Chief Business Officer at Snap, joins Michael Kassan to unpack how a “middle child” platform can outmaneuver giants by protecting sacred consumer spaces and betting on deeper connection over infinite scroll. From reimagining advertising inside messaging to challenging marketing leaders to confront inertia, Ajit shares a clear-eyed vision for building relevance, growth, and humanity in the next era of media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The Alchemy of Story, Scale and Signal with Charlie Collier, President, Roku Media 03.12.2025 37min

  Entertainment industry veteran Charlie Collier joins Michael Kassan to unpack how Roku is transforming fragmentation into advantage – emerging as the modern “lead-in to all television,” proving interoperability beats walled gardens, and turning the home screen into a vibrant cultural canvas in its own right. Along the way, they dive into leadership philosophies, creative risk-taking, and the seismic shifts that will define who wins the next era of streaming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The Experience Economy Advantage: Tim Armstrong on the Future of Real-World Connection 19.11.2025 39min

  Michael sits down with Tim Armstrong - Google trailblazer, AOL reinventor, and Flowcode founder - to decode the next frontier of marketing: turning every real-world interaction into a high-impact, data-rich connection. It’s sharp, surprising, and packed with the kind of insights only a true transformation architect can deliver.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Plot Twists & Power Moves: Barry Josephson on the Art and Business of Storytelling 12.11.2025 44min

  From Enchanted to Bones to Kiss of the Spider Woman, Barry Josephson has mastered the art of turning imagination into impact. From overseeing a slate of Hollywood hits as President of Production at Columbia to producing culture-shaping stories at Josephson Entertainment, he joins Michael Kassan to unpack the alchemy of storytelling in a tech-driven world where creativity, courage, and curiosity collide to shape the future of entertainmentSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Bot or Not: Protecting What's Human with Stu Solomon, CEO, HUMAN 29.10.2025 35min

  From the Air Force to the frontlines of cybersecurity, HUMAN CEO Stu Solomon has built a career around one mission: protecting what’s human. In a world where AI bots increasingly outnumber people online, he joins Michael Kassan to explore how leaders can safeguard digital integrity, build trust, and lead with humanity in the next era of digital transformation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Purple Reign: CEO Jim Lanzone on Yahoo’s Next Act 15.10.2025 41min

  From Ask.com to Tinder to CBS Interactive, Jim Lanzone has spent his career redefining how we connect online. In this episode, he joins Michael to share how he’s reimagining a 30-year-old internet icon for a new era, leading Yahoo through a bold new chapter defined by innovation, trust, scale, and cultural impact.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• The Next Era of Brand-formance with Stephen Upstone, Founder + CEO, LoopMe 01.10.2025 35min

  Stephen Upstone has spent two decades proving that AI isn’t just a tool, it’s the new operating system for brand advertising. In this episode, the LoopMe Founder and CEO joins Michael to reveal why mobile apps and gaming are marketing’s most undervalued frontiers, how the mid-funnel is becoming the next big battleground, and what it takes to turn disruption into lasting competitive advantage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• Reinventing Retail, Redefining Media with Lisa Valentino, President, Best Buy Ads 17.09.2025 33min

  From Disney to Condé Nast, Lisa Valentino has helped shape some of the most iconic media businesses. And now, as President of Best Buy Ads, she’s turning a trusted retailer into a modern media powerhouse. In this episode, Lisa and Michael unpack how scale, data, and creativity are transforming retail media, why storytelling still matters in a metrics-obsessed world, and how AI, culture, and commerce are colliding to redefine the future of media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• No Half Measures with Jordan Zimmerman, Founder & Chairman, Zimmerman Advertising 03.09.2025 42min

  Buckle up as Jordan Zimmerman reveals how “brand-tailing,” hyperlocal precision, and AI-powered innovation fueled the rise of one of the world’s largest agencies. In this episode, Jordan proves that outcomes beat accolades and leaves listeners with actionable insights on grit, growth, and reinvention.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
• From Vinyl to Visa with Frank Cooper 30.07.2025 40min

  From music to media to fintech, Frank Cooper has built a career by seeing around corners, and now as CMO of Visa, he’s redefining what it means to build a global brand in a borderless, tech-driven world. In this episode, Frank shares how culture drives commerce, why AI must serve human creativity, and what it takes to lead through complexity with clarity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.