The WARC Podcast

Brands act as systems of meaning, with flexibility preferred over rigid guidelines. So what does 'complex systems management' mean for marketers? JP Castlin joins WARC's David Tiltman to break down the terminology of systems, the complexity of modern marketing and the need to find answers to that complexity.

WARC's new Global Ad Forecast maps out three scenarios for media spend as a result of war in the Middle East. WARC's James McDonald and Alex Brownsell make sense of the data, and what the current volatility will mean for advertisers in 2026.

System 3 thinking recognises that AI now functions as an external cognitive partner in human decision-making, not just a tool. Thinkerbell's Adam Ferrier and Matt Plant join WARC's Lena Roland to discuss its impact on the customer journey, brand fame, and the cognitive surrender trap.

The 2026 men's FIFA World Cup is expected to inject $10.5bn into the ad market, but media fragmentation is changing the game for advertisers. WARC's Alex Brownsell talks to Omar Oakes, founder of Oomph, about media trends covered in the new Global Ad Trends: FIFA World Cup 2026 report.

Thanks to Criteo for sponsoring this episode. There’s a lot of noise about AI, but here’s the news you need to know: Criteo is the first advertising company to integrate with OpenAI as part of ChatGPT’s advertising pilot, bringing commerce media into one of the fastest-growing AI platforms. If you want stay competitive in this new era of AI-driven shopping and advertising, Criteo’s new report: CommerceAI Trends 2026, is the essential intelligence you need to succeed. 

Level up your marketing in the AI era: check out Criteo’s free trends report here: www4.criteo.com/en/2026_commerceai_trends/

Dove's 'Real Beauty' platform has driven brand growth for more than 20 years. Now, it's won the Effective 100. Zoe Hamilton, Chief Strategy Officer for Unilever at Ogilvy London, and WARC's Amy Rodgers discuss why Real Beauty's impact proves the power of longevity in boosting marketing effectiveness.