Adspeak

How do you maintain brand momentum when tariffs spike, supply chains collapse, and private equity demands quick returns?

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, Audrey Kemp sits down with John Solomon, Ex CMO at Therabody and currently CMO at Mozilla, to explore how bold marketing decisions can drive growth during periods of uncertainty. Drawing on his experience leading marketing at Therabody, John shares why brands shouldn't automatically cut marketing spend during economic pressure and how strategic investments can create long-term momentum.

He explains the shift from thinking about brand versus performance marketing to demand creation versus demand capture, offering a framework that resonates with investors and leadership teams. John also discusses building specialist agency partnerships, developing an agile in-house creative studio, leveraging celebrity collaborations authentically, and measuring both hard and soft marketing metrics.

From navigating tariffs and supply chain disruptions to making asymmetric bets on innovation, this conversation offers practical lessons for ambitious marketers leading through change.

What You'll Learn:
How to reframe marketing budgets to private equity stakeholders by shifting language from "brand marketing vs. performance marketing" to "demand creation vs. demand capture"
Why cutting performance marketing spend instead of brand spend is the counterintuitive move that allows retailers to thrive
The asymmetric bet framework for pitching bold creative ideas
How to build a specialist agency model instead of relying on an all-knowing AOR
The in-house creative studio strategy for content velocity
How to use science-backed differentiation as a moat in crowded categories
Why measuring soft metrics alongside hard KPIs matters for stakeholder confidence

About the Guest:
John Solomon is the ex-Chief Marketing Officer at Therabody and currently CMO at Mozilla. He brings over 15 years of experience in navigating complex market challenges, from supply chain disruptions and tariff pressures to private equity dynamics. John has established himself as a strategic marketer who refuses to compromise brand investment during crises. Previously at Beats by Dre, he brings deep expertise in building cultural relevance and driving growth through innovative creative partnerships and omnichannel expansion.

Host and Guest Resources:
John Solomon on LinkedIn
Therabody Website
Mozilla Website
Audrey Kemp on LinkedIn
Courier Website
ADWEEK Website

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What if your biggest competitive advantage wasn't outspending your CPG rivals, but out-weirding them?

In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Rebecca Stewart sits down with Jen Zeszut, CEO and founder of Goodles, to explore how a bootstrapped startup transformed one of the most established categories in grocery retail. Jen shares why taste, not health claims, became the foundation of the brand, how bold creativity helped Goodles compete against industry giants, and why taking calculated risks often delivers bigger rewards than playing it safe.

The conversation covers building a mission-driven culture, creating marketing that sparks attention and conversation, and scaling a business without relying on traditional agency support. Jen also reveals the unconventional tactics that helped Goodles win retail distribution, grow rapidly, and turn mac and cheese into a cultural phenomenon while staying focused on joy, purpose, and innovation.

What You'll Learn:
How to identify billion-dollar opportunities in "sleepy" categories
The "Lead with Yum" principle for health-forward products
Why you must out-weird competitors when you can't out-spend them
How to build a category-growth motion, not just share-stealing
The operational mandate for scaling creative culture
How to navigate retail without industry connections

About the Guest:
Jen Zeszut is the Founder and CEO of Goodles, the fast-growing CPG brand reinventing the mac and cheese category through bold branding, nutritional innovation, and unconventional marketing. A seasoned business leader and product marketer, she has more than 15 years of experience driving brand growth, launching products, and leading high-performing teams. Having founded four companies across software and consumer goods, Jen combines creative thinking with strategic execution to build mission-driven brands that challenge convention and deliver extraordinary results.

Guest Resources:
Jen Zeszut on LinkedIn
Goodles Website
ADWEEK Website

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In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Brittaney Kiefer sits down with Roy Fleeman to explore how Vacation transformed sunscreen from a functional necessity into an immersive lifestyle brand. Roy shares how the team uses nostalgia, sensory design, and meticulous attention to detail to create products that feel joyful and collectible. They discuss why brands should be informed by trends without being defined by them, how packaging can become a powerful storytelling tool, and why designing every customer touchpoint matters.

From fragrances and campaign concepts to shipping experiences and social content, Roy reveals how Vacation builds cultural relevance by creating moments that customers want to share, remember, and revisit long after their vacation-inspired purchase.

What You'll Learn:
How to reposition a commodity category by identifying emotional gaps
The "This Not That" design framework for authentic brand differentiation
Why broad nostalgia outperforms decade-specific retro aesthetics
How to weaponize packaging inconsistency as a collectibility strategy
The power of hyper-specific moment marketing to drive product narrative
How to design every touchpoint as an immersive brand experience

About the Guest:
Roy Fleeman is VP of Design at Vacation, the leisure-enhancing sunscreen brand that's revolutionizing how consumers think about sun protection. With a background in advertising and brand design, Roy has spearheaded Vacation's distinctive visual identity, transforming sunscreen from a clinical necessity into a coveted lifestyle product through meticulously crafted packaging, nostalgic aesthetics, and immersive brand experiences.

Guest Resources:
Roy Fleeman on LinkedIn
Vacation Inc Website
ADWEEK Website

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In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, Jeremy Fain, CEO and Co-founder of Cognitiv, explores how deep learning is reshaping the future of advertising. Jeremy explains why the true power of AI in marketing comes from leveraging massive data sets, predictive algorithms, and real-time optimization, not just generative tools. He breaks down how marketers can use first-party data, granular audience signals, and continuous learning loops to improve targeting, personalize creative, and drive stronger campaign outcomes.

From predicting creative performance before impressions are purchased to unlocking incremental gains at scale, Jeremy shares how brands can turn AI into a competitive advantage and help marketing teams operate more effectively in an increasingly data-driven advertising landscape.

What You'll Learn:
Why deep learning is fundamentally a big data problem, not a creative tool
How to position media as the middle, not the end of your marketing process
The log-level data framework for maximum algorithm performance
How to predict creative performance before you buy the impression
The competitive advantage of 3% incremental improvements at scale
How to deploy AI as an efficiency multiplier, not a headcount reducer

About the Guest:
Jeremy Fain is the CEO and Co-Founder of Cognitiv and a thought leader in AI and deep learning applications for advertising, known for his expertise in leveraging machine learning to optimize marketing performance and campaign targeting. With a background in interactive marketing and experience at firms like Digitas, he has pioneered approaches to applying deep learning algorithms specifically to advertising data, moving beyond generative AI to unlock the full potential of first-party data and consumer behavior prediction. His work at Cognitiv has demonstrated measurable improvements in campaign efficiency and creative performance, making this conversation essential for marketing leaders seeking to stay competitive through data-driven innovation and algorithmic optimization.

Guest Resources:
Jeremy Fain on LinkedIn
Cognitiv Website
ADWEEK Website

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In this episode of Adspeak by ADWEEK, host Zoë Ruderman, Chief Content Officer at Adweek, sits down with Wes Felix, Co-Founder of Always Alpha and Co-Founder and CEO of Saysh; Allyson Felix, Co-Founder of Always Alpha, Co-Founder and President at Saysh, and International Olympic Committee Member; and Cosette Chaput, CEO and Co-Founder of Always Alpha, to explore why women’s sports represents one of the biggest untapped opportunities in marketing. The conversation examines how female athletes drive stronger purchase intent and deeper engagement than traditional influencers, why brands must move beyond sponsorship checkboxes, and how authentic storytelling creates lasting connections.

They discuss Allyson’s journey building Always Alpha, the future of women’s sports marketing, and why LA 2028 could redefine brand investment in female athletes.

What You'll Learn:
Why the 2.8x Purchase Intent Gap Exists
How to Reframe KPIs Away from Vanity Metrics
The "Listen Deeply" Principle for Unlocking Authentic Partnerships
Why "Bundling" Female Athletes Destroys Individual Impact
The Difference Between Women's Sports Marketing and Traditional Sports Marketing
Why LA 2028 Is Your Make-or-Break Moment

About the Guests:
Allyson Felix is a co-founder of Always Alpha and an Olympic track and field athlete with four Olympic appearances and six gold medals. Her advocacy for maternal protections in sports contracts transformed industry standards and sparked the creation of Always Alpha, an agency dedicated to representing female athletes authentically. In this episode, she shares her journey from Nike sponsorship to founding a talent management firm that celebrates athletes as whole people, providing strategic insights for brands seeking genuine connection with female consumers through partnership with women in sports.

Wes Felix is a co-founder of Always Alpha and a strategic advisor in sports marketing with deep expertise in athlete representation and brand partnerships. With a background in sports marketing and a personal connection to Olympic athletics, Felix drives the agency's mission to educate brands on the true value of women's sports investment and challenge outdated KPIs. His work has helped major brands like Athleta, Pampers, and Sephora discover how female athletes deliver measurable ROI and cultural impact far exceeding traditional influencer partnerships.

Cosette Chaput is the CEO and co-founder of Always Alpha, specializing in market strategy and brand education within women's sports. With expertise in identifying untapped sponsorship categories and reframing how companies approach female athlete partnerships, Cosette bridges the gap between traditional sports marketing and emerging consumer brands. Her work focuses on expanding the entire women's sports ecosystem beyond leagues and teams, creating sustainable partnerships that drive business growth and cultural visibility for female athletes.

Guest Resources:
Wes Felix on LinkedIn
Allyson Felix on LinkedIn
Cosette Chaput on LinkedIn
Always Alpha Website
Saysh Website
Zoë Ruderman on LinkedIn
ADWEEK Website

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