OkCupid | Melissa Hobley, Global CMO Today my conversation is with someone who I think is one of the better communicators among marketers that I've ever chatted with. Melissa Hobley is Global CMO of OkCupid (part of Match Group ), and shares hers perspective on effective communication on today's show. I found this particularly interesting because a surprising percentage of my guests are...let's say, just OK at having a conversation. Totally fine, but not like "no wonder you're leading this multi...
Apr 05, 2021
Kinship | Leonid Sudakov, President How do you enhance humanity through non-humans? My guest today can help with that question. I'm chatting with Leonid Sudakov , the President of Kinship . Kinship is a coalition of brands seeking to bring more to pet care. Specifically today we explore two pairs of words which have their nuances but within which Leonid sees a strong intersection as part of his work. The first, which titles this show, is humanity and care. Leonid has found that caring for pets e...
Mar 15, 2021•35 min
Hershey | Jill Baskin, Chief Marketing Officer On today's show, a sweet conversation with one of my personal favorite guests. I'm learning more from Hershey's today!! A brand which needs no introduction, the chocolate champ is home to Jill Baskin , their Chief Marketing Officer. And while we talk plenty about our (mostly my) favorite candy (which, right now, is the Mini Robin Egg...link below), we talk even more about Jill's perspective on self-discovery. After all, it is a critical com...
Mar 08, 2021
Party City | Julie Roehm, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer Break out the balloons for today's episode of Authentic Avenue . My guest is Julie Roehm , the Chief Marketing and Experience Officer of Party City . I was particularly interested in talking with Julie not just because of her rich background across brands (including within auto, which is a current interest of mine), but because of her dual role. While I've interviewed plenty of CMOs, Julie didn't start out as that -- but rather, as...
Mar 01, 2021
New Balance | Chris Davis, Chief Marketing Officer Today I have a podcast with one of my favorite guests, SOLEly based on how genuine the chat is. Seriously. You'd be surprised how many times I have conversations on this podcast that are super rehearsed and guardrailed. It's an unfortunate part of the game. So, consider today a fortunate edition of Authentic Avenue . My conversation is with Chris Davis , who serves as Chief Marketing Officer of New Balance . Chris has been with the brand for 10 ...
Feb 22, 2021•35 min
Age of Learning | Sunil Gunderia, Chief Innovation Officer and Head of Mastery and Adaptive Product If you have children, how are they being schooled right now? Are they back in the classroom? Fully remote? A mixture? Today my guest is Sunil Gunderia . He's the Chief Innovation Officer, and Head of Mastery & Adaptive Product, for Age of Learning . Age of Learning blends education best practices, innovative technology, and insightful creativity to bring learning to life for children across th...
Feb 16, 2021•25 min
Rakuten | Dana Marineau, Chief Marketing Officer, Rakuten Rewards What if I told you there was a company out there that's basically Google plus Amazon plus Verizon plus Kaiser combined? Would you be surprised to learn it's right here in the US? Well it is -- just not in that form. Yet. Let's learn more about it on this Authentic Avenue . Rakuten . An ecommerce company that pays you cash back to do your usual shopping. Dana Marineau is the Chief Marketing Officer for Rakuten Rewards. In her first...
Feb 08, 2021
Who Gives a Crap | Danny Alexander, Co-Founder, Chief of Product & Purpose Here's a title I never thought I'd interview: the Chief of PP. You got that right. And for a toilet paper brand, no less. Of course, that's just wordplay. (And the guest gave me the green light to use it, so, even better.) Today my guest is Danny Alexander , the Co-Founder and Chief of Product & Purpose (see what I mean) for Who Gives a Crap (see what I mean!!!), the toilet paper brand which builds toilets rather ...
Feb 01, 2021•26 min
Carat | Robert Schwartz, Global CMO and Kris Doerfler, Media & Data Ethicist and Applied Futurist We've talked about "sustainability" from time to time on this podcast . After all, many brands, especially those in consumer goods, are currently prioritizing it as integral to being an authentic provider or product. Product. That's where I've heard this s-word. I haven't heard it before in terms of media. "Sustainable Media?" What is that? How do you make media more sustainable? And, by the way...
Jan 25, 2021•36 min
Art of Sport | Matthias Metternich, Co-Founder and CEO Today, for the first time on Authentic Avenue, I feature a brand co-founded with superstar support -- and what a story to start with: Art of Sport , which was built in part by Kobe Bryant . One of his co-founders, Matthias Metternich , is my featured guest today. After founding brands across the globe, he brought his talents to LA and built this brand with The Black Mamba and Brian Lee (LegalZoom, The Honest Company). Today, we talk about th...
Jan 18, 2021•45 min
No Days Wasted | Nishal Kumar, Founder & CEO Today, I have a real-life dragon slayer on the podcast. Nishal Kumar founded a brand with a wordplay I greatly appreciate: No Days Wasted . The brand has a mission of maximizing life's moments -- "from proactively providing immune support, keeping you optimally hydrated, to simply helping you get up and going after a night out with friends (maybe after a drink or two)." Point is, if 2021 means getting back to hanging with friends and related (over...
Jan 13, 2021•28 min
Coldwell Banker | David Marine, Chief Marketing Officer Imagine you've spent nearly your entire career committed to a single business. You perform so well that, after almost 20 years of service, you sit at the very top. The business, over a century old in its own right, is to undergo a rebrand which will give it a new look for the first time in 40 years -- and you're the one leading the charge. To most people, this would be a career-defining moment. It would for this interviewer. Now imagine nea...
Jan 11, 2021
Authentic Avenue Media | Adam Conner, Founder / Host / Self If you’ve taken a glance at the title of today’s podcast, you’ll notice something slightly different -- the lack of a guest. No illustrious mind, no illuminating marketer. Instead, it’s my name -- and today, I’ll be telling, albeit briefly, my own story. After all, you may have wondered at one point or another -- what’s this guy doing this for? Why did he choose this path? And for goodness sake, why’s he doing it full time? All good que...
Jan 08, 2021•16 min
Bud Light Seltzer | Conor Mason, Sr. Director 2021 is upon us, and that means: New Year, New...Beer? At least that's what our premiere guest would perhaps like to see. Conor Mason is the subject of today's show. At just 28 years of age, he's risen the ranks within Anheuser-Busch ( check out my interview with the highest rank, Marcel Marcondes, at this link ) to become Sr. Director over Bud Light Seltzer . Seltzer in general has been flying high over the past few years, and Conor now manages to d...
Jan 04, 2021•31 min
Holden | Andrew Lim, Co-Founder I've noticed this year that people I know are getting engaged at a faster clip than normal. Maybe it's because I'm in my late 20s...but I think it has something to do with the fact that people have taken 2020 stay-at-home life as a sort of proving ground. Regardless, if you've started thinking about putting a ring on your roommate, I've got the Authentic Avenue episode for you. (And I have a promo code for you. Think of it as an early wedding present.) Andrew Lim ...
Dec 16, 2020•24 min
Holler | Sarah Aitken, Chief Marketing Officer When you're in charge of revolutionizing conversation, what happens when revolutionary conversation comes to you? Today on Authentic Avenue , my guest is Sarah Aitken . She's the Chief Marketing Officer of Holler , a next-gen tech company which aims to overhaul our digital person-to-person communications with richer, more engaging media than your typical text. On today's show, we discuss what exactly a "next-gen" tech company is (shouldn't all tech ...
Dec 15, 2020•32 min
Tecovas | Paul Hedrick, Founder & CEO The cowboy boot: an American staple known for its durability and worn by some of the more "real" people you'll meet in this country. Today on Authentic Avenue , I've got a founder who, like the wearers of the boots his brand produces, promises to shoot me (and us) straight. Paul Hedrick is the founder and CEO of Tecovas , and today he shares not only why he founded a western boot and accessories brand specifically, but why he felt that he must be the spe...
Dec 14, 2020
Chipotle | Adam Ornelas, Social Media and Influencer Strategist Today on Authentic Avenue , I get to interview someone from what is possibly the most socially omnipresent brand I've ever seen. No matter where I go on social media (or the internet, really), there they are. I'm referring to Chipotle (and you just might agree with me), and my guest today is 1 of their 3 web wizards. Adam Ornelas plays the part of Social Media and Influencer Strategist for the boss of the burrito and bowl, and he le...
Dec 10, 2020•27 min
Foot Locker | Sarah Houseknecht, Sr. Director of Public Relations & Influencer Marketing Get on your feet! We've got an episode of Authentic Avenue today with a brand I like for their ability to tap into cult followings. It's Foot Locker , and the cult followings I speak are those both of footwear brands like Jordan and sneakerheads as individuals. My guest today is Sarah Houseknecht , who is their Sr. Director overseeing Public Relations and Influencer Marketing. Sarah has seen Foot Locker'...
Dec 09, 2020•30 min
Loop Commerce | Jenn Muller, Chief Marketing Officer I hope you've gotten started on your holiday season shopping at this point (December 7th!). If not, I'd advise you get on it -- and maybe today's Authentic Avenue episode will give you some inspiration. I'm on with Jenn Muller , Chief Marketing Officer of Loop Commerce. Loop, a Synchrony solution, is well-known for its GiftNow platform. Through GiftNow, consumers can directly connect generous thought and generous action without any of the stru...
Dec 07, 2020•29 min
Landing | Andrew Speyer, Chief Marketing Officer Have you moved this year? I've heard SO many talk about it -- whether it's to move closer to family, get out of the city, explore or otherwise -- the remote life has sparked a certain work wanderlust that today's featured brand is hoping to solve. Meet Andrew Speyer . He's the Chief Marketing Officer for Landing , and he's tasked not only with making an authentic experience of the often-tiring and stressful situation that is moving, but also makin...
Dec 02, 2020•33 min
Feeding America | Cathy Davis, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer It's an organization which helps 1 in every 7 Americans -- a staggering statistic, and one which requires a herculean effort ESPECIALLY in 2020. Today I help share the story and message of Feeding America with Cathy Davis , their Chief Marketing and Communications Officer. She has been with the organization, and has helped combat this systemic issue, for 4 years -- but this year has proven to be a different beast. In this ...
Nov 30, 2020•27 min
Fohr | James Nord, Founder Recently, I mentioned on this show and social (links below) that I wanted to learn more about the world of influencers. Recently, I launched that series with Alex Mack from Dyson; here's that show if you want to hear more . From it, I learned that "noise of influencer tech" was a perceived pain point. To learn more about it, I tapped on the shoulder of an influencer tech pioneer. James Nord founded Fohr , which Nord calls "quite simply the finest influencer ma...
Nov 24, 2020•32 min
BMO Capital Markets | Simeon Siegel, Managing Director I've devoted the last two years to approaching the topic of authenticity in branding and marketing from the side of the organization doing it -- whether that be a startup or a Fortune 100 giant. And, through that time, there's always been a question nagging at me: do people outside of the brand bubble really care about this stuff? I mean, sure it looks good in a PR -- but does it actually benefit the value of a company? That question has led...
Nov 23, 2020•38 min
Leesa Sleep | Jen-Ai Notman, Head of Mission Get up and out of bed for today's Authentic Avenue podcast episode...and don't return for at least one night. Today I'm featuring Leesa Sleep through their Head of Mission, Jen-Ai Notman . It's a first for the show -- I haven't interviewed a Head of Mission before -- and we chat about a number of topics, not the least of which is Leesa's upcoming #1BedlessNight campaign. Did you know 1 in 5 children in the US experience poverty? This is the highest ri...
Nov 19, 2020•21 min
TRUFF | Nick Ajluni and Nick Guillen, Co-Founders Ever wondered what it's like to have a notable social handle? Your first name perhaps? (@adam was taken long before I was on social; @authenticadam I got on TikTok though!) Well, today I got to interview two illustrious founders who own @sauce . Meet Nick Ajluni and Nick Guillen , the co-founders of TRUFF . Their luxury hot sauce pairs well with the luxury username -- and today we discuss how they show up authentically within the many distinct en...
Nov 18, 2020•27 min
Dyson | Alex Mack, Associate Communications Manager How do you break into the influencer world? As a brand, how do you best leverage them? This episode is the first of hopefully many within Authentic Avenue in which I dive into the world of influencers and the people within brands who manage that function directly. Today, I learn more about this particular avenue through the perspective of Dyson and Alex Mack . Alex is an Associate Communications Manager at the consumer tech brand, and he launch...
Nov 16, 2020•24 min
Kyutee / ThirdLove | Arah Sims and Heidi Zak, Founders and CEOs Today I have a double feature for the show: two fantastic founders & CEOs coming together for a partnership benefiting businesses run by females of color. On this episode you'll meet Heidi Zak , the founder & CEO of ThirdLove , the third largest e-commerce intimates apparel brand in the U.S. The brand has launched a program called “The TL Effect,” created to encourage and support early-stage consumer-focused companies run by...
Nov 12, 2020•26 min
Made In | Jake Kalick and Chip Malt, Co-Founders Made In : the DTC cookware brand which raises a glass to you raising your standards. Today you'll meet its cofounders, Jake Kalick and Chip Malt . Though the brand is just a few years old, their product story begins in 1929 -- a fact which offers valuable learning to the podcast with regard to how brand development strengthens one's authenticity over time. We also talk about how digitally native brands vs generationally-built ones differ, as well ...
Nov 09, 2020•26 min
Daily Harvest | Rachel Drori, Founder and CEO Daily Harvest : a clean DTC meal brand taking care of food so that food can take care of you. When Rachel Drori founded Daily Harvest, she noticed that all the ways in which "Big Food" launched its lineup were too reactive to be on the cutting edge. Rather than wait until a revenue opportunity appears from a trend, Rachel has sought to catch the upswing of product lifecycles and flip the script on her larger competitors. But it begs the question: why...
Nov 04, 2020•25 min
