This week on This Old Marketing , Joe and Robert unpack a trio of headlines that perfectly capture the optimism and overconfidence of the AI era. First, Apple and Google announce a multi-year partnership on AI. Two of the most powerful companies on the planet, joining forces to shape the future of intelligence. What could possibly go wrong? Then OpenAI confirms that advertising is coming to ChatGPT later this year . The honeymoon phase of AI is officially over, and the business model phase has a...
Jan 23, 2026•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 516
In this special episode of This Old Marketing, Joe and Robert tackle one of marketing's favorite habits: declaring things dead. Every year, marketers rush to pronounce entire channels, strategies, and ideas obsolete. But many of the things we keep writing off are not only alive, they're quietly doing the hard work of building trust, relevance, and long-term value. Joe and Robert break down what marketers think is dying (but isn't), why these fundamentals continue to matter, and what actually des...
Jan 16, 2026•48 min•Ep. 515
This week, Joe and Robert break down the latest signals in the economy, media, and marketing, from stabilizing job data and corporate tax incentives to AI's growing influence on content, platforms, and creative work. They also dig into where responsibility lies in an AI-saturated world and which organizations are adapting well…or getting it wrong. Key Topics Discussed Economic Update: Jobs and Stability Joe and Robert open the show with a look at recent U.S. economic data . After months of uncer...
Jan 09, 2026•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 514
Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose kick off this week's episode by unpacking the TikTok "sale" and what actually happened behind the headlines. Was it really a sale? Why was a true divestiture nearly impossible? And what does the outcome tell us about platform risk, regulation, and the future of rented audiences. From there, Joe and Robert shift into what they believe will be the most important marketing, content, and AI stories of 2026. Not predictions, but the conversations marketers will be having o...
Jan 02, 2026•40 min
Joe and Robert kick off their annual predictions episode by grading last year's forecasts using ChatGPT. They revisit what hit, what missed, and why context often ruins otherwise solid predictions. Along the way, they discuss AI's uneven progress, platform power shifts, crypto hype, nostalgia marketing, podcast attrition, and the growing tension between tech optimism and cultural fatigue. The episode closes with fresh predictions spanning marketing, media, sports, and culture. Key Topics and Tak...
Dec 26, 2025•59 min
This week on This Old Marketing , Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose unpack two seemingly separate Wall Street Journal stories that are actually deeply connected. First, they dig into the WSJ article declaring that companies are now " desperately seeking storytellers. " The irony is not lost on Joe and Robert. Storytelling in business is nothing new. Brands have been building audiences, publishing content, and creating narratives for decades. So is this really a new trend, or is the Wall Street Journal...
Dec 19, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 511
Joe and Robert open the episode with major breaking news: Disney is reportedly finalizing a $1 billion investment in OpenAI along with a licensing deal that would allow creators to use select Disney IP inside OpenAI tools. The boys unpack what this actually means— Why Disney is making this move now How this could transform creator workflows What Disney gets strategically vs. what OpenAI gains Whether this is the first domino in a wave of entertainment–AI partnerships The $100 Billion Battle for ...
Dec 12, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 510
The boys kick things off with a Black Friday breakdown and what it tells us about the K-shaped economy we now live in. Joe and Robert dig into spending trends, why some consumers are thriving while others are cutting back, and what this split means for marketers heading into 2026. They look at whether this year's patterns are temporary or structural, and what smart brands should prepare for next. From there, they turn to YouTube. Advertisers continue to shift budgets to the platform , and the da...
Dec 05, 2025•1 hr 15 min
Google's release of Gemini 3 may be the biggest shift in search and content discovery since Google launched. In this episode, Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose break down what Gemini means for marketers, creators, and anyone relying on organic reach. Will Gemini end organic discovery as we know it? Will synthetic creators become the majority of all content online? And is there still a path forward for human creators? Joe and Robert go deep into: Google's move from traditional search to a full AI-model...
Nov 28, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 508
In this special Thanksgiving edition of This Old Marketing , Joe and Robert dive into the future of AI and what it really means for marketers, creators, and anyone trying to build an audience in the next few years. The boys explore how long traditional marketing roles will remain intact and why we may be much closer to a tipping point than most people want to believe. The Window Is Closing Joe and Robert revisit a theme they've both been writing about lately: the shrinking window of time before ...
Nov 21, 2025•52 min
The episode kicks off with a pointed look at Meta, which seems to be earning a fortune from fraudulent and scam ads. Joe and Robert trace the pattern back more than a decade…from election misinformation to repeated scandals. The question emerges: Is Meta the least ethical major player in the industry today? This conversation naturally leads into a look at the growing AI bubble and Michael Burry's bet against The Magnificent Ten. While his prediction may eventually play out, the boys debate why w...
Nov 14, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 506
This week, Joe and Robert cover three major AI stories shaping the creative and marketing landscape. First, the guys break down the debut of Xania Monet , the first AI-powered artist to land on a Billboard chart. Is this the start of a new music era...or the beginning of the end for human creativity? Next, they unwrap Coca-Cola's second annual holiday AI ad . But this year, it's not just Coke. Expect a wave of AI-generated holiday campaigns across brands. Joe and Robert debate what this means fo...
Nov 07, 2025•1 hr 7 min
It's another wild week in the world of marketing, media, and tech. First up: Amazon announced yet another round of layoffs , and Joe and Robert dive into the growing trend among the Magnificent 10 companies. Are these just normal business cycles? The result of AI-driven productivity? Or signs of something deeper happening in the global economy? Then: OpenAI is restructuring to look more like a traditional for-profit company. With Microsoft now owning 27%, the boys debate what this means for cont...
Oct 31, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 504
This week's episode of This Old Marketing dives deep into the evolving world of AI, automation, and creator opportunities. 1. OpenAI's ChatGPT Atlas: A Google Killer? OpenAI's latest product, ChatGPT Atlas , has some wondering if this is a direct strike at Google's dominance in search. We break down what Atlas is, how it changes the discovery landscape, and what it means for marketers and creators. 2. AI and Robots Taking Jobs A New York Times article reports that Amazon plans to replace over ha...
Oct 24, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 503
In this episode, Joe and Robert break down the latest moves in the ongoing battle between lawmakers and social media giants. California is leading the charge with new AI and social media legislation — plus, Instagram is testing a "rating system" for content . Is this meaningful progress or just more political theater? The guys also cover how OpenAI and Anthropic are stepping into the marketing world. OpenAI's first ad sparks debate (is it a miss?), while Anthropic's experiential push might have ...
Oct 17, 2025•1 hr 3 min
After celebrating 500 weeks of podcasting, Joe and Robert are back to regular programming. And this week… things get weird. OpenAI and Meta both dropped major updates to their AI apps—releases that could either spark the next great social network or bring about the end of the internet as we know it. The guys break down what these announcements mean for creators, advertisers, and the future of "artificial content." In other news, Anthropic settles a $1.5 billion lawsuit that could mean payouts fo...
Oct 10, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 501
It's here...the 500th episode of This Old Marketing ! In this very special show, Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose take a walk down memory lane, sharing stories, clips, and predictions from across the past twelve years of the podcast. Along the way, they're joined by some surprise guests and special videos from friends of the show. Highlights from the Episode The Beginning (Episode 1 – November 20, 2013) : Joe and Robert recall the car ride that sparked the idea and how they launched the first episode...
Oct 03, 2025•1 hr 13 min
In the final show before the big 500 extravaganza, Joe and Robert discuss why individual creators are slowly taking over Hollywood — and whether there are opportunities for brands in this shift. The creator takeover: Ad Age: Why creators, not studios, will lead production by 2030 Sports meets streaming: New Heights integration with Amazon Prime — Travis and Jason Kelce's New Heights podcast will now stream on Amazon Prime . Buying media properties: Why a marketing consultant bought the largest r...
Sep 26, 2025•1 hr 2 min
No, TikTok does not stop. Maybe the fourth time is the charm, as Robert and Joe run through the latest with the TikTok "staying or going" drama. Get all the latest on the changes, although it might be a big nothing burger. Link to more: U.S.-China Deal to Avert TikTok Ban May be Close, Trump Official Says - The New York Times YouTube makes a strong case that they are integral to the US economy. With $100 billion going to creators, new and improved creation features, and an all-in-one create and ...
Sep 19, 2025•1 hr 9 min
This week, Joe and Robert dig into the Reddit phenomenon. Leading in AI findability (AEO) and trusted by geeks everywhere, the platform is having its coming-out moment. Is it time to ride the marketing train to Reddit town? Here's why Reddit marketing could be your next big business move OpenAI wants to make a full-length animated movie that isn't AI slop. Can they pull it off, or is this just a content marketing play? (Hint: the latter.) OpenAI wants to make an AI movie that isn't slop Meanwhil...
Sep 12, 2025•1 hr 4 min
The marketing news of the week: A federal judge has ordered a shakeup of Google's search engine. Some call it a slap on the wrist, but it's clear even the courts see Google's dominance slipping. With AI search and new competitors on the rise, will Google's empire burn down? -- Judge orders search shakeup in Google monopoly case | PBS News Meanwhile, the so-called "marketing AI boom" is running headfirst into a crisis of customer trust. But do people really care about privacy, or is it just talk?...
Sep 05, 2025•1 hr 8 min
This week on the podcast, Joe and Robert break down the big takeaways from Content Entrepreneur Expo (CEX): The future of human content vs. AI content and why this tension may define the next decade. Why leaning into your "crazy" could be the smartest business move you'll ever make. The rise of new search metrics and how they're quietly reshaping the creator landscape. Marketing news this week: Cracker Barrel's Logo Backlash – A nostalgic flip-flop for the ages. Was this a brilliant PR stunt, or...
Aug 29, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Are we entering a new golden age of content marketing? In this week's This Old Marketing , Joe Pulizzi and Robert Rose dig into why the industry feels more alive than ever and what this resurgence means for brands and creators alike. The Big Stories: When Hollywood Hits the Break Room: A credit-card company launches a sitcom ( Roomies ) that blurs the line between branded content and binge-worthy entertainment. Read more → From Tackles to Talk Shows: The NFL's Broadcast Boot Camp trains players ...
Aug 22, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Big news in the tech and marketing world this week. AI search leader Perplexity stunned the industry with a $34 billion offer to buy Google Chrome. Is this just a headline-grabbing PR stunt… or could it actually give Google a way out of its ongoing antitrust mess? Meanwhile, OpenAI is scrambling to turn lemons into lemonade after the botched ChatGPT-5 launch. Did they completely miss the mark with their audience, or has their technology hit a temporary wall — giving Google, Anthropic, X, and oth...
Aug 15, 2025•1 hr 2 min
The boys are back (and better than ever) with a brand-new episode on what influencer marketing will look like soon (including AI). In this episode, they break down the new deal between ESPN and the NFL. Does this partnership signal new opportunities for brands and content marketing deals in the near future? YouTube announced that it will begin testing a new AI feature designed to estimate whether a user is a minor...regardless of the birthday listed on the account. Some creators fear it will hur...
Aug 08, 2025•1 hr 14 min
This is the last special solo episode for a while. Thankfully, Robert and Joe will be back next week to make nonsense about marketing and content news. But today's episode is something a little different. In 1937, Napoleon Hill wrote Think and Grow Rich. His ideas about belief, desire, and persistence changed lives—Joe's included. Joe's new book, Burn the Playbook, is his answer to what Think and Grow Rich would look like today. It's not just about financial wealth...it's about freedom. Mental f...
Aug 01, 2025•31 min
In this solo episode of This Old Marketing, Robert dives headfirst into the uncomfortable - and increasingly urgent - tension at the heart of modern content strategy: Can we still create truly human content, full of nuance, voice, and emotional honesty… while also making sure the machines don't misinterpret (or mangle) what we mean? Inspired by the announced end of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Robert explores how the final stretch of a show - or a career, or even a blog archive - can shap...
Jul 25, 2025•43 min
Get ready for this special episode that you needed to hear years ago. Let me say this plainly: Working for someone else is the riskiest thing you can do right now. For decades, we believed that a "good job" was the ultimate security. A steady paycheck. Healthcare. Maybe a 401(k) with a match. But that model is falling apart in real time. I've seen this from the inside. I've been the employee. I've been the boss. I've been the guy who signed the layoff papers. When I was at Penton we went through...
Jul 18, 2025•21 min
This week Robert flies solo (Joe's busy revolutionizing dairy on the blockchain) to ask a question: What if slower is the new smarter? After riffing on OpenAI's burnout‑induced shutdown, he unveils a sneak peek of his upcoming book, Valuable Friction. From Netflix's "Skip Intro" button to AI‑generated sameness, Robert shows how our obsession with frictionless everything is draining the meaning out of marketing...and life. Tune in for the four kinds of friction that sharpen ideas, deepen relation...
Jul 11, 2025•42 min
After a quick cover of the Cloudflare news where it will be possible to select and make money from AI companies crawling your site, Joe and Robert dive into marketing plan B. Specifically - The New Normal: Why Everyone Needs a Personal Brand (Even If You're Not Selling Anything) The collapse of the idea that a job = stability. From creators to CMOs: why everyone needs visibility. The difference between self-promotion and self-preservation. Hot take: You're always in stealth mode for your next jo...
Jul 04, 2025•1 hr 5 min
