Todd and Kelly kick off 2026 with bold predictions about the state of AI in marketing and advertising. They discuss why many brands will discover they're nowhere near ready to utilize AI effectively, predicting that the year will expose the gap between AI hype and reality.

The duo explore how AI-driven media buying could lead to wasted budgets and poor targeting, why creative fatigue will replace audience fatigue as a major challenge, and how generative AI creative is already facing backlash.

They emphasize that great marketing in 2026 will require more problem-solving and strategic thinking than ever before, as AI tools alone won't deliver the transformational results many expect.

Kelly shares insights from spending over 1,000 hours working with AI systems, revealing the extensive foundational work required for successful implementation. This episode is essential listening for marketing executives, agency professionals, and anyone navigating the AI revolution in advertising.

Chapters:

1. (00:00:00) - Introduction and New Year Greetings
2. (00:01:00) - 2026 Predictions: Is This the Year of AI?
3. (00:03:00) - Prediction #1: Brands Aren't Ready for AI Implementation
4. (00:08:00) - The Hidden Cost: 1,000+ Hours of AI Learning
5. (00:11:00) - Prediction #2: AI Will Make Marketing Worse Before Better
6. (00:18:00) - The Opportunity Cost of "Good Enough" Marketing
7. (00:20:00) - Wasted Ad Spend: AI Media Buying Gone Wrong
8. (00:22:00) - Prediction #3: Creative Fatigue Replaces Audience Fatigue
9. (00:28:00) - Great Marketing Requires Problem Solving, Not Just Platforms
10. (00:33:00) - Looking Ahead: 2027 Will Be Different

Links and Resources:

1. Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
2. Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
3. Vuja Dé Digital

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Todd and Kelly sit down with Jill and Jeff from Fuse.is to explore the evolution of marketing analytics in the age of AI.

The conversation challenges conventional wisdom about dashboards, data warehouses, and the future of business intelligence. Jeff and Jill reveal why "good enough" data accuracy is no longer acceptable and how their platform eliminates the fragile ETL pipelines that plague traditional analytics tools.

They discuss the critical difference between static dashboards and live data environments, the importance of semantic intelligence layers in preventing AI hallucinations, and why simplicity—not complexity—wins in the long term.

The discussion also tackles data privacy concerns, Google's new ads advisor, and the controversial question of whether dashboards are obsolete or essential.

For marketing executives and data-driven professionals tired of broken dashboards and inaccurate insights, this episode offers a contrarian perspective on how AI should truly amplify marketing intelligence.

Chapters

1. (00:00:00) - The Challenge of Data Interpretation for Junior Marketers
2. (00:01:00) - Are Dashboards Dead? The Evolution of Marketing Analytics
3. (00:04:00) - The Fragile ETL Pipeline Problem
4. (00:08:00) - Dashboards as Conduits for Exploration, Not Just Display
5. (00:11:00) - The Balance Between Simplicity and Complexity in Data
6. (00:15:00) - ETLs vs. AI: Comparing Human Error and Hallucinations
7. (00:19:00) - Fuse's Semantic Intelligence Layer: Preventing AI Hallucinations
8. (00:22:00) - Data Privacy, Compliance, and the Mixpanel Breach
9. (00:25:00) - Why Google's Ads Advisor Isn't Enough
10. (00:27:00) - Contrarian Lessons from Building an AI Startup
11. (00:30:00) - Rapid Fire: Dashboards, Attribution, and What Wins Long-Term

Links and Resources:

1. Website Fuse.is
2. Jeff Cherkassky on LinkedIn
3. Jill Randell on LinkedIn
4. Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
5. Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
6. Vuja Dé Digital

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Todd and Kelly tackle the realities of marketing and performance measurement with marketing analyst and expert Jeff Sutelman, from Funnel.io.

They discuss why the dream of perfect user journey tracking is dead, how platforms like Meta grade their own homework, and why ROAS isn't the holy grail most marketers think it is.

Jeff shares why small brands stay small when they optimize only for last-click conversions, the critical importance of data quality and governance, and how to balance performance marketing with brand building.

The conversation covers everything from the challenges of attribution in a privacy-first world to why passing quality signals back to ad platforms can be the difference between a $50 CAC and a $10 CAC.

Whether you're an agency trying to prove ROI or a brand struggling to scale past organic growth, this episode delivers hard truths and actionable insights about the current state of marketing analytics.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Why Your Marketing Data Might Be Lying to You
• (00:01:00) - Meet Jeff Sutelman: The Marketing Data Truth-Teller
• (00:03:00) - What is Funnel.io and Why Marketing Data Matters
• (00:04:00) - The Death of Perfect User Journey Tracking
• (00:08:00) - Why ROAS Isn't the Holy Grail of Measurement
• (00:11:00) - The Last-Click Attribution Trap and Brand Building
• (00:13:00) - Balancing Finance Expectations with Marketing Reality
• (00:14:00) - Brand Is Making a Comeback
• (00:18:00) - Data Quality: The Difference Between $50 and $10 CAC
• (00:23:00) - Data Security, Compliance, and GDPR Challenges
• (00:26:00) - Data Analysts vs Data Scientists: The Translator Role
• (00:28:00) - Proving Upper Funnel Impact with Lower Funnel Metrics
• (00:31:00) - Hot Seat: Most Overrated and Underrated Metrics

Links and Resources:

• Jeff Sutelman on LinkedIn
• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital

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Is AI democratizing creative work or just making everything look the same? Rebecca Rothstein, founder of The Shorts and Madison Avenue veteran, joins Kelly and Todd for a no-holds-barred conversation about AI's impact on creativity.

Rebecca argues that while AI can be a useful tool, it can't replace human taste, emotion, and cultural intuition. From Stanley Cup's brand transformation to the looming junior talent crisis, this episode challenges the assumption that "good enough" is acceptable in creative work.

If you're wondering whether you're a prompt engineer or an artist, this conversation will give you clarity on where human creativity matters most in an AI-saturated world.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Why This Episode Will Change How You Think About AI and Creativity
• (00:01:00) - Meet Rebecca Rothstein: From Madison Avenue's Trenches to Building The Shorts
• (00:03:00) - The Real Cost of "Always On" Culture: Late Nights, Big Wins, and What We Lost
• (00:06:00) - The Battle Lines Are Drawn: Can Machines Ever Replace Human Creativity?
• (00:08:00) - What AI Gets Wrong About Emotion (And Why That Matters for Your Brand)
• (00:13:00) - The Taste Test: Why Your Creative Instinct Is Your Competitive Advantage
• (00:16:00) - Brand DNA vs. Cultural Moment: How to Know When to Evolve (and When to Stand Firm)
• (00:19:00) - Stanley Cup's Masterclass: How a 110-Year-Old Brand Became Gen Z's Obsession
• (00:21:00) - Are You a Prompt Engineer or an Artist? The Identity Crisis Facing Creative Directors
• (00:26:00) - The Homogenization Trap: Why All AI-Generated Content Starts to Look the Same
• (00:28:00) - "Good Enough" Is Killing Your Brand: Why Great Is the Only Standard That Matters
• (00:32:00) - The Junior Talent Crisis: What Happens When AI Eliminates Entry-Level Experience?
• (00:36:00) - Hiring in 2025: Why Personality and Problem-Solving Beat Perfect Portfolios
• (00:40:00) - Hot Seat: Rebecca's Unfiltered Takes on Nike, Creativity, and the Future of Marketing

Links and Resources:

• Hello Shorts Website
• IG: @helloshortsmkt
• Rebecca Levy Rothstein on LinkedIn
• The Shorts on LinkedIn
• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

In this thought-provoking episode, Todd and Kelly dig into the complex world of virtual influencers and AI-generated content creators.

They debate whether virtual influencers represent the future of advertising or an existential threat to human creativity and authenticity.

The conversation explores the efficiency and cost benefits of virtual creators versus the irreplaceable value of real human endorsements, examining questions of transparency, cultural responsibility, and consumer trust.

From rock climbing gear to fashion campaigns, they analyze whether audiences can truly connect with AI-generated personas or if authenticity will always demand a human touch.

The discussion spans generational perspectives, ethical considerations, and the slippery slope of what happens when pixels replace people in the influencer economy.

Todd and Kelly also explore parallels with animated characters like Bart Simpson and Mickey Mouse, questioning whether virtual influencers are really that different from the entertainment we've already embraced.

Ultimately, they conclude that virtual influencers are a creative medium with potential, but success depends entirely on transparency, effective execution, and a thorough understanding of your audience.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - Halloween Candy Wars & Why We're All Wrong About Something
• (00:01:15) - The Rise of Virtual Influencers: When AI Becomes Your Brand Ambassador
• (00:02:45) - The Math That Changes Everything: $50K Real Influencer vs. $1K Virtual Creator
• (00:05:30) - Can Pixels Build Trust? The Authenticity Paradox of AI Influencers
• (00:09:20) - The Rock Climbing Test: Would You Buy Gear From a Fake Expert?
• (00:13:45) - The Deception Dilemma: Why Transparency Makes or Breaks Virtual Influencers
• (00:17:10) - Entertainment vs. Endorsement: When Does a Virtual Character Cross the Line?
• (00:21:30) - The Brand Responsibility Question: What Do We Owe Our Audiences?
• (00:26:15) - Gen Z vs. Boomers: Why Age Determines Your AI Influencer Tolerance
• (00:30:40) - Digital Resurrection: The Chris Farley Question and the Future of AI Celebrities

Links and Resources:

• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

Matt, Todd, and Kelly address the realities of AI adoption in advertising and marketing agencies.

Sparked by Deloitte's recent lawsuit related to delivering AI-generated work with hallucinations, the trio explores what clients should actually expect when agencies use AI tools.

Contrary to popular belief, AI isn't making their work faster or cheaper - it's requiring massive investments in time, learning, and experimentation.

They discuss the difference between using AI to "cheat" versus using it to upgrade deliverables, explore the emerging world of synthetic focus groups and personas, and debate whether AI should serve the master of efficiency or enhancement.

The conversation reveals a critical tension: while clients expect AI to reduce costs, the real value lies in agencies investing hundreds of hours to master these tools and deliver exponentially better outcomes.

They also address the concerning trend of AI replacing entry-level positions, potentially creating a future workforce crisis where no one gains the experience necessary to advance in their career progression.

Chapters:

• (00:00:00) - The Deloitte AI Lawsuit: What Went Wrong
• (00:03:00) - AI Isn't Making Work Faster—It's Making It Better
• (00:06:00) - Using AI to Upgrade Deliverables, Not Replace Expertise
• (00:09:00) - The Cost Problem: Who Pays for AI Innovation?
• (00:12:00) - AI as Enhancement Tool: The Logo Iteration Analogy
• (00:16:00) - Synthetic Focus Groups: The Future of Market Research?
• (00:20:00) - AI and the Entry-Level Employee Crisis
• (00:25:00) - Using AI for CRO and Creative Testing
• (00:29:00) - The Rick Rubin Principle: Confidence in Taste
• (00:32:00) - The Reality Check: 1000+ Hours Invested in Learning AI

Links and Resources:

• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Matt Crincoli on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!

In this episode, Todd and Kelly address some of the controversial debates shaping marketing today.

They tackle the age-old question: Does brand actually sell, or is it just a signal? As they explore the friction between brand-building and performance marketing, they challenge assumptions around consumer behavior, full-funnel marketing, and the relentless pursuit of ROAS.

The conversation takes an interesting turn as they examine how AI and rapid prototyping are transforming creativity in advertising.

Is the soul of creativity being stripped away by data-driven algorithms? Or is this evolution simply changing the role of creative professionals from players to coaches?

Todd and Kelly also discuss the fragmentation of consumer attention, the myth of overnight success, and why full-funnel marketing might be more important now than ever before.

They wrap up with a surprising discussion about AI actresses and what the future may hold for entertainment and marketing alike.

Chapters:

- 00:00:00 - Introduction and Setting the Stage

- 00:01:00 - Does Brand Really Sell? The Great Debate Begins

- 00:04:00 - Needs vs. Wants: When Brand Actually Matters

- 00:09:00 - The Plumbing Analogy: Brand Awareness in Action

- 00:12:00 - Is Full Funnel Marketing Still Relevant?

- 00:15:00 - The Danger of Getting Lucky vs. Building Sustainably

- 00:17:00 - Has the Pursuit of ROAS Killed Advertising's Soul?

- 00:21:00 - The Marathon Runner vs. Last Click Attribution

- 00:23:00 - Strategic Ebb and Flow: The Modern Approach to Brand Building

- 00:25:00 - Rapid Prototyping and the Death of Traditional Creative

- 00:29:00 - AI's Impact on Creative: From Athlete to Coach

- 00:33:00 - The Future of AI in Advertising and Media Buying

- 00:34:00 - AI Actresses and the Future of Entertainment

Links and Resources:

• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital

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Holiday shopping in September isn't consumer demand - it's retailer conditioning. In this episode, hosts Todd Juneay and Kelly McGuire are joined by e-commerce strategist Matt Crincoli to examine:

• how "holiday creep" trained shoppers to wait for discounts
• why the Big Five shopping days are losing power
• how mobile commerce collapsed the purchase journey into impulse-driven seconds.

They explore the discount trap eroding brand value, the unsustainable returns culture Gen Alpha is rejecting, why most AI gift tools miss the mark, and what it takes to build authentic brand connections when promotional noise becomes overwhelming.

As consumer psychology shifts faster than retail strategy, this conversation reveals what's breaking beneath the surface, and what comes next for brands willing to compete on value instead of volume.

Key Topics:

• Holiday creep as behavioral conditioning
• Mobile commerce's impact on purchase psychology
• The discount death spiral and brand value erosion
• Returns culture's economic and environmental costs
• AI gift recommendations and what makes them work
• Strategic alternatives to constant promotion

Perfect for retail leaders, e-commerce teams, brand strategists, and anyone wondering why holiday shopping starts earlier and earlier.

- 00:00:00 – 2025 holiday landscape

- 00:01:30 – Holiday creep and consumer training

- 00:04:10 – Novelty dilution in holiday shopping

- 00:05:20 – Big Five days versus early strategies

- 00:07:00 – End-caps create retail demand

- 00:10:00 – Psychology trumps price in shopping

- 00:12:10 – Discount wars harm brand value

- 00:14:20 – Mobile/social streamlines purchase path

- 00:16:30 – Shop Pay moves POS to phones

- 00:19:00 – Returns culture hurts sustainability

- 00:22:00 – Gen Alpha pushes back

- 00:27:30 – AI gift help needs good prompts

- 00:31:00 – Brand strategy for authentic connection

Links and Resources:

• Matt Crincoli on LinkedIn
• Kelly Maguire on LinkedIn
• Todd Juneau on LinkedIn
• Vuja Dé Digital

Thanks so much for joining us this week. Want to subscribe to Contrary to Popular Opinion? Have some feedback you’d like to share? Connect with us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube to leave us a review!