Episoder
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In this special episode of Ad Infinitum, Stew Redwine explores the cutting-edge world of AI-driven audio advertising with Dave "Chachi" Denes, President of Benztown and host of Chachi Loves Everybody, and Masa Patterson, VP of Operations at Benztown. The trio dives into a live demonstration of Spec AI, an innovative tool that streamlines the creation of professional audio advertisements by generating scripts, selecting music, and producing mixed spots in real-time.
Listeners gain insights into how Spec AI empowers account executives to pitch ad concepts with ready-made spots, bridging the gap between creative vision and client buy-in. The episode also highlights the nuances of using generative AI responsibly, ensuring creativity remains central to the process while leveraging AI to save time and spark ideas.
Through a hands-on ad creation session for OXFORd, they showcase the platform's flexibility, demonstrating how it can craft compelling, custom-tailored audio that resonates with clients and audiences alike. This episode celebrates the intersection of AI and human creativity, emphasizing the potential for AI to enhanceânot replaceâthe artistry of audio advertising.
Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Season 2, Episode 11: "The Authors of Audio Branding."
In this episode, you'll hear from two experts who wrote the book on Audio Branding - called Audio Branding: Colleen Fahey, U.S. Managing Director at Sixième Son, and Larry Minsky, Professor at Columbia College Chicago, and co-authors of Audio Branding: Using Sound to Build Your Brand & Voice Marketing: Harnessing the Power of Conversational AI to Drive Customer Engagement.
We will be discussing the evolution of what we know of as Audio Branding and what the future of multisensory marketing, including Voice Marketing, looks like for brands, along with grading some ads to see just how well the guiding principles of Audio Branding do or do not play out in reality.Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Manglende episoder?
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In Ad Infinitum Season 2, Episode 10 - "Congruent Cues," Stew sits down with Chelsea Campbell, Group Creative Director at Studio Resonate, to explore the science of persuasive audio advertising.
Together, they dissect the alchemy of sound, diving into psychoacoustics, sonic branding, and how congruence in audio drives listener engagement through analysis of top spenders like Progressive, T-Mobile, and The Home Depot.Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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In Ad Infinitum Season 2, Episode 9 - "Simulacrum Ex Machina," Stew welcomes Oskar Serrander (Co-Founder/CEO of Wondercraft) to talk about Wondercraft's origins and recent launch, how to think in audio, and the most important audio factor: Ryan Reynolds.
Plusâbreaking down ~$20M in audio ads from Magellan.ai's Top Podcast Sepnders Breakdown, including advertisers BetterHelp, Toyota, Whole Foods, and Mint Mobile (Guess which oneâs the best/hint: Ryan Reynolds).
Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Ad Infinitum is the only podcast solely focused on audio ads - the creatives who make them and/or the latest thinking that informs them how the space is evolving - AND, usually, a round-up of recent audio ads and analysis by host Stew Redwine and each episode's guest - BUT, this episode is a little different.
This is Season 2, Episode 9 of Ad Infinitum, and this episode's title is "Sonic Truths." It discusses the evolution of McDonald's sonic branding and its current and future audio recipes with guest JJ Healan, Vice President of U.S. Marketing, Brand Content, and Culture at McDonald's.
JJ is an expert on brand strategy, content creation, innovative marketing techniques, and a lot of fun! Enjoy listening to what has helped define McDonald's sound over the years: a focus on fan truths, striking the balance of freedom and constraints, and a commitment to collaboration by "sharing the pen."Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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In this episode, Stew Redwine and guest Kraig Kitchin discuss the power of audio and its effects on emotions, memory, and perception.
They also review and rate top radio advertisers, including Lowe's, The Home Depot, Babbel, and Progressive.
The conversation highlights the importance of relevance, entertainment, and clear messaging in audio ads.
Special thanks to Premiere Studios for providing studio space in Sherman Oaks, California.Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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In this episode, "Audioâs Rule of Thirds", Stew Redwine's guest is Mike Jensen, CEO of Rhapsody Voices and they discuss how brands can best connect with hosts, what the ingredients of a persuasive host read ad are, and rating some recent movers and shakers in the podcast space form Magellan.aiâs May 2024 report - MeUndies, Rakuten, IBM, and monday.com.
Audio is replete with threes: first, thereâs production: voice-over, sound design, and music. Then, thereâs the classic story structure of beginning, middle, and end. Of course, there are also timeless rhetorical appeals: pathos, logos, and ethos. And with Rhapsody Voices, Mike Jensen, focuses on three things to "deliver on the connectivity between the host, the sponsors, and the audience.â
Mike's three suggestions for CAO's who want to make the ads work better than ever?
Authenticity is key: Authenticity in host-read ads is paramount. A host should be able to demonstrate their genuine connection to the productâotherwise, why else are they reading it?
Simplicity: For Mike, authenticity goes hand-in-hand with simplicity. For example, if a Starbucks ad has 20 potential value propositions, the host shouldnât try to highlight all of them; instead, they should key into one or two things, like the new summer drinks and caffeine-free options. That way, the host can expand on what they genuinely like about the products.
Clear call to action: Everyone knows an ad works best when it has a call to action. However, not all CTAs are equal. Triple down on having a clear, concise, and persuasive CTA, and triple-check the copy to make sure itâs solid. After all, a read is only as good as its copy.
Special thanks to Benztown Studio for providing the space to record this episode at their recording studio in Glendale, CA.Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Season 2 Episode 5 of Ad Infinitum is titled "Sound Business is Sound Business" and is all about B2B advertising in audio.
We discuss some of the best practices for B2B ad reads, why is audio such a good fit for B2B, particularly podcast, and then rank 4 recent B2B podcast ad spots with one of the best in the business of podcasting and B2B advertising; Hala Taha, CEO and Founder of YAP Media and host of the Young and Profiting Podcast.Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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In this episode, host Stew Redwine discusses the creative approach to scripting fiction podcasts, the role of sponsors and ads in spoken word audio, and analyzes four ads from the Ambie Award-winning podcast Ad Lucem.
Stew is joined by two guests:
Ray Harkins, Senior Director of Ad Sales at WonderyNathalie Chicha, producer of the 2023 Ambie Award-winning podcast "I Hear Fear"Key points from the discussion:
How knowing upfront that ads will be included affects the creative process when scripting a fiction podcast. Nathalie notes that while it can be challenging for listeners to shift from the story into a commercial break, it forces the creators to think strategically about building engaging cliffhangers to retain the audience through the ads.
Ray shares insights on selling ads for fiction podcasts and the importance of matching the tone and style of the ads to the show's content.
The rise of fiction podcasts and audio storytelling as an alternative to screen-based media. Stew believes there will be increasing growth in this space.The second half of the episode focuses on analyzing four ads from the podcast Ad Lucem:
Sonos Era 300 Speaker - rated highly for relevance to an immersive audio experience, but critiqued for not demonstrating the product's capabilities.Twizzlers - seen as a weaker ad without a clear connection to the story themes.Dave Banking App - praised for capturing the financial struggles of the show's young characters, but felt longer than necessary.BetterHelp - the favorite of the four for cleverly integrating the show's AI assistant character into the ad copy.The overall takeaway was that while 60-second ads provide room for storytelling, the additional time must be earned through engaging, relevant content. Shorter ads may be preferable for fiction podcasts unless the extra length enhances the listening experience.
Special thanks to Benztown Studio for providing the space to record this episode at their recording studio in Glendale, CA.Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Season 2 of Ad Infinitum continues with Episode 3, âBranding With Your Eyes Closed,â defining and discussing the importance of sonic branding, and then ranking 4 recent top spenders through that lens.
Consistency is key in sonic branding to create a recognizable and memorable sonic identity.Sonic branding should evoke an emotional connection with the brand and differentiate it from competitors.Clear messaging and information transfer are important in sonic branding to effectively communicate the brand's value proposition.Frequency and long-term commitment to sonic branding can lead to a significant lift in advertising effectiveness.Creating space for the sonic identity to be heard and designing the messaging around it are crucial for successful sonic branding.
And thatâs why this episode's guest is Joel Beckerman - author of The Sonic Boom and Founder of Made Music Studio - a person who is practically synonymous with Sonic Branding whenever it comes up with anyone who is serious about the topic.
In this episode of Ad Infinitum, Stew and Joel discuss the importance of sonic branding in audio advertising. They analyze four recent top spenders in radio advertising and evaluate their sonic branding strategies. The conversation highlights the need for consistency, emotional connection, and clear messaging in sonic branding. They also emphasize the value of frequency and long-term commitment to sonic branding. The episode provides insights and examples for chief audio officers and marketers looking to enhance their audio advertising strategies.
TakeawaysSupport the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Season 2 of Ad Infinitum continues with Episode 2, âHosts are People Tooâ, discussing the importance of advertisers considering the hosts' humanity on the other end of the talking points. And that's why the guest is a real host and a real person - Jordy Meiselas - one of the three Founders of MeidasTouchNetwork and co-host of The MeidasTouch Podcast.
Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Welcome to Season 2 of Ad Infinitum, this Episodeâs title is âSound Strategyâ; discussing the importance of strategy in advertising and ranking 5 recent top spenders in audio (Pfizer, Verizon, Progressive, Apple, and AT&T) through that lens with guest Mark Pollard - podcast host and CEO of Sweathead and Author of Strategy is Your Words.
Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Ad Infinitum is the only podcast solely focused on audio ads - the creatives who make them and/or the latest thinking that informs them, how the space is evolving, and a round-up of recent audio ads and analysis by Stew Redwine, VP Creative at Oxford Road, and each episode's guest. The first season's episodes focus on individual Audiolytics⢠Key Components and how they show up in the ads for some of the top spenders in audio.
The finale episode of Ad Infinitum Season 1 - "It's all in the Execution" - welcomes two Sound Strategists; Steve Keller, Sonic Strategy Director for SXM Mediaâs Studio Resonate, and Bjorn Thorleifsson, Head of Research & Insights at amp sound branding, to discuss the 9th and final Audiolytics⢠Key Component; Execution. In short, does every word count?Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Ad Infinitum is the only podcast solely focused on audio ads - the creatives who make them and/or the latest thinking that informs them, how the space is evolving, and a round-up of recent audio ads and analysis by Stew Redwine, VP Creative at Oxford Road, and each episode's guest.
The first season's episodes focus on individual Audiolytics⢠Key Components and how they show up in the ads for some of the top spenders in audio.
Amanda DiMarco, VP of Client Success, at Veritonic, is the guest for Episode 6: titled "Why Now?", with a conversation focused on the power of Veritonic's platform and Audiolytics⢠Key Components #6, 7, & 8 "Offer, Scarcity, and Path".
Why should the listener take action? By when? And where do they need to go? In short, Why Now?Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Ad Infinitum is the only podcast solely focused on audio ads - the creatives who make them and/or the latest thinking that informs them, how the space is evolving, and a round-up of recent audio ads and analysis by Stew Redwine, VP Creative at Oxford Road, and each episode's guest. The first season's episodes focus on individual Audiolytics⢠Key Components and how they show up in the ads for some of the top spenders in audio. Episode 5 is titled "Trust Factories or Illusions of Credibility" and focuses on Audiolytics⢠Key Component #5, "Substantiation: Why should I trust you?".
Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Ad Infinitum is the only podcast solely focused on audio ads - the creatives who make them and/or the latest thinking that informs them, how the space is evolving, and a round up of recent audio ads and analysis by Stew Redwine, VP Creative at Oxford Road, and each episode's guest. The first season's episodes focus on individual Audiolytics⢠Key Components and how they show up in the ads for some of the top spenders in audio. Episode 4 is titled "Demonstrated = Persuaded" and Focuses on Audiolytics⢠Key Component #4, "Demonstration: How does it work?".
Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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It's time for an unforgettable episode of Ad Infinitum, the only podcast that's all about how audio ads work (and how to make them work harder). This week, host Stew Redwine (Oxford Road's VP of Creative Services) welcomes unstoppable wordsmith Lucinda (co-founder and Head Hen of Moink), who is a positioning genius, Shark Tank veteran, and on a mission to save the family farm, one ethical meat box at a time. Episode 3, "Sirius Listening" isn't like the other episodes. We're seeing what makes a brand stand out from competitors and breaking down top-spending audio ads from Sofi, Ethos, Upside, and Progressive. Who's in pole position and who's trailing the pack? And of course, we're adding more power tools to our Chief Audio Officer's toolbelt.
Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Ad Infinitum is the only podcast solely focused on audio ads - the creatives who make them and/or the latest thinking that informs them, how the space is evolving, and a round up of recent audio ads and analysis by Stew Redwine, VP Creative at Oxford Road, and each episode's guest. The first season's episodes focus on individual Audiolytics? Key Components and how they show up in the ads for some of the top spenders in audio. This episode's guest is Phill Agnew. Phill is a senior product marketer at Buffer, product marketing ambassador at the PMA, and host of Nudge, the only podcast dedicated to consumer psychology where he interviews professionals in the business of persuasion like Daniel Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us & To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others.
Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
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Oxford Road VP of Creative Services Stew Redwine brings marketers a rare look into what makes the ads work on Oxford Roadâs all-new podcast: Ad Infinitum.
The first season's episodes focus on individual Audiolytics⢠Key Components and how they show up in the ads for some of the top spenders in audio. Episode 1 is titled "Starting Right" and Focuses on Audiolytics⢠Key Component #1, "Setup: Why Should I Listen?". In this episode, Stew and Dallas Taylor, host of 20k Hertz and Creative Director at Defacto Sound, break down ads from four top spenders in Radio; ZipRecruiter, Progressive, The Home Depot, and Lowes.
About this episode's guest: Dallas Taylor is the host and creator of Twenty Thousand Hertz, the award-winning podcast revealing the stories behind the worldâs most recognizable and interesting sounds. He is also the Creative Director of Defacto Sound - the sonic source for the worldâs most thoughtful brands, a TED mainstage speaker, a regular contributor to major publications (like the guardian, wired, the wall street journal, and more), and a respected thought leader on the narrative power of sound.Support the show
Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road, Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, mixed & sound designed by Zach Hahn, and written & hosted by Stew Redwine.
