Rebuilding Programmatic From Ground Up | #LabTalks S4 EP9 | Matt Wilke
In this episode, Ben Putley speaks with Matt Wilke, Head of Digital Partnerships at Mediaplus UK and former programmatic leader who's worked across the Omnicom stack and WPP GroupM side of the industry. For the past three years, he's been working at independent agencies, bringing a unique perspective from both sides of the industry divide, from large holding companies to independents. As someone who's navigated the evolution of programmatic advertising across different agency models, Matt shares candid insights about what's really broken in the current system and explores how blockchain technology could solve programmatic's biggest problems. In this episode: Why 49% of ad spend disappears before reaching publishers (according to ISBA research) Why middlemen who don't add performance value will need to prove their worth or disappear entirely Why the open web still represents 50% of UK programmatic spend and where most waste lives How blockchain could bring transparency to the programmatic supply chain Zero-knowledge proofs for privacy-preserving targeting without cookies Why automated market makers could revolutionise ad buying The thought experiment: rebuilding programmatic from scratch A must-listen for anyone working in programmatic advertising, ad tech, or digital media who wants an unvarnished look at the industry's current challenges and potential blockchain solutions.
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The Truth About Crypto Adoption | #LabTalks S4 EP8 | Nicolas Cary
In this episode, Ben Putley speaks with Nic Cary, founder of Blockchain.com, one of the pioneering cryptocurrency companies established in 2011. Nic built the first popular blockchain explorer (blockchain.info) and has grown Blockchain.com into one of the world's largest crypto platforms, serving millions of users globally. As someone who's witnessed Bitcoin's evolution from the early days to today's $3 trillion market, Nic shares his perspective on the current state of cryptocurrency adoption and makes some bold predictions about what's coming next. In this episode: - Why despite a $3 trillion market cap, only 200-300 million people globally are actually "on-chain" - How regulatory frameworks have inadvertently created barriers to adoption, particularly in markets like the UK - The emerging intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology - Why AI agents will be conducting most digital payments within five years - New interfaces won't be controlled by single companies like current operating systems - Why we're moving from "infrastructure decade" to "execution decade" A must-listen for builders, investors, and anyone who wants the unvarnished truth about where crypto really stands – and the massive opportunities still ahead.
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Rewiring Ad Tech for Good
In this episode, Ben Putley speaks with Amy Williams, founder and CEO of Good-Loop, a company embedding social impact directly into digital advertising. From her love-hate relationship with the ad industry to pioneering media that’s respectful, effective, and sustainable, Amy shares how Good-Loop is redefining what it means to advertise with purpose.They unpack how the digital ad ecosystem became so broken, from intrusive user experiences and misaligned incentives to environmental waste and inefficient capital. They also explore groundbreaking concepts like wallets as anonymous identifiers, the role of blockchain, the evolving landscape of brand safety, and the shifting value exchange between users and advertisers.This wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation challenges the current landscape and reimagines what advertising could — and should — be.
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From Vision to Velocity in Web3
In this episode, Ben sits down with Eleanor Hudson, Head of Ecosystem at Fabric Ventures, one of Europe's leading Web3-native VC firms. Together, they explore Eleanor’s journey into the Web3 space, her experience supporting founders to find product-market fit, and her unique perspective on the convergence of blockchain and AI. Ben and Eleanor dive deep into what it takes to build in Web3, the challenges of hiring for a Web3 business, and how to effectively communicate the value of Web3 products to both technical and non-technical customers. Eleanor shares her insights on the cultural aspects of Web3, explaining how events and hands-on experiences are essential for people to truly understand the mission and technology behind blockchain projects. They also discuss the evolving Web3 event scene, the importance of community-building in the space, and how both founders and VCs should approach networking and relationship-building at conferences. This episode is packed with valuable insights on what it really takes to build a successful Web3 company, from navigating the startup landscape to fostering an ecosystem of innovation.
In this LabTalks episode, Ben Putley sits down with Katie Narain, Web3 Member Experience Lead at Serotonin, the Web3 powerhouse helping brands navigate and thrive in the space.Katie breaks down how Web3 companies are moving beyond traditional marketing playbooks and why community-driven engagement is key. She also shares how Serotonin’s platform is reshaping industry connections and the future of Web3 adoption.Together, Ben and Katie explore the intersection of Web3, ad tech, and community-building, diving into how brands can position themselves for long-term success in an evolving digital landscape. Plus, get Katie’s take on the future of Web3 adoption, the rise of APAC markets, and why targeted infrastructure, not just hype, will drive the next wave of growth.Key highlights:Why Web3 marketing needs a new approach beyond brand sponsorships How Serotonin is helping legacy brands enter Web3 the right way How Serotonin’s platform is reshaping industry connections at industry eventsThe role of ad tech in the next evolution of digital platforms Why the future of Web3 is about value exchange, not just transactionsIf you’re building in Web3, this is an episode you don’t want to miss. 🎧
Welcome to LabTalks: Season 3!LabTalks: The Non-Fungible Podcast dives into the dynamic world of advertising and Web3. Join us as we explore everything from the latest Alkimi tech updates to the broader shifts in digital advertising.Featuring special guests, founders' insights, and educational content, we tackle the industry's biggest questions and trends.Tune in and be part of the conversation that's shaping the future of advertising in the digital age.Bads ads broke the internet. Fix it with $ADS.
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