Behind the Numbers: an EMARKETER Podcast

Behind the Numbers: an EMARKETER Podcast

EMARKETER’s podcast, Behind the Numbers, helps marketers, retailers, and advertisers understand the rapidly changing landscape of digital media. EMARKETER analysts and industry experts come together to analyze a wide variety of critical topics, from the transformative influence of AI to the dynamic world of social media, and the evolving landscape of consumer shopping habits. Stay informed and stay ahead with insights and analysis that matter. Tune in to new episodes published Monday through Friday wherever you find podcasts.

Episodes

February 20, 2026 24 mins

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the three big questions surrounding Amazon right now: Can it maintain its ad revenue momentum in 2026? Is AI spending a problem? Is it ready for agentic commerce? And more. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Analysts Marisa Jones and Rachel Wolff. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

 

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On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the three big questions surrounding Google right now: When and how will it monetize AI search? Is it spending too much on AI? Will it reconcile its two full-fledged AI chatbots? And more. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Principal Analyst Nate Elliott and Senior Director of Content Jeremy Goldman. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spo...

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On today’s podcast episode, we discuss what stood out most about how people shopped this past holiday season, what feels fundamentally different about the upcoming holiday season, what real personalization at scale looks like for retailers, and why AI matters even more during the holidays. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian and Principal Analysts Sky Canaves and Zak Stambor.     G...

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On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the redefining of “attention,” what neuro-contextual research actually measures, and how it could reshape media planning for brands that traditionally buy based on reach or demographics rather than emotional resonance. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Director of Content Jeremy Goldman, and Brian Gleason, CEO of Seedtag. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube a...

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On today’s podcast episode, we discuss Super Bowl LX: the main takeaways, the biggest winners, and the lessons for marketers. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Analyst Ross Benes and Vice President of Content Paul Verna. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.On today’s podcast episode, we discuss Super Bowl LX: the main takeaways, the biggest winners, and the les...

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On today’s podcast episode, we discuss how social platforms became such an important touchpoint for retail, what retailers have done to make social commerce feel like real retail, how creators are evolving from marketing vehicles into platform storefronts for brands, and more. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, and Senior Analysts Carina Lamb and Minda Smiley.     Get more insigh...

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On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the three big questions surrounding Meta right now: Is 2026 Meta’s ‘Big Tobacco’ moment? How big of a problem is Meta's AI spending spree? What's the vision for its AI agent? And more. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Analyst Minda Smiley and Principal Analyst Max Willens. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

 

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On today’s podcast episode, we discuss whether “ChatGPT with Ads” will scare users away, the effectiveness of chatbot ads versus traditional search ads, and whether there’s an ethical component to advertising during a search conversation compared with the blue-link format. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Principal Analyst Nate Elliot and Analyst Marisa Jones. Listen everywhere, and...

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On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the run-up to the Super Bowl: how brands can stand out during the big game, what galvanizes people around this cultural moment, and how brands should be measuring success. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Senior Analyst Blake Droesch, and Vice President of Content Paul Verna.

 

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On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the three big questions surrounding Netflix right now: What are Netflix’s advertising expectations? What will actually happen with Warner Bros. Discovery? And more. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Analyst Ross Benes. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

 

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On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the impact of President Trump’s second year on media, advertising, and technology, including how AI chips are influencing innovation, marketing contingency plans, and the changing role of the CEO. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Director of Content Jeremy Goldman and Senior Analyst Gadjo Sevilla. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube ...

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On today's podcast episode, we introduce our 'Unofficial Monthly Retailer Awards', or the U.M.R.A.s, for the 'Most Impactful Campaign', 'Best IRL Initiative', and 'Greatest Under-the-Radar Move'. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst Sky Canaves, and Analysts Arielle Feger and Rachel Wolff.

 

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Our analysts (or “bakers”) compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing how AI will automate credit card rewards personalization and what happens when Agentic AI turns mobile banking into a personal financial concierge. Join the discussion with guest host Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analyst Grace Broadbent, and Principal Analyst Tiffani Montez. Get more insights like these with our ...

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On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the new Disney-OpenAI deal: why Disney did the deal, what's in it for OpenAI, and everything that might happen next. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, Senior Analyst Ross Benes, and Principal Analyst Max Willens. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify. Get more insights like these with our free, industry-leading newsletters covering advertising, marketing, ...
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Our analysts (or “bakers”) compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing how, as Gen Alpha turns 13, the war between time spent on YouTube and TikTok will heat up—and how gaming will become an alternative social media space for this young generation. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Analyst Paola Flores-Marquez and Vice President of Research Jennifer Pearson. Listen ...

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Our analysts (or “bakers”) compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing how retailers will be restructuring their commerce media teams and focusing on hard launching their in-store retail media capabilities. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, along with Analyst Arielle Feger and Principal Analyst Sarah Marzano.

 

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Our analysts (or “bakers”) compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing why Dr. Google will give way to Dr. ChatGPT in 2026 and how Americans will increasingly use AI for mental health therapy and support this year. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Analysts Rajiv Leventhal and Beth Snyder Bulik. Listen everywhere, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

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Our analysts (or “bakers”) compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing why podcasts will be more important to digital audio marketers than music and how FAST services will help push AVOD viewership across the 200 million milestone. Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Principal Forecasting Writer Ethan Cramer-Flood and Senior Director of Forecasting Oscar Orozco. Listen everywhere, ...

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On today’s podcast episode, the team reports straight from the show floor at NRF’s Big Show 2026 to break down the most compelling themes dominating the conference, noteworthy insights from off-stage and hallway conversations, and what retail leaders should prioritize next based on what mattered most at one of the retail industry’s most influential events. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and ho...

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Our analysts (or “bakers”) compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing why lawsuits and regulations will begin to fundamentally shift how kids use social media and how brands are going to use creators to figure out generative engine optimization (GEO). Join Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, along with Senior Analyst Minda Smiley and Principal Analyst Max Willens. Listen everywhere,...

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