Adspeak from ADWEEK: New Podcast Reveals the Untold Stories Behind Advertising's Biggest Headlines

Apr. 15, 2025

ADWEEK announced the launch of its new weekly podcast, Adspeak, hosted by editor in chief Ryan Joe, featuring a special two-part premiere (April 15/16). The podcast is an extension of ADWEEK’s newsroom on a new platform, bringing to life the biggest stories that help make sense of the advertising industry, how it works, and the people behind the scenes pulling the strings. 

The first episode’s guest is senior tech reporter Kendra Barnett, who broke some of the biggest stories surrounding the turmoil at Brooklyn-based creative agency Madwell, and an exclusive interview with its CEO, Chris Sojka, who sat down with ADWEEK's editor in chief Ryan Joe to tell his side of the story in episode 2 of the podcast. 

Sojka told Joe:

"I mean, this time next year, I hope that we are … back to the place that we never were, which was like [being] able to be an independent company, not driven by money, but having plenty of it."  

 

Adspeak uncovers the controversy at this once-dynamic ad agency, and in future episodes unpacks how highly-valued adtech startups justify their value, reveals why big box retailers like Walmart are now investing so heavily in selling ads themselves, and more.

ADWEEK CEO Will Lee said:

“The launch of Adspeak reinforces ADWEEK’s investment in audio by expanding our newsroom to reach new audiences on every platform. Advertising and marketing is where media, tech, and celebrity come together to influence what we buy, what we watch, and how we view the world. It’s a world that Adspeak and ADWEEK covers from every angle.”

 

Joe added: 

“Love it or hate it, the advertising and marketing industry is a major broker of power and persuasion in the world today. Adspeak brings to life stories from our top reporters, delving into the people, brands, ad agencies, and adtech giants that shape our culture.”

 

Adspeak is a peek behind the curtain on how ads are made and how they affect consumer behavior. The podcast features ADWEEK’s reporters, who reveal how they broke their stories, worked their sources, and pulled the puzzle pieces together. They also discuss details that didn’t make it into their stories, and first-hand accounts of the movers and shakers they interviewed.

Adspeak from ADWEEK premieres on April 15 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and is available wherever you listen to  podcasts, with a new episode every Tuesday.  Adspeak is part of the ADWEEK Podcast Network, an industry-leading collection of expert voices, sharp intelligence, and inspiring conversations, along with Brave Commerce, TechMagic, The Speed of Culture, and Marketing Vanguard.