Mumbrellacast

"What the fresh hell is this?" is a question many Twitter users may have uttered in the last 48 hours as they log into their accounts only to be hit in the face by a giant X. The team looks at the latest instalment of billionaire Elon Musk's rebrand execution for Twitter and examines what it means for ads on the platform (2:34). Then, News Corp's Dan Krigstein (10:33) and oOh!media's Cathy O'Connor (33:18) join the chat. 

As the first game of FIFA Women's World Cup approaches, drama has emerged elsewhere in the sports world as the 2026 Commonwealth Games is now without a host – following Vic Gov's decision to pull out of its hosting duties. The team looks back on what turned out to be a big week of sports news (2:13). Then, a chat with Fear & Greed's co-founders, Michael Thompson and Sean Aylmer, on the business of business podcast (15:10). 

As global results of media agency billings were released by insight company COMvergance, serious questions about its Australian figures remain unresolved (1:24). The team assesses the situation before reflecting on the first week of Meta's Threads, and if we should care about it (9:51). Then, a chat with Nova's chief growth officer Adam Johnson on its latest ratings (19:41) and Ogilvy PR's head of editorial Brian Corrigan on the agency's new B2B influencer offering (37:13). 

In an extended news chat, the team discusses the recent rumours of Kyle and Jackie O returning to their old network SCA (1:52), before doing a mid-year check on the TV ratings of old guards and new formats so far (9:13). Then, a glimpse into the new Twitter rival, Threads, developed by Meta, about what we know so far and what’s to come (18:57).

The Australian advertising industry is on the verge of another drastic change, as a parliamentary inquiry into the state of online gambling ads has led to 31 sweeping recommendations, which, if adopted, could amount to a blanket ban for the category. The team discusses the news (2:00) before an audio campaign review with Connecting Plots' Tim Collier and CHEP's Amy Weston (12:09). 

The team examines a new push for a junk food advertising ban from independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps and the resulting industry response (3:30), before looking at EssenceMediacom exec Pat Crowley's new in-house gig with long-time client, Commonwealth Bank (14:11). Plus, a chat with Rich Curtis on FutureBrand Australia's new B Corp Certificate and its meaning beyond sustainability (20:06). 

Following Four Corners' investigation into the commercial deals between sports codes and betting brands, the team dissects the impacts of these arrangements on advertising (2:17), before a deep dive into GroupM's latest forecast figures on the global ad industry (10:27). Then, a chat with industry veterans James Greet and Steve Pollack on launching their new gig, The Payback Project, in Australia (17:29). 

The team unpacks Victorian Government's message behind its decision to stop spending on print advertising (2:17), before discussing the launch of a new indie agency, Reunion, by ex-CHEP CEO Justin Hind (8:04). Then, a chat with CRA's Deb Hishon and ARN Media's chief executive, Ciaran Davis, on the revamped Total Radio measurement system, Radio 360 (12:12), and a sit-down with music festival promoter Casey Katz, of Untitled Group (26:12).

The team chats through David 'Kochie' Koch's departure from Seven's Sunrise and who's likely to replace him (2:28), and if next-day TV ratings are too old fashioned, as Seven's Mel Hopkins argued in an op-ed this week (6:23). Plus, a discussion about last week's media grad salaries exclusive (12:19). Then, a catch up with Kochie on his time at Brekky Central (20:57), before Cox Inall Ridgeway's Yatu Widders Hunt checks in to talk about how brands should approach The Voice referendum (28:06). 

The team chats through Stan Grant's emotional ABC exit and the movements since (2:46), before touching on the Walkley Foundation's anti-climate reporting recognition stance (8:00). Then, a chat with Adam Ferrier on his new side-gig at Disrupt Radio (10:35), before Lion's head of core beer marketing, Chris Allan, checks in to talk Toohey's revival of the 'I feel like a Toohey's' jingle (16:23).

The team chats Coles' new era as its new CEO appoints American marketer, Amanda McVay as its chief customer officer (3:21), before a chat about the work from home debate, which has taken over adland this week (12:09). There is also a double header of interviews this week, with GroupM's new chief investment officer, Melissa Hey checking in (20:53), before a conversation with Tracey Spicer on her new book exploring the built in biases of AI technology (31:52).

This week, the team examines the 2023 federal budget handed down on Tuesday and what it means for the media sector (2:20), before looking at the new "media disruptor" businesses that have been grabbing headlines (6:00). All these before a featured interview with Weber Shandwick’s global CCO, Tom Beckman, on the Swedish culture and how agencies can tap into the cultural zeitgeist (15:21).

In this week's Mumbrellacast, the team unpacks what Grant Blackley's departure means for SCA, followed by a detailed look at the latest Arktic Fox study results, which said Australian marketers are "grossly ill-prepared" when adapting to new privacy standards. Plus, Cocogun's Ant Melder and VMLY&R's Alison Tilling dial in for an audio campaign review. 

In this week's Mumbrellacast, two different takes on the current pitching frenzy (1:56), and Twitter's subscription product falters as the platform ends its legacy verification program (12:30). Then, DE&I expert and Mumbrella360 keynote speaker Azure Antoinette joins the podcast to discuss the media and marketing industry's challenge with diversity (16:35). 

In this week's Mumbrellacast, the team unpacks how Fox Corp and Dominion Voting Systems US settlement, and how it could impact a local case (1:58), before Chris Savage joins the podcast to discuss agencies getting their own sales pitch correct (7:41). Then, a conversation with Foxtel Media CEO Mark Frain about the company's Binge ad tier launch, whi big ticket content is king and standing out in a streaming crowd (26:53).

In this week's Mumbrellacast, Big Red's Ted Horton has recruited Bridget Cleary to launch a new "growth and performance" tech consultancy (3:22), and the team discuss what exactly is going on with all of the media pitches over the last few months (12:22). Finally, Clemenger BBDO's new CEO Dani Bassil joins the podcast to share her vision for one of Australia's most historic advertising agencies (20:40).

On this week's Mumbrellacast, the team discuss what the latest SMI figures mean for the Australian market (2:04), before considering the real motivations behind the CEO of Tabcorp's strong statements to the inquiry into online gambling (6:35). The team then touches on the latest update to the Murdoch defamation case, as Private Media asks to update its defence for the fourth time, to the judge's dismay (13:15). Finally, Meta's Carolyn Bollaci and Naomi Shepherd join the podcast to chat what's next for the tech giant now that Metaverse hype has faded (17:12).

In this week's Mumbrellacast, research reveals more than half of Australians would support a ban on wagering ads across all broadcast channels before 10:30pm (2:16), while the team unpacks TV ratings as programming for Q1 comes to a close (11:47). Then, 72andSunny's Andy Flemming and Innocean's Wez Hawes join the podcast for an audio campaign review (17:14). Listen in to hear why the pair think Australian advertising might have its mojo back. 

In this week's Mumbrellacast, former Nine and Fairfax execs Chris Janz and David Eisman are set to launch their own subscription news platform, Scire (4:29), while News Corp spruikes its shopfront capabilities at its annual D_Coded event (10:07) . Then, indie agency Bullfrog nabs senior talent from Saatchi & Saatchi (13:12). All this before the inside scoop on the Adobe Summit happening in Las Vegas, with the podcast joined by Adobe head of product marketing Jeremy Wood, UNSW head of marketing and campaigns, Carmen Michael, and president of digital transformation firm Bounteous, Michael McLaren (20:25)

On this week's Mumbrellacast, Attivo seeks to expand its media capabilities with the appointment of former Dentsu Media boss, Sue Squillace (4:36). Then, Hardhat's Dan Monheit calls into the podcast to give us a taste of all the insights and memories he'll be taking home from this year's SXSW (11:09). All this before a chat with Telstra CMO, Brent Smart, and Accenture Song President and CEO of The Monkeys, Mark Green, who divulge the telecom brand's creativity-led growth strategy and the launch of its second major campaign in as many months (21:38) .