Best Forrest Walker Podcasts (2025)

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50: The Prisoner of Charleston (Dead Letter Office) 35:54

Play Pause

3h ago35:54

35:54

In tonight’s dead letter… Veronica takes a ghost tour of an old jail in Charleston, South Carolina and has an intense encounter with a spirit there. She's able to describe this man in detail and later discovers the spirit is that of William Marcus, who was hanged at the jail for the murder of his wife. The experience was terrifying and shaped Veron…

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Inside Kevin Hart’s Hartbeat with Janina Lundy 23:12

14h ago23:12

23:12

In this episode of Next in Media, Mike Shields sits down with Janina Lundy, EVP and Head of Marketing & Brand Partnerships at Hartbeat, the production company founded by comedian and actor Kevin Hart. Heartbeat has become a creative force at the intersection of comedy, culture, and branded entertainment — developing hit shows like Cold as Balls wit…

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The Mysterious Moving Coffins of Barbados 1:49:41

2d ago1:49:41

1:49:41

In the cemetery of Christ Church Parish Church in Barbados stands a half-buried stone crypt infamous for its early 19th-century mystery. Between 1807 and 1812, several heavy, lead-lined coffins were placed inside, but each time the vault was reopened, the caskets were found disturbed — despite the massive stone door being sealed tight with no sign …

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49: The Return of Evil Yoda 24:39

7d ago24:39

24:39

By Astonishing Legends Productions

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Reinventing Ad Tech, Criteo’s CEO on Retail Media, AI, and the Future of Addressability 29:28

8d ago29:28

29:28

By Michael Komasinski

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What's It Like to Ride the YouTube Wave for Nearly 20 Years 39:04

14d ago39:04

39:04

Next in Media talked to Michael Wayne, co-founder and CEO of Kin, about his nearly 20-year journey building a media company alongside YouTube's evolution. Wayne shared how his company navigated multiple business model shifts—from the MCN era to working with traditional celebrities on digital platforms, licensing content to streaming services and ca…

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48: Die Fratzen 27:56

14d ago27:56

27:56

In tonight’s dead letter… a listener shares their chilling encounters with "Die Fratzen," demonic faces that surfaced after a period of indulgence and self-disgust. These weren't just fleeting nightmares; they manifested as waking visions and doppelgangers, leading to a quest for spiritual help. The writer grapples with the possibility of mental he…

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The Screaming Skulls 1:37:27

17d ago1:37:27

1:37:27

Across England, legends tell of “screaming skulls,” which are human remains said to bring disaster if moved from their resting place. In Dorset, a skull defies removal with deadly consequences; in Derbyshire, “Dickie” halted a railway project; in Yorkshire, Anne’s head demanded to stay within her beloved home; and in Manchester, one cast into a moa…

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47: The Lock Looker 39:09

21d ago39:09

39:09

In tonight’s Dead Letter, you’ll hear a bizarre tale from rural Ohio, one of our favorite strange states, involving a creature known only as the "Lock Looker." This cryptid, with its orangutan-like build, glowing orange eyes, and famous movie scream, lurks near a dam and has been sighted by both the storyteller and their father. It may have been ar…

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How is a Giant Marketer Like Unilever Going to Spend Half of Its Media Budget on Creators? 24:28

22d ago24:28

24:28

Next in Media talked to Selina Sykes, Global Marketing Transformation Leader for Beauty and Wellbeing at Unilever, about the company's ambitious goal to allocate half of its media budget to creators. The conversation explored how a legacy CPG giant is reimagining its marketing model to stay relevant in a social-first world. Sykes discussed Unilever…

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Important Update 0:57

24d ago0:57

0:57

News from Scott and ForrestBy Astonishing Legends Productions

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46: The Cowboy in the Canteen 42:18

28d ago42:18

42:18

In tonight’s dead letter… a VFW canteen worker in Michigan has a close encounter with a mysterious cowboy, complete with vintage attire and dollar coins. The stranger asks her to champion his cause of getting “shell shock” recognized for a Purple Heart. After the encounter, the letter he provides vanishes and the general he mentions turns out to be…

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Dhar Mann Wants to Make YouTube Shows With Big Brands 36:47

29d ago36:47

36:47

Next in Media talked to Dhar Mann, Creator and founder of Dhar Mann Studios, and Sean Atkins, CEO of Dhar Mann Studios, about building one of YouTube's most successful scripted content operations. They discussed creating family-friendly scripted series at scale, working with brands beyond traditional advertising, and expanding their studio model to…

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45: Uninvited Intruders 32:48

1M ago32:48

32:48

In tonight’s dead letter, a listener recounts a childhood filled with unexplained phenomena in their 1940s Michigan home. From persistent footsteps and unsettling noises like dragging chains and hammering to a menacing presence in their bedroom, the haunting escalated over the years, driving them to seek refuge upstairs. But even then, the activity…

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Amazon's Kelly MacLean on How the eCommerce Giant Built a Killer DSP 21:28

1M ago21:28

21:28

🔖Chapters: [00:01:12] - Kelly's Background: From Soccer to Ad Tech [00:03:22] - Making the Move from Meta to Amazon [00:04:44] - Amazon DSP's Evolution from Single to Multi-Purpose [00:06:10] - Adapting to the Streaming TV Revolution [00:07:31] - Technical Differentiators and Competitive Positioning [00:13:30] - AI Integration and the "Crystal Box"…

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Mystery Solved! AMA 2025 2:39:47

1M ago2:39:47

2:39:47

Alright Astonishing Legends listeners, buckle up! In this special AMA episode, Scott and Forrest are answering your burning questions! We're diving headfirst into everything from the implications of sentient Tesla bots inheriting fortunes (and causing chaos) to the latest updates on the search for Amelia Earhart's lost plane. We’re also exploring l…

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44: The Beginning that Never Ended 39:23

1M ago39:23

39:23

In tonight’s dead letter… Listener, Isla recalls a childhood park trip in Australia where she and a friend went exploring after her mom’s car broke down in the bush. They wandered too far from the car and observed a void-like, spear-bearing figure on the bank. The bush fell silent and the wind carried songs in an ancient language as they fled back …

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Dazn's Walker Jacobs on Lessons From Streaming Global Sports Events, and What YouTube in for with its First NFL Game 33:26

1M ago33:26

33:26

🔖Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction and DAZN Overview 01:12 - DAZN's Global Sports Streaming Scale 03:58 - Creating the FIFA Club World Cup Tournament 07:43 - Managing Complex Global Live Streaming 14:26 - The State of Sports and Streaming Industry 18:40 - Lessons from Amazon's Thursday Night Football Launch 27:30 - DAZN's US Growth Strategy and Origin…

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43: Tracked 34:23

2M ago34:23

34:23

In tonight’s dead letter… Listener, Scott recounts a series of unexplained howls heard in the woods near his Alabama home. Night after night, he and his family would sit on the porch and listen, noticing patterns in the sounds. This progresses later to him being stalked by something he could not see. Alabama Bigfoot Website (via Wayback Machine) Mo…

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Dead Letter Office Special Announcement 0:14

2M ago0:14

0:14

This week’s Dead Letter Office is cancelled, but the show will return next week. Thank you for your patience and understanding!By Astonishing Legends Productions

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Why Creators Like Kai Cenat are Playing Dodgeball for $500K 23:05

2M ago23:05

23:05

Next in Media spoke with Drew Muller, VP and General Manager of House of Highlights, about how the Warner Discovery-owned property is looking to bridge sports fandom with top creators' content via the Creator League. The event, founded in 2023, features top creators such as Kai Cenat, Jesser and FaZe Rug playing a series of tournaments in sports su…

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42: A Gathering of Shadows 36:03

2M ago36:03

36:03

In tonight’s dead letter, listener Jerri-Kay recounts a story from her childhood when her mother witnessed multiple shadow figures entering their bedroom in broad daylight. Later that night, while seemingly half-asleep, when her mom enters her room she yells that she's not her mother and points to lights that only she can see in the room, leaving t…

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The Hatem Files 2 1:47:11

2M ago1:47:11

1:47:11

This week, Scott and Forrest welcome back Richard Hatem of Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf to Astonishing Legends! Join us as we delve into Richard's unique insights on paranormal literature, including odd details in famous experiences like Whitley Strieber's book, Communion and others. We'll explore Rich’s favorite episodes and get a sneak pe…

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41: The Fisherman's Ghost and the Homunculus 33:31

2M ago33:31

33:31

In tonight’s dead letter, we hear from our listener Sam, who shares two spooky stories. The first involves two hauntings at an aquarium in the UK. An old lady ghost with a penchant for floral perfume, and as one might expect…a fisherman. While the second features a mysterious, hunched-over shadow figure lurking in a South Carolina home. Sometimes t…

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How Tubi is Embracing Creators - and Trying to Shake up Streaming 27:08

2M ago27:08

27:08

Next in Media chatted with Rich Bloom, GM, Creator Programs & EVP, Business Development at Tubi, about the Fox-owned streamers new creator program, which has quickly expanded for five to 50 participants. Bloom also talked about Tubi's overall growth, Gen Z misconceptions, and whether TV needs to adopt more YouTube-like qualities. 💡Takeaways: 🎬 Crea…

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40: Skinwalkers in Iraq 31:21

3M ago31:21

31:21

In tonight’s dead letter listener Henry, a marine, recounts his experiences on guard duty in Iraq, where his platoon was stationed at an abandoned hotel near the Jordanian border. During a late-night watch, he and another marine hear footsteps in the stairwell, but a search of the building yields nothing but an unsettling encounter with glowing eye…

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Ad Tech Forrest Gump Ari Paparo on his New Book, and Whether the Feds Should Have Nailed Google Sooner 26:30

3M ago26:30

26:30

Next in Media spoke with Marketecture CEO Ari Paparo, author of the new book "Yield: How Google Bought, Built, and Bullied Its Way to Advertising Dominance" about how Google was able to build a monopoly on programmatic ads, despite so many people in the ad industry shouting about it for years - and whether we can stop the next one. 💡Takeaways: 🏛️ T…

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Creators, Campaigns, and Cannes: Navigating the Evolving Media Ecosystem 10:41

3M ago10:41

10:41

Next in Media spoke with WPP Media's Jessica Brown and Spark Foundry Worldwide's Kelly Metz, focusing on YouTube's growing role in the TV marketplace, the shift towards holistic video measurement, the increasing importance of AI and streamlined approaches in media buying, and the evolving challenges and opportunities in creator partnerships and cro…

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39: The Hat Man Takes a Seat 36:24

3M ago36:24

36:24

In tonight’s dead letter… Josh shares a chilling encounter with a being we’ve discussed on the show numerous times. The Hat Man. For Josh he appears as a shadowy figure sitting in his bedroom in the middle of the night. What would you do in this situation? It’s easy to answer that until you’re confronted with it yourself. Josh gave into paranormal …

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What Happens to Retail Media When Agents Start Taking Over Shopping? 25:02

3M ago25:02

25:02

This episode is brought to you by Walmart Connect. From homepage to home improvement. Win Carts and Minds with Walmart Connect. Next in Media spoke with Sarah Hofstetter, chairwoman of Profitero, a division of Publicis, about the haves and have nots in retail media, whether the big players TV presence is going to cause a bifurcation in the market, …

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Are You Ready for Gen Alpha? Insights from Razorfish CEO Dani Mariano 10:12

3M ago10:12

10:12

In this episode of Next in Media, Mike Shields interviews Dani Mariano, CEO of Razorfish, about their research into Gen Alpha, highlighting this generation's unique media consumption habits, brand maturity, and influence on household purchasing decisions, as well as Razorfish's "creator collab" program designed to meet the evolving demands of creat…

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38: A Gray Walks in LA 33:27

3M ago33:27

33:27

In tonight’s dead letter, listener Renee shares a strange encounter in Los Angeles. Late one night, while walking her dog, she saw what appeared to be a gray alien. After a moment of shock, she looked again and saw a middle-aged African-American woman. Renee was left wondering if she had seen a psychic mask slip or if it was just a trick of the lig…

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Snap's CMO Grace Kao: Beyond Social Media - Connecting Audiences, Brands & Developers 23:33

3M ago23:33

23:33

Grace Kao, CMO of Snap, discusses Snapchat's unique position as a platform focused on authentic connection and creativity, highlighting its diverse audience (consumers, B2B, developers) and innovative features like Promoted Places on the Snap Map and opportunities for brands in Chat, emphasizing the platform's ease of use and its appeal to a genera…

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Where do the Rockets stack up in the West? w/ Dan Favale 1:16:19

3M ago1:16:19

1:16:19

Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) and Dan Favale (@DanFavale) discuss: -Cam Whitmore traded to the Wizards. -Reacting to the details for Dorian-Finney Smith’s contract -Why the DFS signing and the Cam Whitmore trade should be viewed as one big transaction -Will Houston regret trading Whitmore? -Where does Houston stack up in the Western Conference? -Is OK…

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The Green Monster of Flatwoods 2:21:45

3M ago2:21:45

2:21:45

On September 12th, 1952, in Flatwoods, West Virginia, five boys witnessed a fiery object slowly descend from the sky and land nearby, seemingly under intelligent control. What followed became one of the strangest UFO encounters in American history. Joined by a 32-year-old mother and a National Guard member, the group were allegedly pursued by a tow…

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Kasha Cacy, Known CMO: Navigating YouTube's "Other" Category for Advertisers 5:33

3M ago5:33

5:33

Chief Media Officer at Known, Kasha Cacy, discusses YouTube's growing prominence against traditional television, despite challenges for brands regarding content predictability and measurement. Cacy, also touches on the evolving landscape of big creators acting as media companies and the current economic outlook from a business perspective. 💡Takeawa…

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37: Jacob City Miners 38:34

3M ago38:34

38:34

In tonight’s dead letter, Cody shares a chilling experience from a trip to Jacob City, a ghost town in Utah. While camping with friends and their dogs, they captured eerie EVPs, including one that called out Cody’s name. As the night grew darker, the dogs became unusually frightened, and a sudden, strong wind forced them to pack up and leave before…

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How to Bring Creators and Commerce Together Without Alienating Your Audience 17:49

3M ago17:49

17:49

Next in Media discusses the evolving role of influencers in marketing with Megan Pagliuca, Chief Product Officer at Omnicom Media Group, and Khurrum Malik, Head of Marketing for Walmart Connect, focusing on how data and new strategies are integrating influencers into broader media plans to drive sales and brand building. 💡Takeaways: 🛒 Retail Data f…

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Can the Rockets compete with the Thunder now? w/ Forrest Walker 49:41

3M ago49:41

49:41

Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) and Forrest Walker (@DUNOTS) recap the Rockets known free agency moves. Topics include: -Could anyone have seen this summer coming for the Rockets? -Thoughts on the Jabari Smith extension -Does Smith still possess All-Star potential? -Reacting to the Dorian Finney-Smith contract -Does Cam Whitmore have a future in Houston…

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36: Chips, Salsa and UFOs 41:15

4M ago41:15

41:15

In tonight’s dead letter, Jordan recalls a strange encounter in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she spotted nearly a dozen silver crafts hovering over the Sandia Mountains. These objects appeared to be linked and moved in unison, with one larger craft seemingly in charge. A large black helicopter sped off in the direction of the crafts after they di…

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Retail Media's Future with Anne Harrell of Pacvue in Cannes 8:38

4M ago8:38

8:38

In this episode of Next in Media, Mike Shields interviews Ann Harrell, Head of Product Enablement at Pacvue, about the evolving landscape of retail media. Harrell explains the challenges of data availability and cross-channel attribution in retail media, highlighting the role of data clean rooms and the blurring lines between retail, social, and tr…

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Junk Drawer 26 - Main Feed Edition! 1:52:07

4M ago1:52:07

1:52:07

This week, we revisit a favorite Patreon Junk Drawer episode featuring Max Kelso's unsettling experiences at a Boy Scout camp in the heart of Ohio. We explore Max's first encounter as a young scout when he saw a shadowy figure watching him through the window of his cabin late one night. Years later, during a game at the same camp, Max experiences s…

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A Tale of Two TV Upfronts 11:01

4M ago11:01

11:01

As part of its exclusive series on the YouTube Ecosystem, Next in Media spoke with John Terrana, President, Americas at VaynerMedia, about why most clients aren't racing to lock up much inventory beyond sports this year, and the 'weirdo' spot YouTube still finds itself in. 💡Takeaways: 🏈 Sports Media Dominance: Live sports, particularly NFL and NBA,…

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35: Black Eyed Driver 31:42

4M ago31:42

31:42

In tonight’s dead letter, Scott and Forrest share Arthur’s story. He recounts a frightening encounter in the Bronx in 1998 when while stopped at a red light he saw something, or someone that didn’t seem right. The person in the car next to him had pale skin, completely black eyes, and an impossible smile. But that’s really just the beginning of thi…

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Can Spotify Become a Bigger (Video) Ad Player? 14:09

4M ago14:09

14:09

Next in Media sat down with Chloe Wix, Head of Global Product & Commercial Growth at Spotify at the company's beach venue in Cannes, to talk about AI-generated audio ads, why Spotify is leaning more into monetizing non-subscribers, and whether the 'background' medium can graduate into the video ad market. 💡Takeaways: 🎧 Shifting Perception of Spotif…

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Reacting to the KD Trade w/ Forrest Walker 45:32

4M ago45:32

45:32

Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) and Forrest Walker (@DUNOTS) react to the Houston Rockets’ stunning acquisition of 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant. Topics include: -Initial reactions to the trade -Grading the deal for both teams -Short and long-term ramifications for the team -How does Kevin Durant fit in Houston? -Will KD and Fred VanVleet get extended s…

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Walmart Connect's Ryan Mayward on Pushing Beyond Retail Media 12:34

4M ago12:34

12:34

Next In Media spoke with Ryan Mayward, SVP of Retail Media Sales for Walmart Connect, about the company's expansion of its retail media capabilities beyond its own platforms. Walmart Connect is focusing on off-platform strategies through partnerships in CTV (NBC Universal, Disney, Paramount Plus), social media (Meta, TikTok, Pinterest), and new int…

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Google's Sean Downey on YouTube Playing Matchmaker Between Creators and Brands 17:07

4M ago17:07

17:07

Next in Media and Sean Downey of Google discuss YouTube's evolving role in connecting brands with creators, highlighting new platforms like Brand Connect and "Peak Points" to foster authentic partnerships and drive full-funnel outcomes for advertisers. They also touch on YouTube's expansion into live events like the NFL's global broadcast and the g…

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34: The Black Cloud Hanging Over Me 29:49

4M ago29:49

29:49

In tonight’s dead letter, Scott and Forrest read a dead letter from a woman with ties to the Otoe-Missouria tribe in Oklahoma. She recounts a terrifying experience driving on Highway 60 at night when a dark fog hit the truck she was in, causing a flat tire. The story delves into local legends, the importance of oral traditions, and the listener’s t…

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The Stratford Poltergeist 1:44:16

4M ago1:44:16

1:44:16

In 1850, the quiet town of Stratford, Connecticut was shaken by a bizarre and terrifying haunting that gripped the world’s attention. Reverend Eliakim Phelps and his family were tormented by objects falling from nowhere, cryptic messages, and strange effigies crafted from household items. As the phenomena escalated—turning violent and targeting the…