Best Kiri Masters Podcasts (2025)

1
Why Long-Tail Advertisers Are Becoming Retail Media’s Biggest Growth Engine 8:29

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8h ago8:29

8:29

In today’s episode I dig into a surprising and quietly powerful engine of growth for retail media networks: long-tail advertisers. While major CPG brands continue to cap their RMN partnerships at around six networks, retailers are pouring investment into Amazon and Walmart-level capabilities, hoping to win those national budgets. But the ceiling is…

1
How RMNs Can Finally Win Over Media Agencies 10:01

1d ago10:01

10:01

In today’s 'Snips' episode, I’m diving into one of the biggest unlocks for retail media networks right now: earning the trust (and the budgets) of media agencies. As retail media growth slows and retailers look beyond performance budgets, everyone suddenly wants a slice of those top-of-funnel brand-building dollars. But as I unpack the insights fro…

1
AI-Fueled Shopping for The Holidays 10:49

2d ago10:49

10:49

This week, I’m breaking down a fascinating shift I’ve been watching closely: the moment AI-enabled commerce finally tips from novelty to norm, just in time for the holiday shopping rush. After a near-disaster of traveling without my wallet (which somehow wasn’t a disaster at all), I couldn’t help but notice how quickly behavior changes when technol…

1
A Standard For Commerce Operations, A Non-Profit and Jeoparty Part Deux with Kelly Goetsch 40:37

4d ago40:37

40:37

Rick Watson, Jessica Lesesky, and Nick Kaplan warm up the show with jokes about last week’s performance and introduce the episode’s segments. They highlight Jeoparty, Headline Hangover, and the week's special guest, Kelly Goetsch. Headline Hangover: The team guesses blacked-out words from recent retail and e-commerce headlines. * Levi’s chooses Mic…

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Will Ads Ruin AI? Why Agentic Advertising Might Save the Internet 10:59

6d ago10:59

10:59

In this episode I’m digging into a question I’ve been thinking about for months: If ads inevitably show up inside AI interfaces… do they actually have to suck? With billions invested into AI infrastructure and only modest subscription revenue to offset it, advertising is the most likely economic engine powering the next wave of AI platforms. But I’…

1
Get on the Damn Stage: Why 2026 Is Your Year to Step Into the Spotlight 11:32

7d ago11:32

11:32

In this reprise episode, I’m bringing back one of the most timely conversations we can have as we gear up for 2026 conference season: getting on the damn stage. After so many of you resonated with my encouragement to apply for the damn award despite imposter syndrome, it felt like the perfect moment to revisit this message. Because the truth is no …

1
Inside Mars’s Retail Media Investment Matrix — Why Only the Top 6 Retail Media Networks Win 10:23

8d ago10:23

10:23

Last week at the Path to Purchase Institute LIVE conference, I heard something that most retail media networks probably don’t want to hear out loud: Mars has built a structured, data-driven investment matrix that decides exactly who gets budget and who doesn’t. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down what Mars revealed, why scorecards are becoming st…

1
AI Shopping Agents vs. Retailers: Who Owns Discovery Now? 10:06

9d ago10:06

10:06

In today’s 'Snips' episode, I’m diving into one of the conversations that has been rattling around in my head for a while now. While listening to the Unpacking the Digital Shelf podcast with my friends Lauren Livak Gilbert, and Peter Crosby, I found myself nodding as their guest Natalija Pavic from Kibo Commerce unpacked the rise of agentic AI and …

1
The End of Instacart? Airbnb’s Grocery Solution Announced 43:12

11d ago43:12

43:12

The Watson Weekend hosts, Rick Watson and Jessica Lasesky, and guest Nick Kaplan discuss retail and commerce trends for Q4 and 2025. This week’s headline hangover includes the resurgence of Toys R Us, Airbnb's pilot kitchen stocking service with Instacart, and the integration of AI to enhance efficiency rather than replace humans. The Big 2025 “Jeo…

1
Unfiltered Thoughts From Amazon Unboxed 2025 13:52

13d ago13:52

13:52

What is Unboxed, really? This week, I was in Nashville for Amazon’s signature advertising event — a showcase where the tech giant reveals its latest innovations in retail media, automation, and ad tech. After taking it all in (and chatting with a few familiar faces from the industry), I’m breaking down the key announcements, the unspoken messages, …

1
Developments in RTB (Real-Time Bidding) for Retail Media 11:35

14d ago11:35

11:35

In this episode, I share snippets of my recent livestream with Andreas Reiffen, CEO and co-Founder of Pentaleap, to unpack one of the most debated topics in retail media today — Real-Time Bidding (RTB). Once dismissed as a messy, low-quality relic of early programmatic advertising, RTB is now being reimagined as the key to unlocking retail media’s …

1
Amazon Unboxed 2025 - Fresh Off The Press Announcements from Nashville 11:17

15d ago11:17

11:17

I’m coming to you fresh from Amazon’s Unboxed event in Nashville, where Amazon dropped a wave of updates that show just how far their advertising ambitions are reaching. Beyond retail, beyond search, and even beyond reality itself! In this episode, I unpack the biggest product launches and innovations revealed at the event including AI-powered camp…

1
"Late By Design" - Molly Hjelm from Ace Hardware's RedVest Media Shares her Retail Media Gameplan 8:00

16d ago8:00

8:00

I first met Molly Hjelm, Head of Retail Media at Ace Hardware, during a panel at the RMN Ascendant Event in Silicon Valley, and right away I was struck by her candor and data-driven mindset. In this episode, I share the highlights from our conversation that didn’t make it into my full profile piece for The Drum. We dive into how Ace Hardware has in…

1
How an 18-Year-Old Outsmarted Big Tech and Raised $1.4M 59:02

18d ago59:02

59:02

The Watson Weekend hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Lesesky discuss the most important retail and e-commerce news from the past week. In the Headline Hangover, they discuss retail's Q4 challenges, AI's impact on brick-and-mortar stores, and retail media trends. They highlight Amazon CEO Andy Jassy's view that AI will accelerate the decline of physical…

1
Combating Margin Erosion on Amazon 25:58

19d ago25:58

25:58

Amazon brands are facing record-tight margins—and it’s not just ad spend. From hidden FBA fees and rising inbound costs to shifting tariffs and competitive pricing pressures, profitability is under attack. In this episode, Jasim Eisa, CEO of Voadera, joins Sreenath Reddy, CEO of Intentwise, to unpack the real causes of margin erosion and share acti…

1
What CPG Brands Actually Control with Agentic Commerce Optimization (ACO) 10:21

20d ago10:21

10:21

A lot of brands are focused on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) right now — making sure their products surface when consumers ask ChatGPT, Perplexity, or Claude for recommendations. That’s a great first step. But as I explain in this episode, the next frontier isn’t just about being found — it’s about being bought. We’re entering an era where A…

1
AI Search to Disrupt Discovery for Retailers — Here's 3 Companies Thinking Outside The Box 8:58

21d ago8:58

8:58

In this episode, I dive into one of the biggest questions facing retail media leaders today: how can retailers and brands adapt as AI-driven shopping agents and zero-click discovery start reshaping how consumers buy? With sponsored search revenue under pressure and growth slowing across the industry, it’s time to look at creative alternatives to th…

1
Apply For The Damn Award & Conquer Your FOPO (Fear Of Other People's Opinions) 6:37

22d ago6:37

6:37

How many times have you not hit publish, not applied, or not shared your achievements because of fear of what others might think? In this episode, I’m diving into the concept of Tall Poppy Syndrome - a cultural tendency to cut down those who stand out - and how it feeds into FOPO, the fear of other people’s opinions. After being named one of the Na…

1
What is a 'CommerceGPT'? ['Snips' from Cocktails & Commerce] 11:37

23d ago11:37

11:37

In this 'Snips' episode, I’m adding commentary to clips of one of my favorite ecommerce podcasts: Cocktails & Commerce with Brian Walker and Bill Friend. These two industry veterans bring on some of the sharpest minds in digital commerce, and in this snippet, they’re joined by John Andrews, co-founder and CEO of Cimulate, a generative AI company fo…

1
The Watson Weekend Halloween Special 35:29

25d ago35:29

35:29

The Watson Weekend Halloween Special hosts Rick Watson, Jessica Lesesky, and Nick Kaplan discuss 2025 retail and tech headlines with a Halloween twist. Think of it as the e-commerce and retail news version of Saturday Night Live, but it happened on a Friday. The headline hangover features criticism of Pinterest's AI-powered personalization as a reb…

1
Breakdown of How Sam's Club Cracked the Code on In-Store Retail Media 10:08

27d ago10:08

10:08

Despite the buzz surrounding in-store retail media, most retailers are still struggling to move beyond the pilot phase. But Sam’s Club? They’ve done it, and done it well. After touring one of their clubs in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, with Harvey Ma, Head of Sam’s Club’s Member Access Platform, I witnessed firsthand how they’ve turned what’s typically…

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How Retailers Can Evolve To Compete With Agentic Shopping ['Snips' from Commerce Media Matters & Mind the Model] 10:06

28d ago10:06

10:06

I’m a total podcast junkie, and today I’m bringing you another episode in my 'Snips' series, where I share bite-sized highlights from fascinating conversations and add my personal commentary. This one’s a crossover between Commerce Media Matters and Mind the Model, a newer podcast that’s quickly made its way into my regular rotation (find both show…

1
The Secret Hopes & Dreams of RMN Leaders [New Research Preview] 7:11

29d ago7:11

7:11

Last week, I got a first look at groundbreaking new research from EMARKETER and Bain that flips the retail media conversation on its head. Instead of surveying brands and media buyers, this study goes straight to the source, the leaders of Retail Media Networks (RMNs), to uncover their honest perspectives on what’s working, what’s not, and where th…

1
Multi-Retailer Networks [Livestream Highlight] 11:07

1M ago11:07

11:07

In my recent LinkedIn Live with Andreas Reiffen, co-founder and CEO of adtech company Pentaleap, we dove into one of the most intriguing shifts happening in retail media right now: the rise of multi-retailer ad networks. This isn’t just about another layer of technology, it’s about simplifying one of the biggest pain points for brands and media buy…

1
How Caddis Uses Mirakl To Service An Underserved Demographic Via Marketplaces With Emma Spagnuolo 1:03:18

1M ago1:03:18

1:03:18

Watson Weekend podcast hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Leseski cover retail industry news, including Target's struggles and layoffs, potential large tariff refunds pending a Supreme Court ruling, and merchandising challenges for Netflix's hit series K-pop Demon Hunters. They discuss Amazon's launch of AWS RTB fabric, a cloud infrastructure for progra…

1
Underrated Retail Media Metrics That Fly Under The Radar [Panel Episode] 6:50

1M ago6:50

6:50

We all know the usual suspects — ROAS, impressions, clicks — but what if the real indicators of retail media success are hiding in plain sight? In this episode, I ask four leading brand-side retail media experts a simple but revealing question: What’s the metric you’re obsessed with that everyone else seems to ignore? You’ll hear why one leader swa…

1
Brian Monahan Is Going Big With Albertsons Media Collective ['Snips' from The Snarketing Podcast] 8:45

1M ago8:45

8:45

A few weeks ago, I sat down with Brian Monahan of Albertsons Media Collective, for a profile in The Drum. And let me tell you, Brian isn’t your typical corporate executive. He’s unfiltered, entrepreneurial, and not afraid to say what everyone else in retail media is only thinking. In this 'Snips' episode, I dive into some of the biggest insights fr…

1
Is ChatGPT's Instant Checkout 'Really' Agentic? And Does It Actually Matter? 10:15

1M ago10:15

10:15

The retail world is buzzing over OpenAI’s new Instant Checkout. But here’s the big question: is it truly agentic commerce, or just another slick integration? In this episode, I break down the debate between definition purists and pragmatists, unpack what 'agentic' really means in the context of AI-assisted shopping, and explore why this conversatio…

1
Will LLMS Monetize With Ads or Marketplaces? [Retailgentic Crossover] 9:39

1M ago9:39

9:39

Today I’m doing something a little different! Instead of my usual trends and insights, I’m sharing a clip from my recent guest appearance on Scot Wingo’s podcast, Retailgentech. Scott flipped the script and let me ask him about his career journey, his perspective on where retail is headed, and one of the biggest questions in e-commerce right now: H…

1
From Spreadsheets to Shipping Label Fraud and Cross-Border e-Commerce with Tommaso Tamburnotti 1:04:03

1M ago1:04:03

1:04:03

Watson Weekend hosts Rick Watson and Nick Kaplan discuss the retail industry's current state, emphasizing AI's integration into shopping experiences, such as Walmart's partnership with OpenAI. They highlight the rapid innovation driven by AI, including new tools like OpenAI's video creation app, and note the proliferation of AI partnerships across …

1
Agentic Shopping Looks Crazy. So Did Self-Service Supermarkets. 13:47

1M ago13:47

13:47

In this episode, I start with a trip back to 1916, when Clarence Saunders launched the first self-service supermarket, Piggly Wiggly, and everyone thought it was a ridiculous idea. Customers serving themselves? Paying cash instead of running a tab? Madness. Yet, it reshaped retail forever. I use that story as a lens to explore today’s 'crazy-soundi…

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Live from Amazon Accelerate: Behind the scenes with AMC’s Director, Alan Lewis 21:00

1M ago21:00

21:00

Recorded live at Amazon Accelerate 2025, this special episode of the Intentwise Connect podcast features Alan Lewis, Director of AMC Clean Rooms and one of the first product managers for Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC). Alan dives into the massive announcement that AMC is now available to anyone using Sponsored Ads without any special setup. He recoun…

1
Dollar General’s Austin Leonard Is Bullish On 'Last Mile' Opportunity 7:09

1M ago7:09

7:09

When you think about retail media, you probably picture shoppers scrolling through Instacart or Walmart’s app. But what about the millions of Americans living far from big-box stores? That’s exactly where Dollar General sees its biggest opportunity. And Austin Leonard, just three months into leading the Dollar General Media Network (DGMN), is on a …

1
I Got Prime Deals. Or Did I? Why Consumer Distrust Is AI Shopping's Real Opening 9:47

1M ago9:47

9:47

Last week, I fell into the hype of Amazon’s Big Deal Days. And as the boxes arrived on my doorstep, I couldn’t shake one uncomfortable thought: "did I actually get a deal?" In this episode, I unpack why online shopping feels less like convenience and more like detective work these days. From inflated list prices and contradictory product info, to f…

1
The Fairy Godmother Of Retail Media, Cara Pratt, And Her Agenda At Circana 8:15

1M ago8:15

8:15

In today’s episode, I’m diving into one of the biggest challenges facing retail media today: measurement. Retailers may be racing to launch flashy new ad formats and in-store screens, but brands are asking for something far more fundamental — proof that their advertising dollars are working. Enter Cara Pratt, the new President of Global Retail and …

1
Search Is In An Advantageous Position For AI-based Commerce with John Andrews 1:04:31

2M ago1:04:31

1:04:31

The latest Watson Weekend podcast episode, hosted by Rick Watson and Jessica Lesesky, discusses recent retail developments, including the elimination of the de minimis rule impacting U.S. imports, Starbucks' Taylor Swift-themed in-store experience to regain customers, Instacart 's integration with Tiktok for retail media targeting, and Paypal 's 5%…

1
Retail Media's Measurement Problem Isn't Technical — It's Political 11:26

2M ago11:26

11:26

In this episode, I break down some of the key insights from my recent op-ed for WARC on the state of retail media measurement standards. While there’s been progress with guidelines from the IAB and MRC, real adoption is still patchy, and the reasons why might surprise you. I explore why brands and retailers alike are struggling to align on measurem…

1
Trade vs. Retail Media: Who's Really Eating Whom? ['Snips' from Particular Audience & The Middlemen] 9:48

2M ago9:48

9:48

In this 'Snips' episode, I dive into one of the biggest debates shaking up the commerce world: is retail media eating trade marketing, or is it the other way around? To unpack this, I analyse commentary from two industry leaders who see the collision from very different vantage points. James Taylor of Particular Audience makes a strong case that tr…

1
AI Makes Shopping Easier, But Shoppers Still Check Receipts 10:46

2M ago10:46

10:46

By Kiri Masters

1
In what ways are using AI today that you weren't a year ago? [Panel] 8:17

2M ago8:17

8:17

By Kiri Masters

1
The Internal Conflicts Retail Media Networks Create Inside Retailers and Brands with Kiri Masters 1:14:35

2M ago1:14:35

1:14:35

Watson Weekend hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Lesesky cover the latest retail industry news and trends this week. The headline hangover includes Gen Z's influencer-driven purchases, Mastercard's entry into retail media advertising, potential U.S. government influence over TikTok's algorithm, and Stripe's AI-powered commerce platform. Guest Kiri Mast…

1
Best Buy's Ad Platform Play: 'We Got Next' 10:18

2M ago10:18

10:18

In this episode, a reproduction of my September 16 article on The Drum, I break down Best Buy’s bold move into the retail media space with its first advertising showcase 'We Got Next'. This streaming event marked a pivotal step for the electronics retailer, not just in unveiling in-store ad packages and sports partnerships, but in signaling a much …

1
AI Shopping Hits 75% Adoption ['Snips' from Retailgentic] 11:54

2M ago11:54

11:54

In this 'Snips' format, I provide commentary to highlights from a recent episode of the Retailgentech podcast, where host Scott Wingo spoke with Melissa Minkow, Global Director of Retail Strategies & Insights at CI&T. Melissa shared snippets of brand new survey data revealing that a whopping 75% of consumers are now using AI tools at some point in …

1
The Lazy Girl's Guide to Social Commerce 11:21

2M ago11:21

11:21

Domino’s might have been ahead of its time when it launched 'Anywhere' ordering back in 2015, but today, social commerce is taking convenience to the next level. In this episode, I dive into the world of social commerce, the seamless integration of shopping directly within social platforms like TikTok and Instagram, and why it’s reshaping how brand…

1
Why 'Omnichannel' Misses the Point [New Research From The Digital Shelf Institute] 10:42

2M ago10:42

10:42

We’ve all heard the buzzword 'omnichannel' tossed around, but what if it’s the wrong way to think about digital commerce? In this episode, I dive into fresh research from the Digital Shelf Institute and share my take on why focusing on channels misses the bigger picture: the consumer journey. From digitally influenced sales, to the rise of insurgen…

1
Influencer Marketing Should Be A Car That Can Be Driven Anywhere with Kristen Wiley 51:26

2M ago51:26

51:26

The Watson Weekend hosts Rick Watson and Jessica Lesesky discuss recent retail headlines, including Amazon's $2.5 billion lawsuit over alleged Prime subscription deception, Walmart's significant referral traffic from ChatGPT, Sephora's new affiliate program aimed at beauty creators, and Meta's talks with Google to enhance ad targeting using AI. The…

1
Managing a Multi-Retailer RMN Stack (Part 3 of 3) 10:14

2M ago10:14

10:14

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been sitting down with Cody Tusberg, EVP of Connected Commerce and Retail Media Services at Acosta Group, to dig into some of the biggest challenges and opportunities in retail media. We started by exploring the inner workings of retailer organizations and how brands can navigate those dynamics. Then we talked about da…

1
Underrated Advice For Choosing A Retail Media Agency Partner [Panel] 7:16

2M ago7:16

7:16

Choosing the right retail media agency can be a make or break decision, but most brands are asking the wrong questions. In this episode, I called on several seasoned brand leaders who’ve been through the agency selection process to get their insights. We spoke about the often-overlooked factors that truly matter when choosing an agency partner: fin…

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Building Retail Media Federations: Foundations and Barriers (Part 3) 13:00

2M ago13:00

13:00

Retail media federations sound like a no-brainer: retailers pooling their audiences and inventory to attract bigger ad dollars while keeping their unique value intact. But in reality, making federations work requires solving some thorny technical, governance, and cultural challenges. In this episode (part three of my retail media alliances series),…

1
Meet The First Retail Media Federations & Consortiums (Part 2) 10:07

2M ago10:07

10:07

Last week’s big announcement from Best Buy caught my attention. Not just because of its splashy branding moves with gaming and sports, but because it hinted at a more collaborative model for retail media. Could this be the beginning of federations and consortiums reshaping the retail media landscape? In this episode, I dive into part two of my seri…