Behind the Numbers: an EMARKETER Podcast

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 free, industry-leading newsletters covering advertising, marketing, and commerce. Sign up at emarketer.com/newsletters Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/ For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/ Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-great-bake-take-off-banking-payments-trends-2026-how-ai-powers-personalized-rewards © 2026 EMARKETER

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, and commerce. Sign up at emarketer.com/newsletters Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/ For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/ Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-disney-openai-deal-disaster-waiting-happen-future-of-storytelling-behind-numbers © 2026 EMARKETER

In this engaging discussion, Paola Flores Marquez, a demographics analyst at eMarketer, and Jennifer Pearson, Vice President of Research, explore upcoming trends for Gen Alpha. They debate the looming battle between YouTube and TikTok as this generation formalizes their online habits. Jennifer highlights gaming's emergence as a significant social platform, with titles like Roblox facilitating communication. Both guests weigh in on who might come out on top: TikTok's immediacy vs. YouTube's longevity, setting the stage for the future of digital interaction.

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.   Report mentioned: https://content-na1.emarketer.com/commerce-media-trends-watch-2026   Get more insights like these with our free, industry-leading newsletters covering advertising, marketing, and commerce. Sign up at emarketer.com/newsletters Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/ For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/ Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-great-btn-bake-take-off-commerce-media-trends-2026-behind-numbers © 2026 EMARKETER

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.   Report mentioned: https://content-na1.emarketer.com/health-trends-watch-2026   Get more insights like these with our free, industry-leading newsletters covering advertising, marketing, and commerce. Sign up at emarketer.com/newsletters Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/ For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/ Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-great-btn-bake-take-off-digital-health-trends-2026-dr-chatgpt-ai-therapy-behind-numbers © 2026 EMARKETER

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, and watch on YouTube and Spotify.   Subscribe to EMARKETER's newsletters. Go to https://www.emarketer.com/newsletters   Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/   For sponsorship opportunities, contact us: advertising@emarketer.com   For more information, visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/   Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com    For a transcript of this episode, click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-great-btn-bake-take-off-forecast-trends-2026-podcasts-beat-music-marketers-fast-fuels-avod   © 2026 EMARKETER

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 host Suzy Davidkhanian, along with Senior Analyst Blake Droesch and Principal Analyst Sarah Marzano.   Subscribe to EMARKETER's newsletters. Go to https://www.emarketer.com/newsletters   Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/   For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com   For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/   Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com    For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-what-everyone-talking-about-nrf-s-big-show-2026-reimagining-retail   © 2026 EMARKETER

In this engaging discussion, Minda Smiley, a senior analyst specializing in social media trends, and Max Willens, a principal analyst focused on social and advertising, dive into the future of kids' social media use and brand strategies. Minda reveals how regulations and cultural shifts will shape social media interactions among youth by 2026, while Max introduces generative engine optimization (GEO) and the rise of creator-driven content. Together, they examine the evolving landscape of digital engagement and the importance of targeted creator-brand partnerships.

Nate Elliott, a Principal AI analyst, and Jacob Bourne, a Senior Analyst specializing in AI and tech, dive deep into the future of artificial intelligence. They discuss why Google might surpass OpenAI by 2026, citing Google's extensive product reach and user base. Jacob warns of potential constraints on the AI boom, highlighting energy shortages and infrastructure issues. The pair also explore the implications of regulation and the financial fragility of smaller AI firms, making for a thought-provoking conversation on the industry's evolution.

Our analysts (or “bakers”) will compete in a Great British Bake Off–style episode, discussing how the digital shelf for ecommerce will adapt to speak to AI audiences and how retailers will counter AI’s rise by connecting with customers IRL. Listen to the discussion with Vice President of Content and host Suzy Davidkhanian, Principal Analyst Sky Canaves, and Senior Analyst Blake Droesch.   Subscribe to EMARKETER's newsletters. Go to https://www.emarketer.com/newsletters   Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/emarketer/ For sponsorship opportunities contact us: advertising@emarketer.com For more information visit: https://www.emarketer.com/advertise/ Have questions or just want to say hi? Drop us a line at podcast@emarketer.com    For a transcript of this episode click here: https://www.emarketer.com/content/podcast-reimagining-retail-trends-2026-how-ai-will-change-digital-shelf-irl-customers-interactions   © 2026 EMARKETER