Ad Infinitum

What does it truly mean to be creative in an ever-evolving landscape of audio advertising? Join host Stew Redwine as he dives deep into this compelling question with Shelby Hayden Craig, a pivotal figure at Oxford Road who has been instrumental in shaping innovative creative strategies in the realm of audio ads. With a unique perspective from his base in Australia, Shelby brings a fresh outlook on how to stay ahead in the creative process, making this episode a must-listen for anyone involved in podcast advertising or digital marketing.Throughout their engaging conversation, Stew and Shelby share valuable insights into the delicate balance between humility and confidence in creative work. “Creativity requires both a curious mind and a firm stance on your ideas,” Shelby emphasizes, highlighting the importance of staying open to new concepts while also believing in your creative vision. This episode is packed with practical advice for creatives and chief audio officers, focusing on the essential elements of creating, crafting, and caring about the work they produce.Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the current audio ad trends and the impact of AI on the advertising evolution. Shelby and Stew discuss the significance of crafting compelling insights and ideas, using relatable anecdotes and humor to illustrate their points effectively. This is not just about theory; it’s about real-world applications and the design in advertising that drives results.Takeaway 1: The importance of being proactive in the creative process, especially when working across different time zones.Takeaway 2: How to balance humility and confidence to foster a thriving creative environment.Takeaway 3: Key strategies for adapting to the rise of AI in the advertising industry while maintaining an edge in advertising creativity.By tuning in to this episode of Ad Infinitum, you’ll not only enhance your understanding of audio advertising but also walk away with actionable insights that can elevate your marketing strategies. Whether you’re a seasoned industry expert or just starting your journey in audio production, this conversation promises to inspire and inform. Join us as we explore the fascinating world of advertising insights and audio storytelling that make a real impact.Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road and Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, MFA, written & hosted by Stew Redwine, and sound designed by John Mattaliano, with audio production by Zach Hahn.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What if the secret to captivating audio advertising lies not in flashy gimmicks, but in strategic planning? Join host Stew Redwine in this enlightening episode of Ad Infinitum, where he dives deep into the world of audio advertising with industry experts Stephen Abraham and Giles Martin. Together, they unravel the nuances of the British approach to advertising strategy, which prioritizes meticulous planning and a profound understanding of the audience over mere spectacle. With a wealth of experience in podcast advertising and audio ad analysis, Stephen and Giles bring invaluable insights that can transform your advertising game.As the trio dissects recent audio ads, including notable campaigns from Unilever, they emphasize a critical distinction: the difference between strategy and planning. This episode is packed with practical advice and thought-provoking discussions that illuminate how the UK’s military history has shaped advertising strategies, offering a unique lens through which to view advertising creativity. “Effective advertising is not about shouting the loudest; it's about crafting a message that resonates,” says Stew, echoing the sentiments of his guests.Listeners will walk away with three key takeaways: first, the importance of authenticity in advertising and how it fosters genuine engagement; second, the necessity of understanding your target audience to create persuasive audio ads; and third, the role of strategic clarity in executing effective campaigns. As they navigate the evolving landscape of audio ads, Stew, Stephen, and Giles highlight the potential of audio as a compelling storytelling medium that many brands, including Unilever, often overlook.By tuning in to this episode of Ad Infinitum, you're not just gaining insights into audio advertising trends; you're also learning how to enhance your brand messaging through thoughtful execution and strategic clarity. Whether you're an industry veteran or just starting your journey in digital marketing, this episode is designed to equip you with the tools you need to create creative audio ads that truly resonate with your audience. Join us for an engaging conversation that promises to elevate your understanding of audio storytelling and marketing strategies in the modern advertising landscape.Ad Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road and Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, MFA, written & hosted by Stew Redwine, and sound designed by John Mattaliano, with audio production by Zach Hahn.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this special episode of Ad Infinitum, Stew shares the full video version of his talk at Podcast Movement Evolutions in Chicago, 2025. From sonic branding and memory science to host trust and the rise of video, this talk explores what truly makes audio ads work today—and what we may need to let go of to make them work better.You’ll hear about:The NBC chimes and the power of sound brandingWhy “I use this and you should too” outperforms everythingHow generative AI risks making dull ads fasterThe Audiolytics™ framework for better creativeWhat Odysseus, a cab ride, and Aristotle have to do with all of itIt’s a creative call to arms for anyone making or buying ads in 2025.Support the showAd Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road and Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, MFA, written & hosted by Stew Redwine, and sound designed by John Mattaliano, with audio production by Zach Hahn.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Ever heard a Broadway ballad about bathroom fixtures? Or a devilish ditty about selling tires?From the 1950s to the 1980s, America’s biggest brands—Ford, Xerox, American Standard—commissioned full-scale, professional musicals for their employees, not the public. These “industrial musicals” were staged at sales conventions, lavish one-night-only productions designed to inspire, educate, and entertain. And they worked.In this special crossover episode, written & produced by Amelia Tait and Casey Emmerling, we hand the mic to the team at Twenty Thousand Hertz to explore this fascinating corner of audio history, led by comedy writer and collector Steve Young. You’ll hear unforgettable songs about silicones, diesel engines, bathroom bliss, and more—plus the human stories behind the people who created this unlikely art form.It’s easy to laugh at singing salespeople, but it’s harder to dismiss how powerful these productions were. People remembered them. They were moved. They sold more because of them. The question isn’t, "Why they did it?" It's, "Why did we stopped?Maybe it’s time to bring a little of that musical magic back to modern audio ads.Support the showAd Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road and Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, MFA, written & hosted by Stew Redwine, and sound designed by John Mattaliano, with audio production by Zach Hahn.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In Season 3 Episode 7 of Ad Infinitum, Stew Redwine is joined by Antonio Coronado—aka Agent 004, aka Antoniolytics™—and together, they delve a critical point in the history of Audiolytics™ - the proprietary ad grading and devopment framework developed and used by OXFORd - the early days of human grading, and what happens when AI takes the wheel.As the ad industry hits an inflection point—with AI tools being mandated at major platforms like Spotify—Antonio and Stew unpack what machines can do well, what they still miss, and where the soul of a great message resides. They discuss the importance of Audiolytics™ Key Components like Setup, Positioning, Substantiation, and that elusive “unifying principle” behind emotional resonance. And, of course, Antoniolytics™ goes head-to-head with Audiolytics™, evaluating top ads from T-Mobile, BetterHelp, Toyota, and Mint Mobile to pit man against machine and find out if their grades are wildly different and who is the harsher critic, the one with or without a beating heart?This episode is a time capsule, a tribute, and a turning point in the evolution of creative optimization, marking the end of the hand-graded era and the beginning of something new.Support the showAd Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road and Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, MFA, written & hosted by Stew Redwine, and sound designed by John Mattaliano, with audio production by Zach Hahn.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Why does comedy work in audio ads—and why don’t more brands take the leap?In Season 3 Episode 6 of Ad Infinitum, Stew Redwine is joined by improv legends Wayne Brady and Jonathan Mangum, co-hosts of Wayne Brady's What If?! with Jonathan Mangum, to explore the strategic (and often hilarious) role of humor in audio advertising. They unpack the data, riff on Stew's obsession with the comedic potential for life insurance ads, improvise jingles, and roast real radio spots from recent top spenders Progressive, Home Depot, Discover, and ZipRecruiter. Along the way, they reveal how brands can break out of the safety zone, find their comedic voice, and stand out in an AI-driven sea of sameness.Special thanks to Headgum for hosting Ad Infinitum at their studio for this episode!Support the showAd Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road and Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, MFA, written & hosted by Stew Redwine, and sound designed by John Mattaliano, with audio production by Zach Hahn.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this brief bonus episode of Ad Infinitum, Stew Redwine shares a short audio story created for the Twenty Thousand Hertz “Sound Off” competition.“The Sound of Falling” features original 1980s tape recordings of Stew’s grandfather, Herold Redwine, recounting his harrowing experience of being shot down in WWII, parachuting from a burning B-17, surviving as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft VI, and enduring the brutal 68-day “Black March.” With audio production by Zach Hahn and sound design by John Mattaliano, the piece blends archival family audio and cinematic sound to capture the silence, fear, and resilience of a man who lived through the unimaginable.Stew reflects on the power of preserving family stories and encourages listeners to do the same.Support the showAd Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road and Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, MFA, written & hosted by Stew Redwine, and sound designed by John Mattaliano, with audio production by Zach Hahn.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode of Ad Infinitum, host Stew Redwine is joined by commercial director Jordan Brady and Amplifi Media CEO and NYU professor Steven Goldstein to confront a fast-growing threat in the world of advertising: AI Slop.Used by Steven in a blog post earlier this year, “AI Slop” refers to the dull, generic content flooding our feeds—fueled by AI tools used without intention or craft. This episode pulls back the curtain on how these tools are transforming creative work—for better and worse.With the rise of “invisible minivans” (not Lamborghinis), Stew and his guests dig into how AI is flattening creativity, the steep cost of sounding like everyone else, and what marketers need to do to protect emotional resonance and brand authenticity in audio.Stew, Jordan, and Steven put four of the top commercial radio ads through the Ad Infinitum wringer—grading each on persuasion, production, and sonic distinctiveness:Progressive: A 10-second “riddle” spot that lacked flair and fell flat—proof that brevity doesn’t guarantee brilliance.Verizon: A $50/month deal with an attempt at a clever hook (“cheaper than your dog’s glam squad”) and zero memorability.AT&T: A 60-second travel-themed ad that waited 46 seconds to mention the brand. Result? $155K in wasted media dollars.Cricket: The surprise winner. With early branding, relatable benefits, and lively sonic branding, it scored highest across the board—an example of simple, effective, human-sounding creative.The verdict? You don’t need AI to sound robotic—humans are making boring, formulaic ads just fine on their own. But when brands fail to grab attention and stand out, they risk spending more for less impact.This one’s for every Chief Audio Officer navigating the promise and peril of generative AI because making more ads faster doesn’t mean making better ads. Support the showAd Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road and Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, MFA, written & hosted by Stew Redwine, and sound designed by John Mattaliano, with audio production by Zach Hahn.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this special live episode of Ad Infinitum - brought to you by Sounds Profitable - host Stew Redwine assembles the Audio Avengers—Arielle Nissenblatt (Earbuds Podcast Collective, Pinwheel), Adam McNeil (Adopter Media), Amelia Coomber (Podscribe), and Paul Riismandel (Signal Hill Insights)—for an unfiltered, in-person conversation recorded at the Sounds Profitable Lounge at Podcast Movement Evolutions 2025 in Chicago.Together, they tackle one of the industry’s most pressing (and polarizing) topics: the rise of video podcasting and what it means for creators, advertisers, and the future of audio. With YouTube’s RSS support and increasing pressure for creators to “be on video,” the group wrestles with where the medium is headed—and whether we’re entering a new era or still navigating the wild west.From reflections on the evolution of Podcast Movement to hot takes on panel fatigue, discoverability, monetization, and how to actually serve creators, brands, and audiences better—the Audio Avengers bring real talk and practical ideas from across the podcasting ecosystem.You’ll hear:🎥 Why video is not a threat—but a tool (if used intentionally)🎙️ How podcasting can grow without losing its audio soul🧠 What’s broken about industry conferences—and how to fix them🔁 Why the conversation around podcast advertising still feels stuck💡 And how we can better align stakeholders—brands, creators, and listeners—to build a more vibrant futureThis episode isn’t about buzzwords. It’s about what’s actually working, what’s not, and what the people shaping the future of podcasting want to change.Whether you're a Chief Audio Officer, podcaster, marketer, or just audio curious—you'll want to hear what the Audio Avengers say.Support the showAd Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road and Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, MFA, written & hosted by Stew Redwine, and sound designed by John Mattaliano, with audio production by Zach Hahn.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

In this episode of Ad Infinitum, host Stew Redwine is joined by Eric Molinsky—journalist, audio producer, and host of Imaginary Worlds—to explore how advertising creates universes of its own through storytelling, sound design, and the audience’s imagination.Ads aren’t just persuasive messages—they’re narrative constructs. Just like great novels or blockbuster movies, audio ads have the power to build immersive worlds. Whether it’s the cinematic lore of Apple, the absurdist multiverse of Geico, or the familiar nostalgia of Coca-Cola’s holiday canon, brands are world-building. The question is—how do they make it believable?Drawing on his expertise from covering sci-fi, fantasy, and fictional world-building, Eric helps unpack how those same principles apply to advertising. From the “theater of the mind” that makes audio so immersive, to the use of recurring characters, in-world logic, and even breaking the fourth wall—this conversation offers a crash course in ad storytelling for every creative and Chief Audio Officer looking to level up.Then, in true Ad Infinitum fashion, Stew and Eric analyze real podcast ads from Rocket Money, Capital One, USAA, American Express, and Bank of America, as tracked by Magellan AI. How well do they construct imaginary worlds—and where do they fall short?You’ll hear: 🌍 Why audio ads are the ultimate world-building medium 🧠 How fiction techniques help audiences suspend disbelief 🎭 When to break the fourth wall—and when not to 🛠️ What ads get wrong about storytelling (and how to fix it)Whether you’re a marketer, a writer, or a brand trying to make a mark—this episode will reframe how you think about advertising. Because the best ads don’t just sell. They transport.Support the showAd Infinitum is Presented by Oxford Road and Produced by Caitlyn Spring & Ezra Fox, MFA, written & hosted by Stew Redwine, and sound designed by John Mattaliano, with audio production by Zach Hahn.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.