Ad Infinitum’s S2 Finale - The State of Sonic Branding; Lifestyle Influencers Take to Podcast; Indie Pods Thrive; Why Start a Branded Podcast?

The world’s only podcast solely dedicated to audio ads is back for a very special Season 2 finale! Presenting Ad Infinitum Season 2, Episode 14 - "The State of Sonic Branding."

Host Stew Redwine (VP, Creative Services, Oxford Road ) and guest producer Jeanna Isham (Owner, Dreamr Productions ) explore sonic branding's evolution, impact, and future through conversations with a veritable who’s who of the audio world. They talk to everyone, from the inventors of beloved audio logos to audio alchemists helping shape the sonic strategies of blue-chip brands around the world, including:

?? Joel Beckerman (CEO, Made Music Studio )

?? Chelsea Campbell (Group Creative Director, SiriusXM )

?? Lisa DeStefano (Former VP, 家得宝 )

?? Colleen Fahey (US Managing Director, SIXIèME SON )

?? Steve Keller (Sonic Strategy Director, SiriusXM )

?? Jim Reekes (Architect of 苹果 's startup sound, VP Product Management & Marketing, Argon Systems, Inc. )

?? Joe Sauer (Consumer Behavior Researcher)

?? Roger Sho Gehrmann (VP, Songtradr )

?? Dallas Taylor (Host of Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast)

?? Walter Werzowa (Creator of 英特尔 's iconic five-note sequence)

We’re talking Ancient Origins, Sonic Storytime, and Sonic Branding’s ROI. Let’s tune in.

“?Sonic Branding is simply the expanded answer to the question, ‘Can they recognize your brand with their eyes closed?’ Let's say it's yes, then Sonic Branding expounds on that yes.”

• Stew Redwine (VP, Creative Services, Oxford Road)

?? Wired for Sound - Predator sounds. Battle horns. Street vendors. We have a long, rich history of using unique sounds and quickly identifying them. Sound is faster than sight, and it’s processed in exactly the same part of our brains as emotion and memory. In Stew’s words, “When we hear, we feel, and we remember. And the numbers back this up. 64% of listeners feel a stronger pull to brands with a cohesive Sonic identity.”

?? The Stories Behind the Sounds - Why does Intel Inside sound so good? Why is 麦当劳 “lovin’ it?” Why do our iPhone cameras go “click?” Each of these sonic tales is a brilliant and effective solution to a specific problem, best solved through sound. You’ll come away with some excellent back-pocket anecdotes, but we hope you’ll also ask yourself: What brand problems could I try solving with the right sound?

?? The Numbers Don’t Lie - Sonic branding is essential for staying competitive in an increasingly audio-first world. Sonic branding delivers 7-8x better branded attention, which is huge when considering only 16% of advertising is correctly attributed. Plus, it drives response rates up by 30%. One Fortune 100 company declares it "the most leveraged item on their balance sheet."

To fall in love with sonic branding, tune into the full episode by clicking below.

The Classifieds

We’ll Make It Better the Second Time Around

Network:?The Paragon Collective

Monthly Downloads:?20k

As the rates of MBA enrollment for women rise again this year, we have also seen greater visibility for female podcasters in the Business genre. Shelby Church is a tech and lifestyle YouTuber whose content speaks directly to those who want to succeed but don’t know where to start. Though still quite young and located in pricey Los Angeles, Church has already bought her first home, has passive income, has invested heavily, and likes to review luxury items. Church’s video content has sleek production value, superb editing, and more stylized choices, but her newly relaunched podcast from The Paragon Collective is more personable and candid. She often interviews those in the finance, tech, real estate, and investing spaces, though she also touches on her personal life. Shelby’s content is also very goal-oriented, which means it’s a great option for self-improvement-minded Gen Z. Take a step forward, not back, by following the link below for more.

Get The Deal

Couldn’t Have Said it Better Myself

Network:?Trival Media

Monthly Downloads:?360k

Nazanin Kavari is a modern-day it-girl: she’s a beauty and lifestyle influencer with 2.3m combined followers on Instagram and YouTube , three kids, and multiple successful brand deals. Her sister, Yasmin, is equally beautiful, focused, and driven, so it makes sense the twosome have started a new podcast. Though accessible through their social media endeavors, The Kavaris’ newest audio opportunity offers them a chance to give advice, be more open, and bond as only sisters can. They’re also OG beauty influencers, which means there’s a lot of tea to be spilled. The first several episodes have covered personal vulnerabilities and specific points of view on dating, female friendships, and money management. This is a great opportunity for those who want heavy video podcasts with a beauty angle and a strong female demo. Don’t let this get garbled by your sis in a game of telephone. Details are listed via the link below.

Get The Deal

In Case You Missed It

Indie Podcast Spirit Alive and Well

Independent podcasters are reshaping the industry, leveraging video to grow audiences and increase revenue. Ballen Studios, founded by John Allen aka “MrBallen” , prioritizes YouTube for visibility but earns most revenue through audio ads. Shawn Ryan , host of The Shawn Ryan Show, now a top show on Spotify , makes millions through ads and Patreon , demonstrating creator independence. Recho Omondi , host of The Cutting Room Floor, monetizes video through Patreon. Traditional podcast networks face competition from creators forming their own media companies, forcing adaptation in a rapidly evolving industry. Podcasting has consolidated, but the indie podcasting scene still thrives. This benefits marketers as more competition and investment opportunities arise.

The Straight Truth on Branded Podcasts

The 2025 Branded Podcast Benchmark Report by Signal Hill Insights reveals that branded podcasts can positively impact brand perception, with 61% of listeners feeling more favorable towards a brand after listening. Success depends on delivering valuable and engaging content tailored to the specific audience. The report also explores effective strategies to optimize podcast performance. Key takeaway: Understand your audience's needs and create content that meets them to achieve ROI. ’Nuff said.

BBC Shifts Podcast Strategy

The BBC is shifting its podcasts outside the UK to BBC.com and its app. This move aims to enhance engagement and provide a seamless user experience. Popular podcasts like Global News Podcast and World of Secrets will now be more accessible internationally. Additionally, this strategy supports advertising revenue growth by expanding monetization opportunities. The BBC’s trusted journalism attracts global audiences, with strong listenership in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, and Japan. CAOs, if you advertise to international audiences—or are looking to—this news from the BBC is worth your attention. A quick look at podcast rankings in global markets shows just how valuable BBC content is for reaching your target audience.

#SaveTheLiveReads

There’s Always Room for JLo… Beauty

This week’s #STLR is totally relatable to many, as husband and wife hosts Jeff Schroeder and Jordan Lloyd of the Togethermess podcast set up an amazing hook for JLo Beauty & Lifestyle . Starting off strong talking about that cringy practice of washing your face and body with the same product, soap, listeners can immediately embrace the quirky yet familiar practice of someone who perhaps lives under the same roof with them. This leads into an applaudable personally endorsed ad read, filled with thankful substantiation to have found That JLo Deluxe Kit, as this duo has high praise for their multitude of skincare products. This is an excellent example of how couples can create a superhero demonstration team. With the rise of duo social media trends and influencers who like to post their nighttime routines, sometimes including their partner, JLo Beauty scores with these two representatives, practicing what they preach.?

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The Influencer is a production from the team at Oxford Road.

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