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Want a taste of the real-life digital marketing game? Supercharge your marketing skills and sharpen your mindset with incisive insights from industry experts. The Ahead of the Game podcast is brought to you by The Digital Marketing Institute, hosted by Will Francis. Subscribe to all DMI Ahead of the Game podcasts on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or watch on video at YouTube. And check out the DMI's exte... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes141Founded6 years ago
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Artwork for Ahead of the Game

Latest Episodes

How does your brand stay visible when search is shifting from rankings and clicks to mentions, citations, and AI-driven answers? And did you know that AI can't yet read the Javascript on your site?

In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Franc... more

Ever wondered why some brands earn attention while others get overlooked?

In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with entrepreneur Ernest Cantillon about what it really takes to build brands people remember.

Ernest is co-fou... more

Search is changing faster than most marketers realize.

In this episode, Will Francis speaks with Crystal Carter, Head of AI Search and SEO Communications at Wix Studio, a role focused on helping brands understand how AI-powered search is reshaping ... more

What does “responsible AI” look like in practice? In one of our most engaging episodes of the year, host Will Francis speaks with Gordon Ryan, Senior Managing Consultant and Design Process Lead at Sopra Steria, about the growing impact of AI on work,... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ernest Cantillon
Entrepreneur; owns Sober Lane pub, Black Emerald whiskey, and liquid.io
Sober Lane; Black Emerald; liquid.io
Episode: Stories From an Entrepreneur
Crystal Carter
Head of AI search and SEO communications at Wix
Wix
Episode: How AI is Changing Search
Gordon Ryan
Responsible AI representative, involved in NORAD forestry AI project
Sopra Steria (as referenced in episode)
Episode: Responsible AI in the Workplace
Stuart Larkin
Creative strategist and former Unilad content lead
Independent / Freelance for brands
Episode: Inside Social Creativity and Virality
Katie Fortunato
Co-founder and EVP of Innovation and Platform Strategy at Hire Innovations
Hire Innovations
Episode: How AI is Reshaping Recruitment and Careers
Sarah Whittaker
Head of Sustainability Communications at Primark
Primark
Episode: Sustainability in Retail
Areej AbuAli
SEO expert and founder of the global Women in Tech SEO community
Women in Tech SEO
Episode: Practical Lessons from Female Founders
Rebecca Robinson
Cybersecurity expert who runs Cybec Consulting and helps businesses improve their cybersecurity practices.
Cybec Consulting
Episode: Cybersecurity for Marketers
Jim Lecinski
Professor of Marketing at Northwestern Kellogg School of Management
Northwestern Kellogg School of Management
Episode: 2026 Trends in Digital Marketing

Host

Will Francis
Host of Ahead of the Game, focused on practical digital marketing insights and industry trends.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 61 ratings
  • Building the relevance layering map

    Ahead of the Game is a fantastic mix of research insights, experiential learnings, and actionable lessons for the marketer who’s not interested in current trends, but in operating inside of them too. Really great show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Media_HW
    South Africa2 months ago
  • Master interviewer!

    So much great content on digital marketing ! And everything around it! I can’t keep up with all your amazing episode titles and content!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mischa-Z
    United States3 years ago
  • A New Favorite! 🔥

    Have a question about anything “digital marketing?”

    Will has got you covered. 😎

    Whether you’re well established as a digital marketer, or just getting started in your career, this is a must-listen podcast for you! Will does an incredible job leading engaging conversations with industry leaders who’ve actually experienced success themselves and every. single. episode. is jam-packed with helpful takeaways. Highly recommend listening and subscribing!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ASobering
    United States4 years ago
  • Great podcast!

    This is a great resource for all things digital marketing! Will is a knowledgeable and skillful host; each of his conversations with guests reveals fresh insights and relevant advice!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    maddie@podcastingyou
    United States5 years ago
  • So useful

    The DMI podcast is so useful for me as a comms professional. The production quality is great, it has strong presentation and interviews, and fantastic content that's relevant and forward-thinking.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Hortzio
    United Kingdom6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests and topics are described as insightful and actionable for real-world marketing.
High production quality and relevant, forward-thinking content are common sentiments.
Listeners praise the host's ability to pull practical takeaways from conversations with industry leaders.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Stories From an Entrepreneur
Q: What keeps you sane and effective in managing multiple ventures and brands?
Focus on partnerships, delegating responsibility, and leaning on a strong core product; ensure that marketing supports the product rather than overpowering it, and be ready to adapt based on feedback and data.
Stories From an Entrepreneur
Q: How do you approach experimentation and failure in marketing and product strategy?
You should not fear experimentation, especially during changing times; some experiments will fail, but they often reveal what works and help refine future efforts, provided you balance risk with learning.
Stories From an Entrepreneur
Q: What do you want to achieve when you try and build attention or awareness around something?
The aim is to create meaningful awareness that aligns with the product's true value, using channels that fit the audience and budget, while avoiding over-saturation and chasing vanity metrics.
Responsible AI in the Workplace
Q: What should marketers consider as AI becomes more capable and pervasive?
Be transparent about how data is used, avoid manipulating buyers unknowingly, and ensure messaging respects user privacy and consent while focusing on meaningful, honest engagement.
Responsible AI in the Workplace
Q: Do you think companies are spending enough time understanding the problem they're trying to fix before introducing AI?
There is a need to understand the specific problem in each context, implement experiments, and track benefits; many organizations still haven't mapped AI use or set clear direction, so adoption is often unstructured.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Ahead of the Game

What is Ahead of the Game about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show spotlights practical digital marketing strategies shaped by industry leaders and practitioners, with episodes covering viral content strategies, AI in recruitment and marketing, sustainability communications, PPC evolution, cybersecurity for marketers, GDPR and AI regulation, hospitality marketing, and youth marketing. Across episodes, the host often probes how brands balance authenticity, scalability, measurable outcomes, and ethical considerations while leaning into AI, data privacy, and evolving consumer behavior. A notable edge is the mix of hands-on tactics (e.g., nimble teams, mid-funnel PPC, AI-assisted workflows) with high-level frameworks from academia and senior practitioners, making it valuable for marketers seeking both... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Ahead of the Game?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Ahead of the Game:

1. The Digital Marketing Podcast
2. The GaryVee Audio Experience
3. HBR IdeaCast
4. BigDeal
5. Social Media Marketing Podcast

How many episodes of Ahead of the Game are there?

Ahead of the Game launched 6 years ago and published 141 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Ahead of the Game?

Recent guests on Ahead of the Game include:

1. Ernest Cantillon
2. Crystal Carter
3. Gordon Ryan
4. Stuart Larkin
5. Katie Fortunato
6. Sarah Whittaker
7. Areej AbuAli
8. Rebecca Robinson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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