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Artwork for Ahead of the Game
Digital Marketing
Social Media Marketing
Artificial Intelligence
Linkedin
E-Commerce
Digital Marketing Institute
Social Media
AI In Marketing
Consumer Behavior
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Amazon
Influencer Marketing
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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

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Artwork for Ahead of the Game

Latest Episodes

What does content marketing look like when creating more content is no longer enough? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Chima Mmeje, Senior Content Marketing Manager at Moz, about how marketers can stand out as AI tran... more

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

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Aimee Jurenka
Founder of SEO Sustainable, AI visibility strategist
SEO Sustainable
Episode: Understanding AI Search Visibility
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
Cathal Melinn
PPC expert and industry consultant
Episode: What You Need to Know About PPC in 2026

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.

The host's ability to draw out real-world lessons from guests is frequently noted as a key reason to subscribe.
Listeners praise the show for practical, actionable marketing insights and strong interviewing, making complex topics digestible.
Quality production and guest lineup are repeatedly highlighted as strengths by listeners.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Understanding AI Search Visibility
Q: Let's say I ask ChatGPT who I am and it says it doesn't know. What are practical steps to train it to know my brand and what I do?
Focus on off-page signals like YouTube presence, LinkedIn publishing, consistent brand messaging across sites, and building a clear personal and company profile. Regularly publish content that demonstrates expertise and ensure product and brand details are explicit in descriptions so AI can surface accurate, reliable info.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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 delivers practical, practitioner-facing insights across digital marketing, AI in search and recruitment, data privacy, and brand storytelling. Episodes frequently center on actionable tactics—from AI-first content, PPC optimization, and sustainability messaging to hospitality marketing and creator-led strategies—delivered through founder and practitioner experiences. A notable throughline is the emphasis on applying emerging tech and data-driven methods while maintaining authenticity, transparency, and human-centric approaches. The guest roster spans marketers, researchers, and industry leaders, offering a mix of hands-on tactics, strategic frameworks, and forward-looking trends that appeal to growth-minded professionals and teams ... more

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To see how many followers or subscribers Ahead of the Game has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

How many episodes of Ahead of the Game are there?

Ahead of the Game launched 6 years ago and published 142 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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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Ahead of the Game?

Recent guests on Ahead of the Game include:

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

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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