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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 “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

Ever wondered what really makes social content go viral? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host Will Francis speaks with Stuart Larkin about viral social campaigns, creativity on social media, and why “going viral” is rarely the right starting poin... more

Wondering how AI is changing the hiring process? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host ⁠Will Francis⁠ speaks with Katie Fortunato, Co-Founder and EVP of Innovation and Platform Strategy at Hire Innovations, about how AI is transforming recruitment... more

Ever wondered how fast fashion brands tackle sustainability? In this episode of the DMI podcast, host ⁠Will Francis⁠ speaks with ⁠Sarah Whittaker⁠, Head of Sustainability Communications at Primark, about how one of the world’s largest fashion retaile... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
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Recent Guests

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
Rebecca Robinson
Cybersecurity expert who runs Cybec Consulting and helps businesses improve their cybersecurity practices.
Cybec Consulting
Episode: Cybersecurity for Marketers
Alison Battisby
Runs Avocado Social, a training and consultancy firm in the UK for social media success.
Avocado Social
Episode: 2026 Trends in Digital Marketing
Jane McDaid
Runs a youth marketing agency helping brands connect with youth audiences.
Thinkhouse
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 60 ratings
  • 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 States4 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 Kingdom5 years ago
  • Great

    Great marketing insights and advice.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    tommye w-c
    United States6 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.

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.
Inside Social Creativity and Virality
Q: What's your day-one approach with a new brand you're working with?
Start with authenticity, assess where the brand can contribute meaningfully, avoid forcing a viral moment, and set up an agile team and process so content can rapidly respond to audience feedback while staying true to the brand.
Inside Social Creativity and Virality
Q: What's your take on trend jacking and how should brands approach trends?
Trends aren't universally right for every brand; early, authentic, and strategically aligned participation can work, but it's better to focus on consistently relevant content that reflects the brand and solves customer problems, using trends only when they truly fit.
Inside Social Creativity and Virality
Q: What are your five or so top tips for a company to really put a rocket under their social media?
Know your audience deeply by defining one person to communicate with, commit to a clear communication strategy, treat content as an ongoing experiment, optimize for the platform with a long-term repeatable format, and balance quality with quantity to build data-driven insights.

Audience Metrics

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Listeners per Episode
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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. Uncensored CMO
2. The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett
3. Nudge
4. Global News Podcast
5. The GaryVee Audio Experience

How many episodes of Ahead of the Game are there?

Ahead of the Game launched 6 years ago and published 138 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. Gordon Ryan
2. Stuart Larkin
3. Katie Fortunato
4. Sarah Whittaker
5. Areej AbuAli
6. Cathal Melinn
7. Rebecca Robinson
8. Alison Battisby

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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