Best Split Desk Podcasts (2025)

1
Explainer 479: Who are the Balochistan Liberation Army and why have they suddenly attracted US attention? 7:08

15m ago7:08

7:08

The Balochistan Liberation Army has been reclassified by the US as a “foreign terrorist” organisation. But why the sudden interest in a Pakistani bête noire? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Is popularity in politics a thing of the past? 37:39

4d ago37:39

37:39

Political leaders around the world face waning popularity and seem to be unable to change their fates. Is this the result of less effective leaders or more impatient electorates? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 47: The Trade Desk, Ad Tech, TV and More Ad Trends For 2Q25 15:17

6d ago15:17

15:17

We review our latest work of the week, which included observations on The Trade Desk, ad tech, TV ad trends and much more from the latest results from the advertising industry's second quarter of 2025.By Madison and Wall

1
Industry Spotlight | Maximizing AI ROI in Recruiting: Efficiency, Upskilling, and Competitive Advantage with Lauren Jednat 35:47

7d ago35:47

35:47

Welcome back to another episode of The Full Desk Experience! In this Industry Spotlight, host Kortney Harmon sits down with Lauren Jednat to unravel the true impact of AI sourcing agents on the recruiting world. With tales from the trenches and insights from daily conversations with recruiting leaders, Lauren and Kortney dive deep into how AI is au…

1
Explainer 478: Why does Trump care about Bolsonaro? 6:46

7d ago6:46

6:46

Jair Bolsonaro was placed under house arrest after breaking pre-trial rules this week as he faces charges for attempting to stage a coup. But why is Trump throwing his support behind Brazil’s former president? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
The catastrophe in Gaza and the prospects of a Palestinian state 39:51

11d ago39:51

39:51

International pressure mounts on Israel to end its war in Gaza, which has been dubbed a “catastrophe of epic proportions” by the UN. Plus: we examine the prospect of a Palestinian state. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 46: Meta and Other Company 2Q25 Results + Marketer Commentary Indicate Healthy Ad Market Despite Weakening Economy 13:42

13d ago13:42

13:42

We review our latest work of the week, which included an analysis of the latest results from Meta, Comcast, Pro7Sat1 and others, our take on comments from large marketers' CEOs and CFOs, plus how to interpret Stagwell's latest results and much more.By Madison and Wall

1
Explainer 478: Why is Islamic State targeting the DRC? 6:46

14d ago6:46

6:46

This week, militants attached to Islamic State attacked a church in Komanda, killing at least 43 people. Why is the jihadist group keen to establish itself in the Democratic Republic of the Congo? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Cameroon’s forgotten crisis: Is reconciliation in the Anglo-Franco schism possible? 39:02

18d ago39:02

39:02

Cameroon’s 92 year-old president Paul Biya seeks re-election to extend his 43-year tenure. We investigate the long and often violent conflict in his country. Is Anglo-Franco reconciliation possible? And is anyone paying attention? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 45: Google 2Q25, Marketer Spend Trends, IPG Results and Global TV Advertising 7:08

20d ago7:08

7:08

We review our latest work of the week, which included an analysis of the latest results from Google, comments from large marketers' CEOs and CFOs, IPG's quarterly trends and early reads on the most recent quarter for global TV advertisingBy Madison and Wall

1
Industry Spotlight | Aaron Elder - CEO at Crelate - How Early Adopter Recruiting Teams are Pulling Ahead with Agentic AI 45:02

21d ago45:02

45:02

Step confidently into the post-AI era with this episode of The Full Desk Experience. Join CEO Aaron Elder and host Kortney Harmon as they uncover how AI is not just changing, but fundamentally reinventing, the rules of recruiting—transforming processes, expectations, and business models in real time. Key Insights: Discover why every search firm’s t…

1
Explainer 477: What is behind the violence in Syria? 6:19

21d ago6:19

6:19

Andrew Mueller examines the fatal clashes between Druze and Bedouin Syrians. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Explainer 476: Lesotho’s one-man fight for South African land 8:03

22d ago8:03

8:03

A Lesotho MP is facing charges after accusing the country’s monarch of signing over land to its neighbour, South Africa. Andrew Mueller explains the history and prospects of this decidedly niche territorial dispute. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
The future of warfare 34:25

25d ago34:25

34:25

From drones to radios, the war in Ukraine has rapidly accelerated technical development. In this fast-evolving landscape, what does the future of warfare hold and will humans have a role on the battlefield? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 44: Tik Tok Letters, Agency Growth, Netflix and More 11:00

27d ago11:00

11:00

We review our latest work of the week, which included an analysis of TikTok's letter to the Canadian government and incomplete claims of economic benefits, the latest agency growth trends following Omnicom and Publicis earnings, network content spending trends in context of the end of Stephen Colbert's Late Show and Netflix's ongoing growth + more.…

1
Dynastic democracies 34:08

1M ago34:08

34:08

Recent Filipino elections were, arguably, a political episode of family feud. We examine the creation and durability of political dynasties. Plus: a banned would-be Thai leader explains how to run against a prime minister. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 43: WPP's New CEO, 2Q25 Indie Agency Growth Trends and More 11:18

1M ago11:18

11:18

This week we review our latest work exploring last week's earnings warning from WPP and its subsequent CEO appointment as well as our latest analysis of growth trends for independent agencies.By Madison and Wall

1
FDE Express | Is Your Recruiting Team Falling Behind in the Post-AI Era? 17:39

1M ago17:39

17:39

In this FDE Express episode, we’re having a direct, no-nonsense conversation about where recruiting teams really stand in the “post-AI era.” With AI moving from buzzword to business essential, there’s a growing divide between firms still debating AI and those already reaping huge efficiency gains. Kortney will break down what the post-AI era actual…

1
Explainer 475: Why has Russia recognised the Taliban? 6:44

1M ago6:44

6:44

Russia has become the first country to recognise the Taliban as Afghanistan’s government. Andrew Mueller explains why. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
How to topple a tyrant 35:32

1M ago35:32

35:32

As last year’s rapid descent of Syria’s president Bashar al-Assad attests, when a dictator falls, they fall fast. But what are the conditions under which that fall occurs? And how can they be sparked? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 42: Global Digital Services Taxes, Tarrifs' Impact on Marketing and More 7:58

1M ago7:58

7:58

This week we review our latest work exploring digital services taxes in context of Canada-US trade disputes, the latest commentary from marketers' CEOs and CFOs on the impact of tarrifs on their businesses and more.By Madison and Wall

1
Explainer 474: Tuvalu’s climate-change escape to Australia 6:32

1M ago6:32

6:32

Andrew Mueller explains the relocation ballot being offered to Tuvaluans by Australia and what’s in it for the host nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 41: RTL, TF1 and Corus vs. Amazon, Disney and Netflix, Politics in Agency + More 7:50

2M ago7:50

7:50

In this week's episode of the Madison and Wall podcast we review our latest work, including a review of the strategic choices broadcasters such as Canada's Corus, France's TF1 and Germany's RTL are making in the face of growing competition from streamers as well as the political reality facing global agency holding companies in the wake of last wee…

1
Has the ‘12-Day War’ settled anything? 33:55

2M ago33:55

33:55

Despite Trump’s assertions, the state of play between Israel and Iran remains unclear. We’re joined by Arash Azizi, Tara Kangarlou and Tom Nichols to consider the possible consequences of the past 12 days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
FDE Express | Search is Dead: Why Traditional Recruiting Method's Won't Work in the Post-AI Era 15:17

2M ago15:17

15:17

Step into the future of recruiting with this episode. Whether you're a recruiting leader, firm owner, or decision-maker, this episode is for those who are determined to keep their firms thriving in a rapidly changing, AI-driven landscape. Host Kortney Harmon cuts through the noise to reveal why clinging to yesterday’s metrics and technology isn’t j…

1
Explainer 473: Cambodia, Thailand and phone-call warfare 6:37

2M ago6:37

6:37

Andrew Mueller explains the leaked phone call scandalising Thailand in its ongoing border dispute with Cambodia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
The view of Europe from Globsec Forum 2025 41:55

2M ago41:55

41:55

Reporting from the Globsec Forum in Prague, we hear from guests including the host country’s foreign minister and Georgia’s president to discern how their countries are adapting to today’s security, military and political threats. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 40 AI's Impact on Agencies, Accenture Reorg, AdTech Everywhere at Cannes 7:50

2M ago7:50

7:50

In this week's episode of the Madison and Wall podcast we review our latest work, including publications on the impact of AI on agencies, news from Accenture related to its presence in media and corportate reorganization and several news items from ad tech relevant to the broader advertising industry.…

1
Explainer 472: The furious funeral row over Zambia’s former president 8:31

2M ago8:31

8:31

Andrew Mueller explains how the rivalry between the late and former president, Edgar Lungu, and the current president, Hakainde Hichilema, is going well beyond the grave. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
No Trend - "Too Many Humans.../ Teen Love" with Chris Richards 1:02:15

2M ago1:02:15

1:02:15

In this episode, we explore Too Many Humans and Teen Love, the 1983 release from No Trend that challenged both punk and mainstream sensibilities in DC’s underground scene. No Trend was from from Ashton, Maryland consisting of Jeff Mentges (vocals), Frank Price (guitar), Bob Strasser (bass), and Michael Salkind (drums). They took a confrontational a…

1
‘The Foreign Desk’ in Odesa: the international ripple effects of war in Ukraine 40:10

2M ago40:10

40:10

Reporting from the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, Andrew Mueller talks to leaders – domestic and international – about why Ukraine’s struggle for survival matters around the globe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 39: WPP CEO Change, Agency Industry Forecast, Warner Media Split, Bell Media's Ad Tech Partnerships and More 12:11

2M ago12:11

12:11

In this week's episode of the Madison and Wall podcast we review what happens next for WPP in light of its CEO change, our newest advertising agency forecast, Warner Bros. Discovery's break-up, Bell Media’s ad tech partnerships, the future of TV/video buying and more.By Madison and Wall

1
Industry Spotlight | Aaron Elder - CEO at Crelate - Thriving in the Post-AI Era of Recruiting 29:44

2M ago29:44

29:44

Get ready to reimagine the future of strategic recruiting. In this pivotal episode of The Full Desk Experience, Crelate CEO Aaron Elder joins host Kortney Harmon to share cutting-edge strategies for thriving in the rapidly evolving, post-AI era—essential listening for owners, directors, and executive-level leaders. Key insights you can’t miss: -The…

1
Explainer 471: Who gets to be an Italian citizen? 7:53

2M ago7:53

7:53

(Some) Italians headed to the polls this week to decide who gets to be one of them. Andrew Mueller explains what’s at the heart of this debate and why apathy might have won the day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
The Slickee Boys - "Cybernetic Dreams of Pi" with Don Zientara 1:01:30

2M ago1:01:30

1:01:30

In this episode, we explore Cybernetic Dreams of Pi, the 1983 release from The Slickee Boys that blends garage rock revivalism with punk attitude and sci-fi themes. The Slickee Boys had been a fixture in the DC music scene since the mid-1970s, building a dedicated following with their irreverent stage shows and DIY approach to recording. With a lin…

1
Odesa, the Black Sea, the front line and Ukraine’s future 38:09

2M ago38:09

38:09

Andrew Mueller reports from the Black Sea Security Forum, asking why Odesa matters beyond Ukraine’s borders and how Ukrainians have managed to keep fighting more than three years into Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 38: New Ad Forecast! Behind Our 2025 Upgrade 8:28

2M ago8:28

8:28

In this week's episode of the Madison and Wall podcast we review our newest advertising forecast and some of the potential drivers of recent advertising strength in the US. We then explain why despite the upgraded forecast, many risks loom.By Madison and Wall

1
Explainer 470: The on-again, off-again US-Iran nuclear talks 8:16

2M ago8:16

8:16

Andrew Mueller unpacks the latest round of nuclear talks between the US and Iran, asks why Trump is now eager after rejecting the previous deal and why Iran has fewer cards to play than in the Obama years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Faith / Void Split with Thurston Moore 1:12:30

2M ago1:12:30

1:12:30

In this episode, we explore the Faith/Void Split, the legendary 1982 release from Dischord Records that captures the duality of the early D.C. hardcore scene. Released as Dischord Records #8, the album pairs Faith’s tight, melodic hardcore with Void’s chaotic, genre-defying intensity. Both bands, formed by teenagers, contributed to the diverse evol…

1
Are journalists safe? 36:18

3M ago36:18

36:18

At least 124 journalists and media workers were killed in 2024, about two-thirds of whom were Palestinian. Why is reporting becoming more dangerous and what can we do to protect journalists? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 37: Digital Ad Taxes, CPG Trends + What Caused 1Q25's Strength? 12:28

3M ago12:28

12:28

In this week's episode of the Madison and Wall podcast we review new economic news, discuss the impact of taxes on digital advertising, look at CPG industry growth rates and explore factors impacting the most recent quarter's ad market strength.By Madison and Wall

1
Industry Spotlight | Elite Recruiting Secrets: Building a Powerhouse of Influence in the Talent Industry with Brent Orsuga, Founder - Pinnacle Growth Advisors 45:59

3M ago45:59

45:59

Ready to take your executive search firm to the next level? In this can't-miss Industry Spotlight episode, host Kortney Harmon sits down with powerhouse Brent Orsuga—founder of Pinnacle Growth Advisors—to unpack the bold strategies and mindsets driving exceptional results in executive search. Key takeaways for executive search leaders: - From Recru…

1
Explainer 469: Who are India’s Maoists? 6:46

3M ago6:46

6:46

Indian security forces killed 27 rebels this week, including a top Maoist leader. This week, Andrew Mueller explains the nearly half-century long conflict between the state and the Communist Party of India (Maoist). See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Why does Russia still have influence in eastern Europe? 31:55

3M ago31:55

31:55

While eyes are fixed on Ukraine, Putin’s influence continues to spread across eastern Europe, with many countries seeing a rise in far-right parties with Soviet-era sympathies. But why is this a winning policy? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 36: Big, Beautiful Business Deterrents, New Pay TV and Video Data, Publicis Buys Influencer Agency and More 10:13

3M ago10:13

10:13

On this week's M&W Podcast we review our take on the potential consequences for foreign capital investment that may follow from tax policy changes in the US, go over new TV data we published on pay TV subscriptions, video ad loads and video spending and assess the news of Publicis' acquisition of a new influencer agency.…

1
Best of FDE | Empowering Talent: Market Shifts, Digital Strategy, and Industry Challenges with Joanie Bily, CEO at EmployBridge 38:43

3M ago38:43

38:43

Get ready for a powerhouse episode featuring highlights from Joanie Bily’s impactful conversation with Kortney Harmon. Dive into proven strategies and actionable insights designed to help executive search leaders stay ahead in a market defined by rapid change, digital innovation, and evolving client demands. In this episode, you’ll discover: - A ca…

1
Explainer 468: Tantrum or tactic? Why has Australia’s National Party split from the Liberals? 7:39

3M ago7:39

7:39

After a humiliating general election defeat, Australia’s National Party has bid farewell to its coalition partners of more than 60 years. But what is behind this seemingly self-defeating manoeuvre? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Bad Brains - "Bad Brains" with Bartees Strange 53:28

3M ago53:28

53:28

In this episode, we dive into Bad Brains’ self-titled 1982 classic, which still stands as one of the most explosive albums in punk history. Recorded at 171-A Studios in New York, the album blends elements of hardcore punk and reggae, and is widely regarded as a foundational release in the development of American hardcore. Known for its speed, techn…

1
Does the dream of a Kurdish state end with the PKK? 32:01

3M ago32:01

32:01

After 40 years of war with Turkey, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) lay down their arms. So, where does that leave hopes for a sovereign Kurdish state? Or ambitions for a more democratic Turkey? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.By Monocle

1
Ep. 35: TV Upfronts, Retail Sales, Netflix Data, Dentsu + Globant and More 9:40

3M ago9:40

9:40

On this week's M&W Podcast review the latest retail sales data and its read-throughs for the economy, Walmart’s advertising business, our take on the Upfronts, Netflix’s latest data point on ad-supported subscribers, the latest results from Dentsu and Globant and more.By Madison and Wall

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