How AI is Revolutionizing Audio Creative - Ad Infinitum 2:12; Radio Goes Hyper-Local; Ben Shapiro’s MRT Appearance Reverberates Through the Industry

The world’s only podcast solely dedicated to audio ads is back! Presenting Ad Infinitum Season 2, Episode 12 – “A.I. Loves Everybody”

Stew Redwine (VP, Creative, Oxford Road) explores the cutting-edge world of AI-driven audio advertising with Dave “Chachi” Denes (President, Benztown and host of Chachi Loves Everybody) and Masa Patterson (VP of Operations, Benztown). The trio showcases a live demo of SPECai, a tool built to streamline audio ad creation. It generates scripts, selects music, and produces mixed spots–all in real time.

We’re talking: Bridging the Imagination Gap, The Second Best Answer, Dull Ads, and more. Let’s jump in.

“ It’s vital to me that we use AI to create better products, better audio, and hopefully get more people engaged both in podcasting and in radio with the power of audio.” – Dave “Chachi” Denes (President, Benztown and host of Chachi Loves Everybody).

Bridging the Imagination Gap ️ – How do you get someone to feel the power of audio if they’ve never tried it? Leave less to the imagination. Chachi and Masa pitch clients with spec spots to create more “aha!” moments. Trying to unlock audio on a budget? You can play around with Spec AI to show stakeholders what’s possible.

The Second Best Answer – As Chachi and Masa’s mentor used to say, “‘No’ is the second best answer.” SPECai helps show clients what they want, but it also shows clients what they don’t want. You can use SPECai’s quick creation process to find your creative North Star fast. It’s more a compass than a destination, fueling the creative process on the way to “yes.”

Don’t Be Dull – In Stew’s words, a lot of advertising is dull (Westwood One’s Pierre Bouvard seems to agree), so a lot of Generative AI helps us get dull faster. Unless you get intentional. Because SPECai takes hours of effort and condenses it to minutes, you have a license to be wildly creative without risk. Not sure which direction to take your ad? Doesn’t matter, just go far and react to it. Judge your proof of concepts and give your winning prototype the full production value it deserves.

To catch a spark of creativity (and learn how to start playing around with SPECai), tune into the full episode below.

Watch Here

Listen Here: Spotify

Listen Here: Apple

The Classifieds

Double Double, Boil and Trouble

Network: Southern California Public Radio / Monthly Downloads: 10k

Some new podcast releases often take time to simmer, but this LA Times release is already at a piping boil. The first in a bold new slate of shows premiering this year, Boiling Point is a groundbreaking journalistic endeavor that frames climate change through a California lens. The first episode aptly tackles the recent wildfires that have devastated multiple communities in the Los Angeles area. It’s both a dissection of what went wrong, and for residents, what is yet to come. Host Sammy Roth spends each episode walking through the impact of every political, social, and economic choice that affects the ‘climate crisis.’ For those already familiar with this network’s slate of opportunities, it’s no surprise this is a great test for those targeting highly educated lifelong learners with an interest in science. Turn down the heat and cool off by clicking the link below.

Get The Deal

Hygge Feels, but a Hilarious Deal

Network: Audioboom / Monthly Downloads: 43k

A podcast hosted by a comfort creator is a diamond in the rough. A podcast hosted by multiple comfort creators is an entire mine. This is the case for Audioboom’s recently onboarded Comfort Level Podcast. Primarily hosted by Madi Smith, Brandon Gaines, and Sam Adams, discussions include everything from personal style, to video games, to Reddit and so much more. Oftentimes, the trio shares the web’s funniest, most off-the-wall true stories, giving their two cents when appropriate, while LOL-ing along the way. These hosts know how to keep their show from getting stale, thanks to their frank banter and honest opinions, no matter how the conversations flow. Advertisers looking to reach a younger demo interested in Comedy, Society & Culture, and Gaming content, will find surefire success with a first test. Settle in and get comfy by clicking below for more.

Get The Deal

In Case You Missed It

The Definitive Analysis of the Podcast Election

Kamala Harris’s podcast strategy significantly underperformed compared to Donald Trump’s ahead of the 2024 election. Harris’s guest appearances on YouTube-distributed podcasts garnered 6.8 million views, while Trump’s amassed 113.6 million. Podcasters like Joe Rogan, Logan Paul, and Theo Von have become influential figures, rallying young men in support of Donald Trump. A Bloomberg analysis of over 2,000 videos from prominent YouTubers found that these hosts with their massive, predominantly male, audiences helped shift the political landscape, with many young men swinging heavily toward Trump in the 2024 election. Just when we thought we didn’t need another deep dive into the Podcast Election, Ashley Carman delivers two articles which will likely become the definitive analysis on the subject. For an analysis through the lens of performance advertisers, don’t forget to check out our whitepaper: The Untold Story of the Podcast Election.

Radio Going Hyper-local?

Hyper-localized messages through dynamic ad insertion and creative optimization may be coming soon to local radio. A new ruling by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) at the end of 2024, which went into effect Jan. 13 of this year, allows radio broadcasters to split market-wide signals into localized zones, enabling hyper-localized messages. This innovation benefits small and regional advertisers by targeting specific audiences cost-effectively. One of the strengths of radio is local targeting. The ability to break this down to target by zones is a development worth keeping an eye on.

Podcasting: Bigger and Better

According to Paul Riismandel of Signal Hill Insights, podcasting has obviously transformed over the past decade. In 2014, 15% of Americans (42 million) listened monthly; by 2024, this rose to 47% (142 million). Once dominated by public radio, podcasting now features diverse formats and creators, as seen in today’s varied top charts. While the audience is still somewhat affluent and educated, it now mirrors the general population more closely. With 3.4 times more listeners than in 2014, and multiple successful models, podcasting in 2025 is poised for continued growth and innovation. Riismandel does a great job explaining why the broader appeal of podcasting is a positive development. While there’s still plenty of opportunity to reach highly targeted audiences through niche podcasts, larger podcasts offer the chance to connect with broader, more diverse audiences. We see that as a win, win.

Tecovas – A KNOCK OUT Winner!

Eric Bischoff is a winner in and out of the ring—and this week, he deserves a championship belt for this #STLR Tecovas ad! Bischoff delivers an excellent example of how a host-read podcast ad should be approached—personal, engaging, and persuasive without feeling overly salesy. As a sports entertainment industry pioneer, Eric’s 83 Weeks podcast brings in a massive number of loyal listeners—thanks to his authentic delivery and personalization. His casual, enthusiastic style feels more like a reco from a friend than a scripted ad read. This is evident in his heartfelt tale about gifting Tecovas to his father for Christmas—now his dad’s favorite work boots, of course! Bischoff goes on to describe the ‘unbelievably easy’ Tecovas website product selection and sizing process. A huge selling point that effectively seals the deal for his audience and our client.

Listen Here

OXFORd In The News

Sonic Branding: Just What the Doctor Ordered

Last year, Oxford Road teamed up with Made Music Studio to create Zocdoc’s inaugural sonic logo, dubbed “The Little Victory.” This two-second musical gem encapsulates the brand’s essence by conveying momentum, triumph, and the satisfaction patients feel when booking their appointments through Zocdoc. Launched in 2025 alongside a national TV campaign, this sonic logo complements Zocdoc’s cheerful yellow palette and expressive ‘Z’ visual, adding distinctive auditory flair across various media channels. While the long-term impact of this sonic branding will reveal itself in due time, the immediate impact is already noticeable in continuity across all platforms. If you’re keen on upping your Sonic brand game, we’re here to help; email us for a free consultation.

Shapiro Makes Waves on Media Roundtable

Last week, Ben Shapiro of The Daily Wire joined Dan Granger (CEO of Oxford Road) on our Media Roundtable podcast. News about Shapiro’s appearance spread quickly, with articles flooding industry publications such as Inside Radio, Ground News, Roastbrief, Ads of Brands, and a great post on LinkedIn from Daily Wire’s own Christine Hoffmann. The articles collectively explore the evolving dynamics of media and brand safety in today’s polarized political environment. They emphasize the importance of fostering civility in public discourse to enhance brand safety and encourage advertisers to engage with diverse media channels. This shift indicates a broader trend toward prioritizing reach and engagement over political considerations in advertising strategies. Shapiro’s appearance has been a long time in the making; check it out here ICYMI last week.

If you’ve read this far, thank you!

The Influencer is a production from the team at Oxford Road.
If you like our sometimes sassy, mostly informed POVs on the wonderful world of audio advertising, you should see what we do for our clients.

Interested in seeing how we could help your business?
Contact us at influencer@oxfordroad.com!