Ad Infinitum 3.2 "Stay Safe in Sound"; A Double Dose of Edison’s Infinite Dial; Podscribe Makes a Leap in Audio Performance Measurement

The world’s only podcast solely dedicated to audio ads is back! Brought to you by this week’s sponsor, Claritas, we give you Ad Infinitum Season 3, Episode 2 – “Stay Safe in Sound.”

Host Stew Redwine (VP, Creative Services, Oxford Road) welcomes journalist Suzanne Rico to talk about her deeply personal, fascinating podcast The Man Who Calculated Death. Suzanne did the hard work of reconciling with her grandfather Robert Lusser’s dark legacy as a Nazi scientist, then had to find a way to sell her show to networks and advertisers. Suzanne and Stew dive into why difficult subject matter done well is well worth supporting.

And no episode of Ad Infinitum is complete with an ad break-down. This week, Stew and Suzanne check out winners and losers from BetterHelp, Amazon Pharmacy, Rocket Money, and Ritual. Let’s dig in.

“Clarity has a cleverness all of its own.”

• Stew Redwine (VP, Creative Services, Oxford Road)

Context over Keywords – Just looking at keywords can make worthy shows look incredibly brand unsafe. That’s why it pays to go deeper than the transcript. For CAOs if you’re interested in supporting a history show, listen to the episodes. Talk to the creators. Read the reviews. Try Seekr’s Civility Score. Is it less efficient? Absolutely. But you’ll have a much stronger understanding of the show and have forged a deeper connection with the host. That’s ultimately what powers the magic of audio.

Say Less – One issue Stew and Suzanne had with the Rocket Money ad? Too. Many. Words. CAOs, if you give hosts a packed page of copy points, they might just read all of them. Pick your most important points and leave some white space for hosts to bring their own experience to the read.

Simplicity, Simplicity – On the other side of headphones, Ritual came in with an incredibly straightforward and effective ad. Why? Stripped-down audio elements. Strong, clear language. And an engaging but understated performance. As Stew said, “Clarity has a cleverness all of its own.”

By sharing her stories, Suzanne shows off audio’s power to bring us closer together. To feel that power first-hand, tune into the full episode below.

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The Classifieds

Criminally Good True Crime Podcast

Network: True Native / Monthly Downloads: 300k / Current Civility Score: 98, HIGH

While there’s many new podcast releases to celebrate, this week we’re showcasing two tried and true high performers. We start in the fertile True Crime genre, where many of today’s largest DR brands continually see performance. Crimehub: A True Crime Podcast is an offshoot of Dr. NoSleep creator Jason Pacheco’s  wildly popular Scary Horror Stories by Dr. NoSleep. Though the content is factual not fictional, Pacheco gives the same intense production value to both of his podcasts, making for an unsettling and yet weirdly soothing listening experience. Those who feel right at home in the world of true crime have often lauded Dr. NoSleep as a preferred listening option at bedtime, or when they just want to relax. Though it seems unlikely, this opportunity’s host falls under the oft coveted “comfort creator” moniker, and the show’s longtime sponsors clearly reflect that. Sometimes crime pays, and you can too with the link below.

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Work Smarter, Not Harder

Network: Podtrac / Monthly Downloads: 9k / Current Civility Score:  100, HIGH

The word productivity is tossed around corporate spaces willy-nilly, but you don’t often hear about the people who make it their career. Thanh Pham and Brooks Duncan have done just that, bringing their tips and tricks to you weekly on their podcast, The Productivity Show. This interview based opportunity runs the gamut from professional development to self-improvement, even touching on topics of mental health and agility. The show covers modern technological roadblocks in AI and social media, but also provides coping strategies to retain energy levels, stay on task, and be accountable for all stakeholders. Listeners often tout the podcast as being motivational in their personal lives as well. This has been a longtime high performer for many advertisers, especially those looking to reach business leaders, entrepreneurs, decision makers, and lifelong learners. Time is money, and we aim to help you spend it wisely. Interested? See below for more.

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In Case You Missed It

The Infinite Dial Part 1

Edison Research presented their The Infinite Dial 2025 report last week, and there were a number of highlights to take in.

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The Infinite Dial Part 2

The Infinite Dial 2025 through the lens of radio key insights includes the importance of multi-platform presence with content accessibility for smart speakers, mobile apps, and online platforms. Younger listeners are shifting from traditional radio to online audio and podcasts, especially via YouTube. Recommendations for radio stations include embracing mobility, creating enriched apps, incorporating video into content, and cross-promoting across all platforms to expand reach and compete with emerging media. Another story on The Infinite Dial? Yes—but this one offers a fresh perspective on how radio can evolve with changing listener habits. If publishers take this advice to heart, it could help keep the medium relevant and valuable for marketers.

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Podscribe Sets a New Standard in Attribution

Podscribe’s new Fairing integration combines pixel, promo and post-purchase survey data into one dashboard, eliminating manual data reconciliation. AI-powered auto-matching links survey responses to campaigns, providing a clearer picture of which shows drive conversions. This integration allows brands to validate campaign impact, identify trends faster and reduce manual work. Users can view, download and verify matched responses easily. The feature is included for all Podscribe attribution clients at no extra cost, offering a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of campaign performance without additional effort. CAOs, digital audio is growing fast—and so are the ways to measure its impact. Here at Oxford Road we’ve been using multiple methods to evaluate performance for years. However, for advertisers not working with an agency that takes performance seriously, this is a big step forward to prove your audio investments are delivering real results.

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#SaveTheLiveReads

Thuma For Your Rooma

Elevating your home with Thuma’s new design collection has never sounded so sexy, thanks to  Sharleen Joynt and hubby Andy Levine on their Dear Shandy podcast. The love birds deliver an ecstatic substantiation, starting with a jazzy little singing intro hook. Incorporating enthusiastic banter about the exquisite Japanese craftsmanship, the couple shares their love for Thuma’s aesthetics and simplistic modern chic design. Sharleen and Andy deliver further details about Thuma with genuine excitement throughout their read. This lively, powerful duo is an excellent match for Thuma, as furnishing a home together enables them to offer a thoughtful, collaborative endorsement for this brand.

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Contact us for a Consultation 

In the dynamic world of marketing, truly understanding your campaign’s impact across multiple channels has been a challenge—until now. Claritas is excited to introduce our groundbreaking Multi-Touch Cross-Channel Attribution solution, designed to revolutionize how you measure and optimize your marketing efforts.

This innovative, AI-driven approach is the first true multi-touch cross-channel attribution methodology in the industry. It empowers marketers like you by providing an even playing field to assess the effectiveness of your media investments. Imagine accurately measuring which channels drive consumer engagement most effectively across their journey, enhancing your ROI dramatically.

1. Precise ROI measurement: Gain unparalleled insights into which channels drive results.
2. Optimize spend: Potential to save over $50 billion in advertising spend industry-wide.
3. Data-driven decisions: Make informed choices based on accurate, comprehensive attribution.

OXFORd In The News

Still Planning Your “Evolutions” Schedule?

There’s so much happening at next week’s Evolutions, planning your schedule can be daunting. If you’re still mapping out which panels and speakers you want to attend, below is a list of Oxford Road speakers and panelists you won’t want to miss. Just enter the panel title below into the Interactive Schedule to help guide you:

If you still haven’t yet secured your place at this year’s event, there are still tickets and passes available, but you have to move quickly. The event kicks off March 31st at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago! We’ll see you there.

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