CultureConnect
This podcast, curated by the ARF Cultural Effectiveness Council, features interviews and panels with marketing and research thought leaders on how to build brand loyalty with the diverse U.S. audiences of the 21st Century. Topics covered include: How Americans define their identities in the 21st Century. The role and value of music in reaching and persuading diverse audiences. How to increase engagement with communities of color on healthcare campaigns. The importance of representation in advertising creative and the language(s) of the 21st Century US consumer.
Episodes
48 episodes
Gen Alpha: Digital, Diverse, Determined
This month on CultureConnect, we’re digging into the world of Gen Alpha -- the first generation born entirely in the 21st century. While they are the youngest cohort, their "alpha" status is already felt in the marketplace—driven by an unpreced...
Ad Sales 2:0: From Impressions To Impact
This month's CultureConnect episode delves into the evolving ad sales landscape, where cultural capital is rapidly taking precedence over chasing impressions. As sales teams pivot towards monetizing authentic cultural moments and passionate eng...
50-Plus… A New Cultural Flashpoint
While media often spotlights younger generations, this episode of CultureConnect, examines the massive cultural shift happening at the other end of the spectrum. We’ll explore a group many are calling, "Age Disruptors"—a generation of adults 50...
The New Luxury Consumer: Winning With Growth Audiences
As we kick off 2026, the "New Luxury" landscape is no longer defined by price tags alone, but by cultural fluency, convenience, and authenticity. In this episode of CultureConnect, we dive into why the most resilient luxury brands and destinati...
Looking Back at CultureConnect 2025
With 2025 coming to a close, the ARF Cultural Effectiveness Council offers a retrospective of some of the past year’s CultureConnect episodes. Our panel shared the guests and themes that stood out to them, as well as the lessons they lear...
The Z Factor: How Gen Z Is Changing Everything
In this episode of Culture Connect, we examine how Gen Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) is reshaping both business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) marketing and communications. A panel of Gen Z professionals share their vie...
The Equity Prescription: Bridging The Gap With Women Of Color
It’s October… Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Indigenous People’s Day and we’re seeing that supporting women of color is a critical pathway to universal solutions. In this episode, we're spotlighting the need for equ...
The K-Pop Demon Hunters Effect: Marketing To The New American Mainstream
In this episode, we dive into the profound and multifaceted impact Asian cultures and influencers have on American culture and consumer expectations. For decades, Asian American and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islander individuals and communities ...
AVOIDING MARKETING MISSTEPS: THE REBOOT
Given the current backlash surrounding the American Eagle campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney and her good ‘jeans’ and even the recent Heinz “Smile” and “Family Portraits” campaigns from a few months ago, there’s a clear opportunity to reboot our...
From Culture To Capital: A Conversation With Dr. Marcus Collins
In this episode of CultureConnect, we dive into the power of culture with Dr. Marcus Collins, author of For the Culture. We explore how understanding cultural dynamics can transform brand impact and audience reach, what drives b...
Cultural Intelligence as a Catalyst for Creativity
Tune in for an engaging conversation with industry leaders -- on the ground at the 2025 Cannes Lions Advertising Festival -- who are championing inclusive marketing, media, and technology in their work. AI conversations were omnipresent at the ...
Changing The Game: Women In The Business Of Sports
In this exciting episode, we dive deep into the dynamic world of sports with women who are leading the way as executives and journalists. Together, they bring unique perspectives on the vital topics of representation on and off the field, caree...
Influencing Health: How Media Can Shape Care
This episode of CultureConnect focuses on the critical, innovative, and engaging role media plays in healthcare, shaping everything from practitioner care to patient outcomes. We delve into how it can transform education and access throug...
CULTURECONNECT: UNLOCKING ACCESS IN HEALTHCARE
In this episode of CultureConnect, we explore the pivotal roles research and communications play in achieving greater access in healthcare. Join us as we speak with leading voices advocating and innovating through their work. Hosted by Janelle ...
CULTURECONNECT: TECH TALK: SEEING NEW POSSIBILITIES IN HEALTHCARE
In this episode of CultureConnect, we explore how technology continues to connect, disrupt, empower, and push boundaries in healthcare. From medical innovations to telehealth, there’s no doubt that technology is changing the lives of providers,...
CULTURECONNECT: AMPLIFYING ACCESS IN HEALTH CARE
In this episode of CultureConnect, we explore the pivotal role greater access plays in the lives of consumers and patients today. Join us as we speak with leading voices advocating and innovating in healthcare through their work. We’ll discuss ...
CULTURECONNECT: INNOVATING WITH INCLUSIVE MARKETING
Inclusive marketing is a strategy that can help with everything from campaigns to community impact by creating content that reaches a wide range of people. It’s about more than celebrating diversity, it’s also about connecting, growing a busine...
CULTURECONNECT: INNOVATING WITH INCLUSIVE MEDIA
In today’s marketing world, it's no longer enough to simply reach audiences; we also need to authentically resonate with them. One way to do that is through storytelling. When it’s done well, this process not only shapes how we see oursel...
CULTURECONNECT: THE POWER OF RESPONSIBLE AI
The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence and its potential are putting pressure on businesses to adopt the technology, sometimes before they’re fully ready. In the absence of regulation, business leaders have to figure out how t...
CULTURECONNECT: AI IN CUSTOMER JOURNEYS
Cutting-edge artificial intelligence applications are not only enhancing the customer journey, they’re also upskilling marketing, media, and product teams in the process. As the technology and options advance, AI is proving to be game changing ...
CULTURECONNECT: HUMANS IN THE LEAD, NOT JUST IN THE LOOP
Artificial intelligence is having a profound impact on all aspects of business including market research. AI is revolutionizing how we gather, analyze, and interpret data, providing unprecedented new capabilities and driving innovation in how b...
CULTURECONNECT: CAREERS IN INSIGHTS
Insight specialists help organizations understand their customers, so they can improve products, communications, strategies and marketing. On this episode of CultureConnect, we’re exploring careers in insights with a panel of experts from top b...
CULTURECONNECT: INSIDE CAREERS IN MEDIA
Media organizations persistently lack diversity in its workforce, particularly at the top. At the same time, the industry is aware that representation can bring with it great numbers of consumers and more financial gains. On this episode ...