Beyond The Shelf
This show is an open exploration of the people and process behind E-Commerce. Through conversations with innovators in the space, we learn the stories of these leaders and their strategies for E-Commerce success. You can join our mailing list and access more content at itsrapid.ai.
David's past guests have included: Bryan Gildenberg from the CPG Guys, Todd Hassenfelt from Colgate-Palmolive, Anne Zybowski from Circana, Randy Mercer from 1WorldSync, Jared Taitel from PepsiCo, David Novak from Salsify, Harvey Ma from Albertsons Media Collective, Carter Jensen from General Mills, Pam Perino from Ghirardelli Chocolate, and many more.
Episodes
140 episodes
REWIND: The New Rules of Retail Media Creative - with Walmart Connect's Garima Ahuja
This week we're repeating Dave's insightful discussion with Garima Ahuja, Sr. Partner Development Manager, Creative Partnerships at Walmart Connect. This episode originally aired 6/2/26.Garima shares how Walmart Connect is helping ...
BTS Live from the Digital Shelf Summit: Dawn Powell (Kids2)
Recorded in April at Digital Shelf Summit 2026, this Beyond the Shelf Live "minisode" features Dave's conversation with Dawn Powell from Kids2.Dawn shares what stood out at the event, including the pace of innovation around AI and how te...
The New In-Store Media Playbook - with LG's Tom Bingham
This week, Dave speaks with Tom Bingham, Director of Vertical Market Sales at LG Electronics.Tom shares how digital display technology is evolving from reliable screens into broader customer experience platforms across retail, QSR, groce...
Why Complex Categories Need Smarter Content - with Dean McElwee
This week, Dave speaks with Dean McElwee, ecommerce and digital transformation leader and author of Ecommerce for CEOs.Dean shares what he’s learned working across global brands, complex categories, and digital shelf transformat...
The New Rules of Retail Media Creative - with Walmart Connect's Garima Ahuja
This week, Dave speaks with Garima Ahuja, Sr. Partner Development Manager, Creative Partnerships at Walmart Connect.Garima shares how Walmart Connect is helping brands connect with shoppers across the full funnel — from discovery to purc...
Always Be Optimizing - with Ferrero's Helen Makri
This week, Dave speaks with Helen Makri, Sr. Manager of eCommerce Digital Content at Ferrero.Helen shares how Ferrero has evolved its ecommerce content capabilities — from repurposing brand assets for digital to building a more strategi...
How AI Agents Are Rewriting Enterprise Workflows - with Field Materials AI's Eldar Sadikov
This week, Dave speaks with Eldar Sadikov, co-founder and CEO of Field Materials AI.Eldar has spent his career building AI companies — first in retail and ecommerce personalization with Jetlore, and now in commercial construction procure...
Asking Better Questions of Your Data — with John Santaferraro
This week, Dave speaks with John Santaferraro. John is the CEO and Head Research Analyst at Ferraro Consulting LLC. With 30 years of experience in AI, analytics, and data management, he brings a wealth of experiences as an industry analyst, mar...
Beyond the Shelf Live from the Digital Shelf Summit: Piyush Chaudhari (Salsify)
We're LIVE from DSS 2026 in Atlanta! Dave catches up with Piyush Chaudhari, CEO of Salsify, live from the show floor.Piyush unpacks what's driving conversation at the event—AI—and how Salsify is helping brands navigate the shift from dig...
BTS Live from the Digital Shelf Summit: Kevin Creese (Wastequip)
We're LIVE from DSS 2026 in Atlanta! First up, Dave catches up with Kevin Creese, Director of Ecommerce at Wastequip.Kevin shares how Wastequip is approaching AI adoption in a practical, operator-first way—focusing on automating re...
The Leadership Gap in Retail Transformation - with Steve Dennis
This week, Dave speaks with Steve Dennis, President & Founder of Sageberry Consulting.Steve brings decades of experience across retail strategy, operations, and transformation — and shares a candid look at why so many companies strug...
Winning the “Every Shelf” Strategy — with Syndigo's Simon Angove
This week, Dave speaks with Simon Angove, CEO of Syndigo.Syndigo’s acquisition of 1WorldSync marks a major shift in how brands and retailers manage product data, content, and the entire commerce experience.In this episode, Simon b...
BTS Live from Syndigo Connect: Russ Dieringer (Stratably)
We're live from Syndigo Connect 2026! In this BTS Live miniseries, we'll be featuring interviews some of the best and brighest minds in in the digital commerce space, right from the show floor.
BTS Live from Syndigo Connect: Tim Sullivan (Syndigo)
We're live from Syndigo Connect 2026! In this BTS Live miniseries, we'll be featuring interviews some of the best and brighest minds in in the digital commerce space, right from the show floor. We continue the miniseries with ...
REWIND: Breaking the Digital Shelf Bottleneck — with Acosta Group’s Joe Lamberson
This week we're replaying our 3/10/26 episode with Joe Lamberson, Director of Digital Initiatives & Partnerships at Acosta Group, to discuss how brands can modernize digital shelf execution and keep up with rapidly rising retailer expectati...
BTS Live from Shoptalk: Kiri Masters (Retail Media Breakfast Club)
We wrap up our BTS Live at Shoptalk Miniseries with Retail Media Breakfast Club's Kiri Masters, who talks with Dave about the next phase of retail media.As AI reshapes the shopper journey, Kiri explains why traditional ad formats — espec...
BTS Live from Shoptalk: Daniel Torres Dwyer (The FMCG Guys)
In this BTS Live Minisode from Shoptalk, Dave speaks with Daniel Torres Dwyer of The FMCG Guys about key themes emerging from the event.While AI continues to dominate the conversation, Daniel points to a more nuanced reality — where exci...
BTS Live from Shoptalk: Lauren Livak Gilbert (Digital Shelf Institute)
Our BTS Live from Shoptalk Miniseries continues! Dave speaks with DSI's Lauren Livak Gilbert about how AI is impacting both organizations and the digital shelf.Lauren highlights the growing importance of talent, upskilling, and internal ...
BTS Live from the Commerce Media Brand Summit: Shawn McGahee (Roundel)
Our BTS Live from the Commerce Media Brand Summit miniseries concludes with Shawn McGahee, Sr. Director, Performance and Insights at Roundel.Shawn speaks with Dave about the growing maturity of retail media — from a focus on ROAS to a de...
BTS Live from Shoptalk: Manish Sharma (Think Blue)
Our BTS Live series continues - this time from Shoptalk 2026! In this minisode, Dave speaks with Manish Sharma from Think Blue about the next phase of AI in digital commerce.As AI moves beyond experimentation, the focus is s...
BTS Live from the Commerce Media Brand Summit: Collin Colburn (IAB)
This episode is part of our BTS Live miniseries, featuring quick conversations recorded on the show floor at the WBR Commerce Media Brand Summit in Atlanta.Dave speaks with Collin Colburn of the IAB about the next phase of retail media m...
BTS Live from the Commerce Media Brand Summit: Jack Kneuper (Perdue Farms)
This episode is part of our BTS Live miniseries, featuring quick conversations recorded on the show floor at the WBR Commerce Media Brand Summit in Atlanta.Dave speaks with Jack Kneuper of Perdue Farms about the evolving role of performa...
BTS Live from the Commerce Media Brand Summit: Skye Frontier (Incremental)
This episode is part of our BTS Live miniseries, featuring quick conversations recorded on the show floor at the Commerce Media Brand Summit in Atlanta.Dave speaks with Skye Frontier of Incremental about the evolving role of measurement ...
BTS Live from the WBR Commerce Media Brand Summit: Celia Van Wickel (Russell Stover)
This episode is part of our BTS Live miniseries, featuring quick conversations recorded on the show floor at the Commerce Media Brand Summit in Atlanta.Dave speaks with Celia Van Wickel of Russell Stover about how brands are evolving the...
BTS Live from the WBR Commerce Media Brand Summit: Michele McNamara (Newell Brands)
This episode is part of our BTS Live miniseries, featuring quick conversations recorded on the show floor at the Commerce Media Brand Summit in Atlanta.Dave speaks with Michele McNamara, Director of Digital Commerce & Omni Activation...