Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing with Bob Pittman

Howard Makler knows how vital small and medium-sized businesses are to the economy. But he also knows not everyone appreciates their value. A successful serial entrepreneur and CEO of Innovation Refunds, Howard is working to make sure smaller businesses are no longer ignored. Innovation Refunds helps small businesses gain access to government funding, along with the knowledge, resources, and technology to succeed. Howard started small too—he founded his first company out of his bedroom at 13 years old—and knows that paths to success aren’t always traditional. Bob sat down with Howard to hear how he went from opting out of college to teaching classes at Wharton. Howard also shares what big businesses can learn from small businesses – and why taking care of your employees should be a priority for every company, regardless of size.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world of media is ever-changing — and no one has played it quite like Jacki Kelley, CEO of the Americas and Global Chief Client Officer of advertising giant, Dentsu. Jacki has been at the center of media and advertising for the last 25 years, with leadership roles at USA Today, Yahoo, Martha Stewart Living, and Bloomberg. Her deep understanding of the media landscape has put her in a valuable position to both manage Dentsu’s global portfolio of clients and lead a team that is always looking to where to go next, from exciting ways to use AI, to more precise messaging that powerfully connects with individuals. But what people may not know is that Jacki comes from a fifth generation cattle ranching family and has been a foster parent for more than 20 children. Bob sits down with Jacki to find out how these experiences have shaped her approach to business, leadership, and company culture.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jon Bon Jovi is so well known that when his songs play, everyone can sing along – even those born well after they first hit the radio. That kind of success is rare in the music business and a lot of artists would stop there. Yet Jon has tackled a number of ventures, bringing a magic touch to everything he’s involved in, from entrepreneurship to philanthropy. With Hampton Water, he turned a family joke into a top rosé brand. With Soul Kitchen, he created a first of its kind community restaurant for those in need. Live from Miami at the POSSIBLE conference, Jon tells Bob about his secret to remaining timeless – which he credits to ignoring trends and staying true to himself. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At its core, radio is a community service. No one knows that better than Angela Yee. She’s been on the airwaves for over a decade as a founding member of The Breakfast Club, host of her midday show, Way Up, and now the podcast, Lip Service. Angela is a friend and mentor to her listeners and she’s no different off the air. As an entrepreneur, she finds creative ways to help others. From juice bars, to coffee, to open conversations about finance, she spreads the wealth of her successful career to communities in need. Recording live from the NAB Show (National Association of Broadcasters) in Las Vegas, Angela recounts this journey to Bob. Listen to hear how she went from Wu-Tang Clan’s assistant to a respected voice in hip hop and beyond. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For so long, Paris Hilton’s story was told for her – in tabloids, through her persona on The Simple Life, and in the context of her legendary family. Now, Paris has taken the reins. She’s used her power as the original influencer to show her true self on social media, through entrepreneurship, and as an activist. From documentaries to podcasts to successful brands, there’s now so many ways to get to know the real Paris. She sat down with Bob to share how she helped build influencer marketing into the phenomenon it is today, and how she learned to use her voice in every facet of her success. Listen to hear how she went from running a lemonade stand in Malibu to building a successful brand –while becoming a world-renowned DJ along the way. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These days, a lot of actors double as entrepreneurs. Yet no one has had their finger on the pulse quite like Gwyneth Paltrow. Before everyone else was doing it, the Academy Award winner started a newsletter with personally curated recipes, travel tips, beauty items, and more. That grew into the lifestyle brand Goop. From its clothing line to its podcast, Goop’s offerings have captivated customers who are just as obsessed with health and wellness as its founder. Gwyneth sat down with Bob to discuss how she came into her own as a CEO. When she became an entrepreneur, a retail job at Penny Whistle Toys was one of the few non-acting gigs on Gwyneth’s resume. Listen to hear how that early experience, plus belief in service to others and staying true to herself have been among the keys to her success. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allen Grubman is a legend in the music business, but he’s not a musician. He’s an entertainment lawyer who for over 50 years has been making deals for superstars in music and media. He’s a trusted advisor to Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, and, of course, Bob Pittman. Bob sat down with his longtime friend and confidante to learn how he went from Brooklyn kid to Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee. All it took was a stint singing on NBC’s Children’s Hour, an infectious personality, and a keen attention to the business of music. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Boom Supersonic, Blake Scholl is reaching for the impossible. When the Concorde was grounded in 2003, dreams of a profitable model for supersonic aviation were abandoned. It took an introverted kid obsessed with aviation to prove skeptics wrong. Today, Boom has orders to make over 100 supersonic aircrafts for the US Airforce, United Airlines, and more, ensuring that supersonic travel is about to make a comeback. Of course, Blake didn’t achieve this overnight. He sat down with Bob to relay how his time in the early days of tech at Amazon and Groupon taught him the do’s and dont’s of startups and how he realized that above all else, it’s passion that makes a business soar. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman for the new season of Math & Magic: Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing.

This season, Bob sits down with leaders across various fields –from A-list entrepreneurs to a supersonic aviator and everyone in-between—to learn how they’ve used data and creativity to push their businesses into the future. There’s nothing these visionaries can’t teach us about how to find success in our ever-changing world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You might be surprised to learn that legendary sportscaster Colin Cowherd rarely checks his ratings. As he puts it: checking your ratings doesn’t make your ratings better. Instead, Colin has some other tried-and-true ways to build an engaged audience— and it shows. With his program on Fox Sports and two podcast networks in partnership with iHeartPodcasts, Colin hasn’t just built an audience, he’s built an empire. Colin joins Bob to share insights on audience growth, his advice for advertisers and what lessons from pro athletes we can apply to any industry.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.