CMO Podcasts You Cannot Afford to Miss in 2024

Everyone’s listening to podcasts these days. With the number of creators jumping into this space, there’s a podcast out there for every single niche - be it fitness, films, personal development, marketing, or business news. 

In this article, we talk about the top 5 marketing podcasts for 2024 - these are podcasts where the guests are typically Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs), and are interviewed about their learnings, challenges, and strategies in the marketing world.

Whether you're an experienced CMO or working your way up to be one, you should definitely give these podcasts a listen. They offer insights, strategies, and new ways of thinking in this ever-changing field.

CMO podcast #1 - The CMO podcast

#1 on our list is Jim Stengel’s ‘The CMO Podcast’. Jim, the former Chief Marketing Officer of the world's largest marketer (Procter & Gamble), who is now an entrepreneur, sits down in this podcast to engage in intimate conversations with the most dynamic CMOs from across the industry.

This is not your typical marketing podcast, it's a unique look at the motivation of the CMO. Jim puts purpose on the map and dives deep with each guest to reveal more about this pivotal role every brand seeks to fill. Through personal and revealing discussions, Jim and his guests paint a picture of this demanding position that very few understand, yet affects the entire consumer experience and brand. 

CMO podcast #2 - Scratch: CMO interviews 

Number #2 on our list is Scratch: CMO Interviews Podcast. 

Scratch is hosted by Eric Fulwiler, CEO of Rival (yes, that's us). Eric's experience spans over 15 years working with some of the brightest minds in modern marketing including Gary Vaynerchuk where he was group director, before becoming CMO at a leading fintech consultancy, 11:FS.

Our goal with Scratch is to bridge the gap between the excellence shown externally, and the actions taken internally in the industry. Every other week, we sit down with the brightest minds (Chief Marketing Officers) in marketing to get a peek into the mental models they use to build some of the most iconic brands in the world. We've interviewed CMOs of brands like Mastercard, GE, Shell, Hyperloop, Adobe, PepsiCo, DuckDuckGo, and Papa Johns.

We started this podcast for the ones who want actionable advice and mental frameworks to grow their businesses (and careers) with a challenger mindset. It's not about ‘strategy’ per se, but the ‘how to think’ side of marketing. We explore what CMOs of successful brands are currently doing, and the mental models that helped them get here.  You can check out our YouTube channel here, or listen to Scratch on your favorite podcast player here.

Interestingly, Eric and Jim Stengel from the CMO podcast have recorded a joint podcast episode with the CMO of Shell (talk about a really good crossover). They discuss how to strategically activate a brand’s purpose for profit, and much more. You can catch the full episode here.

CMO podcast #3 - Marketing Vanguard

Number 3 on our list - The word 'vanguard,' is defined as 'a group of people leading the way in new development or ideas.'

"Marketing Vanguard: The Podcast" showcases industry leaders shaping the future of marketing. It offers key insights, leadership wisdom, and inspiring stories, along with strategic advice for navigating today’s complex marketing challenges. The podcast explores how today's decision-makers are driving significant changes in leading brands, highlighting both small and large-scale innovations.

This podcast is hosted by Adweek’s Jenny Rooney. She is Adweek's first chief experience officer, who’s known for creating new initiatives, resources, and experiential offerings to better serve marketing decision-makers and the global marketing ecosystem.

CMO podcast #4 - The Uncensored CMO 

The Uncensored CMO was created by Jon Evans to uncover the bullsh*t and carefully managed PR messages to explore the good, the bad, and quite frankly, the downright ugly truth about marketing. Jon is an experienced commercial leader with lots of senior-level sales & marketing experience, running both well-established and challenger brands. 

More recently, he switched from the client to the agency side and is currently working as Chief Customer Office for System1, the world-leading advertising and innovation testing provider. He combines this role with being the host of the Uncensored CMO podcast.

His previous experience includes a short stint as CMO for Brewdog, serving as Marketing Director at Suntory, and leading some of the UK's most iconic brands. He was on the Board of Purity Soft Drinks, a private equity-backed soft drink business, and worked for Britvic Soft Drinks, running a 'Seed Brand Unit' in conjunction with Pepsi.

CMO podcast #5 - How CMOs Commit with Margaret Molly

Last, but not least on our list is the ‘How CMOs Commit with Margaret Molloy’. Margaret has interviewed 40+ CMOs from influential brands to share real-time brand responses to COVID-19, brand-building insights, and more. Her special episodes focus on Gen Z, Pride Month, Sustainability, and Racial Injustice.

Guest CMOs from this podcast include Linda Boff (CMO, GE), Stephanie Buscemi (CMO, Salesforce), Lynne Biggar (CMO, Visa), Alicia Tillman (CMO, Formerly SAP), Patrizio Spagnoletto (CMO, Hulu), Rajashree Ramakrishnan (CMO, Tata Consultancy Services), Dean Aragon (CEO & Vice Chairman, Shell Brands International, Shell), Rachel Tipograph (CEO & Founder, MikMak), Cynthia Kleinbaum (VP Marketing, Walmart), and more.

To summarise:

There are a lot of marketing podcasts out there that add loads of value to marketers, but the above 5 are our top picks. Each one offers something special. Give them a listen and let us know which one you enjoyed the most at hello@wearerival.com.

FAQs:

1. What’s the top CMO podcast for 2024?

The top CMO podcast for 2024 is "The CMO Podcast" by Jim Stengel, followed by 'Scratch: CMO Interviews' in second place.

2. What are some good podcasts on marketing?

Some excellent marketing podcasts include "Scratch: CMO Podcast," "Marketing Vanguard," "The CMO Podcast," and "The Uncensored CMO". These podcasts cover a wide range of marketing insights, strategies, and leadership experiences.

3. What are some digital resources every CMO should follow?

Every CMO should seek digital resources like newsletters, market research, case studies, and podcasts that offer market insights and trends to stay ahead. Rival’s content hub is the all-in-one place where CMOs can find all of these resources.

4. What does a chief marketing officer do?

A Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) is responsible for leading the marketing efforts of an organization, including brand strategy, market research, product marketing, content strategy, customer engagement, and digital marketing strategies to drive growth and enhance brand equity.‍

5. What skills do you need to be a good Chief Marketing Officer?

To be a successful CMO, you need a mix of strategic thinking, creativity, data analytics proficiency, leadership skills, adaptability to change, and a deep understanding of digital marketing trends and consumer behavior to effectively drive brand growth and innovation.

‍