Episodes

  • DAD12 - Cookieless, News, Rants & Real Talk Over Digital News

    DAD12 - Cookieless, News, Rants & Real Talk Over Digital News
    Sep 11 2025
    • Implementation Strategies for Data Collection: Andrew and Matt discussed the importance of having business requirements for data collection. They debated whether to capture everything or be selective, with Andrew emphasizing the need to justify the cost and impact on the bottom line. Matt shared his evolving perspective, initially advocating for minimal data collection but now considering new tools that automate data collection. 4:34
    • Challenges with Automated Data Collection Tools: Andrew and Matt explored the pros and cons of automated data collection tools that scrape data from the DOM. They discussed the potential benefits of reducing development costs and improving data quality but raised concerns about compliance, security, and the accuracy of these tools. Andrew shared a specific example of a client who faced issues with a marketing pixel that collected more data than disclosed. 20:40
    • Impact of iOS 26 on Data Collection: Andrew highlighted the upcoming release of iOS 26 and its impact on data collection, specifically the removal of GCLID in Safari private browsing. This change will affect how Google Ads and other ad platforms track user interactions. Andrew expressed frustration with Apple's increasing privacy measures, feeling that they are overly protective. 47:02
    • EU Data Privacy and Security Laws: Andrew summarized four new EU laws: the Data Act, AI Act, Cyber Resilience Act, and CSRD. These laws mandate data portability, risk classification for AI systems, strict security obligations, and expanded ESG reporting. Andrew emphasized the broad impact these laws will have on various industries, including IoT, cloud services, healthcare, and telecommunications. 56:47
    • Hanover Ruling on GTM Compliance: Matt explained the Hanover ruling, which requires prior consent before loading Google Tag Manager (GTM). The ruling was based on a specific case where a company was setting cookies without consent. Matt expressed concerns about the broader implications of this ruling, questioning how it might affect other tag management solutions and third-party services that rely on retrieving data from external servers. 1:06:38
    • Metric London Event: Andrew and Matt discussed their plans for the upcoming Metric London event. Andrew will present on data layer schemas, while Matt is considering topics related to automation and ObservePoint. Both expressed excitement about the event and the opportunity to share their knowledge and insights. 1:33:29
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    1 hr and 37 mins
  • AT011: Unlocking the Missing Use Case with James Alexander

    AT011: Unlocking the Missing Use Case with James Alexander
    Jul 24 2025
    In this episode, James Alexander, CEO and co-founder of Loop Horizon, joins Andrew to explore the often-overlooked use cases in digital transformation. Drawing from his experience at Sky and Loop Horizon, James outlines four types of use cases—standard, improvement, advanced, and rare—and explains why the latter two, though harder to define, often yield the greatest value. He emphasizes the importance of bridging marketing and technology teams, building confidence, and planning for both short- and long-term goals. The conversation is rich with real-world examples, strategic frameworks, and practical advice for organizations navigating data-driven change.

    You can read the article here: Maximsing Your Investment: The Missing Use Case

    Talking Points:
    1. The four types of use cases in digital transformation
    2. Why advanced and rare use cases are often missed
    3. Real-world example from a travel client’s journey transformation
    4. The importance of confidence over technology
    5. Bridging the gap between marketing and tech teams
    6. The PVA framework: Pioneering, Value, Achievability
    7. Short-term wins vs. long-term capability building
    8. Operational feasibility and resource planning
    9. Why tools are less important than people and process
    10. Aggregating use cases for better delivery efficiency
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    37 mins
  • AT010: The AI Companion: Penny’s Perspective on the Future of Creativity

    AT010: The AI Companion: Penny’s Perspective on the Future of Creativity
    Jul 22 2025
    In this episode of Andrew Talks, Andrew reconnects with Penny, a passionate Service Designer, to explore how AI is transforming the creative and analytical landscape. From building custom GPTs in ChatGPT to using Adobe Firefly, Penny shares how AI has become her daily design companion. They dive into the ethics, limitations, and future of AI, discussing its role as a partner—not a replacement. Whether you're a designer, analyst, or AI enthusiast, this conversation will challenge your thinking and inspire new ways to collaborate with technology.

    Talking Points:
    Penny’s journey from UX to service design and her creative philosophy
    How AI enhances creativity and ideation in design workflows
    Building custom GPTs as virtual team members (e.g., UX researcher, mentor)
    The evolving role of AI in analytics and schema validation
    The ethics of AI, bias in training data, and human responsibility
    Adobe Firefly’s strengths and limitations for designers
    The future of AI as a true creative companion
    Reflections on AI’s influence through Penny’s short story “The Mirror”

    Link to "The Mirror": https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fable-silver-tongued-mirror-penny-lee-bonqe/?trackingId=spC%2F9uTjzvG7xac7Rb1YXw%3D%3D
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    51 mins
  • AT009: Adobe Summit has finally come back to London 2025

    AT009: Adobe Summit has finally come back to London 2025
    Jul 19 2025
    In this episode of Andrew Talks, Andrew shares his personal journey through the Adobe Summit 2025 in London. From initial registration hiccups to keynote highlights and breakout brilliance, Andrew reflects on the venue, the content, and the unforgettable networking moments. He dives into Adobe’s push toward AI, the Premier League partnership, and questions the future of Adobe Analytics. With insights from Tesco’s new CEO and a nostalgic nod to former colleagues, this episode is a heartfelt and thought-provoking look at the evolving digital landscape.

    Talking Points

    • Adobe Summit’s return to London and venue impressions
    • Registration error and Adobe’s quick resolution
    • Keynote highlights: content demand, personalization, and AI
    • Tesco CEO’s insights on customer expectations, AI, and company culture
    • Adobe’s new tools: Content Analytics, LLM Optimizer, Journey Canvas, and Copilot integrations
    • Breakout session with Jen: gamified learning and CJA innovations
    • Reflections on Adobe Analytics’ stagnation and future relevance
    • Networking moments with former colleagues from Sky, Investec, and Adobe
    • Adobe’s partnership with the Premier League and fan personalization
    • Nostalgia and emotional connection to the Adobe Summit experience
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    38 mins
  • DAD011: Bots, Boudoir, and Business Growth. The Three B’s for a Marketer’s Guide to Automation

    DAD011: Bots, Boudoir, and Business Growth. The Three B’s for a Marketer’s Guide to Automation
    Jul 16 2025
    In this episode of Digital After Dark, hosts Andrew and Matt welcome their first-ever guest who reached out to join the show: Reed Hansen, Chief Growth Officer at Market Surge. Reed brings a wealth of experience in digital marketing and automation, offering a fresh perspective on how businesses—especially SMEs—can scale using smart, data-driven strategies.

    The conversation dives into the real-world applications of marketing automation, from abandoned cart emails and personalized lead magnets to CRM-driven ad targeting and real-time customer engagement. Reed shares how automation isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about removing human error, enabling timely communication, and creating scalable systems that drive growth.

    The trio also explores the challenges of privacy regulations, the decline of third-party cookies, and the increasing importance of first-party data and user opt-ins. Reed emphasizes the value of behavioral data over demographics and shares creative examples like a boudoir photography quiz that doubled as a lead generation tool.

    The episode wraps with a discussion on the future of automation, including predictive marketing, composable CDPs, and the role of AI in democratizing data analysis for non-technical marketers.


    • What marketing automation really means—and what it doesn’t
    • Real-time engagement: from cart abandonment to cross-device personalization
    • Lead magnets and quizzes as powerful opt-in tools
    • The shift from demographics to behavioral targeting
    • Navigating GDPR, CCPA, and cookie deprecation
    • Using CRMs to build dynamic ad audiences
    • The rise of composable CDPs and automation stacks
    • AI tools like ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot in marketing workflows
    • Turning digital analytics from a cost center into a profit center
    • The importance of retention and referrals in automation strategies
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    56 mins
  • DAD010 - The Cookieless Conundrum: Tracking without a Trace

    DAD010 - The Cookieless Conundrum: Tracking without a Trace
    Jul 8 2025
    Matt, Andrew and special guest Ikshit discuss the concept of Cookieless Tracking. We first go into defining what do we mean by Cookieless, what are the pros and cons of cookieless tracking and how would the new UK legislation could impact the use of cookies on digital properties.

    Overall summary:

    • Cookieless Tracking Discussion: Andrew, Matt, and Ikshit discussed the concept of cookieless tracking, its implications, and the challenges it presents, including the need for persistence in tracking user journeys and the potential impact on analytics and marketing.
    • Benefits and Challenges of Cookieless Tracking: The team explored the benefits of cookieless tracking, such as not needing consent for cookies, but also highlighted the challenges, including the difficulty in tracking user journeys and the potential impact on business insights and marketing.
    • Impact of New Legislation: The team discussed the new Data Use and Access Act of 2025, which allows for tracking without consent for statistical purposes, but still requires providing users with a means to object. They debated the implications of this change on their tracking practices.
    • Future of Cookieless Tracking: The team concluded that while cookieless tracking is possible, it presents significant challenges and may not be practical for all purposes. They emphasized the importance of working closely with legal and compliance teams to navigate the complexities of tracking and data privacy.
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    1 hr and 28 mins
  • AT008-Custom GA4 E-Commerce Tracking

    AT008-Custom GA4 E-Commerce Tracking
    Jun 19 2025
    In this episode, I discuss how Google Analytics 4 / Google Tag Manager is significantly more rigid in their implementation and how it is difficult to use custom events with ecommerce tracking. But, just because it is rigid, doesn't mean it is impossible. While I cannot give you step by step instructions on how to do this, I do give enough information to explain HOW it can be done.

    IF you want more tips on GA4, or want me to dive deeper on this, let me know. There are some significant updates coming that I cannot wait to share!
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    4 mins
  • AT007-Difference Between Tracking Code and Marketing Channel

    AT007-Difference Between Tracking Code and Marketing Channel
    Jun 16 2025
    In my career, I have seen many people get confused between Adobe Analytics Tracking Code and Marketing Channel. In this episode, I do a quick summary of the difference between the two different reports and why you should never use Tracking Code to audit Marketing Channel.

    If you find it difficult to understand the difference between the two reports, let me know and I can do a full breakdown of the two reports, including a visual guides to help out.
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    9 mins