NYF Launches State of the Biz Podcast with WPP's Paul Marobella
New York Festivals launches State of the Biz podcast with WPP Studio X's Paul Marobella hosting conversations on brand strategy, creativity, and advertising disruption with industry leaders.
The New York Festivals Advertising Awards launched the 2026 season of its State of the Biz podcast on February 5, partnering with Paul Marobella, Global Head of WPP Studio X, as host. The series features conversations with creative and business leaders about disruption, brand strategy, and the changing advertising landscape.
Industry Veterans Turn to Long-Form Audio
Marobella brings extensive experience to the hosting role, including eight years as CEO of Havas North America and seven years with Accenture Song's Wirestone. He currently leads WPP Studio X, part of Open X, which was created specifically for The Coca-Cola Company.
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"We are at such an inflection point of brand-building and creativity, and learning from how the best brands and agencies are innovating is invaluable to our collective industry as we move into uncharted territory," Marobella said.
The podcast format allows advertising executives to explore complex topics in depth, moving beyond the constraints of traditional press releases or conference panels. Sean McBride, Chief Creative Officer at Arnold Worldwide, serves as the opening guest, followed by Andrea Diquez, Global CEO of GUT and 2026 NYF Executive Jury President.
Diverse Guest Lineup Spans Agency and Brand Perspectives
Additional guests include Pete Gosselin (Chief Creative Officer, CAPE), Colleen Shaw (EVP Media, Omnicom), Tyler DeAngelo (Chief Creative Officer, StrawberryFrog), Shannon Washington and Cory Nacco (11 Ounces), Joe Lazer (Chief Marketing Officer, Pepper), Sylvain Tron (Managing Director, CYLNDR Studios), and Lenore Moritz (Founder, Momentum).
Scott Rose, President of New York Festivals, described the episodes as "a blueprint for the future of brand building." He praised Marobella for bringing together "some of the industry's most influential innovators to offer candid perspectives and thought-provoking insights."
The podcast launch coincides with the 2026 New York Festivals Advertising Awards entry period, which closes April 23. This year's awards program added new categories including Creative Effectiveness, Sports, and Real Ass Ads, with expanded in-person judging partnered with 4A's.
Growing Asian Podcast Market Creates Regional Opportunity
The timing aligns with explosive podcast growth across Asia-Pacific markets, which reached US$5.92 billion in 2024 with a projected growth rate of 29.5% from 2025 to 2030. This represents the highest regional growth rate globally, driven by rising internet access and smartphone adoption.
The Asia-Pacific podcast player market valued at US$373.57 million is expanding at 30.2% annually through 2031, with the fastest listener growth in South Asia and Southeast Asia via mobile-first Android access. Japan leads country-level growth rates, while India and China drive overall volume through youth demographics and digital culture.
Global podcast advertising revenues hit US$5 billion in 2026, representing a 20% year-over-year increase. Asia saw doubled international advertising spending from 2024 to 2026 as networks mature, demonstrating the commercial viability of podcast formats for professional knowledge-sharing.
Technological advances have lowered production barriers. Sixty-one percent of podcasters now use AI tools for editing and content production, enabling industry leaders to produce professional-quality discussions without traditional broadcast infrastructure.
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