Listen Up: This Week's Top Media Podcasts Talk Diversity, Millennials & Pay-to-Play

Thanks for the feedback last week. Here’s the second edition of the week’s top media and advertising podcasts.The Digiday Podcast -- Brian Morrissey spoke with Mic’s chief strategy dude Cory Haik about the millennial-focused site’s new $21 million funding round ($52mm to date), which will help launch nine new verticals to cover pop culture, women and finance. Mic is really embracing platforms and doing a great job of native storytelling on Facebook, Snapchat, etc. Definitely a media publisher to watch. (Side note: If you haven’t looked at Mic.com, you should check out their throwback-style advertising. They execute a simple, effective “brought to you by” sponsored channel approach to their verticals.)VentureBeat Engage Podcast -- This week, VB Insights’ director of marketing tech Stewart Rogers and “chief marketing technologist” Travis Wright spoke with entrepreneur and author John Rampton on a range of marketing-focused topics, including the “pay-to-play world” we now live in. They also discuss three new AI/machine learning-powered marketing technologies, including a compelling chat about ways cognitive technologies are impacting customer service, social media and narrative analysis.AdExchanger Talks -- Zach Rodgers had a timely discussion this week with VideoAmp CEO Ross McCray about his company’s ambition to unify media planning across digital, mobile and television -- including linear TV media bought during upfronts.Recode Decode -- Peter Kafka is OoO this week, but kingmaker Kara Swisher didn’t disappoint. She had a couple strong podcasts this week: 1) diversity isn’t an add-on; and 2) why CEOs need to stand up to Trump. The former includes a chat with Code2040 CEO Laura Weidman Powers about the mistakes employees and managers make when they talk about diversity and inclusion in the workplace; while the latter includes a candid chat with Boston-based venture capitalist and Spark Capital partner Bijan Sabet about the need for the tech community to step up and speak out if they’re concerned with President Trump.Hit me back with recommendations if I missed any, and happy listening!