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In this episode of Performance Marketing Spotlight, Dexter Dethmers, co-founder of Hi Energy, joins Marshall to discuss the biggest challenges and opportunities in affiliate marketing today—especially from the publisher perspective.

Dexter shares his journey from lead generation in Australia to running programs at CJ and Honey, and ultimately launching Hi Energy to solve the growing complexity in the affiliate ecosystem. He dives into how fragmented platforms, inefficient workflows, and outdated attribution models are holding publishers back—and how AI and automation can change that.

The conversation also explores affiliate marketing as a testing ground for brands, the rise of new discovery channels like Reddit and LLMs, and why the industry must evolve beyond last-click attribution. Dexter offers a candid look at what it’s like building a company, balancing product vision with market demands, and why the future of affiliate depends on empowering the next generation of publishers.

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In this episode of Performance Marketing Spotlight, host Marshall Nyman sits down with Amanda Karr, Affiliate Marketing leader at Tailored Brands, the parent company behind well-known retailers including Men’s Wearhouse and Joseph A. Bank.

Amanda shares her career journey from getting her start at an affiliate marketing agency to spending nearly a decade managing the affiliate program at Macy’s, and now leading affiliate strategy for Tailored Brands. She discusses how the affiliate channel has evolved over the past two decades and what it takes to successfully manage performance partnerships inside a large retail organization.

The conversation covers how Tailored Brands has diversified its affiliate program beyond traditional deal partners, the growing importance of content and creator partnerships, and how AI and large language models are beginning to influence discovery, attribution, and brand visibility.

Key topics include:
• How affiliate programs operate inside major retail organizations
• Diversifying programs beyond deal and loyalty partners
• The growing role of creators and influencer partnerships
• Why affiliate marketing remains a low-risk, high-ROI growth channel
• How AI and LLM citations could reshape performance marketing attribution
• The importance of cross-team collaboration between affiliate, SEO, and social

This episode offers valuable insights for brands looking to modernize their affiliate programs and navigate the evolving performance marketing landscape.

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In this episode of Performance Marketing Spotlight, host Marshall Nyman sits down with Ryan Hilliard, CEO of Refersion and Influencer Marketing Hub, to discuss the evolving relationship between affiliate marketing, influencer marketing, and performance-driven growth.

Ryan shares his journey from agency-side performance marketing at ROI Revolution to leading two companies at the center of the affiliate and creator economy. He also explains how Refersion helps e-commerce brands track and scale affiliate partnerships while Influencer Marketing Hub provides marketers with trusted insights and resources on the creator landscape.

The conversation explores the rise of creator-led performance marketing, how brands can effectively partner with influencers at scale, and why attribution is becoming increasingly complex as AI reshapes search and customer behavior.

Key topics include:
• How affiliate and influencer marketing are increasingly converging
• Why brands should look beyond perfect attribution in modern customer journeys
• The growing role of micro-influencers and creator-driven performance marketing
• How AI is influencing research behavior and brand discovery
• Upcoming product innovations and AI-powered discovery tools at Refersion

Whether you're a brand, publisher, or performance marketer, this episode offers valuable insights into where affiliate and influencer marketing are headed next.

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In this episode of Performance Marketing Spotlight, host Marshall Nyman sits down with Alexandra Chepulsky, Senior Affiliate Marketing Manager at Caraway, to discuss how brands can build high-performing, content-led affiliate programs in an evolving performance landscape.

Alexandra shares her journey from digital and paid marketing into affiliate leadership, how she built Caraway’s affiliate program from the ground up, and why prioritizing editorial relationships over lower-funnel tactics has driven long-term growth. The conversation explores the impact of AI, changing attribution models, and why PR and affiliate teams must work hand-in-hand to succeed today.

Key topics include:

• Transitioning from coupon-heavy affiliate programs to content-driven partnerships
• How gifting, reviews, and editorial trust fuel sustainable affiliate growth
• Navigating Google, AI, and attribution changes as a brand
• Why affiliate marketing delivers credibility and ROI beyond paid media
• The future of performance marketing and evolving partnership models

This episode is a must-listen for brands looking to scale affiliate marketing through authentic partnerships and long-term value.

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In this episode of Performance Marketing Spotlight, host Marshall Nyman sits down with Reid Webb, Director of Shopping Revenue Strategy at Apartment Therapy Media, to explore how publishers can adapt and grow in a rapidly changing performance landscape. Reid shares his journey from agency-side beginnings to building commerce revenue programs across major publishers including Apartment Therapy, The Kitchn, Cubby, and Dorm Therapy.

We discuss:

• How AI and shifting search traffic are reshaping publisher monetization
• Why off-site and social commerce are becoming essential revenue channels
• The challenges and opportunities of managing affiliate programs across multiple brands
• What metrics publishers should prioritize in an AI-driven environment
• Reid’s upcoming panel at Affiliate Summit West 2026, featuring voices from Opinary and other industry leaders

Whether you’re a publisher, brand, or performance marketer, this episode delivers practical insights on how to future-proof your commerce strategy.

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In this episode of Performance Delivered, host Marshall Nyman sits down with Cornelius Frey, CEO of Nucleus Links, an AI-driven affiliate operations platform that's redefining the performance publishing landscape. Cornelius shares how his platform helps publishers streamline affiliate link management, optimize revenue, and drive results at scale — all powered by machine learning and smart automation.

We dive deep into:

• How AI is transforming affiliate operations and content monetization
• The challenges performance publishers face — and how technology solves them
• Practical tips for affiliate teams looking to become more efficient
• The future of affiliate marketing in a world of automation

Whether you're a publisher, digital marketer, or affiliate leader, this conversation offers actionable insights and a look into where the industry is headed.

About Cornelius Frey:
Cornelius is the CEO of Nucleus Links, a cutting-edge platform designed to automate and optimize affiliate operations for publishers. With a background in data science and performance marketing, Cornelius is an expert in scaling monetization strategies through technology.

Connect with Nucleus Links
Website: nucleuslinks.com

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How can brands and publishers make newsletter sponsorships faster, smarter, and more effective?

In this episode of Performance Marketing Spotlight, host Marshall Nyman — founder & CEO of NYMO & Co — talks with Craig Swerdloff, co-founder of Wellput, about the evolution of email and newsletter marketing from the early Silicon Alley days to today’s AI-driven era.

Craig shares his journey from a Vermont Internet café internship to building and selling successful email tech companies, and reveals how Wellput helps brands buy and sell newsletter sponsorships more efficiently.

🔹 What you’ll learn:

• How AI is transforming newsletter targeting
• The new best practices for performance-focused email marketing
• Why building direct subscriber relationships matters more than ever

If you’re in performance marketing, affiliate partnerships, or B2B media, you’ll take away actionable strategies for reaching engaged audiences in 2025 and beyond.

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Welcome to another episode of the Performance Marketing Spotlight! In this installment, host Marshall Nyman sits down with Zach Scheimer of Criquet Shirts—a multifaceted marketer whose journey spans time as a professional sports mascot, stand-up comedian, and data-driven ecommerce leader. Zach shares a behind-the-scenes look into Criquet's unique brand voice, culture, and digital marketing strategies, from optimizing email and SMS channels to testing new ways to boost conversion and AOV. You’ll hear firsthand how Criquet is navigating industry shifts like privacy changes, tariffs, influencer marketing, and the rise of AI, all while keeping the human touch front and center. Whether you're an industry veteran or just curious, this episode is packed with valuable insights and fresh perspectives on building a loyal audience in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

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