Few industries have undergone greater transformation than media. Consider it was only two decades ago when audiences were served what to watch, when, and how. The landscape today is fragmented, less regulated, becoming more arithmetically curated. And, says Rak Patel, Chief Commercial Officer at Channel 4, that shifting media ecosystem demands “productive friction”, to ensure the content that reaches the viewer is independently measured, human-verified and professionally curated. From print media, to audio streaming and now to broadcast TV, Rak has seen the evolution of media across mediums and over decades, and says some things remain consistent. That is, if we’re watching what the viewer actually wants. But when the ability to broadcast to consumers becomes an oasis filled with long-standing TV players alongside tech giants abiding by different codes, Rak argues that regulation keeps things fair. Otherwise, when things move so quickly in the media ecosystem, who is keeping watch on brand trust, profitable media return, and most importantly consumer safety?

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Learn more:

• Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com
• Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com
• Learn more about Channel 4 at channel4.com
• Connect with Rak on LinkedIn

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Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every month. Never the same topic.

All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Azteca X.

Cultural intelligence is the game of the moment. When culture feels like it’s in flux, the natural inclination is to gather more signals. But what if this interrogation of culture is shallow, where we see only what’s bubbling to the top of the volcano, and miss the transition before the eruption? Andreas Krasser, CEO of Omnicom Asia, calls this the cultural flux zone, where deep currents meet surface signals. Andreas says getting to this messy bit in the middle, full of tension and randomness, requires a different process of synthesis, one that is hugely benefited by multicultural thinking.

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Learn more:

• Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com
• Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com
• Learn more about Andreas at krasserandreas.com
• Connect with Andreas on LinkedIn
• Read about Andreas' Cultural Volcano model and the CulturalFLux

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⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference!

---

Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every month. Never the same topic.

All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Azteca X.

What does it take to lead in volatile markets? In this Business Brief we look at how leaders respond under pressure and with competing directives - to transform the business for new external conditions while keeping the status quo.

Business Brief is a (very brief, just 5 mins) new solo series by Jo Lepore, exploring immediate business implications of emerging topics.

Learn more:

• Looking Outside podcast www.looking-outside.com
• Connect with host, Jo Lepore on LinkedIn & Substack & jolepore.com
• Watch this Business Brief on YouTube

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⭐ Follow & rate the show - it makes a difference!

---

Looking Outside is a podcast exploring fresh perspectives of familiar topics. Hosted by its creator, futurist and strategist, Jo Lepore. New episodes every 2 weeks. Never the same topic.

All views are that of the host and guests and don’t necessarily reflect those of their employers. Copyright 2026. Theme song by Adrian Walther.