Benzinga, a leading entity in financial media, has joined forces with Stakeholder Labs to unveil an innovative video podcast series titled “Marketopolis.” This collaboration seeks to bridge the communication gap between prominent public company executives and the evolving landscape of retail investors. The series, set to feature candid conversations with CEOs, intends to demystify market dynamics, corporate leadership philosophies, and effective digital-era communication strategies.
In a groundbreaking move, financial news leader Benzinga and startup Stakeholder Labs have announced the launch of “Marketopolis,” a compelling video podcast series. This initiative is specifically designed to provide a direct conduit between the insights of public company executives and the burgeoning community of retail investors. The partnership aims to foster a new level of transparency and understanding in the financial markets.
Jody Rones, Benzinga's Chief Revenue Officer, highlighted the evolving demands of today's retail investors, emphasizing their desire for authentic, unfiltered perspectives. She noted that the collaboration with Stakeholder Labs is a direct response to this need, creating a platform for corporate leaders to engage directly with individual investors.
The series, powered by SoFi, embodies a significant trend in financial communication: the seamless integration of corporate storytelling with market engagement. “Marketopolis” endeavors to shrink the distance between C-suite leaders and everyday investors, consistently exploring themes of corporate transparency, long-term value creation, the impact of retail investors, and the pivotal role of social platforms in shaping corporate narratives.
Matt Joanou, CEO and Co-Founder of Stakeholder Labs, emphasized that “Marketopolis” transcends the conventional interview format. He described it as a dynamic dialogue that unveils the senior leadership's perspectives on shareholders, capital markets, and growth. Each episode is meticulously crafted to grant retail investors an unprecedented \"seat at the institutional table,\" offering a view typically reserved for Wall Street insiders. The content blends business strategy, personal philosophy, and a deep dive into the intricacies of business leadership.
The initial four episodes, supported by SoFi, will showcase an impressive lineup of industry leaders, including George Arison of Grindr ($GRND), Shawn Nelson of Lovesac ($LOVE), Paul Edmondson of The Arena Group ($AREN), and Matt Meeker of Bark ($BARK). These episodes are slated to debut weekly, commencing on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, and will be accessible across various platforms, including X, YouTube, LinkedIn, Benzinga.com, and prominent podcast channels.
Beyond merely presenting quarterly financial figures, “Marketopolis” delves into the fundamental thought processes of CEOs, exploring their personal connections to finance and investment—even how they monitor their own stock portfolios. The show also uncovers the core philosophies that guide these leaders and the unique paths that led them to executive roles, offering invaluable, candid insights to retail investors typically reserved for elite financial institutions. This approach merges business acumen, personal perspectives, and detailed leadership narratives.
Joanou further remarked that “Marketopolis” is much more than mere statistics; it’s about the individuals, the innovative strategies, and the narratives that define the companies in which people invest and from which they purchase goods and services daily. The partnership with Benzinga ensures that these significant dialogues reach a broad and continuously expanding audience of investors eager for genuine, actionable intelligence.
The series is specifically designed for retail investors seeking direct and unbiased access to key decision-makers. It also offers invaluable insights to executives, communication specialists, and investor relations teams, presenting contemporary approaches to financial communication. Furthermore, each interview serves as an inspiration for aspiring leaders, providing an authentic glimpse into the demands of managing or taking a public company.
Benzinga’s extensive distribution network will significantly broaden the series’ reach, connecting with millions of investors globally. As a premier source of financial news and data, Benzinga effectively engages both individual and institutional audiences. By hosting “Marketopolis” across its diverse channels, the company guarantees that these crucial conversations reach investors precisely where they habitually seek market-moving information, thereby combining reliable financial reporting with authentic leadership perspectives.
Rones concluded by stating that the collaboration with Stakeholder Labs to launch “Marketopolis” is a natural progression of Benzinga’s mission to enhance market accessibility and engagement. She observed that contemporary retail investors are concerned not only with quarterly performance but also with the underlying story, strategy, and values of the companies they support. “Marketopolis” vividly brings this world to life, seamlessly blending compelling storytelling with substantive content and offering the audience a distinctive chance to hear directly from leaders about the human and strategic dimensions of running a corporation.
The launch of “Marketopolis” signals a significant shift in financial media, prioritizing direct, authentic communication between corporate leaders and the investor community. This initiative has the potential to redefine how financial information is consumed and understood, fostering a more informed and engaged investment landscape. For both seasoned investors and curious newcomers, this series offers a fresh, unfiltered look into the strategic minds shaping the modern market. It underscores the growing importance of narrative and values in an era where investors seek more than just numbers.