Built to Last: The Product Playbook for Publishers
About the podcast
In this episode of Web Without Walls, Vijay sits down with Ezra Menaged, CEO of Hometalk and COO of VerticalScope, to unpack the operating playbook that transformed Hometalk into a product-led media business and later scaled that mindset across VerticalScope’s publishing ecosystem.
Ezra shares how owning distribution and embedding monetization directly into the product created structural advantages. They also explore how the team navigates challenges with product thinking. The conversation covers the role of email, AI integration, and continuous experimentation in a zero-click world, and what it takes for publishers to strengthen direct audience relationships and build media businesses designed to last.
About the guest
Ezra Menaged is the CEO of Hometalk and COO of VerticalScope, where he leads growth, monetization, and product strategy across its media brands. He began his career as a lawyer and later transitioned into digital media, discovering a passion for product-led growth and ad tech. He has transformed Hometalk from a user-generated content platform into a profitable, product-driven business centered on owned audiences.
He focuses on building direct audience relationships, embedding monetization into the product, and applying AI throughout publishing operations. Ezra takes a hands-on approach to scaling media companies that thrive in a fast-changing digital landscape.
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