John Dick

CEO & Founder CivicScience

John Dick is the Founder and CEO of CivicScience, a consumer analytics and advertising platform serving the largest brands and media companies in the world. He’s the host of the podcast, The Dumbest Guy in the Room and author of What We’re Seeing, the weekly newsletter read by a who’s-who of business and tech leaders. John is a contributor to AdAge and Forbes and has appeared on Good Morning America, Yahoo! Finance, and NewsNation, and as a speaker at numerous business and media conferences.

Nothing better than starting Saturday mornings with John Dick and his newsletter. It’s a definite coffee-spitter…12.3 percent of the time.

Mark Cuban, The Cuban Companies

"You know you’ve made it when what you did on Friday shows up in JD’s email on Saturday morning."

Rob Lynch – CEO, Shake Shack

John’s Saturday morning column lives somewhere between insight served up like a tasting menu at a Michelin Star restaurant and Saturday Night Live opening monologue of self-deprecating humor. It’s the only thing that challenges my coffee for the first thing I do on Saturday.

Bracken Darrell – CEO, VF

Weekly Email Newsletter

What We’re Seeing (WWS) is a short weekly email written by CivicScience CEO John Dick and read by some of the top executives in America. The WWS highlights key consumer trends and insights from the week, plus a personal, insightful introduction from John.

The Dumbest Guy in the Room Podcast

Featured Podcast Episode

Join the thousands of leaders and executives who listen to John’s podcast. Show includes interviews with the most impactful people in business and technology today.

Ep 601 - Mark Cuban - September 27, 2025

John’s guest, Mark Cuban, is tackling this transparency problem in the unnecessarily complex world of prescription drugs. They talked about the story behind CostPlusDrugs.com, his bold vision to “f–k up healthcare,” and lots about sports and family in between. Watch on YouTube

Ep 602 - Michael Costello - October 7, 2025

In this insightful episode, John Dick and Michael Costello delve into the evolving landscape of health and wellness. They discuss the decline in obesity rates, the rise of strength training, and the impact of vitamins and supplements. Michael shares his journey at GNC and the importance of consumer focus and personalization in retail. The conversation also touches on brand loyalty, the role of science in consumer decisions, and the future of health and wellness. Watch on YouTube

Ep 603 - Perry Sook - October 17 , 2025

In this conversation, Perry Sook discusses his journey in the media industry, the importance of local news, and the challenges posed by big tech. He emphasizes the need for strong companies to invest in local journalism and the significance of engaging younger audiences. Sook also highlights the trust that local news holds in communities and the role of personalities in building that trust. The discussion touches on the launch of News Nation and its vision to serve the middle of the country, aiming to provide unbiased news coverage. Watch on YouTube

Ep 604 - Chantell Ghosh - October 21, 2025

John Dick and Chantell Ghosh discuss the critical role of regional arts organizations in community infrastructure and economic sustainability. They explore the challenges these organizations face, including funding, audience engagement, and competition with larger entities like Broadway. Ghosh emphasizes the need for arts organizations to adopt a business mindset, interrogate their models, and connect with younger audiences to ensure their survival and relevance. The discussion highlights the importance of arts in creating vibrant communities and the necessity of political and financial support for these organizations. Watch on YouTube

Featured Appearances and Speeches