Most women don't lose their voice all at once. It happens slowly, quietly, and with the best of intentions. They soften their tone here. They hold back an opinion there. They make themselves a little smaller, a little easier, a little less. Until one day they can't quite remember what they actually sound like.

This episode is about that. Where the muting comes from, what it costs, and what it takes to find your voice at midlife.

Listen For

3:30 What Does It Really Mean to Find Your Voice at Midlife?

5:03 Why Do So Many Women Feel Ready to Explode in Midlife?

7:13 Why Are Assertive Women Judged Differently From Assertive Men?

12:19 How Can Women Process the Unspoken Grief of Not Having Children?

16:19 When Should You Speak Up, and When Should You Protect Your Peace?

Guest: Priya Sudarsanam, Speech Pathologist

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There’s a booming business in divisiveness. And PR is caught right in the thick of it.

Recorded at the June 2026 IABC conference in Toronto, Doug Downs speaks with Fred Cook about A Quiet Shift, a report exploring how polarization is reshaping public relations. Cook explains why division is damaging society, mental health, and business while making thoughtful communications counsel more valuable.

They examine echo chambers, outrage as a political and media strategy, the possibility that AI reinforces existing beliefs, and the disappearance of productive dialogue. Cook also outlines how PR education must evolve, emphasizing crisis management, finance, government relations, public affairs, ethics, and responsible technology use. Ultimately, the conversation challenges communicators to adapt without contributing to the very divisions that create demand for their expertise.

Listen For

2:33 How Is Polarization Changing Public Relations?

5:38 Why Can Polarization Make PR More Valuable—and More Vulnerable?

6:25 Is AI Reinforcing Bias and Deepening Polarization?

9:01 Which Skills Will Future PR Professionals Need Most?

12:00 Why Does Calling the Other Side “Stupid” Destroy Dialogue?

Guest: Fred Cook, Director USC USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations

Fred bio

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Generic messaging fails for a simple reason. It speaks to everyone, which means it actually speaks to no one. The messages that stick, the ones people repeat, forward, and act on, are never written for "employees" or "stakeholders" or "our valued customers." They are written for one person, with one specific frustration, in one specific moment.

That’s not a nice idea about storytelling. It’s a framework, and once you see it, you can’t unsee it in every all-staff email that gets ignored and every campaign that gets remembered.

In this episode we get the five tip framework behind stories that actually stick, from a communicator who has spent her career studying why some messages disappear the moment they’re sent while others get repeated for years.

Listen for:

3:17 The Five-Step Framework for Sticky Stories

7:12 Finding the Frustration: Real Communication Examples

10:34 Break the Fourth Wall to Make Messages Memorable

13:54 The Recipe for Stories People Remember

Guest: Eduvie Martin, FCIPR, Past President of IABC UK and Ireland

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Reputation isn’t your shadow anymore. It’s your operating system.

It’s no longer something you manage. It has already been decided, by AI, based on patterns inside your organization you may not even know exist. Most leaders still think about reputation the old way: crisis plans, issue management, damage control after the fact. But AI now reads every signal a company puts out and connects them across every location and every stakeholder, drawing its own conclusion about who you really are. A bad manager in one city used to stay local. Now it can become your global reputation by tomorrow morning.

There is a scale that runs from head in the sand to full reputation architect, and most organizations are stuck somewhere in the middle, reacting instead of designing. This episode gets into why reputation now functions like a credit score, why one recent report put a seven trillion dollar number on it globally, and why the real work ahead is not protecting your brand but architecting the patterns underneath it, before AI does that job for you.

Listen For

3:35 Why should organizations stop managing reputation and start architecting it?

5:13 How does reputation become operational currency across an organization?

7:48 Why is brand more than a logo or a “cowboy hat”?

10:45 How is AI becoming a stakeholder in your reputation?

16:35 How can leaders tell if they are reacting, managing, or architecting reputation?

Guest: Bonnie Caver, Reputation Lighthouse

LinkedIn | Website | Company LinkedIn

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What happens when a conference has no keynote, no formal agenda, and no single expert at the front of the room?

The new IABC International Chair calls this an “unconference” model. And it’s one glimpse of how professional associations can evolve: by creating space for communicators to learn directly from one another.

Also in this episode – why community, credibility, and connection matter more than ever in a profession being reshaped by AI, shrinking budgets, and rising expectation, the changing role of communicators in the age of AI, and why earned media, credible third-party sources, FAQs, and even the press release may be gaining new relevance in AI search.

Listen For

4:13 Why was the ABC Designation Considered Tougher than the SCMP?

5:34 How is AI Making Earned Media and Press Releases Valuable Again?

8:09 Why Should Communicators Bring FAQ Pages Back for AI Search?

9:56 Why are Chief Communications Officers Gaining a Stronger Seat at the C-Suite Table?

17:11 How Is IABC Rethinking Chapters With Community Models and Unconferences?

Guest: Richard Kies, Incoming IABC International Chair

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As a communications professional you’re operating in the most complex information environment in history. Misinformation. Disinformation. AI generated deepfakes of executives saying things they never said. Audiences who have stopped trusting what organizations tell them. Employees who can't tell what's real. And somewhere in the middle of all of that noise you’re still expected to move people. To make them understand something, feel something, and do something. With the same frameworks you have always used.

Dianne Chase has written a book that argues the profession needs a North Star more than it needs another tactical playbook. She’s the past International Chair of IABC, past Chair of the IABC Southern Region, and current president of IABC Charlotte. Her book is called The Seven C's of the New Communications Compass. And the argument she makes is both simple and urgent: in an era of collapsing trust, the communicators who will matter most are not the ones with the best tools. They’re the ones who remembered to be human.

This episode was recorded on location in Toronto in June 2026 at IABC World Conference

Listen For

3:16 What Are the Seven Cs of the New Communications Compass?

6:16 Why Should Organizations Build Relationships Instead of Transactions?

8:19 How Does Compassion Become Empathy in Action?

13:09 Why Does Community Matter to Purpose-Driven Brands?

17:10 How Should Communicators Measure What Really Matters?

Guest: Dianne Chase, President IABC Charlotte, past International Chair IABC, past Chair IABC Southern Region

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Communications has always been built around a sender mentality. We decide what people need to know, we package it, we push it out. That model came from journalism and broadcasting, three networks, eleven o'clock news, one message for everyone. It made sense then.

The infrastructure has changed completely since. Audiences have become producers. People choose what they consume, when they consume it, and they unsubscribe from what no longer serves them.

That transformation happened entirely in the outside world. Inside organizations, almost nothing changed. And the question this episode keeps coming back to is a simple and uncomfortable one: why are we still broadcasting when everything outside us has already moved on?

This episode was recorded ON LOCATION at IABC World Conference in Toronto in June 2026.

Listen For

4:34 How did audiences become producers of their own news and information?

6:16 Why does internal communication need to become recipient-driven?

9:33 How can communicators create identity moments that cut through white noise?

11:28 How did opening in Spanish create a powerful diversity and inclusion moment?

16:51 How is AI changing the communicator’s role from creator to prompt strategist?

Guest: Brad Whitworth

The IABC Handbook of Organizational Communication

The IABC Guide for Practical Business Communication: A Global Standard Primer

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The IABC Guide for Practical Business Communication: A Global Standard Primer

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Every communications campaign you have ever built had a choice architecture inside it. The order you sequenced your calls to action. The option you listed first in a petition. The default you set in an employee survey. The way you structured a crisis response.

You made all of those decisions. Some of them deliberately. Most of them by instinct, habit, or convention. And the difference between those two things, between deliberate design and accidental design, is the difference between a campaign that moves people and one that wonders why nobody moved.

This episode was recorded live on stage at the IABC World Conference in Toronto on June 14th, 2026, in front of an audience of communications professionals from around the world.

Listen For

4:20 What Choice Architecture Means

5:52 The Default Effect

6:50 Printer Defaults Example

8:15 Removing Friction from Sign-Ups

9:31 The EAST Framework

Guest: Ann-Marie Blake

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Recognized as the most listened-to PR podcast in the World by Podchaser, Goodpods, and data from Rephonic.

Also recognized as one of best Independent Interview podcasts by the Ear Worthy Newsletter

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“Journalism is dead.”

You've heard it. You've probably said it.

And honestly, the evidence seems pretty hard to argue with.

Newsrooms gutted, trust in tatters, cable news turned into a gladiator sport.

But what if that story, the one we keep telling about journalism, is itself bad journalism?

Neil Brown thinks so. He’s a 40-year editor and president of the Poynter Institute, and he is, by his own admission, an optimist about the media. When he tells you why, it might genuinely change how you think about where good information comes from.

Listen For:

04:09 What Makes Someone a Journalist Instead of Just a Publisher?

06:22 Why Does Democracy Need Real Journalism?

12:24 Can Local Journalism Rebuild Public Trust?

13:03 How Did the Baltimore Banner Turn Bus Data Into Accountability?

17:30 What Responsibility Does the Audience Have in Fighting Misinformation?

Guest: Neil Brown, Chairman of the Board and President at Poynter Institute for Media Studies

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Every PR professional has sat in a meeting where leaders ask you to “show up in AI”

Here’s the problem. The AEO/GEO industry has built an entire measurement apparatus around citations… the moment an AI visibly names your brand. But the research shows that moment is essentially an echo of a decision that was already made, upstream, in conversations that left no trace.

Brands have been optimizing for the receipt, when the purchase decision happened days ago.

The deeper irony is that the work which does move the needle in those invisible conversations looks exactly like what PR teams have always done. Original research. Expert voice. Earned credibility. Third-party validation. The toolkit that has historically been the hardest to attribute is, it turns out, the one doing the most work in the AI era. The people who were always right about what good looks like just never had the data to prove it… until now.

Listen For

3:35 Why Does AI Influence Start Before the Conversion Stage?

7:41 Is AEO Really Just Earned Media Strategy in Disguise?

10:09 What Are the Three Levers That Shape AI’s View of a Brand?

13:13 Are “Hey AI” Pages and Schema Tricks Ethical or Effective?

15:49 How Can PR Teams Prove Earned Media Builds AI Influence?

Guest: Tom Rudnai, Founder and CEO Demand-Genius

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There is a prayer that crisis communicators have been quoting for decades.

“Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

It sounds right. It feels grounding.

But maybe it’s been pointing us in the wrong direction the whole time.

The problem is the concept of CONTROL. Because control, in a crisis, is a myth. And every strategy built on the assumption that you can control the outcome of a crisis is a strategy built on sand.

Let’s replace that idea with INFLUENCE. Doing that replaces an entire philosophy.

Alongside that shift comes something more uncomfortable… the suggestion that when a crisis hits, the quality of your advice has almost nothing to do with your frameworks, your playbook, or your years of experience. It has to do with who you are as a human being. As a parent. As a citizen. As a person who is also living through the same world your client is trying to navigate.

The professional and the person are not separate. And pretending they are, may be the most dangerous crisis communication strategy of all.

Listen For

3:41 Why Are Global Risks Becoming More Connected and Harder to Manage?

6:09 Is Employee Mental Health a Bigger Business Risk Than AI?

9:32 Why Do Companies Know the Risks but Still Fail to Prepare?

11:20 What Is “Agency” in Crisis Communications and Why Does It Matter?

14:29 How Can Leaders Use Empathy and Understanding to Respond to a Crisis?

Guest: Rod Cartwright, Principal, Rod Cartwright Consulting

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2026 Reputation, Risk, and Resilience Report

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This episode first published in April, 2021

We haven't always seen color the same way.

Pink used to be for men. Blue for women.

People HATED colorful outfits when they first emerged. One aristocrat complained of "loud, swearing colors," because the new bright fabrics distracted him from his reading.

In this episode Carolyn Purnell takes us on a magical journey through the history of color.

Guest Carolyn Purnell, Ph.D.
https://www.carolynpurnell.com/contact

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This episode first published in July 2024.

Those big networking events. Many of us enjoy those but the repetitive small talk can be exhausting and challenging especially when conversations are frequently interrupted. In this episode we look at strategies for engaging storytelling in brief interactions, making meaningful connections, and ensuring your conversations stand out.

Listen For5:06 The Power of Listening
9:13 When You’re an Introvert
13:30 Finding Your Wedge into Group Conversations
20:14 Tailoring Your Stories

Guest: Robert Kennedy III

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This episode first published in January 2025.

Communication is the most important weapon a Navy SEAL can carry. More vital than physical strength, endurance, or even firepower.

I was in Salt Lake City recently at a conference and saw former Navy SEAL William Branum speak. He served for 26 years with the US Navy and 23 of those years was a Navy SEAL. In his presentation he talked about how clear, concise, and often nonverbal communication plays a critical role in high-stress, life-or-death situations—whether underwater, in a firefight, or clearing a house. He broke down the lessons SEALs learn on the battlefield that can be applied to leadership, teamwork, and personal growth.

So, when I had a chance to sit down with him in the lobby, I grabbed my mobile phone, and we recorded an episode together. This is a conversation about the power of communication and how simplifying your message can lead to greater impact.

Listen For4:26 The Power of Nonverbal Communication
6:36 Simplicity is Key in High-Stress Environments
10:33 Self-Communication Shapes Success
12:24 Adaptability in Crisis Situations

Guest: William Branum, former Navy SEALWebsite | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook

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This episode was first published in May 2021.

Nudge Theory burst onto the scene in 2008 when Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler published their book “Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness.” The simplest models of economics take preferences as given, but nudge ideas suggest we can be moved, steered, and in some cases manipulated.

Nudge has influenced politicians around the World. There are “Nudge Units” in government in the UK, US, Germany, Japan, and even Canada. The World Bank, United Nations, and European Commission have “Nudge” teams.

Guest Rory Sutherland, Vice chairman Ogilvy UK

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Canadian Nudge Team = BeSci Team

UK Nudge Team = Behavioural Insights Team

Australian Nudge Team = Behavioural Economics Team of Australia

American Nudge Team = Social and Behavioural Sciences Team

Stories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026

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You’ve been in that room. Maybe you are in it right now. The table is full, the voices are loud, and somewhere between the agenda and the first agenda item, you go quiet. Not because you don't know what to say. Because something in the room tells you it isn't your turn. You leave and you call it imposter syndrome. You make it about yourself. You wonder what's wrong with you. Nothing is wrong with you. The room did that.

Confidence is not something you’re both with. It’s not the absence of nerves. And it’s not volume. It’s not the ability to dominate. It’s trust. Trust in yourself that no matter what gets put in front of you, you will handle it. And the confidence gap that so many communicators feel is not a personal failing. It is an environmental one.

Listen For:

3:26 Is imposter syndrome really a personal problem, or is the room the problem?

6:40 What kinds of rooms make professionals feel safe or excluded?

9:14 How can you speak up when someone dominates the conversation?

11:17 How did Advita Patel build confidence after years of self-doubt?

15:09 What is an energy audit, and how can it protect your wellbeing?

Guest: Advita Patel, Founder Comms Rebel, former President CIPR

Website | Confidence Coaching site | LinkedIn

Book Decoding Confidence

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Your client is wrong. You know it. They know it, somewhere underneath the certainty.

And you have two choices. You can tell them they're wrong, which will end the conversation and cost you the relationship. Or you can find the thing they want more than being right and take them there instead.

This is something most communications professionals learn the hard way and never quite put into words. Every difficult client, every resistant leader, every person digging into a position that will hurt them, they are not just wrong. They are running two competing motivations at the same time.

The need to be right. And the need to succeed.

And those two things are almost never the same thing. The PR professional who understands that distinction doesn't argue. They redirect. And the client ends up exactly where you needed them to go, convinced it was their idea all along.

Listen For

4:40 Can communicators actually motivate people to act?

7:17 Is PR returning to behavioral science, or losing its way?

8:55 What are system one, system two, and system three thinking?

11:17 How do you challenge a client without losing trust?

14:08 Will AI replace PR professionals or reveal who thinks strategically?

Guest: Roger Hurni, Founder & Chief Brand Strategist, Off Madison Ave

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Outthink. Outperform. Transform Your Organization Through Behavioral Marketing

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50 percent. That's how much of the global population now trusts generative AI when searching for information about companies and brands.

More than Instagram. More than Facebook. More than social media in general.

And that number climbed 7 points in a single year.

The data comes from the Page Society's annual Harris Poll study. 14 countries, more than 15,000 people surveyed in December 2025. Consumers aren't just using AI more. They're believing it more. And most of them aren't clicking through to the source. They're reading the AI answer and moving on.

For communicators, this changes the job. It's no longer enough to optimize for search engines, you now need to optimize for the AI that sits on top of them. What does generative AI say when someone types in your brand name? Is it accurate? Is it current? Or is it surfacing something you said or did 20 years ago that no longer represents who you are?

Listen For

3:26 How is declining consumer trust reshaping the role of communication leaders?
4:52 Why do consumers now trust generative AI more than social media for brand information?
12:28 What are the biggest risks of disinformation and AI hallucinations for brands?
15:45 Why can’t AI replace human experience and critical thinking in communications?
20:22 How should brands optimize for AI search while maintaining trust and accuracy?

Guest: Rochelle Ford, Ph.D., APR, CEO The Page Society

LinkedIn | Website

Page-Harris Poll: Confidence in Business Index 2026

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Your Organisation says it's aligned. It probably isn't.

And the problem starts at the top.

Zora Artis and Wayne Aspland have spent 7 years studying the gap between what leadership teams say they're doing and what's actually happening inside organizations. And their findings are uncomfortable.

In their latest global study, drawing on interviews with 55 CEOs and senior executives across five continents, they found that leaders routinely leave strategy meetings carrying completely different understandings of the direction they just agreed on.

Nobody admits it. And communications professionals get handed the impossible job of aligning everyone else around a strategy the leadership team hasn't genuinely aligned on themselves.

In this episode, we break down why the gap has barely moved in seven years, what's actually driving it, and what communications professionals are uniquely positioned to do about it.

The full findings are being presented IABC World Conference 2026 in Toronto this June.

https://wc.iabc.com/

Download the full Report and Infographic Summary here.

Listen For

4:11 What does true organizational alignment actually mean beyond agreement?
7:44 Why do leaders think they’re aligned but act differently after meetings?
9:09 How do fear and ego silently destroy alignment in executive teams?
12:18 What is “glass head syndrome” and why does it derail strategy execution?
17:18 Is AI making organizational alignment better or worse?

Guests:

Zora Artis

Website Artis Advisory | Website Clear Leaders | Email | LinkedIn

Wayne Aspland

Website Clear Leaders | Email | LinkedIn

Doug

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Every comms professional knows the playbook. A crisis hits, you move fast. Holding statement, talking points, media plan, stakeholder map. You do it well because you've trained for it. You bring the plan to the CEO expecting alignment and instead you get a polite nod and silence. Not pushback. Not disagreement. Just silence.

And that silence is worse than any argument because it means the CEO has already stopped listening. Not because your plan was bad, but because it was solving a problem they weren't thinking about.

This is the gap that quietly erodes the comms function's credibility in organizations everywhere. Communicators are passionate people. That passion is their greatest asset, until it becomes a bias that pulls them toward issues that feel urgent but aren't connected to the core business.

And when that happens enough times, the CEO doesn't fire you. They just stop inviting you into the room.

Listen For

3:09 How Do CEOs vs. Comms Leaders Actually Respond to Global Crises?
4:26 When Should You Speak—and When Are You Giving an Issue Oxygen?
6:28 Do PR Professionals Need Financial and Data Literacy to Be Strategic?
11:44 Why Is Reporting Not Enough? And What Does Real Analysis Look Like?
15:13 Can AI Truly Make Your Communications Strategy More Effective?

Guest: Johna Burke, CEO and Global Managing Director, AMEC (International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communication)

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Every PR firm knows the drill. Client says here's my budget. Firm divides by twelve. Monthly retainer, same amount, January through December, whether the work demands it or not.

Need a press release? Flat rate. Need ten? Multiply.

Need an editor or a videographer? That's by the hour, and one minute is one hour.

The pricing isn't creative. It isn't strategic. It's arithmetic dressed up as a business model.

And it worked fine, until AI started doing the arithmetic faster. Suddenly teams are twice as productive in half the time, and if you're still selling hours, you're punishing yourself for getting better. Meanwhile, the client's procurement department is happy to keep paying by the hour, because now those hours cost less. So, who's really winning?

The firms who don't rethink how they price will be replaced. Not by AI, but by hungrier competitors who already have.

Listen For

3:42 Why Are PR Firms the Least Creative in Pricing?
6:34 Are You Losing Money by Defaulting to Retainers?
9:08 How Should Agencies Identify Where They Create the Most Value?
12:19 How Do You Avoid the “Bait and Switch” With Senior Talent?
15:27 Is AI Killing Hourly Pricing Models for Good?

Guest: Blair Enns, Win Without Pitching

Website | LinkedIn | Podcast 2Bobs

David’s books including Pricing Creativity

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Most communicators assume that if people reject a message, they must not understand it. Lord David Evans argues the opposite. Backlash often isn’t confusion. It’s threat. When people feel insecure, unheard, or looked down on, they don’t lean in. They shut down. And in that moment, facts don’t persuade, values don’t inspire, and “better messaging” can make things worse.

In this episode Lord David Evans breaks down what political campaigning can teach PR professionals about trust, psychological safety, and why populist narratives spread so quickly. This isn’t about copying tactics. It’s about understanding what your audience needs before they will even give you permission to listen.

Listen For

2:22 Who is Lord David Evans and why does his perspective matter right now?
3:54 Why is behaviour change almost never an information problem?
6:36 Why do people get drawn to extreme political movements?
10:36 Are politicians themselves fueling fear and insecurity?
12:48 Is social media pushing people into fight-or-flight mode?

Guest: Lord David Evans

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Public relations used to be seen as the function that shaped the message after the decisions were made. That is not enough anymore. In a world shaped by geopolitical shocks, cultural division, AI disruption, and rising reputational risk, communications leaders are being pulled closer to the centre of power. They are no longer just storytellers or spokespersons. They are becoming strategic sensemakers: the people expected to read the moment, interpret the pressure, and help leadership decide what to say, what to do, and sometimes whether to say anything at all.

Our job is evolving to help brands survive the storm.

If you work in PR, corporate affairs, or communications leadership, this episode will feel familiar fast, because it names the job as it is now, not as it used to be. And if you have not yet felt that shift in your own role, you will soon.

Listen For

3:00 How Has the PR Professional Evolved into a Strategic Sense-Making Role?
5:58 When Should CEOs Speak Out. And When Should They Stay Silent?
10:23 What Is Strategic Ambiguity, and Why Are Companies Using It Now?
13:09 What Skills Do Future PR Professionals Need to Succeed?
15:01 How Do Communication Leaders Really Feel About AI?

Guest: Tom Fife-Schaw, Uk Managing Director of Corporate Reputation, Ipsos

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Communications is often described as a female-led profession, but that label can hide a harder truth. Women may make up much of the industry, yet the balance often shifts when it comes to senior leadership, influence, and decision-making.

So, what’s still standing in the way, and why has progress been slower than it should be?

Natasha Plowman argues gender equity cannot remain a women-only conversation, yet many men still hold back because they are afraid of saying the wrong thing, unsure how to contribute, or feel the issue is not theirs to address.

In this episode, why silence protects the status quo. And change usually starts when more than the excluded group speaks up.

Listen For

2:33 Why Does a Female-Powered Industry Still Struggle to Put Women in Leadership?
5:12 Why Are Men Reluctant to Join Gender Equity Conversations?
7:24 What Does Real Allyship from Men in the Workplace Look Like?
11:45 Is the Backlash Against DEI Actually About Performative Policies?
14:21 Would Simply Adding More Women to Leadership Solve the Problem?

Guest: Natasha Plowman

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You know that feeling when you look at your own brand and it somehow doesn’t feel like you anymore? The logo is the same, the words are mostly right, and the message is still “on brand”… but the visuals have started to wander.

A new template here. A new font there. Someone’s “quick” Canva edit. A LinkedIn graphic that looks like it came from a different company.

None of it is a big mistake. It’s just… a hundred small ones.

And in PR, you can’t afford that moment when a stakeholder sees your work and thinks, Wait—who are we today?

Because we’re living in a scrolling, skimming world where people decide in seconds. They don’t stop to decode your intent; they feel something fast, or they move on. So how do you keep creativity alive without letting your brand drift into a different personality every week? And what actually makes a visual work now? What makes someone feel something immediately?

Listen For

:15 Why did Boaty McBoatface become the perfect lesson in brand control?

3:17 What is visual drift and how does it quietly damage brand credibility?

4:53 Why should brands resist changing logos and colors too often?

6:14 How are Canva and easy design tools changing the role of visual experts?

8:55 How do brands win attention in the first 0.3 seconds of scrolling?

Guest: Stewart Cohen

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What if the best market research started by IGNORING what people say?

What if, instead, you started modeling them based on proven behaviour?

Right down to the regional level?

And what if political polling was done this way too

A new term is showing up in research and strategy circles with major implications for communicators: synthetic populations. This is not a cheap AI focus group. It is a data-built population model that reflects how people are distributed and behave at scale using high-quality inputs like official statistics, mobility patterns, and registration data, rather than relying only on interviews and surveys.

That matters because self-reported data is often aspirational, incomplete, or socially filtered. Synthetic populations offer another path: estimating market potential, testing where campaigns should start, understanding regional differences, and pressure-testing assumptions before rollout. The real question is not just what synthetic populations are, but what happens when strategy shifts from asking people to modeling populations.

Listen For

3:07 What’s the difference between a synthetic panel and a synthetic population?
5:13 How can a synthetic population be realistic without using real individuals?
8:49 Why do surveys over-claim luxury brands? And how does official data correct it?
11:58 What did Germany’s flat-rate transit ticket reveal about commuting by region?
14:15 Could synthetic populations change how political polling is done?

Guest: Eike Hartmann, Vice President Custom Research & Insights Business at Statista+

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White Paper on Synthetic Populations

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In today’s world, PR leaders need to build and protect their brand’s reputation in an AI-shaped, polarized world, where owned media matters more than ever.

Reputation is no longer a soft metric but an economic multiplier and an insurance policy. From the difference between brand and reputation to the growing tension between character and competence, this episode explains what actually moves corporate standing up or down in today’s environment.

We also share why owned media now plays a disproportionate role in shaping not just earned coverage, but AI-generated search results and stakeholder perception.

Listen For

3:45 What Is the Real Difference Between Brand and Reputation?
5:07 What Are the Seven Drivers That Shape Reputation?
6:28 How Has AI Changed Third Party Advocacy and Media Influence?
9:58 Do Character Crises Damage Reputation More Than Competence Failures?
16:13 Why Is Reputation a Business Tool Rather Than Just an Image Strategy?

Guest: Stephen Hahn-Griffiths, RepTrak

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Trust used to flow upward. To experts, institutions, and authority.

Then it shifted to “people like me.”

Now even that circle is tightening.

The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals a growing insularity: smaller tribes, hardened perspectives, and a widening mass-class divide driven by whether people believe the system works for them.

Persuasion is shifting to trust brokerage, and what communicators, leaders, and businesses can do when trust itself has become the battleground.

Listen For

3:10 Skip the opening story and go right to the interview with Tim Weber

3:47 What does it mean that we’ve moved from echo chambers to “turtle shells”

7:21 Is polarization economic, cultural, technological—or all three?

12:35 How can companies blunt fear and become true trust brokers?

20:13 Will AI reinforce our biases and deepen our personal echo chambers?

Guest: Tim Weber, Managing Director & EMEA Head of Editorial, Edelman

LinkedIn | Instagram | Bio | Website

2026 Edelman Trust Barometer

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Can a joke really sell a brand? Or save it from sameness?

Most campaigns sound the same because they’re afraid to sound wrong. Safe language, serious faces, purpose-heavy messages that all blur together.

And yet one of the most successful creative agencies in North America has built its reputation by doing the opposite. Zulu Alpha Kilo lives by a simple motto… Fight Sameness… and they do it with humor, sarcasm, and a willingness to say the quiet part out loud.

Why does that work? Why does making people laugh end up being the fastest way to earn trust?

Why does honesty often land better as a joke than a lecture.

Listen For

3:01Fast-forward to the start of the interview

5:19 Check out an example of a funny (sarcastic) ad by Zulu Alpha Kilo

5:36 Why does ad satire feel so personal to marketers?

9:11 What tiny detail annoyed people in that absurd ad?

Guest: Michael Siegers, Zulu Alpha Kilo

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You can be the same person across every channel.

Your social media accounts. Your YouTube. Your newsletter. Your blog. The same principles. The same voice. Often even the same message.

And many of the people following you on LinkedIn are the same people who see you on Instagram, hear you on a podcast, or read your newsletter. Yet those same people can understand you, trust you, and remember you very differently simply because they encounter you in a different place.

Not because you changed.

Because they did.

They arrive with different expectations.

Different attention.

Different patience.

The channel shapes what they notice, what they believe, and what stays with them, even when the words don’t change at all.

In this episode, we explore how platforms shape perception, why fractured identities are now the norm, and what that means for communicators who already know better but are running out of time and headspace.

Listen For

4:30 How do you tailor one piece of content for different platforms?
6:04 Is it better to master one channel or be on many?
7:49 Can AI help create content that still feels human?
12:21 What’s the right way to use emojis on LinkedIn?
16:35 Are we choosing content or are algorithms choosing for us?

Guest: Molly Demellier, Sounds Profitable

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You’re using LinkedIn wrong

Not because you’re not smart… you are.

It’s because you’re using yesterday’s LinkedIn.

The platform is changing fast. The feed has changed, and the rules for reach have changed with it.

This episode shows you what’s different now, and how to adapt without turning into a “content person.”

Listen For

3:29 What happens when you hit publish on LinkedIn?
7:21 What makes a post perform well—and why does so much content flop?
10:23 Should leaders be posting at all, and if so, how?
14:49 Why did Alicia double down on LinkedIn as a career focus?
20:42 Why are professionals afraid of being visible on LinkedIn?

Guest: Alicia Teltz, The Hype Department

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When the streets erupt, the headlines explode, and public pressure hits boiling point… can business leaders still afford to say nothing?

In this episode tackle the growing tension between corporate responsibility and political risk. From a CEO letter in Minnesota addressing immigration-fueled violence to Keir Starmer’s high-stakes diplomacy in China, we ask: when the world demands clarity, is strategic ambiguity still a safe PR move?

Listen For

2:08 What is safety in numbers for corporate protest
5:03 Is strategic ambiguity a smart way to stay neutral
7:12 What is the Business and Democracy Commission
9:48 How do leaders speak when policy moves faster than people
12:09 Can the UK and EU trade with China and India without angering the US

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

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Personal branding is changing in real time. The first impression is no longer a handshake or a conversation. It is a clip you did not choose, a post someone else shared, a comment you left, or a quote that gets passed around without context.

What actually builds trust across today’s platforms? It’s the different channels and how they shape different versions of you. Consistency matters more than polish. Algorithms and AI search now “interpret” your reputation.

Today you need to build a personal brand that holds up when you’re not in the room.

Listen For

:22 What if people meet your story before they meet you?
4:00 How does media reshape your message?
5:23 How do you stay consistent across platforms?
8:40 How do algorithms impact your brand?
14:34 Why does personal branding really matter?

Guest: Liz Brooks, Interview Valet

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stood up in Davos and didn’t waste words. He gave a speech that cut through the noise.

The room stood. The world noticed.

He said, “If you're not at the table, you're on the menu.”

People replayed that line like it was a lifeline.

This episode of The Week Unspun comes straight from the snowy peaks of Davos, but the questions are sharp and wide-reaching.

Can speeches still move people to action?

Can we trust the Edelman Trust Barometer, or has its credibility fractured like the world it measures?

And as the World Economic Forum eyes cities like Detroit and Dublin, what happens when the name “Davos” no longer fits the map?

Listen For

:51 What made Mark Carney’s Davos speech go viral?
6:54 Why do some PR pros hate the Edelman Trust Barometer?
9:38 Are we living in a “retreater” era of trust and communication?
12:40 Should Davos be moved to Detroit or Dublin?
18:15 Is short-form, flashy content reshaping public opinion?

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

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PR teams are being asked to win attention in a world that barely gives it. The problem is not reach. The problem is what happens after the click, after the view, after the impression. If your audience does not stay, nothing sticks. Not the message, not the trust, not the reputation you are trying to build.

In this episode, we unpack why depth beats scale and why time spent is one of the most overlooked drivers of influence. You will hear a fresh way to think about loyalty, attention, and what it means to create content that people actually choose to come back to, even when the feed is endless.

Listen For

3:42 How do you separate scale from depth in brand storytelling?
6:57 What makes podcast audiences stay or leave?
10:20 How can stories compete for time in today’s distracted world?
12:42 Why does audio create such a deep connection with listeners?
15:28 Who really listens to podcasts today? And how is that changing?

20:03 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Jenny Manchester

Guest: Roger Nairn, Jar Podcast Solutions

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Doug Downs

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In this week’s The Week UnSpun, the panel takes on three high-stakes stories where influence, identity, and global perception collide.

First, the team unpacks the latest flashpoint over Greenland, where the U.S. talks security, Denmark talks sovereignty, and Greenland quietly navigates the space in between. But is this really about narrative control, or something deeper, as David suggests, like the importance of alliances over authorship?

Then, the conversation turns to Minnesota, where deadly ICE encounters have sparked a communications crisis over trust, legitimacy, and who gets to define the truth.

Finally, the group turns to Davos, joined by 18-year World Economic Forum veteran Joanna Gordon, who lifts the curtain on how the global summit has evolved, and whether it still lives up to its founding ideals.

Listen For

2:03 Can Greenland Strengthen Partnerships Without Losing Autonomy?
3:25 Are Small Nations Heard? Or Just Spoken For?
6:43 Is the Real Crisis in Minnesota About Trust?
11:45 Has Davos Lost Its Way in the Age of Attention?
15:41 Does the World Economic Forum Have a PR Problem?

Guest: Joanna Gordon

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

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It doesn’t matter whether you’re 25 or 55.

If you speak and people listen politely but not seriously, it hurts.

Too young to be trusted.

Too old to be creative.

The message lands the same way.

You are not seen. You are not heard. You are not valued.

Ageism cuts in both directions and it leaves a quiet bruise that people carry long after the moment passes.

How does this happen in Public Relations, a profession built on understanding people?

It does. And ageism is a major component of the profession.

That’s why a Cultural Reset is needed.

Listen For

4:50 What does a "cultural reset" in PR mean when addressing ageism?

7:30 How does ageism quietly impact training and promotion in PR agencies?

9:54 Do certain sectors of PR treat older professionals more fairly than others?

15:55 Will AI help or hurt age diversity in PR careers?

17:25 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Cindy Lang

Guest: Jenny Manchester

Centre for Ageing Better Website | LinkedIn

Jenny’s Report An age-old problem: What can we do to tackle ageism in PR?

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A headline-grabbing raid, a revolution-in-the-making, and a “beige” prime minister walk into the attention economy… who wins the story?

Farzana and Doug unpack three global flashpoints through a PR and narrative-control lens: the shock capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and the split-screen battle between “law enforcement” framing versus “illegal act of war” backlash; Iran’s surging unrest as the rial collapses alongside a fractured top-level message (empathy from President Pezeshkian, crackdown language from Ayatollah Khamenei, and a mobilizing call from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi); and the UK’s debate over Keir Starmer’s “beige” leadership, whether voters truly want competent quiet or charismatic spectacle in a 24/7 scroll-and-click media world.

Listen For

00:37 How did the Maduro raid become a communications battle overnight?
01:33 Why did calling Maduro a “narco-terrorist” change the debate?
04:57 Does winning the domestic narrative matter if the world disagrees?
07:56 How is Iran’s leadership sending mixed signals during unrest?
13:05 Is quiet leadership still viable in today’s attention economy?

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

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This is a special audio time-jump episode. It’s an immersive journey ten years into the future to explore how public relations has managed three of the biggest challenges: the rapid rise of AI, the disappearing entry-level job, and the ongoing gender gap in leadership.

Doug and Farzana volunteer for a guided “time crossing” to see how the next generation of PR leaders navigated a decade of disruption. What they find isn’t just smarter tech, it’s smarter systems, layered cities, holographic hosts, and workplaces where AI and humans collaborate with clarity and conscience.

This isn’t an episode about how will we fix it, it’s about how they already did… and what we can start implementing right now.

Welcome to 2036

Listen For

5:01 How has technology reshaped the world of PR?

6:56 What does it feel like to communicate in a city designed to respond?

9:57 How does personalized media target people in real time?

10:36 What are holographic briefs and how do they change communication?

16:31 Are women finally stepping into more leadership roles?

17:44 How did society move beyond the culture war over being ‘woke’?

12:59 What’s changed most in how we communicate at work?

14:55 What does it take to guide AI with real nuance?

18:18 How is emotional labor being measured, and addressed, in the future?

19:02 What are the future rules of ethical communication with AI?

Doug

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What happens when protests shake a regime built on control, not consent?

We look at Iran’s largest wave of unrest since 2022. Fueled by economic collapse and skyrocketing inflation, the protests are no longer just about hardship, they’ve become openly anti-government, spreading even into rural areas. We break down Iran’s unprecedented tone shift in crisis comms, explore the influential role of the Iranian diaspora, and consider how narratives are being shaped despite media restrictions.

And we pivot to examine Donald Trump’s striking effort to brand U.S. institutions with his name, followed by a look into 2026 with helpful resources for PR pros preparing for global risks.

Listen For

:47 What’s really fueling Iran’s latest wave of protests?
4:28 How does Iran’s diaspora influence global perception?
5:39 Can Trump gain political advantage from Iran’s instability?
6:14 Why is Trump rebranding national institutions with his name?
12:46 What tools can help PR pros prepare for global risks in 2026?

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

Folgate Advisors

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Public relations shapes what people believe, how communities respond, and which ideas earn trust. It influences elections, corporate crises, government decisions, reputations, and public sentiment.

Yet unlike medicine, law, or engineering, anyone can call themselves a PR professional. No license. No minimum standard. No consequences when things go wrong. What happens when a profession with this much power has almost no guardrails?

Some say that freedom is essential for open societies. Others say it leaves the public exposed. What happens if we build those guardrails too strong?

In this episode we walk the line of tension between protection and freedom.

Listen For

4:28 What problem is PR regulation really trying to solve?
9:47 Does regulation protect the public, or just PR pros?
12:38 Could PR regulation threaten free speech?
14:23 Is there a middle ground on PR regulation?
18:37 Can licensing and ethics training reshape PR?

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What happens when war, resilience, and optimism collide on a tiny island in the Indian Ocean?

In this special Boxing Day episode of The Week UnSpun, David Gallagher is off so Doug Downs and Farzana Baduel trade headlines for heart as Farzana shares her recent three-week journey through Sri Lanka, a country shaped by civil war, natural disasters, and powerful recovery. From her work with the Halo Trust, the world’s largest demining organization, to meeting the Prime Minister and local heroes reclaiming their land, Farzana brings vivid stories of courage and transformation.

The episode shifts gears into lighter fare with a fun, AI-generated “Board of Advisors,” exploring 2026 PR trends and cheeky questions like everyone’s favorite ice cream. It’s a soulful blend of global awareness, digital imagination, and strategic storytelling, all wrapped in warmth, wit, and curiosity.

GPT Board Members (and Good Sports):

· Anne-Marie Blake

· Catherine Arrow

· Candace Kuss

· Rod Cartwright

· Aaron Berger

Listen For

:54 Why is Sri Lanka so heavily mined?
3:42 What happens when families reclaim lost land?
4:53 How should Sri Lanka rebrand itself?
7:44 What’s Sri Lanka’s relationship with India like?
8:15 What if you could build your own AI-powered board of advisors?

10:06 What are the top PR trends for 2026?

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

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This is not just one podcast.
It’s a feed with two.

First is Stories and Strategies with Curzon Public Relations.
A weekly show hosted by Doug Downs and Farzana Baduel.
Every Tuesday, we tackle the real work of public relations.
The strategy behind the stories.
The decisions behind the headlines.
No fluff. No profiles. Just the issues shaping modern communications.

Also in this feed is The Week UnSpun.
A live, weekly look at global news through a public relations lens.
Hosted by Doug Downs, Farzana Baduel, and David Gallagher of Folgate Advisors.
Streaming every Friday at 10 a.m. Eastern, 3 p.m. UK time.
With the audio released later the same day.

Two shows.
One feed.
Follow now, and stay ahead of the story.

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What do you say when there’s nothing to say?

Most workplaces think they handle grief through policy, a few days of bereavement leave, a checklist, and a quiet expectation that people will return “ready” to work. But grief doesn’t follow policy. It walks back into the office with someone long before they’re prepared, reshaping their focus, their energy, their confidence and their sense of safety.

And while HR manages the paperwork, it’s the hallway conversations, the team dynamics, the awkward silences and the well-meaning but painful clichés that shape a grieving person’s real experience.

That isn’t an HR problem. That’s a communications problem.

And yet almost no one prepares for it. Teams don’t know what to say. Leaders fear saying the wrong thing. Colleagues avoid eye contact because they’re anxious, not uncaring.

In this episode, grief expert Cindy Lang shows why communication is the most powerful support any workplace can offer, and how simple, compassionate language can make the difference between someone feeling invisible and someone feeling understood.

Listen For

4:11 Why Is Grief First a Communications Issue, Not Just HR's Job?
6:45 What Is the “Three-C Model” for Grief-Informed Communication?
8:05 How Does Grief Physically and Emotionally Impact a Person at Work?
14:51 What Small Act of Kindness Made the Biggest Impact After Loss?

19:29 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Marc Whitt

Guest: Cindy Lang

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What happens when a top political strategist forgets the rules of media engagement?

This episode of The Week UnSpun strikes a nerve for PR professionals as Doug unpacks Susie Wiles’ widely criticized Vanity Fair interviews, where a lack of structure, message control, and audience awareness turned rare access into a strategic failure. It’s a masterclass in what not to do when the stakes are sky-high.

Then, the conversation pivots to a claim that’s rippling through the industry in the UK. Sir Martin Sorrell declared on BBC Radio that PR no longer exists, prompting fierce pushback from Farzana. The team’s defense of the industry is both impassioned and insightful, raising a critical question for anyone in communications. Is PR losing ground, or is it finally stepping into its own power?

Listen For

1:23 What went wrong in Susie Wiles’ interviews?
4:10 What are the 8 media mistakes she made?
6:51 Is PR really dead, as Martin Sorrell claims?
10:34 Why can’t PR pros explain what they do?
12:09 Is PR losing ground or evolving fast?

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

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Nonprofits often describe themselves with a strange sense of pride: “We’re the best kept secret.” But in an era where funding is shrinking, donor expectations are shifting, and public trust must be earned every single day, staying a secret is no longer a virtue. It’s a liability.

So why do so many NGOs still hide behind humility, overwhelm, or the hope that their good work will somehow speak for itself?

It’s same problem everywhere. Leaders who underestimate the power of strategic communication. Teams overwhelmed by tactical delivery. Fundraisers separated from PR staff. And organizations with extraordinary missions that remain invisible. In this episode, how nonprofits can step out of the shadows, communicate their value with confidence, and build the visibility they need to survive and serve.

Listen For

5:11 Why doesn't good work speak for itself anymore?
10:12 How can NGOs attract top talent without top salaries?
18:52 What are the first PR steps for nonprofits to grow visibility?
21:04 Answer to Last Week’s Question from Cindy Lang

Guest: Marc Whitt

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Who’s Really Writing the Stories That Shape Our World?

This week, we dive into the high-stakes power play unfolding in Hollywood as Netflix and Paramount battle to take over Warner Bros. What looks like a blockbuster business deal is, in fact, a global struggle over who gets to shape the stories that define how we think, feel, and remember.

Farzana explores the soft power implications of the deal, asking what happens when control of cultural narratives shifts to private or even foreign-backed hands. Doug examines the potential impact on creators, especially if Netflix, known for tight content licensing, wins control of vast historical archives. David brings in insider chatter from Hollywood, where some fear the deal could spell the end of cinema as we know it.

Also in this episode, we unpack why the UK is launching a legal PR offensive to keep English law as the gold standard for global deals and how Singapore is emerging as a serious contender.

Plus, is the US hurting its tourism brand with new visa requirements demanding access to social media history? And what can Australia’s ban on under-16s using social media teach us about digital policy and parental reality?

Listen For

3:53 How would this merger reshape global storytelling and soft power?

6:58 Why is the UK promoting English law as a global standard?

10:12 What makes Singapore law a serious competitor to English law?

15:39 Will new US visa rules scare away global travelers and harm tourism?

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

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In every corner of the world the public mood is shifting, sometimes quietly and sometimes all at once. Climate anxiety, pandemic fears, economic pressure, geopolitical tension and a surge in concern about data security have all reshaped what people expect from companies.

For organizations trying to build trust across borders the rules keep changing. What mattered in 2019 did not matter in 2021. What mattered last year may not matter next year. And unless communicators understand these shifts they will miss the signals that determine whether a message lands or falls flat.

That is why this conversation with Steve Shepperson-Smith is so valuable. Drawing from Vodafone’s 75,000+ annual reputation data points and RepTrak’s million-strong global dataset, Stephen shares compelling insights on the critical 60/40 split between capability and character, and why the latter matters more than ever in polarized, politicized times.

Listen For

4:37 What does global data say about what drives reputation today?
6:52 Have public views on social and environmental issues shifted?
8:41 Are ESG and DEI labels now hurting more than helping?
10:57 Why is data security now a top consumer concern?
16:38 How can brands stay local in a divided global landscape?

20:40 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Andy West

Guest: Steve Shepperson-Smith, Vodaphone

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Most agencies can tell you how their clients are doing but ask how they are doing and the room gets quiet. The truth is that even the best run firms skip their own checkups. Margins thin out, teams burn out, and culture drifts while the spotlight stays fixed on the next pitch.

But what if agencies treated their operations the way a doctor treats a patient, tracking vital signs, diagnosing problems early, and prescribing real solutions before things spiral.

From hidden symptoms to running a full-scale agency fitness test, in this episode we look at what separates a healthy firm from one that just looks good on paper.

Listen For

3:56 What vital signs show if your agency is healthy or just surviving?
5:25 Are agency leaders really surprised by their own problems?
8:57 Is AI a threat or a tool for agencies to grow?
12:25 What four pillars make an agency profitable and strong?
18:15 What aha moment helped an agency turn things around?

20:03 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Lionel Zetter

Guest: Andy West, West of Center

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This week, we look into the murky ethics of media leaks and their growing role in shaping political, corporate, and cultural narratives. From leaked peace plans that spark international diplomacy to budget details released minutes before parliamentary debate, we dissect whether leaks are ethical whistleblowing or manipulative PR tactics.

Farzana argues that leaks often reveal broken internal cultures, while Doug, from a journalistic perspective, explores how leaks are used to test narratives and steer public perception.

Also in this episode, David wonders if written reports are becoming relics in a world obsessed with video and visual storytelling.

And we ask: Can AI help restore strategic thinking in PR? And should public relations finally be regulated like other professions?

Watch/Listen For

1:45 How will AI reshape PR, tactically or strategically?
5:36 Should PR be regulated like law or finance?
9:28 Are media leaks ethical, or just PR strategy?
14:33 Can visual storytelling replace traditional comms?
22:04 Are algorithms killing media access for everyone?

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

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Trust isn’t built in boardrooms or over Zoom. It’s built in the quiet moments. A conversation that lingers, a promise kept, a drink shared between people who still believe words matter.

In this episode, we explore how the foundations of influence have shifted from handshakes to hyperlinks, and what that means for anyone trying to shape opinion or policy in a world that’s forgotten how to connect.

You’ll hear stories from inside the world of public affairs, where relationships once forged in the late hours of party conferences now play out on screens and social feeds. We unpack why the human side of persuasion still decides who gets heard, who gets trusted, and who gets left behind. Because in the end, every message, every movement, and every bit of influence still comes down to people.

Listen For

6:42 Can you build real relationships online?
9:13 Is polarization killing cross-party lobbying?
12:52 Are autocrats on the rise?
15:00 How is public affairs different from stakeholder work?

16:05 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Nick Usborne

Guest: Lionel Zetter

Website | X | LinkedIn

Lionel’s new book The Lobbyist

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What happens when PR meets scandal, tech chaos, and gender bias?

This episode of The Week UnSpun is a whirlwind of explosive headlines. The trio of David Gallagher, Doug Downs, and guest host Miranda Mitchell look into the renewed Epstein files controversy and its potential to dominate headlines well into 2025.

They unravel Cloudflare’s swift crisis response and debate the alleged gender bias in LinkedIn’s algorithm.

Add a healthy dose of Cracker Barrel branding blunders and viral live-TV moments, and you’ve got a jam-packed show.

Listen For

2:03 What’s coming with the Epstein files and who could be impacted?
6:57 How could media coverage of the Epstein case harm innocent people?

10:46 How did Cloudflare’s apology turn disaster into a win?
13:27 Does LinkedIn’s algorithm favor male voices?
18:47 Is AI helping or hurting your brand voice?

Watch For

2:10 What will the release of the Epstein files reveal, and who gets hurt?
6:00 Should we worry about innocent people in raw investigative data dumps?
13:21 Is LinkedIn’s algorithm biased against women, and how do we know?
20:02 Will AI kill or save PR agencies in the era of LLMs and brand drift?
26:09 Did Cracker Barrel’s rebrand backfire, and what’s the PR lesson?

Guest Host Miranda Mitchell, PretailWebsite |LinkedIn | Contact

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

We publish the audio from these livestreams to the Stories and Strategies podcast feed every Friday until Sunday evening when it’s no longer available.

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AI can imitate your voice, your words, even your face, but it can’t steal your story.

What happens when companies hand their storytelling to machines that don’t understand who they are?

As businesses race to automate, they risk losing the very thing that makes them distinct: the human truth that built their brand.

Listen For

3:15 How are story, narrative, and voice different?
7:00 What is brand drift and how does AI cause it?
10:04 Why do people distrust AI-generated content?
11:33 How does story protect brand identity?
14:54 How can you fight disinformation about your brand?

15:25 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Jessica Hope

Guest: Nick Usborne

Website | Email | LinkedIn | Instagram | Link to Nick’s Courses

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Is the BBC losing its grip on journalistic credibility? Or is it being pushed?

This episode of The Week Unspun unpacks a chaotic week in media and politics with sharp insight from PR veterans Farzana Baduel, David Gallagher, Doug Downs, and special guest Adrian Monck. The BBC’s controversial editing of a Donald Trump speech for Panorama sparks a fierce debate on ethics, institutional accountability, and media governance. From internal BBC politics to the broader implications for press freedom, the team dissects why this incident led to resignations at the highest levels.

The conversation then pivots to the political circus of the U.S. government shutdown and the erosion of trust in public institutions, before exploring the branding brilliance behind Dubai’s appeal to wealthy expatriates fleeing taxation and uncertainty in the UK.

Audio Chapters

4:06 Should One Edit lead to Top BBC resignations?
13:49 Are Governments Held to the Same PR Standards as Corporations?
17:45 Why are UK Tech Billionaires Fleeing to Dubai?
20:58 Is the UAE Winning the Global Nation Branding Game?

Video Chapters

2:02 What did the BBC really edit out of Trump’s speech, and why does it matter?
4:06 Should one error lead to top BBC resignations?
13:49 Are governments held to the same PR standards as corporations?
17:45 Why are UK tech billionaires fleeing to Dubai?
20:58 Is the UAE winning the global nation branding game?

Guest: Adrian Monck

Wikipedia | Website

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at Noon ET/5pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

We publish the audio from these livestreams to the Stories and Strategies podcast feed every Friday until Sunday evening when it’s no longer available.

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In public relations, success often depends on one quiet skill: knowing how to adapt. The best communicators read the room, sense the temperature, and adjust their tone without losing their message.

In this episode, we explore what it really means to be a PR chameleon – someone who can blend into the cultural landscape enough to connect, yet still stand out enough to be remembered.

Jessica Hope, founder of Wimbart, has built one of Africa’s most respected tech PR agencies by mastering that balance. From WhatsApp-based storytelling to navigating privilege, identity, and power across 54 distinct markets, Jessica reveals how empathy, adaptability, and emotional intelligence have become the true currencies of influence in global communications.

Listen For

4:36 How Do You Break the “One Africa” Myth in PR?
7:40 What Is Emotional Intelligence in African Business?
9:22 How Do Comms Channels Differ in Africa?
12:06 Should Brands Adjust Their Values in Africa?
16:26 What’s Africa’s Media Landscape Really Like?

18:30 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Jo Jamieson

Guest: Jessica Hope, Wimbart

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Ted Talk Farzana mentioned

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg

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In this audience-driven “mailroom” episode of The Week Spun, the conversation opens with a provocative idea from the PRovoke Summit: AI is now being discussed in full-time equivalent (FTE) terms, signaling a shift in how agencies and organizations think about synthetic labor. Guest host Kim Sample, President of the PR Council, joins Doug Downs and David Gallagher to explore what this means for the future of work in PR.

From there, the trio digs into listener-submitted questions on everything from Apple’s conspicuous silence in the podcasting space, to why PR professionals struggle with personal branding, how fairness is driving consumer outrage, gender representation in politics, and the surprising TikTok-fueled backlash to a Halloween ad campaign from Hatch Sleep.

Audio Episode Chapters

1:51 What is a “synthetic FTE” and how is AI reshaping PR teams
4:29 Are brands finally taking owned content like blogs and podcasts seriously
8:11 Does Apple still care about podcasts or is their silence a statement
13:05 Why do PR pros struggle with confidence and self promotion
21:03 Does visibility for women in politics actually equal shared power

Video Episode Chapters

1:54 What is a “Synthetic FTE” and How Will AI Change PR Teams?
5:16 Are Brands Finally Getting Serious About Owned Media and Podcasts?
10:51 Does Apple Still Care About Podcast? Or Are They Quietly Quitting?
13:15 Why Do PR Pros Struggle With Their Own Personal Branding?
26:14 Does Representation Equal Power in Politic? Or Just PR Optics?

Guest Kim Sample, PR Council

Website | Email | LinkedIn

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

We publish the audio from these livestreams to the Stories and Strategies podcast feed every Friday until Sunday evening when it’s no longer available.

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Afraid of posting on LinkedIn? You’re not alone, and it’s not about time or talent, it’s about confidence.

In this episode we look at why communicators, especially women, struggle to show up confidently on LinkedIn.

Fear, not time or skill, is the biggest barrier to visibility. PR professionals who are used to writing for others often stumble when the byline is their own.

From how to post authentically without oversharing, to navigating gendered expectations in professional visibility, to practical LinkedIn content strategies (yes, including algorithm hacks!), we’ve got smart, tactical advice for anyone looking to show up and stand out online. Whether you're battling imposter syndrome or just wondering what to post next, this conversation is your confidence booster and content guide in one.

Listen For

4:25 Why don’t communicators post on LinkedIn?
6:44 How do you stay authentic without oversharing?
9:40 Why is visibility harder for women online?
13:25 What’s a simple LinkedIn strategy?
16:07 Can you beat the LinkedIn algorithm?
17:59 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Tina McCorkindale

Guest: Jo Jamieson

Email | X | LinkedIn | Website

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What do a billionaire climate pivot, AI-fueled layoffs, and a scandalous Italian election have in common? They all got the PR treatment in this episode.

Farzana Baduel, David Gallagher, and Doug Downs peel back the media layers behind some of the week’s most buzzworthy stories, from Bill Gates’ controversial “climate realism” memo and its impact on corporate sustainability narratives, to Amazon’s AI-framed mass layoffs and what that messaging means for employer branding.

They also take a wildly entertaining detour into Italian politics where ex-lovers are facing off at the polls, with leaked documents and social media drama in full swing.

Add in royal baseball cap faux-pas and you’ve got a sharp, witty, and deeply PR-savvy breakdown of the week’s biggest headlines.

Listen For

:58 Is Bill Gates backtracking? Or just reframing climate change?
7:54 How is Amazon using AI to spin layoffs as progress?
13:43 How does branding tie into an Italian political scandal?
16:05 What if your opponent knows all your political secrets?
19:26 Did Prince Harry’s hat choice betray Canada?

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

We publish the audio from these livestreams to the Stories and Strategies podcast feed every Friday until Sunday evening when it’s no longer available.

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We live in a moment where artificial intelligence can write our emails, plan our meetings, even give us life advice. But here’s the problem: these systems are often too agreeable for our own good. They’re less like truth tellers and more like digital echo chambers. They nod along, validate our choices, and tell us exactly what we want to hear.

To use an outdated term… GenAI is too often like a Yes Man.

In this episode we’re looking at the rise of sycophancy in generative AI, the tendency of machines to flatter us instead of challenging us. What does this mean for employees, for leaders, and especially for communicators who rely on AI as a tool? And how do we make sure our AI mirrors are giving us clarity, not just compliments?

Listen For

3:49 Is ChatGPT too nice for our own good?

6:55 Can AI flattery mislead leaders?

8:52 Do AIs just tell you what you want to hear?

14:36 Is generative AI breaking social unity?

20:45 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Mark Lowe

Guest: Tina McCorkindale, PhD

Website | LinkedIn | Google Scholar Profile

Link to Tina’s LinkedIn article on The Danger of Sycophancy in GenAI

Check out the IPR Video Series In a Car with IPR

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Can a cyclist-turned (accused) communist New York mayoral candidate teach the PR world a thing or two about emotional storytelling?

This week we unpack the “Mamdani effect” how Zohran Mamdani is rewriting the rules of political communications with cultural fluency, TikTok charm, and unforgettable soundbites.

Other topics, what are the comms implications of the Omnicom-IPG mega-merger, and what is the likely impact on agency identities, client retention, and the war for talent?

From Alberta, Canada… a Teacher’s Stike and the Government is paying parents. Is that to help them manage or is it a PR bribe? Are there ethical implications here?

Listen For

:34 What makes Mamdani a standout communicator?
3:10 Can Mamdani’s social strategy work outside NYC?
10:00 What’s the real impact of the Omnicom-IPG merger?
14:55 Is Alberta’s $30/day tactic good PR or spin?
18:49 Are PR communities key in turbulent times?

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

We publish the audio from these livestreams to the Stories and Strategies podcast feed every Friday until Sunday evening when it’s no longer available.

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Is attention the new currency? Politicians, brands, influencers, even your neighbor’s viral TikTok are all competing for the same scarce resource: your focus.

But attention is slippery. It can make you a household name overnight and it can vanish just as quickly.

In an age where algorithms decide what we see and artificial intelligence rewrites how we discover information, the fight for attention has never been more intense.

What happens when public relations and communications agencies find themselves at the same crossroads media once faced? How do you win attention when the competition is everything else in the feed? How do you turn fleeting visibility into lasting credibility? And how do you build narratives that not only go viral but endure?

Listen For

5:14 What is attention as a commodity in PR?

8:48 How has the attention economy changed branding?

11:22 What can PR learn from politics?

14:05 Are we paying too much for lost attention?

17:51 Are attention spans shorter or content louder?

18:53 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Richard Bagnall

Guest: Mark Lowe, Third City

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The call for better measurement in public relations is not new. For decades, leaders in the field have warned that counting impressions, likes, and advertising value equivalents is not enough. Yet here we are, still leaning on the same empty numbers while the C-suite is asking for proof of outcomes that matter.

The urgency has been with us for years, but too often the industry has not listened to its own advice.

We aren’t listening to ourselves!

Now, as budgets are cut and communications teams risk being sidelined, the pressure to finally get measurement right has never been greater.

Richard Bagnall is recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts in PR measurement, past chair of AMEC, and co-creator of the Integrated Evaluation Framework. He has worked with global organizations from NATO to the World Bank and continues to remind practitioners that vanity metrics will not protect their budgets or their jobs.

Listen For

4:48 Why does PR measurement matter now?
7:27 What are outputs, outtakes, and outcomes?
11:41 How do you measure with no budget?
14:05 What is “crawl, walk, run”?
18:40 Jonathan Mast’s answer to last episode’s question?

Guest: Richard Bagnall

X | LinkedIn

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Farzana Baduel, David Gallagher, and Doug Downs tackle everything from President Trump’s militarized immigration crackdown to what brands can (and shouldn’t) learn from his relentless communication machine.

The trio explore how symbolism, messaging velocity, and the "attention economy" are reshaping both politics and brand strategy. They dissect a compelling new report on navigating the “era of compounding crisis,” debate PR’s role in a post-truth landscape, and end with a sharp take on the commercial and reputational mechanics behind Netflix’s Victoria Beckham doc.

Listen For

2:33 How is Operation Midway Blitz being framed?
5:46 What makes Trump’s communication so effective?
11:15 What is “compounding crisis” leadership?
13:46 Can crisis comms protect the bottom line?
19:03 Is the Beckham doc PR or journalism?

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

We publish the audio from these livestreams to the Stories and Strategies podcast feed every Friday until Sunday evening when it’s no longer available.

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Search is changing faster than most PR professionals realize. For years, SEO was about keywords and backlinks. Now, with AI-driven tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity shaping how people find information, the game is shifting to AEO (Answer Engine Optimization).

Instead of tricking algorithms, brands need to prove expertise, authority, and trustworthiness at every turn. To stay discoverable, we need to craft smarter prompts, produce content that actually engages, and choose the right AI tools for visibility.

AI is rewriting the rules of credibility and your PR efforts might get left behind.

Listen For

5:32 What’s the difference between SEO, AEO, and GEO?
8:32 Is Google losing its dominance in the search space to tools like ChatGPT?
11:24 Can AI-generated thought leadership be trusted?
13:28How should PR professionals train AI tools to deliver better content results?
18:19 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Susana Mendoza

Guest: Jonathan Mast

Website | Email | X | Facebook

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Getting Hispanic communications wrong is not just a slip. It can cost brands credibility, trust, and millions in wasted campaigns. Too often, companies think a simple translation is enough, only to find their carefully crafted message falls flat or even offends the very audience they are trying to reach. With more than 65 million Hispanics in the United States, representing one of the fastest growing and most influential communities, PR professionals cannot afford cultural blind spots.

In this episode Susana Mendoza, who helps brands authentically connect with Hispanic audiences, shares where campaigns most often go wrong, how to segment messaging without stereotypes, and why understanding generational and cultural nuances is critical to success.

From Univision and Telemundo to influencers and radio, Susana lays out the media landscape and offers practical insights for PR teams navigating sensitive issues such as immigration, healthcare, and public safety.

Ask us for the Spanish version of this transcript

Listen For

4:38 Translation Traps & Cultural Missteps

8:27 The Power of Spanish-Language Radio

11:17 Can ChatGPT Really Translate Culture?

15:38 Build Trust Before the Campaign Starts

17:21 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Jackson Wightman

Guest: Susana Mendoza

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What happens when your newsfeed becomes a battlefield?

In the US and UK, political leaders trade accusations, social media thrives on outrage, and communities are left simmering in distrust. What used to be disagreements over policy now look more like open hostility, with violence creeping closer to the center of public life.

Attacks on lawmakers, threats to schools, and the killing of high-profile figures are no longer shocking outliers but part of a troubling pattern.

This episode asks a difficult but urgent question: how much of this violence is rooted in the way we communicate? Words frame identities, assign blame, and sometimes push people toward radical action.

Sticks and stones may break bones… but in today’s world, it’s the words that are drawing blood.

Listen For

3:17 Identity-Based Polarization

6:22 How Algorithms Divide Us

10:20 The Rush to Blame

14:49 Messaging That Can Prevent Violence

19:33 Teaching Kids to Resist Radicalization and Disinformation

Guest: Amy Pate

Email | Website | X

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Google Search still holds about 90% of global search volume as of mid‑2025, but change is underway as more users begin turning to AI.

AI search is rewriting the rules of discovery, and PR needs to adapt. With ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity each scraping different corners of the web, the old focus on big-name publications is no longer enough. The most influential sources may now be niche review sites, specialized forums, or content hubs you have never pitched. Knowing what each Large Language Model (LLM) values and how to optimize for it, is becoming a core PR skill.

In this episode, we explore how Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is reshaping PR. From the rise of “dual websites” for humans and bots to the ethical tensions between LLMs and media outlets, we discuss how PR teams can rethink targeting, adapt content, and position clients for visibility in an AI‑first world.

Listen For

5:49 Dual Websites: One for Humans, One for Machines

8:39 LLMs as New Media Channels

11:38 What AI Tools Scrape (and Why It Matters)

14:45 Can Bots Get Past Paywalls? The Legal and Ethical Minefield

17:01 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Heather Blundell

Guest: Jackson Wightman, Founder Proper Propaganda

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More women are now leaving the PR industry because of perimenopause and menopause than because of childbirth.

That’s a staggering, often invisible, that’s shift happening right at the top. It’s not burnout or work-life balance pushing them out, but a phase of life that’s rarely acknowledged and even more rarely supported.

This episode is an unflinching conversation about the real pressures senior women face.

Why is menopause still a taboo topic at work?

How misunderstood are its impacts on confidence, performance, and retention?

And what must organizations and agencies do to support their best talent before they quietly walk away?

Listen For

4:22 The Invisible Workplace Crisis

7:01 The “Rush Hour” of Women’s Lives

10:01 Emotions, Gender, and Professionalism

13:37 Finding Balance in Psychological Safety

18:53 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Fred Cook

Guest: Heather Blundell, CEO Grayling

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PR really is at a crossroads… we’ve got old playbooks and new players coming in who want to change the rules.

In its report Mind the Gap, USC’s Center for Public Relations reveals sharp divides between Gen Z and older professionals on everything from AI and hybrid work to media influence and corporate purpose.

While Boomers and Gen X cling to the belief that human creativity will always be irreplaceable, Gen Z is charging ahead, optimistic about technology, eager for flexibility, and expecting brands to stand for something more than just profit. But will that energy survive once they step into leadership — or will they, too, get swallowed by the system?

In this episode, we sit down with Fred Cook, Director of USC’s Center for Public Relations and author of the Mind the Gap report, to explore whether we’re training young professionals for a world that no longer exists. Are we too obsessed with purpose and not focused enough on performance? Are old myths about PR holding us back? And most importantly — can Gen Z avoid the mistakes their predecessors made, or are they destined to repeat them?

Listen For

3:04 The Weight on Gen Z’s Shoulders

5:15 Communicating Across Generations in a Fragmented Media Landscape

8:08 Polarization as a Business Model

12:02 The Death of Corporate Purpose?

17:56 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Ayeni Samuels

Guest: Fred Cook, Director USC Center for Public Relations

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Mind the Gap Study

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Ayeni Adekunle Samuel argues that Africa is often misunderstood or reduced to oversimplified stereotypes by global brands, agencies, and even tech platforms.

Despite Africa’s complexity, diversity, and economic importance, key decisions — including PR, marketing, and tech strategies — are still shaped in places like New York and London, often without African expertise or context.

Ayeni shares his personal journey as a Nigerian entrepreneur building a pan-African and international PR firm, highlighting both the structural barriers (like bias, access to capital, lack of representation) and the opportunities (especially in areas like AI and local innovation).

Listen For

4:15 The Africa Strategy Mistake Global Brands Keep Making

7:41 The Case for Local Advisors

12:36 PR Prejudice: The Hidden Hurdles African Firms Face Abroad

16:30 Africa Has Talent, But Not Opportunity

17:10 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest David Gallagher

Guest: Ayeni Adekunle Samuel

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Why is the PR industry still having the same tired conversation? Year after year, event after event… while the world moves on without us?

We talk about getting a seat at the table, then sit quietly when we do.

We debate metrics like we haven’t had decades to solve them.

We celebrate awards for campaigns that often say nothing and change even less.

We hold events that are same panel conversations… different year.

Somewhere along the way, the industry built for cultural leadership got stuck in a cycle of repetition, imposter syndrome, and comfort.

David Gallagher of Folgate Advisors is a veteran voice who’s seen the industry from the inside and isn’t afraid to say what others won’t. It’s time to stop outsourcing our thinking and start redefining what this industry is actually for.

Listen For

4:58 Are We Really as Dynamic as We Claim?
10:22 Why PR Avoids True Innovation
11:34 How PR Lost Its Science-Driven Edge
17:43 Following the Wrong Model: PR as Advertising’s Shadow
19:30 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Bill Welser

Guest: David Gallagher, Folgate Advisors

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What does it take to rebrand an entire nation? Not just a logo or slogan—but the name itself. Gökhan Yücel helped lead the campaign to officially shift the international name from Turkey to Türkiye.

It’s a move that goes far beyond semantics—touching diplomacy, identity, and global perception. Gökhan pulls back the curtain on how such a monumental change has been communicated to the world and why it matters more than most of us think.

But this conversation goes even deeper. From repositioning Türkiye as the “nexus of the world” instead of merely a bridge between East and West, to attracting the next generation of global investors, to reshaping the way governments confront disinformation and how strategic storytelling can reshape the image of an entire country.

Listen For

3:06 Renaming a country… where do you even start?
6:53 How “country as brand” became a global strategy
9:42 “Hype is the new narrative”
13:57 Branding Türkiye for audiences in the West
16:33 From SEO to AEO — marketing in the AI era
18:15 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Bill Welser IV

Guest: Gökhan Yücel, Campaign Designer Hello Türkiye Country Rebranding Campaign

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Hello Türkiye Campaign (YouTube)

Türkiye Century Campaign (Official Site)

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What if the most powerful tool in public relations isn’t a pitch deck or media list, but your own story? In this episode, we’re joined by technologist-turned-storytelling-evangelist William Welser IV, founder of Lotic, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to help people uncover the data hidden inside their own narrative. From his days building satellites to his unexpected pivot into behavioral science, Bill shares why he believes personal storytelling isn’t just therapy, it’s strategy.

The most powerful communication connects the head and the heart, the human and the machine and yes, the PR and the AI.

Listen For

4:36 Why Story is the Richest Data Set
6:34 What lotic.ai Actually Does
12:15 Why PR Pros Need Self-Awareness Tools
17:28 How lotic.ai Makes Money (Hint: It’s Not Your Data)
21:09 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Brett Farmiloe

Try lotic.ai for yourself, FOR FREE

Guest: Bill Welser, Lotic

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What if the expert quote you just read in a news article wasn’t written by a human — but by AI?

That’s already happening.

A PR tool called Synapse is selling agencies the ability to fire off automated expert pitches to journalists, complete with research, personal-sounding anecdotes, and polished email copy — all with minimal human input. It promises one person can do the work of five and crank out twenty media pitches an hour.

But is this innovation, or is it a warning sign for the future of public relations?

In this episode, we’re unpacking what Synapse means for PR and media. We’ll explore why this kind of automation raises ethical alarms, how journalists are likely to respond, and what PR professionals need to do right now to protect trust, credibility, and the real value we bring to the table.

Listen For

6:12 Creepy or Clever? How Synapse Targets Reporters

7:48 Fabricated Experts: Ethical Red Line Crossed

10:35 Should the PR Industry Be Regulated?

11:16 How Journalists Will Fight Back With Closed Networks

22:40 Don’t Blame the AI—Blame Ourselves

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In today’s media landscape, journalists are drowning in pitches while PR professionals scramble for attention—often missing the mark entirely. But what if the problem isn’t the story, but the way it’s being told—and the tools we’re using to tell it?

In this episode, we sit down with Brett Farmiloe, the revivalist behind Help a Reporter Out (HARO), to unpack why this once-iconic platform fell off the radar, how he brought it back to life, and what it now takes to genuinely stand out in a journalist’s inbox.

Listen For

5:56 Why Journalists Are Still Drowning in Spam
7:05 The HARO Pitch Formula: Helpful, Authentic, Relevant, On-Time
10:20 Is the Definition of “Journalist” Changing?
14:05 What Journalists Really Want from PR People
20:15 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Graham Goodkind

Guest: Brett Farmiloe

Website | Email | X | LinkedIn | HARO LinkedIn

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What if everything you’ve been taught about pricing your work—tracking time, logging hours, justifying effort—was wrong? What if the real value of what you do isn't how long it takes, but what impact it has?

In a world where generative AI can draft press releases in seconds and churn out strategy decks before your coffee cools, PR professionals face a crossroads: race to the bottom by charging less for faster work—or redefine what clients are actually paying for.

In this episode, Graham Goodkind, founder and chairman of Frank, one of the UK’s most creatively disruptive PR agencies challenges how we think about pricing, pitching, and protecting our creative value—because if you’re still selling time, you’re selling yourself short.

Listen For

3:25 Why Time Is Not Your Currency in PR

4:49 Building Frank PR on Selling Ideas Not Hours

7:57 Frank PR Revenue and Profitability Stats

10:37 AI’s Role in Creativity and Workflow

17:42 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Lauren Passell

21:17 Graham’s Best Advice for Starting in PR

Guest: Graham Goodkind, Frank PR

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What if the smartest pitch you ever sent didn’t sound smart at all—but sounded real?

In a world where inboxes are flooded with AI-polished messages, Lauren Passell makes a strong case for going the other way: writing like a human, listening like a fan, and leading with a story—not a sales hook. This episode unpacks how to stand out by showing up differently, not louder.

Listen For

6:44 Authenticity: Real or Just a Buzzword?
9:43 The Empathy Wake-Up Call for PR Pros”
10:59 Pitching as Love Letters, Not Spam
12:00 Tink’s Radical No-AI Policy
18:34 Why PR Has a Reputation Problem
21:53 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Bradley Davis

Guest: Lauren Passell, Tink Media

Podcast the Newsletter

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Your reputation is your most valuable asset — but also the most fragile.

In today’s world, a single tweet, leaked email, or bad headline can trigger a crisis faster than you can hit "refresh." But reputation isn’t just about avoiding scandal — it’s about building trust, culture, and resilience before anything goes wrong.

In this episode, we speak with Emma Woollcott, one of the UK’s top legal experts in reputation protection, about what organizations need to know now to prepare for the headlines they hope they never make.

Listen For

4:42 Reputation Redefined: It's About Feeling, Not Thinking

7:54 Avoidable Crises: Most Disasters Don’t Come Out of Nowhere

9:38 Simulate the Storm: Why Crisis Drills Are Gamechangers

12:56 Crisis Command: Cutting Through Chaos and Ego

17:19 Rise of the Newsfluencers: The New Media Landscape

20:23 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Mark Burey

Guest: Emma Woollcott

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Is your media diet making you smarter? Or just more stubborn?

In this episode, we sit down with senior communicator and former journalist Mark Burey to explore how the collapse of shared truth is reshaping public relations. From the erosion of local journalism to the rise of AI-generated content. What does media literacy really looks like today? And what role do PR professionals play in rebuilding trust?

Listen For

7:33 What media literacy means in 2025

10:13 The decline of local journalism and its ripple effects

11:08 How PR has absorbed the watchdog role

13:39 What to do when misinformation feels like fact

15:43 Appreciative inquiry: changing minds without confrontation

21:23 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Bradley Davis

Guest: Mark Burey

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Are public relations and marketing two distinct disciplines—or is PR simply one piece of the broader marketing puzzle? It’s a question that stirs up strong opinions in boardrooms, agencies, and comms teams alike.

Some argue PR is strategic storytelling aimed at building relationships, while marketing is focused on driving sales. Others say that in today’s world of integrated messaging, the separation is outdated.

In this episode, we take on the debate head-on, exploring how the roles overlap, where they diverge, and whether the modern media landscape has blurred the lines beyond repair. Is PR still its own function—or has it become just another lane on marketing’s highway?

Listen For:

:10 Fyre Festival The Luxury Mirage
4:02 Influence vs Image Showdown
6:25 PR Is the Pie
10:14 The Sad Fate of Local Media
13:02 Metrics KPIs and the Dashboard Wars
18:54 Who Owns the Message
25:10 The Final Prediction Marketers Report to PR

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Most PR strategies still focus on the big three: social, legacy media, and search. But while everyone’s watching the headlines, the real conversations—the ones shaping trust, behavior, and brand reputation—are happening in people’s ears. Podcasts aren’t just a trend or another content format. They’re a strategic intelligence channel, and if you’re not monitoring them, you’re missing critical signals.

In this episode of Stories and Strategies, we talk to Bradley Davis, co-founder and CEO of Podchaser, the platform often called the “IMDb of podcasts.” From how global brands like Starbucks and Amazon use podcast data to shape campaigns, to why the most valuable audience insights aren’t public-facing at all, PR pros need to know what they can no longer afford to ignore.

Listen For

1:29 The Crackle That Started It All

3:33 Podchaser: IMDb for Podcasts

5:25 Podcasting as a Third Dimension of Analytics

8:20 Guest Pitching vs. Starting a Podcast

10:32 How Rogan, Newsom & Trump Changed the Game

13:05 Key Messages Out. Vibe Is In.

21:09 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Irene Lungu

Guest: Bradley Davis, Co-Founder & CEO, Podchaser

Podchaser | LinkedIn | Instagram | X | About Bradley

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What does public relations look like in a country where radio is still growing, social media still exploding, and communication reaches from rural villages to global platforms?

In this episode, we take a closer look at Zambia — a nation with a vibrant, evolving PR landscape shaped by both tradition and innovation.

Irene Lungu is one of Zambia’s leading voices in public relations and a board member of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management. She joins us to talk about ethics, communication trends, and the responsibilities that come with influence in today’s media environment.

We explore how Zambian practitioners are navigating rapid change, and what global conversations they're helping to shape.

Listen For

3:50 Why Zambia Regulated Its PR Industry

6:14 Resistance and Discomfort: Who Pushed Back

8:00 Is PR Regulation a Threat to Free Speech?

14:36 Global Standards, Local Contexts

16:14 The World’s #1 Risk: Misinformation

18:52. Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Olivia Fajardo

Guest: Irene Lungu

LinkedIn | Global Alliance Board Profile

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Employee engagement is evolving — and the old assumptions no longer hold. Today, workers want more than a paycheck. They want growth, flexibility, and to feel like their voices matter. In this episode, we unpack surprising new research on what really drives engagement, retention, and belonging inside organizations. Olivia Fajardo joins us to explain why internal communications has become mission critical — and how companies can move from simply talking to truly connecting. If you care about building teams that stay and thrive, this conversation is for you.

Listen For

4:14 PR: As Stressful as Firefighting

5:05 Why Communicators Feel More Purpose

6:34 Career Stagnation: The Hidden Threat

9:27 The Hybrid Challenge for Internal Comms

12:05 The Listening-Action Gap

12:10 Olivia’s Strategies to Build Trust and Accountability

20:05 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Helena Humphrey

Guest: Oliva Fajardo, Director of Research, Institute for Public Relations

LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Link to IPR Study Employee Engagement in the Communications Industry

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More Americans are turning down the volume on domestic news — and turning up British voices instead. From BBC to The Guardian, outlets across the Atlantic are reshaping how U.S. audiences see their own country.

Why is this happening? And what does it say about trust, tone, and the global conversation?

Listen For

3:48 British Media’s Rising Credibility in the U.S.

7:23 Could BBC Influence U.S. Culture?

12:29 Feminism, TikTok, and the Tradwife Dilemma

18:47 Femininity and Power Around the World

21:32 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Sarah Waddington

Guest: Helena Humphrey, BBC

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Feeling stuck or stressed at work? You might just need to GROW your way out.

Executive coach Sarah Waddington shares the power and practicality of the GROW model — Goal, Reality, Options, Way forward — in transforming workplace performance, especially within high-pressure environments like PR.

Sarah breaks down how this deceptively simple coaching framework fosters self-awareness, reduces stress, builds resilience, and helps individuals and teams move from dependency to interdependency.

From managing difficult clients and workplace lethargy to unlocking mindset shifts for career advancement, this conversation offers actionable tips to leaders and middle managers alike on how to introduce coaching into fast-paced and demanding cultures.

Listen For

5:15 Why GROW works for both work and life

7:04 Applying GROW in the pressure cooker of PR

11:52 Nightmare client scenario: Using GROW in real-time challenges

14:40 Resilience in PR: Avoiding burnout with GROW

16:37 — Baby steps for senior leaders to start using GROW

19:20 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Mark Borkowski

Guest: Sarah Waddington, CBE

Website | Email | X | LinkedIn | Wadds Inc.

FuturePRoof Community https://www.futureproofingcomms.co.uk/

Socially Mobile https://www.sociallymobile.org.uk/

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Reputation is often treated like an invisible asset—vital but fragile. And while we insure everything from homes to art collections, very few think to protect their name.

In this episode, we speak to PR pioneer Mark Borkowski about a bold new product: crisis insurance for individuals. It’s not just an idea—it’s a rethinking of how we prepare for the worst-case scenario in a world where reputation can be destroyed with just one social media post.

Listen For

4:10 The Power of Optimism Bias

10:33 Delivering Bad News to Powerful Clients

13:25 Why Killing Your Ego Matters

18:12 What Is Reputational Risk Insurance?

21:39 Building an Insurance Product for Reputation

22:50 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Jo Carr

Guest: Mark Borkowski

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See the LONGER FULL INTERVIEW on our YouTube Channel

You Tube

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What makes a workplace culture truly thrive—especially in the pressure-cooker world of creative agencies?

Can you REALLY be tough on the work but kind to your people without compromise?

Jo Carr, co-founder of Hope and Glory and President of Women in PR breaks down the complexities of workplace culture, empathy-driven leadership, and how to create spaces where people—and their diverse lives—can flourish.

From crafting policies that acknowledge the full spectrum of life’s moments to challenging outdated hiring mindsets, Jo brings wisdom, warmth, and a welcome dose of honesty. She shares how high standards and human kindness aren’t mutually exclusive, why culture should be additive rather than restrictive, and what it takes to keep women in the leadership pipeline.

Listen For

4:27 Culture = Environment + Experience

8:15 The House Metaphor: Building Structure, Allowing Individuality

9:17 From Culture Fit to Culture Add

16:57 How Do You Build Culture With Cultural Diversity?

19:13 Women in PR: From Majority to Minority in Leadership

23:09 Presence Over Perfection: Being Fully There, Wherever You Are

23:26 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Suhel Seth

Guest: Jo Carr, founder Hope & Glory PR, Women in PR

Website | Email | X | LinkedIn | Women in PR

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In an age where opinions form faster than facts and headlines spark outrage before understanding, how do brands, leaders, and storytellers stay credible?

Is your opinion truly yours? Or just an echo of your tribe?

In this episode, Suhel Seth unpacks the transformation of communication in the era of attention deficit — from the collapse of nuance to the rise of instant outrage, and why the art of thoughtful messaging might just be the most urgent skill of our time.

Listen For

3:07 The Cult of Immediacy: A Communication Crisis

7:59 The Lost Art of Contextualization

12:26 Social Identity & Tribal Thinking

14:32 Why Modern Society Fears Disruption

19:14 India: A Market or a Civilization?

23:57 Why India Didn’t Create Google or Facebook

24:50 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Andy Coulson

Guest: Suhel Seth

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What happens when the man behind the headlines becomes the headline?

Former tabloid editor and Downing Street comms chief Andy Coulson opens up about his very public fall from grace — from resignations and scandal to serving time in prison — and how he rebuilt his life and career in the shadow of cancel culture.

With raw honesty and sharp insight, Andy talks about the realities of recovery, the myth of reinvention, and why consistency and character matter more than ever in a world obsessed with outrage.

Listen For

10:57 How to Recover from Cancellation: Strategy Over Reinvention
15:45 Attention Deficit and the New Rules of Reputation
17:48 Crisis Management vs. Political Strategy: Don’t Follow the Trump Playbook
20:28 In a Polarized World, How Do You Define Good and Bad?

23:16 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Tina McCorkindale, PhD

Guest: Andy Coulson

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | Wikipedia Page

Andy’s Podcast Crisis? What Crisis?

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The media landscape is changing – and fast.

In this episode, Tina McCorkindale, President and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations, breaks down the shift away from traditional news and the rise of emerging media. Drawing on insights from a recent survey with PepperCom, she explores how trust in media is evolving and what that means for public relations.

From the rise of podcasts and influencers to the decline of legacy outlets, Tina offers essential strategies for communicators in today’s fractured media world.

Listen For

6:54 The New Media Relations Battlefield
8:56 The Rise of News Avoidance
14:22 Broccoli vs. Mars Bar: Explaining News to a Teen
19:59 The Power of Owning Your Channels
20:55 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Sue Heuman

Study with Peppercom Navigating a Changing Media Landscape | Institute for Public Relations

Guest: Tina McCorkindale, PhD

Website | LinkedIn | Google Scholar Profile

Check out the IPR Video Series In a Car with IPR

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The public relations industry has long been recognized as a female-dominated field, with women making up approximately two-thirds of the workforce. However, when it comes to leadership, women remain significantly underrepresented, comprising just one-third of top-tier roles. This disparity raises critical questions about the systemic barriers that prevent women from rising to senior leadership positions in PR agencies and organizations.

In this episode, we examine the challenges faced by women in their careers, the personal and societal factors that hinder their progress, and the strategies they’ve employed to overcome these obstacles.

Sue Heuman is a strong female leader in the PR industry, a designated Master Communicator through IABC, Past Chair of the IABC Global Communication Certification Council, and an executive leader.

Listen For

7:35 Where Are the Mentors?

9:38 Too Harsh or Too Soft? The Impossible Standards for Female Leaders

12:23 Sue’s Jaw-Dropping Boardroom Story

14:23 The Confidence Gap: Why Women Don’t Apply

22:48 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Carmine Gallo

Guest: Sue Heuman, IABC Fellow, Master Communicator

Website | LinkedIn

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Curzon Public Relations CEO, Farzana Baduel, joins the world’s most-listened-to PR podcast, as Guest Resident Co-Host!

Alongside host Doug Downs, SCMP and producers Emily Page and David Olajide MPRCA, this season will explore PR through a truly global lens—tackling industry challenges, leadership insights, and the evolving media landscape.

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀:
𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘗𝘙 – 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 75% 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘶𝘱 𝘢𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘪𝘥-𝘭𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘨𝘢𝘱 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵.

𝘈 𝘎𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 – 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘍𝘢𝘳𝘻𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘜𝘒, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘰𝘶𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘥𝘢, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘥𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥, 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴.

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Ideas shape the world, but only when they’re communicated effectively. Some individuals have a remarkable ability to present their ideas in a way that captivates, influences, and inspires. A well-crafted and powerfully delivered idea doesn’t just inform—it transforms.

Imagine if you could unlock the exact techniques used by the world’s best communicators, watch them deliver unforgettable presentations, and apply their secrets to engage your own audience. Carmine Gallo, has studied hundreds of TED Talks, interviewed top speakers, and worked alongside neuroscientists and psychologists to uncover why certain presentations resonate so deeply.

Listen For

8:02 Make Others Feel Like the Most Important Person in the Room

11:43 The Rule of Three: Why Simplicity Wins

16:27 Energy and Passion: Your First 20 Seconds Matter

22:22 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Anne Gregory

Guest: Carmine Gallo

Check out Carmine’s newest book “The Bezos Blueprint”

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This episode is in honour of Podcasthon and in support of the Canadian Cancer Society

When facing a life-altering cancer diagnosis, how much does communication—between doctors, patients, and loved ones—truly matter?

In this deeply moving episode, Doug Downs sits down with Tim Kelter and Pete Paczko, two men with firsthand experience navigating cancer’s devastating impact.

Tim shares the heartbreaking story of losing both his daughter and wife to cancer, while Pete, currently battling stage 4 liver cancer, discusses the power of resilience and the role of community support.

They dive into the failures and successes of medical communication, the well-meaning but sometimes misguided reactions from friends and family, and how music and simple human connection help them process their grief. This is an emotional and eye-opening conversation about love, loss, and the urgent need for better conversations around cancer.

Listen For

7:25 "Dad, I Don’t Want to Die" – Tim’s daughter, Carolyn, breaks down upon hearing her diagnosis, expressing her deepest fear, while Tim struggles to find the right words to comfort her.

9:35 "You Should Expect to Be Dead" – Pete recalls a temporary oncologist bluntly telling him he had only 12–18 months to live, only for his regular doctor to later dismiss the claim as unknowable.

29:35 "The Song That Woke Her Up" – Tim shares how his son played Bennie and the Jets for Carolyn while she was in a coma, and when she woke up, she remembered hearing it.

Guests: Tim Kelter and Pete Paczko

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What if the key to development isn’t learning more—but unlearning first?

In this episode, we explore how rural communities in underdeveloped nations can shape their own futures by moving beyond Western-imposed models of engagement.

Professor Anne Gregory, shares insights from her research in rural Indonesia, where micro-hydro powerplants are transforming villages, and explains how a new approach to participatory communication is empowering communities to take charge of their development.

Listen For

7:15 Why Top-Down Strategies Fail Without Community Input

9:35 The Importance of Local Partnerships in Community Engagement

14:51 The Problem with Western KPIs in Southeast Asian Communities

19:26 The True Meaning of Empowerment in Development Work

24:46 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Michelle Baty, PhD

Guest: Anne Gregory, Ph.D., BA, FRSA, HonFCIPR, Huddersfield University

University Website page | Email | X | LinkedIn

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In a world where technology is increasingly intertwined with human emotions, a new frontier is emerging—artificial intelligence that can understand how we feel. Imagine an AI system that doesn’t just analyze data but senses our emotional state through the words we choose, the way we describe our experiences, and even how consistently we check in with ourselves.

This isn't science fiction. Advances in natural language processing, psychology, and machine learning are making it possible for AI to interpret human emotions with surprising accuracy. Researchers are now using AI-powered systems to classify mood states based on self-reported text, combining insights from neuroscience and behavioral psychology to enhance human decision-making.

But how does an AI system detect emotions through words? What psychological theories guide its ability to distinguish between stress, motivation, or disengagement? And could this technology reshape how we interact with machines—perhaps even with one another?

Listen For

9:46 AI Can Accurately Estimate YOUR Emotional State

12:34 AI Detects Emotions Before Humans Do

18:41 Is this Ethical?

22:48 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Greg Wasserman

Guest: Michelle Baty, Neuro Psychologist

Threads | Instagram | Facebook

Listen to Michelle on the Stronger by Design podcast with Michelle MacDonald

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This episode originally published in May 2024.

At the end of 2023, PRSA assembled a group of 25 senior communicators from a wide range of industries, in-house and firms, for an additional meeting, with several follow-up meetings with subject matter experts, all spearheaded by Ray Day, 2024 PRSA Chair-elect. Three main actions emerged:

We need to champion honesty and transparency, recognizing the need to enhance message strategies to outpace misleading information (which will always exist)
We need to emphasize the importance of community-based listening and education, advocating for civil discussion to foster a more informed and respectful public
The PR industry needs to become a trusted entity by reinforcing integrity and reliability across all communication channels

Listen For4:54 A Stakeholder Engagement Process for Addressing Misinformation
11:04 Community Level Education Strategies
14:56 Focus on Building Trust
19:26 Civility and Constructive Discourse

Guest: Ray Day, 2024 chair PRSALinkedIn

PRSA News Release
Download the Guidebook

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Personal branding isn’t just for influencers or CEOs—it’s for anyone who wants to stand out, build trust, and create new opportunities.

Whether you’re an employee, entrepreneur, or freelancer, the way you present yourself can open doors or close them.

In today’s digital world, people aren’t just hiring résumés—they’re hiring reputations.

A strong personal brand can make you the go-to expert in your field, help you attract new clients, and even future-proof your career. But crafting a brand that feels authentic and powerful doesn’t happen by accident—it takes strategy, consistency, and a clear message.

It’s the business of being YOU.

Listen For

7:08 Why if You Fake it... You WON'T Make it

10:35 The Rise, and Risks, of Influencers

11:54 Imposter Syndrome and Personal Branding

16:58 How to Build a Personal Brand from Scratch

18:58 Your LinkedIn is your Resume – is it Working for You?

21:07 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Michelle Garrett

Guest: Greg Wasserman

LinkedIn | Linktr.ee

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Ever created a PR or communications plan, only to stash it away and forget about it? You’re not alone.

Guest Michelle Garrett breaks down why so many businesses struggle to execute their PR strategies—and what they can do to fix it.

You need to set clear goals, measure meaningful metrics beyond just media mentions, and ensure consistency in PR efforts instead of relying on one-off campaigns.

Michelle also shares insights on the rising importance of personal branding, the evolving media landscape with AI-driven searches, and how companies can effectively identify and reach their target audiences.

Listen For

06:02 The Wrong Metrics: What NOT to Track in PR
07:39 Common Mistakes in Evaluating PR Success
11:03 The Rise of Personal Branding in PR
13:06 How AI is Changing PR and Searchability
14:34 Finding Your Audience in a Fragmented Media Landscape
15:49 Why Trade Publications Matter More Than Ever
18:23 How Leaders Can Lend Their Voice to PR Without It Eating Up Their Time
19:34 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Kendall Breitman

Guest: Michelle Garrett

Website | Email | X

Michelle’s book B2B PR That Gets Results

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As brands seek to cut through the digital noise, a fascinating trend has emerged: recording conversations with CEOs and decision-makers to create authentic, shareable content that humanizes their leadership.

Kendall Breitman shares her insights on why this strategy is resonating with brands and audiences and how storytelling and transparency are becoming key drivers of brand trust in today’s world.

Listen For

5:25 Turning Internal Meetings into Public Content

8:26 The Shift from Logos to Personal Branding

20:30 Authenticity vs Message Control in CEO Storytelling

22:45 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Jim Rudolph

Guest: Kendall Breitman

Website | X | LinkedIn | Instagram

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Fractional Leadership is a growing, and possibly permanent, trend of fractional leadership and why it’s becoming a permanent shift in the business world. As organizations face leadership gaps, budget constraints, and rapidly evolving challenges, fractional leaders—experienced executives hired on a part-time basis—are stepping in to provide strategic guidance and stability.

What is the unique value they bring? How do they differ from consultants and full-time executives? And what does it take to succeed in these high-impact roles?

Listen For4:02 Fractional Leadership as an Agile Solution
8:16 Building Trust Quickly as a Temporary Leader
16:14 Leadership Without an Agenda
20:50 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Farzana Baduel

Guest: Jim Rudolph, JGR CommunicationsWebsite | Email | LinkedIn

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TikTok is a powerful social media tool in the United States. About 170 million Americans use the platform and for many marketing and PR agencies it’s the preferred go to tool.

The average time on TikTok in 2024, per user, is estimated to be 58 minutes per day.

But several governments have banned TikTok from being used on Government devices – including the United States, Canada, the UK and Australia. In India, TikTok is banned altogether.

In late April 2024, President Biden signed a bill into law that has bipartisan support. It’s called the National Security Act, 2024. Under the new law, ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, has until late January 2025 to divest itself of TikTok and find new ownership for the social media company.

TikTok is fighting back saying the law is unconstitutional.

What does the potential ban mean for marketing and PR pros?

Listen For

5:10 The Impacts a Ban on Tiktok Will Have on Different Sectors

6:07 Platform Contingency Plans

21:12 Regulation and Market Dynamics

Guest: Cayce Myers, PhD, LL.M., JD, APR

Email | X | LinkedIn | Website

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Communication is the most important weapon a Navy SEAL can carry—more vital than physical strength, endurance, or even firepower.

Listen For4:26 The Power of Nonverbal Communication
6:36 Simplicity is Key in High-Stress Environments
10:33 Self-Communication Shapes Success
12:24 Adaptability in Crisis Situations

Guest: William Branum, former Navy SEALWebsite | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook

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Soft Power. It’s the concept of influence… not control – and it can shape global perceptions, drive brand loyalty, and create lasting impact.

In this episode we learn what soft power really means, how it differs from traditional PR, and how companies can use it to build trust, foster connections, and stand out in a competitive market (or even world order).

Through storytelling, cultural identity, and corporate responsibility, discover how your organization—or personal brand—can expand its reach and impact… all done softly.

Listen For6:24 Defining Soft Power
7:48 Soft Power in Nation Branding and Campaigns
9:42 Psychological Impact of Familiarity in Marketing
14:21 Building a Corporate Soft Power Strategy
22:16 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Jason Cercone

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She made the internet howl with one absurd phrase. Haliey Welch, the self-proclaimed “Hawk Tuah Girl,” turned a bizarre street interview viral fame almost overnight.

What started as a joke spiraled into a full-blown phenomenon, with memes, merchandise, and her very own cryptocurrency. But it was the viral cry that became a crypto crash.

In this episode, we unpack the wild story of Haliey Welch’s meteoric fame. Her viral catchphrase to the lawsuits surrounding her failed crypto venture, the absurdity of meme culture, the dangers of influencer hype, and what it all says about us as a society.

Listen For1:46 Virality is Unpredictable
5:07 Leverage Authenticity and Quality Content
12:51 Influencer Responsibility Matters
14:35 Sustainability of Fame Requires
21:28 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Karl Mawhinney

Guest: Jason CerconeWebsite | Email | LinkedIn | YouTube
Listen to Jason’s podcast Let’s Blow this Up

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In today’s crowded digital landscape and with marketing budgets tighter than ever, brands are looking for fresh, innovative ways to connect with younger audiences. One emerging frontier? K-12 schools. These classrooms are no longer just hubs of learning—they’re evolving into powerful spaces where brands can make a meaningful impact while building long-term affinity.

Whoa… you mean vending machines for soft drinks and chips?

No.

From sponsoring STEM programs to supporting arts initiatives and even helping address teacher burnout, brands are finding creative, value-driven ways to engage.

But how can marketers navigate this opportunity ethically, ensuring their efforts genuinely support students and educators? Let’s explore how to strike the right balance in this delicate but promising space.

Listen For6:45 Kleenex’s “Heroes of the Classroom” Campaign
9:12 Key Metrics and Emotional Engagement
12:16 Core Principles: Jersey Mike’s Community Engagement
19:16 Recognition Programs: Kroger’s High School Initiative
21.42 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Frank Strong

Guest: Karl Mawhinney

Website | X | LinkedIn | Instagram

Campaigns Karl mentioned

Costco/Kleenex
Big 5 Sporting Goods
CM Facebook

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Wikipedia is one of the top the most-visited websites in the world. Additionally, it has influence. The information on Wikipedia is also disseminated across the web on Google’s Knowledge Graph and associated search page components, quick summaries of topics on Siri and Alexa, and even into news articles, podcast discussions, and government websites.

Wikipedia is also of interest for SEO practitioners, heavily influencing Google search results and now impacting outputs from generative AI software like Chat-GPT.

Everyone from journalists, investors, and your customers are using Wikipedia to understand your company. Do you understand how it works and what you can do about it?

Guest: Rhiannon RuffEmail | LinkedIn | Lumino Digital’s website | Rhiannon’s book Managing a Crisis on Wikipedia

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Time to explore predictions for the coming year in public relations, marketing, and the evolving role of AI. There are conflicting views on AI's future, its role in content generation, and whether the hype has peaked or we're still climbing the AI rollercoaster.

But there’s no arguing with the importance of transparency and authenticity rising to the challenges of disinformation. Frank Strong of Sword and Script conducted an industry survey and shares the results with us.

Listen For6:43 Is the Future of AI Utopian or Dystopian?
9:31 Tough of Disillusionment: Are we There Yet?
10:06 Transparency as a Competitive Advantage
12:12 Why Differentiation Matters in an AI World
17:21 Trust in Influencers: Hollywood vs Niche Experts
21:22 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Brian Porter

Guest: Frank Strong, Sword and the Script Media LLCWebsite | X | LinkedIn | Instagram
Read the survey results
Subscribe to Frank’s blog

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We think we can tell when bots take the pen,
When AI spins words again and again.
"Deep dives" and "delves" in their usual tone,
The cadence, the phrasing, they’re not quite our own.

But the line’s getting blurred, it’s harder to see,
Is this human or machine-crafted poetry?
The last bastion, they said, where humans excel,
Was poetry’s heart, its unbreakable shell.

Yet now a new study has shattered the view,
At Pittsburgh, they’ve found something striking and new:
When placed side by side, the verdict is clear,
AI’s verses are what we hold dear.

From Chaucer to Whitman, and Dickinson’s art,
AI poems are stealing the heart.
So the boundary fades, as the data suggests,
The machine's taken hold in humanity’s text.

Listen For3:42 Why AI Poems are Preferred
4:48 Straightforward Nature of AI Poetry
8:06 Impact of Cognitive Bias
18:42 Potential of AI in Broader Art Forms
19:39 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Jess Jensen

Guest: Brian Porter, University of PittsburghWebsite | LinkedIn
Read the Abstract by Brian and his team

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Executives are finally beginning to understand the power of participating in digital channels.

“What if I mess up?”

“Why would anyone want to hear from ME?”

Those WERE the common excuses until about five years ago when the trend lines changes and it was more common for executive leaders to BE on social media than not.

Still, most sound like cheerleaders for their company don’t they? We aren’t REALLY getting to know them, just where they work and a less-than-subtle message about why we should support or even patronize their organization.

How to help them sound more authentic? More real? Maybe there is a way.

Listen For
08:12 Playing it Safe: Executives “Dipping Toes” in Social Media
09:11 Frank Cooper’s LinkedIn Masterclass
10:30 Sarah Blakely’s Authentic Instagram Approach
14:05 Injecting Personality Into Executive Communication
15:42 Connecting Through Emotion, Humor, and Value
22:20 The Professional-Authentic Balance for Executives
23:18 Crafting a Narrative Framework for Digital Success
24:35 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Dr Karen Hills Pruden

Guest: Jess JensenWebsite | email| LinkedIn | X

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There’s a striking imbalance in the PR industry: while women make up two-thirds of the workforce, they hold only a third of executive positions.

For Dr. Karen Hills Pruden the strategy to help women close this leadership gap is to focus strongly on provable analytics. She shares how to amplify your value through metrics, finding your unique selling proposition, and why silence is NOT a superpower when it comes to self-advocacy.

Listen For4:34 Amplifying Your Value at the Table
6:21 Immediate vs Delayed ROI in PR
10:55 Analytics Every Aspiring Leader Needs
12:42 The Three Pillars of Leadership Metrics
14:05 Barriers Women Face in Leadership
17:31 The Value of a Unique Selling Proposition
20:18 Silence is NOT a Superpower
22:16 Advocating for Yourself at the Leadership Table
23:29 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Matt Krayton

Guest: Dr Karen Hills PrudenWebsite | Email | LinkedIn

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What can political campaigns teach us about the art of public relations? Political strategist Matt Krayton explores how modern political campaigns have become masterclasses in PR strategy. From messaging and media to influencers and voter vibes, Matt breaks down what worked in the recent US election, what didn’t, and why.

Listen For8:09 The Role of Social Media in Shaping Voter Perceptions
9:10 Were Democrat Messages on Target?
11:29 Celebrity Endorsements. Do They Work Anymore?
13:10 Podcasts and Niche Media: The New Political Battleground
14:19 Why Influencers Resonate More than Celebrities
16:44 The Double Edged Sword of Traditional Media
17:48 How “Horse Race” Reporting Impacts Political Narratives
20:11 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Adrian Cropley

Guest: Matt Krayton, PubliticsWebsite | Email

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Jaguar is one of the most iconic luxury car brands in the world, known for its sleek designs and powerful engines. But has the company made a fatal mistake that could impact its future?

It’s rebranding, launched last week, has drawn widespread and almost universal criticism. One writer even called it “Imminent Brand Immolation.”

Is this the end of Jaguar? Or does a cat always land on its feet?

Listen For4:59 The Cat is Dead: First Reactions to the Jaguar Rebrand
6:38 Blue Steel, But Make it Jaguar
7:46 Did Jaguar Set its Identity on Fire?
14:26 Pissing Off Your Loyal Audience: Bold or Brain Dead?
17:27 Living Your Values vs Alienating Your Base?
19:30 Save the Cat: Imagine a Jaguar Brand Turnaround

Listen to Tyler’s podcast Collisions YYC

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In many ways, the ground is shifting beneath our feet. PR professionals are shifting from traditional roles to becoming trusted advisors in a world where AI and data are reshaping the landscape.

Generative AI and advanced analytics are changing the way PR pros build strategies, measure success, and influence public perception. But how can AI be used responsibly? How do we go beyond simple metrics to understand true impact? And what skills are essential in this new era of PR?

Listen For7:38 Why PR Pros Must Shape AI Development
13:41 Outcomes-based Dashboards. The Future of PR Analytics
17:38 How PR Hiring Needs to Change in the AI Era
19:03 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Raphael Labbe

Guest: Adrian Cropley, OAM, FRSA, IABC Fellow, GCSCE, SCMPWebsite | Email | X | LinkedIn
CSCE link to training offerings
Check out Adrian’s podcast

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There’s a rising tide of disinformation threatening corporate communication and financial stability. It’s increasingly influential and at times very well-funded.

Most recently there was the infamous Adidas hoax, where activists manipulated public perception to spark conversations about workers' rights.

A new tool called Wiztrust Protect is a blockchain-based solution designed to certify and verify corporate information, helping companies safeguard their reputation and ensure the truth prevails in an increasingly deceptive digital landscape.

Listen For3:51 The Rising Tide of Corporate Misinformation
8:10 Examples of Stock Market Manipulation Hoaxes
12:27 How Wiztrust’s Blockchain Verification Works
18:45 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Rod Cartwright

Guest: Raphaël Labbé, WiztrustWebsite | Email

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Our World faces a lot of big problems all at once right now. Wars, disinformation, climate change, and money troubles.

A new report suggests these problems actually reinforce each other, creating a “new abnormal” state of constant risk. Life feels uncertain and that’s becoming normal.

The report emphasizes we need to shift our focus, not just by using technology but by focusing on people. Shift resources toward human preparedness and critical human infrastructure rather than relying solely on technical systems.

Listen For7:12 Why Crises Deserve a Human Response
10:23 Poly-Crisis: The New Normal in Crisis Management
14:24 Crisis as a Turning Point
16:59 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Brittany Brown

Guest: Rod CartwrightLinkedIn
Download the Full Report “Reputation, Risk and Resilience
Article for UK’s National Preparedness Commission o the crucial role of human preparedness and critical human infrastructure

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Why is strategic communications so important to NASA? And what strategies do they use? What audiences do they target?

Brittany Brown of NASA shares how NASA tailors messages for different audiences - ranging from super fans to untapped communities and stakeholders. She shares insights into memorable campaigns, including the Apollo 11 moon landing and the Parker Solar Probe.

Listen For 5:21 Segmenting NASA's Audiences
9:38 Making Complex Science Relatable
11:02 Collaborating with Partners - There's Space for Everybody
21:30 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Arik Karani

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Arik Karani, the President of the African Public Relations Association shares why three African nations have introduced mandatory certification for public relations professionals. It’s intended to standardize the PR practice and enforce ethical practice but they also standardize pay rates and even protect practitioners from being fired needlessly.

Is it working in Africa? Would it work in the United States?

Listen For4:37 Elevating Professional Standards
8:57 Penalties for Unlicensed Practice
12:58 Standardizing Pay for PR Professionals
19:22 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Sia Papageorgiou

Guest: Arik Karani, President African Public Relations AssociationX | LinkedIn

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Is professional certification is becoming a must for the industry? Sia Papageorgiou challenges the traditional idea of accreditation and argues that certification is the real game-changer for PR professionals. She shares insights on why the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC) stands out with its internationally recognized standards, and why it’s crucial for communication professionals to continually update their skills to stay relevant in a rapidly changing field.

Listen For2:43 Certification over Accreditation
6:02 Ongoing Education and Accountability
12:55 Mandatory Certification in Some Countries
17:00 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Vince Nero

Guest: Sia Papageorgiou, FRSA, FCSCE, SCMPWebsite | Email | X | LinkedIn
CSCE link to training offerings

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We perform a tricky balancing act every day – writing for both the human eye and the search engine algorithm. As content creators, we’re constantly faced with the dilemma: Should we prioritize crafting engaging, meaningful stories that resonate with our readers, or should we focus on hitting those all-important keywords that boost our SEO rankings?

The rise of semantic SEO adds yet another layer to this puzzle, as it pushes us to consider not just the words we use, but the intent and sentiment behind them.

In this episode, the Search Dilemma: Human Eye or Algorithm?

Listen For3:34 Prioritizing Human-Centric Content
5:31 Google’s Evolution and its Impact on SEO
15:27 Testing and Personalization
21:20 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Dallas Taylor

Guest: Vince Nero, BuzzstreamX | LinkedIn

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This episode first published in May 2023.

It’s as if we have a new toy. When Open AI released Chat GPT-3 last November, and made it fully accessible to the public, it suddenly changed how we can create engaging and relevant content for our audiences, with just a few prompts.

Not only can we CREATE content, but we can also gather valuable insights into customer behaviours and preferences like never before. By analyzing the data generated by customer interactions, businesses can identify patterns and trends they can use to optimize their strategies.

But it’s all so new for so many of us. What exactly can we do with this NEW TOY?

Listen For2:00 Understanding Generative AI as a Tool
6:35 Mega Prompting for a Consistent Brand Voice
8:06 Personalizing Content with AI
19:41 Ethical Considerations in AI

Guest: Brad Williamson, Lead Strategist Catch DigitalWebsite | Email

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Sound is powerful.

Doug connects Dallas Taylor of the Twenty Thousand Hertz podcast to explore the remarkable influence of audio on human connection and branding. From the hidden magic of Sonic branding to how podcasts create lasting bonds, they uncover why audio remains one of our most potent yet underutilized senses.

They also dive into the darker side of audio, discussing the rise of deep fake technology and its impact on trust in the digital age. Whether you’re a PR professional or just curious about sound’s role in our lives, this episode offers valuable insights into the world of audio.

Listen For4:17 Audio’s Hidden Powers
6:58 Sonic Branding’s Emotional Impact
11:41 Audio and Deep Fakes
20:55 Answer to Question Posed Last Week by Dean Heuman

Guest: Dallas TaylorWebsite
Dallas’ podcast 20 Thousand Hertz

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How do you navigate leadership changes, even when the decisions make little sense?

In this episode, Doug and Dean Heuman tackle the challenges of handling leadership transitions, especially when the choices seem controversial. Using the recent example of the Edmonton Oilers hiring a new GM, they explore the delicate balance between maintaining trust, managing emotions, and ensuring transparency. Heuman introduces the EFA (Emotion, Fact, Action) approach as a framework for communicators to manage such transitions effectively, stressing the importance of addressing internal and external concerns.

When leadership decisions ripple across employees, sponsors, and the broader community – the challenges become intricate, and the stakes are higher.

Listen For:5:51 The Ripple Effect of Leadership Changes
7:59 Edmonton Oilers: A Leadership Change Breakdown
12:42 The EFA Method: Managing Emotions First
18:19 When to Question a Leadership Change
20:12 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Akeem Anderson

Guest: Dean Heuman, Focus CommunicationsWebsite | Email | LinkedIn

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As the stakes grow higher in today's fast-paced, interconnected world, top executives are increasingly turning to social and other digital platforms to shape their public personas, engage with critical social issues, and build direct connections with key stakeholders. A new report explores the public relations and communications strategies behind these efforts and how this shift is redefining leadership in the digital age.

Listen For6:32 Executives are Moving Beyond Just Sharing Company News
9:51 Authenticity and Thumb-Stoppers
13:33 Building a Consistent Voice
16:24 Multi-Channel Presence
19:14 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Shayoni Lynn

Guest: Akeem Anderson, H Advisors AbernathyLinkedIn

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There is an anatomy of a disinformation campaign.

In this episode we reveal the tactics that make false narratives so dangerously effective. From the subtle beginnings of a lone post to the orchestrated amplification by bots, and finally, the unwitting spread by receptive hosts. These campaigns infect the public psyche faster than you can blink.

But we can fight back. We can invest in early warning systems, develop proactive diagnosis and intervention, and perhaps most uniquely, we can conduct experiments to test different interventions and techniques on audiences – simulating exposure to disinformation in a controlled environment.

Listen For:4:40 Understanding the Life Cycle of Disinformation
9:36 The Role of Receptive Hosts (or DisInfluencers)
11:15 Importance of Early Warning Systems
15:06 Experimentation and Simulated Exposure

Guest: Shayoni Lynn, Lynn GroupWebsite | LinkedIn

How Hate Spreads: How Hate Spreads: A briefing note from The Misinformation Cell - Lynn

Mpox and Conspiracy Theories: Mpox and conspiracy theories - Lynn

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This is a Replay from Episode 79 which first published in January 2023.

In this age of misinformation and disinformation we can all agree lies and deception are bad right?

Aren’t they?

Philosophers, psychologists, economists – and all those morality experts on social media have always insisted deception harms trust.

Four Behavioral Science studies done through the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania show that assertion just isn’t true. In fact, there lies we hear, knowing they are lies, that make us trust those liars even more.

So what’s the truth about lying?

Listen For4:02 Pro Social Lies and Trust
11:06 Altruistic Lies and Moral Credit
14:14 Cultural Differences in Lying
18:08 Lying in Politics

Guests Maurice Schweitzer, PhD and Emma Levine, PhD:Emma.Levine@chicagobooth.edu
Schweitzer@wharton.upenn.edu

Link to Emma and Maurice’s study Prosocial Lies: When deception breeds trust

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Narratives matter.

In a world where information spreads faster than ever, understanding and managing the stories that shape public perception is crucial. Constellation is an advanced narrative intelligence platform by Blackbird.AI designed to identify and mitigate reputational risks before they spiral out of control.

For marketing and public relations professionals, the stakes have never been higher. With a single post capable of damaging a brand's reputation, knowing how to detect and respond to harmful narratives is essential.

Listen For:3:23 The Importance of Narrative Intelligence in Managing Public Perception
4:41 AI Powered Risk Assessment for Organizations
10:30 Real World Applications and Case Studies
13:31 Mitigating Narrative-Driven Risks in Financial and Political Sectors

Guest: Dan LowdenWebsite| LinkedIn

Articles

Indian Disinformation Aims to Sow Division in Bangladesh Following Ousting of Prime Minister
Go Inside the UK Riot’s Harmful Narratives and Disinformation Campaigns

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Helping a brand within a heavily regulated industry develop a positive reputation can be a challenge.

Tobacco, alcohol, adult entertainment, pharmaceuticals, firearms, cryptocurrency, or cannabis. These sectors face stringent regulations and significant public scrutiny.

They also present incredible opportunities for marketers willing to navigate these hurdles. In this episode we explore the strategies needed to effectively promote products and services in tough industries, where traditional marketing approaches often fall short, and innovative, compliant strategies are keys to success.

Listen For9:05 Overcoming Industry Challenges Through Earned Media
11:45 The Importance of “Receipts”
14:32 Engaging the Canna-Curious Segment
19:11 Leveraging Testimonials and Case Studies for Older Demographics

Guest: Michael Mejer, Green Lane CommunicationWebsite | Email | Michael’s LinkedIn | Green Lane Communication’s LinkedIn | Instagram

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It’s an often overlooked but critical sin. Taking too many shortcuts in our work. The allure of quick fixes can lead to long-term damage and tank a brand’s reputation and trustworthiness. In this episode we uncover the hidden costs of cutting corners and the ethical implications that come with it.

Listen For4:42 Cutting Corners Using AI
6:26 Prioritizing Your Unique Strengths
11:00 Impacts of Cross Posting Content on Social Media
16:12 Cold Email Campaigns. Yea or Nay?

Guest: Jeremy EnnsJeremy Enns is the Founder of Podcast Marketing Academy where he helps scrappy brands & podcast creators make sense of marketing and hit their next growth milestone with step-by-step playbooks and approachable marketing education.

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Double the output – but lose the human touch?

From automating media monitoring and sentiment analysis to optimizing content and reshaping billing practices. AI tools are revolutionizing the PR landscape. But while AI can handle many tasks efficiently, there are critical areas where human creativity and emotional intelligence remain irreplaceable.

It’s not all rosy predictions for AI and PR – there are very real challenges of AI adoption and the surprising inertia many in the field are experiencing.

Listen For3:36 An example of AI Adoption Dramatically Increasing Productivity
7:44 Why PR and Marketing Pros Will Need to Shift to Value-Based Billing
15:29 AI Excels at Certain PR Tasks
21:55 Authenticity Will Stand Out in an AI-Saturated World

Guest: Michael SmartSubscribe to Michael's popular weekly newsletter on PR and AI tips

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We all use mental shortcuts to make decisions. Those mental shortcuts are the reason that first sentence in this episode description is so short.

Savvy marketers tap into these cognitive biases to influence out choices and drive success. In this episode, Nathan Yeung shares why understanding these shortcuts is crucial for creating effective marketing strategies and how trust and avoiding overconfidence play pivotal roles in winning over consumers.

Listen For4:21 Utilizing Availability and Accessibility Heuristics
9:08 Channel Strategy and Consumer Habits
11:35 Ethical Use of Cognitive Biases
14:15 Trust and Overconfidence in Marketing

Guest: Nathan Yeung, Find Your AudienceWebsite | Email | LinkedIn

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This episode was originally published September 13, 2022.

Enter Behavioural Science, which is an umbrella term capturing economics, anthropology, cognitive neuroscience, sociology, psychology, and political science. It’s the study of when and why individuals engage in specific behaviours by experimentally examining the impact of factors such as conscious thoughts, motivation, social influences, contextual effects and habits.

There are hundreds of firms exploring in this field now, working for clients trying to convince people to buy the right soap, vote for the preferred candidate, or choose the right behaviour. It’s a shift away from just best practices and intuition – to seek an understanding of human behaviour as best we can. One is standing out from the field and the industry has noticed. Lynn, in Wales. It’s won dozens of awards including “Fastest Growing Communications Business in the World.”

In this episode we meet the founder, Shayoni Lynn.

Listen For4:15 Understanding Behavioural Science
6:15 An Integrated Behavioural Science Approach
20:43 Misinformation and Disinformation Management
18:43 Sludge Audits

Guest: Shayoni Lynn, LynnWebsite | Email | X | Instagram | LinkedIn

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Listen For5:06 The Power of Listening
9:13 When You’re an Introvert
13:30 Finding Your Wedge into Group Conversations
20:14 Tailoring Your Stories

Guest: Robert Kennedy III

Website | You Tube

RK3’s August 2024 Webinar http://learnwithrk3.com/3swebinar

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Instagram Reels has become critical for brand promotion. Of all the things you can do on IG (Stories, Posts, Carousels…), Reels is number one.

SocialInsider studied this recently and found brands have increased their use of reels by 40% compared to the previous year because they’re more engaging than single images or carousels. Brands should have a consistent calendar for creating reels, but also use other content formats like carousels to reach their goals on Instagram.

And, as in any PR campaign, it’s important to understand your audience and tailor content to their preferences.

The “Reel” success for brands just might be in creating smaller, niche communities for more effective engagement.

Listen For3:38 Why Reels is Number One on Instagram and How Brands have responded
6:30 The Importance of a Content Mix
9:18 Understanding Your Audience
12:00 Why You Need to Get Their Attention in Three Seconds

Guest: Adina Jipa, Founder and CMO Social InsiderEmail | LinkedIn | Instagram | Instagram Benchmarks Report

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The debate was a disaster.

In this episode, we look at the chaotic political showdown between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, exploring the “What Now” for each party.

Janet Brown is an extremely well-respected pollster in Canada with NO political affiliation to either US party. We talk about what she would do if she was in charge of communications strategy for the Democrats and the Republicans.

Listen For6:38 The Need to Focus on Donors
8:40 Utilize Private Meetings for Recovery
14:06 Emulate Ronald Reagan’s “Morning in America” Campaign
21:32 How to Monitor Grassroots Indicators

Guest: Janet BrownWebsite | Email | X | LinkedIn

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The UN Secretary-General António Guterres's has made a controversial suggestion that public relations professionals should sever ties with fossil fuel companies. While his comments are aimed at combating climate change, they overlook the crucial role PR pros play in driving innovation and transparency within these companies.

By disengaging, PR experts could inadvertently hinder progress towards net-zero goals, as their expertise is vital in communicating and facilitating the transformative changes necessary for a sustainable future.

But this raises another question – when should we say no to working with a company?

Listen For4:02 Understanding the Influence of Public Relations
4:40 The Role of Public Relations in Environmental Progress
6:10 Ethics vs Morality in Public Relations
17:45 Driving Positive Change

Guest: Stuart BruceWebsite | Email | LinkedIn

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This is a Replay from Episode 73 which first published in October 2022.

You know how this feels. You’re called into a meeting on something important where a decision or action must be determined. But in the meeting, everyone takes turns making different points (presumably so they feel they’ve contributed to the meeting in front of their superior), the conversation goes wayward and when it comes time to making the decision, everyone’s confused or (worse) misled. This is typically the point where the most senior person in the room then makes decisions, essentially based on what they thought before they entered the room, and the meeting has been a waste of time.

It just doesn’t have to be this way.

The ORID method (Objective, Reflective, Interpretive, Decisional) traces its origins to a person named Joseph Matthews, a US army Chaplin who had just come home from World War Two. When he returned to his university professorship, he was consumed with the need to help people process the events of their lives – to help people build meaning from their own trials.

Matthews met an art professor who showed him that any encounter with art involves a trialogue – or three-way conversation – between the art, the artist, and the observer. The Professor explained:

"First you have to take the work of art seriously by observing carefully what's there, and what's not. Then you must look seriously at what is going on inside of you as you observe the art to see how you are reacting, what repels you? What delights you? You have to peel back layers of awareness so that you can begin to ask what it means to you. Art, the professor explained, is like listening. You must work to create your own meaning from an artwork, or a conversation.”

Matthews recalled his exposure to phenomenology - the study of phenomena and brought to mind readings of Soren Kierkegaard. Matthews used this structure to create, what was called the art form conversation, and what facilitators affectionately call the focused conversation method. The idea is a structured conversation that helps participants develop their thinking in a logical manner but following a natural human process for focused communication. Logic and facts are introduced first, then emotion is welcomed, followed by interpretation, and then a decision or resolution to the thinking process.

In this episode we talk with Robin Parsons, a seasoned professional facilitator who uses the ORID method all the time.

Listen For5:09 Definition and Role of a Facilitator
7:38 The ORID Method Explained
10:03 The Importance of Reflective Thinking
17:42 The Challenges with Surveys in Capturing Full Thinking Processes

Guest: Robin Parsons, MBA, CPF, CTFParsons Dialogue Ltd.
Website https://www.parsonsdialogue.com/
Email info@parsonsdialogue.com

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Leadership, and leadership communication, is evolving. The rules from even just five years ago (pre COVID) have shifted. In this episode Paige Williams shares how we can transform communication and leadership effectiveness by asking the right questions and staying rooted in curiosity.

These are strategies that can enhance creativity, engagement, and resilience in your team, whether you’re leading a small group or a large organization.

Listen For5:22 The Importance of Asking the Right Questions
7:09 Modern Leadership and the Ecosystem
10:14 Holding Plans Lightly
18:29 Positive Deviance

Books by Dr PaigeThe Leaders’ Ecosystem
What Does Good Look Like?
Own It!
Becoming Antifragile
Your Leadership Blueprint
Surviving to Thriving

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Awareness is likely the most compelling element of purchase decisions.

Hunter, a top consumer marketing communications firm says its studies show the power of awareness in purchase decisions. It’s also critical to have a multi-channel strategy that can capture your audience’s attention and drive them to action.

And there’s a surprising amount of strength to in-store communication and word of mouth shaping consumer behavior.

In this episode… what makes us buy.

Listen for:5:53 Key Insights from the Diagnostic Phase of the Hunter Study
8:26 The Importance of a Multichannel Strategy
10:59 The Surprising Dominance of In-Person Communication
19:35 Demographic Tendencies of Their Influence on Communication Channels

Guest: Heddy DeMariaWebsite | Email | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

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Check out the podcast Wildfires, Floods, and Chaos Communications

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In today’s fast-paced and interconnected world, effective communication is more crucial than ever for organizations aiming to maintain a positive public image. Public relations (PR) advisors play a vital role in shaping these communications, ensuring that messages align with company values, respond appropriately to crises, and enhance the brand's reputation.

However, a recurring issue is the reluctance of senior executives to heed the advice of their PR professionals. This disconnect can have significant repercussions for both the executive and the organization.

Why don’t they get us?

Listen For:3:57 Senior Execs Who Misstep then Double Down
5:03 Importance of Media Training for Execs
7:44 Executive-Level Overconfidence
10:36 Effective Collaboration Between Executives and PR Teams

Guest: Michelle GarrettWebsite | Email | X

Michelle’s new book B2B PR That Gets Results

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Here’s a different perspective. What if we didn’t regard AI as a technology? What if we thought of it as a stakeholder?

AI has the power to influence and even revolutionize industries from sustainable development to climate intervention. At the same time, we know the risks involve navigating ethical complexities and misinformation.

Maybe we need to expand our perspective beyond this tool we’re learning to use, and accept it as a complex voice we need to influence for the greater good.

Guest: Rupert Younger, Founder and Director of the Oxford University Centre for Corporate ReputationX | LinkedIn | Oxford University Centre for Corporate Reputation | Enacting Purpose Initiative | Activist Manifesto

PublicationsRupert’s original article in Oxford Answers
The reputation game: the art of changing how people see you

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This episode was originally published September 13, 2020 but it's just as relevant today as then. Easily one of the most thoughtful episodes we've ever done.

"Society is changing... there's a new elite emerging and those elite have huge amounts of power."
Professor Anne Gregory, Ph.D., BA, FRSA, HonFCIPR, Huddersfield University, a.gregory@hud.ac.uk

The Artificial Intelligence in Public Relations panel was founded in 2018. It’s a global volunteer committee, developed through the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) comprising senior communications professionals and leading PR academics and researchers. Recently CIPR and the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) partnered to publish the AI in Ethics Guide which seeks to improve ethical decision-making of algorithms and other automated tools to avoid harmful impacts on individuals.

To access the Ethics Guide to Artificial Intelligence in PR:
https://www.cipr.co.uk/ai
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This week we’re featuring an episode of the “Building Better CMO’s” podcast with Greg Stuart.

GE has changed a whole lot since Global CMO Linda Boff started working there, more than 20 years ago. It was once a sprawling portfolio company that made everything from microwaves to television shows; recently, it spun off its healthcare, energy, and aerospace divisions into three distinct public companies, and executives like Linda take these core areas of focus very seriously.

Linda and MMA Global CEO Greg Stuart discuss how to punch above your weight with a smaller marketing team, why B2B businesses don't have to be boring, the importance of communicating to the rest of the C-Suite in their language.

Guest Linda BoffLinkedIn

This episode was produced and edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod.fm.

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Andrea Rooz has been a professional voice actor for two decades. In this episode she shares the intricacies of voiceover work, including the importance of acting classes and improvisation skills. She also highlights the shift in the industry from seeking traditional "radio voices" to preferring more relatable, everyday voices.

Andrea outlines some of her techniques for maintaining a clear voice, such as chewing gum, staying hydrated, and munching on green apples.

She also discusses the challenges of the job, including dealing with demanding clients and the increased competition due to the rise of home studios during the pandemic.

Listen For4:25 – The Industry Shift from “Voice of God” to “Voice of the Everyday Person”
5:19 – How to Adapt Voice to the Product or Service and Audience
10:12 – The Role of Demographics in Voiceover Choice
13:06 – Technical Aspects and Preparation for Voiceover Work

Guest: Andrea RoozWebsite | LinkedIn | One of Andrea’s TTC reads for the TTC

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TikTok is a powerful social media tool in the United States. About 170 million Americans use the platform and for many marketing and PR agencies it’s the preferred go to tool.

The average time on TikTok in 2024, per user, is estimated to be 58 minutes per day.

But several governments have banned TikTok from being used on Government devices – including the United States, Canada, the UK and Australia. In India, TikTok is banned altogether.

TikTok is fighting back saying the law is unconstitutional.

What does the potential ban mean for marketing and PR pros?

Listen For5:10 The Impacts a Ban on Tiktok Will Have on Different Sectors
6:07 Platform Contingency Plans
21:12 Regulation and Market Dynamics

Guest: Cayce Myers, PhD, LL.M., JD, APREmail | X | LinkedIn | Website

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Travel marketing is changing. This episode explores the impact of shifting seasonal travel trends, evolving social media search habits, and the new booking landscape on marketing strategies.

Learn how generations differ in their travel planning, how VR and AI are reshaping the industry, and why rich storytelling matters.

Discover how to connect with travelers at every stage and measure campaign success through cutting-edge analytics.

Listen For:3:26 Seasonal Travel Trends Shift
4:07 From Bleisure to Lissness
6:11 The Power of TikTok in Travel Marketing
19:58 Data-Driven Measurement

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Travel marketing is changing. This Sunday's episode explores the impact of shifting seasonal travel trends, evolving social media search habits, and the new booking landscape on marketing strategies.

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The Public Relations Society of America has united communication professionals across industries to combat misinformation. It’s a critical challenge and a battle we need to be honest about… we’re losing.

We need to champion honesty and transparency, recognizing the need to enhance message strategies to outpace misleading information (which will always exist)
We need to emphasize the importance of community-based listening and education, advocating for civil discussion to foster a more informed and respectful public
The PR industry needs to become a trusted entity by reinforcing integrity and reliability across all communication channels

Listen For3:54 A Stakeholder Engagement Process for Addressing Misinformation
10:04 Community Level Education Strategies
13:56 Focus on Building Trust
18:26 Civility and Constructive Discourse

Guest: Ray DayLinkedIn

PRSA News Release
Download the Guidebook

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This is a promo for this Sunday's episode.

We've almost heard ad nauseum about misinformation and disinformation. Yes Yes it's bad and it needs to be stopped. But who is actually doing something about it?

PRSA is taking this on. they've assembled a group of 25 senior communicators from a wide range of industries, in-house and firms, for an additional meeting, with several follow-up meetings with subject matter experts, all spearheaded by Ray Day, 2024 PRSA Chair-elect. Three main actions emerged:

We need to champion honesty and transparency, recognizing the need to enhance message strategies to outpace misleading information (which will always exist)
We need to emphasize the importance of community-based listening and education, advocating for civil discussion to foster a more informed and respectful public
The PR industry needs to become a trusted entity by reinforcing integrity and reliability across all communication channels

NEW EPISODE this Sunday morning

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This is a throwback to episode 52 of this podcast.

Listen For6:47 The Fundamentals of Nudge Theory
8:02 The Impact of Context on Behaviour
9:03 Economic vs Psychological Solutions
10:39 Examples of Nudge Theory in Everyday Contexts

Canadian Nudge Team = BeSci Team
UK Nudge Team = Behavioural Insights Team
Australian Nudge Team = Behavioural Economics Team of Australia
American Nudge Team = Social and Behavioural Sciences Team

Guest: Rory SutherlandWebsite

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This episode examines the current state of each of the big social media channels.

Which platforms are the most used? Which ones are we engaging the most on? Where are content creators sinking their energy? And what can we predict in the near-term future for each?

Listen For5:57 X (formerly Twitter)
8:45 Facebook
9:54 Instagram
13:36 Threads
16:56 TikTok
18:34 YouTube
20:50 LinkedIn
21:59 Pinterest
22:56 Medium

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Frankie is the dinosaur that went digital.

The emergence and impact of virtual influencers can be seen in the United Nations' innovative climate change awareness campaign featuring a dinosaur named Frankie. This multifaceted initiative, which spanned a video in 38 languages, social media outreach, a children’s book, and various global events, successfully reached an audience of 2.2 billion.

In this episode we dig into the strategies behind the campaign's broad reach, including content repurposing for diverse platforms and audiences, and the compelling use of personal narratives to forge a community rather than just an audience.

Guest: Nicholas BruneauWebsite | Email | Skype | LinkedIn

Engage with Impact Website
Engage with Impact on Amazon
Check out the YouTube Trailer for the Engage with Impact book
Watch Frankie the Dinosaur Video

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In his new book Engage with Impact, Nicholas Bruneau uses interviews and case studies from the UN, EU, World Bank and nonprofit organizations to demonstrate the power of agility in corporate communications today.

A – Adopt a Startup Mentality
G – Go Digital First
I – Inspire with Personal Stories
L – Leverage Your Content
E – Empower Your Community

Listen For7:32 Utilizing Digital Strategies Effectively
9:32 Developing On-Message Tools
16:54 Optimizing SEO

Guest: Nicholas BruneauWebsite | Email | Skype | LinkedIn

Engage with Impact Website

Engage with Impact on Amazon

Check out the YouTube Trailer for the Engage with Impact book

Watch the original 2012 video Science, It’s a Girl Thing

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In today’s competitive market, exceptional customer service is not just a luxury but a crucial element for business success. With the rise of digital interactions over traditional shopping experiences, customer service agents have become more than problem solvers; they are guides, educators, and relationship builders. Their ability to effectively interact with various types of people, in various kinds of moods, can be the defining factor between gaining loyal customers or losing them.

Studies show the cost of acquiring new customers can be five to 25 times higher than the expense involved in retaining existing ones. So investing in the training and development of these agents is not merely an option, it’s a business imperative. Their role as the primary point of contact makes them vital in shaping customer experiences and sustaining the company’s competitive edge.

Guest: Priscilla BrookeWebsite | Email | X | Instagram
Priscilla’s podcast Happy to Help

Priscilla Brooke is the Head of Podcaster Success for Buzzsprout, a podcast-hosting service, based in Jacksonville Florida.

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What are the rules?

In an era where artificial intelligence is revolutionizing communications and marketing, this episode dives into the critical conversation about the impact of AI, the void of formal regulations, and the industry's quest for ethical self-regulation.

It may well be up to us as a profession to craft our own ethical guidelines and envision what effective self-regulation could look like to safeguard the future of communications.

In this episode, a glimpse into what those regulations might look like. And should we even have rules for something we don’t really understand yet?

Listen For5:29 The Revolutionary Impact of AI and the Need for Self-Regulation
6:47 The Broader Influence of AI and the Challenge of Regulation
9:53 The Premature Nature of AI Regulation and the Importance of Education
14:07 Self-Regulation, Ethical Guidelines, and the Potential Role of Gen Z

Guests:
Professor Christian StieglerLinkedIn | Guiding Light | Website
Prof. Dr. Christian Stiegler is the Director of Guiding Light - an international organisation for ethics and sustainability in technologies. As an award-winning researcher and internationally renowned expert on emerging technologies, he writes and speaks extensively on subjects such as XR, AI, technology ethics, the metaverse and emerging technologies.

Manuel Hűttl, CEO Milk & Honey PRLinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Manuel Hüttl is Partner and CEO of Milk & Honey PR, a global Public Relations agency dedicated to shaping brand reputation. He is an industry veteran with over twenty years of experience, and opened Milk & Honey’s first continental Europe office in 2022. Manuel Hüttl holds various board positions and leads the AI Steering Group at Milk & Honey PR.

Download the AI Ethical Playbook by Milk & Honey

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Tyler Chisholm is the CEO of a leading marketing firm and the creative force behind a popular Calgary-based podcast that shines a spotlight on local leaders and innovators.

In this episode Tyler shares his strategic insights on how podcasting can be a powerful tool for developing brand affinity, engaging with a community of listeners, and creating a loyal customer base.

Listen For7:01 Overcoming Initial Hesitations
10:10 Podcasting as a Business Tool
18:59 Content Repurposing and Engagement Metrics

Listen to Tyler’s podcast Collisions YYC

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Stories capture imagination and can entertain but they’re most powerful when they also serve a strategic purpose.

In this episode, Doug, and Mike Nachshen dive into the profound impact of narrative alignment with business goals.

The discussion emphasizes the necessity of strategic intent behind stories, citing examples by Marriott Hotels, a Fortune 50 company, and Ronald Reagan at the Berlin Wall.

Listen For:03:44 Strategy Over Story
07:19 The Physical Power of Messaging
10:01 Audience Desires vs. Business Goals
18:53 The Historic Call to Action

Guest: Mike Nachshen, Fortis Strategic Communications LLCWebsite | LinkedIn
Read Mike’s article in PR Daily about Why Strategy Beats Storytelling Every Time

Reagan Library Berlin Wall Speech

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In this episode we’re cross-examining a recent warning from Canada's Competition Bureau that has businesses buzzing and reevaluating their online review strategies. The Bureau has put the spotlight on the potential bias of employee-generated reviews and testimonials, signaling a need for companies to monitor these contributions closely.

Yet, in the realm of internal communications, encouraging employees to be brand champions is considered foundational. So, where does the line between advocacy and bias lie?

And it isn’t just Canada moving in this direction. There are signs the United States, UK, and Australia may be too.

How can organizations navigate this complex landscape?

Listen For4:32 Is it Still Legal for Your Employees to Leave Reviews Without Declaring They are Employees?
10:37 This is Happening in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia
15:43 The Role of Disclosure in Employee Reviews
18:38 Influencers and Native Advertising Ethics

Guests: Gavin Tighe and Stephen ThieleWebsite | Gavin email | Stephen email

Listen to Gavin and Stephen’s podcast Beneath the Law

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For the past 2+ years nights have been tense in Kyiv and throughout Ukraine.

Julia Petryk, one of the co-founders of the Ukrainian PR Army joins us one evening to share what life is like now and the critical role of communications in the ongoing conflict. The efforts of the PR Army have helped mobilize a formidable information front to combat disinformation and keep Ukraine's situation in the international consciousness.

This episode offers a unique look at the power of strategic communication in times of war and the unyielding fight for national identity and sovereignty.

Listen For3:15 The Role of PR in Conflict Zones
4:37 Founding the Ukrainian PR Army
13:56 Utilizing AI in Counteracting Disinformation
23:25 How PR Pros can Help

Read Kateryna’s Story on the PR Army website

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Managing public relations for the British Royal Family is an intricate world, particularly now amidst the backdrop of King Charles III's health concerns. Two people who’ve been very close to that world are David Yelland, former editor of the Sun in the UK, and Simon Lewis who… managed public relations for the Royal Family under Queen Elizabeth II.

In this episode we explore the evolution of public relations strategies within the Royal Family. Simon and David share their insider perspectives based on their experience. What are the biggest PR challenges facing the Royals today with the health of King Charles III in question? How has the Royal Family adapted to the digital age? And what advice would they give today?

Listen For3:11 The Evolution of Royal Communications Strategy
4:42 Reviewing the Importance of Simon’s Role as the First Comms Director for the Royal Family
5:54 Transparency and Openness Within the Palace
10:03 The Importance of Duty and Public Service

Guests:
Simon Lewis, former Communications Director for Queen Elizabeth II
David Yelland, former Editor of the SunListen to Simon and David on their podcast “When it Hits the Fan” as produced by Raconteur for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds.

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The third edition of the Asia-Pacific study by PRovoke Media flags Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) as a key driver behind rising optimism and budgets for communications leaders. But underneath the top layers, there’s uncertainty.

Listen For4:21 The Importance of ESG in Asia Pacific
7:50 The Role of Communications Teams and ESG
9:25 Measurement of ESG Efforts
13:32 DEI Challenges

Guest: Arun SudhamanWebsite| X | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
Read the PRovoke Media 2023 Asia-Pacific Communications Index

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Last week we had a look at how to make an apology when you should – and why most apologies are just awful. But there’s another side to that human interaction – forgiveness. Accepting an apology. An apology can be the key that unlocks forgiveness, yet forgiveness can also occur in its absence, driven by personal growth and healing.

In this episode we look at the psychological journeys involved in embracing forgiveness.

Listen For5:22 Why Apologies are Mandatory but Forgiveness is Not
8:13 Forgiveness Benefits the Forgiver
10:10 The Importance of Acknowledging Apologies
15:09 Self-Forgiveness and its Role in Personal Growth

Guests:
Marjorie IngallWebsite | LinkedIn | Instagram | Wikipedia Page | Contact

Susan McCarthyX | LinkedIn

SorryWatch.com

The Meagan Napier Foundation

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There are a lot of apologies out there. And a lot of them only serve to make things worse.

“I’m sorry if you were offended”
“We’re sorry if what we said was misunderstood”
“The situation is regrettable”
“Sorry but we have the right to do it and we reserve the right to do it again”

Sometimes a bad apology is because someone wants to hold on to their pride, or deep in their heart an apology can’t be right because they know they’re the hero of their own story.

In this episode Susan McCarthy and Marjorie Ingall of SorryWatch.com share some of what they see behind the bad apologies and offer good advice for doing better.

Listen For4:23 Why Apologies are Important to Society
5:54 The Challenges (and Benefits) of Apologizing
9:59 The Key Elements of a Good Apology
13:15 Why Sometimes You Shouldn’t Apologize Right Away

Susan McCarthyX | LinkedIn

SorryWatch.com

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The report shows two-thirds of senior leaders say they would describe their role as both marketing and communications but there’s a clear shift happening toward marketing.

More focus on brand awareness, broader reach, building media relationships, and managing brand reputation.

What does that mean for budgets in 2024? For content strategy?

Muck Rack helps us understand the trends.

Listen For4:14 The Roles of Marketing and Communications are merging
6:21 How Budget is Being Allocated
10:41 The Focus on B2B or B2C?
12:38 Is Enough Attention Being Paid to Internal Communications?

Download the Muck Rack State of PR Report

Guest: Linda Zebian, Muck Rack senior director, communications and communityLinkedIn
Muck RackX | Instagram | LinkedIn | Threads | Website

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Historically, our approach to setting objectives and evaluation criteria has been organizational-centric. What is the company trying to achieve? What behavioural changes are needed by our key audiences to accomplish those goals? How do we nudge or persuade the behaviours of our key audiences?

But is that satisfying those audiences? Is it ethical for us to think our job is to influence their behaviour? Are we considering how those audiences are evaluating us?

In this episode Anne Gregory, a past chair with the Global Alliance and CIPR, and a recipient of Lifetime Achievement awards from both the PRSA and CPRS, says a new approach is needed. One that marks a step toward a new direction, emphasizing a more inclusive and responsive evaluation framework that aligns with the dynamic nature of modern communications and stakeholder engagement.

Listen For5:45 Anne’s Challenge of Traditional Evaluation Methods
8:28 Redefining the Purpose of Public Relations
10:46 Bridging the Gap Between Organizational Goals and Stakeholder Expectations
20:12 Aligning Communication with Your Societal Role and Stakeholder Expectations

Guest: Anne Gregory, Ph.D., BA, FRSA, HonFCIPR, Huddersfield UniversityUniversity Website page | Email | X | LinkedIn

You can download An evaluation u-turn: From narrow organisational objectives to broad accountability by Anne Gregory and Jim MacNamara here

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In March 2021 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle gave an interview to Oprah Winfrey that was absolute gold for fake You Tube body language experts. Some said it was a significant moment when she touched her nose. Others said she revealed all when she showed the tip of her tongue. And another said the tell-all moment was that one particular blink. The top five videos of those “analyses” generated 5.9 million views.

The Royals aren’t alone. A video analyzing the nonverbal communication of family murderer Chris Watts was watched by more than 38 million people. After the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard court case there were numerous body language experts on You Tube giving analysis like “when she licks her lips here, that’s when she’s lying.” Even Dr Phil has done videos analyzing precise body movements he said have definitive meaning.

The problem? It’s all voodoo. There is no acceptable scientific method to decode body language. There is no “language of the body.” It is pseudoscience wrapped in bells and whistles to delight and amaze. And it’s based on our human tendency, in our everyday lives, to make judgements based on what see and interpret which is influenced by our internal prejudices.

In this episode, the truth about nonverbal behaviour, and why misinterpretation can be downright dangerous to society.

Listen For6:02 Debunking the Famous Myth that 93% of all Communication is Non-Verbal
14:21 How Misconceptions Influence Decision-Making
17:16 Non-Verbal Communication in Credibility Assessment
19:28 Challenges in Applying Non-Verbal Communication Guest: Vincent Denault, Ph.D. , McGill University Postdoctoral FellowWebsite | LinkedIn | You Tube

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There may be an emerging overreliance on generative AI in marketing and public relations. While artificial intelligence can enhance efficiency and creativity, it shouldn't overshadow fundamental marketing strategies. PR and marketing often focus too much on tactics like AI, neglecting the importance of a coherent, overarching strategy.

Maybe Generative AI is part of a bigger problem.

Listen For4:47 Strategic Focus Over Tactical Execution
8:27 The Role of Generative AI in Marketing and PR
11:01 The Value of Human Insight in Content Creation
13:27 The Emerging Role of Prompt Engineers

Guest: Joe Zappa, Founder Sharp Pen MediaLinkedIn | Sharp Pen Media LinkedIn | X | Website | Email

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This is a FEED DROP of an episode of the Parenting and Personalities Podcast

Imagine your child still hasn’t cleaned their room although you’ve asked them to numerous times. You probably don’t need to imagine. You remind them again, this time in a stronger tone, perhaps even demanding. And they either don’t or they do but the communication between you is strained.

Another approach to this might be the “Curiosity Approach.” Your child doesn’t care about a clean room, they care that it’s THEIR room. They care about the ownership of it. So imagine interacting with your child on the possibilities they could do with THEIR room. Possibilities they realize for themselves can only happen if they straighten some things up.

The Curiosity Approach is just one of the tools Life Coach Ellie Bambury uses working with parents and their kids to help them forge real communication.

Guest: Ellie Bambury, The Big Sister ProjectInstagram: @thebigsisterproject_
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Contact Kate Mason:Email | Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | X
Kate's book on Amazon

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Who Is This Monster (or Treasure) in My House?: A Parent’s Guide to Understanding Personality Types to Better Connect with Your Kids

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Hurricanes, floods, wildfires. Depending on where you live there are times when authorities tell you it’s in your best interests to leave your home. This gets people to safety and creates necessary room for emergency teams they so desperately need.

Evacuation is scary for residents. Some may have a chronic illness, some are afraid their home or property may be damaged or looted, and yes good old-fashioned stubbornness is another factor. Sometimes people feel they can do a better job of protecting their property than emergency officials and they aren’t necessarily always wrong.

But emergency teams are beginning to notice a trend. The percentage of people refusing to leave is growing and that’s creating more danger. Additionally, there are stories of verbal abuse and intimidation toward emergency personnel trying to do a very difficult job.

What is a communications pro to do?

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Politicians, like any public figures, sometimes make verbal slips or misspeak, leading to memorable and often humorous moments. Here are a few notable examples:

George W. Bush: Known for his malapropisms, one of his most famous misspeaks was when he said, "They mis underestimated me," combining "misunderstood" and "underestimated."

Barack Obama: In 2008, while campaigning, Obama mistakenly said he had visited "57 states" in the U.S., obviously misspeaking the number of states.

Dan Quayle: As Vice President, Quayle famously misspelled "potato" by adding an unnecessary "e" at the end during a school spelling bee.

Donald Trump: Known for his unique speaking style, Trump once referred to the CEO of Apple, Tim Cook, as "Tim Apple," which became a widely discussed gaffe.

Joe Biden once introduced Barack Obama as Barack America.

Keeping politicians on message and on strategy can be tough. In this episode we explore a few ways to do it.

Listen For4:35 Storytelling in Political Communication
5:40 Understanding Your Audience and Choosing the Right Channels
7:26 Utilizing Digital Media
13:10 Crisis Management and Reputation Building

Guest: Krysten Copeland, KC & Co CommunicationsWebsite | Email | X | Instagram

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The University of Oregon has introduced the first master's program in immersive technologies, focusing on augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and extended reality (XR). The program aims to create thought leaders and strategists in the field, helping organizations understand and utilize these technologies.

Despite slower adoption rates than expected, AR and VR technologies are still experiencing steady growth. The program also highlights successful uses of AR and VR, such as the Australian wine brand 19 Crimes, which uses AR to animate the images of convicts on their wine bottles, providing a richer brand experience for consumers.

But are we ready to use these tools? Are our audiences ready to consume them? And how do we ensure they’re used to address not only business opportunities but social and environmental challenges?

Listen For:
5:11 The Emergence of Immersive Media in Marketing
7:40 The Challenges in Adopting AR, VR and XR Technologies
10:22 The Impact of Hype-Cycles on Technology Adoption
15:28 The Importance of Media Literacy and Strategic Communication in Emerging Technologies

Guest: Donna Z. Davis, Ph.D., APRAssociate Professor + Director, Immersive Media Communication Master’s Program + Director, Oregon Reality (OR) Lab | SOJC
Link to the Immersive Media Communications Master’s Program
X | Link to Donna’s VR publications

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This week we’re offering another bonus episode in the form of a “Feed Drop” by The Speak Good Podcast. This episode was first published by Throughline Group in June 2022.

Brad Phillips and Christina Mozaffari reveal six advanced public speaking tips – from how to present more effective slides to how to improve your look during a virtual presentation.

Throughline Group
Website | Email | Blog | Listen to The Speak Good podcast

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In today’s crowded digital landscape, standing out as a genuine thought leader amidst the cacophony of voices is a unique challenge. Many voices may be influential, but all can claim the title of a true thought leader. Some naturally gravitate to this role, others pursue it, a few stumble into it.

Some are bold visionaries. Others are evolved communicators, or they have a consistent presence (you know what they’re about). And then some are action-minded community builders.

Regardless of how one attains the status of “Thought Leader” it’s important for companies to provide the time and resources for thought leadership development. It should be an intentional part of a leader’s role, rather than just a side project. When nurtured correctly, it can yield significant benefits for the companies and individuals.

Guest: Kathleen LucenteLinkedIn | X

Red Fan CommunicationsLinkedIn | Instagram | X | Website

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In 1917 the US Government found a unique way to reach a mass audience before mass media even existed. Movies. When projectionists needed to change the reel mid-movie, that took about four minutes. That was the perfect window of time to deliver a patriotic message and support an effort that ultimately changed the world.

The four-minute speeches used an old tool (speeches) but embraced a newer technology (movies). And the true brilliance of the delivery was finding that window of time when people were most likely to listen.

In this episode we speak with the chair of the Public Relations Society of America (2023) Michelle Egan, exploring the modern role of communications professionals as we embrace emerging artificial intelligence. And we look at how the role might change over the next 50 years as technologies continue to evolve.

Listen For:
5:22 The adoption and perception of AI tools
7:13 Ethical considerations in AI
12:10 The evolution of the PR professional
15:29 The future of PR and professional communications

Guest: Michelle Egan, APR, Fellow PRSA, 2023 PRSA Chair

Read Michelle’s editorial “How Important is it for Your Organization to Have a Code of Ethics?”

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Wikipedia is one of the most-visited websites in the world. Additionally, it has influence. The information on Wikipedia is also disseminated across the web on Google’s Knowledge Graph and associated search page components, quick summaries of topics on Siri and Alexa, and even into news articles, podcast discussions, and government websites.

Wikipedia is also of interest for SEO practitioners, heavily influencing Google search results and now impacting outputs from generative AI software like Chat-GPT.

Everyone from journalists, investors, and your customers are using Wikipedia to understand your company. Do you understand how it works and what you can do about it?

Listen For4:17 The importance of Wikipedia for PR and SEO
5:51 The role of Wikipedia editors
10:38 Brand presence on Wikipedia
12:13 Common mistakes Brands make on Wikipedia

Guest: Rhiannon RuffEmail | LinkedIn | Lumino Digital’s website | Rhiannon’s book Managing a Crisis on Wikipedia

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The benefits of a multicultural campaign should be obvious by now but let’s document some of them so it’s clear.

Reflect societal trends and values
You’re able to actually understand more of your audience/stakeholders
Involve people in appropriate settings and context
Create tailored marketing content and strategies
Broaden your brand’s story as inclusive of diverse cultures

September 15 through October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. It’s recognized in the United States, but also in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela. There’s also recognition in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

In this episode we connect with Cuban American Manuel Machado from CCOM Group which specializes in multicultural campaigns.

Guest: Manuel Machado, Co-Chair CCOM GroupEmail | X | LinkedIn | CCOM Website |Forbes Article by Manuel

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It’s an area of the world so few of us in the west really understand. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia. All countries that make up what we can refer to as Central Asia. The list of Global Top 100 companies is growing there as Google, Coca Cola and others understand how important it is.

In the midst of this region’s rapid growth and transformation, PR and Marketing specialists must consider the unique rules governing their work. The media landscape is different across the region with some nations embracing freedom of speech and press, while others follow a more government-controlled media approach and others still are influenced by powerful oligarchs. In this diverse media landscape traditional media is still powerful but now social media’s influence is growing rapidly and has become a powerful tool in shaping narratives and influencing public opinion.

Guest: Alexander LikhtmanEmail likhtman@itcomms.io
Alexander’s bio and articles he’s written
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Propel Media has released its Q3 2023 Media Barometer and again it’s showing journalists responded to only 2.99% of nearly 500,000 pitches sent to them. It’s the third straight quarter in which journalist response rates are below three percent and a rather clear signal to PR pros we need to shift our pitching tactics to beyond just mainstream media.

This year alone Buzzfeed News shut its doors, Vice filed for bankruptcy, ESPN laid off 20 on-camera personalities, the LA Times laid off 74 newsroom staff, and Insider nixed 100 jobs. Outside the US in Canada, Australia, and Great Britain similar stories are unfolding.

In this episode, why response rates are so low and which pitches have a glimmer of hope.

Guest: Zach Cutler, Propelhttps://www.propelmypr.com/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/propel-crm/
Twitter @propelprm
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/PropelPRM

Download the Propel Media Barometer – Q3 2023

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Understanding the structural changes that happen in our brain when we change our minds adds a fascinating dimension to the study of this cognitive phenomenon. We already recognize that external factors such as new information, social influences and familiarity play significant roles in our decisions but exploring the underlying neural transformations provides deeper insights.

When we alter our perspectives or revise our beliefs, intricate neuronal connections within our brains undergo modifications. These changes involve the strengthening or weakening of synaptic connections between neurons to form new neural pathways.

Change your mind and you change you.

Guest: Allyson Andrade, Ph.D. Candidate Behavioural Neuroscience, University of Guelph

Aandra02@uofguelph.ca

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An online survey of 300 people in the United States, Germany, and South Korea explores consumer perceptions of media brands vs other brands. Among the findings:

When people trust the content shown on the platform, they were more likely to trust the platform (and vice versa)
The media channel being used (i.e., television news) has a significant impact on the level of trust in the content being consumed
We think of television, radio, film, music, social media, print, outdoor ads, and video chats as media brands
We don’t think gaming, online retailing, influencers or global tech brands are media

Guest: Steffen HeimLinkedIn

Download the study Exploring Trust in Media Brands today: Definition, Dimensions and Cross-National Differences

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One might use social media in a social marketing campaign but they are starkly different things. Social marketing is a marketing approach designed to influence behavior with the primary goal to be achieving the common good.

The first evidence of social marketing was in 1963 at the Indian Institute of Management when they introduced a national family planning program with high quality, government brand condoms distributed and sold throughout the country at low cost.

Other campaigns you know have followed the social marketing approach including anti-tobacco campaigns, skin cancer campaigns promoting the use of sunscreen with slogans like “Slip! Slop! Slap!”

AIDS, water conservation, and numerous health industry campaigns have also followed the social marketing approach.

Guest: Julie Colehour, Partner C+CJulie is the co-author of Social Marketing: Behavior Change for Good, Edition 7
Connect with Julie on LinkedIn
Connect with Julie on Twitter
www.cplusc.com

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Measurement is a key part of the success of any professional communications plan. And it’s the same with internal communications. But the right kind of measurement, and measuring the right things is just as important.

A 2023 Deloitte Study shows 58% of corporate affairs leaders consider data and insights to be their top area for improvement. Good internal communication should go beyond proving value, it should be a strategic tool, helping leaders diagnose issues, find resources, create programs and take action based on insights from data analysis.

Guest: Aniisu Verghese, Ph.D.https://www.aniisu.com/
aniisu3@gmail.com

Look for Aniisu’s newest book Inclusive Internal Communications on Amazon

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The Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) has launched an initiative to find the ultimate Campaign that Changed the World over the last three quarters of a Century. CIPR is asking YOU to vote on one of the seven PR Campaigns shortlisted below as the best in the last 75 years:

1948-59 Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott
1960-69 Civil Rights Movement in the United States
1970-79 The first Earth Day
1980-89 AIDS activism: a medical breakthrough
1990-99 Virgin Atlantic vs British Airways
2000-09 iPhone Launch
2010-19 Climate Change: The Paris Agreement
2020-23 Covid, vaccinating the world

You’re familiar with each of these including some iconic moments and sound bites, but how much do you know about the actual campaigns? We cover them all in this episode.

If you were to pick just one… JUST ONE… what would it be?

Place YOUR vote for the best PR campaignVoting is open until June 23, 2023.
You do NOT need to be a member of CIPR to vote.

Read the CIPR News Release

Guest: Anne Gregory, Ph.D., BA, FRSA, HonFCIPR, Huddersfield University

Email a.gregory@hud.ac.uk

On Twitter @gregsAnne

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With the emergence of more generative AI (see Chat GPT3 or GPT4…) there’s a new required skillset emerging in Communications – we are going to need skilled people who know how to prompt the AI software successfully. Prompt engineering is a concept in artificial intelligence in which the description of the task the AI software is supposed to accomplish, is embedded in the input.

Those who know how to speak with the software, to prompt the most effective outputs, become extremely valuable. Very quickly this is changing how young people prepare for a career in PR, with many including data science now in their studies.

Aaron Kwittken saw this coming. He built a new PR platform that leverages natural language processing and machine learning to help brands more effectively target and pitch journalists around the world. It’s an idea that makes perfect sense now, but it was a tougher sell to investors when it first started.

Guest: Aaron Kwittken, founder and CEO Prophet and Stagwell Marketing Cloud’s Comms Tech UnitWeb page https://www.prprophet.ai/
Aaron’s personal weg page https://aaronkwittken.com/
Email Info@AaronKwittken.Com

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But it’s all so new for so many of us. What exactly can we do with this NEW TOY?

Guest: Brad Williamson, Lead Strategist Catch DigitalCatch Digital website https://www.catchdigital.io/
Email hello@catchdigital.io

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We’ve seen this coming for a long time, but thanks to skepticism, and maybe a little sleepwalking, it’s never really bubbled to the top.

But with the launch of Open AI’s ChatGPT Tool in November 2022 based on the GPT-3 dataset there’s a sudden surge of interest in in the PR industry around what’s happening with Artificial Intelligence and how we might be either impacted or supported (depending on your personal level of optimism).

An exceptional new report by Stephen Waddington and Andrew Bruce Smith, available through CIPR looks at 10,000 marketing tools and focuses its analysis on those related to public relations.

And if you suspected Chat GPT is just the tip of the iceberg – you’re right.

Download the Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and the impact on public relations (PR practice (2023)

Guest: Stephen Waddington, Founder and Managing Partner of Wadds Inc.

Website https://www.wadds.co.uk/

Email stephen.waddington@wadds.co.uk

Follow on Twitter @wadds

Follow on LinkedIn

Listen to our 2020 episode with Jean Valin and Anne Gregory examining the AI in PR Ethics Report.

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This week we’re offering a bonus episode in the form of a “Feed Drop” by the podcast Woman Up With the Sister Brand. This episode was first published by Woman Up in early March 2023

Macro influencers offer huge audience numbers, sometimes in the millions. But right now the trend is toward micro influencing and there are all kinds of reasons for that not the least of which is there are “fake” macro influencers out there charging insanely high fees AND THEY’RE BEING FOLLOWED BY BOTS.

Micro influencers also tend to bring, not only a targeted audience but a loyal one. Forbes estimated micro influencers offer a 60% higher engagement rate which leads to a 20% higher conversion rate. They’re often more willing to work with new or smaller brands and best of all they provide access to niche communities.

But how do you know the right micro influencer to choose? How do you know they’re “On Target?” And what kinds of fees are the going rate?

Listen to, and follow, Woman Up With the Sister Brand https://thesisterbrand.com/podcast

What do you think of the Feed Drop Concept? Let us know in this anonymous survey

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A 2023 new study by Social Insider reveals what most social media experts already know. Engagement by followers on social media – ALL social media channels – is down… again. While Tik Tok ranks by far the highest for engagement, it too is in decline.

But more and more leaders, PR pros, marketers, continue to rely on social media. Many think it’s just a matter of “going viral” or growing their following to the point they can be considered an influencer. None of that is impossible but maybe more than a little exaggerated. While social media has value, it’s increasingly evident it’s only a tool in the box.

In this episode, PR veteran Robert Wynne has some cautious words about putting all your eggs in the social media basket.

Guest: Robert Wynne, President Wynne Communications
Email Robert rob@wynnepr.com
Website https://www.wynnepr.com/
Robert’s Book: The Persuasion Business on Amazon
Check out the Med-PR Networking Conference in New York https://www.wynneevents.com/med

Read the Social Insider blog referenced in these show notes.

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Web3 marketing refers to marketing strategies and tactics specifically designed to reach audiences within the Web3 ecosystem. Web3 refers to the decentralized and distributed internet and the technologies that enable it.

There are many ways to interpret Web3 communications. It might include using a decentralized social network or web forum to engage with audiences, using blockchain-based systems to track and verify the effectiveness of marketing campaigns, or using decentralized apps (often called dApps) to create interactive and immersive marketing experiences in a digital world.

Guest: Robert Lund, Chief Creative Officer and Co-Founder Studio TBDWebsite https://studio-tbd.io/
Twitter https://twitter.com/StudioTBD_NYC
Insta https://www.instagram.com/tbd.products/
Email info@studio-tbd.io

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Trust is at the core of all great relationships. With it, the living and working environment is energetic, productive, a joy to be in. Without it there’s lethargy and it’s almost impossible to move forward.

Trust provides a sense of safety.

For the last 23 years the Edelman Trust Barometer has helped leaders gauge who people believe in and who they expect to step up. Right now it’s business leaders who are assuming the leadership mantle. Business has emerged as an ethical force for good in an increasingly polarized world.

In this episode we speak with the executive director of Intellectual Property of the Edelman Trust Institute.

Guest Tonia Ries, Executive Director, Thought Leadership, Edelman Trust Institutetrustinstitute@edelman.com
2023 Edelman Trust Barometer https://www.edelman.com/trust/2023/trust-barometer

Read the Facial Resemblance Enhances Trust study from McMaster University

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If you aren’t accustomed to hearing your own voice it’s one of the first things that stands out… all those umms and uhhs.

One out of every 60 words we say is umm or uhh.

Interview guests will frequently ask “Could you edit all those out?”

At Toastmasters someone is even assigned to count your umms and uhhs as you present and report them to you (that’s not distracting at all).

But what do those verbal fillers really mean? Are they necessarily negative? Is there a threshold whereby too many suddenly becomes negative? Should you work to eliminate them from your speech?

Or is it possible these little expressions are essential pieces of the fabric and machinery that make up verbal conversation and understanding?

Guest Nick Enfield, BA (Hons) (ANU), PhD (Melbourne), FAHA FASSA FRSNProfessor Linguistics, Director Sydney Social Sciences and Humanities Advanced Research Centre
Email: nick.enfield@sydney.edu.au
Website: http://nickenfield.org/

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Things happen fast in the world of public relations and marketing and Ragan’s PR Daily is one of the best ways to keep on top of industry best practices and new ideas.

In this episode we chat with the Executive Editor of PR Daily, Allison Carter about:

2:43 ChatGPT – Read the article in Ragan’s
6:26 Netflix’ Password Sharing Nightmare – Read the article in Ragan’s
10:13 Is Social Media Heading in the Right Direction? – Read the article in Ragan’s
12:48 Journalist Response Rates are Down – Read the article in Ragan’s
15:59 Culture Wars Claim M&M’s – Read the article in Ragan’s

Guest Allison Carter, executive editor of PR Daily@allisonlcarter on LinkedIn and Twitter

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We all fake human connection from time to time. We’re tired, the person we’re speaking with just doesn’t get it, or they’re deliberately trying to be difficult. Sometimes, and we wouldn’t want to admit this out loud, but sometimes the person talking to us just isn’t important enough for us to care.

One form of this happens with interviews celebrities, athletes, and politicians give every day. With some of those interviews you can see the person being interviewed is enthused and interested but other times they’re either uninterested or giving us that “Fake Personality.”

Guest: Kayley Hamilton, CEO Kayley MediaWebsitehttps://www.kayleymedia.com/Connect with Kayley on:

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kayleyhamilton_/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/kayleyhamiltonmedia
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/kayleymedia/?viewAsMember=true

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The concept of the sales funnel is more than a century old. But depending on which Marketing Guru you listen to today – the funnel concept is either long dead or consistently proving itself alive and well.

Common criticisms:

Too linear
Imply a finite end
Focus on conversion
Rely on abundant attention

Are funnels being replaced? Or do they still capture the customer journey?

Guest: Megan Dougherty, One Stone CreativeSend Megan an email https://onestonecreative.net/contact/
On Twitter @oscpodcasting
On Instagram @oscpodcasting
Download the 2022 State of Business Podcasting Report

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In this age of misinformation and disinformation we can all agree lies and deception are bad right?

Aren’t they?
Philosophers, psychologists, economists – and all those morality experts on social media have always insisted deception harms trust.

Four Behavioral Science studies done through the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania show that assertion just isn’t true. In fact, there are lies we hear, knowing they are lies, that make us trust those liars even more.

So what’s the truth about lying?

Guests Maurice Schweitzer, PhD and Emma Levine, PhD:

Emma has a PhD from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; a BA (philosophy, politics, and economics) and BS (economics) from the University of Pennsylvania. She is an Associate Professor of Behavioral Science and the Charles E Merrill Faculty Scholar at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Emma.Levine@chicagobooth.edu

Maurice has a PhD in economics, is the Cecilia Yen Koo Professor of Operations, Information, and Decisions and Management at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the Director of the Wharton Behavioral Lab and has published over 100 articles on trust, negotiations, and emotions.

Schweitzer@wharton.upenn.edu

Link to Emma and Maurice’s study Prosocial Lies: When deception breeds trust

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Things move so quickly now it almost seems wrong to consider digital marketing, SEO, influencer marketing, and even social media as “newer tools.” But the way in which we use them, our habits, and even connected applications, are changing fast.

Our clients still need us to help them strengthen their brands, make breakthroughs into new markets, launch products and services. We had better know how to use these newer tools as well as the tools and applications built to go with them.

Guest: Anna Crowe MBA, CEO Crowe PRhttps://crowepr.com/
info@crowepr.com
On Instagram and Twitter @acrowepr

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According to the Datareportal July 2022 global overview more than half the world now uses social media (59%). 4.7 billion people around the world are using social media.

The question is no longer whether people are using social media but what they’re using them for and how can comms pros and marketers harness this growing habit?

Grey Group ranks among the world’s top advertising and marketing agencies and in this episode, two of their social media leaders helps go beyond what’s trending to actually understand what’s happening with social media and how we can harness its true power most effectively.

In this episode we talk about the latest trends in social media and forecast what’s next for each channel. Will Twitter survive? Will Snapchat?

Guests: Joey Scarillo, Caine Fair – Grey Grouppodcasts@grey.com

Listen to Grey Group’s Podcast 5Things: This Week in Social
On Apple Podcasts
On Spotify

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In February 2022, the New York Times reported findings from interviews with undergraduate seniors entering the workforce as well as a recent survey of millennials (some of whom are now in their 40’s), about their expectations of companies for whom they intend to work. 61 percent said they preferred companies who take a stand on social issues. Half said they would quit their job if it didn’t align with their values. None of this is surprising, it’s been a trend for years.

To engage in Corporate Social Responsibility means in the ordinary course of business a company is operating in ways that enhance society and the environment.

But does CSR require taking a stand publicly on social and political issues? Many say it does.

Critics say if a company embraces diversity and inclusion, how can it also “take a stand?”

One company that’s not just talking the talk but walking the walk when it comes to social and political issues, is Cision, a comprehensive communications platform serving public relations and marketing professionals widely known for its global newswire services.

Guest: Jay Webster, Cision Chief Product & Technology Officer and Cision Comms Cloud President
On LinkedIn @Jay Webster

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No doubt you already know tenets of good crisis planning: Be prepared, be accountable, respond quickly (or at least timely), tell the truth…

Several years of living in a COVID World and the sudden emergence of all those crisis experts has the basics of crisis management drilled into our heads.

But one aspect doesn’t get as much hype: The need to build a solid reputation in advance so, like armor, it will protect you when the crisis hits.

A new book by TJ Winick dives into this principle.

Guest: TJ WinickMore about TJ
TJ’s book Reputation Capital: How to Navigate Crises and Protect your Greatest Asset on Amazon

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We’ve all had those moments in our careers. Moments of sheer terror. That time we emailed to “Reply All,” that time we put the wrong phone number or website in the news release, that spelling error you didn’t catch before distributing the newsletter to thousands of people.

And sometimes the terror is out of our control. That horrible, unethical boss, that huge project you’re assigned that you aren’t ready for, and co workers from Hell!

That time you were fired.

It’s little comfort but these moments have happened to everyone. And if you haven’t experienced a moment of terror yet… it’s your turn next.

Guests:
Jolene (Jack O Lantern) OndrikEye on Culture
jolene@eyeonculture.ca
Jolene’s previous episode on Stories and Strategies (Apple link)

Doug (Danger) LacombeCommunicatto Inc
doug@communicatto.com
Doug’s previous episode on Stories and Strategies (Apple link)

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It just doesn’t have to be this way.

Matthews met an art professor who showed him that any encounter with art involves a trialogue – or three-way conversation – between the art, the artist, and the observer. The Professor explained:

In this episode we talk with Robin Parsons, a seasoned professional facilitator who uses the ORID method all the time.

Guest: Robin Parsons, MBA, CPF, CTFParsons Dialogue Ltd.
Website https://www.parsonsdialogue.com/
Email info@parsonsdialogue.com

Leave us a voice message we can share on the podcast https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategies

Visit the Stories and Strategies website

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The Brave Marketer
Many of the most memorable brand campaigns have been driven by cutting edge marketers
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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Researchers at Queen’s University in Canada have established a method that, for the first time, can detect indirectly when one thought ends and another begins. Dr Jordan Poppenk and his team call them “Thought Worms,” consisting of consecutive moments when a person is focused on the same idea.

This is an extraordinary window into the mind for anyone in professional communications and marketing. Scientifically understanding how consciousness flows from one thought to the next, and the rate at which this happens, gives us keen insight into understanding, and yes, the ability to persuade effectively. For example, how many thoughts will a person actually have while drinking a cup of coffee? And does the action itself (sitting down for coffee) influence how we think?

In this episode we talk with the lead researcher, Dr Jordan Poppenk to better understand our Thought Worms.

Guest: Dr Jordan PoppenkCanada Research Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience
Contact Dr Poppenk through Queen’s University
Download the research paper

Share your Halloween story via https://www.speakpipe.com/StoriesandStrategies

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Micro media is a somewhat new term we can use to describe media created by companies, brands and individuals housed (mainly) online. Personal blogs and corporate sites that invite fans and industry leaders to contribute, are two other examples.

In the olden days (circa 1980) the most common way to promote your business was to buy advertising in macro media outlines – usually via a big PR firm. But technology and social trends have changed.

Micro media outlets are gaining significance as they grow larger and larger audiences. Podcasts are a perfect example. There are 120 million podcast listeners in the United States but according to the podcast index there are barely 300,000 podcasts with new episodes in the last month. So, micro media outlets are beginning to sway the narrative of public opinion away from the traditional media gatekeepers.

And micro media sources give the best opportunity to drill down into niche audiences which have always been extremely valuable.

In this episode, how to hone your pitch to micro media sources.

Guest: Shelby Janner, Zilker MediaZilker Media website
Sign up for Zilker Media’s Podcast Guest Insider
Use the Stories and Strategies Coupon Code with the Podcast Guest Insider: @Stories10
Email Shelby shelby@zilkermedia.com.

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Within Public Relations and Marketing we often use what are considered to be best practices for our strategies. It’s natural. If a methodology, including survey and analysis, has worked in a similar situation previously, that’s the one to use. The challenge with surveys or polls is they’re often unreliable. They’re unreliable because we, humans, often don’t answer in a way that matches our true intentions – because our answers are clouded with aspirational intent, or even more simply, we don’t know our true intentions which are probably based more in habit than we’d like to acknowledge.

Taking a BS approach to challenges can really begin to move the dial.

In this episode we meet the founder, Shayoni Lynn.

Guest: Shayoni Lynn, LynnLynn website https://lynn.global/
Email contact@lynn.global
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Stephen Krempl believes if you want to get noticed the right way by your senior leaders you must recognize there are only five situations in which those leaders will see or hear you. And when those situations arise, if you can master the art of turning a negative into either a neutral or a positive, you’ll get much further ahead.”

To use a metaphor, does that mean candy coating everything? And to stretch the metaphor, won’t that make us a little sick?

Stephen Krempl doesn’t think so. He notes there are really only five key situations our senior leaders really see or hear us. Five stages with limited stage time for each. We need to make those opportunities count.

Guest: Stephen KremplStephen has worked for and with numerous Fortune 500 companies in training or corporate training and development roles. Companies such as Pepsico, Starbucks, Motorola, Visa, BNP Paribas, Schneider Electric, and Barclay’s Bank.

Amazon Link to Stephen’s book Positively Negative: How to Turn Negative Messages into Positive Ones
Stephen’s other book, The 5% Zone: Visibility Strategies That Get You Recognized and Rewarded in Any Organization
Stephen’s website
Email Stephen info@kremplcommunications.com
Stephen on Twitter: @krempl
Stephen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-krempl/

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The World’s intelligence agencies have long suffered from a perspective they’re too secretive. That’s not just the stuff of Hollywood movies and books, these are real perceptions backed by studies and reviews critical of the communications in those agencies. They all conclude there’s a need to be more intelligent about Intelligence.

The degree of secrecy in these Agencies has always been a delicate balance. But there are many today who say the level of secrecy in intelligence is a symptom of increasing obsolescence as well as an obstacle to reform.

In this episode we talk with a former analyst at two of Canada’s intelligence agencies, The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) and Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to get his perspective on how a refreshed view of communication practice might make a world of difference.

Guest: Phil GurskiBorealis Threat and Risk Consulting
Website https://borealisthreatandrisk.com/
Email borealisrisk@gmail.com
Check out any of Phil’s books
Phil’s Podcast Canadian Intelligence Eh?

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Worldwide Karen Jacobsen is known for her voice – the voice of female Australian SIRI or GPS Karen. She’s been heard on 400 million GPS and smart-enabled devices and today she’s a successful motivational speaker, singer/songwriter, and author.

But the road to success was trickier than you might image shortly after Karen’s voice began appearing on our smartphones she ran into her own, real-life “Recalculating,” moment and needed to find her way back. In her own words, “It’s never too late to recalculate.”

Guest: Karen JacobsenConnect with Karen:
Website The GPS Girl
On Twitter
On LinkedIn
On Instagram
YouTube

Karen’s music can be heard here - karenjacobsen.com
Have a listen to Karen’s new single THE SLIPSTREAM

Karen’s book The GPS Girl’s Road Map for Your Future: Put Yourself in the Driver’s Seat
Karen’s book Recalculate: Directions for Driving Performance Success

Do you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.
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In the work world the true generalist is very different from the specialist.

The specialist tends to have a deep understanding of a certain content area while generalists have a broader scope of the work landscape. The pros of being a generalist are understanding connections between departments and, theoretically, the ability to adapt to handling many different tasks. The cons include exhaustion from doing too many tasks over time (we tend to reward good workers with more work).

The benefits to being a specialist include having a deep knowledge with less competition, but the cons include the need to avoid becoming obsolete as technology continually changes.

The school of thought has always been that there are more opportunities for the Generalist. Are there? Has that started to change? As the Gig Economy begins to grow, and the work atmosphere is forever changed by COVID, it’s becoming increasingly clear we are living in a Specialized World.

Guest: Talia Beckett DavisPink Pearl PR
Founder Women in PR

Contact Taliatalia@womeninpr.ca
talia@pinkprfirm.com
publicrelationsacademy.com
https://womeninpr.com/

Listen to Talia’s previous episode on Stories and Strategies
On Apple
On Spotify

Do you want to podcast?
Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.
Register for the FREE July 13, 2022 Webinar Event "Getting Started With Your Podcast"

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So, you’re graduating with a Communications or Marketing degree? Congratulations. It’s a growing industry and there are plenty of opportunities.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts employment of PR specialists to grow 11 percent from 2020 to 2030 with 29,000 new jobs every year.

One Canadian study (McGill University in Montreal) predicts more than 36,000 job openings to become available in the PR Industry in Canada by 2026.

In general, a PR pro is responsible for managing the relationship between an organization and its various audiences, including stakeholders, investors, the media, the government, and the general public. Each audience has different needs and an organization’s objectives with regards to each audience differ. So PR pros are tasked with creating and implementing communication strategies to:

Provide information
Manage the organization or individual’s reputation
Positively influence public opinion
Effectively respond to crises
Comply with government enforced transparency laws and regulations

If you’re graduating now and entering the workforce, it’s an exciting time – with new technologies daily but accompanied by ever escalating audience expectations for engagement and openness.

In this episode, Communications Vet Michelle Garrett offers her thoughts for those starting out to help them navigate the inevitable bumpy roads and choppy waters.

Guest: Michelle GarrettEmail michelle@michellegarrett.com
Website https://michellegarrett.com/
Follow Michelle on Twitter @PRisUs

Listen to Michelle’s other episodes on Stories and Strategies
Snake Oil on Apple Podcasts – on Spotify
PR Trends on Apple Podcasts – on Spotify

Read Michelle's article in Muck Rack on this topic

PR AssociationsThe Canadian Public Relations Society
The Chartered Institute of Public Relations
The Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management
The International Communications Consultancy Organisation
The Institute for Public Relations
The International Association of Business Communicators
The Public Relations and Communications Association
The Public Relations Institute of Australia
The Public Relations Society of America
The Public Relations Society of India
Women in PR

Do you want to podcast? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.
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Our new trailer for Summer 2022

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A new survey by Brunswick Group makes it clear executive leaders today are not only expected to be online, but to be active and connected.

2,800 readers of financial publications and 3,600 employees in large companies were surveyed worldwide and in-depth interviews were conducted with more than a dozen leaders and their teams at various companies.

82% of employees said it’s important for business leaders to use social media to communicate about the company’s mission, vision, values
86% of financial publication readers felt leaders should be online
By a four to one ratio, employees would rather work for a CEO who uses social media than one who does not

Link to the Study

Guest: Craig Mullaney, Partner Brunswick GroupCraig Mullaney is a Brunswick partner in Washington, DC. Craig advises clients on a broad range of critical issues, with a specialist focus on leadership communications and US-Japan cross-border issues. He is one of the leading authorities on executives’ use of digital media and pioneered Brunswick Group’s Connected Leadership research. He joined Brunswick from Facebook where he led strategic partnerships and founded Facebook’s Global Executive Program. Craig has provided strategic counsel to leaders ranging from former heads of state and Fortune 50 CEOs to presidents of major charitable foundations, scientific luminaries, and numerous TED speakers. He is a New York Times bestselling author, and a decorated Army combat veteran.

Salutatorian / BS, History at United States Military Academy at West Point
Rhodes Scholar / MSt. / MSc. Diplomatic History / Economic History at University of Oxford.

Follow Craig on Twitter @craigmmullaney and on LinkedIn
Craig’s New York Times Bestseller “The Unforgiving Minute, a Soldier’s Education”

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Let’s talk about the podcast idea doug@storiesandstrategies.ca

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In today’s world a social media influencer is one who has the power to affect purchasing decisions of others because of their authority, their knowledge, their title, or their relationship with their audience. Often that means they have a large social following, but it can also mean they just have the right people following them in a position to take action.

But influence isn’t new. All through history there have been influencers – those who used their positions to make the world a better place and definitely those who used their influence in bad ways.

In this episode we study the influence of people such as Abraham Lincoln; Diana, Princess of Wales; Mother Theresa, Henry the VIII, Adolph Hitler and more…

What was it about their personalities that gave them rise to influence?

Guest: Kate Mason, Australia’s personality coachCheck out Kate’s book “Who is this Monster (or Treasure) in my House?”
Listen to Kate’s podcast Personalities, Parenting, and Partners

Connect with Stories and Strategies on Twitter @stories_strats. We follow back.

Let’s talk about the podcast idea doug@storiesandstrategies.ca

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Utility Safety Partners has a simple message. Like all One-Call services it advocates for people and professional contractors to contact them before they dig a hole. One contact and locate markings result a short time later by any company with buried facilities int eh area, and you can dig that hole for your deck, or fence post, or whatever work needs to be done.

That’s a message that benefits everyone right? It’s a simple action contacting just one entity for all this, there’s no particular delay to the project… you would think compliance would be 100%?

Of course it isn’t.

That’s human nature. And it’s the communications challenge for all One-Call services around the World taking this easy message, and this easy call to action, and making it human habit.

Guest: Mike Sullivan, President Utility Safety Partnershttps://utilitysafety.ca/
info@utilitysafety.ca
@utility_safety on Twitter
Check out Mike’s podcast on Apple Prairie Podcast

Connect with Stories and Strategies on Twitter @stories_strats. We follow back.
Let’s talk about the podcast idea doug@storiesandstrategies.ca

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This Spring the PRCA (Public Relations and Communications Association) updated its Guidelines for Accessible Communications. They provide more detail on video and animated graphics, thoughtful use of language and representation, and hosting of physical and virtual events.

We talk about making our processes and materials more accessible and at times we even take steps on a specific project to make sure they are. But accessibility is seldom a core value that is delivered on. And yet the numbers of people impacted are staggering globally:

Over 400 million people have severe hearing loss
Nearly 300 million people are visually impaired
Nearly 200 million people have cognitive disability
People with disabilities make up 15% of the World’s population
People with disabilities control nearly $13 Trillion worth of buying power

Understanding the importance of accessible communications will force us as communications professionals to pay greater attention to engaging people with disabilities in our processes and materials. And accessible communication benefits all audiences, making information clear, direct, and easy to understand.

Guest: George Coleman, CEO, Current Global
Link to Current Global’s Making communications accessible by design
Link to the PRCA Accessible Communications Guidelines

George loves telling stories. Big, tall or short. He’s been doing it for more than 25 years for some of the world’s most iconic brands. He started his career as an electronics engineer, but craved a more creative canvas, and made the leap into marketing communications. Following a stint at the BBC, he joined his first PR agency and the rest, as they say, is LinkedIn profile history.

He founded Interpublic Group agency Creation in 2011 and served as global president, before teaming up with Current Marketing to form Current Global in 2019.

Outside of work he’s often found in his vegetable patch or brewing beer. He’s also a film fanatic, collects original cinema posters and has a cat called Butch Cassidy and a dog called Sundance.

Email George: gcoleman@currentglobal.com
Connect with George on Twitter @theprmonkey

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The hot hand fallacy in basketball. Why we tend to grab a coffee to start our day or to have difficult conversations. The fact IKEA furniture is so hard to assemble sometimes is part of why it’s so popular. How does that make sense?

All examples well-explained by Behavioural Economics.

Statistically there’s no such thing as a hot hand in basketball.

We need that coffee due to the Anchoring Effect.

And IKEA furniture? We feel a sense of personal pride when we’ve finally solved the puzzle.

In this episode, if we as PR and Marketing people are in the business of persuasive communications then we need to go beyond making people think or feel differently. We need to change or reinforce their behaviours.

That’s where BE comes in.

Guest: Adrian Wheeler
Twitter @adrianprague

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LANGUAGE IS CLEAN IN OPENING CLIP

When actor Will Smith went up on stage at the Oscars and slapped comedian Chris Rock – the noise was shocking… the impact reverberating.

At the Oscars, Rock had made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith having a buzzed haircut. Pinkett Smith has spoken publicly about her diagnosis with alopecia, which can cause baldness.

Husband Will promptly stood up, took to the stage, and slapped Rock in the face.

There’s no question one moment can jeopardize your reputation. And this incident can be termed among the more offensive – it was a physical assault. Formal statements are common afterward and Smith did that apologizing within days to Rock but the public downfall can be career-ending.

In this episode we talk with a PR pro who has worked with professional athletes and executives facing this kind of reputational crisis.

Guest: Alee Opuiyo
Website: www.Dynamicpublicrelations.com
Instagram: @DynamicPublicRelations
Twitter: @Dynamicprpro
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Dynamicpublicrelations
Phone Number: 240-393-3100

Contact Stories and Strategies by email doug@podcaststhatpop.com

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The Harris Poll conducted a survey recently on how Americans understand and perceive the metaverse. While the majority don’t understand what it is, 70% of Gen Z and Millennials (22-40 year olds) are interested in interacting within it.

They’re interested in video games yes but also social interactions and virtual meetups. Many want to visit virtual stores and have brand experiences.

What does all this mean for how marketing and communications professionals will adjust their strategies? Will conferences include virtual trade shows where we can buy good and services with non-fungible tokens (NFTs)? Can showcase events like airshows take us on a ride on a Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor? Will PR pros pitch new media including a digital version of the product they’re trying to get news coverage for?

In this episode we talk with Matthew Feider of The Harris Poll which has done the research. The future does look META.

Guest Matthew Feider, The Harris Poll
Matthew.feider@harrispoll.com
Website https://theharrispoll.com/
Link to Poll results news release

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Communication between and among cultures has existed for thousands of years. Successful rulers such as Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan built enormous empires because they appreciated and assimilated aspects of different cultures as they expanded.

But fast-forward to 2022 and we as communications professionals can often seem to struggle with the concept.

Some organizations have done very well expanding in this global environment. Others, not so much.

In this episode we talk with the President of IABC India Subhamoy Das who has studied the various academic literature and even led communications efforts for companies who are stepping foot into new cultures.

Guest: Subhamoy Das, President IABC India
Subhamoy.das@gmail.com
The IABC Guide for Practical Business Communication: A Global Standard
Hofstede Cultural Dimensions
Cultural Advantage: A New Model for Succeeding With Global Teams, Mijnd Huijser

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Cultural Advantage: The New Model for Succeeding with Global Teams

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A lingering pandemic, accelerating technological abilities, in turn creating ever increasing stakeholder demands and expectations – combined with misinformation and disinformation in rampant circulation.

Where are we going? What does the role we fill today look like in the future?

If it is our job as Comms Pros to help our organizations make sense, understand and express values, and navigate social and political minefields… how do we do that when things are changing so fast?

How do we kick the football when the goal posts keep moving?

In this episode, Gini Dietrich, one of the most respected voices in American Public Relations digs deep into new research to help us decipher the playing field.

Read Gini’s newsletter article on this topic
Access the full Study by Edelman 2021 Future of Corporate Communications
Gini on Twitter @ginidietrich

Follow Gini’s podcasts
Spin Sucks
Inside PR
Agency Leadership Podcast

Gini’s Book – Spin Sucks

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Spin Sucks: Communication and Reputation Management in the Digital Age (Que Biz-tech)

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More working from home, more freelancers, great focus on influencer marketing, and the rising wave of popularity for audio and video formats.

In her December newsletter, communications trend-setter Michelle Garrett takes stock of many of the things impacting marketing and communications right now. Surveys are showing more than 90% of employers confirm they will permanently offer remote work opportunities compared to just 52% the previous year. Another survey is proving the Gig economy is real and there are distinct advantages to employers hiring skilled consultants.

And when it comes to measuring the effectiveness of marketing efforts – there could be a revamp in store with a new lens for success to be applied.

Guest: Michelle Garrett

Email michelle@michellegarrett.com

Website https://michellegarrett.com/

Follow Michelle on Twitter @PRisUs

Michelle’s December 2021 Newsletter re PR Trends

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We know it as comms-pros – communications is the glue that holds a business together. But too often smaller businesses can’t afford professional comms. It’s a pure expense that doesn’t seem to directly generate revenue. In this episode we speak with a New York Agency that has found a solid way to help small businesses succeed – and convince them it’s good ROI.

Guest Tash Benjamin, TKing Enterprises
https://tkingenterprises.com/
tbenjamin@tkingenterprises.com

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One could argue the concept of strategies that are both transparent (fully allowing for freedom of choice) and subtly manipulative at the same time is hardly new – perhaps only the term “Nudge Theory” is what’s new.

In this episode we explore whether Nudge Theory is a brilliant concept of behavioural economics making life better for people, or a euphemism for psychological manipulation and social engineering.

Guest Rory Sutherland, Vice chairman Ogilvy UK
Book Rory to speak at your event
Check out Nudgestock 2021
Have a listen to Rory's excellent podcast

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Guest Rory Sutherland, Vice chairman Ogilvy UK

https://www.ogilvy.com/

Check out Nudgestock 2021

To book Rory for your event email

Canadian Nudge Team = BeSci Team

UK Nudge Team = Behavioural Insights Team

Australian Nudge Team = Behavioural Economics Team of Australia

American Nudge Team = Social and Behavioural Sciences Team

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Research shows more than one-quarter of crises spread to international media within an hour; two-thirds of crises reach media outlets worldwide within the first 24 hours (Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer). The democratization of information means we all have access to a global audience 24-7. First impressions set the narrative within minutes that you may be battling for years to come if you’re slow with initial messaging.

In this episode we speak with Crisis Communications expert Shawna Bruce about the sin of being slow when crisis strikes.

Guest: Shawna Bruce, M.D. Bruce and Associates

https://www.mdbruceandassociates.com/

bruceandassociatesltd@gmail.com

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There has never been a more important time for good science communication. Not only is it important for us to understand the value of evidence-based solutions but to actually understand the fallibility and imperfection of science too.

Since 2005 Laurentian, University in Sudbury Canada, has delivered graduate education in Science Communication in partnership with Science North, the second-largest science Centre in Canada. It’s the only program in the Country that offers a graduate-level blend of theoretical foundations and experiential learning in science communication.

Guest: Chantal Barriault, Ph.D.

Program Director, Laurentian University

https://laurentian.ca/program/science-communication

cbarriault@laurentian.ca

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Podcasts are radio but on demand, dedicated to your niche interest, and (for the most part) commercial free. There are two million podcasts worldwide right now and counting.

And lots of them need guests!!

They are a terrific channel to advance your authority as a subject matter expert but like any media interview, there’s a skill, a science, and an art to the delivery. In this episode, Brad Phillips, the media trainer known worldwide as Mr Media Training becomes the Podfather.

Guest Brad Phillips, Throughline Group
brad@throughlinegroup.com
https://www.throughlinegroup.com/

Have a listen to Brad’s podcast - Tge Speak Good Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-speak-good-podcast/id1571169187

Check out Throughline’s Blog https://www.throughlinegroup.com/blog/

On Twitter - @throughliners and @mrmediatraining

Follow Stories and Strategies on Twitter @comms_podcast

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As early as 40,000 years ago humans used a combination of soil, animal fat, burnt charcoal, and chalk to create colour palettes (or color in America).
We know that story… but here’s the one we don’t know. In a world before trains, reliable road networks, automobiles, and urban settings, most people lived rural lives. Colour was seasonal and bound by the natural light and local environment.
Someone living in coastal Wales would have seen the green of the hills, but only occasionally punctuated by pink or yellow wildflowers. Indigo and purple would have been rare and fleeting.
A Shoshone person living in Utah would have seen a world of red, orange, gold, and brown – but green would have been rare. When colour finally did enter into the people’s lives, it was disorienting and somewhat… immoral.

Guest Carolyn Purnell, Ph.D.
https://www.carolynpurnell.com/contact

Links to three part series in Psychology Today available below:
The Invention of Color
The Color Revolution
Taming Color

Link to Tedx Talk given by Carolyn
Link to Carolyn’s book – The Sensational Past: How the Enlightenment Change the Way We Use Our Senses

The Sensational Past: How the Enlightenment Changed the Way We Use Our Senses

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LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS SERIES - Episode 4
The emerging science of epigenetics explains how our lifestyle and environment have influence on our gene expression over time. It’s a growing field of research that’s changing the nature vs nurture debate as we begin to understand gene expression is influenced by external factors such as our physical environments, homes, neighbourhoods, upbringing, and current lifestyle choices.

Simply, while our genes are fixed, our genetic expression (which is passed to our children) is interconnected with a wide range of environmental factors. This has both a metaphorical and literal impact on how leaders should communicate.

Guest Jayson Krause
https://www.level52.ca/
https://www.level52.ca/contact

The Book – The Science Behind Success The Science Behind Success by Jayson Krause — Level 52

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LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS SERIES - Episode 3
There are many articles written by psychologists about the “theory” of working with elite-level performers; extremely few people actually get to do it. Duff Gibson is a Canadian Olympic gold medal winner who was hired to coach the next generation of athletes. He knew the sport, he knew the strategies, he knew the mindset required to perform, he knew the psychology of leadership… and he would learn a lot on the job.

Guest: Duff Gibson, Canada Olympic gold medal winner 2006
duffgibson@icloud.com

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LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS SERIES - Episode 2
Communications professionals have long stated they “want a seat at the table,” meaning communications needs to be part of the executive decision-making function. And that seat should be filled by someone well-versed in strategy, best-practices, and able to represent the rest of the team so everyone is sharing that seat. In this episode we get some insights from Wendy Beauchesne, someone who has climbed from comms pro to CEO.

Guest: Wendy Beauchesne, CEO Alberta Cancer Foundation
acfonline@albertacancer.ca

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LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATIONS SERIES - Episode 1
There is substantial evidence that cultures of high trust outperform those where trust is low. There’s less employee turnover, higher employee engagement, better aligned organizations and more collaboration if we trust one another. That all begins with strong leadership. In this episode we speak with the author of “The Trust Trifecta,” Jordan Berman.

Guest Jordan Berman

jordanberman8@gmail.com

To purchase a copy of the Trust Trifecta link here The Trust Trifecta | Iguana Books

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Adopting a growth mindset, as opposed to a fixed mindset, is one of the best strategies for accepting and giving constructive feedback. A growth mindset thrives on challenge and sees failure, not as evidence of unintelligence but as a springboard for growth and stretching existing abilities. From these two mindsets springs a great deal of our behaviour, our relationship with success and failure both personally and professionally, and ultimately, our ability to be happy.

Guest: Dr Steve Joordens, Psychologist, University of Toronto Scarborough

steve.joordens@utoronto.ca

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Professional communications is about making an impact to help the organization. It must get things done, change attitudes, or at least understand them. At the same time, we need to be evidence-based, use “best practices”, provide ROI and meet KPI. Is our battle on the street or in the boardroom? Is it better to be street-smart or book-smart working in PR and Marketing?

Guest: Eva Shortt, Zahav PR

https://zahavpr.com/

info@zahavpr.com

Connect with Eva on Instagram: instagram.com/zahavpr

Take the Quiz “Are you more book smart or street smart?” https://play.howstuffworks.com/quiz/are-you-more-book-smart-or-street-smart

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Those who respond to help people in high-tension, or even life-threatening situations, need strong communication skills and the right training. Police Officers, Security Guards, front-line health care workers, even bus drivers all find themselves, with alarming frequency, in interactions where safety is at risk. In this episode we speak with an expert in de-escalation and mental health training who has dedicated her professional life to helping those, who must help others.

Guest: Dr Yasmeen Krameddine, Ph.D.

Protraining.com

yasmeenk@protraining.com

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You may have recently heard on social media a song from the early 1970’s, Prisencolinensinainciusol, by Adriano Celentano. The song’s lyrics are in no language – total and utter nonsense. It was a smash hit in 1973 in Italy, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

The song resurfaced on social media in 2010 and once again in 2020. Seems every generation finds it and marvels in the creativity and originality.

The idea itself has a long and storied history going to back to creative arts. It uses Grammelot, a system of language, based on gibberish, popularized by Commedia dell’Arte, a theatrical form that emerged in 16th Century in Italy.

In this episode we speak with a leading professor in business ethics and stakeholder theory who says the creative arts can have powerful impacts to human dignity in organizations, and help managers to develop their moral imagination.

Guest Simone de Colle, Ph.D. in Management and Business Ethics, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia)

Associate Professor of Business Ethics & Strategy, IESEG School of Management in Paris

s.decolle@ieseg.fr

Dario Fo example of Grammelot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A4n9Ez9O8g&list=RD8A4n9Ez9O8g&index=5

Professor de Colle’s presentation mentioning grammar of improvisation: https://responsiblecapitalism.it/presentations

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The Global Capability Framework is the Global Alliance’s benchmark for how professionals in public relations and communications management perform at their best. It applies to individuals as well as those who assemble teams of communications professionals, including entire departments. The framework took two years to build with contributions from all around the World. In this episode we explore the 11 capabilities, speaking with one of the authors of the Framework, Dr Amy Thurlow.

Guest Professor Amy Thurlow Ph.D., APR, FCPRS

Amy.thurlow@msvu.ca

Link to the Global Capabilities Framework https://www.globalalliancepr.org/capabilitiesframeworks

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According to World Press Trends 2019, digital news subscriber numbers are up 208% over the last five years. That could be a welcome sign that local news may survive after all. As many legacy news outlets struggle, industry analysts are looking to digital start-ups to fill the need. And without some of the traditional business models, some are showing remarkable creativity. In this episode we speak with the co-founder of an award-winning digital model based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Guest: Karen Unland

karen@taprootpublishing.ca

https://www.taprootedmonton.ca/

“On every continent and in every market context, innovating news publishers are finding ways to adapt and thrive in the face of changing consumer behaviour and competition that is driven, in large measure, by the rapid changes and challenges of digital technology.”
Dr François Nel, Editor of World Press Trends 2019

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In a special report, authors Anne Gregory, Ph.D., Bill Nichols, Ph.D., and Professor John Underwood examine the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic for professional communicators in the English National Health Service (NHS). Specifically, they look at the first three months of the pandemic from March 2020 to the beginning of June 2020 – the period when communication was initiated and the peak of first-wave infections. Inevitably they found gaps we can all learn from.

Guest: Professor Anne Gregory, Ph.D., BA, FRSA, HonFCIPR, Huddersfield University, a.gregory@hud.ac.uk

The article Anne refers to ““The lived experience of health communication professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic” is not yet available. Once it’s public, we will publish a link to it in these show notes – please check back.

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Throughout this COVID pandemic we all know frontline healthcare workers have been doing extraordinary work and working under exceptional stress.

A few weeks ago, between Christmas and New Year’s, one physician in London, part of the NHS system, made a comment on Twitter that caught the ire of public relations professionals not only in the UK, but other parts of the world. Dr Meenal Viz seemed to suggest removing anyone “with the title Communications Manager” from NHS Communications, because “we don’t need to pay someone £30k to update the hospital Twitter feed.”

It’s so hard to communicate on Twitter – that limitation of 280 characters. In this episode we chat with Dr Viz, toss the character limit aside, and get to the heart of the message… and to the right audience intended.

Meenal Viz, Ph.D. Clinical Fellow

info@meenalsworld.com

Link to Meenal’s World podcast (via apple) https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/meenals-world/id1499166981

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Cancel Culture is a neologism meaning it’s a newly coined term. It’s essentially the phenomenon of publicly shaming, rejecting, and ceasing to provide support to people, companies, or stores if they are deemed unacceptable. Celebrities are frequent targets but not exclusively. The shaming, for the most part, is done through social media.

T.S. Eliot once wrote, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.”

But how are we, as people, supposed to progress if accountability, and the inherent ability to “cancel” is left to the unaccountable?

Guest: Alex Malouf, SCMP

alexgmalouf@gmail.com

@alex_malouf

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This is an episode about “Positivity” which has everything to do with communication. It’s a state of mind we all want but let’s be honest, it can also be really annoying. False positivity is an irritating personality quirk.

The official definition from the Oxford Dictionary implies that positivity is not something you are; it's more something you feel.

Positive Psychology is an investment in who you are and what you can do to live your best life. Your best life looks and feels different every day.

Annoyed yet? 😊

Guest Josephine Tite, Positivity Centre

hello@positivitycentre.com

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Stress is almost an evil word in our lives today. Nobody wants stress. Do we? Actually, could you imagine life with no stress? In this episode we speak with a neuroscience expert who says we can all benefit from the right kinds of stress.

Guest: Sue Langley, Langley Group, Australia

sue@langleygroup.com.au

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According to 2015 numbers by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the total number of men working in public relations and related services and advertising, 5.9 percent are African American. In this episode we speak with a PR Executive who has researched the perceptions, experiences, and possible barriers for African American males to getting into, and leading within, the field of communications.

Guest: Chuck Wallington

marketing@conehealth.com

Link to Ken Chenault address to Barron’s Tech Conference https://bit.ly/2HAhl2B

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By membership the Public Relations and Communications Association is the largest PR Association in the World; 35,000 members and growing. Based in the UK, the PRCA has offices in Dubai and Singapore, and now Buenos Aires as it ventures into Latin America. In this episode we catch up with Isobel Arrowsmith to talk PR throughout Latin America.

Guest Isobel Arrowsmith MPRCA, Director of the Americas, PRCA

isobel.arrowsmith@latam.prca.global

https://latam.prca.global/

Special thanks to ToDoComunica for promotion:
https://todocomunica.org/2020/11/20/mas-historias-mas-estrategias-mas-america-latina-por-favor/

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Presentations are stereotyped. A speaker stands in front of an audience, uses PowerPoint to guide a talk. And says very little that departs from the slides being shown.

Frequently, the speaker provides a handout or electronic version of the PowerPoint as a record of the talk. Depending on the nature of the talk, a few minutes may be left at the end for questions.

This format is almost universal. And it takes place thirty to forty million times a day, according to some estimates. It’s led to a new expression … Death by Powerpoint … one slide at a time.

In this episode we speak with Eric Bergman who believes with a little less presentation and a little more conversation … we can make presentations more interesting, and ultimately effective.

And we can relegate the term Death by PowerPoint to the dust heap of history.

Guest: Eric Bergman, BPA, ABC, APR, MC, FCPRS

fwiw@me.com

For a copy of One bucket at a time link here https://amzn.to/2HvnYmc

One Bucket at a Time: Presentation secrets to inform, educate, influence, persuade

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Work is the place we get learning opportunities through professional development. Many of those opportunities introduce sophisticated communications strategies intended to be work lessons but let’s be honest, they’re life lessons too. Some of those strategies and tips are so good, we can’t help but use them at home and in our personal lives.

Guest Sheryl Kent

sherylkent@telus.net

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The political pundits have lots to say about the 2020 US Presidential election. In this episode we examine the result and the leadership styles through a neuroscience and psychological lens with a leading high-performance team psychologist who works with businesses, sports teams, and the military.

Guest Dr Jeremy Holt, Ph.D.

Chartered Occupational Psychologist

Centre for Team Excellence

jeremy@cfte.co.uk

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Earned media is always valuable but the opportunities to create your own channels and your own stories have never been better. Gone are the days organizations needed to rely on the news media filter to get their story out there… today it’s Journalism DIY. And best part? This works great for pitching your story to the news media. We speak with former Edmonton Journalist Shawna Randolph.

Guest: Shawna Randolph, Randolph Communications

info@randolphcommunications.com

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It’s a powerful tool that can solve complex problems, build resilience, create empathy, and develop space for human determination.

Psychologists have found creativity is more a personality trait than the result of a high IQ; and those traits are most commonly found in people we might call nonconformists, curious, or persistent. In short, creativity is borne from divergent thinking as opposed to convergence.

Guest: Helen (Hel) Reynolds

hi@commscreatives.com

To see Hel’s cartoons, visit https://commscreatives.com/

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Change Management exists as a process and strategy because change is both inevitable and critical in business. In simple terms, it’s so important, the change must be managed. But modern trends are moving away from controlling every aspect of those strategies and are seeking to empower team members to play a more active design role in the change. In this episode we speak with a corporate leader from a global corporation steering through significant change.

Tammy Arseneau, MBA

tarseneau@suncor.com

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Watch a good comedian on stage and it just seems so easy. But we all know what goes into it… timing, structure, body language, the ability to think on their feet, heckler management… everything that goes into a great presentation at work. Those are serious skills and many leaders looking to advance in their careers begin to see the only impediment is their ability to learn what comedians have mastered.

Guest: Lars Callieou, professional stand-up comedian

https://extralars.com/

Facebook Firepit Comedy Tour https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=firepit%20comedy%20tour

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Everything begins with an idea. Talia Beckett Davis had one a few years ago to start a networking, coaching, idea-sharing, and training group dedicated specifically to women.
That was in 2014. Today there are chapters all through the Americas from Canada to Buenos Aires.

Guest: Talia Beckett Davis, Founder of Canadian Women in Public Relations and American Women in Public Relations (Women in PR North America)

talia@womeninpr.ca

talia@pinkprfirm.com

publicrelationsacademy.com

https://womeninpr.com/

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The Institute for Public Relations has issued its 2020 Report measuring how Americans perceive intentionally misleading news or information.

Guest Tina McCorkindale, Ph.D, APR, President and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations

@tmccorkindale
https://instituteforpr.org/contact

Link to the full study: https://instituteforpr.org/2020-disinformation-report

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The Content Marketing Institute defines content marketing as a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience, ultimately driving desired action. Key word? Valuable. In this episode, we speak with Amanda Milligan of Fractl, a Content Marketing Agency based in Washington, DC.

Guest: Amanda Milligan, Marketing Director, Fractl

amanda@frac.tl

Amanda’s podcast is called “Cashing in on Content Marketing”

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"Society is changing... there's a new elite emerging and those elite have huge amounts of power."
Professor Anne Gregory, Ph.D., BA, FRSA, HonFCIPR, Huddersfield University, a.gregory@hud.ac.uk

"The problem with algorithms is they... discriminate almost by design. They're missing on diversity and inclusion, so you have to get in there as PR people."
Jean Valin, BA, BA (Hons), APR, FCPRS, HonFCIPR, Valin Strategic Communications, jvalinpr@gmail.com

The Artificial Intelligence in Public Relations panel was founded in 2018. It’s a global volunteer committee, developed through the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) comprising senior communications professionals and leading PR academics and researchers. Recently CIPR and the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) partnered to publish the AI in Ethics Guide which seeks to improve ethical decision-making of algorithms and other automated tools to avoid harmful impacts on individuals.

To access the Ethics Guide to Artificial Intelligence in PR:

https://www.cipr.co.uk/ai

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Why is coffee so perfect for conversations? In fact, coffee houses were born in 18th Century Austria as a place for middle-and-upper class society to meet and discuss ideas. They spread to England quickly. Fast-forward to today and it seems everything coffee means every social, and perhaps the secret weapon for communications strategy.

Guest: Professor Thomas Merritt, Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc

Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario, Canada

tmerritt@laurentian.ca

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In digital media, Reach can be defined as the total number of people who see your content and Impressions as the number of times your content is displayed.

But it’s not that simple.

Older concepts like pass-along rates and generic multipliers are resulting in some fuzzy math leaving us scrounging for “breadcrumbs,” amongst the “rat babies.” We speak with digital media guru Doug Lacombe who does his best to create a positive impression.

Guest: Doug Lacombe, President Communicatto Inc

doug@communicatto.com

https://www.communicatto.com/

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Understanding how our brains operate in a crisis can help leaders think more clearly and effectively manage emergencies. In this episode Dr Steve Joordens, Psychologist at the University of Toronto Scarborough, helps us understand why sometimes our brains have a mind of their own… and what we can do about that.

Guest: Dr Steve Joordens, Psychologist, University of Toronto Scarborough

steve.joordens@utoronto.ca

Centre for Crisis and Risk Communications - https://centreforcrisiscommunications.com/

Secret Code SNSJGR

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Some of the key benefits of mentorship in professional communications include the ability to foster an exchange of ideas, friendship, and expertise in an industry that is constantly changing.

Guest Tamara Vineberg

@TamaraVineberg

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Are office workers really more productive working from home? Truth is, the idea is so novel, we aren’t too sure. With COVID-19, there’s a better opportunity to explore the medium and long-term effects of the concept. One thing is for sure, there will be substantial impacts to how we communicate and how we lead.

Guest: Professor Nita Chhinzer, Ph.D.,

Assistant Professor Human Resources, Department of Management

University of Guelph, ON, Canada
chhinzer@uoguelph.ca
nitachhinzer.com

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In a world of seemingly never-ending clichés the best interviewers find a way to make it not feel like an interview at all, but rather, a conversation. In this episode we speak with Bryn Griffiths, a broadcaster who has conversed with athletes around the world, always seeking to help them get from “110%” to a more authentic 100%.

Guest Bryn Griffiths
Bryn's website
mightymouth@shaw.ca

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For a decade the Chartered Institute of Public Relations in the UK has been reporting on trends, issues, and challenges impacting the communications profession. What are the skills we need? What are the challenges we face? How much are we being paid? And is there pay equity yet? Institute President Jenni Field joins Stories and Strategies to talk about the 2020 Report released this summer.

Guest Jenni Field
President Chartered Institute of Public Relations
info@redefiningcomms.com
Link here to download a copy of the 2020 report

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Through a content analysis of all public tweets sent by Black Lives Matter over a four-year period, this study examined the message strategies used on Twitter by the social movement as a means to share information, build community, and promote action.

Guest Candice LaShara Edrington, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Strategic Communication, High Point University, North Carolina

cedringt@highpoint.edu

Link to download Study

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According to the Urban Dictionary, the term "Snake Oil" comes from the 19th century American practice of selling cure-all elixirs with false claims. On this week’s episode, award-winning public relations consultant Michelle Garrett helps us differentiate between good stories and strategies and the stuff sold in traveling medicine shows.

Guest Michelle Garrett

Garrett Public Relations, Columbus, Ohio

michelle@michellegarrett.com

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Human beings have been described as emotional beings who think. We're also emotional beings who buy things. This May 2020 report tracks how changing attitudes are changing our behaviours, and what brands should do about it.

Guest Nick Bond

Emotive Technologies

nick@emotiveinc.com

Download the Brand Pulse Report here

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Beyond the ideas of key messages and social media posts, there is a place for us to talk and listen to one another... I’ll meet you there. On this episode we speak with one of the most experienced public participation practitioners (and trainers) in Canada, about the power of engagement

Guest Gay Robinson

canadiantrainerscollective.ca

Link to IAP2 Spectrum

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Canadian broadcast legend Marty Forbes reflects on his 50 years in broadcasting and print, the influences at the time and how those who truly understand the mediums are able to harness today’s technologies to make those personal impressions that last so much longer.

Guest Marty Forbes

Radiowise Inc

Mforbes07@shaw.ca

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Many have said the world simply wasn’t ready for COVID-19 the pandemic. Months in, we’re all anxious to get back to our lives, but are we ready for the recovery? And what does “recovery” look like?

Crisis Communications expert Amanda Coleman, former Director of Corporate Communications of the Greater Manchester Police, walks us through her Recovery Communication Readiness Assessment Guide.

Guest Amanda Coleman
Amanda Coleman Communications
amanda@amandacolemancomms.co.uk

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For many companies the 2020 pandemic creates an opportunity to reexamine foundational pillars such as values and culture. It's the same for employees who should take this opportunity to step-back and decide if the company they work for is a fit for them.

Guest: Jolene Ondrik
Eye on Culture Inc.
jolene@eyeonculture.ca

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In a field of practice that features few certainties, there is this one - membership in a professional communications association will make you a better professional and help your career. In this episode, Sue Heuman of Focus Communications explains how.

Guest Sue Heuman, Master Communicator
Focus Communications
sueh@focuscom.ca

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It's all changed. Today you need to reach out to specific reporters, producers, and editors to give your story pitch a fighting chance. In this episode, award-winning journalist Tony Tighe takes us for a virtual tour of the modern newsroom and explains what does and doesn't work

Guest Tony Tighe
tonytighe@shaw.ca

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"There were no exercises for the one in 100 year flood with a complete loss of the downtown core, the massive evacuation of 80,000 people from 26 communities, a power grid failure, the evacuation of the local Zoo, and a diesel train stalled above a river on a bridge that was about to fail."

In conversation before the 2020 health pandemic, Ben Morgan of the Centre for Crisis and Risk Communications joined us to talk about why preparation is critical and yet you're never fully ready for the real thing.

Ben Morgan, Centre for Crisis and Risk Communications
bmorgan@centreforcrisiscomms.ca

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Managers seeking better connections with staff, the rise of the introverts, and opportunities for businesses and governments to communicate differently and more effectively. As the cloud of COVID eventually begins to lift, what does the new world of professional communications look like? There’s no way to know exactly but respected Communications consultant Pamela Munoz of PR Consult gives us some ideas.

Guest Pamela Munoz
PRConsult
pamela@prconsult.co

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Spin Doctors, Brand Police, Jedi mind-controllers with magic words to make people think differently - all misconceptions about professional communications. So, what is it PR people really do for a living? Introducing Stories and Strategies - the real world of professional communications.
Guest Jim Rudolph, jim@jgrcommunications.com

Stories and Strategies for Public Relations: Recent Episodes

Doug Downs

FuturePRoof Community https://www.futureproofingcomms.co.uk/