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 ...

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 fo...

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 ...

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 Others say that in today’s world of integrated messaging, the separation is outdated.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 ov...

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...

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 join...

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 b...

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 Arou...

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 interdepe...

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 Bia...

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...

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 ...

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 wor...

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 communicato...

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 wome...

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 ...

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 hundr...

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 battl...

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 devel...

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 t...