Traffic is tanking. Search is splintering. And what used to count as a “PR win” may no longer be strategic. In a landscape where AI overall and large language models specifically are reshaping discovery, attention is no longer just a side effect of good content—it’s the point. But how do you earn it when the rules keep shifting?

In this week’s episode, Anne Green and Steve Halsey kick things off with a fast-moving conversation about what’s driving urgency and big opportunity around earned media today, from the rise of generative engine optimization (GEO) to AI’s growing appetite for structured, high-authority content that gives third-party credibility renewed weight. Drawing on recent insights from a private gathering of high-level media publishers, advertising and brand leaders, they reflect on what it now takes to stay visible in a “post-traffic” world.

Then, Anne is joined by Dan Nestle, communications strategist, podcaster, and advocate of the “Earned Attention” framework, for a conversation about what really builds influence today. With experience across both corporate and agency roles, Dan challenges communicators and PR pros to revisit long-held assumptions about success in a fragmented, AI-shaped landscape.

Together, they explore what happens when teams prioritize prestige placements over channels that actually impact audience behavior, and how that disconnect can undermine relevance, visibility, and trust. They examine how trade and niche media are regaining strategic value, what today’s audiences actually pay attention to, and why content built for trust and clarity is more likely to be seen by people and platforms alike.

Join us as we explore:

- Why audience behavior is replacing top-tier coverage as the true measure of success
- What GEO (generative engine optimization) means for earned media strategy
- How AI is reshaping discoverability and visibility, sometimes quietly, sometimes radically
- The enduring value of trade and niche media in an authority-driven ecosystem
- What comms leaders can do to earn attention, build trust, and stay strategically visible

Somewhere along the way, a movement became a minefield. Ideally rooted in clear principles and purpose, the language of diversity, equity, and inclusion has morphed into a haze of acronyms, assumptions, and acrimony—and many leaders are quietly backing away. But what if the problem isn’t necessarily the work itself, but is rooted in how we talk about it and connect it with real people’s real experiences? 

In this week’s episode, host Anne Green sits down with Sheryl Battles—veteran communications executive and former VP of Global Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement at Pitney Bowes—for a conversation that cuts through the confusion. Drawing from decades of experience at the intersection of business strategy and human-centered leadership, Sheryl unpacks how today’s organizations can move beyond buzzy shortcuts and get back to the actual business of building diversity, inclusion and belonging. 

Together, they explore how over-reliance on acronyms like DEI, ESG, and now AI can dilute meaning, sow confusion and create an environment for backlash, and why rooting these concepts in clarity, context, and business relevance is more critical than ever. And how organizations can reframe the conversation to focus on value, not just labels.

Join us as we discuss:

• How the absence of shared language and understanding erodes trust and momentum
• Why over-reliance on acronyms like DEI, ESG, and AI have outpaced understanding – and the risks of not communicating in ways all stakeholders can grasp or relate to
• What organizations get wrong about meritocracy and equity
• How clarity and context create real inclusion—not just compliance

The hype around artificial intelligence is loud, but the real story is unfolding quietly in the daily workflows of marketing and digital strategists. It’s not just about ChatGPT or flashy tools. It’s about what happens when AI meets persistent pain points, hidden frictions and fresh opportunities in real work.

To kick off part two of their series on how AI is reshaping integrated marketing communications, hosts Anne Green and Steve Halsey discuss what it takes to move from experimentation to enablement—covering everything from legal and procurement hurdles to the importance of responsible governance and smart integration.

Then, Anne sits down with Loren King, Senior Digital Marketing Specialist at MorganMyers, a G&S Agency, to explore what that shift looks like on the ground. For Loren, that means building smarter systems for agriculture and food clients while staying attuned to how new technologies are shifting everything from brand perception to content discovery. With a background rooted in farm life and a front-row seat to rapid AI adoption, Loren brings a practitioner’s lens to a grounded, real-world conversation.

In this episode, Anne and Loren explore what digital fluency looks like today and how communicators can experiment with AI in ways that are strategic, ethical, and grounded in real needs. From automating repetitive tasks to preparing for agentic tools and AI-optimized discovery, Loren’s insights offer a clear path for professionals who want to stay relevant without getting overwhelmed.

We also discuss:

• Why starting with problems—not tools—leads to smarter AI use
• How image-based search is reshaping brand visibility
• What happens when custom GPTs handle the backend grind
• The new kind of fluency communicators need to stay relevant

If you missed part one of this series—featuring Greg Galant of MuckRack on AI’s rapid adoption in PR—go back and listen wherever you get your podcasts.

AI has moved from experiment to infrastructure in the world of PR—reshaping workflows, enhancing research, generating content, and becoming an essential part of the professional toolkit. But with adoption accelerating, many teams are moving faster than their policies, slower than their tools, and without a shared understanding of what this shift means for the future of the craft.

Part one in our special series on AI, this episode of Building Brand Gravity has hosts Steve Halsey and Anne Green kick things off with a conversation about how communicators can embrace AI to become better strategists, counselors, and learners in an era of constant change. Then, Steve sits down with Greg Galant, CEO and co-founder of Muck Rack, to unpack findings from The State of AI in PR report—exploring adoption trends, emerging professional skills, and growing gaps in training, policy, and trust.

Join us as we discuss:
• How generative AI is transforming PR workflows across the industry
• The risks of widespread use without clear guidance or alignment
• What AI adoption reveals about trust, transparency, and client expectations

Stay tuned for part two, where Anne sits down with Loren King of MorganMyers to explore how AI is quietly transforming daily workflows in digital marketing and communications.

Business confidence is no longer just a reflection of quarterly results—it's a barometer of public trust, strategic clarity, and leadership alignment. Yet, according to new global research from The Page Society and The Harris Poll, only 1 in 4 people believe companies can positively impact the issues that matter most. Even fewer see both the action and context that build lasting confidence.

In this episode, host Steve Halsey is joined by Eliot Mizrachi, VP of Strategy & Content at The Page Society, and Rob Jekielek, Managing Director at The Harris Poll, to unpack the insights behind the Confidence in Business Index—a landmark study spanning 14 countries, 16 issues, and interviews with 40 Chief Communications Officers worldwide.

Together, they explore what the data means for communicators navigating a fragmented trust landscape, an evolving CCO role, and a multigenerational workforce with diverging expectations.

Join us as we discuss:

• Six societal issues shaping public expectations of business in 2025
• What the Confidence Curve reveals about moving belief from 26% to 53%
• Generational trust divides and Gen Z’s evolving expectations at work
• How CCOs align internal culture with external credibility

In today’s workplace, the relationship between companies and their employees has never been more complex—or more fragile. The pressures of a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world are reshaping how we work, how we lead, and how we navigate the space between personal and corporate values.

For this week’s guest, Ethan McCarty, CEO & Founder of Integral, this isn’t just an academic discussion—it’s the very heart of what makes organizations thrive (or unravel). As a leader in employee engagement and organizational communications, Ethan has spent his career helping businesses bridge the gap between what they say they stand for and how their people actually experience work.

On today’s episode, host Anne Green sits down with Ethan to explore the deep (and often uncomfortable) questions at the center of today’s workplace challenges. How can we better understand the relationship between an individual’s personal values and those expressed by their workplace? What are the implications for more, and less, alignment? Can businesses truly create a shared sense of purpose? And in an era of heightened political and social division, how should companies respond to (or account for) external pressures—without alienating the very people who keep them running?

Join us as we discuss:

• How the pressures of a VUCA world impact both individuals and organizations—and why those impacts aren’t always the same
• The tension between corporate values and personal identity and values—where alignment matters and where it may never fully exist
• The ongoing debates around politics in the workplace, return-to-office mandates, and the evolving role of DEI
• The real effects of values misalignment on belonging, psychological safety, and performance

What will it take to succeed in 2025?

In this episode, Steve Halsey and Anne Green share their predictions for 2025, diving into the trends and strategies shaping leadership, culture, innovation, and communication. From navigating a VUCA world to leveraging AI for trust-building and empowering teams to cultivate their resilience, this conversation offers actionable insights to help leaders and brands thrive.

Join us as we discuss:

• Critical factors likely to impact business and society in 2025.
• How to balance strategy with authenticity in a rapidly changing world.
• The transformative role of AI and storytelling in building trust.
• Leadership priorities for agility, inclusivity, and empathy.

The future of work is clearly no longer about clocking in at a desk. For this episode’s guest, it’s more about creating a whole new rhythm of leadership and engagement that makes work more human.

Speaker, author, coach and consultant Eryc Eyl shares his unique perspective on the evolving dynamics of the workplace and challenges with how "employee engagement” is understood today. We dive into the generational shifts shaping how we work, a reframing of “quiet quitting” as “calibrated contribution,” and why redefining success around what engagement really means is essential in a volatile and uncertain world. 

Eryc offers fresh insights on creating human-centered workplaces and reveals his innovative approach to leadership coaching and consulting—which includes blending DJing with motivational speaking to spark collective energy and connection. Plus, he delves into the key concepts from his book Stop Engaging Employees: Start Making Work More Human, challenging the way we think about work, leadership, and what more authentic engagement can look like.

Join us as we discuss:

• Moving from engagement as something we “do to” employees to a more mutual relationship – one aimed at fostering emotional connections in human-centric workplaces.
• How leaders can nurture engagement by creating the right conditions, not forcing activity.
• Fresh approaches to igniting collective energy and creativity.

Want to know the secret to thriving in a world full of marketing buzzwords? It’s all about mastering the right blend of authenticity, technology, and real human connections to make your brand not just heard, but truly relevant and memorable.

This week, host Anne Green opens up our listener mailbag to answer questions on compelling guest conversations from Season 2 episodes. This includes exploring how businesses can thrive by aligning communications with revenue-driving goals, igniting creativity within teams, and building real, lasting connections with key audiences. From mastering B2B branding to navigating the future of AI in the workplace, this episode touches on trends that will continue to be top of mind in 2025.

Anne also opens up about everything from her unconventional career journey and passion for genuine networking, to diving deep into the practical and philosophical sides of AI.

Join us as we discuss:

• Why prioritizing authentic connections and genuinely learning about others can have a lasting impact on your network and business.
• How AI tools can supercharge productivity and ignite creativity in your organization if approached intentionally.
• Key strategies for aligning communications approaches with business objectives to achieve real, measurable outcomes.

PR professionals are stepping up their game, transforming from mere communicators to strategic partners who drive business success by blending storytelling skills with essential business acumen. Today, we’re uncovering the secrets to mastering this game-changing skill set, crucial for communication leaders at every career stage—from entry-level roles to Chief Communications Officers (CCOs).

In this episode, we’re excited to welcome Ron Culp and Matt Ragas, Ph.D., two esteemed faculty members in the College of Communication at DePaul University and proud members of the Page Society. They’ll share invaluable insights from their co-authored book, "Business Acumen for Strategic Communicators: The Workbook," which is designed to bridge the gap between communication and business strategy.

We’ll also explore how entry-level, mid-level and senior professionals and CCOs can effectively integrate their communication strategies with business goals and tackle the challenges of today’s dynamic landscape.

Join us as we discuss:

• The necessity for young PR professionals to develop business fluency to ensure their contributions drive organizational success.
• How mid-level professionals can transition from tactical outputs to a more strategic advisory role.
• For CCOs as seasoned professionals and business leaders to enhance their effectiveness by integrating business strategy with communication efforts.
• The importance of continuous learning and financial literacy for strategic communicators, along with a need to build strong relationships with finance and HR to become valued partners.