In this episode of Cogcast, host Larissa Padden sits down with Geoffrey Barraclough, founder of The Business of Payments newsletter and part-time Westminster City Council member. Geoffrey shares his unique journey from payment industry executive to influential Substack creator, offering insights into how the media landscape is evolving beyond traditional journalism.

He reveals how major payment companies are building relationships with newsletter creators, why some $10 billion companies remain under-covered by mainstream media, and how PR professionals can effectively engage with this new breed of industry influencers. Geoffrey also provides a fascinating perspective on the differences between U.S. and global payment systems, and shares which PayTech companies are truly innovating in the space.

In this episode of Cogcast, Larissa Padden sits down with Jennifer Riggins, a tech journalist who's spent 16 years bridging the gap between developers and business value. With her unique perspective as a non-technical writer covering developer experience and the culture of tech, Jennifer offers insights on AI's real purpose in the workplace, the importance of protecting junior developer roles, and why every PR professional needs to understand the human stories behind technology. From Formula 1 engineering to the environmental cost of data centers, discover why the most interesting tech stories are always about people, not features, in this episode

In this episode of Cogcast, special guest host Hannah Porritt interviews Leslie White, senior director, marketing and global head of digital channel performance and strategy at Aon. Sharing lessons learned from her self-proclaimed roots as a nerd and her beginnings “reverse engineering websites, Leslie shares invaluable lessons from experience – with includes affiliate marketing, Google Ads, CRMs, and now LinkedIn. Leslie and Hannah have a great time nerding out on what success with digital marketing looks like, how the landscape of LinkedIn is shifting, and what metrics matter.

In this episode of Cogcast, host Larissa Padden interviews Masha Angelova, Editorial Producer at the US Chamber of Commerce and creator of their show, The Call. Drawing from her extensive experience as a booking producer at CNN and Yahoo Finance, Masha shares invaluable insights into what gets PR pitches noticed, what makes for successful broadcast appearances, and why she pivoted from fast-paced news to more in-depth analysis. For PR and communications professionals looking to place clients in broadcast media or improve their on-camera presence, this episode provides a masterclass in broadcast media relations from someone who's been the gatekeeper.

In this episode of Cogcast, host Larissa Padden speaks with Esther Shittu, an AI News Writer for TechTarget. Esther shares her journey from TV production to tech journalism and explains what PR professionals need to know about the evolving AI landscape. She breaks down the concept of agentic AI in simple terms, discusses what stories currently interest her, and reveals how to pitch effectively in the crowded AI media space. Esther also provides insight into common AI misconceptions and shares details about her podcast ventures, including her journey as the host of the Targeting AI Podcast and her upcoming personal project for working mothers launching June 2nd, Busy Moms Get it Done.

In this episode of Cogcast, host Larissa Padden speaks with financial reporter Mallika Mitra about her journey in journalism and transition to freelancing. Mallika shares insights from her career path through CNBC, Bloomberg, and Money.com before becoming a freelance writer for publications like Barron's, Kiplinger, and Business Insider. She discusses how freelancing has paradoxically provided more job security in today's volatile media landscape, her process for building stories, and her relationship with PR professionals. Mallika also explores her passion for reporting on generational trends in finance, particularly how younger generations approach money differently than their predecessors and the increasing openness about financial matters among Gen Z and millennials. 

In this episode of Cogcast, Larissa Padden sits down with Michael Thrasher, a seasoned journalist who has spent over a decade covering wealth and asset management. Thrasher shares his journey from working at Institutional Investor magazine to founding Modus News, a newsletter dedicated to family office professionals. Michael sat down to talk about the decision to strike out on his own, how he works with PR as a founder versus a reporter, and how media has changed since his days at a daily print newspaper in Ohio.

Michelle Chan, sustainable finance and ESG reporter at The International Financing Review (IFR), discussed her career transition from Nikkei Asia to The Wall Street Journal and now to IFR. She highlighted IFR's paywall-protected business model and shared her thoughts on the future of ESG including the potential impact of the incoming Trump administration.  

Rachel Curry, a freelance reporter contributing to CNBC and Observer, discussed her journey into freelancing, emphasizing the importance of pitching to editors and building relationships. She highlighted the challenges of standing out amidst numerous pitches and the value of relevant, non-trite stories, particularly in tech and AI. Curry also announced her upcoming newsletter, "Acronym," set to launch in December 2024, which aims to cut through corporate jargon and focus on impactful, candid stories. She noted the shift towards newsletters and the evolving media landscape, including her teaching journalism in Australia, which now includes multimedia forms like TikTok and podcasts.

Global Capital’s U.S. Bureau Chief Oliver West joins Cogcast to discuss the delicacies of banker-source relationships, reporting on the capital markets and the value in speaking with the trade media – despite the paywalls. In this latest episode, Olly talks about his career journey from covering Latin American bonds to the U.S. ABS market as well as how he prefers to work with sources and the balance between on the record and on background when covering the capital markets.