Copper State of Mind: public relations, media, and marketing in Arizona

Reporters are often inundated with automated, irrelevant email pitches. But how far is too far when using automation to secure media coverage?

In this episode, we discuss a recent, troubling scandal where a PR agency used AI-generated personas of non-existent PR reps, complete with fake names and headshots, to pitch stories on behalf of their clients.

One journalist, Maggie Harrison Dupré, uncovered the deception and documented it in a long and detailed article in Futurism — probably not the publicity those clients wanted!

Abbie emphasizes that while AI is an excellent tool for efficiency, it should never replace the authentic human connection, intellectual property, and trust that form the foundation of public relations.

Read the transcript and notes for this episode on the Copper State of Mind podcast website.

Key Takeaways

• The overwhelming volume of AI-generated communication poses significant challenges to journalists and PR professionals alike.
• The "spray and pray" media pitching strategy has been worsened by AI, flooding reporters with irrelevant and deceptive spam that damages agency reputations.
• Transparency is a non-negotiable ethical obligation; agencies must disclose their AI practices to clients to avoid misrepresenting their brand.
• While AI can create operational efficiency, it cannot replace the genuine human relationships and intellectual property that PR professionals provide.
• As autonomous "agentic AI" continues to grow, the industry may eventually require authenticated, private channels to ensure human-to-human communication and filter out AI spam.

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

It's easy to assume that writing a mission statement, hanging a manifesto in the breakroom, or hosting a casual Friday is enough to establish a strong company culture. However, true culture is much harder to define—it's both an identity and a set of shared practices built on daily actions, stories, and genuine interactions.

In this episode, Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre discuss what culture actually looks like in a business setting. Inspired by a recent cruise vacation, Abbie shares how observing a ship's crew—where every employee acted as a dedicated brand ambassador focused on the customer's experience—perfectly illustrated culture in action. Adrian draws on his academic background in anthropology to explain that culture is fundamentally a set of linguistic practices. He notes that top-down directives rarely work; instead, leaders must rely on the stories they tell and the language they use to build a sense of identity and belonging among their team.

Abbie and Adrian also discuss how a strong culture naturally boosts employer branding, attracting top talent simply because the team looks like they genuinely enjoy working together. Ultimately, they stress that while a great culture won't prevent crises from happening, it will entirely transform how an organization reacts to them.

Read the transcript and notes for this episode on the Copper State of Mind podcast website.

Key Takeaways

• Company culture cannot be mandated by a manifesto; it is demonstrated through everyday actions, communication, and mutual respect.
• Every employee, regardless of their specific job title, should feel empowered as a brand ambassador who is ultimately responsible for the customer's experience.
• Culture plays a central role in employer branding—top talent is drawn to organizations where employees share a sense of belonging and visibly enjoy their work.
• To effectively teach and embed values within a team, leaders should rely on storytelling that shows values in practice, rather than just stating the rules.
• Small shifts in language—such as emphasizing partnership and introducing a subordinate as a "coworker"—can have a profound, positive impact on an employee's sense of inclusion.

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

Abbie Fink and Adrian McIntyre chat with Mandy Holmes, founder of Sponsor My Athlete, about how parents can turn their children's passion for sports into a lucrative opportunity through local business sponsorships. Mandy shares insights on building brand partnerships, legal and financial considerations, and how these strategies can extend to arts and other activities. Whether you're a parent, a small business owner, or interested in community engagement, this episode highlights a powerful grassroots marketing approach.

Read the transcript and notes for this episode on our website.

Key Takeaways

• Sponsorships can provide a sustainable way for families to support youth sports without bearing excessive financial burdens.
• Local businesses benefit from these partnerships by gaining direct access to community-oriented marketing opportunities.
• Clear contracts and understanding of the business relationship are crucial to ensure mutual benefit.
• The approach used for youth sports sponsorships can be applied to other activities such as music, theater, and arts.
• Starting early with branding and establishing professional relationships can pave the way for future successes in a child's sports or arts career.

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

Ilana Lowery is Director of School Partnerships & Policies at Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization that puts kids' safety and well-being first in the digital era. Ilana joins us to talk about the new Youth AI Safety Institute, an independent effort to research AI's impact, set safety standards, evaluate products, and share the findings with parents, educators and policymakers alike.

Read the transcript and notes for this episode on our website.

Resources for Parents & Educators

• Common Sense Media: AI
• AI Literacy Toolkit for Families
• Videos and Tips for Families

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

In this episode, Adrian McIntyre and Abbie Fink reflect on leadership, recognition, and the responsibilities that come with both. Prompted by Abbie’s recent induction into the Scottsdale Hall of Fame, the conversation moves beyond awards themselves to focus on what meaningful leadership actually requires: shared purpose, trust, connection, and the ability to bring others along.

Abbie argues that the best leaders are connectors. They create enthusiasm around a mission, help people see themselves in it, and measure success not only by their own accomplishments but by the growth and achievements of the people around them. Together, she and Adrian explore the role of relationships in business and leadership, the importance of listening and curiosity, and why no meaningful success is ever truly achieved alone.

The episode closes with a broader reflection on responsibility and community impact. Drawing on ideas from Arizona State University’s charter and Abbie’s own work in business and civic leadership, they frame leadership as something bigger than visibility or recognition. It is about inclusion, stewardship, consistency, and helping others find purpose and succeed.

Read the transcript and notes for this episode on our website.

Key Takeaways

• Great leadership is rooted in connection and shared purpose.
• Recognition matters most when it becomes a platform to elevate others and advance meaningful work.
• Relationships, not transactions, are the foundation of lasting success in business and leadership.
• Curiosity and listening are essential leadership skills because they build trust and improve judgment.
• Leadership carries a responsibility to strengthen teams, organizations, and communities.

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

On May 13, 2026, the Public Relations Global Network will present the key findings of PRGN Influence Insights 2026, the second edition of its global survey on brand influence.

The 2026 PRGN Influence Insights Survey offers a closer look at how brands are managing trust, reputation, AI, audience behavior and the growing complexity of influence across channels, audiences and markets worldwide.

Join Abbie Fink and other PRGN leaders for a live webinar presentation of the survey data, built on global findings from more than 1,800 professionals across 48 countries.

Register for one of the webinar sessions:

• May 13: EMEA and Americas
• May 13: Americas and APAC

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

Generative AI can be fast, fluent, and incredibly useful.

It can also produce false statements with great confidence.

In this episode, Abbie and Adrian discuss why communicators cannot confuse polished output with trustworthy information.

They explore fact-checking, source verification, media literacy, and what it means to create content that remains credible in an AI-centric communication environment.

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

Abbie Fink and Adrian McIntyre discuss the intricacies of communicating with journalists and the public in the midst of the criminal investigation in Tucson, Arizona into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of journalist and television host Savannah Guthrie.

They explore the responsibilities and pressures faced by local public information officers and other official spokespeople who find themselves in the national spotlight during high-profile cases.

Their conversation touches on the balance between transparency and investigative confidentiality, the importance of maintaining control over the narrative, the need for authenticity in public statements, and the ethical responsibilities of journalists covering such stories.

Read the transcript and notes for this episode on our website.

Key Takeaways

• In a crisis involving sensitive criminal investigations, public information officers must balance the need to keep the public informed with the necessity of not compromising the investigation.
• The competitive nature of media often drives sensationalized coverage, which can complicate the role of spokespersons and influence public perception.
• Genuine, less polished performances by spokespersons can sometimes foster public trust more effectively than highly rehearsed statements.
• Journalists face challenges in remaining ethical and responsible while meeting the demand for continuous updates.
• Even in challenging situations, valuable lessons can be drawn that enhance future crisis communication strategies.

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”