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

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