PR for Humans with Mike Sergeant

For over 20 years, Lisa has coached actors (many have starred in leading roles in Hollywood films, West End productions and highly rated TV dramas), politicians, executives and public speakers. She runs RADA's “Executive Presence for Women” training. In this episode she tells Mike about ways to Increase personal impact, craft powerful stories and present confidently - how to become a memorable Public Speaker and stand out as the dynamic expert within a crowded marketplace. An episode crammed with tips and advice, helping you to cut through and be remembered.

Mike talks stories with the author of 'The Charmed Life of Alex Moore" - the wonderful Molly Flatt. It's her debut novel and, without giving too much away, is unexpected and challenging and has some rather deep things to say about character and story. Molly started out in drama school before becoming a digital 'word of mouth' marketing expert. Then onto novel writing and digital publishing. This podcast is about the intersection between real stories and the (sometimes) pretend world of social media. Brilliant.

In this episode Mike gets some much-needed fashion advice from Lizzie Edwards - style consultant to senior business leaders. Lizzie's first book, 'Look Like The Leader You Are; A Seven Step Style Strategy For Ambitious Women', is published this month - June 2018.Mike and Lizzie discuss clothes, image and appearance in a fun episode. Important stuff here because - like it or not - the way you look is a massive part of communication.

In this episode Mike talks to Lucina Bruce-Gardyne - founder of Genius Foods. Lucinda started Genius after failing to find quality gluten-free bread for he gluten intolerant son. In this episode, Mike and Lucinda explore the nature of entrepreneurship. How Lucinda came up with the idea, and the core belief that she needed to turn Genius into a £30m business. Great life lessons, from a passionate business leader!

This time we're turning the tables on Paul Blanchard, host of the wildly popular Media Masters podcast. In his time, Paul has interviewed everyone who's anyone in global media. He's also a 'PR consigliere' to global CEOs and business leaders. This episode is a treat! We range freely across communications, podcasting and life - from that rare creature in the PR world. Someone who actually started out running a real business and then built his own agency from scratch.

Mike discusses business, entrepreneurship and communications with Hazel Moore, the chairman of FirstCapital - an international investment bank headquartered in London with offices in Silicon Valley. In this episode we talk about communication from a financial perspective, learn some life lessons from a top business leader, and ask how the financial industry can work for women. Hazel was awarded an OBE in 2017 for services to innovation and entrepreneurship. She's one of the country's leading specialists in M&A, technology and Private Equity.

This is a real navel gazer! A podcast episode about podcasting. My guest this week is Richard Miron - the founder and owner of Earshot Strategies - a podcast strategy and production business. Richard spent 17 years at the BBC as a radio producer and foreign correspondent and then 10 years at the UN & World Bank as a senior communications official. This week on the show, we share stories and talk about the power or stories. We make audio about the power of audio. Why are we seeing an explosion of podcasts? What can we learn in the UK from the best American podcasters? What's the future of the podcast? Richard has an engaging story and is passionate about this subject. Enjoy the show!

In this episode, Mike talks video and storytelling with former Sky News colleague and presenter Chris Roberts. Chris spent more than 20 years on the frontline of international television news, first with ITN and then Sky as a senior reporter and presenter. He covered major news stories across the globe including the fall of the Berlin Wall, conflicts in Europe, Africa and Middle East, 9/11 and the Asian tsunami. Since launching InVision in 2011, he’s worked with a wide range of FTSE 250 companies, financial services firms and third sector organisations helping them tell their story through media training and video content.

In this episode, Mike talks to Richard Skinner - Director of the Fiction programme at the Faber Academy and a tutor on its celebrated 6-month 'writing a novel' course. He's published a number of novels and volumes of poetry. He talks to Mike about the elements of storytelling, character and plot. A rich and wide-ranging conversation, with much to stimulate storytellers of all backgrounds - in both fiction, non-fiction, business and communications.

Mike talks visual storytelling with the wonderful Marcia Williams. She's the writer and illustrator of around 60 delightful children's books on subjects like the Greek Myths, the Romans, the Canterbury Tales and war stories. In this episode, we discuss the craft of visual storytelling. What comes first: the words or the pictures? And what might the lessons be for storytellers in other walks of life, including the business world?