Rate this podcast with just one click

Time to explore predictions for the coming year in public relations, marketing, and the evolving role of AI. There are conflicting views on AI's future, its role in content generation, and whether the hype has peaked or we're still climbing the AI rollercoaster. 

But there’s no arguing with the importance of transparency and authenticity rising to the challenges of disinformation. Frank Strong of Sword and Script conducted an industry survey and shares the results with us.

Listen For
6:43 Is the Future of AI Utopian or Dystopian?
9:31 Tough of Disillusionment: Are we There Yet?
10:06 Transparency as a Competitive Advantage
12:12 Why Differentiation Matters in an AI World
17:21 Trust in Influencers: Hollywood vs Niche Experts
21:22 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Brian Porter

Guest: Frank Strong, Sword and the Script Media LLC
Website | X | LinkedIn | Instagram
Read the survey results
Subscribe to Frank’s blog  

Stories and Strategies Website
Apply to be a guest on the podcast

Connect with us
LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads

Request a transcript of this episode

Support the show

Rate this podcast with just one click

We think we can tell when bots take the pen,
When AI spins words again and again.
"Deep dives" and "delves" in their usual tone,
The cadence, the phrasing, they’re not quite our own.

But the line’s getting blurred, it’s harder to see,
Is this human or machine-crafted poetry?
The last bastion, they said, where humans excel,
Was poetry’s heart, its unbreakable shell.

Yet now a new study has shattered the view,
At Pittsburgh, they’ve found something striking and new:
When placed side by side, the verdict is clear,
AI’s verses are what we hold dear.

From Chaucer to Whitman, and Dickinson’s art,
AI poems are stealing the heart.
So the boundary fades, as the data suggests,
The machine's taken hold in humanity’s text.

Listen For
3:42 Why AI Poems are Preferred
4:48 Straightforward Nature of AI Poetry
8:06 Impact of Cognitive Bias
18:42 Potential of AI in Broader Art Forms
19:39 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Jess Jensen

Guest: Brian Porter, University of Pittsburgh
Website | LinkedIn
Read the Abstract by Brian and his team

Connect with us
LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads

Request a transcript of this episode (and a human will respond)

Support the show

Rate this podcast with just one click

Executives are finally beginning to understand the power of participating in digital channels.

“What if I mess up?”

“Why would anyone want to hear from ME?”

Those WERE the common excuses until about five years ago when the trend lines changes and it was more common for executive leaders to BE on social media than not.

Still, most sound like cheerleaders for their company don’t they? We aren’t REALLY getting to know them, just where they work and a less-than-subtle message about why we should support or even patronize their organization.

How to help them sound more authentic? More real? Maybe there is a way.

Listen For
08:12 Playing it Safe: Executives “Dipping Toes” in Social Media
09:11 Frank Cooper’s LinkedIn Masterclass
10:30 Sarah Blakely’s Authentic Instagram Approach
14:05 Injecting Personality Into Executive Communication
15:42 Connecting Through Emotion, Humor, and Value
22:20 The Professional-Authentic Balance for Executives
23:18 Crafting a Narrative Framework for Digital Success
24:35 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Dr Karen Hills Pruden

Guest: Jess Jensen
Website | email| LinkedIn | X

Stories and Strategies Website

Connect with us
LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads

Request a transcript of this episode

Support the show

Rate this podcast with just one click

There’s a striking imbalance in the PR industry: while women make up two-thirds of the workforce, they hold only a third of executive positions.

For Dr. Karen Hills Pruden the strategy to help women close this leadership gap is to focus strongly on provable analytics. She shares how to amplify your value through metrics, finding your unique selling proposition, and why silence is NOT a superpower when it comes to self-advocacy.

Listen For
4:34 Amplifying Your Value at the Table
6:21 Immediate vs Delayed ROI in PR
10:55 Analytics Every Aspiring Leader Needs
12:42 The Three Pillars of Leadership Metrics
14:05 Barriers Women Face in Leadership
17:31 The Value of a Unique Selling Proposition
20:18 Silence is NOT a Superpower
22:16 Advocating for Yourself at the Leadership Table
23:29 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Matt Krayton

Guest: Dr Karen Hills Pruden
Website | Email | LinkedIn

Stories and Strategies Website

Are you a brand with a podcast that needs support? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.

Apply to be a guest on the podcast

Connect with us
LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads

Request a transcript of this episode

Support the show

We want to hear from you https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/survey
Rate this podcast with just one click

What can political campaigns teach us about the art of public relations? Political strategist Matt Krayton explores how modern political campaigns have become masterclasses in PR strategy. From messaging and media to influencers and voter vibes, Matt breaks down what worked in the recent US election, what didn’t, and why.

Listen For
8:09 The Role of Social Media in Shaping Voter Perceptions
9:10 Were Democrat Messages on Target?
11:29 Celebrity Endorsements. Do They Work Anymore?
13:10 Podcasts and Niche Media: The New Political Battleground
14:19 Why Influencers Resonate More than Celebrities
16:44 The Double Edged Sword of Traditional Media
17:48 How “Horse Race” Reporting Impacts Political Narratives
20:11 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Adrian Cropley

Guest: Matt Krayton, Publitics
Website | Email

Rate this podcast with just one click 

Stories and Strategies Website

Are you a brand with a podcast that needs support? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.

Apply to be a guest on the podcast

Connect with us
LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads

Request a transcript of this episode

Support the show

We want to hear from you https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/survey
Rate this podcast with just one click

Jaguar is one of the most iconic luxury car brands in the world, known for its sleek designs and powerful engines. But has the company made a fatal mistake that could impact its future?

It’s rebranding, launched last week, has drawn widespread and almost universal criticism. One writer even called it “Imminent Brand Immolation.”

Is this the end of Jaguar? Or does a cat always land on its feet?

Listen For
4:59 The Cat is Dead: First Reactions to the Jaguar Rebrand
6:38 Blue Steel, But Make it Jaguar
7:46 Did Jaguar Set its Identity on Fire?
14:26 Pissing Off Your Loyal Audience: Bold or Brain Dead?
17:27 Living Your Values vs Alienating Your Base?
19:30 Save the Cat: Imagine a Jaguar Brand Turnaround

Guest: Tyler Chisholm
Website | Email | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook

Listen to Tyler’s podcast Collisions YYC

Rate this podcast with just one click
Stories and Strategies Website
Are you a brand with a podcast that needs support? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.

Apply to be a guest on the podcast

Connect with us
LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads
Request a transcript of this episode

Support the show

We want to hear from you https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/survey
Rate this podcast with just one click

In many ways, the ground is shifting beneath our feet. PR professionals are shifting from traditional roles to becoming trusted advisors in a world where AI and data are reshaping the landscape.

Generative AI and advanced analytics are changing the way PR pros build strategies, measure success, and influence public perception. But how can AI be used responsibly? How do we go beyond simple metrics to understand true impact? And what skills are essential in this new era of PR?

Listen For
7:38 Why PR Pros Must Shape AI Development
13:41 Outcomes-based Dashboards. The Future of PR Analytics
17:38 How PR Hiring Needs to Change in the AI Era
19:03 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Raphael Labbe

Guest: Adrian Cropley, OAM, FRSA, IABC Fellow, GCSCE, SCMP
Website | Email | X | LinkedIn
CSCE link to training offerings
Check out Adrian’s podcast

Stories and Strategies Website

Are you a brand with a podcast that needs support? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.

Apply to be a guest on the podcast

Connect with us
LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads

Request a transcript of this episode

Support the show

We want to hear from you https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/survey

There’s a rising tide of disinformation threatening corporate communication and financial stability. It’s increasingly influential and at times very well-funded.

Most recently there was the infamous Adidas hoax, where activists manipulated public perception to spark conversations about workers' rights.

A new tool called Wiztrust Protect is a blockchain-based solution designed to certify and verify corporate information, helping companies safeguard their reputation and ensure the truth prevails in an increasingly deceptive digital landscape.

Listen For
3:51 The Rising Tide of Corporate Misinformation
8:10 Examples of Stock Market Manipulation Hoaxes
12:27 How Wiztrust’s Blockchain Verification Works
18:45 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Rod Cartwright

Guest: Raphaël Labbé, Wiztrust
Website | Email

Rate this podcast with just one click
Stories and Strategies Website

Are you a brand with a podcast that needs support? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.

Apply to be a guest on the podcast

Connect with us
LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads

Request a transcript of this episode

Support the show

We want to hear from you https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/survey

Our World faces a lot of big problems all at once right now. Wars, disinformation, climate change, and money troubles.

A new report suggests these problems actually reinforce each other, creating a “new abnormal” state of constant risk. Life feels uncertain and that’s becoming normal.

The report emphasizes we need to shift our focus, not just by using technology but by focusing on people. Shift resources toward human preparedness and critical human infrastructure rather than relying solely on technical systems.

Listen For
7:12 Why Crises Deserve a Human Response
10:23 Poly-Crisis: The New Normal in Crisis Management
14:24 Crisis as a Turning Point
16:59 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Brittany Brown

Guest: Rod Cartwright
LinkedIn
Download the Full Report “Reputation, Risk and Resilience
Article for UK’s National Preparedness Commission o the crucial role of human preparedness and critical human infrastructure

Rate this podcast with just one click
Stories and Strategies Website
Are you a brand with a podcast that needs support? Book a meeting with Doug Downs to talk about it.
Apply to be a guest on the podcast

Connect with us
LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads
Request a transcript of this episode

Support the show

We've been publishing Sunday mornings since we first started with Stories and Strategies. Now we're switching to Tuesdays.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the days when the most new episodes are published in the podcast world, and they're the two days when the most people are spending the most time listening.

When we first started we didn't want to compete with the other big Public Relations podcasts because we were the new kids. But Rephonic now says Stories and Strategies is the most listened-to Public Relations podcast in the World.

So we aren't the new kids anymore... we're the big kids.

We hope this works for you. In our research, no listeners we spoke with were dependent on Sunday episodes but if you do have a concern, please send Doug an email directly - [email protected]

Cheers

Support the show