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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

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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

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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
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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

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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
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Stories and Strategies Website

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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
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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

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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

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Why is strategic communications so important to NASA? And what strategies do they use? What audiences do they target?

Brittany Brown of NASA shares how NASA tailors messages for different audiences - ranging from super fans to untapped communities and stakeholders. She shares insights into memorable campaigns, including the Apollo 11 moon landing and the Parker Solar Probe.  

Listen For
 5:21 Segmenting NASA's Audiences
9:38 Making Complex Science Relatable
11:02 Collaborating with Partners - There's Space for Everybody
21:30 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Arik Karani  

Guest: Brittany Brown
NASA Contact | Website | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube 

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We would love to hear about your experience with the Stories and Strategies podcast https://form.jotform.com/242954786599279

Arik Karani, the President of the African Public Relations Association shares why three African nations have introduced mandatory certification for public relations professionals. It’s intended to standardize the PR practice and enforce ethical practice but they also standardize pay rates and even protect practitioners from being fired needlessly.

Is it working in Africa? Would it work in the United States?

Listen For
4:37 Elevating Professional Standards
8:57 Penalties for Unlicensed Practice
12:58 Standardizing Pay for PR Professionals
19:22 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Sia Papageorgiou  

Guest: Arik Karani, President African Public Relations Association
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