The PIO Podcast

Send us Fan Mail

Jeff Butera is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist. A summa cum laude graduate of the University of Florida, he has reported for stations across the country, including in Phoenix and Tampa. He is currently the primary news anchor at WZVN-TV (ABC) In Fort Myers, where his work earned him a coveted Murrow Award for Hard News Reporting.

Jeff's Twitter @WriteLikeUTalk

A link to his book "Write Like You Talk" Link.

Support the show

Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

Send us Fan Mail

In this week's episode, we talk to Dr. Jeff Thompson, Ph.D., NYPD detective and the creator of the Warr;or21 Project. This week's focus is on self-care and so much more.  We talk about the stresses that PIOs are faced with and how to manage themselves. Jeff explains how to normalize fear, stress, and anxiety. Jeff cover "reframing", which helps take control and gives perspective and the importance of it. Jeff explains what Warr;or21 Project is the Awe Project and the purpose of positivity for success. This episode is packed with great resources for anyone in a high-stress career.

A bit about Jeff

Jeff Thompson, Ph.D., is an Adjunct Associate Research Scientist at the Molecular Imaging and Neuropathology Research Area of the New York State Psychiatric Institute and also the Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Depression in the Psychiatry Department at Columbia University Medical Center.  

His research includes developing resilience and positive mental health strategies, hostage negotiation in terrorist incidents, suicide prevention, psychological autopsies, and the use of effective communication during crisis incidents. His training material has been implemented in police agencies across the United States and beyond. 

Additionally, he is an 18-year law enforcement veteran detective with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and a former hostage negotiator. In his role at the NYPD, Detective Thompson is currently the Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator helping conduct research and outreach on the department’s suicide prevention and postvention efforts, reducing the stigma associated with mental illness and help-seeking, enhancing resilience through evidence-based practices, and raising awareness of resources available to both police officers and the public. 

Dr. Thompson is the recipient of the Griffith University Arts, Education and Law's 2020 Outstanding International Alumnus Award and The New York City Police Foundation’s 2020 Hemmerdinger Award for Excellence for Distinguished Public Service.  

Learn about Warr;or21 and the Awe Project by going to Resiliencesymposium.org

Jeff's Twitter handle @jeffphd       

Support the show

Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

Send us Fan Mail

Lynn Hightower has an interesting perspective brought about by years in the private sector and working with local communities. We discuss dealing with unwelcome communications, managing the message, and the importance of doing it properly. What-ifs can result in speculation, Lynn discusses the importance of phrasing responses the proper way to get your agency's message across. 

Lynn Hightower is the Communications Director for the Idaho State Police. At ISP Lynn works with both commissioned and professional staff to build a robust public communications program centered on consistent, useful, and value-based messaging.

Prior to serving with ISP, Lynn spent nearly 13 years as the Public Information Officer for the Boise Police Department. She also served the City of Boise as the Executive Director for the Downtown Boise Association, leveraging communication and collaboration to re-energize the downtown business alliance.

Lynn began her career as a TV news journalist, working as a reporter, anchor, producer, and News Director for stations in Montana and Idaho.

Lynn's LinkedIn account linkedin.com/in/lynnhightower

Support the show

Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

Send us Fan Mail

We talk to Jessie about a variety of topics including self-care as a PIO, owning your responsibility, and setting boundaries. Jessie talks about dealing with trolls, making mistakes, and the three-and-out rule.

Jessie Brown is the Social Media Specialist for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. She believes in the power of social media to inspire, engage, educate and build quality relationships between government agencies and their audiences.

Social Media Club Des Moines' 2017 Social Media Professional of the Year, Jessie's led a charge to develop government social media that has resulted in national, state and local recognition. She currently serves as the Vice President of Government Social Media’s Member Council, has served on the board of Social Media Club Des Moines, and works to help other social media professionals stay emotionally and mentally resilient in an often taxing and stressful career.

Jessie's Twitter - jbrownsocial

Jessie's Email address [email protected]

Support the show

Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

Send us Fan Mail

Kate talks about how Silence is not a winning strategy. The importance of police leaders speaking in times of crisis. The importance of frequent updates affirms the agency's voice in the discussion. Kate is a firm believer in transparency and we discuss transparency portals and these three questions that the public asks. Why do we keep seeing these headlines? How are you preventing a tragedy like this from happening here? How do we know if I can trust the police?  Listen to Kate's response about showing up in real-time with real answers.

Kate Kimble is the public relations manager for Fort Collins Police Services in Fort Collins, Colorado. She has experience in strategic communication, journalism, small business marketing, and social media management. Kate leads the FCPS Media Response Team, manages the agency's digital presence, and facilitates meaningful interactions between law enforcement and the community.

Kate's recommended reading: The Revolt of The Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium - https://www.amazon.com/Revolt-Public-Crisis-Authority-Millennium/dp/B07K6Y6KGZ

Kate Kimble's Twitter  https://twitter.com/FCkimble

Support the show

Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

Send us Fan Mail

Ashley Morris is an emergency management planner for the Baltimore County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management in Maryland. Her primary role involves emergency plan management, exercise coordination, social media messaging, community outreach, and volunteer management. She is also involved in emergency operation center roles involving situational awareness, weather briefings, and other planning section duties. Previously, she held three other local emergency management positions in both Virginia and Texas that involved planning, training, exercise, community engagement, and public information. Ashley coordinated many weather-oriented programs and initiatives, such as receiving StormReady status for the City of Leander, creating an NWS Austin VOST for storm reports, and creating weekly weather impact forecasts specifically for partners and first responders.

Ashley's Twitter @missashes92

Support the show

Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

Send us Fan Mail

Amanda is a crisis communication specialist and is the director and founder of crisis communication consultancy Amanda Coleman Communication Ltd. Based in the UK, she has more than 20 years of experience in emergency services communication and leading in a time of crisis. 

She is the author of Crisis Communication Strategies published in May 2020 by Kogan Page. In 2017, Amanda led the law enforcement communication response to the Manchester Arena terrorist attack. 

Amanda began her working life as a journalist. She is a Chartered PR practitioner as well as a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the Public Relations and Communication Association. She is an advisor for the Resilience Advisors Network and a senior associate of the Centre for Crisis and Risk Communication. 

Amanda’s book Crisis Communications Strategies https://amzn.to/3z0gWuI

Twitter: @amandacomms

Blog: Amandacomms's Blog | Communicating about crisis, reputation and more (wordpress.com)

Support the show

Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

Send us Fan Mail

Robert has over 27 years of law enforcement background, having worked as a Public Information Officer for over 10 years. Robert works tirelessly to further connections with Public Information Officers, Public Relations professionals in the public sector through the use of the PIO Podcast. Robert has worked in three law enforcement agencies over the last 28 years and continues to write, post, and articulate information pertinent to public information as well as community engagement.

Personal Twitter: @RobertTornabene
PIO Podcast Twitter: @PIOPodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-tornabene/
Email: [email protected]

Support the show

Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.

Send us Fan Mail

Elisa Bubak is from Northern California born and raised. Upon graduating from St. Mary’s High School in Stockton, she followed her father’s footsteps to the University of the Pacific. She graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Political Science with minors in Pre-Law & English. Two weeks after graduation, she accepted the Social Media and Content Coordinator position at Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort. After five years with JRCR, she applied and began working for the Lodi District Chamber of Commerce as their Director of Communications. There, she advocated for small businesses, grew their social media presence, and helped run multiple events that brought recognition to the Lodi community. She started her career as the Public Information Officer in mid-2020 and has been dedicated to showcasing all the positive work that stems from the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office.

 
Elisa lives in Lodi with her husband, Lance, their son, and basset hound. In her spare time, she loves being outdoors and camping, reading a good book, and drinking copious amounts of iced coffee.

Email Address - [email protected]

San Joaquin District Attorney's Office Website https://www.sjgov.org/da/

Support the show

Our premiere sponsor, Social News Desk, has an exclusive offer for PIO Podcast listeners. Head over to socialnewsdesk.com/pio to get three months free when a qualifying agency signs up.