Podcasts about Burson

Rusty and Louie talk about Freshcorn returning, the A&M SEC Network takeover, Astros/Rangers, the All-Star game, and more.  They hang out.

Rusty Burson - Aggie Historian and Author - remembers Melvin Watikins, Billy Clyde, Tony Barone, and makes a tragic Facebook mistake right before his sons wedding.  They also talk Rangers/Astros.Bill Oliver - News Director of Bryan Broadcasting - joins Louie to say goodbye.  Bill is headed back home after 16-17 years.  Bill rocks.

That Solo Life Episode 345: The New Rules of Trust but Verify Episode Summary Every solo PR pro has heard the same directive for the past year: show up in AI search. Get cited by ChatGPT, Gemini, and the rest. But Karen and Michelle pose a different question: when AI mentions your client, does anyone actually believe what it says? New research says visibility and believability are two distinct jobs, and most practitioners have only been working on one. Karen walks through Burson's new Credibility Paradox report (with Profound), which analyzed roughly 55,000 believability forecasts across 85 companies and seven AI platforms. The headline finding: executive and leadership messaging is the least believable claim type across every industry studied, while third-party proof — product results, workplace recognition, and independent coverage — ranks highest. Karen and Michelle unpack why this is genuinely good news for solo practitioners, why it doesn't mean ditching executive thought leadership, and what to actually do about it starting Monday morning.   Episode Highlights [01:54] The Credibility Paradox: Visibility Is Necessary But Not Sufficient: Burson's new report, produced with Profound, ran roughly 55,000 believability forecasts across 85 companies on seven major AI platforms. The headline finding: simply being mentioned by an AI tool is not the win. The real work now is building enough evidence around a brand that the AI's answer is actually believable to the people who matter. [03:01] The Finding That Stops Practitioners in Their Tracks: Leadership Messaging Ranks Least Believable: Across every industry studied, executive and leadership claims scored as the least believable claim type. The highest-scoring claims were product results, innovation, workplace recognition, and other third-party signals, proof that comes from somewhere other than the brand's own mouth. Karen is careful to note the nuance: this does not mean executive thought leadership is worthless. It means leadership messaging is the lowest-leverage lever for believability when it isn't anchored to proof. [05:40] What This Looks Like on a Real Account: Karen walks through a practical example: a SaaS founder wants to be known as the most innovative platform in their category. An AI tool can repeat that claim, but a skeptical buyer will read it as marketing and discount it. Compare that to an independent review site ranking the same company, a trade outlet covering a customer's actual results, or a workplace award genuinely earned. Same underlying message, completely different believability. The shift isn't to stop telling the story. It's to get credible third parties to tell it alongside you. [07:37] The Good News: Earned Media Is Quantifiably the Most Believable Lever: A 2026 Stacker study found that distributed earned media drove a 239% lift in AI citations compared to owned content alone. Separately, Muck Rack's analysis of over 25 million links found earned media accounts for roughly 82–84% of all AI citations. For solo practitioners, this reframes years of fuzzy ROI conversations into one of the most quantified arguments for earned media ever, and it's a number a budget-holding client can understand immediately. [10:36] Why Solos Specifically Win Here: You Don't Need a Paid Media Budget: The believability lever that matters most - earned coverage and third-party proof - is exactly the lever solo practitioners are already built to pull without a paid media budget. Karen's framing is that you can't always outspend a big agency, but you can outearn them. AI didn't make solo practitioners obsolete. It handed them the receipts. [11:34] The Foolproofing: Buyers Still Verify Before They Trust: A third report, G2's Answer Economy study, surveyed over 1,000 B2B software buyers and found only 2% will buy from an AI-recommended brand without verifying it first, and 69% of those who verified ended up choosing a different vendor than originally planned. The conclusion: the AI conversation doesn't replace human trust, it feeds into it. The proof a practitioner builds is exactly what's waiting when a buyer goes to verify. [13:11] Judgment Is the Scarce Resource, Not Content: AI can draft a press release in nine seconds. It cannot tell a practitioner whether that's the right tactic for the right client at the right moment. Karen and Michelle make the case that experienced judgment, knowing which proof point actually moves believability for a specific client, in a specific industry, with a specific buyer, is the solo PR pro's defining advantage in the AI era. It is not something a tool can be prompted into replicating. [18:10] The Monday Morning Action: Ask AI What It Says About Your Client: Karen's first practical step is to ask an AI tool what it currently says about your client, then read the answer the way a skeptical buyer would. Is it leaning on the brand's own claims, or on verifiable third-party proof? The second step is take an hour that would normally go toward polishing executive voice and redirect it toward harvesting one piece of third-party proof,  a review, a pitch, or an award worth pursuing. Resources & Additional Information Burson: The Credibility Paradox (with Profound) Stacker:  2026 AI Citation Study Muck Rack: Earned Media & AI Citation Analysis G2:  Answer Economy Study Solo PR Pro membership community: soloprpro.com That Solo Life podcast website: thatsololife.com Host & Show Info That Solo Life is a podcast created for public relations, communication, and marketing professionals who work as independent and small practitioners. Hosted by Karen Swim, APR, President of Solo PR Pro, and Michelle Kane, Principal of Voice Matters, the show delivers expert insights, encouragement, and practical advice for solo PR pros navigating today's dynamic professional landscape. Listen to all episodes and catch up on previous conversations at thatsololife.com. Did this episode inspire you? If you found value in this conversation, please take a moment to leave us a review. Your feedback helps us reach more solo pros just like you! Don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

What were the biggest lessons and talking points from Cannes Lions 2026? PRWeek's latest podcast takes a look.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest communications and PR issues. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform. Joining this episode are PRWeek trio Danny Rogers (editor-in-chief), John Harrington (UK editor) and Siobhan Holt (deputy editor).They discuss the big trends from the PR Lions in particular this year, and discuss why ‘The KitKat Heist' by VML and Burson won the prestigious Grand Prix in the category.The journalists talk about some of their favourite winners and what they tell us about campaigns today – including trends with purpose, humour and AI.They also ask why smaller UK independents were largely absent from the awards in 2026, despite many still attending the event on the French Riviera. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rusty weighs in on R.C. Slocum's rank on 90's CFB coaches, they talk some Aggie Baseball (Rusty is huge on the future), and Rusty has a great Earl Campbell story.Louie wraps things up by talking some Astros/Rangers and using Yordan + Babe Rush in the same sentence.

Rusty shares his thoughts on the Pat Henry retirement, Scott LIvingstone being the 1st Aggie Baseball player going into the College Baseball HOF, Bucky Ball next year, and Aggie Football over/under of 8.5.

In a Cannes Lions special, PRWeek's Beyond the Noise speaks to communications professionals from Edelman, Burson and Smarts about this year's Festival.Ahead of the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, which starts on Monday (22 June), PRWeek UK spoke to Edelman's international chief creative officer, international, Kate Stanners, alongside Burson's chief strategy officer, Eleanor Sullivan, and Smarts' brand futures director, Natalie Moores.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest communications and PR issues. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen in the browser above or on your favourite platform.The trio discuss what they are looking forward to at this year's event, whether purpose-led campaigns will win big this year, and the impact of AI technology. They also offer advice on how to get the most out of the festival from a business perspective.Asked whether the festival may look a bit extravagant in 2026, especially given industry consolidation and cost-cutting, alongside the ongoing geopolitical strife, the professionals share their thoughts. As part of the episode, the three comms pros debate earned creativity within the PR Lions, and if the lines between PR and advertising have blurred. Stanners, who spent two decades at advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi before joining Edelman last year, dismissed the idea of a turf war between PR and advertising agencies.“There is a school of thought where advertising agencies are saying: ‘Watch out, PR companies, we know how to do it,'” she said. “I think, interestingly, it's the wrong discussion to have. This is about recognising the power of a very different media landscape.”In the discussion, Stanners argued that audience behaviour increasingly favours earned communications over traditional advertising.“Ninety-nine per cent of people would like to skip the ads if they could, so that tells us a huge amount,” she said. “People are significantly more likely to trust work that comes in an earned space, which also tells us a huge amount.” PR retains a unique advantage in creating earned impact, added Stanners. “It is a battleground, probably, for all sorts of businesses to be playing in. But a truly earned piece of work plays slightly differently.”The three professionals assess the festival's updated guidelines, introduced following controversies at last year's awards, and whether they will prove effective.And the panel members share their own experiences at Cannes and outline the criteria they use to evaluate what makes a standout PR campaign.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rusty Burson joins Louie and they talk some Aggie Baseball, Rusty is a Mavericks fan - don't be the Spurs, Aggies have been on both ends of comebacks, and Rusty is the one who created the "classless clowns" headling for Texas Tech fans.  Great stories.

Rusty Burson - Aggie Historian + Author - joins Louie and they talk a lot of Aggie Baesball, wrap up the Aggie Athletics grading, and how/why Texas has passed A&M in the Big 3.  A "Listen In" with Greg McElroy from his podcast on the Top 5 Defensive Lines for CFB 2026.

My guest this month is Coach Amber Burson. Coach Burson is the strength and conditioning coach at Lexington High School, located in Lexington Nebraska. She is also the Nebraska state director for the NHSSCA. We sit down and discuss how she became an athletic trainer as well as a strength coach, what winning the COTY award means to her and what training at Lexington looks like. Coach Burson drops some great knowlege throughout the episode.Enjoy! Coach Burson on X: https://x.com/lexhighstrengthCheck out our partner sponsors for this month's episode !PlayerData at https://playerdata.com/StrayDog Strength at https://straydogstrength.com/

Aggie Historian + Author - Rusty Burson - joins the LB Show and they gotta talk A&M Baseball and what is success this weekend (prett obvious on this one).  Then, they it is Astros and Rangers time.Things wrap up with a "Listen In" with Earley, Harcopian, and Freshcorn from the C.S. Regional Media Day.

Louie opens with the latest Aggie Baseball news and thoughts heading into tonight.  Rusty Burson - Aggie HIstorian and Author - joins and they talk way more Aggie Baseball plus have fun with the top 10 TD passing A&M quarterbacks of all-time.  Lots of fun.

Rusty Burson - Aggie Historian + Author - joins Louie and they talk Astros + Rangers + MLB in general.  They also gotta talk about the Friday night change for Aggie Baseball and where things are heading into the last two weeks.

Rusty has bird problems, Bucky Ball and what is the Year 2 expectation, Aggie Baseball, and a bit of Texas Rangers.

Family Bible Hour featuring David Burson 04-19-2026 David Burson David Burson Download

On today's MadTech Daily we cover investor expectations for Netflix after its Warner bid, the IAB unveiling guidelines for AI-driven commerce media, and WPP reportedly launching talks to sell Burson, its PR arm

Welcome to the PRmoment podcast and on the show today we're chatting to Jim Donaldson about the news that WPP might sell Burson.Previously Jim was CEO UK and Middle East at Fleishman and held senior roles at both Weber Shandwick and Hill & Knowlton. He is now a non-exec to a raft of independent PR firms including Woodrow, Schon&Co and Matlin PR.Before we start, don't miss our new PR Masterclass: AI in PR.Check out the full speaker line-up at  https://www.prmasterclasses.com/masterclass/pr-masterclasses-ai-in-prAt PRmoment we usually let these industry navel gazing moments go, as most of the time, the news has been widely covered elsewhere but I've found the level of paranoid PR commentary linking PR's future to the Burson deal pretty nauseating.I get the need for self appointed PR thought leaders to feed the algorithms but much of the analysis of this potential deal seems ill informed.PRmoment founder Ben Smith put this alternative scenario to ex WPP and Omnicom executive Jim Donaldson about the reasons behind WPP's plans to sell Burson:WPP needs to grow.It still has quite a bit of debt (total net debt £2.17 billion) and its revenue has decreased in recent years. Sources: https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/regulatory/article/-/view/type/HTML/id/3530066 and https://www.fidelity.co.uk/factsheet-data/factsheet/JE00B8KF9B49-wpp-plc/financialsCirca 84% of WWP's revenue comes from ad agencies, which it now calls its Global Integrated Agencies. PR is 9%. (including Ogilvy PR and Burson.) https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=1323-17477290-1Q8TEVR2NNFQVT91FOUCPOQ2BFAd agencies' market has been decimated by the social media owners and they are petrified about what AI is likely to do to their business models.None of the WPP board have any PR experience, and frankly, they've got bigger problems right now. https://www.wpp.com/en/about/our-leadership/the-wpp-boardBurson is a potentially salable asset and WPP can then use those funds to invest in the renewal of its main source of revenue - advertsing agencies.Here's a summary of what Jim Donaldson and PRmoment founder Ben Smith discussed:Does Jim agree with our alternative hypothesis to the reasons WPP might sell Burson?Jim identifies the "huge market shifts" impacting the marketing holding groups currently.Was WPP always a reluctant PR firm owner? Many of the deals where Sorrell acquired a PR firm, included a larger ad agency and the PR firm was a much smaller part of the deal.How salable is Burson as an asset? Does it have growing or declining revenues?Jim describes the holding groups as “a side show” to the most important, mainly positive trends happening in PR at the moment.

Rusty joins Louie to talk Texas Rangers, shares that he has the worse music playlist ever - ever, A&M/t.u. series coming up, and what would they pay to see at Kyle Field.Then, a "Listen In" Aggie Baseball with Gavin Grahovac.

Rusty and Louie talk a lot about Aggie Baseball and a ton of Rangers/Astros + ABS in MLB.Louie goes over some of the more unique/strange Texas High School sports team names.  And he needs help from the listeners.

Family Bible Hour featuring David Burson

Rusty Burson - Aggie Historian + Author - is absolutely in love with Bucky Ball, is not sure on Aggie Baseball, starts us on Texas Rangers 2026, and joins Louie to go over MLB most untouchables records of all-time.A "Listen In" Aggie Football Pro Days with Onyedim and Moss.

Chris Roman designs a Modernist fire station in Richmond VA.  Authors Edward Dimendberg and Crosby Doe share the story of the breakout project for Richard Neutra, the Lovell Health house in Los Angeles.  Holland Murphy investigates an architectural mystery in Dallas, and from northwest Arkansas, musical guest Claudia Burson. 

Rusty and Louie talk some Bucky Ball, A&M Baseball is go time, and then Astros + Rangers.  Good hang out session.

The return of "What About?" Wednesdays! Text us your questions for apologist and pastor Robby Lashua!Each year, the Northwest Christian School Board enjoys a session with the entire Northwest Christian secondary Bible team.  The open-ended conversation includes highs and lows, strengths and weaknesses, and a focus on whether or not the program is truly impacting students and helping them to develop a Biblical worldview.Following the January 2026 version of the conversation, we recognized that we wanted to take it further and, in the spirit of transparency and authenticity, open it up for all to hear and participate.  As a result, over the next several weeks and months, Kingdom Culture Conversations is going to take the time to walk through these conversations with each of the school's secondary Bible teachers.Today, we continue this journey with Ethan Burson, Northwest Christian's 7th grade Bible teacher.  Ethan has served the community of Northwest Christian for just over fifteen years and, in that time, he has served as an educational aide, a science teacher, and, for the past several years, a Bible teacher.  His perspective is informed by history and the relevance that comes with being committed to young people and youth culture. "Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created by Northwest Christian School in Phoenix, Arizona.For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email gbrown@ncsaz.org or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

Aggie Historian and Author - Rusty Burson - talks about Bucky Ball, little Aggie Baseball, and random things that caught their attention.Louie ends by going over some of the "Little Victories" that show you are entering "Adulthood"  Never ask another person to help you move, never.

Rusty and Louie talk a lot abourt Rangers and Astros offense for the 2026 season.  Aggie Baseball and Bucky Ball.

Rusty and Louie go through the Aggie Basketball/Bucky Ball experience.  They are fired up.  They also talk some old school stories.  They always do.Louie enters the Lifestyles/Entertainment Sections and some quick Lent questions? and What Sounds should mean Immediate Danger?

Corey duBrowa spent much of his career advising some of the world's most scrutinized leaders — from Howard Schultz at Starbucks and Marc Benioff at Salesforce to Sundar Pichai at Google. Now, as CEO of global communications firm Burson, he's helping executives navigate a charged marketplace shaped by AI disruption, ICE activity, and nonstop reputational risk. duBrowa explains why reputation remains one of the most powerful (and most misunderstood) assets in business, and how leaders should decide whether, when, and how to speak up.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Corey duBrowa spent much of his career advising some of the world's most scrutinized leaders — from Howard Schultz at Starbucks and Marc Benioff at Salesforce to Sundar Pichai at Google. Now, as CEO of global communications firm Burson, he's helping executives navigate a charged marketplace shaped by AI disruption, ICE activity, and nonstop reputational risk. duBrowa explains why reputation remains one of the most powerful (and most misunderstood) assets in business, and how leaders should decide whether, when, and how to speak up.Visit the Rapid Response website here: https://www.rapidresponseshow.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aggie Historian and Author - Rusty Burson - joins Louie and they go over A&M/Missouri.They also go over what they never at the ballpark. Rusty will never do the wave and more.Louie later jumps into 3 things from pitchers and catchers reporting.

Family Bible Hour featuring David Burson

Aggie Historian and Author - Rusty Burson - joins LB on the D4 Land Services Hotline.  They talk about the Bama game, how picky Rusty is on his Rotel for quesos dip, Rusty is an author NOT a chef, and Excito Meter for Aggie Baseball.

Rusty and Louie go with gut hunches on Bucky Ball on the next five, Aggie Baseball and Softball, and some Aggie Football speculation.  Early Astros/Rangers 2026 thoughts.Louie finishes with the spring to the finish with things stuck in his heads like the Cleveland Browns coach search, a great Gary Patterson story, and an AP voter taking a stand on Alabama hoops.

With the Swiss Alps providing a backdrop for global discussions on transformation and growth, they explore the discovery of a $7 trillion global reputation economy. The conversation covers how reputation has officially graduated from a soft concept to a measurable financial asset, the critical insights from their roundtable session on the workplace in the age of AI and the massive opportunities available for leaders who treat reputation as a driver of shareholder value. PRWeek.comTheme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSICJaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUSReceive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leaders Podcast, Burson global CEO Corey duBrowa and UK CEO Simon Redfern chat to editorial director Maja Pawinska Sims in the midst of the World Economic Forum in Davos. They talk about how the event has evolved and how Burson is adapting and innovating in a new era of reputation management, including the agency's new research, The Global Reputation Economy: A New Asset Class for a New Era. The duo also reflect on what being a business and agency leader means now.

They debate Aggie Football in the playoff 2026, Bucky Ball in the TNY, and a history of BAS.

Rusty joins Louie on the D4 Land Services Hotline to recap the A&M vs. Tennessee basketball matchup, dive into Bucky Ball, and break down transfer portal additions for both the Aggies and the Longhorns. 

Rusty joins Louie on the D4 Land Services Hotline to talk Aggie Football—reviewing the A&M vs. Miami first-round CFP game, the College Football Playoff, transfer portal additions under Mike Elko, Marcel Reed, and thoughts ahead of Ole Miss vs. Miami and Indiana vs. Oregon—plus Bucky Ball, Aggie Basketball, and a recap of A&M's first two SEC games. 

The podcast 'Loud and Clear' hosted by Francisco Cardenas features Faith Vernick, Executive Vice President and Head of Media Partnerships at Burson. Faith discusses her illustrious career in advertising, highlighting her work on iconic campaigns for brands like Oreo and Nissan. She elaborates on the challenges and strategies behind global marketing, emphasizing the importance of cultural nuances and storytelling. Faith also explores the evolving landscape of advertising, the integration of AI, and the future of media and agency structures. Her insights offer a comprehensive look at blending content creation, media buying, and technology to create impactful campaigns.Guest: Faith Vernick, Executive Vice President and Head of Media Partnerships at BursonProducers:⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Victor Cornejo Tell Me More Studios⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠Pranav Kumar at LERMA/⁠⁠⁠Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Francisco Cardenas, Principal of Digital Strategy & Integration at LERMA/⁠⁠⁠

The voice in our head can be an asset at times - but also kind of a jerk at the worst possible moments. And like that one person in the “quiet car” of the train that doesn't seem to understand the rules, it never seems to be quiet when we need it to.A 2014 study identified a self-talk strategy that led to improved performances, and less post-performance shame and rumination.And it doesn't require us to shush the inner critic entirely (whew, because that's really difficult!). It's just a small, simple - yet quirky - tweak that anyone can do.Get all the nerdy details here:How a Small Change in Self-Talk Could Improve Performance Under PressureReferencesKross, E., Bruehlman-Senecal, E., Park, J., Burson, A., Dougherty, A., Shablack, H., Bremner, R., Moser, J., & Ayduk, O. (2014). Self-talk as a regulatory mechanism: How you do it matters. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106(2), 304–324. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035173More from The Bulletproof Musician Get the free weekly newsletter, for more nerdy details and bonus subscriber-only content. Pressure Proof: A free 7-day performance practice crash course that will help you shrink the gap between the practice room and the stage. Learning Lab: A continuing education community where musicians and learners are putting research into practice. Live and self-paced courses

“The speed at which information is traveling has changed. That also means the speed at which myths and disinformation is traveling, and how it's shared and amplified especially with AI and search engines, is really a whole new factor for consideration.”In this episode, WomenHeard host Julie Hochheiser Ilkovich interviews public relations powerhouse Sam Wolf. Her “strategic sparkle” has woven her career threads through small, midsized and global agencies, showcasing storytelling expertise across media, tech, and governmental sectors. Sam walks through the tenets of crisis communications: factors that go into an assessment, the importance of trust, and how silence is increasingly not an acceptable response.Listen to this episode for how Sam brings vulnerability to her leadership. She shares a story with our audience about a job that didn't work out early on and how to lean on both your gut feelings and mentors. Plus, how the “flexibility stigma” is related to what she thinks is the biggest challenge facing women in the workforce today. 

Rusty joins Louie on the D4 Land Services Hotline to share his thoughts on all the upcoming CFP Round One games, including No. 7 Texas A&M vs. No. 10 Miami. He highlights the key battles between the Aggies and Hurricanes and also talks Aggie Volleyball as they head to the Final Four in pursuit of a National Championship. “Listen In” AFB — featuring Albert Regis, Will Lee III, Daymion Sanford, and Dezz Ricks. 

Rusty joins Louie on the D4 Land Services Hotline to share his thoughts ahead of Texas A&M's first-round CFP matchup against Miami, recap the Aggies' loss to Texas, reflect on the Aggies monumental season, discuss the departures of coordinators Collin Kline and Jay Bateman, and break down A&M's path to the CFB National Championship. 

Rusty joins Louie on the D4 Land Services Hotline to recap the Texas A&M–Texas game, the Aggies' drop to No. 7 in the CFP rankings, and discuss Vanderbilt Football, Texas Football, Arch Manning, Heisman talk, Johnny Manziel, Texas Tech Football, Marcel Reed, Aggie players who are CFB award finalists, and Aggie Basketball. 

Welcome to our review of PR pitches and mergers and acquisitions in the UK PR scene with Andrew Bloch. Here we discuss the biggest pitch wins, mergers and acquisitions that the PR sector has seen in November 2025.Andrew is the lead consultant PR, social, content and influencer at the new business consultancy firm AAR and a partner at PCB Partners, where he advises on buying and selling marketing services agencies.Andrew also runs the advisory firm Andrew Bloch & Associates.Don't forget The PRmoment Award's early bird entry deadline, on 19 December Market OverviewNovember has been a very buoyant month.The market has seen great wins and has been extremely busy on the M&A front, which is probably expected since people were trying to complete deals before the budget announcement.It is an important time of year for pitches, as agencies line up new business for the following year and clients aim to get everything in place for 2026.PITCHESWarburtons appoints Burson The UK's biggest bakery appoints Burson to handle its brand and consumer communications, focusing on building its heritage and innovation narratives ahead of the company's 150th anniversary. Burson will also manage the corporate news agenda.BAKERY79 appoints Stakked The modern food-to-go concept, established by Park Garage Group, has hired Stakked for PR support. The campaign will focus on building consumer awareness and driving uptake as Bakery79 rapidly converts forecourt concessions as part of its acceleration into the UK food-to-go market.Astrid & Miyu appoints Aisle 8 The jewellery brand, which operates 20 UK stores alongside sites in New York and LA, selects Aisle 8 (a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle specialist) to elevate its brand image and media profile.Bodyform appoints Earnies The menstrual care brand, part of the Essity portfolio, has appointed Earnies to deliver a major awareness campaign highlighting the impact and challenges associated with heavy periods.Tonys Chocolonely appoints Shook and Here Be Dragons Tony's has appointed Shook and Here Be Dragons for a creative project celebrating the chunky nature of its chocolate bars. The campaign involves using high-profile talent, like 'The World's Strongest Footballer', as well as a PR stunt marking the standardization of the brand's signature red colour.WaterAid appoints Mischief The global water charity has selected Mischief to deliver its festive campaign and winter appeal. The project focuses on raising awareness and funds to support WaterAid's mission to help communities access clean water, decent toilets, and good hygiene.Baller League appoints SoapBox The 6-a-side football league has hired SoapBox, a sport communications specialist, to handle its PR, event management, and press office function.Meta appoints John Doe Meta has expanded John Doe's brief to include creative communications for its wearables products, covering AI glasses, VR headsets, and other emerging technology from the Meta Wearables portfolio.The Cayman Islands Department of Tourism appoints W The Department of Tourism has awarded W a five-year contract for UK and European PR and communications. The agency will execute a strategic program covering media relations, influencer partnerships, and event activations to position the destination as a leading Caribbean holiday choice.Samsung appoints Ogilvy Samsung has expanded Ogilvy's remit to handle the brand's UK social and influencer work. This appointment builds on Ogilvy's existing relationship with Samsung, which includes B2B responsibilities across Europe.BMW Group appoints Kindred Kindred has been appointed to develop the creative communications strategy for both the BMW and Mini brands. The brief focuses o

Maroon & White Notebook — Looking ahead to A&M vs. Texas, CFP rankings, and predictions for the SEC Championship contenders: Texas A&M, Alabama, Georgia, or Ole Miss. Rusty joins Louie on the D4 Land Services Hotline to talk about the upcoming A&M–Texas rivalry game, CFP implications, which teams still have a shot at the CFB Playoffs based on this weekend's results, and updates on Big Ten and SEC college football teams. Plus, a High School Football update brought to you by Kelly Burt Dozer. 

Rusty joins Louie on the D4 Land Services Hotline. They kick things off by breaking down Aggie Football's huge comeback win over South Carolina, Baylor Football, the Aggies' team identity, Mike Elko's contract extension, and Bucky Ball. 

It's a special edition of Leadership & Business. With today's episode, we're celebrating two milestones: our 10th year anniversary, and our 250th episode. We couldn't let that go by without sharing something special so we invited two CEOs to join us on the podcast today. AnnaMaria DaSalva just concluded her tenure as Chairman at Burson - the global strategic communication firm. Before that, she served as CEO of Hill & Knowlton. Dan Draper is the CEO of S&P Dow Jones Indices - the world's leading index provider. DaSalva and Draper sat down with us to discuss leadership, their styles and approaches to leadership, and what lies ahead for the leaders of today and tomorrow. Learn how the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at William and Mary can help you and your organization develop your top talent through customized executive education and professional development programs. Visit us at www.wmleadership.com. Thank you for listening.