Podcasts about Global Alliance

Human rights are "part of our DNA," according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who is championing a new Global Alliance at a time of rising conflicts, growing inequalities and mounting climate pressures.The initiative aims to bring together governments, civil society, businesses, academics and communities to place human rights at the centre of decision-making ahead of the 80th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 2028.Speaking to UN News's Srdan Slavkovic in Geneva, the global hub for human rights diplomacy and advocacy, Mr. Türk explained how the Alliance aims to inspire action.

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episode“Journalism is dead.” You've heard it. You've probably said it. And honestly, the evidence seems pretty hard to argue with. Newsrooms gutted, trust in tatters, cable news turned into a gladiator sport.  But what if that story, the one we keep telling about journalism, is itself bad journalism? Neil Brown thinks so. He's a 40-year editor and president of the Poynter Institute, and he is, by his own admission, an optimist about the media. When he tells you why, it might genuinely change how you think about where good information comes from. Listen For:04:09 What Makes Someone a Journalist Instead of Just a Publisher?06:22 Why Does Democracy Need Real Journalism?12:24 Can Local Journalism Rebuild Public Trust?13:03 How Did the Baltimore Banner Turn Bus Data Into Accountability?17:30 What Responsibility Does the Audience Have in Fighting Misinformation?Guest: Neil Brown, Chairman of the Board and President at Poynter Institute for Media StudiesWebsite | LinkedIn | Facebook | TikTok | BlueSky | Threads | YouTube Doug DownsSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestSupport the show

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeEvery PR professional has sat in a meeting where leaders ask you to “show up in AI”Here's the problem. The AEO/GEO industry has built an entire measurement apparatus around citations… the moment an AI visibly names your brand. But the research shows that moment is essentially an echo of a decision that was already made, upstream, in conversations that left no trace. Brands have been optimizing for the receipt, when the purchase decision happened days ago.The deeper irony is that the work which does move the needle in those invisible conversations looks exactly like what PR teams have always done. Original research. Expert voice. Earned credibility. Third-party validation. The toolkit that has historically been the hardest to attribute is, it turns out, the one doing the most work in the AI era. The people who were always right about what good looks like just never had the data to prove it… until now.Listen For3:35 Why Does AI Influence Start Before the Conversion Stage?7:41 Is AEO Really Just Earned Media Strategy in Disguise?10:09 What Are the Three Levers That Shape AI's View of a Brand?13:13 Are “Hey AI” Pages and Schema Tricks Ethical or Effective?15:49 How Can PR Teams Prove Earned Media Builds AI Influence? Guest: Tom Rudnai, Founder and CEO Demand-GeniusWebsite | X | LinkedIn DougSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestSupport the show

You Are the Threat!Why Awakening Destroys the Illusion of Authority Hidden Power Structures, and Reclaiming Your PerceptionThe world you were taught to believe in is incomplete—and increasingly, evidence supports this reality. From declassified government files to whistleblower testimonies, from weather modification moving from “conspiracy theory” to documented practice, the cracks in consensus reality are widening. As someone who navigates both the seen and unseen—through clairvoyant work, mystical practice, and deep study of economics and power structures—I can tell you this: We're no longer in Kansas. But this isn't just about what “they” are hiding. It's about remembering who you really are and reclaiming your capacity to think, feel, and perceive independently.You Need Permission to Know TruthThe Lie: Truth comes from institutions—governments, media conglomerates, textbooks, expert consensus. If Wikipedia says “quackery,” it must be false. If you question official narratives, you're unstable, conspiratorial, or dangerous.The Truth:* Gnosis—direct, embodied knowing—is more reliable than borrowed belief. This is what mystics have always understood: “Gnosis is the moment the soul remembers it has roots beneath the visible world... Direct revelation, not secondhand spiritual leftovers microwaved in the cafeteria of consensus reality.”* History is written by victors and funded by agendas. From an economic and power structure perspective, information control is wealth control.* “Conspiracy theorists” were eventually proven right about: Epstein networks, MK-Ultra, Operation Northwoods, Stolen Elections, Watergate, weather modification/cloud seeding, and countless declassified operations including a propped stock market to benefit the few.No one will be able to escape the fact that we need to stop outsourcing our sense-making to institutions that profit from our obedience.Stay Neutral and.....* Practice “upside-down logic”: If something is heavily censored or ridiculed, ask why. Use suppression as a curiosity signal, not a stop sign.* Develop gnosis through somatic wisdom: When you encounter information, notice—does your body contract or expand? Trust your energetic intelligence over intellectual parroting. Patriarchy Lives OnThe primary reason for mass deception isn't random—it's strategic. From years of studying power structures and economics, I've observed the major reason we've been lied to is because of where our POWER truly is - when used from love and agency.What's Being Hidden:✅ Your immense creative, spiritual, and energetic capacities (what the “occult”—literally meaning “hidden”—points toward)✅ Technologies and systems that would eliminate artificial scarcity (free energy, suppressed healing modalities, decentralized power)This sums it up about right.“A disconnected person is easier to influence. A fearful population is easier to direct.”Take back your energy and agency.*Audit your energy drains: What systems, habits, or beliefs keep you too exhausted to question reality?*Prioritize nervous system regulation: Meditation, breathwork, time in nature, creative play—these aren't luxuries; they're acts of resistance against manufactured dysregulation.When Truth-Seeking Becomes a PrisonNot all “awakening” is liberation. Conspiracy culture can become its own cage.Common Traps:

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeThere is a prayer that crisis communicators have been quoting for decades. “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”It sounds right. It feels grounding. But maybe it's been pointing us in the wrong direction the whole time. The problem is the concept of CONTROL. Because control, in a crisis, is a myth. And every strategy built on the assumption that you can control the outcome of a crisis is a strategy built on sand. Let's replace that idea with INFLUENCE. Doing that replaces an entire philosophy.Alongside that shift comes something more uncomfortable… the suggestion that when a crisis hits, the quality of your advice has almost nothing to do with your frameworks, your playbook, or your years of experience. It has to do with who you are as a human being. As a parent. As a citizen. As a person who is also living through the same world your client is trying to navigate. The professional and the person are not separate. And pretending they are, may be the most dangerous crisis communication strategy of all. Listen For3:41 Why Are Global Risks Becoming More Connected and Harder to Manage?6:09 Is Employee Mental Health a Bigger Business Risk Than AI?9:32 Why Do Companies Know the Risks but Still Fail to Prepare?11:20 What Is “Agency” in Crisis Communications and Why Does It Matter?14:29 How Can Leaders Use Empathy and Understanding to Respond to a Crisis?Guest: Rod Cartwright, Principal, Rod Cartwright ConsultingEmail | Website | LinkedIn 2026 Reputation, Risk, and Resilience Report DougSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestStories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the showStories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the show

Quantum Spirituality "Doorways Into Consciousness"   Unlock the potential in YOUR life. We may think Quantum Spirituality is a new concept, but Best-Selling author Peter Canova, winner of 45 book awards, is here to explain that the concept of Quantum Spirituality is really a "Back to the Future" AWAKENING. Quantum Spirituality is about piercing the hidden reality and operation of our universe with the twin bookends of quantum physics and ancient spiritual wisdom. It is about Science, Gnostic Mysticism, and Connecting with Source Wisdom. Join us as we explore the past in our present for our full future potential.   BIO: Peter Canova is a businessman, a 45-book award-winning author, and a national speaker. His interviews include three appearances on Coast to Coast with George Noory, numerous national and international radio and TV interviews, and keynote speeches at such venues as the Unity National Convention, the Centers for Spiritual Living National Convention, and as the lead-off speaker at the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment (GATE). Gate featured the leading spiritual and inspirational speakers from around the world. Peter's international business background- luxury hotel development, shipping, and import/exporting- carried him around the world, giving him an insider's view of international politics, spirituality, religions, and finance. https://www.petercanova.com/   https://www.amazon.com/Quantum-Spirituality-Mysticism-Connecting-Consciousness/dp/1591434637/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0   Chat with Kat during Live Show with Video Stream:  write a question on YouTube Have a Question for the Show? Go to Facebook– Dreams that Can Save Your Life Facebook Professional–Kathleen O'Keefe-Kanavos http://kathleenokeefekanavos.com/   Video Version: https://youtu.be/4WkWERg_wP0?si=whUxFG5xs4OgQnz-

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeThis episode was first published in May 2021.Nudge Theory burst onto the scene in 2008 when Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler published their book “Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness.” The simplest models of economics take preferences as given, but nudge ideas suggest we can be moved, steered, and in some cases manipulated. Nudge has influenced politicians around the World. There are “Nudge Units” in government in the UK, US, Germany, Japan, and even Canada. The World Bank, United Nations, and European Commission have “Nudge” teams.Guest Rory Sutherland, Vice chairman Ogilvy UKWebsite To book Rory for your event emailCanadian Nudge Team = BeSci Team UK Nudge Team = Behavioural Insights Team Australian Nudge Team = Behavioural Economics Team of Australia American Nudge Team = Social and Behavioural Sciences Team Stories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the showStories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the show

En este episodio viajamos desde Colombia hasta Nueva York, pasando por el bosque delos Cedros, en Ecuador, y por la isla de Dominica, en el Caribe. Como polillas atraídas porla luz, nos acercarnos al proyecto MOTH, More Than Human Life, y lo hacemos encompañía de su fundador, el Dr. César Rodríguez-Garavito, profesor de Derecho ydirector de la clínica Earth Rights Research and Action (TERRA) en la Universidad deNueva YorkEnlaces relacionados:Song of the Cedarshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxRjncYGLHEMOTH More Than Human Lifehttps://mothlife.org/Is a river alive? Robert McFarlanehttps://www.penguin.co.uk/books/455147/is-a-river-alive-by-macfarlane-robert/9780241998212Proyecto CETIhttps://www.projectceti.org/He Whakaputanga Moana – The Whale Protection and Legal PersonhoodDeclarationhttps://www.whaledeclaration.com/Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature GARNhttps://www.garn.org/Listening to our animal kinhttps://www.ouranimalkin.com/

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeYou've been in that room. Maybe you are in it right now. The table is full, the voices are loud, and somewhere between the agenda and the first agenda item, you go quiet. Not because you don't know what to say. Because something in the room tells you it isn't your turn. You leave and you call it imposter syndrome. You make it about yourself. You wonder what's wrong with you. Nothing is wrong with you. The room did that.Confidence is not something you're both with. It's not the absence of nerves. And it's not volume. It's not the ability to dominate. It's trust. Trust in yourself that no matter what gets put in front of you, you will handle it. And the confidence gap that so many communicators feel is not a personal failing. It is an environmental one. Listen For:3:26 Is imposter syndrome really a personal problem, or is the room the problem?6:40 What kinds of rooms make professionals feel safe or excluded?9:14 How can you speak up when someone dominates the conversation?11:17 How did Advita Patel build confidence after years of self-doubt?15:09 What is an energy audit, and how can it protect your wellbeing?Guest: Advita Patel, Founder Comms Rebel, former President CIPRWebsite | Confidence Coaching site | LinkedInBook Decoding Confidence  DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestStories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the show

Life on Earth unfolds through complex, living relationships.  Forests, oceans, animals and microorganisms sustain the cycles that make life possible, circulating oxygen, regenerating soils, and shaping climates.  Humans are part of these systems, not separate from them.  Our lives depend on the integrity of these relationships, even as they exist far beyond us.  Yet the natural world is often treated as a resource, something to extract from, convert, and monetize rather than as a community of living beings with their own inherent rights.  We have yet to learn how to live in true reciprocity within the Earth's systems.  On this Wild For Change podcast, Natalia Greene, Director of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN) joins us.  GARN is an organization helping to reawaken a deeper truth: that nature is not something we own, but a living world we belong to, with rights of its own.The Rights of Nature challenges us to rethink one of our most fundamental assumptions—that nature exists for us. Instead, it asks: what if we are part of a larger living system with its own rights? And what responsibility comes with that understanding? This is not just a legal shift—it's a shift in perspective, in values, and in how we choose to live in reciprocity with nature.Website: http://www.wildforchange.comTwitter: @WildForChangeFacebook: /wildforchangeInstagram: wildforchange

Dr Lawrence Haddad is the Executive Director of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), an international organisation working across more than a dozen countries to make nutritious food more available, affordable and desirable. In today's episode, we explore the state of global nutrition in 2026.You'll hear Lawrence's reflections on what David Nabarro would be telling the nutrition community right now, the surprising fact that five or six of the top ten risk factors for disease in most countries come down to what we eat and why GAIN is increasingly focused on small and medium businesses as the real engine of local food systems.Resources and links:GAIN websiteDr Lawrence Haddad on LinkedInConnect:Future Fork podcast websitePaul Newnham on InstagramPaul Newnham on XPaul Newnham on LinkedInDisruptive Consulting Solutions websiteSDG2 Advocacy Hub websiteSDG2 Advocacy Hub on XSDG2 Advocacy Hub on FacebookSDG2 Advocacy Hub on LinkedIn

Future Mars exploration will utilize high-speed helicopter rotors and data from the Psyche probe. Bob Zimmerman also emphasizes the abundance of water on Mars and the growing global alliance of Artemis Accords nations. (16/16)1930 "THE APE MEN"

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeYour client is wrong. You know it. They know it, somewhere underneath the certainty. And you have two choices. You can tell them they're wrong, which will end the conversation and cost you the relationship. Or you can find the thing they want more than being right and take them there instead.This is something most communications professionals learn the hard way and never quite put into words. Every difficult client, every resistant leader, every person digging into a position that will hurt them, they are not just wrong. They are running two competing motivations at the same time. The need to be right. And the need to succeed. And those two things are almost never the same thing. The PR professional who understands that distinction doesn't argue. They redirect. And the client ends up exactly where you needed them to go, convinced it was their idea all along.Listen For4:40 Can communicators actually motivate people to act?7:17 Is PR returning to behavioral science, or losing its way?8:55 What are system one, system two, and system three thinking?11:17 How do you challenge a client without losing trust?14:08 Will AI replace PR professionals or reveal who thinks strategically? Guest: Roger Hurni, Founder & Chief Brand Strategist, Off Madison AveWebsite | Agency | LinkedIn Outthink. Outperform. Transform Your Organization Through Behavioral Marketing DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestStories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the show

Show notes: (0:00) Intro (0:56) Ty Beal's personal path into nutrition (1:51) His core food philosophy (5:59) Eating out, seed oils, and fried foods (10:04) How the nutritional value score works (14:31) Animal vs. plant protein quality (16:39) How much protein most people need (23:33) Top nutrient-dense foods (29:58) Soy, hormones, and health myths (35:30) Simple steps to improve your diet (44:25) Diet soda, sweeteners, and better drink choices (47:11) Where to find and learn more about Ty (48:02) Outro Who is Ty Beal, PhD?   Ty Beal, PhD, is a nutrition scientist, Senior Technical Specialist at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, and host of The Ty Beal Show. His work focuses on diet quality, micronutrients, food processing, animal-source foods, and how food choices affect human health. He leads food systems data and analytics work at GAIN and has advised major global organizations, including WHO, FAO, and UNICEF. Ty is known for making nutrition science clear, practical, and grounded in evidence. He has published more than 60 scientific papers and has been cited over 7,000 times, bringing deep research experience to conversations about healthy, sustainable diets. Connect with Ty: Website: https://tybeal.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tybeal X: https://x.com/TyBealPhD/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/tybealphd/ Tune in: https://tybeal.com/podcast/ Links and Resources: Peak Performance Life  Peak Performance on Facebook Peak Performance on Instagram

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episode50 percent. That's how much of the global population now trusts generative AI when searching for information about companies and brands. More than Instagram. More than Facebook. More than social media in general. And that number climbed 7 points in a single year. The data comes from the Page Society's annual Harris Poll study. 14 countries, more than 15,000 people surveyed in December 2025. Consumers aren't just using AI more. They're believing it more. And most of them aren't clicking through to the source. They're reading the AI answer and moving on. For communicators, this changes the job. It's no longer enough to optimize for search engines, you now need to optimize for the AI that sits on top of them. What does generative AI say when someone types in your brand name? Is it accurate? Is it current? Or is it surfacing something you said or did 20 years ago that no longer represents who you are? Listen For3:26 How is declining consumer trust reshaping the role of communication leaders?4:52 Why do consumers now trust generative AI more than social media for brand information?12:28 What are the biggest risks of disinformation and AI hallucinations for brands?15:45 Why can't AI replace human experience and critical thinking in communications?20:22 How should brands optimize for AI search while maintaining trust and accuracy?Guest: Rochelle Ford, Ph.D., APR, CEO The Page SocietyLinkedIn | Website Page-Harris Poll: Confidence in Business Index 2026DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestStories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the show

Was passiert, wenn eine Bank ihre eigenen Werte auch in der Führung ernst nimmt? Wenn Partizipation kein Prinzip auf Papier bleibt, sondern die Art verändert, wie täglich zusammengearbeitet und entschieden wird? In dieser Folge nehmen wir euch mit zur Alternative Bank Schweiz AG (ABS) , die seit Anfang 2024 ihr Führungsmodell der Zusammenarbeit konsequent neu gestaltet. Wir sprechen über den Weg von einer klassischen Hierarchie hin zu einer Kreisorganisation, über Rollen, die echte Verantwortung tragen, und über eine eigene Verfassung der Zusammenarbeit, die aus der Identität der Bank heraus entstanden ist. Auf diesem Weg gab es Momente, bei denen Menschen zum ersten Mal spürten, was Verantwortung in der eigenen Rolle wirklich bedeutet. Momente, die zeigen, dass so eine Transformation tiefer geht als Strukturen und Prozesse. Ein Gespräch über Transformation, die zur normalen Weiterentwicklung wird. Über meine Interviewpartnerin Astrid Blunschi Balmer ist eine erfahrene Organisationsentwicklerin und Coach mit einem starken Fokus auf menschenzentrierte Führung und kollaborative Arbeitsformen. Nach dem Studium in Betriebswirtschaft mit Vertiefung Führung und Personalmanagement an der Universität St. Gallen stieg sie ein in die HR-Arbeit in einer Maschinenbau-Firma. Nach vielen Jahren in der operativen Personalarbeit und später in der Führungsentwicklung in der Versicherungsbranche unterstützt sie seit zwei Jahren die Alternative Bank Schweiz (ABS) als Koordinatorin des Kreises „Menschen“ bei ihrer Transformation hin zu einem an Soziokratie (S3) angelehnten Führungsmodell der Zusammenarbeit. In ihren Rollen verantwortet sie die Entwicklung der Personalstrategie, begleitet Veränderungsprozesse und fördert eine partizipative Unternehmenskultur. Über das Unternehmen Die Alternative Bank Schweiz AG (ABS) ist eine sozial und ökologisch ausgerichtete Bank, die auf Basis ihrer ethischen Grundwerte Dienstleistungen im Anlage-, Spar- und Kreditbereich in der ganzen Schweiz anbietet. Sie verzichtet auf Gewinnmaximierung und stellt ihre ethischen Prinzipien in den Vordergrund. Das Geld ihrer Kundinnen und Kunden investiert sie langfristig in Projekte, die sie nach ihren sozialen und ökologischen Kriterien auswählt. Die ABS legt seit ihrer Gründung grossen Wert auf Gleichberechtigung, Transparenz und Mitwirkung. Sie verfügt über ein soziokratisches Führungsmodell der Zusammenarbeit, das sich am Sinn der Bank orientiert, lebt unter anderem die interne Lohntransparenz, hat ein definiertes Verhältnis von tiefstem zu höchstem Lohn (von max. 1:5) und kommt ohne Bonussystem aus. Die ABS mit Hauptsitz in Olten und Filialen in Zürich, Lausanne und Genf wurde 1990 gegründet. Die Bank beschäftigt 189 Mitarbeitende, wird von über 9’500 Aktionärinnen und Aktionären getragen, verwaltet Vermögen im Umfang von 3,3 Milliarden Franken, finanziert Projekte und Unternehmen mit 2,2 Milliarden Franken und betreut mehr als 45'000 Kundinnen und Kunden. Die ABS ist Gründungsmitglied der Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), einer weltweiten Bewegung von werteorientierten Banken. The post #64 Wie die Alternative Bank Schweiz Führung, Werte und Soziokratie zu einem eigenen Modell verbindet | mit Astrid Blunschi Balmer appeared first on Zukunftspioniere der Arbeitswelt.

"The manufacturing process doesn't just produce the product — it determines what the product becomes." Stephen Sullivan, Founder of Linville Bio, brings more than two decades of experience spanning developmental biology, clinical translation, and manufacturing strategy across organizations, including Novartis and the Global Alliance for iPSC Therapies. Most recently, he led the setup of a first-in-human trial for an iPSC-based cancer vaccine.In this PharmaSource podcast episode, Stephen discusses the manufacturing challenges involved in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) therapies and why companies that treat it as a downstream operational problem rather than a core product design decision are setting themselves up to fail.Read more.

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeYour Organisation says it's aligned. It probably isn't.And the problem starts at the top.Zora Artis and Wayne Aspland have spent 7 years studying the gap between what leadership teams say they're doing and what's actually happening inside organizations. And their findings are uncomfortable. In their latest global study, drawing on interviews with 55 CEOs and senior executives across five continents, they found that leaders routinely leave strategy meetings carrying completely different understandings of the direction they just agreed on. Nobody admits it. And communications professionals get handed the impossible job of aligning everyone else around a strategy the leadership team hasn't genuinely aligned on themselves. In this episode, we break down why the gap has barely moved in seven years, what's actually driving it, and what communications professionals are uniquely positioned to do about it.  The full findings are being presented IABC World Conference 2026 in Toronto this June.Register https://wc.iabc.com/  Download the full Report and Infographic Summary here. Listen For4:11 What does true organizational alignment actually mean beyond agreement?7:44 Why do leaders think they're aligned but act differently after meetings?9:09 How do fear and ego silently destroy alignment in executive teams?12:18 What is “glass head syndrome” and why does it derail strategy execution?17:18 Is AI making organizational alignment better or worse?Guests:Zora ArtisWebsite Artis Advisory | Website Clear Leaders | Email | LinkedInWayne AsplandWebsite Clear Leaders | Email | LinkedIn DougSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestStories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the show

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeEvery comms professional knows the playbook. A crisis hits, you move fast. Holding statement, talking points, media plan, stakeholder map. You do it well because you've trained for it. You bring the plan to the CEO expecting alignment and instead you get a polite nod and silence. Not pushback. Not disagreement. Just silence. And that silence is worse than any argument because it means the CEO has already stopped listening. Not because your plan was bad, but because it was solving a problem they weren't thinking about.This is the gap that quietly erodes the comms function's credibility in organizations everywhere. Communicators are passionate people. That passion is their greatest asset, until it becomes a bias that pulls them toward issues that feel urgent but aren't connected to the core business. And when that happens enough times, the CEO doesn't fire you. They just stop inviting you into the room. Listen For3:09 How Do CEOs vs. Comms Leaders Actually Respond to Global Crises?4:26 When Should You Speak—and When Are You Giving an Issue Oxygen?6:28 Do PR Professionals Need Financial and Data Literacy to Be Strategic?11:44 Why Is Reporting Not Enough? And What Does Real Analysis Look Like?15:13 Can AI Truly Make Your Communications Strategy More Effective?Guest: Johna Burke, CEO and Global Managing Director, AMEC (International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation of Communication)Email | Website | LinkedIn DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestStories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the show

A Bruxelles, il 20 aprile 2026, l'Unione Europea ha co-presieduto la ministeriale della Global Alliance per la soluzione a due Stati. Dubravka Šuica ha presentato la Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment: per ricostruire Gaza, con 1,9 milioni di sfollati, servono 71,4 miliardi di dollari. Da ottobre 2025, le forze israeliane hanno ucciso oltre 760 palestinesi nonostante il cessate il fuoco, secondo il ministero della Salute di Gaza. La conferenza parla di fase post-bellica. La fase bellica è in corso. L'Alto Commissario ONU Volker Türk ha scritto il 10 aprile che i bombardamenti «riflettono un disprezzo continuo per le vite palestinesi, reso possibile da un'impunità dilagante». Il premier palestinese Mohammad Mustafa ha dichiarato che la stabilizzazione richiede «una sola struttura di sicurezza, una sola legge, una sola arma» e il ritiro israeliano da Gaza. Nello stesso palazzo la Global Sumud Flotilla apriva il congresso parlamentare con la Dichiarazione per un corridoio marittimo ONU. Due conferenze, stesso giorno: una discute il futuro di Gaza, l'altra chiede di arrivarci. Il 19 aprile il Tribunale di Gerusalemme ha accolto la richiesta di Netanyahu di annullare la deposizione nel processo per corruzione. L'avvocato ha citato ragioni «di sicurezza e diplomatiche». La Procura aveva già obiettato. Era sospeso da febbraio per l'Iran, prima rinviato per Gaza, poi per il Libano. Hamas si è detto disponibile a cedere le armi di polizia interna, migliaia di fucili automatici, ma non i razzi. Due funzionari lo hanno riferito al New York Times il 20 aprile. Israele e Stati Uniti chiedono il disarmo totale. Flotte Sumud, Le imbarcazioni sono in rotta verso Siracusa. Il 21 aprile è previsto il carico degli aiuti al porto di Augusta. La partenza verso Gaza è fissata al 24 aprile. #LaSveglia per La NotiziaDiventa un supporter di questo podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/la-sveglia-di-giulio-cavalli--3269492/support.

Guest Alan Rubin Panelist Richard Littauer Show Notes On this episode of Sustain, Richard Littauer sits down with computational biologist Alan Rubin to explore how open source software supports scientific research, clinical genetics, and cancer-related data infrastructure. Their conversation centers on MaveDB, a project that began as a way to organize hard-to-find variant data from research papers and has since evolved into a valuable resource for both scientists and clinicians. Along the way, they discuss infrastructure funding, research software sustainability, and why open source communities and academic researchers have a lot to learn from each other. Press download now to hear more! [00:01:24] Alan explains his role leading a research group focused on genomics, cancer medicine, and improving patient care through genetics. [00:02:46] We learn more about what MaveDB does. [00:06:52] Alan details why a database was needed. [00:08:26] Alan shares how the project grew out of collaboration, PyCon AU inspiration, Django, and Python tooling that let a small team build a practical research database. [00:11:54] There's a discussion on the infrastructure funding problem and Alan explains a major theme is how hard it is to fund scientific infrastructure, since most grants favor new discoveries rather than maintaining shared tools and databases. [00:17:55] The project took a major turn when clinical geneticists began using the data to interpret patient variants, pushing the team to rethink the interface and user needs. [00:21:13] Alan describes the new clinical-facing interface, Mave for Medicine (MaveMD), designed to help doctors evaluate specific variants for diagnosis and treatment decisions. [00:22:02] Alan talks about managing the project through a distributed team, shared responsibilities, and a role that now centers more on direction, priorities, and community than day-to-day coding. [00:23:36] They discuss why research software rarely attracts hobbyist contributors, even when the mission is compelling, and how scientific projects often function more like small product teams. [00:27:44] Alan makes the case that scientists often learn more about improving their software craft at events like PyCon than at discipline-specific conferences. [00:30:38] Alan highlights how academic software depends heavily on mature, well-documented open source tools and encourages more connection between technical communities and scientific work. [00:34:15] Find out where you can learn more about MaveDB and Alan's work. Quotes [00:10:04] “We quite literally followed the Django Girls tutorial, but instead of a building a blog, we built a database for research scientists.” [00:12:35] “Infrastructure is something everybody wants to have it exist and nobody wants to pay for.” [00:26:08] “I have never been successful in engaging the broader open source community, despite having tried many times to contribute to this or any other scientific project.” [00:31:01] “I think people who work in OSS should be excited about the kind of stuff that their work is enabling, even if they don't really hear about it.” Spotlight [00:35:44] Richard's spotlight is the book, News of the Dead. [00:36:22] Alan's spotlight is The Global Alliance for Genomics & Health (GA4GH) and all the good work they're doing. Links SustainOSS podcast@sustainoss.org richard@sustainoss.org SustainOSS Discourse SustainOSS Mastodon SustainOSS Bluesky SustainOSS LinkedIn Open Collective-SustainOSS (Contribute) Richard Littauer Socials Alan Rubin LinkedIn Dr. Alan Rubin Website (The University of Melbourne) PyCon AU 2026, Brisbane, August 26-30 Sustain Podcast- Episode 286: Jack Skinner of PyCon AU and Regional Confs Sustain Podcast- Episode 176: Maintainer Month with Russell Keith-Magee & Uriel Ofir Django Girls PyCon AU 2023-“Building a biological database with Python”- Alan Rubin (YouTube) Sustain Podcast- Episode 135: Tracy Hinds on Node.js's CommComm and PMs in Open Source Sustain Podcast-Episode 190: Karen Sandler on Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) Original database paper (Pub Med) Database update paper (Pub Med) Preprint on the clinician-oriented interface Variant scoring tools for deep mutational scanning (Pub Med) Atlas of Variant Effects MaveDB News of the Dead Global Alliance for Geonomics & Health (GA4GH) Sponsor CURIOSS Credits Produced by Richard Littauer Edited by Paul M. Bahr at Peachtree Sound Show notes by DeAnn Bahr Peachtree Sound Special Guest: Alan Rubin.

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeEvery PR firm knows the drill. Client says here's my budget. Firm divides by twelve. Monthly retainer, same amount, January through December, whether the work demands it or not. Need a press release? Flat rate. Need ten? Multiply. Need an editor or a videographer? That's by the hour, and one minute is one hour. The pricing isn't creative. It isn't strategic. It's arithmetic dressed up as a business model.And it worked fine, until AI started doing the arithmetic faster. Suddenly teams are twice as productive in half the time, and if you're still selling hours, you're punishing yourself for getting better. Meanwhile, the client's procurement department is happy to keep paying by the hour, because now those hours cost less. So, who's really winning? The firms who don't rethink how they price will be replaced. Not by AI, but by hungrier competitors who already have.Listen For3:42 Why Are PR Firms the Least Creative in Pricing?6:34 Are You Losing Money by Defaulting to Retainers?9:08 How Should Agencies Identify Where They Create the Most Value?12:19 How Do You Avoid the “Bait and Switch” With Senior Talent?15:27 Is AI Killing Hourly Pricing Models for Good?Guest: Blair Enns, Win Without PitchingWebsite | LinkedIn | Podcast 2BobsDavid's books including Pricing Creativity DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestSupport the show

Surjit Chana, a board member of Beneficial State Bank, a Harvard Fellow and a tech committee member of the Global Alliance for Banking Values, explains why there's a need for what he calls a moral architecture for AI

What if Antarctica had rights and its own voice at the international table? Alok Jha explores that question with Cormac Cullinan, environmental lawyer, author, and advocate for the rights of nature.Cormac is a director of the Wild Law Institute and the specialist environmental law firm Cullinan & Associates. His groundbreaking book Wild Law A Manifesto for Earth Justice (2002) pioneered Earth Jurisprudence and has played a significant role in informing and inspiring the growing Rights of Nature movement.Cormac led the drafting of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth (proclaimed on 22 April 2010 in Bolivia) and is a founder and Executive Committee member of the Global Alliance for Rights of Nature. He was awarded the 2025 Shackleton Medal for the Protection of the Polar Regions and is a member of the Executive Committee of the Antarctic Alliance, launched on 1 December 2025.

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeMost communicators assume that if people reject a message, they must not understand it. Lord David Evans argues the opposite. Backlash often isn't confusion. It's threat. When people feel insecure, unheard, or looked down on, they don't lean in. They shut down. And in that moment, facts don't persuade, values don't inspire, and “better messaging” can make things worse.In this episode Lord David Evans breaks down what political campaigning can teach PR professionals about trust, psychological safety, and why populist narratives spread so quickly. This isn't about copying tactics. It's about understanding what your audience needs before they will even give you permission to listen. Listen For2:22 Who is Lord David Evans and why does his perspective matter right now?3:54 Why is behaviour change almost never an information problem?6:36 Why do people get drawn to extreme political movements?10:36 Are politicians themselves fueling fear and insecurity?12:48 Is social media pushing people into fight-or-flight mode?Guest: Lord David EvansLinkedIn | Email  DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodePublic relations used to be seen as the function that shaped the message after the decisions were made. That is not enough anymore. In a world shaped by geopolitical shocks, cultural division, AI disruption, and rising reputational risk, communications leaders are being pulled closer to the centre of power. They are no longer just storytellers or spokespersons. They are becoming strategic sensemakers: the people expected to read the moment, interpret the pressure, and help leadership decide what to say, what to do, and sometimes whether to say anything at all. Our job is evolving to help brands survive the storm.If you work in PR, corporate affairs, or communications leadership, this episode will feel familiar fast, because it names the job as it is now, not as it used to be. And if you have not yet felt that shift in your own role, you will soon.  Listen For3:00 How Has the PR Professional Evolved into a Strategic Sense-Making Role?5:58 When Should CEOs Speak Out. And When Should They Stay Silent?10:23 What Is Strategic Ambiguity, and Why Are Companies Using It Now?13:09 What Skills Do Future PR Professionals Need to Succeed?15:01 How Do Communication Leaders Really Feel About AI?Guest: Tom Fife-Schaw, Uk Managing Director of Corporate Reputation, IpsosEmail | LinkedIn | Navigating Through Turbulence Report DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeStories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the show

Communications is often described as a female-led profession, but that label can hide a harder truth. Women may make up much of the industry, yet the balance often shifts when it comes to senior leadership, influence, and decision-making.So, what's still standing in the way, and why has progress been slower than it should be? Natasha Plowman argues gender equity cannot remain a women-only conversation, yet many men still hold back because they are afraid of saying the wrong thing, unsure how to contribute, or feel the issue is not theirs to address. In this episode, why silence protects the status quo. And change usually starts when more than the excluded group speaks up.Listen For2:33 Why Does a Female-Powered Industry Still Struggle to Put Women in Leadership?5:12 Why Are Men Reluctant to Join Gender Equity Conversations?7:24 What Does Real Allyship from Men in the Workplace Look Like?11:45 Is the Backlash Against DEI Actually About Performative Policies?14:21 Would Simply Adding More Women to Leadership Solve the Problem?Guest: Natasha PlowmanSpinning Red Website | Antiquoted Website | Email Break the Silence | Natasha LinkedInDougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

You know that feeling when you look at your own brand and it somehow doesn't feel like you anymore? The logo is the same, the words are mostly right, and the message is still “on brand”… but the visuals have started to wander. A new template here. A new font there. Someone's “quick” Canva edit. A LinkedIn graphic that looks like it came from a different company. None of it is a big mistake. It's just… a hundred small ones. And in PR, you can't afford that moment when a stakeholder sees your work and thinks, Wait—who are we today?Because we're living in a scrolling, skimming world where people decide in seconds. They don't stop to decode your intent; they feel something fast, or they move on. So how do you keep creativity alive without letting your brand drift into a different personality every week? And what actually makes a visual work now? What makes someone feel something immediately? Listen For:15 Why did Boaty McBoatface become the perfect lesson in brand control?3:17 What is visual drift and how does it quietly damage brand credibility?4:53 Why should brands resist changing logos and colors too often?6:14 How are Canva and easy design tools changing the role of visual experts?8:55 How do brands win attention in the first 0.3 seconds of scrolling?Guest: Stewart CohenWebsite | Email | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | IDMB  DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

The climate crisis is not only a technological or policy challenge — it is also a crisis of worldview. In this powerful conversation, Corinna Bellizzi speaks with Osprey Orielle Lake, founder and executive director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), about how climate justice movements around the world are working to transform our relationship with nature, power, and community. Osprey's work bridges grassroots activism, Indigenous leadership, international climate negotiations, and legal innovations like the Rights of Nature movement. Drawing from her book The Story Is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis, she explores how systems like colonization, extractive economics, and patriarchy have shaped today's ecological crises — and how new stories rooted in reciprocity, justice, and stewardship can guide the path forward. This conversation explores the role of Indigenous knowledge in climate solutions, the fight against fossil fuel expansion, the growing global push for legal protections for ecosystems, and the importance of community-led restoration efforts around the world. Originally recorded in 2024, this episode remains deeply relevant today as movements for climate justice, land stewardship, and ecological restoration continue to gain momentum globally. Key Topics in This Episode Why the climate crisis is fundamentally a crisis of worldview The role of Indigenous knowledge and leadership in climate solutions The Rights of Nature movement and legal frameworks that protect ecosystems The Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty initiative Climate justice and the risks faced by frontline land defenders Reforestation projects led by women restoring ecosystems and communities Why global transformation requires both systemic change and cultural shifts About Osprey Orielle Lake Osprey Orielle Lake is the Founder and Executive Director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN), an international organization that works with grassroots, Indigenous, and frontline communities to advance climate justice and a just transition to renewable energy. She serves on the Executive Committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and the Steering Committee for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. Osprey is the author of The Story Is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World in Crisis and the award-winning book Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature. Transcript - FINAL - CMBB 172 O… Her work has been featured in publications including The Guardian, Earth Island Journal, The Ecologist, and Ms. Magazine. Resources & Organizations Mentioned Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) The Story Is in Our Bones – Osprey Orielle Lake Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature Movement Rights Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation – Paul Hawken Green Amendments – Maya van Rossum Guest Links Website:https://ospreyoriellelake.earth WECAN International:https://www.wecaninternational.org Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ospreyoriellelake LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/osprey-orielle-lake-4286bb12 Related Episodes Stand Up With The Earth: Fighting Fossil Fuels with Tzeporah Berman Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation with Paul Hawken Green Amendments and Environmental Rights with Maya van Rossum Join the Conversation What stories shape how we see our relationship with nature? Share your thoughts and reflections with us — and tell us what regenerative solutions you're seeing in your community. Join Me at Bioneers 2026 I'll be attending Bioneers in Berkeley from March 26–28 and look forward to meeting Nina in person and hearing her speak live. If you're considering going, now's the time: https://conference.bioneers.org/ ***Use code BRINGAFRIEND for 2-for-1 pricing*** Let's gather, learn, and co-create regenerative solutions together. Support Care More Be Better Care More Be Better is an independent, values-driven podcast. We answer only to our collective conscience. If you believe in regenerative leadership, systems change, and social impact storytelling, please: Subscribe, Rate & Review Share this episode Support the show at: https://www.caremorebebetter.com/support Together, we can care more and be better — and we can even regenerate our leadership models to heal people, planet, and the next generation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if the best market research started by IGNORING what people say?What if, instead, you started modeling them based on proven behaviour?Right down to the regional level?And what if political polling was done this way too A new term is showing up in research and strategy circles with major implications for communicators: synthetic populations. This is not a cheap AI focus group. It is a data-built population model that reflects how people are distributed and behave at scale using high-quality inputs like official statistics, mobility patterns, and registration data, rather than relying only on interviews and surveys.That matters because self-reported data is often aspirational, incomplete, or socially filtered. Synthetic populations offer another path: estimating market potential, testing where campaigns should start, understanding regional differences, and pressure-testing assumptions before rollout. The real question is not just what synthetic populations are, but what happens when strategy shifts from asking people to modeling populations. Listen For3:07 What's the difference between a synthetic panel and a synthetic population?5:13 How can a synthetic population be realistic without using real individuals?8:49 Why do surveys over-claim luxury brands? And how does official data correct it?11:58 What did Germany's flat-rate transit ticket reveal about commuting by region?14:15 Could synthetic populations change how political polling is done?  Guest: Eike Hartmann, Vice President Custom Research & Insights Business at Statista+Website | LinkedInWhite Paper on Synthetic Populations DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

In today's world, PR leaders need to build and protect their brand's reputation in an AI-shaped, polarized world, where owned media matters more than ever. Reputation is no longer a soft metric but an economic multiplier and an insurance policy. From the difference between brand and reputation to the growing tension between character and competence, this episode explains what actually moves corporate standing up or down in today's environment.We also share why owned media now plays a disproportionate role in shaping not just earned coverage, but AI-generated search results and stakeholder perception. Listen For3:45 What Is the Real Difference Between Brand and Reputation?5:07 What Are the Seven Drivers That Shape Reputation?6:28 How Has AI Changed Third Party Advocacy and Media Influence?9:58 Do Character Crises Damage Reputation More Than Competence Failures?16:13 Why Is Reputation a Business Tool Rather Than Just an Image Strategy?Guest: Stephen Hahn-Griffiths, RepTrakWebsite | LinkedIn  DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

Trust used to flow upward. To experts, institutions, and authority. Then it shifted to “people like me.” Now even that circle is tightening. The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals a growing insularity: smaller tribes, hardened perspectives, and a widening mass-class divide driven by whether people believe the system works for them. Persuasion is shifting to trust brokerage, and what communicators, leaders, and businesses can do when trust itself has become the battleground.Listen For3:10 Skip the opening story and go right to the interview with Tim Weber3:47 What does it mean that we've moved from echo chambers to “turtle shells”7:21 Is polarization economic, cultural, technological—or all three?12:35 How can companies blunt fear and become true trust brokers?20:13 Will AI reinforce our biases and deepen our personal echo chambers?Guest: Tim Weber, Managing Director & EMEA Head of Editorial, EdelmanLinkedIn | Instagram | Bio | Website2026 Edelman Trust Barometer DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedInAre 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

Can a joke really sell a brand? Or save it from sameness?Most campaigns sound the same because they're afraid to sound wrong. Safe language, serious faces, purpose-heavy messages that all blur together. And yet one of the most successful creative agencies in North America has built its reputation by doing the opposite. Zulu Alpha Kilo lives by a simple motto… Fight Sameness… and they do it with humor, sarcasm, and a willingness to say the quiet part out loud.Why does that work? Why does making people laugh end up being the fastest way to earn trust? Why does honesty often land better as a joke than a lecture. Listen For3:01 Fast-forward to the start of the interview5:19 Check out an example of a funny (sarcastic) ad by Zulu Alpha Kilo5:36 Why does ad satire feel so personal to marketers?9:11 What tiny detail annoyed people in that absurd ad? Guest: Michael Siegers, Zulu Alpha Kilo Website | InstagramDougSubstack | Website | LinkedIn FarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

This episode features Osprey Orielle Lake, with an inspiring conversation of great breadth and depth, as she exemplifies the brilliance and bravery required to remake a world in crisis. We talk about a wonderful variety of topics, including her work as the founder and executive direction of Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN). We also discuss the idea of the rights of nature. Osprey is on the executive committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature. The conversation would not be complete without also talking about her amazing book, The Story is in Our Bones: How Worldviews and Climate Justice Can Remake a World. 

You can be the same person across every channel. Your social media accounts. Your YouTube. Your newsletter. Your blog. The same principles. The same voice. Often even the same message. And many of the people following you on LinkedIn are the same people who see you on Instagram, hear you on a podcast, or read your newsletter. Yet those same people can understand you, trust you, and remember you very differently simply because they encounter you in a different place.Not because you changed.Because they did.They arrive with different expectations.Different attention.Different patience.The channel shapes what they notice, what they believe, and what stays with them, even when the words don't change at all. In this episode, we explore how platforms shape perception, why fractured identities are now the norm, and what that means for communicators who already know better but are running out of time and headspace.Listen For4:30 How do you tailor one piece of content for different platforms?6:04 Is it better to master one channel or be on many?7:49 Can AI help create content that still feels human?12:21 What's the right way to use emojis on LinkedIn?16:35 Are we choosing content or are algorithms choosing for us? Guest: Molly Demellier, Sounds ProfitableEmail | Website | Sounds Profitable LinkedInDougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

The Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, launched under Brazil's G20 Presidency in 2024, seeks to accelerate progress towards ending extreme poverty and hunger while tackling inequality. Bringing together over 200 members including governments, international organisations, and other partners, the Alliance aims to mobilise political commitment, align public and private financing, and promote evidence-based policy solutions that are country-led and centred on those most affected.  In this episode, we unpack the Alliance's mandate and early achievements, explore how it supports countries in identifying needs and scaling proven policy instruments, and discuss what lies ahead as the Global Alliance moves from coordination to large-scale implementation.  Meet our guests:  Renato Domith Godinho, Director, Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty Support Mechanism  Kevin Watkins, Visiting Professor at the London School of Economics In our Quick Wins segment, we speak with Raphaël Duteau, Manager for AI and Data Ethics at Employment and Social Development Canada, about the opportunities Artificial Intelligence presents for social protection. He also shares insights on the AI Hub launched under the Digital Convergence Initiative.  References:  Resource | Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty  Resource | AI Hub  Webinar recording | The AI Hub for Social Protection - supporting responsible AI in social protection 

You're using LinkedIn wrongNot because you're not smart… you are. It's because you're using yesterday's LinkedIn. The platform is changing fast. The feed has changed, and the rules for reach have changed with it. This episode shows you what's different now, and how to adapt without turning into a “content person.” Listen For3:29 What happens when you hit publish on LinkedIn?7:21 What makes a post perform well—and why does so much content flop?10:23 Should leaders be posting at all, and if so, how?14:49 Why did Alicia double down on LinkedIn as a career focus?20:42 Why are professionals afraid of being visible on LinkedIn?Guest: Alicia Teltz, The Hype DepartmentLinkedIn | Website  DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

When the streets erupt, the headlines explode, and public pressure hits boiling point… can business leaders still afford to say nothing?  In this episode tackle the growing tension between corporate responsibility and political risk. From a CEO letter in Minnesota addressing immigration-fueled violence to Keir Starmer's high-stakes diplomacy in China, we ask: when the world demands clarity, is strategic ambiguity still a safe PR move? Listen For2:08 What is safety in numbers for corporate protest5:03 Is strategic ambiguity a smart way to stay neutral7:12 What is the Business and Democracy Commission9:48 How do leaders speak when policy moves faster than people12:09 Can the UK and EU trade with China and India without angering the USThe Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channelFolgate AdvisorsCurzon Public Relations WebsiteStories and Strategies WebsiteRequest a transcript of this livestream Support the show

Personal branding is changing in real time. The first impression is no longer a handshake or a conversation. It is a clip you did not choose, a post someone else shared, a comment you left, or a quote that gets passed around without context.What actually builds trust across today's platforms? It's the different channels and how they shape different versions of you. Consistency matters more than polish. Algorithms and AI search now “interpret” your reputation. Today you need to build a personal brand that holds up when you're not in the room. Listen For:22 What if people meet your story before they meet you?4:00 How does media reshape your message?5:23 How do you stay consistent across platforms?8:40 How do algorithms impact your brand?14:34 Why does personal branding really matter?Guest: Liz Brooks, Interview ValetWebsite DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stood up in Davos and didn't waste words. He gave a speech that cut through the noise. The room stood. The world noticed. He said, “If you're not at the table, you're on the menu.” People replayed that line like it was a lifeline. This episode of The Week Unspun comes straight from the snowy peaks of Davos, but the questions are sharp and wide-reaching. Can speeches still move people to action? Can we trust the Edelman Trust Barometer, or has its credibility fractured like the world it measures? And as the World Economic Forum eyes cities like Detroit and Dublin, what happens when the name “Davos” no longer fits the map? Listen For:51 What made Mark Carney's Davos speech go viral?6:54 Why do some PR pros hate the Edelman Trust Barometer? 9:38 Are we living in a “retreater” era of trust and communication? 12:40 Should Davos be moved to Detroit or Dublin? 18:15 Is short-form, flashy content reshaping public opinion? The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channelFolgate AdvisorsCurzon Public Relations WebsiteStories and Strategies WebsiteRequest a transcript of this livestreamSupport the show

PR teams are being asked to win attention in a world that barely gives it. The problem is not reach. The problem is what happens after the click, after the view, after the impression. If your audience does not stay, nothing sticks. Not the message, not the trust, not the reputation you are trying to build.In this episode, we unpack why depth beats scale and why time spent is one of the most overlooked drivers of influence. You will hear a fresh way to think about loyalty, attention, and what it means to create content that people actually choose to come back to, even when the feed is endless.Listen For3:42 How do you separate scale from depth in brand storytelling?6:57 What makes podcast audiences stay or leave?10:20 How can stories compete for time in today's distracted world?12:42 Why does audio create such a deep connection with listeners?15:28 Who really listens to podcasts today? And how is that changing?20:03 Answer to Last Episode's Question from Guest Jenny ManchesterGuest: Roger Nairn, Jar Podcast SolutionsWebsite | Jar LinkedIn | Roger LinkedIn | YouTube Doug DownsSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzana BaduelSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

In this week's The Week UnSpun, the panel takes on three high-stakes stories where influence, identity, and global perception collide.  First, the team unpacks the latest flashpoint over Greenland, where the U.S. talks security, Denmark talks sovereignty, and Greenland quietly navigates the space in between. But is this really about narrative control, or something deeper, as David suggests, like the importance of alliances over authorship?  Then, the conversation turns to Minnesota, where deadly ICE encounters have sparked a communications crisis over trust, legitimacy, and who gets to define the truth.  Finally, the group turns to Davos, joined by 18-year World Economic Forum veteran Joanna Gordon, who lifts the curtain on how the global summit has evolved, and whether it still lives up to its founding ideals.  Listen For2:03 Can Greenland Strengthen Partnerships Without Losing Autonomy?3:25 Are Small Nations Heard? Or Just Spoken For?6:43 Is the Real Crisis in Minnesota About Trust?11:45 Has Davos Lost Its Way in the Age of Attention?15:41 Does the World Economic Forum Have a PR Problem?Guest: Joanna GordonLinkedInThe Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channelFolgate AdvisorsCurzon Public Relations WebsiteStories and Strategies WebsiteRequest a transcript of this livestreamSupport the show

[Changing Finance & Financing Change – The Global Alliance for Banking on Values] When it comes to stewardship, sustainability, and care of humanity, there is a much better way to bank than the status quo… and it is already happening around the world at considerable scale! Values-based banking provides companies and families deposit and credit […]

It doesn't matter whether you're 25 or 55. If you speak and people listen politely but not seriously, it hurts. Too young to be trusted.Too old to be creative.The message lands the same way. You are not seen. You are not heard. You are not valued.Ageism cuts in both directions and it leaves a quiet bruise that people carry long after the moment passes.How does this happen in Public Relations, a profession built on understanding people? It does. And ageism is a major component of the profession. That's why a Cultural Reset is needed. Listen For4:50 What does a "cultural reset" in PR mean when addressing ageism?7:30 How does ageism quietly impact training and promotion in PR agencies?9:54 Do certain sectors of PR treat older professionals more fairly than others?15:55 Will AI help or hurt age diversity in PR careers?17:25 Answer to Last Episode's Question from Guest Cindy Lang Guest: Jenny ManchesterCentre for Ageing Better Website | LinkedInJenny's Report An age-old problem: What can we do to tackle ageism in PR? Follow Farzana on SubstackFollow Doug on SubstackCurzon Substack Stories and Strategies WebsiteCurzon Public Relations WebsiteAre 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

A headline-grabbing raid, a revolution-in-the-making, and a “beige” prime minister walk into the attention economy… who wins the story?  Farzana and Doug unpack three global flashpoints through a PR and narrative-control lens: the shock capture of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and the split-screen battle between “law enforcement” framing versus “illegal act of war” backlash; Iran's surging unrest as the rial collapses alongside a fractured top-level message (empathy from President Pezeshkian, crackdown language from Ayatollah Khamenei, and a mobilizing call from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi); and the UK's debate over Keir Starmer's “beige” leadership, whether voters truly want competent quiet or charismatic spectacle in a 24/7 scroll-and-click media world.Listen For00:37 How did the Maduro raid become a communications battle overnight?01:33 Why did calling Maduro a “narco-terrorist” change the debate?04:57 Does winning the domestic narrative matter if the world disagrees?07:56 How is Iran's leadership sending mixed signals during unrest?13:05 Is quiet leadership still viable in today's attention economy?The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channelFolgate AdvisorsCurzon Public Relations WebsiteStories and Strategies WebsiteRequest a transcript of this livestream Support the show

This is a special audio time-jump episode. It's an immersive journey ten years into the future to explore how public relations has managed three of the biggest challenges: the rapid rise of AI, the disappearing entry-level job, and the ongoing gender gap in leadership.Doug and Farzana volunteer for a guided “time crossing” to see how the next generation of PR leaders navigated a decade of disruption. What they find isn't just smarter tech, it's smarter systems, layered cities, holographic hosts, and workplaces where AI and humans collaborate with clarity and conscience.This isn't an episode about how will we fix it, it's about how they already did… and what we can start implementing right now.Welcome to 2036 Listen For5:01 How has technology reshaped the world of PR?6:56 What does it feel like to communicate in a city designed to respond?9:57 How does personalized media target people in real time?10:36 What are holographic briefs and how do they change communication?16:31 Are women finally stepping into more leadership roles?17:44 How did society move beyond the culture war over being ‘woke'?12:59 What's changed most in how we communicate at work?14:55 What does it take to guide AI with real nuance?18:18 How is emotional labor being measured, and addressed, in the future?19:02 What are the future rules of ethical communication with AI? DougSubstack | Website | LinkedInFarzanaSubstack | Website | LinkedIn 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

What happens when protests shake a regime built on control, not consent? We look at Iran's largest wave of unrest since 2022. Fueled by economic collapse and skyrocketing inflation, the protests are no longer just about hardship, they've become openly anti-government, spreading even into rural areas. We break down Iran's unprecedented tone shift in crisis comms, explore the influential role of the Iranian diaspora, and consider how narratives are being shaped despite media restrictions. And we pivot to examine Donald Trump's striking effort to brand U.S. institutions with his name, followed by a look into 2026 with helpful resources for PR pros preparing for global risks. Listen For:47 What's really fueling Iran's latest wave of protests?4:28 How does Iran's diaspora influence global perception?5:39 Can Trump gain political advantage from Iran's instability?6:14 Why is Trump rebranding national institutions with his name?12:46 What tools can help PR pros prepare for global risks in 2026?The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channelFolgate AdvisorsCurzon Public Relations WebsiteStories and Strategies WebsiteRequest a transcript of this livestream  Support the show

Public relations shapes what people believe, how communities respond, and which ideas earn trust. It influences elections, corporate crises, government decisions, reputations, and public sentiment. Yet unlike medicine, law, or engineering, anyone can call themselves a PR professional. No license. No minimum standard. No consequences when things go wrong. What happens when a profession with this much power has almost no guardrails?Some say that freedom is essential for open societies. Others say it leaves the public exposed. What happens if we build those guardrails too strong? In this episode we walk the line of tension between protection and freedom.Listen For4:28 What problem is PR regulation really trying to solve?9:47 Does regulation protect the public, or just PR pros?12:38 Could PR regulation threaten free speech?14:23 Is there a middle ground on PR regulation?18:37 Can licensing and ethics training reshape PR?Rate this podcast with just one click Follow Farzana on SubstackFollow Doug on SubstackCurzon Substack Stories and Strategies WebsiteCurzon Public Relations WebsiteAre 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 podcastConnect with usLinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | PinterestRequest a transcript of this episodeSupport the show

Michael Grunwald is an environmental journalist who sees maximizing efficient production as the most important sustianbility strategy. His book, "We Are Eating the Earth," brings fresh attention to an old debate. Episode Links We Are Eating the Earth Grunwald, M. (2024, December 13). Opinion | Sorry, but This Is the Future of Food. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/13/opinion/food-agriculture-factory-farms-climate-change.html The Useful Idiot, Land Food Nexus rebuttal to Grunwald's NYT piece The Enduring Fantasy of Feeding the World, Spectre Journal Historians rethink the Green Revolution The Globalization of Wheat: A Critical History of the Green Revolution Max Ajl's A People's Green New Deal On the contribution of yields to hunger abatement:  Smith, L. C., & Haddad, L. (2015). Reducing Child Undernutrition: Past Drivers and Priorities for the Post-MDG Era. World Development, 68, 180–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.11.014 On the role of intensive agriculture in failing to reduce deforestation: Ceddia, M. G., Bardsley, N. O., Gomez-y-Paloma, S., & Sedlacek, S. (2014). Governance, agricultural intensification, and land sparing in tropical South America. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(20), 7242–7247. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1317967111 Pratzer, M., Fernández-Llamazares, Á., Meyfroidt, P., Krueger, T., Baumann, M., Garnett, S. T., & Kuemmerle, T. (2023). Agricultural intensification, Indigenous stewardship and land sparing in tropical dry forests. Nature Sustainability, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-023-01073-0 Thaler, G. M. (2017). The Land Sparing Complex: Environmental Governance, Agricultural Intensification, and State Building in the Brazilian Amazon. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 107(6), 1424–1443. https://doi.org/10.1080/24694452.2017.1309966 Land sparers feel thier oats Thaler, G. M. (2024). Saving a Rainforest and Losing the World: Conservation and displacement in the global tropics. Yale University Press.   The IEA on competing theories of Indirect Land Use Change and biofuels: Towards an improved assessment of indirect land-use change – Evaluating common narratives, approaches, and tools   More Work for Mother: The Ironies Of Household Technology From The Open Hearth To The Microwave | Ruth Cowan Munro, K. (2025). Reconsidering the relationship between home appliance ownership and married women's labor supply: Evidence from Brazil (No. 2509). The Global Alliance for the Future of Food call for investment in food systems transition The World Resources Institute report on Denmark's Green Tripartite Agreement Behind the Danish Green Tripartite – Democracy, Smallholders and the Rights of Rural People Grunwald debates an agroecologist At COP30, Brazilian Meat Giant JBS Recommends Climate Policy    About Landscapes Landscapes is produced by Adam Calo. A complete written transcript of the episode can be found on Adam's newsletter: Land Food Nexus. Send feedback or questions to adamcalo@substack.com or Bluesky Music by Blue Dot Sessions: "Kilkerrin" by Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue).      

Ty Beal, PhD is a nutrition scientist and head of data and analytics at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), whose research for WHO, FAO, and UNICEF helps shape international nutrition policy. In this episode, he cuts through diet confusion with an evidence-based, pragmatic framework for eating to support long-term health and longevity.15 Daily Steps to Lose Weight and Prevent Disease PDF: https://bit.ly/46XTn8f - Get my FREE eBook now!Subscribe to The Genius Life on YouTube! - http://youtube.com/maxlugavereWatch my new documentary Little Empty Boxes - https://www.maxlugavere.com/filmThis episode is proudly sponsored by:Upgrade your workspace with the new UPLIFT V3 Standing Desk — built to keep you moving, focused, and pain-free while you work. Get four free accessories and an exclusive discount at upliftdesk.com/GENIUS with code GENIUS.Puori provides IFOS-certified, high potency fish oil to satisfy all of your omega-3 needs! Plus a ton of other high quality, rigorously tested supplements (protein, creatine, and more). Visit ⁠Puori.com/MAX⁠ and use promo code MAX to get 20% off site-wide.Kion is known for their transparent and evidence-based essential amino acid (EAA) supplements which help save you calories while providing all essential amino acids for muscle growth and more. Save 20% by going to http://getkion.com/geniuslife.