Podcasts about ipr

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

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

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

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

In this episode of the Post-Grant Podcast, Andy Zappia, Bryan Smith, and Ted Merkel explore a significant new director memo that changes how ex parte reexaminations are initiated at the Patent Office. They explain what ex parte reexam is, when and why it is used, and how new preorder patent owner submissions shape strategy for both requesters and patent owners. They also discuss how tightening IPR rules have driven more filers toward reexam, and when this new preorder procedure may or may not make a meaningful difference in whether a reexamination gets ordered. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The U.S. Supreme Court has filed to preserve telehealth access to the abortion pill mifepristone as new Iowa restrictions await Gov. Kim Reynolds' signature. On this Newsbuzz edition of River to River, we break down what this SCOTUS action means with law professor Jill Wieber Lens and what may come next for abortion pill access. Plus, we kick off our 2026 primary election preview series, get a spring crop update with Mark Licht, say farewell to IPR's Josie Fischels and groove into the weekend with Studio One host Cece Mitchell.

Discover why Gentle Monster stands out with its intense societal themes, strong cast, and European co-production, making it a compelling and investment-worthy film. Recorded in collaboration with Cinema&Video International at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The post The Market Insider: “Gentle Monster”, interview with IPR.VC Investment Manager Darragh Matthews appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Discover why Gentle Monster stands out with its intense societal themes, strong cast, and European co-production, making it a compelling and investment-worthy film. Recorded in collaboration with Cinema&Video International at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The post The Market Insider: “Gentle Monster”, interview with IPR.VC Investment Manager Darragh Matthews appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Discover why Gentle Monster stands out with its intense societal themes, strong cast, and European co-production, making it a compelling and investment-worthy film. Recorded in collaboration with Cinema&Video International at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The post The Market Insider: “Gentle Monster”, interview with IPR.VC Investment Manager Darragh Matthews appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Discover why Gentle Monster stands out with its intense societal themes, strong cast, and European co-production, making it a compelling and investment-worthy film. Recorded in collaboration with Cinema&Video International at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The post The Market Insider: “Gentle Monster”, interview with IPR.VC Investment Manager Darragh Matthews appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Discover why Gentle Monster stands out with its intense societal themes, strong cast, and European co-production, making it a compelling and investment-worthy film. Recorded in collaboration with Cinema&Video International at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The post The Market Insider: “Gentle Monster”, interview with IPR.VC Investment Manager Darragh Matthews appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

Discover why Gentle Monster stands out with its intense societal themes, strong cast, and European co-production, making it a compelling and investment-worthy film. Recorded in collaboration with Cinema&Video International at the 79th Cannes Film Festival. The post The Market Insider: “Gentle Monster”, interview with IPR.VC Investment Manager Darragh Matthews appeared first on Fred Film Radio.

On today's episode, Dr. Mark Costes sits down with Dr. Ben Miraglia, VP of GP Clinical Education at CandidPro, to explore how general dentists can successfully integrate clear aligners into everyday practice. Dr. Miraglia shares how his background in restorative and implant dentistry led him to clear aligners, and why an expansive, non-extraction approach helped him eliminate common frustrations like excessive IPR, too many attachments, poor tracking, and difficult finishes.   They discuss how CandidPro's orthodontist-led treatment planning, remote monitoring, AI-supported tracking, and reduced chair time can make aligner therapy more predictable, profitable, and enjoyable for both doctors and patients. Dr. Miraglia also explains why clear aligners should be a team sport, how to improve patient compliance, and why GPs should start with simple cases before moving into more advanced treatment. Be sure to check out the full episode from the Dentalpreneur Podcast! EPISODE RESOURCES https://www.candidpro.com/dsi https://www.truedentalsuccess.com Dental Success Network Subscribe to The Dentalpreneur Podcast

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

This week, Scott Simon regals us with tales about tails! The NPR legend has a new book "Ulysses S. Cat and Other Animals I Have Known" chronicling a lifetime of remarkable relationships with pets. He even reveals which pet he named after IPR!Also: We'll sit down with Yaniv Segal, Orchestra Indiana's Artistic Director and Principal Conductor, ahead of the final concert of their current season (Saturday, May 9). That show will open with his original composition “…the light that breathes…” We'll celebrate Mother's Day in the U.S. with "The Inside of Bones"—a Beautiful Thing from Kelly McMasters. And, our usual "WAYWO" and Arts Calendar check-ins!

1. China invites international partners for Xihe-2 solar observation mission 2. Chinese scientists uncover why pain gets worse at night 3. China strengthens customs IPR protection, steps up crackdown on infringement 4. Antique Chinese landscape paintings on display in Macao

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

New student loan limits are set to hit Iowa families as tuition costs keep climbing. On this Newsbuzz edition of River to River, we look at how universities are preparing with The Gazette's Vanessa Miller. The Economist's Hollie Berman shares recent reporting on Iowa farmers' support for President Trump amid economic uncertainty. IPR's James Kelley shares updates on Google's planned data center in Palo. Plus, the latest from the Statehouse with Robin Opshahl, and we groove into the weekend with Studio One's Tressa Glass.

Primeira palavra da série Como destruir sua vida?ministrada no dia 19/04/2026na IPR de Goioerê

Segunda palavra da série Como destruir sua vida?ministrada no dia 26/04/2026na IPR de Goioerê

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

In 'Safe: A Memoir of Fatherhood, Foster Care, and the Risks We Take for Family,' Mark Daley describes his journey to becoming a father through the often-frustrating foster care system. Daley discusses the memoir with host Charity Nebbe and expert readers, Lexie White and IPR's Meghan McKinney.

Iowa has the second-highest cancer rate in the nation. A recent report points to contaminants in our water, soil and air as key culprits. On this episode, we talk with two of the authors of this report on environmental risk factors including pesticides, PFAS, nitrates and Iowa's cancer crisis. The report offers several policy and personal recommendations to reduce adverse environmental exposures, including expansion of the state's water monitoring network. The Iowa Legislature diverted funds for the Iowa Quality Information System in 2023. While county governments and other groups have helped fund the system the last few years, Iowa Flood Center Director Larry Weber is asking lawmakers to reappropriate funds before the end of this year's session. (The Harkin Institute and Iowa Environmental Council are sponsors of IPR.)

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

Iowa's hands-free law is now being enforced. On this Newsbuzz edition, what drivers need to know to stay safe and avoid fines. Also, it's crunch time at the Capitol — we check in with 'Des Moines Register' reporter Stephen Gruber-Miller on where key legislation stands. We also hear from IPR's Meghan McKinney about a new law changing foster parent training, and get a planting season preview from Iowa State agronomist Mark Licht as weather swings impact farmers. Plus, an Iowa State researcher explains how artificial intelligence is being used to predict virus evolution before it happens. And we wrap up with groove into the weekend with Nick Brunner.

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

Iowa's second funnel deadline has passed. What bills are still alive, and what does it all mean for the rest of the legislative session? Today, statehouse reporters Katarina Sostaric of IPR, Stephen Gruber-Miller of the 'Des Moines Register', and Erin Murphy of 'The Gazette' join to break it all down. The conversation covers the biggest unresolved issues shaping the session, including competing property tax proposals, ongoing debates over eminent domain and carbon pipelines, and concerns about a projected budget deficit. The group also discusses key developments in education policy, criminal justice, and health care.

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

The Pop of Culture podcast is going to be a little late this week... because we're doing the show live to celebrate our 100th episode! Join us Friday, March 20th at 12:00 p.m. on IPR's airwaves, via the Ball State Public Media App, or on indianapublicradio.org.If you can't listen live, we'll have the show up as soon as possible—and we still like you just as much!

Iowa's environment and public health are under stress. IPR's Natalie Krebs discusses the basics of the new Cancer in Iowa Report, and Jason Clayworth of Axios Des Moines talks about the state's impaired waters. After that, a new study examines how the U.S. investigates deaths in custody. Forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell, President of the National Medical Association, discusses the study's findings and recommendations. Finally, a conversation with the new president of Iowa State University, David Cook.

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

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

On this Newsbuzz edition of River to River, a conversation with Brian Katulis of the Middle East Institute about this week's developments on the United States and Israel's war with Iran which has included the deaths of six U.S. service members, including two Iowans. Also, IPR reporter James Kelley discusses Google's change of plans for a proposed data center in Linn County, Robin Opsahl of Iowa Capital Dispatch gives an update on this week's activity at the statehouse and Studio One's Nick Brunner shares this week's new music picks.

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

Clarinetist Katia Waxman, oboist Daniel Gurevich and pianist Ya-Ju Chuang played the final movement of the Trio for Oboe, Clarinet and Piano by Bill Douglas and spoke with IPR's Amanda Sewell. These three Interlochen faculty musicians will perform with guest flutist Alisa Smith in two recitals of woodwind chamber music with piano. The program features works by Eugène Bozza, Joseph Horovitz, Claude Debussy and Bill Douglas will be held on Saturday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. at the Alluvion, part of the Interlochen in Town series. The musicians will also give an informal preview of the recital in the Music Center at Interlochen Center for the Arts on Thursday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m.

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

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

A Republican has dropped out of the 4th Congressional District primary race. Iowa is in a snow drought. And it's Legislative Monday with IPR's Katarina Sostaric.

On this Newsbuzz episode, IPR's Josie Fischels shares her reporting on how immigration enforcement is keeping artists from the Midwest. We also get a legislative update from IPR's Katarina Sostaric, with proposals to end vaccine requirements and expand a ban on LGBTQ+ materials in schools. The Gazette's Grace King talks about proposed school closures in the Cedar Rapids school district, Iowa writer Christina Fernandez-Morrow on the impact of Bad Bunny's Grammy win and Studio One host Tressa Glass shares new tunes from Mitski and Noah Kahan.

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

On this Newsbuzz edition, 'Des Moines Register' Statehouse reporter Stephen Gruber Miller discusses the latest developments at the Capitol. IPR's James Kelley reports on the growing mental health crisis among Iowa farmers — from financial stress to barriers in accessing care — and what resources may offer support during an especially vulnerable time for rural communities. Investigative reporter Tyler Jett of the 'Des Moines Register' explains new data showing a sharp drop in immigration to Iowa and what it means for the state's population growth and workforce. Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines, D-Des Moines, discusses the history, purpose and recent expansion of the Iowa Black and Brown Caucus, and how lawmakers are working to advance equity-focused policy.

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

Iowa has been awarded a $209 million federal grant to expand and improve health care across the state — the first installment of what officials say could total $1 billion over the next five years. The funding is part of the federal Rural Health Transformation Program and is aimed at strengthening access to care, equipment and workforce development in rural communities. Leaders from Iowa's critical access hospitals talk about what this funding could mean on the ground and why they say it falls far short of what rural providers are bracing for. We also discuss workforce shortages, the challenge of recruiting specialists like OB-GYNs, and the “hub and spoke” model Gov. Kim Reynolds has promoted to reshape rural health care delivery. Later, host Charity Nebbe announces Talk of Iowa's 2026 Book Club selections with IPR talk show producer, Caitlin Troutman.

Surveillance cameras are spreading across Iowa and artificial intelligence makes them far more powerful. IPR's James Kelley shares his investigation into the controversial Flock cameras installed in dozens of Iowa communities. Later in the hour, legal scholar Megan Graham shares what rights citizens have in the AI area. (This episode was produced in October 2025.)

The Iowa Legislature gavels in for the 2026 session next week. On today's episode we take a closer look at the processes and people at the statehouse, starting with IPR reporters Katarina Sostaric and Isabella Luu to share their insights on reporting from the capitol. Then we talk about what's changed about the legislature over the decades with former state lawmaker Andy McKean and how Iowans can effectively get involved during the session with lobbyist Dustin Miller. Also, we talk with journalist and host of 'Iowa Press' on Iowa PBS O. Kay Henderson about Gov. Kim Reynolds' tenure and what's to come for her final year in office.

Recent changes at USPTO are increasingly shaping the context in which Congress considers potential patent legislation.In the latest episode of Clause 8, the focus turns to how the USPTO's evolving approach to post-grant proceedings at the PTAB is shaping the broader patent policy debate—and influencing what Congress may (or may not) do next.The episode features David Jones, Executive Director of the High Tech Inventors Alliance (HTIA) and a longtime Clause 8 favorite, alongside Jeffrey Hantson, a former patent litigator and senior Senate Judiciary Committee staffer who most recently served as Deputy General Counsel to Sen. Dick Durbin after advising Sen. Mazie Hirono on IP issues. Dave and Jeff first crossed paths during the pre-pandemic Section 101 roundtables, and the episode captures their fun, wonky back-and-forth dynamic.A central theme is whether the USPTO's recent moves on IPR institution—including its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)—create an opening for Congress to strike a bargain, or instead make legislative compromise harder. Dave and Jeff explore how the introduction of settled expectations, Director John Squires reclaiming institution authority, and broader institution trends are reshaping the conversation around proposals such as the PREVAIL Act.Jeff frames the core tension in familiar terms for staffers and stakeholders: at some point, should the USPTO be done reassessing a patent's validity? Dave, for his part, is skeptical that legislation is the answer when the agency is (in his view) drifting from what was envisioned when Congress created the PTAB under the America Invents Act (AIA).The conversation also explores why PREVAIL advanced further than PERA in the last Congress, why PTAB reform is often easier to grasp on Capitol Hill than Section 101 eligibility, and why Sen. Thom Tillis' likability—and impending retirement—may matter more than most people realize.Set against a backdrop of shifting IP leadership on Capitol Hill and mixed administrative signals on patents, the episode offers a candid look at where patent policy may be headed—and what it would take to change course.