Podcasts about prca

Smith Pro Rodeo "The Greatest Show on Dirt" is a PRCA livestock contracting and rodeo production company based in Henderson County, Texas (Malakoff/Athens area), led by owner Stace Smith and son Riggin. Before becoming a contractor, Smith worked as a rodeo contestant, chute boss, and pickup man and was selected as a pickup man for the 2005 Texas Circuit Finals before building the company into one of the most prolific rodeo production outfits in the country.The company's headline achievement is being named PRCA Stock Contractor of the Year 11 times 11 consecutive years, tying the record held by rodeo legend Harry Vold. Smith Pro Rodeos produces more PRCA rodeos than any other stock contractor in the association, with an operation spanning 7+ states, 15 separate rodeos, and more than 80 performances annually. Notable events they've supplied stock for or produced include Cheyenne Frontier Days, Ogden Pioneer Days, the Tri-State Fair and Rodeo in Amarillo, the Texas Circuit Finals, and the Los Fresnos PRCA Rodeo in South Texas.Smith Pro Rodeo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠l ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ l ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook l TikTokEnjoy The Jarrod Morris Vibe? Please leave us a review on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Jarrod Morris Vibe Links:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠ ⁠

A PRCA bullfighter isn't there to look fearless, he's there to be trustworthy when everything goes wrong in a split second. We talk with Colt Steggell about what bullfighting really is: reading cattle, attacking the bull's line at the right moment, and taking responsibility for a rider's safe exit. If you've ever wondered how rodeo athletes protect each other while still competing, his answer lands hard and clear. Colt breaks down the realities people never see on camera: broken ribs, cracked sternums, and how a bullfighting vest helps but doesn't save you from bad decisions. He also walks us through the PRCA pro card process step by step, from getting NFR level signatures, to paying for evaluations, to fighting pro rodeos on a permit while you're still being scored. Failing twice nearly crushed him until blunt feedback forced a reset: be more aggressive, and stop doing it like you're not having fun. Then the conversation turns to the topic he most wants in the open: veteran suicide and mental health. Colt shares losing a fellow soldier, surviving two suicide attempts, and why dissociation and depression can hit even if you never deployed. We also talk about community-driven support through WarriorsnRodeo and Operation VetNow, and how brotherhood can be a real lifeline, not a slogan. If this hit home, share it with a friend, subscribe for more real stories from the rodeo and military worlds, and leave a review so more people who need these conversations can find them. What part of Colt's story stayed with you?Instagram: @the_stegg45https://www.instagram.com/the_stegg45?igsh=MXhlbXpydzA4NjRjNA==Shoutout to:Colton SteggellThe Steggell Family Rodeo CommunityJace Angus Riley Riddle Operation VetNowWarriors and Rodeo Ag-Gear Store https://www.aggearstore.com/Use Code: Milesmountains For 15% Off Raising Awareness:Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)Mental Health Send us Fan Mail

Kensie Darst Todd has never been afraid to chase a dream — even when it meant stepping outside of her comfort zone and creating a path all her own. Two generations removed from the ranching lifestyle, Kensie followed every opportunity that came her way and built a career rooted in storytelling, western culture and agriculture.Today, Kensie works in marketing for the American Paint Horse Association while also freelancing as a writer for PRCA and Western Horseman, blending her passion for the western industry with her gift for communication. Her journey to Texas started long before she officially called it home. From honeymooning in Texas while interning with the WRCA to eventually moving to Lubbock to pursue her master's degree, every step helped shape the life and career she has today.Through every season — building a career, raising her son and navigating life's changes — Kensie has continued to bet on herself and pursue the things that inspire her. This week, she shares her story of resilience, motherhood, career growth and what it looks like to build a life fueled by passion, purpose and the courage to say yes to new opportunities.This is my personal podcast and reflects my own thoughts, opinions, and experiences. This show is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or representative of any organization, employer, or entity.

Reputation isn't your shadow anymore. It's your operating system. It's no longer something you manage. It has already been decided, by AI, based on patterns inside your organization you may not even know exist. Most leaders still think about reputation the old way: crisis plans, issue management, damage control after the fact. But AI now reads every signal a company puts out and connects them across every location and every stakeholder, drawing its own conclusion about who you really are. A bad manager in one city used to stay local. Now it can become your global reputation by tomorrow morning.There is a scale that runs from head in the sand to full reputation architect, and most organizations are stuck somewhere in the middle, reacting instead of designing. This episode gets into why reputation now functions like a credit score, why one recent report put a seven trillion dollar number on it globally, and why the real work ahead is not protecting your brand but architecting the patterns underneath it, before AI does that job for you. Listen For3:35 Why should organizations stop managing reputation and start architecting it?5:13 How does reputation become operational currency across an organization?7:48 Why is brand more than a logo or a “cowboy hat”?10:45 How is AI becoming a stakeholder in your reputation?16:35 How can leaders tell if they are reacting, managing, or architecting reputation?Guest: Bonnie Caver, Reputation LighthouseLinkedIn | Website | Company LinkedInDoug DownsSubstack | Website | LinkedIn Subscribe to the Stories and Strategies PR podcast newsletter 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 | PinterestSend us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeSupport the show

The end of June and Cowboy Christmas saw momentum build for numerous teams, especially ones who were in need.Lightning Aguilera and Kaden Profili kicked off a three-week span of huge ProRodeo team roping storylines, winning $30,740 over a two-week period at the end of June. Aguilera and Profili took home $20,868 a man the week of June 16-21, highlighted by wins at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, and the Silver State Stampede in Elko, Nevada. They rolled into another strong week June 24-28, pocketing $9,872 apiece with checks at the Reno Rodeo, West Of The Pecos Rodeo and Greeley Stampede.James Arviso and Levi Lord also got on a heater, winning the prestigious Reno Rodeo for $15,705 apiece. Their momentum rolled right into the Greeley Stampede where they won the average for $10,192 a man. That kicked off their Cowboy Christmas, and they ended up third in The Team Roping Journal's high-money earners calculations with $22,395 a man. Perhaps no bigger storyline came from Cody Snow and Lane Mitchell, however. Snow and Mitchell were the top earners over Cowboy Christmas, winning $30,192 a man. Their biggest hits came from the St. Paul Rodeo where they won $9,116 apiece and Greeley, winning $7,410 a man. The huge Fourth run moved them from outside the top 30 in the 2026 PRCA team roping world standings to right around the Top 15.On this episode of The Short Score, some of the biggest winners talk about their big weeks.____This episode is brought to you by SmartEquine and ColiCare—an innovative approach to hindgut health and colic prevention. Designed with research-backed ingredients and a unique support program, when your horse is counting on you, you can count on ColiCare.ColiCare combines targeted digestive support with a program designed to help you stay ahead of potential issues—not just react to them. It's built on research, formulated to support a healthy gut environment, and backed by a unique benefit: eligible horses enrolled in the program may receive up to $15,000 in colic surgery reimbursement.Whether you're hauling, training hard, or just managing day-to-day stressors, your horse's digestive system is constantly under pressure. ColiCare is designed to help you manage those risks with confidence.Visit SmartEquine.com to learn more about how ColiCare can support your horse's long-term

The end of June and Cowboy Christmas saw momentum build for numerous teams, especially ones who were in need.Lightning Aguilera and Kaden Profili kicked off a three-week span of huge ProRodeo team roping storylines, winning $30,740 over a two-week period at the end of June. Aguilera and Profili took home $20,868 a man the week of June 16-21, highlighted by wins at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, and the Silver State Stampede in Elko, Nevada. They rolled into another strong week June 24-28, pocketing $9,872 apiece with checks at the Reno Rodeo, West Of The Pecos Rodeo and Greeley Stampede.James Arviso and Levi Lord also got on a heater, winning the prestigious Reno Rodeo for $15,705 apiece. Their momentum rolled right into the Greeley Stampede where they won the average for $10,192 a man. That kicked off their Cowboy Christmas, and they ended up third in The Team Roping Journal's high-money earners calculations with $22,395 a man. Perhaps no bigger storyline came from Cody Snow and Lane Mitchell, however. Snow and Mitchell were the top earners over Cowboy Christmas, winning $30,192 a man. Their biggest hits came from the St. Paul Rodeo where they won $9,116 apiece and Greeley, winning $7,410 a man. The huge Fourth run moved them from outside the top 30 in the 2026 PRCA team roping world standings to right around the Top 15.On this episode of The Short Score, some of the biggest winners talk about their big weeks.____This episode is brought to you by SmartEquine and ColiCare—an innovative approach to hindgut health and colic prevention. Designed with research-backed ingredients and a unique support program, when your horse is counting on you, you can count on ColiCare.ColiCare combines targeted digestive support with a program designed to help you stay ahead of potential issues—not just react to them. It's built on research, formulated to support a healthy gut environment, and backed by a unique benefit: eligible horses enrolled in the program may receive up to $15,000 in colic surgery reimbursement.Whether you're hauling, training hard, or just managing day-to-day stressors, your horse's digestive system is constantly under pressure. ColiCare is designed to help you manage those risks with confidence.Visit SmartEquine.com to learn more about how ColiCare can support your horse's long-term

He's not trying to look perfect online. He's trying to tell the truth about the road.We sit down with Andrew, a traveling rodeo photographer and videographer who's built a reputation for showing the whole story. That means early mornings, midnight edits, flat tires, long drives, and the unglamorous reality behind the “one great shot.” We talk about what the job actually demands, why communication earns patience, and how his background in fashion photography helped him create better rodeo storytelling for brands, sponsors, and rodeo organization's.Then the conversation turns personal. Andrew explains the meaning behind “Howdy Friend,” the phrase that became his mission and merch line, and why it's rooted in inclusion, kindness, and mental health awareness. He shares how heartbreak and loneliness spiraled into depression and suicidal thoughts, and how small, ordinary moments in rodeo community became the turning points that saved his life. If you've ever wondered how community shows up when you don't ask for help, this will hit home.We also dig into the practical side of building a creative career in the Western industry: chasing a PRCA pro card, networking, earning trust, learning horses to be safer and more useful around the chutes, and defining success as respect rather than hype. If you care about rodeo photography, Western lifestyle media, travel photography, or honest conversations about mental health on the road, you'll get real takeaways here.Subscribe for more conversations like this, share the episode with someone who needs a “Howdy Friend” moment, and leave a review telling us what part of Andrew's story stayed with you.Instagram: @avaranch_rodeohttps://www.instagram.com/avaranch_rodeo?igsh=Y2c4czZzZHduZG9kShoutout to:Andrew Van Asselt aka AVA Howdy Friend Emma FolzRodeo CommunityAg-Gear Store https://www.aggearstore.com/Use Code: Milesmountains For 15% Off Raising Awareness:Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW)Mental Health Send us Fan Mail

What happens when a conference has no keynote, no formal agenda, and no single expert at the front of the room?  The new IABC International Chair calls this an “unconference” model. And it's one glimpse of how professional associations can evolve: by creating space for communicators to learn directly from one another. Also in this episode – why community, credibility, and connection matter more than ever in a profession being reshaped by AI, shrinking budgets, and rising expectation, the changing role of communicators in the age of AI, and why earned media, credible third-party sources, FAQs, and even the press release may be gaining new relevance in AI search.  Listen For4:13 Why was the ABC Designation Considered Tougher than the SCMP?5:34 How is AI Making Earned Media and Press Releases Valuable Again?8:09 Why Should Communicators Bring FAQ Pages Back for AI Search?9:56 Why are Chief Communications Officers Gaining a Stronger Seat at the C-Suite Table?17:11 How Is IABC Rethinking Chapters With Community Models and Unconferences?Guest: Richard Kies, Incoming IABC International ChairLinkedIn | Bio PageDoug 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 | PinterestSend us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeSupport the show

As a communications professional you're operating in the most complex information environment in history. Misinformation. Disinformation. AI generated deepfakes of executives saying things they never said. Audiences who have stopped trusting what organizations tell them. Employees who can't tell what's real. And somewhere in the middle of all of that noise you're still expected to move people. To make them understand something, feel something, and do something. With the same frameworks you have always used.Dianne Chase has written a book that argues the profession needs a North Star more than it needs another tactical playbook. She's the past International Chair of IABC, past Chair of the IABC Southern Region, and current president of IABC Charlotte. Her book is called The Seven C's of the New Communications Compass. And the argument she makes is both simple and urgent: in an era of collapsing trust, the communicators who will matter most are not the ones with the best tools. They're the ones who remembered to be human.This episode was recorded on location in Toronto in June 2026 at IABC World Conference Listen For3:16 What Are the Seven Cs of the New Communications Compass?6:16 Why Should Organizations Build Relationships Instead of Transactions?8:19 How Does Compassion Become Empathy in Action?13:09 Why Does Community Matter to Purpose-Driven Brands?17:10 How Should Communicators Measure What Really Matters?Guest: Dianne Chase, President IABC Charlotte, past International Chair IABC, past Chair IABC Southern RegionWebsite | LinkedInDoug 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 | PinterestSend us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeSupport the show

Cooper Freeman grew up in Carthage, Missouri, surrounded by roping. His parents bought an indoor arena, steakhouse and western store when he was young, and Freeman grew up in the middle of jackpot team ropings, barrel races and weekend events.By 14, he was amateur rodeoing. At 19, he bought his PRCA permit and made a run through the Great Lakes Circuit. He spent two years at Cisco College, where Tyler and Brittany Worley gave him a place to live, horses to ride and the kind of help that made rodeoing for a living feel a little more possible.Now, at 23, Freeman is sitting No. 1 in the world on the heel side with Korbin Rice, with more than $112,000 won so far in 2026. They won RodeoHouston in their first trip there, after rodeoing their way in at the start of the 2026 season, and just recently added a win at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, to their list.Freeman calls Houston the coolest rodeo he's ever been to, and months later, he still catches himself daydreaming about it. With Rice turning steers and Freeman keeping things simple on the back side, the two are living out the kind of season kids play out in the practice pen.Check out the episode to learn more about the No. 1 man on the heel side.About Fast Back RopesThis episode is presented by Fast Back Ropes. A longtime supporter of The Team Roping Journal, Fast Back takes pride in building quality ropes that offer the durability, performance, and consistency ropers can rely on. With a commitment to craftsmanship, innovation, and customer satisfaction, Fast Back continues to create products designed to bring value both in and out of the arena. Visit fastbackropes.com to shop ropes and gear, find a retailer, or download the latest catalog.

Cooper Freeman grew up in Carthage, Missouri, surrounded by roping. His parents bought an indoor arena, steakhouse and western store when he was young, and Freeman grew up in the middle of jackpot team ropings, barrel races and weekend events.By 14, he was amateur rodeoing. At 19, he bought his PRCA permit and made a run through the Great Lakes Circuit. He spent two years at Cisco College, where Tyler and Brittany Worley gave him a place to live, horses to ride and the kind of help that made rodeoing for a living feel a little more possible.Now, at 23, Freeman is sitting No. 1 in the world on the heel side with Korbin Rice, with more than $112,000 won so far in 2026. They won RodeoHouston in their first trip there, after rodeoing their way in at the start of the 2026 season, and just recently added a win at the Snake River Stampede in Nampa, Idaho, to their list.Freeman calls Houston the coolest rodeo he's ever been to, and months later, he still catches himself daydreaming about it. With Rice turning steers and Freeman keeping things simple on the back side, the two are living out the kind of season kids play out in the practice pen.Check out the episode to learn more about the No. 1 man on the heel side.About Fast Back RopesThis episode is presented by Fast Back Ropes. A longtime supporter of The Team Roping Journal, Fast Back takes pride in building quality ropes that offer the durability, performance, and consistency ropers can rely on. With a commitment to craftsmanship, innovation, and customer satisfaction, Fast Back continues to create products designed to bring value both in and out of the arena. Visit fastbackropes.com to shop ropes and gear, find a retailer, or download the latest catalog.

Full report: https://annenberg.usc.edu/research/center-public-relations/global-communication-report The 2026 Global Communication Report, “A Quiet Shift”, from the USC Annenberg Center for Public Relations examines how political and social polarization is reshaping the communications profession. Based on surveys of public relations professionals, interviews with Fortune 500 chief communications officers, and comparisons with U.S. public opinion, the report explores how organizations are navigating communication in an increasingly divided environment. The findings suggest that polarization has become a permanent feature of today's communication landscape rather than a temporary phase. As a result, companies are reassessing when and how they engage on controversial issues. While corporate purpose remains important, many organizations are shifting toward a more situational approach to corporate speech, carefully weighing the risks and benefits of public engagement. Despite the broader challenges associated with polarization, the research shows that it has elevated the strategic importance of the communications function within organizations. When public discourse is highly contested, communicators play a critical role in providing context, managing reputational risk and helping leaders make thoughtful decisions about when to speak and when to stay silent. The Global Communication Report is produced annually by the USC Center for Public Relations, in conjunction this year with Meltwater and IABC, and support from the following organizations: Arthur W. Page Society, Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management, ICCO, Institute for Public Relations, Italian Federation of Public Relations, PRCA, PR Council, PRSA, and Worldcom Public Relations Group. Our report is designed to provide insight into the evolution of the global communication industry. For print copies of this year's edition for classroom and organization use, please contact the center at usccpr@usc.edu. Subscribe to our newsletter on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7373364855967461376 Check out our website: https://canyouhearmepod.beam.ly/ Thank you for listening to "Can You Hear Me?". If you enjoyed our show, please consider subscribing and leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform.Stay connected with us:Follow us on LinkedIn!Follow our co-host Eileen Rochford on Linkedin!Follow our co-host Rob Johnson on Linkedin!

The Ute Mountain Roundup returned to Cortez for its 96th year bringing thousands of visitors and top PRCA cowboys and cowgirls to the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. From the board members who organize the event year round to the stock contractor who drives twelve hours from Wyoming to bring the animals, this is a look at what it takes to put on one of the biggest events in Montezuma County.By Sadie SmithWatch this story at LNN.newsThis story is sponsored by Keesee Motor Company and Hospice of Montezuma.Support the show

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeCommunications has always been built around a sender mentality. We decide what people need to know, we package it, we push it out. That model came from journalism and broadcasting, three networks, eleven o'clock news, one message for everyone. It made sense then. The infrastructure has changed completely since. Audiences have become producers. People choose what they consume, when they consume it, and they unsubscribe from what no longer serves them.That transformation happened entirely in the outside world. Inside organizations, almost nothing changed. And the question this episode keeps coming back to is a simple and uncomfortable one: why are we still broadcasting when everything outside us has already moved on?This episode was recorded ON LOCATION at IABC World Conference in Toronto in June 2026.Listen For4:34 How did audiences become producers of their own news and information?6:16 Why does internal communication need to become recipient-driven?9:33 How can communicators create identity moments that cut through white noise?11:28 How did opening in Spanish create a powerful diversity and inclusion moment?16:51 How is AI changing the communicator's role from creator to prompt strategist? Guest: Brad WhitworthLinkedIn The IABC Handbook of Organizational CommunicationThe IABC Guide for Practical Business Communication: A Global Standard PrimerDougSubstack | 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

Doug Mathis - is one of the most recognizable voices in professional rodeo, earning a reputation as one of the sport's premier announcers through decades of passion, authenticity, and unmatched knowledge. Known for his commanding presence behind the microphone and his ability to captivate audiences, Doug has become a staple at many of the nation's most prestigious professional rodeo events, bringing every ride, run, and roping to life with energy and precision. His dedication to preserving the traditions of the American West while embracing the excitement of modern rodeo has made him a respected figure among competitors, producers, and fans alike. Beyond the arena, Doug reached an even broader audience with his appearance in Season 4 of the hit television series Yellowstone, where his authentic announcing style helped showcase the culture and spirit of rodeo to millions of viewers around the world. In this episode of The Mountain Side, host Bobby Marshall sits down with Doug to explore the journey that led him to the announcer's stand, the evolution of professional rodeo, unforgettable moments from behind the microphone, and the values of hard work, faith, family, and Western heritage that continue to define his life and career.www.TheMountainSidePodcast.comImportant Links:https://www.eavesandco.com/doug-mathishttps://www.goetzecandy.com/cow-tales/Affiliates LinksSponsor Linkswww.Knicpouches.comMountain Side listeners Use Discounts code: MOUNTAINSIDE15 to receive 15% off all K-Nic products!www.ProTekt.comMountain Side listeners receive 10% off all ProTekt products! Use this link to receive discount code.

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episodeEvery communications campaign you have ever built had a choice architecture inside it. The order you sequenced your calls to action. The option you listed first in a petition. The default you set in an employee survey. The way you structured a crisis response. You made all of those decisions. Some of them deliberately. Most of them by instinct, habit, or convention. And the difference between those two things, between deliberate design and accidental design, is the difference between a campaign that moves people and one that wonders why nobody moved. This episode was recorded live on stage at the IABC World Conference in Toronto on June 14th, 2026, in front of an audience of communications professionals from around the world. Listen For4:20 What Choice Architecture Means5:52 The Default Effect6:50 Printer Defaults Example8:15 Removing Friction from Sign-Ups9:31 The EAST Framework Guest: Ann-Marie BlakeWebsite | True Website | LinkedInDougSubstack | 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

We sit down and visit with Ben West and talk about his amazing 2025 Season. From being selected to the Southeast Circuit Finals to being named the IPRA Bullfighter of the Year, Ben takes us on his journey, and the hand that God played in each and every step of the way.

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

Jake Smith and Douglas Rich head into the 2026 ProRodeo summer run with plenty of momentum after winning the Music City Rodeo in Nashville. In this episode of The Short Score, Smith and Rich break down their win, which moved them to No. 2 in the PRCA world standings and talk about how building confidence before the busiest stretch of the season is so important. Smith and Rich share how their consistent approach paid off in Nashville's three-head aggregate format, plus what horses they rode.____This episode is brought to you by SmartPak and ColiCare. Colic is one of the leading causes of emergency vet visits—and it's something every horse owner worries about. That's why SmartPak developed ColiCare, a comprehensive approach to hindgut health and colic prevention.ColiCare combines targeted digestive support with a program designed to help you stay ahead of potential issues—not just react to them. It's built on research, formulated to support a healthy gut environment, and backed by a unique benefit: eligible horses enrolled in the program may receive up to $15,000 in colic surgery reimbursement.Whether you're hauling, training hard, or just managing day-to-day stressors, your horse's digestive system is constantly under pressure. ColiCare is designed to help you manage those risks with confidence.Visit SmartPakEquine.com to learn more about how ColiCare can support your horse's long-term health.

Jake Smith and Douglas Rich head into the 2026 ProRodeo summer run with plenty of momentum after winning the Music City Rodeo in Nashville. In this episode of The Short Score, Smith and Rich break down their win, which moved them to No. 2 in the PRCA world standings and talk about how building confidence before the busiest stretch of the season is so important. Smith and Rich share how their consistent approach paid off in Nashville's three-head aggregate format, plus what horses they rode.____This episode is brought to you by SmartPak and ColiCare. Colic is one of the leading causes of emergency vet visits—and it's something every horse owner worries about. That's why SmartPak developed ColiCare, a comprehensive approach to hindgut health and colic prevention.ColiCare combines targeted digestive support with a program designed to help you stay ahead of potential issues—not just react to them. It's built on research, formulated to support a healthy gut environment, and backed by a unique benefit: eligible horses enrolled in the program may receive up to $15,000 in colic surgery reimbursement.Whether you're hauling, training hard, or just managing day-to-day stressors, your horse's digestive system is constantly under pressure. ColiCare is designed to help you manage those risks with confidence.Visit SmartPakEquine.com to learn more about how ColiCare can support your horse's long-term health.

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

We sit down and visit with PRCA Music Director, Kye Todd. Form the days of following his dad around in Vegas, to the many time Southeast Circuit Finals Music Director, to talking shop, All things get covered with KT

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

How do you get to The American Rodeo? How do the qualifiers work? What happens in Lexington… and what waits in Arlington?In this special standalone conversation pulled from our larger Lexington coverage, Doug Simcox and Sam Swearingen sit down with Lane Peterson, Competition Manager of The American Rodeo, inside the Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park during The American Eastern Regional Finals.Lane breaks down the American's unique format… the grassroots qualifier system… super qualifiers like St-Tite, Quebec… redemption rounds… regional finals… and the long road that leads to Arlington, Texas.Then comes the big stage.May 22 & 23 — Globe Life Field — Arlington, Texas.The contenders who survive the qualifier trail face off against the top PRCA rodeo athletes in each event… with $2 million dollars hanging in the balance.If you've ever wondered how The American really works… this is the episode.Beyond the Chutes… presented by ParaSight System.Follow Beyond the Chutes for more real stories from the rodeo road. #BeyondTheChutes#BeyondTheChutes #TheAmericanRodeo #AmericanRodeo #LanePeterson #RoadToArlington #GlobeLifeField #LexingtonKY #AlltechArena #KentuckyHorsePark #ArlingtonTexas #Rodeo #PRCA #IPRA #WesternSports #CowboyLife #RodeoPodcast #RodeoRoad #RodeoLife #WesternLifestyle #RodeoFans #BullRiding #SaddleBronc #BarebackRiding #TeamRoping #BarrelRacing #TieDownRoping #SteerWrestling #BreakawayRoping #RoadToTheAmerican #MillionDollarRodeo

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

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

It's The Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff Tigger Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and their crew as they head back to the rodeo arena to “Tell The Story.” Plus, Florida restricts animal imports from Texas, alternative proteins must have a new label, and lots more of the latest cattle industry news wrapped into this all-new episode of the Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. Rodeo & Western Lifestyle Come Together At The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale The World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale (MCBHS) is where rodeo history, cowboy culture, and thrilling equine action come together. Held annually in Miles City, Montana, this four-day event is a one-of-a-kind Western experience featuring PRCA-sanctioned bronc riding, high-energy wild horse races, and the exhilarating Derby Horse Races. Whether you're a lifelong rodeo fan or a first-time visitor, this is the must-attend cowboy event of the year! Miles City Bucking Horse Sale 2026: Full Event Schedule Celebrating 75 years of Rodeo, Cowboys and the Western Way of Life! Thursday, May 14 – Kick-Off Concert Live music kicks off the action with a party in the dirt! Concert Line Up! 6:00 PM – Kenny Feidler – Opening Entertainer 7:00 PM – Corb Lund – Special Guest 8:30 PM – Trace Adkins – Headliner Buy Concert Tickets here! Friday, May 15 – Permit Challenge Rodeo, Horse Racing, Western Shopping, Live Music PRCA Permit Challenge Rodeo showcasing up-and-coming cowboys. Wild Horse Races, Derby Horse Racing with pari-mutual betting is a fan-favorite adrenaline rush! Plus the Western Trade Show! Your night ends downtown with live country music at the street dance! Saturday, May 16 – The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale, Parade, Horse Races, Shopping, Live Music World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale celebrates 75 years– featuring the VERY best bucking stock in the country. Derby Horse Races – Place your bets on top-tier racehorses in an electrifying competition. Trade Show & Western Shopping – Explore a massive trade show packed with authentic Western clothing, home décor, and cowboy gear. Dance the night away at the downtown street dance featuring live country music! Sunday, May 17 – PRCA Xtreme Bronc Match Rodeo, Horse Racing, Trade Show Shopping PRCA Xtreme Bronc Match Rodeo – The world's best bronc riders face off against elite roughstock horses in a high-stakes battle! Expect more Derby Horse Races and Wild Horse Racing, and enjoy western – cowboy shopping at the huge trade show! Find the FULL SCHEDULE with times of events HERE. Why You Can't Miss the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale Thrilling Rodeo Action & Wild Horse Races This event isn't just a rodeo – it's an all-out cowboy celebration! Experience the thrill of top-level PRCA-sanctioned saddle bronc and bareback riding, wild horse races, and a true Western showdown. Massive Trade Show Featuring Western Lifestyle & Shopping The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale hosts one of the largest Western trade shows in the region, featuring authentic cowboy gear, Western clothing, home décor, and specialty items. Whether you're looking for handcrafted leather goods, custom cowboy hats, or unique Western art, this trade show is a shopper's paradise. Non-Stop Live Music & Entertainment From the Kick-Off Concert featuring country music stars to nightly live performances downtown, the party never stops! The event attracts some of the best country artists, keeping the Western spirit alive with live performances throughout the weekend. Cowboy Culture & The “Cowboy Mardi Gras” The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale is known as the “Cowboy Mardi Gras” for a reason! Between the parade, shopping, and endless Western festivities, you'll be fully immersed in cowboy tradition and camaraderie. AND don't forget the live country music at the street dance in downtown Miles City, Montana! Derby Horse Races & Pari-Mutuel Wagering Place your bets on elite race horses competing in the Derby Horse Races – a thrilling addition to the Bucking Horse Sale weekend! With pari-mutuel wagering, fans can experience the excitement of big-time horse racing right in Montana. Plan Your Trip: Montana Bound in May! Whether you're a rodeo enthusiast, horse racing fan, or just love the Western way of life, the 74th Annual Miles City Bucking Horse Sale is an event you don't want to miss. How to Get There: By Air: Fly into Billings Logan International Airport (BIL) and drive 2 hours east to Miles City. By Car: Located along Interstate 94, Miles City is easily accessible from anywhere in the Midwest. Where to Stay: Book early! Hotels, Airbnbs, and campgrounds fill up fast. Check local listings for accommodations and visit Miles City Convention & Visitors Bureau. Join the Legacy – Get Your Tickets Today! Tickets are selling fast – secure yours now and be part of Montana's greatest rodeo and horse racing tradition. Visit BuckingHorseSale.com for details. Mark your calendar for May 14-17, 2026, and we'll see you in Miles City, Montana! Cattle Industry News Florida Restricts Animal Imports From Texas A dangerous livestock pest that hasn't been seen in the United States for years is raising new concerns—this time along the southern border. The New World screwworm is a parasitic fly whose larvae feed on the living flesh of animals, most often cattle. While infections in humans are rare, they can be serious—and in extreme cases, even fatal. Right now, there are no confirmed cases in the U.S. But Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says a case has been detected just across the border about 60 miles south of Texas. That proximity is enough to trigger action more than a thousand miles away. Florida officials are now tightening restrictions on livestock coming from six counties in South Texas: Zapata, Jim Hogg, Starr, Hidalgo, Webb, and Brooks counties. Any animals brought in from those areas must undergo additional veterinary inspections and, if needed, treatment before entering the state. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson says the state is taking no chances. He warned that if the screwworm takes hold, it could have serious economic and animal health consequences. He's also urging ranchers, veterinarians, and animal health workers to stay alert and report anything unusual right away. Here's how the pest works: adult flies lay eggs in open wounds or natural openings on an animal's body. When those eggs hatch, the larvae—commonly known as maggots—burrow into the tissue and begin feeding. According to the CDC, the infestation can worsen quickly if not treated. Texas officials say Florida's response makes sense. The state dealt with a screwworm outbreak in the past, and the memory of that damage still lingers. Meanwhile, as a precaution, the U.S. has shut down livestock trade through ports of entry along the southern border. There are also long-term plans in motion to stop the pest before it spreads. The U.S. Department of Agriculture is building a sterile fly production facility at Moore Air Base in Edinburg, Texas. The idea is to release sterilized male flies into the wild. Since female screwworms mate only once, this strategy helps prevent reproduction and gradually reduces the population. That facility is expected to be up and running by November of 2027. For now, officials say vigilance is key. Even without confirmed cases in the U.S., the threat is close enough to be taken seriously.  REFERENCE: https://www.ktep.org/2026-04-27/florida-is-restricting-animal-imports-from-texas-amid-screwworm-threat FAIR Labels Act Ensures Transparent Alt Protein Labeling Representatives from Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, Idaho and Wisconsin, reintroduced the Fair and Accurate Ingredient Representation on Labels (FAIR Labels) Act in the House to add transparency in food labeling for alternative protein products.  The legislation will provide consumers with clear and accurate information about plant-based and cell-cultivated protein products when making purchasing decisions. Sens. Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) sponsored the Senate version of the bill. The FAIR Labels Act: Defines "cell-cultivated" and "plant-based alternative" protein products to help consumers easily identify these products. Provides a clear definition of cell-cultivated protein products to ensure labels accurately reflect lab-grown food sources. Requires product labels to use terms like "cell cultivated" or "plant based" and to bear a clear disclaimer if the product does not contain meat or poultry or was not derived from a live animal. Directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture to oversee the labeling of these products, working alongside the Food & Drug Administration to maintain product inspection standards. Confirms the shared jurisdiction of FDA and USDA in overseeing cell-cultivated protein products, and requires the secretaries of agriculture and health and human services to jointly revise their 2019 current memorandum of understanding. NCBA President and Virginia cattle producer Gene Copenhaver said that currently, there is no federal statute for labeling cell-cultivated protein products in the marketplace. For far too long, lab-grown protein companies have exploited the use of terms like ‘meat' and ‘beef' to describe their products, creating the potential for consumer confusion through misleading marketing.  He went on to say that “The FAIR Labels Act will establish a federal guideline for labeling cell-cultivated and plant-based alternative protein products, ensuring consumers can easily differentiate these products from real beef products produced by U.S. cattlemen and cattlewomen.”  REFERENCE: https://www.feedstuffs.com/policy/fair-labels-act-ensures-transparent-alt-protein-labeling Pseudorabies In Iowa & Texas For the first time since being eradicated in the U.S. Commercial swine herds in 2004, pseudorabies (PRV) have been confirmed in herds in Iowa and Texas (Shike, 2026). A small commercial swine facility in Iowa was confirmed to have positive cases of PRV by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories during routine testing. Officials at APHIS, in collaboration with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Texas Animal Health Commission, revealed that five affected boars in the Iowa facility originated from an outdoor production site in Texas (Shike, 2026). It is believed that the initial infection on the outdoor production site in Texas may have been a result of unintentional contact with feral swine. Pseudorabies virus was eradicated from the U.S. commercial swine herd in 2004. However, it is critically important to remember that PRV is endemic in the feral swine populations around the U.S. An APHIS release stated, “Pseudorabies is still found in wild or feral swine populations, which remain a potential threat of exposure for domestic pigs.” REFERENCE:  https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-pseudorabies-swine-herds-iowa-texas https://extension.sdstate.edu/pseudorabies-detected-iowa-and-texas-swine-farms-prevention-tips-clinical-signs-and-testing Featured Experts in the Cattle Industry Steve Kenyon - The World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale https://buckinghorsesale.com/ Follow On Facebook: @BuckingHorseSale Shaye Wanner – Host of Casual Cattle Conversation https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ Follow on Facebook: @cattleconvos Contact Us with Questions or Concerns Have questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out via: Call/Text: 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Email: RanchItUpShow@gmail.com Follow us: Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow YouTube: Subscribe to Ranch It Up Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RanchItUp Catch all episodes of the Ranch It Up Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms. Discover the Heart of Rural America with Tigger & BEC Ranching, farming, and the Western lifestyle are at the heart of everything we do. Tigger & BEC bring you exclusive insights from the world of working ranches, cattle farming, and sustainable beef production. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner (BEC) and their mission to promote the Western way of life at Tigger and BEC. https://tiggerandbec.com/ Industry References, Partners and Resources For additional information on industry trends, products, and services, check out these trusted resources: Allied Genetic Resources: https://alliedgeneticresources.com/ American Gelbvieh Association: https://gelbvieh.org/ Axiota Animal Health: https://axiota.com/multimin-campaign-landing-page/ Imogene Ingredients: https://www.imogeneingredients.com/ Jorgensen Land & Cattle: https://jorgensenfarms.com/#/?ranchchannel=view Medora Boot: https://medoraboot.com/ RFD-TV: https://www.rfdtv.com/ Rural Radio Network: https://www.ruralradio147.com/ Superior Livestock Auctions: https://superiorlivestock.com/ Transova Genetics: https://transova.com/ Westway Feed Products: https://westwayfeed.com/ Wrangler: https://www.wrangler.com/ Wulf Cattle: https://www.wulfcattle.com/

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

It's The Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff Tigger Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and their crew to hear about a must on the bucket list…The World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale.  Plus, we have the latest cattle industry news, market recaps and lots more wrapped into this all-new episode of the Ranch It Up Radio Show. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. Rodeo & Western Lifestyle Come Together At The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale The World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale (MCBHS) is where rodeo history, cowboy culture, and thrilling equine action come together. Held annually in Miles City, Montana, this four-day event is a one-of-a-kind Western experience featuring PRCA-sanctioned bronc riding, high-energy wild horse races, and the exhilarating Derby Horse Races. Whether you're a lifelong rodeo fan or a first-time visitor, this is the must-attend cowboy event of the year! Miles City Bucking Horse Sale 2026: Full Event Schedule Celebrating 75 years of Rodeo, Cowboys and the Western Way of Life! Thursday, May 14 – Kick-Off Concert Live music kicks off the action with a party in the dirt! Concert Line Up! 6:00 PM – Kenny Feidler – Opening Entertainer 7:00 PM – Corb Lund – Special Guest 8:30 PM – Trace Adkins – Headliner Buy Concert Tickets here! Friday, May 15 – Permit Challenge Rodeo, Horse Racing, Western Shopping, Live Music PRCA Permit Challenge Rodeo showcasing up-and-coming cowboys. Wild Horse Races, Derby Horse Racing with pari-mutuel betting is a fan-favorite adrenaline rush! Plus the Western Trade Show! Your night ends downtown with live country music at the street dance! Saturday, May 16 – The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale, Parade, Horse Races, Shopping, Live Music World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale celebrates 75 years– featuring the VERY best bucking stock in the country. Derby Horse Races – Place your bets on top-tier racehorses in an electrifying competition. Trade Show & Western Shopping – Explore a massive trade show packed with authentic Western clothing, home décor, and cowboy gear. Dance the night away at the downtown street dance featuring live country music! Sunday, May 17 – PRCA Xtreme Bronc Match Rodeo, Horse Racing, Trade Show Shopping PRCA Xtreme Bronc Match Rodeo – The world's best bronc riders face off against elite roughstock horses in a high-stakes battle! Expect more Derby Horse Races and Wild Horse Racing, and enjoy western – cowboy shopping at the huge trade show! Find the FULL SCHEDULE with times of events HERE. Why You Can't Miss the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale Thrilling Rodeo Action & Wild Horse Races This event isn't just a rodeo – it's an all-out cowboy celebration! Experience the thrill of top-level PRCA-sanctioned saddle bronc and bareback riding, wild horse races, and a true Western showdown. Massive Trade Show Featuring Western Lifestyle & Shopping The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale hosts one of the largest Western trade shows in the region, featuring authentic cowboy gear, Western clothing, home décor, and specialty items. Whether you're looking for handcrafted leather goods, custom cowboy hats, or unique Western art, this trade show is a shopper's paradise. Non-Stop Live Music & Entertainment From the Kick-Off Concert featuring country music stars to nightly live performances downtown, the party never stops! The event attracts some of the best country artists, keeping the Western spirit alive with live performances throughout the weekend. Cowboy Culture & The “Cowboy Mardi Gras” The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale is known as the “Cowboy Mardi Gras” for a reason! Between the parade, shopping, and endless Western festivities, you'll be fully immersed in cowboy tradition and camaraderie. AND don't forget the live country music at the street dance in downtown Miles City, Montana! Derby Horse Races & Pari-Mutuel Wagering Place your bets on elite race horses competing in the Derby Horse Races – a thrilling addition to the Bucking Horse Sale weekend! With pari-mutuel wagering, fans can experience the excitement of big-time horse racing right in Montana. Plan Your Trip: Montana Bound in May! Whether you're a rodeo enthusiast, horse racing fan, or just love the Western way of life, the 74th Annual Miles City Bucking Horse Sale is an event you don't want to miss. How to Get There: By Air: Fly into Billings Logan International Airport (BIL) and drive 2 hours east to Miles City. By Car: Located along Interstate 94, Miles City is easily accessible from anywhere in the Midwest. Where to Stay: Book early! Hotels, Airbnbs, and campgrounds fill up fast. Check local listings for accommodations and visit Miles City Convention & Visitors Bureau. Join the Legacy – Get Your Tickets Today! Tickets are selling fast – secure yours now and be part of Montana's greatest rodeo and horse racing tradition. Visit BuckingHorseSale.com for details. Mark your calendar for May 14-17, 2026, and we'll see you in Miles City, Montana! Cattle Industry News Cattle Herd Rebuilding & Drought These are the best of times for cow-calf producers, at least on paper. The CME feeder cattle index, which tracks the price of feeder cattle at various auctions, is currently 28% higher than a year ago. Even when adjusting for inflation, current feeder cattle prices are almost 20% higher than the previous cyclical peak in 2014.  However, the dramatic increase in cow-calf returns has not caused producers to retain more heifers for cow herd replacement. The sharp jump in returns in 2014 resulted in a 7% increase in beef cow replacement heifers to start the new year.  Last year may have been the best on record for producer returns, but replacement heifers increased just 0.4%, with the beef cow replacements up less than 1%. The Livestock Market Information Center or LMIC expects cow-calf producer returns to be even better in 2026 and 2027. The surge in futures has caused LMIC to raise calculated returns for 2026 by 32% vs. October, while returns for 2027 are now 54% higher than estimated six months ago, at nearly $1,100/cow. There is certainly interest on the part of producers to invest in their operations, but there are several critical hurdles. The main one is drought. We do not yet have a full reading of pasture conditions, but expectations are that conditions are far worse than last year.  According to USDA, about 45% of US cattle are now in areas experiencing severe or more intense drought. Producers with hay stocks are working through them as they wait for spring weather to green up pastures, but that is not guaranteed. Producers may have the best intentions to breed more heifers, but if feed is not there, they may opt to replace older cows rather than expand the herd. The other challenge is uncertainty about beef demand, not today or tomorrow, but in 2027, 2028, and beyond. The economy is on solid footing, and combined with a growing consumer appetite for protein, this has helped push beef demand to the highest point in 30+ years. Consumers are fickle and tastes change. After many years of battling drought, packers, and changing consumer diets, for some producers this is a golden opportunity to cash out.  REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/dlr-monthly-exclusive-herd-rebuilding-collides-with-drought-uncertainty/ Canada's Beef Traceability Rules On Hold Changes to Canada's beef traceability regulations were set to take effect in spring 2026 under Part 15 of the Health of Animals Regulations, but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has paused publication of the proposed amendments after significant pushback from cattle producers. The complexity of the regulatory package has fuelled misunderstanding across the industry, and opposition has been vocal — including a petition launched Jan. 8 that has drawn nearly 30,000 signatures. Traceability efforts began before the 2003 BSE crisis, as the disease spread across Europe and Canada prepared for its arrival. The system was built to identify where infected animals came from and where they went, so the Canadian market could reopen as quickly as possible.  Rick Wright of the Livestock Markets Association of Canada said   without  industry being at the table from day one, we may have been slapped with something that's closer to what Europe is than what we've got today. Producers have raised concerns about several elements of the proposed changes: the requirement to use premises identification numbers to purchase identification tags, the seven-day movement reporting window and the expanded role of the Canadian Livestock Tracking system. —  particularly for those without reliable internet access. Other concerns include government overreach, the administrative burden on producers who move and sell cattle frequently, and what many see as insufficient communication from both the CFIA and producer organizations. Some producers have said publicly they do not intend to comply. REFERENCE: https://www.canadiancattlemen.ca/news/beef-traceability-rules-paused-producer-backlash/ Vet Shortage Challenges Livestock Producers Access to large animal veterinary care continues to be a growing concern, as livestock producers in Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado face ongoing shortages in rural veterinary services. Much of the region has been identified as underserved through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program, which designates areas lacking sufficient veterinary coverage and offers incentives to attract practitioners. These designations underscore a widespread challenge in maintaining adequate care for livestock-heavy states. In these states, livestock operations are often spread across large geographic areas, meaning  veterinarians cover extensive territories. Even a small decline in available practitioners can have significant impacts, leading to longer response times, increased travel distances and limited availability during critical periods. For producers, access to timely veterinary care is essential for herd health, productivity and regulatory compliance, especially during high-demand seasons such as calving. Federal and state programs across the Northern Plains show a growing recognition of the issue, but also highlight the scale of the challenge. Incentive-based programs in states like Nebraska aim to recruit veterinarians into rural practice, while proposed federal legislation seeks to strengthen those efforts. Wyoming's investments, meanwhile, support the broader animal health systems that depend on veterinary capacity. Even with these efforts, the shortage of large animal veterinarians remains a long-term concern. Sustained focus on education, recruitment and retention will be critical to ensuring livestock producers across Wyoming, Nebraska and Colorado have access to the veterinary care they depend on. REFERENCE:  https://www.thefencepost.com/news/veterinary-shortage-challenges-livestock-producers-across-the-northern-plains/ McDonald's Big Arch McDonald's efforts to balance prices and value in the face of more expensive inputs and inflation-stressed consumers is leading the chain to upgrade burgers even as chicken takes up more menu space, according to CEO Chris Kempczinski. He went viral recently in a video promoting McDonald's newly introduced Big Arch, drawing social media ridicule for taking a dainty bite. Bosses from competing chains made videos chowing down on their own sandwiches, but the hoopla ultimately dramatically raised awareness of the new burger. Kempczinski said in a recent video interview with the Wall Street Journal that there's a group of consumers out there who want a really big burger that's a half pound of beef in the Big Arch. He went on to say as you look at what consumers were buying, and perhaps other places; fast casual restaurants or or even fine dining or full dining, there's a desire to have sort of an elevated burger experience. And I think what we've done with the Big Arch, the bun, sauces that we have with it, the crispy onions, all those things. That was for us, a way to offer that more elevated burger experience.” Kempczinski said there's been quite a bit of cost inflation, both on the input side, so food and packaging, those costs are up pretty significantly,” Burgers and beef … has probably been one of the most hard-hit areas, and then you also had quite a bit of labor inflation that's happened.” McDonald's has been steadily adding chicken items to its menu for years, in part to manage input costs. Its expansion this year of value menu items has also been chicken-centric. REFERENCE: https://meatingplace.com/ceo-pricy-beef-moving-mcdonalds-toward-more-chicken-elevated-burgers/?utm_source=omeda&utm_medium=email&utm_cid=1103020073&utm_campaign=MTGMCD260424014&utm_date=20260424-1300 Featured Experts in the Cattle Industry Steve Kenyon - The World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale https://buckinghorsesale.com/ Follow On Facebook: @BuckingHorseSale Shaye Wanner – Host of Casual Cattle Conversation https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ Follow on Facebook: @cattleconvos Contact Us with Questions or Concerns Have questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out via: Call/Text: 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Email: RanchItUpShow@gmail.com Follow us: Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow YouTube: Subscribe to Ranch It Up Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RanchItUp Catch all episodes of the Ranch It Up Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms. Discover the Heart of Rural America with Tigger & BEC Ranching, farming, and the Western lifestyle are at the heart of everything we do. Tigger & BEC bring you exclusive insights from the world of working ranches, cattle farming, and sustainable beef production. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner (BEC) and their mission to promote the Western way of life at Tigger and BEC. https://tiggerandbec.com/ Industry References, Partners and Resources For additional information on industry trends, products, and services, check out these trusted resources: Allied Genetic Resources: https://alliedgeneticresources.com/ American Gelbvieh Association: https://gelbvieh.org/ Axiota Animal Health: https://axiota.com/multimin-campaign-landing-page/ Imogene Ingredients: https://www.imogeneingredients.com/ Jorgensen Land & Cattle: https://jorgensenfarms.com/#/?ranchchannel=view Medora Boot: https://medoraboot.com/ RFD-TV: https://www.rfdtv.com/ Rural Radio Network: https://www.ruralradio147.com/ Superior Livestock Auctions: https://superiorlivestock.com/ Transova Genetics: https://transova.com/ Westway Feed Products: https://westwayfeed.com/ Wrangler: https://www.wrangler.com/ Wulf Cattle: https://www.wulfcattle.com/

Recorded last fall at Mike Swearingen's Rodeo Reunion in Wyoming, New York, this episode of Beyond the Chutes sits down with a true patriarch of rodeo in the East—Jim Swearingen.Husband to Nancy, father to Mike, Sam, Danny, Pearl, Patty, and Beth, Jim didn't just raise a rodeo family—he helped build a rodeo community.From a small riding stable in Western New York to the early days of Little Britches Rodeo in the late 1960s, Jim put kids on horses and gave them a place to start. What followed shaped generations of cowboys and cowgirls across the Northeast.If you've ever been to the Attica Rodeo—founded in 1959 and still filling the stands today—you've felt the impact of the Swearingen family.This is more than a conversation. This is legacy, hard work, and the foundation of rodeo east of the Mississippi.Follow Beyond the Chutes for more real stories from the rodeo road. #BeyondTheChutes#BeyondTheChutes, #Rodeo, #JimSwearingen, #AtticaRodeo, #LittleBritchesRodeo, #RodeoHistory, #CowboyLife, #WesternHeritage, #RodeoFamily, #BullRiding, #CalfRoping, #CowboyLegacy, #WesternLifestyle, #RodeoPodcast, #AmericanRodeo, #CowboyStories, #RodeoLife, #PRCA, #IPRA, #EastCoastRodeo

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

On this episode of Where Rodeo Meets the Road, Ken and Janae sit down with PRCA rookie bareback rider Daxtyn Feild, currently in the middle of one of the tightest races in the Resistol Rookie standings.Coming from a legendary rodeo family, Daxtyn talks about what it's like building his own path while carrying the Feild name in bareback riding. We dive into his rookie season, the grind of the rodeo road, and the mindset it takes to compete week in and week out at the highest level.With the rookie race this close, Daxtyn shares how he's approaching each ride, handling the pressure, and what he's focused on as he continues his push toward a potential NFR qualification.If you're following PRCA bareback riding, rookie standings, and the next generation of rodeo talent, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

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

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

Established in 1933, it has grown to become one of the largest outdoor rodeos in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) circuit, consistently ranking in the top 30 PRCA rodeos for payout and drawing top athletes from across the country. Held annually in Guymon, Oklahoma, this multi-day event celebrates the town's pioneer heritage while showcasing thrilling rodeo action, including bull riding, saddle bronc riding, team roping, and more. Known for its community spirit, family-friendly atmosphere, and competitive rodeo events, the Guymon Pioneer Days Rodeo is a must-attend for rodeo enthusiasts and newcomers alike. More information here https://guymonrodeo.com/ Scheduled May 1-3rd Huge thank you to our sponsors. The Oklahoma Hall of Fame at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum telling Oklahoma's story through its people since 1927. For more information go to www.oklahomahof.com and for daily updates go to www.instagram.com/oklahomahof  The Chickasaw Nation is economically strong, culturally vibrant and full of energetic people dedicated to the preservation of family, community and heritage. www.chickasaw.net Dog House OKC - When it comes to furry four-legged care, our 24/7 supervised cage free play and overnight boarding services make The Dog House OKC in Oklahoma City the best place to be, at least, when they're not in their own backyard. With over 6,000 square feet of combined indoor/outdoor play areas our dog daycare enriches spirit, increases social skills, builds confidence, and offers hours of exercise and stimulation for your dog http://www.thedoghouseokc.com #thisisoklahoma

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

On this episode of Where Rodeo Meets the Road, Ken and Fallon sit down with PRCA steer wrestler Clay Hurt, currently sitting #2 in the Resistol Rookie standings and already making a push inside the PRCA World Standings.Clay talks about the transition into the pro level, the grind of the rodeo road, and what it takes to compete in one of the most physical events in rodeo. We break down the rookie race, the depth of competition in steer wrestling, and what it means to be chasing both a Rookie of the Year title and a spot at the National Finals Rodeo.With names like Holden Myers and Tyler Waguespack leading the world standings, Clay shares how he's approaching the season, building momentum, and positioning himself among the top steer wrestlers in the game.If you follow PRCA steer wrestling, rookie races, and the road to the NFR, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

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

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Hodge Pack podcast, Hodge, Josh and Misti, bring you sports life & everything in between.March Madness is not disappointing, great games, upsets and the right teams moving on. PRCA 8 time National Finals steer wrestler, winner of The American joins us in studio. Matt shares his rodeo career journey. Matt also is in town promoting one of the biggest steer wrestling events in the country. Misti opens her bag of questions with a Zombie Apocalypse flare to it. Name one athlete, musician, cartoon character, kitchen "non-knife", weapon to go to battle. Major League Baseball has opening day, the Rangers come up short.  Plus much more.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

On this episode of Where Rodeo Meets the Road, Ken and Fallon sit down with PRCA rookie bull rider Cooper Jacobs, fresh off his win at the Resistol Rookie Roundup. Cooper talks about what that victory means early in his career and how it builds momentum as he continues his rookie season on the rodeo road.We dive into the realities of competing as a rookie in the PRCA, the grind of travel, and what it takes to stay competitive against some of the best bull riders in the world. Cooper also shares his goals moving forward and what he's focused on as he pushes toward a potential National Finals Rodeo qualification.If you're following the next generation of PRCA bull riders, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

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

On this episode of Where Rodeo Meets the Road, Ken and Fallon sit down with PRCA bull rider Mason Moody, currently ranked #1 in the world standings, to talk about his rise through professional rodeo and his experience competing at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo.Moody reflects on his journey from South Dakota to the top of the PRCA standings, what it takes to compete at the highest level of professional bull riding, and the mindset required to stay consistent on the toughest bulls in rodeo.We dive into his notable rides at the NFR, the challenges of life on the rodeo road, and what he's focused on as the season continues. If you're a fan of PRCA bull riding, rodeo athletes, and the road to the NFR, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Jeff Aiello is a Clovis Rodeo Associate Director discusses the Clovis Rodeo Board decision to remove breakaway roping from its 112th annual rodeo, citing unresolved disagreements over prize money and contract terms following extended negotiations. Although the event is popular, it isn’t required under PRCA rules. Jeff Aiello sits in for John Broeske. Please Like, Comment and Follow 'Broeske & Musson' on all platforms: --- The ‘Broeske & Musson Podcast’ is available on the KMJNOW app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever else you listen to podcasts. --- ‘Broeske & Musson' Weekdays 9-11 AM Pacific on News/Talk 580 AM & 105.9 FM KMJ | Facebook | Podcast| X | - Everything KMJ KMJNOW App | Podcasts | Facebook | X | InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Brian Keenan leads international strategy and AI consultancy for WE Communications, a ~$200M integrated marketing firm. Brian counsels senior leaders from companies such as Adobe, HEINEKEN and Amazon to succeed in an AI-enabled future. Latest interest areas including AI search, agentic commerce, synthetic audiences, and autonomous workflows. He is a regular presenter at industry conferences such as ICCO, PRCA, WARC, and Mumbrella across EMEA & APAC. He brings a global and grounded mindset to his work from living in four countries and raising three children.

I've made some changes at the gym that has made my life a little calmer and more tolerant of the humanity that occupies the building.  Then I'm off to Yuma, Arizona for Yuma Days and the PRCA Rodeo.  Great fun seeing all the participant but I did learn a few things about photography at a PRCA event.  The crescendo of this episode was at the Costco food court which in mind was turned into preschool for a toddler.  This event fits the theme of Life Between the Poles perfectly. Send a textThank you for listening and help me grow this channel. Have a great day. Many of the photographs I talk about here are on Facebook: Brad Armstrong the Avatar picture is my wife and I with Smokey the Bear, Instagram @ shade_image / commercial and editorial portraits Instagram @ barmst360

In this candid conversation, Glause fields questions about the current status of professional rodeo, the prospective move of PRCA HQ and the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, the PRCA Judging Program, and PRCA and PRHOF finances, including his own compensation package and the status of PRCA IT. Send us a textSend your thoughts and feedback to nospinfeedback@gmail.com or text 817-668-2395