Stories and Strategies for Public Relations and Marketing

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"Stories and Strategies for Public Relations and Marketing," hosted by Doug Downs.

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Latest Episodes

Releasing the Epstein Files and is LinkedIn Gender Biased?

What happens when PR meets scandal, tech chaos, and gender bias?

This episode of The Week UnSpun is a whirlwind of explosive headlines. The trio of David Gallagher, Doug Downs, and guest host Miranda Mitchell look into the renewed Epstein files controversy and its potential to dominate headlines well into 2025.

They unravel Cloudflare’s swift crisis response and debate the alleged gender bias in LinkedIn’s algorithm.

Add a healthy dose of Cracker Barrel branding blunders and viral live-TV moments, and you’ve got a jam-packed show.

Listen For

2:03 What’s coming with the Epstein files and who could be impacted?
6:57 How could media coverage of the Epstein case harm innocent people?

10:46 How did Cloudflare’s apology turn disaster into a win?
13:27 Does LinkedIn’s algorithm favor male voices?
18:47 Is AI helping or hurting your brand voice?

Watch For

2:10 What will the release of the Epstein files reveal, and who gets hurt?
6:00 Should we worry about innocent people in raw investigative data dumps?
13:21 Is LinkedIn’s algorithm biased against women, and how do we know?
20:02 Will AI kill or save PR agencies in the era of LLMs and brand drift?
26:09 Did Cracker Barrel’s rebrand backfire, and what’s the PR lesson?

Guest Host Miranda Mitchell, Pretail
Website | LinkedIn | Contact

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

We publish the audio from these livestreams to the Stories and Strategies podcast feed every Friday until Sunday evening when it’s no longer available.

Folgate Advisors

Curzon Public Relations Website

Stories and Strategies Website

Request a transcript of this livestream

Support the show

Is AI Quietly Rewriting Your Brand?

AI can imitate your voice, your words, even your face, but it can’t steal your story.

What happens when companies hand their storytelling to machines that don’t understand who they are?

As businesses race to automate, they risk losing the very thing that makes them distinct: the human truth that built their brand.

Listen For

3:15 How are story, narrative, and voice different?
7:00 What is brand drift and how does AI cause it?
10:04 Why do people distrust AI-generated content?
11:33 How does story protect brand identity?
14:54 How can you fight disinformation about your brand?

15:25 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Jessica Hope

Guest: Nick Usborne

Website | Email | LinkedIn | Instagram | Link to Nick’s Courses

Follow Farzana on Substack

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Curzon Substack

Stories and Strategies Website

Curzon Public Relations Website

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 podcast

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BBC’s Trump Edit – Mistake or Malice?

Is the BBC losing its grip on journalistic credibility? Or is it being pushed?

This episode of The Week Unspun unpacks a chaotic week in media and politics with sharp insight from PR veterans Farzana Baduel, David Gallagher, Doug Downs, and special guest Adrian Monck. The BBC’s controversial editing of a Donald Trump speech for Panorama sparks a fierce debate on ethics, institutional accountability, and media governance. From internal BBC politics to the broader implications for press freedom, the team dissects why this incident led to resignations at the highest levels.

The conversation then pivots to the political circus of the U.S. government shutdown and the erosion of trust in public institutions, before exploring the branding brilliance behind Dubai’s appeal to wealthy expatriates fleeing taxation and uncertainty in the UK.

Audio Chapters

4:06 Should One Edit lead to Top BBC resignations?
13:49 Are Governments Held to the Same PR Standards as Corporations?
17:45 Why are UK Tech Billionaires Fleeing to Dubai?
20:58 Is the UAE Winning the Global Nation Branding Game?

Video Chapters

2:02 What did the BBC really edit out of Trump’s speech, and why does it matter?
4:06 Should one error lead to top BBC resignations?
13:49 Are governments held to the same PR standards as corporations?
17:45 Why are UK tech billionaires fleeing to Dubai?
20:58 Is the UAE winning the global nation branding game?

Guest: Adrian Monck

Wikipedia | Website

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at Noon ET/5pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

We publish the audio from these livestreams to the Stories and Strategies podcast feed every Friday until Sunday evening when it’s no longer available.

Folgate Advisors

Curzon Public Relations Website

Stories and Strategies Website

Request a transcript of this livestream

Support the show

How Cultural Intelligence Shapes Great Public Relations

In public relations, success often depends on one quiet skill: knowing how to adapt. The best communicators read the room, sense the temperature, and adjust their tone without losing their message.

In this episode, we explore what it really means to be a PR chameleon – someone who can blend into the cultural landscape enough to connect, yet still stand out enough to be remembered.

Jessica Hope, founder of Wimbart, has built one of Africa’s most respected tech PR agencies by mastering that balance. From WhatsApp-based storytelling to navigating privilege, identity, and power across 54 distinct markets, Jessica reveals how empathy, adaptability, and emotional intelligence have become the true currencies of influence in global communications.

Listen For

4:36 How Do You Break the “One Africa” Myth in PR?
7:40 What Is Emotional Intelligence in African Business?
9:22 How Do Comms Channels Differ in Africa?
12:06 Should Brands Adjust Their Values in Africa?
16:26 What’s Africa’s Media Landscape Really Like?

18:30 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Jo Jamieson

Guest: Jessica Hope, Wimbart

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Ted Talk Farzana mentioned

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ihs241zeg

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Follow Farzana on Substack

Follow Doug on Substack

Curzon Substack

Stories and Strategies Website

Curzon Public Relations Website

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 podcast

Connect with us

Request a transcript of this episode

Support the show

Is AI the Newest Entry on Your Public Relations Org Chart?

In this audience-driven “mailroom” episode of The Week Spun, the conversation opens with a provocative idea from the PRovoke Summit: AI is now being discussed in full-time equivalent (FTE) terms, signaling a shift in how agencies and organizations think about synthetic labor. Guest host Kim Sample, President of the PR Council, joins Doug Downs and David Gallagher to explore what this means for the future of work in PR.

From there, the trio digs into listener-submitted questions on everything from Apple’s conspicuous silence in the podcasting space, to why PR professionals struggle with personal branding, how fairness is driving consumer outrage, gender representation in politics, and the surprising TikTok-fueled backlash to a Halloween ad campaign from Hatch Sleep.

Audio Episode Chapters

1:51 What is a “synthetic FTE” and how is AI reshaping PR teams
4:29 Are brands finally taking owned content like blogs and podcasts seriously
8:11 Does Apple still care about podcasts or is their silence a statement
13:05 Why do PR pros struggle with confidence and self promotion
21:03 Does visibility for women in politics actually equal shared power

Video Episode Chapters

1:54 What is a “Synthetic FTE” and How Will AI Change PR Teams?
5:16 Are Brands Finally Getting Serious About Owned Media and Podcasts?
10:51 Does Apple Still Care About Podcast? Or Are They Quietly Quitting?
13:15 Why Do PR Pros Struggle With Their Own Personal Branding?
26:14 Does Representation Equal Power in Politic? Or Just PR Optics?

Guest Kim Sample, PR Council

Website | Email | LinkedIn

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

We publish the audio from these livestreams to the Stories and Strategies podcast feed every Friday until Sunday evening when it’s no longer available.

Folgate Advisors

Curzon Public Relations Website

Stories and Strategies Website

Request a transcript of this livestream

Support the show

The LinkedIn Confidence Gap for Public Relations Pros

Afraid of posting on LinkedIn? You’re not alone, and it’s not about time or talent, it’s about confidence.

In this episode we look at why communicators, especially women, struggle to show up confidently on LinkedIn.

Fear, not time or skill, is the biggest barrier to visibility. PR professionals who are used to writing for others often stumble when the byline is their own.

From how to post authentically without oversharing, to navigating gendered expectations in professional visibility, to practical LinkedIn content strategies (yes, including algorithm hacks!), we’ve got smart, tactical advice for anyone looking to show up and stand out online. Whether you're battling imposter syndrome or just wondering what to post next, this conversation is your confidence booster and content guide in one.

Listen For

4:25 Why don’t communicators post on LinkedIn?
6:44 How do you stay authentic without oversharing?
9:40 Why is visibility harder for women online?
13:25 What’s a simple LinkedIn strategy?
16:07 Can you beat the LinkedIn algorithm?
17:59 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Tina McCorkindale

Guest: Jo Jamieson

Email | X | LinkedIn | Website

Rate this podcast with just one click

Follow Farzana on Substack

Follow Doug on Substack

Curzon Substack

Stories and Strategies Website

Curzon Public Relations Website

Apply to be a guest on the podcast

Connect with us

Request a transcript of this episode

Support the show

Rebranding Climate: Alarmism vs. Optimism in PR

What do a billionaire climate pivot, AI-fueled layoffs, and a scandalous Italian election have in common? They all got the PR treatment in this episode.

Farzana Baduel, David Gallagher, and Doug Downs peel back the media layers behind some of the week’s most buzzworthy stories, from Bill Gates’ controversial “climate realism” memo and its impact on corporate sustainability narratives, to Amazon’s AI-framed mass layoffs and what that messaging means for employer branding.

They also take a wildly entertaining detour into Italian politics where ex-lovers are facing off at the polls, with leaked documents and social media drama in full swing.

Add in royal baseball cap faux-pas and you’ve got a sharp, witty, and deeply PR-savvy breakdown of the week’s biggest headlines.

Listen For

:58 Is Bill Gates backtracking? Or just reframing climate change?
7:54 How is Amazon using AI to spin layoffs as progress?
13:43 How does branding tie into an Italian political scandal?
16:05 What if your opponent knows all your political secrets?
19:26 Did Prince Harry’s hat choice betray Canada?

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

We publish the audio from these livestreams to the Stories and Strategies podcast feed every Friday until Sunday evening when it’s no longer available.

Folgate Advisors

Curzon Public Relations Website

Stories and Strategies Website

Request a transcript of this livestream

Support the show

Flattered to Death: The AI Sycophant in the Room

We live in a moment where artificial intelligence can write our emails, plan our meetings, even give us life advice. But here’s the problem: these systems are often too agreeable for our own good. They’re less like truth tellers and more like digital echo chambers. They nod along, validate our choices, and tell us exactly what we want to hear.

To use an outdated term… GenAI is too often like a Yes Man.

In this episode we’re looking at the rise of sycophancy in generative AI, the tendency of machines to flatter us instead of challenging us. What does this mean for employees, for leaders, and especially for communicators who rely on AI as a tool? And how do we make sure our AI mirrors are giving us clarity, not just compliments?

Listen For

3:49 Is ChatGPT too nice for our own good?

6:55 Can AI flattery mislead leaders?

8:52 Do AIs just tell you what you want to hear?

14:36 Is generative AI breaking social unity?

20:45 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Mark Lowe

Guest: Tina McCorkindale, PhD

Website | LinkedIn | Google Scholar Profile

Link to Tina’s LinkedIn article on The Danger of Sycophancy in GenAI

Check out the IPR Video Series In a Car with IPR

Rate this podcast with just one click

Stories and Strategies Website

Curzon Public Relations Website

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 podcast

Connect with us

Request a transcript of this episode

Support the show

The Mamdani Effect: Can TikTok Win a Mayoral Race?

Can a cyclist-turned (accused) communist New York mayoral candidate teach the PR world a thing or two about emotional storytelling?

This week we unpack the “Mamdani effect” how Zohran Mamdani is rewriting the rules of political communications with cultural fluency, TikTok charm, and unforgettable soundbites.

Other topics, what are the comms implications of the Omnicom-IPG mega-merger, and what is the likely impact on agency identities, client retention, and the war for talent?

From Alberta, Canada… a Teacher’s Stike and the Government is paying parents. Is that to help them manage or is it a PR bribe? Are there ethical implications here?

Listen For

:34 What makes Mamdani a standout communicator?
3:10 Can Mamdani’s social strategy work outside NYC?
10:00 What’s the real impact of the Omnicom-IPG merger?
14:55 Is Alberta’s $30/day tactic good PR or spin?
18:49 Are PR communities key in turbulent times?

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

We publish the audio from these livestreams to the Stories and Strategies podcast feed every Friday until Sunday evening when it’s no longer available.

Folgate Advisors

Curzon Public Relations Website

Stories and Strategies Website

Request a transcript of this livestream

Support the show

Bio of Stories and Strategies for Public Relations and Marketing

"Stories and Strategies for Public Relations and Marketing," hosted by Doug Downs, is a podcast that explores the world of communication and its role in shaping our daily lives. In today's interconnected world, effective communication is essential for success, and this podcast delves into the various facets of public relations and marketing that contribute to effective communication strategies.

Through insightful conversations and interviews, the podcast delves into topics such as marketing, public relations, government relations, media relations, crisis management, stakeholder engagement, advertising, and strategic communications. The host, Doug Downs, provides valuable insights and practical advice for professionals working in these fields, as well as for individuals who hire communication experts.

From crafting compelling press releases to leveraging social media campaigns, from managing crises to engaging stakeholders, the podcast covers a wide range of communication-related topics.

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