Curzon Public Relations Podcasts

Personal branding is changing in real time. The first impression is no longer a handshake or a conversation. It is a clip you did not choose, a post someone else shared, a comment you left, or a quote that gets passed around without context.

What actually builds trust across today’s platforms? It’s the different channels and how they shape different versions of you. Consistency matters more than polish. Algorithms and AI search now “interpret” your reputation.

Today you need to build a personal brand that holds up when you’re not in the room.

Watch For
00:00 Is traditional media filtering your message too much?
2:18 How do you stay consistent across platforms?
4:45 Are algorithms shaping your brand more than you are?
08:38 Can you earn trust without outside validation?
11:13 Why does your personal brand still matter?

Guest: Liz Brooks, Interview Valet

Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/

PR teams are being asked to win attention in a world that barely gives it. The problem is not reach. The problem is what happens after the click, after the view, after the impression. If your audience does not stay, nothing sticks. Not the message, not the trust, not the reputation you are trying to build.

In this episode, we unpack why depth beats scale and why time spent is one of the most overlooked drivers of influence. You will hear a fresh way to think about loyalty, attention, and what it means to create content that people actually choose to come back to, even when the feed is endless.

Watch For
00:00 How do you separate scale from depth in brand influence?
02:38 What makes podcast listeners so loyal and hard to win over?
06:23 How do you increase "time spent" on content in a distracted world?
09:00 Why is podcasting uniquely powerful for building trust?
16:18 Is there a perfect length for a podcast episode?

Guest: Roger Nairn, Jar Podcast Solutions @jarpodcasts

Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/

It doesn’t matter whether you’re 25 or 55.
If you speak and people listen politely but not seriously, it hurts.
Too young to be trusted.
Too old to be creative.
The message lands the same way.
You are not seen. You are not heard. You are not valued.
Ageism cuts in both directions and it leaves a quiet bruise that people carry long after the moment passes.

How does this happen in Public Relations, a profession built on understanding people?
It does. And ageism is a major component of the profession.
That’s why a Cultural Reset is needed.

Watch For
00:00 Why does PR need a cultural reset to fight ageism?
02:21 How does ageism actually show up in PR workplaces?
05:14 Is consumer PR more ageist than corporate PR?
08:38 How do gender differences affect how people experience ageism?
13:27 Will AI make ageism in PR better or worse?

Guest: Jenny Manchester
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennymanchester/
Centre for Aging Better Website: https://ageing-better.org.uk/about-us/our-team/jenny-manchester
Jenny's Report: An age-old problem: What can we do to tackle ageism in PR?: https://cipr.co.uk/common/Uploaded%20files/Policy/PR%20Research%20Fund%202024/CIPR_An_age_old_problem_Sept2025.pdf

Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/

Public relations shapes what people believe, how communities respond, and which ideas earn trust. It influences elections, corporate crises, government decisions, reputations, and public sentiment.

Yet unlike medicine, law, or engineering, anyone can call themselves a PR professional. No license. No minimum standard. No consequences when things go wrong. What happens when a profession with this much power has almost no guardrails?

Some say that freedom is essential for open societies. Others say it leaves the public exposed. What happens if we build those guardrails too strong?

In this episode we walk the line of tension between protection and freedom.

Watch For
4:28 What problem is PR regulation really trying to solve?
9:47 Does regulation protect the public—or just PR pros?
12:38 Could PR regulation threaten free speech?
14:23 Is there a middle ground on PR regulation?
18:37 Can licensing and ethics training reshape PR?

Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/

What do you say when there’s nothing to say?

Most workplaces think they handle grief through policy, a few days of bereavement leave, a checklist, and a quiet expectation that people will return “ready” to work. But grief doesn’t follow policy. It walks back into the office with someone long before they’re prepared, reshaping their focus, their energy, their confidence and their sense of safety.

And while HR manages the paperwork, it’s the hallway conversations, the team dynamics, the awkward silences and the well-meaning but painful clichés that shape a grieving person’s real experience.

That isn’t an HR problem. That’s a communications problem.

And yet almost no one prepares for it. Teams don’t know what to say. Leaders fear saying the wrong thing. Colleagues avoid eye contact because they’re anxious, not uncaring.

In this episode, grief expert Cindy Lang shows why communication is the most powerful support any workplace can offer, and how simple, compassionate language can make the difference between someone feeling invisible and someone feeling understood.

Watch For
00:00 Why is grief a communication challenge before it's an HR issue?
3:19 How can we communicate meaningfully with a grieving colleague?
5:43 What are specific things you can say and do to support someone returning to work after loss?
9:17 What are the two main grief styles and how can workplaces respect them?
12:50 What action meant the most to Cindy after her husband's death?

Guest: Cindy Lang

Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/

Nonprofits often describe themselves with a strange sense of pride: “We’re the best kept secret.” But in an era where funding is shrinking, donor expectations are shifting, and public trust must be earned every single day, staying a secret is no longer a virtue. It’s a liability.

So why do so many NGOs still hide behind humility, overwhelm, or the hope that their good work will somehow speak for itself?

It’s same problem everywhere. Leaders who underestimate the power of strategic communication. Teams overwhelmed by tactical delivery. Fundraisers separated from PR staff. And organizations with extraordinary missions that remain invisible. In this episode, how nonprofits can step out of the shadows, communicate their value with confidence, and build the visibility they need to survive and serve.

Watch For
02:39 The Importance of Visibility in Nonprofits
05:29 Building Trust and Ethical Stewardship
08:20 The Role of PR in Nonprofit Organizations
10:57 The Unique Psychographics of Nonprofit PR Professionals
13:35 Strategies for Effective Nonprofit Communication
16:20 The Future of PR and AI in Nonprofits
18:54 Final Thoughts and New Year Resolutions

Guest: Marc Whitt

Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/

In every corner of the world the public mood is shifting, sometimes quietly and sometimes all at once. Climate anxiety, pandemic fears, economic pressure, geopolitical tension and a surge in concern about data security have all reshaped what people expect from companies.

For organizations trying to build trust across borders the rules keep changing. What mattered in 2019 did not matter in 2021. What mattered last year may not matter next year. And unless communicators understand these shifts they will miss the signals that determine whether a message lands or falls flat.

That is why this conversation with Steve Shepperson-Smith is so valuable. Drawing from Vodafone’s 75,000+ annual reputation data points and RepTrak’s million-strong global dataset, Stephen shares compelling insights on the critical 60/40 split between capability and character, and why the latter matters more than ever in polarized, politicized times.

Watch For
00:00 What Reputation Management Really Means Today
01:48 How Corporate Reputation Has Changed Over Time
04:17 How Global Events Shape a Company’s Reputation
06:51 Why Labels Influence Public Perception More Than You Think
09:07 How Data Security Builds or Breaks Consumer Trust
11:44 How AI Is Increasing Modern Security Risks
14:23 Why Local Context Matters in Reputation Strategy
16:58 What You Should Take Away About Modern Reputation
17:01 What Santa Can Teach Us About Reputation Leadership
18:28 How Ageism Shows Up in the Workplace and How to Address It
21:18 What New Year’s Resolutions Reveal About Your Goals

Guest: Steve Shepperson-Smith, Vodaphone

Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/

Most agencies can tell you how their clients are doing but ask how they are doing and the room gets quiet. The truth is that even the best run firms skip their own checkups. Margins thin out, teams burn out, and culture drifts while the spotlight stays fixed on the next pitch.

But what if agencies treated their operations the way a doctor treats a patient, tracking vital signs, diagnosing problems early, and prescribing real solutions before things spiral.

From hidden symptoms to running a full-scale agency fitness test, in this episode we look at what separates a healthy firm from one that just looks good on paper.

Watch For:
00:00 What are the first agency "vital signs" to check?
01:26 What symptoms reveal deeper agency problems?
04:34 Are we at a breaking point in time with AI?
07:02 What healthy vs. unhealthy habits define agency success?
14:17 What was a major agency "aha moment" that changed everything?

Guest: Andy West, West of Center

Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/

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.

Watch For
:15 What’s the difference between story, narrative, and voice—and why does it matter?
3:45 What is brand drift and how does AI contribute to it?
6:33 Why do people distrust AI-generated content?
10:06 How is your story the “moat” that protects your brand?
14:48 How can brands defend themselves when others hijack their story?

Guest: Nick Usborne

Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/

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.

Watch For
02:00 How should brands approach the myth of a “homogeneous Africa”?
04:46 Is emotional intelligence the key to understanding African markets?
07:47 Why is WhatsApp the most powerful business tool in Africa?
10:40 Should brands adapt their values when entering African markets?
15:58 What does the media landscape look like across Africa?

Guest: Jessica Hope, Wimbart

Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/

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.

Watch For
00:00 Why don’t PR pros post on LinkedIn as much as they should?
03:30 How can you stay authentic on LinkedIn without oversharing?
05:56 Why is LinkedIn visibility tougher for women?
10:26 What’s the smartest way to grow on LinkedIn?
16:26 When and how should you post for the best LinkedIn reach?

Guest: Jo Jamieson

Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/

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?

What For
:37 What is AI sycophancy and why is it a problem?
2:39 Can AI influence big organizational decisions the wrong way?
6:32 How is sycophantic AI changing the work of comms professionals?
9:29 Will AI become the next battleground of political polarization?
14:39 How can PR pros train AI to think critically and not flatter?

Guest: Tina McCorkindale, PhD

Listen on your favorite podcast app https://podcast.storiesandstrategies.ca/episodes/