Stories and Strategies with Curzon Public Relations

Stories and Strategies
  • 4.9 (39)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Stories and Strategies, the world’s most listened to Public Relations podcast feed, according to Podchaser, Goodpods, and data from Rephonic. This feed brings together two complementary podcasts exploring the role, responsibility, and future of public relations from a global perspective. Stories and Strategies with Curzon Public Relations is the flagship show, co hosted by Doug Downs and Farzana Baduel. Released every Tuesday, this 20 minute weekly podcast delivers bold ideas, sharp insights, and honest conversations about public relations, strategic communications, and marketing. From earned media and brand storytelling to AI and behavioural science, the show goes beyond surface commentary to focus on what truly shapes modern communications. Also included in this feed is The Week UnSpun, a weekly live analysis of global news headlines through a public relations lens. Co hosted by Doug Downs, Farzana Baduel, and David Gallagher of Folgate Advisors, The Week UnSpun streams live every Friday at 10 a.m. Eastern / 3 p.m. UK time, with the audio edition released later the same day. Follow now and join a worldwide community shaping the future of communications, one story and one headline at a time.

  1. TRAILER

    The Stories and Strategies Podcast Trailer

    This is not just one podcast.  It’s a feed with two. First is Stories and Strategies with Curzon Public Relations. A weekly show hosted by Doug Downs and Farzana Baduel. Every Tuesday, we tackle the real work of public relations. The strategy behind the stories. The decisions behind the headlines. No fluff. No profiles. Just the issues shaping modern communications. Also in this feed is The Week UnSpun. A live, weekly look at global news through a public relations lens. Hosted by Doug Downs, Farzana Baduel, and David Gallagher of Folgate Advisors. Streaming every Friday at 10 a.m. Eastern, 3 p.m. UK time. With the audio released later the same day. Two shows.  One feed.  Follow now, and stay ahead of the story. Support the show

    1 min
  2. Grief is a Communications Challenge… Not an HR Process

    2D AGO

    Grief is a Communications Challenge… Not an HR Process

    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.    Listen For 4:11 Why Is Grief First a Communications Issue, Not Just HR's Job? 6:45 What Is the “Three-C Model” for Grief-Informed Communication? 8:05 How Does Grief Physically and Emotionally Impact a Person at Work? 14:51 What Small Act of Kindness Made the Biggest Impact After Loss? 19:29 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Marc Whitt Guest: Cindy Lang Website | Facebook | Instagram    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 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 LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Pinterest Request a transcript of this episode Support the show

    24 min
  3. Susie Wiles and the Cost of Poor Media Strategy

    5D AGO

    Susie Wiles and the Cost of Poor Media Strategy

    What happens when a top political strategist forgets the rules of media engagement?   This episode of The Week UnSpun strikes a nerve for PR professionals as Doug unpacks Susie Wiles’ widely criticized Vanity Fair interviews, where a lack of structure, message control, and audience awareness turned rare access into a strategic failure. It’s a masterclass in what not to do when the stakes are sky-high.   Then, the conversation pivots to a claim that’s rippling through the industry in the UK. Sir Martin Sorrell declared on BBC Radio that PR no longer exists, prompting fierce pushback from Farzana. The team’s defense of the industry is both impassioned and insightful, raising a critical question for anyone in communications. Is PR losing ground, or is it finally stepping into its own power? Listen For 1:23 What went wrong in Susie Wiles’ interviews? 4:10 What are the 8 media mistakes she made? 6:51 Is PR really dead, as Martin Sorrell claims? 10:34 Why can’t PR pros explain what they do? 12:09 Is PR losing ground or evolving fast? 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 Folgate Advisors Curzon Public Relations Website Stories and Strategies Website Request a transcript    Support the show

    15 min
  4. Why Your NGO Can’t Afford to be the “Best Kept Secret”

    DEC 16

    Why Your NGO Can’t Afford to be the “Best Kept Secret”

    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. Listen For 5:11 Why doesn't good work speak for itself anymore? 10:12 How can NGOs attract top talent without top salaries? 18:52 What are the first PR steps for nonprofits to grow visibility? 21:04 Answer to Last Week’s Question from Cindy Lang Guest: Marc Whitt Website | Email | LinkedIn | X 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 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 LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Pinterest Request a transcript of this episode Support the show

    26 min
  5. Who Will Control Hollywood’s Future? Netflix vs. Warner Bros

    DEC 12

    Who Will Control Hollywood’s Future? Netflix vs. Warner Bros

    Who’s Really Writing the Stories That Shape Our World? This week, we dive into the high-stakes power play unfolding in Hollywood as Netflix and Paramount battle to take over Warner Bros. What looks like a blockbuster business deal is, in fact, a global struggle over who gets to shape the stories that define how we think, feel, and remember. Farzana explores the soft power implications of the deal, asking what happens when control of cultural narratives shifts to private or even foreign-backed hands. Doug examines the potential impact on creators, especially if Netflix, known for tight content licensing, wins control of vast historical archives. David brings in insider chatter from Hollywood, where some fear the deal could spell the end of cinema as we know it. Also in this episode, we unpack why the UK is launching a legal PR offensive to keep English law as the gold standard for global deals and how Singapore is emerging as a serious contender. Plus, is the US hurting its tourism brand with new visa requirements demanding access to social media history? And what can Australia’s ban on under-16s using social media teach us about digital policy and parental reality?   Listen For 3:53 How would this merger reshape global storytelling and soft power? 6:58 Why is the UK promoting English law as a global standard? 10:12 What makes Singapore law a serious competitor to English law? 15:39 Will new US visa rules scare away global travelers and harm tourism? 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   Folgate Advisors Curzon Public Relations Website Stories and Strategies Website Request a transcript of this livestream Support the show

    20 min
  6. Winning Trust When the World is Skeptical

    DEC 9

    Winning Trust When the World is Skeptical

    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. Listen For 4:37 What does global data say about what drives reputation today? 6:52 Have public views on social and environmental issues shifted? 8:41 Are ESG and DEI labels now hurting more than helping? 10:57 Why is data security now a top consumer concern? 16:38 How can brands stay local in a divided global landscape? 20:40 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Andy West Guest: Steve Shepperson-Smith, Vodaphone LinkedIn 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 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 LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Pinterest Request a transcript of this episode Support the show

    27 min
  7. The Agency Checkup: How Healthy Is Your PR Firm?

    DEC 2

    The Agency Checkup: How Healthy Is Your PR Firm?

    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.    Listen For 3:56 What vital signs show if your agency is healthy or just surviving? 5:25 Are agency leaders really surprised by their own problems? 8:57 Is AI a threat or a tool for agencies to grow? 12:25 What four pillars make an agency profitable and strong? 18:15 What aha moment helped an agency turn things around? 20:03 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Lionel Zetter Guest: Andy West, West of Center Website | Email | LinkedIn | X | Substack   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 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 LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Pinterest Request a transcript of this episode Support the show

    25 min
  8. Are Leaks Strategic PR Tools or Signs of Corporate Decay?

    NOV 28

    Are Leaks Strategic PR Tools or Signs of Corporate Decay?

    This week, we look into the murky ethics of media leaks and their growing role in shaping political, corporate, and cultural narratives. From leaked peace plans that spark international diplomacy to budget details released minutes before parliamentary debate, we dissect whether leaks are ethical whistleblowing or manipulative PR tactics.  Farzana argues that leaks often reveal broken internal cultures, while Doug, from a journalistic perspective, explores how leaks are used to test narratives and steer public perception.  Also in this episode, David wonders if written reports are becoming relics in a world obsessed with video and visual storytelling.   And we ask: Can AI help restore strategic thinking in PR? And should public relations finally be regulated like other professions?   Watch/Listen For 1:45 How will AI reshape PR, tactically or strategically? 5:36 Should PR be regulated like law or finance? 9:28 Are media leaks ethical, or just PR strategy? 14:33 Can visual storytelling replace traditional comms? 22:04 Are algorithms killing media access for everyone? 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 Folgate Advisors Curzon Public Relations Website Stories and Strategies Website Request a transcript of this livestream   Support the show

    24 min
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Trailers

4.9
out of 5
39 Ratings

About

Welcome to Stories and Strategies, the world’s most listened to Public Relations podcast feed, according to Podchaser, Goodpods, and data from Rephonic. This feed brings together two complementary podcasts exploring the role, responsibility, and future of public relations from a global perspective. Stories and Strategies with Curzon Public Relations is the flagship show, co hosted by Doug Downs and Farzana Baduel. Released every Tuesday, this 20 minute weekly podcast delivers bold ideas, sharp insights, and honest conversations about public relations, strategic communications, and marketing. From earned media and brand storytelling to AI and behavioural science, the show goes beyond surface commentary to focus on what truly shapes modern communications. Also included in this feed is The Week UnSpun, a weekly live analysis of global news headlines through a public relations lens. Co hosted by Doug Downs, Farzana Baduel, and David Gallagher of Folgate Advisors, The Week UnSpun streams live every Friday at 10 a.m. Eastern / 3 p.m. UK time, with the audio edition released later the same day. Follow now and join a worldwide community shaping the future of communications, one story and one headline at a time.

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