Under Embargo Podcast

Under Embargo Team

Welcome to 🎙️Under Embargo—the no fluff, no filters, no f*cks given communications podcast. PR and communications have never been messier. AI is ruining brand voice, CEOs’ hot takes matter more than actual products, and the best media relationships happen in DMs (where LinkedIn holds more sway than The Wall Street Journal.) Meanwhile, comms pros are now ghostwriters, social strategists, prompt engineers, and trend forecasters all at once—but we still have to elbow our way to the boardroom table. Welcome to Under Embargo—the podcast where Becca Chambers (corporate comms powerhouse, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, and ADHD queen) and Parry Headrick (Crackle PR agency founder, media whisperer, and professional sh*t-stirrer) say the quiet part out loud about PR, communications, and the insanity in between. With decades of experience and a mutual allergy to corporate BS, Becca and Parry bring unfiltered takes, sharp industry insights, and battle-tested wisdom from both the agency and in-house trenches of communications. No fluff. No press releases that no one will read. And definitely no thought leadership hot takes written by ChatGPT. New episodes drop whenever we feel like it (or get our act together). 🎙️ Under Embargo: No fluff. No filters. No f*cks given.

Episodios

  1. Rewriting Corporate Culture: How Chili Piper Scales with Humans, AI Agents, and Radical Decision-Making w/ Alina Vandenberghe, Co-Founder at Chili Piper

    18 JUN

    Rewriting Corporate Culture: How Chili Piper Scales with Humans, AI Agents, and Radical Decision-Making w/ Alina Vandenberghe, Co-Founder at Chili Piper

    Send us a text What happens when an engineer-turned-entrepreneur brings B2C energy to B2B enterprise software and a borderline obsession with fixing broken meetings? You get Alina Vandenberghe—co-founder and Co-CEO of Chili Piper, the woman who turned scheduling software into a billion-dollar empire while managing teams across 38 countries (and somehow still finds time to make her employees build AI agents). From starting work at 8 years old to building stealth iPad apps that caught Steve Jobs' attention, Alina's journey is equal parts inspiring and remarkable. In this episode, Becca sits down solo with one of enterprise software's most magnetic leaders to discuss how she turned corporate culture on its head. You'll discover: — Her early career wins (including a New York Times interview before she could barely speak English) — Chili Piper's radical approach to decision-making and culture design — Why every employee is required to build AI agents — How LinkedIn became her unexpected writing school — Why parenting, product-building, and personal growth are all connected by the same thread: curiosity This episode is packed with tactical ideas and vulnerable reflections—from the power of documentation to the messiness of leadership to what it means to find joy while you're building something hard. Stick around for walkout songs, emoji debates, and a rapid-fire round featuring your favorite unhinged “hiccups or pinkies” question.

    49 min
  2. Leading with Empathy: A Comms Imperative with Robin Daniels, CBO of Zensai

    26 MAR

    Leading with Empathy: A Comms Imperative with Robin Daniels, CBO of Zensai

    Send us a text What is a Chief Business Officer, anyway? This week on Under Embargo, Parry and I sat down with Robin Daniels—Chief Business & Product Officer at Zensai—for a conversation that honestly left me thinking about everything from go-to-market strategy to workplace happiness to ethical leadership. (No big deal, right?) If you don’t know Robin, he’s held exec roles at LinkedIn, WeWork, Salesforce, Box, Matterport—the man’s got receipts. But what stood out most in this convo wasn’t the resume. It was how deeply he cares about people. ✨ On redefining the CBO role Robin’s not just leading marketing—he’s running a whole ecosystem of product, growth, and post-sales. He’s building categories, not just campaigns. Think: less “traditional CMO,” more “growth-obsessed storyteller-meets-operator.” ✨ On Zensai and the whole “human success” thing Zensai’s mission is all about helping people thrive at work. It’s not fluffy. It’s grounded in skills, growth, and motivation—and it speaks to that thing we all secretly want: to love how we spend our days. Robin’s all in on that mission, and it shows. ✨ On why culture is the strategy From his LinkedIn days to now, Robin’s learned that empathy isn't soft—it’s essential. One of my favorite moments? Him sharing how his team opened up through storytelling exercises. Made me want to do the same with mine. (And I just might.) ✨ On ethical leadership (aka: not being a jerk) We talked about that current in tech where leaders forget that actions = brand. Robin’s take? Lead with integrity, or don’t lead at all. Because the ripple effects—on people, on brand perception, on retention—are real. ✨ On marketing that actually matters Robin doesn’t have time for soulless campaigns. He breaks down why brand should be rooted in human connection, not product specs. (Preach!) It’s the kind of take that makes you want to rework your entire messaging doc. Bottom line? This episode is a love letter to building real businesses—with people at the center.

    47 min
  3. Crisis, Comms, and Cults—Oh My! with Chris Willis, CMO of Axios HQ

    19 MAR

    Crisis, Comms, and Cults—Oh My! with Chris Willis, CMO of Axios HQ

    Send us a text ✨ The Real Power of Strategic Comms: Chris Willis on "Under Embargo" The latest episode of Under Embargo was packed with gold. Chris Willis, CMO of Axios HQ, joined hosts Perry and Becca to talk about how strategic communications isn’t just a "nice-to-have"—it’s a business driver. Forget the corporate fluff. They dive into the real, actionable ways comms can push business objectives forward and make a measurable impact. 🎉 Busting Comms Myths Chris didn’t hold back. He took on the outdated notion that corporate communications is just a support function—the team that pretties up messages and "chops off pinkies" (his words!) when execs get a little too rogue. Instead, he laid out why comms is a critical function for guiding corporate strategy and navigating complexity. 💬 Beyond Newsletters and Press Releases Chris has a fascinating career trajectory—starting in marketing, then seeing firsthand how powerful strategic communications is for aligning business objectives. His take? Comms is way more than broadcasting messages. It’s about shaping internal alignment, driving productivity, and influencing external market perception. It’s not a background function—it’s a business engine. 🚨 Crisis Comms: A Make-or-Break Moment The conversation also delves into the role of crisis comms. Axios HQ’s data shows that how a company handles a crisis doesn’t just affect that moment—it reshapes brand trust and long-term strategy. A strong comms team doesn’t just put out fires; they use crises as a catalyst for transformation. 🌟 Communicating Value: Internally and Externally Chris breaks down how effective comms can move the needle on everything from employee retention to project execution. And yes, they even get into AI—Chris is a firm believer that AI should enhance human creativity, not replace it. 🔍 The Takeaway: Comms Is a Business Imperative If this episode reinforces anything, it’s that communications isn’t "just" comms. It’s strategy. It’s influence. It’s business impact. Chris makes it clear—companies that treat comms as a business function (not a PR afterthought) will always have a competitive edge. Don’t miss this episode of Under Embargo with Becca and Perry. And if your comms team isn’t in the boardroom yet, it’s time to fix that.

    53 min
  4. Introducing the 'Under Embargo' Podcast: No fluff, No F's Given

    10 MAR

    Introducing the 'Under Embargo' Podcast: No fluff, No F's Given

    Send us a text ### The Birth of "Under Embargo" Podcast: Cracking Through Industry Norms In the inaugural episode of the "Under Embargo" podcast, hosts Becca and Parry explore their motives and expectations in launching a platform that promises to dissect, analyze, and potentially disrupt the communications industry. Their dialogue unfolds as a candid exploration of their personal and professional backgrounds, providing listeners with a rich context behind their viewpoints and visions for the podcast.  ### A Joint Venture Rooted in Authenticity The podcast kicks off with Parry and Becca outlining the purpose behind their collaborative project. They aim to cut through pervasive industry jargon and superfluous tactics, focusing instead on elevating professionals to boardroom levels without resorting to deceit. Their banter quickly reveals a dynamic partnership where Parry’s experiences in tech PR complement Becca’s corporate communication insights, suggesting that listeners can expect a holistic take on industry issues. ### Reshaping Communication Narratives Both hosts emphasize their desire to reshape how communication roles are perceived and carried out within the industry. Becca and Parry discuss their non-traditional paths into their careers, highlighting challenges like navigating educational disruptions and leveraging unconventional strengths. These personal anecdotes serve as a foreground to their broader ambition of fostering a communications landscape that values authenticity, strategic thinking, and substantive contributions over titular positions. ### The Power of Authentic Narratives Central to the episode is a theme of leveraging one’s unique experiences and background to bring authenticity to the communication field. Parry shares his compelling journey from a challenging childhood to establishing his own PR agency, emphasizing the value of genuine narratives in business success. Similarly, Becca reflects on her experience of transforming perceived academic weaknesses into a distinctive career advantage, advocating for a recognition of diverse cognitive approaches within professional settings. ### Vision for Future Episodes The dialogue ends with a forward-looking discussion on the evolution of the podcast. With plans to include diverse voices from the industry and explore varied facets of communication and PR, Becca and Parry invite listeners to contribute ideas and participate in upcoming discussions. Their vision for "Under Embargo" is clearly set on challenging norms and encouraging a more inclusive and empathetic approach to professional communication. As the episode wraps up, listeners are left with a clear sense of the podcast’s direction – one that promises to interweave personal insights with professional foresight, potentially setting a new bar for industry discussions.

    49 min

Acerca de

Welcome to 🎙️Under Embargo—the no fluff, no filters, no f*cks given communications podcast. PR and communications have never been messier. AI is ruining brand voice, CEOs’ hot takes matter more than actual products, and the best media relationships happen in DMs (where LinkedIn holds more sway than The Wall Street Journal.) Meanwhile, comms pros are now ghostwriters, social strategists, prompt engineers, and trend forecasters all at once—but we still have to elbow our way to the boardroom table. Welcome to Under Embargo—the podcast where Becca Chambers (corporate comms powerhouse, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, and ADHD queen) and Parry Headrick (Crackle PR agency founder, media whisperer, and professional sh*t-stirrer) say the quiet part out loud about PR, communications, and the insanity in between. With decades of experience and a mutual allergy to corporate BS, Becca and Parry bring unfiltered takes, sharp industry insights, and battle-tested wisdom from both the agency and in-house trenches of communications. No fluff. No press releases that no one will read. And definitely no thought leadership hot takes written by ChatGPT. New episodes drop whenever we feel like it (or get our act together). 🎙️ Under Embargo: No fluff. No filters. No f*cks given.

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