Stories and Strategies

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Channel • 14 Shows

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Updated 6 days ago
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Updated 04/11/2025

4 DAYS AGO

How Behavioral Science Can help PR Pros Understand Motivation and Decision-Making

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episode Your 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 For 4:40 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 Ave Website | Agency | LinkedIn Outthink. Outperform. Transform Your Organization Through Behavioral Marketing Doug Substack | Website | LinkedIn Farzana Substack | 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 podcast Connect with us LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Pinterest Stories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026 Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the show

4 days ago

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21 min
5 MAY

AI vs Social Media. Which do we Trust More?

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episode 50 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 For 3:26 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 Society LinkedIn | Website Page-Harris Poll: Confidence in Business Index 2026 Doug Substack | Website | LinkedIn Farzana Substack | 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 podcast Connect with us LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Pinterest Stories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026 Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the show

5 May

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23 min
12/12/2023

The Parent and the Sleep-Deprived Teen

During adolescence, the brain undergoes significant development, likened to upgrading from a dirt road to a paved freeway. However, this process can be hindered by sleep deprivation, which can lead to increased risk-taking, impulsivity, and exacerbation of mental health issues. In this episode Lisa L. Lewis suggests making sleep a family priority, modeling good sleep habits, and having ongoing conversations about the importance of sleep. She also recommends assessing the factors that may be contributing to late bedtimes, such as overscheduling or excessive tech use, and working collaboratively with teens to address these issues. Listen For 5:08 The importance of Sleep in Adolescents 14:53 Understanding Teenager’s Brain Development 20:46 The Role of Parents in Modeling Healthy Sleep Habits 25:51 Navigating Technology and Sleep Guest: Lisa L Lewis, MS Instagram | X | Facebook | Website Read the New York Times review of The Sleep-Deprived Teen Contact Kate: Email | Website | Kate’s Book on Amazon | LinkedIn | Facebook | X See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12/12/2023

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36 min
21 APR

Crisis Communication Gaps: What CEOs Aren't Saying

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episode Every 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 For 3:09 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 Doug Substack | Website | LinkedIn Farzana Substack | 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 podcast Connect with us LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Pinterest Stories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026 Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the show

21 Apr

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23 min
29 MAR

The 4.7% Rule: Why the Middle of Every Industry Is Disappearing

Ever get a text from a family member asking you to "just promote their business a little"? Joe Downs did from his sister-in-law Lexi, a copywriter turned hat entrepreneur, and what started as a casual Sunday text turned into a full-on AI career reckoning. Joe and Peter Swain break down what that conversation revealed: that the middle market of creative work is about to disappear, and the people who survive will be the ones who become a marketing agency of one. Then they get into the 4.7 rule, a cold outreach data point so wild Joe almost didn't believe it…and how AI automation via Claude Cowork can turn a 1.1% email reply rate into 4.7% without a sales team. If you've been wondering where you fit in the AI world, this one's for you. Listen For 3:00 How do you help a copywriter-turned-entrepreneur build an AI-powered marketing plan without starting from scratch? 9:00 Why does Peter say hustle and grind still matter before you ever touch an AI workflow? 14:00 Which creative professionals are most at risk from AI disruption — and which ones are actually positioned to win? 28:30 What is the 4.7 Rule, and why does cold email-only outreach look embarrassing by comparison? 30:00 Can Claude Cowork really automate your entire LinkedIn-to-email outreach sequence without a sales team? Links Mentioned Claude Cowork Lemlist Claude AI (by Anthropic) Peter's Free AI Business Audit Pen Stables Email the “Idiots” Joe and Peter Idiots@successfulidiots.com Joe Downs Website | Email | LinkedIn | YouTube Peter Swain Website | Email | LinkedIn | X

29 Mar

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46 min
6 JAN

Public Relations… Ten Years in the Future

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episode This is a special audio time-jump episode. It’s an immersive journey ten years into the future to explore how public relations has managed three of the biggest challenges: the rapid rise of AI, the disappearing entry-level job, and the ongoing gender gap in leadership. Doug and Farzana volunteer for a guided “time crossing” to see how the next generation of PR leaders navigated a decade of disruption. What they find isn’t just smarter tech, it’s smarter systems, layered cities, holographic hosts, and workplaces where AI and humans collaborate with clarity and conscience. This isn’t an episode about how will we fix it, it’s about how they already did… and what we can start implementing right now. Welcome to 2036 Listen For 5:01 How has technology reshaped the world of PR? 6:56 What does it feel like to communicate in a city designed to respond? 9:57 How does personalized media target people in real time? 10:36 What are holographic briefs and how do they change communication? 16:31 Are women finally stepping into more leadership roles? 17:44 How did society move beyond the culture war over being ‘woke’? 12:59 What’s changed most in how we communicate at work? 14:55 What does it take to guide AI with real nuance? 18:18 How is emotional labor being measured, and addressed, in the future? 19:02 What are the future rules of ethical communication with AI? Doug Substack | Website | LinkedIn Farzana Substack | 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 podcast Connect with us LinkedIn | X | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook | Threads | Bluesky | Pinterest Request a transcript of this episode Support the show

6 Jan

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23 min
9 JAN

The Capture of Maduro… Arrest or Act of War?

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episode A headline-grabbing raid, a revolution-in-the-making, and a “beige” prime minister walk into the attention economy… who wins the story? Farzana and Doug unpack three global flashpoints through a PR and narrative-control lens: the shock capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro and the split-screen battle between “law enforcement” framing versus “illegal act of war” backlash; Iran’s surging unrest as the rial collapses alongside a fractured top-level message (empathy from President Pezeshkian, crackdown language from Ayatollah Khamenei, and a mobilizing call from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi); and the UK’s debate over Keir Starmer’s “beige” leadership, whether voters truly want competent quiet or charismatic spectacle in a 24/7 scroll-and-click media world. Listen For 00:37 How did the Maduro raid become a communications battle overnight? 01:33 Why did calling Maduro a “narco-terrorist” change the debate? 04:57 Does winning the domestic narrative matter if the world disagrees? 07:56 How is Iran’s leadership sending mixed signals during unrest? 13:05 Is quiet leadership still viable in today’s attention economy? 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

9 Jan

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18 min
2 JAN

Is Iran’s Regime Really Listening? Or Just Buying Time?

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episode What happens when protests shake a regime built on control, not consent? We look at Iran’s largest wave of unrest since 2022. Fueled by economic collapse and skyrocketing inflation, the protests are no longer just about hardship, they’ve become openly anti-government, spreading even into rural areas. We break down Iran’s unprecedented tone shift in crisis comms, explore the influential role of the Iranian diaspora, and consider how narratives are being shaped despite media restrictions. And we pivot to examine Donald Trump’s striking effort to brand U.S. institutions with his name, followed by a look into 2026 with helpful resources for PR pros preparing for global risks. Listen For :47 What’s really fueling Iran’s latest wave of protests? 4:28 How does Iran’s diaspora influence global perception? 5:39 Can Trump gain political advantage from Iran’s instability? 6:14 Why is Trump rebranding national institutions with his name? 12:46 What tools can help PR pros prepare for global risks in 2026? 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

2 Jan

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17 min
30/12/2025

Should Public Relations be Regulated?

Send us a note about this episode. We'll reply and thank you on a future episode 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. Listen 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? 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 Stories and Strategies is the Official Podcast Sponsor of IABC World Conference in Toronto June 14-16, 2026 Click here to check it out https://wc.iabc.com Support the show

30/12/2025

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25 min
3 MAY

AI Prompts to Find Your Secret Sauce Before You Waste More Time

What if AI could save you 34 years of chasing the wrong thing? Joe Downs and Peter Swain use Vera Wang’s late career breakthrough and James Clear’s recipe for success to explore how AI can help people discover what they are naturally wired for. The conversation breaks down how AI can identify hidden skill patterns, reveal energy draining work that should be delegated, help design a week that supports persistence, and even act as a thought partner when someone realizes their current business or career may not fit them anymore. It is a practical episode about using AI not just to work faster, but to stop fighting your own wiring. Listen For 6:46 How can AI analyze your past jobs, hobbies, and feedback to reveal the skills you were actually wired for? 11:00 What does Peter's 20-questions AI game look like — and how did it surface 196 of his hidden skills? 18:03 How do you use Claude's custom instructions to make AI actively pull you away from work that drains you? 25:20 How can ChatGPT help you build a personal energy menu — and design your week around what fuels you? 32:08 What should you actually do when AI tells you your current business is the wrong fit? Links Mentioned Peter's Free AI Business Audit | Claude | ChatGPT | James Clear — Atomic Habits | Manus Email the “Idiots” Joe and Peter idiots@successfulidiots.com Joe Downs Website | LinkedIn | YouTube | Email Joe:joe@belroseam.com Peter Swain Website | Email | LinkedIn | X

3 May

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46 min

Whether your focus is global, or community-targeted, Stories and Strategies produces attention-grabbing podcasts. We take the time to understand your business strategy and how a podcast weaves into that. Then, we develop content that’s engaging, entertaining, and driven by measurable results. Our team is comprised of seasoned professionals in audio and video production, strategic communications and marketing planning, as well as presentation training.