The Trending Communicator

Daniel Nestle
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED FORTNIGHTLY

In today's hyper-accelerated communications world, keeping up means juggling reputation, brand building, crisis management, storytelling, and more while adapting to new technologies like generative AI. The Trending Communicator, hosted by Dan Nestle, is your guide through this chaotic landscape. This podcast dives into the challenges of PR, communications, and marketing today, with experts sharing real stories and strategies for overcoming those challenges and more. It's the perfect resource for professionals looking to innovate, take risks, and stay ahead. Join us to make sense of today’s communications chaos, one insightful conversation at a time.

  1. AI Can't Call You Back - with Jennifer Kaplan

    11 HR AGO

    AI Can't Call You Back - with Jennifer Kaplan

    What if sustainable growth isn't about becoming the biggest player in the market? Agencies triple in size and lose their soul. They chase national footprints and abandon the community relationships that made them valuable. Meanwhile, regional firms with deep roots are building something holding companies can't replicate. In this episode, host Dan Nestle sits down with Jennifer Kaplan, founder and president of Evolve PR and Marketing—Arizona's largest PR firm. Since 2010, Jen has grown to 28 full-time publicists serving more than 140 clients. She's earned Copper Anvil's 2025 Agency of the Year and PR News' Top Women in PR—but the real story is how she built an agency that's simultaneously deeply local and nationally sophisticated. Dan and Jen explore why relationship-driven business is becoming a competitive moat in the AI era, the tension between AI efficiency and human authenticity, and what two decades of agency leadership teaches you about leading through chaos without losing what makes you special. Listen in and hear about... Why local authority often delivers more impact than national vanity coverage Balancing AI tool adoption with authentic client and media relationships Building agency culture through purpose, consistency, and trust The power of niche specialization over broad service sprawl Leadership lessons from 20 years of agency growth—including when to stop trying to do it all Notable Quotes from Jennifer Kaplan "My mom would say that I was born doing pr, and it is something that I love so much because I feel like it's who I am. So when I talk to people, I do say, you know, look at something that isn't just a job." [00:04:07 – 00:04:23] "With any trend, I feel in any business you have to be on it, you have to be aware, but don't lose your identity and don't let it replace things that it shouldn't replace." [00:11:19 – 00:11:34] "You have to be in tune with AI, but I wouldn't let it take the place of so many wonderful things that we can offer as individuals and that are afforded us in, in the world." [00:12:45 – 00:13:02] "Go be you. You know, don't let AI or all the things that are around us take away from who you are and lose who you know what makes you special." [01:04:02 – 01:04:15] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Jennifer Kaplan Evolve PR and Marketing | Website Jennifer Kaplan | LinkedIn Timestamps 0:00:00 Introduction: Rethinking Growth in Communications0:07:44 Importance of Networking, Building Trust, and Relationships0:13:09 Navigating AI’s Impact on Communications and Authentic Content0:18:32 Evolve PR’s Niche Approach and Building Media Relationships0:24:03 Local vs. National Recognition: Awards, Impact, and Credibility0:31:17 Challenges of Speed and Building Relationships in PR0:36:30 Integrating Traditional and Tech Approaches in PR0:43:38 Measuring Success and the Role of Tools like AI in Agency Work0:45:49 Purpose-Driven Work and Letting Team Guide Agency Culture0:51:01 Agency Values: Neutrality, Team Dynamics, and Audience Focus0:56:12 Leadership Lessons: Don’t Try to Do It All, Embrace Mistakes1:04:02 Closing Thoughts: “Go Be You” and Staying Authentic (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Castmagic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 8m
  2. Stockholm Syndrome in PR: The Boutique Uprising - with Barrie Cohen

    30 JAN

    Stockholm Syndrome in PR: The Boutique Uprising - with Barrie Cohen

    Does PR have Stockholm syndrome? We're held captive by every disruption that promises to kill us—internet, social media, now AI—and what do we do? Fall in love with each threat, scramble to prove relevance, then wait for the next existential crisis. In this episode, Dan Nestle sits down with Barrie Cohen, founder of Barrie Cohen Public Relations. The real evolution isn't technical—it's structural. While holding companies lay off hundreds, boutique firms are landing top-tier placements and major contracts. The question: do you need 50 people to do what one strategist with AI and the right relationships can accomplish? Barrie walked away from Philadelphia agency life and built an operation that secured placements big firms couldn't—not by throwing bodies at accounts, but by doing what large agencies forgot: caring deeply and telling clients the truth. Listen in and hear about... Why the traditional agency billing model creates misaligned incentives How podcast pitching is outperforming traditional media relations The tangible ROI clients are seeing from targeted podcast appearances What AI-driven pitching services get wrong about human judgment Building a boutique practice on transparency and flexibility Why the fight is real when you actually know your clients Notable Quotes from Barrie Cohen "PR needs to be accessible to everybody. Telling your story is critical no matter the size of your business." [00:22:51 – 00:22:57] "I could write, and I'm a great communicator, and I know how to talk to people, and I'm honest and transparent. Everything else, like you said, I'll figure it out." [00:15:00 – 00:15:08] "I am not worried it's going to take my job. No one can do what I—like, AI cannot be at the level with my clients that I am, but can they write me an outline for a three-page article and then I can do the bulk of—yes." [00:49:27 – 00:49:41] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Barrie Cohen Barrie Cohen Public Relations | Website Barrie Cohen | LinkedIn Timestamps 0:00:00 Introduction: PR Industry Disruption, Agency Evolution, and Guest Intro0:06:31 Denver Airport Metaphor—Is PR Built for Purpose?0:12:35 Barrie Cohen's Journey: Breaking Away from Agency Traditions0:18:02 Scaling a Boutique PR Business: Growth, Team, and Challenges0:22:18 Rethinking the Traditional Agency Model and Flexible Client Engagements0:28:17 Deep Client Relationships and the Value of Deliverables Over Hourly Billing0:34:36 The Shift to Podcasts: Earning Attention in Modern Media Relations0:41:33 Podcast Pitching: Personalized Approaches vs. AI Automation0:48:12 AI Tools, Content Repurposing, and the Human Advantage in PR0:54:09 PR: The Long Game—Managing Expectations in a Fast-Paced Tech World1:00:57 Why Human Connections and Relationships Remain Essential in Communications1:07:19 Looking Forward: Staying Current, Embracing Podcasts, and the Future of PR (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Castmagic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 10m
  3. The Art and Science of Earned Attention - with Stephanie Grober

    16 JAN

    The Art and Science of Earned Attention - with Stephanie Grober

    Authority-building has entered a new era—visibility hinges on context and credibility, and your expertise must be discoverable not just to humans but to machines. In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle explores these seismic changes with Stephanie Grober, Marketing and PR Director at the Horowitz Agency and a true trailblazer in legal and professional services PR. Stephanie has mastered the art (and science) of making experts both visible and quotable, securing more than 200 high-impact media placements in a single year while connecting the dots between traditional PR and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). She was already making her clients discoverable to the machines before most of us had even heard of ChatGPT. Listen in and hear about: How traditional media relations thrives by blending strategic expertise with authentic human connection Why building credibility and visibility is essential for experts aiming to shape public narratives What role generative engine optimization (GEO) plays in making experts visible to AI-driven search How the definition of newsworthiness is shifting amid a relentless, minute-by-minute news cycle Why earned media placements influence discoverability but are not a magic bullet for GEO How leveraging both personal and firm branding helps legal and professional services stand out What opportunities and risks AI introduces for PR professionals, reporters, and the stories they tell Notable Quotes On the rapidly changing news cycle: "Evergreen stories...there’s no room for them right now. Think about how much news, how much breaking news is coming at us. The news cycle doesn’t even feel like 24 hours. It feels like 24 minutes." [00:12:09 - 00:12:27] On the human element in PR (and reluctance to let AI take over): "PR is still very human...We aren’t using it to pitch. And I’ll say that there are some agencies that may be writing their pitches with AI. We are not. And that is a choice. We want to stand out as being authentic and human." [00:19:36 - 00:20:58] On why traditional PR isn't dead—it's evolving: "It’s a science and an art is what I like to say. Every time we try to make it a science, it shows us that it is an art and vice versa." [00:27:25 - 00:27:45] On discoverability in the era of AI: "We’ve been training the LLMs this entire time without realizing it. So for us, you know, some of the ways our clients have been referred to colloquially, you know, now that’s how they’re being discovered in a generative summary." [00:46:47 - 00:47:14] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Stephanie Grober: Stephanie Grober | LinkedIn Horowitz Agency Timestamps 0:00:00 Authority Building’s Evolution & AI’s Role in Visibility 0:06:12 Legal & Accounting PR in a Fast-Moving World 0:12:09 Shifting News Cycles, Pitching for Relevance 0:17:30 Traditional Media Relations: Still Vital? 0:22:35 AI, Authenticity, and Human-Centric PR 0:27:25 Art vs. Science in Media Outreach 0:33:49 GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) Disrupts PR Strategies 0:39:06 Earned Media’s True Influence in GEO 0:44:34 Discoverability, Signal vs. Virality for B2B & Legal 0:50:56 Pivoting Expertise—Challenges in AI Search 0:57:30 Human Relationships, Strategy, and ROI in Legal PR 1:02:00 Supporting Journalists and the Future of Media (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Castmagic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 6m
  4. AI Debates The Future of Comms - with NotebookLM

    31/12/2025 · BONUS

    AI Debates The Future of Comms - with NotebookLM

    **NotebookLM HAS TAKEN OVER THE TRENDING COMMUNICATOR. AGAIN.** Generative AI is shaking up the world of communications—and the debate is on. In this special takeover episode of The Trending Communicator, Abel and Iris weigh the promise and pitfalls of AI adoption for comms professionals. Is AI truly a strategic superpower, or does it risk eroding hard-won wisdom and trust? Our hosts tackle big questions about originality, efficiency, brand voice, and the critical role of human judgment. From allegations of “AI slop” to the growing expectation that professionals must adapt or become obsolete, Iris and Abel challenge each other—and the industry—to find balance between bold innovation and ethical responsibility. Whether you’re in the excitement camp or a skeptic, this episode delivers sharp insights, real-world examples, and a call to lead with empathy and rigor as AI rewrites the rules of communication. Listen in and hear about: How generative AI is transforming communication strategy and the debate over its real value Why AI-created content risks diluting professional wisdom and brand trust Ways communicators are leveraging legacy content to maintain originality with AI Ongoing concerns about AI amplifying existing flaws and spreading "AI slop" The evolving role of communicators as quality filters in an AI-driven workflow Challenges organizations face with AI adoption, from poor change management to role uncertainty Leadership’s new responsibility to use AI as a strategic partner while preserving empathy and judgment Timestamps 0:00:00 Podcast Takeover & Introduction0:00:26 GenAI and the Big Debate in Comms0:00:38 Does Generative AI Add or Destroy Value?0:01:06 Risks, Disruption & Trust in AI Adoption0:01:25 Augmentation vs. Automation—Strategic Value0:02:13 AI Hype & Human Element Concerns0:02:39 AI Slop, Trust Issues, and Expertise Erosion0:03:24 Strategic Upside: AI as Enabler0:04:05 Human Judgment as the Quality Filter0:04:40 Speed vs. Quality & Distinctive Human Insight0:05:03 Changing Roles: Prompting, Critiquing, Synthesizing0:05:31 Institutional Readiness, Ethics, Trust & Systemic Risks0:06:43 Empathy & Perspective: Irreplaceable Human Advantages0:07:06 AI for Reputation Management, Context, & Scale0:07:32 Ethics vs. Efficiency: Risks in Sensitive Fields0:08:04 Senior Communicators, AI as Validation & Infrastructure0:08:41 Broadening Strategic Functions; AI as Audience0:09:14 Organizational Readiness & Leadership Challenges0:10:01 Leadership Opportunity: AI as Strategic Sparring Partner0:10:52 Human Wisdom & Navigating Disruption0:11:36 Closing Remarks & Podcast Outro Audio generated by NotebookLM, based on the transcripts from all episodes of The Trending Communicator in 2025. Notes and timestamps generated by Castmagic. Intro and outro music generated by Suno. Outro voice generated with Elevenlabs. Graphic depiction of Abel and Iris generated with Gemini (Nanobanana); any similarity to any individual, living or dead, is unintentional. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    14 min
  5. AI Transformation, or AI Theater? - with Anne Green

    12/12/2025

    AI Transformation, or AI Theater? - with Anne Green

    Companies love to talk about AI transformation. They've created policies, distributed tools, checked boxes. But behind closed doors, overwhelmed employees are phoning it in with AI slop, leaders can't tell the difference, and the workforce is too exhausted to learn anything new. That's not transformation. That's theater. In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle welcomes back Anne Green, CEO of G&S Integrated Marketing Communications Group and host of the Building Brand Gravity podcast. Anne brings a rare perspective—she's orchestrated one of the industry's most successful agency transformations while navigating this AI identity crisis firsthand. Having built Cooper Katz from startup to acquisition, then taken the helm at G&S and expanded it through strategic acquisitions, she's seen transformation from every angle. Anne and Dan cut through the AI hype to examine what's really stalling adoption: a workforce stretched too thin to experiment, psychological bandwidth at zero, and the uncomfortable reality that AI doesn't automatically make anyone smarter—we have to fight for it. They explore why agencies may be better positioned to crack this code, what the dot-com bubble can teach us about today's AI valuations, and why the talent pipeline conversation keeps shifting from entry-level to mid-level to senior without anyone knowing who's actually at risk. Listen in and hear about... Why AI acts like a "personality intensifier"—making good workers better and mediocre workers worse The workforce conundrum: people too overwhelmed to upskill, yet facing existential pressure to adapt What agencies are doing differently that corporate teams are missing Why "showing your work" on AI builds trust while hiding it destroys it Anne's mantra for surviving this moment: "Hold less tightly. Unclench." Notable Quotes from Anne Green: "The biggest thing is from the upskilling side, this is a very complex people transformation moment. And we are really crap in this society at upskilling people. We're not good at it." [00:11:32 – 00:11:49] "AI doesn’t automatically augment our intelligence. We have to fight for it and we have to build it and we have to embrace it. But it is a journey." [00:18:49 – 00:19:02] "There is, especially at this moment, a beauty of the beginner’s mind, that person who’s coming in with curiosity and freshness..." [00:57:00 – 00:57:40] "Hold less tightly, unclench the hands and open up the palms. That’s the last thing I’d offer, folks. Hold less tightly." [01:04:38 – 01:04:47] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Anne Green G&S Integrated Marketing Communications | gscommunications.com Building Brand Gravity Podcast | Apple Podcasts Anne Green | LinkedIn Timestamps 0:00:00 AI Transformation Hype and Restrictive Corporate Policies0:06:43 Corporate Struggles with AI Adoption and Change Management0:12:26 Bubble vs. Real Change—Comparing Dot-Com Era to AI Revolution0:19:04 AI-Augmented Skills—Best and Worst Amplified0:25:56 Human/Machine Symbiosis: How AI Changes Us0:30:01 Freedom to Innovate: Builders, Use Cases, and Organizational Constraints0:35:10 Overworked Workforce, Layoffs, and AI’s Impact on Talent Strategy0:42:11 Talent Displacement, Business Model Evolution, and Pipeline Changes0:48:25 Rethinking Comms Career Tracks with AI Integration0:54:02 Entry-Level Realities: Training, Context, and Curiosity1:01:16 Importance of In-Person Collaboration in the Age of AI1:04:00 Leading Through Change—Kindness, Grace, and Adaptability1:05:48 Wrap-Up, Final Thoughts, and Podcast Promotion (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Castmagic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 8m
  6. Stop Treating AI Like an ERP Implementation - with Chris Gee

    01/12/2025

    Stop Treating AI Like an ERP Implementation - with Chris Gee

    Companies keep approaching AI the way they approached every other tech rollout: install it, train on it, expect immediate returns. But AI isn't software. It's imperfect by design, doesn't follow a predictable implementation curve, and the gap between what leadership promised the board and what's actually happening is becoming a serious problem. In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle sits down with Chris Gee, founder of Chris Gee Consulting and strategic advisor to Ragan's Center for AI Strategy. Chris has survived four career reinventions driven by technological disruption—from watching his graphic design degree become obsolete the day he graduated to now helping organizations navigate the shift to agentic AI. His motto, "copilot, not autopilot," frames the entire conversation. Chris and Dan dig into why AI adoption is stalling—because companies are treating transformation like a switch to flip rather than a capability to build. They explore the parallel to 1993's Internet boom and why the adoption curve is right on schedule despite executive frustration. The conversation gets practical: Chris shares how he built an AI agent named "Alexa Irving" for client onboarding, and they tackle whether doom-and-gloom predictions from AI CEOs are helping or hurting the people who actually need to use these tools. Listen in and hear about... Why the adoption curve for AI mirrors the early Internet The $17 trillion argument against AI replacing all jobs (hint: someone has to buy things) How prompting skills aren't going away Building agentic AI with guardrails: Chris's "Alexa Irving" experiment Why "copilot, not autopilot" is more than a slogan—it's a survival strategy The skills gap nobody's addressing and why we need more brains who understand AI, not fewer Notable Quotes "My motto is copilot, not autopilot. I wholeheartedly believe that we are going to make the most progress using AI in tandem—where humans focus on the things that we do well and we use AI for the things it does better than we do." — Chris Gee [04:19] "17 is $17 trillion—that's what the American consumer spends per year. 70 is the percentage of US GDP that represents. And zero is the amount of money that AI chatbots, LLMs, and agents have to spend." — Chris Gee [23:57] "Your ability was never simply in your ability to string together words and phrases, but to translate experiences or emotions and create connection with other humans." — Chris Gee [36:44] "It's not thinking and it never will be thinking. So if we understand that, then we understand it won't be thinking like a human." — Chris Gee [1:07:00] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Chris Gee Chris Gee Consulting | chrisgee.me Chris Gee | LinkedIn The Intelligent Communicator Newsletter | chrisgee.me (sign up on website) Timestamps 0:00:00 AI Transformation: Hype vs. Reality in Communications0:06:00 Human Touch vs. Automation in Service Jobs0:12:40 Early Career Transformation & Adapting to Technology0:18:00 AI Adoption Curve: Early Adopters and Laggards0:23:30 Tech Disruption, Job Fears, and Economic Impact0:29:10 Prompting and Obstacles to AI Adoption0:34:45 Redefining Skill Sets & Human Value with AI0:40:45 Efficiency, Productivity, and Creativity with AI Tools0:46:20 Rethinking Work: Flexible Schedules & Four-Day Weeks0:51:39 Practical AI Use Cases: Experiment and Upgrade0:55:11 Agentic AI: Autonomous Agents and Guardrails1:01:29 Autonomous Agents: Oversight, Guardrails, and Risks1:08:15 AI Is Imperfect: Why Human Judgment Remains Essential1:14:16 AI Quirks, Prompting Challenges, and Adoption Friction1:19:41 Wrap-Up: Finding Chris Gee & Newsletter/Prompt Suggestions1:21:18 Final Thoughts & Episode Closing (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Castmagic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 23m
  7. When Communications Can't Close the Values Gap - with Emil Hill

    14/11/2025

    When Communications Can't Close the Values Gap - with Emil Hill

    You can't communicate your way out of a values problem. Yet every day, communications leaders are expected to do precisely that. In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle sits down with ⁠Emil Hill⁠, principal of The Creshiem Group and a public affairs strategist with 25+ years navigating the intersection of business, government, and communications. From guiding the W.K. Kellogg Foundation through Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation to helping Papa John's face their reckoning, from UnitedHealth Group to the National Education Association, Emil's been the strategist organizations call when quick fixes won't cut it. Emil and Dan explore why the consolidation of corporate communications, investor relations, government relations, and research under corporate affairs* umbrellas is the recognition that every stakeholder now connects to every other stakeholder. They dig into why crises reveal values misalignment, why your stock price timeline and your actual problem timeline are incompatible, and why "calm, clarity, and precision" matters more when everything's moving faster. *Dan says “Public Affairs” but means “Corporate Affairs” throughout the episode. He apologizes, especially to Megan Noel, for his confusion. Listen in and hear about... Why corporate affairs consolidation signals a fundamental shift in stakeholder connectivity How a finance background changes how you diagnose communications problems The gap between executive timelines and the time real organizational change requires Why quick crisis fixes usually miss what's actually broken Navigating uncertainty with optimism when change is inevitable Notable Quotes On The Power of Immersive Partnership: "I don't know if you can really be a good partner to any client if you don't immerse yourself in their business, understand who their competitors are, try to get a sense for their DNA and try to advise based on those understandings. If you don't have that, yeah, you're going to fall short every time." — Emil Hill [00:07:53 → 00:08:17] On The Future of Local News: "I am craving a deeper dive into, into local news that the Washington Post cannot provide for me and Mary about what's going on here that's not in the news. And it feels like with the evolution of technology, some enterprising business person is going to figure out a way to cobble together more information and news about particular parts of the country, city, state and local in a way that we used to." — Emil Hill [01:00:27 → 01:01:03] On Navigating Economic Uncertainty: "I think businesses, individuals and communities around the country, I think you want to hold on to your optimism. I think you should get active, but ride it. And this too shall pass." — Emil Hill [01:06:59 → 01:08:08] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Emil Hill Emil Hill | LinkedIn Timestamps 0:00:00 Introduction – Rise of Public Affairs and Emil Hill’s Expertise0:06:15 Pathways into Public Affairs – Problem Solving and Business Acumen0:11:03 Consolidation of Corporate Communications Functions0:16:44 Stakeholder Connections in a Rapid News Cycle0:23:19 Measuring Audience Sentiment and Internal vs. External Messaging0:29:22 Persuading Stakeholders – Importance of Data and Explanation0:34:57 AI’s Role in Communications – Data, Analysis, and Domain Expertise0:42:32 Brand Missteps and the Limits of Research0:47:13 Real Audience Research vs. Social Media Noise0:53:42 New Corporate Affairs Capabilities – Local Sentiment and Crisis Response0:58:44 Local News Evolution and Technology’s Impact1:04:39 Ideas for AI-Driven Local News Coverage1:08:08 Optimism, Change, and Closing Thoughts1:09:36 Outro and Subscription Info (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Castmagic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 11m
  8. How AI Changes Your Customers and Why You Must Change Too - with Mark Schaefer

    31/10/2025

    How AI Changes Your Customers and Why You Must Change Too - with Mark Schaefer

    Your customers are changing because of AI. But so are you—whether you realize it or not. Host Dan Nestle welcomes back Mark Schaefer, whose new book How AI Changes Your Customers reveals a transformation most people aren't prepared for. As one of 300 futurists who contributed to Elon University's Being Human in 2035 study, Mark brings insights beyond the usual AI hype. Mark and Dan explore the psychological rewiring that is happening as AI reshapes human agency, empathy, purpose, and trust. They confront the choice everyone faces: use AI to augment your thinking, or delegate so much that critical skills atrophy. This isn't another "AI will save us" or "AI will ruin everything" conversation. It's a balanced look at implications most people haven't considered—like algorithms becoming decision-makers, with conversion rates from AI referrals 23 times higher than those from traditional SEO. Listen in and hear about... The psychology of AI and how humanity is being rewired Choosing between augmentation and delegation in your AI usage Why algorithms are becoming your actual customers The loss of agency, empathy, and purpose when we depend too heavily on AI How AI reveals patterns you didn't know existed through intellectual archaeology Notable Quotes On The Psychology of AI: "No one's talking about the psychology of AI that literally before our eyes, humanity is being rewired. The psychology of human beings is changing." - Mark Schaefer [00:08:13 → 00:08:28] On Attention Spans: "Don't tell me people don't have a long attention span. The problem is they're being more selective. You've got to earn it. So it's not that they have a short attention span. You, You've got a short interesting span. They're abandoning you for something else." - Mark Schaefer [00:15:38 → 00:15:53] On The Power of Vulnerability: "What this world is lacking is a real human voice, friendly, accessible, vulnerable. And think about the power of that. To really be human. You've got to be. Have a sense of vulnerability. But we don't get that from brand voices. Very, very rarely. And think of the opportunity to stand out, to be audacious, to just by flubbing up once in a while, just by admitting you made a mistake every once in a while." - Mark Schaefer [00:27:37 → 00:28:05] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Mark Schaefer Mark Schaefer | Website and Blog How AI Changes Your Customers | Book (Amazon) The Marketing Companion | Podcast Mark Schaefer | LinkedIn The RISE Community | Apply to Join Timestamps 0:00:00 AI’s Impact: Dan’s Intro and Use of NotebookLM0:03:03 Mark’s Reaction: AI Enables Bolder, Creative Work0:05:16 Mutual Mentorship and AI Experimentation0:07:29 Mark’s Book: Humanity’s Changing Psychology with AI0:09:12 Agency, Empathy, Intimacy, and AI Decision-Making0:11:41 AI Search: GEO, Marketing to Algorithms0:13:02 The Golden Age of PR: Credibility and Authority0:15:13 Attention Span Myth & Content Selectivity0:17:21 Volume vs. Quality: Content for AI and Humans0:19:35 Cumulative Advantage & Brand Authority in AI Era0:21:42 Personal Brand Building: Quality is Essential0:23:13 Earning Social Signals & Genuine Content0:25:47 AI Editing, Strategic Awkwardness, and Vulnerability0:28:46 Challenges for Corporates: Embracing Awkwardness0:31:20 Feelings as a Competitive Advantage0:35:28 Transcendence: Artful, Long-Form, and Human Content0:37:56 Respecting the Reader: Content Length & Value0:39:55 Hopeful AI: Augmentation, Mentorship, Markbot0:42:24 Real Education & AI: Preparing Young People0:42:46 Closing Remarks: Book Recommendation & Mark’s Links (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Castmagic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    46 min
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5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

In today's hyper-accelerated communications world, keeping up means juggling reputation, brand building, crisis management, storytelling, and more while adapting to new technologies like generative AI. The Trending Communicator, hosted by Dan Nestle, is your guide through this chaotic landscape. This podcast dives into the challenges of PR, communications, and marketing today, with experts sharing real stories and strategies for overcoming those challenges and more. It's the perfect resource for professionals looking to innovate, take risks, and stay ahead. Join us to make sense of today’s communications chaos, one insightful conversation at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Daniel Nestle
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    120
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Daniel Nestle
  • Show Website
    The Trending Communicator