Stories and Strategies with Curzon Public Relations

Stories and Strategies
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Stories and Strategies, the world’s most listened to Public Relations podcast according to Podchaser, Goodpods, and data from Rephonic on public relations, communications, and marketing. Hosted by award-winning PR professionals Doug Downs in Canada and Farzana Baduel in the UK, this weekly podcast offers you bold ideas, sharp insights, and honest conversations about the future of public relations, strategic communications, and marketing. Every Tuesday, we release a new 20-minute episode packed with practical takeaways for PR professionals, communication strategists, and marketing leaders around the world. Whether it’s earned media, brand storytelling, digital communications, or navigating AI and behavioral science, we go beyond the surface and ask the questions that matter. Stories and Strategies doesn’t do puff pieces or profiles,  we dive into the real issues facing the global PR, marketing and comms industry with guests who are actively shaping it. Our episodes are trusted by listeners in over 100 countries. Follow now and join a worldwide community of public relations, marketing, and communications professionals driving the industry forward — one story at a time, every Tuesday.                              

  1. The Hidden Reason Women are Leaving Public Relations

    6 DAYS AGO

    The Hidden Reason Women are Leaving Public Relations

    More women are now leaving the PR industry because of perimenopause and menopause than because of childbirth.  That’s a staggering, often invisible, that’s shift happening right at the top. It’s not burnout or work-life balance pushing them out, but a phase of life that’s rarely acknowledged and even more rarely supported. This episode is an unflinching conversation about the real pressures senior women face.  Why is menopause still a taboo topic at work?  How misunderstood are its impacts on confidence, performance, and retention?  And what must organizations and agencies do to support their best talent before they quietly walk away?  Listen For 4:22 The Invisible Workplace Crisis 7:01 The “Rush Hour” of Women’s Lives 10:01 Emotions, Gender, and Professionalism 13:37 Finding Balance in Psychological Safety 18:53 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Fred Cook Guest: Heather Blundell, CEO Grayling Website | X | LinkedIn | Email Stories and Strategies Website Curzon Public Relations Website 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
  2. What Kind of Public Relations Industry Will Gen Z Inherit?

    2 SEPT

    What Kind of Public Relations Industry Will Gen Z Inherit?

    PR really is at a crossroads… we’ve got old playbooks and new players coming in who want to change the rules.  In its report Mind the Gap, USC’s Center for Public Relations reveals sharp divides between Gen Z and older professionals on everything from AI and hybrid work to media influence and corporate purpose.   While Boomers and Gen X cling to the belief that human creativity will always be irreplaceable, Gen Z is charging ahead, optimistic about technology, eager for flexibility, and expecting brands to stand for something more than just profit. But will that energy survive once they step into leadership — or will they, too, get swallowed by the system? In this episode, we sit down with Fred Cook, Director of USC’s Center for Public Relations and author of the Mind the Gap report, to explore whether we’re training young professionals for a world that no longer exists. Are we too obsessed with purpose and not focused enough on performance? Are old myths about PR holding us back? And most importantly — can Gen Z avoid the mistakes their predecessors made, or are they destined to repeat them?  Listen For 3:04 The Weight on Gen Z’s Shoulders 5:15 Communicating Across Generations in a Fragmented Media Landscape 8:08 Polarization as a Business Model 12:02 The Death of Corporate Purpose? 17:56 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Ayeni Samuels   Guest: Fred Cook, Director USC Center for Public Relations Email | X | LinkedIn  Mind the Gap Study Stories and Strategies Website Curzon Public Relations Website 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
  3. Africa’s Missing Seat at the Global Public Relations Table

    26 AUG

    Africa’s Missing Seat at the Global Public Relations Table

    Ayeni Adekunle Samuel argues that Africa is often misunderstood or reduced to oversimplified stereotypes by global brands, agencies, and even tech platforms.   Despite Africa’s complexity, diversity, and economic importance, key decisions — including PR, marketing, and tech strategies — are still shaped in places like New York and London, often without African expertise or context.  Ayeni shares his personal journey as a Nigerian entrepreneur building a pan-African and international PR firm, highlighting both the structural barriers (like bias, access to capital, lack of representation) and the opportunities (especially in areas like AI and local innovation). Listen For 4:15 The Africa Strategy Mistake Global Brands Keep Making 7:41 The Case for Local Advisors 12:36 PR Prejudice: The Hidden Hurdles African Firms Face Abroad 16:30 Africa Has Talent, But Not Opportunity 17:10 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest David Gallagher Guest: Ayeni Adekunle Samuel Website | Email | Instagram 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
  4. It’s Groundhog Day in the Public Relations Industry

    19 AUG

    It’s Groundhog Day in the Public Relations Industry

    Why is the PR industry still having the same tired conversation? Year after year, event after event… while the world moves on without us?  We talk about getting a seat at the table, then sit quietly when we do.  We debate metrics like we haven’t had decades to solve them.  We celebrate awards for campaigns that often say nothing and change even less. We hold events that are same panel conversations… different year. Somewhere along the way, the industry built for cultural leadership got stuck in a cycle of repetition, imposter syndrome, and comfort.  David Gallagher of Folgate Advisors is a veteran voice who’s seen the industry from the inside and isn’t afraid to say what others won’t. It’s time to stop outsourcing our thinking and start redefining what this industry is actually for.  Listen For 4:58 Are We Really as Dynamic as We Claim? 10:22 Why PR Avoids True Innovation 11:34 How PR Lost Its Science-Driven Edge 17:43 Following the Wrong Model: PR as Advertising’s Shadow 19:30 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Bill Welser  Guest: David Gallagher, Folgate Advisors Email | LinkedIn | Folgate LinkedIn  Stories and Strategies Website Curzon Public Relations Website 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

    30 min
  5. Rebranding a Country

    12 AUG

    Rebranding a Country

    What does it take to rebrand an entire nation? Not just a logo or slogan—but the name itself. Gökhan Yücel helped lead the campaign to officially shift the international name from Turkey to Türkiye.   It’s a move that goes far beyond semantics—touching diplomacy, identity, and global perception. Gökhan pulls back the curtain on how such a monumental change has been communicated to the world and why it matters more than most of us think.  But this conversation goes even deeper. From repositioning Türkiye as the “nexus of the world” instead of merely a bridge between East and West, to attracting the next generation of global investors, to reshaping the way governments confront disinformation and how strategic storytelling can reshape the image of an entire country.  Listen For 3:06 Renaming a country… where do you even start? 6:53 How “country as brand” became a global strategy 9:42 “Hype is the new narrative”  13:57 Branding Türkiye for audiences in the West 16:33 From SEO to AEO — marketing in the AI era 18:15 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Bill Welser IV Guest: Gökhan Yücel, Campaign Designer Hello Türkiye Country Rebranding Campaign Email | X | LinkedIn  Hello Türkiye Campaign (YouTube) Türkiye Century Campaign (Official Site)   Stories and Strategies Website Curzon Public Relations Website 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
  6. AI that Maps the Mind

    5 AUG

    AI that Maps the Mind

    What if the most powerful tool in public relations isn’t a pitch deck or media list, but your own story? In this episode, we’re joined by technologist-turned-storytelling-evangelist William Welser IV, founder of Lotic, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to help people uncover the data hidden inside their own narrative. From his days building satellites to his unexpected pivot into behavioral science, Bill shares why he believes personal storytelling isn’t just therapy, it’s strategy.  The most powerful communication connects the head and the heart, the human and the machine and yes, the PR and the AI.  Listen For 4:36 Why Story is the Richest Data Set  6:34 What lotic.ai Actually Does  12:15 Why PR Pros Need Self-Awareness Tools  17:28 How lotic.ai Makes Money (Hint: It’s Not Your Data)  21:09 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Guest Brett Farmiloe Try lotic.ai for yourself, FOR FREE Guest: Bill Welser, Lotic Website | Email | X | Instagram  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

    29 min
  7. When the Media Quote isn’t Human: Fake Quotes – Real Damage

    29 JUL

    When the Media Quote isn’t Human: Fake Quotes – Real Damage

    What if the expert quote you just read in a news article wasn’t written by a human — but by AI?  That’s already happening.   A PR tool called Synapse is selling agencies the ability to fire off automated expert pitches to journalists, complete with research, personal-sounding anecdotes, and polished email copy — all with minimal human input. It promises one person can do the work of five and crank out twenty media pitches an hour.   But is this innovation, or is it a warning sign for the future of public relations?  In this episode, we’re unpacking what Synapse means for PR and media. We’ll explore why this kind of automation raises ethical alarms, how journalists are likely to respond, and what PR professionals need to do right now to protect trust, credibility, and the real value we bring to the table.   Listen For 6:12 Creepy or Clever? How Synapse Targets Reporters 7:48 Fabricated Experts: Ethical Red Line Crossed 10:35 Should the PR Industry Be Regulated? 11:16 How Journalists Will Fight Back With Closed Networks 22:40 Don’t Blame the AI—Blame Ourselves Stories and Strategies Website Curzon Public Relations Website 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. HARO Reloaded: How to Pitch Like It’s 2025

    22 JUL

    HARO Reloaded: How to Pitch Like It’s 2025

    In today’s media landscape, journalists are drowning in pitches while PR professionals scramble for attention—often missing the mark entirely. But what if the problem isn’t the story, but the way it’s being told—and the tools we’re using to tell it?  In this episode, we sit down with Brett Farmiloe, the revivalist behind Help a Reporter Out (HARO), to unpack why this once-iconic platform fell off the radar, how he brought it back to life, and what it now takes to genuinely stand out in a journalist’s inbox. Listen For 5:56 Why Journalists Are Still Drowning in Spam 7:05 The HARO Pitch Formula: Helpful, Authentic, Relevant, On-Time 10:20 Is the Definition of “Journalist” Changing? 14:05 What Journalists Really Want from PR People 20:15 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Guest Graham Goodkind  Guest: Brett Farmiloe Website | Email | X | LinkedIn | HARO LinkedIn Stories and Strategies Website Curzon Public Relations Website 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
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About

Welcome to Stories and Strategies, the world’s most listened to Public Relations podcast according to Podchaser, Goodpods, and data from Rephonic on public relations, communications, and marketing. Hosted by award-winning PR professionals Doug Downs in Canada and Farzana Baduel in the UK, this weekly podcast offers you bold ideas, sharp insights, and honest conversations about the future of public relations, strategic communications, and marketing. Every Tuesday, we release a new 20-minute episode packed with practical takeaways for PR professionals, communication strategists, and marketing leaders around the world. Whether it’s earned media, brand storytelling, digital communications, or navigating AI and behavioral science, we go beyond the surface and ask the questions that matter. Stories and Strategies doesn’t do puff pieces or profiles,  we dive into the real issues facing the global PR, marketing and comms industry with guests who are actively shaping it. Our episodes are trusted by listeners in over 100 countries. Follow now and join a worldwide community of public relations, marketing, and communications professionals driving the industry forward — one story at a time, every Tuesday.                              

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