505 years ago, on this day in 1521, a German monk named Martin Luther stood before the Holy Roman Emperor, representatives of the Pope, and the assembled powers of church and state at the Diet of Worms. He was asked a simple question: Would he recant his writings? Luther had already nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to a church door several years earlier. Those ideas had spread. They had caused discomfort. They had challenged authority. And now, at Worms, he was being asked to take them back. His response, according to tradition, ended with the line: "Here I stand. I can do no other." In this episode of The Little Questions, Apella partners Andrew Brown and Matt Young mark the anniversary by doing something mildly unwise: convening our own modern-day Diet of Worms. Not the intestinal complaint, but the moment where you're asked to look back at what you've written, said, and believed… and decide whether you still stand by it. Over the years, it's been suggested - sometimes quietly, sometimes after a drink - that we might harbour a few heretical thoughts about the communications and PR industry. Rather than deny it, we're leaning in. Some of these theses are provocative. Some are uncompromising. Some may be deeply inconvenient. And like Luther before the authorities at Worms, we invite challenge, debate, and disagreement. Just don't ask us to recant. Because today, of all days, it feels right to say: Here we stand. Andrew Brown; formerly Director of Communications and Public affairs at Ageas Insurance, Andrew has more than ten years' experience leading the corporate affairs functions for global, listed, multifaceted firms across a range of regulated and unregulated sectors. He has considerable experience in issues, crisis and change management as well as reputation sentiment analysis and insight. Formerly Director of Communications at Drax Group plc and Group Corporate Affairs Director at Regus plc. Matt Young has 25 years of experience across media relations, public affairs, regulatory development, employee engagement, brand development, competition and CSR. Group corporate affairs director at Lloyds Banking Group, part of the senior team which rescued the bank and rebuilt its reputation following the financial crisis. Formerly communications director at Santander UK and board member of the BBA. Y ou can get in touch by emailing podcast@apellaadvisors.com and please consider leaving us a review. This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.
