Comms and Coffee

Hector
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Politics
  • Updated Biweekly

"In the age of rage and disinformation, Comms and Coffee goes to the frontlines to find the truth behind the message. Join us as we interview the unsung heroes and brightest minds to learn how to move policy, inform the public, and make a real impact—not just an impression."

Episodes

  1. Jun 10

    Sports and Higher Education Communications. Passionate and involved stakeholders' management.

    Paul Corliss, Assistant Vice President for Public Affairs and Internal Communications for the University of Michigan, pulls back the curtain on sports and higher education communications. He gives an insider look on navigating high profile industries that demand transparency and accountability. #publicrelations #strategiccommunications #mediarelations #communications #podcast 00:00 - Introduction & Paul Corless Bio01:07 - The Coffee Order & Early Broadcasting Dreams02:10 - Moving from Broadcast Journalism to Sports Writing03:16 - Joining the New Orleans Saints & Media Relations in the NFL04:53 - Crisis Communications During Hurricane Katrina06:31 - Bittersweet Super Bowl FOMO & Shifting Careers07:41 - Stepping into the Fast Lane with NASCAR09:44 - The Reality of Sports Comms: Sacrifices & Family Life12:07 - Building Trust and Cultural Perspectives with Athletes13:19 - Developing Healthy Relationships with the Media16:14 - Pivoting to Higher Education Communications19:02 - The Learning Curve: State Budgets & Academic Tenure20:44 - Reaching Generation Z & Adapting to the TikTok Ban24:09 - AI in Communications: Copy Editing vs. Original Storytelling29:40 - Leveraging University AI Research on Campus30:58 - Navigating Politics in Public Higher Ed (Texas SB17)35:51 - Flagship Responsibilities & Watching Bill McRaven in the Hot Seat39:38 - How to Pitch "Unsexy" Academic Research to Mainstream Media42:24 - What’s Next: Moving to the University of Michigan43:26 - Paul's Creative Outlet: Singer-Songwriter & Short Film Finalist46:50 - Wrap Up & Closing Remarks

    47 min

  2. May 22

    TMZ of Texas Politics

    Tony Ortiz's journey to journalism is one of the most unique stories you will ever hear. Driven by a daily desire to speak truth to power, Tony pulled back the curtain on Current Revolt—evolving a quiet, anonymous blog into one of the most disruptive forces in the state.Often describing his outlet as the "TMZ of Texas Politics," Tony explains how breaking massive legislative scandals put him on the map, why he refuses to pull punches for either political party, and how he uses hard receipts to expose online scams. In this episode, we dive deep into: The Sales Foundation: How cold-calling tech sales builds the ultimate thick skin for political blowback. The Blueprint of Disruption: Why a hyper-lean, subscriber-funded model allows independent media to outrun legacy newsrooms. The War on Propaganda: Navigating fake news, paid influencers, and the rising impact of AI in the digital age 00:00 - The Early Days: Cellular Sales & The iPhone Disruptor 01:55 - Welcome to the Show: Introducing Tony Ortiz (Current Revolt) 03:10 - The Ultimate Foundation: Why Sales is a Life Superpower 06:06 - The 2016 Trajectory: Shifting Focus from Sales to Politics 09:12 - Groundwork: Learning the Mechanics at Empower Texans 11:25 - The COVID Pivot: How Remote Software Sales Launched a Blog 16:02 - The Birth of Current Revolt: From Anonymous Op-Eds to Being Doxxed 19:45 - Putting CR on the Map: Navigating High-Profile Legislative Scandals 23:16 - Guarding Against Propaganda: Resisting Narrative Manipulation 28:13 - The "TMZ of Texas Politics": Defining the Gossip Rag Blueprint 34:32 - Media Accountability: Uncovering Scams and Fake News Influencers 44:44 - The Power of Receipts: Tracking Proof and Future Expansion#politics #mediarelations #publicrelations #communications #strategiccommunications

    1h 4m

  3. May 5

    From Small Town DJ to Leading Texas #1 Politics News Outlet: Scott Braddock Marks 30 Years in Media

    Even he can't believe it, but it's now been 30 years since my friend Scott Braddock dropped out of high school to start a full time career in media. He started as a small town Texas disc jockey in Brenham and worked his way up to prominent positions in some of the state's top newsrooms in Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth. Now, in Austin, he runs the essential news outlet for Texas political professionals. This past year he also launched the state's new #1 politics podcast: Quorum Report Radio, available on all podcast apps.

    56 min

  4. Apr 23

    16 Years in the Anchor Chair: Karina Kling on the Future of Texas Media

    Is local journalism dying, or just evolving? Former Spectrum News anchor Karina Kling joins us to discuss the 'age of rage' in media and her transition from the anchor chair to the world of political communications.0:00 Intro & Coffee Order3:12 Meet Karina Kling: Communications Director at Hillco Partners5:06 The "Why" Behind Journalism: From Kansas to Graduate School7:14 Early Career: Reporting from a Bureau in Nebraska10:46 Moving to Austin: Joining Spectrum News (News 8 Austin)13:13 Why Politics? Holding Power Accountable15:44 Life as an Anchor: Much More Than Reading a Teleprompter17:35 The Evolution of Media: From MySpace to Instant News21:32 Launching and Anchoring "Capitol Tonight"25:00 Maintaining Non-Partisanship in a Polarized World29:00 Navigating AI and Disinformation in the Modern Newsroom32:05 Pro-Tips for PR & Comms: Building Relationships with Journalists36:06 Healthy News Consumption: Advice for the "Age of Rage"41:05 The Pivot: Transitioning from Media to Hillco Partners43:29 Affecting Change: The Power of Strategy and Storytelling in Policy46:10 Closing Thoughts and Cheers#publicrelations #communications #mediarelations #politics #politicalreporting #media

    46 min

  5. Apr 2

    Political Reporter breaks down the good, the bad, and the ugly of reporting on #politics .

    Political reporter Patrick Sviteck talks politics, media relations, and the future of the media. He recently worked for The Washington Post, covering campaigns and breaking political news. Before that, he covered Texas politics for nearly a decade. You do not want to miss this conversation!#publicrelations #newsmedia #communications #podcast #mediarelations #journalism #strategiccommunication #strategiccommunications #politics #politicstoday

    56 min

  6. Mar 10

    Emmy Award Winner talks about communications after a natural disaster.

    Emmy award winner, Brittany Eck, joins us on the show to discuss communications after a natural disaster. Additionally, we discuss how her team at the GLO, under Commissioner Bush, received an Emmy Award for its public service announcement regarding flood insurance purchases. This achievement marks only the second time a state agency has earned this award.Brittany Eck is the Director of Communications for the Disaster Recovery at the Texas General Land Office. If a natural disaster strikes, then she is on the ground helping get the message out to Texans on how they can recover.#communications #podcast #publicrelations #disaster #mediarelations #crisiscommunication #publicpolicyAsk

    1h 10m

  7. Feb 21

    Episode 4: Merrill Davis, VP of Communications at Texas 2036

    Merrill Davis is the Vice President of Communications at Texas 2036, the nonpartisan organization using data and storytelling to help Texans prepare for the future — in our schools, our workforce, and our water supply. She worked her way from an entry-level role to senior leadership at Public Strategies, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, and Mercury Public Affairs, leading major campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, associations, and statewide partners. And Merrill believes something every communicator in Texas understands: the right story, told well, can still change everything.You can find Merrill Davis here at Texas 2036: https://texas2036.org/posts/staff_mem...She is currently focused on March Matters, which aims to get more people to vote in the primary elections. https://www.marchmatters.org/#communications #mediarelations #media #politics #policy #strategiccommunication #publicrelations #politicstoday

    1h 7m

  8. Feb 4

    Episode 3: James Barragan

    Incredible conversation with James Barragan, who anchors Capital Tonight for Spectrum News. He tells his story from LAX to ATX. James gives great insights into the financial challenges of the media. He also explains the past, present, and future of the media dealing with politics. hashtag#communications hashtag#publicrelations hashtag#mediarelations hashtag#media hashtag#strategiccommunication hashtag#crisiscommunication hashtag#politics

    56 min

  9. Jan 20

    Episode 2: Communications Expert Marjorie Clifton explains how to get your message out to the public and cut through the noise.

    Marjorie Clifton details her over two decades of experience in communications, public relations, and media relations. Her experience gives her a front seat to the changing environment during the modern era of communication and messaging. Marjorie has her own firm that guides clients through a vastly diverse portfolio of issues. https://cliftonconsultingllc.com/team...Her latest project https://www.marchmatters.org/ forces to use all of her expertise as she tries to educate an electorate on the importance of voting in the primary elections in March. Viewers will get a highly entertaining and thought-provoking conversation. #communications #mediarelations #publicrelations #politics #voting #strategiccommunications

    1h 15m

  10. Jan 5

    Brad Johnson: Preeminent Texas politics reporter breaks down the media landscape and the future of media.

    Preeminent Texas political reporter, Brad Johnson, breaks down issues with the media and what the future holds. #communicationstrategies #communications #strategiccommunication #publicrelations #media #policy #politics

    48 min

  11. 12/30/2025

    Comms and Coffee The Official Trailer

    "In the age of rage and disinformation, Comms and Coffee goes to the frontlines to find the truth. Join us as we interview the unsung heroes and brightest minds to learn how to move policy, inform the public, and make a real impact—not just an impression." Series Premiere on Jan 5, 2025 #communications #strategiccommunications #publicrelations #media #politics #policy

    1 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

"In the age of rage and disinformation, Comms and Coffee goes to the frontlines to find the truth behind the message. Join us as we interview the unsung heroes and brightest minds to learn how to move policy, inform the public, and make a real impact—not just an impression."

Information

  • Creator
    Hector
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hector
  • Show Website
    Comms and Coffee