FIR Interviews
89 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingInterviews with business leaders and innovators of interest to communicators
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Episodes
FIR Interview: William Beutler on PR and Wikipedia
March 07, 2024 16:20 - 36 minutes - 50.8 MBGoogle searches link to Wikipedia more than any other website. It is the largest and most-read reference work in history. It is consistently ranked as one of the 10 most popular websites in the world, and as of 2024 is the fifth most visited website on the net. Wikipedia is also one of the richest sources of information for AI training models. With all those eyes on Wikipedia, it's no surprise that PR professionals want relevant entries to reflect their priorities and messages. Yet Wikipedia...
FIR Interviews: ChatGPT Speaks for Itself About Its PR Capabilities
December 29, 2023 16:56 - 57 minutes - 24.1 MBVolumes have been written in the last year about how to apply ChatGPT and other generative AI tools to the practice of public relations and organizational communication. In this midweek episode, we let ChatGPT speak for itself about how it can enhance communicators’ work — and whether communicators are at risk of being replaced by AI. Shel is solo in this episode, so he interviews ChatGPT to ask about its processes for press releases and other PR writing and editing, its non-media and non-w...
FIR Interview: Radina Russell on Edelman’s “Future of Corporate Communications” Study
November 09, 2023 16:11 - 27 minutes - 38.4 MBThe latest research report out of communication agency Edelman is rich with takeaways. The 2023 Corporate Communications Study follows a 2021 edition that explored the implications of the pandemic on the role of organizational communication. The report revealed that Chief Communication Officers (CCOs) now spend nearly 20 percent of their time counseling CEOs on issues unrelated to communication. That's just one sign that the CCO's stock has risen in organizations, with 91 percent of top comm...
FIR Interview: Bob Dilenschneider on Power and Influence
July 14, 2023 17:21 - 27 minutes - 38.4 MBRobert L. Dilenschneider has learned a lot about power and influence during his storied career. The former president and CEO of global PR firm Hill & Knowlton has led his own agency, The Dilenschneider Group, since 1991. The author of several books, Bob is about to launch his latest work, "The Ultimate Guide to Power and Influence: Everything You Need to Know," which hits bookstores on July 25. In this FIR Interview, co-host Shel Holtz speaks with Bob about the nature of power and influence...
FIR Interview: Allan Schoenberg on His New Job, Twitter, AI, and More
June 16, 2023 17:31 - 27 minutes - 38.4 MBAllan Schoenberg has spent much of his career as a communication leader in the financial services space, including a stint as Sr. VP and Global Head of Communications and Social Media for NASDAQ. Allan, former co-host of the FIR Podcast Network's "FIR B2B," recently pivoted to become Chief Communication Officer at Vinson & Elkins, a New York-based law firm. In this FIR Interview, Allan discusses the move along with a culture audit he undertook at the firm. He also shares his views on the cu...
FIR Interview: Jeremiah Owyang on the Artificial Intelligence Marketplace
April 28, 2023 21:02 - 27 minutes - 38.9 MBJeremiah Owyang has a habit. Whenever a new digital technology emerges that seems to be poised to disrupt business and society, Jeremiah dives in, talking to everyone he can, attending conferences, meetings, and talks, and undertaking a deep dive into every research resource available. In his eighth FIR interview, Jeremiah shares his perspectives on Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has been around for some time but has only recently taken the world by storm with the release of ChatGPT. C...
FIR Interview: PRophet Founder and CEO Aaron Kwittken
April 05, 2023 19:59 - 33 minutes - 46.9 MBWhile journalists are sick of spray-and-pray pitches and press releases, they are equally heartened to see pitches that are tailored to their interests. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) has gained prominence since the November 2022 public release of ChatGPT, more public relations practitioners may be open to the idea of using AI to help identify the right journalists for their stories and craft pitches that will be more likely to appeal to them. In this FIR Interview, Neville Hobson and Shel...
#743: Zachariah Moreno w/ Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility
June 13, 2022 13:05 - 4 minutes - 1.97 MBThis episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Zachariah Moreno. Continue Reading → The post #743: Zachariah Moreno w/ Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
#742: Marius Bill w/ Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility
June 13, 2022 13:00 - 5 minutes - 2.39 MBThis episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Marius Bill. Continue Reading → The post #742: Marius Bill w/ Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
Spin Sucks 203: Women Change Everything
June 08, 2022 13:00 - 9 minutes - 8.62 MBWhat changes in a company when women enter top-level positions? Gini Dietrich dives into this question on this week’s episode of Spin Sucks. Continue Reading → The post Spin Sucks 203: Women Change Everything appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
#741: Valerie Sheppard w/ Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility
June 06, 2022 13:00 - 5 minutes - 2.61 MBThis episode features #ThoughtLeader and #Expert Valerie Sheppard. Continue Reading → The post #741: Valerie Sheppard w/ Mitchell Levy on Thought Leader Life Credibility appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
Spin Sucks 202: Focusing on the Positive
June 01, 2022 13:00 - 9 minutes - 8.43 MBAt the end of the day, people want to have a purpose. Gini Dietrich explores how to make employees feel valued and ways to deliver positive feedback as well as constructive feedback, when necessary. Continue Reading → The post Spin Sucks 202: Focusing on the Positive appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
ALP 153: Sharing your agency’s internal work product with clients
May 30, 2022 13:00 - 18 minutes - 15.4 MBIn this episode of the Agency Leadership Podcast, Chip and Gini pick up a question from the Spin Sucks Community to dive into this topic. Continue Reading → The post ALP 153: Sharing your agency’s internal work product with clients appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
Spin Sucks 201: Preparing for the Inevitable
May 25, 2022 13:00 - 16 minutes - 14.7 MBWhat should communicators be doing now with a recession likely around the corner? Gini Dietrich shares seven tips to handle it in stride. Continue Reading → The post Spin Sucks 201: Preparing for the Inevitable appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
Spin Sucks 186: As the Situation Escalates
March 09, 2022 14:00 - 8 minutes - 7.89 MBWhat is the role of communicators in times of crisis? Gini Dietrich discusses the importance of ES&G, especially in the wake of a pandemic, political unrest, and the current war. Continue Reading → The post Spin Sucks 186: As the Situation Escalates appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR Interview: Three Whiskey's Ben Myall on Anticipating Resistance
February 09, 2022 16:05 - 32 minutes - 45.8 MBThree Whiskey conducted extensive research into online anti-vaccination sentiment, identifying distinct groups, all of whom are critical of vaccination campaigns. Based on this research, the agency posted recommendations for public health institutions to consider when introducing vaccination campaigns. This approach is repeatable in other campaigns in which a group digs in its heels in opposition to the recommended course of action, vocally opposing the initiative. In this FIR Interview, Nev...
FIR Interview: When Narrative Strategies Fail
November 21, 2021 21:14 - 30 minutes - 12.8 MBAnyone working in communications has learned that storytelling is a vital element of influence. (An old Indian proverb proclaims, "Tell me a fact and I will learn, tell me the truth and I will believe, but tell me a story and it will live in my heart forever.") There is a wealth of literature and research that supports the value of a narrative approach to reinforcing or changing behaviors and for building support for an initiative or point of view. Does it always work? In one case, in one s...
Inside PR 553: Ethically, Legally, Responsibly
September 23, 2021 15:20 - 18 minutes - 26.1 MBAe talk about the PR Writer’s Code of Conduct and ethical communications. An evergreen topic. The post Inside PR 553: Ethically, Legally, Responsibly appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
Spin Sucks 163: Mind the Pay Gap
September 01, 2021 13:00 - 9 minutes - 9.12 MBOn this week's episode of the Spin Sucks podcast, Gini Dietrich discusses the the unfair wage gap in the communications industry, how it disproportionately affects non-white men and women, and the responsibility of white colleagues to help fix it. Continue Reading → The post Spin Sucks 163: Mind the Pay Gap appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR Interview: Faisal Saeed Al Mutar and Bringing Books Back to the University of Mosul
July 24, 2021 20:29 - 9 minutes - 14 MBFaisal Saeed Al Mutar is the founder and CEO of Ideas Beyond Borders, a non-profit organization based in New York. We recently connected on Twitter and Faisal was telling me about a project to rebuild the library of the University of Mosul in Iraq that had been destroyed by the Islamic State or ISIS during the war in Iraq. It’s been almost four years since ISIS was expelled from the city of Mosul, but life is still far from normal at the University of Mosul, where students pass bombed-out d...
FIR Interview: Eric Schwartzman on His New Book, “The Digital Pivot”
May 10, 2021 19:50 - 29 minutes - 12.4 MBEric Schwartzman, an early contributor to the "For Immediate Release" podcast, has written a new book, "The Digital Pivot," and discussed it with Shel and Neville. In the book, Eric explains what successful digital marketers do differently. Continue Reading → The post FIR Interview: Eric Schwartzman on His New Book, “The Digital Pivot” appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR Interview: "An Effort to Understand" Author David Murray
April 03, 2021 19:06 - 1 hour - 25.3 MBDavid Murray's new book, "An Effort to Understand," is a collection of essays drawn from many years of posts to his blog, Writing Boots. Addressing the challenges of communicating with one another in a polarized society, the book is structured first to define communication, then move from the personal to the organizational. Like the society on which the book is focused, not everyone will agree with everything in the book, but Murray offers sage wisdom about how to engage in conversations abo...
FIR Interview: CiviliNation's Andrea Weckerle and Jolie O'Dell
March 17, 2021 19:44 - 44 minutes - 18.6 MBAndrea Weckerle first appeared in an FIR Interview a decade ago after she had founded CiviliNation, a non-profit that is "taking a stand against online harassment, character assassination, misinformation, and violence." That's a tall order given the state of civil discourse these days. In this FIR Interview, Andrea is joined by CiviliNation's new president, veteran technology journalist Jolie O'Dell. The conversation covers the organization's approach to addressing the issues that underlie o...
FIR Interview: Phil Gomes on the NFT Craze
March 12, 2021 21:51 - 33 minutes - 46 MBYou can't visit a news site or check your feeds right now without seeing articles about NFTs -- non-fungible tokens -- and how they have captured imaginations. Taco Bell, the National Basketball Association, the Kings of Leon, Jack Dorsey, and artists like the one who sold a JPG for $69 million are examples of digital assets that have been purchased (or are up for grabs) with NFTs. There are scenarios that make NFTs exciting for brands and, by extension, for communicators. What are they and...
The Spin Sucks Podcast #76: Professional Development
November 13, 2019 15:25 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBHow do you approach professional development? In this episode of the Spin Sucks Podcast, Gini Dietrich offers tips and strategies to help you stay on top of the trends and become a lifelong learner. Continue Reading → The post The Spin Sucks Podcast #76: Professional Development appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
Spin Sucks Podcast #75: Diversity Issues in the Comms Industry
November 06, 2019 17:15 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBDiversity issues hold women to an impossible standard, as well as ignore other areas of privilege like race, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Gini Dietrich looks at diversity from a personal and professional perspective and offers strategies on how to initiate much-needed changes. Continue Reading → The post Spin Sucks Podcast #75: Diversity Issues in the Comms Industry appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
Spin Sucks Podcast #74: The Do’s and Don’ts of Holiday-Themed Content Campaigns
October 30, 2019 14:21 - 9 minutes - 8.56 MBIf you hit the mark, holiday-themed content offers an ideal opportunity to generate engagement and a fun way to connect with your audience. Continue Reading → The post Spin Sucks Podcast #74: The Do’s and Don’ts of Holiday-Themed Content Campaigns appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
The Spin Sucks Podcast #73: The Art of Negotiation
October 23, 2019 15:09 - 11 minutes - 11 MBNegotiations aren't easy and PR pros often shy away from them. Gini Dietrich looks at the various types of negotiations communicators are involved in and shares strategies to improve your skills. Continue Reading → The post The Spin Sucks Podcast #73: The Art of Negotiation appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
The Spin Sucks Podcast #72: Mobile Apps for All Seasons
October 15, 2019 22:18 - 13 minutes - 12 MBNot all mobile apps are for everyone. And just because all of your friends are raving about one that has made their life easier doesn't necessarily mean it's going to work for you. Gini Dietrich offers tips on how to select the apps that will help you achieve your goals. Continue Reading → The post The Spin Sucks Podcast #72: Mobile Apps for All Seasons appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
The Spin Sucks Podcast #70: Pop-Ups- Love 'Em or Leave 'Em
October 02, 2019 17:25 - 9 minutes - 8.85 MBWhile we doubt anyone will say "I love pop-up ads!", by the time you're finished this episode of the #SpinSucksPodcast, we think you'll start to realize how effective they can be in your marketing efforts, and start to hate them less. Gini Dietrich tells us why. Continue Reading → The post The Spin Sucks Podcast #70: Pop-Ups—Love ‘Em or Leave ‘Em appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
The Spin Sucks Podcast #69: Digital Decluttering
September 25, 2019 16:07 - 7 minutes - 6.58 MBIf one of your resolutions for 2019 was to stay organized and do regular digital decluttering sessions, and you find you've fallen off track, don't panic. This episode of the Spin Sucks podcast tackles digital decluttering, one step at a time. Continue Reading → The post The Spin Sucks Podcast #69: Digital Decluttering appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
The Spin Sucks Podcast #68: Dealing with Unhappy Customers—Off and Online
September 18, 2019 14:22 - 13 minutes - 12.3 MBThe internet and social media take any and all privacy out of negative customer experiences if the customer feels like venting to an audience. So how should you handle customer complaints in front of a virtual crowd? This episode of the Spin Sucks podcast shares strategies and tips. Continue Reading → The post The Spin Sucks Podcast #68: Dealing with Unhappy Customers—Off and Online appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
Episode 67: When
September 11, 2019 18:06 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBIn this episode of the Spin Sucks podcast, we talk about what to do if you don't like your boss, but the boss is you. Continue Reading → The post The Spin Sucks Podcast #66: When You Don’t Like Your Boss and Your Boss is You appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
The Spin Sucks Podcast #66: Managing the Challenges of Vacation
September 04, 2019 15:30 - 9 minutes - 8.73 MBEveryone needs time off. Gini Dietrich offers tips on how to take an unplugged holiday and prepare for a return to the office without tossing your vacation vibes right into the trash. Continue Reading → The post The Spin Sucks Podcast #66: Managing the Challenges of Vacation appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
Emails That Don't Suck
August 21, 2019 16:00 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBNot all emails are created equal. Truthfully, a lot them actually do suck, but that doesn’t mean yours has to. Find out how to improve your email marketing on the Spin Sucks Podcast. Continue Reading → The post The Spin Sucks Podcast #64: Email Marketing That Doesn’t Suck appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
The Spin Sucks Podcast #63: Coming Up With Ideas for Content
August 14, 2019 16:12 - 8 minutes - 7.41 MBContent creation is part of every communicator's job. But if you're someone who hates the thought of writing posts, and finds yourself clicking over to YouTube or Instagram instead, you're not alone. Today, on the #SpinSucksPodcast, we offer fresh ideas about where to get—well ... fresh ideas. Continue Reading → The post The Spin Sucks Podcast #63: Coming Up With Ideas for Content appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
Customer Service - The Magic Is In the Details
July 03, 2019 14:38 - 11 minutes - 10.6 MBIn this episode of the Spin Sucks Podcast, Gini Dietrich talks about how to provide consistently good customer service over the long haul. She covers the importance of setting boundaries, consistently clear communication, ensuring your whole team is on board and being proactive in how and when you reach out to your clients. If you’re a communications pro who works with clients - you’ll want to check out this episode. Continue Reading → The post Spin Sucks Podcast #57: Customer Service Magi...
Spin Sucks #56: 5 Tips to Stay Ahead of Industry News and Trends
June 26, 2019 16:47 - 6 minutes - 5.7 MBBeing in marketing and communications, you’re often considered to be “the expert” in your field. Whether it’s colleagues, clients, family, and friends, people rely on you to be on top of the latest and greatest in your industry. Of course, that’s easier said than done, because who can keep up with the constant changes on... Continue Reading → The post Spin Sucks #56: 5 Tips to Stay Ahead of Industry News and Trends appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
#142: Montressa Washington, Natalie Forest & Mitchell Levy on Comfortability and Vulnerability
March 14, 2018 16:00 - 40 minutes - 18.5 MBIn this episode, Mitchell Levy (@HappyAbout), TEDx speaker and the AHA Guy at AHAthat (http://AHAthat.com), and co-host Natalie Forest(@NatalieForest), founder of Success Revolutions and Revolutionize Your Potential (http://natalieforest.com), exchange great insights with #ThoughtLeader Mali Phonpadith (@MaliPhonpadith), founder and CEO of SOAR Community Network, LLC (https://soarcommunitynetwork.com). Continue Reading → The post #142: Montressa Washington, Natalie Forest & Mitchell Levy on...
FIR Interview: Mayo Clinic's Dr. Sandhya Pruthi and Jay Maxwell on Creating a Smart Audio First Aid Skill
October 19, 2017 22:01 - 24 minutes - 10.6 MBIn this FIR Interview, Shel Holtz talks with Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, the Mayo Clinic's chief medical editor and associate medical director for Content Management and Delivery, and Jay Maxwell, senior director of Health Information, about the development of the Clinic's new First Aid skill for the Amazon Alexa platform, how it works, how they measure its effectiveness, and their approach toward preparing for a voice-enabled world. The interview includes a brief demonstration of the Clinic's Alexa...
FIR Interview: Nicole Scheffler, Host of the Diva Tech Talk Podcast
October 11, 2017 00:52 - 24 minutes - 10.4 MBAccording to its website, Diva Tech Talk "is a specialized communication channel highlighting women doing wonderful things in the technology arena by creating podcasts from interviews with successful female individuals in the field and covering various technology events. It was created to inform and inspire women of all ages to succeed in professional and life missions that are technology-driven." The podcast has also won Clarion Awards from the Association for Women in Communications in 20...
FIR Interview: Phil Gomes on Blockchain and the Marketing Value of Digital Permanence
September 14, 2017 18:27 - 56 minutes - 23.2 MBIn this FIR Interview, host Shel Holtz talks with Edelman's Phil Gomes, senior vice president of U.S. B2B Digital, about his new blockchain white paper, published by the American Association of Advertising Agencies. that makes the case for marketers and communicators to add blockchain technology to the list of technologies they must understand. some of the startups whose work could change communication processes and content, as well as other dimensions of blockchain that will soon be part of...
FIR Interview: Jen McClure on the State of Employee Advocacy
September 13, 2017 19:31 - 27 minutes - 11.5 MBIn this FIR Interview, host Shel Holtz talks with Jen McClure about JEM Consulting's "State of Employee Advocacy" survey, including the connection between employee advocacy and social selling, whether employees who participate in an employee advocacy should have their involvement reflected in their performance evaluations, the role of advocacy amplification apps (and whether they can constitute an entire advocacy program), and some of the challenges of maintaining enthusiasm among ambassador...
FIR Interview: Judith Platz and John Ragsdale on TSIA's B2B Social Engagement Rating
September 06, 2017 18:20 - 30 minutes - 12.8 MBIn this FIR Interview, host Shel Holtz spoke with Judith Platz and John Ragsdale, research vice presidents at the Technology Services Industry Association (TSIA) about the motivation for developing the"TSIA B2B Social Engagement Rating," the thinking behind low- and high-engagement activities, and how TSIA members (which includes the likes of Honeywell, Panasonic, NCR, Symantec, and Unisys) have responded to the rating. Continue Reading → The post FIR Interview: Judith Platz and John Ragsda...
FIR Interviews: Jen McClure on Digital and Social Media Risk
August 01, 2017 22:46 - 22 minutes - 9.8 MBThe risks posed by the common use of digital and social media include several that social media and marketing teams typically don't consider. In early July, JEM Consulting & Advisory Services released the results of a new study, 2017 State of Digital & Social Media Risk. In addition to not having all the right players at the table when developing processes and policies for digital and social media, too many companies don't even have policies and even fewer conduct all-employee training. In t...
FIR Interviews: David Meerman Scott on Sonic Branding
July 19, 2017 15:27 - 25 minutes - 10.9 MBWhat can be better than combining two of your passions to launch a new business? That's exactly what David Meerman Scott did when he opened the doors of Signature Tones, which he describes as a "sonic branding studio" that he started with his partner, musician Juanito Pascual. The agency, which lets Scott apply his marketing skills to his love of music, creates sonic logos and original music designed to become as recognizable when heard as logos and trademarks are when seen. In this FIR Inte...
FIR Interview: The Challenges of Standardizing Employee Communication Measurement
July 08, 2017 01:19 - 46 minutes - 19.4 MBFIR host Shel Holtz moderated a discussion featuring Sean Williams, who coordinated an effort by the Institute for Public Relations to establish standards for employee communication measurement, and three other communication measurement thought leaders: Katie Paine, Angela Sinickas, and Ryan Williams. The robust discussion reflects the challenges of trying to set measurement standards for an activity as inconsistently practiced as employee communications. Among the points of contention that ...
For Immediate Release Interview: Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer on PR Analytics
May 16, 2017 19:07 - 30 minutes - 12.9 MBIn this third FIR Interview, Sharam Fouladgar-Mercer discusses insights he has gained from four years of assessing PR efforts, including a "potential customer number." He discusses the dramatic changes PR has experienced in the last four years and the increased demand on practitioners to deliver meaningful metrics, as well as the integration of PR with web analytics to track actions and behaviors following a communication. Sharam also talked with FIR Interviews host Shel Holtz about the poi...
For Immediate Release Interview: Jacob Morgan on Creating the Employee Experience
April 18, 2017 18:57 - 29 minutes - 12.6 MBIn this FIR Interview, host Shel Holtz spent 30 minutes talking with "The Employee Experience Advantage" author Jacob Morgan about what it takes to deliver a great work experience to employees, some of the misconceptions about the idea, and the connection between experience and engagement, among other topics. Continue Reading → The post FIR Interview: Jacob Morgan on Creating the Employee Experience appeared first on FIR Podcast Network.
FIR Interview: Jeremiah Owyang on Corporate Innovation Programs
March 09, 2017 15:36 - 34 minutes - 14.4 MBJeremiah Owyang founded CrowdCompanies as a council of large businesses that stood to be disrupted by the "sharing economy," a class of businesses established based on the innovation of technology serving as the intermediary between people who have something (cars, spare rooms or apartments, free time) and people who want it (to get somewhere cheaper and faster than a cab, to stay somewhere more homey and less costly than a hotel room, to clean out a garage or scan photos, for example). Each...