The PRovoke Media Podcast

Agency Leaders Podcast: Susan Howe

In the second of our CEO Podcast series, Paul Holmes talked with Susan Howe, chief executive of The Weber Shandwick Collective, for a wide-ranging conversation that included the challenges of maintaining a cohesive culture across one of the world's largest agencies, the importance of creativity, the changing media landscape, AI, and the impending merger between Interpublic and Omnicom.

Fight or Flight On The Individualist Era

Fight or Flight discusses the growth of employee power.

Building Out Golin’s Vision To Be The First Fully AI-Integrated PR Agency

Golin chief AI officer Jeff Beringer joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss his vision for being a fully AI-integrated PR agency.

If all goes as planned, Golin by 2026 will be the first fully AI-integrated PR firm, transforming everything from workflow and jobs to the nature of client relationships.

In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Jeff Beringer, Golin’s first chief AI officer, and PRovoke Media’s Diana Marszalek discuss what being “fully AI-integrated” means in practical terms and how full-scale adoption of the technology will boost output and efficiency — all while keeping human relationships (and jobs) intact. Says Beringer, “We’re  trying to equip people to do their best.”

Doomscrolling, Disinformation and DOGE – Survival Skills For Uncertain Times

This year has already seen rapid and significant disruption in the media, policy and business landscape. Meanwhile, the increasing sophistication of disruptive technologies are leading to further confusion. Finn Partners partner David Krejci – a pioneer in media forensics, and an expert on misinformation, disruptive technologies, and bad faith actors – and managing partner of global public affairs Jessica Ross – an expert in issues management, crisis communications and the intersection of policy and business – join Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the state of play in the current turbulent environment, and share insights, tips and best practices for navigating the complexity of a rapidly changing business environment. 

CCO Podcast 3: Michael Gonda (McDonald's)

In a candid conversation with Paul Holmes, chief impact officer Michael Gonda discussed the past year at McDonald's from inflation to the election, from E.coli and DEI.

How PR Pros Can Tackle AI Agents, Trump 2.0 And The Disinformation Deluge

FleishmanHillard's head of digital reputation for EMEA, Peter Wilson, joins Maja Pawinska Sims in the Markettiers studio to talk about the emergence of AI agents and the impact that automated processes, reports and analysis 'with the human in the loop' could have on many areas of PR practice, including public affairs and policy monitoring, and getting the balance right between off-the-shelf AI and developing and investing in proprietary tools. Wilson also outlines new corporate affairs thought leadership from the agency, and discusses how corporate leaders and communicators can navigate the second Trump era and the growing threat of strategic disinformation.

Corporate Affairs Trends 2025

 

A New Blueprint for Civil Society Engagement from Zeno

Building on Zeno Group’s recent report on “Allies & Advocates,” which provides a new blueprint for civil society engagement in an increasingly polarized world, Paul Holmes sat down with Sarah Ogden, chief client officer for Zeno in London, and Georg Schmitt, former head of stakeholder engagement for the World Economic Forum and now a member of Zeno’s reputation advisory board, to discuss the report’s recommendations.

 

Looking at corporate engagement with civil society issues on a continuum that starts with mere compliance, progresses through support and advocacy, and culminated in activism, the report found that both consumers and executives feel the “sweet spot” is in the middle: with companies supporting and advocating for social causes. The discussion focused on a strategic approach that can help companies decide when and how to engage.

Agency Leaders Podcast: #1, Richard Edelman

In the first of a series of interviews with the leaders of agencies around the world, Paul Holmes sat down with Richard Edelman, CEO of Edelman.

In a conversation that covered the firm’s history, the reasons it has remained committed to its independence, its Trust Barometer research, and the challenges Richard sees ahead as the competitive landscape evolves.

Future editions of this podcast will feature a wide variety of leaders, from giant multinational agencies to small specialist boutiques, from all of the world's regions as we seek to capture what drives success in a dynamic, fast-changing, hyper-competitive PR business.

Read highlights from the episode here: https://www.provokemedia.com/long-reads/article/richard-edelman-i-like-to-run-the-pirate-ship

Balancing Lead Gen and Brand-Building in B2B Marketing

Research from UK agency Brands2Life found business-to-business marketers struggling to balance the immediate payoff of lead generation with the long-term imperative of building brand equity.

PRovoke Media's Paul Holmes sat down with Emily Thomas of B2L and Coopervision senior global brand director Chris Carter to discuss how marketers can strike the right balance.

CCO Podcast: PMI’s Moira Gilchrist on the “Fifth Estate”

Moira Gilchrist, chief communications officer at Philip Morris International, joins Paul Holmes to discuss the “Fifth Estate,” and the changing face of activism.