The PRovoke Media Podcast
PRovoke Media 547 episodes Oct 31, 2026
The PRovoke Media Podcast, formerly known as the Echo Chamber, offers insight and intelligence from across the global PR industry. Hosted by PRovoke Media editors, it features interviews, analysis and conversation with professionals and commentators. Each weekly episode explores trends, challenges and ideas shaping public relations and communications. The show is aimed at PR practitioners and anyone interested in the industry's evolving landscape.
Episodes
PRovoke Podcast: Increased Oversight + Affordability = Turbulence Ahead
Tucker Warren, a senior partner at Penta who previously served as communications director for the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, sat down with me to discuss the upcoming US midterms, the chances that Democrats will take at least the House, and what an oversight agenda might mean for corporate America.
Young Changemakers: Valiant Freeman in Conversation with Diana Marszalek
Valiant Freeman discusses the family storytelling that inspired him to go into a career in communications.
Young Changemakers: Valiant Freeman 2
Valiant Freeman discusses how family stories inspired him to go into communications.
Young Changemakers: Valiant Freeman
Valiant Freeman is one of PRovoke's 2026 Young Changemakers
Young Changemakers 2026: Madi Vanstone In Conversation with Paul Holmes
By the age of 14, Madi Vanstone had already accomplished something that would be the crowning achievement for many healthcare public relations professionals: she had led a campaign that culminated in a change to Canada’s healthcare policy, giving patients across the country access to life-changing medication.
Now she is one of our 2026 Young Changemakers, and talks with Paul Holmes about her insp
Young Changemakers 2026: Jesslyn Laiyenes In Conversation with Camillia Dass
Ogilvy's APAC influence manager discusses her journey from Indonesia to Singapore, the changing role of creators in communications, and why the industry needs to create more opportunities for emerging talent.
Young Changemakers Podcast: Amira Williams In Conversation with Paul Holmes
FleishmanHillard’s Amira Williams discusses why she sees corporate affairs as critical for brands, and the industry’s progress—and shortcomings—on DEI.
SABRE Showcase Podcast: In the Age of AI, Icelandair Keeps It Real
Gísli Brynjólfsson, director of global marketing for Icelandair, and Philippa Solway, head of travel and tourism, consumer and brand marketing at FleishmanHilard, joined Paul Holmes to discuss their “Iceland: The Real Unreal” campaign, which took top honors at this year’s EMEA region SABRE Awards.
Provoke Podcast: Patrice Lavoie
Patrice Lavoie, Director of Public Affairs and Communications at Héma-Québec, discusses the challenges of rallying consumers around providing a service, blood donation, not a product.
PRovoke Podcast: PR Newswire's Susan Wohleking On Brand Authority In The Age Of AI
As audiences increasingly turn to AI platforms for information, simply being visible is no longer enough. Brands also need to think about whether they are being understood, trusted, and surfaced as authoritative sources.
In this episode of the PRovoke Media Podcast, APAC editor Camillia Dass speaks with Susan Wohleking, senior vice president of marketing at PR Newswire, following the PRovoke Media
CCO Podcast: Evonik’s Norbert Neß on Why the Company Speaks Out Against the AfD
The German chemical company acknowledges its problematic history and takes a courageous leadership position against the re-emergence of the far right.
Provoke Podcast: Jeff Hicks
Jeff Hicks joins the PRovoke Podcast
Agency Leaders Podcast: Prompt's Paul Dyer
Paul Dyer discusses growing the legacy agency Lippe Taylor into a marketing communications firm
Cannes 2026 Podcast: Nitin Mantri on the “Future of Communications” Report
Nitin Mantri on the upcoming “Future of Communications” report, the ways in which artificial intelligence is changing the profession, and the robust Indian presence at Cannes this year.
Cannes 2026 Podcast: The Sway Effect’s Jen Risi on Corporate Affairs Today
The Sway Effect founder and chief executive Jennifer Risi joined Paul Holmes at PRovoke Media HQ in Cannes last week, discussing the state of corporate affairs and how modern public relations agencies are adding value.
CCO Podcast Tracy Schroeder
In this episode we talk to Tracey Schroeder who is Chief Communications & External Affairs Officer with Inova.
CCO Podcast: Aflac's Ines Gutzmer on Creativity and More
The latest edition of our CCO Podcast series features a conversation with Ines Rodriguez Gutzmer, senior vice president and chief communications officer at Aflac.
CCO Podcast: AJ Jones
AJ Jones is CCO of Monumental Sports
Agency Leaders Podcast: Hotwire's Grant Toups and Charlotte Harvey
In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leaders Podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims sits down with Hotwire’s new global CEO Grant Toups and UK managing director Charlotte Harvey to explore what they describe as a defining moment for both the agency and the wider communications industry. Just months into their roles, the pair outline a vision built less on “reset” of one of the most famous tech agency
Real Time Stakeholder Intelligence Is Critical for the Function
A month or so ago, reputation intelligence company Caliber announced a US advisory board, including former Medtronic and Verizon CCO Torod Neptune, now a professor at UNC–Chapel Hill, to help the company connectstakeholder intelligence to the real-world challenges organizations face every day.
At the time, Caliber CCO Shahar Silbershatz called for what he called “an intervention” on behalf of the
Agency Leaders Podcast: BPI's Andrew Bleeker & Jo-Ann Robertson
In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leaders podcast series, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined in person in London by Andrew Bleeker, founder and CEO of Bully Pulpit International (BPI) and the award-winning US-based corporate and public affairs agency's newest senior joiner, former Ketchum leader Jo-Ann Robertson, now BPI's president of Europe and Transatlantic growth leader. The trio's lively
Krishana Davis on the Manosphere
Diana Marszalek speaks with Precision Strategies EVP of digital and multicultural engagement Krishana Davis about new research exploring the manosphere.
CCO Podcast: Megan Noel on “Bringing all the Storytellers Together” at Covista
After a career spanning roles at Edelman, PwC, and Golin, Megan Noel made the decision last year to take on a new challenge at what was then Adtalem Global Education, leading a corporate affairs function that spanned investor relations, government relations, internal and external communication, enterprise brand, social responsibility and more under CEO Steve Beard, who was determined to “bring all
PRovoke Podcast: Richard Edelman on Why Companies Should Be "Trust Brokers"
In the wake of the World Economic Forum in Davos and the release of the larest Edelman Trust Barometer last week, PRovoke Media founder Paul Holmes sat down with Richard Edelman for a wide-ranging discussion that covered polarization, global pessimism, the potential for companies to become “trust brokers,” how tech companies have failed to address concerns over AI, what Martin Sorrell got wrong ab
Agency Leaders Podcast: Burson's Corey duBrowa in Davos
In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leaders Podcast, Burson global CEO Corey duBrowa and UK CEO Simon Redfern chat to editorial director Maja Pawinska Sims in the midst of the World Economic Forum in Davos. They talk about how the event has evolved and how Burson is adapting and innovating in a new era of reputation management, including the agency's new research, The Global Reputation Eco
Athletic Brewing CMO Andrew Katz
In this episode of the PRovoke Media CCO Podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by Athletic Brewing’s chief marketing officer Andrew Katz to explore the rapid rise of low- and no-alcohol beer, and what it says about changing consumer culture. Katz discusses how Athletic has helped transform alcohol-free beer from a functional compromise into a credible, aspirational brand, driven by better product,
Agency Leader Podcast: PHA Group's George Coleman
In this episode of the PRovoke Media Agency Leader Podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by The PHA Group’s CEO George Coleman, who joined the firm in April this year after founding and scaling Weber Shandwick sister agency Current Global. The lively conversation covers The PHA Group’s 20th anniversary, evolution, culture and future plans; how AI is being integrated into the agency and industry; t
Podcast: In 2026, Truth Will Be The Ultimate Brand Value
Every year, Havas Red gazes into its crystal ball and produces its Red Sky Predictions. We sat down with the firm’s Europe and UK CEO Rachael Sansom to discuss what’s ahead for the PR Business.
Reclaiming Confidence in a Chaotic Marketing Landscape
Diana Marszalek and Michael Kempner discuss why so many leaders feel paralyzed despite having more data, tools, and technology than ever.
Podcast: Inside PRovokeGlobal on Purpose, Talent and AI
Aarti Shah talks with Kathryn Metcalfe and Jennifer Teitler about the biggest takeaways from PRovoke Media’s Global Summit in Chicago including AI’s acceleration and learning to say no and why emotion still matters more than data in combating misinformation.
CCO Podcast: On Being Technology and Data-Driven at Booking Holdings
For the latest edition of our CCO Podcast, Paul Holmes sat down with Leslie Cafferty, chief communications officer at Booking Holdings, to discuss how she manages a portfolio of technology-driven travel brands, how she balances the needs of different stakeholders and reaches them through a variety of channels, the challenges of working with influencers, and how the company is incorporating AI into
The 2025 Young Changemakers
In this inspiring episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims talks to our Young Changemakers for 2025. The four amazing young women from underrepresented backgrounds around the world have been recognised as future leaders of the communications industry, in the fourth year of the competition: Liyana Shirin in London, Elsie Merhi in Dubai, Kayla Marrero in Washington DC and Lívia Gamma
Podcast: Golin's "Raising the Rare" Report
Golin's Jaimee Reggio discusses the needs of young people living with rare diseases during their transition to adulthood.
Podcast Jaimee Reggio
Golin's Jaimee Reggio on rare diseases and young adults
Podcast: Brandon Edwards
Unlock Health's Brandon Edwards discusses healthcare marketing in the post-truth era.
Podcast: News Influencers’ Role In Shaping Public Opinion
Journalist Aaron Parnas and Avoq’s Jaclyn Rothenberg discuss the rise of news influencers and how communicators can best engage with them.
As consumers increasingly turn to platforms like TikTok for news, a new breed of digital journalists, dubbed news influencers, are emerging as important sources of information, particularly for younger audiences. In this PRovoke Podcast, Aaron Parnas, a lawyer
CCO Podcast: Managing Change Amid Controversy at Novavax
Novavax CCO Silvia Taylor discusses the company’s role in developing a Covid vaccine, the ensuing vaccine controversy, and how Novavax refined its strategy and its positioning. Throughout those challenges, the corporate affairs function has managed multiple stakeholder relationships, with an emphasis on adding commercial value.
The CCO Podcast: How Swisscom’s Communications Team Is Doing AI Right
As companies seek to incorporate artificial intelligence into their communications efforts, authenticity and transparency are critical, says Swisscom’s Myriam Käser.
Podcast: Amanda Berenstein on What’s Fueling Mexico’s PR Growth
Trophy Case: Wiith "Piece of Me," KPN Tapped Gen Z Culture with Purpose
In the first episode of our new Trophy Case podcast series, PRovoke Media editor-in-chief Paul Holmes sat down with Dave Frauenfelder, VP brand, marketing communications and sponsorships at Dutch telecom provider KPN, and Jacqueline Bosselaar, executive strategy director, CEO and founder of HPB Het PR Bureau, to discuss the “Piece of Me” campaign, winner of our Platinum SABRE for the best public r
Current Global on what consumers really think of NSFW topics
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, recorded in Cannes, Current Global CEO Mike Rosich talks to Maja Pawinska Sims about the agency's new NSFW Pulse research. This provocative new study explores how consumers really feel about brands engaging with so-called ‘not safe for work’ topics in culture and society, from DEI to LGBTQ, plus their views on taking a stand on areas such as climate ch
Jennifer Risi in Cannes: "Stay the Course"
In a podcast from PRovoke Media’s Cannes HQ, The Sway Effect’s Jen Risi discusses her on firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and he advice that clients hold the course.
We. Communications' Nitin Mantri in Cannes
In this episode of th PRovoke Media podcast, part of our special Cannes series, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined on the Croisette by Nitin Mantri, APAC president of We. Communications and group CEO of Avian. We. Their lively conversation that covers the creativity festival, the market landscape in Asia, and the results of the agency's new Brands in Motion study, which shows an interesting discrepancy
Agency Leaders Podcast: Edouard Fillias
The founder of French digital agency Jin says future shareholders might prefer to have their companies led by an artificial intelligence rather than a “very impetuous, not predictable CEO.”
Radical Compassion as a Catalyst for Innovation
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Adam Pawluk, head of Labs at JPA Health, breaks down the concept of “radical compassion” and its increasing importance in organizational leadership. Pawluk shares why empathetic leaders are better positioned to cultivate psychological safety, a necessary condition for creativity, risk-taking, and sustained innovation. With data showing that employees w
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, an
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
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
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 r
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 fe
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.
Podcast: PRophet's Aaron Kwittken On What's Next In AI
Aaron Kwittken discusses how he sees the PR using AI in the year ahead.
Lonely at the top? Female agency founders in conversation
Fine Lines founder Kat McGettigan and Goldbug founder Lara Gould join Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Podcast to talk about their career journeys and their experiences as female agency founders and leaders. The duo also dive into the Lonely Female Founders Club, which McGettigan recently launched to support women entrepreneurs in the PR industry and beyond.
PRovokeMedia CCO Podcast: 1. Charlotte West and Adrian Monck
In the first of a series of podcasts for and featuring chief communications officers, PRovoke Media founder discussed the various roles that CCOs play in supporting their executive leadership team at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Lenovo's Charlotte West discusses her experience at Davos earlier this year, while former WEF communications chief Adrian Monck drew on his vast experience helping t
Hunter’s Heddy DeMaria On Influence In America
Hunter chief insights & strategy officer Heddy DeMaria joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the findings of the agency’s Influence in America study, which looks at which information sources play the biggest roles in influencing purchase choices.
Protecting corporate reputation in a cybersecurity crisis
Cyber breaches – like the recent DDOS attacks on archive.org and 23&Me – are making headlines more frequently, and the way they are handled in comms terms can have a lasting impact on corporate reputation. In this episode of the PRovoke podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by Flora Haslam, European technology practice leader at Finn Partners, Richard Hummel, director of threat intelligence at
2024 PRovoke Global Summit Recap
In the wake of our PRovokeGlobal Summit, Paul Holmes got together with Drew Warren and Rachel Caggiano from Ogilvy to discuss the dominant themes of the event, from the future of purpose in a politicized environment to the impact of AI on newsrooms and PR agencies—as well as Ogilvy’s big night at the Global SABRE Awards, where it was crowned Global Creative Agency of the Year
Navigating purpose & ESG in the B2B tech industry
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by Richard Smith, co-founder and CEO of fintech Payen, and MikeWorldWide director Conrad Arnavutian, to talk about humanising B2B technology, purpose- and values-driven B2B communications, and how brands and communicators in this sector can navigate the future of sustainability and ESG.
"Korean-ness” in PR
Christina Kim, a former Freuds exec and now corporate PR manager at travel technology firm Yanolja, joins Maja Pawinska Sims on the PRovoke Media podcast to talk about how a blend of speed, quality, and trust has helped Korean brands rise on the global stage. As a Korean who now lives and works in New York, Kim shares how this cultural identity has shaped not just her career in PR but also the glo
The Rise Of Asian Brands With Burson's HS Chung
Burson’s Asia Pacific CEO HS Chung joins Arun Sudhaman on his final PRovoke Media podcast, to discuss the rise of Asian companies on the global stage. Chung describes why she believes the latest wave of Asian brands going global is very different from previous generations, and discusses the unique PR and communications challenges that these companies are aiming to address as they look to succeed b
Avoq Strategic Planning Lead On Data-Driven Decision Making
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Avoq strategic planning leader Dianne Riddle Mikeska takes a wide-ranging look at how the comms industry, with a particular focus on public affairs, is leveraging data in its decision-making process. The far-reaching conversation with PRovoke Media founder Paul Holmes covers topics from the key role tools and technology play in strategic planning to th
APCO founder Margery Kraus
APCO founder Margery Kraus joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the pioneering consultancy's journey as it marks its 40th anniversary of operations. In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Kraus discusses the lessons she has learned along the way, the benefits of independence and perils of private equity, and the crucial intersection between politics and business. Kraus also addresses recent pro
2024 Young Changemakers
The Young Changemaker Awards were launched by PRovoke Media and WE Communications in 2022 to celebrate young female communicators from underrepresented groups across North America, UK/Europe and APAC/MEA.
In this podcast, the third class of recipients gather with WE founder/CEO Melissa Waggener Zorkin and PRovoke Media editor-in-chief Arun Sudhaman to discuss their the program's importance, the le
Stephen Thomas on 'Reputations of Value'
Former AIA brand and communications head Stephen Thomas joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss his new book, entitled 'Reputations of Value: Winning with Corporate Reputations in an Unpredictable World.'
In conversation with Arun Sudhaman, Thomas discusses why and how he wrote the book, which features insights from numerous communications leaders from across the globe. He also explores whether
How Did Our Agency Of The Year Winners Stand Out In a Tough Year For PR
PRovoke Media founder Paul Holmes sat down with principals from 2024 Agencies of the Year Chandler Chicco, Day One and The Sway Effect to find out what they did last year — in terms of employee culture, agency marketing, and client relationships — to create success in a challenging environment.
https://www.provokemedia.com/latest/podcast/article/podcast-how-did-our-agency-of-the-year-winners-stand
MikeWorldWide’s Tom Berry On The Evolution Of PR
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, Maja Pawinska Sims is joined by Tom Berry, UK managing director of global agency MikeWorldWide, in a lively and personal discussion ranging from the challenges, opportunities and changes facing the PR industry, to agency leadership, to AI, to people and purpose.
Podcast: Bad Language
Sherlock's Patrick O'Neill discusses companies turning off Latin American consumers by not using language properly.
Diversity Hiring: A Double-Edged Sword?
This episode of the PRovoke Media podcast is the audio of a provocative webinar with this year’s cohort of The Xec – the UK leadership scheme for the next generation of Black, Asian and minority ethnic leaders in the UK public relations industry. The panel talk to Maja Pawinska Sims about the complexities of diversity hiring, exploring issues of tokenism, whether people of colour are bearing the b
Behind Gen Z Comes Gen Alpha
Day One Agency’s Erin Amend and Rita Onyx, creator and founder of the Onyx Family Brands, discuss Gen Alpha and what the kids who are part of it want from creators.
Reputation, Risk & Resilience With Rod Cartwright
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, crisis and issues specialist Rod Cartwright talks to Maja Pawinska Sims about the findings of his recent ‘Reputation, Risk and Resilience’ report, an analysis of eight major global reports whose findings impact corporate communicators around the world. The conversation covers the 10 themes of the report, as well as crucial questions for communications
Claudine Moore on Africa's PR opportunities
Allison managing director Claudine Moore joins the PRovoke Media podcast to discuss the firm's new Africa Business Cultural Intelligence Report, which examines how changing business and media trends are impacting the region's overall PR landscape. Moore, who has been working in African PR for more than a decade, also discusses The Future is Female Mentorship Program, a PR and comms initiative dedi
How DEIB Fuels Creativity
Day One Agency’s Randi White and The One Club for Creativity’s Adrienne Lucas, both of whom lead their organizations’ DEI efforts, discuss the role DEIB plays in fueling creativity.
Podcast: Building A Better Future Of Travel
Bookings Holdings chief communications officer Leslie Cafferty discusses how technology is empowering consumers to see the world.
Roundtable: The Global Rise Of B2B Influence
PRovoke Media partnered with Ogilvy PR to discuss why influencer marketing is one of the B2B world's fastest-growing communications priorities.
Read the full Highlights of the episode here:
https://www.provokemedia.com/long-reads/article/roundtable-the-global-rise-of-b2b-influence
Trading Up With B2B Influencers
In this episode of the PRovoke Media podcast, in partnership with Cirkle, we discuss the growing importance of B2B influencers. Maja Pawinska Sims talks to Amy Searle, B2B managing director of UK consumer, corporate and B2B agency Cirkle, and Mike Chapman, head of wholesale at PepsiCo. The conversation covers Cirkle’s latest Trading Up report on how to use influencers to boost B2B campaigns and th
Rethinking The 21st Century PR Network
In this discussion Havas Red CEO James Wright joins PRovoke Media editor-in-chief to discuss how he is rethinking the 21st century network agency model to better adapt and respond to client and talent trends. Wright discusses his work in terms of consolidating Havas Red's disparate agency entities into a cohesive whole, his approach to acquisition, talent and much more, in a wide-ranging conversat
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