Every month, Emily Page and David Olajide review standout episodes, share their personal favorites, and highlight the key insights that resonated most. Whether you missed an episode or want a quick refresher, this series is your backstage pass to the best conversations in PR, communications, and media strategy.

Join Farzana Baduel, Doug Downs, and David Gallagher for The Week Unspun — your weekly breakdown of the news that matters.

More women are now leaving the PR industry because of perimenopause and menopause than because of childbirth. That’s a staggering, often invisible, that’s shift happening right at the top. It’s not burnout or work-life balance pushing them out, but a phase of life that’s rarely acknowledged and even more rarely supported.

PR really is at a crossroads… we’ve got old playbooks and new players coming in who want to change the rules. In its report Mind the Gap, USC’s Center for Public Relations reveals sharp divides between Gen Z and older professionals on everything from AI and hybrid work to media influence and corporate purpose.

Ayeni Adekunle Samuel argues that Africa is often misunderstood or reduced to oversimplified stereotypes by global brands, agencies, and even tech platforms.

Why is the PR industry still having the same tired conversation? Year after year, event after event… while the world moves on without us?

What does it take to rebrand an entire nation? Not just a logo or slogan—but the name itself. Gökhan Yücel helped lead the campaign to officially shift the international name from Turkey to Türkiye.

What if the most powerful tool in public relations isn’t a pitch deck or media list—but your own story? In this episode, we’re joined by technologist-turned-storytelling-evangelist William Welser IV, founder of Lotic, a platform that uses artificial intelligence to help people uncover the data hidden inside their own narrative.

What if the expert quote you just read in a news article wasn’t written by a human — but by AI? That’s already happening.

This week on Stories and Strategies, hosts Farzana Baduel and Doug Downs speak with William Welser IV, founder of Lotic.ai, a platform that turns personal narratives into actionable insights using AI.

In today’s media landscape, journalists are drowning in pitches while PR professionals scramble for attention—often missing the mark entirely. But what if the problem isn’t the story, but the way it’s being told—and the tools we’re using to tell it?

What if everything you’ve been taught about pricing your work—tracking time, logging hours, justifying effort—was wrong? What if the real value of what you do isn't how long it takes, but what impact it has?

What if the smartest pitch you ever sent didn’t sound smart at all—but sounded real? In a world where inboxes are flooded with AI-polished messages, Lauren Passell makes a strong case for going the other way: writing like a human, listening like a fan, and leading with a story—not a sales hook. This episode unpacks how to stand out by showing up differently, not louder. Guest: Lauren Passell, Tink Media.

Your reputation is your most valuable asset — but also the most fragile. In today’s world, a single tweet, leaked email, or bad headline can trigger a crisis faster than you can hit "refresh." But reputation isn’t just about avoiding scandal — it’s about building trust, culture, and resilience before anything goes wrong.

In this episode, we sit down with senior communicator and former journalist Mark Burey to explore how the collapse of shared truth is reshaping public relations. From the erosion of local journalism to the rise of AI-generated content. What does media literacy really looks like today? And what role do PR professionals play in rebuilding trust?

On this episode, hosts Farzana Baduel and Doug Downs, speak with Bradley Davis, CEO and co-founder of Podchaser, about the blind spot in most PR strategies: podcasts.

On this episode, hosts Farzana Baduel and Doug Downs, speak with Olivia Fajardo, Director of Research at the Institute for Public Relations, to explore what the latest data really says about employee engagement in PR and communications.

On this episode, hosts Farzana Baduel and Doug Downs speak with Helena Humphrey—BBC News anchor and international correspondent—about why more Americans are turning to British media to understand their own country.

Are public relations and marketing two distinct disciplines—or is PR simply one piece of the broader marketing puzzle? It’s a question that stirs up strong opinions in boardrooms, agencies, and comms teams alike.

On this episode, hosts Farzana Baduel and Doug Downs, speak with Sarah Waddington CBE—strategic communications consultant, executive coach, and founder of FuturePRoof—about a new model for leadership: less managing, more coaching.

On this episode, hosts Farzana Baduel and Doug Downs, SCMP, speak with Mark Borkowski — veteran publicist and crisis comms expert — about an entirely new kind of insurance: reputation protection.

On this episode, hosts Farzana Baduel and Doug Downs, speak with, Andy Coulson, former tabloid editor and Downing Street comms chief.

On this episode, hosts Farzana Baduel and Doug Downs, speak with Jo Carr, co-founder of Hope and Glory PR and President of Women in PR.

On this episode, hosts Farzana Baduel and Doug Downs speak with Suhel Seth — author, columnist, and global advisor on communication strategy.

In this episode, hosts Farzana Baduel and Doug Downs, speak with Tina McCorkindale, President and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations.

Sue Heuma explains why PR is often undervalued in the C-suite, sharing insights on the networking and mentorship gaps that keep women from leadership. Tune in for actionable advice on overcoming double standards and boosting confidence in PR.