On the eighth day of Christmas, Spin Sucks gave to you…eight communications podcasts, seven books for communicators, six SEO tricks, five breakable habits, four PRM tools, three AI experts, two PR trends, and one mindset shift in a pear tree.
According to Edison Research, which has continuously studied podcasts since 2005, the:
Highly targeted nature of podcasts, combined with the trust that listeners have in their favorite hosts, provides the ability to gain access to an engaged and receptive audience.
Podcasts are chosen by the listener (you!) so they are more relevant to your interests, your hobbies, your career, your likes.
You don’t have to rely on what broadcasting companies deem relevant—you get to pick and choose.
It’s an interesting medium, to be sure.
It seems to take less commitment than sitting down to read something.
I have a friend who listens to podcasts all day, while he works. I still don’t know how he does that—I can’t focus on work and on a podcast, but he does it.
They’re great for housecleaning, exercising, grocery shopping, and walking the dog. They even used to be great for commuting. You know, back when we could commute.
To help you whittle down some of your choices, today we have the eight podcasts every communicator should consider subscribing to and listening to (and, if you like it, give it a review on iTunes!).
Communications Podcasts: Digital Download
One of my favorite all-time humans is Paul Sutton.
We disagree about almost everything and I love him to pieces for it.
(Actually, that’s not at all true. We’ve worked together this year and have found we agree on just about everything. But man, it’s fun to play Devils’ Advocate with him!)
Our relationship is what one might wish we were all able to have…it would certainly create world peace.
Respectful discourse.
Plus, it’s super fun to debate him. We don’t do it often enough.
Last year we tried something different. Rather than debate the merits of all things communications-related, we did a two-part series on business challenges, burn-out, and signs of recession, check them out here and here.
If only we’d known our signs of a recession episode would actually be the largest dumpster fire any of us have ever seen.
This year, he did another new thing and asked a bunch of experts to make predictions, which he whittled into another tw0-parter.
He probably has one of the best communications podcasts on the other side of the pond so definitely check out Digital Download.
Communications Podcasts: For Immediate Release
Shel Holtz was one of the first (if not THE first) podcasters in communications—and For Immediate Release is one of the best in the industry.
Now that Shel has a big job, he has reunited with Neville Hobson to do a monthly analysis of what’s happening in our industry.
You can expect to spend time with the two of them, plus industry experts on different communications topics, including news of the week, artificial intelligence, dark, social, and more.
PLUS!
He runs the FIR Podcast Network, where you can easily find any and all podcasts related to your area of expertise or interest.
Three cheers for Shel!
Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!
Communications Podcasts: #FuturePRoof Podcast
The #FuturePRoof Podcast is a conversation between Sarah (formerly Hall, but now Waddington) and Stephen Waddington.
Recorded and released monthly, it covers the issues raised by the #FuturePRoof project, asserting the role of public relations as a management discipline in the organizations that it serves and society.
While it tends to be European-focused, you will also find discussions about the U.S. Presidential election, certainly COVID-19, how long a week is in PR these days, and the DEI issues within our industry.
Communications Podcasts: How I Built This
While not technically a communications podcast, How I Built This has interviews with company founders and there is almost always a PR component to how they scaled their organizations.
It weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists—and the movements they built.
One of my favorite episodes is the one with the SoulCycle founders.
You can also find Crate & Barrel, Spanx, StichFix, Dyson, Yelp, Zappos (which is timely considering the untimely death of Tony Hseih), and more.
Take a listen and see what PR lessons you can take away from some of the best-known companies in the world.
Communications Podcasts: Marketing Over Coffee
The genesis of Marketing Over Coffee was that John Wall and Christopher S. Penn would meet for coffee and talk about all things digital.
Today, it’s evolved and they don’t always meet and record over coffee, but you still get the same great voices with the same great advice.
They routinely cover topics such as:
- Staying up to date with social networks
- Search engine optimization and search marketing
- Email marketing, multivariate testing, and copywriting
- “Old school” offline marketing campaigns
- Answer questions from listeners
Plus, you know, if you want to routinely have your head explode, this podcast is the best way to do it.
Communications Podcasts: Talking Points
Tight on time but hot on PR industry news?
Talking Points is a great monthly podcast to get your fill of public relations, communications, marketing, and social media news.
Hosts Arik Hanson and Kevin Hunt provide their insights and a tidy recap of trends and hot topics as well as interviews with industry experts from across the US.
This is perfect for those who don’t necessarily have time to indulge in a weekly podcast habit but are still looking to stay in the loop.
Communications Podcasts: Women Worldwide
One of the nicest people on this entire earth is Deirdre Breakenridge.
Seriously.
For those of you who know her, I can see you nodding your heads.
For those of you who don’t know her, fix that. Stat.
She is kind, thoughtful, crazy smart, and genuinely nice.
It’s always a great pleasure to get to hang out with her, whether on a phone call, a Zoom chat, in-person (someday again soon!)…or just listening to her interview women (and some men) about their business lives.
All of you can do exactly that if you subscribe and listen to Women Worldwide.
She’s talked to women around the globe who are doing interesting things—not just in communications.
It’s definitely one to add to your list.
The Selfish Section: My Communications Podcasts
Too ego-centric?
I didn’t want to include them all separately…that didn’t seem fair to the other great podcasters in our space.
But I also want you to subscribe and listen to the podcasts I either host or co-host.
They are:
- Spin Sucks: We launched Spin Sucks nearly three years ago (my, how time flies!!) and they are quick episodes meant to give you something to implement right after you listen. I think the longest episode we’ve had is a whopping 18 minutes. You’ll learn something very fast and have something new to try by the time you walk around the block with your dog.
- Agency Leadership: Agency Leadership is a podcast I co-host with Chip Griffin. We started it, gosh, 18 months ago (??) and we aim to provide information on all aspects of running an agency. And, I routinely make fun of Chip so if it’s worth listening for any reason, it’s that.
- Inside PR: Inside PR has been a labor of love for Joe Thornley, Martin Waxman, and me for many, many years. We’ve given it a break this year, but have early discussions in the works to revamp it in 2021!
What Are Your Favorite Communications Podcasts?
Get to it! And, like I said, reviewing podcasts is super helpful for the podcaster. It’s what iTunes uses to present it in search.
So, if you like any of the aforementioned podcasts, take a few minutes to review them. I know everyone will appreciate it!
Now it’s your turn, my friends.
What are your favorite podcasts that will make us better communicators?
