Eleanor Hawkins, a communication strategist and writer at Axios, joins The Business Communicators to discuss the changing landscape of media and communication, including the impact of AI and digital strategies on the industry.The episode focuses on the challenges and opportunities faced by communicators in reaching their audience, especially in the context of political events like elections and the evolving media environment. They discuss the role of AI in future elections and the importance of adapting communication strategies to meet audience needs and expectations.Eleanor highlights the significance of owned content and how companies like Amazon and Spotify successfully leverage it. She stresses the need for communicators to be creative and strategic in their approach, especially in an election year where everything becomes political.Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather  FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🧵 Threads🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website

Before we fully embrace the new year, The Business Communicators takes a look back at their “bold” comms predictions for 2023 while breaking down their hits and near misses. From AI and ChatGPT to fact-checking and propaganda, do Thomas and Austin have a future in forecasting models?Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather  FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🧵 Threads🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website

Rutgers grad student Anna Tamke penned an op-ed in PR Week sharing her thoughts on why college has not prepared her for a career in public relations – a plea for higher education to teach real world skills in the classroom. "It’s a rude awakening when you graduate with a PR degree and realize you’re unemployed in a post-pandemic world with an unreal expectation for what working in your field looks like,” Tamke wrote. “If the education system properly taught students — like myself — what PR is and how to do it, entering the workforce wouldn’t be so hard." Austin and Thomas are joined by Calgary-based comms pro Matthew John to weigh on the opinion piece, share their personal experience breaking into corporate communications, what schools of higher learning can do to properly equip students to succeed, and why it’s important for students and professionals to look after their own professional development.Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather FOLLOW MATTHEW JOHN ON SOCIAL MEDIA 📥 LinkedIn📚 Read Matt’s latest Trust TalkFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🧵 Threads🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website

Meek John Havard, the creator of the kids-focused YouTube channel, Cowboy Jack. Launched during the pandemic, Havard created The Cowboy Jack Show as an educational and fun channel for kids that takes them on adventures to explore this amazing world. Havard describes the channel as a “therapeutic hobby” that has now blown up with more than 8 million views per month. On this episode of The Business Communicators, Havard shares insights into the creation of the show, how he utilizes online resources and his network to grow and evolve the channel, and tips for those looking to monetize, grow, or leverage their passion.Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather FOLLOW COWBOY JACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎥 YouTube🎬 Facebook💻 WebsiteFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🧵 Threads🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website

What impact will college athletic realignment have on the future of academic institutions? Are schools of higher learning left chasing the highest dollar from TV networks like Fox Sports, ESPN, and streaming services like Apple TV? On the latest episode of The Business Communicators, data analyst Sam Bradshaw discusses the financial implications of college athletics and what it means from a communications angle. Simply put: Don’t think it’s about the money, know it’s about the money. Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather FOLLOW SAM ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🐦 TwitterFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🧵 Threads🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website

The summer blockbuster season is in full swing amidst Hollywood's striking actors and writers. Now, studios are turning to influencers to hype up releases like Barbie, Mission Impossible, and Oppenheimer. Can content creators seize this opportunity and how will it shake up advertising for brands?To close the episode, Austin and Thomas discuss their influential mentors and share career-changing advice they wish they had known before diving into the corporate world.Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🧵 Threads🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website

With nearly 100 million users signed on just days after launch, Meta’s Threads has quickly skyrocketed to the top-ranked app in Apple’s App Store directly placing Twitter on life support. However, is the growth sustainable or will Threads become the next Clubhouse or Google Plus?On the latest episode of The Business Communicators, Chris Ferris, VP of Digital Strategy at Pierpont Communications, joins the podcast to weigh in on the long-term viability of Threads and Twitter, and what immediate steps your company should take to evaluate the business case for Threads and other digital media platforms.Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather FOLLOW CHRIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA 💻 Pierpont Communications🧵 Threads📥 LinkedInFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🧵 Threads🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website

Matt Lanza is a Houston-based forecast meteorologist in the energy sector and part of the team behind the wildly successful Space City Weather and The Eyewell – both dedicated to hype-free weather forecasts that see readers through the storm by providing timely and accurate information.Lanza, who previously worked as a broadcast meteorologist in Upstate New York, joins The Business Communicators to discuss how communications and cross-agency collaboration is crucial during severe weather disasters, the simplification of complex weather information and its potential impact on people and assets, preparedness during a weather crisis, forecasting El Niño, and more.Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather FOLLOW MATT LANZA ON SOCIAL MEDIA 💻 Space City Weather💻 The Eyewall🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedInFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website

More than a week after Apple’s WWDC, communications professionals across the globe are evaluating Apple’s latest “one more thing” – the Apple Vision Pro. With a hefty price tag of $3,499, will businesses embrace the headset and utilize augmented reality for their day-to-day operations? What are the implications for communications professionals as we shift toward a world that embraces VR and AR?Then, Austin and Thomas breakdown Reddit’s rebellion after a number of subreddits (forums) went dark as moderators attempted to hold the platform hostage over CEO Steve Huffman’s new direction on API access – potentially putting some apps like Apollo and others out of business. The show wraps on the diamond by discussing the Oakland A’s “reverse boycott” with fans demanding that owner John Fisher sell the team due to his efforts to move the franchise to Las Vegas. The podcast analyzes what corporate comms and marketing pros can learn from international sports and how treating the fans/customers always pays dividends in the long run.  Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website

It was a busy week in the business communications world: Former NBCUniversal advertising exec Linda Yaccarino was named the new CEO at Twitter, CNN faced backlash after hosting a town hall with Donald Trump, and YouTube sensation Mr. Beast could face potential legal claims for an Instagram giveaway.Austin, Thomas, and Kim break it all down – plus share insights on Tucker Carlson’s move to Twitter, and the NFL’s digital media strategy heading into the 2023 football season.Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website

TikTok crime sleuth Ken Waks finds himself in hot water as Texas Monthly opines that “what began as a baseless theory has turned into a social media frenzy—one with the power to frighten the public and hamper police investigations.” Waks has also been accused of leveraging his viral content to promote his FinTech start-up company, Foresyte, which he currently serves as co-founder and chief marketing officer.What is the cost of virality? Is it worth sacrificing one’s morals or ethics?LA-based writer and content creator Meredith Lynch joins The Business Communicators to offer her insights into the controversy driven by Waks’ investigation, his numerous brand plugs of Foresyte, and allegations that have surfaced on his since-deleted Twitter account that have racist, homophobic, and misogynistic undertones. The podcast further breaks down Foresyte, the company CEO Stephen Eddy’s string of deleted DMs and LinkedIn posts boasting about Wak’s TikTok exploits, and the Denver-based firm, Heinrich Marketing, who is providing $1 million in agency services (according to SEC filings) for the company.The show wraps by analyzing the actions brands must take when working with influencers, the dangers of cyber vigilantes, agency accountability, and lessons to be learned moving forward.Editor’s Note: The Business Communicators made multiple attempts to reach Foresyte, Ken Waks, and Heinrich Marketing for comment. According to SEC filings, Heinrich Marketing is Foresyte’s established marketing agency. Heinrich president and owner George Eddy is the lead investor. We received no response.Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – FeatherFOLLOW MEREDITH ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎵 TikTok📸 Instagram🎟️ PatreonFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website

Taylor Swift fans made their way to Houston in droves over the weekend but neither Austin nor Thomas attended the sold-out shows. The duo did, however, breakdown Swift’s marketing and business acumen – and how artificial intelligence is impacting the music industry.Then, the podcast focuses on the $787.5 million Fox Corp. settlement with Dominion, media ethics, and why it’s paramount for communicators to stay informed through a variety of news outlets.The show closes by discussing Bud Light marketing VP, Alissa Heinerscheid, who took a leave of absence on Friday, and MillerKnoll CEO Andi Owen who faced backlash for telling employees to “leave pity city” when asked whether they’d lose their annual bonuses.Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – FeatherFOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website

It’s not often that Democrats and Republicans find themselves aligned on policy. However, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew unified Congress as he was grilled by a bipartisan committee who argued that the popular short-video app should be banned in the United States.While TikTok claims it offers a powerful tool to bring people together, momentum appears to be gaining as governments across the globe raise concerns over the app’s alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party.Did Chew’s testimony exude trust? Will Project Texas be enough to satisfy Congress? Is TikTok just part of a larger problem with social media platforms and data privacy? Tune in as Austin, Thomas, and Kim discuss on the latest episode of The Business Communicators.Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook 🐦 Twitter 📸 Instagram 📥 LinkedIn 🎥 YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST 🎙 Apple Podcasts 🎙 Spotify 💻 Website

Axios reported last week that “Starbucks committed ‘egregious and widespread misconduct’ while trying to stop labor union campaigns.” How did one of the most-admired corporations in the world get to this point? Austin and Thomas dive into the ramifications of what this means for employee communications, and how Starbucks can learn lessons from Walmart and Texas BBQ joints. The show closes with a conversation on the sudden rise of ChatGPT and AI – and why communications professionals should embrace the new technology rather than fearing automation.Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook 🐦 Twitter 📸 Instagram 📥 LinkedIn 🎥 YouTube🎶 TikTokSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST 🎙 Apple Podcasts 🎙 Spotify 💻 Website

Business leaders have historically played a significant role in using their platform and influence to speak out on pressing issues such as social justice, equality, and sustainability. However, in recent months, companies and organizations that had previously pledged to “create more inclusive cultures” have recently provided a "no comment” when asked to speak on hot-button issues. Why are leaders communicating less during heightened moments of crisis? The podcast breaks down why “authenticity” is paramount when corporate executives engage in civil discourse. The show wraps as the panel provide their communications-focused predictions for 2023 – propaganda, tech companies going bankrupt, the metaverse, and why TikTok will ultimately be banned in the U.S. according to Austin: “If you don’t think China is using ByteDance to spy on you, you’re completely misguided.” Editor’s Note: Season five is here! The podcast ushers in a new era with the addition of Kim Davis as a co-host – and we couldn’t be more excited.Music Credit: Smoke (with Lostboycrow) – Feather FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA 🎬 Facebook🐦 Twitter📸 Instagram📥 LinkedIn🎥 YouTubeSUBSCRIBE TO OUR PODCAST🎙 Apple Podcasts🎙 Spotify💻 Website