FIR Podcast Network

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Oct 2026

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About the show

For Immediate Release: Podcasts for Communicators

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9 recent

October 12, 2026Episode 53121 min

FIR #531: Should You Mimic Your Detractors?

When misinformation strikes, PR professionals swing into action, directing people to accurate information. But will people follow your links? One study found that people are far more likely to see what you have to say if the invitation sounds much like the language used to invite them to the original misinformation. Neville and Shel discuss the idea in this short midweek FIR episode. Continue Reading → The post FIR #531: Should You Mimic Your Detractors? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

October 7, 2026Episode 927 min

OTSP #9: The Uneven Introduction of AI to Employees

Companies are urging employees to adopt AI—but a software rollout, training session, or announcement doesn’t necessarily prepare people for changes to their work. When expectations keep shifting, and the destination remains uncertain, how can organizations build trust and help employees move forward? In episode 9 of On the Same Page, Shel and Mark explore AI adoption as a change management challenge and the role internal communicators should play. They discuss listening to employees, challenging leadership assumptions, and building a flexible approach to change—along with the gap between recognizing the need for change management skills and developing them. Continue Reading → The post OTSP #9: The Uneven Introduction of AI to Employees appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

October 6, 2026Episode 53021 min

FIR #530: Has AI Created a Demand for Human Ghostwriters?

The volume of AI slop appearing as thought leadership on LinkedIn has, according to the Financial Times, led to a surge in interest in human ghostwriters. In this short midweek episode, Neville and Shel discuss whether this makes sense or if it's just another case of people using AI poorly. Continue Reading → The post FIR #530: Has AI Created a Demand for Human Ghostwriters? appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

September 28, 202620 min

ALP 316: Agency owners need to manage AI like employees

AI has evolved enough now that one-shotting entire deliverables is tempting, and many people online claim to be doing just that. In this episode, Chip and Gini discuss why that’s a bad idea, and how you can train your AI tool to give you less slop-like content. Chip is fed up with receiving one too... Continue Reading → The post ALP 316: Agency owners need to manage AI like employees appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

September 28, 2026Episode 52949 min

FIR #529: Fake Quotes from Fake Experts Find Their Way Into Top-Tier Media

A Press-Gazette investigation found that dozens of experts quoted in the mainstream media don't actually exist, and PR agencies are unwittingly sharing them with the press. This poses a credibility issue for the agencies and the media. It requires a layer of verification unlike anything we've faced before. Also in this episode, crisis communication has long been housed in the PR or communications department. Should it be a governance responsibility of the C-suite? That's the case made in a new report from the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. In his Tech Report, Dan York covers an initiative to close the AI language gap, including video moves by YouTube and Bluesky, smart glasses, and enhancements to Threads' podcast toolkit. Continue Reading → The post FIR #529: Fake Quotes from Fake Experts Find Their Way Into Top-Tier Media appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

September 26, 2026Episode 1331 hr 0 min

Circle of Fellows #133: AI and the Communication Leadership Moment, Part 2

Last month, a panel of IABC Fellows shared their observations on the results of a recent AI-focused survey conducted by the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management (Global Alliance). This month, a fresh panel (with Adrian Cropley returning) will pick up the conversation where the August panel left off, exploring various aspects of... Continue Reading → The post Circle of Fellows #133: AI and the Communication Leadership Moment, Part 2 appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

September 17, 202620 min

OTSP #8: Employee Engagement Matters. It Is Not the Goal.

Employee engagement is often treated as a goal — or worse, as a standalone annual survey score that needs to be nudged upward to placate the CEO. But engagement is not an end in itself. It is a condition that makes employees more likely to flag problems, share knowledge, question bad instructions, help colleagues, and contribute discretionary effort. Measuring it can be valuable, but only if an organization asks the right questions, receives honest answers, and acts on what it learns. In this episode of “On The Same Page,” Shel Holtz and Mark Dollins examine what employee engagement really means, the limitations of standardized surveys, and why disengagement is a leading indicator while turnover is a lagging one. They also explore the role communicators can play — without assuming responsibility for factors they cannot control — and why equipping managers to listen, provide feedback, and translate organizational messages for their teams may be one of Communication’s most effective contributions. Continue Reading → The post OTSP #8: Employee Engagement Matters. It Is Not the Goal. appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

September 13, 202621 min

ALP 315: The top two traits for new agency hires

In this episode, Chip and Gini make the case that curiosity and problem-solving are the two traits that separate great hires from mediocre ones, and neither one can be taught from scratch. Continue Reading → The post ALP 315: The top two traits for new agency hires appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .

September 6, 2026Episode 721 min

OTSP #7: No Story? No Strategy.

A strategic narrative is a critical asset for any organization. It is the overarching story that explains where an organization came from, what it stands for, where it is going, and why that direction matters. Grounded in the organization’s purpose, values, vision, and strategy, it provides a common foundation for communication and helps employees and other stakeholders understand how they fit into the larger story and why they would want to be part of it. In this episode, Mark and Shel dig into strategic narratives, why they are so important, and why so many organizations seem to dismiss their importance. Continue Reading → The post OTSP #7: No Story? No Strategy. appeared first on FIR Podcast Network .