The PR Week

Hosted by Steve Barrett, PRWeek

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Episodes

393

Latest episode

Aug 2026

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About the show

PRWeek's regular weekly roundup of everything that matters in the worlds of PR and communications.

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60 recent

September 10, 202647 min

The PR Week, 9.10.2026: Kenny Gold, Edelman

It’s a very special episode as Steve Barrett makes his return to The PR Week . The guest on the September 10, 2026, edition of The PR Week is Kenny Gold, who was appointed this year as Edelman’s first chief creator officer . He talks about the changing creator economy and creators as media outlets and news sources in their own right, as well as how his agency advises brands that are working with them. Plus, the biggest marketing, PR and communications news of the week, including how Publicis Groupe ended up handling media for both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo , the start of the 2026 NFL season and the legacy of Gloria Steinem. PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC Jaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUS Receive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 3, 202631 min

The PR Week: 9.3.2026 - Kelly McGinnis

Kelly McGinnis has worked across technology and consumer PR, most recently as chief communications officer at Levi Strauss & Co . Now, she’s teaching students about having a seat at the table in a graduate course at the University of San Francisco. On the agenda for this week’s episode: Why she’s inviting current and former top communications executives to interact with students on the topic of problem-solving. What most people don’t realize about the San Francisco PR market. The work that inspires her. Her away-from-work life as an amateur equestrian. PRWeek reporter Jeremy Sodergren discusses the top PR and communications news of the week, including: His upcoming feature about Microsoft chief communications officer Frank Shaw . New comms executive appointments at Stellantis and Airbnb . Chipotle’s influencer push . Campaigns and brands at the US Open . PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC Jaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUS Receive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 27, 202644 min

The PR Week: 8.27.2026 - Charlotte West, Lenovo

The latest guest on The PR Week is Charlotte West , VP of global corporate communications at Lenovo. She talks about how Lenovo’s role as official technology partner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was much more than a sponsorship, improving operations and even the broadcast of the tournament. West also talks about how her team is using AI, balancing one global message with regional specifics and making earnings calls more interesting. Plus, the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, including crises at Callaway Golf and Neutrogena , people moves at Walmart and Wendy’s , the start of the US Open and the death of entertainment legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton . PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC Jaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUS Receive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 20, 202624 min

The PR Week: 8.20.2026 - Paul Gennaro, New York Life

From public affairs officer in the U.S. Navy to leading communications at New York Life and previously Voya Financial , Paul Gennaro has had a career spanning major organizations. He talks about that and how New York Life is implementing AI on the latest edition of The PR Week . Also on the agenda this week: PRWeek’s 2026 Hall of Fame class . And PRWeek’s Jess Ruderman talks about the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, including new appointments at Vaseline and Burson and The Athletic’s “ Advantage calendar for football fans .” PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC Jaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUS Receive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 13, 202636 min

The PR Week: 8.13.2026 - Grant Toups, Hotwire

The latest guest on The PR Week is Grant Toups, global CEO of Hotwire. Toups talks about his first days and weeks on the job after stepping into Hotwire’s top role more than six months ago , as well as how his agency uses AI and works with influencers and creators. He also chats about his inspirations from the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Plus, PRWeek’s Julia Walker discusses the biggest PR and communications news of the week, including PRWeek’s 2026 40 Under 40 list , Burson’s acquisition of AI company Limbik , a change at the top of American Airlines’ communications team and much more. PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC Jaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUS Receive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 6, 202630 min

The PR Week: 8.6.2026 - Ann Melinger, Bink

The latest guest on The PR Week is Ann Melinger, CEO of Bink, which works with biotech and life sciences companies on organizational culture, employee engagement and change management. She talks about Bink’s new Culture at Work Study and its key findings about how some companies fail to produce winning cultures while others thrive. Plus, PRWeek’s Diana Bradley on the biggest PR and communications news of the week, including key executive exits at Conagra , Edelman and Airbnb and acquisitions by FGS Global and One Strategy Group . PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC Jaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUS Receive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 30, 202633 min

The PR Week, 7.30.2026: Mike Rush, 360PR+

What area of marketing is best positioned to be in charge of affiliate marketing? Mike Rush, EVP and partner at 360PR+, makes the case that it’s PR on the latest edition of The PR Week . Rush also talks about the Boston PR market and what it’s like having a lettuce client in the current news cycle. Plus the biggest marketing and communications news of the week, such as PRWeek’s Power List 2026 , Wendy’s decision to hire a new PR AOR for the first time in more than 30 years, a new chief communications officer at Skims and a look inside the New York Liberty’s PR playbook . PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC Jaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUS Receive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 23, 202638 min

The PR Week: 7.23.2026 - Taj Reid, Burson

In beautiful Cannes, France, one of the most interesting places during the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity is actually a basement — because that’s where the shortlisted campaign case studies are. The latest guest on The PR Week , Taj Reid , global chief creative officer at Burson, talks about that and much more, including how Burson and VML won the PR Lions Grand Prix for their work for client KitKat. Reid also chats about unconventional paths into the industry, AI’s impact on creativity and inspirational work. Plus, PRWeek’s Carina Cole talks about winners and losers from the World Cup — that’s to say brand winners and losers — and effective tournament marketing by players, countries and fans. PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC Jaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUS Receive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 16, 202618 min

The PR Week: 7.16.2026 - Jennifer Risi, The Sway Effect

The latest edition of The PR Week features Jennifer Risi, founder and president of The Sway Effect. Risi founded The Sway Effect, a New York-headquartered global marketing and communications agency, exactly seven years ago on July 16. In 2025, The Sway Effect reported revenue of $4.9 million, up 11% from the same period a year prior, according to PRWeek’s latest Agency Business Report . Risi discusses what her firm has been up to, what she attributes its success to and highlights some client campaigns. She also talks about her takeaways from this year’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Plus, PRWeek news editor Diana Bradley reviews the biggest PR and communications news of the week with newly promoted senior reporter Julia Walker, including how brands are cracking jokes amid the cyclospora outbreak; the FDA taking steps to make good on its threat to remove the adequate provision rule for pharma DTC ads; Praytell’s expansion into the Asian market ; and people moves at SeatGeek , Etsy , Whoop and Unilever . PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC Jaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUS Receive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

July 9, 202630 min

The PR Week, 7.9.2026: Kevin Dulaney, SourceCode Communications

The latest edition of The PR Week features Kevin Dulaney , EVP of innovation and integrated marketing at SourceCode Communications and a top agency strategist on AI. He talks all about AI — from where it’s most useful for agencies and their clients to where it’s overhyped — and discusses what he thinks is coming next. Plus, the biggest PR and communications news of the week with PRWeek news editor Diana Bradley, including top World Cup campaigns , brands’ reaction to Taylor Swift’s wedding and major executive moves at Ogilvy , Onclusive and Nvidia . PRWeek.com Theme music provided by TRIPLE SCOOP MUSIC Jaymes - First One Follow us: @PRWeekUS Receive the latest industry news, insights, and special reports. Start Your Free 1-Month Trial Subscription To PRWeek Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.