Every Friday at 3pm UK and 10 am Eastern we scan the PR Mega Chat and pick the stories that actually shaped the week.

This week’s episode is a fiery, globe-spanning dive into the uncomfortable truths of modern communication. From protests on the streets of London to censorship in North America, we break down what’s really going on behind the headlines.

Farzana delivers a powerful personal reflection on racism and PR spin around far-right movements in the UK, while Doug unpacks Jimmy Kimmel’s removal from airwaves and the free speech debate in the U.S.

We also dive into AI’s growing role in reshaping communication strategy, the rising cost of silence in the PR industry, and the intricate dance between the UK and US in global affairs.

Listen For

4:26 The Flag and the Trauma: A Personal Protest Reflection
13:09 Racism, Silence, and the PR Industry’s Reckoning
15:02 Jimmy Kimmel, MAGA, and the Censorship Crisis
21:33 AI Bots Are Your Audience Now
26:25 When Strategic Silence Becomes Ethical Evasion

The Week Unspun is a weekly livestream every Friday at 10am ET/3pm BT. Check it out on our YouTube Channel or via this LinkedIn channel

We publish the audio from these livestreams to the Stories and Strategies podcast feed every Friday until Sunday evening when it’s no longer available.

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Google Search still holds about 90% of global search volume as of mid‑2025, but change is underway as more users begin turning to AI.

AI search is rewriting the rules of discovery, and PR needs to adapt. With ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity each scraping different corners of the web, the old focus on big-name publications is no longer enough. The most influential sources may now be niche review sites, specialized forums, or content hubs you have never pitched. Knowing what each Large Language Model (LLM) values and how to optimize for it, is becoming a core PR skill.

In this episode, we explore how Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) is reshaping PR. From the rise of “dual websites” for humans and bots to the ethical tensions between LLMs and media outlets, we discuss how PR teams can rethink targeting, adapt content, and position clients for visibility in an AI‑first world.

Listen For

5:49 Dual Websites: One for Humans, One for Machines

8:39 LLMs as New Media Channels

11:38 What AI Tools Scrape (and Why It Matters)

14:45 Can Bots Get Past Paywalls? The Legal and Ethical Minefield

17:01 Answer to Last Episode’s Question From Heather Blundell

Guest: Jackson Wightman, Founder Proper Propaganda

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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.

This episode is an unflinching conversation about the real pressures senior women face.

Why is menopause still a taboo topic at work?

How misunderstood are its impacts on confidence, performance, and retention?

And what must organizations and agencies do to support their best talent before they quietly walk away?

Listen For

4:22 The Invisible Workplace Crisis

7:01 The “Rush Hour” of Women’s Lives

10:01 Emotions, Gender, and Professionalism

13:37 Finding Balance in Psychological Safety

18:53 Answer to Last Episode’s Question from Fred Cook

Guest: Heather Blundell, CEO Grayling

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Request a transcript of this episode

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