Episodios

  • When Communications Can't Close the Values Gap - with Emil Hill

    When Communications Can't Close the Values Gap - with Emil Hill
    Nov 14 2025
    You can't communicate your way out of a values problem. Yet every day, communications leaders are expected to do precisely that. In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle sits down with ⁠Emil Hill⁠, principal of The Creshiem Group and a public affairs strategist with 25+ years navigating the intersection of business, government, and communications. From guiding the W.K. Kellogg Foundation through Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation to helping Papa John's face their reckoning, from UnitedHealth Group to the National Education Association, Emil's been the strategist organizations call when quick fixes won't cut it. Emil and Dan explore why the consolidation of corporate communications, investor relations, government relations, and research under corporate affairs* umbrellas is the recognition that every stakeholder now connects to every other stakeholder. They dig into why crises reveal values misalignment, why your stock price timeline and your actual problem timeline are incompatible, and why "calm, clarity, and precision" matters more when everything's moving faster. *Dan says “Public Affairs” but means “Corporate Affairs” throughout the episode. He apologizes, especially to Megan Noel, for his confusion. Listen in and hear about... Why corporate affairs consolidation signals a fundamental shift in stakeholder connectivity How a finance background changes how you diagnose communications problems The gap between executive timelines and the time real organizational change requires Why quick crisis fixes usually miss what's actually broken Navigating uncertainty with optimism when change is inevitable Notable Quotes On The Power of Immersive Partnership: "I don't know if you can really be a good partner to any client if you don't immerse yourself in their business, understand who their competitors are, try to get a sense for their DNA and try to advise based on those understandings. If you don't have that, yeah, you're going to fall short every time." — Emil Hill [00:07:53 → 00:08:17] On The Future of Local News: "I am craving a deeper dive into, into local news that the Washington Post cannot provide for me and Mary about what's going on here that's not in the news. And it feels like with the evolution of technology, some enterprising business person is going to figure out a way to cobble together more information and news about particular parts of the country, city, state and local in a way that we used to." — Emil Hill [01:00:27 → 01:01:03] On Navigating Economic Uncertainty: "I think businesses, individuals and communities around the country, I think you want to hold on to your optimism. I think you should get active, but ride it. And this too shall pass." — Emil Hill [01:06:59 → 01:08:08] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Emil Hill Emil Hill | LinkedIn Timestamps 0:00:00 Introduction – Rise of Public Affairs and Emil Hill’s Expertise0:06:15 Pathways into Public Affairs – Problem Solving and Business Acumen0:11:03 Consolidation of Corporate Communications Functions0:16:44 Stakeholder Connections in a Rapid News Cycle0:23:19 Measuring Audience Sentiment and Internal vs. External Messaging0:29:22 Persuading Stakeholders – Importance of Data and Explanation0:34:57 AI’s Role in Communications – Data, Analysis, and Domain Expertise0:42:32 Brand Missteps and the Limits of Research0:47:13 Real Audience Research vs. Social Media Noise0:53:42 New Corporate Affairs Capabilities – Local Sentiment and Crisis Response0:58:44 Local News Evolution and Technology’s Impact1:04:39 Ideas for AI-Driven Local News Coverage1:08:08 Optimism, Change, and Closing Thoughts1:09:36 Outro and Subscription Info (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Castmagic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 11 m
  • How AI Changes Your Customers and Why You Must Change Too - with Mark Schaefer

    How AI Changes Your Customers and Why You Must Change Too - with Mark Schaefer
    Oct 31 2025
    Your customers are changing because of AI. But so are you—whether you realize it or not. Host Dan Nestle welcomes back Mark Schaefer, whose new book How AI Changes Your Customers reveals a transformation most people aren't prepared for. As one of 300 futurists who contributed to Elon University's Being Human in 2035 study, Mark brings insights beyond the usual AI hype. Mark and Dan explore the psychological rewiring that is happening as AI reshapes human agency, empathy, purpose, and trust. They confront the choice everyone faces: use AI to augment your thinking, or delegate so much that critical skills atrophy. This isn't another "AI will save us" or "AI will ruin everything" conversation. It's a balanced look at implications most people haven't considered—like algorithms becoming decision-makers, with conversion rates from AI referrals 23 times higher than those from traditional SEO. Listen in and hear about... The psychology of AI and how humanity is being rewired Choosing between augmentation and delegation in your AI usage Why algorithms are becoming your actual customers The loss of agency, empathy, and purpose when we depend too heavily on AI How AI reveals patterns you didn't know existed through intellectual archaeology Notable Quotes On The Psychology of AI: "No one's talking about the psychology of AI that literally before our eyes, humanity is being rewired. The psychology of human beings is changing." - Mark Schaefer [00:08:13 → 00:08:28] On Attention Spans: "Don't tell me people don't have a long attention span. The problem is they're being more selective. You've got to earn it. So it's not that they have a short attention span. You, You've got a short interesting span. They're abandoning you for something else." - Mark Schaefer [00:15:38 → 00:15:53] On The Power of Vulnerability: "What this world is lacking is a real human voice, friendly, accessible, vulnerable. And think about the power of that. To really be human. You've got to be. Have a sense of vulnerability. But we don't get that from brand voices. Very, very rarely. And think of the opportunity to stand out, to be audacious, to just by flubbing up once in a while, just by admitting you made a mistake every once in a while." - Mark Schaefer [00:27:37 → 00:28:05] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Mark Schaefer Mark Schaefer | Website and Blog How AI Changes Your Customers | Book (Amazon) The Marketing Companion | Podcast Mark Schaefer | LinkedIn The RISE Community | Apply to Join Timestamps 0:00:00 AI’s Impact: Dan’s Intro and Use of NotebookLM0:03:03 Mark’s Reaction: AI Enables Bolder, Creative Work0:05:16 Mutual Mentorship and AI Experimentation0:07:29 Mark’s Book: Humanity’s Changing Psychology with AI0:09:12 Agency, Empathy, Intimacy, and AI Decision-Making0:11:41 AI Search: GEO, Marketing to Algorithms0:13:02 The Golden Age of PR: Credibility and Authority0:15:13 Attention Span Myth & Content Selectivity0:17:21 Volume vs. Quality: Content for AI and Humans0:19:35 Cumulative Advantage & Brand Authority in AI Era0:21:42 Personal Brand Building: Quality is Essential0:23:13 Earning Social Signals & Genuine Content0:25:47 AI Editing, Strategic Awkwardness, and Vulnerability0:28:46 Challenges for Corporates: Embracing Awkwardness0:31:20 Feelings as a Competitive Advantage0:35:28 Transcendence: Artful, Long-Form, and Human Content0:37:56 Respecting the Reader: Content Length & Value0:39:55 Hopeful AI: Augmentation, Mentorship, Markbot0:42:24 Real Education & AI: Preparing Young People0:42:46 Closing Remarks: Book Recommendation & Mark’s Links (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Castmagic) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    46 m
  • Expertise is Not Authority: Authority is the Expertise People Seek You Out For - with Amanda Russell

    Expertise is Not Authority: Authority is the Expertise People Seek You Out For - with Amanda Russell
    Oct 17 2025
    You can be the smartest person in the room, but if no one knows you or your point of view, you don't have authority. This "authority gap" is why most professionals struggle to earn attention, build trust, and gain influence. In this episode, host Dan Nestle sits down with Amanda Russell, author of The Influencer Code, creator of the influence equation (Influence = Attention + Trust), founder of Amanda's Playbook, and architect of UCLA's first fully accredited influencer marketing program. Amanda challenges the assumption that awareness equals influence, revealing why measuring clicks and impressions keeps communicators trapped in vanity metrics rather than building real relationship capital. For Amanda this isn't just a theory - she knows from experience. From Olympic hopeful to eager consultant to fitness influencer to CMO to educator, she evolved a systems-thinking approach to influence that PR and communications professionals desperately need. She and Dan explore why earned attention compounds while bought attention doesn't, how AI is democratizing content but making authentic relationships more valuable, and why success requires running purposeful miles instead of junk miles. Listen in and hear about: Why the influence equation (attention + trust) matters more than awareness metrics The critical difference between authority and expertise—and why it changes everything How to build "relationship capital" instead of chasing vanity metrics What elite distance running teaches about strategic influence building Why AI makes human relationships your ultimate competitive advantage Notable Quotes On Influence vs. Awareness: "You can have all the eyeballs all day long. You can have all the awareness, but if nobody cares or you're not influencing anybody to do anything, that's not influence." - Amanda Russell [06:57] On Authority: "Authority is when people quote you in rooms you've never even been in." - Amanda Russell [22:40] On Earned vs. Bought Attention: "Trust is not scalable, but it's transferable. When someone vouches for you, they're transferring their influence to you." - Amanda Russell [20:24] On Building Real Influence: "Real relationships take time to develop and they take nurturing and they take work. It's about building the foundation of a house versus just slapping up a tent." - Amanda Russell [33:20] On AI and Expertise: "AI doesn't make you an expert, but if you're already an expert, it makes you unstoppable if you know what to do." - Amanda Russell [43:30] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Amanda Russell Amanda Russell | Website The Influencer Code | Book Amanda's Playbook | YouTube Amanda Russell | LinkedIn Timestamps 0:00 Intro: Influence equals attention plus trust 5:23 Defining influence beyond social media stereotypes 10:25 Moving past vanity metrics in PR/marketing 15:54 Three steps to build systematic influence 20:24 Authority vs expertise in building influence 25:28 Focusing on audience needs and relationships 30:52 Relationship architecture trumps marketing tactics 37:49 AI's impact on content creation and influence 41:38 Using AI to amplify expertise, not replace it 45:24 New model for business education and influence (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Flowsend.ai ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    48 m
  • Beyond the Seat at the Table: Leading Corporate Affairs at Scale - with Megan Noel

    Beyond the Seat at the Table: Leading Corporate Affairs at Scale - with Megan Noel
    Oct 3 2025
    What happens when the communications function stops being about messaging and starts being about business transformation? When your stakeholders include 10,000 employees, 94,000 students, 350,000 alumni, plus investors, policymakers, and healthcare partners? In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle reconnects with Megan Noel, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Adtalem Global Education, to explore why the CCAO role is a fundamental reimagining of what communications does. Megan leads government relations, investor relations, public affairs, impact and sustainability, and alumni relations under one reputation-focused banner. From managing the fallout of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" over July 4th weekend to navigating AI search optimization and Wikipedia's importance in reputation management, Megan and Dan dig into the practical realities of corporate affairs at scale. They explore how business acumen has become a hard skill, why curiosity beats credentials, and how communicators can avoid becoming "negative Nancy" while still providing strategic counsel. Listen in and hear about... Why corporate affairs unifies storytelling across all stakeholder groups under a reputation banner How business acumen requires being "dangerous enough" in finance, law, and HR without becoming an expert The surprising importance of Wikipedia and specific media outlets in AI search and GEO optimization Why saying "yes, how" beats saying "no, but" when working with business leaders How curiosity and innovation mindset separate entry-level candidates who get jobs from those who don't The challenge of maintaining unbiased reputation when AI search platforms pull from potentially compromised sources Notable Quotes On Corporate Affairs Evolution: "The corporate affairs model is just the next step in that evolution. We used to just communicate what the business wanted. Now we're more than just a channel strategy to push things to different audiences." - Megan Noel [07:30] On Business Acumen: "I certainly don't need to be as sophisticated in our numbers as our CFO. But I need to be dangerous enough in all of them to be able to sit down at a very senior level and have a thoughtful conversation." - Megan Noel [20:29] On Strategic Counsel: "Instead of saying no, but—offer alternatives or other options so that we could potentially get to yes. When you do have to say the no, it feels like you're using that really thoughtfully and people will take you seriously." - Megan Noel [23:39] On AI Search Reality: "There is a perception that whatever question you ask AI is unbiased, when in fact it's pulling information through just a different algorithm. It could be just as biased with other bad data." - Megan Noel [46:56] On Innovation Mindset: "The hiring manager said it was because she showed an appetite to push and to learn and to innovate. That skill, even at the very entry level, matters." - Megan Noel [59:35] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Megan Noel Adtalem Global Education | Website Megan Noel | LinkedIn Timestamps 0:00 Intro: Change in PR and marketing 5:47 Evolution of Chief Corporate Affairs Officer role 13:06 Reputation as unifying banner for corporate affairs 19:40 Importance of business acumen for leaders 24:39 Communications as a critical business skill 27:46 Relationship between corporate affairs and marketing 31:28 Fostering disagreement and diverse perspectives 35:41 Impact of AI on search and reputation management 41:24 Proactively managing reputation in AI era 49:28 Balancing content creation and stakeholder engagement 53:43 Innovation as key leadership trait 57:41 Cultivating curiosity and innovation across teams 1:03:31 Closing remarks and contact information (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Flowsend.ai ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 6 m
  • Playstorm: Why Your CEO Needs to Get Dirty with AI - with Sandy Carter

    Playstorm: Why Your CEO Needs to Get Dirty with AI - with Sandy Carter
    Sep 19 2025
    MIT just dropped a bomb: 95% of corporate AI initiatives are failing. Not struggling. Failing. And Sandy Carter knows exactly why. In this episode of The Trending Communicator, I sit down with Sandy, currently Chief Business Officer at Unstoppable Domains, former VP at Amazon Web Services, and the person who turned IBM's "social business" concept nobody understood into a $200 billion market. Sandy's written seven books, been named to every power list that matters (CNN's Top 10 Most Powerful Women in Tech, Forbes 50 Over 50), but what caught my attention is her philosophy: "AI First, Human Always." While everyone's either selling AI snake oil or running scared, Sandy's figured out something crucial. Companies aren't failing at AI because the technology doesn't work. They're failing because they're treating it like any other IT rollout: layer it on top of broken processes and hope for magic. Sandy shares why CEOs need to stop brainstorming and start "playstorming," what happens when you ignore Reddit for three years, and why your daughter talking to Grok about party outfits might be the most important trend in communications. Listen in and hear about: The real reason 95% of corporate AI fails (hint: it's not the technology) Moving beyond productivity theater to genuine transformation Why GEO (Generative Engine Optimization) changes everything for communicators The "play storm" revolution and why your CEO needs to get their hands dirty How ignoring Reddit and Wikipedia is killing your AI presence The generational divide in AI adoption and what it means for business Notable Quotes "Audiences today are ready to move on from 'how do I use gen AI for productivity?' into something deeper: What does it mean for us as humans?" - Sandy Carter [00:05:14] "If your process already didn't work, there's no magic in AI that's going to make it wake up and work." - Sandy Carter [00:18:42] "You have to experience it. You have to get your hands into it. You have to play with an agent." - Sandy Carter [00:27:38] "If you take one thing from this whole podcast, put your company in [AI search], put yourself in too, and see what comes out." - Sandy Carter [00:50:54] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Sandy Carter sandycarter.net | Website Unstoppable Domains | Website Sandy Carter | LinkedIn Sandy's Book: AI First, Human Always Timestamps 0:00 Intro: Host welcomes Sandy Carter 5:23 AI's impact on human meaning and work 10:24 Why 95% of corporate AI projects fail 15:23 Redesigning workflows for AI integration 20:44 Generational differences in AI adoption 26:58 The importance of "play storming" with AI 32:13 Training everyone on AI, not just tech teams 37:05 Voice interfaces and generational preferences 41:32 Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) strategies 48:43 Checking your company's AI presence 54:41 Closing thoughts on AI and communications (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Flowsend.ai ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 m
  • Why This Former CCO Became Your Comms BFF Instead - with Gab Ferree

    Why This Former CCO Became Your Comms BFF Instead - with Gab Ferree
    Sep 5 2025
    Gab Ferree led global communications at Slack, Bumble, and OneTrust, reaching every traditional summit in our profession. Then she walked away to build Off The Record, where communications professionals can finally admit they don't have all the answers. Even the VPs who are supposed to. In this conversation, we explore why 100% of comms professionals are using AI but nobody's talking about it, why reporting to a CMO might be better than reporting to the CEO, and how to stop asking for a seat at the table and start earning it through business outcomes. What We Get Into Redefining Success in Communications: Why Gab left high-profile roles to create a support system for other professionals The Marketing-Communications Relationship: How reporting to a CMO can actually benefit communications teams AI as a Career Amplifier: Why AI won't replace communicators, but will make them more valuable The Future of Work Post-AI: Examining productivity gains and their implications for work-life balance Building a Supportive Community: How Off the Record is changing the game for communications professionals seeking growth and connection Notable Quotes "I don't care what my title is and I don't care what my reporting line is. I am the Chief Communications Officer. When I am the head of comms and I do have a seat at the table, I don't have to be reporting into the CEO." - Gab Ferree [10:08 → 10:22] "But guess what? Everyone just got promoted. Everyone just got themselves a new specialist underneath them named Claude, who produces everything for you as a first draft. And it may be good, it may be great. Good job. You prompted the model, right? You've trained it right?" - Gab Ferree [40:47 → 41:04] "I do wonder for like outside of that, are people are going to start talking about like our executives going to talk about like that they have more time, that they get to spend more time with their kids. Maybe they're not burning out. Maybe they don't need to step away to spend more time with their family. Maybe our careers can be more like a marathon and less like a sprint." - Gab Ferree [52:29 → 52:57] About the Guest Gab Ferree is the founder of Off The Record, a private membership community for communications professionals. Previously, she served as VP of Global Communications at OneTrust (scaling from startup to $5.1B valuation), led comms at Bumble through major brand transformation, and guided Slack's communications during its Salesforce integration. She's known for her pragmatic approach to building comms programs that align with business goals and her belief that vulnerability and authority can coexist in leadership. Resources Mentioned Salesforce V2MOM framework for goal alignment Future Forum research on the future of work Axios HQ survey on AI usage in communications Connect with Gab Ferree Gab Ferree| LinkedIn Off The Record | Website Connect with Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Timestamps 0:00 Intro: Meet Gab Faree, comms expert 5:20 Aligning communications to business goals 11:35 The value of comms reporting to CMO 18:29 Demonstrating value as a communicator 24:20 Using AI to boost productivity in comms 30:52 The future of work and flexible arrangements 37:21 AI as a tool for innovation in companies 44:07 Survey reveals widespread AI use in comms 50:27 Rethinking work hours in the AI era 59:41 Preview of upcoming AI training for comms 1:05:25 Comms poised to own generative AI optimization (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Flowsend.ai ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 9 m
  • PR is Juggling Knives on Fire While Riding a Unicycle - with Abenaa Hayes

    PR is Juggling Knives on Fire While Riding a Unicycle - with Abenaa Hayes
    Aug 22 2025
    Can you juggle? If you're a communications pro today, you'd better learn how. Just when you think you've got a good rhythm going, someone tosses you another responsibility. Maybe it's a new social platform. Maybe it's a cultural shift that changes how your audience thinks. Maybe it's AI lighting everything on fire. But you can handle it. In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle sits down with Abenaa (Abby) Hayes, founder and CEO of Elysee Consulting, who's been perfecting this professional juggling act for over two decades, helping executives and organizations navigate inclusion and social impact communications without losing their footing. She doesn't just help companies say the right things; she helps them figure out how to authentically live their values in a fractured landscape where performative statements can and do backfire often. What happens when the inclusion specialist walks out of the room? Ask American Eagle about their Sydney Sweeney campaign. Or better yet, listen as Abby breaks down why having the right people in the room matters more than ever, and why those people shouldn't be treated like cops, but as strategic advisors who help you achieve what you actually want to achieve. This conversation goes way beyond the DEI acronym to explore what it really means to show up authentically when everyone's watching, everyone's got an opinion, and the stakes keep getting higher. Listen in and hear about... Why "showing up" means more than just posting something and walking away How the fractured media landscape requires meeting audiences where they actually are (hint: it's not always the New York Times) The real reason former journalists are becoming PR's secret weapon Why AI literacy isn't optional anymore—the people who know AI are coming for your job How to navigate inclusion without becoming the content police The American Eagle case study and what happens when brainstorms escape into the wild Why curiosity might be your only real competitive advantage Notable Quotes On the Importance of Inclusion: "To me that's ultimately what it's about. And if I just look at the demographics, both of the US and globally, like we're truly operating in a multicultural and multiethnic world." - Abenaa Hayes [11:40 → 12:02] On the Evolution of Media Relations: "Media relations is no longer the be all end all in terms of not only driving awareness but cultivating credibility. Right. You've got to take literally like a multi step approach in order to drive ultimately what I call brand engagement." - Abenaa Hayes [36:20 → 37:15] On AI Literacy: "If you're really looking to future proof a career, your competency and know how to navigate everything that's coming, you have to actually understand how to use it and also be fluent in it." - Abenaa Hayes [50:03 → 51:50] On AI in Communication: "My contention is that none of this is going to take your job because your job itself is going to be so much different that if you lose your job, it's kind of on you." - Dan Nestle [56:41 → 57:41] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | Website The Trending Communicator | Website Communications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's Substack Dan Nestle | LinkedIn Abenaa (Abby) Hayes Elysee Consulting | Website Abenaa Hayes | LinkedIn Timestamps 0:00 Intro: Juggling priorities as communicators 5:30 Abena Hayes: Navigating inclusion and social impact 11:39 The importance of authentic inclusion efforts 18:02 Media relations in a fractured landscape 25:01 Storytelling's role in effective communication 31:38 AI literacy and its impact on careers 38:15 The future of communications jobs 44:26 Generative AI and earned media strategies 50:02 Critical thinking in the age of AI 54:39 AI as a tool, not a replacement 1:00:36 The evolving role of communications professionals 1:06:32 Curiosity as a key skill for communicators (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Flowsend.ai ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 11 m
  • PR is a Leadership Strategy - with Kristel Valaydon

    PR is a Leadership Strategy - with Kristel Valaydon
    Aug 8 2025
    How many of us are stuck playing media relations hits-and-misses while the real opportunities to drive business transformation seem to be just out of reach? In this episode of The Trending Communicator, host Dan Nestle sits down with Kristel Valaydon, founder of KV Communications, to explore her revolutionary Five Spheres of Connection framework and our capacity to transform PR into a leadership strategy. After 25 years in the industry and 15 years developing her approach, Kristel challenges the traditional view that PR is a marketing function. Instead, she positions communications as a business strategy that creates community around ambitious founders and forward-thinking teams. Their conversation digs into why most communications work is just broadcasting, how the fractured media landscape demands new approaches, and why AVEs (advertising value equivalents) need to disappear forever. Kristel shares insights from working with what she affectionately calls "rebels and misfits" – innovative leaders trying to shift minds, models, and markets while building genuine communities around their missions. What We Talk About: The Five Spheres of Connection: Visionaries, Trailblazers, Champions, Discoverers, and Pathfinders Why PR as media relations is only one-fifth of what communications professionals should be doing How community building differs from audience development and why it matters The evolution of media companies and the rise of niche, trade, and newsletter platforms Why founders and rebels need different communication strategies than Fortune 500 companies The role of AI as a research and strategy partner while maintaining human-first approaches Moving beyond AVEs and impressions to business-aligned measurement frameworks Notable Quotes On the Evolution of PR: "I came out into the real world of business and an agency and I just noticed for pretty much the duration it was media relations. It was very much focused on celebrity." - Kristel Valaydon [6:50 → 7:05] On Measuring PR Impact: "We're having those business conversations and discovering actually no one's measuring this. How are we measuring this? And as it turns out, what benefits are we giving the clients here?" - Kristel Valaydon [7:35 → 7:50] On Working with Rebels: "We call them rebels and misfits, but it's a term of endearment. They don't call themselves that at all, but they're so creative and innovative and they are trying something completely different." - Kristel Valaydon [9:10 → 9:25] On the Role of AI in Strategy: "I love AI from a strategic point of view. It's a strategic, you know, sort of sparring partner for me. It's really testing my ideas and really going, how can we make this better?" - Kristel Valaydon [59:00 → 59:10] On Challenging Clients: "We're in services. We're not in servitude, and we are the experts." - Kristel Valaydon [1:06:13 → 1:06:14] Resources and Links Dan Nestle Inquisitive Communications | WebsiteThe Trending Communicator | WebsiteCommunications Trends from Trending Communicators | Dan Nestle's SubstackDan Nestle | LinkedIn Kristel Valaydon KV Communications | Website5 Spheres of Connection | KV Comms WebsiteKristel Valaydon | LinkedIn Timestamps 0:00 Intro: The future of communications 5:43 Kristel's journey from agency to entrepreneurship 11:29 Working with rebels and misfits as clients 18:51 How media companies are adapting to change 25:12 The five spheres of connection framework 34:28 Discoverers: Customers and early adopters 41:00 Pathfinders: External partnerships and media 46:43 Measuring success across the five spheres 53:05 Starting with an audit and prioritization 58:11 AI as an enabler for the five spheres 1:04:37 PR's role in building a better world (Notes co-created by Human Dan, Claude, and Flowsend.ai ) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 h y 11 m