The Crux of the Story

A powerful speech can inspire, persuade, and move an audience to action. That said, crafting and delivering a speech can be daunting. In his new book, "Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience," former White House speechwriter Terry Szuplat demystifies the art of public speaking and shares valuable pointers and lessons from his distinguished career. He also discusses favorite speeches and the role of social media and AI. Szuplat runs a speechwriting firm, Global Voice Communications, helping leaders in business, non-profits and politics.

Doug Pinkham, a veteran of Washington, DC's political scene, served for 27 years as the president and CEO of the Public Affairs Council. Under his leadership, the Council became the leading public affairs membership organization, known for its annual Public Affairs Pulse Survey and its comprehensive State of Corporate Public Affairs Report. Doug discusses how political transitions, including the new Trump Administration’s, have and are changing public discourse and the public affairs profession. He also explores the vital importance of public affairs and government relations for corporations and non-profits, the impact of digital advocacy, and the growing significance of and need for transparency and smart stakeholder engagement.

Greg Galant, co-founder and CEO, of Muck Rack discusses Muck Rack's unique market position serving the needs of journalists as well as PR professionals and newsmakers – connecting each to each other and offering services to both that enhance workflow and measure impact. Greg discusses his firm’s AI-enhanced services that enhance pitches and better connect professionals across digital platforms.  We also discuss The Shorty Awards, social and digital media trends, the state of journalism and PR, the influence of AI, and much more.

This is our first show of 2025, and we’re kicking things off with two esteemed guests: Rob Jekielek, Managing Director of The Harris Poll, and Dr. Rochelle Ford, the new CEO of the Arthur W. Page Society. They are here to discuss the Page-Harris Poll Confidence in Business Index, their joint global opinion survey just introduced at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The research highlights several critical issues that businesses must address, according to respondents, to build and sustain public confidence.

Medtronic SVP & Chief Communications Officer Torod Neptune discusses how communicators can help their companies create value and provides insights on the expanding role of the CCO, the importance of making the business case for diversity and his career as a highly sought-after communications professional who has led teams at major agencies and companies – including Bank of America, Verizon, Lenovo and now Medtronic.

Kevin Lawlor and Katie Wright of DDC Public Affairs share with us their takeaways.  They share thoughts on what tactics and strategies used during the recent elections might find their way into the work of PR and marketing professionals – and into issues advocacy.  They also provide insights about navigating Washington with the Republicans controlling both houses of Congress and the White House.

The United States and Canada share more than the world’s longest border between two countries – as the head of The Wilson’s Canada Institute informs us our cultures, our economies, and our national security are inextricably intertwined. Christopher Sands explores what might change given recent events and 2024 election outcomes.

In our 133rd episode, we speak with students who are already using their digital and communications know-how to create professional work for advertising and public relations clients. Awani Bildikar and Lindsey Pritchard work for The Carolina Agency, a student-run firm in its 20th year and part of an innovative curriculum experience at the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Awani is the agency’s director, and Lindsey is its director of public relations.

Managing public issues inside large organizations has become a minefield as activists and critics, liberals and conservatives, tug at companies from multiple directions. Avoq’s managing director Eric Sedler provides a bit of a map for how we might best navigate these stormy waters. Sedler also discusses the 2023 merger of Kivvit and Subject Matter, the two firms that created Avoq. Kivvit was the successor to ASGK Public Strategies, a firm Eric Sedler started with David Axelrod and others.

Simplicity’s managing partner in the U.S. and Latin America has helped execute global and regional marketing and communications campaigns for some of the world’s top brands. He provides insights to how some top communications and marketing firms, including his own, represent U.S. companies in Latin America, represent Latin American companies in the U.S. and compete for the growing Latino market in the U.S.