The Penta Podcast Channel

On this week's What's At Stake, Penta Partner Bryan DeAngelis speaks with Penta Partners and campaign veterans Kevin Madden and Stacy Kerr about campaign communications in 2024, an unprecedented year of global elections. The guests offer insights into the shift from the intimate, hand-shaking days of retail politics to the fast-paced digital landscape that now dominates voter interaction. They dissect the contrasting communications playbooks of Biden and Trump who, despite their age, are vying to symbolize the nation's future. Kevin and Stacy break down the power of surrogates, targeted messaging, and the emotional tug-of-war that campaigns must master to mobilize their bases.Finally, Kevin and Stacy lay out how companies can establish clear engagement protocols and fortify their communications strategies ahead of the coming uncertainty. Tune in!

In this week's Macrocast, Ylan, John, and Brendan host a conversation with special guest Michael Strain, the Director of Economic Policy Studies and the Arthur F. Burns Scholar in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Their discussion begins by analyzing the addition of 216,000 jobs and a steadfast unemployment rate, examining how different economic indicators impact the Fed's interest rate decisions. Additionally, they reflect on how inflation impacts consumer confidence, juxtaposing the strength of the American labor market against the reality of stretched budgets. With jobs top of mind, they explore AI's potential to redefine jobs and wages, contrasting it with technological advancements in the 1980s. Specifically, they consider whether AI will be the great disruptor of high-wage roles or an unexpected ally, fostering innovation in some industries. Be sure to listen and, for more, check out Michael's recent book The American Dream Is Not Dead: (But Populism Could Kill It).

Just in time for those looking to read more as part of their New Year's resolution, we're re-releasing one of of our favorite episodes of What's at Stake: the case for reading business books. In the episode, Penta President Matt McDonald joins partner Andrea Christianson to share his reading recommendations for those interested in business, including young professionals, aspiring leaders, and experienced executives.The two not only discuss their favorite books, but also explain why business professionals and leaders should take the time to engage with business literature at various stages of their careers. Plus, Matt shares what he's reading for fun these days. It's the perfect episode for anyone crafting their 2024 reading list!You can find the full list of Matt's reading recommendations here.

On today's Macrocast episode, Ylan, John, Brendan, and John Dick of Civic Science chat about the latest inflation numbers from the core personal consumption expenditures price index, which rose less than expected in November. The group explained that the reaction to the news was broadly a "yawn" as the market remains focused on a soft landing. John Dick also talks through the latest Economic Sentiment Index. He explains that holiday spending will be strong, and notes that credit card debt and use of buy now pay, later services are up as consumers embrace "YOLO spending."Ylan, John, Brendan, and John also cover the biggest economic moments from 2023, including an overview of the Federal Reserve's action this year, the Silicon Valley Bank collapse, and increased consumer spending on experiences, such as Taylor Swift concerts. And what's ahead for 2024? The group predicts large numbers of workers returning to the office, increased consumer spending on health and wellness, and a decrease in spending on streaming services as COVID-19 pandemic trends wane. The group also talks about the 2024 U.S. elections and how the decision of voters at the ballot box could impact the U.S. and international economy.

On this week's episode of What's at Stake, Penta Partner Bryan DeAngelis is joined by crisis management educators and experts, New York City Managing Partner Andy Whitehouse and Managing Director Jonathan Graffeo. The group discusses the fine line between a brand hiccup and a full-blown crisis and analyzes what makes or breaks a company during tumultuous times, focusing on how essential stakeholder relationships are during times of crisis. Andy, Jonathan, and Bryan explain strategies that can shield a brand from the irreversible damage of a poorly handled misstep. They ultimately reveal how a proactive approach to crisis preparation and response insists on a brand creating and sticking to strong core values, including empathy.The group's conversation also showcases the demand for a thoughtfully compiled crisis response team, fluent in the language of preparation and reputation management when anticipating or directly facing an organizational crisis. Andy and Jonathan also emphasize that a company's response to a crisis is often scrutinized more than the crisis itself. This week's episode is a true masterclass in crisis response. Tune in!

On today's Macrocast episode, Ylan, John, and Brendan cover the Federal Reserve's unexpected policy shifts, the implications of inflation on retail sales, and the current state of the oil market. They delve into the everyday effects of inflation on retail sales, questioning whether a decrease in inflation would strengthen or weaken consumer spending. They also note that the Fed appears to be simply keeping up with rapidly falling inflation, a win for those on "team transitory." In their quest to decode the 2024 economic forecast, the group touches on the Bank of England's rate hike and approach to inflation and scrutinizes the oil market, exploring the implications of record-high U.S. oil production. They also note the uncertainty surrounding the Fed's interest rate cuts, contemplating the potential for a financial crisis or pandemic to push rates back to zero. Tune in to hear more!

NOTE: This episode was recorded on Monday 12/11, with the introduction added on Wednesday 12/13 given late-breaking developments from the conference.On this week's edition of What's at Stake, D.C.-based Penta Partner, Christina Pearson, is joined by London-based Managing Director, Andy Williams, and New York City-based Director, Liza McIntosh. The group unpacks the high-stakes discussions and heated debates that took place at the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28). The group brings the latest insights on the final agreement reached in COP28—which leaders only came to late Tuesday night—and delves into the historic solutions and conversations presented at this years' conference in the United Arab Emirates. Christina, Liza, and Andy chat about the latest advancements stakeholders shared at COP28, including new technologies to track methane emissions, develop drought-resistant seeds, and tackle climate-related issues in food and agriculture. The group also discusses the creation of a "loss and damage fund" and the potential of public-private partnerships in the climate conversation.Christina, Liza, and Andy bring their communications expertise to this episode, discussing the importance of collaboration, creativity, and financial commitments as crucial bedrocks for stakeholders attending conferences like COP28. This conversation also delves into the power of language and the necessary communication strategies stakeholders should engage in to reach a climate consensus.COP isn't just a conference; it's an opportunity, and this group hones in on their clients' strategic engagements at this year's event. From a macro discussion of how businesses and organizations can leverage the platform for maximum impact, to the need for company representatives to make meaningful connections at COP, Christina, Liza, and Andy showcase just how important thorough research, preparation, and strategic networking is at global events like COP.

In this week's episode of the Macrocast, hosts Ylan Mui, John Fagan, and Brendan Walsh decode the latest jobs report, a surprising addition of 199,000 jobs with healthcare and government hiring leading the charge. Yet, they also investigate the sectors experiencing a slowdown, like wholesale and retail trade. In the face of a booming job market and the Fed's cautious stance, there seems to be an undercurrent of pessimism.Ylan, John, and Brendan also discuss the Biden administration's economic actions and recent fiscal expenditures, including the bipartisan infrastructure bill—specifically, their impact on the economic landscape and public sentiment. Our hosts are looking forward to the week ahead in finance, which includes a Fed rendezvous, the retail sales announcement, the inflation numbers reveal, and the global Purchasing Managers Index data release.

What’s it like to be an Associate at Penta? On this week’s episode of What's at Stake, Penta Senior Associate Lizzie Johnson chats with fellow Senior Associate Lauren Ott and Associates Aparna Iyer and Ben Korn about their experiences at the firm.Each had a different path leading to Penta, featuring a variety of educational and internship backgrounds that lend themselves to the wide range of teams and tasks that they work on. The group breaks down what day-to-day life is like as an Associate and shares their favorite Penta traditions, including mentorship, knowledge meetings, and maintaining close relationships with Penta alumni. Lauren, Aparna, and Ben also share their advice for recent graduates. Tune in to hear more!

In this week's episode of the Macrocast, hosts Ylan Mui, John Fagan, and Brendan Walsh are joined by Matt Dell Orfano, Discovery Capital senior analyst and professor at Columbia Business School. The group sheds light on holiday shopping activity and its wider impact on the economy, specifically highlighting changes in pricing and shifts in consumer behavior.The group unpacks credit card usage and debt, and how they're reshaping consumer financing. They cite the steady rise in aggregate credit card debt and discuss how fluctuating wages and inflation could skew future consumer spending habits. The group also discusses the potential repercussions of a Fed policy misstep and the need for small businesses to have adequate access to financing.