The Penta Podcast Channel

This week on a crossover episode of What's at Stake and the Macrocast, host Ylan Mui is joined by Betsey Stevenson, economics professor at the University of Michigan, to discuss the real-world impacts of Claudia Goldin's work. This October, Goldin became the first solo woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economics for her work on women's labor market outcomes and the gender pay gap. Goldin was Stevenson's mentor and professor at Harvard, and Stevenson provides incredible insights into Goldin's groundbreaking research. A former member of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama and former Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of Labor, Stevenson herself is a leading expert on women's labor market experiences and the economic forces shaping the modern family. Tune in to hear an illuminating conversation about the importance of flexibility in the workplace, "greedy" jobs, and more. 

On this week's special edition of What's at Stake, join us as we journey through Asia's business landscape with Penta Managing Directors Deb Giam and Thomas Kwan, hosted by D.C.-based Partner Bryan DeAngelis. From their offices in Singapore and Hong Kong, the guests share data-informed insights on global trends, environmental concerns, geopolitical tensions, and economic growth in the region, drawing from their extensive corporate and financial experience. In the discussion, the group uncovers how Penta provides objective perspectives through data intelligence and analysis of government action to equip clients to navigate crises. Tune in to hear more!

In this week's episode of the Macrocast, John and Brendan of Markets Policy Partners, alongside guest host Bryan DeAngelis, Partner and Head of the Washington Office at Penta Group, dissect the Federal Reserve's decision to maintain status quo and Chairman Powell's understated approach. They also weigh in on potential economic storm clouds such as China's economic outlook, rising energy costs, and the impending government shutdown. The latest jobs report revealed a major slowdown in job gains, but our hosts contextualize the data by calling out events, like the UAW strike, that may have contributed to lower numbers. Additionally, they discuss how the upcoming electoral season's uncertainty could possibly sway the Fed's behavior. 

This week for What's at Stake, we're cross-posting an episode from communications podcast, The Crux. Penta's President Matt McDonald joined the Crux with Gary Sheffer, Professor of Public Relations at Boston University, and Mike Fernandez, Chief Communications Officer at Enbridge to talk about Penta's work and the latest issues at the forefront of public affairs and communications. The conversation focused on explaining Penta's unique approach to counseling our clients on public affairs and communications challenges. It also covered Matt's tips on how business leaders can decide when and how to weigh in on social and political issues and current events, including asking questions about the event's relevance and severity and how to weigh in proactively on relevant issues during "quiet times." The episode also covered the latest on AI and the advice Penta is giving our clients on the technology: embrace it. Tune in! Listen to more episodes of The Crux here. 

In this week's episode of the Macrocast episode, Ylan, Brendan, and John guide us through core PCE inflation rates, GDP surprises, and Fed Chair Powell's likely next moves. Looking forward to 2024, they predict what a recession would mean for presidential campaigns and the future president elect. They also examine how major players like the European Central Bank and President Trump have been influencing economic policies and markets around the world. Ylan, John, and Brendan also chat about how the powerful U.S. dollar is affecting exports and emerging markets, and how countries like Japan and China are fighting to stabilize their own currencies. They wrap up with a conversation about the joy of affordable Halloween fun during a year of record-breaking holiday spending. 

Today, we're re-running one of our favorite episodes of What's at Stake. Generative AI is as relevant as ever—this week, Senator Schumer held the second of what is expected to be several AI Insights fora and President Biden is widely expected to issue a long-awaited Executive Order next week. In this converastion, Bryan DeAngelis, Andrea Christianson, Oliver Edelmann, and Blake McGill break down Penta's new framework to help companies assess the brand risks of AI. After describing some of the scenarios when a brand may be at risk from AI, Bryan, Andrea, Oliver, and Blake discuss how Penta is helping companies think through minimizing that risk. The group discusses how companies convening the right group of experts, including staff from legal, HR, IT, communications, and other departments, is crucial to ensure that the company's brand is not negatively impacted by its use of, or policy on, AI technology. Companies must also audit their current and future use of AI to triage areas of potential internal, external, and personal risk. Despite the risks, the group explains that generative AI technology is here to stay, and companies must engage to minimize brand risks.  For more on how companies should think about the impact of AI on their brand, read our full AI brand risk framework.

On today's edition of the Macrocast, Penta's Ylan Mui and Markets Policy Partners' John Fagan and Brendan Walsh are joined by Brai Valerio-Esene, Founder of SW4 Insights Inc. The group dissects the mixed signals from recent economic data and the shift in the Fed's focus from inflation to growth. Our co-hosts also discuss how the conflict in the Middle East could have an economic ripple effect globally. 

Picture this: you're standing at the intersection of U.S. and European politics, wondering about the complex political landscapes that lie ahead. Enter Kevin Madden, a Senior Partner at Penta in Washington DC, who joins host Ken Waters, a Managing Director at Penta based in Dublin, to discuss these systems. Kevin and Ken discuss some of the biggest factors currently impacting the political landscape, including omnipresent media and social media coverage and the power of big data in shaping political campaigns.Kevin and Ken also cover the upcoming U.S. election and the effects it will have on business strategies. From the 'America-first' sentiment shaping the U.S. foreign policy to the varied regulatory approaches of potential candidates, they highlight how businesses can leverage data and intelligence to navigate through uncertainties. 

On this Friday the 13th edition of the Macrocast, Ylan, John Fagan, and Brendan are joined by John Dick from Civic Sciences to talk about all things global finance, including its wide-ranging effects on the economy and consumer sentiment. The group delves into J.P. Morgan's recent earnings and CEO Jamie Dimon's warnings about the state of global affairs, the unexpected stock market rally in the face of stricter sanctions on Russian oil and energy, and the reasons behind declining consumer sentiment, with a focus on political dysfunction and inflation. They also cover retail sales like that of the iPhone 15, which is surprisingly resilient amidst rising prices and housing costs, and analyze the somewhat puzzling reactions in the Treasury market to higher-than-anticipated inflation figures. Lastly, the group addresses the global economic outlook, China's stimulus efforts, the impact of a strong U.S. dollar on global currencies, and where consumers might want to take their next vacation.  Try your luck and tune into this episode. You won't want to miss it!  Take a look at the latest Penta-CivicScience ESI findings here.

On this episode of What's At Stake, Penta Partner Andrea Christianson is joined by fellow partners—and House leadership experts—Stacy Kerr and Kevin Madden to talk about the race for the next U.S. House of Representatives speaker. Stacy was a longtime advisor to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi while Kevin served in communications roles for former majority leaders Tom DeLay and John Boehner. In addition to discussing some inside-baseball House dynamics, the trio break down the broader implications of the ousting now former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, including its potential impact on the 2024 presidential election and America's role abroad.  Things are moving fast, so at the time of this recording the Republican conference had yet to meet to vote on a new Speaker. The two frontrunners are Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Steve Scalise, with McCarthy yet to announce his withdrawal from consideration.