Carl Hudspith is media manager at the University of Lancashire. He started as a trainee reporter on The Visitor in…
The latest trends, challenges and opportunities in public relations, communications and reputation management. Hear practical advice, expert insights and real-world stories from PR professionals and industry leaders.
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AI has become the world’s biggest reputation management engine but most crisis communications plans still don’t treat it as one.…
What happens when the most strategic people in the room are the last ones to be heard?
Why are organisations with talented PR teams still ending up in reputational crisis? Farzana Baduel has the answer, and she…
Why won’t a better graph earn communications a seat at the table?
In this episode of PR in the Real World, Tony Garner talks to Nik Pearson, who leads corporate communications and…
Why do so many campaigns skip the diagnosis? Shayoni Lynn on doing the thinking first
Shayoni Lynn, founder of the Cardiff behavioural science consultancy, Lynn, and the agency behind Wales’s 20mph campaign, joins Tony on…
What makes a story worth printing with Richard Slater
In the latest episode of PR in the Real World, Tony sat down with Lancashire Business View founder, Richard Slater, to talk…
Communicating Complex Ideas Clearly with Alison Ramsay
Alison Ramsay’s communications career started unconventionally. She joined BAE Systems in 1989, just three weeks after finishing school at 16,…
How to Shape the Narrative with Laura Harvey
On the latest episode of PR in the Real World, Laura Harvey, Head of Communications and Public Affairs at Auto…
The Leader That Made Themselves Unnecessary with Sarah Ogden
In this episode of PR in the Real World, Tony sits down Sarah Ogden about becoming an MD at 28,…
“It’s a Great Time to Have a Brain” with Antony Mayfield
In this episode of PR in the Real World, Brilliant Noise CEO Antony Mayfield joins Tony to discuss his thirty-year…
From a Welsh farm to CIPR Agency of the Year with Cowshed founder, Vicki Spencer-Francis
From a remote Welsh farm to leading CIPR’s Agency of the Year, Cowshed founder Vicki Spencer-Francis shares the raw, unfiltered…
The Story Behind ‘AI for Public Relations’ with Ben Verinder and Stephen Waddington
In this episode of PR in the Real World, co-editors Ben Verinder and Stephen Waddington sit down with Tony to…
Why Great Storytelling Still Wins with Maria McGeoghan
Some titles are given; others are earned. And for our latest podcast guest, Maria McGeoghan, ‘the first lady of the…
The Career Advice Every PR Professional Needs with Steve Dunne
Not many people can trace their career back to the tender age of 16. Most of us are still in…
The Human Side to Public Sector Communications with Edna Boampong
Not many communications professionals can trace their career back to selling out student parties. But for this week’s guest, Edna…
How to Influence Government Through Strategic Communications with Harry Bradshaw
In this episode of PR in the Real World, Tony speaks to Harry Bradshaw, Communications Manager at the Centre for…
Deepfakes: The Crisis We Need to Plan For
Dave Higgerson is Chief Content Officer at Reach plc, responsible for content strategy across every title in the UK’s largest…
Seven Things Every Comms Professional Should Hear from Lucy Easthope
You’ve been there, I’m sure. You have spent days crafting a statement. Stakeholders engaged. Tick? Every word has been weighed,…
The Strategy Behind Military Aviation Marketing with Flo Taitsch
In this milestone 50th episode of PR in the Real World, we speak to Flo Taitsch, Vice Principal Communications and…
When PR is tested in real life
PR careers can be shaped by campaigns and launches, but they are defined by moments where communications genuinely matter. Nobody…
What Dry January Can Teach You About Behaviour Change with Joe Marley
Behaviour change campaigns don’t come much bigger than Dry January, but the thinking behind it is grounded. It started when…
How Brave & Inclusive Marketing Changes Lives with Louise Marsden
In the latest episode of PR in The Real World, Tony sat down with East Lancashire Learning Group’s Vice Principal…
Sanity Metrics not Vanity Metrics with Steph Bridgeman
In this episode of PR in the Real World, founder of Experienced Media Analysts Steph Bridgeman returns to unpack what…
Happy Birthday PR in the Real World
As we celebrate PR in the Real World’s first birthday, Tony Garner reflects on what 44 episodes of recording a…
What 25 years in Media Intelligence tells us about PR’s Future with Liam Kelly
PR in the Real World speaks to Liam Kelly, Senior Vice President of Insight at Onclusive. With 25 years of…
The Football Comms Playbook with BWFC’s Paul Holliday
PR in the Real World speaks to Chief Strategy Officer at Bolton Wanderers, Paul Holliday shares stories from his wealth…
25 Lessons from 25 Years of Frank PR with Graham Goodkind
PR in the Real World speaks to Graham Goodkind, founder of Frank PR. From talkability to tenacity, his lessons are…
Why GEO is PR’s Biggest Opportunity in 20 Years with Darryl Sparey
At Viva, we are all about the latest industry trends and thinking ahead. PR in the Real World speaks to…
Navigating Nuclear Communications with Rachel Westray
When you work in the nuclear industry, strong communication is vital. We dig deep into what nuclear comms looks like…
The ‘Holy Trinity’ of Growth with Andy West
After a 35-year career of agency excellence, Andy decided to put his experience to use on a larger scale, helping…
Ukraine’s PR Army with Julia Petryk
Within hours of the first bombardment of Ukraine, Julia Petryk founded the PR Army. Julia Petryk is a Kyiv-based PR…
People Problems in PR and How to Fix Them with Claire Quansah
Claire Quansah shares her unique journey into PR, lessons from two decades in communications, and practical advice on clarity, team…
Comedy, Crisis, and Content That Matters: Career Lessons with Rob Hallam
Rob Hallam shares his journey from real estate to launching Bigtank Productions, revealing his hard-earned lessons in storytelling, self-doubt, and…
How PR Changes Policy: Influencing the National Agenda with Ruth Boston
Learn how small comms teams influence national debate, make complex research accessible, and measure what truly matters in public relations.
The Other Side of the Brief: Life After Agency with Jess Cooper
On the journey between DJs and doors, Jess has gained lots of agency and in-house experiences. She shares these on…
How to Secure Employee Trust in Crisis Situations with Alison Arnot
Discover Alison Arnot’s blueprint for internal crisis comms — why her ‘Seven S’s’ model to strengthen your organisation’s resilience.
How to be Socially Mobile with Leanne Hughes
In this landmark 30th episode of Viva PR’s podcast PR in the Real World, we sit down with Leanne Hughes…
The Making of Modern Manchester with Andy Spinoza
In this episode of Viva PR’s podcast PR in the Real World, Andy Spinoza talks Manchester’s transformation into a global…
Confidence, Culture Shocks and Comms Life Abroad with Harriet Dawson
Former Viva PR intern Harriet Dawson shares her unconventional PR journey, from recovering from heart surgery and starting her career…
Strategy, AI and Regional Powerhouses with Sarah Waddington
PR in the Real World host Tony Garner talks to Sarah Waddington about her vision for the industry, the role…
The Truth About AI – with Ben Verinder
PR in the Real World host Tony Garner talks to Ben Verinder about the future of AI in PR and…
A Creative Campaign Masterclass with Mark Perkins
PR in the Real World podcast host Tony Garner talks to Mark Perkins about how to make creative campaigns land…
How to Build Branding Without Burnout with Ann Rimmer
PR in the Real World podcast host Tony Garner talks to Ann Rimmer about how what makes great branding.
From Crisis Comms to Care: A Story of Resilience with Dee Cowburn
The most valuable insights in PR don’t come from quick hacks – they come from stories that make you think.…
Strategic Bravery: Mastering B2B Marketing with Sarah Cooper
In this episode of Viva PR’s podcast PR in the Real World, Sarah Cooper talks strategic strategy and mastering B2B…
Why You Should Go Into PR with Daniel Flynn
This episode of PR in the Real World has a different kind of guest in the hotseat. It’s the man…
Creative Comms on a shoestring with Ginette Unsworth
From local government to national dog fouling campaigns, from fax machines and carrier pigeons to the horse meat scandal –…
When the Worst Happens: Lessons in Crisis Leadership with Amanda Coleman
On the 22nd of May 2017 – a terrorist committed a suicide bombing at the Manchester Arena. Twenty-two people were…
Comms-led Change in the NHS with Neil Greaves
Neil Greaves knows the challenges of communicating in complex, high-stakes environments. As Director of Communications and Engagement at Lancashire and…
I Nearly Quit PR with Advita Patel, CIPR President
Advita Patel is a big hitter in the comms world. As the founder of CommsRebel, CIPR president, and a northerner…
How to Create a Podcast Hit with Stewart Townsend
There’s a new game in town. It’s a global industry worth $30.7 billion and has the power to impact elections,…
The Changing Face of Business Journalism with Chris Maguire
Chris Maguire is a well-known figure in the North-West media world. He has his finger on the pulse with everything…
Cracking the Code on End Users with Katharine Topham
Katharine’s episode delves into the art of connecting meaningfully with end users and driving impact—even when you have no direct…
PR in the Real World – Paul Earnshaw
During his appearance on PR in the Real World, Paul offered clear insights on balancing corporate and personal messaging, the…
PR in the Real World – Andrew Wood
Andrew Wood is a business powerhouse. Every PR and comms professional looking to understand how PR can be viewed from…
PR in the Real World – Alex Waddington
Whetstone Communications is the brainchild of Alex Waddington. It’s a consultancy that marries well-worn comms practices with new data-led techniques…
PR in the Real World – Caroline Noblett
Becoming an employee-owned trust (EOT) isn’t a risk. Provided you initially have a healthy company culture – it’s business as…
PR in the Real World – Phil Caplin
As the founder of Broadcast Revolution, Phil is the go-to for everything from media training to getting you a platform…
PR in the Real World – Nigel Sarbutt
Nigel Sarbutts is one of the UK PR industry’s most respected figures. Not one to rest on his laurels Nigel…
PR in the Real World – Clare Coupe
Clare Coupe’s career isn’t your standard comms story. She started in marketing, cutting her teeth in higher education before pivoting…
PR in the Real World – Shirah Bamber
Shirah Bamber has earned a reputation as the go-to problem solver throughout her career. Here are some essential takeaways from…
PR in the Real World – Liz Riding
Communications for a police force is a unique, different beast. Challenging goals, tight budgets, high-profile incidents and managing 30+ murders…
PR in the Real World – Andrew Thorp
PR in the Real World welcomed Andrew Thorp – business speaker, communications skills trainer and all-round public speaking guru. With…
PR in the Real World – Rachel Bayley
Rachel Bayley and the Place Brand team defied perceptions and put Burnley on the map. Heres how:
PR in the Real World – Steph Bridgeman
On our PR in the Real World podcast, Steph Bridgman, founder of Experienced Media Analysts, drew on her extensive 25-year…
We’re launching PR in the Real World – our new podcast. We’re bringing our experience and know-how to talk about…