Ep 162. Building Buzz on a Budget: How Startups Can Harness PR for Growth
Communication Strategy That Works podcast
Release Date: 10/25/2024
Ep 179. Banking on It: What Starling taught me about communicating innovation
Communication Strategy That Works podcast
As part of a mini series, I am looking at communicating complex topics, and I am starting with a book I read recently on holiday, recommneded by my 80 year old dad who provided IT systems for banks for many, many years. I've been reading Banking on It by Anne Boden, the founder of Starling Bank. It's the story of building a completely new bank from scratch – taking on an established industry, raising the money, securing a banking licence, building the technology and, ultimately, persuading people to trust a bank they'd never heard of with their money. Oh, and she’s also a women...
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Ep 178. Why Long-Form Content Wins in an Age of Short Attention Spans
Communication Strategy That Works podcast
𝐴𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝐴𝑙𝑔𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑚𝑠 & 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑠 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠 - 𝐸𝑝𝑖𝑠𝑜𝑑𝑒 3 Welcome to the final part in the series. Why are newsletters growing? Why are podcasts continuing to thrive? Why are people spending 20 minutes reading a LinkedIn article or listening to an hour-long conversation when we're constantly told that attention is disappearing? The answer reveals something important about communication in 2026. Because while attention may be fragmented, our appetite for depth hasn't...
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Ep 177. The New Attention Economy: How 2026 Algorithms Decide What Gets Seen
Communication Strategy That Works podcast
𝑨𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑨𝒍𝒈𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒎𝒔 & 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒔 - Episode 2 In the last episode, I looked at why some ideas stick by reviewing 𝑀𝑎𝑑𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑆𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑘. It gave us a powerful reminder: clear, emotionally resonant messages survive. But in 2026, there’s another layer to the story, one that didn’t exist when that book was written. Today, attention itself is mediated by algorithms. Before a human ever sees your digital message, an invisible system has already made a decision about it. Algorithms rank,...
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Ep 176. Book Review: Made to Stick - Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die
Communication Strategy That Works podcast
I am kicking off the 2026 podcast with a new series where I’m exploring what it really takes to communicate well in 2026. Attention, Algorithms & Formats is a three-episode series and your guide to crafting messages that cut through the noise, land with clarity, and actually get seen. These three episodes will shape your thinking in the first quarter of the year ahead. Why? Because 2025 was a year defined by AI-shaped attention, personalised content ecosystems, fragile trust, and audiences who decide in seconds whether something is worth their time. And I strongly believe...
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Ep 175. Better Together: Why Collaboration Is a Growth Strategy
Communication Strategy That Works podcast
Hey everyone, it’s good to be back. Welcome to the refreshed version of the podcast: new rhythm, same depth, and a lot more inspiration. We’ve taken a little time to reset and rethink what this show could be. And from this month, we’re moving to one episode every three weeks - slower, more intentional, and packed with real takeaways. You can expect a mix of in-depth insights and learnings, the kind of thoughtful, reflective conversations we’ve always had along with reviews and recommendations of things I’ve seen, read, or listened to that I think you’ll love too. And for our first...
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Ep 174. What Could Built Environment Firms Learn from Consumer Brands About the Art of Humble Communication When it Comes to Sustainability?
Communication Strategy That Works podcast
This episode was sparked by a recent chat I had with Helen Neal from HN Communications. We covered loads of ground around sustainability and transparency, but one theme really stood out to me - and that was humility in brand communication. It got me thinking: in the built environment, we’re often working on big, complex, long-term change. That makes messaging tricky because let’s face it, not everything’s sorted. And there is a lot of focus on what happens when something is complete, and little focus on progress over perfection. So, what if we took a leaf out of the consumer...
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Ep 173. Book Review: Sustainable Marketing by Michelle Carvill - 5 Key Takeaways
Communication Strategy That Works podcast
I read Sustainable Marketing by Michelle Carvill a while back. It seemed the right time to review it right after my podcast conversation with Helen Neal this month. In our discussion, Helen talked about the importance of humility, the value of “progress over perfection,” and why it’s so critical to bring sustainability experts into the conversation early. These ideas were still echoing in my mind as I reminded myself of this book, and Carvill’s insights feel like a natural extension of that conversation. Let’s dive in!
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Ep 172. Deep Dive with Helen Neal: Beyond the Hype - Communicating Sustainability with Substance, with Helen Neal
Communication Strategy That Works podcast
Today, I’m joined by Helen Neal, founder of the multi-award-winning HN Communications and a leader in sustainability communications. Named Professional of the Year at the PRCA Dare Awards 2024 and invited to speak at COP16 in Riyadh, Helen is redefining how businesses integrate sustainability into their strategies. With a background spanning politics, corporate leadership, and communications, Helen built HN Communications to help companies navigate sustainability messaging with authenticity and impact. She believes that sustainability and profitability must go hand in hand—a vision that...
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Ep 171. How to Create a Mindful Workspace for Peak Productivity
Communication Strategy That Works podcast
Welcome back to the final episode in February's productivity series. Today, I want to share how I’ve tried to transform my workspace into a mindful environment that boosts efficiency using a couple of simple approaches. Whether you work from home, in an office, or somewhere in between, our surroundings have a massive impact on our ability to stay focused and creative. Let’s dive into some practical ways to optimise your space!
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Ep 170. February Productivity Stack 2025: The Best Tech & Non-Tech Tools & Strategies for Work-Life Balance
Communication Strategy That Works podcast
With the bulk of winter behind us, I find that February is the perfect time to start being proactive and setting the tone for a productive year ahead. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to shake off the post-holiday slump, this is it! Now is the time to reset, refocus, and build momentum that will carry you into Spring and the rest of the year. In today’s episode, we’re diving into some of the best productivity tools and strategies of 2025 to help you work smarter, not harder, while keeping a good work-life balance. And it’s not all about AI you’ll be pleased to...
info_outlineI’ve worked with a number of startups both inside and out of the built environment sector. One thing they have in common is an infatuation with media coverage. Don’t get me wrong this is essential for a startup, but it’s not the only tool in the toolkit. But, public relations isn't just about media coverage—it’s about building credibility and trust. For a startup, positive profile-raising activities can boost your visibility, attract investors, increase customer confidence, and open doors for partnerships. The challenge? As a newcomer without a well-known brand, breaking through the noise requires creativity and persistence.
The good news is that even on a tight budget, you can build a PR strategy that maximises your resources. Today I share 6 tips for success.
Let’s dive in!