Episodes

  • Why Only 1 in 4 Still Trust Businesses to Do Good

    Why Only 1 in 4 Still Trust Businesses to Do Good
    May 8 2025
    Business confidence is no longer just a reflection of quarterly results—it's a barometer of public trust, strategic clarity, and leadership alignment. Yet, according to new global research from The Page Society and The Harris Poll, only 1 in 4 people believe companies can positively impact the issues that matter most. Even fewer see both the action and context that build lasting confidence.

    In this episode, host Steve Halsey is joined by Eliot Mizrachi, VP of Strategy & Content at The Page Society, and Rob Jekielek, Managing Director at The Harris Poll, to unpack the insights behind the Confidence in Business Index—a landmark study spanning 14 countries, 16 issues, and interviews with 40 Chief Communications Officers worldwide.

    Together, they explore what the data means for communicators navigating a fragmented trust landscape, an evolving CCO role, and a multigenerational workforce with diverging expectations.

    Join us as we discuss:
    • Six societal issues shaping public expectations of business in 2025
    • What the Confidence Curve reveals about moving belief from 26% to 53%
    • Generational trust divides and Gen Z’s evolving expectations at work
    • How CCOs align internal culture with external credibility
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    44 mins
  • Mind the Values Gap: Are Personal and Organizational Values Naturally in Tension?

    Mind the Values Gap: Are Personal and Organizational Values Naturally in Tension?
    Apr 8 2025
    In today’s workplace, the relationship between companies and their employees has never been more complex—or more fragile. The pressures of a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world are reshaping how we work, how we lead, and how we navigate the space between personal and corporate values.

    For this week’s guest, Ethan McCarty, CEO & Founder of Integral, this isn’t just an academic discussion—it’s the very heart of what makes organizations thrive (or unravel). As a leader in employee engagement and organizational communications, Ethan has spent his career helping businesses bridge the gap between what they say they stand for and how their people actually experience work.

    On today’s episode, host Anne Green sits down with Ethan to explore the deep (and often uncomfortable) questions at the center of today’s workplace challenges. How can we better understand the relationship between an individual’s personal values and those expressed by their workplace? What are the implications for more, and less, alignment? Can businesses truly create a shared sense of purpose? And in an era of heightened political and social division, how should companies respond to (or account for) external pressures—without alienating the very people who keep them running?

    Join us as we discuss:
    • How the pressures of a VUCA world impact both individuals and organizations—and why those impacts aren’t always the same
    • The tension between corporate values and personal identity and values—where alignment matters and where it may never fully exist
    • The ongoing debates around politics in the workplace, return-to-office mandates, and the evolving role of DEI
    • The real effects of values misalignment on belonging, psychological safety, and performance
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    46 mins
  • Navigating 2025: Essential Trends, Insights and Checklists

    Navigating 2025: Essential Trends, Insights and Checklists
    Jan 7 2025
    What will it take to succeed in 2025?

    In this episode, Steve Halsey and Anne Green share their predictions for 2025, diving into the trends and strategies shaping leadership, culture, innovation, and communication. From navigating a VUCA world to leveraging AI for trust-building and empowering teams to cultivate their resilience, this conversation offers actionable insights to help leaders and brands thrive.

    Join us as we discuss:
    • Critical factors likely to impact business and society in 2025.
    • How to balance strategy with authenticity in a rapidly changing world.
    • The transformative role of AI and storytelling in building trust.
    • Leadership priorities for agility, inclusivity, and empathy.
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    37 mins
  • Stop Engaging Employees: A Model for Heart-Driven Leadership

    Stop Engaging Employees: A Model for Heart-Driven Leadership
    Dec 17 2024
    The future of work is clearly no longer about clocking in at a desk. For this episode’s guest, it’s more about creating a whole new rhythm of leadership and engagement that makes work more human.

    Speaker, author, coach and consultant Eryc Eyl shares his unique perspective on the evolving dynamics of the workplace and challenges with how "employee engagement” is understood today. We dive into the generational shifts shaping how we work, a reframing of “quiet quitting” as “calibrated contribution,” and why redefining success around what engagement really means is essential in a volatile and uncertain world.

    Eryc offers fresh insights on creating human-centered workplaces and reveals his innovative approach to leadership coaching and consulting—which includes blending DJing with motivational speaking to spark collective energy and connection. Plus, he delves into the key concepts from his book Stop Engaging Employees: Start Making Work More Human, challenging the way we think about work, leadership, and what more authentic engagement can look like.

    Join us as we discuss:
    • Moving from engagement as something we “do to” employees to a more mutual relationship – one aimed at fostering emotional connections in human-centric workplaces.
    • How leaders can nurture engagement by creating the right conditions, not forcing activity.
    • Fresh approaches to igniting collective energy and creativity.
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    45 mins
  • Mailbag Episode: Revisiting Season 2 Episodes with Host Anne Green

    Mailbag Episode: Revisiting Season 2 Episodes with Host Anne Green
    Nov 21 2024
    Want to know the secret to thriving in a world full of marketing buzzwords? It’s all about mastering the right blend of authenticity, technology, and real human connections to make your brand not just heard, but truly relevant and memorable.

    This week, host Anne Green opens up our listener mailbag to answer questions on compelling guest conversations from Season 2 episodes. This includes exploring how businesses can thrive by aligning communications with revenue-driving goals, igniting creativity within teams, and building real, lasting connections with key audiences. From mastering B2B branding to navigating the future of AI in the workplace, this episode touches on trends that will continue to be top of mind in 2025.

    Anne also opens up about everything from her unconventional career journey and passion for genuine networking, to diving deep into the practical and philosophical sides of AI.

    Join us as we discuss:
    • Why prioritizing authentic connections and genuinely learning about others can have a lasting impact on your network and business.
    • How AI tools can supercharge productivity and ignite creativity in your organization if approached intentionally.
    • Key strategies for aligning communications approaches with business objectives to achieve real, measurable outcomes.
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    35 mins
  • Leading with Impact: The Essential Role of Business Acumen in Communication

    Leading with Impact: The Essential Role of Business Acumen in Communication
    Nov 7 2024
    PR professionals are stepping up their game, transforming from mere communicators to strategic partners who drive business success by blending storytelling skills with essential business acumen. Today, we’re uncovering the secrets to mastering this game-changing skill set, crucial for communication leaders at every career stage—from entry-level roles to Chief Communications Officers (CCOs).

    In this episode, we’re excited to welcome Ron Culp and Matt Ragas, Ph.D., two esteemed faculty members in the College of Communication at DePaul University and proud members of the Page Society. They’ll share invaluable insights from their co-authored book, "Business Acumen for Strategic Communicators: The Workbook," which is designed to bridge the gap between communication and business strategy.

    We’ll also explore how entry-level, mid-level and senior professionals and CCOs can effectively integrate their communication strategies with business goals and tackle the challenges of today’s dynamic landscape.

    Join us as we discuss:
    • The necessity for young PR professionals to develop business fluency to ensure their contributions drive organizational success.
    • How mid-level professionals can transition from tactical outputs to a more strategic advisory role.
    • For CCOs as seasoned professionals and business leaders to enhance their effectiveness by integrating business strategy with communication efforts.
    • The importance of continuous learning and financial literacy for strategic communicators, along with a need to build strong relationships with finance and HR to become valued partners.
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    50 mins
  • From 313 to 30 Rock (and Back Again): Howard Handler on a Career Building Iconic Brands

    From 313 to 30 Rock (and Back Again): Howard Handler on a Career Building Iconic Brands
    Sep 24 2024
    SNL. NFL. MLS. 313. You know you’ve got a good brand on your hands when all it takes is three letters or numbers to evoke an image or a moment that millions of people around the world recognize. But whether it’s a super quotable comedy sketch, an unforgettable moment in football (both American and European), or the birthplace of the car and Motown, it can be all too easy to take powerful branding for granted after it becomes so ingrained in our daily lives.

    But that doesn’t detract from just how much time and work goes into building, cultivating, and sometimes revitalizing these brands to the point that they become their industry’s standard-bearer. And more importantly, it doesn’t take away from the role of strong relationships—old and new—in defining these brands and businesses.

    In this week’s episode, host Anne Green catches up with old friend and former colleague Howard Handler, President of 313 Presents. Howard provides an engaging overview of his journey from growing up in Detroit to playing key roles in major brands across industries, including Quaker Oats, Lorne Michael’s Broadway Video, the NFL, and Virgin Mobile USA. Now back in his hometown, Howard is dedicated to nurturing Detroit’s dynamic entertainment scene through 313 Presents—further illustrating his commitment to fusing narratives and relationships to build community and ensure the brand continues to captivate audiences and consumers.

    We also discuss:
    • The challenges and opportunities of adapting to a new industry
    • Why the ability to sell your brand and tell your story is crucial in opening new doors and career opportunities
    • Leading businesses as well as brands
    • The city of Detroit as an example of brand revitalization
    • Lessons that businesses of all sizes can learn from disruptive approaches like those of Virgin
    • The joy of maintaining relationships across the arc of your career
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    50 mins
  • Building Brand Gravity: The Evolution of AI-Driven Manufacturing with Kim Losey, CEO of Rapid Robotics

    Building Brand Gravity: The Evolution of AI-Driven Manufacturing with Kim Losey, CEO of Rapid Robotics
    Sep 10 2024
    In this episode of "Building Brand Gravity," Steve Halsey interviews Kim Losey, CEO of Rapid Robotics, about her journey from designer to marketer to one of Silicon Valley's few female CEOs. The discussion centers on the transformative power of AI-driven manufacturing and the importance of design thinking, customer experience and bold innovation.

    Kim shares insights from her diverse career, including her time at Hasbro, where she learned to integrate design thinking into business strategy. She explains how Rapid Robotics is revolutionizing manufacturing with adaptable, scalable and efficient AI and robotics solutions. The concept of "smart fields," which are dynamic, ever-evolving manufacturing environments, is highlighted as a key innovation.

    Kim also emphasizes the need for robotics to be intuitive, cost-effective and able to handle the variability of modern business demands. She advocates for a customer-centric approach, ensuring that technology serves a clear purpose and delivers tangible results.

    Highlights of this episode include:
    • Losey’s transition from creating toy robots at Hasbro to developing real-world automation solutions at Rapid Robotics.
    • The concept of "smart fields" in manufacturing, which are adaptable and scalable environments optimized for efficiency.
    • The importance of design thinking and customer-centricity in driving innovation.
    • The challenges and opportunities in the AI-driven robotics industry.
    • The need for transparency and simplicity in deploying and scaling robotics solutions.
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    53 mins
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