PODCAST · business
PR's Top Pros Talk
by D S Simon Media
A D S Simon Media podcast for communicators, featuring top PR executives sharing valuable insights and giving tips on adapting your strategy during these challenging times.
Episodes
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D S Simon Media Alumni Spotlight: Jamie Claudio
As D S Simon Media celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, we're taking a trip down memory lane by reconnecting with former employees who helped make this milestone possible. Jamie Claudio, Executive Vice President of Global Destination Strategy for Tiki, talks to Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon...
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D S Simon Media Alumni Spotlight: Brian Devenny
As D S Simon Media celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, we're taking a trip down memory lane by reconnecting with former employees who helped make this milestone possible. Brian Devenny, Senior Account Supervisor at Zeno Group, talks to Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, about his…
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What to Expect at ICON 2026
Matt Marcial, CEO of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), joins Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, to share what’s coming up at ICON 2026. Matt explains how PRSA has turned member feedback into insightful sessions for attendees. Matt and Doug offer practical advice on making the most…
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Navigating Health Information Overload
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, and Saramaya Penacho, Executive Vice President of Health at Edelman, discuss key findings from the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report: Trust and Health. They discuss why 70% of respondents believe in at least one divisive health claim. She shares how...
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What Makes a Story Truly Newsworthy?
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, talks to Loren Pomerantz, President of Combined Forces Public Relations, about how to recognize what makes a story newsworthy. Loren shares why honest conversations with clients and strong relationships with journalists are essential to successful media...
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Staying Competitive in an AI Landscape
How can small agencies stay competitive in the age of AI? Megan Shroy, Founder and President of Approach Marketing, shares how her agency has built more than 80 custom AI agents for clients. Doug and Megan explore thoughtful approaches to AI adoption, including safety, compliance, and change...
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How Tech Brands Can Stand Out in AI Search
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, talks to Gerard LaFond, Managing Director of North America at The Hoffman Agency, about what it takes for tech brands to get noticed by large language models. They discuss why earned media is becoming increasingly important for building brand visibility. Gerard...
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The Updated Tech PR Playbook
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, and Bob Geller, President of Fusion PR, discuss how tech PR is evolving. Bob shares how communications teams can build credibility through thought leadership and strategic storytelling. He discusses how to uncover newsworthy angles that break through a crowded...
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Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, and Chris Foster, CEO of Omnicom Public Relations Group, discuss how strong leadership drives successful organizational transformation. Chris explains how leaders can recognize when it’s time to change their operating model. The conversation also explores the...
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What it Takes to Scale Startups
Doug Simon talks to Claire Bolger, Senior Director of Marketing and Growth at Health2047, to explore what it takes to scale successful startups. Claire shares why compelling storytelling is essential for founders looking to stand out to investors. She also shares valuable insights on how leaders...
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What's Next for PR?
What's next for PR? Here is the third episode in our anniversary series featuring PR's Top Pros.-Chris Foster, CEO, Omnicom Public Relations Group- Allyson Park, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Walmart- Bradley Akubuiro, Partner & Corporate Communications Lead, Bully…
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What's Changed in PR?
What’s changed in PR? Here is the second episode in our anniversary series featuring PR’s Top Pros. Chris Foster, CEO, Omnicom Public Relations Group Allyson Park, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Walmart Bradley Akubuiro, Partner & Corporate Communications Lead, Bully...
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What's Stayed the Same in PR?
What's stayed the same in PR? Here is the first installment of our anniversary series featuring PR's Top Pros.-Chris Foster, CEO, Omnicom Public Relations Group- Allyson Park, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Walmart- Bradley Akubuiro, Partner & Corporate Communications…
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What You Need To Know About AI Visibility
Megan Kessler, Founder of Dark Horse Strategies, talks to Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, about why some companies appear in less than 5% of AI-generated answers. Megan explains how earned and owned media work together to improve visibility. They also discuss how communications teams can take…
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The New Reality of Crisis Communication
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, talks to Bradley Akubuiro, Partner & Corporate Communications Lead at Bully Pulpit International, about key insights from his book Faster. Messier. Tougher.: Crisis Communication Strategies in an Era of Populism, AI, and Distrust. Bradley explains how leaders…
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How Leaders Can Navigate Technological Change
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, and Anne Green, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of G&S Integrated Marketing Communications Group, discuss how leaders can navigate rapid change. The conversation explores how PR professionals can foster innovation while maintaining strong relationships…
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Protecting Corporate Reputation in the Age of AI
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, talks with Portia Young, Director of Corporate Public Relations at Sargento, about how AI is changing newsrooms. She discusses how organizations can strengthen trust and authenticity by consistently leading with their values. They also explain why storytelling...
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What You Need To Know About the Evolving Media Landscape
Mike Bako, Executive Vice President at D S Simon Media, shares key findings from Part 2 of the 2026 TV News Producers Report series, Understanding the Evolving Media Landscape. Download the report: https://www.dssimon.com/understanding-the-evolving-media-landscape-report/
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Why Earned Media Matters More Than Ever
Will Reese, Chief Innovation Officer at Inizio Evoke, and Theresa Dolge, Chief Media Relations Officer at Inizio Evoke, join Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, to discuss how GEO is reshaping the earned media landscape. They explore the important role local media plays in building trust and...
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How to Become the CEO of Your Career
Allyson Park, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer at Walmart, joins Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, for a conversation on leadership, continuous learning, and building a career with purpose in today’s rapidly evolving environment. Drawing on her experience helping lead...
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What You Need To Know About AI Visibility
Megan Kessler, Chief of Integrated Marketing and Strategy for PAN Communications, talks to Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, about why some companies appear in less than 5% of AI-generated answers. Megan explains how earned and owned media work together to improve visibility. They also discuss...
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Building Your Own AI Toolkit
Shira Fine, Partner and Head of Strategic Communications at Bryson Gillette, joins Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, to discuss why it’s important to learn how to build tools with AI. She shares examples of tools her team has built and how they improve efficiency. The conversation also explores...
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How Leaders Can Drive Impact Right Now
Darryl Sparey, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Hard Numbers, talks to Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, about the commitments communicators should embrace to drive meaningful organizational impact. They discuss how PR professionals can bring the most value to clients. They also dive into…
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PR Professionals Need to Adapt as AI Is Reshaping the Newsroom
Doug Simon, Founder and CEO of D S Simon Media, shares what communicators need to know about how stories are selected and discovered for TV news. D S Simon Media is a recognized innovator in broadcast public relations and the creator of the industry’s first AI-Powered Broadcast Media Tour™.…
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How AI is Shaping TV News Coverage
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, shares what communicators need to know about how stories are selected and discovered for TV news. D S Simon Media is a recognized innovator in broadcast public relations and the creator of the industry’s first AI-Powered Broadcast Media Tour™. Over the last…
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Building a Niche That Grows With You
In this episode, Jennifer Tramontana, President and Founder of The Fletcher Group, joins Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, to discuss how agencies can find a niche and evolve alongside it. Jennifer shares how to build a company culture that authentically reflects and supports your team. Doug…
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How To Optimize Your Content for AI Search
In this episode, Jonny Bentwood, Global President of Data & Analytics at Golin, joins Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, to explore how AI is reshaping the PR industry. Jonny shares the pivotal moment he realized generative AI would transform consumer behavior. Jonny shares his “Four F’s”...
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Leading with Credibility in an AI-Driven Landscape
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, and Campbell O’Connor, Group Director, Media & Engagement at Real Chemistry, explore how AI is transforming healthcare communications and media relations. They discuss how audiences are increasingly turning to platforms like YouTube, LLMs, and other digital...
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Moving Hearts and Minds with AI and Storytelling
In this episode of PR's Top Pros Talk, Adeena Fried, Executive Vice President of Health & Wellness at HAVAS Red, joins Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, to unpack key insights from the AI in the Newsroom Report. Adeena shares how her team optimizes content for AI search while keeping…
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Crisis Communications in the AI Era
When a crisis hits, communications teams must move quickly while providing clear, objective guidance to leadership. In this episode, Doug Simon talks to Julianna Sheridan, Vice President of PR at Scratch Marketing + Media, about how B2B tech companies can prepare for and navigate high-pressure...
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The Rise of the Answer Engine Economy
In this episode of PR’s Top Pros Talk, Erik Carlson, President and CEO of Notified, joins Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, to discuss how the answer engine economy is transforming the way content is created and discovered. Erik explains why earned media is becoming critical for AI citations…
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How Emotions are Driving Audience Decisions Today
In this episode of PR’s Top Pros Talk, Doug Simon talks to Greg Swan, Senior Partner at FINN Partners, to explore the rise of vibe-based decision-making and what it means for today’s communications leaders. Greg explains how emotion is increasingly driving how audiences consume information and…
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How AI is Changing the Way Brands Get Discovered
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, and Sarah Evans, Partner and Head of PR at Zen Media, have an insightful conversation about the growing role of AI in brand discovery. They explore how AI is influencing the way people find information and even choose what to buy. Sarah also shares guidance on...
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How Legacy Brands Evolve for Today's Audiences
In this episode, Doug Simon talks with Valerie Combs, Senior Vice President and Head of Communications at IAC, to explore what it truly takes for legacy brands to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving digital world. Valerie explains how companies can modernize without losing the trust and equity...
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How To Build and Protect Your Reputation
Rina Foster, CEO and Founder of 84 Communications, talks to Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, about how AI is impacting risk management. She shares expert guidance on protecting your reputation, preparing for potential crises, and managing fear with confidence. D S Simon Media is a recognized...
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How To Create Opportunities Through Networking
Monique Kelley, Associate Professor of the Practice at Boston University's College of Communication, shares insights from her new book, Redefining Networking: How to Lead with Your Unique Value. Monique and Doug explain why giving matters more than getting, how anyone can communicate their value...
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How Brand Love Influences Brand Demand
Theresa Bertrand, Head of Strategy at Zeno Group, speaks with Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, about key insights from Zeno Group's Brand Love + Demand Study. She discusses why brand loyalty is critical to long-term success and explores how different generations connect with brands. She also...
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Why Protecting Your Brand Matters More Than Ever
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, and Melanie Roussell Newman, Chief External Affairs Officer at Planned Parenthood Federation of America and the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, have an insightful conversation on brand resilience in a highly polarized media landscape. They discuss…
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The Role of AI in Earned Media Strategy
Sean Layton, Executive Vice President of Earned Media at Zeno Group, discusses the communications trends shaping the year ahead with Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media. He explains how AI-driven search results are impacting earned media strategy and emerging media's important role in the mix. D S...
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The Evolution of AI in Healthcare
Doug Simon speaks with John Duffield about the evolving role of AI in healthcare and the patient experience. John explains how a serious heart condition gave him firsthand insight into the healthcare system. He explains how AI helped him understand complex medical information and navigate…
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AI-Powered Broadcast Media Tour™ FAQs
Mike Bako, Vice President of Media and Content Strategy, joins Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, for a conversation about the AI-Powered Broadcast Media Tour™. Doug explains how the AI-Powered Broadcast Media Tour™ works, why it matters, and what organizations need to know. D S Simon Media is…
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Why Communicators Should Embrace AI
Jon Harris, Executive Vice President and Chief Communications & Networking Officer for Conagra Brands, joins Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, to discuss how communicators can effectively integrate AI into their workflows. Jon explains how AI can be leveraged to better understand and anticipate...
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The Evolving Role of CSG - Rachel Henderson Eliff, Executive Vice President, Corporate Social Good at Fenton
Rachel Henderson Eliff, Executive Vice President, Corporate Social Good at Fenton, discusses the shifting CSG landscape. She emphasizes the importance of organizations taking a stance on issues, focusing on the reasons behind their position and their audience. Rachel also provides practical...
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Leading Purpose-Driven Organizations - Paul Cohen, Founder and CEO of Attention Comms
Paul Cohen, Founder and CEO of Attention Comms, talks about the key values that purpose-driven organizations should stand by. He emphasizes the importance of capturing and sustaining meaningful attention across various channels. Paul also shares his experience connecting with his network during...
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Building Resilient Client-Agency Relationships in Healthcare Communications - Shannon Walsh, President of PR, Social & Influence and Chief Operating Officer for Ogilvy Health
Shannon Walsh, President of PR, Social & Influence and Chief Operating Officer for Ogilvy Health, explains what it means to lead with an earned-first mindset. She discusses what she looks for when building client-facing teams to ensure they are best equipped to service client needs. Shannon also...
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How PR Can Secure a Seat at the Table - Tara Smith, Managing Partner at Voxus PR
Tara Smith, Managing Partner at Voxus PR, joins Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, to share her expert insights on how PR professionals can earn a seat at the table. She shares how communicators can adopt a business mindset and elevate strategic communications. Tara also highlights the…
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Storytelling Strategies for Non-Profits - Scott Ward, Principal of Fifth Estate Communications
Scott Ward, Principal of Fifth Estate Communications, highlights how clear goals shape the way audiences engage with messaging. He shares valuable insights on how non-profits can uncover and communicate their core values. Additionally, he shares how embracing reinvention allows non-profits to…
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How To Plan an Effective Holiday Media Campaign
Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, sits down with Elizabeth Rosenberger, VP of Client Services, and Mike Bako, VP of Media and Content Strategy, to discuss holiday planning tips and emerging trends. Drawing from their extensive experience collaborating with clients and stations, they offer...
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How Earned Media is Shaping Generative AI Conversations - Ivan Ruiz, Partner, Digital Health and Strategy at FINN Partners
Ivan Ruiz, Partner, Digital Health and Strategy at FINN Partners, explains how generative AI is reshaping the way healthcare clients approach content strategy. He highlights how organizations can combat misinformation and maintain visibility across AI-driven platforms. D S Simon Media is…
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Blending Human Creativity with AI - Moon Kim, Executive Vice President and Corporate Practice Lead at M Booth
Moon Kim, Executive Vice President and Corporate Practice Lead at M Booth, encourages communicators to stay curious about the evolving role of AI. She discusses how to find the right balance between human creativity and AI-generated content. She also offers insights into how junior and senior…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does PR's Top Pros Talk have?
PR's Top Pros Talk currently has 322 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is PR's Top Pros Talk about?
A D S Simon Media podcast for communicators, featuring top PR executives sharing valuable insights and giving tips on adapting your strategy during these challenging times.
How often does PR's Top Pros Talk release new episodes?
PR's Top Pros Talk publishes regularly with 322 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to PR's Top Pros Talk?
You can listen to PR's Top Pros Talk on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts PR's Top Pros Talk?
PR's Top Pros Talk is created and hosted by D S Simon Media.
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