Lead Balloon - Public Relations, Mark...
Compelling tales from the world of public relations, marketing and branding, told by the well-meaning communications professionals who lived them.
On Lead Balloon, professional communicators share tales of the do-or-die situations that defined their creative careers—how they planned for the unexpected, how they navigated high-profile crises, and what they learned in the process.
With immersive storytelling and a wry sense of humor, host Dusty Weis revisits epic PR disasters, intense communications scenarios, professional inflection points and notable campaigns we all remember, and usually finds a reason to chuckle.
Because sometimes, there are important lessons to be learned from someone else's worst day.
And sometimes, it's just more convenient than group therapy.
Lead Balloon is an award-winning program for strategic communicators and content creators, named by Adweek as "Marketing Podcast of the Year," nominated for a Webby award and nominated for "Best Business Podcast" in the Podcast Academy awards.
Tune in monthly for new episodes. Visit podcampmedia.com/leadballoon to learn more.
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29. Ukrainian Creatives Waging an Information W...
Ad agencies and freelancers across Ukraine have banded together to pierce the veil of Russian propaganda--and they need your help.
40 min
27
28. Wendy's Twitter Account Manager Recounts Ba...
How Can Social Media Managers "Take a Break From Social Media?"
50 min
28
27. Sherwin-Williams Paints Itself Into a Corne...
A Plucky TikTok Superstar Gets Fired for Finding Unexpected Brand Success on Social Media
45 min
29
BONUS: Milwaukee Bucks Senior VP Alex Lasry on ...
Alex had so much to say, it didn't all make it into Episode 26 of Lead Balloon.
16 min
30
26. Bigger Than Basketball: The Milwaukee Bucks...
With a title within reach, players refusing to take the court is a sports marketing nightmare... unless it's for a good cause.
55 min
31
BONUS: What "Cancel Culture" Really Means for R...
Where the worlds of reputation management and social media meet, you'll find Molly McPherson in her comfort zone.
6 min
32
25. FEMA Rep Has Near-Death Experience After Hu...
A FEMA public affairs unit puts itself in harm's way to try and repair the agency's tarnished image, and the experience leaves a lasting impact on both of our guests.
48 min
33
24. The Dreaded Grand Jury Subpoena, with Duct ...
Host of one of the web's longest-running marketing podcasts, John Jantsch shares a cautionary tale from early in his career.
32 min
34
23. Bridgegate: Behind the Scenes at the Port A...
Known as the scandal that ended Governor Chris Christie's presidential ambitions, we look back at Bridgegate from a PR perspective.
43 min
35
BONUS: Bulletins From an NBA Title-Winning Terr...
Milwaukee's NBA title victory is about so much more than basketball. Come celebrate with us.
9 min
36
22. Scandal at Foresters Financial, with former...
As spokesman for the company, Henry DeVries's moral fiber is tested when he's dragged into a torrid affair between two Foresters executives.
41 min
37
21. Hip-Hop Mogul Russell Simmons Hijacks the M...
When the co-founder of Def Jam Records goes off in front of a live audience, emcee Justin Shriber tries to save face.
43 min
38
20. Plane Crash in Colombia: American Airlines ...
Three weeks into her role as an American Airlines spokeswoman, Jennifer Hudson is called to Colombia following an air disaster that claimed 159 lives.
47 min
39
19. Coca-Cola and the Masters Tournament, with ...
When women's rights activists take aim at a last-bastion boy's club, Coke has to navigate a Public Relations lose-lose.
57 min
40
18. Coca-Cola's Retired Comms VP Ben Deutsch on...
Overseeing communications for one of the world's largest corporations is not a job for the faint of heart, as these tales illustrate.
44 min
41
17. The Lincoln Project’s Rick Wilson: Insurrec...
January 6 was a dark day for America, with lasting ramifications for how businesses talk about politics and Trumpism.
44 min
42
16. Vaccine Messaging: How Comms Professionals ...
There's a new front in the war on Covid, and comms professionals have a chance to fight on the front lines.
65 min
43
15. Going Rogue, Battling Bears, Government Shu...
When a government shutdown threatened to cancel her National Parks press junket, Julie Wright took a group of reporters and went rogue, creating a legendary story in the process.
42 min
44
14. Dukakis in a Tank: White House Comms Pros T...
A staffer from Team Dukakis '88 and his Republican counterpart explore how the most disastrous photo op in history still shapes politics today.
55 min
45
BONUS: Adweek's "Marketing Podcast of the Year"...
Midwestern podcast host and small business owner seen jumping up and down with excitement for 48 hours straight.
7 min
46
13. The Squatty Potty Saga and the Science of G...
Promoting anti-poo-stink spray and constipation remedies may not be glamorous, but it is highly profitable for the viral video mavens at Harmon Brothers.
50 min
47
12. A Creative in the Corporate World, with Dav...
For outsiders transitioning into the world of marketing, it can be easy to feel like a square peg in a round hole.
45 min
48
11. The Emotional Unsubscribe, and other Market...
The difference between "campaign" and "crater" is a razor's edge in the world of marketing automation and CRM.
46 min
49
10. Getting Uncomfortable About Race in America...
Professional communicators must be ready to have uncomfortable conversations to address issues of race and police brutality in America.
74 min
50
9. The Ritz-Carlton Hail Mary, with Trusted Med...
With a flagship custom publishing account on the line, former Playboy editor Beth Tomkiw goes for broke.
28 min