They say there’s no rest for the wicked and it’s true! Soon after the Business Show, I did a podcast conversation with Jo Salter, host of the Where Does It Come From podcast about greenwashing, corporate social responsibility (CSR), fast fashion, the power of local communities, fake news, and of course my book, CSR Is Not PR.
So if you have time, do have a listen to my dulcet tones and let us know what you think!
When we work with clients, there is nothing like working with clients that are pushing boundaries and shaking things up, and is why Serendipity PR & Media is enjoying working with Constructive Voices, a new and exciting podcast platform for the construction industry. Constructive Voices is bringing the latest stories from the construction industry globally and is creating the best conversations with industry leaders and change makers, on topics shaping the sector from the economy to sustainability, social good, to mental and physical health, and diversity and inclusion. These are all values that matter to Serendipity PR as a brand.
All the podcasts aim to inspire positive change and it has a strong, talented team of diverse experts behind it, which includes Peter Finn, Ireland’s well-known and favourite TV builder; Henry McDonald, investigative journalist; Jackie De Burca, author and award-wining podcaster; and Steve Randall, radio presenter and podcast trainer.
Constructive Voices latest powerful podcast is out now, where acclaimed journalist and media commentator, Henry McDonald interviews Professor Michael Parkinson CBE, Honorary Professor at the University of Liverpool and Ambassador for its Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place. Professor Parkinson speaks in detail about the proposed Everton football stadium project and Liverpool’s regeneration.
This latest podcast with Professor Parkinson has been well-received and Paul Gallagher
Head of Creative Partnerships, National Museums Liverpool says, “This is a brilliant podcast, incredibly enlightening and insightful. A highly recommended listen.”
Here’s a taster of some of the other episodes from Constructive Voices:
Cas Heuvelmans, PR Manager Europe | Trimble says: “I’m truly impressed by what the team have pulled off here.”
Guy Woodford, Aggregates Business says, “A real diversity among the guests, which gives the show pace…Great success story.”
Peter Finn, Ireland’s favourite TV builder says, “At Construction Voices we want to bust those stereotypes that people may have of this sector and showcase the best things that are happening within this sector globally, including bringing to the forefront the latest industry insights and trends. We are creating quality content and we are proud that in such a short space of time we have become the go to podcast in the construction industry and have gained sponsors.”
Constructive Voices is consistently producing original content and future episodes lined-up includes, Peter Finn, TV personality taking listeners on a journey into the highly sensitive restoration of the building, which houses the Book of Kells at Trinity College, Dublin; while Henry McDonald, journalist will be discussing the renovation of the Real Madrid Bernabéu Stadium.
My latest book, Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations has been so well received and am thrilled to say that award-winning podcast platform, Irish Tech News has enjoyed the book and offered me to run a mini podcast series focused around the topic of the book, which is corporate social responsibility and sustainable business news. I have done eight podcasts, which are a variety voices of people within my book and some new ones.
Each conversation tells a story and I have interviewed business leaders and change makers who are doing wonderful things from learning about the stories that bees tell us to the clowns making children laugh in refugee camps; to food waste and fashion; animalltea, a brew that is empowering endangered animals story to artificial intelligence doing good, and so much more. You can have listen to all these podcasts and the all the other great content at Irish Tech News.
It is Spring, Easter has come and gone and here in the UK we are about to re-emerge from lockdown and suddenly, we have a lot to look forward to…time has flown and yes, it has taken me this long to write about all the wonderful and positive things that have happened and are happening for my new book, Corporate Social Responsibility Is Not Public Relations
The Launch
I cannot believe that it has been a full month since the book had its official publication day on 18 February this year. Like everything that has been happening, the launch event was virtual, and on the day we had just over 100 people join from all over the world. It was great to see so much support for the book, which has continued. The book has been warmly received by both the media and the public.
Irish Tech News & Podcasts
Interest in the book has led to different opportunities and conversations, which includes me creating a special mini podcast series for the award winning, Irish Tech News. The first podcast from this series, launches this April. I have interviewed a mix of people, some of whom are in the book and some new voices, who are all talking about corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the things that they are doing to create change and make impact.
The first podcast is now live and is with entrepreneur, Leigh Kathryn Bonner who is one of Forbes Under 30, who is behind her CSR led-business, ‘Bee Downtown.’
In this particular podcast, Leigh gives us an insight into bees, who we discover are one of Mother Nature’s best storytellers!
The other, Irish Tech News podcast interviews I have coming up, are with – a new purposeful tea company; a clown who is helping to make children laugh in refugee camps; an expert on sustainable and ethical investments; an ethical fashion entrepreneur and more.
Publicity Received
The book has been featured on Reputation Today, who ran a few pieces; India CSR Network also showed the book a lot of love and ran four stories; Asian Voice Newspaper; India Global Business; Viewdigital; Digital Journal; Enfield Dispatch; and Irish Tech News did a podcast with me about the book, which led to the mini-series.
Coming Up
I also have a few interviews just around the corner, including being interviewed on other podcasts. In fact, I am looking forward to joining Books and Friends on 19 April.
The book launches in the US in May and there’s more exciting news to announce soon.
Gratitude
But, the most important thing right now is to thank everyone who has bought the book! Thank you!! As an author, there’s nothing like the thrill of knowing someone is reading ‘your book.’
During lockdown and our changing world, I have been keeping myself busy with writing and podcasts, not just listening to them, but being fortunate enough to be invited on to various shows to share my stories.
I enjoyed sharing my business wisdom and stories and have recently been on two popular US based podcasts shows – CurryUp StartUp Podcast and the #365FirstChallenge
Both shows are hosted by great podcasters who have the mastery of asking great questions and importantly, good listeners, knowing just when to come in to ask that timely question.
Podcasts are great for sharing knowledge, experiences and stories with a wide audience. You can listen to podcasts about politics, business, cooking and more; the options are endless. Data shows that two million podcasts are registered by Google.
According data released from Buzzsprout, Latino podcasts are flourishing due to the large number of Spanish speakers in both the US and South America, with Chile in the lead with a podcast growth rate of 85 percent; followed by Argentina; then Peru and Mexico. The country with the fifth-highest rate is China; and I know that in India, podcasts is a growing market.
While in the UK, 12 percent of adults listen to at least one podcast per week and are the most popular among millennials (21 percent) and only five percent of Baby Boomers have caught the podcast bug.
Other research by Music Oomph shows that brands that advertise products and services during business podcasts have a 14 percent lift in purchase intent! There is plenty of research on customer behaviour proving that podcasts impact brand lift.
Other interesting podcasting statistics on customer behaviour:
According to Forbes – 36. 39 percent of US small and medium-sized businesses owners are podcast users and 65 percent of them listen to podcasts weekly, according to 2018 podcast listenership stats.
So, if you happen to be looking for something to listen to…give CurryUp StartUp Podcast and the #365FirstChallenge a try.
It doesn’t matter for how long you have been working in PR, when you gain media success there’s nothing quite like that feeling, and it’s always sweeter when the project you are working on is purposeful – making a difference.
So, it is with great fanfare I can say that Serendipity PR & Media is delighted to be working with legal professional and entrepreneur Hatti Suvari on her new legal podcast, Get Legally Speaking, which launched on 4 November to great success!
Get Legally Speaking is Hatti’s brilliant creation and yet a simple idea. It’s the first UK legal consumer podcast tackling the issues that people want to know about, asking the questions that the public want answers to and stripping down to the facts. Hatti will be speaking to the best UK legal minds on Get Legally Speaking and will cover all issues from divorce, to family law, employee rights, customer rights and yes! Brexit rights of EU citizens.
The first episode is focused on divorce, a big topic for many as we go into Christmas. In this episode Hatti speaks with leading family law barrister Maria Scotland from 5 St Andrews Hill Chambers, London who is joint head of the family team at her chambers, finding out – how to get the divorce process started; how does it work; do both husband and wife have to agree to a divorce; how much will a divorce cost; and how long will the process take.
Hatti is passionate about making UK law easy for people to understand and says, “I come across people daily, who are confused about the legal matters that are affecting them and don’t know where to start. With the Citizens Advice Bureau’s around the country over-stretched, and with their outlets on the high-street reduced, I wanted to do something and Get Legally Speaking is the answer.”
Hatti will be covering a specific topic on each Get Legally Speaking podcast, chatting with the best legal experts, asking the questions that people need answers to in an easy way and speak. Get Legally Speaking is on Buzzsprout and can also be found on iTunes and Spotify.
Apart from running the media campaign for Get Legally Speaking, Serendipity PR & Media has helped shape the branding, the website and creative, including writing all the copy, ensuring brand alignment and the over-seeing of social media.