In this week’s episode of Stories and Strategies, our CEO @farzanabaduel.bsky.social and Doug Downs spoke with Natasha Plowman of @spinningred.com about why progress on gender equity has stalled and what it will actually take to move it forward. Full video via link in comments.

In this week’s episode of Stories and Strategies, I spoke with Natasha of @spinningred.com about how confidence is often framed as a women’s issue, when in reality it is more complex and shared. Confidence is not confined to gender. What differs are the expectations placed on it. #podcast link 👇

Will 2026 be the year of Bluesky? I might come on to play again… but for now here is a gorgeous picture for the timeline

Episode 3 - all things culture, change, transformation Listen to Cutting Through with Sarah: 🎙️ on Spotify - open.spotify.com/episode/2dhh... 🍏 on Apple Podcasts - podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/c...

We talk ESG, water, carbon, Lego, business value and so much more in between. Listen on: Spotify - bit.ly/41dxY9C Apple Podcasts - bit.ly/3U4LSao

just did the age assurance scan with an image of my face for Bluesky... anyone else curious what their age was estimated at?! Kind of wish it told you - but what a can of worms that would be though!

Coming next week… how are you #CuttingThrough

Coming soon. Yes another podcast. Follow for updates.

Bullseye. Glad I’m not American.

The chat about sustainability is tiresome - except when it is put in the right focus for businesses. Thoughts from me www.prmoment.com/esg/sustaina...

This!

Please make me proud to be Australian this weekend. #Auspol2025

Yes for liberalism. The Liberals last on Saturday #auspol

Anyone else getting sick to death of Rory’s questions on #TheRestIsPolitics? When will he learn that sitting MPs, especially leaders, can’t be drawn in the same way has beens like him can? Always pushing for an attack line.

Interesting interview with @albomp.bsky.social - loved the reference to Dorothy Dixer (which I also got blank looks for ages when using it in the UK). But mostly calm centrist approach to a chaotic world. Would not be brought into issues with Rory’s divisive questioning. Sitting PMs need to balance

What are the words that people use to describe you? These are mine, I asked and people responded. More on the post www.linkedin.com/posts/natash...

When Trump says these tariffs are “reciprocal” it’s important to know he’s counting stuff like VAT – which is charged on domestic products as well as imports – as tariffs, which no-one else does. Because they’re not. So the numbers he’s giving are all nonsense.

Bruce MacKinnon, the editorial cartoonist at the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, drew this last November. No newspaper would print it. It now deserves an outing.

Interesting podcast on so many levels. Yes, an issue we all followed aghast yet for comms folk - so many more questions asked. From sleeping to crisis process to vested interests to how decisions are made. Great listen @davidyelland.bsky.social @simonlewis.bsky.social www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

This is systems. Nothing can or should be looked at in isolation. From economics to policy and everything else in between. Nature is the best example of unintended consequences

This is interesting and impressive justification of changes to welfare. Too often opponents and media want to look at policy in isolation and what is discussed here is how different policy levers need to be looked at together. Yet the media refuse to acknowledge that open.spotify.com/episode/1hjx...

Listen to young people. www-bbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc....

My first piece in Strategic - free to read and a great collection of comms insights from around the world www.strategic-hq.com/risk-and-rep...

Keep our eyes and support on Turkish people trying get rid of their populist leader. This is for everyone globally

NEW: Erdogan has banned protests in Turkey. He has threatened to arrest anyone attending one. This is the people’s response. Fighting for their democracy with another vast gathering in Istanbul tonight. #Turkey 🇹🇷 (🎥 Credit: Özgür Özel - Chairman, Republican People’s Party)

Shame it is Sunday night to find free access to @thetimes.com especially reading more from Matthew Syed. This article hit a nerve. Many of us said this at the time and were ostracised and vilified. The silence of children’s charities the starkest. www.thetimes.com/comment/colu...

Some truth bombs from @matthaig.bsky.social as ever

Fascinating analysis of voting intention & economic insecurity from @jrf-uk.bsky.social - Mid life, ec insecure voters = new swing segment - Much more likely switched away from Labour since election. - Disabled people much more likely to feel economically insecure www.jrf.org.uk/public-attit...

Another excellent event with @giwlkings.bsky.social hosted by the ever fabulous Julia Gillard. My reflections on the research and conversation with @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social and Bridget Phillipson. www.linkedin.com/posts/natash...

This is action. Change and impact. www.thegrocer.co.uk/news/iceland...

IPSOS research IWD showed that the tensions (between genders) we see in other countries are not as high. But they are rising. What can we do to stop them? Stem the far right in all its guises.

Beggars belief the absolute contradictions of so many and inability to join dots. One thing is consistent… Americans want to live in their own domestic bubble.

Love this - but also listen well, listen widely and wisely. Not just the loudest voices.

Democracy in action. #CalmerWithStarmer

How can we get #CalmerWithStarmer trending. This the politics we need - not the showboating.

We may not like the way Trump does things, I don’t. But… the outcome of ever greater European unity and independence is a good thing.

Brutal.

One thing you can always count on rightly or wrongly is that the Mail read the room.

As of today, a new term has entered our language. A “rubio” is a spineless lump of nothing. Example: Don’t be such a rubio.

Now this is an image. Watch - don’t listen - British media doing their thing…

Oh @nytimes.com it is a word. A very apt and important word.

Follow the money, energy and trail of goods.

The future is female. Well - a less divisive, toxic and fractious future.

Merz just said on German TV that the primary priority of his government will be to ensure that Europe can achieve full strategic independence from the United States in the defence against Russia. Merz was once a die hard Atlanicist. Now, after Trump he is a Gaullist. Extraordinary.

Is Europe back?

Snippet from recent podcast with Marketing Careers Uncovered.

This is a great discussion. Wide ranging and getting to the heart of business reputation, the role of comms and cutting through some of the BS. All things I love doing! Have a listen and love to hear feedback, challenges, debate… open.spotify.com/episode/3FMn...

I was on a thing and said some stuff… You can find it here - linktr.ee/marketingcar...

Letterboxed in two - what a start to the week!