AI writing – helpful or harmful? In FIR 507, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz look beyond the LinkedIn backlash. For many professionals, writing isn’t their skill – it’s a task. AI can help. But voice, judgement, and trust still matter. Where do we draw the line? 🎧💻 bit.ly/41wX578

AI is changing communication – and the assumptions behind it. In FIR 506, @nevillehobson.xyz & @shelholtz.bsky.social cover: Billable hours • Observed work • PR budget hype • Misinformation risk • Bots vs humans • Are humans still central? Plus, @danyork.bsky.social on tech. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4t270x8

A leader can build goodwill for days... and lose it in seconds. In #FIRpodcast 503, @nevillehobson.xyz & @shelholtz.bsky.social examine the #IOC press conference moment that turned into a global story about blame, executive readiness & leadership capital. 🎧💻 bit.ly/3OKM3YX

In #FIRpodcast 502, @shelholtz.bsky.social and @nevillehobson.xyz unpacked what happened when an AI coding agent's code was rejected by a human developer – and the AI then published a critique of him and his decision. Plus 5 more topics in this long-form episode for February. 🔗 bit.ly/46ou3cR

AI isn’t replacing communicators – it may be increasing their value. In #FIRpodcast 501, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz explore why companies are hiring “chief storytellers” – and why the shift from messaging to meaning could redefine our role. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4aUFj32

In #FIRpodcast 500, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz talk about AI-enabled workplace abuse and why it needs to be treated as workplace harm. For communicators, this is about preparation – what to do before anything happens to prevent silence becoming permission. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4tsVU5w

PRSA says staying “apolitical” protects credibility. In #FIRpodcast 499, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz ask a harder question: what happens to credibility, truth and standards when ethical leadership goes quiet? 🎧💻 bit.ly/4tmraTN Thoughtful discussion welcomed.

Most crises aren’t sudden. AI, trust erosion, and compound risks expose how unprepared organisations still are. @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz host a new #FIRpodcast interview with Philippe Borremans @riskcomms.bsky.social on crisis communication trends for 2026. 🎧💻 bit.ly/45AKdzn

The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer warns of a crisis of insularity – trust hasn’t collapsed, but has narrowed. In the lead story in #FIRpodcast 498, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz examine Edelman’s idea of “trust brokering”, which has attracted critical response. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4q2FIoL

BCG’s latest AI Radar report shows AI has become a CEO-owned issue – not a tech project. In #FIRpodcast 479, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz discuss confidence gaps, agentic AI, and why communicators now sit at the centre of trust, meaning, and change. 🎧💻 bit.ly/49tiG5k

On #FIRpodcast 496, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz unpack the PRCA’s proposed 2½-page new “definition” of public relations. The public debate will be an important conversation. Big questions about clarity, accessibility, and who gets to define the profession. 🎧💻 bit.ly/49AYJrQ

Reddit has overtaken TikTok as the UK’s 4th most-visited social platform. In FIR 495, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz talk about why search + AI are now amplifying human conversation, not polished messaging, and what that means for communicators. 🎧💻 bit.ly/49HG3rQ

21 years ago, on 5 Jan 2005, we published the first @firpodcast.bsky.social podcast episode. Yesterday, @shelholtz.bsky.social and I marked the anniversary with a short, reflective conversation. We're grateful to everyone who’s listened along the way. Thank you! 🎧💻 bit.ly/49pBBMY

"PR is dead", says Martin Sorrell on BBC Radio 4, challenged live on air by the PRCA's Sarah Waddington. @shelholtz.bsky.social and @nevillehobson.xyz unpack the fallout. They also cover the future of news and more in this long-form episode 494. 🎧💻 six reports - Dec 2025 bit.ly/3Yg01Dy

In #FIRpodcast #493, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz look at how artificial early engagement can trick algorithms into creating visibility that looks like significance. It's alarmingly easy to do. 🎧💻 www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-493-how-...

In #FIRpodcast 492, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz look at how the story of the Omnicom–IPG layoffs unfolded: ▪️ One official, investor-focused narrative. ▪️ Another on LinkedIn and Reddit. When people have platforms, the press release isn’t the whole story. 🎧💻 bit.ly/48X038r

In a new #FIRpodcast interview, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz talk with Josh Bernoff about his major survey of writers and AI – the deep divide between users and non-users, productivity gains, “AI slop,” trust, and why the real story isn’t replacement but re-sorting. 🎧💻 bit.ly/4s3XFp8

FIR 491: One Big Four consulting firm. Two government reports on opposite sides of the world, packed with fake AI-generated citations. Even a CDC-linked study got caught. @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz unpack why “human in the loop” now means “human fact-checker.” 🎧💻 bit.ly/4puRxV8

AI studies claim to show what models actually “read”. But the sources shift month to month, and many citations aren’t reliable at all. In #FIRpodcast 490, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz unpack what this means for communicators trying to stay visible – and accurate. 🎧 bit.ly/48cZLen

In FIR 489, @shelholtz.bsky.social and @nevillehobson.xyz dig into “idea inflation” – when leaders fire off AI-generated thought-leadership ideas and teams are left to clean up the mess. Plus: brand under comms, vibe coding, quantum, and more. 🎧💻 Listen or watch: bit.ly/43AUVoy #FIRpodcast

Coca-Cola’s new AI-generated Christmas ad trades people for polar bears and pixels – and splits opinion wide open. In FIR 488, @shelholtz.bsky.social and @nevillehobson.xyz unpack the reaction, and discuss the comms challenges that come with AI-driven content. 🎧 Listen or watch: bit.ly/4qThPl1

In FIR 487, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz unpack @martinwaxman.bsky.social thoughtful post about pressing pause to make room for curiosity, quality, and quiet. When the AI conversation turns into a crowded superhighway, this isn't quitting – it’s recalibrating 🎧 bit.ly/4onmHwV

FIR 486 is live. @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz cover rage-bait marketing, Lloyds’ exec GenAI + Copilot rollout, PRovoke’s crisis lessons, Böcker’s Louvre real-time ad, corporate affairs’ new brief, and trust velocity. 👉 www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-486-meas... #Comms #PR #AI

“Going viral” isn’t a strategy – it’s a dice roll. In FIR 485 @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz explain why you should drop it from your objectives and what to measure instead. Plan for compounding attention, not spikes. 🔗 www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-485-is-i... #FIRpodcast

A new #AI tool called #OliviaBrown can create & send entire PR campaigns, even follow up with journalists. In FIR 484, @shelholtz.bsky.social and @nevillehobson.xyz discuss what this means for trust and the future of #publicrelations. 🎧 www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-484-is-o...

Was #Tylenol 's response to presidential claims that the painkiller causes autism in children whose mothers used it while pregnant worth holding up as a case study? @nevillehobson.xyz and @shelholtz.bsky.social break it down in FIR 483 www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-483-how-...

Our FIR Interview on Generative Engine Optimisation #GEO is now on YouTube. @nevillehobson.xyz & @shelholtz.bsky.social talk with Stephanie Grober about the hype, the scepticism, and what communicators can really do to prepare for generative search. 🎥 Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwB1...

In #FIRpodcast 482, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz dig into #workslop – workplace content that looks good but adds no real value Also: human-centred organisations, the evolving role of internal comms, Amazon’s AI audience targeting, AI and press releases, and more. 🎧 bit.ly/42i54Wy

#AI can polish our words, but at what cost to authenticity? In #FIRpodcast 481, @shelholtz.bsky.social and @nevillehobson.xyz discuss tone in AI-assisted writing and the 2025 em dash kerfuffle. Plus, Shel’s project to turn 28 blog posts into a new book with AI’s help. 🎧 Listen: bit.ly/42c8n1n

GEO is suddenly everywhere. Is it the new SEO or just a passing fad? @shelholtz.bsky.social and @nevillehobson.xyz dig into the hype, the reality, and what comms pros should do now in our latest FIR Interview with Stephanie Grober. 🎧 www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-intervie...

#FIRpodcast 480 just dropped: a rich follow-up to our July interview with the Vatican's Paul Tighe. In this episode, @silviacambie.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz reflect on AI, ethics, dignity – and what communicators must do next. 🔗 www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-480-refl... #AI #Ethics #Comms

#SEO vs #GEO. In #FIRpodcast 479, @shelholtz.bsky.social and @nevillehobson.xyz ask: is generative optimisation the future, or just the latest acronym soup? Spoiler: trust and clarity still win. 🎧 www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-479-hack...

#Wikipedia is under pressure from AI “slop” and from UK regulation. In FIR 477, @shelholtz.bsky.social and @nevillehobson.xyz discuss Wikipedia’s new speedy deletion policy, and losing a legal challenge under the UK’s Online Safety Act. What does it all mean for communicators? 🔗 bit.ly/4fOwRUc

Consulting is changing fast. McKinsey has 12,000 AI agents. Other giants are following. In FIR 476, @shelholtz.bsky.social and @nevillehobson.xyz ask: if #AI can do the “grunt work”, what’s left for humans – and how do firms, large and small, adapt? 🔗 www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-476-rewi...

RSS never died, it just faded from view. In #FIRpodcast 475, @nevillehobson.xyz & @shelholtz.bsky.social talk about the quiet comeback of RSS, powered by AI and fediverse vibes. That's powerful, and it might be key to taking back control from the algorithms. bit.ly/4lYTZ4h #RSS #AI #fediverse

In a new FIR Interview, @nevillehobson.xyz, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @silviacambie.bsky.social speak with Monsignor Paul Tighe from The Vatican on the ethical challenges AI poses to humanity, work, and dignity. Tune in: 🎧 www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-intervie... #AI #ethics #AntiquaEtNova

➡️ FIR 474 is out now. @shelholtz.bsky.social @nevillehobson.xyz discuss AI and PR, covering: – Synapse: an AI tool writing expert quotes – Press releases as AI training data – The comeback of brand newsletters 💡Plus @danyork.bsky.social and more 🔗 bit.ly/4oaEace #FIRpodcast #AI #PR #Comms

Due to a schedule change, our FIR Interview with the Vatican’s Msgr. Paul Tighe now drops on Tues 29 July. We talk #AI, #ethics, and 'Antiqua et Nova' – a powerful look at how tech is reshaping values and responsibility – and more. Don't miss it! www.firpodcastnetwork.com/coming-soon-...

Who really owns the digital employee experience (DEX)? In FIR 473, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz argue it's time internal communicators step up. It's not just about the tech - it's about how employees feel when using it. 🎙️ Listen: bit.ly/4mdE7ed #DEX #InternalComms #FIRpodcast

B2B decision-makers see the importance of trust. Companies that measure trust as a board-level KPI are over 3x more likely to report higher profits, yet only 22% of boards have trust as a KPI. Discussed in #FIRpodcast 472 by @nevillehobson.xyz & @shelholtz.bsky.social bit.ly/4lXZTCu

👀 Coming on FIR: a conversation with #Vatican AI & ethics lead, Monsignor Paul Tighe. We’ll explore the core message of 'Antiqua et Nova', the Church’s recent paper on #AI & human intelligence. With co-hosts @nevillehobson.xyz @shelholtz.bsky.social & @silviacambie.bsky.social 📌 bit.ly/40MpmXk

"Faceless creators" and VTubers are assuming a prominent position among influencers. In #FIRpodcast 471, @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz examine the reasons behind the phenomenon and its implications for communications and marketing. www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-471-can-...

Watch @nevillehobson.xyz & @shelholtz.bsky.social in conversation with @richardbagnall.bsky.social on YouTube: 📏 What the #BarcelonaPrinciples 4.0 aim to fix 🧭 Why #AVE is still around 📣 How to shift the mindset on comms measurement 📺 youtu.be/K5pFBhuPQLk?... #AMEC #Measurement

New FIR Interview: @nevillehobson.xyz & @shelholtz.bsky.social spoke with AMEC's @richardbagnall.bsky.social about the just-released Barcelona Principles 4.0 - a major refresh of the global standards for communication measurement. 🎧 Tune in: bit.ly/401oUEh #FIRpodcast #AMEC #Measurement

In FIR 470: @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz discuss Creative Commons’ new #CCsignals project: a framework to tell AI how your content should be used. Communicators have a key role to play in sharing feedback to influence development. 🎧 Listen now: bit.ly/4lhVgTR #AI #FIRpodcast

#FIRpodcast 469 just dropped. @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz cover: 🧠 Disconnected employees 📺 Social media beats TV for news 🧘 AI ethics meets theology at the Vatican 🤖 Creators use AI agents for fan engagement Plus @danyork.bsky.social on Mastodon’s new rules for AI bit.ly/3HRcHM8

Reputation threats are evolving, a rich topic for @shelholtz.bsky.social & @nevillehobson.xyz in #FIRpodcast 468. Top 3 threats: ⚠️ AI misuse & deepfakes ⚠️ Elon Musk associations (!) ⚠️ DEI U-turns We say brands need new playbooks for a volatile world. 🎧️ bit.ly/4lf6Ej6 #comms #PR #reputation

New #FIRpodcast interview dropped: @nevillehobson.xyz and @shelholtz.bsky.social speak with @craigsilverman.bsky.social about Indicator, his new venture exposing digital deception. Discover why comms pros need #OSINT skills now more than ever. 🎧 Tune in: bit.ly/3HPUuhT

Mary Meeker’s new AI Trends report is huge, and mostly aimed at Silicon Valley. In #FIRpodcast 467, @shelholtz.bsky.social and @nevillehobson.xyz unpack the core themes and break down what matters for communicators and business leaders. 🎧 Tune in: www.firpodcastnetwork.com/fir-467-mary...

Still hallucinating... In #FIRpodcast 466, @shelholtz.bsky.social and @nevillehobson.xyz talk about AI models that confidently make things up that make smart people look very foolish 🙄 We also dig into Veo 3, MailOnline’s click-through traffic drop, and more. Tune in! 🎧 bit.ly/4kB83jB