Politics for Drummies

Ryan Davis of People First is an influencer marketing expert. When trust in media and government is low, voters make decisions based on friends and family. Ryan chats with Alastair about how everyday people like teachers, single moms, and firefighters can be more effective than celebrity endorsements, which might just make the difference in the Presidential election.

Rhiannon Ruff from Lumino Digital is an expert in Wikipedia the world’s largest crowdsourced encyclopaedia. She joins Alastair on the pod for a masterclass on how politicians try and fail to get round the rules and what brands can do when it comes to reputation management where neutrality and authenticity is all.

Nadja Bellan-White asks whether brands should brands take a stand?CEO of SS+K Nadja Bellan-White is a proud global citizen and change maker. She joins Alastair on the pod to discuss how brands can show up where there is political instability, how the principles of political campaigning apply to brand transformation and why building a diverse culture is still a burning issue against the backdrop of a polarising US election.

In this episode, we're in New York! Valerie Davis, CEO of Assembly North America gives her views on political spending and the likely impact on advertisers in this election cycle. Featuring live chat with the Drum's co-founder, Gordon Young and a CMO Q&A.

Nils Leonard’s Uncommon Studio has taken the creative world by storm. In this episode he and Alastair dig in to why politics has lost its way and needs a reboot. Nils has ambitious ideas. After all, if Britain can’t be a British Original, who else is going to do it?

Amil Khan on Media, Misinformation and the Misuse of GenAIIn this episode, Alastair chats with Amil Khan, founder of online manipulation expert Valent Projects, about his move into disinformation, the shortcomings of modern media, the potential for tech to spread misinformation, and how voters could soon be targeted individually by political parties armed with GenAI.

Ben Guerin, co-founder of digital-led creative agency Topham Guerin, shares insights on crafting winning strategies, shaping personas, and fostering trust in the ever-changing realm of social media.

In this episode, Alastair chats with Nicky Bullard, chief creative officer at MullenLowe, about the intricacies of crafting political campaigns. They explore the balance between creativity and messaging, the impact of personal attacks in ads, and the challenge of maintaining authenticity in political branding.

With the UK election kicking off early, Alastair asks Benedict Pringle, founder of politicaladvertising.co.uk, to unpack how the parties wield anger, fear, and hope to shape voter sentiment. From Labour's rallying cry against the status quo to the Conservatives' fear-based narrative, discover the nuanced strategies at play in the campaign.