Beyond the Noise - the PRWeek podcast

Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.On this week’s episode, PRWeek UK deputy editor Siobhan Holt is joined by two senior agency leaders – Graham Goodkind and Emily Morgan – to discuss the key factors behind agency longevity, focusing on profitability, agency culture and retention of talent.Goodkind, former managing director of Lynne Franks PR and founder and chairman of Frank PR, is celebrating the agency’s 25th anniversary this yearEmily Morgan, managing director of operations and innovation at Red Consultancy, is also marking 25 years with the business.In this episode, the pair chat about agencies avoiding over-reliance on major clients, how to achieve long-term profitability and the impact of AI on the PR and comms sector. The pair also offer one piece of advice to PR agency bosses, and discuss the importance of maintaining physical and emotional well-being when running a PR agency, and how leadership attitudes shape company culture.

In the latest PRWeek podcast, non-executive directors Alison Clarke and Michael Murphy explain how to reposition a comms agency during difficult times.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.On this week’s episode, PRWeek UK deputy editor Siobhan Holt is joined by two non-executive directors – Alison Clarke and Michael Murphy – to discuss how to reposition a comms agency during difficult times, focusing on client fees, restructuring and staff redundancies.An experienced comms professional, Clarke has held senior roles at Weber Shandwick and Grayling, and now runs her own consultancy, Alison Clarke Consulting. Michael Murphy has also held top leadership roles at Grayling and Weber Shandwick and now advises We. Communications, Lodestone and Action Global.  In this episode, the pair chat about when an agency should consider increasing its fees, how to approach the topic with clients, and explain how to stop working with a client without jeopardising the relationship or their agency’s reputation.Clarke also warned that PR agencies must avoid a ‘race to the bottom’ in relation to client fees. The two comms professionals discuss when an agency leader should consider restructuring a team, and what frameworks to follow. They also offer advice on how best to handle redundancies and what factors the leadership team should consider. 

James Wright, global chairman of the Havas PR Network, global CEO of Havas Red, and Group CEO Havas ANZ, talks about business at the group in the latest PRWeek podcast.James Wright speaks to PRWeek UK deputy editor Siobhan Holt in the latest episode of Beyond the Noise.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.In the episode, Wright discusses business at the PR network and talks about Havas’ new office in Manchester, as well as the current recruitment market in PR.Wright gives an update on which specialisms are faring the strongest for Havas and its agencies, and where there has been strong growth this year. He speaks about B Lab revoking Havas’ B Corp status and discusses the impact on both staff and clients. New business is also examined, and the chief delves into agency/client relationships and says clients must ‘take some responsibility’ to avoid ghosting and poor pitching behaviour.In addition, Wright gives his take on AI technology, the Omnicom/IPG deal, and shares his predictions for 2026.

What do the winners of the PRWeek UK Awards 2025 tell us about the big trends in the sector? PRWeek’s latest podcast takes a look.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.In today’s episode, PRWeek journalists Danny Rogers (editor-in-chief), John Harrington (UK editor) and Evie Barrett (deputy news editor) pick out some of the major lessons from the flagship awards night, which took place on Wednesday (15 October).The trio discuss what the winning campaigns tell us about the state of purpose campaigns in 2025, and about how PR agencies have been expanding the breadth of work they are undertaking.The journalists look at how innovation – especially around AI – and creative investment are big themes among the winning agencies this year.More generally, they reflect on a positive mood about the health of the industry among attendees, albeit with some caveats.Separately, the team pay tribute to this year’s PRWeek UK Hall of Fame inductee: John Waples of FTI Consulting.

What more can comms professionals do to help stem growing antisemitism? And why aren’t more speaking out? PRWeek UK’s latest podcast looks at the issues.Joining a special edition of Beyond the Noise are three agency leaders who are Jewish: David Fraser, founder of Ready10 and Ready Media Group; Mandy Sharp, CEO of Tin Man Communications; and Barry Frankfurt, MD of Creative & Commercial.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, our guests this week discuss their experiences of antisemitism in recent years and reflect on how the fatal attack on a synagogue in Greater Manchester on 2 October has put the issue into sharper focus.They talk about how the industry has responded to the attacks, including a “deafening silence”and a lack of “empathy” from some, which point to wider problems.The founders offer advice to other people in comms about how to support their Jewish colleagues and peers.

PR’s pay gaps, and its DEI efforts in general, are under the spotlight in PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast.It follows the publication this week of the latest Pay Gaps Report from PRWeek and People Like Us, which sees agencies reveal their gender and ethnicity pay gaps.Click here to read the PRWeek Pay Gaps ReportOur guests are People Like Us co-founder Sheeraz Gulsher and the bosses of two agencies that took part in the Pay Gaps Report: Heather Blundell, UK CEO at Grayling, and Pam Scobbie, co-founder and CCO of John Doe Group.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.Speaking to PRWeek UK editor John Harrington, the guests give their take on the overall findings of the ground-breaking report. This includes some stiff criticism of the lack of participation among the UK’s biggest PR agencies.They discuss why gender and ethnicity pay gaps might still exist and scrutise the industry’s efforts to close them.Blundell and Scobbie give examples of some of the work they have done to promote diversity, equity and inclusion at their agencies. And the guests offer advice to PR firms that want to make progress in these areas.As PRWeek earlier reported, the Grayling and John Doe bosses criticised the recent pattern of female leaders at UK comms agencies being replaced by men.

The latest Beyond the Noise podcast looks at diversity and inclusion for black PR and communications professionals in the industry. In this episode, guests have an open conversation about diversity in the industry as UK Black History Month (October) begins.Joining PRWeek’s reporter Elizabeth Wiredu are Kamiqua Lake, founder and chief executive of Coldr; Ronke Lawal, PR and communications consultant at Ariatu Public Relations; and Michael Bartley, practice director and head of cybersecurity, business & technology at Brands2Life.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple,Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.Topics include career progression, mentorship, and the steps needed to build a truly inclusive environment for black PR professionals.Looking at recent campaign controversies, the group also discuss what more the industry can do to prevent failings on diversity and inclusion, particularly in creative roles.

Alex Perry, head of growth at The Romans, and Yvonne Maher, chief growth officer for EMEA at Cognito, are the guests on this week’s Beyond the Noise podcast. How can a UK-based PR agency successfully expand its operations across the globe? PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast delves into the topic, looking at the reasons for opening more offices, and which regions are currently booming.Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.Interviewed by PRWeek UK’s deputy news editor, Evie Barrett, our guests share anecdotes from the growth stories of their own agencies, offering advice for agency bosses who may be considering opening international offices.They discuss the challenges of ensuring your business has a cohesive brand identity worldwide, as well as how to find the right fit when it comes to regional leadership.Perry also reveals what’s next on the cards for The Romans’ international growth plans.

Social media experts with experience at LADbible and Great British Memes are the guests on PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast.How can brands show that they’re culturally-led on social media, without crossing a line or seeming too corporate?PRWeek’s latest Beyond the Noise podcast delves into the topic, hearing from George Bacon, founder of GBM Group, and Maya Orr, founder of Big Name on Campus (BNOC).Beyond the Noise looks at some of the biggest issues affecting communications and PR. Download the podcast via Apple, Spotify, or listen on your favourite platform.Bacon has built a network of over 15 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, on pages such as GreatBritishMemes and Thatgirlpage. GBM Group’s meme pages have partnered with brands including Uber Eats, Jaffa Cakes, Persil, Warburtons and Bumble on ‘lo-fi’ social media ad partnerships.Meanwhile, ex-LADbible and Lidl marcomms pro Orr now runs a ‘values-led’ influencer agency, BNOC, which aims to connect brands with influencers whose work is rooted in purpose.Speaking to PRWeek’s deputy news editor, Evie Barrett, the pair discuss the most common mistakes they see PR and marketing teams make when trying to help brands seem relatable online.Bacon and Orr share how a business should balance the risks and rewards of an active social media presence, from jumping on big trends to actively participating in comment sections.The duo also give their views on whether there is still a place for more polished, traditional campaigns.