LONDON/TORONTO – 13 March 2025 – Stories and Strategies, the world’s most-listened-to PR podcast (using data from Rephonic), welcomes Farzana Baduel as Guest Co-Host for an initial three-month tenure. Baduel, President-Elect of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) and CEO of Curzon PR, brings her strategic communications expertise to the podcast, joining founder Doug Downs in a transatlantic collaboration.
This partnership comes at a defining moment for the PR industry, which is undergoing rapid transformation due to AI advancements, geopolitical shifts, and evolving media landscapes. Together, Baduel and Downs will deliver insightful discussions with leading PR professionals, industry pioneers, and academics, offering PR practitioners the strategies and perspectives needed to navigate this fast-changing world.
Addressing the Gender Gap in PR Leadership
Despite women making up 75% of the PR industry at junior and mid-career levels, representation drops sharply at senior leadership levels, with fewer than half of top positions held by women. The landmark Missing Women report—funded by CIPR and led by Stephen Waddington—revealed that nearly 4,000 women are ‘missing’ from PR leadership roles in the UK alone.
To challenge this imbalance, Stories and Strategies is committing to ensuring that 75% of its guests are women, aligning with the industry’s composition at the entry and mid-career levels and addressing the stark gap at the top.
Doug Downs, Founder and Host of Stories and Strategies, said: “We cannot claim to be an industry that champions inclusivity while continuing to overlook the voices of women in senior roles. Right now, three out of every four email pitches we receive from hopeful podcast guests are from men. We want to hear more from female experts. If you know women who would make great guests, or if you’re a woman reading this and have insights to share, please reach out to us. Gender parity isn’t just about fairness—it’s about making sure the best ideas, strategies, and experiences are heard and shared.”
A Truly Global PR Podcast for a Borderless Industry
With Baduel in the UK and Downs in North America, this transatlantic collaboration offers a global perspective on the PR industry at a time when traditional alliances between Europe and North America face increasing strain. The podcast will explore key industry challenges, including:
The rise of AI in PR and communications and its impact on storytelling, media relations, and ethics.
Geopolitical turbulence and how PR professionals can help brands navigate uncertainty.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in PR leadership and the structural barriers that still exist.
The future of media relations in an era of misinformation and fragmented digital consumption.
Farzana Baduel, Guest Co-Host of Stories and Strategies, said: “In these turbulent times of geopolitical shifts and sharp pivots, PR practitioners cannot operate in silos or vacuums. Communications doesn’t recognise borders, and in a digital world, those borders are superfluous. That’s why it’s incredibly important to have a PR podcast that is truly global. Our guests will come from across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. We want to amplify voices from every corner of the world to equip our listeners with a genuinely global mindset—one that helps them optimise their strategies as PR practitioners and navigate the complexities of international communications.”
Stories and Strategies is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.