Powerful Communication Podcast
Business & Finance
About
The Powerful Communication podcast from Comsteria is an essential listen for businesses, brands, comms teams and public relations professionals.We cover every aspect of communication - from social media and websites, video production and podcasts, to traditional media relations, interviews, presentation skills and much more. If you've got something to say and want to say it better, and if you're interested in the fast moving world of corporate communications - this is the podcast for you.Fast moving, jargon free, opinionated and dedicated to helping you in the course of your work.
Episodes
- The "I Don't Know" Dilemma: Media Training & Presentation Skills Training Insights
In this episode, Comsteria's media trainer Colin Kelly addresses one of the most common concerns raised during our sessions as a media training and presentation skills training provider: what to do when you are asked a question during a me…
- The Small Penis Rule: Is Radical Honesty Manipulating Our Politics?
In this episode of the Powerful Communication Podcast, Colin Kelly from Comsteria dives deep into the fascinating world of costly signaling theory and the controversial small penis rule. This communication theory suggests that when a publi…
- Up on the Tightrope: Unlocking Hidden Potential in Leadership and Business
In this short and powerful episode, host Colin Kelly from Comsteria shares a personal story from his vocal coaching sessions to reveal a crucial lesson in leadership and self-development. Discover why we sometimes fail to hit the high note…
- The Purpose Audience Message Framework for Effective Presenting
Are you tired of just getting through your presentations and thinking, "Thank God that's over"? In this episode, we share a much better way to speak in public, whether you are chatting in a small team briefing or presenting on a massive co…
- Why You Need Media Training (Even If You're Avoiding Journalists)
Think you don't need media training just because you want to keep journalists at arm's length? Think again. In this episode, we break down why media training remains a crucial investment for senior professionals, politicians, and business…
- Truthful Deflection: Mastering the Media Tightrope
This guide from Comsteria provides essential advice for high-profile individuals on how to handle difficult media inquiries without resorting to dishonesty. Media trainer Colin Kelly argues that claiming an inability to comment is often a…
- The Fiction Factor: Unleashing In-House Talent for Powerful Communication
Colin Kelly of the communications firm Comsteria expresses deep gratitude for his company's recent growth and credits their success to a client-focused philosophy that prioritizes value over profit. The core of his message encourages organ…
- Trading Card Games: The New Undervalued Media Asset
In this podcast, Colin Kelly highlights trading card games like Yu-Gi-Oh and Magic: The Gathering as undervalued media assets with immense marketing potential. He compares the current independent media surrounding these games to the underg…
- Finding value in e-commerce connections
In this podcast Colin Kelly highlights how personalized touches and unexpected generosity can significantly strengthen the bond between e-commerce businesses and their customers. He shares a story about receiving a hand-written note and a…
- Willfried Nancy Celtic Manager - How Not To Handle The Media When You're New In A Role
In an ultra competitive environment, don't get your friends to run your media training and crisis comms. It's absoltuely essential you get an insight into what people are saying about you. What assumptions the media are making about you an…
- Activate Your Power: The Urgency of Influence
This podcast episode from the Powerful Communication Podcast features Colin Kelly emphasizing the critical need for individuals to exercise their influence rather than deferring action until they achieve perceived success. Kelly illustrate…
- Communication Lessons from the Celtic AGM
Colin Kelly from the powerful communication podcast from Comteria examines the significant lessons available following the disruptive Celtic Annual General Meeting (AGM). The meeting was closed after continuous protest and disruption, incl…
- The Risk of Silence: Why Board Members Must Step Out of the Background
In this episode of the Powerful Communication Podcast, host Colin Kelly explores why it is vital for board members, owners, shareholders, and "silent partners" to cultivate some form of public profile and speak out. The central argument is…
- The AI-Armed Employee: Navigating the New Risk in Appraisals
- The Value Of Your Archive
The Value Of Your Archive Welcome to another powerful communication podcast from Comsteria, hosted by Colin Kelly. Every business is, to some extent, in the content business, requiring written content, video, and audio to populate social m…
- The History Of The Internet
Colin Kelly takes a long, deep dive sharing his personal reflections on the history of the internet from 1996 to the present day.
- School Exclusions In Scotland
Colin Kelly discusses a report in The Times Scotland about unruly behaviour in our schools. A report from the Commission On School Reform says the education system is struggling to cope with a growing problem of indiscipline. Read the full…
- The Tough Truth Academics Need to Hear
Welcome to Comsteria's powerful communication podcast. This is Colin Kelly, and this episode is for every academic. For years, we've watched the tension, maybe conflict, maybe just a lack of understanding between academic experts and the P…
- Could local supermarkets be the future of local news and journalism?
We're going full on into a speculative vision of the future in this episode. One where local businesses diversify into running radio stations and supermarkets employ journalists and produce local news. We also talk about the politics of Ch…
- Stand By Your Values
Straight talking advice for HR and comms professionals. In this episode, media trainer and strategic communications specialist Colin Kelly from Comsteria explores how businesses should respond to the current wave of protests around the UK…
- What PR and Comms professionals need to learn from accountants
Comsteria is here to help every organisation communicate with power. And we want public relations, marketing and communications professionals to achieve their full potential. Subscribe our podcast for straight talking advice and insight to…
- In praise of Zoe Lister (Jet 2 VoiceOver star)
We can't let the summer pass without celebrating this Powerful Communication hero of ours. You might not know Zoe Lister (although she's working very hard to change that!) but you'll certainly know her voice. And we think there's loads to…
- Why PR and Comms professionals need to calm down
- Media Training And The Truth
Colin Kelly with reaction following the former Principal of Dundee University's appearance at the Scottish Parliament's Education Commitee.
- Dealing with nerves while presenting
It's perfectly natural to feel excited or a bit scared when you're about to speak in public. Whether it's a big audience at a conference, a small group at work or that strange sensation that comes with Teams and Zoom, being in the spotligh…
- Be Visible - It's No Longer A Choice For Leaders
The days of 'leaders' or any senior figure in an organisation 'flying under the radar' are over. You need to let people in, give them the chance to get to know you, and above all, spend time listening to them. This cultivates goodwill and…
- A story with a powerful hook
When you give an interview to the media, you can get powerful results by using a key statistic as a 'hook'. Journalists are trained to look for these as they can make stories more engaging and give them a sense of urgency. There's a great…
- Kill The Jargon - How To Make Every Word Count
Here's a clip from a recent writing workshop delivered by Comsteria's Colin Kelly. We love to tackle corporate jargon whenever we encounter it. The trick is always to focus on your audience and challenge any words or phrases that they woul…
- How to brief a spokesperson before a media interview
I've seen a lot of business leaders end up overwhelmed because the comms colleague briefing them before their media interview gives them far too much information. This is often done with good intentions (better to include too much than ris…
- The QCARDS system for evaluating AI tools
Comsteria's Colin Kelly outlines his QCARDS system for evaluating AI tools. If you are thinking of using a particular AI software within your marketing, comms or PR role, consider evaluating each tool against the following criteria: Q - Qu…
- How to find an audience for your podcast
We're often asked to give advice to clients interested in starting their own podcast. In this episode, Colin Kelly shares some thoughts around what it takes to find an audience for your podcast and how to make it stand out. He also looks a…
- Is Pinterest really going to knock out Google? How to make sense of surveys
Your sceptical friend, Colin Kelly, suggests remaining cautious when surveys seem to throw your current approach to digital marketing up in the air. What's really going on and who should you trust? What should you do? Help is at hand!
- You won't get engagement if you're never vulnerable
- Comms Is Not The Employer
- Unlimited Inventory Is Killing Corporate Comms
00:00:00:09 - 00:00:41:00 Speaker 1 Unlimited inventory is the scourge of powerful communication. Let me say that again. Unlimited inventory is the scourge of powerful communication. You know, it's not PowerPoint that causes death by Power…
- The Trouble With Churn and Burn
- Understanding User Needs
- Social media channels are not distribution platforms
- The danger when you only look at figures
- Leverage the physical world to stand out online
- Advertising Advice
Almost every business will advertise at some point in its existence. I realised we have hardly mentioned advertising on this channel and I wanted to share 2 quick bits of advice today. For more on every aspect of #powerfulcommunication vis…
- How charities and community groups can get paid
An embarassing encounter at the supermarket reminded me to tell you about this.
- Local newspapers and the local democracy reporting service
Here's a deep dive inside local newspapers and in particular the work of the local democracy reporting service. In this episode, Colin Kelly explores page by page, today's Paisley Daily Express explaining where the stories come from, how t…
- Recognising and celebrating great work
It's amazing how many communications teams do neither. Work with me and we can change that in 2025. www.comsteria.co.uk
- Nail the basics of powerful communication
Rule Number 1 - assume everything you say is being recorded. You might know this already. I bet there's someone working near you who's forgotten and could put your business at risk in 2025. Share this and remind them. https://www.comsteria…
- The Trouble With Demographic Cohorts
We need to realise that demographic cohorts (Baby Boomers / Generation X etc) are lazy marketing constructs with no more value than horoscopes. I'd urge communications professionals to stop referring to these and to resist the urge to labe…
- Thinking about business objectives
If you deliver training and consultancy and ask clients 'what are your business objectives?', you might not be getting the full picture. At Comsteria, we probe a little deeper! LIsten to this episode and find out how we do it. www.comsteri…
- How words can make e-cigs seem less harmful and climate change more scary
- The truth about unnamed 'sources'
Unnamed sources have an important role to play when it comes to exposing wrongdoing, whistleblowing and corruption. But they've become overused in much of our media and run rampant online with no controls or accountability. Worse, they giv…
- Should I Get Verified On Linkedin? And What Actually Happens?
Comsteria's Colin Kelly delivers Linkedin traning and is getting asked this question A LOT! Here's a quick explainer. Visit Comsteria online and find out more about our training and consultancy work, all designed to help you communicate wi…