Episodes
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Psychological safety has become one of those phrases that gets used everywhere. Barbara Phillips explains what it actually looks like. Barbara is the founder of Brownstone Communications, a communications consultant, executive coach and former Chair of the PRCA's Race & Ethnicity Equity Board. Throughout her career she's advised organisations on leadership, culture and inclusion, while helping senior teams create workplaces where people feel able to contribute, challenge and belong. We talk about growing up in Birmingham, finding confidence, building a business and why psychological safety has become one of the biggest leadership challenges facing organisations today. The conversation also covers race, representation, code-switching and the pressure many people still feel to leave parts of themselves at the door when they arrive at work. One moment stayed with me. Barbara said the greatest freedom came when she stopped worrying about being liked. In this episode: • What psychological safety actually means • Why respect lasts longer than popularity • Race, identity and belonging at work • The emotional cost of code-switching • Building confidence as a leader • Why people do their best work when they feel safe to contribute Accidentally Brilliant is the podcast where Josh Wheeler speaks to leaders across communications, media and business about the careers they never planned and the moments that shaped them.
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Laura Burch never planned to build an agency.
She found her way into PR through a temporary job at the BBC, spent two decades working her way up to Managing Director, then realised something had barely changed.
Britain's working-class communities make up around half the population, yet they remain one of the least represented groups across PR and the wider creative industries.
In this episode of Accidentally Brilliant, Laura talks about growing up on a council estate, hiding parts of herself to fit into the industry, why brands often misunderstand the audiences they rely on, and why better representation produces better creative work.
We also talk about launching Work and Class, building campaigns around lived experience, creating opportunities for the next generation and why visibility can change someone's career before you've even met them.
Topics include:
• Why class is still overlooked in communications• Building an agency around working-class talent• The commercial opportunity many brands miss• How agencies can widen representation• Community, confidence and finding people like you• Why being visible changes careers
Guest:Laura BurchFounder & Managing Director, Work and Class
If you enjoy conversations about creativity, communications and building a career differently, subscribe for future episodes of Accidentally Brilliant.
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Freelancers now make up one of the biggest forces in PR - so what is happening in that space?
In this episode of Accidentally Brilliant, Josh Wheeler speaks with Nigel Sarbutts, founder of The PR Cavalry, Structured Mediation, and co-founder of the Independent Impact 50.
Nigel has spent years working across agencies in London, Manchester and Leeds. Today he sits in a different position inside the industry, helping agencies, brands and freelancers find specialist talent, resolve disputes, and rethink how independent practitioners are valued.
The conversation covers the shift from retainers to project work, why agencies are relying more heavily on freelance specialists, and why many experienced PR professionals are leaving traditional agency structures behind.
Josh and Nigel also discuss:
• Why freelancing has become a “megatrend” in communications
• The pressure AI and procurement are putting on fees
• Why some clients still misunderstand the value of PR
• How independent practitioners collectively rival the scale of major agency groups
• Why freelancers are often invisible in awards and recognition systems
• The thinking behind the Independent Impact 50
• Burnout, conflict and resentment inside agency culture
• Why mediation is becoming more important in communications businesses
• The emotional cost of workplace disputes
• What agencies can learn from industries like film and engineering about flexible talent
There is also a wider conversation running through the episode about ego, pressure, recognition and how people work together when the industry feels stretched.
Nigel speaks very openly about agency life, competition, stress, leadership and the importance of continuing to do good work when things feel uncertain.
00:00 Intro
00:42 Why freelancing is becoming a megatrend
03:18 What freelancers are dealing with right now
06:37 Unrealistic client expectations and fee pressure
07:32 Why freelancers still lack recognition in PR
09:50 The thinking behind the Independent Impact 50
13:10 Why impact matters more than campaign vanity
17:11 Why freelance communities feel different to agencies
20:57 Awards, attribution and invisible contribution
24:06 Why agencies should stop hiding freelancers
31:18 The reality of conflict inside comms teams
33:34 Why workplace mediation matters
35:45 Burnout, pressure and resentment in PR
40:11 How mediation actually works
44:00 What to do when communication breaks down
46:53 What makes Nigel feel “accidentally brilliant”
Follow Nigel Sarbutts: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigelsarbutts/
Follow Josh Wheeler: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/
Follow Be Broadcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-broadcast/ https://bebroadcast.co.uk/ #PR #PublicRelations #FreelancePR #Communications #AgencyLife #Leadership #Freelancers #MediaRelations #PRIndustry #Burnout #WorkplaceCulture #Mediation #IndependentConsultant #Podcast
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This episode of Accidentally Brilliant is about what it really takes to build something that lasts.
Josh Wheeler sits down with Andy Nairn, co-founder of Lucky Generals, one of the most consistently effective creative companies of the last decade.
Andy didn’t set out with a perfect plan. Lucky Generals started with three friends, no clients, no funding, and a decision to turn down work that didn’t feel right. That moment shaped everything that followed.
What comes through in this conversation is a very clear philosophy. Play the long game. Back your values. And understand that luck is not something to dismiss, it is something you create.
We get into how Yorkshire Tea became one of the most effective campaigns in the UK, why humour still works when brands are brave enough to use it properly, and why most agencies think about effectiveness too late.
Andy also talks about Go Luck Yourself, why luck is misunderstood in business, and why he uses the book to support working-class talent trying to get into the industry.
There is a wider thread running through this as well. Leadership, standards, and what happens when those standards start to slip. The influence of tech culture, the shift in tone across business, and why holding your nerve matters more than ever.
We also cover AI, what it is actually useful for right now, where it falls short, and why relying on it too heavily could weaken the very thing that makes great work stand out.
This is a conversation about creativity, effectiveness, values, and the reality behind building a successful agency.
00:00 Intro
00:58 Meet Andy Nairn, Lucky Generals
01:15 Starting an agency with no clients or funding
02:22 The failed merger that led to Lucky Generals
03:28 Why bad moments can force better decisions
04:15 Holding your nerve in the early days
05:22 Turning down work that did not align with values
06:12 The first big breaks and early momentum
08:50 Why reputation is the long game
09:20 What the industry gets wrong about effectiveness
10:29 Why effectiveness should start at the beginning
11:46 The Yorkshire Tea case study and consistency
13:20 Why humour still works in advertising
14:36 Amazon, Alexa and taking the brand less seriously
16:12 Why most brands are too risk-averse
17:56 Confidence, clients and choosing who you work with
19:43 Finding the real problem behind a brief
21:12 Why strategy starts with better questions
22:34 Go Luck Yourself and the reality of luck in business
24:28 Why people resist talking about luck
25:37 How luck actually works as a system
27:33 Why business is still a numbers game
28:29 Supporting working-class talent through Commercial Break
30:16 What has changed in strategy and what has not
31:27 Why human behaviour matters more than trends
32:15 AI, change and uncertainty in the industry
33:28 How to actually use AI in creative work
34:39 Why copying AI outputs is a mistake
36:42 The risk of losing creative instinct
38:25 Where AI helps and where it does not
39:33 Over-reliance on technology and what we lose
41:07 Leadership, standards and behaviour
42:26 The impact of toxic leadership styles
43:15 Why values still matter in business
44:49 Has the industry gone too far the other way
45:57 Can you grow a business and keep principles
47:05 Final thoughts on change, luck and perspective
47:39 What makes Andy “accidentally brilliant”
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This episode of Accidentally Brilliant is one of the most personal conversations we’ve had on the podcast.
Josh Wheeler speaks with Advita Patel, founder of CommsRebel and the former President of the CIPR.
Advita has spent more than twenty years working in communications, helping organisations build cultures where people feel they belong and can thrive. The work she does today grew from a difficult moment in her own career.
In 2018, her confidence collapsed. She began questioning her place in the profession and whether communications was the right path for her at all. That period forced her to step back and understand who she was, what mattered to her, and how confidence actually works.
The conversation moves well beyond personal confidence.
Advita talks about representation in the communications industry and why she helped create A Leader Like Me and the Asian Comms Network. These spaces exist because many people in the profession still feel they have nowhere to talk openly about race, identity and belonging.
We also discuss the wider events shaping those conversations. The global response to the murder of George Floyd. The protests and tensions seen more recently in the UK. The emotional impact these moments have on people working in communications and the silence that often follows in the industry.
Advita reflects on the responsibility communicators hold. We help shape narratives, advise leadership teams and influence culture inside organisations. That responsibility becomes very real when difficult issues affect the people around us.
This episode covers:
the confidence crash that changed Advita’s careerthe link between identity, confidence and imposter syndromerepresentation and belonging in the communications industryhow racism and political division affect people in the professionwhy many professionals struggle to speak up about difficult issuesthe small actions that can make someone feel seen and supportedAt its heart this is a conversation about confidence, courage and responsibility. It is also about something simple that many of us forget to do. Checking in on people and asking how they are really doing.
00:00 Intro
00:04 Meet Advita Patel, CommsRebel and CIPR President
01:16 Confidence, vulnerability and showing up on LinkedIn
01:41 The 2018 confidence crash that changed everything
02:25 A difficult conversation that forced a turning point
03:32 Researching confidence, imposter syndrome and inner critics
04:01 The influence of Shonda Rhimes and “The Year of Yes”
04:56 Why worrying about other people’s opinions holds us back
05:57 Competing with others vs competing with yourself
06:04 Advice for anyone facing a confidence crash
07:22 How other people shape our identity growing up
07:50 “Who am I really?” — unpicking expectations
09:01 Why understanding yourself is the foundation of confidence
10:21 Mental health, therapy and learning to look after yourself
10:37 When work becomes your identity
11:54 Treating yourself with the same compassion as others
12:24 Adapting to belong without breaking yourself
12:42 Why connection and empathy are disappearing
13:44 Cognitive diversity and avoiding echo chambers
13:53 Fear, vulnerability and sharing online
14:47 Representation and creating spaces for belonging
15:03 Why Advita co-founded A Leader Like Me
16:22 The impact of George Floyd on diversity conversations
17:46 Why the Asian Comms Network was created
19:14 Lived experience and the reality of microaggressions
20:23 Why conversations about racism are often avoided
22:22 Power, politics and uncomfortable industry conversations
23:34 Why politics affects the people we work with
24:46 Speaking up, allyship and finding your voice
26:16 Why we’ve lost the ability to connect and debate
27:32 The fear of getting things wrong in public conversations
28:35 Why communicators must understand opposing views
29:09 Community, identity and checking in on people
30:24 Why humans naturally gravitate towards similarity
31:38 Bias, safety and how our brains work
32:26 The power communications professionals hold
32:47 The emotional impact of recent events on communities
34:07 Living with fear and the daily reality for many people
35:02 Hope over fear and using your privilege to help others
36:06 Becoming the first person of colour to lead the CIPR
37:14 Using privilege to create space for others
38:03 Why intent matters in difficult conversations
39:19 When mistakes happen — and how to respond
40:24 “Where are you really from?” — navigating everyday bias
41:31 Curiosity as the starting point for allyship
42:58 Different ways to show allyship
43:39 The simple power of checking in on someone
44:32 Why difficult topics often get avoided
45:02 One action everyone can take tomorrow
46:04 Confidence as a ripple effect
46:50 The thread through Advita’s career: confidence and inclusion
48:08 An “accidentally brilliant” moment — Couch to 5K
49:18 Closing thoughts
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James Crawford is the founder and Managing Director of PR Agency One, and a board director at AMEC, the International Association for PR Measurement.
In this conversation, we talk about why James started his agency, what the early days really looked like, and why he has spent his career pushing PR to prove its value beyond headlines. We get into measurement and attribution, the limits of what you can and cannot track, and how PR teams can use evidence to protect budgets, win trust, and show commercial impact.
We also cover GEO and how brands should respond right now, why “everything is dead” is usually the wrong take, and what it takes to build long term momentum in an industry that is constantly changing.
Find James Crawford:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameswdcrawford/
PR Agency One: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pr-agency-one/
Find Josh Wheeler:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/
Follow Be Broadcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-broadcast/
https://www.pragencyone.co.uk/
https://bebroadcast.co.uk/
00:00 Intro
02:49 Meet James Crawford, PR Agency One and AMEC
04:25 Why James launched PR Agency One
06:51 The first wins, risk, and backing himself
09:44 Competing, then shifting to doing the work better
10:44 Why measurement became the edge
11:32 Roots, direct response, and early proof of impact
13:06 The limits of attribution and what to accept
14:30 Planning, prediction, and “interest graphs” in media
18:24 Early days of the agency, SEO and opportunity
19:44 Why media relations is tougher now
20:47 Moving from soft stories to bolder campaigns
23:01 Reactivity, brand purpose, and being ready for the BBC
24:03 Research that lasts longer than one news day
26:28 Cost of living era, weak leads, short term thinking
29:33 OneEval explained: Brand, Reputation, Commercial, and planning
33:03 Why evaluation protects teams when leadership changes
35:18 Innovation, AMEC, and staying on top of measurement shifts
38:27 Training the whole team to understand measurement
39:36 GEO, threats and opportunities
41:31 What actually influences LLM visibility right now
43:43 What clients are asking, and what they are missing
45:19 A practical GEO split: classical PR first, tests second
46:56 SEO is not dead, and why “everything is dead” is lazy thinking
48:17 Experimentation as the only sensible approach
48:50 BBC visibility, the long game, and building a track record
50:58 The thread through James’ career: hard work and showing up
53:24 “Accidentally brilliant” and managing people
#PublicRelations #PR #PRAgency #Communications #MediaRelations #Measurement #AMEC #Evaluation #Attribution #Marketing #Reputation #BrandStrategy #DigitalPR #SEO #GEO #AI #ChatGPT #Leadership #AgencyLife #Podcast
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PR and sales have more in common than most people want to admit. In this episode, Darryl Sparey, co-founder and Managing Director of Hard Numbers, explains why a “sales backbone” makes you better at PR, why the industry keeps fighting the label, and how Hard Numbers built a reputation around measurable outcomes, including writing KPIs into contracts. We also talk about the shift towards GEO and LLM-driven discovery, why PR should be owning the citations conversation, and the real leadership lessons that come from losing pitches, handling pressure, and learning the hard way about client concentration. If you work in comms, agency leadership, or in-house marketing and you want practical thinking you can apply straight away, this one is for you.
Connect with Darryl Sparey Hard Numbers: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darryl-sparey/ Darryl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darryl-sparey/
Connect with Be Broadcast Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-broadcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/ 00:00 Intro: Darryl Sparey + Hard Numbers
01:18 Sales “backbone” and why it matters in PR
05:26 Why PR people resist being linked to sales
08:39 From Media Report to Precise: learning sales properly
12:25 Moving into SEO/PPC and becoming “numerate” (by effort)
13:30 Words first: reading, social mobility and writing his way out
15:20 Excel, Salesforce and the practical power of numbers
20:01 Hard Numbers’ KPI stance: writing KPIs into contracts
24:52 GEO, LLMs and why PR should own the citations conversation
33:27 The spark behind founding Hard Numbers
38:26 Parenting, motivation and creating safe opportunities to fail
45:12 Biggest business screw-up: client concentration and the lesson
49:17 The thread through it all: persuasion, listening, and relevance
51:10 School years: humour, bullying, debating society
53:16 “Accidentally brilliant”: luck, judgement, and brilliant people
56:30 Wrap up
#PublicRelations #PR #Marketing #AgencyLife #Leadership #BusinessDevelopment #Sales #Measurement #KPIs #EarnedMedia #DigitalPR #Communications #AI #GEO #Reputation #B2BMarketing #FounderStories #Entrepreneurship #UKBusiness #BeBroadcast
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PR has always been full of smart people.The problem is the industry still struggles to take itself seriously.
In this episode of Accidentally Brilliant, Josh Wheeler speaks with Stephen Waddington, one of the most influential voices in modern public relations.
Stephen has spent 25 years leading agencies, advising senior teams, writing books, and pushing PR to be treated as a real management discipline. He is the founder of Wadds Inc, a professional advisory firm for agencies and comms teams, and a doctoral researcher focused on the relationship between management and public relations.
He is also a co-founder of Socially Mobile, a not for profit PR school that creates opportunities for people from underrepresented backgrounds.
This conversation is thoughtful, direct, and full of insight for anyone working in PR who wants the industry to be taken seriously.
In this episode, you will hear:• Why PR still has a credibility problem• How Stephen went from engineering into public relations• What leadership looks like when pressure hits• Why agencies struggle to hold on to trust and talent• How Socially Mobile is changing access to PR• What the profession needs to do to raise its own standards
About Stephen WaddingtonFounder of Wadds Inc. Doctoral researcher. Author of 10 books. Co-founder of Socially Mobile. Board advisor and non exec director.
Follow Stephen Waddington – https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenwaddington/ Follow Socially Mobile – https://www.linkedin.com/company/sociallymobile/ Follow Josh Wheeler – https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/ Follow Be Broadcast – https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-broadcast/
00:00 Intro01:30 Falling into PR from engineering04:10 Why PR is still misunderstood as a career06:30 Agency life and leadership10:00 PR and management thinking14:30 Why credibility matters18:30 Advising agencies and comms teams23:00 Socially Mobile and access to the industry28:00 What PR needs to change34:00 What makes Stephen accidentally brilliant
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In this episode of Accidentally Brilliant, Josh Wheeler speaks with the co-founder of Hope and Glory. Jo began her career in Japan and Hong Kong before arriving in London in the mid-90s. Three decades later, she has helped build one of the UK’s most awarded consumer agencies, known for its creativity, culture and consistency. She has also become a leading voice for women and underrepresented talent through her work with Women in PR. The conversation moves from the early decisions that changed her life to the reality of building and running an agency. It looks at confidence, partnership, levelling the playing field, and what experience brings to an industry that often overlooks age. It also explores the calm, grounded leadership style that has shaped Hope and Glory since day one. This episode is thoughtful, generous and full of insight. It shows how far curiosity and steady confidence can take you, and why the right people can make a career last. In this episode, you will hear:
• How a young graduate from Birmingham found herself teaching in Kyoto
• What Japan and Hong Kong taught Jo about confidence and reading a room
• How she blagged her way into her first PR job
• Why Hope and Glory worked from the moment she and James joined forces
• The early wins that proved the agency would fly
• How to balance high standards with a culture that protects people
• Why she champions women and marginalised groups
• The overlooked impact of ageism in PR
• How experience shapes ideas and insight
• Why calm leadership matters more than ever
• The simple advice she would give her younger self
• What makes Jo feel accidentally brilliant in her day-to-day work
This is a warm, honest and steady conversation about confidence, partnership, identity and the value of staying curious. A reminder that brilliance often comes from the decisions you make before you realise where they will take you.
About Jo Carr
Co-founder of Hope and Glory, the UK’s most awarded PR agency of the past five years. President of Women in PR. Champion of inclusion and a consistent voice for fairness across the industry.
Connect
Follow Jo Carr – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jo-carr-351639a/
Follow Hope and Glory – https://www.linkedin.com/company/hope&glory-pr/posts/?feedView=all
Follow Women in PR – https://www.linkedin.com/company/women-in-pr/
Follow Josh Wheeler – https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/
Follow Be Broadcast – https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-tracey-398080281/
Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro – The confidence to take the first step
01:20 How Jo ended up in Kyoto
03:00 What Japan taught her about confidence and observation
05:15 Landing in Hong Kong and blagging her first PR job
07:45 Saying yes and the moments that shaped her career
09:10 Returning to London and finding her feet
10:30 Staying in consumer PR for more than 30 years
12:00 Launching Hope and Glory with James
13:40 Why partnership mattered
15:00 The early wins that proved the agency would fly
17:10 Building a place where creativity and care can co-exist
19:00 High challenge and high support
20:40 Levelling up opportunities for women and marginalised groups
22:30 What has changed and what still needs to change
24:30 Ageism in PR and why experience matters
27:00 The value of insight at every age
29:20 What outsiders misunderstand about consumer PR
31:00 Curiosity, courage and the detail behind big ideas
33:00 Connection and the power of reaching out
33:50 What Jo brings to every room
35:00 Calm, humour and not taking yourself too seriously
36:20 Advice she would give to her younger self
38:00 What makes Jo feel accidentally brilliant
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Some people change an industry without ever shouting about it. Nina Webb is one of them.
In this episode of Accidentally Brilliant, Josh Wheeler speaks with the founder and CEO of Brazen PR. Nina built her agency at 27 with a simple mix of self-belief, graft and a clear sense of who she wanted to be. Brazen went on to win more than 250 awards, become employee-owned and give countless people their start in PR. Along the way, Nina became a champion for women and girls through her work with Girls Out Loud.
The conversation covers how Nina found her way into PR, why boldness mattered in the early days of Manchester’s agency scene, and how a people-first culture creates lasting careers. It also looks at the influence of mentors, the reality of leadership during tough moments and the role of passion in keeping a business alive for nearly 25 years.
This episode is thoughtful, honest and full of heart. It shows how belief in others can be just as powerful as belief in yourself.
In this episode, you will hear:
How a first-generation university student fell into PR and instantly found homeWhy Brazen’s orange branding, cheekiness and bravery were desperately needed in the early Manchester sceneThe power of building a people-first culture where graduates rise to board levelHow generosity became Nina’s quiet superpowerWhy Girls Out Loud matters now more than everThe truth behind becoming an Employee Ownership TrustHow leadership changes when life tests youWhy passion, purpose and people underpin everything she’s builtThis is a warm, honest and powerful conversation about identity, boldness, resilience and the impact of lifting others up. A reminder that brilliance often emerges from the belief you give to other people.
About Nina Webb
Founder and CEO of Brazen PR, Manchester’s multi-award-winning consumer agency. Champion of women and girls, ambassador for Girls Out Loud, and proud creator of a people-first, employee-owned business.
Connect
Follow Nina Webb - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nina-webb-79658b19/
Follow Brazen PR - https://www.linkedin.com/company/brazen-pr/posts/?feedView=all
Follow Girls Out Loud - https://www.linkedin.com/company/girls-out-loud/
Follow Josh Wheeler - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/
Chapter Markers
00:00 Intro – The generosity behind bold leadership01:30 How Nina fell into PR03:00 Founding Brazen at 2704:50 The story behind the Brazen name and branding06:00 Breaking the mould in the Manchester PR scene08:10 Raising future leaders and creating opportunity09:30 The business of the business – and knowing what you don’t know10:45 Why Brazen is a training ground for talent12:30 The leaders who’ve risen through Brazen14:30 Identity, colour and confidence15:30 How Nina has quietly helped others build their own paths17:00 Why generosity matters in PR20:00 The family roots of support23:00 Girls Out Loud and fighting for girls’ futures27:00 Equality, opportunity and the reality for young women34:00 Supporting girls during lockdown36:30 What lockdown changed for Nina as a leader40:00 Becoming an Employee Ownership Trust44:00 The impact on people, culture and purpose47:45 Highs, lows and losing her dad49:15 Dealing with a brain tumour diagnosis52:10 Leading with humanity55:30 Legacy, succession and the future58:00 The thread running through everything59:00 What makes Nina accidentally brilliant
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In this episode of Accidentally Brilliant by Be Broadcast, Josh Wheeler is joined by Kriss Herbert, Network Content Director at Gaydio – the UK’s LGBTQ+ station.
Kriss oversees everything listeners hear: the music, the sound, the talent, the station’s identity and, crucially, the sense of community that sits at its heart. But his journey into broadcasting wasn’t predictable. From leading huge teams on the shop floor at Next, to spinning tracks at festivals and warming up for artists like Rita Ora and Clean Bandit, Kriss’s route into radio was built on graft, instinct and grabbing opportunities whenever they appeared. What started as voluntary shifts and late-night DJ sets turned into a career of shaping one of the most distinctive voices in UK radio.
In this episode, you will hear:
Why “say yes, then figure it out” became the mantra that changed Kriss’s career
How DJing taught him more about audiences than any classroom ever could
The wild ideas — including rebranding Gaydio as Gaydio Gaga for 12 hours — that show the magic of clever, instinctive creativity
How Gaydio creates trust, community and authentic representation
Why safe spaces, volunteer routes and the Gaydio Academy matter more than ever
What makes LGBTQ+ radio different in a world full of noise
How authenticity became the thread running through every role Kriss has taken on
This is an honest, energetic and inspiring conversation about leadership, creativity, representation and the courage to try. It’s a reminder that brilliance often reveals itself in the moments you almost talk yourself out of.
About Kriss Herbert
Network Content Director at Gaydio, the UK’s LGBTQ+ station, leading music, talent, strategy, and station sound. Kriss has built a career spanning retail leadership, DJing, presenting, production and talent development, helping shape the next generation of LGBTQ+ broadcasters through the Gaydio Academy.
Connect
Follow Kriss Herbert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriss-herbert-0b96aa6a/
Follow Josh Wheeler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/
Be Broadcast: https://www.linkedin.com/company/be-broadcast/?
Chapter Markers
00:00 Intro – The winding path into broadcasting
01:20 Growing up with radio dreams
03:00 From retail to voluntary radio
06:10 The leap of faith at 30
09:15 DJing, confidence and big moments
13:00 Saying yes and grabbing opportunities
17:50 What DJing teaches you about audiences
20:40 Managing talent and reading the room
26:00 Sound design, jingles and unexpected passions
31:00 Why Gaydio feels like a community
37:20 Representation, trust and LGBTQ+ storytelling
43:00 Creativity, stunts and the power of small ideas
48:00 Training the next generation through the Gaydio Academy
53:00 Authenticity, competition and staying true
59:00 Lessons from retail and people skills
01:05:00 Advice to a younger Kriss
01:08:00 What makes Kriss “accidentally brilliant”
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What happens when you create an agency that believes being loud can still be human?
In this episode of Accidentally Brilliant by Be Broadcast, Josh Wheeler is joined by Caroline Eardley, Co-Founder of Full Volume PR, a consultancy helping ambitious brands cut through the noise with authenticity, emotion and energy.
Caroline’s story is one of boldness and balance. From launching Full Volume with co-founder Rebecca to being named PR Moment’s Micro Agency of the Year, her career shows what happens when you mix creative courage with vulnerability.
In this episode, you will hear:
• How to build an agency that stands out for the right reasons
• Why honesty and openness create stronger leadership
• The real side of starting something new in PR
• What cutting through the noise really looks like
• Why embracing emotion is not a weakness but a strength
This is an inspiring and honest conversation about courage, community and what it means to lead from the heart. A reminder that brilliance often begins by accident.
About Caroline Eardley
Co-Founder of Full Volume PR, the award-winning consultancy helping brands stand out through creativity and authenticity.
Winner of PR Moment’s Micro Agency of the Year 2024.
Connect
Follow Caroline Eardley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineeardley https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-volume-pr/
Learn more about Full Volume PR: https://www.fullvolumepr.co.uk
Follow Josh Wheeler and Be Broadcast: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/
Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro – Josh introduces Caroline and Full Volume PR
01:15 How Full Volume started and early memories of the first pitch
03:40 Building a new breed of agency for a noisy world
06:30 What it means to be loud, confident and emotionally honest
09:45 Why transparency and vulnerability build trust in leadership
12:20 Full Volume’s journey to PR Moment’s Micro Agency of the Year
15:00 The reality of running a modern PR agency behind the scenes
18:10 Balancing bravery and burnout in the creative industry
21:40 How Caroline approaches mentoring and collaboration
25:10 The importance of community and celebrating others’ success
28:35 Why authenticity beats perfection every time
33:00 Learning from failure and finding power in honesty
37:50 What it means to lead with heart and humanity
42:10 What makes Caroline Eardley “accidentally brilliant”
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What if the secret to great PR was not about noise, but about clarity?
In this episode of Accidentally Brilliant by Be Broadcast, Josh Wheeler is joined by Daniel Cohen, Founder of Sentient, a boutique strategic and creative consultancy helping brands and agencies find their purpose, sharpen their thinking and spark meaningful change.
Daniel’s career has always been driven by one question: how can we make the complex simple? From working with global names like Electrolux, AEG and M&S to helping agencies rediscover their creative firepower, his work blends marketing, psychology and human insight to build stronger, more intentional connections.
In this episode, you will hear:
Why real creativity starts with curiosity, not chaos
How simplicity can be the most powerful strategy in business
The lessons Daniel learned from building Sentient from scratch
What brands often get wrong about connection
How to rediscover meaning and motivation in your work
Why slowing down can sometimes move you further forward
This is a thoughtful, grounded and inspiring conversation about leadership, creativity and the beauty of keeping things simple. It is a reminder that brilliance often begins by accident.
About Daniel Cohen Founder of Sentient, the boutique strategic and creative consultancy helping brands and agencies grow through clarity and creativity. Clients include Electrolux, AEG, M&S, Pernod Ricard and Treasury Wine. Connect Follow Daniel Cohen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-cohen-40845b8/ Follow Josh Wheeler and Be Broadcast: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/ Chapter Markers
00:00 Intro – The simplicity behind great communication
01:20 Daniel’s early career and finding his voice in PR
03:10 The philosophy of “making the complex simple”
06:00 Launching Sentient and the early lessons of entrepreneurship
09:15 How curiosity fuels creativity and clarity
12:40 Why brands overcomplicate their message
16:00 The connection between psychology, emotion and communication
20:25 The courage to slow down in a fast-paced industry
24:10 Working with clients like M&S, Electrolux and AEG
28:00 How to create work that feels meaningful and human
31:45 Why simplicity is often the hardest skill to master
35:00 Building trust, confidence and creativity in teams
39:10 What PR professionals can learn from marketing models
42:30 The future of simplicity in the age of noise
46:20 What makes Daniel Cohen “accidentally brilliant”
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What if your entire career started with one phone call that changed everything?
In this second episode of Accidentally Brilliant by Be Broadcast, Josh Wheeler is joined by Yvonne Eskenzi – co-founder of Eskenzi PR, now celebrating its 30th anniversary, and co-founder of The Zensory, an app bridging productivity and wellbeing.
Yvonne didn’t plan a career in tech or cybersecurity. In fact, she started out at News International, helping young entrepreneurs get noticed before taking a leap to launch her own agency — from her home, with no clients, and a lot of determination. Thirty years on, she’s built one of the most respected names in technology PR, working with companies from startups to IPOs, and helping shape how the world talks about cybersecurity.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
Why the “one-minute rule” still defines great PR pitching.
How Eskenzi PR became a global name in cybersecurity.
Why PR will always be a people business — even in the age of AI.
The truth about awards, success, and what really matters.
How to build a career and business without losing your balance.
The importance of staying creative, colourful, and true to yourself.
This is a joyful, insightful, and refreshingly honest conversation about creativity, trust, and longevity in PR — and a reminder that brilliance often begins by accident.
About Yvonne EskenziCo-founder, Eskenzi PR – the award-winning cybersecurity PR agency.Co-founder, The Zensory – the wellbeing and focus app.Winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise.Creator of the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards and Unsung Heroes Awards.
ConnectFollow Yvonne Eskenzi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneeskenzi/Learn more about Eskenzi PR: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/
Chapter Markers00:00 Intro – Accidentally Brilliant begins01:15 From News International to starting out in PR03:30 Taking a leap: founding Eskenzi PR07:00 The first cybersecurity gig that changed everything08:45 The one-minute rule and the nine-word email10:25 The thrill of coverage and the power of persistence13:20 Measuring share of voice and proving PR’s value15:50 AI, trust, and the future of PR20:25 Building confidence and handling the hard days25:40 Why wellbeing matters – and The Zensory begins37:45 Work-life balance and lessons from 30 years43:00 Creativity, confidence, and being true to yourself47:40 What makes Yvonne “accidentally brilliant”
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What if your entire job was to imagine the worst-case scenario?
In this first episode of Accidentally Brilliant by Be Broadcast, Josh Wheeler is joined by Kate Hartley – co-founder of Polpeo, author of Communicate in a Crisis, and one of PR’s leading experts in how organisations respond under pressure.
Kate didn’t plan a career in crisis communications. In fact, she started out temping at Edelman stuffing envelopes before finding herself at the heart of the BSE crisis, major travel emergencies, and later, preparing IT systems for the Olympics. Fast-forward, and she’s built Polpeo, a pioneering crisis simulation company working with some of the biggest brands in the world.
In this episode, you’ll hear: Why so many brands get crisis response wrong – and how to do better.
The hidden pressures inside the boardroom: legal vs. comms vs. public perception.
How agency life in the 90s shaped her values (and why she refused certain clients).
The importance of authenticity and saying sorry, even when lawyers say you can’t.
How to protect your own wellbeing in a career built around adrenaline and pressure.
Why businesses must use their voice to stand up for diversity and inclusion.
This is an honest, funny, and insightful conversation for anyone in PR, marketing, or communications – and a reminder that the best careers often happen accidentally.
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About Kate Hartley Co-founder, Polpeo – the crisis simulation company.
Author of Communicate in a Crisis.
Named twice in Provoke Media’s Innovator 25 list.
Co-host of the podcast What Just Happened.
🔗 Connect Follow Kate Hartley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katehartley/ Learn more about Polpeo: https://polpeo.com/ Follow Josh Wheeler & Be Broadcast: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/ Chapter Markers
00:00 Intro – Accidentally Brilliant begins
01:19 Falling into PR at Edelman
02:48 Early crisis work – BSE & travel emergencies
05:25 Why brands fail in crises
07:50 Founding Polpeo & the Nestlé moment
09:14 Hardest moments in PR & staying true to values
11:26 LGBTQ+ rights, DEI & business responsibility
16:30 The psychology of crisis work (catastrophising)
20:59 Recovery, downtime & the power of choir singing
24:13 Advice to a younger Kate
26:15 Podcasting, curiosity & lifelong learning
28:50 What makes Kate “accidentally brilliant
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Most of us don’t follow a perfect career plan. We stumble into opportunities, discover strengths, and build unexpected careers. In this first episode, host Josh Wheeler recalls the 5am moment that sparked his love for broadcast - and sets up Accidentally Brilliant, a podcast of honest, funny conversations with creative leaders about the quirks, challenges and lessons that shaped their journeys.
www.bebroadcast.co.uk
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Most of us don’t follow a perfect career plan. We stumble into opportunities, discover strengths, and build unexpected careers. In this first episode, host Josh Wheeler recalls the 5am moment that sparked his love for broadcast - and sets up Accidentally Brilliant, a podcast of honest, funny conversations with creative leaders about the quirks, challenges and lessons that shaped their journeys.
www.bebroadcast.co.uk
