Prose + Comms Engagement Unplugged

This week on Prose + Comms, Laura Smith and Brian Rowley explore one of marketing’s most persistent questions: Should brands go in-house, outsource to agencies, or find a hybrid approach? With shifting priorities and rising demands for speed and creativity, the answer is more nuanced than ever. Plus, they debunk some of the biggest myths about in-house and agency work, from cost perceptions to creative output.

What does it take to earn media attention today? In this episode of Prose + Comms, we unpack what makes something newsworthy, why so many brand stories fall flat, and how marketers can better connect with journalists. To help us separate noise from news, we’re joined by Dave Haynes of Sixteen:Nine, a veteran journalist who’s seen (and ignored) more pitches than most. He’s here to share what lands, what fails, and what he never wants to see in a press release again. To hear more from Dave, you can find him on LinkedIn and check out sixteen-nine.net.

What’s the real impact of company culture, looking beyond the buzzwords and mission statements? In this episode of Prose + Comms, we explore how culture shapes the customer experience, why internal alignment matters more than ever, and what happens when brand values break down. From leadership to the frontlines, we unpack how trust, consistency, and authenticity influence the way customers feel, and what that means for the brands trying to earn their loyalty. We’re joined by communications leader and executive coach Bob Osmond, who shares his insights into how culture and brand experience intersect, and what it really takes to get it right. If you want to hear more from Bob, you can connect with him on LinkedIn.

Are we mistaking familiarity for authenticity? In this episode, we explore the subtle but important differences between being true and being liked. Authenticity means showing up consistently and standing by your values, even if that doesn’t resonate with everyone. Relatability, on the other hand, is about being easily understood, emotionally accessible, and broadly likable. Sometimes the two go hand in hand. But not always. Let’s dig into what makes something feel real, what actually builds trust, and why the difference matters for brands and marketers.

There’s an element of tradition when it comes to B2B tradeshows – regardless of the specific industry. Employees dress in matching outfits as companies spend big budgets on booth design and swag to capture attendees’ attention. But what value do these tradeshows really bring? And are companies focusing their time, money, and attention on the right elements? “Chief Vibe Creator” and tradeshow content developer Alesia Hendley joins us to explore the benefit of tradeshows as we know them and where their future lies. To hear more from Alesia, find her on LinkedIn or check out her website, thesmoothfactor.com.

With every company claiming to deliver “immersive experiences,” has the term lost meaning? Who’s creating the best experiential activations? Who’s faking it? Is the experience economy as a whole suffering from an identity crisis? Bryan Meszaros, CEO and Founder of experience design agency OpenEye Global, joins us to explore what it means to create a customer activation that’s truly immersive. If you want to hear more from Bryan, find him on LinkedIn and check out the OpenEye Global website.