Shows
Just Curious...Beyond Media Relations: Redefining International PR for a New EraIn this episode of 'Just Curious...' from The PR Network, we unpack the findings of ‘People, Pressure and Purpose’, a new report exploring the realities of international public relations.Hosts Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard sit down with communications advisor and researcher Stephen Waddington and Matt Stewart, Vice President of Communications at Sysco Corporation. The discussion dives into critical issues such as burnout, blurred work-life boundaries and the need for leadership that models resilience.Stephen shares how the role of global comms leaders has evolved beyond media relations into...
2025-12-0351 min
Just Curious...EQ in the Age of AI with Gina SheibleyWith more than 25 years’ communications experience, Gina Sheibley is one of Silicon Valley’s most respected communications leaders. She’s a huge believer in the power of human connection, and argues that emotional intelligence, curiosity and courage will always matter more than perfection. And that this is especially true in an age increasingly defined by AI.In this episode of Just Curious..., hosts Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard talk to Gina, now Chief Communications Officer at Workday, about the importance of curiosity, grit and authenticity in building successful teams, and why diversity of thought and ba...
2025-11-1959 min
Just Curious...How PR Leaders Can Shape AI Strategy with Katie KingAI has evolved from a futuristic concept into an essential business tool, and its implementation is now as much about reputation and ethics as it is about technology. In this episode of Just Curious..., hosts Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard talk to one of the UK’s leading voices in artificial intelligence, Katie King, about the role of communicators in AI adoption.Author and international consultant Katie advises global organisations on business transformation and ethical AI adoption. She talks about the importance of reframing ‘artificial’ intelligence as augmented intelligence, highlighting how language shapes perception and ca...
2025-11-0551 min
Just Curious...IVF, Broadcasting and Being Real with Hannah Vaughan JonesIn this episode of Just Curious…, hosts Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard are joined by Hannah Vaughan Jones, former Sky News and CNN anchor and now a media consultant and moderator working with global leaders and organisations. Hannah shares her journey from political studies at Nottingham to a high-profile career in journalism, covering landmark events such as royal weddings, general elections and the Manchester Arena bombing. She opens up about the emotional toll of broadcasting during national tragedies while undergoing her own personal challenge - 15 rounds of IVF over six years.Hannah discusses the po...
2025-10-221h 00
Just Curious...Inside Bloodgate, Rugby’s Most Notorious Scandal with Tom WilliamsIn 2009, Harlequins rugby player Tom Williams was banned from the sport for his role in the infamous "Bloodgate" scandal, one of the most shocking incidents in professional rugby history. In this episode of Just Curious…, Tom opens up about his involvement to hosts Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard, recounting the win-at-all-costs culture that led to his participation in faking a blood injury to manipulate a substitution. He reflects candidly on the long-lasting personal, emotional, and professional impact of that decision, including the shame, anxiety, and identity crisis that followed.Tom reveals how a lack of...
2025-10-081h 01
Just Curious...Bonus Episode: The Future of British Business with Rain Newton-SmithIn this episode of Just Curious…, Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard talk to Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Executive of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Rain shares her remarkable journey from economist to one of the UK’s most influential business leaders, and reflects on the CBI’s role in supporting British business through the pandemic, driving the net zero agenda, and shaping the UK’s economic future.The show explores the power of collective action, the importance of international trade, and the vital role of the UK’s universities and innovation ecosystem. Rain offers an optimis...
2025-07-0959 min
Just Curious...PR - An Industry in Flux. Reimagining our Future with David GallagherIn this insightful episode of Just Curious…, Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard are joined by communications industry veteran David Gallagher for a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation. With over 30 years of global agency experience, including senior leadership roles at Ketchum and Omnicom, David brings a wealth of perspective on the evolution of PR, the challenges facing the industry today, and the opportunities ahead.David discusses his shift from large agency life to co-founding Folgate Advisors, a flexible, independent consultancy model built to meet the changing needs of clients and the communications landscape. He also introduces Th...
2025-06-2555 min
Just Curious...From Meal Kits to Matcha: Building Brands with Purpose with Patrick DrakeIn this inspiring episode of Just Curious…, Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard are joined by TV chef, author and co-founder of HelloFresh, Patrick Drake.Patrick’s entrepreneurial journey has taken him from scrubbing cars on a council estate to revolutionising global food and wellness habits, and he shares how his early drive for independence shaped his approach to business.From launching HelloFresh in a London living room to building his latest venture, Autonomy, a disruptive wellness brand born out of his passion for morning rituals and functional food, Patrick reflects on his personal approach to b...
2025-06-1151 min
Just Curious...PR, AI and Purpose-Driven Leadership with Effie KanyuaIn this episode of Just Curious…, Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard are joined by Effie Kanyua, a leading figure in UK PR and media, and the first black female comms leader at a major publishing house. Effie reflects on her 25-year career, from her early days at the BBC to senior roles in top agencies and in-house at Bauer and Hearst UK. She shares insights on navigating cross-market campaigns, the evolution of the media industry, and the increasing role of AI in communications.Effie discusses founding her agency, We Are Warriors, and launching Lila As...
2025-05-2846 min
Just Curious...Balancing Corporate Strategy and Creative Storytelling with Zoe MelarkeyIn this engaging and wide-ranging episode of “Just Curious…”, Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard are joined by Zoe Melarkey, Head of Communications at Ocado Retail, to explore the evolving world of consumer brand PR. With over 25 years of experience in both agency and in-house roles, Zoe reflects on her dynamic career working with major UK brands including Purplebricks, npower, MFI, and Ocado. From nostalgic tales of early internet days at Berkeley Communications, to leading multi-channel campaigns and navigating crises, Zoe shares honest insights and lessons from her journey.Zoe reveals behind-the-scenes stories, including working with N...
2025-05-1452 min
Just Curious...Building Agencies That Last: Lessons in Leadership with Andrew BlochIn this episode of Just Curious…, George Blizzard and Nicky Regazzoni sit down with Andrew Bloch, one of the most influential figures in the PR and marketing industry. Co-founder of the iconic Frank PR and now a consultant, non-exec, and M&A adviser, Andrew shares insights from his 30-year career, spanning agency life, brand building, talent management, and high-profile client representation, including his long-standing role as Lord Sugar’s spokesperson.Andrew reflects on his early beginnings at Lynne Franks, the founding philosophy behind Frank PR, and the evolution of ‘talkability’ as a core campaign strategy...
2025-04-301h 01
Just Curious...Put People First and Everything Will Follow with Sarah Waddington CBEIn this episode of Just Curious, hosts Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard sit down with Sarah Waddington CBE, a powerhouse in the PR and communications industry. A seasoned leader, activist, and interim CEO of the PRCA, Sarah shares her journey from agency founder to industry advocate. She opens up about her leadership evolution, the importance of professional development, and the systemic issues affecting PR, particularly the gender imbalance highlighted in the CIPR’s “Missing Women” study, which she developed with husband Stephen Waddington through their consultancy, Wadds,Inc. Sarah also discusses Socially Mobile, the initiat...
2025-04-1657 min
Just Curious...Truth, Tech and Trust: Broadcasting in the age of misinformation with BBC’s Sally BundockIn this episode, George and Nicky are joined by one of the UK’s most respected broadcast journalists, BBC TV presenter Sally Bundock. This insightful conversation explores the evolving media landscape, the growing impact of AI, and the importance of flexibility in the modern workplace. With nearly 30 years of experience in journalism, Sally shares her journey from reel-to-reel tape recorders and phone boxes to the fast-paced, tech-driven newsroom of today.She opens up about the rise of misinformation and disinformation, revealing her own experience being deepfaked in a viral scam video, and discusses the cr...
2025-04-021h 00
Just Curious...Fastest Man to Rock Bottom And Back Again with Dwain ChambersIn this powerful and deeply personal episode, we sit down with Dwain Chambers, one of Britain’s most well-known athletes, to hear his extraordinary story of redemption, resilience, and accountability. From his meteoric rise as the fastest British man and a world championship medallist to his dramatic fall from grace following a doping scandal, Dwain opens up about the pressures of elite sport, the influence of those around him, and the life-altering decisions that shaped his journey.He candidly shares his mental struggles, the overwhelming media scrutiny, and how he found himself isolated, lost, an...
2025-03-241h 06
Just Curious...Just Curious...Season One!Welcome to "Just Curious...", the podcast from The PR Network. We're Nicky and George, friends and co-founders of a global communications agency with an innovative senior-only model. We're naturally curious and chatty, and in this podcast we're picking the brains of incredible people about everything to do with image, communications and reputation.In this first season, our incredible guest lineup includes people who’ve reached the top of their game in the worlds of business, sport, broadcasting and PR, all sharing their personal stories and insights into their journeys, the big incidents that shaped th...
2025-03-1702 min
Candid by Innovate CommsS1:E4 - Virtual agencies: what are they and why should you care?Welcome to Candid. In this content series, we'll explore the key topics keeping us and our clients up at night. We'll challenge, we'll debate, we'll connect the dots, and we'll always tell it to you straight.
In this episode, we are joined by Nicky Regazzoni
and George Blizzard from the PR Network – the OGs of virtual agencies – to unpack why this operating model is great for agencies, clients and the industry
as a whole.
https://www.innovatecomms.co.uk/
2024-09-1425 min
The Elephant in the Room112: The trailblazers fostering an inclusive culture: In conversation with Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard, Co-Founders, The PR NetworkShownotes: I talk a lot about women, mothers/carers, mid-career professionals, and leadership. Of course, these are intersecting identities that coalesce at different points in life to create additional barriers for working women. We are not even talking about race, disability, ethnicity, ageism etc. And I talk about these issues because I was squeezed out of what I thought should have been a fulfilling career. What happened to me, does not have to happen to others, and so the aspiration is to get women to understand where the barriers may lie and be more intentional about their j...
2023-12-1240 min
Digital Download with Paul SuttonPR and the Hybrid OfficeDuring the last year communications agencies and marketing departments everywhere have adapted to remote working and a virtual business model. But while for most it has been a bootstrapping exercise, for others it's been second nature. As a result, debate and speculation about the future of the office has been intense.
One of the options that has been gaining increasing support is the concept of a hybrid office model, where staff work remotely two or three days a week on a permanent basis and only attend for focused team working. It has big potential upsides in terms of flexibility and...
2021-04-2833 min
PRmoment PodcastNicky Regazzoni, co-founder of the PR Network, on the PRmoment PodcastThis week I'm catching up with Nicky Regazzoni, co-founder of the PR Network, talking us through her career story in public relations.For those of you that are not aware, Nicky launched the network 15 years ago with Georgina Blizzard. The PR Network now has a fee income of £3.8 million and recorded an impressive 13 percent growth in 2020. Clients include Purple Bricks and Snapchat. These days the PR Network is a multi specialist agency.Thanks as ever to the PRmoment Podcast Sponsors, the PRCA.Don’t forget to take a look at the PRmoment Awards cat...
2021-01-2839 min
Leadership Letters#2 George Blizzard & Nicky RegazzoniThank you for joining us again for episode 2 of Leadership Letters - with Lizzie Bentley Bowers and two special guests, George Blizzard and Nicky Regazzoni, co-founders of The PR Network. It was apt as England went into 'Lockdown' again, we spoke to two people who've led the way on remote working. For 15 years, the world’s largest virtual PR agency, has worked with brands like Dropbox, Snapchat, Vodafone & Workday, running campaigns in more than 40 countries and are now a top 150 PR week agency. As well as reflecting on all things leadership, George and Nicky provide insight on...
2020-11-2048 min
The PRovoke Media PodcastThe Rise of Virtual PR Agencies (Ep. 167)When Nicky Regazzoni and George Blizzard started The PR Network in 2005, they were one of the first virtual agencies on the block. As the model of a core team supported by tailor-made groups of freelance experts to service clients around the world gains traction, they join the Echo Chamber to talk about what makes the virtual agency model a good fit for the modern PR landscape.
2019-06-1440 min