Advertise on podcast: The WordBirds Podcast with Chris Willis

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Words build relationships, ignite interests, and power epic journeys in the business world. Why it matters: Effective communication is like the secret sauce for strengthening brands, reinforcing viewpoints, and generating revenue. It's about savoring quality and making an impact with every word. Words are the magical glue between your business and your customers, capturing interest and driving action. Great communication opens doors to opportunities and builds stronger connections. The big picture: Tune into each episode of WordBirds podcast where we shine a light on the power of impactful messaging, featuring executives, experts, and thought leaders. Discover the art of personalization and the need for standout, engaging messaging. Learn how to sprinkle some magic into your communication, engaging employees and attracting loyal customers. What’s next: This season, we're taking a deep dive into corporate communications with insights from CCOs and communication leaders. Get the lowdown on strategies to elevate communications and position pros as strategic partners. Host Chris Willis, Axios HQ’s Chief Marketing Officer, and his guests share valuable tips on reigniting your impact with fun, actionable discussions.

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Check latest episodes from The WordBirds Podcast with Chris Willis podcast

New Year, Same Challenge: The Business Case for Internal Communications

2025/12/29

Internal communications is not about messages. It’s about alignment. In this episode, Chris Willis talks with Keith Berman about how internal communications creates real business impact, even when attribution is messy. They unpack why alignment drives retention, productivity, and customer experience, how communicators act as the connective tissue of the business, and what leaders actually listen for when evaluating ROI. They also tackle AI. What it helps with. What it cannot replace. And why the hype cycle feels familiar to anyone who lived through the early 5G promises. For communicators who want to prove value, not volume.

Frontline Comms: Your Unfair Advantage or Your Silent Killer

2025/10/16

The people closest to your customers are often the last to know what’s happening inside your business and it’s costing you. In this episode, Chris Willis sits down with Victoria Dew, CEO of Dewpoint Communications and author of the new report Connecting the Frontline, to explore why organizations still struggle to reach and engage their frontline workers. They unpack: The urgent workforce crisis in skilled trades and essential industriesWhy 72% of frontline employees don’t understand company strategy and what that really meansHow trust is built through listening, not broadcastingThe difference between information and meaningAnd why frontline comms are either your company’s unfair advantage… or its silent killerWhether you lead communications, HR, or operations, this one’s for anyone who believes your people are your brand. 🎧 Listen now and start rethinking how your strategy reaches the people who make it real.

Make It Land: How Product Is Communications

2025/10/01

Big idea: Product and comms are converging—fast. Why listen: Paperflite’s CPO Yega Kumarappan shows how to move from “we shipped the message” to “it landed,” using data, plain English, and AI (as a partner, not a press release machine). You’ll learn: How to turn 30-minute content into 5-minute winners The one doc that keeps Sales/Marketing/Support on the same story Guardrails for AI so you keep nuance + product “soul” Why PLG fails without built-in communication

Communication as a Force Multiplier: Inside Capital Rx’s Growth Strategy

2025/08/21

The big picture: This episode gives you something rare: the comms strategy and the CEO’s take on its impact. Why it matters: Michael Passanante at Capital Rx is proving that in a long sales cycle, communication isn’t a support function, it’s the strategy. His team built a program that educates the market, aligns the business, and drives attributed revenue. Then we bring in the CEO. AJ Loiacono shares exactly how he sees the value of comms: “If your team isn’t performing, you won’t be taken seriously in that first step.” What you’ll learn: — How to activate internal experts as communicators — How comms builds trust over a 3-year sales cycle — How to drive internal alignment and external credibility — Why the CEO sees comms as a force multiplier Bottom line: This is the episode every comms pro should play for their executive team.

Unreplicatable: How Internal Comms Can Survive (and Thrive) in the Age of AI

2025/07/21

The big picture: AI is already better at writing, summarizing, and mimicking tone. So what does that mean for internal comms? Why it matters: If your value is built on turning chaos into copy, you’re replaceable. But if you lead with strategy, trust, and human nuance—you’re untouchable. Go deeper: Regine Nelson, Internal Communications and Employee Engagement Lead at Couchbase joins to unpack her viral post on the future of IC in the age of AI. We talk about: The real reason comms pros should be worriedWhy most of us are still reacting, not leadingWhat it takes to become a strategist—not a scribeHow to build a comms career that AI can’t replicateListen now if you want to stay relevant, be respected, and future-proof your role.

The Trust Fix: Why Better Communication Is the Only Way Forward

2025/07/07

Trust in leadership is broken. But it’s not just a leadership crisis. It’s a communication failure. In this episode, Forbes journalist Julia Korn joins Chris to unpack her viral piece on the erosion of employee trust in today’s workplace, and why so many leaders are getting it wrong. They explore: – Why layoffs during record profits are shattering loyalty – How toxic leadership thrives on fear, not facts – The communication moves that rebuild trust – A new workplace social contract, built on transparency, dignity, and listening 🎯 If you care about trust, culture, and clarity at work, this one’s for you.

The Operator Mindset: Elevating the CMO/CCO role with an owner's approach

2025/06/23

Too many marketing and comms leaders are stuck proving their worth with outputs: Flashy dashboards Sexy slide decksThe call for ‘making it pretty' In this episode, Elliott Bundy and Becca Chambers lay out a better path: lead like an operator. We unpack what it means to own the business narrative, treat trust as a metric, and stop asking for a seat at the table—because you’re already in the room. Whether you're a CMO, CCO, or somewhere in between, this is a playbook for turning influence into impact. With a special intro conversation with Dan Simon, Chairman of Vested PR, and CEO of Qwoted.

Emergency Episode: How to Actually Get Hired in Comms Right Now

2025/04/23

🔍 It’s a tough market. But if you're in comms and looking for your next job, this episode is your playbook. 💥 In this episode, recruiter Brooke Kruger breaks down: The top resume red flags and why design ≠ substanceWhat actually makes you stand out on LinkedInWhy clarity > cleverness in a job searchThe rise of consulting-as-career in commsHow to stop being invisible — and get noticed👀 Whether you're job-hunting, consulting, or just future-proofing, this is a must-listen.

How to Listen: Oscar Trimboli's Method to Better Communication

2025/03/06

Oscar Trimboli – best-selling author, award-winning podcast host, and workplace listening expert is on the show! 1 big thing: Most of us listen poorly and that has a surprising impact on leadership, meetings, and productivity. Why It Matters: Better listening means more effective communication, shorter meetings, and stronger organizational alignment. Simple, research-backed strategies to shift from hearing words to understanding true meaning.Tune in to start transforming how you lead and communicate—because effective listening is the ultimate competitive edge.

Plan for the Best, Prepare for the Worst: Mastering Proactive vs Reactive Comms

2025/02/27

1 big topic: We're exploring the nuanced difference between proactive planning and reactive responses. In a world where every comms moment counts, understanding when to lead the narrative, and when to pivot, is crucial. Jennifer Kaplan, CEO of Evolve PR and Marketing, shares her 25+ years of expertise on turning potential PR disasters into brand victories. What to expect: Real-Life Examples: From pre-launch buzz for museum exhibits to crisis pivots that save reputations, Jennifer breaks down how proactive planning drives results.Actionable Advice: Get practical steps for building a comprehensive communications strategy. Learn how to forecast challenges, craft timely messaging, and maintain authenticity even when the unexpected happens.The Balancing Act: Discover why a touch of spontaneity can be as effective as a pre-scripted planand how to balance genuine voice with structured messaging.Key Takeaway: In today’s real-time media environment, owning your narrative before it owns you isn’t just smart. It’s essential. Tune in now for a candid, no-holds-barred conversation that challenges conventional PR wisdom and empowers you to control your brand’s story from the get-go.

It's Now or Never: Six Fundamentals to Winning Back Trust

2025/02/13

Trust in media, institutions, and corporate comms is eroding. Neil Brown, president of Poynter Institute and founder of PolitiFact, knows why—and how to fix it. 🔹 The danger of clickbait & why credibility wins 🔹 How relationships & transparency build trust 🔹 AI’s role in comms & why ethics matter 🔹 Fact-checking: accountability, not censorship Trust is hard to earn, easy to lose. Learn how to get it—and keep it. 🎧 0xWCEYFuHu268Js3PyyQ

Say Less to Say More: How Smart Brevity is Changing the Way We Communicate

2025/02/06

Why it matters: Communication is broken. Messages are too long, unclear, and ignored. Smart Brevity is the fix. And Axios HQ's Emily Inverso is here to talk about it. The big picture: Smart Brevity isn’t just a writing style—it’s a movement reshaping how professionals, executives, and businesses communicate. With over 250,000 copies of the book in circulation and thousands of companies adopting the methodology, it’s proving that less is more. What’s next: How Smart Brevity started—and why it worksThe biggest mistakes communicators make (and how to fix them)Why AI won’t replace Smart Brevity, but can enhance itWhat the future holds for concise, impactful communication🚀 Want in? Visit smartbrevity.com to join the movement.

You’re Not Alone: Expanding Internal Comms by Engaging the Business

2025/01/23

Why it matters: Internal communicators often feel like they’re working alone—overwhelmed and under-resourced. But the truth? You’re surrounded by potential contributors who can help extend your reach and impact. What’s happening: In this episode, Chris Willis talks with Thereasa Roy, Director of Product and Content Marketing at OffSec, about how internal comms teams can: Activate leaders and department heads to contribute meaningful content.Transition from content creators to strategic editors-in-chief.Build stronger collaboration across departments to enhance alignment.The bottom line: Internal communications is a team sport. Learn how to mobilize your organization’s leaders and unlock hidden resources to drive better engagement and business outcomes. Listen now and discover how to extend your internal comms team—without adding headcount.

Surviving the Comms Crunch: Lessons in Strategic Positioning

2025/01/16

Why it matters: Communications professionals are struggling to keep their seats at the table in a challenging job market. Becca Chambers, a comms exec with a flair for straight talk, joins WordBirds to explore why comms teams are being cut and how they can shift from "cost center" to "business driver." Key takeaways: Post-pandemic priorities have deprioritized brand and engagement efforts.Communicators need to tie their work to outcomes, not outputs.Building alignment internally is critical to long-term success.Becca’s advice: Show your value by speaking the language of business and proving how comms impacts the bottom line. Listen for: Insights into surviving this comms job market and building a personal brand that stands out, like Becca’s viral LinkedIn strategy that took her from 4k to 40k followers in 12 months.

Align to Thrive: Unlocking the Business Power of Internal Communications

2025/01/09

Alignment fuels business success—but it’s hard to achieve. In this episode, Janet Hitchen shares how she used internal comms to: Build alignment across teams.Simplify complex ideas into clear stories.Drive revenue and growth at Apple, Nespresso, and beyond.💡 Why it matters: Internal comms aren’t just newsletters. They’re the key to smarter, faster, and more strategic business outcomes. 🎧 Tune in for insights you can put into action today.