American YouTuber and streamer Darren Watkins Jr., popularly known as IShowSpeed, has just announced his latest international project, dubbed Speed Does Africa. The announcement, coinciding with the AFCON kick-offs, is an ambitious 20-country Africa tour trekking over 28 days, starting on 29 December.

Those familiar with the logistics of travel within the African continent may dismiss this as just another internet spectacle rehashed by yet another influencer angling to profit off Africa's current football euphoria and essence as the curator of global culture.

They would be right.

But for communicators, this would be a mistake.

We are experiencing the movement of influence, narrative power and cultural perception outside the control of legacy media institutions in real-time.

More than entertainment, IShowSpeed's African tour is a masterclass in the power of new media formats.

A Creator Doing What Institutions Struggle To Do

Africa's global image has been largely shaped by Western media, NGOs and their government proxies. Their narratives are often narrow, crisis actor-driven and deficit-framed to monetize poverty and profit from stereotypes.

Those familiar with IShowSpeed's content will be certain of one thing: no strategy deck, reputational caution or a prewritten script.

Instead, you have spontaneity, curiosity, emotion, and immediacy - at scale

Scale plus authenticity equals influence. That's the new algorithm in today's attention economy. Years of carefully scripted copy can no longer withstand the reach of a creator's single live stream, simultaneously watched by millions of followers.

The message is clear - attention follows connection, not authority.

Why IShowSpeed's Content Resonates With Global Youths

His core audience is young, global, and digitally native. This means that their life experiences are shaped by TikTok, Twitch, Instagram and YouTube - not through reports, documentaries, or press releases.

Beyond the polished spectacle of AFCON 2025, only something with this level of perceived authenticity can resonate with audiences.

Literally - a montage of colours, humour, sunshine-soaked smiles, frenetic energy and unfiltered street chaos.

Through IShowSpeed's phone camera lens, distance becomes relative.

Africa is no longer that exotic, distant frontier to visit during Europe's harsh winters. It's now human, familiar and relatable.

That's a powerful emotion that can't be manufactured through the HD lens of traditional scripted media.

Rewriting Soft Power

The current models of deploying soft power through tourism campaigns and cultural diplomacy may need a rethink. Especially in the face of real-time organic influence from lone creators reshaping perceptions at scale, armed only with wifi and a phone.

Sure, institutions have large budgets, but it raises one question.

Why do official voices lag behind unofficial ones in shaping perception?

It's all about trust.

Audiences trust content that feels and looks unscripted, authentic and free of corporate messaging. The messiness is what gives the message credibility.

The rise in popularity of creators like IShowSpeed is a signal that their approach can no longer be dismissed as a fluke on the fringe of the communications spectrum, but a new operating dynamic.

Beyond attracting engagement and views, the tour has the potential to reframe Africa as a continent with agency, not just poverty. An increase in African travel destinations is also a boon for the fringe economy and local creatives.

A few seconds in a high-traffic live stream can catapult unknown actors onto the global stage.

The Risks That Need To Be Acknowledged

Narrating the continent in real time will always be a challenge.

Africa is not a monolith - there are many nuances.

Parachuting in and out of 20 countries in 28 days will not help alleviate issues either, because viral moments can perpetuate entrenched stereotypes.

The risk of some content being taken out of context is significant, and communications leaders need to acknowledge that whilst nuance can be lost, attention is also organically earned.

What Does This Mean for Comms Leaders?

Whether you work in communications, media, public affairs, or branding verticals, know this.

ignoring moments like this is a strategic blindspot as they provide teachable moments in decentralised narrative control, cultural relevance out[acing legacy institutions and creators and their platforms being more agile than planned campaigns

IShowSpeed's African tour will not address the continent's challenges, but it will shift emotional perception at scale.

Perception is the catalyst for behavioural change. In due time, a change in behaviour means investment and policy change.

It's a simple lesson. Digital culture is where real influence now lives.

Are you paying attention?

Growing up, I struggled with consistency and only exercised if I was in the mood. Sometimes I would get a burst of energy and motivation that saw me through the week.

Sometimes, I would procrastinate for weeks on end.

But since entering my 30s and now in the prime of my life, I realized I needed to be more intentional about building and maintaining a more resilient body that will see me through the rest of my life. My main focus is building stronger joints, improving mobility, and boosting energy to work, travel, and live the life I want.

Here's how I'm going about it:

Goal 1: Build Functional Strength.

I train 3 - 4 times a week and maintain a certain number of reps or increase the weights lifted.

Lifts, squats, deadlifts, rows and pushups give me the best return on effort and real strength to power me through the week and stay motivated.

Goal 2: Improve Cardiovascular Endurance.

I start my exercises with 500 to 1000 skips to get my cardio going before moving onto 4 or 5 sets of kettlebell lunges.

I alternate this with 4 sets of jumping jacks and jumping burpees on other days to improve endurance and cardiovascular efficiency.

Goal 3: Increase Mobility & Flexibility.

My work over the years has been desk-bound and has made my hips and lower back stiff.

Now, I do mobility stretches for at least 10 minutes before I begin training to help me with posture and injuries.

Goal 4: Build Better Eating Habits.

I track habits, not calories.

That's why I focus on eating home cooked protein-dense food at roughly the same times throughout the week and avoiding ultra-processed food.

Goal 5: Prioritize Recovery.

In addition to morning stretches, I sleep a minimum of 6 to 7 hours a day to aid in recovery and take my rest days seriously.

I use a health tracking app to track my sleep patterns and adjust accordingly.

I used to sit with pages of chaotic notes — half sentences, scattered ideas, random arrows — and wonder how on earth people turned this into clean, sharp writing. Then I realised: great writers aren’t naturally organised. They just use a repeatable system.

Here’s the 5-step process I use every single day to turn messy notes into clear, high-impact writing.

1. Dump Everything Without Judgement

Before anything else, I empty my brain. All thoughts, fragments, quotes, examples, even contradictions. The goal isn’t clarity — it’s capture. You can’t organise what you don’t first collect.

2. Find the One Sentence That Matters

Once everything is on the page, I zoom out and ask: What’s the single idea I’m really trying to say? Not five ideas. One. This becomes my guiding line. Without this step, you end up writing three different essays inside one piece.

3. Group Related Ideas Together

Next, I drag similar points into clusters. Problems with problems. Examples with examples. Advice with advice. Suddenly the random chaos starts showing a natural structure. Most clarity is simply grouping.

4. Turn Clusters Into a Logical Flow

Then I arrange the clusters into a sequence:
Problem → Insight → Example → Lesson → Call-to-action.
Or whatever shape fits the piece. This is where the essay finally starts to look like writing — not notes.

5. Rewrite for Simplicity and Punch

Last, I rewrite everything with one question in mind: Can this be said simpler? Clear writing is not about impressing readers — it’s about reducing friction. Shorter sentences. Stronger verbs. Less fluff. More truth.

This 5-step process changed my writing.
Not because it made me smarter, but because it gave my messy thinking a path.

Over the past few years, I have read dozens of books, papers, and long-form investigations on the rise of artificial intelligence.

And while I enjoyed many of those books, and learned a lot, there is only 1 book I can say truly had a life-changing impact on me:

Empire of AI Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI by Karen Hao.

Some of my biggest takeaways:

• AI’s growth runs on invisible labour.
  Behind every polished model sits a global workforce performing low-paid, psychologically heavy tasks. Once you see it, you cannot unsee it.

• Scale is not neutral.
  Data centres, compute clusters, and massive model training runs have real environmental and social costs. The “bigger is better” mindset comes with a bill someone else pays.

• OpenAI’s evolution mirrors a broader industry shift.
  What began as a nonprofit mission to benefit humanity eventually bent toward speed, competition, and consolidation of power. Hao shows how this shift happens step by step.

• The 2023 leadership crisis was a symptom, not an accident.
  The board drama was not gossip. It revealed how fragile governance becomes when technology outpaces the structures meant to control it.

• None of this is inevitable.
  Hao argues that AI does not need to be built as an empire. Smaller, community-driven, transparent approaches exist, and the future is still up for negotiation.

(Of course, the book goes into detail on all of this. But these are my high-level takeaways.)

So, if you are at all interested in AI, power, and ethics, I highly suggest keeping a copy of Empire of AI Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI on your desk.

Trevor Noah may have come up through stand-up comedy routines, but he is now renowned for his acerbic social commentary. Only a few people likely know the real story of how he came to be who he is today - neither did I.

So, I binged on more than 20 hours of his stand-up shows, memoirs, Daily Show episodes, and long-form interviews to understand the impetus behind his meteoric rise.

I wondered if I could reverse-engineer some of his insights to elevate my own storytelling and communication somehow.

20 hours later, here’s what I found...

Quick Stats About Trevor Noah

Some essential context if you’re unfamiliar with him:

• Hosted The Daily Show for 7 years, taking it to global relevance

• Authored Born a Crime, one of the best-selling memoirs of the decade

• Performed to sold-out global tours across 5 continents

• Built a social media presence with hundreds of millions of views

Needless to say, he’s one of the best in the world at turning observation into universal insight.

So… what can we learn?

Trevor’s 4-Step Framework for World-Class Social Commentary

After breaking down his work, all his success follows one predictable pattern:

1. Observe Without Judgement

2. Decode the Human Story

3. Distill It Into a Simple Truth

4. Deliver It With Precision

Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Observe Without Judgement

For Trevor, everything begins with curiosity, not conclusions.
The reason? Judgment kills insight.

To do this, he consistently:

• Immerses himself in different cultures

• Asks questions most people overlook

• Collects small, ordinary moments as raw material

It’s the foundation for everything that comes next.

Step 2: Decode the Human Story

The next thing he focuses on is extracting the human element behind every event.

He does this by listening deeply — and sometimes even retelling stories from multiple viewpoints.
This is what separates him from typical comedians and commentators. It’s the magic layer that makes his work emotional, not just clever.

Step 3: Distill It Into a Simple Truth

This is where Trevor transforms complexity into clarity.

His tactics include:

• Stripping away political noise

• Highlighting universal human patterns

• Finding the one sentence that makes the entire situation make sense

This step is where insight becomes power.

Step 4: Deliver It With Precision

And finally — the performance.

Trevor is obsessive about:

• Timing

• Tone

• Facial expression and pacing

This is where the crafted idea becomes unforgettable.

Combined with Steps 1–3, it’s what turns everyday stories into global commentary.

Try these four steps yourself — and you may not become the king of social commentary, but you’ll certainly become a sharper observer, storyteller, and communicator.

30 days ago, I signed up for Dickie Bush & Nicolas Cole's cohort-based course, Ship 30 for 30.

In that time, I wrote & published 30 Atomic Essays, learned the fundamentals of Digital Writing, made friends, and started gaining clarity over what my niche might be. It has been a very rewarding (and challenging) journey, and I am more excited than ever to keep writing online.

Here are the 3 biggest things writing & publishing consistently every day for 30 days taught me:

1. Consistency Builds Confidence Faster Than Inspiration Ever Will

Before Ship 30, I barely wrote anything for months on end and waited for ''inspiration'' which rarely came.

Carving a daily writing habit forced me to churn out content in all its guises without waiting for perfect ideas to take hold and trusting the process. I found my sweet spot between days 10 and 15 when I felt the resistance melt. At that point, i realized that consistency was also a skill that needs constant motion for it to take hold. My confidence grew with each passing day as I clicked publish in more ways than one.

2. Clarity Comes From Creation, Not Thinking

I spent months trying to figure out what I really wanted to write, like most beginners

Over 30 days, a pattern began to emerge. I no longer had to do mental heavy lifting to come up with a topic, and readers resonated with themes in ways I never anticipated. This has flipped this mindset, and I have learnt enough about my voice from publishing spontaneous content that I could never have published without prior planning. Turns out, the quickest way I can find my niche is writing my way into it.

3. Writing Online Is a Networking Superpower

One clear win from writing online daily has been expanding my network. I have had many people reach out to give feedback about my content. I see many opportunities ahead as I continue to share my ideas in public. In time, I see my content pulling in more people who value the same things I value and creating an organic community of ideas.

If you have been thinking about getting started writing online, too, let me know. I'm happy to share more about the experience and what I learned.

I used to procrastinate on everything that mattered.

I have been doing this for years.

Rock bottom for me was when I missed a simple deadline that should have taken twenty minutes. I was disappointed, stressed, and angry at myself. It was awful.

How did I break this bad habit?

I started doing one small task the moment I noticed it. No waiting or planning. Just immediate action.

Everything changed when I committed to this rule. I told myself that if something took less than two minutes, I would handle it right away.

And honestly, I saw almost immediate results.

• My days stopped feeling heavy.

• My mental clutter faded because unfinished tasks stopped circling my mind.

• My confidence grew because I finally trusted myself to follow through.

• My free time actually felt free because I was no longer running from a growing list of chores.

So, if you procrastinate like I used to, I encourage you to learn from my mistakes.

And start acting on the small things the moment they show up. The shift is simple, but the payoff is huge.

I love reading newsletters.

But only the right newsletters.

(A lot are a waste of time, unfortunately.)

If you are at all interested in learning political intelligence, cultural context, and industry practice, here are the 3 most worth your time:

1. The Continent (by M&G Africa)

Why I love it:
This award-winning weekly publication is one of the best places to understand public mood, regional storytelling, and emerging cross-border narratives.
What I like about it:
It helps you build the most important PR skill in Africa: contextual intelligence. The Continent shows you how people talk, think, react, and interpret events across countries — essential for crafting messages that resonate from Nairobi to Lagos to Harare.

2. Africa Practice Insights Newsletter

Why I love it:
Africa Practice blends communications, policy intelligence, and data-driven analysis to help brands understand risk, influence, and public sentiment across African markets.
What I like:
It elevates your thinking. Their breakdowns help PR professionals see the bigger picture—how regulation, geopolitics, and public perception interact to shape brand reputation.

3. PRovoke Media (EMEA Focus)

Why I love it:
PRovoke is one of the most respected PR intelligence platforms in the world — and their EMEA coverage highlights regional case studies, industry trends, agency insights, and high-level thought leadership.
What I like about it:
It’s a perfect blend of practical campaigns, data-driven analysis, and reputation insights. It helps you understand how brands in EMEA communicate, compete, and manage risk across complex markets.

These days, I spend a lot of time thinking about technology and the way we connect.

But lately, one question I've been asking myself is this:

Does being constantly online make me more connected, or more alone?

For a few reasons:

• Reason #1: I'm part of many groups on different social media platforms where I interact directly with people all day through texts, DMs and group chats, yet barely feel close to anyone. Being constantly switched on and doom-scrolling through a series of messages feels like noise cosplaying intimacy.

• Reason #2: I often scroll through people's media status posts but baulk at calling them. It’s easier to watch snippets of people’s lives than to engage in a real conversation. Sometimes, a highlight reel can be all I need to feel a distant connection with someone.

• Reason #3: Staying connected online gives me a rush of dopamine that can feel like withdrawal symptoms from an actual drug when I finally log off. The hollow silence in the aftermath feels like stepping out of a packed cinema into an empty hallway. I wonder if my attention isn't being swallowed by pixels instead of connecting with people.

  To wrestle with this question, a few things I’m doing are setting screen-free days/hours, calling friends and family instead of texting, and being more vigilant about how I feel after a marathon doom-scrolling session.

I think it'll be a while before I come to any sort of solid conclusion.

(And if you have a clear answer to this question, I'd love to hear from you.)

I have been working in PR for 15 years.

And in that time, I've gotten to do a lot of cool things:

• Manage campaigns that brought communities together.

• Pitch human-interest stories that landed in national media.

• Collaborate with creative teams to tell stories that matter.

• Produce content for digital platforms and radio.

There isn't much I would change about my journey.

But if I could go back, here are a few of the mistakes I made early on—and what I would have done differently:

1. Mistake #1: Trying to Do Everything Myself

Early on, I believed versatility was the same as value. I tried to handle design, media relations, writing, and analytics simultaneously. It didn't work. Instead, I was burnt out with little results to show for it.
What I’d do differently: I’d focus on mastering strategic storytelling first before venturing into other areas. Overextension erodes trust, so i would focus on specialization.

2. Mistake #2: Prioritising Output Over Outcomes

I once equated activity with success. I churned out endless press releases, newsletters, and social posts without measuring impact.
What I’d do differently: I’d connect every piece of communication to a clear business or audience goal. Strategy matters more than volume.

3. Mistake #3: Not Being Assertive Enough

When I started, I was desperate for any opportunity that came my way and was not assertive enough with my boss. I often gave in to popular sentiment rather than offering counsel and standing my ground for my ideas. I missed chances to grow my voice and authority at work, which was one of the factors that made me an easy target for retrenchment because I hadn't proven my value enough.
What I’d do differently: I’d start writing online much earlier to share lessons and spark conversations. That way, I could build credibility and earn authority as a thought leader.

For years, I’ve worked behind the scenes — building projects, solving problems, and collecting lessons in private notes. My docs are full of frameworks, client takeaways, and ideas that never see the light of day.

Sound familiar?

As knowledge workers — founders, marketers, PMs, consultants, designers — we spend our days thinking, creating, and refining ideas. Yet most of that thinking stays trapped in meeting notes, decks, or internal chats. That’s a waste of insight and opportunity.

So this month, I changed that and joined a challenge that helps people publish short essays online every day for 30 days.

My goal isn’t to go viral. It’s to build a writing habit — to make my thinking visible. Writing forces clarity. It exposes weak ideas, sharpens strong ones, and helps you communicate what you already know in a way others can use.

Over the next 30 days, I’ll be sharing lessons on tools, strategy, and productivity — the systems that keep creative professionals effective and sane.

Whether you’re someone who builds, leads, or consults and you’ve been meaning to write but never “had the time” - the time to start is now. You don’t need a big audience. You just need a consistent one...you.

Writing online isn’t about building a following — it’s about building a body of work and an online catalogue of your thoughts in real-time. It all starts with you showing up - ONCE!

Let’s write what we know in public.

I used to think that growth was something I could achieve quietly - behind the scenes, reading books about writing, taking courses and listening to podcasts.

Now, i realize that growth happens in public as well. Writing and publishing in real time prevents overthinking pushes me to share what I'm learning, sharpen my ideas and organize my thoughts to build authority around one clear focus.

Skill 1: Embracing a Growth Mindset

• Adopting a growth mindset changed everything for me. Instead of seeing challenges as proof I wasn’t ready, I started seeing them as signs I was stretching. Writing online is one of those stretches. It’s uncomfortable to put your thoughts out there, but that’s the point. Every post is a small experiment - a chance to learn faster, improve my thinking, and grow through feedback. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s progress in public.

Skill 2: Developing Effective Communication Skills

• Learning to communicate clearly has been a game changer. The better I get at organizing my thoughts, the more confident I feel sharing them. Writing forces clarity. It exposes fuzzy thinking and turns loose ideas into sharp insights. By writing online, I’m refining not just what I say -but how I think. And when your communication improves, your influence naturally grows.

Skill 3: Pursuing Personal Development

• Personal development isn’t just about learning new things but also putting them into practice. Writing online is how I turn lessons into leadership. It’s a way to document my journey, connect with others who share my interests, and position myself as someone worth listening to.

  I’m not just writing to be seen. I’m writing to build expertise, earn trust, and eventually dominate my niche - one post at a time.

If I could go back in time, these are the 7 things I wish I knew about PR & Communications.

(It would have saved me a lot of wasted time and effort.)

1. It’s Not About You. It’s About the Story

The media don't care about your brand. They want to know if your story resonates with their audiences. I learnt to frame my pitch for audience impact instead of sounding like a trendy smart-ass.

2. Press Releases matter less than Relationships

When I started in PR, I thought it was all about catchy headlines and perfect press releases. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Real PR isn’t about spin but strategy, relationships, and trust.

3. Speed trumps Perfection

If you are trying to stay relevant and remain ahead of the news cycle, speed is your best foot forward. There's simply no room for perfectionism if you're trying to meet a deadline.

4. Be Smarter Than Your Client. Know Their Audience Better

If you understand what resonates with your client's niche market, you can create a message that lands and make your client look smart.

5. Decide What Matters And Measure It

Media mentions give you an instant dopamine rush, but the real game changers are the outcomes - reputation shifts, audience trust, conversions, and behaviour change.

6. Crisis Isn’t a Matter of “If” — It’s “When”

Before things blow up, have a plan in place with a prepped spokesperson. Stay woke!

7. Authenticity Beats Hype Every Time

Transparency builds long-term influence. Today's audiences are more savvy and have more tools at their disposal to verify information.

It’s not easy staying creative.

Especially when your goal is to translate complex thoughts into stories that move people, not just impress them.

But anytime you feel like giving up, turn back to these 6 simple quotes to remind you why you create:

"Wisdom is like fire. People take it from others.” — Hemba Proverb (Congo)

Creativity is communal. Every idea you spark comes from someone else’s flame — and keeps the circle of inspiration alive.

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” — African Proverb

In storytelling, collaboration isn’t optional — it’s the soil where deep, lasting creativity grows.

“The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists.” — Japanese Proverb

Adaptability fuels creative survival. The more flexible you are, the more likely your ideas will endure change.

“A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.” — Chinese Proverb

This one reminds me that storytelling isn’t about proving a point — it’s about expressing something only you can.

“When you are inspired by some great purpose, all your thoughts break their bonds.” — Patanjali (India)

Purpose unlocks your best creative energy — the kind that doesn’t just make content, but creates connection.

“Even the best cooking pot will not produce food.” — African Proverb

All the tools and tech mean nothing unless you act — creativity lives in the doing, not the dreaming.

When you lose momentum, remember: creativity is not a gift to keep — it’s a torch to pass on.

The Win Without Pitching Manifesto by Blair Enns is, hands down, the best book ever written on creative business strategy and client positioning.

If you’ve read it, you know exactly what I mean.

But if you haven’t, here’s why you should:

Reason #1: It flips the power dynamic between agency and client.

Most creative professionals are trained to pitch — to give away ideas for free in the hope of winning work. Enns argues that this model is broken. He teaches you to position yourself as the expert advisor, not a vendor waiting for approval. That one mindset shift changes everything.

Reason #2: It shows you how to sell without “selling.”

Instead of chasing every client, Enns explains how to attract the right ones by demonstrating expertise, confidence, and clarity. The goal isn’t persuasion—it’s alignment. This turns awkward sales calls into strategic conversations.

Reason #3: It redefines creative professionalism.

Enns reminds us that creativity has value—and that professionals should be paid for their thinking, not just their execution. He reframes how designers, PR consultants, and storytellers think about their worth in the marketplace.

Reason #4: It teaches you to lead with principles, not proposals.

Each of the book’s 12 manifestos is a clear, actionable principle for building a business based on respect, trust, and authority. It’s not just theory—it’s a roadmap to independence and confidence in your craft.

I can’t recommend this book enough.

If you work in PR, branding, design, or tech storytelling—and you’re tired of “pitching to win”—then The Win Without Pitching Manifesto will teach you how to win without pitching at all.

I have been working in PR communications for more than 15 years, including a stint with private telecoms, leveraging technology.

These are the 3 simple (but effective) pieces of advice I'd give anyone starting out (or who wants to get started):

Advice #1: Learn the tech, not just the talk.

You can’t communicate what you don’t understand. Read AI whitepapers, play with the tools, and join product demos. Clients and journalists can tell when you’re bluffing. The more you embrace technology, the more credible your storytelling becomes.

Advice #2: Translate complexity into clarity.

Tech is full of jargon. Your job is to make it human. Whether it’s explaining a new model architecture or a startup’s funding story, always ask: Would a layperson understand this? Clarity builds trust—and trust builds reputations.

Advice #3: Build your personal brand early.

Post about what you’re learning on LinkedIn, write threads on X, share insights from tech events. You don’t need to be an “expert” to add value. Visibility compounds—and in this industry, opportunities find those who show up consistently.

Honestly, I wish someone had told me these three things earlier.

But I’m glad I can pass them along now.

Because in tech PR, trends come and go—but clarity, credibility, and curiosity will always keep you relevant.

Learning PR communications is hard.

You have to understand storytelling, crisis management, audience psychology, and digital tools; all at once.

Luckily, everything you need to know to get started, become proficient, and even land your first PR role is online - for free.

Just subscribe to these 3 YouTube channels:

1. PR Academy

PR Academy breaks down fundamentals like stakeholder mapping, media ethics, and campaign planning in plain English. Their videos are short, practical, and a perfect crash course if you didn’t study PR formally. Start here If you want to understand the theory behind PR, why certain messages stick and others flop.

2. Justin Moore – Creator Wizard

Although Justin Moore tends to take an influencer marketing angle, he also teaches modern PR in action: how to pitch, negotiate, and manage media relationships in a digital-first world. His breakdowns of brand partnerships for understanding what makes a persuasive message and a credible spokesperson are on the money.

3. Think Media

Even the best PR strategy falls flat if your content looks amateurish. Think Media helps you level up your digital storytelling—how to record, edit, and present your brand visually. Their camera, audio, and storytelling tutorials are game changers for any communicator building an online presence.

So, instead of spending €13,000 studying PR in college, binge these YouTube channels.

You’ll learn how to plan campaigns, pitch journalists, build your personal brand, and measure results - skills that matter in the real world.

If you’re serious about mastering PR communications, start there.

And the best part? All it costs is your curiosity and a Wi-Fi connection.

Today, there is an app, website, or software platform for just about anything (including finding someone to walk your dog).

But when it comes to focus and productivity, there is 1 app I can't live without:

Radio Garden

And here's why:

• Reason #1: The app makes the world feel smaller.
  You can literally spin a 3D globe, zoom into any country, and tune into live radio stations in real time. From jazz in Düsseldorf to talk radio in Johannesburg, it’s the easiest way to feel globally connected without leaving your area code.

• Reason #2: Radio Garden is a creativity booster.
  When I’m writing copy or developing messaging, I’ll often tune into stations broadcasting in languages I don’t understand. That rhythm of unfamiliar voices helps me focus and sparks unexpected ideas - I also tend to think differently.

• Reason #3: It’s a travel experience in your pocket.
  Every channel is a small window into a location's culture, energy, and daily life. You don’t just hear local music; you have your finger on the pulse of a city.

• Reason #4: It’s a beautifully simple idea.
  No logging in. No curated playlists or algorithms ''recommending'' what you ''may also'' like. It's just you, spinning a globe connected to the internet, and endless possibilities.

• Reason #5: Radio Garden is pure serendipity.
  Click one green dot on the globe and you will hear a folk song from rural Japan, then another for a local news bulletin in Maseru, or a soulful ballad from Chile. There is a real human connection to the internet. You never know what you’ll stumble on.

If you love culture, need background noise to focus, or crave creative inspiration, I can’t recommend Radio Garden enough.

There are many podcasts on PR Consulting.

And honestly, I've tried listening to most of them.

But the one I keep coming back to, over and over again, is “Spin Sucks” by Gini Dietrich.

If you are new to PR Consultancy, here's why I would recommend blocking 4 hours per week to listen and study every episode:

Reason #1: It’s brutally practical.

Most PR podcasts ramble about trends and jargon. “Spin Sucks” breaks things down into real, actionable insights ranging from managing client expectations to building trust with journalists. Gini doesn’t just theorize; she gives you the playbook.

Reason #2:It bridges old-school PR with digital reality.

Too many consultants still think PR begins and ends with press releases. This show drills into how SEO, social media, and content strategy now intersect with reputation management. You learn how to adapt traditional PR thinking to a data-driven, digital-first world.

Reason #3: It makes you think like an advisor, not an executor.

The real money in PR consulting isn’t in pitching stories but in shaping strategy. This podcast helps you understand how to become a trusted consultant clients rely on for clarity, not just coverage. Gini talks openly about client relationships, boundaries, and positioning yourself as a thought leader and strategic partner.

As a beginner, I promise - this is one of the most helpful resources on the Internet you can sink your teeth into to learn what's happening in the world of public relations and communications.