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Lead Balloon - Public Relations, Marketing and Strategic Communications Stories

Dusty Weis
Public Relations
Alex Jones
Infowars
Milwaukee
The Onion
Wikipedia
Artificial Intelligence
Sandy Hook School Shooting
Disinformation
Conspiracy Theories
Chatgpt
Fluoride
Local Politics
Satire
Information Ecosystem
Leadership
Career Development
Social Media
Marketing
Wikimedia Foundation

Compelling tales from the world of public relations, marketing and branding, told by the well-meaning communications professionals who lived them. Lead Balloon is like Freakonomics for communicators and media consumers. It's a show where we tell stories from communications industry leaders, brands that everyone knows and loves (or hates), and spectacular PR disasters. With immersive storytelling a... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes70Founded6 years ago
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BusinessMarketingNewsBusiness News

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Artwork for Lead Balloon

Latest Episodes

It was four years ago that the Twitter account for legendary beer brand Pabst Blue Ribbon tweeted out:

"Not drinking this January? Try eating ass!"

And we're FINALLY talking to the guy who did it.

Because Corey Smale—who was promptly fired for the... more

YouTube

15 years ago, if you had googled Ben Kollenbroich’s name, you would have discovered that his life story was the inspiration for “Good Luck Chuck,” a mid-budget, critically-panned romantic comedy starring Dane Cook and Jessica Alba.

That’s not REMOTE... more

YouTube

Earlier this month, a new startup announced that they would be using artificial intelligence to churn out thousands of podcast episodes voiced by A.I. podcast hosts.

Inception Point A.I. claims to be able to fashion 3,000 podcast episodes a week at... more

YouTube

Most people get travel information about road closures from Google Maps, Apple Maps or a similar smartphone-based application.

But when a road is closed, most transportation agencies put out a press release.

And this disconnect is not only annoying... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Corey Smale
Chief Creative Officer at Garage Beer and Ad Age's Marketer of the Year
Garage Beer
Episode: 65. Delicious Redemption: Getting Fired for an Infamous PBR Tweet Made Corey Smale the CCO at Garage Beer
Ben Kollenbroich
The 'inspiration' for the movie Good Luck Chuck, a college buddy of the host
Episode: 64. The Wikipedia Prank: Why the Internet Mistakenly Thought the Movie Good Luck Chuck was Based on Ben Kollenbroich
Ronald Young, Jr.
Award-winning podcast host and contributor to NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour
Episode: 63. A.I. Podcast Host Invasion: Inception Point's Business Model & the Podcast Industry's Reaction
Jeff Umbro
CEO of Podglomerate, an agency specializing in podcast production and monetization
Podglomerate
Episode: 63. A.I. Podcast Host Invasion: Inception Point's Business Model & the Podcast Industry's Reaction
Bill Beutler
Wikipedia consultant, founder of Beutler, Inc., and expert on Wikipedia's information ecosystem.
Beutler, Inc.
Episode: 61. Will Wikipedia survive Artificial Intelligence? (And Can A.I. Survive Without Wikipedia?)
Joe Pulizzi
Founder of Content Marketing Institute and bestselling author
Content Marketing Institute
Episode: 60. Recession Lessons from Content Marketing Institute Founder Joe Pulizzi: Double Down, Dig In
Eric Schwartzman
Digital PR expert, content marketing strategist, and author with over 30 years of experience.
Schwartzman and Associates
Episode: 59. Bot Farms Have Made Social Media Engagement Metrics Meaningless, with Eric Schwartzman
Ken Hoffman
Self-taught marketing consultant and jazz saxophonist
Episode: 58. The Mystery of the I-94 Sales & Marketing Tip of the Week Billboard, with Ken Hoffman & Kyle Brown
Matt Zoller Seitz
Film critic and editor-at-large for rogerebert.com, Pulitzer finalist, and author of several New York Times bestsellers
rogerebert.com
Episode: 57. Why Have Streaming Services Put So Many Ads In Our Shows? with Film Critic Matt Zoller Seitz

Host

Dusty Weis
Host of Lead Balloon and well-versed in the field of public relations, marketing, and strategic communications, bringing a unique blend of storytelling and humor to the discussions.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 36 ratings
  • Mystery on I-94

    A Fascinating story. Answered that age-old question on old billboards of “wonder the story about that?”

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pudelmom
    United States9 months ago
  • Dusty & Lead Balloon are back!

    As always, great storytelling! A great look behind the scenes into why political ads work—-or don’t. You have been missed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Pudelmom
    United Statesa year ago
  • Truly intriguing conversations!

    Dusty and team have done a great job setting up some of the best “behind the scenes” conversations around events we all know about. From marketing nightmares to general public misconception, Dusty has no fear in tackling both the good and bad. Keep it up Dusty and team!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mag22
    United States3 years ago
  • Who knew marketing could be so interesting!

    Dusty Weis provides great background and sets up lessons in marketing and public relations that even non-marketing mavens can enjoy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    momitts
    United States4 years ago
  • TERRIFIC podcast

    One of the best produced, most insightful, entertaining and informative podcasts around! I’m a huge fan now!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OateseyInSD
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Technical quality and production values are frequently praised, adding to the overall listening experience.
Many find the podcast informative, with lessons applicable to real-world marketing and public relations scenarios.
Listeners appreciate the engaging storytelling approach, finding it insightful and relatable to their own experiences in the field.
The humor infused into serious topics is well-received, making complex issues more accessible.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

65. Delicious Redemption: Getting Fired for an Infamous PBR Tweet Made Corey Smale the CCO at Garage Beer
Q: What does it look like when the Kelce brothers' tanker truck explodes?
Corey humorously likens it to a massive surge in publicity and engagement for Garage Beer, driven by their celebrity influence.
65. Delicious Redemption: Getting Fired for an Infamous PBR Tweet Made Corey Smale the CCO at Garage Beer
Q: How did Andy Sauer empower you to make your mark on the brand at Garage Beer?
Corey emphasized the trust between him and Andy, allowing creativity to flourish without traditional corporate constraints.
65. Delicious Redemption: Getting Fired for an Infamous PBR Tweet Made Corey Smale the CCO at Garage Beer
Q: Was getting fired from PBR a positive step for your career?
Corey believes it was the best thing that ever happened to him, leading to new opportunities and ultimately his current success at Garage Beer.
65. Delicious Redemption: Getting Fired for an Infamous PBR Tweet Made Corey Smale the CCO at Garage Beer
Q: What were you feeling when you found out that you were going to be losing that job at PBR?
Corey felt uncertainty, reflecting on his previous experiences and recognizing that losing this job was not as dire as those past challenges. He accepted being fired and knew he had to navigate through the situation wisely.
63. A.I. Podcast Host Invasion: Inception Point's Business Model & the Podcast Industry's Reaction
Q: What does it mean for the future of our industry now that someone has crossed the line?
It signifies that industry professionals need to unite against AI that cuts humans out of content creation, establishing a boundary that should not be crossed.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Lead Balloon

What is Lead Balloon about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast presents engaging narratives from the world of public relations, marketing, and branding, shared by seasoned professionals who have faced intense challenges in their careers. It offers a blend of immersive storytelling and humor, often revisiting memorable PR disasters and crises that highlight the critical lessons learned in the field. The host's approach emphasizes the lighter side of high-stakes situations, making it accessible and entertaining for listeners interested in communications and marketing strategies. Unique in its format, the series allows industry professionals to candidly discuss their experiences while providing validation for those grappling with their own challenges in the creative sphere.

Listeners can exp... more

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How many listeners does Lead Balloon get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Lead Balloon has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Lead Balloon?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Lead Balloon:

1. Freakonomics Radio
2. The Daily
3. This American Life
4. Up First from NPR
5. 99% Invisible

How many episodes of Lead Balloon are there?

Lead Balloon launched 6 years ago and published 70 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Lead Balloon?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Lead Balloon?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Lead Balloon from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Lead Balloon?

Recent guests on Lead Balloon include:

1. Corey Smale
2. Ben Kollenbroich
3. Ronald Young, Jr.
4. Jeff Umbro
5. Bill Beutler
6. Joe Pulizzi
7. Eric Schwartzman
8. Ken Hoffman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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