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Artwork for Lead Balloon

Lead Balloon - Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Communications Stories

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

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes74Founded7 years ago
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Business NewsNewsMarketingBusiness

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Artwork for Lead Balloon

Latest Episodes

The strategy at the heart of the Snapple brand's precipitous rise... and its cataclysmic fall... is simple.

"Embrace your roots. Celebrate authenticity."

It's a lesson that's been served up again and again in the brands and marketing ecosystem. But... more

YouTube

In 2014, Sony Pictures Entertainment sparked an international diplomatic crisis when it announced its latest comedy, which they called “The Interview.”

Starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Randall Park as a parodied version of North Korea’s Suprem... more

YouTube

Home to the Masters Tournament, the Augusta National Golf Club typically serves as a backdrop for sports drama.

But in 2002, the club itself became the story, as its men-only membership policy came under the microscope in an unexpected and sensation... more

YouTube

Since the government shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, something has changed in the national conversation about the Trump Administration’s immigration policies.

And the primary reason it’s happening is not a brilliant PR campai... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Jane Cavalier
Founder and CEO of Brightmark Consulting; former EVP at McCann Erickson
Brightmark Consulting
Episode: 69. How the Snapple Brand Won Our Hearts in the 90s, Then Lost Them
Richard Kirshenbaum
Co-founder of Kirshenbaum & Bond; later CEO of NSG Swat and Swat Equity
Kirshenbaum & Bond; NSG Swat
Episode: 69. How the Snapple Brand Won Our Hearts in the 90s, Then Lost Them
Michael Lynton
Former CEO and co-chair of Sony Pictures Entertainment, current chairman of Snap and Warner Music Group
Sony Pictures Entertainment; Snap; Warner Music Group
Episode: 68. Seth Rogen Film, The Interview, Sparks a North Korean Hack Attack and a Hollywood PR Debacle for Sony Pictures' CEO
Ben Deutsch
Former Coca‑Cola Global Media Relations Manager
Coca‑Cola
Episode: 67. Coca-Cola's Master's Tournament Sponsorship Triggers 2002 Boycott Threat, with Ben Deutsch and Dr. Martha Burk
Dr. Martha Burk
Feminist activist, Chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations
Episode: 67. Coca-Cola's Master's Tournament Sponsorship Triggers 2002 Boycott Threat, with Ben Deutsch and Dr. Martha Burk
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

Host

Dusty Weis
Host of Lead Balloon

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 37 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 Statesa year 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 States2 years 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 States4 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.

Highly produced and informative, with strong guest selections.
Nice blend of industry lessons and entertaining narration; the host brings quick wit.
Top-notch production and insightful discussions on PR mistakes and lessons.
The host delivers behind-the-scenes look at why political ads work—or don't, with great storytelling.
Suitable for listeners in communications; storytelling makes complex topics relatable.

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.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Lead Balloon

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

Lead Balloon delivers narrative-driven insights from the worlds of marketing, public relations, and branding, anchored by veteran host Dusty Weis. Episodes spotlight high-stakes crises, industry power players, and iconic campaigns, with behind-the-scenes lessons on decision-making, risk, and reputation management. The show blends investigative storytelling with practical takeaways for communications pros, making complex PR challenges approachable and entertaining. Noteworthy are its candid reflections on real-world missteps, ethical considerations in crisis scenarios, and a production style that leans into humor and immersive sound design to illuminate industry dynamics.

Where can I find podcast stats for Lead Balloon?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Lead Balloon. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Lead Balloon and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Lead Balloon get?

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What are the audience demographics for Lead Balloon?

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How many subscribers and views does Lead Balloon have?

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. Darknet Diaries
2. This American Life
3. Up First from NPR
4. Hidden Brain
5. The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

How many episodes of Lead Balloon are there?

Lead Balloon launched 7 years ago and published 74 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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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Lead Balloon?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Lead Balloon. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Lead Balloon?

Recent guests on Lead Balloon include:

1. Jane Cavalier
2. Richard Kirshenbaum
3. Michael Lynton
4. Ben Deutsch
5. Dr. Martha Burk
6. Corey Smale
7. Ben Kollenbroich
8. Ronald Young, Jr.

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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