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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
Social Media
Satire
Information Ecosystem
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

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes77Founded7 years ago
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Artwork for Lead Balloon

Latest Episodes

For decades, baldness has been seen as undesirable—for men AND women.

Traditional and social media both have reinforced the message that a thick, luscious head of hair is synonymous with desirability and success.

And marketers have hocked products ... more

YouTube

Every nation on the planet is its own brand.

And love of country plays a part in each one.

But here in the U.S., the very notion of patriotism has been polarized.

Culture warriors have attempted to unilaterally define what it means to be American,... more

YouTube

The annals of internet history are littered with cautionary tales from young people who became internet famous.

From “Star Wars Kid” (Ghyslain Raza) to “Overly Attached Girlfriend” (Laina Morris), many viral stars of the early internet did not inten... more

YouTube

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

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Recent Guests

Harry James
Founder of Baldcafé; instigator of Baldmaxxing
Baldcafé
Episode: 72. Bald as a Brand: What is Baldmaxxing and Why Should Marketers Pay Attention? w/ Harry James and Brennan Johnson
Brennan Nevada Johnson
Founder and CEO of Brennan Nevada Inc; bald by choice advocate
Brennan Nevada Inc
Episode: 72. Bald as a Brand: What is Baldmaxxing and Why Should Marketers Pay Attention? w/ Harry James and Brennan Johnson
Joe Trahan
Dr. Joe Trahan, founder of Trahan and Associates; former public affairs leader and Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel
Trahan and Associates; U.S. Army Reserve
Episode: 71. America's Brand: Reclaiming Patriotism for Regular Americans, with Joe Trahan (APR Fellow PRSA)
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

Host

Dusty Weis
Host of Lead Balloon, PodCamp Media

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.

Episodes are praised for high production quality and entertaining yet informative narratives.
Audience notes the show helps professional relate to real-world campaigns beyond theory.
Some listeners contrast strong production with occasional criticisms about guest variety or pacing.
Listeners appreciate the candid storytelling and practical takeaways for marketing and PR.
Well-produced and insightful with behind-the-scenes lessons on PR disasters.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

72. Bald as a Brand: What is Baldmaxxing and Why Should Marketers Pay Attention? w/ Harry James and Brennan Johnson
Q: How has baldness impacted professional branding for the guests?
Shaving the head became a signature look that helped guests stand out, influence perceptions in meetings and events, and shape a narrative around authenticity and bold self-presentation in corporate settings.
72. Bald as a Brand: What is Baldmaxxing and Why Should Marketers Pay Attention? w/ Harry James and Brennan Johnson
Q: What is Baldmaxxing and how does it relate to branding and marketing?
Baldmaxxing is a movement reframing baldness as a personal and professional identity, encouraging confidence, self-expression, and strategic branding rather than hiding hair loss; it represents a new audience for products, services, and campaigns tailored to bald consumers.
70. How to Go Viral and Not Screw Up Your Kid's Life, with the Original "Hysterical Bubbles" Laughing Baby (All Grown Up)
Q: How did you balance public exposure with preserving a normal childhood for Molly?
They emphasized family priority, set firm boundaries (like no phones at dinner), monitored social media exposure, and slowly limited public engagements to maintain a stable home life while licensing revenue supported Molly's future.
70. How to Go Viral and Not Screw Up Your Kid's Life, with the Original "Hysterical Bubbles" Laughing Baby (All Grown Up)
Q: What did those early conversations sound like about licensing and contracts as opportunities started to appear?
The parents described reaching out to attorney friends to review deals, considering who would handle negotiations, and evaluating if third parties could be trusted, all while protecting Molly's rights and interests.
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.

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?

Lead Balloon offers compelling, story-driven explorations of public relations, marketing, branding, and strategic communications. Episodes pull back the curtain on real-world campaigns, PR crises, and the human decisions behind reputation, often with behind-the-scenes anecdotes from industry veterans and brand storytellers. Listeners typically get practical lessons on authenticity, crisis management, sponsorship dynamics, and ethical storytelling, presented with wit and cinematic sound design that illuminates how communications decisions shape outcomes. A standout is how guests ranging from agency founders to corporate communicators connect long-running tactics with modern media challenges, making it a strong fit for listeners who want acti... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Lead Balloon?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Lead Balloon:

1. The Daily
2. Pod Save America
3. The Journal.
4. The Best People with Nicolle Wallace

How many episodes of Lead Balloon are there?

Lead Balloon launched 7 years ago and published 77 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.

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What guests have appeared on Lead Balloon?

Recent guests on Lead Balloon include:

1. Harry James
2. Brennan Nevada Johnson
3. Joe Trahan
4. Jane Cavalier
5. Richard Kirshenbaum
6. Michael Lynton
7. Ben Deutsch
8. Dr. Martha Burk

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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