The History of Internal Communication podcast
This podcast series explores the history of the internal communication profession, featuring interviews with internal communication professionals, academics, and archivists. Listen to all the episodes below or download from Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or Google Podcasts:
Episode 11 – November 2023
In the eleventh episode of the History of Internal Communication podcast, we are joined by Liz Clayton-Jones, the Founder Director of Beehive Performance Ltd and the former editor of the Mars company magazine. In our conversation, Liz gives fascinating insights ranging from her interest in communicating with introverts to changes in society that have altered the way we communicate.
Episode 10 – October 2023
The tenth episode of the History of Internal Communication podcast features Dev Mistry, the Global Internal Communications Manager at the online event hub DICE. With over a decade of PR and communications, Dev talks about the role of internal communication in PR, strategies for inclusivity, and the power of storytelling. He gives fascinating insights on a wide range of topics from making voices heard within organizations to how social media can be used to foster inclusive communities.
Episode 9 – September 2023
In Episode 9, we are joined by Marc Wright. With a deep understanding of internal comms since the 1980s, Marc’s journey began after studying English Literature at Oxford. In 1985, he acquired Crown Business Communication and he later founded MCA Live in 1996 and simplycommunicate in 2005. Marc’s vast expertise has shaped the field’s evolution. Join us for a fascinating discussion as we explore the history and future possibilities of internal communication.
Episode 8 – August 2023
In the eighth episode of the History of Internal Communication podcast, we are joined by Alex Gapud, a Cultural Anthropologist at the business consultancy Scarlett Abbott. Having previously researched a PhD at the University of Edinburgh in social and cultural anthropology, he discusses his expertise in human culture and the insights this offers organisations that wish to improve communication with their employees.
Episode 7 – July 2023
In Episode 7, we are joined by Rachel Miller. Through her IC consultancy work with All Things IC and her masterclasses, Rachel is well known by internal communication practitioners. Before beginning her consultancy work, Rachel had years of experience working in-house for various organisations including Visa and London Overground. Her upcoming book ‘Internal Communication Strategy’ is greatly anticipated among IC practitioners. In this podcast episode, Rachel talks about a wide range of topics from creating a sense of community within organisations to the implications of AI.
Episode 6 – June 2023
In Episode 6, we are joined by Jenny Davenport and Liz Cochrane. Jenny is a trailblazer in the realm of industrial democracy during the transformative 1970s. Jenny also played a vital role in the development of the Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip). Liz Cochrane is the course director of the masters programme and played a pivotal role in its creation. In this month’s podcast episode, we’ll delve into the stories, insights, and experiences of Jenny and Liz, exploring their journey, the challenges they faced, and the lasting impact they have had on the internal communication community.
Episode 5 – May 2023
The fifth episode of the History of Internal Communication podcast explores the changing ways that we communicate with two of the most prominent figures in the sector. Dom Walters is a renowned Leadership Communication Consultant and host of the ‘Future of Internal Communication’ podcast series, with a background in prestigious organizations like Lloyds, PWC, and Computershare. We are also joined by the ‘godfather of internal communication’, Bill Quirke, Managing Director of IC consultancy Synopsis. Bill’s influential books have revolutionised the field of internal communication, making him a true pioneer in the sector.
Episode 4 – April 2023
In the fourth episode, we’re joined by Sam Bleazard, the Employer Brand Content Producer for Fortnum & Mason. Sam brings a wealth of experience to the Institutional History of Internal Communication research, having worked for three of the project’s case studies: Royal Mail, Unilever, and John Lewis. He is also the host of his own popular podcast series Comms from the Shed. In this episode, Sam covers a wide range of topics, from the future of the company magazines to channels of misinformation.
Episode 3 – March 2023
In Episode 3, we are joined by Matt Eastley (Content Strategist and Editorial Specialist). In his career, Matt has experience working on house magazines for two of our case studies. In 2000-10 he was the Editor in Chief at Royal Mail, where he worked on the Courier magazine, and in 2015-22 he worked on the Ariel magazine at the BBC, where he became Head of Internal Communications & Engagement. He gives fascinating insights into how these organisations used their history in their internal comms, but at times glossed over it to help facilitate a break with the past.
Episode 2 – February 2023
In the second episode, we speak with Suzanne Peck (President of the Institute of Internal Communication) and Jennifer Sproul (Chief Executive of the Institute of Internal Communication). The Institute of Internal Communication is a partner of the Institutional History of Internal Communication in the UK project. Since its foundation in 1949, the institute has gone through many changes in form and has played a major role in shaping internal communication. Suzanne and Jennifer talk about the history of the internal communication profession and the ways in which increasing knowledge of its past can benefit the profession today.
Episode 1 – January 2023
For the first episode, we are joined by the two people who came up with the ‘An Institutional History of Internal Communication in the United Kingdom’ project: Michael Heller from Brunel University London and Mick Rowlinson from Exeter University. They talk about how they came up with the project, what questions they hope we can answer through our research, and, most importantly, how they hope it will contribute to the internal communication profession itself.