Free Daily Podcast Summary
CRUNCH: Daily Summaries Delivered
by HMC
Get ready to embark on a ‘PR learning adventure’ with CRUNCH!Three-time winner of the PR Institute of NZ’s ‘Small PR Agency of the Year,’ the HMC team provides practical wisdom to help business leaders turbocharge their reputation-building game.Tune in to these 'crucial chats over lunch' - CRUNCH - for entertaining insights that will empower you to forge connections and relationships with those who matter most in your industry. Whether you are steering the ship as a visionary CEO, orchestrating strategy from the boardroom, or driving a dynamic communications team, the HMC crew is your ultimate partner for PR success.Join us and our amazing line-up of experts as we dive deep into the trenches of reputational challenges. From building your brand, to encouraging staff loyalty, to handling issues and crises, the HMC team will equip you with proven PR strategies.And that’s not all – buckle up for episodes that unravel the mystique behind the latest digital PR trends. Wondering if you
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 1 weeks ago38 min
From Ignored to Newsworthy: How to Earn Media Coverage
Why do some businesses get media coverage while others struggle to get noticed?In this episode of CRUNCH, HMC Director Heather Claycomb is joined by Senior Account Managers Emma Letessier and Natalie Swart to unpack what “earned media” really means, and why it is much more than free publicity.The team breaks down the four players involved in earning media attention: the business, the PR team, the journalist and, finally, the business again once the story is live. They talk about what makes a story genuinely newsworthy, why media relationships still matter, how businesses can lose control of a story once a journalist picks it up, and why that editorial independence is exactly what makes earned media so credible.They also discuss why a single media hit should never be treated as the final result. Used well, media coverage can support reputation, sales conversations, recruitment, stakeholder trust, social media, website content, digital advertising and even AI search visibility.In this episode, we cover:Why earned media is not the same as free publicityWhat makes a business story worth a journalist’s attentionWhy “one and done” media coverage is rarely enoughHow PR teams shape a story before it is pitchedWhat businesses need to understand about editorial independenceHow to get more value from a media hit after it appearsIf your business wants to build credibility, get found by the right people and use media coverage more strategically, this episode is a practical place to start.Companies mentioned in this episode:HMCAUTTVNZWaikato Times
- Mar 24, 202643 min
Winning the Battle for Farmer Attention
Whether you're marketing to NZ farmers or wanting to get a news story in front of them, they are harder to reach than ever before. The channels available are changing, plus farmers 'media consumption' habits have also evolved.In this episode, Heather Claycomb is joined by Chris Williams of KingSt Advertising and Richard Rennie of Laurich Agri-communications and Farmers Weekly to discuss what is changing in rural media, which channels still matter, and why trust, relevance and the right media mix are more important than ever.KingSt's latest rural media report, "Marrying Tech with Tradition" forms the basis of the discussion.This is a practical listen for rural marketers, communicators and business leaders.We cover audience fragmentation, trust in media, the role of radio, print, digital and TV, the loss of community papers, and why rural brands need a strategic mix of channels and credible voices to stay visible and relevant.Five takeawaysFarmer attention is still there; earning it takes new tactics.Trust in the channel affects trust in the message.Traditional media still has value, but audience behaviour has shifted.Rural marketing and communications works best when multiple channels are in sync.Real farmer voices remain one of the most persuasive tools available.Links referenced in this episode:https://www.kingst.co.nz/https://laurichcomm.co.nz/https://www.wearehmc.co.nz/https://www.farmersweekly.co.nz/Companies mentioned in this episode:HMCKing Street AdvertisingLarge Agri-communicationsFarmers WeeklyFonterra
- Jan 27, 202622 min
Build Your Leadership Brand on LinkedIn
LinkedIn has become one of the most influential platforms shaping professional reputation, trust, and visibility. Yet many leaders still feel unsure about how to show up in a way that feels authentic, strategic, and worth their time.In this episode, Emma and Natalie from HMC unpack what effective leadership presence on LinkedIn really looks like. Moving beyond vanity metrics and formulaic posting advice, the conversation focuses on how leaders can use LinkedIn as a long-term reputation and relationship-building tool rather than a content treadmill.The episode explores why consistency matters more than frequency, how credibility is built through perspective rather than promotion, and the role LinkedIn plays in influencing customers, staff, industry peers, and even AI-driven search results. The team also discusses common mistakes leaders make on the platform, why silence can be just as damaging as oversharing, and how to balance personal voice with organisational responsibility.This episode is particularly relevant for CEOs, founders, senior leaders, and subject-matter experts who want their LinkedIn presence to support trust, leadership visibility, and business outcomes without feeling forced or performative.Listeners will come away with practical guidance on how to approach LinkedIn with intention, clarity, and confidence, and how small, well-considered actions can compound into long-term brand equity.Takeaways:Authenticity matters. Leaders build trust on LinkedIn by sharing perspectives that reflect who they are and how they think, not by trying to sound like everyone else.Showing up counts. Thoughtful engagement and useful insights add far more value than posting for the sake of it or chasing trends that do not fit your role or reputation.Your profile is your foundation. A current, well-considered LinkedIn profile should accurately reflect where you are today, not where your career was several years ago.Consistency beats bursts. Regular, considered activity builds visibility and credibility over time, while long gaps make it harder to stay relevant.Leadership presence builds authority. Sharing informed viewpoints helps position leaders as credible voices in their field and supports trust in the wider organisation.Know your audience. Content that speaks to the right audience, their challenges, and their interests will always outperform generic posts.Companies mentioned in this episode:HMCLinkedInChatGPTPerplexity
- Jan 15, 20266 min
Five Crucial Steps to Take in the First Hour of a Crisis
This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans.When a crisis hits, the first hour can make or break your reputation.In this episode, Heather Claycomb and Natalie Swart walk through what leaders and comms people must do in those first 60 minutes. They talk about how to pull your crisis team together fast, get clear on who is doing what, and stop people working at cross purposes.HMC director Heather Claycomb and HMC senior account manager Natalie Swart share practical tips for gathering solid facts, sorting truth from rumour, and deciding who needs to hear from you first. They explain why staff and key stakeholders should usually be at the front of the queue, and when you need to go public early versus when you can keep things contained.You will also hear how to shape simple, honest key messages that cover what you know, what you do not know yet, and what you are doing next. The goal is to keep control of the story before social media does it for you.Key takeawaysIn the first hour, get your crisis team together and give everyone clear roles.Collect only confirmed facts. Do not base your response on guesswork or gossip.Work out your key audiences, starting with your staff and closest stakeholders.Decide if you need to communicate publicly yet, based on the scale and visibility of the issue.Write short, clear key messages that state what has happened, what you are doing and what is still unknown.Move early to set the story. If you stay silent, others will fill the gap for you.Companies mentioned in this episode:HMC
- Jan 11, 20267 min
Bad Review! What Should I Do?
This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans.Got a one star review and feel a bit sick? You are not alone.In this episode we talk about what to do when someone posts a bad review about your business, product or service. We get real about the first reaction most of us have - hurt, angry, defensive - and how hitting reply too fast can make things worse.HMC senior account managers, Emma Letessier and Vicki Jones, walk through how to pause, breathe and then respond in a way that shows you are listening and willing to put things right. They talk about when to say sorry, how to take the conversation offline, and how a calm, human reply can actually make you look more trustworthy to everyone reading the review.We also talk about the upside of reviews. Good ones are powerful social proof. Tough ones can highlight gaps in your service and give you a chance to improve.Key takeawaysDo not fire back in the heat of the moment. Take a pause, then reply calmly and professionally.If you have made a mistake, say so and explain what you are doing to fix it.Write some simple response templates for common situations, then personalise them for each review.Reply to the good reviews too. A quick thank you shows you value your customers.Treat negative reviews as free feedback that can help you improve your systems and service.Keep your tone empathetic and human. People are watching how you handle criticism, not just what was said.
- Jan 8, 20267 min
How to Ensure Your Brand Shows Up in AI Search
This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans.Is your brand showing up when people ask AI for information on a product or service?Many people are skipping Google and going straight to tools like ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude when they have a question about a product or service. If your brand is not being mentioned in those answers, you are missing warm leads.In this episode, HMC director Heather Claycomb and HMC senior account manager Vicki Jones unpack what AI search means for business leaders and comms people. They talk about how LLMs pick up information, why depth and clarity beat clickbait, and what you can do this week to improve your chances of being named in AI answers.You will hear practical ideas, not tech jargon. From checking your own visibility in incognito mode to tightening up your website, social channels and media coverage, this is about getting your house in order so AI cannot ignore you.Key takeawaysSEO and AIO matter. Do not just optimise for Google. You need to show up in AI search results too.AI tools like clear, detailed, trustworthy content, not fluffy marketing speak.Consistent messages across your website, LinkedIn, media stories and other channels make it easier for AI to recognise and trust your brand.Use incognito mode and test AI searches for your key topics. See who appears. If it is not you, you have work to do.A simple communication plan that focuses on quality content in a few strong channels will put you ahead of many competitors.Companies mentioned in this episode:HMCChatGPTGeminiClaudeGoogle
- Jan 4, 20265 min
Media Relations: Is the Media Release Dead?
This is a CRUNCH 'small bite' - a quick tip for our followers and fans.Are media releases dead, or do they still earn their place in your PR toolkit?In this episode HMC director Heather Claycomb and senior account manager Natalie Swart talk honestly about how business leaders and comms people can work with New Zealand media without wasting anyone’s time. A client recently asked us if media releases are even relevant anymore, which sparked a good chat about when you should write a full release and when a short, sharp pitch email will do the job.Drawing nearly 25 years working with journalists, we share when a media release is the right move – especially when you need facts to be crystal clear, on the record and easy to lift into stories. We also look at when a tailored pitch wins, how to spot a real news angle, and why human stories still cut through crowded inboxes.If you're a business leader looking to get a story picked up by media or work in PR or comms, this episode gives you practical tips to choose the right tool for the job and build trust with media over time.Key takeawaysMedia releases still matter when you need accurate, factual information in front of journalists.Know when a media release is necessary and when a pitch is best.In a crisis, a media release helps keep everyone on message and protects your credibility.Strong relationships with journalists are built on being clear, reliable and easy to work with.Writing a media release first can make it much easier to pull out sharp, focused pitch key points.There is no single right way – use media releases and pitches differently depending on the story and the situation.
- Dec 18, 202522 min
5 PR Forces That Will Shape Business in 2026
Businesses are facing a communications environment that is changing faster than at any point in recent memory. From AI-driven search and shrinking newsrooms to rising expectations on leadership visibility, the rules around reputation, influence, and trust are shifting. For leaders and communications teams, understanding what is coming next is no longer optional.In this episode of CRUNCH, HMC Director Heather Claycomb is joined by senior account managers Emma Letessier, Natalie Swart, and Vicki Jones to reflect briefly on four PR trends that shaped 2025, before turning their attention firmly to 2026. The heart of the conversation focuses on five PR forces the team believes will have the greatest impact on businesses this year.Drawing on hands-on experience working with organisations across New Zealand, the discussion explores why earned media is regaining strategic importance, how AI search is changing what visibility really means, and why human, credible storytelling is cutting through more than ever. The team also examines the growing role of thought leadership in steering narratives, and the emerging risks around misinformation and deep fakes in an election year.If you lead a business, manage a communications or marketing team, or advise organisations on reputation and influence, this episode will help you think more clearly about where to focus your effort in 2026, and how to build communications that stand up in a rapidly changing environment.Key Takeaways:Earned media is regaining strategic value as AI tools increasingly rely on credible news coverage to assess trust and authority.AI search is now a core audience in its own right, influencing how long-form content, messaging, and visibility need to be planned.Media scarcity is raising the bar on storytelling, with human insight, strong angles, and clear evidence more important than ever.Thought leadership, when done well and consistently, is becoming one of the most effective ways to steer narratives and build credibility.Misinformation and deep fakes present growing reputational risk, particularly as New Zealand heads into an election year.Companies mentioned in this episode: hmc ChatGPT Meta Andromeda New Zealand Herald Stuff Radio New Zealand TVNZ Sora Jeremy Carrasco
About CRUNCH
Get ready to embark on a ‘PR learning adventure’ with CRUNCH!Three-time winner of the PR Institute of NZ’s ‘Small PR Agency of the Year,’ the HMC team provides practical wisdom to help business leaders turbocharge their reputation-building game.Tune in to these 'crucial chats over lunch' - CRUNCH - for entertaining insights that will empower you to forge connections and relationships with those who matter most in your industry. Whether you are steering the ship as a visionary CEO, orchestrating strategy from the boardroom, or driving a dynamic communications team, the HMC crew is your ultimate partner for PR success.Join us and our amazing line-up of experts as we dive deep into the trenches of reputational challenges. From building your brand, to encouraging staff loyalty, to handling issues and crises, the HMC team will equip you with proven PR strategies.And that’s not all – buckle up for episodes that unravel the mystique behind the latest digital PR trends. Wondering if you
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from CRUNCH in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's CRUNCH daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of CRUNCH as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the CRUNCH podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official CRUNCH product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by HMC.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does CRUNCH release new episodes?
CRUNCH publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does CRUNCH cover?
CRUNCH covers topics including Business, Marketing, Management, Entrepreneurship. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting CRUNCH summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.