business
Hosted by Dusty Weis · business · EN · 78 episodes
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 and a wry sense of humor, host Dusty Weis (nominated for "Best Indie Podcast Host" at the 2026 Podcast Academy awards) revisits epic PR disasters, intense communications scenarios, professional inflection points and notable campaigns we all remember, and usually finds a reason to chuckle. Because sometimes, there are important lessons to be learned from someone else's worst day. And sometimes, it's just more convenient than group therapy. Lead Balloon is an award-winning program, named by Adweek as "Marketing Podcast of the Year," nominated for a W
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Contact path
Verified email
Booking probability
34%
Guest openness
Selective
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Signup to Generate a PitchCompelling 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.
Lead Balloon - Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Communications Stories is hosted by Dusty Weis. The show has published 78 episodes to date.
Recent episodes include "73. AI Podcasts Scrapped: Inception Point CEO Jeanine Wright Explains Pivot, Rebrand as Liquid Studios" (29 September 2026, 50 minutes), "72. Bald as a Brand: What is Baldmaxxing and Why Should Marketers Pay Attention? w/ Harry James and Brennan Johnson" (25 August 2026, 42 minutes), and "71. America's Brand: Reclaiming Patriotism for Regular Americans, with Joe Trahan (APR Fellow PRSA)" (29 July 2026, 37 minutes).
Lead Balloon - Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Communications Stories publishes roughly monthly, with episodes averaging 39 minutes across 78 episodes.
Booking probability for Lead Balloon - Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Communications Stories is 34%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Lead Balloon - Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Communications Stories requires a Pod Score of 82 or higher. Lead Balloon - Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Communications Stories's contact route on record: verified email.
The strongest fits for Lead Balloon - Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Communications Stories are Marketing, Advertising & PR. Lead Balloon - Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Communications Stories has a business audience.
Dusty Weis hosts Lead Balloon - Marketing, Public Relations and Strategic Communications Stories, a business show with 78 episodes published.
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Episode #73
As they promote their new AI technologies, executives at tech startups have said some outlandish things. Making bold claims gets headlines. It secures meetings. It closes funding deals. It also runs the risk of being...
Episode #72
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...
Episode #71
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...
Episode #70
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...
Episode #69
<p>The strategy at the heart of the Snapple brand's precipitous rise... and its cataclysmic fall... is simple.</p> <p>"Embrace your roots. Celebrate authenticity."</p> <p>It's a lesson that's been served up again and...
Episode #68
<p>In 2014, Sony Pictures Entertainment sparked an international diplomatic crisis when it announced its latest comedy, which they called “The Interview.” </p> <p>Starring Seth Rogen, James Franco, and Randall Park as a...
Episode #67
<p>Home to the Masters Tournament, the Augusta National Golf Club typically serves as a backdrop for sports drama.</p> <p>But in 2002, the club itself became the story, as its men-only membership policy came under the...
Episode #66
<p>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. </p> <p>And the primary reason...
Episode #65
<p>It was four years ago that the Twitter account for legendary beer brand Pabst Blue Ribbon tweeted out: </p> <p>"Not drinking this January? Try eating ass!"</p> <p>And we're FINALLY talking to the guy who did it. </p>...
Episode #64
<p>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...
Episode #63
<p>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...
Episode #62
<p>Most people get travel information about road closures from Google Maps, Apple Maps or a similar smartphone-based application. </p> <p>But when a road is closed, most transportation agencies put out a press release...
Episode #61
<p>Wikipedia readers consume nearly one billion articles per day from the online encyclopedia. </p> <p>In its 25 years of operation, this compendium of human knowledge has become an integral tool for understanding the...
Episode #60
<p>In the world of business, yet again, things looks grim. </p> <p>A brewing trade war, the uncharted fallout of artificial intelligence, and political upheaval around the world...</p> <p>All these factors have created...
Episode #59
<p>What you see online is not real. </p> <p>This has long been a reliable axiom for information consumption on the internet. </p> <p>But social media and SEO marketers have long relied on their engagement metrics as an...
Episode #58
<p>There is a weird, enigmatic old billboard along the interstate in Wisconsin promoting a "Sales & Marketing Tip of the Week."</p> <p>Without any branding or context, this weathered sign invites thousands of motorists...
Episode #57
<p>After more than a decade of living in an entertainment golden age... </p><p><br></p><p>Filled with more and better options, with less advertising, than ever before in human history... </p><p><br></p><p>Are the good...
Episode #56
<p>Three weeks after accepting a new role as an American Airlines spokeswoman in 1995, Jennifer R. Hudson was paged out of bed in the middle of the night.</p><p>The worst had happened.</p><p>Flight 965 had disappeared...
Episode #55
<p>At the height of the Cola Wars in the mid-90's, Pepsi committed one of the most notorious PR and marketing fiascos of all-time.</p><p>An eye-catching spot promised brand fans that, if they saved up 7 million Pepsi...
Episode #54
<p>Earned media has long been the holy grail of public relations.</p><p>For decades, getting your client's message in the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal has been the gold standard by which PR agencies are...
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