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Hosted by Gary Sheffer and Mike Fernandez · 🇺🇸 US · EN · 168 episodes
Established thought leaders with verified media credentials.
Hosted by one of the world's top communicators, currently SVP & Chief Communications Officer at Enbridge, the show tackles relevant and controversial topics in the field of communications that are shaping business, politics, and our lives.Prominent guests from PR, journalism, business, and academia discuss how communications can inspire, persuade, deepen one’s understanding, or move an audience - or even a nation - to action.
Gary Sheffer and Mike Fernandez hosts The Crux of the Story, a business show with 168 episodes published.
Stacey Jones, Honeywell’s Chief Communicator, joins The Crux of the Story to discuss CEO transitions, enterprise transformation, executive visibility, and the growing role of data and AI in communications. We explore the
Geoff Curtis, founder of Marshall Curtis Communications and former EVP of Corporate Affairs and Chief Communications Officer at Horizon Therapeutics, joins The Crux of the Story to discuss his new book Embracing Your Own
In this episode we sit down with Samantha (Sam) Stark, Founder and Chief Strategist of Phyusion, a consultancy helping communications teams work with generative AI. With more than 25 years of agency experience including
City of Hope’s mission is bold: deliver the cures of tomorrow to the people who need them today. As one of the nation’s largest cancer research and treatment organizations, it sits at the forefront of scientific discover
The public relations is now a profession with more women than men – yet the number of women in leadership positions lag. In this episode, Colleen Killingsworth and Professor Amy Thurlow (Mount Saint Vincent University in
Behavioral scientist Professor Amanda Rebar unpacks the hidden forces that shape what we do—and what we fail to do. As Director of the Motivation of Health Behaviors Lab at the University of South Carolina, Rebar is a le
We sit down with Joe Lockhart — former White House Press Secretary to President Bill Clinton and one of the most influential communicators of the last three decades. From journalism to the West Wing, from Facebook to the
In this episode, we sit down with Andy Shain – long one of the most respected journalists in the Carolinas who now is a senior communicator at the University of South Carolina. After more than 30 years covering business,
Rob Jekielek, Managing Director of The Harris Poll, and Dr. Rochelle Ford, CEO of the Arthur W. Page Society, join Mike to discuss the 2026 Page‑Harris Poll Confidence in Business Index. Drawing on insights from more tha
Partner at Bully Pulpit International and former Boeing chief spokesperson Bradley Akubuiro previews his forthcoming book, Faster. Messier. Tougher.: Crisis Communication Strategies in an Era of Populism, AI, and Distrus
In a year marked by economic uncertainty, political tension, and AI tech disruption, reputation has become one of the most powerful—and fragile—assets an organization holds. In this episode, Stephen Hahn, Chief Reputatio
Maril MacDonald, founder and CEO of Gagen MacDonald, joins The Crux to explore how leaders can steer organizations through today’s turbulence—AI disruption, geopolitical risk, layoffs, and rapid M&A activity. A pioneer i
Three of the lead researchers behind the Canadian Public Relations Society’s landmark report, 2025 State of Public Relations in Canada: Ethics, AI and Reframing the Professional Field, join The Crux of the Story to unpac
Bill Myers, Managing Director of Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility at Liberty Global, joins The Crux to reflect on the legacy of media titan John Malone and the shifting dynamics of global telecom. With a
Leroy Chapman Jr., Editor-in-Chief of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, discusses the paper’s bold decision to go digital-only in 2026—making Atlanta the largest U.S. city without a printed daily. Chapman shares his visi
Fernando Vivanco, Chief Communications Officer at Marelli, returns to The Crux to unpack one of the most challenging—and least talked about—topics in corporate communications: bankruptcy. Following Marelli’s Chapter 11 f
American Airlines’ EVP of Communications and Marketing Ron DeFeo, shares insights from a decade at one of the world’s largest airlines. We explore his approach to crisis management—from flight disruptions to viral passen
The President & CEO of The Latino Coalition discusses public policy and expanding economic opportunity for Latino entrepreneurs. We explore his career journey across five companies – Anheuser-Busch, Carnival, Ford Motor
Described as a “creative instigator,” Cheryl Overton who leads her own firm and previously worked for top agencies – including Ogilvy, Edelman and EGAMI Group – and has worked on several iconic brands from P&G to Lancome
Manny Ruiz is a media, marketing and creative dynamo. From founding the first Hispanic PR newswire service in the U.S… to launching Hispanicize an event that highlighted the best of Hispanic and Latino PR, marketing and
Bad Bunny
1 appearance on this show
David Campbell
former Chief Economist with the New Brunswick Jobs Board Secretariat and President of Jupia Consultants Inc · Jupia Consultants Inc
1 appearance on this show
David Grossman
author and leadership expert · The Grossman Group
1 appearance on this show
Kim Hunter
Entrepreneur · Humphrey Funeral Home
1 appearance on this show
Terry Szuplat
former senior speechwriter to President Barack Obama
1 appearance on this show
Chris Perry
Head of Cybersecurity Product Management · Amberley Village Police Department
1 appearance on this show
David Abel
journalist and professor · Boston University
1 appearance on this show
D. Graham Burnett
Historian of science · Princeton
1 appearance on this show
Tom Martin
author of The Invisible Sale · The College of Charleston
1 appearance on this show
Molly McPherson
Host of the Indestructible PR podcast
1 appearance on this show
Martin Reeves
former chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute · BCG’s Henderson Institute
1 appearance on this show
Alison Taylor
NYU Stern professor, sustainability advisor to KKR and Unilever, author of Higher Ground · New York University Stern School of Business
1 appearance on this show
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The Crux of the Story is hosted by Gary Sheffer and Mike Fernandez. The show is categorised under business and has published 168 episodes.
The Crux of the Story has published 168 episodes.
The Crux of the Story regularly covers business. It sits in the business category.
The Crux of the Story is accessible for guests with genuine business expertise. A personalised, episode-aware pitch will still outperform a generic one every time.
The Crux of the Story hasn't explicitly signalled guest openness in recent episodes. That doesn't rule out pitching. your hook just needs to be especially compelling and relevant to their recent content.
Episodes of The Crux of the Story average 45 minutes. a focused format where a clear narrative arc and tight preparation matter most.
Our data rates The Crux of the Story's guest bar at 80/100 (Premium tier). Established thought leaders with verified media credentials. Sign in to PitchCentric to see how your own Pod Score compares against this show.
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