The PIO Podcast
The PIO Podcast is a platform for Public Information Officers (PIO's) and Public Affairs Officers (PAO's) in public sector organizations, including Police, Fire, EMS, FEMA, state, local, and federal government organizations. The podcast aims to facilitate learning, growth, and discussion of issues that PIO's/PAO's may encounter within their profession. If you would like to support the podcast and connect with other PIO's/PAO's, please email us at thepiopodcast@gmail.com.
Episodes
169 episodes
Lt. Patrick Juliano, Public Information Officer - Palm Coast Fire Department, Palm Coast, FL
Lt. Patrick Juliano began his career with the Palm Coast Fire Department in 2006 as a Volunteer Firefighter and became a career firefighter in 2008. He earned his Firefighter Certification from First Coast Technical College, obtained his EMT Ce...
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Season 4
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Episode 45
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35:39
Zack Seipert - Marketing and Communications Specialist CUWCD, Utah
Zack Seipert is the Marketing & Communications Specialist for the Central Utah Water Conservancy District and co-author of “The Most Amazing Marketing Book Ever.” Zack knows how to get important messages seen, heard, and understood in today...
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36:54
Sarah Lux, Public Information Officer - Lake County Florida
Sarah Lux earned a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from the University of Central Florida and a master’s degree in public relations from Full Sail University. Sarah has practiced Public Relations for ten years, focusing on community edu...
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39:01
Laura McElroy - McElroy Media Group
Laura McElroy is an award-winning journalist and communication strategist with 33 years of experience. She has managed high-profile crises and large events, like the Republican National Convention and Super Bowl XLIII. She consults for governme...
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40:28
Anna Smith, PIO, Morehead City, NC
Anna Smith is the Public Information Officer for Morehead City, NC, and has more than a decade of professional communications experience. She graduated from Penn State with a degree in Print Journalism and Spanish before moving to North Carolin...
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32:11
Captain John Vik, Patrol Division Commander - Lancaster County Sheriffs Office, NE
Captain John Vik is a native of Lancaster County, Nebraska and began working in law enforcement through the military. He served in the 155th Security Forces Squadron of the Nebraska Air National Guard from 2001 – 2007 including time on active d...
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Season 4
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Episode 40
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37:44
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Kristi Jourdan, Director for the Office of Communications & Media, Contra Costa County, CA
Kristi is a former newspaper reporter with 15 years of experience leading and supporting crisis communications, cofounder and executive communications, external and internal communications, community relations, media relations, and more for...
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Season 4
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Episode 39
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38:40
Lisa Glass - PIO - Bay of Plenty Emergency Services, New Zealand
Lisa Glass is the Team Lead of communications & Engagement for the Bay of Plenty Civil Defence Emergency Management Group office in New Zealand. She is a Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) and a National Emergency Management Response Team (N...
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Season 4
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Episode 38
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44:14
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Sonu Wasu, Public Information Officer, Chandler Police Department, Chandler AZ
Sonu Wasu is currently working as a Public Information Officer for the City of Chandler Police Department. She previously worked as the Public Safety, PIO for the Town of Queen Creek, where she helped put together a campaign to launch the Queen...
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Season 4
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Episode 37
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29:43
Maren McKay, Director of Communications, Lynnwood PD, Lynwood WA
Maren McKay is the Public Affairs and Communications Manager for the Lynnwood Police Department! She comes from a strong broadcast journalist background after reporting in two bureaus in Northwest Montana. She reported during the height of COVI...
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Season 4
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Episode 36
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38:58
Cynthia McLaughlin - PIO - Sarasota PD, Sarasota Florida
Cynthia McLaughlin serves as the Public Information Officer for the Sarasota Police Department under the Office of the Chief of Police, a role she assumed later in 2023 after joining the department in January of the same year.In this ca...
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Season 4
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Episode 35
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42:48
Kim Clark - Kim Clark Communications
Kim Clark (she/her) helps communicators discover and own their unique DEI narrative. She works with communicators to combine the power of communications with the possibility of diversity, equity, and inclusion to create stronger and safer workp...
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Season 4
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Episode 34
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43:51
Hillary Mintz, Public Information Officer - Waukesha County, WI
Hillary Mintz serves as the Public Information Officer for Waukesha County. She joined the County in 2023 after spending over a decade as a trusted journalist for WISN-TV, the local ABC affiliate in Milwaukee, where she covered news across Sout...
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Season 4
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Episode 33
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33:33
Scott Thomsen & Larry Parnell
Scott Thomsen has served on the board of the NAGC for eight years, including previous roles as president-elect and communications director. He is the director of communications and public affairs for the Ventura County (California) Fire ...
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Season 4
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Episode 32
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49:35
Greg Matusky - CEO Gregory FCA Public Relations
Greg Matusky is a passionate student of human communications and how it powers our culture, economy, and future. As CEO of Gregory FCA, one of the 40 largest PR firms in America, he has helped develop the communication skills of hundreds of pro...
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Season 4
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Episode 31
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37:57
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Michael Sugrue - Sgt (Retired) Walnut Creek, CA
Michael Sugrue began his law enforcement career in the United States Air Force as a Security Forces Officer in 1998. As a Security Forces Officer, Michael specialized in Law Enforcement, Global Force Protection, Anti-Terrorism, Nuclear Se...
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Season 4
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Episode 30
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46:20
Stephanie Bishop - PIO - California Interagency Incident Management Team - Region 5
Stephanie "Steph" Bishop currently serves as a Public Information Officer and member of the Command and General Staff of California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 (CIIMT 4), a Federal Type 1“All-Hazards” Incident Management Team. Stepha...
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34:10
Jon Schwabish - Economist - PolicyViz Podcast
Dr. Jonathan Schwabish is an economist, writer, teacher, and data communications expert. He is considered a leading voice for clarity and accessibility in how analysts, researchers, and scholars communicate their findings. Across four books, he...
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Season 4
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Episode 27
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45:19
Darren Wright - PIO - Oro Valley Police Department (AZ)
Darren Wright is currently the Public Information Officer for Oro Valley AZ Police.He retired from the Washington State Patrol as a Sergeant, after serving 31 years. His final assignment was the Headquarters Public Information Officer (P...
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Season 4
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Episode 28
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29:05
Keaira Turner - Director of Public Affairs - Chattanooga Police Department (TN)
Keaira Turner has a knack and passion for managing brands for companies and building strategic communication that helps bridge the gap between organizations and their consumers. Keaira attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham and gradua...
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Season 4
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Episode 26
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24:02
Lisa Farbstein and Emily Bonilla, TSA Office of Strategic Communication and Public Affairs
Lisa FarbteinLisa Farbstein is a dynamic, results-focused, creative veteran media relations/public affairs professional with more than 30 years of experience. She has been a spokesperson with the Transportation Security Administratio...
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Season 4
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Episode 25
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42:45
Allison Waters-Merritt PIO, Putnam County Sheriffs Office
Allison Waters-Merritt has worked with the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office in Florida for 6 years as the agency's sole Public Information Officer. Before working as a PIO, Allison worked for 27 years in newspapers, starting as a photojournalist ...
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Season 4
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Episode 24
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27:47
Keith Thornton - Advocate - Retired Dispatcher OEMC
Keith Thornton, a public safety expert with almost 25 years of experience, has a diverse community service background. From volunteering as a firefighter, emergency medical technician, police officer, and 911 dispatcher to his current role as a...
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Season 4
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Episode 23
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35:22
Chief of Police Christopher Cook - White Settlement Police Department (TX)
Christopher Cook was appointed in 2022 as the Chief of Police for the City of White Settlement, Texas, a suburb of 21,000 residents in Western Tarrant County and nestled in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area, the 5th largest in the U.S., w...
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Season 4
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Episode 22
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37:49
Ashley McDonald - Center for Public Safety Excellence
Ashley McDonald, MPIO is Public Relations/Communications Manager for the North America Fleet Division of Corpay in Brentwood, Tennessee. Before moving into the private sector, she served as public information officer for Murfreesboro Fire Rescu...
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Season 4
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Episode 21
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26:44
