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Under Embargo Podcast
Welcome to 🎙️Under Embargo—the no fluff, no filters, no f*cks given communications podcast.
PR and communications have never been messier. AI is ruining brand voice, CEOs’ hot takes matter more than actual products, and the best media relationships happen in DMs (where LinkedIn holds more sway than The Wall Street Journal.)
Meanwhile, comms pros are now ghostwriters, social strategists, prompt engineers, and trend forecasters all at once—but we still have to elbow our way to the boardroom table.
Welcome to Under Embargo—the podcast where Becca Chambers (corporate comms powerhouse, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, and ADHD queen) and Parry Headrick (Crackle PR agency founder, media whisperer, and professional sh*t-stirrer) say the quiet part out loud about PR, communications, and the insanity in between.
With decades of experience and a mutual allergy to corporate BS, Becca and Parry bring unfiltered takes, sharp industry insights, and battle-tested wisdom from both the agency and in-house trenches of communications.
No fluff.
No press releases that no one will read.
And definitely no thought leadership hot takes written by ChatGPT.
New episodes drop whenever we feel like it (or get our act together).
🎙️ Under Embargo: No fluff. No filters. No f*cks given.
Under Embargo Podcast
Crisis, Comms, and Cults—Oh My! with Chris Willis, CMO, Axios HQ
✨ The Real Power of Strategic Comms: Chris Willis on "Under Embargo"
The latest episode of Under Embargo was packed with gold. Chris Willis, CMO of Axios HQ, joined hosts Perry and Becca to talk about how strategic communications isn’t just a "nice-to-have"—it’s a business driver. Forget the corporate fluff. They dive into the real, actionable ways comms can push business objectives forward and make a measurable impact.
🎉 Busting Comms Myths
Chris didn’t hold back. He took on the outdated notion that corporate communications is just a support function—the team that pretties up messages and "chops off pinkies" (his words!) when execs get a little too rogue. Instead, he laid out why comms is a critical function for guiding corporate strategy and navigating complexity.
💬 Beyond Newsletters and Press Releases
Chris has a fascinating career trajectory—starting in marketing, then seeing firsthand how powerful strategic communications is for aligning business objectives. His take? Comms is way more than broadcasting messages. It’s about shaping internal alignment, driving productivity, and influencing external market perception. It’s not a background function—it’s a business engine.
🚨 Crisis Comms: A Make-or-Break Moment
The conversation also delves into the role of crisis comms. Axios HQ’s data shows that how a company handles a crisis doesn’t just affect that moment—it reshapes brand trust and long-term strategy. A strong comms team doesn’t just put out fires; they use crises as a catalyst for transformation.
🌟 Communicating Value: Internally and Externally
Chris breaks down how effective comms can move the needle on everything from employee retention to project execution. And yes, they even get into AI—Chris is a firm believer that AI should enhance human creativity, not replace it.
🔍 The Takeaway: Comms Is a Business Imperative
If this episode reinforces anything, it’s that communications isn’t "just" comms. It’s strategy. It’s influence. It’s business impact. Chris makes it clear—companies that treat comms as a business function (not a PR afterthought) will always have a competitive edge.
Don’t miss this episode of Under Embargo with Becca and Perry. And if your comms team isn’t in the boardroom yet, it’s time to fix that.
