Comms Bestie Group Chat [August 15, 2025]

Hey,

Pop culture did its thing this week. From Sweet Loren Ryan to HERE, DAMN to everything in your feed suddenly turning orange 🧡, if your group chats were anything like mine, they were popping off. Here’s what would’ve made it into our Comms Bestie Group Chat:

💌 Must-listens/reads/views: Off the Record member and Superside PR Director Cori Kendrick dropped her go-to media recs for comms pros. BRB, subscribing to all of them.

🎙 In my podcast era: Taylor Swift FINALLY did a podcast. Which means there is officially no excuse for your CEO — or the 46% of comms pros still not pitching pods (h/t MuckRack). Time to update those press lists.

📊 Speaking of MuckRack’s State of PR Report: My prediction for what we’ll see in the 2026 edition? I’d bet more than a measly 1% will list Reddit and YouTube as their most valuable social channel. Why? Two words: Gen AI.

🫶 Comms supporting comms: Loving this new series from Eleanor Hawkins on comms family trees and how mentorship shapes the next generation of leaders. If you’ve been thinking about finding a coach, let’s chat.

🪜 Promo season is every season: Grab my free Comms Promo Workbook so you can work on both your business case and your personal performance to help you land that promo.

(This workbook is just one of seven (!) promotion docs Off the Record members got in this month’s template drop. We open for membership again soon. Stay tuned!)

Chat soon,
Gab Ferree
Founder & Your Comms BFF, Off the Record

PS: Last week’s most clicked? a16z AI Partner Olivia Moore’s AI tools list.

PPS: If you missed my Comms Coach session with Axios HQ packed with practical insights, it’s now on demand.

Did a bestie forward you this email? You’ve got good taste in friends. Sign up to join the group chat.