The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 01 - How to thrive in IC
In the first episode of The Internal Comms Podcast, Katie meets Rachel Miller – a prolific blogger, educator, keynote speaker and one of the most respected voices in internal communications.
Rachel has contributed to a shelf’s worth of best-selling books, runs bespoke – and hugely popular – masterclasses and is a fellow of both the Institute of Internal Communication and Chartered Institute of Public Relations.
Katie and Rachel discuss the importance of authenticity in IC, taking a ‘rounded approach to content’, the line between internal and external comms, applying your personal values to your business model, and much more.
Happy listening!
Jump to
- Rachel’s dream job: from Blue Peter presenter to journalist to internal communications professional [4.40]
- ‘If you can do the first 90 days, you can do the next 90 days.’ Taking the leap from in-house to going freelance and setting up an IC consultancy [9:35]
- Analysing your business model, personal values and having time ‘to think, to dream, to plan’ [13:01]
- Championing authenticity and integrity, trusting what your saying, and being mindful of how you write [16:20]
- Practical steps to building confidence and resilience – and the importance of the ‘trusted advisor’ [20:20]
- Trends and themes for IC for 2019 and beyond [26:15]
- ‘What happens inside is reflected outside.’ What good looks like when blurring the line between internal and external [30:02]
- ‘Mummy Fridays’ and achieving the right work-life balance [36:10]
- ‘It’s alright to say I’m having counselling. It’s alright to say I’m having issues with mental health’ [41:30]
- Five quick-fire questions [44:05]
- An exclusive: Rachel’s discusses her new online masterclasses, coming this year [48:30]
Links from this episode
- Find Rachel on twitter twitter.com/allthingsic
- Read Rachel’s blog allthingsic.com/blog/
- And find out more about Rachel’s celebrated masterclasses allthingsic.com/masterclasses/
- The Big Yak ‘unconferences’ – the next one takes place in June thebigyak.co.uk/
- Daniel Penton, who’s working with innovations in voice technology abcomm.co.uk/people/daniel-penton/
- Visit the Engage for Success website engageforsuccess.org/
- The Ten Words podcast, jeremy.live/2018/03/22/ten-words-podcast/
Recent episodes

Episode 65 – Remote but not unreachable
June 22, 2022
Episode 65 – Remote but not unreachable, with Lily Goodman D'Amato – Season 7, ep10 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 64 – Releasing your inner sceptic
June 8, 2022
Episode 64 – Releasing your inner sceptic, with Martin Flegg – Season 7, ep09 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 63 – Lessons in leadership
May 25, 2022
Episode 63 – Lessons in leadership, with Mike Roe – Season 7, ep08 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 62 – Textbook IC: rewriting comms for a new era
May 11, 2022
Episode 62 – Textbook IC: rewriting comms for a new era, with Sue Dewhurst & Liam FitzPatrick – Season 7, ep07 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 61 – Embracing the messiness of being human
April 27, 2022
Episode 61 – Embracing the messiness of being human, with Victoria Dew – Season 7, ep06 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 60 – How to have better conversations
April 13, 2022
Episode 60 – How to have better conversations, with Jackie Stavros & Cheri Torres – Season 7, ep05 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 59 – Strategy & IC: A masterclass in collaboration
March 30, 2022
Episode 59 – Strategy & IC: A masterclass in collaboration, with Alana Renner & Nick Harding – Season 7, ep04 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 58 – The state of IC: what’s behind the numbers?
March 16, 2022
Episode 58 – The state of IC: what’s behind the numbers?, with Siobhan Hammond – Season 7, ep03 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 57 – Unboxing internal comms at IKEA
March 2, 2022
Episode 57 – Unboxing internal comms at IKEA with Daniela Rogosic & Guy Britt – Season 7, ep02 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 56 – IC at the sharp end
February 16, 2022
Episode 56 – IC at the sharp end with Jim Shaffer – Season 7, ep01 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Leading Lights – Highlights From Season 6
February 9, 2022
In this special compilation reel, Katie takes us through some of her favourite moments from Season 6 of The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 55 – Mission Possible
December 1, 2021
Episode 55 – Mission Possible with Sally Susman – Season 6, ep07 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 54 – Brain care: Mastering your mind
November 17, 2021
Episode 54 – Brain care: Mastering your mind with Phil Dobson – Season 6, ep06 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 53 – Suicide Prevention: Reflecting on an award-winning campaign
November 3, 2021
Episode 53 – Suicide Prevention: Reflecting on an award-winning campaign with Karen Coleman and Naomi Sutcliffe – Season 6, ep05 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 52 – How do you create comms with purpose?
October 20, 2021
Episode 52 – How do you create comms with purpose? with Maliha Aqeel – Season 6, ep04 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 51 – Why are we here? How purpose and values drive healthy cultures
October 6, 2021
Episode 51 – Why are we here? How purpose and values drive healthy cultures with Jane Mitchell – Season 6, ep03 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 50 – A guru’s guide to internal podcasts
September 22, 2021
Episode 50 – A guru’s guide to internal podcasts with Brian Landau – Season 6, ep02 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 49 – Engagement: how it started, how it's going
September 8, 2021
Episode 49 – Engagement: how it started, how it's going with Professor William Khan – Season 6, ep01 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Industry experts – highlights from Season 5
September 1, 2021
In this special compilation reel, Katie takes us through some of her favourite moments from Season 5 of The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 48 – Changing minds: using behavioural science in IC
May 12, 2021
Episode 48 – Changing minds: using behavioural science in IC with Will Leach – Season 5, ep07 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 47 – Conversation with a comms rebel
April 28, 2021
Episode 47 – Conversation with a comms rebel with Advita Patel – Season 5, ep06 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 46 – Influential Internal Communication
April 14, 2021
Episode 46 – Influential Internal Communication with Jenni Field – Season 5, ep05 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 45 – Sharing the magic
March 31, 2021
Episode 45 – Sharing the magic with Mark Webb – Season 5, ep04 – The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 44 – How to prove your presence
March 17, 2021
Episode 44 – How to prove your presence with Prarthna Thakore – Season 5, ep03 – The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 43 – Kate Jones on the state of our sector
March 3, 2021
Episode 43 – Kate Jones on the state of our sector – Season 5, ep02 – The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 42 – Once Upon A Time In IC
February 17, 2021
Episode 42 – Once Upon A Time In IC with Gabrielle Dolan – Season 5, ep01 – The Internal Comms Podcast.

Looking back, looking forward: highlights from Season 4
February 10, 2021
In this special compilation reel, Katie takes us through some of her favourite moments from Season 4 of The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 41 - At the heart of the crisis: NHS comms during Covid-19
December 23, 2020
Episode 41 - At the heart of the crisis: NHS comms during Covid-19 with Amanda Nash, Adam Brimelow and Ross Wigham - Season 4, ep08 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 40 - Founding fathers – building the first IC agency
December 17, 2020
Episode 40 - Founding fathers – building the first IC agency with Tony and Tim Buckley - Season 4, ep07 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Coming soon in season 4
December 9, 2020
Coming soon in season 4 of The Internal Comms Podcast

Episode 39 - Evidence-based IC
November 25, 2020
Episode 39 - Evidence-based IC with Benjamin Ellis - Season 4, ep06 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 38 - The secret thoughts of successful people
November 11, 2020
Episode 38 - The secret thoughts of successful people with Dr Valerie Young - Season 4, ep05 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 37 - The art of negotiation
October 28, 2020
Episode 37 - The art of negotiation with Chris Voss - Season 4, ep04 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 36 - Navigating the digital landscape
October 14, 2020
Episode 36 - Navigating the digital landscape with Frank Wolf - Season 4, ep03 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 35 - How to do less, but do it better
September 30, 2020
Episode 35 - How to do less, but do it better with Steve Crescenzo - Season 4, ep02 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 34 – Cross-cultural comms
September 16, 2020
Episode 34 – Cross-cultural comms with Tasneem Chopra - Season 4, ep01 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Choice cuts: highlights from Season 3 of The IC Podcast
September 2, 2020
In this special compilation reel, Katie takes us through some of her favourite moments from Season 3 of The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 33 – IC’s founding father
July 8, 2020
Episode 33 – IC’s founding father with Roger D'Aprix - Season 3, ep13 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 32 – Leadership in unprecedented times
June 24, 2020
Episode 32 – Leadership in unprecedented times with Jenni Field - Season 3, ep12 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 31 - What's next? IABC roundtable on the impact of Coronavirus
June 10, 2020
Episode 31 - What's next? IABC roundtable on the impact of Coronavirus with Brad Whitworth, Jennifer Wah and Neil Griffiths - Season 3, ep11 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 30 - Your biggest, best, boldest self
May 27, 2020
Episode 30 - Your biggest, best, boldest self with Adriènne Kelbie - Season 3, ep10 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 29 – Crisis communication at the coalface
May 13, 2020
Episode 29 – Crisis communication at the coalface with Amanda Coleman - Season 3, ep09 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 28 - The Godfather of IC
April 29, 2020
Episode 28 - The Godfather of IC with Bill Quirke - Season 3, ep08 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 27 - Stepping up in a Crisis
April 14, 2020
Episode 27 - Stepping up in a Crisis with Shel Holtz - Season 3, ep07 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 26 - How to thrive in IC (Part II)
April 1, 2020
Episode 26 - How to thrive in IC (Part II), with Rachel Miller - Season 3, ep06 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 25 – Crisis Communications: Covid-19 Special
March 25, 2020
Episode 25 - Crisis Communications: Covid-19 Special - Season 3, ep05 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 24 - A view from the top
March 18, 2020
Episode 24 - A view from the top, with Marc Barone - Season 3, ep04 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 23 – Courage, confidence and communication
March 4, 2020
Episode 23 - Courage, confidence and communication with Priya Bates - Season 3, ep03 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 22 - State of the Sector
February 19, 2020
Episode 22 - State of the Sector, Kevin McDougall and Andy Macleod - Season 3, ep02 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 21 - The cheerleader for IC
February 5, 2020
Episode 21 - The cheerleader for IC, Chuck Gose - Season 3, ep01 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

The highlight reel – nuggets of wisdom from Season 1 and 2 of The IC Podcast
January 29, 2020
In this special compilation of The Internal Comms Podcast, Katie pulls together her favourite clips from both seasons – recapping conversations that have really resonated as well as those that have provided those all-important lightbulb moments.

Episode 20 - Advocacy in action
December 18, 2019
Episode 20 - Advocacy in action, Keith Lewis - Season 2, ep08 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 19 - The appliance of neuroscience
December 4, 2019
Episode 19 - The appliance of neuroscience, Hilary Scarlett - Season 2, ep07 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 18 - Editing organisations
November 20, 2019
Episode 18 - Editing organisations, Mike Klein - Season 2, ep06 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 17 - Black Belt Thinking
November 6, 2019
Episode 17 - Black Belt Thinking, Sue Dewhurst and Liam FitzPatrick - Season 2, ep05 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 16 - A Passage to India
October 23, 2019
Episode 16 - A Passage to India, Mark Hannant - Season 2, ep04 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 15 - The Power of Two
October 8, 2019
Episode 15 - The Power Of Two, Claire Hyde and Louise Wadman - Season 2, ep03 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 14 - How to start a movement
September 24, 2019
Episode 14 - How to start a movement, Nita Clarke - Season 2, ep02 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 13 - A check-up with the IC doctor
September 11, 2019
Episode 13 - A check-up with the IC doctor, Kevin Ruck - Season 2, ep01 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Season 02 Trailer
September 6, 2019
Season two of The Internal Comms Podcast is almost here!

Episode 12 – Listen and learn: insights from 30 years in IC
July 24, 2019
Listen and learn: insights from 30 years in IC with Jason Etter - ep12 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 11 - Putting the soul back into Patisserie Valerie
June 25, 2019
Putting the soul back into Patisserie Valerie with Paolo Peretti - ep11 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 10 - Internal comms at the sharp end - recorded at IoIC live
May 21, 2019
Internal comms at the sharp end - recorded at IoIC live with Martin Fitzpatrick and Matt Batten - ep10 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 09 - How to win colleagues and influence people
May 7, 2019
How to win colleagues and influence people with Harry Hugo - ep9 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 08 - The Joy of Work
April 23, 2019
The Joy of Work with Bruce Daisley - ep8 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 07 - What social purpose (really) means
April 9, 2019
What social purpose (really) means with Mark Davies - ep7 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 06 – The craft of communication
March 27, 2019
The craft of communication with Henry Normal - ep6 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 05 – Learning comms lessons from PR
March 13, 2019
Learning comms lessons from PR, featuring Stephen Waddington - ep5 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 04 – What it means to be the voice of IC
February 27, 2019
What it means to be the voice of IC, featuring Jennifer Sproul - ep4 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 03 – What the State of the Sector report means for IC
February 13, 2019
What the State of the Sector report means for IC, featuring Jenni Field - ep3 - The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 02 – What it takes to be an IC leader
January 30, 2019
What it takes to be an IC leader, featuring Russell Grossman – ep2 – The Internal Comms Podcast.

Episode 01 - How to thrive in IC
January 16, 2019
How to thrive in IC, featuring Rachel Miller – ep1 – The Internal Comms Podcast.
