If I Only Had 10 Minutes

Amy has spent three years shaping how PayPal talks to the world, and she thinks most communicators have it backwards: the narrative that lands comes from the hours you spend listening to clients and stakeholders, not the hours you spend drafting.

Brendan moved from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) to PBS the same year Congress defunded and closed CPB. He talks about the $500 million hole that left, and the more than a million new donors who decided public media was worth saving.

After 35 years running comms at PepsiCo, DuPont and Quaker Oats, Mark has one rule he would force on the whole field for a week: prove your metric changed a business result, or stop counting it.

A former editor in chief of Seventeen, Ann makes the case that a curated community of 500 is where real influence and trust get built now, not to mention connection.

Coming with the perspective only 17 years in Abu Dhabi gives you, Brian shares his concerns about losing curiosity since AI is training us all to expect an answer every time.

Having advised CEOs through more than one existential threat, Joe talks about going on offense in a crisis rather than absorbing the hit, and why it can work.

In a world chasing headlines, Craig makes the case for something deeper. From the White House to Hollywood to stand-up comedians, he breaks down why the best communicators ask what they’re missing, push harder when it matters, and build narratives that actually stick.

Laurie talks about the responsibility of being the truth teller and why the hardest part of comms isn’t always the message… it’s the moment.

Stop “sprinkling” communications on problems. Craig breaks down why strategy comes first, how the creator economy is reshaping the playbook, and the art of reflection.

Cleve takes us inside the fast-moving world of crypto, policy, and Web3, from who’s really shaping the narrative in Washington to why the future of finance is being built from the ground up.  

Deepfakes. Bot networks. Narratives you didn’t start but still have to answer for. Lisa explains how misinformation spreads, why brands are the new battleground, and how to fight back without making things worse.  

Bobby covers it all—why communicators need guardrails (and guts), how fractional talent actually works, and the subtle signals that tell you your message is landing. Miranda Priestly would be proud.

In this episode, Jim joins us to talk about why fractional roles are misunderstood, how AI will actually make communicators better, why great communicators shouldn’t be afraid to spark a reaction, and what hobby of his may surprise people most.

In ten tightly held minutes, Christine unpacks the quiet power of fractional leadership, why we should all strive for a zero-waste kitchen and how genuine respect for your audience is the ultimate differentiator. 

AI can draft the slides. But are we using it to think bigger? Chris cuts right through it, explaining where the real opportunity is, where the risk lives, and how communicators can lead instead of react.

A rock-journalist side hustle, an alpaca ranch, and one of the most influential voices in communications. Corey joins If I Only Had 10 Minutes to talk AI, reputation, and the real work behind high-stakes leadership.  

AI is handling the mechanics. Communicators must bring the judgment. In this episode, Lindsey explains how the role is evolving, how to measure what truly matters, and why sometimes the hardest advice is to pause before speaking.  

AI can write your copy, but it can’t make your toughest decisions. Bob joins  If I Only Had Ten Minutes  to talk ethics, crisis judgment, and why “getting out in front” isn’t always as simple as it sounds.

 AI will do the work. Strategy will set you apart. Hear Jason’s take on the future of communications, staying human in a high-speed world and the compliment that wasn’t in his conversation with CommsCollectiv Partner, Eric Kraus.

AI anxiety, staying calm under pressure, and the ultimate face-palm moment (this takes missing a meeting to a whole new level). Justin shares honest lessons from journalism, agency life, and the C-suite with humor and humility.

What does it take to lead comms when the stakes are high and the spotlight never fades? Katie joins If I Only Had 10 Minutes to share lessons around prepping leaders for tough interviews, what she looks for in a new hire, and why calm, presence, and trust are often the most powerful tools a communicator has.

Tune in for the answer along with Tina’s takes on the disconnect between the C-suite and employees on AI, what people get wrong about fractional communicators, and the one simple rule she wishes everyone would follow. 

Candid conversations, quick insights and what companies get right — and wrong — about working with fractional executives. Here’s a compilation of answers to our questions about fractional — what it is, when to use it and the value it offers. 

As we end our first season, we compiled the answers to our signature question. What our guests said ranges from practical to poetic and together, tells a bigger story about personal priorities and the overwhelming need for white space in our lives.

When everything feels chaotic, clarity matters most. Rosemary offers CommsCollectiv partner, Monica Talan, a sharp take on AI, media trust, and why staying calm amid disruption is a core leadership skill.