The Public Affairs in Practice Podcast
Public Affairs in Practice is a practical podcast about how public affairs, lobbying and political engagement actually work.
Hosted by Dr Stuart Thomson — public affairs practitioner, author and trainer — the podcast explores how organisations influence policy, engage decision-makers and build effective public affairs strategies. Episodes draw on real-world experience across government relations, campaigning, reputation management and political communication.
Through interviews with leading practitioners, policymakers and recruiters, alongside solo episodes and case studies, Public Affairs in Practice focuses on the skills, judgement and strategic thinking needed to succeed in modern public affairs.
The podcast is designed for people working in, or aspiring to work in, public affairs, government relations, policy, communications and related fields — offering practical insight rather than theory alone.
New episodes explore career development, campaign strategy, insider and outsider lobbying, ethics, and how policy change really happens.
As featured in The Times.
If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or other plaforms then please follow the show to get new episodes as they’re released.
Learn more about Stuart and his public affairs consultancy, CWE Communications.
Listen on:
Episodes
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
In an interview episode, I talk to John Harrington, Editor, PR Week UK.
We talk about his work at PR Week, stories that he is particularly proud of, the main challenges facing the public affairs, and how it may evolve in the coming years.
Learn more about me and my services @CWE Communications
Thanks to my editor Callums World.
Monday Apr 15, 2024
Monday Apr 15, 2024
All organisations need to manage risk. Some do it better than others. Some make basic mistakes; others try to drive out all aspects of risk. But the reality is that some risk needs to be maintained, not least in communications, otherwise innovation can die.
Thanks to my editor Callums World.
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Originally written for LabourList, and with Scott Goodstein, this episode outlines five crucial challenges for which every candidate should be prepared in creating their own winning election scenario.
Learn more about me and my services @CWE Communications
Thanks to my editor Callums World.
Saturday Feb 24, 2024
Saturday Feb 24, 2024
In a different type of episode, we hear from five of the leading monitoring companies.
Delivering public affairs training, I am often asked about who can monitoring services. So, I asked leading monitoring companies to tell us more about what they do.
A huge thank you to all those who took part.
To learn more about the companies took part (in alphabetical order):
DeHavilland
Dods
PolicyMogul - with a special offer of 10% off your first year's subscription
PoliMonitor - use the code STUARTSENTME for 13 months for the price of 12 if you trial and sign up
Vuelio - or email sam.webber@vuelio.com
Learn more about me and my services @CWE Communications
Thanks to my editor Callums World.
Monday Jan 15, 2024
Monday Jan 15, 2024
In an interview episode, I talk to Craig Jones MBE, Executive Director of Fighting With Pride that supports the health and wellbeing of LGBT+Veterans, service personnel and their families.
We talk about his background in the Royal Navy; the lifting of the ‘gay ban’ in the armed forces and the challenges he, and many others, faced; his varied career when he left the Royal Navy; how Fighting With Pride started, its achievements in influencing government and the challenges that remain.
Learn more about me and my services @CWE Communications
Thanks to my editor Callums World.
Monday Dec 11, 2023
Monday Dec 11, 2023
In an interview episode, I talk to Paul Gerrard, Campaigns, Public Affairs & Board Secretariat Director at the Co-op Group.
We talk about his background in the civil service, the skills he learned and how he has applied them to public affairs and the fantastic campaign he has led tackling violence against shop workers. It is a case study that everyone should learn from.
Learn more about me and my services @CWE Communications
Thanks to my editor Callums World.
Monday Dec 04, 2023
Monday Dec 04, 2023
In an interview episode, I talk to Kirsty McHugh, CEO of Carers Trust.
We talk about her impressive career, how it all started, and the benefits of serving of a local councillor.
Learn more about me and my services @CWE Communications
Thanks to my editor Callums World.
Monday Oct 30, 2023
Monday Oct 30, 2023
In an interview episode, I talk to Vallath Kavitha Krishnan, a Team Leader in the Scottish Government's Justice Transformation Policy Team.
We talk about her background in public affairs and its benefits in her latest policy-focused role.
All views expressed in the podcast are Vallath's own.
Learn more about me and my services @CWE Communications
Thanks to my editor Callums World.
Wednesday Jul 12, 2023
Wednesday Jul 12, 2023
In an interview episode, I talk to Philip Salter, Founder of The Entrepreneurs Network, a think tank for Britain’s most ambitious entrepreneurs.
We talk about how he established TEN, its role and the challenges of running a think tank.
I am one of TEN's advisers.
Wednesday Jul 05, 2023
Wednesday Jul 05, 2023
Engaging with political audiences can often feel like an uphill challenge for those seeking to make an impact. Even when an event seems directly relevant, politicians may not always want to take part. Why can it seem like they have left the room?
Thanks to my editor Callums World.