• C.C. Chapman has a great episode on Managing the Gray about change. He’s absolutely correct, it all begins with you. I might just bookmark this and listen to it on a quarterly basis. Embracing change can be downright terrifying, but change is unavoidable–best to acknowledge that and run with it!
• Six Pixels of Separation — Mitch Joel talks with Joseph Jaffe about personal brands, increasing blog readership and reputation, and how that ties in with building a business. Is it still about content creation, or has the way been lost?
• It’s a couple of weeks old now, but I found the discussion about online privacy on NPR’s Science Friday very interesting. Two-thirds of lawyers use Facebook for primary source material? Wow.
• The mom-blogger topic has  been heating up lately, and there’s a lot to think about for communications and PR pros. Some moms want to be paid for their time and efforts. How does this impact the basic premise of media relations within PR that the objective is to secure earned media (not paid) for clients?
• @BPGlobalPR has been “unmasked,” sort of–the man behind the satirical Twitter handle lays out why he’s doing it, and it’s a pretty damaging piece directed at the PR profession.

Have a great weekend, and we’ll see you next week on another edition of Media Bullseye’s Radio Roundtable.

Around the PR Podcast Horn (in random order):

Shameless Self Promoter – I know that how best to follow up with a contact, be it a journalist, source, or other business interest, can be a tricky undertaking. Particularly for PR pros looking to not alienate a potential good relationship with a journo. Heidi Miller interviews  Alan Smith about “conducting seamless follow up.”

On the Record – This week, Eric Schwartzman goes On the Record with the Chief Operating Officer of PR Newswire, David Armon. They discuss the evolution of the public relations business, which is becoming more about “clicks than clips.”

The Engaging Brand – Anna Farmer talks with Holly Weeks who has just written Failure to Communicate  – How Conversations Go Wrong and What You Can Do to Right Them. They discuss how breakdowns in communication may affect business, and the changes in communications with the advent of social media.

Six Pixels of Separation – Mitch Joel interviews Niall Cook “on the future of work, how companies are dealing with these social tools and what you need to know about it.” He also discusses the evolution of work, and how to use technology to your advantage in the changing business environment.

PRobecast – On their latest episode, Todd Van Hoosear is joined by Wendie Larkin, Glen Zimmerman, Tim Allik, Ann
Dalrymple, Joanna DiTrapano, Katelyn D’Eramo and Malinda Singh (quite a group!). They discuss the Recession 2.0, citizen journalism, and Todd’s move to a new job with Social Sphere (congrats Todd!).

Managing the Gray – CC Chapman has a terrific experiment in his latest episode, where he tries to explain how to do ten things in social media in only ten minutes. Among his ten are Googling yourself to monitor your brand, using Flickr, and joining social networks like LinkedIN and Facebook.

Marketing Over Coffee - John Wall and Chris Penn make better use of 20 minutes than any other podcasters I know, always cramming in a lot of stuff into their brief mornings at the Dunkin Donuts. This week, they chatted about graphic design, Steve Jobs, and the quirkiest idea I’ve heard in a while: Pitching spammers!

Inside PR – Our friends north of the border this week, Terry Fallis and Dave Jones, discuss the global economic crisis and how it is affecting the PR business. They discuss the importance of having balance in an agency, and not letting one client be the bulk of your business, you never know when they might cut their PR budget.

For Immediate Release – Shel and Neville started out the week on Monday with a show that also touched on the financial crisis–namely about maintaining transparency when things go badly. On Thursday’s show, they tap guest co-host Bryan Person to discuss Blog Action Day, an effort to raise awareness about important causes through blogging.

Media Driving – In his latest offering, Jay Moonah discusses (while walking, for what it’s worth, not driving) the Canadian national election held recently. He talks about how peopel get their information, noting that if it’s a pain to retrieve (unlike, say, Pod Jots!) a person will be less likely to bother.

The full recap of that unconference and more, starting with CC Chapman’s take.

Managing the Gray - Podcamp Montreal

It’s been a week since Podcamp Montreal ended, but we’ve got plenty of info to tide you over if you weren’t able to make it. Starting with CC Chapman’s thoughts on the unconference.  He comments on the dual-language event (including an aside about the convenience of pocket schedules–which is such great idea), including getting stuck in a French session and breaking the rule of two-feet. He also comments on the high numbers of female attendees, and the overall vibe from the event.

As you’ll see below, CC’s presentation with Mitch Joel ended up being a podcast in itself, as they were presenting on podcasting techniques for those who want to post a podcast unedited–which Doug Haslam wrote about for Media Bullseye recently. I’m surprised, actually, that more podcasts aren’t recorded within the sessions. Sure, plenty of people sit in the halls and record an impromptu interview, and I recall Mitch Joel also recording an off the cuff show from our geek dinner at Podcamp Boston 2.

Around the PR Podcast Horn (in no particular order):

For Immediate Release – On Monday’s episode, Neville and Shel announce a new contest for listeners, the prizes are two tickets for upcoming conferences (find the details at the FIR home page). They also touch on a subject I had highlighted in this week’s blog Jots, that SMS is not a very effective form of emergency communications, as has been argued. Thursday, the duo tackle the Technorati State of the Blogosphere report as well as the newly launched Android-enabled phones.

On the Record – Eric Schwartzman interviews Carol Klinger, the booker for one of the only shows I listen to on National Public Radio, “All Things Considered.” Aside from describing her daily life at the show, Klinger discusses the types of pitches she receives from PR pros, including which ones make the grade.

The Engaging Brand – In her latest installment, Anna Farmery interviews Howard Pyle, the Creative Director of Local Theory. He’s recently launched a Nokia-sponsored film competition for “young creatives,” and discusses the role social media plays in brand management and engagement.

Six Pixels of Separation - For their presentation at PodCamp Montreal, CC Chapman and Mitch Joel explained how to record a podcast “from the heart,” that is with no second takes or editing. The spent the second half of the session doing just that, and this recording is the result.

PRobecast - The Topaz crew is back strong this week, with a group discussion about (among other things) the current presidential election. They discuss Current TV’s decision to include Tweets in their debate reporting, as well as the effectiveness of “going negative” in political advertising.

Marketing Over Coffee - Chris and John have a special guest at the Dunkin Donuts this week in Matthew Ebel. A musician I had the pleasure of meeting and hearing at Podcamp Boston 2, Matthew discusses how he hopes to change the music industry with his subscription service.

Inside PR – At the suggestion of a listener comment, Terry Fallis and Martin Waxman discuss the power of word of mouth in this week’s episode. In particular, they touch on how word of mouth can work within a social networking context, including sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter.

Shill - My favorite troublemaking Canadian duo is back with another episode of Shill, and they lead off with one of my favorite topics from the last couple weeks–those pesky Microsoft ads, followed by an amusing tirade about Apple, a few brain farts, and a discussion on agencies and social media. Not to mention a shout-out to fellow Canadian Avril Lavigne.

Media Driving – Another of my Canadian friends takes the opportunity of the drive from Montreal to share his thoughts on Podcamp. Namely, the value derived from attending unconferences. My own opinion on this is that despite learning plenty of interesting things at the Podcamps I’ve attended, the true value of the unconference is in the face time with your online network.

Inside PR – In the Tool Box

Considering Media Bullseye owner CustomScoop is a media intelligence firm doing just the kind of work highlighted in the latest Inside PR, it’s no surprise I give them the top spot in this week’s roundup. Granted, the discussion is actually more broad than that, focusing on the various tools that PR practioners use to do their jobs, but media monitoring is certainly a vital component.

During the discussion, Terry, Martin and Julie touch on some of their favorite tools when conducting media monitoring for clients. I will have to forgive them for not mentioning CustomScoop, but they do mention some other preferred resources, including simple Google searches, Cision, and Infomart.

Around the PR Podcast Horn (in no particular order):

On the Record – In his most recent episode, Eric Schwarzman interviews Russell Wright, co-founder of ThemeZoom, an online marketing intelligence platform that takes a radical approach to search engine optimizing online content. Russel discusses some simple tips for SEO, as well as conducting business online.

Media Driving – In his latest audio dispatch from the car, Jay Moonah discusses this weekend’s Podcamp Montreal, as well as a special online event and a request for a little audience participation.

The Engaging Brand – This week, Anna Farmery concludes her two-part interview with Mark Sanborn, author of The Fred Factor, and the Encore Effect. They discuss tips for developing good leadership skills, as well as the power of influence in a person’s management style.

Ten Golden Rules – Jay Berkowitz runs the gamut in his latest installment, and aside from being one of the few podcasters this week to touch on Google Chrome, he mentions one subject in particular that raises my ire lately: new Facebook! The popular social networking site has switched over to a new look…I am so far not a fan, but I assume it will grow on me eventually, and there’s certainly no going back.

Six Pixels of Separation – My favorite sports writer always refers to his “Mailbag” column as “letting the readers do the heavy lifting.” That’s how I think Mitch Joel’s latest, which is heavy on some great listener audio comments. Mitch also discusses the future of digital marketing, which he believes has the potential to grow even more powerful.

Marketing Over Coffee – At the Dunkin Donuts this week, Chris and John also throw a bit of the show to the listeners, with comments sparking discussion on using social media for market research in the nonprofit field, as well as the usefulness of “duplicate content and syndication.”

PRobecast – On the most recent episode from the team at Topaz (which is actually from a while ago), Rob Capra, Todd Van Hoosear, Wendie Larkin and Ann Dalrymple discuss Obama and Biden’s performance at the Democratic National Convention, as well as whether disclosing their merger (and subsequent retraction of same) hurt or helped Social Media Group and Livingston Communications.

Managing the Gray – This is an exciting episode for fans of the extremely popular website Ask a Ninja. CC Chapman interview the team behind the site, in particular about their new book coming out, “The Ninja Handbook.” They discuss podcasting, social media, and of course, the book.

For Immediate Release – Of the many topics raised on this Thursday’s FIR, one of the more interesting was a new study from Awareness Networks which shows companies are increasing use of social media for employees. On Monday’s episode, they discuss new social network Yammer, as well as the controversial story involving a reporter Twitter a 3-year old child’s funeral.

Welcome to CustomScoop’s PR Pod Jots, our weekly rundown of the best of the PR and marketing podosphere. This week, we lead off with one of my favorite short-n-sweet podcasts, by Jay Moonah, who usually broadcasts from the car. Hence, Media Driving!

Media Driving – Search This!

Jay Moonah makes an interesting point in his latest episode. Why do we put so much blind faith in search engines? Whether you are a Google devotee or Yahoo! connoseiur, how do you know you’re getting the most appropriate and accurate results? Jay argues that the best way to know if you can trust your results is by understanding how they are generated.

I have a little bit of a dubious reaction to this idea, because when we’re talking search engines, people start using words like “algorythms” and such, and my brain starts imploding. I did very poorly at math in high school. But there are some simple ways to start understanding search, and it’s not a bad idea to learn them.

Around the PR Podcasting Horn (in random order!):

Six Pixels of Separation – If you like “big, fat, and ugly rants” this is the podcast for you! Mitch Joel waxes takes on journalists this week, at least those that refuse to blog. Mitch complains that journalists who believe that blogging is simply “squandering” their words just don’t get it. Journalists with a naturally talent for writing, he suggests, should make great bloggers. Mitch also offers six reasons why blogs are “unstoppable.”

For Immediate Release #374 & 375 – Shel and Neville have another pair of interesting podcasts this week.  On Monday, they offer an update on PR Week’s blog contest as well as information on the most recent IABC podcast, which includes recommendations on corporate blogging.  Later in the week, the duo reviews Jason Calacanis’ 10 tips about DIY public relations for start ups.

Inside PR #126 – On this week’s podcast from Toronto, Terry Fallis and David Jones talk about the important topic of crisis communications, specifically they discuss the situations with Sunrise Propane and Maple Leaf Foods.  They also have a blast from the past by playing a crisis communications clip from IPR #33.

Marketing Over Coffee – I use “SarahWurrey” as my username for just about everything I sign up for online, from beta invites to social networks to shopping sites. If you are your own brand, why not allow people remember your name? This especially works if, like me, you have a unique surname. John and Chris discuss personal branding, among many other issues, on their latest.

Trafcom News – Donna Papcosta is back from the New Media Expo in Las Vegas, which we discussed on our own podcast with CC Chapman last week. She shares her thoughts on the event, as well as an interview with Robin Maiden. Also, if you’re interested in getting a sneak peak at the sessions from PodCamp Toronto, coming soon, tune in to find out!

Diary of a Shameless Self Promoter – I’ve had a Seesmic invite going unused in my inbox for months now. WHat is the value of this service? What about 12seconds and other video sharing sites? Heidi Miller covers them in her latest episode.

So how could I resist leading off with MoC?

Marketing Over Coffee – Don’t Stop Believin’

John Wall and Chris Penn lead off by discussing Journey’s latest album and their new (awesome) lead singer, who they discovered on YouTube. Arnel Pineda was a cover band singer in the Phillipines when Journey, in need of a new lead singer, discovered the Steve Perry soundalike on the popular video sharing site. Within only a couple weeks, he was added to the band. I can vouch for the discovery after seeing the band in concert on Tuesday night this week (here’s a video from that show–they really do sound great with Pineda).

Music discussion out of the way, the duo moves on to other things, including a continued discussion about Stride Gum’s video of the “dancing guy” in over 100 different countries. Like our discussion of this video on the Media Bullseye Roundtable podcast a few weeks ago, where I played the Grinch in wondering what the heck that video (which is admittedly terrific) has to do with gum, the guys cover how Stride could be benefitting–possibly karma?

Around the PR Podcast Horn (in random order):

For Immediate Release – On Monday’s show this week, Shel and Neville revisited that ongoing discussion regarding the rather premature death announcements flying left and right for the PR industry. On Thursday, they discuss an issue reported on Media Bullseye as well this week- the SEC’s shift to online reporting (including a shout-out to CustomScoop VP Jen Zingsheim).

Inside PR – On their latest episode, David Jones and Julie Rusciolelli cover the keys to good messaging. Building a good key message involves planning, writing, testing and conducting media training with spokespeople, an involved process that is much more than just rattling off a few talking points.

Shill - After their usual hilarious banter about who has the worse haircut and their lack of regular episodes (apparently it’s Dave’s fault), Dave and Doug talk Olympics. I’ve been all over the Olympics on my own podcasts lately, it’s good to hear someone else hashing it out. They discuss the massive market research NBC conducted regarding who is watching, and then debate the ongoing coverage–should it be left up to the amateurs?

Media Driving – From the car this week, Jay discusses organizations. Referencing an e-book (“The Talent Myth”) by Malcom Gladwell that encourages organizations to make the system the “star.”

Biz Growth Live – New addition to our podcast lineup Krishna De is joined by social media consultant Stephanie Booth to discuss how to host a live event or conference. In person networking is one of the best ways to build relationships, and using social media to promote your own in-person event can help spread the word.

The Engaging Brand – This week Anna Farmery chats with Jay Deragon about the evolution of the “relationship economy.” Self explanatory, the relationship economy seeks to capitalize on online relationships and networks by finding their economic value. She and Jay discuss the implications of attempting to derive business value from your “friends” online and off.

Six Pixels of Separation – Mitch Joel dedicates his latest episode to discussing the future of online communications for marketers. What are the best ideas for using this space, including what is best for professionals using social media. His six points discuss free online monitoring tools, including CustomScoop’s own free personal accounts. 

Thanks to Lucy Davies for sending in an email, I was alerted to a new addition to the PR Pod Jots. Hosted by social media evangelist and Podcamp Ireland founder Krishna De, Biz Growth Live features “interviews with leading authorities in branding, marketing, social media and leadership.”

On the latest episode, Krishna discusses how to use joint ventures to build your brand with Elizabeth Marshall. Elizabeth is a marketing experts who works with authors, businesses and other brands to promote their businesses. They discuss how to attract a high quality partner with whom to collaborate on a joint venture, as well as strategies for maximizing the collaboration’s results.

While I can see how working together with other entrepreneurs or business professionals might be challenging, particularly if you are posed with working with the competition. But Elizabeth’s advice makes it clear that partnerships, granted the details are covered and they are approached in the right way, can end in terrific results for your business.

Around the PR Podcast Horn (in random order):

Inside PR – A frequent topic of discussion in this era of using social media for PR purposes is how best to pitch. Is the phone still feasible? How about email? On the latest Inside PR, Terry Fallis and Martin Waxman discuss the email pitch. They also feature an interview from Bob LeDrew (who is making the podcast rounds lately!).

Marketing Over Coffee – At the Bryan Person goodbye meetup in Cambridge this week, several attendees were gearing up to attend the Affiliate Marketing Summit, one of the topics up for discussion on Marketing Over Coffee this week. They also teach you how to fight the “conference crud.”

For Immediate Release - On Monday’s show this week, Shel and Neville discussed the somewhat controversial (my endorsement of one blog cost me a reader!) and much-discussed PR Week Blog Contest. They also cover a recent SNCR report on social media and influence, and latest way to pitch: by video. On Thursday’s show, they cover some of the recent scandals coming out of the Olympics, including the “visual trickery” of the opening ceremonies.

PRobecast – In a very apropos show (hey, I rhymed!) considering the whole “PR is dead/No it’s not” kerfuffle of this week, Tim Alik and Rob Capra go over the top ten PR myths by taking the anti-PR view. The phone is useless! Social media is new! Live-tweeting at conferences is worthwhile! 

Six Pixels of Separation – I’d really like to get to PodCamp Montreal this year, September 20, if only to get to get to hang out with Mitch Joel. He gives a Twist Image “summer update,” and outlines his excitement about the upcoming unconference. He also discusses the recent redesigns of both Delicious and Facebook (I am personally not a fan of either, and switched back to “old” Facebook almost immediately). 

The Engaging Brand – On the latest offering of Anna Farmery’s show, she chats with Frances Cole Jones, founder of Cole Media Management, who has just written the book How To Wow. They discuss the book, and the best methods of engaging an audience through savvy communication skills. They discuss what audiences respond to, and how to use nervousness to your advantage.

Media Driving – This week on my favorite “short but sweet” podcast, Jay Moonah discusses community. More specifically, what should your focus be? Everyone who creates content wants an audience, but should your focus be more on producing quality content than it should be on building your community?

For Immediate Release – Guinness’ Dilemma

What do you do when your brand’s name is taken out of your control? Aside from revisiting the issue of ExxonMobil’s brand ending up on Twitter under dubious circumstances, Shel and Neville discuss an issue I’d noticed and taken great interest in last week. A freelance marketer put together a rather risque (and potentially sexist and misogynistic, according to some) commercial for the popular Irish beer Guinness. I won’t link to it, since the fake ad is rather NSFW, but you can read about it on Neville’s blog here.

Diageo, the makers of Guinness, has issued statement’s against the ad, which is slightly sexual in nature and has raised a bit of ire among feminist blogs. Brands are often faced with this question, and it depends entirely on the image you want to portray. Neville points out that the brand exposure, even if slightly illicit in nature, might benefit the brand in the end.

Around the PR Podcast Horn (in random order):

Inside PR – This week on one of the only PR podcasts that really dives into the day to day at agencies, David Jones, Terry Fallis and Julie Rusciolelli discuss the responsibilities of the agency. They break it down into four main categories, including account service, account management, account leadership and agency leadership.

The Engaging Brand – On this episode of the Engaging Brand, Anna Farmery speaks to Jenny Lam of Jackson Fish Market about how to engage in brand advertising.  Please feel free to check out the white paper geared towards agency professionals titled “Branded Software Experiences* – Next Generation Brand Advertising for the Web.”

Media Driving – Our favorite podcast that’s broadcast from inside a moving vehicle is new this week with a question: how does your audience access your content? This is a question that’s come up for the Media Bullseye podcast lately, as we have no yet added ourselves to iTunes. Where do you make your content available, how accessible is it?

Six Pixels of Separation – The fallout in the wake of the launch of potential Google competitor Cuil continues this week, as Mitch Joel discusses the “showdown” between the two search engines. He applies the Cuil launch to his “Six Points” this week, with “Six questions to ask yourself before you launch.”

Jaffe Juice – Joseph gets off to a bit of a slow start this week, but if you skip past the initial five minutes or so he offers some interesting insight on several  hot topics, including Apple’s MobileMe gaffe, CNN’s iReport, the gruesome Greyhound bus incident. Jaffe also discusses how a company’s engagement with its customers can add value to their products and their brand.

On the Record – Editor-in-Chief of PR Tactics & Strategist John Elsasser is On the Record with Eric Schwartzman this week. They discuss his rise in public relations journalism, why PR gets a bad rap at times and how professionals can overcome those with preconceived notions, and the growing impact of new and social media on the industry.

We begin with a very short, but sweet Media Driving.

Media Driving – What Drives You?

So, we’re all here, but how often do we ask why? And no, Jay Moonah isn’t attempting to launch a group existential crisis. But what motivates people to participate in social media? He notes the downturn of his own blog, which he blames on summer doldrums. (I have had a much harder time drumming up submissions for Media Bullseye, which I attribute to the same thing) (Email me if you want to make 50 bucks! *grin*)

He notes that there are different reasons we all particpate in social media, even if it’s just by reading and commenting on blogs, or going so far as producing your own blog or podcast. What’s your motivation? It’s an interesting question, and I’d bet good money that it’s different for everyone. A dash of ego, a pinch of business savvy, and a splash of finding and reaching out to old friends and contacts? Or is there no real reason?

What is your reason for participating?

Diary of a Shameless Self Promoter: Comcast has made quite a splash on Twitter this year by joining under the handle ComcastCares and helping users with their customer service complaints. Heidi Miller interviews the company’s chief Twitterer, Frank Eliason, about their efforts, which have received lots of attention as of late.

For Immediate Release: In Thursday’s edition of FIR, Shel and Neville cover the surge of businesses entering social media, noting that Apple has launched a blog after customer’s have complained about MobileMe. They also discuss the latest from the Blog Council, which has put together a disclosure toolkit to assist those in search of transparency-made-easy. On Monday’s show, they discuss the launch of new search engine Cuil, along with Google Knol and 50 tips for social media strategy.

Jaffe Juice: In his latest episode, Joe Jaffe discusses a number of issues, including his ongoing battle against Delta Airlines, and numerous listener comments. He also proposes a listener-inspired idea about whether or not we need a new “generation name,” ala “generation X.”

10 Golden Rules: Jay Berkowitz offers his latest Internet marketing podcast from atop a beaver dam, and discusses what he deems to be the ten hottest trends in Internet marketing strategy currently.

The Engaging Brand: In her latest offering, Anna Farmery interviews Dr Nora Barnes who is a Chancellor Professor of Marketing and Director of the Center for Marketing Research at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. They discuss Dr. Barnes’ latest study, which is about the use of social media strategy in business.

Six Pixels of Separation: Mitch Joel’s new episode, dedicated to the memory of Randy Pausch, features Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions. His weekly list of six points this week is “Six things that rock about Google” that are not related to search, including Google Analytics and Google Alerts.

PRobecast: The Topaz team, including Tim Alik, Wendie Larkin and Glen Zimmerman, become the first podcast of the week so far to tackle new search engine Cuil. In their words, the new search tool launched with the “best buzz money could buy, and landed with a thud.” They also cover HelpAReporter.com, and the age old question of whether the press release is dead or what.

Marketing Over Coffee: John and Chris, our favorite podcasters who record their show in a Dunkin Donuts, actually recorded this show live from Podcamp Boston 3. They feature special guest David Meerman Scott. Theyy cover a few different topics with David, everything from his latest book, to public speaking tips, to using viral video in marketing.

Inside PR: Ah, fellas after my own heart. Terry Fallis and Martin Waxman cover the importance of good writing in public relations this week. Writing skills are plummeting among digital natives, in my entirely unscientific opinion. And it’s a shame, because they are an essential skill among PR pros, or anyone in the communications business. 

We start things off with the team at Topaz this week, as they tackle a bunch of interesting topics on the PRobecast.

PRobecast – #**$@!!

Todd Van Hoosear, Rob Capra, and Stephanie Shultis cover the PRobecast’s usual variety of topics this week, but there was one I found particularly interesting. Following a raucous and rather foul-mouthed send-off for Scott Monty last week, Todd wrote a post wondering about the appropriateness of swearing in the workplace. As someone who attempts to keep close tabs on my personal brand, this is one of those things that catches my eye.

Personally, I try hard to never swear either in blogs or on Twitter, Facebook, or other social networking sites. But I do get comfortable enough in work environments that I might let a curse word slip. When you’re sharing an office with several people, you get familiar, you get to know personalities. Part of that might be letting a curse fly now and then. Is this a major no-no? The PRobecast team  takes a moderate approach as well, noting that sometimes swearing is ok, “within reason.”  In front of clients, however? No way. (Agreed.)

Around the PR Podcast Horn (in random order):

For Immediate Release: On Monday this week, Shel and Neville discussed one of the more interesting PR stories this year, the effort China is making to present itself in a more favorable light in the weeks leading up to the Olympics. On Thursday, they cover my favorite topic of the week, the Twitter follower outage that caused a bit of a kerfuffle earlier this week.

Six Pixels of Separation: If you’re planning on using the summer to catch up on your reading (my favorite summertime activity, preferably on a towel at the beach!), this is your podcast. Mitch Joel gives his six recommendations for summer reading, including Seth Godin’s “Meatball Sundae,” and Clay Shirkey’s buzz-worthy new book, “Here Comes Everybody.”

Managing the Gray: CC Chapman does one of his fun “brain dump” episodes of Managing the Gray, offering a bunch of thoughts on the night before the successful PodCamp Boston 3 last weekend. He discusses the importance of making in person connections as he prepares for his business partner to come to town “in real life” for the first time in a while. I agree with his strong urge to connect with people he knows online in what some people call the “meatspace.”

Marketing Over Coffee: At the Dunkin Donuts this week, John Wall and Chris Penn talk Wordpress plug-ins, with some handy SEO tricks. They also do a PodCamp Boston 3 wrapup, and I definitely agree with their assessment of less being more for this year’s PodCamp.

Inside PR: Continuing their reputation of being one of the more useful podcasts for PR folks in the agency setting, Martin, Terry and Julie discuss the importance of personality and “fit” in the workplace, and the agency in particular. Office culture can be so important, and often someone who is great at their job might not be right for the office in terms of personalities and getting along.  But how can you tell with potential new hires?

Shill: Dave (The Blogrocerous) and Doug (The Podopotamous) kick off their latest show by discussing some of the recent social media movers and shakers making big moves into new roles, Doug included as he heads to the Social Media Group.  Aside from their usual malarkey, the guys discuss some cool topics relating to the music industry and an iPhone 3G debate. Sadly, the word “fanboy” is invoked.

Diary of a Shameless Self-Promoter: Heidi Miller chats about “Your Golden Rolodex” with Vickie Austin about the do’s and don’ts of networking and maximizing opportunities.  Also, if you’re interesting in podcasting and in the Chicago area, be sure to check out Miller’s “Podcasting your Passion” on August 11th.  

On the Record: This edition features thoughts on a variety of issues from entertainment reporters John Horn of the LA Times, Kevin Cassidy of The Hollywood Reporters, and Bill Keveney of USA Today.  The podcast also includes a review of New York Times columnist David Carr and his presentation at the PRSA’s Digital Impact Conference in NY in June.

The Engaging Brand: Anna Farmery offers another great podcast this week with the second part of the interview with Sherri Thomas, writer of the book Career Smart: 5 Steps to Powerful Personal Brands.  Thomas offers a number of important suggestions for determining your strengths and how to maximize them when building your brand.

Trafcom News: Donna Papacosta discusses her thoughts about the IABC International Conference, noting that social media has become the norm for many companies.  She praised Steve Crescenzo’s presentation about internal communicators and noted that Shel Holtz put his session online for those who couldn’t make it due to conflicting schedules at the event.