My friend and colleague, Deirdre Breakenridge, CEO of Pure Performance Communications, has launched an amazing initiative in collaboration with The Social Network Station, a radio show broadcasted out of Las Vegas, Nevada.
The initiative is to empower women by giving them a voice and a platform via 50 Internet radio shows, called #50Shows. One of these #50Shows is Deirdre’s show, Women Worldwide. Available on iTunes and through The Social Network website, Women Worldwide is a half-hour, weekly podcast where Deirdre interviews incredible women from around the globe. Women Worldwide gives insightful women the opportunity to share their fascinating stories (triumphs and challenges) with the goal of empowering listeners through their experiences and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Women Worldwide uncovers different perspectives and approaches to help listeners find their inner strength.
Listen to the first episode of Women Worldwide with Deirdre Breakenridge
Interested in learning more about Women Worldwide with Deirdre Breakenridge? Check out the Q&A interview with Deirdre below!
Deirdre took the time to answer some questions I had about her new show. Check out her responses below – and if you have any additional questions for Deirdre, feel free to leave them in the comments section below and I’ll make sure they get to her.
Q: Tell us a little about the #50Shows project: how did it originate, what is its goal, platform, etc.
The #50Shows Empowering Women initiative was created to give women a voice and platform through Internet radio. Jim Nico, Founder of the Social Network Station and Dr. Jane Karwoski of the Social Network Show, launched #50Shows at a time when cyberbullying cases and women harassed online were increasing at an alarming rate. At the same time, the number of women in media has declined over the years, especially in radio. The #50Shows movement created the unique opportunity for 50 women to host 50 podcast programs produced via the professional studios at the Hank Greenspun School of Journalism and Media Studies at UNLV. The goal of our effort is to power up the voices of women and to also help them learn new media skills.
Q: “Women Worldwide with Deirdre Breakenridge” is your upcoming show. Tell us about this great initiative and why you’ve committed to it so passionately.
When Jim and Jane told me about the #50Shows initiative, as an educator and mentor, I immediately wanted to get involved. I’ve been working with executives for years on their strategic communication and mentoring women professionals along the way. At the same time, after 25+ years in my career, launching Women Worldwide was a way for me to learn and grow through a new powerful channel, Internet radio.
Giving back and empowering women has been a focus and a passion. #50Shows is one more way that I can “give back” to my community by interviewing amazing women who have incredible stories to share. Through the show’s interview format, guests can discuss their greatest successes and toughest challenges, imparting advice and offering useful tips. I’m happy to share this type of knowledge with my listeners, as I’m learning too. You’re never too old to learn from your peers.
Q: How does “Women Worldwide” fit in with your passion and expertise as a PR / communications consultant?
Women Worldwide is an extension of best practice communication and PR. Telling stories is at the heart of any business and crux of a PR program. Women Worldwide is all about storytelling at its best. I also enjoy how the tables have turned. Now, I’m receiving the pitches from PR people who want their executives interviewed on my show. In any case, I’m able to work with savvy PR professionals to find the most interesting stories that can make a difference in someone else’s life. These women are not afraid to talk candidly about the ups and downs they’ve experienced, both professionally and personally.
Q: What can listeners expect to gain from tuning into “Women Worldwide”?
When you listen to Women Worldwide, it’s an opportunity to live vicariously through someone else’s experience. To “visit” countries around the world where women help other women. For example, my very first guest, Willa Shalit, co-founder of Road to Market, discussed how she works to bring women’s products to market in post-conflict zones and communities devastated by natural disasters.
You can also learn from the successes as well as the mistakes that other women make. Hearing their challenges can help you to redirect your own efforts as you go down your path in life. Every interview guest offers tips on how you can find inner strength. Every woman is different, yet together we can find similarities and ways to help one another.
Q: I realize that the 50Shows initiative is dedicated to women empowerment. But I’m sure that the stories and lessons discussed on “Women Worldwide” will also be interesting to men who support the powerful and successful women in their lives. That said, what can men do to help support this movement in empowering women?
Absolutely! Men will find insights and information to help them as well. Business is business and whether you’re a man or a woman you have to strike a balance between your human emotional side, and the side that’s focused on the numbers. The greatest professionals will learn from each other’s successes and challenges.
Men can support the movement to empower women by being active listeners of the #50Shows initiative, as these podcasts continue to launch. I would also welcome their guest suggestions for my show, Women Worldwide. Lastly, men have the opportunity to interview, if they have a great story to tell about how they’re helping to empower women, or to share a story about an incredible woman in their life.
Q: How can we tune in / subscribe to your weekly podcast?
You can tune into my podcast show by accessing the Women Worldwide show page at the Social Network Station. I also will be blogging about the #50Shows initiative on my PR Expanded Blog to further support the women who get involved.
Follows
- Learn more about Deirdre Breakenridge here
- Follow Deirdre on Twitter: @dbreakenridge
- Follow #50Shows on Twitter
Author of Crisis Ready: Building an Invincible Brand in an Uncertain World, Melissa Agnes is a leading authority on crisis preparedness, reputation management, and brand protection. Agnes is a coveted keynote speaker, commentator, and advisor to some of today’s leading organizations faced with the greatest risks. Learn more about Melissa and her work here.
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