Peppercomm, a Ruder Finn Group company

06/02/2026

🎙️ New Episode: Laughing Matters Podcast

In Part 2 of our special conversation with retired ABC News correspondent Jim Hickey, co-hosts Paul Merchan + Steven Cody explore what it means to have a front-row seat to history.

From witnessing the collapse of the Soviet Union and covering the opening moments of Desert Storm to delivering day-long coverage of 9/11, Jim shares remarkable stories from a career spent documenting some of the world's most consequential events.

You'll also hear why one military commander described journalists as "chroniclers of history," a lesson that has stayed with Jim throughout his career.

Watch now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RR6GKbxKHk

06/01/2026

What if some of the most common customer service "rules" are actually limiting better outcomes?

Fast Company Executive Board recently asked its members to share the counterintuitive customer service strategies that have delivered real results for both businesses and customers. The responses challenge conventional wisdom—from rethinking scripts and response expectations to embracing more human, relationship-driven approaches.

Among the featured insights is our very own Maggie O'Neill, who highlighted Peppercomm's longstanding use of comedy and improv training to help teams become better listeners, storytellers, and problem-solvers.

By prioritizing adaptability and authentic communication over rigid scripts, teams are better equipped to navigate unpredictable situations and build stronger client relationships.

Read more here: https://www.fastcompany.com/91541798/21-customer-service-strategies-that-paid-off

Slow down and tell the customer something they don’t want to hear.

05/27/2026

What happens when brand values collide with political volatility?

As the 2026 midterms draw closer, communications leaders are navigating an environment shaped by stakeholder scrutiny, cultural tension and nonstop media pressure. The question isn’t whether expectations will shift — it’s how brands respond when they do.

Join Peppercomm for a conversation on leading through uncertainty with:
🎙️ Paul Argenti, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
🎙️ Lightning Ele Czabovsky, UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media
🎙️ Alison Taylor, NYU Stern School of Business

Moderated by Peppercomm Co-President, Jacqueline Kolek.

📅 Tuesday, June 9
⏰ 10:00–11:00 a.m. ET

Register here: http://bit.ly/3PfSV1a

05/22/2026

🚨Midterm Mania: Communications Challenges Ahead of a Potential Blue Wave

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, brands are facing heightened uncertainty, shifting stakeholder expectations and increasing reputational risk. How can communications leaders navigate political uncertainty while staying true to their organizational values?

Join Peppercomm for a fireside chat featuring:
🎙️ Paul Argenti, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
🎙️ Alison Taylor, NYU Stern School of Business
🎙️ Lightning Czabovsky, UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media

Moderated by Peppercomm Co-President Jacqueline Kolek.

📅 Tuesday, June 9
⏰ 10:00-11:00am ET

Reserve your spot: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_H4Lpm1TrSzGTLjMkwODWUw

05/18/2026

Guerrilla marketing proves that creativity can outperform budget every time. Loved seeing so many smart examples featured in the Fast Company Executive Board’s latest piece on unconventional strategies that drive real impact.

A special shoutout to Peppercomm’s Maggie O'Neill, whose insight perfectly captures what makes great guerrilla marketing work: creating emotional, audience-first experiences that invite people to tell their own story. “Make them the star, not you.” That’s the kind of thinking that turns moments into movements.

Read the full piece here: https://shorturl.at/xvUaf

Marketing doesn’t need to cost a lot to be effective and memorable.

05/14/2026

This week, Peppercomm and Ruder Finn, Inc. had the privilege of hosting U.S. Army War College for a meaningful exchange on strategic communications and crisis preparedness.

As part of the visit, Peppercomm led a hands-on crisis simulation exercise, giving participants the opportunity to navigate real-time communications challenges under pressure.

Thank you to the Army War College for an engaging and collaborative experience.

05/13/2026

We’re living in an era where uncertainty is the operating environment.

But while change is moving faster than ever, many organizations are still communicating with overly polished messaging that feels disconnected from reality. Audiences today can tell the difference between communication that sounds optimized and communication that sounds human.

can help us work more efficiently, but we cannot confuse speed with meaning.

In this new piece, Peppercomm VP Hannah Robbins shares why , clarity, and humanity matter more than ever in modern : https://shorturl.at/AOaab

By Hannah Robbins Let’s be honest. We are all a little exhausted by the pace of change right now.Every week seems to bring a new disruption, a new platform, or a new game-changing AI announcement (take a shot every time someone says AI-powered). Technology is moving so quickly that regulators, mar...

05/08/2026

This weekend and always, we celebrate the original storytellers, strategists and problem-solvers.

to the moms and mother figures who inspire us on and off the clock. 💐

05/04/2026

History doesn’t just happen—it’s witnessed.

In Part 1 of our latest Laughing Matters podcast, now on YouTube, Steven Cody & Paul Merchan sit down with legendary ABC News correspondent Jim Hickey, whose career placed him at the center of some of the world’s most defining moments.

From the Lebanese Civil War to apartheid-era South Africa, from Princess Diana’s funeral to a deeply personal moment with Desmond Tutu—Jim shares what it really means to be in the right place at the right time.

🎧 Tune in to hear:
• The mentor who changed his life overnight
• A surreal encounter with Yasser Arafat
• The reality of reporting global conflict
• Two funerals that revealed the starkest contrasts
• The moment he learned Nelson Mandela would be free

View the podcast here: https://lnkd.in/e39u5bxx
Listen now: https://shorturl.at/CJiue

In Part 1 of a special two-part miniseries on Laughing Matters, Steve Cody and Paul Merchan sit down with legendary journalist Jim Hickey, an Edward R. Murrow Award winner whose career spans some of the most defining global events of the past half...

04/30/2026

The Artemis II mission didn’t just take us back to the Moon, it reminded us how powerful human storytelling is in shaping perception.

In an era where AI dominates the narrative, NASA offers a masterclass in building trust:
➡️ Put people at the center
➡️ Be transparent about complexity
➡️ Own your narrative early

Read more from Peppercomm SVP Paul Merchan on what Artemis teaches us about reputation, trust, and communication in the age of AI: https://shorturl.at/wV24e

Let’s be honest – most of us wanted to be an astronaut at some point. There are few career choices that literally place you where only a handful of people have ever been. I think I might have written it down under the “what do you want to be when you grow up” section in my school years scrap...