What happens when you create an agency that believes being loud can still be human?

In this episode of Accidentally Brilliant by Be Broadcast, Josh Wheeler is joined by Caroline Eardley, Co-Founder of Full Volume PR, a consultancy helping ambitious brands cut through the noise with authenticity, emotion and energy.

Caroline’s story is one of boldness and balance. From launching Full Volume with co-founder Rebecca to being named PR Moment’s Micro Agency of the Year, her career shows what happens when you mix creative courage with vulnerability.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How to build an agency that stands out for the right reasons

• Why honesty and openness create stronger leadership

• The real side of starting something new in PR

• What cutting through the noise really looks like

• Why embracing emotion is not a weakness but a strength

This is an inspiring and honest conversation about courage, community and what it means to lead from the heart. A reminder that brilliance often begins by accident.

About Caroline Eardley

Co-Founder of Full Volume PR, the award-winning consultancy helping brands stand out through creativity and authenticity.

Winner of PR Moment’s Micro Agency of the Year 2024.

Connect

Follow Caroline Eardley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolineeardley https://www.linkedin.com/company/full-volume-pr/

Learn more about Full Volume PR: https://www.fullvolumepr.co.uk

Follow Josh Wheeler and Be Broadcast: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/

Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro – Josh introduces Caroline and Full Volume PR

01:15 How Full Volume started and early memories of the first pitch

03:40 Building a new breed of agency for a noisy world

06:30 What it means to be loud, confident and emotionally honest

09:45 Why transparency and vulnerability build trust in leadership

12:20 Full Volume’s journey to PR Moment’s Micro Agency of the Year

15:00 The reality of running a modern PR agency behind the scenes

18:10 Balancing bravery and burnout in the creative industry

21:40 How Caroline approaches mentoring and collaboration

25:10 The importance of community and celebrating others’ success

28:35 Why authenticity beats perfection every time

33:00 Learning from failure and finding power in honesty

37:50 What it means to lead with heart and humanity

42:10 What makes Caroline Eardley “accidentally brilliant”

What if the secret to great PR was not about noise, but about clarity?

In this episode of Accidentally Brilliant by Be Broadcast, Josh Wheeler is joined by Daniel Cohen, Founder of Sentient, a boutique strategic and creative consultancy helping brands and agencies find their purpose, sharpen their thinking and spark meaningful change.

Daniel’s career has always been driven by one question: how can we make the complex simple? From working with global names like Electrolux, AEG and M&S to helping agencies rediscover their creative firepower, his work blends marketing, psychology and human insight to build stronger, more intentional connections.

In this episode, you will hear:

Why real creativity starts with curiosity, not chaos

How simplicity can be the most powerful strategy in business

The lessons Daniel learned from building Sentient from scratch

What brands often get wrong about connection

How to rediscover meaning and motivation in your work

Why slowing down can sometimes move you further forward

This is a thoughtful, grounded and inspiring conversation about leadership, creativity and the beauty of keeping things simple. It is a reminder that brilliance often begins by accident.

About Daniel Cohen Founder of Sentient, the boutique strategic and creative consultancy helping brands and agencies grow through clarity and creativity. Clients include Electrolux, AEG, M&S, Pernod Ricard and Treasury Wine. Connect Follow Daniel Cohen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-cohen-40845b8/ Follow Josh Wheeler and Be Broadcast: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/ Chapter Markers

00:00 Intro – The simplicity behind great communication

01:20 Daniel’s early career and finding his voice in PR

03:10 The philosophy of “making the complex simple”

06:00 Launching Sentient and the early lessons of entrepreneurship

09:15 How curiosity fuels creativity and clarity

12:40 Why brands overcomplicate their message

16:00 The connection between psychology, emotion and communication

20:25 The courage to slow down in a fast-paced industry

24:10 Working with clients like M&S, Electrolux and AEG

28:00 How to create work that feels meaningful and human

31:45 Why simplicity is often the hardest skill to master

35:00 Building trust, confidence and creativity in teams

39:10 What PR professionals can learn from marketing models

42:30 The future of simplicity in the age of noise

46:20 What makes Daniel Cohen “accidentally brilliant”

What if your entire career started with one phone call that changed everything?

In this second episode of Accidentally Brilliant by Be Broadcast, Josh Wheeler is joined by Yvonne Eskenzi – co-founder of Eskenzi PR, now celebrating its 30th anniversary, and co-founder of The Zensory, an app bridging productivity and wellbeing.

Yvonne didn’t plan a career in tech or cybersecurity. In fact, she started out at News International, helping young entrepreneurs get noticed before taking a leap to launch her own agency — from her home, with no clients, and a lot of determination. Thirty years on, she’s built one of the most respected names in technology PR, working with companies from startups to IPOs, and helping shape how the world talks about cybersecurity.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why the “one-minute rule” still defines great PR pitching.

• How Eskenzi PR became a global name in cybersecurity.

• Why PR will always be a people business — even in the age of AI.

• The truth about awards, success, and what really matters.

• How to build a career and business without losing your balance.

• The importance of staying creative, colourful, and true to yourself.

This is a joyful, insightful, and refreshingly honest conversation about creativity, trust, and longevity in PR — and a reminder that brilliance often begins by accident.

About Yvonne Eskenzi Co-founder, Eskenzi PR – the award-winning cybersecurity PR agency. Co-founder, The Zensory – the wellbeing and focus app. Winner of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise. Creator of the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber Awards and Unsung Heroes Awards.

Connect Follow Yvonne Eskenzi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneeskenzi/ Learn more about Eskenzi PR: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/

Chapter Markers 00:00 Intro – Accidentally Brilliant begins 01:15 From News International to starting out in PR 03:30 Taking a leap: founding Eskenzi PR 07:00 The first cybersecurity gig that changed everything 08:45 The one-minute rule and the nine-word email 10:25 The thrill of coverage and the power of persistence 13:20 Measuring share of voice and proving PR’s value 15:50 AI, trust, and the future of PR 20:25 Building confidence and handling the hard days 25:40 Why wellbeing matters – and The Zensory begins 37:45 Work-life balance and lessons from 30 years 43:00 Creativity, confidence, and being true to yourself 47:40 What makes Yvonne “accidentally brilliant”

What if your entire job was to imagine the worst-case scenario?

In this first episode of Accidentally Brilliant by Be Broadcast, Josh Wheeler is joined by Kate Hartley – co-founder of Polpeo, author of Communicate in a Crisis, and one of PR’s leading experts in how organisations respond under pressure.

Kate didn’t plan a career in crisis communications. In fact, she started out temping at Edelman stuffing envelopes before finding herself at the heart of the BSE crisis, major travel emergencies, and later, preparing IT systems for the Olympics. Fast-forward, and she’s built Polpeo, a pioneering crisis simulation company working with some of the biggest brands in the world.

In this episode, you’ll hear: Why so many brands get crisis response wrong – and how to do better.

The hidden pressures inside the boardroom: legal vs. comms vs. public perception.

How agency life in the 90s shaped her values (and why she refused certain clients).

The importance of authenticity and saying sorry, even when lawyers say you can’t.

How to protect your own wellbeing in a career built around adrenaline and pressure.

Why businesses must use their voice to stand up for diversity and inclusion.

This is an honest, funny, and insightful conversation for anyone in PR, marketing, or communications – and a reminder that the best careers often happen accidentally.

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About Kate Hartley Co-founder, Polpeo – the crisis simulation company.

Author of Communicate in a Crisis.

Named twice in Provoke Media’s Innovator 25 list.

Co-host of the podcast What Just Happened.

🔗 Connect Follow Kate Hartley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katehartley/ Learn more about Polpeo: https://polpeo.com/ Follow Josh Wheeler & Be Broadcast: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/ Chapter Markers

00:00 Intro – Accidentally Brilliant begins

01:19 Falling into PR at Edelman

02:48 Early crisis work – BSE & travel emergencies

05:25 Why brands fail in crises

07:50 Founding Polpeo & the Nestlé moment

09:14 Hardest moments in PR & staying true to values

11:26 LGBTQ+ rights, DEI & business responsibility

16:30 The psychology of crisis work (catastrophising)

20:59 Recovery, downtime & the power of choir singing

24:13 Advice to a younger Kate

26:15 Podcasting, curiosity & lifelong learning

28:50 What makes Kate “accidentally brilliant

Most of us don’t follow a perfect career plan. We stumble into opportunities, discover strengths, and build unexpected careers. In this first episode, host Josh Wheeler recalls the 5am moment that sparked his love for broadcast - and sets up Accidentally Brilliant, a podcast of honest, funny conversations with creative leaders about the quirks, challenges and lessons that shaped their journeys.

www.bebroadcast.co.uk

Most of us don’t follow a perfect career plan. We stumble into opportunities, discover strengths, and build unexpected careers. In this first episode, host Josh Wheeler recalls the 5am moment that sparked his love for broadcast - and sets up Accidentally Brilliant, a podcast of honest, funny conversations with creative leaders about the quirks, challenges and lessons that shaped their journeys.

www.bebroadcast.co.uk