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Cogcast explores the unique challenges of marketing in fintech and financial services. We host conversations with industry experts navigating regulation, building trust, and reaching sophisticated audiences in finance and technology.
From Cognito, the integrated communications and digital agency specializing in finance, investment, and fintech. We help companies cut through complexity to connect with their audiences. More resources are available on cognitomedia.com
From Cognito, the integrated communications and digital agency specializing in finance, investment, and fintech. We help companies cut through complexity to connect with their audiences. More resources are available on cognitomedia.com
33 Episodes
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Caroline Nihill, reporter at IT Brew covering cybersecurity and IT strategy, joins Larissa Padden to discuss her unconventional path from fashion writing to tech journalism and her firm stance against using AI in her reporting. Caroline reveals why she believes the most effective pitches focus on expertise over product launches, and how she finds unique story angles that resonate with human readers.We explore the stark divide between Gen Z's AI skepticism and corporate enthusiasm, the reality of covering emerging threats like pig butchering scams, and why Caroline believes journalism is one field where AI shouldn't replace human creativity. She shares her best and worst case scenarios for AI's future, from a Clueless-style wardrobe assistant to complete human replacement and offers candid advice for PR professionals trying to build meaningful relationships with tech reporters in 2025's rapidly evolving media landscape.
Diana Britton trashes half her daily pitches before reading past the subject line. The WealthManagement.com Executive Editor wants CEOs who will actually say something, not PR-trained robots. Plain language, not "leveraging synergies." The first trillion-dollar RIA, not the five hundredth firm to hit $500M.She also runs The Healthy Advisor, exploring why financial advisors face higher addiction and burnout rates than other professions. The connection: both roles reveal an industry eating itself alive. Her podcast guests—many cancer survivors—describe how near-death experiences changed their relationship with the eat-what-you-kill mentality that defines wealth management.Britton's been covering this space since 2010. Your market commentary pitch? Bloomberg already has it. Your client's milestone? Nobody cares unless it changes the industry. Want coverage? Give her something her readers can use Monday morning, not another vendor sales pitch disguised as thought leadership.The Jesse H. Neal Award winner's verdict: most executives say nothing, most pitches die unread, and most advisors are burning out. She's documenting all of it.
In this episode of Cogcast, host Larissa Padden sits down with Geoffrey Barraclough, founder of The Business of Payments newsletter and part-time Westminster City Council member. Geoffrey shares his unique journey from payment industry executive to influential Substack creator, offering insights into how the media landscape is evolving beyond traditional journalism.He reveals how major payment companies are building relationships with newsletter creators, why some $10 billion companies remain under-covered by mainstream media, and how PR professionals can effectively engage with this new breed of industry influencers. Geoffrey also provides a fascinating perspective on the differences between U.S. and global payment systems, and shares which PayTech companies are truly innovating in the space.
In this episode of Cogcast, Larissa Padden sits down with Jennifer Riggins, a tech journalist who's spent 16 years bridging the gap between developers and business value. With her unique perspective as a non-technical writer covering developer experience and the culture of tech, Jennifer offers insights on AI's real purpose in the workplace, the importance of protecting junior developer roles, and why every PR professional needs to understand the human stories behind technology. From Formula 1 engineering to the environmental cost of data centers, discover why the most interesting tech stories are always about people, not features, in this episode
In this episode of Cogcast, special guest host Hannah Porritt interviews Leslie White, senior director, marketing and global head of digital channel performance and strategy at Aon. Sharing lessons learned from her self-proclaimed roots as a nerd and her beginnings “reverse engineering websites, Leslie shares invaluable lessons from experience – with includes affiliate marketing, Google Ads, CRMs, and now LinkedIn. Leslie and Hannah have a great time nerding out on what success with digital marketing looks like, how the landscape of LinkedIn is shifting, and what metrics matter.
In this episode of Cogcast, host Larissa Padden interviews Masha Angelova, Editorial Producer at the US Chamber of Commerce and creator of their show, The Call. Drawing from her extensive experience as a booking producer at CNN and Yahoo Finance, Masha shares invaluable insights into what gets PR pitches noticed, what makes for successful broadcast appearances, and why she pivoted from fast-paced news to more in-depth analysis. For PR and communications professionals looking to place clients in broadcast media or improve their on-camera presence, this episode provides a masterclass in broadcast media relations from someone who's been the gatekeeper.
In this episode of Cogcast, host Larissa Padden speaks with Esther Shittu, an AI News Writer for TechTarget. Esther shares her journey from TV production to tech journalism and explains what PR professionals need to know about the evolving AI landscape. She breaks down the concept of agentic AI in simple terms, discusses what stories currently interest her, and reveals how to pitch effectively in the crowded AI media space. Esther also provides insight into common AI misconceptions and shares details about her podcast ventures, including her journey as the host of the Targeting AI Podcast and her upcoming personal project for working mothers launching June 2nd, Busy Moms Get it Done.
In this episode of Cogcast, host Larissa Padden speaks with financial reporter Mallika Mitra about her journey in journalism and transition to freelancing. Mallika shares insights from her career path through CNBC, Bloomberg, and Money.com before becoming a freelance writer for publications like Barron's, Kiplinger, and Business Insider. She discusses how freelancing has paradoxically provided more job security in today's volatile media landscape, her process for building stories, and her relationship with PR professionals. Mallika also explores her passion for reporting on generational trends in finance, particularly how younger generations approach money differently than their predecessors and the increasing openness about financial matters among Gen Z and millennials.
In this episode of Cogcast, Larissa Padden sits down with Michael Thrasher, a seasoned journalist who has spent over a decade covering wealth and asset management. Thrasher shares his journey from working at Institutional Investor magazine to founding Modus News, a newsletter dedicated to family office professionals. Michael sat down to talk about the decision to strike out on his own, how he works with PR as a founder versus a reporter, and how media has changed since his days at a daily print newspaper in Ohio.
Michelle Chan, sustainable finance and ESG reporter at The International Financing Review (IFR), discussed her career transition from Nikkei Asia to The Wall Street Journal and now to IFR. She highlighted IFR's paywall-protected business model and shared her thoughts on the future of ESG including the potential impact of the incoming Trump administration.
Rachel Curry, a freelance reporter contributing to CNBC and Observer, discussed her journey into freelancing, emphasizing the importance of pitching to editors and building relationships. She highlighted the challenges of standing out amidst numerous pitches and the value of relevant, non-trite stories, particularly in tech and AI. Curry also announced her upcoming newsletter, "Acronym," set to launch in December 2024, which aims to cut through corporate jargon and focus on impactful, candid stories. She noted the shift towards newsletters and the evolving media landscape, including her teaching journalism in Australia, which now includes multimedia forms like TikTok and podcasts.
Global Capital’s U.S. Bureau Chief Oliver West joins Cogcast to discuss the delicacies of banker-source relationships, reporting on the capital markets and the value in speaking with the trade media – despite the paywalls. In this latest episode, Olly talks about his career journey from covering Latin American bonds to the U.S. ABS market as well as how he prefers to work with sources and the balance between on the record and on background when covering the capital markets.
From his early days writing headlines in India to his current role as US e-commerce and retail correspondent at Reuters, reporting on big business in the U.S. Siddharth Cavale puts into context the global trends that bring goods to your stores.In the latest episode of Cogcast, Siddharth shares his career journey at Thomson Reuters with Account Director and former reporter Larissa Padden, as well as how he prefers to work with sources and what it takes to be included in his stories.Siddharth also discusses the global impacts that dictate what appears in stores and when items hit the shelves.
TSAM New York is the premier event, convening the leaders of Asset Management. Andrew Kerry, CEO of Foxon Media, joins Vanja Lakic for a conversation on this year’s event themes, headline speakers and what’s next for the conference. From AI, data and client-centric innovations, dive into the latest episode of Cogcast for a glimpse of the prominent themes and technologies moving the Asset Management space.
In this episode of Cogcast, Michaela Morales, Cognito’s in-house wealth management expert, sits down with Toby Salinger, Chief Correspondent at Financial Planning, to explore the evolving landscape of wealth management. They dive into the rise of independent advisors, the ongoing wave of industry consolidation, and how private equity is reshaping the sector. Toby shares insights on the increasing integration of tax planning into wealth management, the game-changing role of AI and technology, and the latest investment trends in a volatile market. Whether you’re a financial advisor or simply interested in the future of wealth management, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.
From her days reporting on ESPN to teaching the next generation of reporters, Jane McManus has witnessed how both the sports industry and journalism’s role in world have evolved first-hand.In the latest episode of Cogcast, Jane shares her career journey within sports with Account Director – and former student – Vanja Lakic, from her early days covering The Jets, the social media’s democratization of information, and her upcoming book on how women’s sports are finally getting their due.Jane also shares, as a veteran sports journalist, unique angles on covering the upcoming Paris Olympics and how AI could have been used in the lead-up to the global event.
Every second counts. James Faris Senior Investing Reporter at Business Insider stresses the importance of a more discerning focus when pitching. Investing your time in strategic outreach can lead to better results that require less work. Find more about his journey and what he’s currently reporting on in the newest episode of Cogcast with Account Director Larissa Padden.
Tech PR specialist Vanja Lakic spoke with her Cogcast co-host Larissa Padden about what she’s expecting to see at this year’s Collision conference, one of the biggest tech events in the world, Vanja talks about the opportunities for firms looking to make a splash, differences between the US and Canadian media landscapes and what you need to know about pitching Canadian journalists. Listen to Vanja’s take in the latest episode of Cogcast.
From her days reporting on Capital Hill, North and South Carolina, communications professional Liz Wellinghorst witnessed the comms evolution first-hand.In the latest episode of Cogcast, Liz shares her career journey with Account Director, Larissa Padden including the struggles she faced as an up-and-coming TV news reporter and the invaluable lessons from journalism she’s taken into her current role as the Director, Regional Integrated Marketing at the American Cancer Society.
“There should be more objectivity where you’re looking at both sides of an issue and there’s just not enough of that.” Journalist and Postcast Host of Foundry’s ‘Today in Tech,’ Keith Shaw joins Account Director Vanja Lakic to speak about his career as a journalist and podcast host and his thoughts on the future of podcasts. From how to start a podcast, AI in journalism to the lack of objectivity when exploring topics, Keith offers his expertise in the latest episode of Cogcast.
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