The Penta Podcast Channel

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The state of play in M&A May 31, 2023

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This week on What's at Stake, host Elliott Owensby is joined by Penta experts Andy Whitehouse and Jill Craig to dive into the complicated mergers and acquisitions landscape companies are facing today. With a focus on the crucial role of communications and public affairs, they explore the complexities of completing transactions in today's uncertain macroeconomic environment while effectively managing stakeholder expectations.

What are the key developments shaping the M&A landscape in the US and EU? What are the ingredients of a successful M&A public affairs approach? And how can effective communication enhance the success and longevity of deals? Tune in as Elliott, Andy, and Jill share their expertise on these questions and more.

Macrocast: How long can the government run on E? May 26, 2023

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In this week's episode of the Macrocast, Ylan Mui, Brendan Walsh, and John Fagan tackle the looming issue of the approaching debt ceiling X-date, discussing the Treasury's decision to delay note auctions and the ripple effects the situation has had on the market. What can we expect from the Fed in the back half of this year? Does the White House have an ace up its sleeve in negotiations? And what does the "Taylor Swift economy" have to do with any of this? Tune in to this week's Macrocast to find out.

The insider's take on how to start your career in D.C. May 24, 2023

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In this installment of What's at Stake, we are going to our archives and re-visiting an episode perfect for recent graduates hoping to land a job in D.C. Penta President Matt McDonald spoke with Tom Manatos, Head of Federal Affairs at Block and the mind behind Tom Manatos Jobs, and Mo Elleithee, Executive Director of Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service. The trio break down the D.C. job landscape, explain the importance of building your network, and offer their best advice for young professionals trying to make it in our nation's capital.

Macrocast: Peanuts, power struggles, and the price of partisanship May 19, 2023

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Today's Macrocast is a special one! First, Ylan interviews Raphael Bostic, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, with whom she spoke earlier this week at the 2023 Federal Reserve Financial Markets Conference. The pair discuss how the Fed makes predictions and decisions to tackle economic crises. Bostic explains that the Fed has amended the way they survey the private sector, including engaging local business leaders early, in order to identify coming economic trends, like inflation and lay-offs. During the latter half of the episode, Ylan is joined by her co-hosts Brendan and John from Markets Policy Partners and Bryan DeAngelis, partner at Penta and host of What's at Stake, to recap this week's Macrocast Live panel discussion. The discussion featured Doug Holtz-Eakin, former Director of of the CBO and Chief Economist of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers and current President of the American Action Forum, and Wendy Edelberg, former Chief Economist at the CBO and current Director of The Hamilton Project and Senior Fellow of Economic Study at the Brookings Institution who shared their predictions and perspectives on the debt ceiling, looming default, and more.

Navigating the challenges of sustainable food production May 17, 2023

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On this week's episode of What's at Stake, Stratton Kirton hosts Penta Partners Andrea Christianson and Rory O’Donnell, who have both done extensive work on agriculture, food, and trade. With supply chain shocks, Russia's war in Ukraine, and climate change, there is a renewed spotlight on global food production and supply chains. In the U.S., Congress is writing a multi-year farm bill that will help shape what kind of food U.S. farmers grow, how they raise it, and how it gets to consumers. Similarly, in Europe, the agriculture and food sectors have been engaged in long-running initiatives to improve supply chain sustainability practices as pressure on the industry mounts.

Penta's experts tackle the questions at the forefront of industry leaders' minds: Amidst all the competing demands and complex challenges facing the agri-food sector, what should the sector's top priorities be? Which stakeholders have wielded the most influence on food policy topics, and what might be the best strategy to engage them?

Listen now to find out more.

Macrocast: The Fed takes on a new age of crisis May 12, 2023

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This week on the Macrocast, Ylan Mui, Brendan Walsh, and John Fagan sit down with Jeanna Smialek, Federal Reserve and Economics reporter for the New York Times and author of the book "Limitless: The Federal Reserve Takes on a New Crisis." The group explores the challenges the Fed tackled during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it has been navigating the political and economic aftermath since. As pandemic-era policy winds down, how can the Fed stay above the political fray? And how will upcoming discussions about the debt ceiling impact markets and federal policy? Tune in to find out.

Check out Jeanna's book here.

The future of work in a post-pandemic world May 10, 2023

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On the latest episode of "What's at Stake," Bryan DeAngelis hosts Penta Partner Lauren Wolfson and Managing Director Melissa Manson. With the Biden administration set to officially terminate the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, the group reflects on the changes to the way we work that have occurred since the pandemic began over three years ago, and explores the challenges and opportunities this new era brings.

Penta's experts begin by discussing which of their remote work predictions at the start of the pandemic have held up over time and which ones have become irrelevant or outdated. Later, they dive into why business leaders are pioneering the future of "phygital" office spaces and how companies can encourage clearer boundaries and maintain work-life balance for their employees in a remote or hybrid work environment.

Questions remain about where this new era will take us: Will client meetings be scheduled in the metaverse? How are labor market forces impacting hybrid work plans across industries? And is your company guilty of "flex-washing?" Listen now to find out.

Macrocast: A painless correction to the labor market? May 05, 2023

Show notes

On today's Macrocast, Ylan and Brendan host Wendy Edelberg, director of the Hamilton Project and a senior fellow in Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution. They break down this morning's latest jobs day numbers, which signal an optimistic outlook for the labor market, even as the economy shows signs of cooling. On the flip side, the group warns of the impact of inflation expectations on wages as the Fed continues to hike interest rates. Plus, how will political dynamics affect market volatility amidst these shifting tides? Tune in to find out.

Take a look at Penta's latest jobs day report here.

A modern monarch for a modern United Kingdom May 03, 2023

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On May 6, King Charles will have his formal coronation in London, nearly eight months after he ascended to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The coronation has been highly anticipated by royal watchers around the world, though not without criticism from some.
On today's episode, Bryan DeAngelis hosts Louise Stewart, a Penta Strategy partner based in London, to consider the real implications of the new king. They discuss the role of the modern British monarchy socially and economically in the United Kingdom. Bryan and Louise also break down what role the throne plays geopolitically for Great Britain, particularly during the post-Brexit era and with increasing calls for devolution from the regions of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth nations.
Finally, Bryan and Louise dive into how they would advise the royal family in navigating strategic communications and what everyone should be looking out for on Saturday when Charles is formally crowned in Westminster Abbey.

Macrocast: Slouching towards a recession Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

This week on the Macrocast, Ylan Mui, Brendan Walsh, and John Fagan sit down with John Dick, CEO and Founder of Civic Science, to dive into the latest economic sentiment index from Penta and Civic Science. The group also explores what the new GDP and PCE figures mean for consumers and the broader economic outlook. Recession fears are rising, but will the Fed tap the breaks or carry out another rate hike? And how do markets' fears of debt ceiling chaos play into the outlook? Tune in to find out.

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