Podcast
CAPIO Chirp
Hosted by CAPIO · EN
What's the Chirp? Brought to you by the California Association of Public Information Officials, join co-hosts Paul Hosley, Communications and Media Officer for the City of West Sacramento, and Lael Wagneck, Public Information Officer for Santa Barbara County Public Works as we connect with industry leaders, game changers and those advancing public communications.
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Make Waves at CAPIO 2026 in San Diego
Apr 2200:40:40Tap to summarizeThe countdown is on! ⏳ The annual CAPIO Conference returns the week of May 11 in San Diego! Are you ready to make some waves?In this episode of the CAPIO Chirp, we preview what’s ahead in conversation with CAPIO President-Elect Sonja Dosti, APR. Conference highlights include sessions on AI, social media, emergency response, media relations, and building public trust. Plus networking opportunities, tips for first-time attendees, and updates to this year’s EPIC Awards celebration.Don’t miss your chance to connect, learn, and be inspired.We also have some bonus material for you. At the conference, be sure to connect with our sponsors/vendors. We had an opportunity to talk with a couple of them at last year’s conference in Napa.📅 Register by April 27 at capio.org
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What it’s REALLY like to be a government PIO in the fire service
Mar 2700:36:01Tap to summarizeIn the latest segment, we're diving into what it’s REALLY like to be a government PIO in the fire service. 🚒💬Learn how a former TV reporter and social media influencer use their backgrounds to help create award winning fire communications content. Every day is different: from posting alerts on working fires to educating the public about illegal fireworks, highlighting “What’s for Lunch” at the firehouse and even showing crews rescuing cats from trees! Takeways:How to make viral, eye-catching reels from popular trends (and do them even better) How to convince staff to become "actors" in video content creation. 🎥Tips for encouraging firefighters to capture video on the scene. 🚨📱Which social platforms will get your messages to the right people? 🌍And YES, bloopers. Because even firefighters have their moments! 😂👉 Listen now
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Harnessing the power of AI Tools
Mar 500:36:47Tap to summarizeAI is evolving fast and it’s changing how PIO’s communicate every day.In this episode, we chat with Chris Shepard, Communications Officer for the City of Folsom, about how best to harness the power of advanced AI tools.Chris explains how to use platforms like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Claude to save time, spark ideas, and strengthen your messaging.Whether you’re experimenting with AI or ready to level up your strategy, this conversation is packed with practical tips you can start using right away.🎧 Give it a listen and join us on CAPIO Chirp!Staying Ahead: Continuous AI LearningAI NewslettersTLDR Newsletter: Get daily digests of top tech, AI, and programming news.Podcasts & YouTubeThe AI Daily Brief: Comprehensive daily updates on AI, available on all major podcast platforms and YouTube.@JeffSu on YouTubeInfluential AI Voices on X, LinkedInAndrej Karpathy (@karpathy)Sam Altman (@sama)Allie Miller (@alliekmiller)Andrew Ng (@AndrewYNg)
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Interviews with CAPIO's Special Award Winners - Part II
Jan 2300:27:05Tap to summarizeAward season is here and it’s time to celebrate excellence in public communication! In this special episode, we dive into CAPIO’s prestigious Special Awards, recognizing the individuals shaping the future of public communication, through leadership, innovation, and service. We sit down with last year’s honorees, including the Communicator of the Year, Crisis Communications Leader, Rising Star, and the distinguished Paul B. Clark Award recipient. Hear what inspires them and get an inside look at what it takes to achieve award-winning excellence. This episode features interviews with CAPIO's 2025 Communicator of the Year, Melody Hendrickson and 2025 Rising Star, Jayli Barkley.
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Interviews with CAPIO's Special Award Winners - Part I
Jan 2300:37:13Tap to summarizeAward season is here and it’s time to celebrate excellence in public communication! In this special episode, we dive into CAPIO’s prestigious Special Awards, recognizing the individuals shaping the future of public communication, through leadership, innovation, and service. We sit down with last year’s honorees, including the Communicator of the Year, Crisis Communications Leader, Rising Star, and the distinguished Paul B. Clark Award recipient. Hear what inspires them and get an inside look at what it takes to achieve award-winning excellence. This episode features 2025 Paul B. Clark Award recipient John Pope and 2025 Crisis Comms recipient Jennifer Nance.
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Making the Leap: Moving from Reporter to PIO
Dec 2200:41:21Tap to summarizeDid you know that more than half of today’s Public Information Officers started their careers as journalists? In this episode, we sit down with three CAPIO members who made the leap from reporting the news to shaping it in the PIO world. They share candid stories about their transition, the skills they carried over, and how this growing trend could pave the way for future PIOs.
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Be Ready for Anything: Leading Communications During the January 6 Capitol Riot
Nov 300:28:27Tap to summarizeWhen the unthinkable happens, leadership and preparation are everything. Join our conversation with Dustin Sternbeck, current Chief Communications Officer for the City of Denton, Texas, as he reflects on directing communications for the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department during the January 6 Capitol riot. Hear powerful lessons on documentation, teamwork, and staying composed when every decision counts.
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Authenticity: Is Being Real Always the Right Call?
Oct 100:25:46Tap to summarizeAre you being authentic — or just playing the part? This week on the CAPIO Chirp, we dive deep into what it really means to be authentic as a public information officer.Join us as we chat with Dr. Chris Hopwood, personality psychology expert from the University of Zurich, to explore:✅ What authenticity actually is (and isn’t)✅ How it shows up — and why it matters — in public communication✅ When “being real” helps… and when it might hurt✅ Comedy, irony, and sharks in rivers (yes, really)✅ How to stay true to yourself while still doing your jobWhether you're managing public messaging, facing online trolls, or navigating policies you don't agree with — this episode is for you.🎧 Listen now and discover how to lead with honesty, empathy, and resilience.
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Crisis Comms in Action: Fire at City Hall!
Aug 500:29:08Tap to summarizeAs government communicators, we spend a lot of our time making sure residents in our cities, counties, and districts are informed about important information, especially in times of emergency. This public messaging is key, and we’re often the first ones to know and are responsible for getting word out the right way. But what do you do when it happens to you? In this episode, Chino Hills Community Relations Manager Valarie McClung and Public Information Officer Nicole Freeman discuss how they responded to a fire at their City Hall and continued to provide services to their community.
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Preparing for and Facilitating Community Meetings
Jun 2700:21:29Tap to summarizeHolding a meeting is more than logistics, it's about how you prepare. There is much to consider, whether you are having a town hall to discuss a significant capital project or a planning session with a half-dozen stakeholders. How have you prepared yourself and your team mentally and emotionally? What are your goals? What are the needs and goals of your community? On this episode of The Chirp, we speak with Davenport Institute Executive Director Maureen Tobin about how to prepare yourself and your team, set clear agendas with defined goals, and encourage participation.
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