CAPIO Chirp

Award 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.

Award 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.

Did 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.

When 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.

Are 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 job
Whether 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.