A Brief Coffee With...

A Brief Coffee With Tasmin Lockwood, Freelance and Former Business Insider - Episode 04

In episode four of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy is joined by Tasmin Lockwood, a freelance journalist covering tech, climate, and impact across Europe.
From her time at CNBC to launching an independent newsletter, Tasmin shares how her perspective on journalism has evolved—and why human, impact-driven storytelling is more important than ever. They also explore the realities of freelancing, the decline of climate coverage, and how AI-generated commentary is changing the media landscape.
Key moments00:00 – Meet Tasmin Lockwood (freelance journalist)01:30 – Life on the road and recent work at CNBC03:00 – What she learned from covering global markets04:30 – Transitioning back to freelancing05:30 – What stories she’s looking for now06:30 – Balancing meaningful work vs paid work07:30 – Expanding into editorial strategy & consulting08:30 – The shift in tech media (Business Insider & beyond)10:30 – Why climate coverage is declining12:00 – Launching the Verdant newsletter13:30 – The role of independent media & Substack15:00 – Climate, energy, and global instability17:00 – Why human impact stories matter most18:30 – Quick fire: pitching, formats & timing20:30 – What PRs should stop doing21:30 – What founders get wrong in interviews23:00 – AI-generated content & “slop” in journalism24:30 – How to contact Tasmin

A Brief Coffee With David Savage, Tech Talks - Episode 03

In episode three of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy sits down with David Savage, host of Tech Talks, to explore what it really takes to create engaging conversations in podcasting.
From building one of the world’s most popular tech podcasts to producing documentary films, David shares how storytelling opens doors—and why the best interviews feel like conversations, not performances. They also dive into what makes a great guest, how to stand out when pitching, and how to make the most out of the content you create.
Key moments00:00 – Meet David Savage (Tech Talks)02:00 – The origin story of Tech Talks04:00 – What makes a great podcast guest05:30 – Why over-preparation can hurt interviews07:00 – Creating natural, conversational interviews08:30 – From podcast to documentary filmmaking10:30 – Standing out in a crowded content landscape14:00 – How to pitch podcast guests effectively16:00 – Quick fire: pitching, formats & timing18:30 – What PRs should stop doing19:30 – Why guests need to share content21:30 – Repurposing content across platforms23:30 – How to contact David
If you're looking for support with your communications, get in touch at cewcomms.com.

A Brief Coffee With Jane Wakefield, Freelance and Former BBC - Episode 02

In episode two of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy White sits down with Jane Wakefield, former BBC tech journalist and now freelance writer and podcaster, to explore what’s shaping today’s tech media landscape.
From the relentless pace of AI to the rise of sophisticated online scams, Jane shares what’s capturing her attention—and why human storytelling still matters more than ever. She also reflects on her shift from newsroom journalism to podcasting, and what founders and comms teams need to know to stand out.
Key moments00:00 – Meet Jane Wakefield (former BBC, freelance journalist & podcaster)01:10 – What’s on Jane’s radar: AI and scam stories02:30 – From BBC to freelance: career journey and shift in focus04:30 – Podcasting vs writing: how her work has evolved06:00 – What makes a great podcast guest07:30 – Why human stories and anecdotes cut through10:30 – How founders can find and tell their story13:00 – The role of vulnerability and relatability in storytelling15:00 – What makes a strong media pitch16:30 – Why simple, searchable emails work best18:00 – Quick fire: pitching, press releases & timing20:00 – What PRs should stop doing21:30 – Advice for founders speaking to journalists23:00 – How to contact Jane
If you're looking for support with your communications, get in touch at cewcomms.com.

A Brief Coffee With Cate Lawrence, Tech EU - Episode 01

In episode one of A Brief Coffee With…, Cathy White sits down with Cate Lawrence, Senior Journalist at Tech.eu, to unpack what really makes a story stand out in today’s fast-moving media landscape.
From AI saturation to health tech, sustainability, and Europe’s push for tech independence, Cate shares what’s catching her attention—and what founders and PRs need to know to cut through.
Key moments00:00 – Meet Cate Lawrence (Tech.eu)01:20 – Choosing events & avoiding burnout03:15 – What stories are getting attention now04:45 – What makes a strong founder story06:20 – The rise of younger founders06:45 – Beyond AI: health, materials & impact tech09:00 – Hype cycles & Europe’s tech momentum12:20 – Quick fire: how to pitch journalists13:40 – What PRs should stop doing14:40 – What founders get wrong16:30 – Why every pitch needs a clear “why”17:10 – How to contact Cate
 
If you're looking for support with your communications, get in touch at cewcomms.com.

A Brief Coffee With Teaser - Episode 00

A Brief Coffee With… is a podcast from CEW Communications, hosted by Cathy White, featuring honest, unfiltered conversations with journalists and content creators. In a fast-moving media landscape shaped by AI, shifting markets, and constant demand for content, we explore how stories are formed, what makes them stand out, and how to cut through the noise.From pitching and storytelling to media trends and startup coverage, this is your inside track on modern media—one brief coffee at a time.Join us for the first episode, live on April 21st.