The State of the Story event series welcomed Baratunde Thurston in conversation with Gayle Troberman, as they uncovered a roadmap on how brands can be better “citizens.” 

Baratunde Thurston is an Emmy-nominated host who has worked for The Onion, produced for The Daily Show, advised the Obama White House, wrote the New York Times bestseller How To Be Black, delivered “one of the greatest TED talks of all time,” and most recently launched two podcasts: How To Citizen with Baratunde and We’re Having A Moment which CNET called “the most important podcast of 2020.” 

Gayle Troberman is a marketing innovator and visionary. As the President and CMO at iHeartMedia, Inc., she leverages the company’s extensive range of content, experiences, and technologies to bring brands together in new ways with consumers across all of the company’s businesses. 

Baratunde shared: “It's wild out there. Civil unrest. A divided populace. Woke astroturfing and fears of being canceled. Plus, we're all still reeling from the death of Quibi. We live in a time where people are seeking leadership and connection, purpose and power. It's also at a time in which folks referred to as ‘consumers’ expect more from brands and businesses.”

Listen to this important and candid conversation on-demand and get insight into:

• How to weave humor, sincerity and commitment to change into a brand's storytelling when hitting on tough topics;
• How iHeartMedia shifted from a mindset of “we have to do something” to “we need to do something”;
• What the role of marketers should be in 2021 and how brands can speak up and host inclusive conversations around the issues that continue to arise during this current climate. 

The State of the Story trends report is the basis for all of our conversations. Find the “How to Citizen for Brands and Businesses At a Time of Rupture & Rebuilding” report here. 

Our events—now virtual—are the cornerstone of The State of the Story community. The purpose behind our gatherings is to help leaders connect, learn and expand their perspective as we collectively define what’s new and what’s next in marketing.