Pitchin' and Sippin' with Lexie Smith – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, podcast producer Daniela Albertina shares key insights on effective podcast pitching and expected trends in 2025. Daniela Albertina is a seasoned podcast producer and marketing strategist with over seven years of experience helping storytellers and entrepreneurs amplify their voices and build authority in their fields. With a foundation in journalism and a background as a TV reporter and radio host, Daniela brings a unique storytelling approach to her work.

This week, Lexie Smith and Daniela Albertina dive into the evolving landscape of podcasting as we head into 2025, exploring critical trends and strategies for effective pitching. Lexie and Daniela provide actionable tips for maximizing the podcast guest experience, from preparing for recordings to promoting episodes after they go live. They stress the importance of research, connection, and authenticity in building rapport with hosts and audiences. With the rise of video podcasting and platforms like YouTube, they discuss the need to adapt content for different media, noting that a show's performance can vary significantly across platforms. Listeners will walk away with a clearer understanding of how to pitch effectively and navigate the complex world of podcasting in 2025, focusing on building genuine connections and delivering impactful content.

Here’s What You’ll Learn:

• Why downloads don’t always measure a podcast’s true value and how to find worth in smaller audiences.
• How can we focus on niche topics and reach an audience that’s truly interested rather than prioritizing large numbers alone?
• Tips on making your host feel comfortable and engaged can improve the interview and increase the likelihood of being invited back.
• How to work with or without show-provided graphics to amplify your episode after it airs, including creating your assets if necessary.
• Insights on why video-based podcasts on YouTube are rising and how to adapt content for YouTube’s SEO requirements.
• Tips on tailoring titles, descriptions, and tags for different platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram to increase reach.
• Despite shifts and how authentic voices drive podcast longevity, podcasts remain a powerful medium.
• From media training to research, learning how being a well-prepared guest can lead to more podcast opportunities.

Listener Links:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danyalbertina/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danyalbertina1989/featured

• Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/
• Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/
• Learn about Growth Mode Agency: https://www.growthmodeagency.com/
• Connect with Lexie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexie-smith-pr/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprbar_inc/

In this episode, Lexie Smith and Joni Sweet dive deep into the do's and don'ts of pitching for holiday gift guides, offering invaluable insights for publicists and brands eager to make their mark. Joni Sweet has been a writer, editor, and content strategist for over 13 years. Her work has been published by TIME, National Geographic, Forbes, Lonely Planet, SELF, Real Simple, Frommer's, and dozens of other publications. She also offers consulting services to help publicists deepen relationships with journalists, develop smarter pitching strategies, and troubleshoot challenges, earning media coverage for their clients. 

Joni shares her experience working with PR professionals, highlighting common pitfalls, such as excessive follow-ups and pitching irrelevant products. With holiday gift guide season in full swing, she emphasizes the importance of timely and targeted pitches.

Joni advises publicists to curate their submissions, showcasing only the most unique and giftable products rather than overwhelming her with options. She also explains her selection process for gift guides, which involves thorough organization and a keen eye for what resonates with readers. Tune in for essential tips on crafting compelling pitches, understanding seasonal trends, and navigating the competitive landscape of holiday gift coverage.

Here’s What You’ll Learn:

• Learn about frequent errors publicists make, like excessive follow-ups and irrelevant product pitches.
• Discover that opportunities for pitching gift guides can extend into November and December due to evolving trends.
• Get tips on curating your pitches—showcasing only the most unique and giftable products.
• Learn how Joni selects products for gift guides, including the need for diversity in price points and categories.
• Find the key elements that should be included in every pitch, such as product links and high-quality images.
• See how a writer's interests can influence the types of gift guides they create.
• Gain insights into how many follow-ups are appropriate and how to execute them respectfully.
• Understand the pitfalls of pitching through social media DMs and the preferred communication channels.

Listener Links: 

• Substack: https://jonisweet.substack.com/
• Website: https://www.jonimsweet.com/
• X: https://x.com/JoniSweet
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonisweet/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonisweetwriter/
• Flash Consulting: https://www.jonimsweet.com/coaching-services/p/flash-consulting

• Sun Moon Rising Wine - the world's first astrology-inspired wine brand - is offering all Pitchin' and Sippin' listeners 10% off their first purchase. Visit sunmoonrisingwine.com and use promo code PITCHIN10 at checkout.

• Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/
• Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/
• Learn about Growth Mode Agency: https://www.growthmodeagency.com/
• Connect with Lexie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexie-smith-pr/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprbar_inc/

 In this episode, Lexie Smith talks with Peter Shankman, a 6x best-selling author, speaker, and entrepreneur. In the world of media he is best known for founding HARO; an online service for journalists to gather feedback from the public, and a newer service called Source of Sources. Additionally, Peter is a marketing expert for several national and international news channels, including Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC, and is frequently quoted in major media and trade publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Daily News, The Associated Press, Reuters and USA Today.

Peter's conversation delves into the core principles of SOS, highlighting its simplicity and efficiency in connecting reporters with knowledgeable sources. He shares insights on how SOS improves upon its predecessor by incorporating the immediacy and directness that made HARO a game-changer in the PR world. Peter also offers valuable tips for crafting effective pitches, stressing the need for brevity and relevance. Tune in to discover how SOS is setting a new standard in media sourcing and learn from Peter’s extensive experience in both journalism and entrepreneurship.

Here’s What You’ll Learn:

• Discover how Peter transitioned from a journalism major and fashion photography student to a successful entrepreneur and media expert.
• Understand the origins and evolution of Help A Reporter Out (HARO), the revolutionary platform for connecting journalists with sources.
• Learn about SOS, Peter's latest venture designed to improve and simplify the way journalists find sources, and how it builds on his previous work with HARO.
• Explore how Peter built trust over his career and why it is crucial for successful PR and media relations.
• Discover why the immediacy of email communication was a key factor in HARO's success and how SOS maintains that principle.
• Gain insights into how Peter's personal network and interactions have contributed to his success and the growth of SOS.
• Learn about the strategic partnership between SOS and Muck Rack, and how it enhances the value of both platforms for journalists and sources.
• Understand the common pitfalls in PR and media relations, such as off-topic pitching and unnecessary preliminary information requests.
• Hear Peter's advice on how PR professionals can make journalists' lives easier and the broader impact of creating valuable, respectful relationships in media.

Social Links: 

• Website: https://www.shankman.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petershankman/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petershankman/?hl=en

• Sun Moon Rising Wine - the world's first astrology-inspired wine brand - is offering all Pitchin' and Sippin' listeners 10% off their first purchase. Visit sunmoonrisingwine.com and use promo code PITCHIN10 at checkout.
• Sign up For Lexie's Weekly Insider to Receive Insider Tips, Invites, & More at: https://theprbarinc.com/newsworthy/
• Ways you Can Work with THEPRBAR: https://theprbarinc.com/private-workshops/
• Learn about Growth Mode: https://www.growthmodeagency.com/
• Connect with Lexie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexie-smith-pr/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprbar_inc/

This week on the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ podcast, we are doing another solo recording by your host and yours truly, Lexie Smith. This episode is focused on reviewing and analyzing the State of PR 2021 Report by Muck Rack. I help break down all the big numbers and stats recorded from the more than 1600 surveyed communications professionals into a digestible audio format. Tune in to learn all about how PR teams build relationships, measure success, and leverage technology in 2021 - I also pull in a few considerations and comparisons from the State of Journalism Report 2021. 

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• A recap of the State of PR 2021 Report - report information produced by  Muck Rack
• Which challenges your PR and communications team faces
• The top challenges faced during the COVID-19 Era for PR Professionals
• What tech and tools PR teams use to do their jobs
• About the different social media tools PR pros said were the most successful
• What PR Pros say is most important in a successful pitch 
• What journalists want from you in your pitches - a look back at the State of Journalism Report 2021
• Seeing how PR will likely be  refined within the next 5 years and the industry’s  opinions on such
• And so much more, directly from your host! 

Find the Muckrack report here: https://info.muckrack.com/state-of-journalism-2021

To listen to the State of Media and Journalism Report. Tune into Episode 28. 

Snag Lexie's free Pitch it, Pitch it Good! Checklist at theprbarinc.com/pitchitgood

Interested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.

Instagram: @theprbar_inc

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Today we are talking with Jessica Abo who is a highly sought-after media trainer, storytelling coach, award-winning journalist, and best-selling author. Jessica started her public speaking career when she was only 15 years old and has spoken everywhere from TEDx, Facebook, Delta Airlines, Microsoft, WW, and the United Nations to hundreds of nonprofits and schools. Working more than 20+ years as a TV news anchor and reporter, Jessica has appeared on The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Access Hollywood, CBS, FOX, CNN, CNN Headline News, NY1, and more. Today, she uses her love of storytelling to produce content through her production company. You can watch Jessica's weekly business segments on Entrepreneur.com.

In today’s episode we dive into getting camera ready (specifically how to go from camera shy to camera ready) she gives us tips on how to show up unfiltered and authentically on social media, and we go into a rapid fire on her top pitching do’s and don'ts. Her favorite beverage is triple threat, just like her.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How Jessica Abo got into the world of journalism and public speaking
• The birth and creation of her book, Unfiltered, How to Be as Happy as Happy as You Look on Social Media
• How to determine your curated content for being on camera
• You’ll hear about her new workshop, How to Go from Camera Shy to Camera Ready
• When and how Jessica, as a member of the media, prefers to have pitches sent to her
• How Jessica left the TV industry and got a book deal
• How as a teenager, she got her own show with anNPR affiliate.
• 
  
• How to curate the content you show on social media to truly reflect your brand and/or yourself
• How to get more comfortable with getting yourself out there, and becoming more ‘camera ready.’
• How to best prepare for media interviews…
• Her top pitching do’s and dont’s
• And so much more!! 

Learn more about Jessica’s latest workshop/summer special: https://jessicaabo.samcart.com/products/confident-on-camera
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicaabotv/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicaabo/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JessicaAboTV/
Where to find her book: Unfiltered How to Be as Happy as You Look on Social Media: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/unfiltered-jessica-abo/1128665978
Entrepreneur.com Contribution: https://www.entrepreneur.com/video/series/jessica-abo
Where to find Jessica’s favorite drink, Lemon Perfect: https://lemonperfect.com/


Snag Lexie's free Pitch it, Pitch it Good! Checklist at theprbarinc.com/pitchitgood
Interested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.
Instagram: @theprbar_inc
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Rita Kakati-Shah is an award-winning gender, diversity, inclusion, and career strategist, best-selling author, TV show host, speaker and advisor to Fortune 500 companies, and the Founder and CEO of Uma, an international strategy, coaching and training platform that empowers confidence, inspires success and builds leadership and resilience in women and minorities. A keynote speaker and guest lecturer at academic institutions and global policy forums such as UNESCO (Paris), European Parliament (Brussels), Woman Who Matters (Moscow), and more, Rita’s expertise has been featured across many different media platforms such as the Wall Street Journal, CBS News, Fox News, Entrepreneur Magazine and Fast Company.

In today’s episode Rita and I dive into the global media landscape, we talk about the importance of having a point of view - and how one can effectively go about developing such - her journey with PR, speaking, and beyond.

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

• How Rita started her career in finance, as one of very few women and people of color on the trading floor
• Why Rita took time off from her career to raise her children for years and how raising a child is one of the hardest jobs a person to do
• How employers would see her gap in employment and write her off as non-ambitious and ways to turn the strengths of mothership into workplace skills
• The reason behind the name of Rita’s company, Uma, and what the basis for the business is
• Ways that confidence, networking, and connections play a factor in how your name gets out and the opportunities you receive
• What media platforms Rita finds that US-based viewers/listeners respond the best to including podcasts, digital magazines, newspapers, TV
• What other global audiences prefer when it comes to the media
• Rita’s favorite drink and how it differs based on where she is in the world, what time of day it is, and the mood that she’s in
• Much more!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rita.kakati/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rita-kakati/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rita.kakati
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeBoldBeUma

Snag Lexie's free Pitch it, Pitch it Good! Checklist at theprbarinc.com/pitchitgood

Interested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.

Instagram: @theprbar_inc

Today we’re talking with PR Pro Carolyn Sutton, Founding President of Carolyn Sutton PR, a boutique public relations firm specializing in local and national lifestyle clients, and Brand Your Brand™, a content creation company that creates meaningful, styled content for clients and brands across the country. With more than 18 years of public relations experience, Carolyn and her team go beyond the typical newsroom for stories by utilizing social media, bloggers, brand partnerships, relationships, and both online and traditional media to ensure each client’s story is told on multiple levels. Her clients have appeared in outlets such as Good Morning America, Bon Appetit, Family Circle, InStyle, The Oprah Magazine, Parenting, Real Simple, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Today Show, and many more.

In today’s episode Carolyn walks us through annual news cycles, specifically how they work, and how you can create one of your own, what general lead times are in the world of lifestyle PR, she schools us on lookbooks, how she personally generates relationships with the media, and reminds us to never discount the power of local press. 

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How Carolyn got her start at The Container Store in Dallas, which ignited her interest in organizing, targeting specific consumers, and opening stores, and then launching her own PR firm 12 years ago. Today she is the CEO of Carolyn Sutton PR and Brand Your Brand™.
• Tips on how to identify the proper media contacts and build long-lasting media relationships.
• How to cold pitch the media and land placement -  Carolyn herself got one of her clients into the New York Times recently through a cold pitch.
• What a news cycle is and how to create an annual news cycle for your company, brand, or client.
• She discusses lead times for print and digital within the lifestyle space. 
• She talk about her own firm’s pitching lead time and strategies - she explains what a lookbook is, how to create one, and how to use it with the media.
• Why you shouldn’t neglect your local press and media.

Visit Carolyn Sutton’s website to learn more about her content creation and services, or follow her on social media.

Instagram: ​​https://www.instagram.com/carolynsuttonpr/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-sutton-2722a36/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolynsuttonpr/

Snag Lexie's free Pitch it, Pitch it Good! Checklist at theprbarinc.com/pitchitgood

Interested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.

Instagram: @theprbar_inc

Other episodes referenced in the show:

• Episode 10: News Releases, Pay for Plays + White Burgundy with Guest Trifecta Toni Harrison
• Episode 17: Meet the Media: Refinery29, Mailers + Riesling with Thatiana Diaz

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Gesche Haas is the Founder and CEO of Dreamers & Doers, a private collective that amplifies extraordinary entrepreneurial women through thought leadership, authentic connection, and access. Dreamers & Doers has built a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem of over 34,000 women globally and also publishes a monthly newsletter, The Digest, that curates top resources for female founders. Gesche has been featured on Bloomberg TV, CNNMoney, The New York Times, Huffington Post, Business Insider, Forbes, Fortune Magazine, Refinery29, Vice, and other major media outlets, as well as at the United Nations, where she spoke during the sixtieth session of the Commission on the Status of Women. She is a regular content contributor to Nasdaq, Brit + Co, and 500 Startups. She has also won a multitude of awards including, but not limited to, Empowered Woman of the Year, Best Remote CEO, New York Talent Cultivators, Forbes Next 1000 2021, and many more. 

In today’s episode, we talk about all things Dreamers & Doers. We pull back the curtain on what goes into landing big media awards, what PR and visibility have done for Gesche and her community, the strategy behind her unique onboarding and membership process, and much more.

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

• What is Dreamers & Doers? Gesche talks about her collective and the “accident” that led her to start it. What is its differentiator?
• From brunch to business: Gesche walks us through the exact steps that she took to grow Dreamers & Doers.
• Gesche explains why they established a membership enrollment period and how it works. She also offers tips for anyone who is thinking about activating a similar strategy.
• What are the benefits for members? Gesche discusses the three pillars and why she chose visibility as one of them. She also discusses how they developed the media relationships to be able to offer such visibility opportunities.
• Gesche shares how awards and media features have helped her build credibility. How did she secure those awards? Gesche talks about the research and work you have to do to get a nomination first and offers tips to any entrepreneur looking to win an award themselves.
• What role did PR and social media play in Gesche’s career? She speaks about being strategic in your decision making and finding the right outlets that work for you and your audience.

Learn more about Gesche Haas and visit Dreamers & Doers to sign up for their newsletter and check the next enrollment period.

Instagram: @dreamersdoers

Facebook: @dreamyhumans

Twitter: @dreamyhumans

LinkedIn: @gesche

Snag Lexie's free Pitch it, Pitch it Good! Checklist at theprbarinc.com/pitchitgood

Interested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.

Instagram: @theprbar_inc

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Diane Schwartz is the CEO of Ragan Communications, a media and training company that serves communicators with best-in-class events, training, membership organizations and award-winning service journalism with the Ragan, PR Daily, Communications Week, and Workplace Wellness Insider brands. She joined Ragan in 2019 after 23 years at Access Intelligence, where she was senior vice president and group publisher of the Media Communications Group. A former journalist and author of two unfinished books, Diane serves on the board of the Institute of Public Relations, is a wish granter for Make-A-Wish and an avid volunteer. 

In today’s episode we learn all about the amazing Ragan Brands that Diane represents, what’s in store for the future of PR, a term called Mixternal Relations, service journalism, how to create meaningful relationships with the media and so much more.

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

• Diane’s path, from being a reporter for a daily newspaper to becoming the CEO of Ragan Communications.
• What services does Ragan Communications have to offer? Diane explains the different brands inside Ragan and the information each one of them has for the communicators.
• What is PR Daily? Diane walks us through the content on the site, how they stay on top of the news, and explains what she means by Mixternal Relations inside a company.
• How can you become a contributor to PR Daily? Diane talks about what they are looking for and things you should keep in mind if you want to pitch them.
• Diane discusses the changes in the PR industry in the last year and what we can expect in the future.
• Diane shares some golden PR tips for cultivating relationships with reporters and members of the media. 

Visit Ragan, PR Daily, and Workplace Wellness to find useful information for all communicators. You can also follow Diane on social media:

LinkedIn: @dianeschwartz

Interested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.

Instagram: @theprbar_inc

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Olivia Christian has been working as a brand strategist for over 15 years. Through her workshop, Own Your Story, Olivia coaches professional teams and one-on-one clients in a methodology for crafting a concise and compelling personal brand story.  She has shared her workshop with international audiences including corporate teams at Google, Twitter, and Visa, at conferences like Girlbossrally, and The Best Me Conference, and for non-profit organizations like Female Founder Collective. She’s the Executive Producer and host of The Game Last Night, and recently, she became an author after publishing her first book, “Ask Olivia: An Entrepreneur's Advice on the Entrepreneurial Life”—and by the way, it was a paid deal with Vistaprint!

In today’s episode, we talk about how to Own Your Story, where to get started in landing big-name partnerships, and how to make it on stage. She shares an exclusive perk to my listeners, and much, much more.

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

• Own Your Story. Olivia coaches people to create a concise and compelling personal brand story, as a way to introduce themselves and engage their audience.
• Olivia talks about her clients: how she started with female entrepreneurs and nonprofits and ended up being invited to share her work at Google, Facebook, and Twitter. 
• Becoming a speaker. Olivia has some advice for those that are starting or looking to land their first stage. 
• Olivia talks about how she launched her own sportscast and became an author. For her, it was all about pushing herself and creating those opportunities.
• How did she land a big-name partnership? Olivia shares her strategy on social media and things that you should keep in mind when developing your pitch.

Check Olivia’s website to learn more about her workshops and to know where you can buy her book. For our listeners, Olivia has a special Promo Code! Just type THEPRBAR and receive a 25% discount on your workshop purchase.

Instagram: @oliviachristian.co

LinkedIn: @oliviachristian1

Twitter: @game_lastnight

YouTube Channel

Learn more about the Ready Set Coach Program launching the week of July 12, 2021

Interested in learning more about Pitchin’? Book a Free Consultation here.

Instagram: @theprbar_inc

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