Explore every episode of the podcast Pitchin' and Sippin' with Lexie Smith
Dive into the complete episode list for Pitchin' and Sippin' with Lexie Smith. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.
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Pitching Podcasts and Podcast Trends for 2025 with Podcast Producer Daniela Albertina
07 Nov 2024
00:38:17
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.
Holiday Gift Guide Pitching Dos and Don'ts with Freelance Writer and Editor Joni Sweet
31 Oct 2024
00:34:13
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.
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.
Next-Gen HARO - Source of Sources (SOS) with Entrepreneur Peter Shankman
22 Aug 2024
00:31:04
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.
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.
State of PR 2021 Report With Lexie Smith (Your Host!)
25 Aug 2021
00:14:23
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
Entrepreneur.com + Getting Camera Ready with Jessica Abo
18 Aug 2021
00:32:30
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.’
Developing a Global Media Strategy and Point of View with Rita Kakati-Shah
11 Aug 2021
00:35:16
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
Creating an Annual News Cycle & Lookbook for Your Brand with PR Pro Carolyn Sutton
03 Aug 2021
00:34:08
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.
Amplifying Visibility and Winning Big Media Awards with Gesche Haas of Dreamers & Doers
22 Jul 2021
00:35:11
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.
The Future of PR & Mixternal Relations with PR Daily’s Diane Schwartz
15 Jul 2021
00:35:27
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:
Landing Big Partnerships & Book Deals with Olivia Christian of Own Your Story
08 Jul 2021
00:37:16
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.
The Next Big Social App - Greenroom, TikTok and Clubhouse with Influencer Giselle Ugarte
01 Jul 2021
00:41:04
Today’s guest, Giselle Ugarte is the definition of a guest trifecta—although her resume and skill set go far beyond the power three. A former radio personality, television host, and, at one point, a full-time blogger, today Giselle is a motivational speaker, online performance coach, marketing consultant, and a social media early adopter, influencer, and master of TikTok with more than 60M views, and counting.
In 2021 she officially launched Action-Forward, which exists to educate forward-facing influencers, entrepreneurs, and thought-leaders to use the power of social media to build new revenue streams and attract meaningful online communities.
Today’s episode is full of powerful lessons on personal and professional growth. She discusses how to identify what social media platform is going to be the next big thing—all while introducing us to an all-new community-centric social app called Greenroom—literally fresh off the press, how to grow organically…and so much more.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Giselle’s journey in the media. From working on a radio station, to launching her own YouTube channel when YouTubers were not a thing as a way to build her career and get on TV.
Giselle shares one tip she received when she started her journey: learn a little bit of everything in your career. She discusses how that can help you to be better at your business and with the people you work with.
How Giselle discovered which is going to be the next big social media app? And how is she able to adapt to each platform? She gives us a heads-up of the next big thing: Greenroom - recently purchased by Spotify
Action-Forward: Giselle’s new project is all about creating strategies and coaching entrepreneurs, influencers, and thought-leaders in building a community and making meaningful connections on social media.
Visit Giselle Ugarte to know about her Action-Forward and services, or follow her on social media.
Skyrocket Your SEO with PR - Entreprenista's Stephanie Cartin Shares Secrets to Success
24 Jun 2021
00:40:15
An entreprenista at heart, today’s guest—Stephanie Cartin walked away from her corporate career in 2012 to follow her passion to launch SocialFly, a leading social-first digital and influencer marketing agency based in New York City that has been named to Inc. 5000's fastest-growing private companies two years in a row. Stephanie is also the co-host of the Entreprenista Podcast and the co-founder of Entreprenista, a platform to highlight successful female founders. Also a co-author, Stephanie has shared her knowledge and expertise in Bloomberg, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Refinery29, and CheddarTV. Stephanie is the recent recipient of the SmartCEO Brava Award, which recognizes the top female CEOs in New York, and a Stevie Award for Women Run Workplace of the Year.
In today’s episode, we dive into the world of entrepreneurship, how Stephanie recently launched Entreprenista’s newest membership community, the role PR has played in her career, how press affects SEO, and much more.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Stephanie’s entrepreneurial journey. How she saw the opportunities that social media would bring in the early days of Facebook and how and why she co-founded SocialFly, a social-first digital and influencer marketing agency.
What is Entreprenista and how did it start? Stephanie talks about her passion to help other entrepreneurs build their businesses. She goes into how Entreprenista developed from a podcast to a media site, and now, a full networking community.
Her business plan. Stephanie shares how she and her co-founder built their business.
Stephanie talks about how to stand out in a saturated market. With so many communities nowadays, you have to figure out how to make yours different. Stephanie explains their research and how they use social media to connect with their audience.
What can media features do for you? Stephanie reviews how you can use press to create and build your credibility.
Backlinks, SEO, and PR. She uses DigiCards, a product that they developed, as an example.
Building An Engaged Community with PR Girl Manifesto Founder Fatou Barry
17 Jun 2021
00:45:08
We are kicking off season 2 with the one and only Fatou Barry—a Guinean-born, NYC-raised cultural strategist best known for her work in communications and community building. Fatou is the founder of AB Media Group and PR Girl Manifesto, a digital community of over 40,000 professionals in the communications field. The community works to re-imagine the PR and Communications space while supporting its constituents through access to resources, fellowship and mentorship. Fatou’s work is influenced by her desire to bridge equity gaps for young womxn of color. She has created several spaces to grow and nurture this community by sharing knowledge and experience to generate opportunities. This includes the launch of Hold The Press, a grassroots initiative co-founded by Fatou that calls for action, accountability, and transparency in the Public Relations industry for Black people.
In today’s episode, we talk about how to build a highly engaged community, the next major call to action that is needed in the Public Relations industry—and the world—and how anyone from a single comms professional to a founder of a global agency can support the Hold The Press Initiative.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Fatou shares her non-linear journey into PR, from building fan pages in high school to finally landing her first job doing PR and social media to eventually starting her own agency.
What led her to found PR Girl Manifesto? Fatou talks about the importance of building a diverse community in the PR industry.
Fatou discussed how she organically grew the PR Girl Manifesto community.
Fatou co-founded Hold The Press - An initiative to call for action inside the PR Industry. Fatou explains their work, the reception they had and what they ask and request from all companies and professionals within the industry.
What can you do? Fatou believes that everyone can help to build a more diverse industry. She asks you to be an accomplice.
Fatou talks about her work with AB Media Group: a multidisciplinary agency committed to helping brands to develop their community and have a social impact.
Journalist & Communications Pro Imani Bashir on When to Pitch a Freelancer and Creating Measurable Content Strategies
15 Aug 2024
00:36:02
Journalist and communications pro Imani Bashir joins Lexie to talk about when to pitch a freelancer and how to create measurable content strategies. Imani Bashir is a media professional with over 13 years in the field of communications. She began her career in sports broadcasting, covering collegiate sports and in 2015 made the decision to move abroad. Imani has lived in five countries and has written for some of the most prestigious publications worldwide, including The New York Times, Forbes, Glamour Magazine, Travel + Leisure, and more. In 2021, she was the recipient of Adweek's "Shine 'A' Light Award" for her dynamic voice as a journalist and content within the travel industry. Today, in addition to being a freelance journalist, she serves as the Director of Communications of BEAM (The Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective).
In this first episode of season 7, Imani Bashir recounts how her experiences, from launching a luggage company during the pandemic to navigating the complexities of her current role, have shaped her approach to creating impactful content. Imani emphasizes the importance of aligning content with an organization’s mission and measuring its effectiveness through both quantitative metrics and qualitative feedback.
The conversation also explores Imani’s process for pitching and managing freelance assignments. She discusses the balance between cold pitching and responding to incoming opportunities, highlighting the importance of understanding the unique needs of each publication and editor. Whether it’s crafting a compelling story from a PR pitch or ensuring that content resonates with its intended audience, Imani offers valuable insights into the art of effective communication and strategy.
Here’s What You’ll Learn:
How Imani Bashir got her career start
Best practices for pitching freelancers effectively.
Strategies to create content that delivers measurable results.
Insights into the evolving role of freelancers in the media landscape.
Tips for crafting compelling pitches that capture attention.
Imani Bashir's experiences and lessons from working with top publications.
Key factors that contribute to successful content strategies.
More about BEAM and their experiential learning style
We’re officially wrapping up season 1 of the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ podcast, and in honor of such, we’re doing something a bit different today. I’ve decided to solorecord and give you a quick run-down of the “State of the Media in 2021.” Every year I look forward to receiving the latest and greatest industry stats—the two reports that I consistently reference are produced by Muck Rack and Cision. First we’ll review key findings from Muck Rack’s “The State of Journalism 2021” study and report. Then, we dive into Cision’s 2021 Global State of the Media Report. By the end of the episode you’ll have some hard stats and facts on exactly what makes those in the world of journalism and PR tick!
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Journalists preferences. Find out about who they consider to be credible sources, relevant social media platforms, and what makes digital content more shareable.
What journalists look for in a pitch. Learn about their ideal length, days and times to be pitched, and when you should do a follow up. Cision includes different ways to help you create a successful pitch.
How COVID and all 2020’s events impacted the media.
Brittany Mobley is a Publicist, graphic and web designer, and the owner of Culturit Public Relations and Design Co. based out of West Bloomfield, Michigan. In today’s episode, Brittany and I talk about how she managed to scale a six-figure agency during the pandemic as a first-time mom and while securing a masters degree. She gives us her best PR dos and don’ts, resources that have helped her scale, what it means to be blacklisted in PR, and much more.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Brittany landed a job after college in an agency, working with giant clients such as Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Brittany went from working in an agency to freelancing. She talks about the importance of networking and how she landed her first clients.
Brittany scaled her business to six figures during the pandemic: Brittany analyzes the factors that took her business to the next level and how she adapted her company to keep up with the increasing number of clients.
The value of PR: what can a publicist do for you and your brand? How do media placements impact your business?
Brittany shares advice for entrepreneurs, agency owners, or just people that are juggling “all the things” all the time.
The dos and don’ts when pitching the media and what it means to get PR blacklisted.
Visit Culturit to learn what Brittany can do for you. Or follow her on social media:
Monica Medellin is a director, producer, CEO, and co-founder of The Gnar Gnar Honeys. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Monica focuses on stories related to diversity, identity, and social justice. Her work has been featured on Vice, Conde Nast, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, and at The Women’s March on Washington. Previously a video producer at The Los Angeles Times and Define American, and a member of the Global Social Content team for the World Surf League, today Monica works full time as the CEO and Co-Founder of The Gnar Gnar Honeys—a creative collective of directors, producers, cinematographers and editors that bring a fresh perspective to filmmaking through authentic collaborations and unapologetic badassery.
In today’s episode, Monica and I dive into the world of filmmaking and authentic storytelling. We talk through the importance of inclusivity not just on the camera, but also behind the scenes, and what really goes into creating and producing genuine and successful content.
Highlights:
Monica walks us through her journey after college, from working at the LA Times, to the creation of The Gnar Gnar Honeys, she was able to blend her passion for filmmaking and sports with stories that focused on authentic storytelling, diversity, and inclusion.
At the LA Times, Monica was part of a diverse team with different perspectives. This helped them to create short documentaries about issues that affected different communities and to connect and build trust with them.
What does it mean to be a director or a producer? Monica gives us a quick break down of both roles.
Monica’s work has been featured across many major media outlets. She talks about how she landed such coverage.
What is The Gnar Gnar Honeys? A collective of women that share a common passion for sports and creative industries. They make content that resonates with other women while working to get more diverse women behind the camera.
How do you create authentic, engaging, and successful content? Monica shares her best tips.
If you want to know more about Monica, visit her website or follow her on Instagram or Twitter.
Visit The Gnar Gnar Honeys website and follow them on Instagram and Twitter to keep up to date with their work.
Kaikaina is officially available on Togethxr today!
Interested in trying a new drink? Check the matcha of Sachi.
We’re talking with Kim Argetsinger, a mindset coach, business mentor, and podcast host who’s obsessed with how the brain works, all things mindset, business psychology, and relationship-based marketing and PR. She holds a BA in Psychology with honors from the University of Miami and is a Mentor Masterclass Certified Life Coach. Featured as an expert and coach across dozens of outlets and podcasts, Kim’s built her own booked out, multi-six-figure business without ads or complicated funnels.
Kim believes there’s nothing more powerful than combining clarity, mindset, strategy, and aligned action when it comes to business success…and that’s exactly what we get into in today’s show. If you’ve ever felt resistance to the spotlight, frustration when pitching, fear that there’s just too much competition…or really experienced any form of self-doubt when it comes to whether your worth of press or not…listen up because this episode was made specifically for you.
Highlights:
Kim is a mindset coach and business mentor. She talks about her work, what it entails, and her life leading up to coaching.
Lexie plays out real-life scenarios for Kim, so she can help listeners learn how to approach them from a mindset stance.
Tracking your fears. Many entrepreneurs are afraid to do PR. Kim knows that fear is normal and expected, but putting yourself out there is what ultimately can make you successful. She offers two simple exercises that will help you overcome your fears.
How do you define success? Kim wants you to think about what success would look like for you, according to your values, beyond just the metrics and numbers.
Kim has seen many entrepreneurs struggle with self-worth. The first step to overcoming is to acknowledge that often they have nothing to do with your business and your strategy.
Comparison is normal. Kim has some tips for when you start to think about the success of other people in your field. Change your mindset: the success of others doesn’t mean you can’t both shine.
Sit in discomfort. To get the success that you are looking for, you will need to take uncomfortable actions.
If you want to listen to the episode of Kim’s Podcast about success, you can find it here.
Megan Beauchamp is a Los Angeles-based writer and editor with over ten years of experience in digital publishing. She is currently the managing editor at the modern career platform Create & Cultivate and was previously the managing editor at MyDomaine, a leading women’s lifestyle site. Her work has appeared in a number of notable publications, including House Beautiful, Hunker, Lonny, Bustle, Who What Wear, and Brit + Co., among others. Megan’s stories span home décor, food, travel, career, finance, and entertainment. In the episode to follow, we learn all about Megan’s career, dive into the world of editorial calendars, producing from a place of service, and Megan walks us through her personal pitching preferences.
Highlights:
Megan talks about her work experience and her current position at Create & Cultivate. As managing editor, she gets to wear a different hat every day, being in charge of the many areas of the multimedia platform.
As a journalist, Megan has many interests, how does she decide the next topic to write about? For her, it is all about creating a piece that’ll be of service to people.
Megan explains what an editorial calendar is, how it works, and how they use it to think about themes to publish according to certain events or times of the year. It is also a tool that you should have in mind when pitching! Tip: If your pitch is related to an event or time of the year, start a month ahead!
Megan is up for being pitched. At Create & Cultivate, they are always looking out for founders who want to share their honest financial and career stories. She shares with us her preferred days and medium to be pitched, as well as her pet peeves.
To get in touch with Megan, follow her on Instagram, LinkedIn, or visit her website. You can also visit the Create & Cultivate site.
Get to Know Your Host Lexie Smith of THEPRBAR inc. - Self Made Sister Podcast Feed Drop
31 Mar 2021
00:57:20
Hey guys we’re doing something a bit different this week on the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ Podcast. I thought it was about time you guys learn a little bit more about the host behind the show - me! In 2020 I had the honor of being interviewed on one of MY favorite podcasts - Self Made Sister with Anna Keenan. By day Anna is a Marketing and Philanthropic Manager for a female owned billion dollar company....who, I might add, is worth more than Beyoncé and started the company with only $500. In the episode to follow you’ll learn more about my rather serendipitous career and how I got to where I am today. You’ll learn my why behind THEPRBAR inc., and much much more.
Hop over to Anna’s Show, follow and leave a review! You can also check other episodes of her incredible Self Made Sister.
Today's guest, Jasmin Jiménez, is a full-time senior publicist for PPG, a global manufacturer of paints, coatings and specialty materials before PPG, Jazmin worked as a publicist for Ancestry, the leading family history and at home DNA company, a Senior Account Executive for Edelman, the largest PR agency in the world, and she began her career by working at a variety of boutique agencies. Currently, Jasmine is also a Johns Hopkins University graduate student where she is pursuing a Master's of Science degree in organizational leadership. She plans to use her degree to become a Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officer. In the episode to follow, Jasmine invites us to dive into the world of DE&I and allyship, shares with us how 2020 not only impacted her heart, but her life and future career trajectory, and how to ultimately pitch DE&I stories appropriately and authentically.
Highlights:
Jasmin launched PPG’s first Antiracist Campaign. The campaign was ultimately successful because it was authentic.
After the death of George Floyd and events of 2020, Jasmin decided to go back to school to pursue a Master’s of Science in organizational leadership at John Hopkins University. She hopes to one day become a Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion officer.
Jasmin grew up without seeing people of color in positions of authority, and she wants to contribute to change the status quo, so new generations can have better opportunities.
How do you pitch diversity focus stories? Jasmin advises to really think what you want to say, do your research, be authentic, and talk about what you know. For a brand, it is really important to do the work internally before engaging externally.
How can you be an ally? For Jasmin, you should start by listening to diverse parties and ask what they need and see how you can contribute to that. Appreciate and value minorities, pay attention to BLM Movement.
Who you are in private, is who you are in real life. Jasmin talks about doing the right thing, every day, not just for showing off on social media.
Today’s Newsworthy Founder is Praise Santos, the founder behind the photography studio ComePlum and fellow lover of puns, pretty things and people. Praise lives in San Francisco, California, where she does silly dances to loosen up female entrepreneurs during their personal brand photoshoots, builds her Google map locations of colors around the city to create eye-catching content for brands such as Lululemon and Adidas, and leads workshops for organizations such as The Golden State Warriors and BEI Hotel. Her photos have been featured in Vogue, Forbes, TechCrunch and the San Francisco Chronicle, and her project Ethical Weddings won a 20 On The Rise award by the 60,000+ member Rising Tide Society. In today’s episode, Praise and I talk about how to be confident and ditch the squirrel hands on camera, how to be your own Instagram husband, a powerful revenue source in PR often overlooked, and much more. Praise teaches me about a new beverage that in her words is a warm hug in your belly, and she walks us through an impromptu live confident exercise.
Highlights:
Praise’s photography studio ComePlum specializes in capturing go-getter women who are impacting the world.
Photos matter: a good photo generates engagement. In order to achieve a successful photo, Praise wants to get to know the brand or person behind the photoshoot. She then uses her resources and the camera to tell their unique story.
Praise recommends taking different types of photos, with different styles and formats. She also suggests creating templates and media kits that you can send every time someone asks for information about your brand. She tells us what photos we should look to capture in our next session.
If you can’t hire a photographer (although it is highly recommended), learn to DIY. Praise has an e-book with tips and explanations to help you take a good photo. She answers all the questions clients have asked her throughout the years, including what to do with your hands.
As a photographer, Praise works to help her clients feel confident in front of the camera. Having worked with everyday people and supermodels, she knows that everyone feels insecure about something, and that’s normal. She leads us through a few exercises to feel confident in front of the camera.
What is your aesthetic? For Praise, to find your aesthetic you have to think about your brand and your values, define your audience and what you want them to feel when they see your pictures.
Customer experience is key! Most of her clients have referred her to new ones. Praise discovered that cultivating a positive customer experience is more important than the talent of the photographer. A good client relationship will bring more clients and make the old ones come back to you.
To get in touch with Praise and see her work, follow ComePlum on Instagram, and check her website. If you want to buy her e-book, go to her shop. Do you want to know your personal brand vibes? Check this quiz.
Ruksana Hussain is an award-winning journalist with 20 years of experience working with local, national and international print and digital media for consumer and trade markets. As a magazine editor, features generalist, and contributing writer for outlets such as Apartment Therapy, Luxury Travel Magazine, California Apparel News, Dining Out, Delta Skylines, Edible Business Insider, Traveler and Tourist - which is her own publication - and many more, Ruksana covers diverse beats and topics spanning from lifestyle to travel cuisine to culture, business, wellness, technology, and much more.
Highlights:
Ruksana walks us through the life of a freelance journalist: she writes for many different platforms, local and international; As a freelance journalist, you can also offer small businesses different services such as copy editing, email marketing and proofreading.
Let’s write an advertorial: Ruksana analyzes the difference between writing for a marketing campaign and writing for editorial. Nowadays, there’s a thin line between the two. It depends on who your client is, your audience, the outlet, and overall message.
Besides publishing bylines, she is also a ghostwriter. But what does this mean exactly? Ruksana discusses the ethics of this work.
For anyone interested in being a freelance writer, Ruksana recommends using facebook groups, looking for opportunities everywhere, putting yourself out there, and introducing yourself and what you are capable of.
Ruksana is open to being pitched, but please, do your research! Check if she is the best writer for your project If you have a specific outlet in mind, let her know upfront.
Outbound Links: To get in touch with Ruksana, follow her on LinkedIn, and check her website
Today’s guest is working to take the training wheels off talk. Michaële Antoine, Founder of Curios, is a master facilitator, educator, and consultant focused on equipping individuals, teams, and the community with the practical skillset to have conversations that matter. In the episode to follow, Michaële and Lexie dive into the topic of brave dialogues - specifically, how and when to participate - when to facilitate - and how to navigate a world more frequently succumbing to “cancel culture”.
Highlights:
What is Curios? Michaële decided to help organizations and individuals engage in difficult conversations surrounding topics that might be considered hard, taboo or controversial.
Let’s have a brave dialogue. Michaële explains what a brave dialogue is, and that to engage in a brave dialogue, you must lean into your vulnerability. It’s about having conversations even if you are afraid of the outcome, and being willing to listen and take accountability when you are mistaken.
Michaële doesn’t find cancel culture effective, because if people are afraid to speak, they won’t engage in difficult conversations and brave dialogues.
Michaële believes that sometimes you have to be uncomfortable in order to grow. For her, if you are going to stay silent, let it be for the right reasons, not because you are afraid to speak out, or afraid of the repercussions.
What does it mean to be a facilitator? The facilitator is responsible for the group and tries to guide the group towards the goal of a given session. You must know what triggers you and be comfortable in admitting when you are wrong or don’t know something.
Michaële has a boundary set around someone who is not willing to listen. You can’t force people to listen to you, but you can choose if you are going to engage in those conversations and how.
Should an institution participate in controversial topics? For Michaëlle, it’s not about if one should or shouldn’t, it’s about what the institution is doing on the inside.
To get in touch with Michaële, visit her website and follow Curios on Instagram.
Trying to start your own business is hard, but is even harder if you are a woman! Our guest today is Julia Steele, the Head of Marketing and Communications at IFundWomen, the go-to funding marketplace for women-owned businesses and the people who want to support them with access to capital, coaching, and connections. Julia shares with us some golden tips to pitch your ideas, whether that be to the press or to new potential investors.
Highlights:
After more than three years in her previous job, Julia needed a break: she wanted a job more aligned with her personal mission. She was interested in finding a job where she could do something to progress women’s equality and pay in the workplace. She then found exactly what she was looking for at IFundWomen.
Although there are some formulas to fundraising, Julia knows there is sometimes unavoidable systemic bias in the investment world.
IFundWomen is a funding marketplace, with workshops and coaching services to help women take their projects to the next level. Julia invites us all to join their open community, where women support and advise each other.
You need to have a Marketing and PR plan. Julia shares some tips: start small with your local community before trying to get to the big media, always know exactly who you should reach out to, why it might be interesting for them, have a good pitch and story, and provide social proof and data. Also, as she learned, have confidence in yourself and what you are doing.
Finding investors is not that different than making a PR Plan: you must do research, find who could be interested, and tap your network. Use social media to your favor, look for events and competitions where you can go and pitch your idea, and ask questions. You need to get over your introversion!
To get in touch with Julia, follow her on LinkedIn. To learn more about IFundWomen, visit their website, and if you are looking to partner with IFundWomen, take the quiz.
If you want to know the apps that Julia mentioned during the show, check Streak and Calendly.
Today’s guest is Thatiana Diaz, Senior Editor for Refinery29's first Latinx cross-platform channel, “Somos.” Refinery29 is a leading media and entertainment company focused on women, with a global audience footprint of 249 million across all platforms. In addition to serving as the Senior Editor of Somos, Thatiana is a Beauty Contributor at Refinery29 where she produces deeply reported beauty pieces and exclusive celebrity features. She joined Refinery29 from People en Español, where she launched Chica, the first brand targeting Latina millennials with video and social media extensions. She is also the former Miss New York USA 2015 and finalist at Miss Dominican Republic Universe.
Highlights:
Thatiana talks about her job as a Senior Editor for Refinery29's first Latinx cross-platform channel, “Somos.” She started as a Beauty Contributor at Refinery29 after previously working with People en Español.
As she grew up, Thatiana realized no one in the editorial world looked like her or had a similar background. That inspired her to make a change in today’s world. She is committed to amplifying and celebrating the voices of the Latinx community.
A daughter of immigrants with no connections, Thatiana explains how she landed her first job in media at Seventeen Magazine.
She gives out some key tips to pitch her: what should people do or avoid. She loves it when people are considerate and get straight to the point (and please, stop with the mailers!).
Thatiana considers it essential for journalists to adapt to today’s times, and ask themselves how they can provide a service to the readers, who are conscious consumers.
Our guest today is Mar Yvette, an LA-based lifestyle writer and editor who has worked with some of the world’s most recognized media companies including E! News, ABC, Citysearch, Huffington Post, Playboy Magazine, and Good Day LA. She's the founder and editor-in-chief of Homegirl Talk, an online platform that connects and promotes women from all walks of life, particularly women of color. In this episode she tells us about her journey and gives us some real-talk on writing, knowing your audience, and how to break into the media world.
Highlights:
Mar tells us about her full time editing and writing career, and how she got started as a freelancer in the early 2000s. She started as a music journalist, writing CD reviews for zines; this was the beginning of her portfolio which propelled her to later have access to interviewing bigger and more important bands.
Mar served as an editor for a variety of magazines. She later landed her own segment on the Good Day L.A.morningshow which she grew up watching: she considers it a dream come true.
Mar talks about how she was in charge of different tasks: field reporting, production, and standing in front of the camera and how these different roles allowed her to explore her many different talents.
Mar talks about what inspired her to launch Homegirl Talk: she wanted to create a safe space for girls and women to be authentic, to talk about their real feelings. As a third generation Mexican-American, she envisioned a platform where she could connect women of all backgrounds and colors, and where the content would celebrate women's successes. Mar invites anyone wanting to start their writing career to start by pitching Homegirl Talk for a byline.
Mar tells us how she met so many funny people over the years and how important it is to find happy moments in life, and just have fun! We need to find happy moments and enjoy them.
Today’s guest is Theresa Christine, freelance travel writer, podcast host, and photographer. With bylines in outlets such as Lonely Planet, Forbes, LaPalme Magazine, Huffington Post, Insider and many others, Theresa writes about topics spanning from global women’s issues, to interesting locals, couples’ travel, design, festivals like Burning Man, entrepreneur and small business profiles, and more. In short, Theresa helps national travel publications tell the lesser-known, unexpected, and touching stories of a given location.
Highlights:
Theresa explains how she initially found her way into freelance writing: she started out blogging about travelling as a hobby and then slowly but surely it became her full time job
In order to be a freelance writer, it’s not necessary to have a journalism background: as long as you have great writing skills and know how to pitch and catch an editor’s attention, you’re good to go!
Thanks to her incredible work,Theresa has landed incredible placements such as Lonely Planet, Forbes, and many others and she reveals how she managed to get those,
When pitching an editor, it’s key to rely on the previous content they published, to make sure that what you’re talking about is truly aligned with what they are looking for
Theresa gets pitched everyday, and she reveals her personal preferences when being pitched that are extremely applicable to anybody who wants to pitch someone in the best way possible.
Aside from freelance writing, Theresa also is the host of “The Wild and Curious Podcast”, an intersectional feminism travel and culture podcast, which allows people to experience the culture of a place through the eyes of different women.
Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes and shades: this is what today’s guest strongly advocates for and believes! Nimi Fafowora is the founder and owner of The Beem Box: a beauty subscription box for black, Indigenous and people of color. As seen in various media outlets, including Elle, Cosmo, and Cratejoy, Nimi wears many hats as the owner of The Beem Box, overseeing acquisition, supply chain, sales, strategic planning, and of course PR! Nimi started The Beem Box to create a community that admires and acknowledges those who are often left out of the beauty conversation, and to provide well-suited makeup products for deeper and darker skin tones. We talk about inclusive conversations and much more.
Highlights:
Inside the beauty community, a lot of brands provide and create a wide variety of makeup products but deeper and darker skin tones are often left out.The company that Nimi has created, The Beem Box, makes it easier for ladies of color to find the products that fit their skin perfectly.
When it comes to the inception of The Beem Box, Nimi takes us back to a time when she was not happy with her day-to-day routine as an engineer. One night, talking with one of her sisters, she realized there was a need in the beauty market for products for women of color and that’s how her amazing product came to life.
Nimi describes how some of her biggest press placements (such as Elle, Cosmopolitan and Cratejoy) have helped The Beem Box gain credibility and brand awareness.
One of the biggest things that helped the brand to be recognized is the uniformity of the message that they constantly put out there: from its website to its social media posts, the content is appealing and it also comes with a collective, strong message which simply cannot be ignored.
Nimi explains that growing up she felt bombarded with beauty standards that did not quite meet the way that she looked. The Beem Box is trying to make it clear that beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and shades!
When it comes to collaborating with other brands, Nimi is especially interested in those which are aligned with The Beem Box’s beliefs: diversity and inclusion as two crucial aspects inside the beauty world.
TV news is known for showing the negative side of our world; but what if that could be different? Today we have two guests on the show who are fighting to change this. Leah Williams and Kelly Woodman partnered up and created the newly launched show – The Golden Hour, a place for relevant and positive news that can leave you with hope for a better tomorrow. Majoring in media writing & television news, Kelly comes from a nonprofit background while Leah comes from a 14-year background that involves working in PR and for award-winning media companies, as well as running her very own presentation consultant business, landing clients such as NASA, Ann Taylor Loft, Gap, and the UN to name a few. Together, they are a dynamic duo who are here to show the good of the world to everyone!
Highlights:
Leah and Kelly explain how they met during this pandemic (which means they first met virtually!) and how they came up with The Golden Hour.
Kelly got her degree and training in media writing and television news a while ago, but she had decided to devote her time to her two kids and being a stay-at-home mom. However, now she’s excited to jump back into the world of reporting with Leah.
After graduating from college, Leah started a presentation consulting business in New York City which led to her working with award-winning ad agencies, but because of the lockdown, Leah realized her true passion is to be a journalist and thus decided to launch this project.
So many people, organizations, and companies are doing good in our world––but it goes unnoticed. The goal of the Golden Hour is to shine a light on them and give them the attention they deserve.
Both Leah and Kelly believe that everyone has a story that deserves and should be told: it’s all about finding the gold in that story.
Leah and Kelly outline the preferences they have for being pitched, from which topics they are mostly interested in to where they’d like to be pitched.
To learn more about Leah and Kelly, follow them on Instagram or visit their website. Also, the episodes of The Golden Hour can also be seen on YouTube.
Today’s guest is Bri Amaranthus, an Emmy-winning producer and reporter who prides herself on forging relationships, telling stories that create connections, and showcasing her friendly and playful personality. Bri actually started her career during undergrad as an intern with NBC Sports NW and quickly worked her way up within the network, serving in a variety of positions from beat reporter to digital media producer to prime time host and more. Then, after a successful seven-year career with NBC Sports Northwest, she decided to explore Dallas, Texas, and now Bri is currently covering the Dallas Cowboys and Mavericks for Sports Illustrated.
Highlights:
Bri has always loved sports and has always had a competitive soul; although she loved playing softball as a young girl, she realized that was not going to be the career of her life. Instead, she decided to go for journalism because telling stories and interviewing were her true passions.
When Bri was a sophomore in college, she started interning for NBC Sports, which gave her a great opportunity to learn a lot. However, she shortly had the chance to go for a part-time job at the same company and she decided to go for it and she got the job!
At NBC Sports NW, Bri carried a 7-year experience where she excelled in different roles as a prime time host, beat reporter, social media manager and digital media producer. After all of this, Bri decided to challenge herself: she moved to Dallas, Texas, where she got her current job at Sports Illustrated.
Bri’s job has completely changed because of COVID-19: in a normal context, she would be going to all of the games of the teams as well as the practices, doing interviews and taking amazing shots and videos of the game. However, that’s not currently possible, but she still manages to record some interviews via Zoom.
Bri explains how she created content for the Cowboys’ website that got the most views ever, and she highlights the importance of realizing that part of a journalist's job is to create content that gets viewed because it’s a business.
Stories that focus on powerful emotions or human connection mostly do well because people empathize with those feelings. Bri dives into two of her favorite stories she got to cover and these are the ones she mostly feels proud of.
To learn more about Bri, visit her website or follow her on Instagram.
On today’s episode we’re talking with Sara Alepin, CEO of Photos From the Harty, 2X podcast host, and CEO of District Bliss Events, a community of ambitious creatives and business owners who want to expand their networks quickly, build their businesses with ease, and just find their people. Sara is a master connector and a cross-community promotions queen! Tune in to hear her best organic community growth hacks, tips on all things collaboration, social proof, and how to make accessible content for your business.
Highlights:
Sara talks about her journey from getting injured as a photography teacher and not being able to go back to her profession to creating District Bliss and then creating her two podcasts.
She discusses the concept behind District Bliss: it’s a community of entrepreneurs and creative small business owners who support each other.
She talks about the importance of creating strong community relationships in any business which is often overlooked by many entrepreneurs.
Sara says that hosting an event is great PR: getting a business in front of a community is key and collaborating with others who are interested in what you do is also important.
She tells how testimonials can really help your business: it’s basically another person selling what you do and really great social proof!
For Sara, social media and blogging are two organic tools that have really helped her to spread awareness about her businesses.
Understanding the concept of “accessibility made easy”: inclusivity should always be taken into consideration when creating content for a webpage or for a podcast, for example.
To learn more about Sara, visit her District Bliss webpage and her Photos From the Hearty webpage. Also, you can listen to her podcast called “The Wedding Dish” here. Want to make your business accessible? Visit MabelyQ.com
A former CBS reporter, today’s “Guest Trifecta” is Toni Harrison, the founder and CEO of Etched Communication and Managing Partner and President of the Ten35 Agency. Toni has managed award-winning public relations campaigns for a diverse client roster that includes Fortune-ranked organizations, global consumer brands, governmental entities, and community-based nonprofits. As a former journalist, she also has an in-depth understanding of the 24/7 news cycle and unmatched expertise in helping clients navigate crises and high-profile interviews.
Highlights:
We discuss Toni’s journey from graduating college to going back and forth professionally between journalism and public relations. Spoiler: her passion for PR won!
We talk about how Toni decided to start a business of her own: she created Etched Communication, a PR firm, which then became part of Ten35, a comprehensive communications firm.
Toni explains why press releases should actually be called news releases. Also, she gives her opinion on whether the news release concept is dead or not.
Toni explains the importance of having a content strategy when using news releases: being methodical and strategic is key.
Toni talks about the realities of Pay for Plays and why the blurred lines between PR and advertising are a serious disservice to the industry and consumers.
Toni gives out her best advice for cultivating relationships with reporters, writers, and peers.
Using our voices and communication skills are key factors in order to progress towards a more inclusive world and we can’t deny it. Toni explains more of this topic in this article.
To learn more about Toni, check out her LinkedIn or visit her website.
Coming up with an invention that no one has ever heard of before sounds like a one in a million circumstance, but it’s totally possible! Today’s guest is Georgia McKinney, inventor and founder of Flight Fillow––the reinvented travel pillow. Entrepreneurship was never the goal for Georgia; she was simply solving her own frustrations when she came up with the idea for Flight Fillow. In fact, nowadays she works a full-time corporate job during the day and works to change the way people travel on nights and weekends. Georgia has also been able to successfully DIY PR landing press opportunities with outlets such as WGN, Business Insider, MSN, and many more!
Highlights:
Georgia details how she came up with the idea of creating her own ingenious product called the Flight Fillow based on a necessity she encountered when traveling.
Learning as one goes through the path of PR is totally normal, and mistakes turn into lessons learned. Georgia describes some of the most common mistakes she used to make as soon as she started DYI-ing PR.
Georgia discusses the importance of organic PR and how it can move the needle of your business. In Georgia’s case, a radio show where she was featured was a game changer for Flight Fillow.
Georgia describes how she applied for Shark Tank and how she made it to the third round. Although she did not get into the show, this was a huge achievement for her.
Before getting started with DIY PR, it’s important to think about having different pitching templates based on the person or company you are reaching out to. Personalized pitches tend to be quite effective!
To learn more about Georgia, check out her Flight Fillow website and follow her on Instagram.
8 Core Takeaways from Conversations with Journalistic Royalty
04 Apr 2024
00:13:37
This week’s minisode is the final episode of Season 6 of the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ Podcast. On this wrap up episode, Lexie Smith reflects on this season of the podcast and all that she’s learned and taken away from her conversations with ‘Journalistic Royalty’. She reflects particularly on the different themes from her interviews with different journalists throughout the season. From freelance journalists to higher-ups at significant outlets, Lexie breaks down 8 core takeaways about the future of the media and journalism world.
Here’s What You’ll Learn:
Lexie’s reflections on her interviews with journalists on Season 6
The effect AI has had on these journalist's careers and the media world
Core takeaways about the differing personal pitching preferences of journalists
The influence of the business of media and how it differed guests based on their title
How many more things are being put on journalist's plates in this day and age
The influence of the rise of Substack and the decline of X
Today’s guest is PR Pro Crosby Noricks, the Founder of PR Couture – an industry-leading career platform and sourcebook for communication professionals ready to lead with authority and get paid accordingly. With a resume full of four-figure paid speaking gigs, more than 100 articles and podcast wins, international award-winning programs and workshops, a consistently sold-out agency mastermind, and even her own book, Crosby gives listeners an inside look into the PR industry, realities surrounding the cost of PR, and of course her top tips and tricks of the trade.
Highlights:
Crosby’s journey before officially launching PR Couture.
While PR Couture started out as a fashion and lifestyle PR blog, now it is a resourceful platform for communications professionals who are in the entrepreneurial side.
The realities of what it costs to hire a PR agency and how it can be really difficult to price services. Crosby thinks pricing is actually quite a challenge.
The importance of understanding that a strong PR strategy involves so much more than just media relations. It should be seen from more of a holistic perspective.
Crosby shares some do’s and don'ts for pitching and gives out a special recommendation. If you want to succeed in PR, make sure to be interesting: sparking up your audience’s curiosity is key!
Raising capital is one of the most challenging factors that an entrepreneur can face. Luckily, today’s guest is here to tell you all about how to rock the world of investor relations! Marie Kloor is the Cofounder and CEO of Hydra Studios, a start-up creating upscale wellness studios for the modern workforce. After launching her career at Goldman Sachs, and prior to founding Hydra Studios, she was Director of Business Development at the political journalism start-up, News Deeply. All of these experiences combined enabled her to lead her company to raise more than $3M in venture capital through two financing rounds. A true powerhouse, Marie teaches listeners about a very important component of PR, Investor relations.
Highlights:
Marie explains how her previous professional experience, both in Goldman Sachs and in a startup called News Deeply, helped her to create her own company: Hydra Studios.
Marie describes the concept and vision behind Hydra Studios and she narrates how it was impacted by the pandemic and how she plans to adapt it’s services to the new post pandemic world.
A company can have different types of investors, and Marie details three of the most common ones: friends and family, angel investors, and venture capital.
The importance of having a great pitch desk: it’s everything that you want an investor to know about you and ultimately it’s how you are going to get your idea funded and off the ground.
Marie describes the key elements of a pitch desk and how press placements can play a huge role (or not) depending on your company or product.
Once you’ve got investors who trust in your company or product, it’s important to give them constant updates on how the business is going: the good, and the bad news.
To learn more about Marie’s company, visit the Hydra Studios website or check out her Instagram.
Meet the Media: The Realities of Journalism + Interviews - Brianne Nemiroff Spills the Tea
04 Nov 2020
00:38:11
Working inside the media world can have its ups and downs. Today’s guest is here to tell us all about it! Brianne Nemiroff is a freelance journalist, travel writer, Product Sourcing Specialist for Kinder Beauty, and the Co-Founder of ItsBreeandBen.com - an ethical vegan travel blog. Brianne first started her career as an entertainment reporter covering the entire U.S. Then, upon moving to Los Angeles, she worked her way up to become Managing Editor of VIVA GLAM Magazine, a vegan lifestyle publication for which she launched a travel column and interviewed more than 400+ public figures, including Zachary Levi, Megan Mullally, Avril Lavigne, Fifth Harmony, Lady Antebellum, and the Goo Goo Dolls, to name a few.
Highlights:
Brianne takes us back to her professional beginnings and all the different topics she has written about during her career—everything from music to lifestyle and veganism!
Some of Brianne’s stardom moments include interviews with well-known celebrities, roundtables for Netflix movies, and behind-the-stage Broadway experiences.
She stresses the importance of doing your research and coming up with interesting and unique questions when interviewing people.
Brianne explains the purpose of “itsbreeandben.com”, its core values, and how it got started. She also delves into the true meaning of travelling, eating, and shopping kindly.
From Brianne’s perspective, the “writing in the media” industry has changed over the course of the years and she tells us why.
Brianne shares her do’s and don’ts in order to pitch herself correctly, which sheds light on how to pitch writers in general.
Producing content for social media and writing blog/magazine articles can have its crossovers, especially now that social media has widened its tools and added longer captions, for example.
To learn more about Brianne, visit her website or follow her on Instagram.
Believe it or not, the world of sports and the world of global communications have a lot in common. Today’s Pitchin’ and Sippin’ guest, Lindsay Krasnoff is living proof of that! Lindsay is a historian, consultant, published author, and journalist who works at the intersection of global sports, communications, and diplomacy. She also holds a PhD in History, MA degrees in both Journalism and French Studies, and a BA in International Affairs. She’s written for outlets such as CNN International, VICE Sports, ESPN, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, and many others. This makes her a true sports specialist dedicated to bringing innovative information strategies and storytelling to diverse audiences worldwide. And she’s here today to tell us all about it!
Highlights:
Lindsay walks us through her impressive resume and explains how she managed to cross her love for sports from a really young age with her background in storytelling and communications.
What is sports diplomacy and why is it so important to global communication?
How storytelling goes beyond borders, as a universal practice that the media and audiences both respond to around the globe.
A typical day in the life of a sports diplomat.
What working as a French sports specialist looks like.
How becoming a business owner launching her own consulting services provided a new perspective into the world of communications and media.
The importance of identifying your added value and niche in order to differentiate yourself from others when starting your own business.
Guest Trifecta: Bernadette Marciniak – Video Journalism, PR + Beer
21 Oct 2020
00:32:36
If you want your business to land press, you MUST have professional pictures of your services or products! This is a basic rule for today’s guest, Bernadette Marciniak, a Los Angeles-based brand photographer for entrepreneurs and companies. A former New Jersey journalist, video journalist, and publicist, Bernadette spent a decade becoming a fixture in the communities she covered, focusing on amplifying the message of those who made a difference. Today, she creates powerful imagery, videos, and designs for business owners that help tell their story in a captivating and cohesive way.
Highlights:
Bernadette’s journey from starting out her work experience as a reporter, then transitioning to video journalism and finally becoming a brand photographer in LA
Most people don’t know what a video journalist is, so Bernadette explains how her day to day routine used to look like and what role she had in the media industry
When being on the other side of the e-mail, Bernadette describes what kind of pitches were used to get her attention and stand out from the crowd
The importance of sending a complete B-roll when pitching: this additional footage helps your story to be illustrated clearly!
Photos are a huge component of being “press ready” so Bernadette shares some advice on which kind of pictures should always be present for a brand to look professional.
Bernadette’s do’s and don’ts for appearing great on camera when having a business or professional photoshoot
Batch Planning as a great way to show consistency and to focus on your business’s message
To learn more about Bernadette, make sure to check out her website or follow her on Instagram
Today's Pitchin’ and Sippin's guest, Anje Collins, is the Executive Agency Director of her own firm called The Luxe PR Group, The Art of Luxury, and now the newest division The Luxe Style Lab. Eager to share her wealth of knowledge with the next generation of women in public relations, Anje also co-founded the organization Women In PR. Anje has represented artists such as Pink, Outkast, Usher, and Linkin Park, and has worked PR and events for the VMAs, Grammys, Billboard, and the American Music Awards. Now, something’s clear: Anje knows everything about creating meaningful relationships with the media, what it takes to excel in the world of PR, how to navigate difficult communications strategies, and much more!
Highlights
Anje describes how she began her career in PR, wanting to empower women in business. That's how she created Women in PR – an organization that provides high-quality online and on-demand educational programs, and features top thought leaders and industry influencers sharing their insights at live events throughout the country.
Anje reveals the skills you should develop once you’re out of the classroom to excel in the world of PR, valuable lessons you don’t learn in school, and two key points every professional should have: good people skills and good writing skills.
Anje shares advice on how to navigate topics of race, politics, and other social justice conversations.
Anje shares how to work a communication strategy that is both authentic and good for PR.
Creating meaningful relationships with the media is key and Anje gives advice on how to write an email that will please writers, journalists, and editors.
Investing wisely on your journey to PR, finding good companies and recognizing people who are actually publicists are essential steps to succeed in this industry.
Anje gets a bit more personal and reveals her favourite drink, her hobbies, and her favorite shows currently streaming.
To learn more about Anje, you can follow her personal Instagram, or visit Women In PR through Instagram or their official website.
Do you feel extremely awkward and intimidated every time you walk into a networking event? That’s because you haven’t heard of today’s guest, Emily Merrell! Emily is the founder and chief networking officer of Six Degrees Society, as well as a business coach for solopreneurs who want to grow their business through events, partnerships and community. Host of The Sixth Degree podcast, Emily and her companies have been featured in outlets such as Forbes, Refinery 29, Girl Boss, Pop Sugar, and many more and have partnered with brands such as Ann Taylor, Rebecca Minkoff, Kendra Scott, Theory, and Velvet. On this episode, Emily gives us her best tips, and tricks to rock the networking world like a pro. Now that doesn't sound so intimidating, does it?
Highlights:
Always being the new girl at school, Emily developed a talent for making friends and networking from a very young age which then inspired her to build The Six Degrees Society, a place for connecting more authentically.
Emily describes the importance of networking and how useful it is to think of it as building friendships: both kinds of relationships take time and investment.
Both in the real world and in the virtual world, there are some do’s and don’ts in the networking field which Emily thinks are key to know.
Although Emily has been featured in big magazines such as Forbes, PopSugar, and GirlBoss, which she is really proud of, what has actually helped her to gain more traction, is appearing in more niche platforms that others might be surprised to learn about.
Emily tells us all about her podcast called The Sixth Degree, which features entrepreneurs who tend to be her own clients or even members of The Six Degrees Society.
If you want to participate in one of the Six Degrees events, you can use the code VIRTUALSDS and attend the first one for free!
To learn more about Emily, make sure to follow her on Instagram and check out her website
Interested in learning more about Pitchin’? Follow me on Instagram or check out my Facebook page!
Meet the Media: Christine O’Donnell, Pitching TV, Podcasts + Red Wine
29 Sep 2020
00:36:45
For many people, the TV News world certainly is a mystery: what goes behind cameras and the process of covering breaking news remains unknown for most of us. Well, until today! Today’s guest is Christine O’Donnell, a TV Journalist and Founder of Bright Sighted - a podcasting company where she produces podcasts and coaches podcasters on how to be journalistic in their storytelling and interview styles. Shortly after launching Bright Sighted, one of her first independent podcasts became one of the top 5% of podcasts worldwide in its first 6-months! Before transitioning to this digital marketing and podcasting world, Christine spent more than a decade working as a national reporter. So, when it comes to podcasting and TV reporting, Christine definitely knows what she’s talking about!
Highlights:
Christine’s journey from being a little girl and just knowing she would be a reporter when she grew up, to actually becoming a national reporter who covered some of America’s most known investigative and crime stories.
How Christine’s company, Bright Sighted, helps people figure out what their message and story is in order to launch a plan for their business and push it out to the world.
Christine describes what a typical day of a TV news reporter used to look like for her: from the minute she woke up at 6 am to the end of a busy day.
When pitching, Christine says it’s really important for the pitch to be connected to the news cycle that’s currently going on, or if it’s not, it should be a mind blowing and unique story that is worth telling.
Christine shares some do’s and don'ts for pitching, podcasting, and for appearing professional when going on live TV.
Podcasting is a new form of journalism and media that has absolutely exploded in recent years and Christine explains why this sudden trend has emerged.
To learn more about Christine, visit her website or listen to her podcast!
Want to know 7 Tips To "ROCK" The Mic (or the Camera) in order to feel confident? Click here!
Interested in learning more about Pitchin’? Follow me on Instagram or check out my Facebook page!
How to Save Journalism with HuffPost Editor-in-Chief Danielle Belton
28 Mar 2024
00:41:06
Danielle Belton is the current editor-in-chief of HuffPost where she led the Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom to profitability in 2021, after her first year in leadership. In her three-year tenure, she has improved overall newsroom diversity and relaunched HuffPost's legacy Voices brands, including adding a new vertical, Indigenous Voices — one of the first mainstream, digital media offerings for Indigenous people.
Prior to joining HuffPost, she was editor-in-chief of the leading Black digital publication, The Root. Belton grew the award-winning site's traffic by 300 percent within her first year leading its newsroom. A 20-year-veteran of journalism, blogging, and writing, Belton is also known for being one of the first black women to lead a writer's room in late night when she was head writer for BET's talk show, "Don't Sleep" in 2012. She was also the creator and author of the popular, former politics and pop culture weblog, The Black Snob.
In this episode, Lexie and Danielle Belton discuss all things journalism and the ever-changing media landscape. She breaks down what she believes is impacting the journalism landscape, both positively and negatively, and what needs to happen to save the media industry at large. Lexie wraps up the episode by asking Danielle about her personal pitching preferences.
Here’s What You’ll Learn:
Danielle Belton’s career cliff notes
How Daniella got into journalism
Her journey to becoming editor-in-chief of HuffPost
What her average day looks like in her role as editor-in-chief at the HuffPost
The pros and cons of advertising revenue when it comes to media and journalism
Her thoughts on the role journalism leadership plays in the overall state of the industry
What she sees that is negatively impacting the industry
How she believes we can save the Journalism industry
Writing and Landing Features with Maria Streshinsky, Executive Editor of Features at WIRED
21 Mar 2024
00:41:34
Maria Streshinsky is the executive editor of features at WIRED. Before joining WIRED she was the editor-in-chief of Pacific Standard, a magazine she launched in 2012. In its first year Pacific Standard was nominated for a National Magazine Award for general excellence; in 2014 the publication won the National Magazine Award for public service for a story that Streshinsky edited. Streshinsky also served for many years as the managing editor of The Atlantic, where she won the Atlantic Media Company award for editing excellence. She has also worked for the Department of the Interior in Washington, DC, and a stint in New York as a freelance editor and writer.
In this episode, Lexie and Maria discuss all things feature. They discuss what makes a great feature and how it’s different from other types of stories, how to pitch features as both a freelancer and publicist, and what a coveted publication—such as WIRED—looks for when selecting their next feature topic. They also review Maria’s personal pitching preferences, the best title to pitch at WIRED if you’re hoping for coverage, and much more.
Here’s What You’ll Learn:
Maria Streshinsky’s career journey and how she developed her love for feature writing
How Maria ended up as WIRED’s executive editor of features, and what her role entails
What differentiates a feature from other stories
The difference elements that make a great feature article
Tips on how to pitch a feature as a freelance writer
How to pitch a feature as a publicist
What she is specifically looking for as an executive editor
Wine Journalism & Niche Reporting with Freelance Writer Shana Clarke
15 Mar 2024
00:31:57
Shana Clarke is a wine, sake, and travel writer and author. Her work has appeared in Decanter,Saveur, Fortune, NPR, Wine Enthusiast, Vinepair, Conde Nast Traveler, and Hemispheres. She was shortlisted for the Louis Roederer 2020 International Wine Writers’ Awards and ranked one of the “Top 20 U.S. Wine Writers That Wineries Can Work With” by Beverage Trade Network.She holds a Level 3-Advanced Certificate from Wine & Spirit Education Trustand is a Certified Sake Sommelier. In addition, she is the author of 150 Vineyards You Need To Visit Before You Die and the contributing author to the North America section of The Wine Lover’s Bucket List.
In this episode, Lexie and Shana discuss how she got into wine journalism and career cliff notes. Shana walks listeners through how she got into wine journalism and what it took to succeed in such a niche category. Shana talks about her process as a wine journalist and how she curates her stories. She discusses the importance of reading and events that help pique her interest in stories on specific brands, vineyards, and more. She advises aspiring journalists specializing in niche topics and how to get hyper-focused in that niche.
Here’s What You’ll Learn:
Examples of how Shana Clarke finds/curates different stories
What wine journalism looks like today
Tips on how to become focused as a writer in a certain niche
Shana’s career cliff notes and other types of writing she’s done before
Tips for aspiring journalists wanting to enter in a more niche type of journalism
What niche reporting is good for
What themes and stories Shana is working on this Spring
Her story ideas on why the wine industry might be struggling in this day and age and other big and broad topics she is interested in writing about
I Rebranded My Agency, Here's Why! Introducing GROWTH MODE PR & Communications Agency
07 Mar 2024
00:15:17
This week’s episode holds a very special announcement for the next chapter with THEPRBAR Agency. And for Lexie. This minisode walks listeners through Lexie’s brand new rebrand for her agency, now GROWTH MODE PR & Communications agency. She talks about the inception of this rebrand, the process of how she did it, and what GROWTH MODE Agency is going to offer and more!
Here’s What You’ll Learn:
Why Lexie decided to rebrand THEPRBAR Agency to GROWTH MODE PR & Communications Agency
What the new rebrand means for THEPRBAR brand overall
What makes the agency different
The steps Lexie took to create and roll out the rebrand
How Lexie enlisted branding expert Hilary Hartling to help her establish the new brand
2024 State of AI in PR & A Simple Approach to Media Training with Linda Zebian of Muck Rack
29 Feb 2024
00:36:15
Linda Zebian is Senior Director of Communications & Community at Muck Rack, where she sets communications strategy for Muck Rack’s enterprise, both internally and externally, including messaging, issues management, media relations, social media, and employee communications, as well as partnerships and events. Linda joined Muck Rack from The New York Times, where she spent 10 years in various communications positions. Most recently she served as a freelance Communications Advisor, and before that, as Executive Director, Corporate Communications.
Before joining The Times, she was communications associate at the nonprofit organization Consumers Union, where she managed media relations for Consumer Reports magazine, ConsumerReports.org, and ShopSmart magazine. She began her career as a reporter for Folio, covering the magazine media industry and later managing conference programming for Folio’s publisher, Red 7 Media, a division of Access Intelligence.
In this episode, Lexie and Linda talk about the state of artificial intelligence in PR circa 2024. They also touch on Linda’s straightforward approach to media training and interviewing. Linda shares her tips and tricks on what to do to help prepare clients for interviews and how best to get those sound bites that are good for the press in an interview.
Here’s What You’ll Learn:
Highlights from Muck Rack’s 2024 State of AI in PR Report.
Insights from Linda’s current position at Muck Rack
Tips from a seasoned expert on media training
Three tips on how to prepare the best sound bites for interviews
Tips on identifying the best candidates for media training at an organization
Tips on selecting key points and staying on message during interviews
Examples of how to best approach interview opportunities with clients
Decoding RFPs & Winning Client Briefs with Agency Search Consultant Rachel Huff of Victoire & Co
22 Feb 2024
00:38:07
As an agency search consultant, Rachel Huff, President and Founder of Victoire & Co, builds brand-agency partnerships that drive long-term success. With a keen understanding of clients’ communications and business needs and a network of trusted marketing and communications agency connections, she guides companies toward their best agency fit. Prior to founding Victoire & Co, Rachel spent more than a decade at agencies, including on the accounting side, developing integrated communications campaigns for brands including John Hancock, Verizon, Ocean Spray, DraftKings, and CVS.
In this episode, Rachel talks through her career journey and the agency world she was in for many years before founding her company, Victoire & Co. Rachel defines and decodes what an RFP (Request for Proposal) is for listeners and walks them through various types of proposals. She offers tips on how to create an effective RFP, how to submit a winning RFP proposal, what opportunities are worth pursuing, and more.
Here’s What You’ll Learn:
What is an RFP (Request for Proposal)
Detailed differences between types of RFPs
Tips on what should be included in a RFP
Other names and acronyms used in lieu of an RFP - such as Client Brief or RFI
Tips on how to win a client brief and Rachel’s thoughts on what opportunities are worth pursuing
Tips on defining your own brand and positioning
Tips on creating filters for evaluating client opportunities
What decoding a brief looks like for Rachel and her company
What a search consultant does and the process of matching agencies and clients
The importance of understanding what makes your brand and agency unique
The different buckets to consider when looking at a prospective client’s goals