The PR Pace Podcast

It's no secret that PR is getting more difficult by the day. The growing number of publicists, the shrinking number of journalists and traditional media outlets, along with an unstable economy brings even the most positive of us down from time to time. Fear not! Kourtney Jason, Founder + President of Pacific & Court, a PR firm specializing in PR for books, has some failsafe tactics to keep your spirits up and hits a'comin. Freelance journalist Jennifer Chesak also stops by with her best advice to get your pitch read + received!

Buckle up, buttercups and begin pearl clutching -- we're talking about all things cannabis this episode as the PR market for the myriad startups in the space has absolutely exploded in recent years. First up is Michael Mejer, founder of Green Lane Communication, a cannabis-focused PR firm. Truly an expert in the comms process -- which undoubtedly involves legislation -- Mike walks us thru the process of working in this new and still somewhat taboo space. Journalist Rachell Gordon also joins us. She is the editor of GreenState -- a fantastic site dedicated to all the latest cannabis news. Enjoy!

Diving into two topics this year that are going to be BIG in the world of PR + communications: influencer marketing and podcasts! A true expert in the world of influencers, Serena Baleja joins us. Serena is the founder of Socialite PR, and she's redefining influencer marketing with her innovative app, Socialite CRM, which makes campaign management accessible and effective for small brands. Whether you're a novice in influencer or a pro, there's something for everyone in this discussion! Next up is Tom Schwab, founder of Interview Valet, which helps entrepreneurs, consultants and non-fiction authors reach a global audience via podcasts. Podcasts have absolutely exploded in recent years and the industry is only going to continue to grow. Enjoy!

You're going to love this episode! Pace PR Client Nikki Innocent sits down with me, in-studio, to discusss her role as a leadership + career coach. Primarily working with women, Nikki goes beyond the surface-level issues one might experience on the job, to help her clients uncover their true passions and how to work more authentically with others. From major CEOs to those mid-career, she's so easy to get along with and has amassed so much knowledge on the topic of all things workplace. Highly recommend her services if you're looking to shake up things in your career or at your company!

It's more important than ever to have excellent media literacy. But, how? How can you easily discern real news from fake news, and biased reporting from unbiased reporting? What the heck is media literacy in the first place? Luckily for us we were joined by THE expert in the space, Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, Executive Director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education. Her line of work is fascinating and we discuss media literacy as it pertains to education, the media and of course, the election. Enjoy!

This week, we dedicate the episode to one interview with Stephanie Graves, the President + CEO of the Lee Andrews Group. Many of us in the industry already know Stephanie, a powerhouse of a publicist based out of LA. The Lee Andrews Group is deeply embedded in government and public affairs work in the state of California. I truly enjoyed this discussion, which covered a lot. Enjoy!

We recently closed out Climate Week in New York and Pace PR showed up in a big way this year. SVP Rose Levy, who leads our climate practice, stops by to talk about our engagement that week and how we advise all of our clients on best climate practices. Pace PR proudly co-hosted a networking breakfast to kick off Climate Week with Clean Creatives. Executive Director Duncan Meisel and I caught up at the breakfast to talk about the importance of comms within the climate arena. Enjoy!

Yup, you read the correctly! Pace PR is proud to work with clients who promote good energy and bring good vibes to their customers. Our first interview is with Lauren + Courtney, the co-founders of Moon & Stone, an incredible platform focusing on the powerful healing and restorative energy of crystals. I'm a total believer and use their products daily. Next up is Aliza Kelly, and influencer and columnist in the space. We talk about the rise of astrology and all that goes with it in the media landscape. Enjoy!

Dr. Elizabeth Wood is the co-editor of a new book we had the pleasure of promoting in the media. "Between Us: Healing Ourselves and Changing the World Through Sociology" is a fantastic anthology of personal essays through the lens of sociology. We have a great discussion about sociology vs. psychology and how this book resonates with so many.

We have a great episode for you here! Partners in love, partners in life ... Tom Postilio + Mickey Conlon are amongst our very favorite clients here at Pace. Power brokers at Compass, they join to talk about their celebrity listings, unique home properties and strategies for those of us aspiring to own our own dream home! Michael Diamond also stops by. Michael covers real estate for the Asbury Park Press and recently covered one of Tom & Mickey's NJ listings. Enjoy!

This week we have two fascinating conversations. We start off with author Kelly Campbell; they are the author of the new book "Heal to Lead." Oftentimes we think about healing to better our personal lives, but the same process can be applied to your professional life as well. Kelly is a leader in this particular space and the interview will definitely leave you with a lot to think about! Daniella Gray also stops by. Daniella is a Newsweek Family & Parenting Reporter, based in London. She's become an incredible media contact at Pace and she shares the ins and outs of her day reporting and filing several stories in the mental health space. Enjoy!

Start your week off with some health & fitness inspo, courtsey of Pace PR Client, Anna Kaiser. Anna, a professional dancer, has built her career off of creating fitness routines that actually work and are FUN to boot! With a celebrity clientele that includes Kelly Ripa, Shakira and Alicia Keys, she's introduced her at-home program so you can get STRONG all in the comfort of your own home. Rachel Tavel also stops by and talks about life as a freelance fitness + wellness writer. Enjoy!

The American Dream is something we all have heard about ... but that American Dream is not necessarily equal for all. Enter Joe Cecala, founder of the Dream Exchange, the soon-to-launch new stock exchange, focused primarily on minority-owned businesses. Rachel Woodall, Executive Producer at Cumulus Radio in Chicago, also joins to talk about her day-to-day routine. 

Guess which American city holds the most PhD's per capita? Not NYC, not SF ... it's Huntsville, Alabama and that's just the tip of the iceberg about interesting facts happening in this fine American city. Lucia Cape, SVP of Economic Development in the Chamber of Commerce, joins us to talk about why this city is thriving, in part due to their investment in music as an economic growth tool. Anna Staropoli, freelance writer and editor, also stops by. Anna had just visited Huntsville and we discuss her process for covering the economies of various cities. Enjoy!

Everyone's favorite day is almost here -- Tax Day! Just kidding. But when you're lucky enough to work with the wonderful Karla Dennis, tax attorney and small business advisor, you're always in good hands. Karla shares her amazing entrepreneurial story with us + how the media and PR has helped her career so much. Personal finance reporter Mary Beth Eastman also stops by to share with us her best tips for working with publicists. Enjoy!

This week, we interview Dr. Nina Cerfolio, a psychiatrist with a new book out called Psychoanalytic and Spiritual Perspectives on Terrorism. We talk about this terrible reality we're all dealing with, and how, through her work and in writing this book, she offers tips and techniques for using spirituality to cope with terrorism. Next up is Geovany Dias, a reporter with WFTV in Orlando, Florida, who shares his international background and pro tips for working with local TV stations. Enjoy!

How important is Wikipedia in the PR world? Luckily we brought on the person who wrote the book on that very topic! Rhiannon Ruff is the author of "Wikipedia & Crisis Communications" and we explore and break down the evolution of Wikipedia; how important it is for your clients; and how to navigate the clunky and laborious process of editing a page. Terri Huggins Hart, freelance journalist, also joins this week where we talk about her favorite ways to with PR pros. Enjoy!

I love this episode so much! Our first episode is with PPR client Andi Cross, who founded + runs Edges of Earth, a two-year global diving mission driving awareness to ocean conservation. Andi had a very successful corporate career in NYC and successfully did the pivot of all pivots when she launched EOE. I know you'll be fascinated hearing about it. Also joining us is Ruksana Hussain, who is the publisher and editor of Traveler and Tourist magazine. Ruksana talks about the job of travel writer + reporter, the state of that industry and, of course, her advice for how publicists can work best when pitching her. Enjoy!

Fox Business anchor, host and reporter, Cheryl Casone, is our honored first guest of the new year. Cheryl is a trusted source on many aspects of finace and business, including real estate ... she hosts her own show, American Dream Home, on FBN which if you haven't already, you need to check out! Cheryl talks what this year will hold, including -- her prediction that interest rates will drop (yay!). Happy New Year!

Thanks for checking out our last episode of 2023! We end on a high-note with two great interviews as we dive into the world of legal PR. Amanda Bronstad is a reporter at Law.com and she recently interviewed our client, mass tort attorney Mikal Watts. Do you know the difference between a mass tort and a class action lawsuit? Me neither, til this episode - it's interesting! Next up is Leonard Scheiner, Principal at Geek Haus, which works almost exclusively with attorneys and lawfirms helping them with PR, marketing and much more. Enjoy!

This week, my good pal Frank Morano, radio show host on 77 WABC here in NYC, stops by for such a fun conversation. We agree- talk radio is alive & well, despite all the many changes and challenges the media lanscape is facing. Our client, attorney Eric Richman, kicks off this episode by sharing a bit about his practice and how PR has benefitted his business.

If you like politics -- this is the episode for you. First up is PPR client Lindsey Drath, who is the CEO of the Forward Party, a new political party and advocacy group dedicated to rethinking and reworking our broken political system. Lauren Jessop, political reporter, also stops by. She recently profiled the Forward Party and we learn all about her sourcing and reporting style.

In this episode, we discuss marketing the marketers! We start off with our client Bridgit Wallace, VP of Business Development at NOVUS Media, an independent media planning and buying agency. Kristina Monllos also stops by. Kristina is the Senior Marketing Editor at Digiday and she talks to us about what her day-to-day is like and how she prefers to have actual phone chats with sources. Hope you enjoy!

Just in time for the first GOP debate in the 2024 presidential election cycle, we have an episode chockfull of political PR to get you ready for the political year ahead! Kaivan Shroff is a PPR client, political pundit, millennial lawyer and all around great human. He talks about how he got into punditry, his experience working in politics and for thinktanks and his take on how TV news and the media present their political coverage. Next up is Joe Ruffolo, who runs digital for Newsnation and The Hill. Boy, did I enjoy this conversation as we really get into how the media has changed so tremendously over the past several decades and what he's doing at Nexstar to make sure they stay on top for all the changes that are still ahead of us. Enjoy!

This episode starts with a great interview with Pace PR client Stacey Kovalsky, who runs comms for USPA Global Licensing Inc. We've worked together over the years to promote USPAGL through their iconic brand, U.S. Polo Assn. Next up is Jene Luciani, a prolific writer, author and brand ambassador, known as the Bra Expert! We talk about how much the media has changed, what's to come and her best tips for working with publicists.

Who doesn't love New Orleans? The food, the music, the fun ... all reasons why so many of choose to vacation there. But what about doing business down there? Or moving there to start a business? Our client, Greater New Orleans, Inc, focuses on business + economic development in the Big Easy and today SVP of Comms Matt Wolfe joins me to discuss all of the many reasons folks should consider Nola for their business (think: tax incentives and high quality of life!). Special Correspondent for CNBC, Scott Cohn, also stops by to discuss the coveted list, America's Top States for Business. The list, which was just published, is carefully curated by Scott and his team and he provides fantastic insights into the process for putting this list together. Enjoy!

Everyone LOVES a completed renovation ... but the process of sourcing + planning a reno (forget about the cost!) can make you want to take a big ole nap before you even begin. Enter: Block Renovation, your one-stop-shop for streamline, easy, cost-effective and beautiful home renovations! I caught up with Mike Conti of Block Reno to discuss our work together in the PR Space. Also stopping by is Dan DiClerico, who is the Director of Home Improvement for Hearst. Dan talks about his work in the Good Houskeeping Institute, which is the gold standard for recognition in the space.

A special episode of the PR Pace podcast is here this week, as we honor our military and veterans in this episode. First up is Amber Capone. Amber is a co-founder, along with her husband Marcus, of VETS: Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions. They both advocate for the use of medically-supervised psychedelic treatments for veterans struggling with PTSD. Amber shines a light on their work and the hardships that military wives and partners often endure. Crystal Kupper is our next guest, a very talented writer and journalist, focusing on the military. We talk about her path leading into journalism and why everyone should take more time to be up to date on news about our military.

This week, PPR's Business SVP Rose Levy takes over the podcast for a show dedicated to sustainability. First up is Liz Kneebone who runs the Climate Practice for the ANA's Global CMO Growth Council - one of PPR's favorite clients! They chat about why CMOs are uniquely positioned to lead businesses in their sustainability efforts and what the Global Growth Council is doing to guide the industry in the right direction. Hint: having the right language is really important. Next up is Kathryn Lundstrom, the Sustainability Editor at Adweek - a role that didn't exist before she pitched the idea to her editor two years ago when brands were increasingly making sustainability claims but none of the reporters at the time were focused enough in the space to cover. Kathryn discusses how much the industry has evolved since then and opines as to why this year there has been a surprising decrease in brands talking about sustainability initiatives. She shares a few things that keep her optimistic amidst the doom & gloom that comes with covering climate and a few tips on how to best pitch her.

This week we are so fortunate to be joined by Alexander Lee, who covers gaming and esports for Digiday. To say I learned a lot would be an understatement! Alex is an impressive reporter and we talk pitching, the future of AI in journalism and the massive industry that is esports. Pace PR client Smarterverse is first up -- sharing how they are revolutionizing and owning their own slice of the metaverse.

This week, we sit down with PPR client Dr. Cortney Warren, psychotherapist and author of the new book, Letting Go of Your Ex: CBT Skills to Heal the Pain of a Breakup and Overcome Love Addiction. I loved this conversation + learned so much. Plus she is one of the loveliest clients ever! Heidi Borst, freelance health and fitness writer also stops by for tips on how to pitch freelancers!

This week's episode is dedicated to our newest service offering, Affiliate Marketing. PPR's Lifestyle SVP Lindsay Ferraro Bennett and Affiliate Stragetist Marissa Pressey dive into this work and how -- if you have a product you want to get press for -- it is an *imperative that you work with an agency that offers affiliate. Check out this interview to learn the ins and outs and if affliate marketing is right for you!

This episode packs a punch with two awesome interviews! Brittany Fox is a producer at WPIX in NYC -- the #1 market in the country. Brittany shares what her day-to-day is like, how she likes to work with publicists and so much more! We start off with Daniella Macri, who is the co-founder of The Virtue Project, a wonderful organization we were so proud to partner with on a few PR projects. Hope you enjoy!

We have two great interviews this week with two powerhouse females. Julia Perez is the CMO of OWYN - Only What You Need - a vegan protein shake and product line that's incredibly delicious, nutritious and making a ton of waves in the industry. We were so proud to partner with them and on the podcast we celebrate some of our wins, especially in promoting thir pro-athlete partnerships. Denise Albert also stops by - I feel like everyone knows Denise, but on the off-chance you don't - she is a storied producer turned entrepreneur a couple times over. She's recently launched My Cancer Family and we talk about the process of building that business and all the amazing ways its helping those in need.

This week's episode is a special one. It's my great honor to represent Smith Executive Education, which is the continuing education arm of my alma mater, Smith College. The program is doing some amazing work helping women either pivot in their careers or get to that next stage. Meredith Courtney who runs the program joins me. Tanya Dua, Technology Editor at LinkedIn News, also joins this week. Tanya share some super interesting insights into LinkedIn and how the AI reporting space is really heating up.

This week, Beth Sobol, celebrity news producer, joins me in studio to talk about her career producing celebrity news. For those who love reality figures, movie stars and all things Hollywood - this is the interview for you as we pull the curtain back on what it's really like to work in the industry. First up is PPR client Taylor Norris, one half of the duo behind LIT -- Low Impact Training -- which offers revolutionary fitness products with celebrirty backers like Jay-Z.

Hope you enjoy our first episode of 2023! We focus on blockchain in this episode, with our client, Trevor Bacon of Parcl -- a blockchain-based real estate platform that allows you to invest digitally in physical real estate. Ryan McNamara of Benzinga also stops by to talk about which stories get the most interest on the fintech site.

Super excited that Senior Director Alix Abbamonte and Account Manager Natalie Medved joined me in studio for this special year-end recap episode! We dive into some of our favorite PR moments, great bookings, stories we worked and all the fun we had as a team.

Inspired by our booming metaverse division at PPR, this week we have two incredible experts in the space. Hussein Hallak is the founder + CEO of Next Decentrum, a blockchain education company that works with museums and galleries on the promotion of NFTs. He's also a PPR client and a pleasure to work with. Next up is Shira Lazar, a woman of Web3, journalist, content creator and a good friend from my old booking days. Enjoy!

Helaine Olen is an award-winning journalist who's a contributor to the Washington Post's opinion section. She and I connected because are both graduates from Smith College and have enjoyed working together in recent years. She offers some great advice for us PRs reaching out to journalists when pitching. Agency owner Scott Baradell also stops by to discuss his new book, Trust Signals.

This week's 2nd interview dives into the world of influencer marketing and how this work can truly enhance various PR campaigns. My good buddy, former TVproducer, and now Supervising Producer at Linqia, Ryan Topley, stops by to drop this knowledge on us. We start out this week with an interview w/PPR client Brooke Siem, who we had the pleasure of promoting her book launch. "May Cause Side Effects" is Brooke's harrowing memoir about being prescribed anti-depressants as a minor and the struggles that subsequently followed. She's on a mission to change how society thinks about, and freely prescribes, these drugs.

This week, we dive into media training tactics with renowned producer turned trainer, Kathleen Foster. She offers tremendous insights into how thinking like a producer will help you prep your clients for better interviews. Also stopping by is Amy Littleton, president of Reputation Partners, who weighs in on the work their agency does in crisis management.

Jennifer Berson is the founder of the PR agency, Jeneration PR. She stops by to talk about her entrepreneurial journey and how she grew her agency into another business -- Jeneration Academy -- and offers some great tips when it comes to scaling your company. Veteran producer Sutton Porter also stops by and shares her best practices when it comes to pitching.

Sam Whitmore is a former print journalist who pivoted his career when he launched Media Survey, a website + platform dedicated to studying + researching journalists, for the benefit of publicists. It's a resource we use daily at PPR. Sam gave some interesting takeaways, plus is an all-around great guy. Also joining is actor + singer, Terron Brooks, who talks about making it in such a competitive field, plus the PR work he did with PPR freelancer Dustin Fitzharris, and the impact that work had on his career.

Our first guest this week is Mickie Kennedy, CEO of eReleases, an agency dedicated to the art of press releases. But are press releases still relevant in the world of PR? Tune in to find out! Next up is Pace PR Account Manager + Head of Broadcast, Natalie Medved. From intern to manager to TV guru, Nat shares a day in the life of booking multiple clients daily on national TV.

This week's podcast brings the energy! First up is PPR client Robyn Duda. Robyn is known as the "workplace fixer" ... all of us who work can and will learn valuable insights from this interview. Next up is PPR Senior Director Alix Abbamonte. Curious about a day in the life working at PPR? Alix shares the good, the better and the best about working as a media relations specialist.

PPR client, author Shira Miller stops by to discuss her new book, Free and Clear: Get Unstuck and Live the Life You Want. You can say "getting unstuck" is Shira's superpower. And what a super-charged interview this one was! SO much great advice for all you listeners. Producer Krista Brunson also drops in, sharing with us stories from her time at the Today show, to working on entertainment shows now.

This week's episode features two really inspiring guys! Our first guest is Jeremy Ryan Slate, author and host of the very popular podcast, Create Your Own Life. We talk a lot about what success looks like, with some tactical takeaways you can start implementing today! Next up is Ted Fioraliso, an EP + Senior Reporter at Gray Television, a leader in local news. The pitching tips floweth over for those publicists tuning in.

This week Uriel Epshtein, Executive Director of the Renew Democracy Initiative, joins as our first guest. RDI is a client of ours and was founded by chess legend and outspoken Putin critic, Garry Kasparov. Posting this week feels especially relevant, given the Jan. 6th hearings. RDI is doing incredible work to keep our democracy alive and thriving. Also joining is Niall Strange, who is a political columnist with The Hill and a regular contributor to NewsNation's, Morning in America. He gives some really spot on tips for us publicists looking to connect with him. Enjoy!

Our first guest this week is Jared Shapiro, Founder of the Tag Experience, a boutique PR agency based in Miami. Miami is *blowing up* and we get into it + why Jared sees being based in Miami as a positive. Next up is our beloved Addi, AE at Pace. We share her journey from intern, to full time to promotion, and what it takes to be successful in your 20s doing PR.

This week, PPR client Toni Negas joins us to discuss her role as Managing Director at New You Media + the work we did together on their recent beauty awards. It was super fun! Dave Oates also stops by. Dave runs PR Security Service and specializes in helping clients when a crisis arises.