The PR Wine Down

Welcome back to the annual PR Wine Down Halloween Special! 

You know the drill: Pour yourself a brew and get ready for some tricks of the trade from your favorite podcast hosts. This year, we’re unmasking five never-before-heard stories from our anonymous listeners! Tune in as we earth the scariest PR blunders, client challenges and workplace issues 

Here’s what these Anonymous PR Horror Stories have in store: a classic screen-share mishap from an agency account manager; a case of pitching the wrong contacts for a promo event from a junior PR person; a controversial social media post made by a bust startup CEO; a question about whether to go to HR over a senior in-house executive’s workplace outburst; a reporter who has repeatedly canceled an important interview with one listener’s client; and more!

Have an anonymous PR horror story to share or questions you want to be answered on the show? Email us at contact@prwinedown.com.

Connect with Trust Relations:

You can stream the show live at 2:00 pm ET every Saturday, on ElectroMagnetic Radio.

You can also connect with Trust Relations on our website or on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Sound effects obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com.

In this episode of the PR Wine Down, April and Laura welcome special guest Gini Dietrich! Gini is the founder, CEO, and author of Spin Sucks, host of the Spin Sucks podcast, and author of Spin Sucks (the book). She is also the creator of the industry-famous PESO Model.  

Together, they dive into Gini's impressive career and discuss the future of PR across an expanding digital landscape, including the changes brought on by the rise of AI and the challenges associated with the increasing fractionalization of the news media.

Plus, in this week’s PR News segment, the hosts tackle a recent news story about a Colorado man who was left behind by co-workers on a corporate hiking retreat, and had to be rescued. April and Laura break down how this incident played out in the media and discuss what this unfortunate situation reveals about workplace culture today.

In this week’s episode of the PR Wine Down podcast, April and Laura discuss recent seismic shifts in the practice of the PR profession through the lens of two seasoned media strategists. 

First, your favorite hosts discuss an article fromThe Sword and the Script, about recent changes in print media monitoring and sentiment analysis. In this segment, April and Laura discuss Burrelles’ decision to retire its print monitoring services, PRophet’s integration of new Google AI models, and Meltwater’s newest AI features.

In the “What’s Up on Reddit?” segment, April and Laura read a post from one user who is lamenting the decline of dedicated beat reporters at many publications, in favor of employing generalists as news organizations continue to downsize. Tune in for a discussion about how PR practitioners can adapt and identify new media opportunities for clients in niche industries. 

On the podcast this week, our favorite hosts discuss two hot PR industry topics: competitive work environments and the future of local news. First, April and Laura share this week’s Anonymous PR Horror Story, from a listener who has encountered a culture of toxic competition at their first full-time PR agency job. Tune in as April and Laura share their advice to help this listener navigate her current role successfully — with the ultimate goal of finding a position elsewhere.  

Later, our hosts discuss a recent initiative from Outlier Media in Detroit, which allows local readers to text the newsroom directly, access critical information, and talk directly to a reporter. April and Laura share their thoughts about the program, and why it might be the first step in preserving local news outlets as a critical community resource.

On the podcast this week, April and Laura are catching up for a one-on-one chat about some recent trending topics impacting the PR industry and the future of work. First, your favorite hosts dissect an article from Business Insider, exploring PwC’s decision to cut back on their “Summer Fridays” perk. Tune in as April and Laura discuss the shifting power dynamics between employers and employees, why companies are cutting back on workplace wellness initiatives, and what these changes might mean for PR pros.

Also in this episode, we’ll introduce a new segment: What’s Up On Reddit? In this segment, April and Laura are taking it to the forums to discuss the recent topics trending for PR pros online. This week features a post requesting help with media list building, and includes our hosts’ expert tips for success.

Eriksen Dickens is an award-winning filmmaker, actor, and co-founder of Platinum Peek. Inc video agency. This week, April and Laura welcome Eriksen to wine down with a discussion about the practical uses of video production for business leaders, including how documentary film can be applied to brand-building and positioning for entrepreneurs.

Today’s Anonymous PR Horror Story features a write-in from a listener submission who has been feeling overworked in their current in-house PR role review. Tune in to hear our hosts discuss tips for avoiding burnout and making the most of a difficult job in an uncertain economy. 

It’s an election year in the United States, and that means it’s also a busy time for PR practitioners in Washington. Here today to take us behind the scenes is Krysten Copeland, founder of KC & Co Communications and author of the PR Girl in D.C. blog. In this episode, Krystem shares her expertise in PR for campaign planning and management, her career journey, and the realities of working in this fast-paced sector. 

Also in this episode, hosts April and Laura review Google’s recent missteps with its featured AI responses to users’ queries, analyze why some brands have begun to scale back their promotions of AI offerings, and how these tools might change PR as we know it.

It’s almost time for one of our favorite annual events: The Women|Future Conference, presented by the Stevie Awards! This year, our CEO & Founder, April White, will be hosting a panel session titled "Building a Trusted Brand: Authenticity in a Time of Public Scrutiny and Hot News Cycles." Today’s episode features an exclusive pre-event interview with April’s colleague, friend and expert panelist Catharine Montgomery. Catharine is a crisis communications expert and the CEO & founder of the Better Together agency. Tune in for a sneak peek into the conversation, including: how brands can navigate hot topics in the news, centering brand authenticity in your PR activities, navigating crisis communications in the digital era, and more.

Also in this episode, April and Laura share an Anonymous PR Horror Story from one listener who encountered a few challenges with their new manager while pitching a bylined article. As always, they deliver advice for rising PR pros to master managing up, avoid pitching pitfalls, and find success in their PR careers. 

This week on the show, your favorite podcast hosts welcome Barrie Cohen for an interview! Barrie is the owner and founder of BC Public Relations. She’s here to discuss a few must-know tips for brands and PR practitioners in the healthcare and medical industries.

Later in this episode, April and Laura also cover the ubiquitous PR tool: the press release! Tune in for a deep dive into some common mistakes and best practices relating to writing, planning and distributing press releases in today’s media landscape.

Today on the PR Wine Down, hosts April and Laura tackle two key issues in today’s PR industry discourse: trust in journalism and the shaky job economy. 

First, in the PR News segment, Laura shares a recap of  “Polarization and the Press” from the blog page at Stanford’s Journalism program. In the post, Janine Zacharia, Carlos Kelly McClatchy lecturer in Stanford’s Department of Communication, and Emily Handsel, a senior at Stanford studying political science, unpack 12 actionable steps that journalists can take to enhance their credibility and rebuild trust in their reporting. Tune in as April and Laura cover the highlights, and share their own reflections about what PR professionals can do to support similar trust-building practices on the PR side of the news desk. 

Also in this episode, April reads our latest Anonymous PR Horror Story submission, from a listener who was passed over for a promotion — and effectively laid off — despite being an overachiever with years of experience.

In this information-packed episode of the PR Wine Down, hosts April and Laura welcome Allison Ullo back to the virtual recording booth! Allie is our Lifestyle Group Director at Trust Relations, and a seasoned media relations specialist and B2C communications strategist. She’s here to discuss the nitty-gritty details of affiliate PR, including the changes, challenges and opportunities brands can expect to face in this niche area of consumer media, where consumer PR and digital marketing intersect. 

Later in this episode, April and Laura take a deep dive into the different career paths a PR professional might take — and how brands can decide which type of PR specialist to hire. Tune in for a candid conversation about the pros and cons of agency, in-house and freelance PR.

April and Laura are back in the virtual recording booth for another 1:1 strategy session! This week, they’re dissecting a media mishap that went viral earlier this spring when Kellogg’s Co-CEO Gary Pilnick suggested that consumers eat cereal for dinner when their funds are tight. Tune in as April and Laura discuss the backlash and boycotts which ensued on social media, analyze how Kellog’s slow response impacted the narrative, and offer suggestions for how the brand could have mitigated the fallout.

This week’s Anonymous PR Horror story features a write-in from a listener whose client has been ghosting them for regularly-scheduled calls. April and Laura share the warning sings of a potentially disengaged client, how to crack through the silence when a client is difficult to reach, and how to identify the best methods of communication for every client contact.

On the show this week, we have a double guest interview! Daniel Bisett and Tricia Ulberg are the founders of the We Rock DM agency and co-hosts of the We Rock DM Amplified podcast. 

Daniel is an award-winning digital marketing instructor at the McCombs Business School at the University of Texas, with Tricia by his side as teaching assistant. They’re here to discuss branding and website development for brands of every size, from mom-and-pop shops to multi-million-dollar companies. With hosts April and Laura, they also discuss the costs associated with a high-quality website, how design factors into brand development, and what to do when a client feels emotionally attached to an outdated brand aesthetic. They also cover a few ways that an updated website design can support a brand’s PR goals.  

For this week’s PR News section, April and Laura discuss a recent article about AI in journalism, and how PR practitioners can adapt. 

Today’s episode features an article that April wrote for the Forbes Agency Council, “Suffering From Public Relations Skepticism Disorder? Three Tips For Agencies And Brands To Recover.”

The unspoken truth is this: The status quo PR agency approach works against employees and clients. Many brands have been burned by PR in the past, with lackluster media results, inexperienced account staff, murky agency contracts, and strategies that don’t align with their broader business goals. 

As Trust Relations celebrates its 5th agency anniversary this month, we’re dedicating this special episode of the PR Wine Down podcast to consider a pervasive issue that has yet to be uprooted in this industry: the disappointing experience many brands face when engaging with a PR firm for the first time.

The traditional PR agency model is broken, and we’re on a mission to reinvent it and replace it with something better. With the Trust Relations approach, we’re dedicated to changing client and staff expectations for what a PR agency can be — and then exceeding them. 

In this special edition of April’s reads, our CEO & Founder April White takes a closer look at what brands and agencies can do to achieve success, improve the industry and redefine what PR can do for brand’s today.

Listener Note: Don't worry, your favorite interviews and conversations with Laura Schooler and our wonderful guests from in and around the PR industry aren’t going anywhere. Our hosts will be back in your feed for another classic episode in two weeks.

This month, Trust Relations is celebrating five years in business! 

In this special episode, April and Laura welcome Fatou B. Barry to the virtual recording booth! If  you're a PR practitioner and you use Instagram, you probably follow PR Girl Manifesto; Fatou is the founder of the nonprofit organization of the same name. She is also the co-founder of the advocacy group Hold The PRess. Fatou is here to discuss her impressive career, and how she built a viral community for tomorrow’s PR pros, through PR Girl Manifesto.

Tune in as April and Laura cover some of the PR industry issues which inspired the PR Wine Down — and April’s decision to found Trust Relations. Your favorite podcast hosts chat with Fatou about uprooting toxic and outdated industry practices, improving mentorship and learning in the PR agency environment, changing the PR profession for the next generation, and more. 

In the PR News of the Week segment, April and Laura discuss a common media training question: Is it ever acceptable to share information with a reporter “off the record?” 

Longtime listeners, rejoice! This week, one of our favorite repeat guests is back in the virtual recording booth. In this episode, Ronjini Joshua, Owner & President of The Silver Telegram PR agency, is back for an industry update. Together with hosts April and Laura, Ronjini shares her observations about the PR industry in 2024 so far. They also discuss challenges facing PR practitioners as media scrutiny continues to rise, the increase in solo practitioners in the PR industry, and the budget constraints that many brands faced in Q1.  

Also in this episode, April and Laura discuss a recent viral video in which a former Cloudflare employee was laid off. The conversation includes the common messaging mistakes companies make when facing layoffs, and how brands can use empathy and strategic communications to avoid these pitfalls when sharing difficult news with their staff.

April and Laura are chatting 1:1 this week about two lesser-known issues a PR practitioner might face: a use case of anti-brand messaging, and how to manage feedback that isn’t constructive.

The PR News of the Week features an update on Tesla’s PR strategy, with a critical look at The Dawn Project’s anti-Tesla Superbowl ad back in February. April and Laura also weigh the consequences of Elon Musk’s longtime rejection of investing in a formal PR team for himself or his business and discuss whether a brand can be successful without a strategic communications infrastructure.

This week’s Anonymous PR Horror story features a write-in from a listener whose last manager shared a series of overly-personal pieces of feedback, and how to bounce back from non-constructive criticisms at work. Your favorite hosts also candidly share their own personal experiences with targeted personal criticisms in the workplace.

In light of the recent and tragic passing of Mikal Reich, our team is taking a walk down memory lane to re-release this interview with Mikal, originally released in January 2021. Mikal's intelligence and exuberance are fondly remembered and appreciated by those who knew him.

Episode Description: The PR Wine Down podcast welcomes Michael Reich, Executive Creative Director and Co-Owner at ⁠Dead As We Know It⁠ creative agency and Laura’s personal friend. With hosts Laura and April, Mikal discusses his career path into the advertising industry, reminisces about his favorite ads and career milestones, and shares advice for navigating common client challenges and leveraging creative ideas to generate press coverage. 

April and Laura are chatting 1:1 this week about two familiar dilemmas for mid-to-senior level PR practitioners: managing junior staff and navigating shrinking marketing budgets. 

This week’s Anonymous PR Horror story features an honest write-in from a listener who is struggling to connect with the intern they’re managing — and has run out of ways to share feedback. In PR News of the Week, our hosts discuss the rise of “challenger” PR firms and the role of independent practitioners and mid-sized agencies as the PR landscape continues to shift. Together, they discuss how economic concerns and shrinking marketing budgets are impacting big brands and the agencies that serve them, and how newer, more disruptive firms can provide an alternative.

April and Laura are back with another fabulous guest interview! This week, our hosts welcome award-winning PR pro, Rachel Griffin, to the virtual recording booth. Rachel is the co-founder at PlayWise Partners and April's friend and colleague from our favorite industry award event — The Stevie Awards for Women in Business! Rachel has won gold awards two years in a row for her creative PR activations. On the show today, she discusses her favorite campaigns, including activations for ToyMonster and FAO Schwarz. She also shares some insight into her latest activation for a new fashion doll brand at New York Fashion Week!

Later in this episode, in honor of Valentine’s Day, April and Laura dive into some creative holiday promotions from Pizza Hut and P.F. Chang’s. Tune in for a chat about Pizza Hut’s promo to break up with your significant other via Hot Honey "Goodbye Pies" and P.F. Chang’s Dumplings for customers who have recently been... well, dumped.

Season three of the PR Wine Down is officially here! Today, we’re introducing a new episode format called “April’s Reads.” In these episodes, April will get in front of the mic to slow down and address an important topic impacting the PR industry that could benefit from a deeper dive.

Don't worry, your favorite interviews and conversations with Laura Schooler and our wonderful guests from in and around the PR industry aren’t going anywhere. Our hosts will be back in your feed for another classic episode in two weeks.

Today’s episode features an article that April wrote for the Forbes Agency Council, “How Does AI Fit Into The Future Of Good PR?” and includes some additional advice about the impact of AI on crisis communications.

April and Laura discuss an Anonymous PR Horror Story from a listener who is feeling the pressure of agency ownership. They also offer advice to help the writer reconcile his/her relationship with a manager after a tense moment on an internal call and move forward with a more positive approach to management. 

In PR News of the Week, April and Laura analyze a recent report from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, which found that a shocking one-third of U.S. newspapers (as of 2005) will be gone this year. Together, they chat about the state of local news, the rise of news deserts in the U.S., and the role of social media in and subscription content in the decline of local newspapers.

Today, April and Laura are ringing in the new year with a one-on-one conversation about the ethical issues facing PR practitioners as we enter 2024. 

The conversation covers some familiar challenges that everyone in the PR industry faces  – from new graduates entering the industry to seasoned practitioners with decades of experience. Topics include:

• navigating the high-pressure realities of the PR industry

• avoiding common mistakes and insights as a young PR pro

• what to do when you’re struggling to secure coverage for a client

• evaluating ethical gray areas in PR 

• how to avoid (or repair) PR relationships after you’ve made a misstep

Today, April and Laura welcome our annual honored guest, Doug Spong, to discuss the defining trends of PR past, present and future. Thank you for joining us! 

Pour some nog and tune in for an episode that’s jam-packed with information that’s sure to keep your spirits bright. In this episode, we’ll discuss advice to help PR pros navigate: 

• the long-term implications of generative AI for the PR industry

• widespread return-to-office mandates

• the economic challenges facing agencies today 

• identifying productive client partnerships

• ethical practices in media relations

Today’s Anonymous PR Horror Story comes from a listener who was accused of an ethics misstep — and was put on blast by a reporter in a few industry forums as a result. Doug, April and Laura share advice to help that PR practitioner move through this semi-viral incident, preserve his reporter relationships, and confront the often-toxic culture of tearing other publicists down online. 

Today, April and Laura welcome Jenna Guarneri, CEO & Founder of JMG Public Relations. She is here to discuss her book, “You Need PR: An Approachable Guide to Public Relations for Early-Stage Companies.” Tune in for a conversation about this go-to guide for rookie PR practitioners and startup brand leaders alike. Also in this episode, April and Laura chat about the rise of super commuting —  and the impact it will have on the future of work and internal communications at large companies.

Today, we are celebrating 100 episodes of the PR Wine Down podcast! To our long-time listeners and newcomers alike — thank you for “wining down” with us! 

On today’s episode, April and Laura welcome Clayton Fletcher, acclaimed comedian and Chief Comedy Officer at Peppercomm. He is here to discuss the book he recently co-authored with Peppercomm CEO Steve Cody, “The ROI of LOL.” Tune in for an interesting discussion about what PR professionals can learn from best practices in comedy — and why Peppercomm makes it a requirement that new team members take a stand-up class. Tips include: how to use best practices from stand-up and improvisation to improve communication skills, how comedy tricks can improve client relations and workplace culture, and why it’s important to have fun in the workplace. 

Later in this episode, April and Laura take a walk down memory lane by revisiting our first-ever Anonymous PR Horror Story, to see if they still have the same advice, 100 episodes later.

Get “The ROI of LOL” here: https://roilol.com/

Today on the PR Wine Down, April and Laura welcome Rhiannon Ruff to the show! As Founding Partner & Wikipedia Expert at Lumino, Rhi is here to deliver a crash course in Wikipedia tips, tricks and policies for PR pros to know. In today's episode, Rhi discusses: what it takes to have a new Wiki page created or updated for a brand; what brands should do if their page contains false information; how brand crises can play out on the Wikipedia platform; and more. Later in this episode, April and Laura discuss a PR ethics conundrum with an analysis of the recent scandal involving Anita Dunn, White House advisor and co-founder of the communications firm SKDK. Tune in for a chat about conflicts of interest, crisis (mis)management, and how to avoid ethical missteps as an agency owner or PR practitioner.

Today on the podcast, April and Laura welcome special guest Tiffany Guarnaccia! Tiffany is the CEO of Kite Hill PR — which recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary. She is also the Founder of Communications Week, which takes place this year from November 6-10. Tune in as Tiffany discusses her journey to agency ownership, with advice to help up-and-coming PR practitioners find the most fulfilling career path. She also shares an inside look at her decision to found the first-ever Communications Week. Tune in to get the scoop on this year’s event, including a line-up of webinars, workshops, panel discussions, networking, research, industry forecasts, Ragan’s Future of Communications Conference, and more!

Later in this episode, April and Laura discuss the latest PR theory to take social media by storm with a look at the possible SEO strategy behind Taylor Swift’s recent appearance at the Kansas City Chiefs vs. New York Jets at MetLife stadium.

Halloween is just around the corner, so this Friday the 13th, April and Laura are back with an annual tradition: It’s time for the PR Wine Down Halloween Special! Get ready to pour yourself a brew and tune in as we share a terrifying tale from the PR realm. This week’s PR Horror Story features a mortifying write-in from one listener who was reprimanded at work for allegedly over-indulging in the agency’s office snack supply.

As an added treat, we have a new segment to share with you! In How to Pitch Me, your favorite hosts will share reporter write-ins that outline their top three tips for pitching. Today, we’re featuring tips from Olivia Morley, a senior reporter from Adweek covering agency news and trends. 

Today’s guest of honor is Jennifer Berson, the founder and president of Jeneration PR and host of the Pitching Powerhouse podcast. She's here to discuss the best strategies to secure top-tier media coverage for lifestyle industry clients, as well as her career journey from practicing attorney to established PR professional. It's going to be a scream!

Today, we’re welcoming Katya Allison to the PR Wine Down! Katya is an expert marketing consultant and host of the Let’s Talk Marketing podcast. Since the time of this recording, Katya has also taken on a marketing & communications management role at CAE Healthcare. She’s here with April and Laura to discuss how marketing and PR professionals can leverage AI to make their work more efficient and more creative, and why learning to be a “super-prompter” is a crucial skill for integrated communications professionals today. They also cover a recent headline from Axios, about why AI is a threat to the billable hour revenue model most PR agencies use. They’re also covering the impact of AI on hourly billing rates for independent communications consultants, and how to set a fair price for your time and expertise. Today’s PR News segment features WorkLife’s coverage of a new report from Blind, which found that nearly half of office workers say they actually work only 4 hours per day.

On the show today, April and Laura welcome Andrea Holland! She’s the CEO & Founder of Remote PR Jobs and Dialed PR, and she’s joining us to discuss: the state of remote work in the PR industry today, her unique founder story, how PR professionals can find the right remote position, managing client expectations, illustrating media relations ROI, and more! This is an information-packed episode you won’t want to miss. In the Anonymous PR Horror Story segment, April and Laura share advice for a listener whose first agency position seems shockingly disorganized — and lacks the mentorship required to help a rising PR pro learn the ropes. 

Today’s podcast guest comes to us from the fascinating world of radio reporting in New York City! Jody Fisher is the host of The PR Podcast and founder of Jody Fisher PR, where he leverages his background in radio news to enact effective client strategies. He’s here to chat with April and Laura about his transition from the news desk to a PR career, best practices for building lasting media relationships, hallmarks of good reporting, and the state of the media today. In the Anonymous PR Horror Story segment, April and Laura share advice for a listener who received backlash from their HR manager after handing in their two weeks’ notice.

Today on the show, April and Laura discuss two common issues for PR professionals: explaining the benefits of PR for established brands and navigating toxic workplace trends.

First, today’s Anonymous PR Horror Story comes from a listener whose boss bailed on a major industry conference — leaving her coworker to take the blame. April and Laura share advice for listeners to identify red flag behaviors in the workplace and discuss how PR professionals can either manage those tricky situations or know when to move on. Next, the PR News of the Week features an analysis of a recent opinion piece in Forbes, as April and Laura analyze why news-maker brands like Tesla can benefit from the strategic eye of a skilled PR team.

Today on the show, April and Laura welcome special guest Jennifer Cloer. Jennifer is the founder and CEO of Story Changes Culture — and she was recently a co-panelist alongside April at the 2023 Women|Future Conference! In today’s discussion, April and Jennifer chat with Laura about some key takeaways from their recent panel session, “Storytelling: Your Engine for Business Success.” They also discuss how brands can improve their messaging in today’s busy news cycle and crowded economic landscape. Later, April and Laura analyze an article from Fortune, detailing the decline of Millennial “Girl Boss” culture as Gen Z seeks to reimagine the role of work-life balance in their careers.

Today on the show, April and Laura are chatting with special guest, Allison Carter! She is the  executive editor at Ragan Communications and PR Daily. We’re thrilled to welcome Allison to discuss ethical use of AI for PR professionals, tips and tools for using AI responsibly, and the role of brands in an increasingly polarized social landscape. Later, in PR News of the Week, April and Laura dive into a recent opinion piece from Insider, to discuss the future of remote work for agency professionals and how it can positively impact PR industry culture.

Today on the show, April and Laura are chatting one-on-one about common issues many PR practitioners face. First, they discuss the pervasive issue of toxic office cultures in the PR and marketing industries — from agencies to in-house teams — and share advice and personal experiences to help listeners exit the negative workplace cycle. Today’s PR Horror Story comes from a listener who is facing difficulty in navigating media relations during a persistently tumultuous news cycle. Tune in as April and Laura share tips to help PR practitioners advise their clients, time their pitches and generate meaningful press coverage despite the unpredictability of breaking news events.

Our special guest on the show today is Kayley Hamilton. She’s the CEO and founder of KAYLEY Media and a 2X Emmy-Award-winning celebrity news reporter, journalist and producer.  She’s chattin with April and Laura about her career story, from a self-described “shy girl” to eventually breaking into the Hollywood media scene as a red carpet reporter. She also shares what it was like behind the scenes at A-list events, and why she shifted focus to found her own agency. She also shares tips for rising professionals to build their personal confidence and become adept at interviews, public speaking and more. In our PR News segment, April and Laura discuss The Wall Street Journal’s recent announcement that the global news outlet will be eliminating the routine use of honorifics, or courtesy titles, in its news pages.

We have a special guest on the podcast today! Meet Molly McPherson, host of the Indestructible PR® Podcast. After 20 years of working in the public relations and news industries, Molly developed her Indestructible PR® framework to help companies write effective responses to public relations crises, especially those occurring online. She has worked for FEMA and the Cruise Line International Association and is the author of the book, ‘Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis.’ She also runs a popular TikTok account, where she analyzes the latest PR crisis news. 

With Molly, our hosts April and Laura are discussing the latest trends shaking up the PR industry, including: actionable advice for brands to confront (and avoid) a crisis; tips for rising PR industry professionals seeking to level up their skills; and the role of AI in PR. 

In today’s PR News segment, April and Laura dissect the ethical implications of using AI as a PR tool, with advice to leverage platforms like ChatGPT to improve efficiency and creativity without sacrificing quality.

Today’s podcast interview features two guests. Meet Megan Redzia and Patrick Brightman, the partners at 3E Public Relations! Tune in as they chat with our hosts, April and Laura, about the evolving landscape of PR, including how the business world has changed due to the forces of digital marketing and social media. They also discuss what young PR professionals should know as they enter their first internships and agency positions. Later, April and Laura cover the recent MillerKnoll scandal, with an analysis of CEO Andi Owen’s controversial statements, the public backlash that ensued, and how brands can avoid similar crisis situations during difficult economic times.

This week on the podcast, we’re joined by Aaron Kwittken. He’s the founder and CEO of PRophet, an AI-driven, DaaS platform designed by and for PR professionals (part of the Stagwell Marketing Cloud.) With Aaron, hosts April and Laura chat through the latest developments in AI applications for PR professionals, including the risks, benefits and future of technology in the industry. This episode’s Anonymous PR Horror Story features a write-in from a junior listener who is concerned about an approach her senior manager has taken on a client campaign. April and Laura address the listener’s question with a conversation about what to do if you think your supervisor is wrong, from protecting the client’s best interests to preserving your working relationships.

In this episode, co-hosts April and Laura are welcoming Julie Livingston, CEO of WantLeverage. Julie specializes in PR and LinkedIn marketing, and she’s here to share her tips to help PR professionals leverage LinkedIn to generate thought leadership and media opportunities for their clients. They also discuss a recent announcement from Levi’s, which detailed the company’s decision to use AI-generated models to increase the diversity represented in its latest ad campaigns. 

This week, the PR Wine Down is back to our regularly-scheduled programming! Your favorite co-hosts, April and Laura, are back in the virtual recording booth. Today’s guest is Peter George, author of "The Captivating Public Speaker" and CEO of Peter George Public Speaking. He’s here to cover the top three tips to help PR practitioners train (and become) better spokespeople. April and Laura also dive into a new Anonymous PR Horror Story from the listening audience, about an account executive struggling to find an effective mentor.

Listener Note: We’ve missed you! We’re back to a bi-weekly cadence. Tune in every two weeks as April and Laura share the latest trends and issues impacting the PR landscape.

For today’s special guest host episode, we’re welcoming Ronjini Joshua! She is the CEO of the Silver Telegram PR agency, and the podcast host and author behind “The PR Playbook.” Ronjini also appeared in episode 57! In the PR News segment, April and Ronjini discuss the current state of the PR industry, with a look at a recent community poll from PR NEWS and advice for agency leaders working to land new clients in a rocky economy. They also read an Anonymous PR Horror Story about one rookie PR manager’s first experience with in-person events and discuss best practices for securing deskside interviews.

PR NEWS OF THE WEEK: 

This week’s episode features a surprise guest host appearance from April’s personal friend, mentor and former colleague: Doug Spong! Tune in as April and Doug discuss the recent Tik-Tok-inspired social media crisis, the “Kia Boyz Challenge.” April and Doug address this news with their strategic recommendations and an analysis of how Hyundai and Kia handled this viral rash of car thefts. Today’s Anonymous PR Horror Story features a write-in from a listener whose boss asked them to do some “reconnaissance” on another colleague. Themes in this story include agency culture, micro-managing, performance reviews, and how to handle inappropriate requests at work. They also discuss the increasing scrutiny of Tik Tok as tensions rise between the U.S. and China and whether the world has hit a point of no return for remote work.

PR NEWS OF THE WEEK:

This week, our hosts are wrapping up a two-part interview with Carin Warner and Carly Martinetti, co-founders of Notably PR. They’re chatting with April and Laura about client management challenges and contract development, with advice for agency owners and freelancers seeking to expand their operations. Today’s Anonymous PR Horror Story segment addresses one listener’s concerns about a semi-anonymous performance review survey, requiring agency staff to rate their senior leadership team on a sliding scale.

Listener Note: We’ve missed you! We’re back to a bi-weekly cadence. Tune in every two weeks as April and Laura share the latest trends and issues impacting the PR landscape.

Today on the show, hosts April and Laura welcome guests Carin Warner and Carly Martinetti to the virtual recording booth. Tune in as the co-founders of Notably PR discuss their unique business story, from managing client expectations to launching a successful family-owned brand. They also cover Carin’s experience taking on a Fortune 500 behemoth selling carcinogenic cleaning products on behalf of a greener alternative — the household favorite, Seventh Generation. Also in this episode, April and Laura discuss the ongoing controversy over M&M'S popular spokescandies — including an analysis of whether the saga is a true case of public backlash, or a Super Bowl season PR stunt.

Listener Note: We’ve missed you! Today’s episode brings us back to a bi-weekly cadence. Tune in every two weeks as April and Laura share the latest trends and issues impacting the PR landscape.

Welcome to our first-ever crossover episode! In this podcast special, the hosts from The PR Wine Down and Trust Relations: The Podcast team up to deliver advice, insights and hot takes for brands and integrated marketing professionals. Today’s episode also features a celebrity guest, with a name anyone in PR or marketing is sure to recognize. We’re pleased to welcome April’s personal friend, mentor and former colleague: Doug Spong! Together, they discuss the latest trends impacting PR, media relations and agency culture in 2023. They also share a few favorite campaigns from Doug’s storied career, including his work with Ty Pennington, Paris Hilton, Will Smith, American Standard, Hasbro’s Rubik’s Cube, Silk Soymilk, and more.

Later, April, Laura and Hamish read an anonymous listener’s PR Horror Story about one manager’s explosive reaction to a junior employee’s PTO request. In the Campaign Analysis segment, they discuss IKEA’s “Swedish Seedballs” campaign.

About the Guest:

Doug has an Accreditation in Public Relations and is a PRSA Fellow. He is also the founder and CEO of The Doug Spong Co. Previously, Doug was the founder, president and managing partner of Minneapolis-based Carmichael Lynch and Spong, which is owned by Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG).

Happy Holidays from the PR Wine Down team! In our annual Holiday Special, hosts April and Laura have a roster packed with PR stocking-stuffers featuring their top tips for PR success in 2023, with advice for PR veterans and rookie practitioners alike. This year, we’re taking a break from our typical anonymous stories of agency horror, with a lineup of your best listener submissions featuring fond memories from careers in the agency scene. The news segment in this episode includes an analysis of Dr. Pepper’s unprecedented RFP requiring agencies to accept payment terms for an annual retainer. They also discuss one reporter’s abrupt departure from the Semafor newsroom over an alleged conflict of interests.

PR News of the Week:

In today’s special episode for Veteran & Military Families Month, hosts April and Laura chat with two of our military spouses on staff. Briana Cusimano is a senior account executive at Trust Relations, whose spouse serves in the U.S. Army. Veronica Yip is our integrated marketing and communications manager and podcast producer, whose spouse currently serves in the U.S. Navy. Tune in as they discuss how the military life has impacted their careers and share their advice for other milsos who want to find success in a linear communications career path. April and Laura also discuss how the language used by leadership teams can impact PR agency culture and discuss the recently-announced layoffs at CNN. Today’s Anonymous PR Horror Story comes from a listener whose PR client is asking for placements in military trade publications — without the right software or spokesperson to back up their product claims.