Podcasting Myth: You Don’t Need to Edit

podcast coach

One of the more hotly contested issues among some podcasters is whether or not you need to edit your podcast. I’m going to weigh in quite strongly, but before I do, I must point to the exception.

If your podcast is a combination of video and audio formats, editing can be quite a challenge and may limit what you can do in terms of practical editing.Read the rest

Taking Your Podcast to the Next Level Starts with Content

podcast coach

One of the most important steps toward taking a podcast to the next level is also one of the most commonly skipped steps. There may be many reasons for this, from not wanting to confront limitations, to the fact that there are so many different types of podcasts and podcasters, so there isn’t one standard. But if I had to guess, I’d say the leading one is that this step is not so simple or easy.… Read the rest

Media Relations: Tell Us What We Don’t Know

media relations

As a blogger, a contributor to business and trade media, and as a podcaster, I get my share of pitches from fellow PR professionals. One of the things I notice quite often is how the pitches usually center on assumptions, ‘revelations,’ or other news hooks that are all about things we already know.

A new study finds that consumers avoid higher prices and go for discounts.… Read the rest

The Teddy Roosevelt Speech that Every PR Professional Should Know

Man in the Arena

After decades of working with and dealing with the media on a wide range of topics and matters, one of the more common patterns I’ve noticed is something that President Teddy Roosevelt spoke about in his famous “Man in the Arena” speech. We’ll get to that in a bit.

Before we do, it’s important to understand what this has to do with the public relations business.… Read the rest

Business Ethics: Should Religion Stay in Its Lane?

Business Ethics

I’ve known a few people who’ve made a living as business ethicists and two of my problems with their tendencies are: 1) They tend to adhere to the ethics of relativity (but not really); and 2) They work hard to completely disassociate any religious or traditional moral code from business ethics.

To be sure, in this diverse world where people of many faiths come together to work, it would be inappropriate to try to impose a single religious code on all.… Read the rest

Media Interviewing: Don’t Name Names

media interviewing names

Since 2018, I’ve produced over 230 episodes of the Shaping Opinion Podcast, which is released weekly. In all of those episodes I only had to go back and edit one after it was posted because I made the mistake of letting the guest name names.

More to the point, the guest told a few stories that were unflattering to the two or three individuals mentioned in our interview.… Read the rest

How to Create a Key Message in 2 Minutes

key messaging

One of the exercises I’ve done in media training workshops is to ask participants to spend two minutes quietly writing down the answer to this question. In five words or less, what is the meaning of life?

Typically, it doesn’t take long for participants to get started, and in less than two minutes, most can tell you clearly and unequivocally what life is all about to them.… Read the rest

Crisis Communications: Is it Time for Your Crisis PR Reset?

crisis readiness

One thing that gets talked about a lot in the public relations business is crisis communications. You read articles like this one, perhaps you go to conferences or participate in webinars on the topic. You follow people on social media who give you a steady diet of crisis PR tips and tricks. But what is the current state of your crisis management readiness?Read the rest