515. Why Podcasters Need a Publicity Plan
Growing a podcast gets exciting fast, but the moment podcasters need a publicity plan is usually the same moment things start feeling a little more exposed than expected. In this episode, our cast and crew talk with publicist Cyndee Harrison about what happens when your voice starts reaching beyond your own audience and why visibility brings more than just opportunity. We get into reputation, media attention, handling criticism, difficult guest moments, and the reality that people may judge your entire brand off one clip or one headline. You know the one, that comment or moment that sticks in your head way longer than it should. We also talk through practical ways creators can prepare before chasing more exposure, from media kits to personal branding and knowing what your show actually stands for before things go sideways. By the end, the conversation keeps circling back to one uncomfortable truth: the bigger your platform gets, the more important it becomes to know who you are before everyone else decides for you.
Episode Highlights:
[00:00] Welcome and Setup
[02:50] Meet Publicist Cyndee
[05:06] What a Publicist Does
[06:25] Why Podcasting Is Going Mainstream
[10:17] Publicity Strategies for Podcasters
[14:55] DIY Media Outreach and HARO Tips
[23:19] Visibility Risks and Guest Controversies
[28:26] Crisis Lessons and Emotional Fallout
[31:47] Think Ahead Before Publishing
[40:54] Preparing for More Exposure
[44:49] When to Get PR Help
[53:52] Community Invite and Wrap-Up
Cyndee's PR Firm:
Feature Your Podcast on the Podcasting Morning Show:
https://PodcastingMorningShow.com/spotlight
The Podcasting Morning Show:
www.podcastingmorningshow.com
Ways to Watch or Listen: https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/joinus/
Meet the PMS Cast and Crew:
https://podcastingmorningshow.com/people
Join The Empowered Podcasting Facebook Group:
www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredpodcasting
Book A Free Call With Marc:
https://calendly.com/ironickmedia/freestrategycall
Application To Submit Your Show For Evaluation:
https://podcastingmorningshow.com/eval
Join us every other Monday at 8 AM ET for the Obsession Worthy Podcasts:
http://podcastingmorningshow.com/owp/
Join us LIVE every weekday morning at 8 am ET (US) on Clubhouse:
https://podcastingmorningshow.com/clubhouse
EPC3 Speaker Application: https://empoweredpodcasting.com/speakers
Powered by iRonickMedia.com and ContentCreatorsAccountant.com
Send in your mailbag questions: https://www.podcastingmorningshow.com/contact/ or marc@ironickmedia.com
Want to be a guest on The Podcasting Morning Show? Send me a message on PodMatch, here:
https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/1729879899384520035bad21b
00:00:04,740 --> 00:00:06,695
Marc Ronick: Good morning
podcasters.
2
00:00:06,695 --> 00:00:11,780
Today is Tuesday May the 12th,
2026 and today we're
talking
3
00:00:11,780 --> 00:00:15,719
publicity and reputation with
publicist Cyndee Harrison
and
4
00:00:15,719 --> 00:00:20,634
why podcasters need a plan
before their growing visibility
5
00:00:20,634 --> 00:00:24,128
brings public exposure,
responsibility and new
6
00:00:24,136 --> 00:00:27,668
challenges.
So if you're listening live on
7
00:00:27,668 --> 00:00:32,203
clubhouse, hit
the share
button top right hand side of
8
00:00:32,203 --> 00:00:35,893
the screen and share it
however clubhouse lets you.
9
00:00:35,893 --> 00:00:40,913
And if you're catching us via
podcast, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc,
10
00:00:40,991 --> 00:00:43,910
please share this with a fellow
podcaster.
11
00:00:43,910 --> 00:00:49,204
And now give us about 30 seconds
and we'll get things
rolling.
12
00:00:49,204 --> 00:00:53,532
Thanks for being here.
The podcasting morning chat is
13
00:00:53,540 --> 00:00:57,978
powered by ironic media, helping
podcasters launch polish and
14
00:00:57,986 --> 00:01:02,823
grow great shows, and by content
creators accountant, helping
15
00:01:02,831 --> 00:01:07,188
creators build real business
behind their content.
16
00:01:07,188 --> 00:01:10,368
Good
morning again, podcasting
morning show.
17
00:01:10,368 --> 00:01:15,174
Thank you for
being here.
I am your host, Mark ronick, and
18
00:01:15,174 --> 00:01:20,200
currently on stage
with me.
We have Ralph Estep, DR Fay, Sid
19
00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:24,431
Meadows, Alex Baellish,
BC
babbles, and we also have our
20
00:01:24,509 --> 00:01:28,984
guest here, Cyndee Harrison, who
we will get to momentarily.
21
00:01:28,984 --> 00:01:34,119
So yes, like I said, joining us
today, Cyndee Harrison and she
22
00:01:34,197 --> 00:01:38,884
is going to help us dig into
this whole concept of publicity
23
00:01:38,962 --> 00:01:43,027
and how to handle that.
So we'll
dig in to that in
24
00:01:43,027 --> 00:01:47,003
just a second.
First, I want to dig into some
25
00:01:47,011 --> 00:01:50,370
housekeeping items for you.
First, empowered podcasting,
26
00:01:50,378 --> 00:01:54,856
live, our live stream every
other Wednesday returns
27
00:01:54,864 --> 00:01:57,620
tomorrow, Wednesday at 1pm
Eastern.
28
00:01:57,620 --> 00:02:02,200
That's Wednesday the
13th,
with one of our events creator
29
00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:07,359
partners, and somebody I
think
may be familiar to many of you,
30
00:02:07,359 --> 00:02:11,620
Sid Meadows is joining us.
We'll dig into Sid's success
31
00:02:11,698 --> 00:02:16,230
monetizing his podcast in 2026
which is some of what he'll
32
00:02:16,308 --> 00:02:20,963
share at the conference, as well
as a speaker, his experiences
33
00:02:20,963 --> 00:02:25,761
in podcasting, and, of course,
his
experience at empowered
34
00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:27,308
podcasting.
So join us.
35
00:02:27,308 --> 00:02:31,580
All you
got to do is go to
podcasting morning show.com/epc,
36
00:02:31,580 --> 00:02:36,414
live and
get all the info
there, and that just reminded
37
00:02:36,414 --> 00:02:40,907
me, I think I need
to update
that page for tomorrow's show,
38
00:02:40,907 --> 00:02:46,061
so I will make
sure to do that
first thing after this show.
39
00:02:46,061 --> 00:02:50,282
So we got
Cyndee here today
because Ralph actually just
40
00:02:50,282 --> 00:02:53,244
hired her recently
as his own
publicist.
41
00:02:53,244 --> 00:02:58,790
So I think the best way to do
this is to go
hand it to Ralph
42
00:02:58,790 --> 00:03:02,923
to introduce our guest, and then
we'll get
things going.
43
00:03:02,923 --> 00:03:06,310
Go ahead, Ralph, good morning.
Ralph Estep Jr: Good morning.
44
00:03:06,318 --> 00:03:09,030
Mark, good morning, Cyndee.
And today, joining us is Cyndee
45
00:03:09,030 --> 00:03:11,554
Harrison.
Cyndee is a publicist who works
46
00:03:11,554 --> 00:03:14,904
with individuals and
brands on
publicity, reputation, messaging
47
00:03:14,904 --> 00:03:17,820
and public exposure.
We're going to talk about what
48
00:03:17,820 --> 00:03:20,580
podcasters should know before
they step further into the
49
00:03:20,580 --> 00:03:23,080
spotlight.
Now today's
conversation is
50
00:03:23,080 --> 00:03:26,474
especially important for podcast
hosts, for
creators, business
51
00:03:26,474 --> 00:03:29,113
owners and anyone using media to
grow their
voice.
52
00:03:29,113 --> 00:03:32,445
We're going to talk about how
publicity works, what can go
53
00:03:32,453 --> 00:03:35,900
wrong, how to prepare, and why
having the right support
54
00:03:35,908 --> 00:03:38,105
matters.
So that's exactly so Cyndee, so
55
00:03:38,105 --> 00:03:39,645
glad that you could
be here
today.
56
00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,142
Cyndee Harrison: Thank you for
having me.
57
00:03:42,142 --> 00:03:44,140
I'm really excited for the
conversation.
58
00:03:44,559 --> 00:03:45,630
Marc Ronick: And what a great
guest.
59
00:03:45,630 --> 00:03:48,543
Like if you're not watching the
video right now,
she's got her
60
00:03:48,543 --> 00:03:52,027
microphone like she knows how to
be a good
podcast guest.
61
00:03:52,027 --> 00:03:54,844
We have no audio problems.
The video looks great.
62
00:03:54,852 --> 00:03:58,059
This is a great example of a
good guest right out of the
63
00:03:58,067 --> 00:04:01,047
gate.
Well, Cyndee Harrison: it's
64
00:04:01,047 --> 00:04:01,800
early yet.
It's early.
65
00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,600
Marc Ronick: Great to be here.
So Ralph, do you want to to kick
66
00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:07,980
things off with your first
question?
67
00:04:08,340 --> 00:04:09,138
Ralph Estep Jr: Sure,
absolutely.
68
00:04:09,138 --> 00:04:11,667
And Mark You and I had talked a
little bit before
the show.
69
00:04:11,667 --> 00:04:14,317
We talked about why I hired
Cyndee, and I think we can
70
00:04:14,325 --> 00:04:15,320
start there.
Marc Ronick: Yeah, let's see.
71
00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,579
Ralph Estep Jr: So the reason
that I hired Cyndee is my shows
72
00:04:17,629 --> 00:04:20,071
are starting to grow.
My
influence is starting to
73
00:04:20,071 --> 00:04:21,971
grow.
And I said, you know, I need to
74
00:04:21,971 --> 00:04:24,980
take it to the next level.
And I met Cyndee through the
75
00:04:24,980 --> 00:04:27,217
podcast
Professionals
Association, and I had just
76
00:04:27,217 --> 00:04:29,853
reached out to her, and
I
said, Cyndee, is this something
77
00:04:29,853 --> 00:04:31,855
you do?
Is this
something you could
78
00:04:31,855 --> 00:04:34,517
help someone grow their
influence, get me in
front of
79
00:04:34,517 --> 00:04:36,541
new audience?
And she said, Oh yeah, Ralph.
80
00:04:36,541 --> 00:04:38,214
She said,
that's exactly what
I do.
81
00:04:38,214 --> 00:04:41,205
So we struck up a conversation,
and we
become fast friends.
82
00:04:41,205 --> 00:04:44,079
I would say, you know, we
bounced a lot
of ideas off
83
00:04:44,079 --> 00:04:46,004
each other.
She just got finished her team
84
00:04:46,012 --> 00:04:49,065
building, I guess you call it a
press kit, and super impressive
85
00:04:49,065 --> 00:04:52,258
press kit, she makes me look
better than I could ever have
86
00:04:52,266 --> 00:04:54,068
been.
So I'm super excited about how
87
00:04:54,068 --> 00:04:56,614
having her help me really
take
it to the next level.
88
00:04:56,614 --> 00:04:59,582
I've shared with her, sort of my
hopes and dreams of what I
89
00:04:59,582 --> 00:05:01,926
want to accomplish.
Much in
podcasting, in the
90
00:05:01,926 --> 00:05:03,663
greater, you know, sphere of
influence.
91
00:05:03,663 --> 00:05:06,162
So
that's really the reason
that I hired Cyndee.
92
00:05:06,162 --> 00:05:09,132
But Cyndee, I want
to jump
into our first question, because
93
00:05:09,132 --> 00:05:11,641
a lot of people don't
know
what a publicist does.
94
00:05:11,641 --> 00:05:14,442
Can you explain your role, the
types
of clients and
95
00:05:14,442 --> 00:05:16,380
situations you typically help
people with?
96
00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,825
Cyndee Harrison: Sure, well, and
thank you again for I am
97
00:05:19,825 --> 00:05:24,646
really excited, Ralph, you are
such a
great use case, because
98
00:05:24,646 --> 00:05:29,813
there are so many business
owners,
creators and leaders
99
00:05:29,813 --> 00:05:34,830
who work so hard to build a
brand and to
build in the case
100
00:05:34,830 --> 00:05:40,136
of podcast hosts, to build an
audience, and
so for podcast
101
00:05:40,136 --> 00:05:45,820
hosts specifically, it's always
interesting to see what a bank,
102
00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:48,554
if you will, of content is
available.
103
00:05:48,554 --> 00:05:53,602
But so many times that Bank of
content, those
videos, those
104
00:05:53,602 --> 00:05:57,685
show notes, those blog posts,
tend to live within
four
105
00:05:57,685 --> 00:06:02,536
walls, and at one time, that
wasn't such a problem,
because
106
00:06:02,536 --> 00:06:06,405
the audience would come and step
into those four walls
with
107
00:06:06,405 --> 00:06:09,510
that podcast host and enjoy that
content, and then business
108
00:06:09,518 --> 00:06:13,370
could transact or, you know, it
just sort of played out really
109
00:06:13,378 --> 00:06:15,900
naturally.
You know, we all build these
110
00:06:15,900 --> 00:06:18,771
silos around
ourselves
unintentionally, so a publicist
111
00:06:18,771 --> 00:06:23,132
can help you stretch
out of
that, and is typically known for
112
00:06:23,132 --> 00:06:25,260
connecting you with
mainstream
media.
113
00:06:25,260 --> 00:06:28,955
So, and I use that word very,
very carefully,
and I would
114
00:06:28,955 --> 00:06:33,038
love to hear how you guys agree
or disagree with
this, I feel
115
00:06:33,038 --> 00:06:36,928
like podcasting is now
mainstream, and so I am open
116
00:06:36,936 --> 00:06:40,352
to calling mainstream media
something else, but when I am
117
00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:43,680
using that word, I am thinking
of what we have traditionally
118
00:06:43,688 --> 00:06:47,200
called mainstream media, like
newspapers, magazines, places
119
00:06:47,208 --> 00:06:52,788
and media that have broader and
different audiences who are
120
00:06:52,796 --> 00:06:56,908
interested in what you're doing.
Marc Ronick: Yeah, I think that
121
00:06:56,908 --> 00:07:00,328
a lot of us, or a lot of
people, are now accepting
122
00:07:00,328 --> 00:07:02,605
podcasting
more as mainstream
media.
123
00:07:02,605 --> 00:07:06,240
I don't think it's quite there,
just in this just in the sense
124
00:07:06,300 --> 00:07:08,190
of the perspective of the public
eye.
125
00:07:08,190 --> 00:07:11,608
I don't know that everybody yet
considers it mainstream
media,
126
00:07:11,608 --> 00:07:16,004
but for all intensive purposes,
I think, I do think it
is, now
127
00:07:16,004 --> 00:07:19,500
these days, lot of people
referring to that as
their
128
00:07:19,500 --> 00:07:21,908
source for information, etc.
So we'll see.
129
00:07:21,908 --> 00:07:25,400
But I think
before we know it,
everybody's gonna just lump that
130
00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:27,560
in with the
rest of the media
out there.
131
00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:31,455
Cyndee Harrison: I agree.
Yeah,
when I first started my
132
00:07:31,455 --> 00:07:36,788
first foray into podcasting, I
was an
internal publicist for
133
00:07:36,788 --> 00:07:40,720
someone who had a really big
audience,
and CBS actually
134
00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,760
came to him and said, you know,
we're dipping a
toe.
135
00:07:43,760 --> 00:07:47,560
This was in the play.it days.
Does anyone remember play
dot?
136
00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,110
Marc Ronick: I don't.
Cyndee Harrison: At the time,
137
00:07:50,118 --> 00:07:53,080
they were calling it syndicated,
which I think would now be
138
00:07:53,088 --> 00:07:56,540
essentially a network anyway.
I'm just interested to see if
139
00:07:56,548 --> 00:08:00,334
anyone remembers that.
But it was C It was a CBS
140
00:08:00,334 --> 00:08:03,460
product, and
we were so
fortunate because we would show
141
00:08:03,460 --> 00:08:07,218
up at the local radio
station.
They would provide all of the
142
00:08:07,218 --> 00:08:10,004
infrastructure.
We just
lined up guests, spoke
143
00:08:10,004 --> 00:08:12,275
to them.
It was a great show.
144
00:08:12,275 --> 00:08:16,400
And what
they kept saying
repeatedly was we have to, in
145
00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,244
order to find
that podcast
audience, we've got to get you
146
00:08:20,244 --> 00:08:22,293
on other podcasts,
and we have
to figure out.
147
00:08:22,293 --> 00:08:24,975
And it was so funny because at
that
time, the podcast
148
00:08:24,975 --> 00:08:29,102
listening audience, the
population that
was engaging
149
00:08:29,102 --> 00:08:35,100
with podcasts, was such a
specific and tiny slice
of of
150
00:08:35,100 --> 00:08:38,440
everyone.
And it's been really nice in the
151
00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,600
past few
years.
That was in 2015 and it's been
152
00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,680
really nice to kind of re
enter podcasting and go, Oh,
153
00:08:44,680 --> 00:08:48,940
these were the days that folks
in the business were looking
154
00:08:48,940 --> 00:08:53,620
forward to, back when I was
first trying to crack the code
155
00:08:53,620 --> 00:08:56,920
on, how do we grow this thing?
How do we engage with sponsors?
156
00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:01,560
How do we get advertisers like,
how is this so it's been really
157
00:09:01,680 --> 00:09:05,616
an interesting time.
It's like,
I've time hopped
158
00:09:05,616 --> 00:09:07,810
in.
I Marc Ronick: hear ya.
159
00:09:07,810 --> 00:09:11,859
So let me
ask you when you
hear the word, well, I should
160
00:09:11,859 --> 00:09:15,171
say, when people
hear the word
publicity, they often think it
161
00:09:15,171 --> 00:09:17,428
only means press
or attention,
right?
162
00:09:17,428 --> 00:09:21,740
How would you define publicity
in a more
complete way.
163
00:09:22,340 --> 00:09:26,000
Cyndee Harrison: So I tend to
put it all in the bucket of
164
00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:29,900
reputation, because reputation,
if you think about the good old
165
00:09:29,900 --> 00:09:32,780
days, reputation used to be a
work product, right?
166
00:09:32,780 --> 00:09:37,740
So I'm from a small town in East
Tennessee,
and I grew up
167
00:09:37,740 --> 00:09:41,340
knowing and believing that if
you do the
work, you earn the
168
00:09:41,340 --> 00:09:43,340
reputation, and the rest will
take care of
itself.
169
00:09:43,340 --> 00:09:45,556
And that applied to pretty much
everything.
170
00:09:45,556 --> 00:09:49,260
And
nowadays, like, if you do
a Google search for reputation
171
00:09:49,268 --> 00:09:53,530
management, which is what I
really call what I do, what is
172
00:09:53,538 --> 00:09:56,602
it talking about?
It's all talking about AI,
173
00:09:56,602 --> 00:09:59,832
online
visibility, the ability
to be found.
174
00:09:59,832 --> 00:10:04,928
Found as the subject
matter
expert that you are Marc Ronick:
175
00:10:04,928 --> 00:10:06,694
awesome.
Anyone
else have another
176
00:10:06,694 --> 00:10:09,080
question along these lines?
We have plenty of
questions
177
00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:12,680
for her, but I just want to make
sure that everyone
else can
178
00:10:12,680 --> 00:10:15,050
pop in if they'd like, Oh, all
right.
179
00:10:15,050 --> 00:10:17,525
Well, Ralph, do
you want to
take the next Ralph Estep Jr:
180
00:10:17,525 --> 00:10:20,215
one absolutely
and so the next
question is, from podcast is a
181
00:10:20,215 --> 00:10:22,679
powerful
platform now, and
from your perspective, why
182
00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:25,828
should
podcasters think about
publicity different than someone
183
00:10:25,828 --> 00:10:27,300
with
their traditional
business?
184
00:10:27,300 --> 00:10:30,463
And actually, this goes along
the
lines of what you and I've
185
00:10:30,463 --> 00:10:33,341
had many conversations about
now,
and that is, how do we
186
00:10:33,341 --> 00:10:36,415
you know, one of the things you
said to me
when you were
187
00:10:36,415 --> 00:10:39,433
building my press kit is like,
well, we're not
going to be
188
00:10:39,433 --> 00:10:42,339
starved for material for you.
But how do we bridge
that, you
189
00:10:42,339 --> 00:10:44,660
know, how should podcasters
against the audience
we're
190
00:10:44,660 --> 00:10:47,478
talking to you today?
How should podcasters think
191
00:10:47,478 --> 00:10:50,389
about
publicity differently
than someone with a traditional
192
00:10:50,389 --> 00:10:52,328
business?
I know you've worked with
193
00:10:52,328 --> 00:10:54,803
traditional businesses.
We
talked a little bit about
194
00:10:54,803 --> 00:10:57,558
that before the show.
You actually
work with some
195
00:10:57,558 --> 00:11:00,040
pawn businesses that they
actually had a reality
TV
196
00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:03,121
show, which is really cool, but
you know, how do you bridge
197
00:11:03,129 --> 00:11:05,879
that gap between the podcast and
the traditional business?
198
00:11:05,879 --> 00:11:08,030
Cyndee?
Cyndee Harrison: So that's a
199
00:11:08,038 --> 00:11:10,566
great question.
I think it sort of goes back to
200
00:11:10,566 --> 00:11:12,482
what I alluded
to a little
earlier.
201
00:11:12,482 --> 00:11:18,341
How podcasters put so much into
building their show, right?
202
00:11:18,341 --> 00:11:22,919
They pour everything into
growing and
sort of feeding
203
00:11:22,919 --> 00:11:29,360
and watering that audience, and
now there are
so many golden
204
00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:34,528
nuggets that tend to be buried
within that podcast
ecosystem.
205
00:11:34,528 --> 00:11:39,278
So what I think my job as a
publicist, specifically
for
206
00:11:39,278 --> 00:11:43,914
podcasters, is is to help them
take that and mine that
gold
207
00:11:43,914 --> 00:11:49,004
and share it with journalists
and others who are
are looking
208
00:11:49,004 --> 00:11:53,792
for that content.
You know, all of us are old
209
00:11:53,800 --> 00:11:58,493
enough to remember the days when
reporters, you know, I mean,
210
00:11:58,501 --> 00:12:03,251
television news, was the way we
got our information every single
211
00:12:03,251 --> 00:12:06,065
day.
You know, folks read the
212
00:12:06,065 --> 00:12:09,605
newspapers to start their day,
and then we've seen a decline of
213
00:12:09,605 --> 00:12:14,425
it, but now we're seeing like in
real time.
214
00:12:14,425 --> 00:12:19,260
AI tools are looking for
verifiable sources, so media
215
00:12:19,268 --> 00:12:24,422
is scrambling to make this huge
comeback, and as a result, there
216
00:12:24,422 --> 00:12:26,360
are journalists who have been
starved.
217
00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:28,010
They've been starved of
budget.
218
00:12:28,010 --> 00:12:31,652
They've been starved of all the
luxuries of their
timeline.
219
00:12:31,652 --> 00:12:36,135
They're hungry to connect with
people who can lend
expertise
220
00:12:36,135 --> 00:12:41,566
and lend a unique kind of AI,
which is authentic
insight to
221
00:12:41,566 --> 00:12:44,955
the stories that they are now
charged with producing.
222
00:12:44,963 --> 00:12:51,445
So that's the media side of it.
And what's really nice is that
223
00:12:51,453 --> 00:12:57,005
that findability, that that look
that is coming from the
224
00:12:57,013 --> 00:13:01,455
perspective of media, is really
beneficial for an entirely
225
00:13:01,463 --> 00:13:05,475
different audience.
And I want to talk a little bit
226
00:13:05,475 --> 00:13:07,194
about what
podcasters goals
are.
227
00:13:07,194 --> 00:13:11,240
And I don't know if any of your
audience, ever you know, states
228
00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:14,960
this as a goal, but nowadays
there are monetization
229
00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:18,260
opportunities, whether that's a
brand partnership or an
230
00:13:18,260 --> 00:13:23,022
advertising partnership.
And the
reality is that a lot
231
00:13:23,022 --> 00:13:28,455
of those network executives or
sponsors
or brand partners,
232
00:13:28,455 --> 00:13:33,029
they may never have the time to
take a
deep dive into all that
233
00:13:33,029 --> 00:13:37,139
gold that's laying there in your
many, many podcast episodes.
234
00:13:37,139 --> 00:13:41,664
So they you need to make sure
that
you are serving them up
235
00:13:41,664 --> 00:13:46,229
little golden nuggets in the
highly
visible media hits.
236
00:13:46,229 --> 00:13:50,673
It's really, really an important
way to make
sure that you're
237
00:13:50,673 --> 00:13:53,974
tapping into that second
audience, that non
listening
238
00:13:53,974 --> 00:13:57,791
audience that has a lot of
influence over your your
239
00:13:57,799 --> 00:14:00,090
show's success, and Ralph Estep
Jr: that's kind of
what you're
240
00:14:00,090 --> 00:14:01,820
doing for me, right?
I mean, that's the whole point.
241
00:14:01,820 --> 00:14:03,110
I think, I hope I don't offend
242
00:14:03,110 --> 00:14:05,750
anybody when I say, you, you
said part of your job is Kissing
243
00:14:05,750 --> 00:14:08,095
Frogs.
And I thought that was a
244
00:14:08,103 --> 00:14:11,450
really interesting way to put
it, but it is the truth, right?
245
00:14:11,450 --> 00:14:13,292
Cyndee Harrison: It's 100%
Kissing Frogs.
246
00:14:13,292 --> 00:14:17,024
It's much like taxes.
I could do my own taxes.
247
00:14:17,032 --> 00:14:21,107
I could paint my own car.
I there's a lot of things I
248
00:14:21,107 --> 00:14:23,717
could
do myself.
And so we live in a world where
249
00:14:23,717 --> 00:14:26,174
darn near anything
is
available to us.
250
00:14:26,174 --> 00:14:30,189
And so I do believe that the
work of a
professional
251
00:14:30,189 --> 00:14:34,220
publicist is helpful when you
reach a certain
level of and
252
00:14:34,220 --> 00:14:38,415
Ralph, I'm not pandering to you,
but I mean,
you have reached a
253
00:14:38,415 --> 00:14:41,996
certain level where you have
built a bank of
content, and
254
00:14:41,996 --> 00:14:45,266
you've built an audience that
it's time for you
to take that
255
00:14:45,266 --> 00:14:47,168
step up.
But not every podcast host has
256
00:14:47,168 --> 00:14:49,655
to start
there.
There are a lot of things that
257
00:14:49,655 --> 00:14:55,400
you can do to get that
media
attention entirely on your own.
258
00:14:55,700 --> 00:14:58,631
Marc Ronick: Can you give us an
example Cyndee Harrison: for
259
00:14:58,631 --> 00:14:59,912
sure?
So
there are two.
260
00:14:59,912 --> 00:15:02,250
Tools.
Have you heard of HERO Help a
261
00:15:02,250 --> 00:15:04,800
Reporter
Out?
Yes, that's one of my favorite
262
00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:06,929
tools, for a number of
reasons.
263
00:15:06,929 --> 00:15:11,015
That's one of many.
There's muck rack and quoted and
264
00:15:11,015 --> 00:15:14,449
I'll think of others.
I'll think of others.
265
00:15:14,449 --> 00:15:18,675
But there are all
sorts of
tools where journalists go to
266
00:15:18,675 --> 00:15:23,759
try to connect with people
who
can serve as a source, and so
267
00:15:23,759 --> 00:15:27,830
that's a great place to
start.
You can subscribe to heyro.
268
00:15:27,830 --> 00:15:30,530
Heyro Originally, they've
changed the acronym now, but it
269
00:15:30,530 --> 00:15:33,410
originally stood for Help a
Reporter Out, and it meant
270
00:15:33,410 --> 00:15:37,290
exactly that.
So imagine the job
of a
271
00:15:37,290 --> 00:15:41,960
journalist and you have been
assigned a story and you
have
272
00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,538
fleshed it out.
Now, if you're a journalist, you
273
00:15:45,538 --> 00:15:48,581
obviously can't just give your
opinion on everything.
274
00:15:48,581 --> 00:15:52,315
It is
your job to connect with
people who are experts in the
275
00:15:52,315 --> 00:15:55,145
field and
do your research.
You've put it all together, and
276
00:15:55,145 --> 00:15:57,875
then your
editor says, not
enough sources.
277
00:15:58,115 --> 00:16:00,515
So what do you do?
It's like,
I'm at deadline.
278
00:16:00,515 --> 00:16:03,275
I'm freaking out.
So someone very smartly
279
00:16:03,283 --> 00:16:09,200
invented this system for just
putting the word out, and if you
280
00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:14,175
subscribe to to lists like
that, then you get insight, and
281
00:16:14,175 --> 00:16:16,913
it
will teach you how
journalists operate.
282
00:16:16,913 --> 00:16:22,096
You'll see in real
time, the
types of angles that they work
283
00:16:22,096 --> 00:16:25,700
on now in your field.
So let's take Ralph as an
284
00:16:25,700 --> 00:16:28,871
example.
In the personal finance
for or
285
00:16:28,871 --> 00:16:33,855
creator economy, you can just
start watching what are
286
00:16:33,863 --> 00:16:39,563
articles that are the angles
that align with his expertise,
287
00:16:39,571 --> 00:16:45,089
and then you're very welcome to
now in those examples, those are
288
00:16:45,089 --> 00:16:48,160
situations where those are
reporters that are under
289
00:16:48,168 --> 00:16:51,455
deadline, so you're that's when
I say it's Kissing Frogs,
290
00:16:51,463 --> 00:16:56,015
because you have people like me
who employ an entire team who do
291
00:16:56,015 --> 00:17:00,667
nothing else but watch these,
just like you would watch like A
292
00:17:00,667 --> 00:17:02,894
stock ticker.
They're watching these all the
293
00:17:02,894 --> 00:17:05,435
time for
opportunities.
This not the only way you can
294
00:17:05,435 --> 00:17:08,950
also just find, oh,
there's a
reporter who just wrote an
295
00:17:08,950 --> 00:17:10,990
article about my area
of
expertise.
296
00:17:10,990 --> 00:17:14,470
I'm going to give them a couple
of days to finish
this, and
297
00:17:14,470 --> 00:17:18,770
I'm going to just reach out and
introduce myself
and say, Hey,
298
00:17:18,770 --> 00:17:21,931
noticed this article.
I saw the finished
piece, I
299
00:17:21,931 --> 00:17:23,573
really align with this
perspective.
300
00:17:23,573 --> 00:17:27,214
And next time you
need a
subject matter expert, I'd love
301
00:17:27,214 --> 00:17:29,735
to collaborate with
you.
Marc Ronick: Very cool.
302
00:17:29,735 --> 00:17:32,025
Thank
you for the examples.
I think that's really helpful
303
00:17:32,025 --> 00:17:34,802
for a lot
of us, because I
think there are plenty of people
304
00:17:34,802 --> 00:17:37,949
in our audience
that may not
be ready yet for a publicist,
305
00:17:37,949 --> 00:17:40,429
but they're intrigued
by this
conversation.
306
00:17:40,429 --> 00:17:43,290
So, yeah, the more we can
provide, I think
the better.
307
00:17:43,290 --> 00:17:45,020
But Dr, I think you had a
question.
308
00:17:45,020 --> 00:17:47,030
D.R.
Fay: Yeah, I have a
question.
309
00:17:47,030 --> 00:17:51,618
As soon as you mentioned HERO, I
perked up
because I have
310
00:17:51,618 --> 00:17:56,256
access to Haro through press.
I forgot the
platform that I
311
00:17:56,256 --> 00:17:59,656
belong to.
I just don't know how to use
312
00:17:59,656 --> 00:18:02,432
Haro.
I'm I think I need, like, a
313
00:18:02,513 --> 00:18:06,725
YouTube video tutorial or
something on how to use it
314
00:18:07,565 --> 00:18:10,459
Cyndee Harrison: well.
And I am
not in it every day.
315
00:18:10,459 --> 00:18:13,057
My team spends a lot more time
in it.
316
00:18:13,057 --> 00:18:16,505
So
just the quick so I'm
certain that someone has
317
00:18:16,505 --> 00:18:21,371
invented a
YouTube tutorial.
The basic premise, though, is
318
00:18:21,371 --> 00:18:28,181
that they
want you to submit
responses, typically in very
319
00:18:28,181 --> 00:18:33,770
specific
answers to questions.
And so they, also, most of the
320
00:18:33,778 --> 00:18:37,190
journalists that we work with,
are very, very deliberate.
321
00:18:37,190 --> 00:18:41,510
They
are trying to figure out,
how does AI play into all of
322
00:18:41,510 --> 00:18:43,910
this.
And so I would encourage you to
323
00:18:43,910 --> 00:18:47,510
separate yourself.
If you are
responding to a hay
324
00:18:47,510 --> 00:18:50,030
row in you say, it hay row?
What do I say?
325
00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,488
D.R.
Fay: I say, HARO, but it's,
it
326
00:18:52,488 --> 00:18:54,689
might be HERO.
Cyndee Harrison: I have an
327
00:18:54,697 --> 00:18:57,404
accident, so I D.R.
Fay: I'm in Nashville, so I
328
00:18:57,412 --> 00:19:00,460
know girl, I know Cyndee
Harrison: rep down south.
329
00:19:00,468 --> 00:19:02,918
I have lived in the Midwest 25
years, never know.
330
00:19:02,918 --> 00:19:05,876
Like
anything.
I say I'm like, I don't know
331
00:19:05,876 --> 00:19:10,991
with my and so, you
know, when
I've done it, I think the
332
00:19:10,991 --> 00:19:13,760
biggest benefit is, and I'm
curious, and I won't put you on
333
00:19:13,820 --> 00:19:17,405
the spot, but I'm curious, how
frequently do you check it?
334
00:19:17,465 --> 00:19:18,695
D.R.
Fay: I don't, because I
don't
335
00:19:18,695 --> 00:19:22,369
know how to use it, and it,
every time I go into it, I'm
336
00:19:22,377 --> 00:19:24,965
reminded i i really need help on
this.
337
00:19:25,925 --> 00:19:27,453
Cyndee Harrison: And it's like,
every darn thing.
338
00:19:27,453 --> 00:19:30,525
Every time I learn a new system,
I'm like,
dang it, they either
339
00:19:30,525 --> 00:19:33,615
move the D.R.
Fay: Yeah or update it to
340
00:19:33,623 --> 00:19:36,378
where it's no longer applicable.
Yeah, Cyndee Harrison: yeah.
341
00:19:36,378 --> 00:19:39,350
So I'm
the same, and I'm sure
that those tutorials, you know,
342
00:19:39,350 --> 00:19:42,274
there's probably some
influencer out there who will
343
00:19:42,274 --> 00:19:46,380
explain the
step by step, but
I think it's the best way to
344
00:19:46,380 --> 00:19:48,423
learn it is by
doing it every
single day.
345
00:19:48,423 --> 00:19:51,350
And that's the thing, that's why
I
call it Kissing Frogs, is
346
00:19:51,650 --> 00:19:54,090
there's really no magic to what
we do.
347
00:19:54,090 --> 00:19:57,565
It's like a matchmaker.
There's no great magic to any of
348
00:19:57,565 --> 00:19:59,725
this.
It's just making sure that we're
349
00:19:59,725 --> 00:20:01,399
ready.
Party to be
responsive.
350
00:20:01,399 --> 00:20:05,535
And here's here, I will tell you
this secret sauce,
we don't
351
00:20:05,535 --> 00:20:09,419
waste their time.
So last week, I just did a
352
00:20:09,427 --> 00:20:13,693
presentation from stage with two
it was such an honor, with two
353
00:20:13,701 --> 00:20:16,592
journalists, one of whom has won
30 Emmy Awards.
354
00:20:16,592 --> 00:20:19,175
I'm like, What
the heck?
And this guy was an
355
00:20:19,175 --> 00:20:22,715
investigative journalist, and
the other presenter, Steve
356
00:20:22,715 --> 00:20:24,703
Kelso.
It was Brad Edwards and
Steve
357
00:20:24,703 --> 00:20:26,972
Kelso.
And Steve used to manage the
358
00:20:26,972 --> 00:20:31,520
newsroom, and he was
there to
lend perspective into what
359
00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:35,720
actually makes its way to a
reporter from the assignment
360
00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,016
desk.
And I think that is the
361
00:20:38,024 --> 00:20:40,257
secret.
What he shared would be the
362
00:20:40,257 --> 00:20:43,580
secret sauce that I would
share with you is to avoid the
363
00:20:43,820 --> 00:20:47,645
what we call spray and pray and
so so many times, when you've
364
00:20:47,645 --> 00:20:51,185
worked so hard on something and
you've built, you know, whether
365
00:20:51,185 --> 00:20:54,545
it's a podcast or the local
bakery, you've just worked so
366
00:20:54,545 --> 00:21:00,425
hard on this thing, and this
story feels so real and so
367
00:21:00,605 --> 00:21:04,785
newsworthy to you that you want
to tell every reporter, and
368
00:21:04,785 --> 00:21:07,796
here you go.
You're Googling, you
know,
369
00:21:07,796 --> 00:21:10,976
what's Anderson Cooper's email?
And you're just really
trying
370
00:21:10,976 --> 00:21:15,345
to tell that story.
I think that the secret sauce is
371
00:21:15,345 --> 00:21:20,370
to be really, really
deliberate, and not like I say,
372
00:21:20,370 --> 00:21:25,538
not over
reach and to really
preserve that, that inquiry to
373
00:21:25,538 --> 00:21:29,135
times
where you really have
something that is newsworthy.
374
00:21:29,135 --> 00:21:33,761
Now the
question is, what is
newsworthy, and that, believe it
375
00:21:33,761 --> 00:21:38,045
or not, is
more, is more
subjective than it sounds, but
376
00:21:38,045 --> 00:21:40,250
newsworthy?
Well,
let me ask you guys,
377
00:21:40,250 --> 00:21:42,815
what do you think the word
newsworthy?
378
00:21:42,875 --> 00:21:47,135
Marc Ronick: Well, I mean, I
would say it's anything that
379
00:21:47,915 --> 00:21:50,785
that is in the mass public
interest.
380
00:21:50,785 --> 00:21:53,435
Would that be a fair way to put
it?
381
00:21:53,735 --> 00:21:56,340
Cyndee Harrison: Yeah, yeah.
I
think that's exactly it is
382
00:21:56,340 --> 00:21:58,440
that it's broad.
We live in a world
where
383
00:21:58,440 --> 00:22:00,050
everything is based on audience
numbers.
384
00:22:00,050 --> 00:22:02,600
So but D.R.
Fay: could you create
385
00:22:02,608 --> 00:22:05,000
something and make it
newsworthy?
386
00:22:05,540 --> 00:22:08,213
Cyndee Harrison: Absolutely, so
I'll give you a good example.
387
00:22:08,213 --> 00:22:11,942
So we told a story.
Brad told a
story from the
388
00:22:11,942 --> 00:22:16,720
stage of a Lebanese restaurant.
And this
was, it was a
389
00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:21,065
beautiful immigrant story.
It was a
beautiful living the
390
00:22:21,065 --> 00:22:24,795
American dream story, and but it
was a
local restaurant on a
391
00:22:24,795 --> 00:22:29,129
corner in Chicago, and there was
just
nothing that was
392
00:22:29,129 --> 00:22:32,825
newsworthy.
And then there was a violence,
393
00:22:32,825 --> 00:22:37,883
an
eruption in Beirut.
Well, this restaurant owner was
394
00:22:37,883 --> 00:22:43,181
from
Beirut, and so he
connected the local news station
395
00:22:43,181 --> 00:22:48,190
that was
looking for local
relevance stories to the fact
396
00:22:48,190 --> 00:22:54,198
that there
was this, you know,
story from very, very far away.
397
00:22:54,198 --> 00:22:58,289
And they
came to the
restaurant, they asked for his
398
00:22:58,289 --> 00:23:00,286
perspective.
He
still had family over
399
00:23:00,286 --> 00:23:04,286
there, and so you can, I don't
know if it's
so much about
400
00:23:04,286 --> 00:23:08,479
creating the news, although we
do hear a lot of
that of
401
00:23:08,479 --> 00:23:11,860
people create news every single
day, typically with their
402
00:23:11,868 --> 00:23:15,689
phone in their face.
But yes, so that's all about
403
00:23:15,689 --> 00:23:18,875
crafting an
angle.
Yeah, that's a great question.
404
00:23:19,415 --> 00:23:20,555
Marc Ronick: All right.
Cool.
405
00:23:20,563 --> 00:23:23,705
Well, then my next question,
when we think about a podcast,
406
00:23:23,713 --> 00:23:27,487
it's something that gives us a
really public voice, right?
407
00:23:27,487 --> 00:23:30,972
So
what kind of opportunities
does that create?
408
00:23:30,972 --> 00:23:34,620
And I also want to
find out,
what are some of the risks that
409
00:23:34,620 --> 00:23:38,280
come with that
visibility.
Cyndee Harrison: So that's a
410
00:23:38,288 --> 00:23:42,280
great question, and I want to
make sure that we get to both of
411
00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,699
them.
So first, I think one of the
412
00:23:44,699 --> 00:23:49,653
missed opportunities I see
so
many podcast hosts maybe skip is
413
00:23:49,653 --> 00:23:54,125
they invest so much into the
growth of their show that they
414
00:23:54,305 --> 00:23:56,255
sort of neglect their personal
brand.
415
00:23:56,255 --> 00:24:01,553
Do you guys ever see that where
everything is about the
show
416
00:24:01,553 --> 00:24:06,371
and what's happening again,
going back to when there is a
417
00:24:06,379 --> 00:24:11,700
journalist or a network exec or
a future brand partner, they're
418
00:24:11,700 --> 00:24:16,250
probably Googling your name.
So that would be one missed
419
00:24:16,258 --> 00:24:19,610
opportunity that I would see
with podcast hosts, and then you
420
00:24:19,610 --> 00:24:22,610
had a great second question,
and I knew the Marc Ronick:
421
00:24:22,610 --> 00:24:26,450
risks.
Cyndee Harrison: So the thing we
422
00:24:26,450 --> 00:24:29,920
were talking so much about,
when you connect with media and
423
00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:34,910
you
get placed and you are
growing this, then there are
424
00:24:34,918 --> 00:24:39,105
vulnerabilities, and I think
that it's important to always
425
00:24:39,113 --> 00:24:42,147
anticipate them.
And I would love to hear you
426
00:24:42,147 --> 00:24:45,833
guys probably
have a ton of
stories, but one of the biggest
427
00:24:45,833 --> 00:24:49,235
vulnerabilities I
see with
podcast shows are the
428
00:24:49,235 --> 00:24:52,223
vulnerabilities that come along
with guests.
429
00:24:52,223 --> 00:24:58,535
And I'm curious if you guys have
any stories of
guests who they
430
00:24:58,535 --> 00:25:00,710
come particularly with a.
Live show.
431
00:25:00,718 --> 00:25:04,790
They come on your show and they
maybe unintentionally, perhaps
432
00:25:04,798 --> 00:25:08,030
intentionally, they say
something that's really
433
00:25:08,038 --> 00:25:12,664
controversial that ends up being
a sound bite that goes viral.
434
00:25:12,664 --> 00:25:16,087
I
think that's a very real
risk in your space.
435
00:25:16,087 --> 00:25:20,240
Have any of you ever
heard of
that sort of thing happening?
436
00:25:20,600 --> 00:25:22,805
Marc Ronick: BC I see your hand
is up to an example.
437
00:25:23,285 --> 00:25:25,625
BC Babbles: So I shared the
story a little while ago on this
438
00:25:25,625 --> 00:25:30,305
show, but I actually, few years
ago, got myself in quite a bit
439
00:25:30,305 --> 00:25:33,785
of trouble and actually lost a
job because I was not careful as
440
00:25:33,785 --> 00:25:38,285
a host in the kind of
conversation I was facilitating
441
00:25:38,285 --> 00:25:41,585
with a couple of co workers I
had, I was in a brand new space,
442
00:25:41,585 --> 00:25:45,785
a lot of similar aged,
entrepreneurial people that I
443
00:25:45,830 --> 00:25:51,230
worked with, and so I found a
great kind of source of guests
444
00:25:51,230 --> 00:25:54,770
who could talk about growing in
a space that ships and you know
445
00:25:54,770 --> 00:25:58,970
how to adjust to new workflows
in the office and whatnot, But
446
00:25:58,970 --> 00:26:03,410
there was a particular toxic
underground to the workspace.
447
00:26:03,470 --> 00:26:08,039
And I had two people on who were
pretty hip deep in that
448
00:26:08,039 --> 00:26:11,566
element of the atmosphere.
And while
typically, I had
449
00:26:11,566 --> 00:26:14,771
known better to curve away from
that make sure
the
450
00:26:14,771 --> 00:26:18,435
conversation was productive and
whatnot, I let it go a
451
00:26:18,443 --> 00:26:21,610
different direction, and I did
the dumber thing, which was
452
00:26:21,618 --> 00:26:25,505
produce it and put it out there.
And the morning it went out, I
453
00:26:25,513 --> 00:26:28,986
got a call from my trainer from
the job, and said, Hey, I don't
454
00:26:28,986 --> 00:26:30,791
know if you made the best move
here.
455
00:26:30,791 --> 00:26:33,713
You might want to bring
this
down a little when you get to
456
00:26:33,713 --> 00:26:37,466
the office, which I did,
spent
my entire morning and taking it
457
00:26:37,466 --> 00:26:38,952
down every place that
I found
it.
458
00:26:38,952 --> 00:26:42,288
And that's when I That's the day
that I learned
about the
459
00:26:42,288 --> 00:26:45,212
dangers of secondary
distributors for podcasts, but I
460
00:26:45,212 --> 00:26:48,860
ended up losing my job because
of it, because I allowed the
461
00:26:48,868 --> 00:26:52,310
conversation to get too toxic.
I was not smart in how I
462
00:26:52,318 --> 00:26:55,295
facilitated it.
I did not curb it the right way.
463
00:26:55,295 --> 00:26:58,985
And yeah, that
was a big
learning moment for me as a
464
00:26:58,985 --> 00:27:02,285
podcaster, which is why I'm
much more methodical about pre
465
00:27:02,285 --> 00:27:07,145
interviews, planning ahead and
if and when I see a conversation
466
00:27:07,565 --> 00:27:11,105
go a place I don't want it to
go, I curve it immediately or
467
00:27:11,105 --> 00:27:15,245
put a pause on it, redirect and
make sure the conversation
468
00:27:15,245 --> 00:27:20,090
ultimately is productive and is
actually providing Something to
469
00:27:20,090 --> 00:27:23,810
the public, as opposed to really
spicy gossip content.
470
00:27:24,410 --> 00:27:27,230
Cyndee Harrison: Wow, I'm sorry
that happened to you.
471
00:27:28,430 --> 00:27:30,890
BC Babbles: I needed to learn
that I take that fully now as
472
00:27:30,890 --> 00:27:32,995
like, you know what?
I fully
owned it.
473
00:27:32,995 --> 00:27:35,810
I was like, You know what?
I gave them the mic.
474
00:27:35,810 --> 00:27:37,610
Don't
fire them.
They still fired them.
475
00:27:37,610 --> 00:27:39,829
All three of us got.
But D.R.
476
00:27:39,829 --> 00:27:43,597
Fay: you know what?
It
really speaks to the
477
00:27:43,597 --> 00:27:49,906
knowledge of the host, because
there are
some things that you
478
00:27:49,906 --> 00:27:54,410
wouldn't mind it going in a
different
direction, and you
479
00:27:54,410 --> 00:27:58,661
have to make that split second
decision as
to, is this going
480
00:27:58,661 --> 00:28:02,195
to be detrimental to my job, or
is
this just going to be, like
481
00:28:02,195 --> 00:28:06,465
a really big thing that might be
great for, you know, to get
482
00:28:06,465 --> 00:28:08,480
the name of the business out
there.
483
00:28:08,488 --> 00:28:13,262
So it's really a split second
thing that you have to, as a
484
00:28:13,270 --> 00:28:17,895
host be able to to manipulate.
BC Babbles: Oh, and boy, howdy,
485
00:28:17,895 --> 00:28:20,560
did those numbers go start
rising quickly, because once
486
00:28:20,568 --> 00:28:24,401
people within the in the
workspace learned who was on the
487
00:28:24,401 --> 00:28:26,590
episode, everyone started
clocking into the episode really
488
00:28:26,590 --> 00:28:28,085
quick.
That one got the highest
489
00:28:28,085 --> 00:28:32,405
numbers, I think, in the history
of my show, because of who was
490
00:28:32,405 --> 00:28:36,200
on it and what they presumed we
were likely talking about.
491
00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:39,905
So lesson learned that was like
back in 2022 but I have
492
00:28:39,905 --> 00:28:41,705
definitely grown pretty well
since then.
493
00:28:42,245 --> 00:28:44,748
Cyndee Harrison: Well, I'm glad
to hear it, and that's the
494
00:28:44,810 --> 00:28:47,066
thing.
In fact, the first the
way I
495
00:28:47,066 --> 00:28:50,230
got into I learned about crisis
communications was, as
Ralph
496
00:28:50,230 --> 00:28:54,451
sort of alluded to, I had a job
that was in a high risk
497
00:28:54,459 --> 00:28:58,440
industry, and I was working for
people who were at the height of
498
00:28:58,440 --> 00:29:00,751
visibility.
And so whenever anyone in that
499
00:29:00,751 --> 00:29:04,457
field had a
problem, they're
like, oh my gosh, I'll just call
500
00:29:04,457 --> 00:29:06,262
Cyndee.
She
knows what's going on.
501
00:29:06,262 --> 00:29:10,343
And so I would always think if I
had only
talked to you before,
502
00:29:10,343 --> 00:29:13,057
if I could turn back time,
because we do.
503
00:29:13,065 --> 00:29:15,510
We learn so many lessons the
hard way.
504
00:29:15,510 --> 00:29:19,106
So the good news for
you is
that you experienced what I
505
00:29:19,106 --> 00:29:22,735
always say, whenever I talk to
someone who is in the middle of
506
00:29:22,796 --> 00:29:25,190
a crisis, which is, everything
is temporary.
507
00:29:25,190 --> 00:29:28,899
So that was temporary, but at
that moment, I
want to talk
508
00:29:28,899 --> 00:29:31,328
more.
Now I feel like I'm digging into
509
00:29:31,328 --> 00:29:35,247
your
psyche, but just want to
hear it from you, instead of me
510
00:29:35,247 --> 00:29:38,948
telling
you, but tell me about
how did that feel for you?
511
00:29:38,948 --> 00:29:40,913
Like, what
was were you
emotional?
512
00:29:40,913 --> 00:29:43,868
Like?
BC Babbles: I felt very
513
00:29:43,876 --> 00:29:47,170
disappointed in myself because
this had been, I mean, this is
514
00:29:47,178 --> 00:29:50,494
my the show's my thought, baby.
This is my, like, my creative
515
00:29:50,502 --> 00:29:55,205
passion, and I had done so well
up to that moment, to bring in
516
00:29:55,213 --> 00:29:58,396
people from the space that
really added to the conversation
517
00:29:58,396 --> 00:30:01,872
in a way that I.
Just wanted the conversation to
518
00:30:01,872 --> 00:30:06,114
provide.
And so
when I realized how
519
00:30:06,114 --> 00:30:09,808
unexpectedly I slipped up in
such a way that
I hadn't
520
00:30:09,808 --> 00:30:12,450
before, and we're not just
talking about a force,
we're
521
00:30:12,450 --> 00:30:14,850
not just talking about me having
a full blown conversation
522
00:30:14,858 --> 00:30:16,828
station for an hour and not
hitting record.
523
00:30:16,828 --> 00:30:19,017
This is me
hosting a very
toxic conversation.
524
00:30:19,017 --> 00:30:24,011
I'm just like,
wow, I This
sucks in the moment, as I am,
525
00:30:24,011 --> 00:30:26,772
like pleading to the
hiring
managers, like I understand what
526
00:30:26,772 --> 00:30:29,615
I did.
This is
my fault, you know,
527
00:30:29,615 --> 00:30:32,072
give me all the onus and
whatnot.
528
00:30:32,072 --> 00:30:37,472
I think
emotionally, I was
just surprised to simply worded
529
00:30:37,472 --> 00:30:42,715
is
just surprising myself,
surprised in my capacity to
530
00:30:42,723 --> 00:30:48,340
falter in that way as a host and
as a producer, and to let that
531
00:30:48,348 --> 00:30:54,100
kind of thing go out there into
the ether, as I call it, a lot
532
00:30:54,108 --> 00:30:58,105
of times, the digital ether, and
let it get any kind of attention
533
00:30:58,105 --> 00:31:00,613
whatsoever.
So for me, it's like, you know,
534
00:31:00,613 --> 00:31:03,410
I don't often
learn the lesson
the easy way.
535
00:31:03,410 --> 00:31:06,060
I had to learn it the hard way,
and this time was the hard way.
536
00:31:06,060 --> 00:31:10,097
So just take, Marc Ronick: you
know, Cyndee Harrison: and so
537
00:31:10,097 --> 00:31:12,444
you're
not alone in that.
Let's use your example.
538
00:31:12,444 --> 00:31:15,770
So thank you for
sharing that
very vulnerable moment.
539
00:31:15,770 --> 00:31:19,270
And let me tell you
something.
It is so common.
540
00:31:19,270 --> 00:31:23,720
In those moments we get so
emotional, and we feel all the
541
00:31:23,720 --> 00:31:26,280
things that you're feeling.
We
feel disappointed in
542
00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:29,480
ourselves, we feel betrayed.
We feel like
we betrayed
543
00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:30,968
ourselves.
We feel stupid.
544
00:31:30,968 --> 00:31:34,940
And then when those
outside
forces, either it's in your
545
00:31:34,940 --> 00:31:38,840
case, you lost a job, in a
podcast hosts case, it could be
546
00:31:38,840 --> 00:31:42,760
we lost a partnership, we lost a
collaboration, we lost an
547
00:31:42,760 --> 00:31:46,078
advertiser.
So I think I'm
really glad
548
00:31:46,078 --> 00:31:49,670
that you articulated those so
that's why the very,
very
549
00:31:49,670 --> 00:31:53,458
first thing that I always teach
people is to anticipate.
550
00:31:53,466 --> 00:31:56,996
And it sounds so simple, you'd
be shocked.
551
00:31:56,996 --> 00:32:00,873
How many people just
fail to
anticipate whatever their
552
00:32:00,873 --> 00:32:05,400
endeavor is, whether it is
a
business or they're building
553
00:32:05,400 --> 00:32:10,860
influence, influencers tend to
be so focused on audience
554
00:32:10,860 --> 00:32:13,860
growth, and I'm talking about
like, specifically social media
555
00:32:13,860 --> 00:32:17,580
influencers, who I'm hearing
from an increasing number of and
556
00:32:17,580 --> 00:32:22,100
Some podcasters also consider
themselves influencers, you
557
00:32:22,100 --> 00:32:28,460
would be shocked at how little
anticipatory they just really
558
00:32:28,460 --> 00:32:35,060
fail to do that anticipatory
work beforehand and and so I
559
00:32:35,060 --> 00:32:39,200
think just spending a little
time fleshing that out
560
00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:42,817
beforehand, you were having to
do it in real time.
561
00:32:42,817 --> 00:32:47,607
And none of us are as good on
our feet, no
matter how much
562
00:32:47,607 --> 00:32:50,520
we believe ourselves to be,
we're never as
fast on our
563
00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:53,635
feet as we are with a little bit
of forethought.
564
00:32:53,635 --> 00:32:57,386
And
so that's why I always
recommend just anticipate.
565
00:32:57,386 --> 00:33:02,152
And that
includes for you,
particularly you were, am I
566
00:33:02,152 --> 00:33:04,586
right?
You had a
podcast that you
567
00:33:04,586 --> 00:33:06,412
weren't like, Buck didn't stop
there.
568
00:33:06,412 --> 00:33:09,933
It was
on behalf of a brand
that you didn't necessarily own.
569
00:33:09,933 --> 00:33:12,900
Right?
Sounds like it was part of your
570
00:33:13,140 --> 00:33:15,659
your job?
BC Babbles: No, it was my show.
571
00:33:16,320 --> 00:33:18,773
Cyndee Harrison: Oh, BC Babbles:
so I had a show that
started
572
00:33:18,773 --> 00:33:21,745
way before the job and but when
I found myself amongst
all
573
00:33:21,745 --> 00:33:25,139
these similarly minded folks, I
thought, Ooh, a nice
pool of
574
00:33:25,139 --> 00:33:26,587
guests.
Cyndee Harrison: God, BC
575
00:33:26,587 --> 00:33:28,700
Babbles: that's what
happened.
Cyndee Harrison: Okay?
576
00:33:28,700 --> 00:33:31,876
I
understand.
Oh, well, then, ah, then that
577
00:33:31,876 --> 00:33:36,660
leads me to that whole
thing I
was talking about before of the
578
00:33:36,660 --> 00:33:40,620
second audience.
So I am
willing to guess, and
579
00:33:40,620 --> 00:33:45,350
we will never know, but, and, or
perhaps
they told you, but so
580
00:33:45,350 --> 00:33:50,937
many people have influence over,
in
this case, your job, your
581
00:33:50,937 --> 00:33:55,210
life, quite literally, who will
never
take the deep dive and
582
00:33:55,210 --> 00:33:59,014
hear your full show in all
context, Right?
583
00:33:59,022 --> 00:34:04,380
So maybe if they had gone back
and listened to all the prior
584
00:34:04,388 --> 00:34:07,670
episodes, they would get a feel
for and they would understand
585
00:34:07,678 --> 00:34:11,911
like, oh, okay, I get it.
This is sort of how, if we just
586
00:34:11,911 --> 00:34:14,516
trust
we're going to follow BC
down this path.
587
00:34:14,516 --> 00:34:17,495
And these are the
types of
conversations that he has.
588
00:34:17,495 --> 00:34:22,092
But they never did.
They
judged your entire
589
00:34:22,092 --> 00:34:24,440
persona based on sound BC
Babbles: wise.
590
00:34:24,440 --> 00:34:28,339
So, Cyndee Harrison: yeah, yeah.
So
anticipating that and
591
00:34:28,339 --> 00:34:31,687
recognizing that this is the
life of the podcaster.
592
00:34:31,687 --> 00:34:36,601
You can't, you know, like I say
a
tax accountant has to sit
593
00:34:36,601 --> 00:34:39,393
back and go this.
I can't be afraid
of the IRS.
594
00:34:39,393 --> 00:34:43,315
This is the work I do.
And so a podcaster, you have
595
00:34:43,322 --> 00:34:46,359
to anticipate that sort of thing
going sideways.
596
00:34:46,359 --> 00:34:50,339
Now, what would
you have done
differently when it comes to as
597
00:34:50,339 --> 00:34:54,527
we said, we're
talking about
the topic of guests and the
598
00:34:54,527 --> 00:34:57,849
vulnerability
that guests
bring alongside them.
599
00:34:57,849 --> 00:34:59,523
If you had it to do over
again?
600
00:34:59,523 --> 00:35:00,684
Would you.
Have hit publish.
601
00:35:00,684 --> 00:35:02,309
Or would you retool?
What?
602
00:35:02,309 --> 00:35:05,219
What would you do if you could
go back in time?
603
00:35:05,700 --> 00:35:08,280
BC Babbles: Basically, I would
have held off and reflected on
604
00:35:08,280 --> 00:35:10,960
the episode.
Do I have anything
here that
605
00:35:10,960 --> 00:35:14,020
caters to what I'm supposed to
be using this
platform for?
606
00:35:14,020 --> 00:35:17,262
In that case, I would have said,
No, hey guys,
can we come back
607
00:35:17,262 --> 00:35:19,692
at some point?
Re record, redirect the
608
00:35:19,700 --> 00:35:22,208
conversation.
This thing cannot go out as it
609
00:35:22,208 --> 00:35:23,876
is, Cyndee Harrison: yeah, yeah.
610
00:35:23,884 --> 00:35:26,210
I've seen that happen.
And, you know, larger media
611
00:35:26,210 --> 00:35:28,070
shows will do
that quite
frequently.
612
00:35:28,070 --> 00:35:32,142
A lot of things end up on, you
know, the
proverbial cutting
613
00:35:32,142 --> 00:35:36,080
room floor that we never end up
seeing for
exactly that
614
00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:40,244
reason, and it's because what
they do, they
anticipate.
615
00:35:40,244 --> 00:35:45,710
They also have the they not
always, because we see
a lot
616
00:35:45,710 --> 00:35:51,175
of missteps in the media too,
but they have an idea of
the
617
00:35:51,175 --> 00:35:54,030
values and the purpose of their
show.
618
00:35:54,030 --> 00:35:58,300
And so when things
go a little
sideways, they're able to ask
619
00:35:58,300 --> 00:36:01,506
themselves, okay,
does this
align with what I'm building,
620
00:36:01,506 --> 00:36:06,734
and if not, then we
either
need to redirect, which it
621
00:36:06,734 --> 00:36:09,060
sounds like that's what you
would have done if you had a
622
00:36:09,060 --> 00:36:12,240
chance to do it over again.
They'll either redirect, they'll
623
00:36:12,240 --> 00:36:14,964
cut it all together.
They make a
decision on the
624
00:36:14,964 --> 00:36:18,432
fly.
And so sticking with that whole
625
00:36:18,432 --> 00:36:21,544
anticipate theme.
It's important that when you are
626
00:36:21,544 --> 00:36:25,004
setting up
your show, and
you're deciding on the focus of
627
00:36:25,004 --> 00:36:28,995
your show, and
you are
deciding on, will your show
628
00:36:28,995 --> 00:36:32,240
include guests, if so, is
it
live, you know, and you're
629
00:36:32,240 --> 00:36:34,580
walking through all this
decision making of what this
630
00:36:34,580 --> 00:36:38,540
show is going to be, you really
should anticipate and consider
631
00:36:38,600 --> 00:36:40,928
all of those things.
If you talk
about
632
00:36:40,928 --> 00:36:43,210
controversial topics you can
there's only one mouth that
633
00:36:43,218 --> 00:36:46,395
you can control, so maybe you
reconsider how you invite guests
634
00:36:46,395 --> 00:36:49,336
into the space.
But that's a great I'm sorry I
635
00:36:49,336 --> 00:36:51,436
spent a lot of
time on Marc
Ronick: that's okay.
636
00:36:51,436 --> 00:36:53,675
I
think real life examples are
important here for this
637
00:36:53,683 --> 00:36:56,683
conversation, so I think that
works well, and I know that Sid
638
00:36:56,683 --> 00:36:58,860
has a question for you as well.
Go ahead.
639
00:36:58,860 --> 00:37:01,132
Sid, Sid Meadows: good morning,
everybody.
640
00:37:01,132 --> 00:37:03,915
Thanks, Mark.
So the situation that BC
641
00:37:03,915 --> 00:37:09,140
described the
to the extreme
is kind of the fear that I get
642
00:37:09,140 --> 00:37:12,615
when reaching
out to podcast
guests, because I My show is
643
00:37:12,615 --> 00:37:14,934
basically energy
show, and I
hear all the time, oh, I can't
644
00:37:14,934 --> 00:37:16,509
do that.
My boss is
going to get mad or
645
00:37:16,509 --> 00:37:20,098
what if I say something wrong.
So it's a
real thing that I
646
00:37:20,098 --> 00:37:23,970
think guests go through on a
regular basis,
and as hosts, I
647
00:37:23,970 --> 00:37:26,200
think especially if they are,
you know, have a
full time
648
00:37:26,200 --> 00:37:29,265
job, it's something we have to
be very cognizant of how
we
649
00:37:29,265 --> 00:37:31,830
approach that and how we handle
it.
650
00:37:31,830 --> 00:37:36,190
But my question is
really more
about outreach.
651
00:37:36,190 --> 00:37:44,280
So I probably get five to 10
emails a
day from publicist
652
00:37:44,280 --> 00:37:48,010
pitching someone on my show Marc
Ronick: you can't see, and
653
00:37:48,018 --> 00:37:52,170
Cyndee is giggling right now.
Sid Meadows: And like, I
654
00:37:52,178 --> 00:37:57,190
published a show about, like, I
published a show about AI.
655
00:37:57,190 --> 00:38:01,260
And
goodness gracious, my
email fills up with publicists,
656
00:38:01,260 --> 00:38:06,995
and
the problem is, out of all
these, I get less than 0.005% of
657
00:38:06,995 --> 00:38:11,200
them actually will fit my
show, because my whole show is
658
00:38:11,200 --> 00:38:14,800
very
niche in a very niche
community, and I'm not really, I
659
00:38:14,800 --> 00:38:17,673
mean, I
just ignore them,
honestly, is what I do with
660
00:38:17,673 --> 00:38:19,514
them.
And so I
get a few
661
00:38:19,514 --> 00:38:21,736
occasionally, probably I've had
two people on my show
that
662
00:38:21,736 --> 00:38:24,740
actually came from a publicist,
and those people were
actually
663
00:38:24,740 --> 00:38:28,430
in my industry, are related to
it, so I could have
them on
664
00:38:28,430 --> 00:38:31,210
board, but it's extremely
frustrating, and I'm
not sure
665
00:38:31,210 --> 00:38:35,900
as a podcaster what I could do
differently to help
these
666
00:38:35,900 --> 00:38:38,960
people understand that, hey,
this is not my Show.
667
00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:43,088
This
guest is not for my show.
Cyndee Harrison: Deep sigh.
668
00:38:43,088 --> 00:38:46,260
I
don't know what.
I don't know how to make it
669
00:38:46,260 --> 00:38:48,598
stop.
They're
giving us all a bad
670
00:38:48,598 --> 00:38:51,540
name.
It is a really common problem,
671
00:38:51,540 --> 00:38:57,324
and at
least Sid have a show
that does have guests, you'd be
672
00:38:57,324 --> 00:38:59,500
shocked.
Maybe you wouldn't be shocked at
673
00:38:59,500 --> 00:39:04,225
all at how frequently I hear
from podcasters who never have
674
00:39:04,225 --> 00:39:08,305
guests, and they are alone on
the mic, and they get pitched
675
00:39:08,305 --> 00:39:12,880
every single day to to bring a
guest onto a show.
676
00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:17,213
It's a real problem, and I wish
I had the
solution.
677
00:39:17,213 --> 00:39:21,125
I don't.
All I can do is, as I said
678
00:39:21,125 --> 00:39:24,653
earlier, it's
really important
that we not replicate that and
679
00:39:24,653 --> 00:39:28,030
kind of stop
the madness.
When you engage with a
680
00:39:28,030 --> 00:39:30,594
professional publicist,
that's
the very last thing they want to
681
00:39:30,594 --> 00:39:32,005
do.
Because if you think
about it,
682
00:39:32,005 --> 00:39:34,844
and if there are any publicists
out there, I wish
they would
683
00:39:34,844 --> 00:39:37,894
hear me say this.
I've been at this game a long,
684
00:39:37,902 --> 00:39:42,610
long time, and here's the truth.
When that podcaster receives
685
00:39:42,618 --> 00:39:48,735
that email, they are not only
going to kind of mentally cross
686
00:39:48,735 --> 00:39:54,355
you off of their list, but that
impacts every client that you
687
00:39:54,363 --> 00:39:57,570
have.
And so that impacts everyone
688
00:39:57,570 --> 00:40:00,245
that you work with.
And
so it goes.
689
00:40:00,245 --> 00:40:05,146
Back to Ralph, I do say, and I
have a little statue
of a frog
690
00:40:05,146 --> 00:40:10,179
prince, because a publicist job
is to know which
frogs to
691
00:40:10,179 --> 00:40:14,890
kiss, so that one will
eventually turn into, in this
692
00:40:14,898 --> 00:40:18,856
case, your show about AI.
So it's disappointing to hear
693
00:40:18,856 --> 00:40:23,050
that
I wish I had the I really
wish I had the solution.
694
00:40:23,050 --> 00:40:27,886
You know, what
I do in those
situations is I just have like a
695
00:40:27,886 --> 00:40:31,558
canned response
of try, trying
to live into like a BE THE
696
00:40:31,558 --> 00:40:34,480
CHANGE moment, like
letting
them know, stop this.
697
00:40:34,480 --> 00:40:36,805
This is not a solid practice for
our industry.
698
00:40:36,805 --> 00:40:41,065
Marc Ronick: The best is when I
get emails asking me if I want
699
00:40:41,065 --> 00:40:43,405
to, how I want to grow my
podcast, you know, hey, do you
700
00:40:43,405 --> 00:40:45,555
want to grow your podcast?
I got
all the solutions.
701
00:40:45,555 --> 00:40:48,350
It's like, Hey, I help people do
that too,
buddy.
702
00:40:48,350 --> 00:40:50,809
You know, they just don't pay
any attention.
703
00:40:50,809 --> 00:40:53,425
And, yeah,
it's usually AI
that's doing it.
704
00:40:53,665 --> 00:40:55,770
Yeah, Ralph, take it.
Ralph Estep Jr: Cyndee, I wanted
705
00:40:55,770 --> 00:40:58,464
to pivot here a little bit,
and I want to get to some
706
00:40:58,472 --> 00:41:00,010
practicality.
So what should podcast hosts
707
00:41:00,010 --> 00:41:02,483
have in place
before they
start seeking more exposure.
708
00:41:02,483 --> 00:41:05,516
Because a lot of
people say,
Well, I want to go get more
709
00:41:05,516 --> 00:41:08,529
exposure, but Cyndee,
what are
the things that you need to have
710
00:41:08,529 --> 00:41:11,269
lined up before you
do that?
Because I think it's real easy
711
00:41:11,269 --> 00:41:14,141
to say, Well, yeah,
I'm going
to go out there and get that
712
00:41:14,141 --> 00:41:16,209
viral moment.
I'm going
to do this and this
713
00:41:16,209 --> 00:41:18,458
to broaden this exposure.
But there's some
things you
714
00:41:18,458 --> 00:41:21,492
got to have in place correct
before you go and make
that
715
00:41:21,492 --> 00:41:23,060
reach, Cyndee Harrison: you're
right.
716
00:41:23,068 --> 00:41:24,658
So that's a great pivot.
Look at you.
717
00:41:24,658 --> 00:41:27,140
You should have a show or
two,
Ralph Estep Jr: you know, I
718
00:41:27,148 --> 00:41:28,260
think I might know what I'm
doing here.
719
00:41:28,260 --> 00:41:31,310
Man, I'm not sure.
Cyndee Harrison: So that's a
720
00:41:31,318 --> 00:41:34,820
great question, and I think it's
a really important takeaway for
721
00:41:34,820 --> 00:41:38,408
any podcaster that's listening.
So it's really important that
722
00:41:38,416 --> 00:41:41,672
you anticipate, that's my
favorite word of the day, that
723
00:41:41,680 --> 00:41:45,828
you anticipate that when you
reach out to media, they have a
724
00:41:45,828 --> 00:41:50,165
responsibility to vet you, and
so you can very easily do
725
00:41:50,173 --> 00:41:52,835
exactly what you know they're
going to do.
726
00:41:52,835 --> 00:41:55,295
You can anticipate
that they
are going to search for you, and
727
00:41:55,295 --> 00:41:57,045
they're going to
hear me very
well.
728
00:41:57,045 --> 00:42:00,945
They're going to typically
search for you by
your name,
729
00:42:00,945 --> 00:42:04,733
your human name, not necessarily
your show name.
730
00:42:04,733 --> 00:42:10,485
So
it's really important that
you have a personal brand that
731
00:42:10,485 --> 00:42:14,582
is
findable.
Because it used to be that
732
00:42:14,582 --> 00:42:17,930
whatever we stuck on our
website, the interwebs would
733
00:42:17,930 --> 00:42:22,490
just take our word for it and
oh, we say that we are an expert
734
00:42:22,490 --> 00:42:25,130
in these keywords.
And so the
interwebs were
735
00:42:25,130 --> 00:42:28,218
like, Okay, here's your expert
in these
keywords, like,
736
00:42:28,218 --> 00:42:30,635
whatever.
Now, of course, we know the
737
00:42:30,643 --> 00:42:33,790
algorithms are highly
sophisticated, and so search is
738
00:42:33,790 --> 00:42:37,209
all and Sid is an expert in
these things.
739
00:42:37,209 --> 00:42:40,253
He's probably
forgotten more
than I'll ever know about AI.
740
00:42:40,253 --> 00:42:45,359
But these AI
tools are now
generating answers based on 360
741
00:42:45,359 --> 00:42:48,731
degrees of
visibility.
And so to your question, Ralph,
742
00:42:48,731 --> 00:42:52,881
what we need to
do is make
sure that we have a vetable and
743
00:42:52,881 --> 00:42:56,608
verifiable personal
brand.
Guess what it is?
744
00:42:56,608 --> 00:42:59,056
Old time we talk Marc Ronick:
about it all the
time.
745
00:42:59,056 --> 00:43:01,034
Cyndee, it's not in this not in
these circles.
746
00:43:01,034 --> 00:43:03,091
No, we say
it's not old timey
at all.
747
00:43:03,091 --> 00:43:04,920
We encourage it to our
community.
748
00:43:05,035 --> 00:43:07,855
Cyndee Harrison: You have to
make it easy for them, because,
749
00:43:07,855 --> 00:43:13,375
again, realize it is not their
job to promote and protect your
750
00:43:13,375 --> 00:43:14,755
show.
That's your job.
751
00:43:14,755 --> 00:43:19,000
So make
it easy for them.
So make yourself or have someone
752
00:43:19,000 --> 00:43:22,628
make
for you a media kit and
keep it updated.
753
00:43:22,628 --> 00:43:26,995
You need to make sure
that
your media hits your expertise
754
00:43:26,995 --> 00:43:31,720
is extremely
digestible for
them, they need to be able to
755
00:43:31,720 --> 00:43:37,123
put their finger
on it fast so
a media kit can be I mean, you
756
00:43:37,123 --> 00:43:41,901
could start with a
simple body
of an email with links to your
757
00:43:41,901 --> 00:43:46,315
snippets of your
own show,
your appearances on other shows,
758
00:43:46,315 --> 00:43:50,365
whatever you've got
to do to
make yourself easy to vet,
759
00:43:50,365 --> 00:43:53,965
because they are certainly
not
going to put you in front of
760
00:43:53,965 --> 00:43:57,865
their editors if their editor
isn't able to find any
761
00:43:57,865 --> 00:44:01,705
verification that you are who
you Say you are the expert that
762
00:44:01,705 --> 00:44:05,694
you presume to be.
So that
that's the that's what
763
00:44:05,694 --> 00:44:09,130
it boils down to.
You have to be vetable
and
764
00:44:09,130 --> 00:44:12,330
verifiable.
A really fast track way to do
765
00:44:12,330 --> 00:44:16,744
that is LinkedIn
posts.
LinkedIn is being, you know,
766
00:44:16,744 --> 00:44:21,970
really, really Reddit is
also
really, really searchable.
767
00:44:22,090 --> 00:44:24,645
It is responding well to AI
tools.
768
00:44:24,645 --> 00:44:29,105
And again, I get a little bit
self conscious when I talk
too
769
00:44:29,105 --> 00:44:32,467
much about AI tools, because I'm
like, Yeah, you know, I'm
I'm
770
00:44:32,467 --> 00:44:36,829
learning these as as I go, too.
But the fact of the matter
is
771
00:44:36,829 --> 00:44:41,845
that you have to be easily found
in well beyond the four
walls
772
00:44:41,845 --> 00:44:46,225
of your show or even your
website, so you have to make
773
00:44:46,233 --> 00:44:49,255
sure that you are growing your
personal brand.
774
00:44:49,495 --> 00:44:52,960
Marc Ronick: So then what are
some of the early warning signs
775
00:44:52,960 --> 00:44:57,700
that a podcaster might need when
they might need reputation or
776
00:44:57,760 --> 00:45:00,232
publicity support?
Cyndee Harrison: So.
777
00:45:00,232 --> 00:45:01,660
Wow, that's
it.
That's a great question.
778
00:45:01,660 --> 00:45:04,104
It's, it's fairly nuanced.
I'll
tell you.
779
00:45:04,104 --> 00:45:08,860
When is the wrong time?
The Wrong time is when you
780
00:45:08,868 --> 00:45:12,188
already are battling the
alligators, when you have
781
00:45:12,196 --> 00:45:15,320
already stepped into the swamp,
right?
782
00:45:15,320 --> 00:45:18,223
BC, when you when you're
already there.
783
00:45:18,223 --> 00:45:20,685
It's very, very difficult for a
publicist.
784
00:45:20,685 --> 00:45:24,085
Now,
what a publicist can do
in those moments, and I've
785
00:45:24,085 --> 00:45:27,855
actually built
a lot of my
career doing this, is a
786
00:45:27,855 --> 00:45:30,805
publicist can help you
mitigate damage when you are in
787
00:45:30,805 --> 00:45:36,085
that moment, but what I am
dedicated is to helping you
788
00:45:36,310 --> 00:45:40,030
avoid them, because the best PR
crisis is the one that never
789
00:45:40,030 --> 00:45:42,795
happens.
So if a good publicist
does
790
00:45:42,795 --> 00:45:48,090
their job, then it looks like as
on the crisis end of the
791
00:45:48,098 --> 00:45:51,060
scorecard, nothing much happens,
you know.
792
00:45:51,060 --> 00:45:54,250
And and doesn't mean
that
things don't go sideways.
793
00:45:54,250 --> 00:45:56,238
Things are going to go sideways.
794
00:45:56,246 --> 00:45:59,539
You are going to get haters.
You can't grow without the
795
00:45:59,539 --> 00:46:01,255
haters.
And you are going to get
796
00:46:01,315 --> 00:46:03,979
imitators, and you are going to
get detractors.
797
00:46:03,979 --> 00:46:07,159
Things are going to go wrong.
You're going to get
negative
798
00:46:07,159 --> 00:46:08,755
feedback.
Sometimes the robots are giving
799
00:46:08,755 --> 00:46:11,455
you the
negative feedback.
If you're growing a show, then
800
00:46:11,455 --> 00:46:13,165
things are
going to go
sideways.
801
00:46:13,165 --> 00:46:17,181
All you are able to control is
how you
respond to it, and the
802
00:46:17,181 --> 00:46:20,695
best way to respond to it is to
anticipate what could go wrong.
803
00:46:20,755 --> 00:46:23,500
If you have a show about AI, for
example, like the caller did a
804
00:46:23,500 --> 00:46:26,356
moment ago, you should probably
be anticipating.
805
00:46:26,356 --> 00:46:28,633
What would the haters say about
you?
806
00:46:28,633 --> 00:46:32,248
What would
haters say about
you if you had a show about AI?
807
00:46:32,248 --> 00:46:36,430
I can't answer
that off the
top of my head, but you can,
808
00:46:36,430 --> 00:46:38,680
because you know your
business, if you have a show
809
00:46:38,860 --> 00:46:42,220
that's about gardening, what
would a hater say about you?
810
00:46:42,220 --> 00:46:44,920
What would a hater say about
what would a detractor say about
811
00:46:44,965 --> 00:46:46,981
your show?
Spend some time
anticipating
812
00:46:46,981 --> 00:46:51,245
that, and then the next step is
to fortify your
brand position
813
00:46:51,245 --> 00:46:56,191
so you see big brands.
I mean, think of any
big,
814
00:46:56,191 --> 00:46:59,851
major podcaster, whether it's
Mel Robbins or what, who
are
815
00:46:59,851 --> 00:47:03,769
some of the big names that
people throw out all the time,
816
00:47:03,777 --> 00:47:06,795
these big podcasters.
Do you think they never mess up?
817
00:47:06,795 --> 00:47:09,148
Do you
think they never have
that goes sideways?
818
00:47:09,148 --> 00:47:12,382
The only difference
between
them and you is they have a
819
00:47:12,382 --> 00:47:16,375
really fortified, strong
brand
position, and they have that
820
00:47:16,375 --> 00:47:20,170
position as a person, their
personal brand and as a show.
821
00:47:20,160 --> 00:47:22,670
Ralph Estep Jr: Cyndee, I want
to go, I want to go, I want to
822
00:47:22,726 --> 00:47:26,073
go into a little deeper here as
we start to wrap up, because
823
00:47:26,128 --> 00:47:29,587
this is the very conversation
you and I had, because I live in
824
00:47:29,643 --> 00:47:32,823
two very different worlds.
As
you know, I have a very big
825
00:47:32,878 --> 00:47:36,114
faith based podcast, and at the
same time, I'm a financial
826
00:47:36,170 --> 00:47:38,552
professional.
And you and I had
a long
827
00:47:38,552 --> 00:47:41,690
discussion about what the order,
what the sequence is in
this.
828
00:47:41,690 --> 00:47:44,930
And one of the things that I
worry about sometimes I'm
829
00:47:44,938 --> 00:47:48,136
almost I'm also an emotional
person, and I think it's real
830
00:47:48,144 --> 00:47:51,356
easy for a podcaster to get
themselves in a strong emotional
831
00:47:51,356 --> 00:47:53,885
response.
So what is the best strategy to
832
00:47:53,885 --> 00:47:57,411
avoid doing that
when you feel
attacked or you feel criticized
833
00:47:57,411 --> 00:48:00,421
or you feel
misunderstood
publicly, because this happens
834
00:48:00,421 --> 00:48:03,337
to me all the time.
Like, I have a huge, what we
835
00:48:03,393 --> 00:48:06,689
call it, YouTube presence, and I
put a lot of content there,
836
00:48:06,689 --> 00:48:10,032
and people say some of the most
rotten, disgusting, nasty
837
00:48:10,032 --> 00:48:13,212
things that you can imagine.
And when I
first started this,
838
00:48:13,212 --> 00:48:16,842
even my wife would say to me,
she goes, Why
do you do that?
839
00:48:16,842 --> 00:48:19,708
Like people just, they just,
they hate on
you constantly.
840
00:48:19,708 --> 00:48:21,714
I said, but that's not my
audience.
841
00:48:21,714 --> 00:48:25,300
So how
do you train the person
I'll put myself in under the
842
00:48:25,300 --> 00:48:28,144
looking
glass here?
How do you train me to not
843
00:48:28,144 --> 00:48:31,118
respond emotionally when
I'm
being attacked in a way that
844
00:48:31,174 --> 00:48:34,353
makes me want to just put the
fist up like I'm on the you
845
00:48:34,409 --> 00:48:36,920
know, the bully on the
playground afterwards?
846
00:48:37,400 --> 00:48:39,260
Cyndee Harrison: Well, it does
feel like a bully, and that's a
847
00:48:39,380 --> 00:48:42,535
that's a great analogy.
So I am
a former school
848
00:48:42,535 --> 00:48:46,328
teacher, and I can remember my
first career was
teaching,
849
00:48:46,328 --> 00:48:49,192
teaching elementary school
children, and I can
remember
850
00:48:49,192 --> 00:48:53,010
telling them you will never be
better at bullying than
the
851
00:48:53,010 --> 00:48:56,220
bully, because the bully is
practicing all day long.
852
00:48:56,220 --> 00:49:00,612
All you
can do is just avoid
being in their crosshairs.
853
00:49:00,612 --> 00:49:05,184
And so that
analogy somewhat
translates to podcasting,
854
00:49:05,184 --> 00:49:09,546
because you you just
need to
remind yourself you're never
855
00:49:09,546 --> 00:49:14,084
going to out troll the
trolls.
And so having that knowledge and
856
00:49:14,084 --> 00:49:19,048
going into that
does help tamp
those emotions a little bit.
857
00:49:19,048 --> 00:49:23,590
Also, it's really
important to
maintain focus if you have
858
00:49:23,590 --> 00:49:27,226
launched a show, and
hear me,
well, if you have launched a
859
00:49:27,226 --> 00:49:32,552
show, then you are
doing it,
and you are doing it a heck of a
860
00:49:32,552 --> 00:49:37,400
lot better than any of
the
trolls who are in your feed.
861
00:49:37,580 --> 00:49:39,920
Like, what I always want, I
always want to say to a troll
862
00:49:39,920 --> 00:49:41,894
is, yeah, well, what have you
got?
863
00:49:41,894 --> 00:49:43,920
Show me what you're doing.
That's better.
864
00:49:43,920 --> 00:49:46,090
I'm coachable.
So
what have you got?
865
00:49:46,090 --> 00:49:48,184
So I think it's really
important.
866
00:49:48,184 --> 00:49:53,072
But my
best advice for anyone
who's in the creative space is
867
00:49:53,072 --> 00:49:57,352
tap into a
network who can be
your sounding board.
868
00:49:57,352 --> 00:49:59,869
So for you, Ralph, that's
me.
I'm your publicist now.
869
00:49:59,869 --> 00:50:02,739
Now, and I'm honored to do so,
and
we'll navigate those
870
00:50:02,739 --> 00:50:05,660
things together.
But not every podcast
is ready
871
00:50:05,660 --> 00:50:10,500
for a publicist, and so make
sure that you have someone
who
872
00:50:10,500 --> 00:50:13,800
understands what you're doing.
They understand the
values, as
873
00:50:13,800 --> 00:50:17,074
we talked about earlier, BC
like, what's the
purpose of
874
00:50:17,074 --> 00:50:19,568
this show?
What are the values of this
875
00:50:19,568 --> 00:50:22,613
show, and
what's the audience
that we're aiming for, they
876
00:50:22,613 --> 00:50:26,609
understand and
align with that
so that you don't feel alone.
877
00:50:26,609 --> 00:50:30,835
Because
building something,
whether it is a podcast, show a
878
00:50:30,835 --> 00:50:32,893
brand, it
is a lonely
endeavor.
879
00:50:32,893 --> 00:50:36,628
And so I think those emotions,
that means
you're passionate
880
00:50:36,628 --> 00:50:40,786
about your show, and so without
them, you'd
be pretty lousy at
881
00:50:40,786 --> 00:50:42,724
it.
I think your emotional
882
00:50:42,724 --> 00:50:46,704
connection to
this audience is
probably a big reason behind
883
00:50:46,704 --> 00:50:50,335
your success in
the space.
So you're not going to be able
884
00:50:50,335 --> 00:50:54,460
to check that at the
door, but
it's like the famous words of Dr
885
00:50:54,460 --> 00:50:57,340
Seuss.
Those who
mind don't matter,
886
00:50:57,340 --> 00:51:03,658
and those who matter don't mind.
So focus,
focus, focus on the
887
00:51:03,658 --> 00:51:07,775
audience you're aiming for, and
then you
can also to kind of
888
00:51:07,775 --> 00:51:10,879
mitigate that.
I always tell my clients
to
889
00:51:10,879 --> 00:51:16,100
sort of gamify it instead of
looking at and I do this myself,
890
00:51:16,100 --> 00:51:19,980
instead of looking at that
comment or whatever, because you
891
00:51:19,980 --> 00:51:24,244
do want to reply, the
algorithms are telling us we got
892
00:51:24,244 --> 00:51:28,264
to be
responsive.
So if you can gamify it and
893
00:51:28,264 --> 00:51:32,546
remind yourself that if
you
engage, you're not talking to
894
00:51:32,546 --> 00:51:35,600
this troll, you're talking to
everyone who's going to come
895
00:51:35,600 --> 00:51:40,294
after and so use that as an
opportunity to with you.
896
00:51:40,294 --> 00:51:44,790
You have a very broad audience
in
the faith based space, and
897
00:51:44,790 --> 00:51:48,160
what you may be doing is
demonstrating how a person of
898
00:51:48,160 --> 00:51:50,830
faith responds to controversy
and conflict.
899
00:51:50,830 --> 00:51:55,408
So look at it as a challenge,
like a branding
challenge, and
900
00:51:55,408 --> 00:51:59,056
take that as an opportunity.
And at the end of
the day,
901
00:51:59,056 --> 00:52:01,785
take a walk.
You know, I always like, take a
902
00:52:01,785 --> 00:52:03,772
beat.
We
feel like we build so much,
903
00:52:03,772 --> 00:52:06,420
and everything's got to be in
real
time that they just
904
00:52:06,420 --> 00:52:09,694
posted, and I got to post back.
No, you
know, there's no law
905
00:52:09,694 --> 00:52:12,240
about that.
Just give yourself a minute, and
906
00:52:12,240 --> 00:52:14,520
everything always looks better
at the span of time.
907
00:52:15,200 --> 00:52:18,125
Marc Ronick: By the way, PR,
shield.com, that's where you can
908
00:52:18,186 --> 00:52:21,844
learn more about Cyndee and what
she does, and that's also in
909
00:52:21,844 --> 00:52:24,497
the show notes as well, in case
you
forget.
910
00:52:24,497 --> 00:52:27,020
So go check that out.
Check out Cyndee.
911
00:52:27,020 --> 00:52:30,478
Show her some
support.
And one more question for you,
912
00:52:30,478 --> 00:52:32,428
Cyndee, before we wrap
up
here.
913
00:52:32,428 --> 00:52:36,118
And this actually comes from the
YouTube chat, and I'm
guessing
914
00:52:36,118 --> 00:52:39,940
this is somebody who may know
you, Rachel, just
because of
915
00:52:39,940 --> 00:52:43,331
an earlier question or an
earlier comment she made,
I'm
916
00:52:43,331 --> 00:52:46,769
guessing she knows you, because
I think she was saying
hello
917
00:52:46,769 --> 00:52:49,240
to you.
So with that, it's what's the
918
00:52:49,240 --> 00:52:52,960
best part of being a publicist?
Cyndee Harrison: Oh, I love
919
00:52:52,968 --> 00:52:54,760
that, and I do know Rachel.
Marc Ronick: Okay.
920
00:52:54,760 --> 00:52:57,940
Cyndee Harrison: Rachel is my
partner, and happens to be my
921
00:52:57,940 --> 00:53:01,800
daughter, but she is a very well
qualified publicist on her own
922
00:53:01,800 --> 00:53:05,336
right.
The very best part of
being a
923
00:53:05,336 --> 00:53:08,145
publicist is seeing people be
seen.
924
00:53:08,145 --> 00:53:14,100
It is so nice to
be able to be
brought into someone else's
925
00:53:14,100 --> 00:53:18,440
world and see
their passion
about something that I may have
926
00:53:18,440 --> 00:53:21,080
never even
considered.
I've talked to people who've
927
00:53:21,080 --> 00:53:24,530
dedicated their
lives to
endeavors that I had never
928
00:53:24,530 --> 00:53:30,414
previously heard of, and
to
watch that passion convert into
929
00:53:30,414 --> 00:53:36,442
visibility and growth, and
see
that this storytelling conveys
930
00:53:36,442 --> 00:53:40,298
into them being able to
achieve their dreams.
931
00:53:40,298 --> 00:53:43,765
I'll take it all day long.
Marc Ronick: Yeah, Cyndee
932
00:53:43,765 --> 00:53:45,924
Harrison: very
privileged.
Marc Ronick: And Cyndee, I know
933
00:53:45,924 --> 00:53:48,442
I mentioned your website, but
is there anywhere else, anything
934
00:53:48,442 --> 00:53:51,612
else going on that you'd like
our audience to know about?
935
00:53:51,612 --> 00:53:53,770
Yes, Cyndee Harrison: yes, yes.
So
I'm starting a school
936
00:53:53,770 --> 00:53:56,120
community.
I talked about it a little bit
937
00:53:56,128 --> 00:53:57,926
beforehand, and I'm nervous
about it.
938
00:53:57,926 --> 00:54:02,200
I have had a I've had
school
for a really long time, and I
939
00:54:02,200 --> 00:54:04,950
just don't pull the
trigger on
it, I don't tell anyone about
940
00:54:04,950 --> 00:54:05,850
it.
And guess what?
941
00:54:05,858 --> 00:54:08,450
If you don't tell anybody about
it, they don't just accidentally
942
00:54:08,450 --> 00:54:10,680
show up.
So I'm building it in real time.
943
00:54:10,680 --> 00:54:12,840
It's pretty empty.
Now, I would love for your
944
00:54:12,840 --> 00:54:17,400
audience to come and build it
with me, and we will create that
945
00:54:17,400 --> 00:54:22,100
community and allow that will be
a safe space where you can go
946
00:54:22,100 --> 00:54:24,860
and say, oh my gosh, look at
what this trouble just said to
947
00:54:24,860 --> 00:54:26,204
me.
How should I proceed from
948
00:54:26,212 --> 00:54:28,108
here?
And you'll be surrounded by a
949
00:54:28,108 --> 00:54:31,912
community that gets it.
We're like minded, Marc Ronick:
950
00:54:31,912 --> 00:54:34,030
awesome, very cool.
Well, we will check that out,
951
00:54:34,082 --> 00:54:37,184
and we can check that out at the
actual website, PR,
952
00:54:37,184 --> 00:54:39,438
shield.com, or Okay, great.
Cyndee, thank
you so much.
953
00:54:39,438 --> 00:54:42,512
I am so glad you and Ralph
connected and that you
were
954
00:54:42,512 --> 00:54:45,061
able to come here and join us
this morning.
955
00:54:45,061 --> 00:54:48,164
Great
conversation, and we'd
love to have you come back
956
00:54:48,164 --> 00:54:49,624
sometime.
Cyndee Harrison: Thank you.
957
00:54:49,624 --> 00:54:51,856
I
really enjoyed this.
Only one cup of coffee.
958
00:54:51,856 --> 00:54:55,540
I'm so Marc Ronick: yeah, well,
the
good news is that we could
959
00:54:55,540 --> 00:54:58,525
have asked you a couple weeks
ago,
and that would have meant
960
00:54:58,525 --> 00:55:00,894
that you'd have to join us in
our.
961
00:55:00,902 --> 00:55:04,284
Earlier because we made our time
later, just so we could get more
962
00:55:04,284 --> 00:55:06,468
guests like you.
So thank you for being one of
963
00:55:06,468 --> 00:55:08,216
the first to do
that.
Cyndee Harrison: Yeah, well,
964
00:55:08,224 --> 00:55:09,920
thank you.
On behalf of all the lazy bones
965
00:55:09,920 --> 00:55:13,420
like me, thank you.
Marc Ronick: You are welcome,
966
00:55:13,428 --> 00:55:16,348
and we are back tomorrow's 8am
Eastern Time.
967
00:55:16,348 --> 00:55:20,265
We are doing all
the news and
headlines around the world of
968
00:55:20,265 --> 00:55:22,186
podcasting.
We will
share our thoughts and
969
00:55:22,186 --> 00:55:23,852
opinions on those stories.
So come join
us.
970
00:55:23,852 --> 00:55:26,930
Be in the know as a podcaster.
I think it's
important for us
971
00:55:26,930 --> 00:55:30,180
to know what's going on in this
crazy world of
podcasting.
972
00:55:30,180 --> 00:55:33,320
So come join us then, and you
can find us at
podcasting
973
00:55:33,320 --> 00:55:36,752
morning show.com/join, US, and
you can
choose whether or not
974
00:55:36,752 --> 00:55:41,411
you want to watch Listen Live or
catch us
as a podcast on your
975
00:55:41,411 --> 00:55:45,292
favorite podcast platform.
So until
tomorrow, make it a
976
00:55:45,292 --> 00:55:46,495
great day.
Everybody.
977
00:55:46,495 --> 00:55:47,440
Take care.
Bye.