Podcast · Business

PR Explored: The Podcast for Public Relations and Communications Pros

by Michelle Garrett · English · Business

PR Explored, my PR podcast, where I interview those I trust and respect about topics related to public relations and communications. We take a deeper dive into public relations topics with some of the brightest folks in the business. The show is my opportunity to discuss the questions on our mind

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 1 hr
Latest: 14 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 3 minNew

To Speak or Not to Speak: Crisis, Trust and Reputation in the Statement Era

In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, welcomes Crystal Borde, a vice president at Vanguard Communications and past president of PRSA’s National Capital Chapter, about her PRSA ICON session on crisis communications. Borde explains how social media has accelerated crises and misinformation, and describes the post-2020 “statement era,” when organizations felt pressure to issue public statements on external events, now complicated by polarizat...

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S2 · E20 · 1 Oct 2026 · 41 min
Navigating the Noise: Strategic Decision-Making for Communicators
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, welcomes Jen Elting, senior manager of strategic partnerships and media relations at the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, to discuss her upcoming PRSA ICON session, “Stop Feeding the Zombies: A Strategic Triage for Communicators Drowning in Noise.” Elting describes how communicators shifted from periodic outreach to constant engagement across expanding channels, where complaints can escala...
S2 · E19 · 18 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Leveraging Wikipedia for PR: What Pros Need to Know
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, interviews Wikipedia consultant and ghostwriter Jonathan Rick about how Wikipedia works and why it matters for PR. Rick explains that Wikipedia reflects what reliable mainstream media has reported, not “truth,” and editors enforce a neutral point of view, rejecting promotional language. He says the biggest misconception is confusing being accomplished with being “notable,” noting about 80% ...
S2 · E18 · 4 Sep 2026 · 57 min
Does Your Website Content Still Matter?
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, welcomes conversion rate optimization specialist and website consultant/copywriter Gill Andrews, who shares her work helping service providers and SaaS optimize websites and teaching through content, books, and Udemy courses. They discuss why websites are often neglected (overwhelm, unclear starting point, long service-provider sales cycles, and lack of immediate ROI) and argue that content still...
S2 · E17 · 27 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 3 min
B2B PR and Comms From an In-House Perspective
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, interviews guest Gina Rau about B2B PR and comms from an in-house perspective. Rau recounts her “bowl of spaghetti” career across B2C and B2B, agency and in-house roles, and argues that broad experience helps partnership across marketing. She contrasts in-house work—deeper company knowledge, broader responsibilities (internal/executive comms, thought leadership, organic social), heavy meeti...
S2 · E16 · 6 Aug 2026 · 50 min
The Most Expensive B2B Marketing Strategy Is Waiting
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer interviews her guest B2B growth strategist Gina Tobasso about why manufacturers and other B2B companies should treat marketing as a continuous process, especially amid ongoing uncertainty (COVID, supply chain disruptions, tariffs, reshoring). Tobasso says many B2B companies underinvest in marketing, recommending 3–5% of revenue, and warns that cutting spend dries up the funnel, slows sales, and tr...
S2 · E15 · 24 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
B2B PR & Marketing Studies, Surveys & Stats
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer interviews her guest Sword and Script founder Frank Strong about trends and 2026 research. They discuss pricing reputation via balance-sheet “goodwill,” the limits of click-based optimization versus long-term brand value, and why in-person trade shows are resurging, with PR pros better used networking, creating content, and meeting media than sitting in booths. A study finding 62 touches and...
S2 · E14 · 15 Jul 2026 · 58 min
Accessible Communications: Create Impact, Avoid Missteps and Build Trust
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, interviews her guest Matisse Hamel-Nelis, PR consultant, trainer, professor, and speaker, to discuss her new co-authored book with Lisa Riemers on accessible communications in PR, created to help practitioners “create impact, avoid missteps, and build trust.” Hamel-Nelis shares how a Twitter hashtag mistake at CNIB introduced her to digital accessibility and revealed a gap in PR education despite...
S2 · E13 · 25 Jun 2026 · 1 hr
Staying on Top of Current Trends in Public Relations
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, interviews her guest, Nicole Schuman, managing editor of PRNews, who describes her role planning editorial content, newsletters (including Friday Five and her weekly PR Roundup), podcasts, events, and social strategy. They discuss industry trends, including major agency mergers and acquisitions leading to layoffs, while smaller independent and specialized agencies benefit from available talent an...
S2 · E12 · 12 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Trade Media 101: How to Pitch and Build Relationships in B2B PR
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, interviews her guest, Kelly Rodriguez, editor-in-chief of Refrigerated & Frozen Foods (BNP Media), to explain what trade media is and why it matters for B2B PR. Rodriguez contrasts trade and mainstream coverage, emphasizing trade media’s highly engaged niche audiences, subject-matter expertise, and industry-specific language, using food and beverage examples. She advises PR pros to know each public...
S2 · E11 · 29 May 2026 · 36 min
A Quiet Shift - How Polarization Is Reshaping Corporate Speech
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, interviews her guest, Fred Cook, director of the Annenberg Center for Public Relations at USC and chair emeritus of Golin, about USC’s 2026 Global Communication Report, “A Quiet Shift,” on how political and social polarization is reshaping communications. Based on a survey of about 800 PR professionals worldwide and CCO interviews, the report finds polarization is seen as harmful to the country a...
S2 · E10 · 8 May 2026 · 55 min
Social Media Strategies to Boost Your B2B PR Efforts
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer talks with her guest Andy Lambert, co-founder of ContentCal (acquired by Adobe) and author of Spheres of Influence, to discuss how B2B companies should approach social media and PR, especially on LinkedIn and YouTube. Lambert highlights LinkedIn’s algorithm shift toward personal profiles and subject-matter expertise, advises prioritizing original content over reshares, and notes strong performance from ...
S2 · E9 · 25 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 8 min
Staying Crisis-Ready: What Matters Most?
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer talks with her guest crisis communications expert Shawna Bruce, who shares her 40-year communications background, including 25+ years in military public affairs, work at Dow Chemical, and her current focus (since 2018) on training organizations to prepare for crises. They discuss why crisis communications is now operational infrastructure, how to anticipate risks by studying incidents in your sector, an...
S2 · E8 · 9 Apr 2026 · 59 min
Modern media training: Rethinking how we prep executives
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer talks with her guest Katie Suiters of Brighton Media to discuss modernizing media training for executives. Suiters contrasts outdated, scripted talking-point memorization with a hyper-custom approach that builds authentic, teachable communication skills across scenarios, including media interviews, internal all-hands, social video, panels, and crisis moments. She recommends starting with int...
S2 · E7 · 1 Apr 2026 · 54 min
PR and Search – What Really Matters When Advising Clients
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer talks with her guest Katie Robbert, CEO of Trust Insights, about how SEO and GEO (generative AI engine optimization) affect PR work. Robbert explains GEO as serving a new “business to machine” audience—LLMs like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude—which summarize information from sources such as listicles and quoted articles, making PR placements and strong SEO fundamentals still essential. Rather than throwing...
S2 · E6 · 18 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
PR Scams: Fake PR isn’t worth it. How to spot paid media masquerading as earned media
PR scams are EVERYWHERE these days. We also see a rise in the number of agencies selling “fake PR” placements. My guest, Bill Byrne, co-founder of Remedy PR, and I delve into this topic on this episode of PR Explored. What should you watch out for? How can you tell when someone is trying to sell you something that's too good to be true? And how should you vet a PR provider to ensure you're hiring a credible consultant or agency? Follow the host: Website: www.michellega...
S2 · E5 · 5 Mar 2026 · 55 min
How to Leverage Original Research to Boost Your PR Results
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, interviews Becky Lawlor of RedPoint Insights about using original research to support B2B PR and thought leadership. Lawler defines original research (surveys, internal proprietary data, or unique analysis) versus third-party stats and explains how it builds authority by “owning the narrative.” She emphasizes upfront strategy, competitor analysis, and alignment with goals; choosing credible respo...
S2 · E4 · 26 Feb 2026 · 1 hr
The Rise of Personality Brands - and What It Means for PR & Comms Pros
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, interviews Fatou B. Barry, founder of the PR Girl Manifesto, a global community and editorial platform created to provide culturally competent PR resources, strategy, and professional development. They discuss the rise of “personality brands” as a structural shift where companies prioritize long-term identity, recurring voices, and entertainment-driven continuity over one-off product campaigns, d...
S2 · E3 · 19 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
How to Maximize Your Job Search: Strategies Beyond Submitting Applications
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer talks with her guest, Stacia Doss from Glassdoor, as they dive deep into the current job market’s complexities and provide actionable advice for job seekers. In this episode, they discuss effective job search strategies, the importance of networking, leveraging AI, and how to stand out in a crowded field. This follows the discussion on the last episode about skills pros need to succeed in a PR career. T...
S2 · E2 · 4 Feb 2026 · 59 min
PR: On the Hiring Horizon - Soft Skills That Matter
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett interviews Kristina Markos, an associate professor and co-founder of GenSpark Solutions. They discuss the significance of soft skills such as listening, presenting, collaboration, and curiosity in public relations. Kristina shares her varied background in agency work and academia, emphasizing the transition needs between generations in the workplace. They address the importance of effective presentation skills, the need to ask ...
S1 · E30 · 28 Jan 2026 · 59 min
How Public Speaking Can Boost Your PR Efforts
Public speaking is a powerful way for thought leaders to stand out from the crowd. How can PR pros and communicators leverage speaking opportunities to help clients get more visibility for themselves and their brands? In this episode of PR Explored I talked with guest Tricia Richards-Service, founder of I Need a Speaker, which helps organizations and event planners find the right speaker for their events. Overview: In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, ...
S2 · E1 · 21 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
PR for Nonprofits: Doing More with Less
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer chats with Marc Whitt, a seasoned public relations consultant and author. The conversation explores Whitt’s extensive 40-year career in PR, primarily within higher education and nonprofit sectors. They discuss essential topics such as the unique challenges faced by nonprofit PR professionals, the importance of ethical conduct, the role of events in nonprofit PR, and the critical relationship between PR ...
S1 · E29 · 24 Dec 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
2026 PR Trends You Need To Know
Here we go, heading into 2026. Changes are coming at PR pros faster than they can keep up. But, what should we really focus on? What trends deserve our attention? And which ones should we adopt a wait-and-see approach for? My guest, Bill Byrne of Remedy Public Relations, is with me to discuss what to expect as we hurdle into the new year. Whether you’re in B2C or B2B PR and comms, we’ll cover the insight you need to get ready for what lies ahead. Overview: In ...
S1 · E28 · 17 Dec 2025 · 58 min
Managing a Social Media Crisis: How PR & Social Teams Can Work Together
Social media is a valuable part of a company’s marketing program – but it can sometimes take a turn we may not have anticipated . What happens when your brand finds itself in the midst of a crisis created by a social media post? Well, first, you probably panic. Then, you might turn to your social media or PR team for help. How can a company best manage a crisis created when a customer complaint goes viral? Overview: In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant...
S1 · E27 · 26 Nov 2025 · 1 hr
Media Training Advice for Better Executive Communications
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, invites communications and presentations coach Joel Schwartzberg to discuss key message development and the importance of media training for executives. Joel shares his approach to executive communication, emphasizing the importance of having a clear and compelling point, and offers practical tips on how to effectively convey messages to a reporter’s audience. The conversation covers techni...
S1 · E26 · 19 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 11 min
Do This Before You Press Play On PR
This episode of PR Explored explores how companies can make the most out of a partnership with a PR consultant or agency. What do B2B clients need to bring to the start of the engagement? Join my guest, John Forberger, communications strategist for B2B companies, and me as we dig into this topic. Follow the host: Website: www.michellegarrett.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prstrategist/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PRisUs X/Twitter: https://x.com/PRisUs Thread...
S1 · E25 · 13 Nov 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
How to Leverage Brand Authority in Your PR Strategy
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, welcomes guest Amanda Milligan to discuss brand authority and its critical role in public relations and marketing. Amanda shares her background in content, SEO, and brand strategy, emphasizing the importance of holistic marketing efforts. They delve into how brand authority is measured, identify practical steps to assess it through tools like Reddit, LLMs, and social media, and discuss the intricate re...
S1 · E24 · 5 Nov 2025 · 48 min
ESG in the Age of AI
In this episode of ‘PR Explored,’ hosted by Michelle Garrett, PR consultant and writer, the focus is on the intersection of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and corporate ethics in the realm of Public Relations. The guest, Bo Breuklander, founder of Breuklander Communications, shares insights on how AI affects sustainability, governance, and the broader PR landscape. They discuss the importance of values, consistency, and trust in corporate b...
S1 · E23 · 29 Oct 2025 · 1 hr
Telling Stories That Stand Out
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett, a PR consultant, author, and writer, interviews Lou Covey, a veteran journalist with 55 years of experience. Lou shares his journey from journalism to exploring cybersecurity and creating the Cyber Protection Magazine. They discuss the state of PR today, including formulaic approaches, the impact of AI, and the importance of storytelling. They also highlight the challenges of effectively pitching to journalists, the decline of independent...
S1 · E22 · 23 Oct 2025 · 59 min
How to Develop Effective Communication Strategies in the Misinformation Age
In this episode of PR Explored, host Michelle Garrett discusses misinformation and its impact on public relations with guest Jennifer McGinley, a PR consultant specializing in healthcare. They delve into the definitions of misinformation, disinformation, and malformation, providing insights into how organizations can prepare and respond to these challenges. The conversation covers proactive crisis communication strategies, the importance of internal communications, media training, and the rol...

About PR Explored: The Podcast for Public Relations and Communications Pros

PR Explored: The Podcast for Public Relations and Communications Pros is a English business podcast from Michelle Garrett. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Michelle Garrett
Language: English
Category: Business
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 1 hr
Latest episode: 14 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1804145114

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