Episodes

Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane dive into the topic of ”sticky situations” that PR professionals often face with clients, such as when a client behaves inappropriately at an event or makes unscripted comments in an interview.

That Solo Life Episode 299 Episode Title The Can Do Spirit of PR Practitioners Crosses Generations Episode Summary The hosts, Karen Swim, APR, of Solo PR Pro, and Michelle Kane of VoiceMatters, discuss key findings from the USC Annenberg Global Communication Report for 2025, focusing on Gen Z’s growing presence in the workforce and what that means for public relations professionals. Key takeaways include: Flexibility prioritized over pay: Nearly half of Gen Z employees value workplace flexib...

That Solo Life, Episode 298: PR Potpourri: A Look Back at Q1 2025 This podcast episode explores the challenges that PR professionals face in the current media and communication landscape. The discussion covers several key topics: The struggles with PR tools and technologies, which often fail to keep up with the rapidly changing industry. This leaves PR practitioners having to "hack together" solutions to get the job done. The broader cultural issues of overwork and lack of work-life balance i...

In today’s episode, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR (Solo PR Pro) and Michelle Kane (Voice Matters) discuss how to strategically decide which awareness and marketing campaigns to align with (and when to pass).

This episode of ”That Solo Life” podcast discusses the importance for solo PR professionals and marketers to make their presence known and connect with potential clients, particularly those who may not be familiar with the concept of ”solos”.

That Solo Life, Episode 294: National Days and Awareness Months and How to Manage in 2025 Summary: This podcast episode discusses the abundance of "national days" and how PR professionals and marketers should approach aligning their client initiatives with these events. The key points are: There is an overwhelming number of these "national days" which can become diluted and ignored by the public. These days can be divided into two categories: awareness/educational campaigns vs. marketing-dri...

That Solo Life, Episode 293: Why It's Time to Advance AI Discussions in PR In This Episode Join Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane as they discuss how PR professionals can leverage AI to enhance productivity while maintaining ethical practices. From practical applications for tasks like research and content creation to addressing AI's challenges, this episode offers valuable insights into how professionals can integrate AI tools to work more efficiently. What We Cover in This Episode: MuckRac...

That Solo Life, Episode 292: Utilizing Zero Click Content for Better Engagement In This Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Karen discuss zero click content, a concept that is gaining traction in digital marketing and public relations. As the hosts explore zero click content, they discuss how this approach shifts the focus from merely driving clicks to fostering genuine engagement with your audience. Traditionally, the mantra has been to lead poten...

This podcast episode discusses the increasing prevalence of online fraud, cyber scams, and phishing attacks, and provides tips for protecting oneself and one’s clients.

Summary: Words have power, and as PR pros and marketers, we know just how to wield them. But what happens when wordplay goes awry? Join Michelle Kane and Karen Swim in this enlightening and entertaining episode as they break down the dos and don'ts of clever messaging. Discover how the right wordplay can resonate with your audience, when it’s best avoided, and how intention matters more than you might think. Key Takeaways: Wordplay as a Connection Tool: Learn how effective wordplay can draw i...

That Solo Life, Episode 289: The New Challenges in Managing Brand Reputation Summary This episode of "That Solo Life" podcast explores the challenges PR professionals manage when brands are faced with crises, particularly serious situations like allegations of child abuse. The hosts, Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss the importance of building trust with audiences, maintaining authenticity and integrity, and providing nuanced responses rather than knee-jerk reactions. They emphasize th...

That Solo Life Episode 288: Combatting Ghosting In The Professional World Summary In Episode 288 Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss strategies for dealing with being "ghosted" by potential clients or employers. The key points of the episode are: Avoid situations where no response is expected, like applying to job postings or responding to RFPs without any prior interaction. Try to force human interaction instead. When meeting with a prospect, ask questions to prequalify them and ensur...

In This Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by solo PR practitioners. The key points in this episode include: Solo PR professionals can sometimes struggle with imposter syndrome and lack of confidence when comparing themselves to larger PR agencies. However, solo practitioners offer unique value, such as more personalized attention for clients and the ability to assemble specialized teams as neede...

In This Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane dive into the evolving landscape of public relations and marketing for solo professionals. With the job market in flux, is starting a Solo PR Pro business realistic in 2025? Karen and Michelle tackle that question as they discuss the opportunities and challenges of making the leap to a Solo PR Pro career. The co-hosts discuss the various factors that might lead someone to make the leap into self-employment...

That Solo Life Episode 285: How to Find Joy and Make an Impact in PR In This Episode In this episode of "That Solo Life," co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane dive into the chaotic start of the new year, reflecting on the challenges faced by solo and small agency PR professionals in 2025. The year has kicked off with an overwhelming amount of information and events happening both in the United States and global. As chaos reigns, it is important for public relations to stay grounded. Mic...

That Solo Life, Episode 284: How PR Pros Can Use an Audit to Unlock Social Media Success In This Episode Today’s podcast discussion focuses on the importance of conducting social media audits and targeting specific audience personas when developing marketing and communications strategies. Key takeaways from this episode include: Conducting a social media audit can provide valuable insights to help organizations improve their social media presence and effectiveness, even if the audit process se...

That Solo Life, Episode 283: Quality Over Quantity Will Drive PR In 2025 In This Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane dive into the critical topic of gaining access to the C-suite and the importance of building meaningful relationships within organizations. Communication professionals understand that their effectiveness hinges on the quality of information and insights they can gather from various levels of an organization, particularly from executive...

That Solo Life, Episode 291: Trends, Trust And Technology - What's Ahead In 2025 In This Episode Join us for Part Two of our PR Trends discussion In this episode of That Solo Life. Co-hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane continue their discussion on the trends they believe will shape the public relations and communications landscape in 2025. We dive into analytics, trust, technology and the predicted trends that are still struggling to catch on. We kick off the discussion by emphasizing the need...

That Solo Life, Episode 281: What Lies Ahead For PR Pros In 2025 In This Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane pause to reflect on what trends will shape the landscape for PR professionals in 2025. The hosts kick off the discussion by addressing the importance of cross-cultural sensitivity, especially in light of recent setbacks in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Despite the political climate and the dismantling of formal programs...

That Solo Life, Episode 280: Magic Wands And Flying Carpets - The Myths And Realities Of PR In This Episode The understanding about the role of Public Relations can vary widely from being a vanity function to having the ability to save a failing company. In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane engage in a lighthearted yet serious discussion about the common misconceptions about public relations (PR) and the challenges faced by PR professionals and the busi...

That Solo Life, Episode 279: The Power of Storytelling in an AI World In this Episode A dying man walks onto a stage and opens his talk with photos of his CAT scans and in seconds has the entire room in laughter. Professor Randy Pauch gave this TED Talk and it still serves as a powerful example of the power of stories. In this episode of That Solo Life, we welcome back story strategist, Lisa Gerber of Big Leap Creative to talk about storytelling and why it matters more than ever. We kick off t...

That Solo Life, Episode 278: Key Lessons from Tiny Businesses that Made Big Moves In this Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane welcome Elaine Pofeldt, an independent journalist and speaker specializing in entrepreneurship and careers. Elaine is the author of, The Million Dollar One-Person Business and Tiny Business, Big Money. The conversation kicked off with a discussion about the evolving landscape of work, particularly the significant role th...

That Solo Life, Episode 277: Quick Things to Check Off Before the Year Ends In This Episode In this episode of That Solo Life , Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss a few simple tasks that solo business owners need to consider as the year comes to a close. The co-hosts kick off the discussion with information about the Corporate Transparency Act and the necessity for business owners to complete their BOI filing. Karen emphasizes the ease of the process, sharing her own experience and enco...

That Solo Life, Episode 276: Heart And Humanity: Delivering Authentic Messages In the AI Age In this Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane dive into the intersection of technology, nostalgia, and the human experience, particularly in the context of recent advertising trends and societal shifts. The conversation kicks off with discussion about a recent Coca-Cola commercial that was created using AI technology. The hosts note that the commercial ha...