Episodes

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...

That Solo Life, Episode 275: Get Proactive with Acquiring New Clients In This Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss strategies for solo PR professionals and marketers to improve their own business development and marketing efforts. Key points include: The importance of using your own channels (e.g. YouTube, social media) to share your expertise and build your audience, rather than just focusing on client work. Techniques to reclaim time...

That Solo Life, Episode 274: Five Things Solo PR Pros Should Do Before The New Year In This Episode The final quarter of the year is here, and we are all sprinting toward the finish line. But before we close the books on 2024, there are a few things to do to prepare for 2025. In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane cover five things to do (and think about) before we close the books on this year. Karen and Michelle kick off the discussion by highlighting t...

That Solo Life, Episode 273: Being a PR Pro in the Age of Mistrust In this Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss the pressing issues of declining trust in institutions and how it impacts the practice and perception of the public relations industry. The co-hosts discuss how the lack of trust has allowed for the proliferation of false narratives, making the PR professional's job more difficult and vital than ever. They emphasize the importa...

That Solo Life, Episode 272: Finding Balance: How Hobbies Enhance Professional Life with Paula MacDonald In this Episode In this episode of That Solo Life , we had the pleasure of welcoming Paula MacDonald, a dynamic solo PR practitioner with a fascinating background in film production and technical theater. As the Principal Consultant of ImageSuite PR in St. Petersburg, Florida, Paula has successfully transitioned from an aspiring student filmmaker to a creative force in the public relations i...

That Solo Life, Episode 271: Why and How to Raise Your Solo PR Rates In this Episode In this episode of That Solo Life co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane welcome back one of their favorite guests, Chip Griffin, from the Small Agency Growth Alliance. The episode centers around a crucial topic for PR professionals and marketers who work independently: raising rates. We kick off the discussion by acknowledging a common challenge faced by solos and small agencies—undercharging for their se...

That Solo Life, Episode 270: Why We Need Truth Over Politics in a Crisis In this Episode Recorded in the aftermath of Hurricane, this episode of "That Solo Life" podcast looks at the issue of misinformation in the wake of a crisis. Hosts, Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane examine the real world impact of mis-, mal- and disinformation during a regional crisis. The hosts emphasize the need to avoid misinformation and politicization during such crises. They also emphasize the importance of having...

That Solo Life, Episode 269: Cheesy Lessons In Crisis Management From A Viral Mishap In this Episode In episode 269 of “That Solo Life” podcast, Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss the viral video of a customer receiving a mac and cheese order without the macaroni, and how the business handled the situation by responding with a humorous TikTok video. The hosts highlight the important lessons for PR and marketing professionals, including the value of social media monitoring and responding ...

That Solo Life, Episode 268: Why Media Literacy is Crucial in an Age of Untruths In this Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kaen discuss the importance of media literacy and combating misinformation, particularly for public relations professionals. The hosts highlight how the rise of AI and deepfake technology has made it increasingly difficult to discern truth from fiction. They emphasize the responsibility of PR pros to educate their clients and t...

That Solo Life, Episode 267: Beyond the Pretty: Understanding the True Value of PR In this Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane dive into the evolving landscape of public relations and marketing, particularly focusing on the value of strategic thinking in our professions. We kick off the conversation by reflecting on how the perception of PR has shifted over the years—from being seen as mere party planners to now being equated with the creation o...

That Solo Life, Episode 266: Navigating the New Normal of AI In this Episode In this episode of "That Solo Life," co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane delve into the complex and evolving relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and the world of public relations (PR). The episode kicks off with a discussion about the recent controversy surrounding the NaNoWriMo project and its use of AI, sparking a broader conversation about the role of AI as a tool in the PR profession. Karen an...

That Solo Life, Episode 265: How PR Pros Can Leverage that Back to School Energy In this Episode It’s back to school season and for Solo PR Pros it’s a great time to refresh and reset. In today’s episode Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane dive into the topic of embracing a back-to-school mindset as solopreneurs. As the fall season approaches, they discuss the importance of self-care, professional development, and rejuvenation in order to stay sharp and serve clients effectively. The hosts high...

In this Episode In this episode of "That Solo Life," co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane dive into the importance of year-end client conversations for PR professionals and marketers. As the final quarter of the year approaches, the hosts emphasize the significance of checking in with clients to ensure alignment, satisfaction, and strategic planning for the upcoming year. The hosts discuss the necessity of conducting a health check with clients, focusing on both the health of the client'...

That Solo Life, Episode 263: How To Transform PR With Trauma-Informed Practices with Kahshanna Evans In this Episode In this episode of "That Solo Life," co-hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane are joined by the passionate and inspiring Kahshanna Evans, a senior strategist at Kissing Lions Public Relations. Kahshanna's expertise lies in community building through communication strategy, corporate social responsibility, and trauma-informed communications management. Kahshanna shares her journey i...

This episode dives into the ongoing challenge of establishing and proving the value of public relations work to clients.

That Solo Life Episode 261: On the Edge of Ethics In this Episode Has being edgy gone too far? In today’s episode of That Solo Life podcast, Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss the controversial topic of sensationalized headlines and the impact they have on the dissemination of accurate information. The hosts discuss the fine line between grabbing attention and misleading the audience, especially in today's media landscape where clickbait headlines are prevalent. Karen and Michelle discu...

That Solo Life Episode 260: How To Break In or Out of Being a Solo PR Pro In this Episode Do you want to make the leap to being a Solo PR Pro? Or are you a Solo longing for the steady rhythm and challenge of an in-house job? In today’s episode of "That Solo Life," co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss diving in or out of being a Solo P Pro. Life is not stagnant and that applies to your PR career. We all navigate different seasons of life and our career aspirations and capacity may...

That Solo Life Episode 259: How To Keep Your Head When Everyone Is Losing Theirs In this Episode Today’s episode of "That Solo Life," features an honest discussion about the challenges of the modern workforce and how Solo PR Pros can successfully navigate the toxicity and stress that has become all too prevalent. Corporate employees are faced with overwhelming demands and pressures -from mandatory office returns to being burdened with more work and fewer people - the landscape is filled with c...