Episodes

In this episode of ”That Solo Life,” co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane tackle the profound impact of words in communication and the weighty responsibility of public relations professionals in today’s hyper-triggered culture.

That Solo Life, Episode 257: How PR Pros Can Stand Strong in Uncertain Times In this Episode The practice of public relations is not for the faint of heart. Whether you are in-house or running your own shop, the work can be challenging. For Solo PR Pros, the challenges extend to ensuring that they sustain their livelihood while serving others. In today’s episode Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane, discuss the importance of protecting yourself and your business during times of instability. Insta...

That Solo Life, Episode 256: PR ChallengesPost-Pandemic : Events, Energy Levels and Customer Service In this Episode In this episode, Karen Swim and Michelle Kane, discuss the various challenges and changes that the post-pandemic era has brought to the PR industry. The pandemic had a significant impact on in-person events and interactions. The hosts discuss how shifting priorities, increased workloads, and changing interests have made it challenging to plan and attend events, leading to a reev...

That Solo Life, Episode 255: The Powerful Reasons PR Pros Must Vet Everything In this Episode In episode 255 of “That Solo Life,” Karen Swim and Michelle Kane discuss the role of vetting in public relations, and the need to thoroughly research clients, client partners, collaborators and more. The hosts discussed how the recent news of Justin Timberlake's DWI arrest highlighted how one misstep can bring up a person's entire history of mistakes. The incident serves as a reminder of the signific...

That Solo Life, Episode 254: The Work of Diversity - A Conversation with Anetra Henry In this Episode Anetra Henry, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Institute for Public Relations joins Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane on today’s episode of “That Solo Life.” Anetra is a passionate storyteller and strategic messaging guru, known for her expertise in research and advocacy for diversity and inclusion. The episode delved into a recent study, led by Anetra, "Collaborators for Chang...

That Solo Life, Episode 253: The PR Measurement Strategy You Need to Grow In this Episode In this episode of "That Solo Life," co-hosts Michelle Kane and Karen Swim discuss another side of measurement in the PR industry. While measurement discussions typically focus on client work, Karen and Michelle talk about the importance of tracking tactics and metrics within your own Solo PR Pro business. Karen emphasizes the tendency of PR professionals to prioritize client success over their own busin...

That Solo Life, Episode 252: Happy Everything, What We Get Wrong About Holiday Messaging In this Episode In this episode of "That Solo Life," co-hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane reflect on Memorial Day and discuss the importance of thoughtful messaging around holidays. Michelle and Karen discuss the post-Memorial Day weekend vibes and the common trend of using "happy" in front of every holiday, including somber ones like Memorial Day. The hosts discuss the need for more conscientious messagi...

In this Mental Health Awareness Month episode of ”That Solo Life,” co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane delve into the topic of navigating fatigue and finding balance in the midst of global stressors and personal challenges.

Welcome to another episode of That Solo Life, where we dive into the world of PR and marketing for independent professionals. In this episode, we discuss the power of personal branding in the PR industry. Publicists have recently been in the spotlight, from the Oscars to various articles highlighting their work. This recognition serves as a reminder for solo PR professionals like us to also focus on promoting ourselves, not just our clients. Karen and Michelle delve into the importance of pers...

That Solo Life, Episode 249: How to Avoid the Dreaded Reviewer's Remorse In this Episode In this episode of "That Solo Life," Karen and Michelle dive into the common struggle of "reviewer's remorse" that many PR pros, marketers, and communicators face when working with clients. They discuss the frustration of finalizing a project, only to have last-minute changes or new reviewers throw a wrench into the process. They emphasize the importance of establishing a clear review process with clients...

In this episode of ”That Solo Life,” co-hosts Michelle Kane and Karen Swim delve into the challenging topic of addressing current social and political conflicts in the workplace. The episode opens with a discussion about the ongoing Israeli-Gaza conflict and the protests happening across the United States, setting the stage for a conversation on how communication professionals can guide their clients through navigating these complex issues.

That Solo Life: Episode 247 Everything Old is New Again In this Episode Karen Swim, APR, of Solo PR, and Michelle Kane, of Voice Matters delve into the importance of getting back to basics in our PR and marketing businesses. Today’s conversation is sparked by an email from Peter Shankman, the founder of the original "Help a Reporter Out" platform, which was eventually sold to a large corporation. Shankman has now launched a new platform called "Help Every Reporter Out," and in his announcement...

Discussing ethical and legal challenges for public relations professionals with Cayce Myers, Ph.D., LL.M., J.D., APR, an experienced PR professional, author and professor.

That Solo Life, Episode 244: Language, Landmines And The Peril Now Facing PR Pros That Solo Life, a podcast dedicated to PR professionals, marketers, and individuals who work for themselves. In this episode hosts, Karen Swim of Solo PR Pro, and Michelle Kane from Voice Matters delve into the topic of avoiding generation gaps and cultural miscommunications. In our discussion, we highlight how the emergence of a multigenerational workforce and multicultural society has made communication more c...

That Solo Life, Episode 243: What They Think We Do, What We Really Do And How To Bridge The Gap Welcome to the latest episode of "That Solo Life", the podcast passionately crafted for PR professionals by PR professionals. In this conversation, your hosts Michelle Kane and Karen Swim take you through the frustrations and challenges of people not understanding the role of public relations and the overlooked intricacies of articulating and demonstrating the value of public relations to clients and...

Show Notes for That Solo Life: Episode 242 In this episode: That Solo Life co-hosts, Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane talk about some of the insights from the "Muckrack 2024 State of Journalism" and discuss the emerging trends shaping media relations today. Episode Highlights: Discussing the Muckrack 2024 State of Journalism Report. We dig into the latest findings and what they mean for the future of journalism. What are the new challenges and opportunities for those in media relations? Check...

In episode 242 we dissect the implications of the Department of Labor’s recent rule changes and what it means for solo PR professionals. We welcome Nathan Gibson, an authority in Employment Law and Independent Contractor Compliance, who is the Senior Director at MBO Partners. Nathan provides in-depth insights on staying compliant and the potential impacts on solo public relations businesses.

If you’re still feeling the effects of springing forward into daylight savings time, recovering from St. Patrick’s Day or are still wondering what is going on with the royals, in this episode we talk about it and how there’s a PR lesson in everything. Special Offer for Solo PR Pros, Freelance Consultants, and Small business owners: Lettuce is teaming up with Solo PR Pro to offer you a free, game-changing Business Assessment Program. Be one of the first 1,000 savvy PR pros to join. Get News fr...

It’s no secret the media landscape is changing and it’s only intensifying the effect on how PR pros do media relations. In this episode we talk about taking the time to evaluate our tactics and get creative to reach our client’s audiences. Special Offer for Solos: Lettuce is teaming up with Solo PR Pro to offer you a free, game-changing Business Assessment Program. Be one of the first 1,000 savvy PR pros to join. Get News from Solo PR Pro: Join our email list. Transcript Speaker 1: Thank y...

Today we’re talking about the challenges we face as self-employed professionals in a world where certain sectors of the business world and governmental policies just don’t get us, favoring traditional employment over independent work. From pricing of tools and products to respecting the value solos bring to the table, it’s time to give solo PR pros our respect. Special Offer for Solos: Lettuce is teaming up with Solo PR Pro to offer you a free, game-changing Business Assessment Program. Be one...

On this episode we're chatting about how different generations handle criticism, especially after some Super Bowl ad backlash. We dive into why tough love is key in PR and how it's essential for solo PR pros to get real with clients. Plus, we tackle the big question: How do we teach the next gen these crucial soft skills? Tune in for an honest, straight-talk session on the art of handling the hard stuff in PR. Special Offer for Solos: Lettuce is teaming up with Solo PR Pro to offer you a free,...

In this episode, Karen and Michelle discuss the pitfalls of blindly following trends in the PR and marketing world. It’s important to keep strategies aligned with a brand's core values and mission. “Going viral” is not a meaningful goal if it doesn’t translate into meaningful engagement or revenue. Special Offer: Lettuce is teaming up with Solo PR Pro to offer you a free, game-changing Business Assessment Program. Be one of the first 1,000 savvy PR pros to join. Transcript Michelle Kane (00:...

The whole point of operating as a solo PR pro or small agency is the ability to build the business that is right for you. But let's face it, there are many people out there who are only going to be comfortable with a certain budget level. In this episode, we want to help you to think creatively about when someone comes your way and they maybe don't have the budget that you desire. Bonus: information about the exciting Solo PR Pro offer courtesy of Lettuce. Transcript Michelle Kane (00:03): T...

As a solo PR pro or small agency, is it ever a good idea to outsource your sales? It depends. In this episode we talk about how there is no right or wrong answer, only the answer that works for you and your business. Transcript Michelle Kane (00:03): Thank you for joining us for this episode of That Solo Life, the podcast for PR pros and marketers who work for themselves, people like me, Michelle Kane, with VoiceMatters and my wonderful co-host, Karen Swim of Solo PR Pro. How are you today, K...