On Top of PR with Jason Mudd

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ken Jacobs, principal of Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching, joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how communications leaders can apply proven leadership principles to AI adoption. Tune in to learn more! Meet our guest: Our guest is Ken Jacobs, principal of Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching. Ken helps public relations, communications, and marketing leaders become more effective and inspiring leaders through executive coaching and consulting. Before launching his consulting practice, he spent 25 years in leadership roles at leading PR agencies. He also hosts Taking the Lead, a leadership video podcast, and writes the quarterly Taking the Lead column for the Public Relations Society of America's Strategies & Tactics publication. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. How courageous leaders embrace AI 2. Why every organization needs AI guardrails 3. How leaders can build AI confidence 4. Why listening leads to stronger teams 5. How AI and human judgment work together Quotables "If you're not already deep in AI, you're behind, but it's also never too late." — Ken Jacobs “Walk the walk, not just talk the talk.” — Ken Jacobs “True leaders update their knowledge and fluency.” — Ken Jacobs “You as a leader have to be able to ask the right kind of questions.” — Ken Jacobs "Hire smart people and get out of their way." — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: Ken Jacobs on LinkedIn Jacobs Consulting & Executive Coaching website Taking the Lead Podcast How to stay ahead of AI in communications and marketing Four leadership tips to guide you through uncertain times Additional resources: What sources feed generative AI answers? What Google AI Mode means for your PR and media strategy How are AI tools changing PR jobs? Axia’s AIVisibility service Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. If you like this episode, you're going to love this: The best argument for PR? Surprisingly, it's AI 95% of AI citations come from PR content Managing communications and PR in the AI era Embedded AI: The future of PR and communication workflows Recorded: July, 2026 Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, LA County communications leader Brenda Duran joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how to manage communications and public relations in the AI era through trust and authentic storytelling. Tune in to learn more! Meet Our Guest: Our guest is Brenda Duran, director of external affairs at the Los Angeles County Justice, Care and Opportunities Department. An award-winning public affairs and communications executive with more than 12 years of experience, Brenda specializes in crisis communications, community engagement, and building trust through authentic storytelling. A former journalist, she brings a unique perspective on how public institutions can communicate with transparency, empathy, and impact. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. The rise of AI in public relations 2. Building trust in a digital-first world 3. Leading communications during high-stakes moments 4. The power of authentic storytelling 5. The future of communications leadership Quotables “[AI] is not there to replace anything; it's more to enhance what we're already doing.” — Brenda Duran “Trust isn't really built in with one campaign. It's earned through repeated reliable communication over time.” — Brenda Duran “AI definitely cannot replace some fundamental things like strategic thinking, relationship building, emotional intelligence, ethics and cultural understanding. Those are things that no machine will ever be able to take from us.” — Brenda Duran “We need to become AI literate, but you have to also remain human-centered.” — Brenda Duran “We still have to be trusted strategic advisors, lead with strategy, lead with empathy and humanity, and just make the right choices of what's good and what's ethical for the marketplace.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: @bduran5 on Instagram Brenda Duran on LinkedIn Brenda Duran’s website From newsroom to PR: Journalists making the switch Transition from journalism to PR Additional Resources: AI in PR: Transforming communication strategies The emerging role of AI in public relations How to speak with clarity and authority during a crisis Axia’s AI visibility services Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. If you like this episode, you're going to love this: The best argument for PR? Surprisingly, it's AI When a crisis hits, say this or stay silent Effective crisis communications Recorded: July, 2026 Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this solocast, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd discusses how public relations drives awareness, credibility, trust, and demand to create measurable business outcomes beyond media coverage. Tune in to learn more! Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why organizations should measure PR by business outcomes instead of media outputs 2. How awareness can remove growth barriers for great products and services 3. Why earned media builds credibility that influences customer behavior 4. How visibility creates demand through real-world business examples 5. What marketing leaders should ask when evaluating PR performance Quotables “Organizations invest in PR because they want business results.” — @jasonmudd9 “The game didn't change; awareness changed.” — @jasonmudd9 “Awareness gets attention, credibility earns trust, and trust influences behavior.” — @jasonmudd9 “Public relations isn't magic, but when it's aligned with business objectives, it can be a powerful driver of business outcomes.” — @jasonmudd9 “Awareness influenced credibility. Credibility influenced demand, and demand influenced business outcomes.” — @jasonmudd9 If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Contact info and resources: Jason Mudd on X Jason Mudd on LinkedIn How the power of PR saved Twister PR Success Stories: From Struggling Startup to More Than $130 Million in Revenues PR Success Stories: Media Coverage for HeadBlade Creates $25,000 in Website Sales Axia Case Study Foundation Financial Group Additional Resources: The power of PR How do you measure PR? 7 ways to build credibility using public relations 5 ways PR can generate buzz for your business Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast Find out more about Axia Public Relations If you like this episode, you're going to love this: 3 ways franchisors can use PR to grow their company with John Hewitt PR research with Mark Weiner Recorded: June 15, 2026 Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, James (Jim) Lukaszewski joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how to influence leaders through trust, candor, and strategic communication. Tune in to learn more! Meet our guest: Our guest is James (Jim) Lukaszewski, president and CEO of The Lukaszewski Group. Jim has advised business leaders through crises and high-stakes situations for more than five decades. He shares practical strategies for becoming the trusted strategic advisor leaders rely on when making important decisions. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why trusted advisors begin by understanding leadership challenges before communication challenges 2. How candor helps build credibility with executives 3. The Three-Minute Drill for presenting strategic recommendations 4. Why offering options instead of conclusions leads to better leadership decisions 5. How studying leadership helps communicators become more influential advisors Quotables “All problems are management and organizational problems before they are any other kind of problem.” — Jim Lukaszewski “You have to start where the person you're advising is, not where you think the solution is.” — Jim Lukaszewski “Management happens in real time.” — Jim Lukaszewski “Anybody who can offer three perspectives or useful concepts about any problem the boss is facing is a valuable person.” — Jim Lukaszewski “Your highest and best use … is being a trusted advisor to leadership.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: James Lukaszewski on LinkedIn James E. Lukaszewski on YouTube E911 website Crisisguru.ai Pre-order the “Influencing Leaders” book Pre-order Jim’s new book. Email a copy of your receipt to jel@e911.com with the subject line "TOP." Follow Jim on LinkedIn . Subscribe to Jim’s newsletter . When the book is released in August, you'll receive the handbook by email. Additional Resources: Does PR play an active role in your strategic planning? Learn how to make it easier to reach your goals Defining leadership in corporate communications Axia’s crisis PR service Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. If you like this episode, you're going to love this: How to be a trusted adviser with Del Galloway When a crisis hits, say this or stay silent Recorded: July, 2026 Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Heidi Howell joins host Jason Mudd to discuss why organizations should think twice before cutting PR during economic uncertainty. They explore the connection between reputation, recruiting, employer branding, visibility, trust, and revenue growth. Tune in to learn more! Meet our guest: Our guest is Heidi Howell, she is a marketing executive who leads efforts to transform marketing into a revenue-driving function within healthcare staffing and human resources technology. She partners with executive teams to align marketing, sales, and operations through scalable systems, data-driven strategy, and growth-focused demand generation. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why public relations is often cut first and why that can be a costly mistake 2. How reputation directly impacts recruiting outcomes and talent acquisition 3. Why you should view recruiting as a revenue-driving function 4. How PR keeps you visible to top clients 5. Questions leaders should ask before reducing PR investments Quotables “PR is not just about visibility; it's about trust, reputation, and staying known to the people who are ultimately going to be buying your services.” — Heidi Howell “Recruiting is our revenue. That's how we make money. We make money by placing great candidates at great jobs with great clients.” — Heidi Howell “When companies cut PR, they're cutting the very thing that keeps them visible.” — Heidi Howell "When budgets are being cut, trust becomes more valuable, not less." — Heidi Howell “In a down economy, trust becomes more valuable, not less. PR is one of the few functions built specifically to protect it.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: Heidi Howell on LinkedIn How PR influences recruiting, retention, and workforce quality ratethispodcast.com/ontopofpr Additional Resources: Reputation management for AI search: Monitoring and response framework Warning signs your online reputation management is failing Axia’s reputation management service Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. If you like this episode, you're going to love this: Job search and hiring tips with Nicole Balsam Navigating PR and communications hiring with Brooke Kruger Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, former CNN producer Tiffany Anthony joins host Jason Mudd to discuss media relations best practices, newsroom operations, and journalist preferences. Tune in to learn more! Meet our guest: Our guest is Tiffany Anthony, a communications and storytelling professional and former CNN cross-platform producer at Warner Bros. Discovery. With more than 18 years of experience in broadcast, digital, and social media, Tiffany has helped shape high-impact stories and audience engagement strategies while working inside local and national newsrooms. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why strong media relationships still matter, even when newsworthiness comes first 2. Common media pitching mistakes that damage credibility with journalists 3. How to effectively follow up with reporters without becoming a nuisance 4. Why understanding newsroom operations improves media relations success 5. How changing newsroom dynamics and audience behaviors are reshaping media relations Quotables “Relationships matter a lot when it comes to newsrooms as well as with PR. Basically, you don't want to be a stranger.” — @Tiffany Anthony “You need to consume news yourself. You need to know what's going on.” — @Tiffany Anthony “It is not always about the fastest anymore. It's about the most accurate, the most in-depth, the most personal.” — @Tiffany Anthony “You have to grab the reporter's attention, just like we have to grab the viewer’s attention. And you have to do it quickly because people will lose interest; reporters will lose interest.” — @Tiffany Anthony “Every touchpoint should add value to the relationship. Every touchpoint should be another piece of insight.” — @Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: Tiffany Anthony on LinkedIn Tiffany Anthony on Muck Rack Tiffany Anthony’s website From newsroom to PR: How journalists can successfully make the switch Additional Resources: What strong media relations actually look like The best and worst media relations efforts from public relations professionals The 4 R’s of media relations: Responsive, resourceful, rapid, and respect Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. If you like this episode, you're going to love this: Advanced AI media relations strategies for public relations How to improve your media pitches with Jason Mudd of Axia Public Relations Media relations best practices with Axia Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this solocast, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd explains why earned media now drives visibility in ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and AI search. Tune in to learn more! Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why earned media is the primary driver of visibility in AI-generated search 2. How ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude determine which brands to recommend 3. What the 2% pitch overlap statistic means for PR and marketing teams 4. Why media velocity and recency matter more than one big placement 5. What to do right now: three actions to strengthen your brand's AI visibility Quotables “Earned media is what AI trusts.” — @jasonmudd9 “The right earned media in the right outlets at the right frequency is the primary lever for brand visibility and AI-generated search. Not one of the levers, it's the primary lever.” — @jasonmudd9 “The brands that figure this out first are going to own the narrative inside the AI tools their buyers are already using every day.” — @jasonmudd9 “99% of links cited by AI come from unpaid media.” — @jasonmudd9 If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Contact info and resources: Jason Mudd on X Jason Mudd on LinkedIn Muck Rack: Earned media still drives 84% of AI citations Gartner: Predicts 2026: Top Predictions to Inform 2026 Comms Strategies ratethispodcast.com/ontopofpr Additional Resources: Why earned media is so powerful in the age of AI and GEO Why AI tools now rely on earned media How earned media gets AI to remember your brand Axia’s AIVisibility services Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast Find out more about Axia Public Relations If you like this episode, you're going to love this: The PR playbook for getting recommended Embedded AI: The future of PR and communication workflows How to stay ahead of AI in communication and marketing Recorded: June 06, 2026 Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Matt Mosich joins host Jason Mudd to discuss what separates professional speakers from aspiring speakers. From storytelling and stage presence to preparation, mindset, and memorable messaging, Matt shares practical insights from years of coaching executives, founders, and business leaders. Tune in to learn more! Meet our guest: Our guest is Matt Mosich, president and owner of The Mosich Group. Matt is a communication and speaker coach for executives, founders, and their teams. He helps clients prepare for and build keynotes, board presentations, podcasts, and media interviews. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why every point needs a story and every story needs a point 2. How great speakers collect stories from everyday experiences 3. Why audiences remember sentences, not speeches 4. The hidden preparation behind seemingly effortless presentations 5. How to use nerves as an advantage instead of trying to eliminate them Quotables “There are probably thousands of people out there who can speak on your topic. They might have the exact same conclusions that you do. The only difference is how you arrived at them.” — Matt Mosich “The best speakers aren't more creative. They're better at noticing and writing down what everyone else walks past.” — Matt Mosich “People remember sentences, not speeches.” — Matt Mosich “Our mindset is how we observe the world; it's how we live our experience.” — Matt Mosich “You have to show up as a professional in order to get paid like a professional.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: Matt Mosich on LinkedIn The Mosich Group website Jack Sernett Matthew Dicks The Four Agreements Book Toastmasters International Additional Resources: Axia Public Relations’ SpeakersBureau service Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. How to become a TED speaker The right way to apply for a speaking engagement Don’t let your superstar company speaker go unnoticed; promote today! If you like this episode, you're going to love this: Embracing the power of “No” and storytelling How company executives can become powerful keynote speakers How to become an excellent TEDx speaker Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, CNN producer Tiffany Anthony joins host Jason Mudd to discuss one of the most talked-about career pivots in media today — journalists transitioning into public relations and corporate communications. Tune in to learn more! Meet our guest: Our guest is Tiffany Anthony, cross-platform producer at CNN/Warner Brothers Discovery. Tiffany is a communications and storytelling professional with 18+ years of experience crafting clear, high-impact narratives across broadcast, digital, and social platforms. She has led messaging for high-stakes news and major public-facing initiatives, with a focus on audience engagement, clarity, and collaborative leadership. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why journalists are uniquely positioned to succeed in PR and corporate communications 2. How newsroom experience strengthens media relations, storytelling, and strategic communications 3. How former journalists can position their skills and experience to stand out in today’s PR job market 4. How AI, applicant tracking systems, and evolving hiring practices are changing communications careers 5. Why companies increasingly value journalists who understand newsrooms, audiences, and compelling stories Quotables “You always have to learn to adapt and evolve.” — Tiffany Anthony “Some of the best stories are about people and interesting people. It’s not just about a product.” — Tiffany Anthony "People want people's stories. They want to connect emotionally with stories. And I think a lot of companies forget that and lose sight of that." — Tiffany Anthony “You have to be willing to say, ‘I’m no longer a journalist. I’m now a corporate storyteller.’” — Jason Mudd "If you don't tell them, you won't sell them." — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: Tiffany Anthony on LinkedIn Tiffany Anthony on Muck Rack Tiffany Anthony website Public Relations Employment Statistics by BLS.gov PRSA Job Board Axiacareers.com Additional Resources: 6 ways agency work provides the best work experience Top 6 questions public relations students ask us about the PR industry Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. If you like this episode, you're going to love this: Transition from journalism to PR with David DeCamp Behind the mic with Jason Mudd: An Ask Me Anything special solocast on PR and Axia’s beginning Networking without an agenda: The key to career longevity Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Qwoted’s Shelby Bridges joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how AI, shrinking newsrooms, and faster news cycles are reshaping modern media relations and earned media strategies. Tune in to learn more! Meet our guest: Our guest is Shelby Bridges, director of customer success at Qwoted. Shelby works at the intersection of PR, media, and technology, helping communicators build stronger relationships with journalists through smarter, more strategic data usage and platforms like Qwoted. She leads training, demos, and user initiatives that support agencies and brands in a fast-moving media landscape. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why modern news cycles now behave like breaking news by default 2. How shrinking newsrooms are increasing pressure on journalists and PR teams 3. Why responding within 48 hours significantly increases placement success 4. How AI is changing pitching, and why similarity is becoming a problem 5. Why diversification of angles and sources is critical for credibility Quotables “All news is almost breaking news now. It has to be told immediately and as quickly as possible because somebody else is already writing it.” — Shelby Bridges “The people who are responding within the first 48 hours are the ones that are winning.” — Shelby Bridges “Everybody should be able to use AI to pitch — but not to falsify data, personas, or companies.” — Shelby Bridges “What journalists need is something that stands out and isn’t generic.” — Shelby Bridges “If people in the room all look like you, you're not going to hear as good or thoughtful storytelling and insights as you might want.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: @sbridges0117 on instagram Shelby Bridges on LinkedIn Qwoted website Qwoted resources Additional Resources: Journalist PR responses under 3% for third straight quarter Journalists don’t want AI-generated commentary (and what to give them instead) Top PR pros share their tips for earning U.S. media coverage The best and worst media relations efforts from public relations professionals How to use media relations strategically to boost SEO Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations . If you like this episode, you're going to love this: Making your media pitches stand out The 4 R’s of media relations: Responsive, resourceful, rapid, and respect Media relations best practices Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, University of Memphis expert Michele Ehrhart joins host Jason Mudd to discuss crisis communication, leadership preparedness, reputation management, and how organizations can navigate high-pressure situations with clarity and confidence. Tune in to learn more! Meet our guest: Our guest is Michele Ehrhart, senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer at the University of Memphis. Michele is a crisis communications expert with three decades of experience in corporate affairs, executive communications, and PR strategy. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why crisis preparation must happen before a crisis occurs 2. How leaders can use “what if” scenario planning to prepare for high-risk situations 3. Why silence can be a strategic communication choice depending on context 4. How reputation is built slowly but can be damaged quickly during a crisis 5. Why defining roles and responsibilities in advance improves crisis response execution Quotables “The day you have a crisis should not be the first day you've thought about what you'll do.” — Michele Ehrhart “Planning the work and working the plan.” — Michele Ehrhart “Silence is a strategy. If the story isn't yours, don't talk about it.” — Michele Ehrhart “The brand is what you put out there; reputation is what they think of you.” — Michele Ehrhart “When PR is at its best, it's building a reputation for your company — just not visibility, but also the reputation. You could have great visibility, but it's not positive.” – Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . More About Michele Ehrhart Michele Ehrhart is a crisis communications expert with three decades of experience in corporate affairs, executive communications, and PR strategy. After 22 years with FedEx, she now serves as the University of Memphis's senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer. She is a bestselling author, speaker, and industry expert helping leaders navigate crises with confidence and clarity. Guest’s contact info and resources: Michele Ehrhart on LinkedIn Michele Ehrhart’s website Get the “Crisis Compass: How to Communicate When It Matters Most” book Axia’s CrisisPoint service Axia’s Reputation Restoration service Additional Resources: How to recover from a PR crisis and manage your reputation What is reputation management? Build a crisis communication plan that works fast Question-based crisis communication: What leaders miss online How to build a crisis-resilient marketing and communication plan Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this solocast, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd dives into how PR shapes recruiting, retention, and workforce quality through reputation. Tune in to learn more! Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. How candidates evaluate your reputation before your careers page 2. Why PR influences recruiting outcomes before HR gets involved 3. The role of visibility, credibility, and interpretation in hiring decisions 4. Why employer brand perception is formed in search and media results 5. How PR reduces hiring friction and improves talent quality Quotables “Candidates don't start with your careers page; they start with your reputation.” — @jasonmudd9 “Your careers page doesn't create perception. It confirms or contradicts what they already perceive or believe.” — @jasonmudd9 “Recruiting is a reputation-driven system.” — @jasonmudd9 “PR didn't create demand; it removed the friction that prevented their growth.” — @jasonmudd9 “Public relations doesn't just influence how customers see you, it influences who wants to work for you, who shows up, and how they perform.” — @jasonmudd9 If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Contact info and resources: Jason Mudd on X Jason Mudd on LinkedIn LinkedIn Talent Solutions - Employer’s brand matters Glassdoor - Employer Branding 101: Why, How and Proven ROI ratethispodcast.com/ontopofpr Additional Resources: Case study: Improving a company’s recruiting How to turn award wins into long-term assets Warning signs your online reputation management is failing How to improve your company’s Glassdoor reviews Find out more about Axia Public Relations. Axia Public Relations resources Axia’s NewsBureau Service Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast. If you like this episode, you're going to love this: Job search and hiring tips with Nicole Balsam Navigating PR and communications hiring with Brooke Kruger Networking without an agenda: The key to career longevity Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Brand Revolt’s Camden Bernatz joins host Jason Mudd to discuss why traditional agency pitches often fail, how clients can build better partnerships, and why diagnosis must come before solutions. Tune in to learn more! Meet our guest: Our guest is Camden Bernatz, creative director and strategist at Brand Revolt and author of “Stop Asking for Pitches: 10 Rules to Fix the Client-Agency Relationship.” Once drawn to psychiatry, he now applies that same curiosity to branding, helping organizations diagnose challenges and build stronger brands. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why traditional agency pitches often prioritize performance over real problem-solving 2. Why diagnosing the problem must come before prescribing any solution 3. How treating agency relationships as strategic investments improves outcomes 4. How shifting from vendor transactions to partnerships leads to better results 5. What a true client-agency partnership looks like in practice Quotables “You want that agency that helps you develop the brief [to] help you figure out what we actually need. What are we trying to accomplish? What would success look like?” — Camden Bernatz “The reason you have a need for an RFP or to hire a firm and hire an agency is because you don't totally know what you need. ” — Camden Bernatz “It’s just having things on the table early, talking about like, ‘We think that you're prescribing something that's going to cost more than you say you have money for.’” — Camden Bernatz “There's a difference in the way it feels to spend money on an agency versus spending the money with the agency. ” — Camden Bernatz “Your agency is like an engine to fuel as opposed to a resource to drain. You will treat it differently, and they will perform differently.” — Camden Bernatz “Buying agency services is about buying a creative class of expertise, experience, guidance, and consulting that is much different than buying staples, pencils, and other supplies.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: Camden Bernatz on LinkedIn Camden Bernatz on YouTube Brand Revolt website “Stop Asking For Pitches: 10 Rules to Fix the Client-Agency Relationship” book The Win Without Pitching Manifesto Clients behaving badly: Video store, hair salon haggling Additional Resources: How do we find a PR agency? 7 steps to working effectively with your PR firm Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. If you like this episode, you're going to love this: Hiring a PR agency with Shannyn Lee Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Richard Shotton joins host Jason Mudd to discuss the behavioral science behind some of the world’s most successful brands and how to apply those principles in marketing and PR. Meet our guest: Our guest this episode is Richard Shotton, founder of Astroten. Richard is a behavioral scientist and best-selling author of “The Choice Factory,” “The Illusion of Choice,” and “Hacking the Human Mind.” He specializes in applying behavioral science to marketing and works with global brands to solve real-world challenges. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why what people say influences them vs. what actually drives behavior 2. How “effort storytelling” can increase perceived product value 3. Why simplicity in messaging increases perceived intelligence and trust 4. How timing and “fresh start” moments influence behavior change 5. Why social proof remains one of the strongest drivers of decision-making Quotables “Behavioral science is what people say influences them and what actually influences them. They are wildly different.” — Richard Shotton “If you ever need someone to make a really big change in their life, don't target them randomly.” — Richard Shotton “The more effort that goes into something, the better it is. People have got that as a rule of thumb in their head. And the interesting thing is, the rule of thumb takes on a life of its own.” — Richard Shotton “If you want to convey strong brand values, the argument from Oppenheimer is to speak in a simple, clear way.” — Richard Shotton “The simplest answer is usually the best answer. If it’s focused on one thing, it's clear, easy to digest.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . More About Richard Shotton Richard Shotton is a behavioral scientist and founder of Astroten. He is a best-selling author of three books, including “The Choice Factory” and “The Illusion of Choice.” His latest book, “Hacking the Human Mind,” explores the behavioral science underpinning the success of 17 leading brands. He specializes in applying behavioral science to marketing, helping brands like Google solve real-world challenges through consultancy, copywriting, and training. Guest’s contact info and resources: @rshotton on X Richard Shotton on LinkedIn Astroten’s website Consumer Behavior Lab website ”Hacking the Human Mind” book Additional Resources: Earned authority + emotional resonance = brand wins What is social proof, and how is it used in PR? Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. If you like this episode, you're going to love this: Using psychology to become a better leader Human motivation with Darryl Salerno Re Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Carly Roszkowski joins host Jason Mudd to discuss ageism in the workplace, how it affects job seekers over 50, hiring bias, and strategies for multigenerational teams. Tune in to learn more! Meet Our Guest: Our guest on this episode is Carly Roszkowski, vice president of financial resilience at AARP. She leads strategy and outcomes within AARP’s Work and Jobs and Financial Resilience initiatives, helping individuals over 50 strengthen their competitiveness in the labor market and access meaningful employment opportunities. Carly also works to eliminate age discrimination and promote inclusive hiring practices across organizations. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. How ageism in the workplace impacts job seekers and employees over 50 years old 2. The biggest challenges experienced professionals face when seeking new opportunities 3. How department leaders can effectively support and manage multigenerational teams 4. Best practices hiring managers can use to better support experienced talent 5. Practical ways employees and coworkers can help create a safe, inclusive, and high-performing workplace Quotables “AARP is fighting every day to end age discrimination in the workplace and educate consumers, knowing their rights, as well as educating employers on the value that older workers bring to an organization.” — Carly Roszkowski “Networking and knowing someone is still a really great way to start your job search.” — Carly Roszkowski “60% of workers 50 and older have said that they would love to learn new skills for their job or on the job.” — Carly Roszkowski “Research shows that there's increased innovation, increased creativity, better problem solving when you have a mix of ages, mix of different backgrounds, or from different points of view.” — Carly Roszkowski “Mirror the language; reflect the terminology that you see in the job description in your application.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: Carly Roszkowski on LinkedIn AARP website AARP Works and Jobs Resources AARP Employer Resource Center Older Workers are Building Tech Skills Research Additional Resources: How to calculate the true cost of hiring an employee Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. If you like this episode, you're going to love this: Courageous conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work How to boost HR effectiveness Recorded: December 10, 2025 Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Muck Rack CEO Greg Galant joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how embedded AI is transforming PR and communications workflows. Tune in to learn more! Meet Our Guest: Our episode guest is Greg Galant, CEO and cofounder at Muck Rack. A returning guest on On Top of PR, he is a leading voice at the crossroads of PR, technology, and media. Greg is also recognized as an early champion of generative engine optimization, shaping the emerging frontier of brand visibility in an AI-driven world. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: Why embedded AI is more effective than standalone assistants in PR workflows How AI preserves messaging consistency and insight accuracy across teams Ways to make PR teams more adaptable in real time using AI How AI-powered media intelligence predicts trends and shifts in reputation Strategies to integrate AI into every stage of PR: discovery, outreach, monitoring, and reporting Quotables “Being able to take advantage of AI is knowing what everyone's doing right now and figuring out which stages of our workflow can benefit from AI and having the right tooling to do that.” — @Greg Galant “The PR profession's been doing generative engine optimization even before generative AI came to be because when these AI systems were built, they were all trained on news data.” — @Greg Galant “The work we did a year ago or two years ago is even more valuable today than it was then.” — @Greg Galant “There's two big buckets. One is: How does AI influence PR, and how does PR influence AI?” — @Greg Galant “We have to look at this from a macro and a micro level and keep testing and tweaking what we're doing and improving upon it.” — @Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: @gregory on X @gregory on Instagram Gregory Galant on LinkedIn Muck Rack website Muck Rack Daily Generative Pulse by Muck Rack The State of Journalism and PR 2022 reports with Greg Galant If you like this episode, you're going to love this: 95% of AI citations come from PR content How generative AI uses earned media coverage (fueling PR’s resurgence) Getting more media coverage by making journalists’ lives easier The PR playbook for getting recommended by AI with Unusual Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this solocast, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd dives into why most press releases fail and how to craft news releases that capture attention, clicks, and engagement. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Five reasons your news release isn’t getting coverage 2. Understanding the move from “press releases” to news releases 3. Common mistakes that cause press releases to be ignored 4. How to write headlines and content that attract attention and clicks 5. Adopting an audience-first mindset to make your news releases effective Quotables “A journalist or reader is asking, ‘Why should I care?’ ‘Why now?’ and ‘Why does this matter now?’ And if you don't answer that in the first few lines of your pitch or your news release, you lose that audience.” — @jasonmudd9 “Safe content doesn't get shared; it gets ignored.” — @jasonmudd9 “Your content now competes in search, AI, and social feeds. Structure matters. You need clear headlines, direct language, and answer-driven content.” — @jasonmudd9 “Shift your mindset from ‘What do we want to announce?’ to ‘What would someone care [about], click, and share?’ Define your audience, validate your angle with data, and write like a journalist.” — @jasonmudd9 “Coverage isn't requested; it's earned. It starts with how you think about the story before writing.” — @jasonmudd9 If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: Jason Mudd on X Jason Mudd on LinkedIn Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. Axia Public Relations resources 1:1 consultations and training with Axia 10 2026 press release tips marketers aren’t going to like Additional Resources: What's the difference between press releases and public relations? What’s the difference between newswire and press release distribution wire agencies? How press releases are powering generative engine optimization and answer engine optimization 3 elements of an effective news release 11 tips to craft engaging press release headlines Should you use a commercial newswire for news release distribution? If you like this episode, you're going to love this: Earned media-first PR Rethinking press releases with the rise of AI Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Microsoft CCO Frank Shaw joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how AI is reshaping PR workflows, strategy, and corporate communications. Tune in to learn more! Meet Our Guest: Our episode guest is Frank X. Shaw, chief communications officer at Microsoft. Frank leads global communications strategy, product PR, media and analyst relations, executive and employee communications, and global agency partnerships. He shares insights on how communicators can leverage AI to focus on high-value work and improve efficiency. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. How to identify high-value PR work and apply AI to repetitive tasks 2. Practical AI applications for media monitoring, analyst engagement, and internal communications 3. How autonomous AI agents can enhance predictive insights for communications teams 4. The mindset needed to embrace AI tools without fear of job loss 5. How efficiency gained through AI can drive growth rather than just cost-cutting Quotables “It's not like you can outsource your judgment, but you can augment it.” — Frank Shaw “I don't look at all this technology as something that is going to cut costs. It's going to allow us to do the things that are in front of us that we want to do that we can't get to right now because we don't have the resources and the time.” — Frank Shaw “The mindset has to be one of experimentation, curiosity, trying new things, being willing to fail, at some, grabbing every tool that comes out there and thinking about how we can apply it to the work that we do. “ — Frank Shaw “I think everybody should be experimenting with stuff at home and at work because it's moving really fast, and the way you stay on top of it is just to play.” — Frank Shaw “People say the corporate communication profession has changed over the years. And my argument is it really hasn't changed. We just have better tools. But those same tools require us to be even better practitioners, more strategically minded.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: Frank X. Shaw on LinkedIn Microsoft website LinkedIn Learning: Communicator’s Guide to AI Tools and Mindsets for Modern PR and Media course Additional Resources: Axia’s AI Relations service Microsoft Copilot Studio Microsoft Bing Get to Know Microsoft Edge Introduction to ChatGPT Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. If you like this episode, you're going to love this: How to stay ahead of AI in communication and marketing Navigating AI ethics in PR Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Brandon Watts joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how to prioritize audience and authenticity in media-first PR during the AI era. Tune in to learn more! Meet Our Guest: Our episode guest is Brandon Watts, director of PR and communications at Storyblok. With 20-plus years in shaping narratives for startups and enterprise tech, Brandon brings insights from both the media and PR sides. He’s also contributed to Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and Adweek. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. How to adopt a media-first approach in PR during the AI era 2. Why quality matters more than quantity when pitching stories 3. How to put the audience before your PR agenda 4. The power of exclusives and timings 5. Tips for pitching original, AI-proof stories Quotables “The biggest challenge here is when we think of what we're trying to tell, the story we're trying to tell, it's usually always framed through our lens. What do we have to say? What benefit do we get from it? That's a lot of we, me — a lot of self-service focus. So we have to reframe this. If it's media first, it means that it's really media first.” — Brandon Watts “Communication with your pitch is so critical because that's really what helps you to sell it, to make it more broad in terms of who's going to want to listen to that and why.” — Brandon Watts “You have to create the stories that AI can't. And all of that is due to your personal experience, what your company's experiencing, what your team is experiencing, and your customers' lived experiences that cannot be hallucinated, that cannot be made up. That's authenticity.” — Brandon Watts “We use AI just in the right way to help you get more power out of your content creation. So you just have to take that extra bit of time to understand that you can't just prompt and run. You've got to give it context and tweak.” — Brandon Watts “Garbage in, garbage out. If you put bad input into a generative AI app, you're going to get bad output from it.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: Brandon Watts on LinkedIn Storyblok website How to stay ahead of AI in communication and marketing Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast . Find out more about Axia Public Relations. Additional Resources: Axia’s AI Service AI in PR: Transforming communication strategies AI is transforming PR: What are the risks and benefits? What strong media relations actually look like How to pitch and earn media without breaking news Pitching exclusives by the numbers If you like this episode, you're Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Brett Farmiloe joins host Jason Mudd to discuss the comeback of HARO and smarter PR pitching. Tune in to learn more! Meet Our Guest: Our episode guest is Brett Farmiloe, founder and CEO at Help a Reporter Out (HARO). Brett has scaled startups and worked with global brands, and he helps professionals share their expertise online. His mission is to make knowledge more accessible and human. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why HARO was revived and what’s changed since its launch 2. How journalist profiles and “Open to Write” signals improve pitch success 3. Tips for better pitches with fewer blasts to stand out to reporters 4. How HARO is expanding to support journalists beyond sourcing experts 5. How PR pros can measure expert authority instead of vanity placements in the AI era More About Brett Farmiloe Brett Farmiloe is the CEO of Help a Reporter Out (HARO), a platform connecting journalists with sources to create expert-powered content. An entrepreneur and author, Brett has scaled startups, collaborated with global brands, and helped thousands of professionals share their expertise. His mission is to make knowledge more accessible and human online. Quotables “Our goal at the end of the day is to connect journalists with great sources for stories.” — Brett Farmiloe “When sources come to us and they're like, ‘What do I do here? How do I be helpful?’ It's really in the HARO acronym: It's be Helpful, be Authentic, be Relevant, and be On time.” — Brett Farmiloe “Be authentic; don't just use 100% AI, and add your own human expertise to things.” — Brett Farmiloe “What comes around, goes around, and I really think that just being helpful and friendly and nice to people goes a long way.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review . Guest’s contact info and resources: @BrettFarmiloe on X Brett Farmiloe on LinkedIn Help a Reporter Out website Featured website Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. Additional Resources: 6 tips for using HARO to pitch your story HARO Shifts to Connectively: What does this mean for PR professionals? Authentic PR: Giving it a human touch PR pros have a new way to connect with reporters If you like this episode, you're going to love this: How to improve your media pitches Building relationships with Peter Shankman Making your media pitches stand out with Qwoted Recorded: November 10, 2025 Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations , named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer , the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.