Pitching Powerhouse

Hosted by Award-Winning PR Agency Owner, Jen Berson

Business

Website RSS feed

Episodes

161

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 7, 202635 min

What I'd Do Differently If I Were Starting My Agency in 2026

Twenty-one years ago, Jen emailed a stranger on the internet, asked her to mail over a box of free product, and somehow turned that into a whole PR agency. Now she's pulling back the curtain on everything she'd keep, ditch, and lean into harder if she had to build her PR agency from scratch today. This is the honest version of two decades of trial and error, condensed so you can skip the long learning curve. ➡️ Why niching down on day one (who you serve AND how you serve them) is what actually lands premium retainers ➡️ How to offer introductory pricing without getting trapped at a low rate forever ➡️ The case studies, tools, and "yes to everything" habits worth cutting loose ➡️ Why rest, relationships, and your own instincts are the real business strategy in the age of AI 📌 Links + Resources Mentioned in This Video: → Free Live Masterclass "How PR Agency Owners Are Making Themselves More Sought After Than Ever in the Age of AI" (June 20): https://jenerationacademy.com/june → Get Your Agency AI Assistant: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-agency-assistant  → Join The Pitch Lab: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-pitch-lab  → Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://jenerationacademy.com/  💬 Let's Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenerationpr/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenerationpr/  Website: https://jenerationacademy.com/ 

May 31, 202621 min

Commoditized PR is dying. Here's what's replacing it.

Join Jen's free live masterclass on June 20th and get the complete system for positioning, pipeline, and pricing your agency for the AI era: https://jenerationacademy.com/may PR and earned media budgets are predicted to double by 2027 because of AI. The agencies that understand why are already winning. There are two groups in PR right now. One is asking if the industry is dead. The other just had their best quarter ever. In this episode, Jen breaks down exactly what's splitting the market, why commoditized PR is getting squeezed, and what the agencies that are thriving are doing differently. The answer has nothing to do with experience or tools. It comes down to one decision most agency owners were never taught to make. In this episode: - Why it's not PR that's dying, it's a specific kind of PR - How earned media placements now feed directly into AI search results like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews - The positioning shift that turns you into the only logical choice for your ideal client - Why depth and authority are the things AI simply cannot commoditize Links + resources mentioned: → Free Live Masterclass "How PR Agency Owners Are Making Themselves More Sought After Than Ever in the Age of AI" (June 20): https://jenerationacademy.com/may → Get Your Agency AI Assistant: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-agency-assistant → Join The Pitch Lab: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-pitch-lab → Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://jenerationacademy.com/ Let's connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenerationpr/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenerationpr/ Website: https://jenerationacademy.com/

May 24, 202627 min

Stop Building Someone Else's Version of Success

You built a business to have freedom, and somehow ended up busier, more stressed, and chasing goals that don't even feel like yours anymore. In this episode of Pitching Powerhouse, Jen Berson gets real about what it actually means to build a business around your life, not someone else's highlight reel. If you've ever hit a milestone and felt nothing, said yes to clients or opportunities that drained you, or found yourself in hustle mode without knowing why, this one is for you. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The signs you're chasing the wrong goals and what to do instead ✅ Why your ideal Tuesday is the most powerful business planning tool you have ✅ How to audit your business for what's truly aligned vs. what's just noise ✅ Why your definition of success is allowed to evolve, and how to stop treating that as failure Your business should feel like yours. Start building it that way. 📌 Links + Resources Mentioned in This Episode: → Grab the Free Premium Positioning Audit: https://jenerationacademy.com/audit → Get Your Agency AI Assistant: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-agency-assistant → Join The Pitch Lab: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-pitch-lab → Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://jenerationacademy.com/ 💬 Let's Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenerationpr/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenerationpr/ Website: https://jenerationacademy.com/

May 3, 202643 min

How to Protect Your Energy While Scaling Your Business

You built a business to have freedom — not to wake up exhausted and resentful of the thing you worked so hard to create. If scaling is starting to feel like a fancier prison, this episode is for you. Today I break down why growing your agency without protecting your energy leads straight to burnout, and share the exact strategies I use to scale sustainably — without losing my sanity, my boundaries, or my 3 p.m. pickup time. ✅ The five hidden energy drains that come with scaling (and why context switching is silently wrecking your productivity) ✅ How to batch your energy — not just your tasks — so your week is built around what actually fuels you ✅ The support infrastructure you need in place before you grow: systems, SOPs, team, and yes, personal support too ✅ Why saying no gets more powerful as you scale, and how to do it without losing the opportunity entirely Your energy is the engine of everything. Let's protect it. 📌 Links + Resources Mentioned in This Video: → Join the Agency Accelerator Mastermind: https://jenerationacademy.com/ → Get Your Free Premium Positioning Audit: https://jenerationacademy.com/audit → Get Your Agency AI Assistant: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-agency-assistant  → Join The Pitch Lab: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-pitch-lab → Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://jenerationacademy.com/ 💬 Let's Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenerationpr/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenerationpr/ Website: https://jenerationacademy.com/

April 19, 202626 min

Teaching My Kids What Work Looks Like (On Purpose)

Working mom guilt is real. But what if everything you've been told to feel guilty about is actually one of the greatest gifts you can give your kids? In this episode of Pitching Powerhouse, Jen gets real about what her two teenage boys have watched her build over the last 16 years running Jeneration PR and Jeneration Academy, and why she believes that letting your kids see you work isn't something to apologize for. It's something to be proud of. From ringing a bell at her desk to celebrate wins, to including her boys in Canva proposals, to being deeply intentional about what her sons are learning from internet content targeted at their age group, Jen shares a fresh, honest, and genuinely empowering perspective on work and motherhood. ✅ Why hiding your work from your kids may actually teach them to resent it ✅ How to talk about work with your children in age-appropriate ways that build their confidence and resilience ✅ The one non-negotiable rule Jen follows when the workday ends and family time begins ✅ Why now more than ever, ambitious moms are the antidote to harmful content targeting young boys Stop treating your ambition like something to hide. Your kids are watching, and what they see matters more than you know.   📌 Links + Resources Mentioned in This Video: → Free Premium Positioning Audit: https://jenerationacademy.com/audit → Get Your Agency AI Assistant: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-agency-assistant → Join The Pitch Lab: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-pitch-lab → Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://jenerationacademy.com/   💬 Let's Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenerationpr/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenerationpr/ Website: https://jenerationacademy.com/

April 11, 202625 min

You're Not Behind. You're Building Something Different

Scrolling through Instagram and stumbling on someone's six-figure announcement shouldn't ruin your day. But sometimes it does. Let's talk about that. If comparison has ever made you question your pace, your progress, or your worth as a business owner, Jen is talking directly to you in this one. She breaks down why the numbers people share online are almost never the full story, how to stop measuring your Chapter 1 against someone else's Chapter 10, and what it actually looks like to build a business around a life you love.In this episode, you will learn: ✅ Why the revenue numbers you see online are almost always gross revenue (not profit) and how that distorted picture is quietly wrecking your confidence ✅ How to create your own scoreboard so you stop chasing someone else's metrics and start celebrating the wins that actually matter to you ✅ What intentional business building really looks like, including why building slower around your kids, your priorities, or your dog walk is not falling behind ✅ How to find (and build inside) a community that celebrates your pace, your version of success, and your vision for your business You are not behind. You are building something different. Come find your people and let us cheer you on. 📌 Links + Resources Mentioned in This Video: → Get Your Agency AI Assistant: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-agency-assistant → Join The Pitch Lab: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-pitch-lab → Free Premium Positioning Audit: https://jenerationacademy.com/audit → Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://jenerationacademy.com/ 💬 Let's Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenerationpr/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenerationpr/ Website: https://jenerationacademy.com/ 

March 31, 202634 min

How to Stop Playing Small and Start Owning Your Expertise

You're talented, experienced, and getting real results for your clients — so why are you still playing small? If you're undercharging, over-apologizing, or waiting for someone to hand you expert status, this episode is going to hit a nerve. Good. It's supposed to. Too many PR pros are shrinking themselves while less qualified people charge premium rates and take up all the space. The gap between where you are and where you deserve to be isn't about skill. It's about permission you keep waiting for that is never coming.   What You'll Learn: ✅ The Real Cost of Playing Small: Why undercharging and undervaluing yourself could be costing you six figures or more. ✅ How to Own Your Expertise: The exact language shift that can earn you tens of thousands of extra dollars immediately. ✅ Stop Waiting for Validation: Why no one is coming to declare you an expert and what to do instead. ✅ Attract Premium Clients: How showing up fully and sharing your wins magnetically draws your dream clients to you. If you are a PR pro who is ready to stop shrinking, start charging what you are worth, and finally step into the expert you already are, this one is for you.   📌 Links + Resources Mentioned in This Video → Free Premium Positioning Audit: https://jenerationacademy.com/audit-2 → Get Your Agency AI Assistant: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-agency-assistant → Join The Pitch Lab: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-pitch-lab → Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://jenerationacademy.com/   💬 Let's Connect Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenerationpr/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenerationpr/ Website: https://jenerationacademy.com/

February 1, 202650 min

How to Edit AI Pitches So Editors Actually Read Them

Got an AI draft? Here's how to edit it so editors actually open your email. Nearly half of journalists say they're less likely to engage with pitches they can tell were written by AI. That means your robot-written emails are getting deleted before anyone reads past the first line. But AI isn't the problem. Lazy editing is. In this episode, I'm walking you through the exact process my Pitch Lab students use to turn generic ChatGPT outputs into pitches that get responses. What You'll Learn: ✅ Personalization Formula: The 3-minute research hack that proves you read their work and gets your pitch opened ✅ News Peg Strategy: How to tie your pitch to what's happening THIS WEEK so editors feel urgency ✅ Social Proof Placement: The one credential that matters and where to put it so it builds credibility fast ✅ Clear CTA Framework: Specific ask templates that get yes or no answers instead of radio silence Perfect for PR professionals, agency owners, and founders who want to stop getting ignored and start getting coverage. After tightening their pitches with this process, my students regularly see 20 to 30% response rates. 📌 Links + Resources Mentioned in This Video: → Download the Free AI Pitch Editor Worksheet: https://jenerationacademy.com/resources → Get Your Agency AI Assistant: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-agency-assistant → Join The Pitch Lab: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-pitch-lab → Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://jenerationacademy.com/ 💬 Let's Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenerationpr/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenerationpr/ Website: https://jenerationacademy.com/

December 27, 202528 min

Clients Keep Asking About AI. Here's What I Tell Them

AI is changing how people discover brands, and if you're still pitching the same way without understanding where your clients need to show up, you're falling behind. In this podcast, I'm breaking down why AI isn't killing PR... it's actually making what we do more essential than ever. The new gatekeepers—ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini—aren't pulling from paid placements or SEO hacks. They're pulling from authoritative articles, thought leadership, and consistent mentions from trusted sources. That's exactly what PR pros specialize in. This isn't the death of our industry. It's a rebirth. What You'll Learn in This Video: ✅ Why AI Rewards Earned Media: How large language models cite high-authority placements and why your PR work is now the fuel powering AI search results. ✅ How to Test Your Clients' AI Visibility: Simple strategies to search ChatGPT and Perplexity, analyze citations, and identify exactly where to focus your pitching efforts. ✅ Building AI-Powered Case Studies: How to screenshot AI results, document your wins, and create visual proof that demonstrates real PR ROI to clients. ✅ Repositioning Your Services: The exact messaging shift that elevates you from service provider to strategic advisor in this new era of brand discovery. This episode is about stepping into your power as a PR professional. If you're ready to stop playing small, guide your clients through this AI shift, and position yourself as the go-to authority they need right now, this video is for you. 📌 Links + Resources Mentioned in This Podcast: → Join The Agency Accelerator: https://learn.jenerationacademy.com/the-agency-accelerator → Join The Pitch Lab: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-pitch-lab → PRAIZE Newsletter (Emma Grace Moon): https://praize.studio/ → Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://jenerationacademy.com/ 💬 Let's Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenerationpr/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenerationpr/ Website: https://jenerationacademy.com/ 🔥 Don't Forget to Like, Comment & Subscribe!

December 11, 202521 min

What My Medicine Cabinet Taught Me About Productivity

Ever feel like you're drowning in half-finished projects while new ideas keep piling up? In this episode, Jen Berson shares a surprisingly powerful productivity insight that came from an unexpected place: her overflowing medicine cabinet. If you're an entrepreneur struggling to complete what you start, this mindset shift will change everything. Starting new projects feels exciting, but those unfinished tasks create mental clutter that kills your focus and momentum. When you have too many open loops, nothing gets done well. It's time to finish what's on your plate before opening something new. What You'll Learn: ✅ The Open Loop Problem: Why starting new projects before finishing old ones destroys your productivity ✅ Visual Clarity Method: How clearing physical and mental clutter frees up bandwidth for what matters ✅ The Back Burner System: A simple way to capture exciting ideas without derailing current priorities ✅ Completion Over Perfection: Why "done and iterating" beats "perfect but unfinished" every time Whether you're building your PR agency or managing multiple client projects, this episode will help you reclaim your focus and finally check those boxes. Stop juggling and start finishing. 📌 Links + Resources Mentioned in This Video: → Get Your Agency AI Assistant: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-agency-assistant → Join The Pitch Lab: https://jenerationacademy.com/the-pitch-lab → Subscribe to My Newsletter: https://jenerationacademy.com/ 💬 Let's Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenerationpr/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenerationpr/ Website: https://jenerationacademy.com/