The PR Podcast

Hosted by Jody Fisher

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254

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Jun 2026

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About the show

The PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators to share ideas and strategies to tell impactful stories that make a difference. Host Jody Fisher has spent 30 years in news, first as a radio reporter and anchor in New York City and then in PR representing clients across a variety of industries including healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit. Join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at @ThePRPodcast.

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June 1, 2026Episode 25435 min

254. Jennifer Moss, JAR Podcast Solutions, on Building a Better Podcast

What makes a podcast feel authentic?In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Moss, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of JAR Podcast Solutions, one of the world’s leading branded podcast agencies. Jennifer has helped organizations ranging from Amazon and Cirque du Soleil to Wharton create podcasts that do more than promote a brand—they tell stories that audiences genuinely want to hear.The conversation explores why so many brand podcasts fail to connect, what separates great storytelling from corporate messaging, and how brands can create audio content that builds trust, engagement, and long-term audience relationships.Jennifer also shares her perspective on the growing role of AI in content creation, why human-centered storytelling matters more than ever, and what she has learned leading creative teams at the forefront of the podcast industry.The PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators about how the news gets made and strategies for publicity that drive business goals. Host ⁠⁠Jody Fisher⁠⁠ is the founder of Jody Fisher PR and works with clients across the healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit verticals. JAR Podcast Solutionswebsite: https://jarpodcastsolutions.comThe PR Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePRPodcast/Twitter: https://x.com/ThePRPodcast1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprpodcast_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theprpodcast?

May 25, 2026Episode 25325 min

253. Jody Fisher on Jody Fisher on Summer Get Ready Season

Summer is not downtime for PR professionals — it’s opportunity season.In this Memorial Day special episode of The PR Podcast, host Jody Fisher talks about why the summer months are one of the most overlooked opportunities in public relations and marketing. While many organizations slow down between Memorial Day and Labor Day, smart brands use the season to build momentum, create content, strengthen media relationships, and prepare for the crowded fall news cycle.In this episode:• Why summer is a great time to create news• How to strengthen media and business relationships• The importance of stockpiling content before fall• Why smart PR teams prepare for September during the summer• How staying visible all summer helps your brand long-termWhether you work in PR, marketing, media relations, nonprofit communications, or business leadership, this episode offers practical strategies to help you make the most of the summer season.Subscribe to The PR Podcast for conversations about media, storytelling, branding, and how the news gets made.The PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators about how the news gets made and strategies for publicity that drive business goals. Host ⁠⁠Jody Fisher⁠⁠ is the founder of Jody Fisher PR and works with clients across the healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit verticals. The PR Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePRPodcast/Twitter: https://x.com/ThePRPodcast1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprpodcast_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theprpodcast?

May 11, 2026Episode 25231 min

252. Kaitlyn Kenaan, Haley Reid, Gabby Davis of Flyer PR, a student-run PR firm getting real results

Flyer PR is proving that the future of public relations isn’t waiting until graduation. Based at the University of Dayton, this student-run agency gives aspiring communications professionals real-world experience managing campaigns, navigating crisis simulations, working with clients and building brands before they ever enter the workforce full-time. On this episode of The PR Podcast, we’re joined by three of the student leaders behind Flyer Public Relations at the University of Dayton — Haley Reid, Kaitlyn Kenaan and Gabby Davis and their faculty advisor Natasha Baker. As part of one of the country’s most hands-on student-run PR agencies, they’re already managing real clients, building campaigns, navigating crisis simulations and learning what it truly takes to succeed in modern communications. We talk about the future of public relations, how AI and social media are changing the industry, and why experiential learning may be the best preparation for a career in PR today. The PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators about how the news gets made and strategies for publicity that drive business goals. Host ⁠⁠Jody Fisher⁠⁠ is the founder of Jody Fisher PR and works with clients across the healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit verticals. Flyer PRWebsite: https://www.udflyerpr.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flyerpr/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flyerpr/ Kaitlyn KenaanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/kate.kenaan_/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlyn-kenaan/ Haley ReidInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleynreid/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/haleynreid/ Gabby DavisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/_gabbyd_/Music Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabbydavisofficial/LinkedIn:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielle-m-davis/ Natasha Baker Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/natashab40/ The PR PodcastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePRPodcast/Twitter: https://x.com/ThePRPodcast1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprpodcast_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theprpodcast

April 27, 2026Episode 25127 min

251. Dorie Klissas, Dorie Klissas Media, on Pitching Network TV

Dorie Klissas is the founder and president of Dorie Klissas Media and an Emmy Award-winning television producer. She spent 15 years at NBC’s Today Show and is an Edward R. Murrow Award contributor for her work on The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. She has served in leadership positions at major health systems, including the Mount Sinai Health System, Hackensack Meridian Health, and NYU Langone, where she oversaw an increase in media coverage by as much as 1000 percent in her first year of tenure, securing placements in high-profile outlets such as CBS’s “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation.” She is currently the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer with LiveOnNY, the organ donor procurement organization for the New York metropolitan area. The PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators about how the news gets made and strategies for publicity that drive business goals. Host ⁠⁠Jody Fisher⁠⁠ is the founder of Jody Fisher PR and works with clients across the healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit verticals. Dorie KlissasFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dorie.klissas/Twitter: https://x.com/DorieKlissasInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/klissasdorie/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dorie-klissas-8806706/Dorie Klissas MediaWesbite: https://dorieklissas.com/site/The PR Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePRPodcast/Twitter: https://x.com/ThePRPodcast1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprpodcast_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theprpodcast?

April 20, 2026Episode 25028 min

250. Jennifer Acree, JSA+Partners, on startups, measurement and using PR for good

Jennifer Acree is the founder and CEO of JSA+Partners, a strategic communications agency she has led for more than 17 years, working with major consumer tech brands including Yahoo, Sphere, Electronic Arts, Exploding Kittens and Character.AI. She’s known for blending strong storytelling with data-driven strategy, most recently through launching Fogline, a proprietary measurement platform focused on meaningful insights over outdated metrics. In 2025, after losing her childhood home in the Palisades fire, Jennifer mobilized her network to launch the L.A. Strong Comms Coalition, delivering more than $150,000 in pro bono PR support to small businesses and securing national and local media coverage to aid recovery efforts—demonstrating the real-world impact of public relations.The PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators about how the news gets made and strategies for publicity that drive business goals. Host ⁠⁠Jody Fisher⁠⁠ is the founder of Jody Fisher PR and works with clients across the healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit verticals. Join the conversation on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ at @ThePRPodcast.Jennifer AcreeLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferstephensacree/JSA PartnersWebsite: https://jsapartners.coSubstack: https://talkingpointsbyjsa.substack.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jsa-partners/The PR Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePRPodcast/Twitter: https://x.com/ThePRPodcast1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprpodcast_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theprpodcast?

April 13, 2026Episode 24927 min

249. Mark Mallchok, Brella Productions, on Elevating Events with Storytelling

Mark Mallchok, Chief Event Strategist and co-founder of Brella Productions, joins the show to break down what it really takes to create corporate events that deliver results—not just applause. With a background in theater and film, Mark brings a storytelling-first approach to designing experiences that engage audiences across in-person, virtual, and hybrid environments. He shares how companies can eliminate inefficiencies, control costs, and still produce high-impact events that support real business and learning goals. The PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators about how the news gets made and strategies for publicity that drive business goals. Host ⁠⁠Jody Fisher⁠⁠ is the founder of Jody Fisher PR and works with clients across the healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit verticals. Join the conversation on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ at @ThePRPodcast.Mark Mallchok LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brellamm/Brella Productionswebsite: https://brella.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brella-productions/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrellaProductionsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brellaprod/The PR Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePRPodcast/Twitter: https://x.com/ThePRPodcast1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprpodcast_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theprpodcast?

March 30, 2026Episode 24828 min

248. Alison Seibert, The James Collective, on Lifestyle PR and Supporting Female Entrepreneurs

Alison Seibert is the founder and principal of The James Collective, a boutique PR and integrated communications agency that captures the power of attention for leading lifestyle brands. TJC partners with high caliber CPG food and beverage, wine & spirts and travel companies who are dedicated to creating a more delicious and connected world.Founded in 2015, The James Collective has grown to a bicoastal business with a portfolio of luxury, DTC and legacy brands that have included Jacobsen Salt Company, the 1 Hotel, Food52, Joseph Phelps Vineyards (owned by LVMH), Kermit Lynch, Hungryroot, Flowers Winery, Maille Mustard (a Unilever brand), Oishii, and more. Alison holds an MBA in International Business and both invests in and advises growing businesses in the CPG food, beverage, and travel industries, and is especially passionate about ventures led by the next generation of women entrepreneurs.The PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators about how the news gets made and strategies for publicity that drive business goals. Host ⁠⁠Jody Fisher⁠⁠ is the founder of Jody Fisher PR and works with clients across the healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit verticals. Join the conversation on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ at @ThePRPodcast.The James CollectiveWebsite: https://thejamescollective.coInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejamescollective/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-james-collective/Alison SeibertInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonseibert/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisonseibert/The PR Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePRPodcast/Twitter: https://x.com/ThePRPodcast1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprpodcast_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theprpodcast?

March 23, 2026Episode 24729 min

247. Caroline Sánchez-Avakian, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, on Elections and Storytelling

What happens when you combine storytelling, strategy, and high-stakes advocacy? You get a communicator who understands not just how to craft a message—but how to make it matter.This week on The PR Podcast, we sit down with Caroline Sánchez-Avakian, Strategic Communications Director at the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, to talk about the intersection of policy, narrative, and real-world impact. From leading national advocacy campaigns to her work as a playwright and Emmy-nominated host, Caroline brings a unique perspective on how stories shape public opinion and influence outcomes.We get into what PR professionals can learn from advocacy communications, how to sharpen messaging in high-pressure environments, and why the most effective communicators understand both the facts and the human story behind them.If you want to think differently about influence, messaging, and the role of PR in shaping the world around us—this episode is for you.The PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators about how the news gets made and strategies for publicity that drive business goals. Host ⁠⁠Jody Fisher⁠⁠ is the founder of Jody Fisher PR and works with clients across the healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit verticals. Ballot Initiative Strategy CenterWebsite: www.ballot.org Socials: @ballotstrategy Podcast page: https://ballot.org/podcastCaroline Sánchez-Avakianwebsite: www.carolineavakian.comLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/carolineavakianThe PR Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePRPodcast/Twitter: https://x.com/ThePRPodcast1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprpodcast_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theprpodcast?

March 16, 2026Episode 24634 min

246. Sharon Toerek, Toerek Law, on Smart Legal Strategies for PR Firms

Most agencies treat legal like a necessary expense—something to deal with when contracts need signing or problems arise. But what if legal strategy could actually become a driver of revenue, protection, and long-term growth?In this episode of The PR Podcast, we sit down with Sharon Toerek, a marketing and intellectual property attorney who works with independent PR, marketing, and creative agencies across the United States. Sharon is the founder of Toerek Law and the host of The Innovative Agency podcast, where she helps agency leaders navigate the complex legal landscape surrounding intellectual property, contracts, compliance, and growth.Sharon digs into the legal issues many agencies overlook—from protecting the value of their creative work to avoiding contract pitfalls that can quietly erode margins. They also explore the rapidly evolving risks surrounding AI, data privacy, and influencer marketing, and why agencies need to start thinking about governance and legal structure much earlier in their growth cycle.Sharon also explains how strong legal foundations can actually increase an agency’s valuation, especially when preparing for mergers, acquisitions, or future expansion. Instead of being a defensive expense, she argues that legal strategy can become a proactive advantage for agency owners who want to scale with confidence.If you run an agency—or work inside one—this conversation will change the way you think about contracts, intellectual property, and the role legal strategy plays in building a stronger business.In this episode, we discuss:- Why legal should be seen as a strategic asset—not just a cost- How agencies can protect and monetize their intellectual property- The contract mistakes that quietly hurt agency profitability- The growing legal risks around AI, influencer marketing, and data privacy- How legal preparation affects agency valuation during mergers or acquisitions- Why governance and compliance matter even for smaller agenciesThe PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators about how the news gets made and strategies for publicity that drive business goals. Host ⁠⁠Jody Fisher⁠⁠ is the founder of Jody Fisher PR and works with clients across the healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit verticals. Join the conversation on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ at @ThePRPodcast.Sharon ToerekWebsite: LegalAndCreative.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sharontoerekPodcast: The Innovative AgencyThe PR Podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePRPodcast/Twitter: https://x.com/ThePRPodcast1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprpodcast_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theprpodcast?

March 9, 2026Episode 24532 min

Courtney Mazzella, Champion PR, on Leveling Up Your Restaurant PR

Restaurant PR is one of the most competitive and fast-moving sectors in communications. Grand openings, influencer buzz, local community engagement, and crisis management all collide in an industry where every detail matters.In this episode of The PR Podcast, I speak with Courtney Mazzella, Vice President of Client Services at Champion, one of the largest restaurant PR agencies in the United States.Courtney joined Champion in 2011 as one of the agency’s earliest team members and has spent the past 15 years helping grow the firm into a national leader in restaurant communications. She works with brands across the country on grand openings, local store marketing, media relations, influencer engagement, and crisis communications.In our conversation we explore:• What makes a restaurant grand opening truly successful• Why local marketing and community engagement are critical for new locations• The evolving role of influencers and social media in restaurant PR• How restaurant brands navigate crises and reputation challenges• What it takes to build long-term client relationships in agency life• Why hospitality brands succeed when they become part of the communityWhether you work in public relations, marketing, hospitality, or simply love the restaurant industry, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how restaurant brands grow and stay relevant.The PR Podcast is a show about how the news gets made. We talk with great PR people, reporters, and communicators about how the news gets made and strategies for publicity that drive business goals. Host ⁠⁠Jody Fisher⁠⁠ is the founder of Jody Fisher PR and works with clients across the healthcare, higher education, financial services, real estate, entertainment, and non-profit verticals. Join the conversation on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ at @ThePRPodcast.Courtney Mazzella🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneymazzella/?hl=en🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneymazzellaChampion🔗 website: https://championmgt.com🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/championmgt🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/champion-managementThe PR Podcast 🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePRPodcast/🔗 Twitter: https://x.com/ThePRPodcast1🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprpodcast_/🔗 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theprpodcast?