Hack Your Own PR

In this episode of Hack Your Own PR , the podcast that helps founders and change-makers tell their story, build credibility without needing a big PR budget, we're chatting with Brett Farmiloe , the Founder and CEO of Featured , and the owner of the iconic Help a Reporter Out — HARO. Brett is literally in the thick of the AI world right now.  What I love about Brett is that he sits at this fascinat...

In this episode of Hack Your Own PR ! with Odette Barry, we take you inside one of the most dynamic, fast-paced environments in Australian media — breakfast television. Odette is joined by Laura Francis , the Managing Editor of Sunrise , where she oversees the editorial direction, content strategy, and daily rhythm of the country's highest-rating morning show. She's the one shaping the stories you...

In this episode of Hack Your Own PR, the podcast where we pull back the curtain on what actually works in modern PR and media, host Odette Barry, publicist, and the founder of Odette & Co chats with someone who sits at the coalface of mainstream television journalism, Meredith Marks, Features & Investigations Producer at Nine News in Sydney. Meredith has spent over 20 years in news from the trench...

Today's Hack Your Own PR guest is someone who has built one of the most enviable PR careers in Australian beauty! Joining us is Lucy Asker, Head of PR & Influencer at MECCA Brands, an enviable role she's earned through more than a decade of strategic, creative, and deeply connected work in the world of communications. From her early days cutting her teeth at Two Birds Talking and AMPR, through to...

In this episode of Hack Your Own PR, Odette Barry is joined by Lucinda McKimm, journalist-turned-podcaster, producer, and co-host of Ready or Not. Lucinda has built one of Australia's most dynamic podcasts exploring the collision of motherhood, career, and feminism. With her background in sports media and branded content at Cricket Australia, plus years of freelancing and yoga teaching on the side...

In this episode, I'm joined by Cosi Toni, Executive Producer of Channel Nine's   Today Extra   and all-around legend of live television. With nearly a decade of experience across producing, segment wrangling and live control room chaos, Cosi brings an infectious energy and razor-sharp editorial instinct to one of Australia's longest-running lifestyle programs. We talk about what really goes on beh...

In this episode, I'm joined by Sudeshna Ghosh, cross-platform content wizard and current Managing Editor at SBS Food. With a career spanning TV, print, magazines and digital across India, Dubai and Australia, Sudeshna brings a global sensibility to local storytelling — and a deep appreciation for the way food connects us across cultures. At SBS Food, Sudeshna leads the online and social ecosystem,...

In this episode, I'm joined by Jessica Smalley — producer, storyteller and comedic strategist behind Two Doting Dads , a weekly parenting podcast hosted by Matty J and Ash that's reshaping the way men talk about fatherhood. After producing business deep-dives for Mark Bouris, Jess pivoted to the parenting aisle — bringing her systems brain, strategic storytelling and creative intuition to a show t...

In this episode, I'm joined by Jo Abi, senior writer at 9Honey and one of the most refreshingly honest and compassionate voices in Australian media. With a background in radio, over a decade in digital journalism, and a side-hustle writing from the trenches of parenting three neurodivergent kids, Jo has a deep understanding of what makes a story resonate. At 9Honey, Jo writes across consumer, life...

In this episode of Hack Your Own PR , we're joined by Melissa Reader, CEO of Violet, whose journey from profound personal loss to leading social change is nothing short of inspiring. Through Violet, Melissa is helping us all navigate life's final chapters with grace, humanity, and proactive planning. Over the past year, Melissa's voice has been everywhere, from AFR, The Australian and ABC to Smart...

In this episode of Hack Your Own PR , host Odette Barry sits down with Calum Jaspan , media writer for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age , to explore the evolving media landscape, journalism's challenges, and the art of pitching stories that stand out. Calum shares his career journey from Mumbrella to his current role, offering insights into the Australian media industry and what it takes to n...

In this episode of Hack Your Own PR , Odette Barry sits down with the unstoppable Mia Fileman, founder of Campaign Del Mar and one half of the brains behind Ripple Festival . Mia shares her journey of building a two-day event that fuses creativity, small business, and purpose, offering a insights on how to navigate the public speaking circuit with intention, and as a true advocate of the events th...

In this episode of Hack Your Own PR Odette Barry is joined by one of Australia's most influential voices in podcasting:   Kellie Riordan , founder of Deadset Studios and the original producer of my beloved and all time fave podcast, ABC Conversations. Kellie has been a pioneer in the Australian media landscape, with a career spanning radio, digital news, and podcast production. She helped launch t...

In this episode, Odette Barry is joined by   Lem Zakharia , a powerhouse in the Australian media industry with an eclectic career spanning radio, music, and podcasting. Currently the executive producer of   It's A Lot with Abbie Chatfield, Lem has been instrumental in transforming the podcast from a casual, couch-recorded project to a top-ranking hit in its sixth season. With a core audience of wo...

Welcome to the Hack Your Own PR with Odette Barry . In this episode we are joined by Justine Cullen , Editor-in-Chief of InStyle Australia . With over 30 years in the magazine industry, Justine has built a stellar career, starting at teen magazines and rising to lead iconic titles like ELLE and InStyle . In this episode, Justine shares her insider knowledge on: The evolving media landscape and the...

Georgie Abay is just about one of the most intelligent, hard working, kind and humble editors you'll find at the helm of a glossy mag - and she's back for interview number 2 on Hack Your Own PR - after her first interview several years ago, in her role as the editor and founder of Grace Tales.   In September last year, Georgie took on the prestigious role leading the vision and team as editor of M...

Imagine a world where Business Class and Economy Class costs about the same. Naturally, everyone would choose Business Class.    Today we're joined by Steve Hui, also known as "The Points Whisperer" and founder of iflyflat.com.au. Over 12 years ago, Steve cracked the code to unlock how to fly business and first class on the cheap.    I invited Steve to the podcast because I have seen his name ever...

 I think you're going to enjoy this episode if you're a beauty or lifestyle brand.   Today we're joined by beauty industry veterans Sarah Tarca and Sherine Youssef, founders of the popular newsletter gloss etc.   With over 30 years of combined experience in journalism and media, Sarah and Sherrine have seen it all when it comes to PR pitches.    Sarah Tarca is a former magazine editor (Marie Clair...

Today I'm joined by Euan Black, the Work and Careers Reporter at The Australian Financial Review.    Euan began his career in journalism accidentally after finishing an internship in Cambodia. He landed his first journalism job at Southeast Asia Globe before moving to Australia where he now very happily writing for The Financial Review.   In this episode, Euan shared how he generates story ideas t...

Polly Taylor is the Contributor and Page editor at Mamamia. Polly previously worked in the UK in the women's lifestyle media space, when she visited Australia on a 'quick working holiday' and found the perfect job at Mamamia, she's never left!    Polly walks us through the contrasting stories you'll find on the home page of Mamamia, from the latest celebrity drama to hard-hitting, gritty contribut...

Wendy Tuohy is a senior writer focusing on social issues impacting women and girls at The Age.    With over 40 years of experience writing about social affairs, Wendy is one of the true advocates, who in particular, has chosen to use her position of privilege to amplify and influence the mainstream media narrative about issues that truly matter.   In a time when mainstream media is copping heat le...

Sam Hussey is the head of news and lifestyle at Forbes Australia, having previously been the Channel Seven editor in chief for the 7news.com.au publishing a cheeky 120 news pieces daily.   The change of pace to business, entrepreneurism and luxury lifestyle is a welcome one, as Sam discusses, as he's tackling a slower, deeper style of journalism, that allows him and the team to interrogate issues...

This week on the Hack Your Own Podcast, join me in conversation with Tarla Lambert, co-founder of Agenda Media and editor-in-chief of Women's Agenda.   Alongside her business partner, Angela Priestley, Tarla has cultivated a wholly independent, women-owned, and operated media empire that engages over a million Australian women each month.    Tarla shares insights into Women's Agenda's demographic...

Meet Nicole Maycroft, the PR & Communications Manager at Kic.     Nicole walks us through what media efforts have successfully converted for Kic, how she gets Steph and Laura involved with timely trends and expert commentary, and how to create leverageable collaborations and events.     We get to hear the behind-the-scenes strategy for Kic's latest 'feel good' January campaign which saw a 100% inc...

This week on the Big Ideas Miniseries I chatted with Sophie Walker, founder and host of popular podcast Australian Birth Stories.   Sophie is the mum of 3 who used to record her podcast from the back of her Nissan X Trail during covid. She has amassed 16 million podcast listeners informing and empowering women and their birth support teams and has grown to become a million-dollar birth and pregnan...