That Solo Life: The Solo PR Pro Podcast

That Solo Life Episode 321: What We're Reading for Focus, Laughs and Professional Development  Episode Summary For busy PR and marketing professionals, finding time to read—whether for professional development or pleasure—can be a challenge. In this episode, hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane open up their own "to-be-read" piles to share the books currently on their stacks. They discuss a fascinat...

That Solo Life, Episode 320: When You Feel Out of Sync with Your PR Career Episode Summary In this episode, hosts Karen Swim, APR of Solo PR Pro and Michelle Kane of Voice Matters, take a moment to discuss a crucial topic for every solo practitioner: self-reflection. They explore the growing feeling among communications professionals that something is missing, even if they love their work. This co...

TSL 319: Succeeding at Business Development in a Tough Year Episode Summary In a challenging economic climate, consistent business development is more crucial than ever for solo PR and marketing professionals. Hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane dive into practical strategies to refresh your approach and build a strong pipeline for the coming year. This episode moves beyond basic tips, exploring ho...

TSL 318: How the New Era of AI Search Impacts PR Pros Episode Summary The world of search is constantly evolving, with the rise of AI introducing significant changes that communication professionals can't ignore. In this episode, hosts Karen Swim, APR, and Michelle Kane explore the latest shifts in search, focusing on how AI is creating a more personalized—and potentially limited—search experience...

That Solo Life, Episode 317: Navigating the Noise: A PR Pro's Guide to Combating Misinformation Episode Summary In an era where online falsehoods can spread like wildfire, how can communications professionals protect their clients and their own brands? Hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane tackle the critical issue of misinformation and disinformation head-on. Triggered by a report revealing that nea...

That Solo Life, Episode 316: Gen Alpha's Surprising Influence on Your PR Strategy Episode Summary In this episode, hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane dive into a fascinating study about Generation Alpha—today's kids and teens aged 0-15. You might think your target audience is the adults with the wallets, but this new generation is wielding surprising economic power, influencing major family purcha...

That Solo Life, Episode 315: Counting the Cost of Transparency in a Rage-Filled World Episode Summary In a world that demands brand transparency, is it possible to be too open? This week, Karen and Michelle discuss the complex landscape of modern communication, where the call for brands to be transparent can sometimes lead to backlash. They explore the challenges PR pros face in a culture lacking...

That Solo Life, Episode 314: Communicating in the Era of Everyday is a Crisis Episode Summary In today's highly charged environment, even the most innocent business decision can spark a public relations crisis. For solo PR practitioners, staying ahead of potential firestorms is more crucial than ever. In this episode, hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane discuss practical strategies for helping clie...

That Solo Life Episode 313: Strategies for Securing New PR Business in 2025 Episode Summary Karen and Michelle dive into optimistic data about the global growth of the PR industry and share strategic insights for solo practitioners looking to finish 2025 strong. Drawing from recent industry research, they explore emerging trends, niche specialization opportunities, and practical business developme...

Episode 312: Going Big by Going Small: Hidden Gold for PR Pros Episode Summary In this episode of That Solo Life, hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane delve into the untapped potential of three underutilized and niche social media platforms that PR professionals may be overlooking. Drawing parallels to finding forgotten treasures in your closet, they discuss how platforms like Discord, Substack...

Barcelona Principles 2025: What PR Pros Need to Measure Now (Episode 310) Episode Summary In episode 310 of That Solo Life, hosts Karen Swim, APR, and Michelle Kane break down the latest update to the Barcelona Principles and what it means for independent PR and communications pros. They cover the shift toward outcomes that matter to the C-suite, the stronger alignment with AMEC’s Integrated Evalu...

Hits And Misses Of The Hot Mess Summer Of 2025 (Ep. 311) Episode Summary This week on That Solo Life, hosts Karen Swim, APR, and Michelle Kane unpack this“Hot Mess Summer”—the surprising, cringey, and cautionary moments that shaped the season for PR and communications pros. From return-to-office whiplash and AI overpromises to social media pile-ons, brand missteps, and the pursuit of excellence in...

Episode Summary In this episode of That Solo Life, hosts Karen Swim, APR, and Michelle Kane dive into the unique challenges PR professionals face when their exceptional skills at work start to interfere with their personal lives. From overthinking to overworking, they explore how these traits, while beneficial in the professional realm, can hinder personal growth and enjoyment. Karen and Michelle...

That Solo Life, Episode 308: Branding, Bravery and Breaking Through with Melissa Vela-Williamson Episode Summary:  Tune in to this powerful episode of That Solo Life featuring Melissa Vela-Williamson, APR, Fellow PRSA, CDP,  an accomplished PR strategist, author, and advocate for inclusivity in communication. Hosts Karen Swim, APR, and Michelle Kane sit down for an intimate chat with Melissa, disc...

That Solo Life, Episode 307: Media Under the Influence Episode Summary  In this episode of That Solo Life, hosts Karen Swim, APR, and Michelle Kane tackle the significant and timely topic of "Media Under the Influence." Together, they explore how modern-day pressures, including governmental interference and financial constraints, are impacting media integrity. They examine the implications for pub...

Title: Where the Wild Things Are - Rethinking Social Media in 2025 Episode Summary:  Social media platforms have changed dramatically, leaving many public relations and marketing professionals questioning their next steps. On this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR, and Michelle Kane explore the current state of social media and offer practical advice for staying relevant and stra...

Episode 305: AI and the PR Profession: What You Need to Know to Future Proof Your Career Episode Summary (00:00) Join hosts Karen Swim, APR, and Michelle Kane as they explore the rapidly changing landscape of public relations in the age of artificial intelligence. This episode dives into AI's potential to reshape the PR industry, with insights from the World Economic Forum's "Future of Jobs 2025"...

That Solo Life Episode 304: The Powerful Insights Learned From Going Back To School Episode Summary Join hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane as they welcome Veleisa Patton Burrell, an accomplished PR professional and educator. Together they explore the twists and turns of Veleisa's career—from solo entrepreneurship to agency life, and now as an adjunct professor guiding the next generation of...

That Solo Life, Episode 303: The Folly of AI First Strategies   Episode Summary: In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR  of Solo PR Pro and Michelle Kane  of Voice Matters explore the growing trend of adopting an “AI-first” strategy in business and marketing. While artificial intelligence has proven to be a valuable tool, Michelle and Karen argue for a balanced approach that p...

Episode Summary: What’s it really like to hop the fence between corporate life and solo entrepreneurship? Join co-hosts Michelle Kane of Voice Matters and Karen Swim of Solo PR Pro in this lively discussion about the contrasts between these two worlds. From navigating corporate protocols to enjoying the streamlined, impactful decision-making as a solo pro, they explore the lessons learned, the uni...

Episode 301 - The Need for Thoughtful Engagement in an Age of Clickbait  Podcast Hosts: Karen Swim, APR & Michelle Kane  Release Schedule: New episodes every Monday  Episode Summary: In this thought-provoking episode of That Solo Life, Karen and Michelle take a critical look at the current state of social media and the challenges of thoughtful engagement in a world dominated by clickbait cultu...

That Solo Life Podcast, Episode 300 Episode Title  How To Manage Sticky Situations In PR Episode Summary  Welcome to the 300th episode of That Solo Life! 🎉 Karen Swim, APR, and Michelle Kane reflect on their podcasting milestone before tackling a topic every PR professional can relate to – dealing with "sticky situations." From unscripted comments in interviews to inappropriate client behavior at...

That Solo Life Episode 299 Episode Title  The Can Do Spirit of PR Practitioners Crosses Generations Episode Summary  The hosts, Karen Swim, APR, of Solo PR Pro, and Michelle Kane of VoiceMatters, discuss key findings from the USC Annenberg Global Communication Report for 2025, focusing on Gen Z’s growing presence in the workforce and what that means for public relations professionals.  Key takeawa...

That Solo Life, Episode 298: PR Potpourri: A Look Back at Q1 2025 This podcast episode explores the challenges that PR professionals face in the current media and communication landscape. The discussion covers several key topics: The struggles with PR tools and technologies, which often fail to keep up with the rapidly changing industry. This leaves PR practitioners having to "hack together" solut...

That Solo Life - Episode 296: The Big Idea with Jess Sato Episode Summary  This episode of That Solo Life dives deep into the world of business growth, messaging, and creating meaningful impact. Co-hosts Karen Swim, APR of Solo PR Pro, and Michelle Kane of Voice Matters are joined by special guest Jess Sato, a business growth and visibility strategist. Jess shares powerful insights on how purpose-...