That Solo Life: The Solo PR Pro Podcast

In This Episode What exactly do Solo PR Pros do, and how do companies find and engage with them? Many businesses are on the lookout for talented professionals to help with marketing, communications, and PR, but they often don’t know where to start. This week, Karen and Michelle unpack how Solo PR Pros can make themselves more visible and connect with companies that need their services. From networ...

That Solo Life, Episode 294: National Days and Awareness Months and How to Manage in 2025   Summary: This podcast episode discusses the abundance of "national days" and how PR professionals and marketers should approach aligning their client initiatives with these events. The key points are: There is an overwhelming number of these "national days" which can become diluted and ignored by the public...

That Solo Life, Episode 293: Why It's Time to Advance AI Discussions in PR In This Episode  Join Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane  as they discuss how PR professionals can leverage AI to enhance productivity while maintaining ethical practices. From practical applications for tasks like research and content creation to addressing AI's challenges, this episode offers valuable insights into how pro...

That Solo Life, Episode 292: Utilizing Zero Click Content for Better Engagement In This Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Karen discuss zero click content, a concept that is gaining traction in digital marketing and public relations.  As the hosts explore zero click content, they discuss how this approach shifts the focus from merely driving clicks to...

Episode Summary:  Cybercrime is advancing at an alarming rate, impacting both personal lives and professional industries—including public relations. Karen Swim, APR of Solo PR Pro and Michelle Kane of Voice Matters explore the latest tactics scammers are using, from phishing emails to fraudulent links, and how PR professionals can protect themselves and their clients in this evolving digital lands...

Summary: Words have power, and as PR pros and marketers, we know just how to wield them. But what happens when wordplay goes awry? Join Michelle Kane and Karen Swim in this enlightening and entertaining episode as they break down the dos and don'ts of clever messaging. Discover how the right wordplay can resonate with your audience, when it’s best avoided, and how intention matters more than you m...

That Solo Life, Episode 289: The New Challenges in Managing Brand Reputation Summary This episode of "That Solo Life" podcast explores the challenges PR professionals manage when brands are faced with crises, particularly serious situations like allegations of child abuse. The hosts, Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss the importance of building trust with audiences, maintaining authenticity...

That Solo Life Episode 288: Combatting Ghosting In The Professional World   Summary In Episode 288 Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss strategies for dealing with being "ghosted" by potential clients or employers. The key points of the episode are: Avoid situations where no response is expected, like applying to job postings or responding to RFPs without any prior interaction. Try to force h...

In This Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by solo PR practitioners. The key points in this episode include: Solo PR professionals can sometimes struggle with imposter syndrome and lack of confidence when comparing themselves to larger PR agencies. However, solo practitioners offer unique value, such...

In This Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane dive into the evolving landscape of public relations and marketing for solo professionals. With the job market in flux, is starting a Solo PR Pro business realistic in 2025? Karen and Michelle tackle that question as they discuss the opportunities and challenges of making the leap to a Solo PR Pro career.  The...

That Solo Life Episode 285: How to Find Joy and Make an Impact in PR   In This Episode   In this episode of "That Solo Life," co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane dive into the chaotic start of the new year, reflecting on the challenges faced by solo and small agency PR professionals in 2025. The year has kicked off with an overwhelming amount of information and events happening both in the...

That Solo Life, Episode 284: How PR Pros Can Use an Audit to Unlock Social Media Success In This Episode Today’s podcast discussion focuses on the importance of conducting social media audits and targeting specific audience personas when developing marketing and communications strategies. Key takeaways from this episode  include: Conducting a social media audit can provide valuable insights to hel...

That Solo Life, Episode 283: Quality Over Quantity Will Drive PR In 2025 In This Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane dive into the critical topic of gaining access to the C-suite and the importance of building meaningful relationships within organizations. Communication professionals understand that their effectiveness hinges on the quality of informati...

That Solo Life, Episode 291: Trends, Trust And Technology - What's Ahead In 2025 In This Episode Join us for Part Two of our PR Trends discussion In this episode of That Solo Life. Co-hosts Karen Swim  and Michelle Kane continue their discussion on the trends they believe will shape the public relations and communications landscape in 2025. We dive into analytics, trust, technology and the predict...

That Solo Life, Episode 281: What Lies Ahead For PR Pros In 2025   In This Episode   In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim and Michelle Kane pause to reflect on what trends will shape the landscape for PR professionals in 2025.    The hosts kick off the discussion by addressing the importance of cross-cultural sensitivity, especially in light of recent setbacks in Diversity, Equit...

That Solo Life, Episode 280: Magic Wands And Flying Carpets - The Myths And Realities Of PR In This Episode   The understanding about the role of Public Relations can vary widely from being a vanity function to having the ability to save a failing company. In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane engage in a lighthearted yet serious discussion about the common...

That Solo Life, Episode 279: The Power of Storytelling in an AI World In this Episode A dying man walks onto a stage and opens his talk with photos of his CAT scans and in seconds has the entire room in laughter. Professor Randy Pauch gave this TED Talk and it still serves as a powerful example of the power of stories. In this episode of That Solo Life, we welcome back story strategist, Lisa Gerbe...

That Solo Life, Episode 278: Key Lessons from Tiny Businesses that Made Big Moves In this Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane welcome Elaine Pofeldt, an independent journalist and speaker specializing in entrepreneurship and careers. Elaine is the author of, The Million Dollar One-Person Business and Tiny Business, Big Money. The conversation kicke...

That Solo Life, Episode 277: Quick Things to Check Off Before the Year Ends In This Episode  In this episode of That Solo Life , Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss a few simple tasks that solo business owners need to consider as the year comes to a close.  The co-hosts kick off the discussion with information about the Corporate Transparency Act and the necessity for business owners to comp...

That Solo Life, Episode 276: Heart And Humanity: Delivering Authentic Messages In the AI Age In this Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane dive into the intersection of technology, nostalgia, and the human experience, particularly in the context of recent advertising trends and societal shifts. The conversation kicks off with discussion about a recen...

That Solo Life, Episode 275: Get Proactive with Acquiring New Clients   In This Episode In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss strategies for solo PR professionals and marketers to improve their own business development and marketing efforts. Key points include: The importance of using your own channels (e.g. YouTube, social media) to share your exper...

That Solo Life, Episode 274: Five Things Solo PR Pros Should Do Before The New Year   In This Episode The final quarter of the year is here, and we are all sprinting toward the finish line. But before we close the books on 2024, there are a few things to do to prepare for 2025. In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane cover five things to do (and think about) b...

That Solo Life, Episode 273: Being a PR Pro in the Age of Mistrust In this Episode   In this episode of That Solo Life, co-hosts  Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane discuss the pressing issues of declining trust in institutions and how it impacts the practice and perception of the public relations industry.    The co-hosts discuss how the lack of trust has allowed for the proliferation of false nar...

That Solo Life, Episode 272: Finding Balance: How Hobbies Enhance Professional Life with Paula MacDonald In this Episode In this episode of That Solo Life , we had the pleasure of welcoming Paula MacDonald, a dynamic solo PR practitioner with a fascinating background in film production and technical theater. As the Principal Consultant of ImageSuite PR in St. Petersburg, Florida, Paula has success...

That Solo Life, Episode 271: Why and How to Raise Your Solo PR Rates In this Episode In this episode of That Solo Life  co-hosts Karen Swim, APR and Michelle Kane welcome back one of their favorite guests, Chip Griffin, from the Small Agency Growth Alliance. The episode centers around a crucial topic for PR professionals and marketers who work independently: raising rates. We kick off the discussi...