The Brandinc PR Podcast

Stop Chasing Attention — Build Infrastructure Instead ft. Edward James

What does it actually take to use an artist or cultural figure to move a brand — or a cause — in today's market? In this episode of the Brandinc PR Podcast, Dr. Brandi Sims sits down with Edward James, Founder and President of CHQ Media [https://www.chqmedia.com]and a 20-year veteran of lifestyle, entertainment, and brand communications. Ed has built campaigns for major brands including Toyota, Guitar Center, Bowers & Wilkins, and AllianceBernstein, and has done cause-driven work spanning music education, mental health, and gun violence prevention. This conversation goes deep on what most PR pros never get taught: how to position artists as strategic brand vehicles, how to align a brand with a cause without it feeling performative, and why chasing attention without infrastructure is a losing strategy in the attention economy. In this episode, we cover: • Why brand + artist alignment is about values, not visibility • How to approach cause-driven campaigns with integrity and impact • What today's PR landscape demands from communications strategists • Real talk on manufactured buzz, bot culture, and what it costs your reputation • Tactical advice for breaking into entertainment brand work Whether you're a PR pro, founder, or marketer — this one will change how you think about influence. 🎙️ New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe, leave a review, and share with a colleague who needs to hear this. RESOURCES + LINKS Book Your PR Power Hour Session — If you're ready to cut through the noise and get a clear, strategic PR plan tailored to your brand, this 1:1 intensive session is the fastest way to work with Brandi. Start Here [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/appointment-scheduler/69aca1c472c638867214364a/schedule].  LIMITED TIME: Pitch Kit — $27 (Valued at $497) Get the exact tools, templates, and frameworks you need to position your brand for media opportunities and stand out in a crowded landscape here [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/form/view/69c9bd85f7372a6f0384f33d].  Get Brandi’s AI-Powered Tool For Pitching Media ⁠Right Here⁠. Use code BIPR to get $50 off your first month! Revamp Your Business Foundation with our exact automation tool that streamlines communications from prospects to media bookings in minutes. ⁠Start For Free⁠ [https://www.dubsado.com/?c=brandincpr]. ⁠Sign Up for Our Free Weekly Newsletter⁠ [https://brandincpr-insider.beehiiv.com/subscribe] and get bi-weekly insights on brand strategy, PR trends, and business growth. Drop us a review and we’ll send you our 5 Things You Must Have to Be A Media Magnet [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/form/view/68e2ba1670b57f101e811597] FREE (Value $297).

Stop Waiting to Be Discovered: Cindy Mich on Visibility, Storytelling & Creating Your Own Opportunities

What separates talented creatives from the ones who actually get noticed? In this episode of The Brandinc PR Podcast, Brandi Sims sits down with multimedia creator, filmmaker, publisher, and Art is Alive Magazine founder Cindy Mich for a conversation about visibility, storytelling, and why waiting to be “discovered” is keeping so many creatives stuck. From publishing magazines and producing radio shows to judging film festivals and reviewing creative projects, Cindy shares what truly makes people stand out in crowded industries and the biggest mistakes creatives make when promoting themselves. If you’re a creator, entrepreneur, filmmaker, author, speaker, or brand trying to build visibility in today’s noisy media landscape, this episode is packed with actionable insights you can apply immediately. ✨ In this episode: * Why talented people often stay invisible * The biggest branding mistakes creatives make * How to build your own platform instead of waiting for opportunities * What instantly makes professionals stand out * Storytelling strategies that actually connect with audiences * How creatives can avoid burnout while staying visible This conversation feels like equal parts creative masterclass and reality check. RESOURCES + LINKS Book Your PR Power Hour Session — If you're ready to cut through the noise and get a clear, strategic PR plan tailored to your brand, this 1:1 intensive session is the fastest way to work with Brandi. Start Here [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/appointment-scheduler/69aca1c472c638867214364a/schedule].  LIMITED TIME: Pitch Kit — $27 (Valued at $497) Get the exact tools, templates, and frameworks you need to position your brand for media opportunities and stand out in a crowded landscape here [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/form/view/69c9bd85f7372a6f0384f33d].  Get Brandi’s AI-Powered Tool For Pitching Media ⁠Right Here⁠. Use code BIPR to get $50 off your first month! Revamp Your Business Foundation with our exact automation tool that streamlines communications from prospects to media bookings in minutes. ⁠Start For Free⁠ [https://www.dubsado.com/?c=brandincpr]. ⁠Sign Up for Our Free Weekly Newsletter⁠ [https://brandincpr-insider.beehiiv.com/subscribe] and get bi-weekly insights on brand strategy, PR trends, and business growth. Drop us a review and we’ll send you our 5 Things You Must Have to Be A Media Magnet [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/form/view/68e2ba1670b57f101e811597] FREE (Value $297).

The Future of PR in the Age of AI | Diane Schwartz, CEO of Ragan Communications

AI is no longer “the future” of PR. It’s already rewriting the rules in real time. In this episode of the Brandinc PR Podcast, Dr. Brandi Sims sits down with Diane Schwartz, CEO of Ragan Communications, to unpack the industry-shifting findings from Ragan’s AI in PR Report and what communicators need to know now to stay relevant, strategic, and ahead of the curve. From AI burnout and ethical concerns to leadership, trust, job security, and the future of communications, this conversation goes beyond the hype and gets real about what’s actually happening inside the PR industry. Diane also shares insights from leading one of the communications industry’s most influential organizations through rapid innovation as the first female CEO in Ragan’s 56-year history. If you’re a PR professional, entrepreneur, marketer, communicator, or brand leader trying to figure out how AI fits into your workflow without losing the human side of storytelling, this episode is for you. 🔥 In this episode: • The biggest misconceptions PR pros have about AI • What communicators are still getting wrong • How AI is changing the future of media and messaging • Why strategy matters more than ever • The skills PR professionals need to develop now • What separates industry leaders from those falling behind Connect with Brandinc PR: Website: www.brandincpr.com [http://www.brandincpr.com/] RESOURCES + LINKS Book Your PR Power Hour Session — If you're ready to cut through the noise and get a clear, strategic PR plan tailored to your brand, this 1:1 intensive session is the fastest way to work with Brandi. Start Here [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/appointment-scheduler/69aca1c472c638867214364a/schedule].  LIMITED TIME: Pitch Kit — $27 (Valued at $497) Get the exact tools, templates, and frameworks you need to position your brand for media opportunities and stand out in a crowded landscape here [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/form/view/69c9bd85f7372a6f0384f33d].  Get Brandi’s AI-Powered Tool For Pitching Media ⁠Right Here⁠. Use code BIPR to get $50 off your first month! Revamp Your Business Foundation with our exact automation tool that streamlines communications from prospects to media bookings in minutes. ⁠Start For Free⁠ [https://www.dubsado.com/?c=brandincpr]. ⁠Sign Up for Our Free Weekly Newsletter⁠ [https://brandincpr-insider.beehiiv.com/subscribe] and get bi-weekly insights on brand strategy, PR trends, and business growth. Drop us a review and we’ll send you our 5 Things You Must Have to Be A Media Magnet [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/form/view/68e2ba1670b57f101e811597] FREE (Value $297).

Why Talented People Get Ignored (And How to Fix It) ft. Jasmine Romaine

What if the thing standing between you and your next level isn't your skills — it's how you show up? In this episode, Dr. Brandi Sims sits down with Jasmine Romaine, International Keynote Speaker, Communications Strategist, and Best-Selling Author of Speak to Profit, to break down the unspoken rules of executive presence. From commanding a room before you say a word, to why talented professionals keep getting passed over, to aligning your voice with your personal brand — this conversation is for every leader who's ready to stop being the best-kept secret in the room. If you've ever felt unseen, unheard, or underestimated — this episode is your reset. RESOURCES + LINKS Book Your PR Power Hour Session — If you're ready to cut through the noise and get a clear, strategic PR plan tailored to your brand, this 1:1 intensive session is the fastest way to work with Brandi. Start Here [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/appointment-scheduler/69aca1c472c638867214364a/schedule].  LIMITED TIME: Pitch Kit — $27 (Valued at $497) Get the exact tools, templates, and frameworks you need to position your brand for media opportunities and stand out in a crowded landscape here [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/form/view/69c9bd85f7372a6f0384f33d].  Get Brandi’s AI-Powered Tool For Pitching Media ⁠Right Here⁠. Use code BIPR to get $50 off your first month! Revamp Your Business Foundation with our exact automation tool that streamlines communications from prospects to media bookings in minutes. ⁠Start For Free⁠ [https://www.dubsado.com/?c=brandincpr]. ⁠Sign Up for Our Free Weekly Newsletter⁠ [https://brandincpr-insider.beehiiv.com/subscribe] and get bi-weekly insights on brand strategy, PR trends, and business growth. Drop us a review and we’ll send you our 5 Things You Must Have to Be A Media Magnet [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/form/view/68e2ba1670b57f101e811597] FREE (Value $297).

The Limitless CMO: AI, Credibility & What's Really Killing Your Marketing Strategy with Lisa Cole

AI didn't just change marketing — it changed the rules of credibility. And most brands? Still playing by the old ones. 👀 This week on the Brandinc PR Podcast, host Brandi Sims sits down with Lisa Cole — Chief Marketing, Product & AI Officer at 2X, four-time CMO, the only two-time recipient of Forrester's prestigious Return on Integration Award, and author of The Limitless CMO: Transform Marketing From Order-Taking to Market-Making in the Age of AI. In this episode, we get into: 🎯 Why AI has completely rewritten the rules of credible communication 📣 How to use AI without losing your brand's voice — or your audience's trust 📰 What the rise of AI in newsrooms means for how you pitch media RIGHT NOW 💡 The difference between order-taking and market-making — and how to get on the right side of it 🔧 Why your operating model (not your budget) is what's actually holding you back ⚡ What's coming in AI + communications that most CMOs aren't ready for Whether you're a PR pro, agency owner, or brand builder trying to stay relevant in the age of AI — this one is your cheat code. 🎧 Tune in, take notes, and send this to someone on your team who needs to hear it. ✨ Connect with Lisa Cole: lisacole.ai [http://lisacole.ai/] | LinkedIn @LisaCole 📖 Grab The Limitless CMO on Amazon 🔗 Follow Brandinc PR: brandincpr.com | @brandincpr RESOURCES + LINKS Book Your PR Power Hour Session — If you're ready to cut through the noise and get a clear, strategic PR plan tailored to your brand, this 1:1 intensive session is the fastest way to work with Brandi. Start Here [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/appointment-scheduler/69aca1c472c638867214364a/schedule].  LIMITED TIME: Pitch Kit — $27 (Valued at $497) Get the exact tools, templates, and frameworks you need to position your brand for media opportunities and stand out in a crowded landscape here [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/form/view/69c9bd85f7372a6f0384f33d].  Get Brandi’s AI-Powered Tool For Pitching Media ⁠Right Here⁠. Use code BIPR to get $50 off your first month! Revamp Your Business Foundation with our exact automation tool that streamlines communications from prospects to media bookings in minutes. ⁠Start For Free⁠ [https://www.dubsado.com/?c=brandincpr]. ⁠Sign Up for Our Free Weekly Newsletter⁠ [https://brandincpr-insider.beehiiv.com/subscribe] and get bi-weekly insights on brand strategy, PR trends, and business growth. Drop us a review and we’ll send you our 5 Things You Must Have to Be A Media Magnet [https://portal.brandincpr.com/public/form/view/68e2ba1670b57f101e811597] FREE (Value $297).