Lauren Cobello is the CEO and founder of Leverage with Media PR, a boutique public relations agency that helps authors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders use media strategically to build authority, credibility, and growth. Before launching her agency, she spent nearly two decades building her own personal brand as a personal finance expert, becoming a three-time author and regular national TV personality on shows like The Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Oz, and Rachael Ray. After scaling her personal brand to seven figures, she sold that company and bootstrapped Leverage with Media PR from zero to a million-dollar agency in just 10 months.​

On this episode we talk about:

How Lauren paid off 40,000 dollars in debt and built a personal finance brand from a couponing blog.​

How national TV appearances became top-of-funnel “ads” that fueled her seven-figure business.​

Why she sold her first company, downsized her lifestyle, and went all-in on starting a PR agency debt free.​

The truth about the PR industry, including low-quality agencies, profit-first models, and why so many founders feel burned.​

How traditional media, podcasts, and social platforms now work together to build authority in 2026.​

Why relationships and senior-level publicists are the real differentiators for landing meaningful TV and podcast placements.​

The realities of getting on top podcasts like Joe Rogan and why most entrepreneurs need a more strategic, ego-free media plan.​

Top 3 Takeaways

Media is a multiplier: When used strategically, every TV appearance, podcast, or feature should act as top of funnel that drives people into a sales ecosystem and builds trust before you ever enter the room.​

Not all PR is created equal: Most agencies optimize for profit, staffing junior or outsourced teams, while the firms that actually move the needle rely on senior publicists with deep relationships and clear KPIs.​

Traditional media isn’t dead—it's leveraged: In 2026, the strongest brands blend traditional TV, podcasts, social, and newsletters, using prestigious earned media (like major TV shows) for credibility and association that makes everything else easier.​

Notable Quotes

"Every single TV appearance that I did became top of funnel—an ad that went into my sales funnel and got people to trust me before I even walked in the room."​

"PR is not marketing, and most PR agencies are full of it because they sell promises junior teams can’t fulfill."​

"You probably aren’t going on the top five podcasts you’re dreaming about, but the right ‘smaller’ shows can move the needle more than the ones with fake followers and vanity metrics."​

Connect with Lauren Cobello:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leveragewithmediapr

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leveragewithmedia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauren_cobello

Other: Leverage with Media PR 

Travis Makes Money is made possible by High Level – the All-In-One Sales & Marketing Platform built for agencies, by an agency. Capture leads, nurture them, and close more deals—all from one powerful platform. Get an extended free trial at gohighlevel.com/travis.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices