Kat and Ellen kick off season two of ‘Good Ideas + Bad Decisions’ with PR strategist KJ Blattenbauer, founder of Hearsay PR, who makes a bold case that real PR should cost you nothing because earned media means borrowing audiences, not buying them. KJ breaks down how to spot red flags when vetting PR help (run from anyone promising guaranteed placements) and why a business without clarity or operational readiness isn't PR-ready yet. Drawing from an accidental start in crisis communications, she shares the winding path that led her to entrepreneurship and building her own agency. KJ closes with advice to get clear on what you want to be known for and where your audience is, and protect your mornings from tech.

KJ Blattenbauer is a publicist and brand strategist with nearly three decades of experience helping founders, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders move from respected to widely recognized. As the founder of Hearsay PR, she specializes in shaping clear narratives the media actually wants to tell, with a track record spanning consumer brands, sports, and crisis communications, placing clients in Forbes, Architectural Digest, Inc., Fast Company, and beyond. She is the two-time bestselling author of Pitchworthy and Pitchworthy: The Workbook, and her own insights have been featured across business, lifestyle, and design media.

Kat is the Founder of kat&co, a Creative Operations Consultant, and the Co-Owner and Director of Operations at Benchwork Fabrication. She helps interior designers and creatives turn ideas into streamlined, sustainable businesses. With a background in psychology and deep experience in creative business operations, she’s known for navigating the intersection of creativity and systems with both strategy and empathy. Join her newsletter, The kat&co Download.

Ellen Hockley is a three-time entrepreneur, small business consultant, community builder, and the founder of Ellen Hockley Consulting and SAGE Women. She guides female founders to build intuitive, values-driven businesses aligned with the life they want for themselves and their families. Join her Substack newsletter, ⁠The Quiet Wins⁠.

00:00 Podcast Welcome

00:47 Season Two Kickoff

01:53 Meet KJ Blattenbauer

02:40 PR For Anyone

03:48 Astronaut PR Explained

04:57 Pay To Play Exposed

07:18 Free PR Channels

10:18 Choosing A Publicist

12:29 PR Myths And Red Flags

16:42 When PR Makes Sense

20:09 KJ Origin Story

21:36 Clarity Drives Recognition

22:07 Small Town Reputation Lessons

23:17 Why Some Stars Stick

23:49 Breaking Into PR

25:12 Crisis to Wellness Pivot

26:02 Leaping Into Entrepreneurship

27:01 Mob Wife Loyalty Mindset

28:01 Fear, Regret, and Taking Risks

30:18 Doing It for Younger You

33:42 Two Books and Daily Routine

39:31 Protect Your First Hour

42:45 Parting PR Advice and Wrap