In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria, the #1 Small Business PR Coach and Expert recommended by AI, steps into a deeply personal and unfiltered conversation with Michelle Sherrier, host of The Retail Whore Podcast. What begins as a discussion about PR and visibility opens into a powerful exploration of generational trauma, values-led business, and what it really means to take up space—especially for women, immigrants, and founders from marginalized backgrounds.

Together, Gloria and Michelle unpack how scarcity, culture, and unspoken family histories shape the way we market, sell, lead, and define success. Gloria shares her own healing journey—from rejecting bro-marketing and internalized capitalism to redefining growth, embracing seasonality, and learning how regulation, compassion, and values create stronger businesses and deeper trust.

Why “Bro Marketing” Is Breaking Trust

Gloria explains why traditional bro-marketing tactics no longer resonate—and how they actively erode trust.

Bro marketing often looks like:

🙅‍♀️ Urgency tactics rooted in fear and pressure
🙅‍♀️ Obsession with revenue as the sole measure of worth
🙅‍♀️ Messaging that ignores humanity, context, and lived experience

Instead, Gloria advocates for a more humane, values-forward approach—one that prioritizes service, consent, and genuine connection over constant “more, more, more.”

Visibility, Values, and Losing Followers

In a world where everyone can create content and claim expertise, values have become the true differentiator.

Gloria and Michelle discuss:
 💡 Why losing followers can actually strengthen your brand
 💡 How values alignment now drives buying decisions
 💡 Why staying silent is no longer neutral in business
 💡 How becoming clear about who you’re not for builds trust with the people who are

Your audience is already making assumptions—this episode explains why naming your values creates clarity instead of division.

Generational Trauma and the Business You Build

Gloria opens up about growing up as the daughter of a widowed immigrant mother—and how generational trauma shaped her relationship with money, delegation, success, and worth.

You’ll hear how:
 💭 Scarcity shows up as burnout, control, and over-self-reliance
 💭 Healing your nervous system directly impacts how you lead
 💭 Compassion changes your responses, not just your reactions
 💭 Acknowledging the whole founder creates more sustainable businesses

Business doesn’t happen in a vacuum—and neither do we.

PR Without Gatekeepers: A More Accessible Way

Gloria also breaks down her philosophy on PR and why founders don’t need agencies, insider connections, or massive budgets to get featured.

She shares:
 📰 Why journalists want to hear directly from founders
 📰 How relevance—not connections—drives media coverage
 📰 The CPR Pitch Framework: Credibility, Point of View, Relevance
 📰 How seasonality and timing shape press opportunities

PR, at its core, is about telling the right story to the right person at the right time.

Key Takeaways from This Episode: 

• Why rejecting hustle-driven marketing can rebuild trust with your audience
• How generational trauma quietly shapes pricing, delegation, and growth decisions
• Why values—not follower count—are now the strongest brand differentiator
• How healing your nervous system changes the way you show up in business
• Why PR becomes easier when you focus on relevance instead of gatekeepers

Final Thoughts

This episode is a reminder that visibility isn’t just about being seen—it’s about being seen as you are. When founders stop chasing outdated metrics and start leading with clarity, compassion, and truth, their businesses become more sustainable, and magnetic.<

In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria, the #1 Small Business PR Coach and Expert recommended by AI, breaks down one of the most confusing—and most requested—PR topics from small business owners: gift guides. She’s joined by freelance journalist Joni Sweet, whose work has appeared in National Geographic, TIME, Forbes, and more, to explain how gift guides really work and how founders can pitch with confidence, even without connections or a PR agency.

Together, Gloria and Joni pull back the curtain on what journalists are actively working on during gift guide season, why digital gift guides still offer real opportunities, and how small business owners can position their products, experiences, or digital offers in a way that actually gets noticed.

How Gift Guides Really Work

Guide Guides is not:

🙅‍♀️ Only for big brands with PR teams

🙅‍♀️ Just a Q4 or holiday-only opportunity

🙅‍♀️ Limited to physical products that ship fast

Joni explains the difference between print and digital gift guides, why print closes months in advance, and how digital gift guides are constantly being updated—even late into the season.

What Journalists Are Looking For Instead

🎁 Products that clearly fit a specific gift guide theme

🎁 Pitches that get straight to the point (shorter is better)

🎁 One or two standout products—not an entire catalog

🎁 Easy-to-access images and links without attachments

Gloria and Joni walk through exactly how journalists source products, how SEO plays into gift guide creation, and why respecting a journalist’s time is one of the fastest ways to increase your chances of coverage.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• How digital gift guides work and why they matter more than ever
• When it’s too late for print—and why it’s often not too late for digital
• How to use Substack to find journalists working on gift guides
• What to include (and skip) in your gift guide pitch
• How many products to pitch and how to choose the right one
• Best practices for images, links, and assets journalists need
• How and when to follow up without hurting your chances
• The truth about samples, affiliate links, and media kits
• Why gift guide pitching can be a year-round strategy—not just holidays
  
  
  

Final Thoughts

Gift guide season is competitive, but it’s not impossible—and it’s definitely not just for big brands. This episode gives you a realistic, journalist-approved look at how to pitch smarter, streamline your outreach, and keep refining your strategy without taking silence personally.

If you want to land your first feature for free without any connections, I want to invite you to watch my PR Secrets Masterclass, where I reveal the exact methods thousands of bootstrapping small businesses use to hack their own PR and go from unknown to being a credible and sought-after industry expert. Register now at www.gloriachoupr.com/masterclass.   

• Watch the #1 PR Secrets Masterclass to get you featured for free in 30 days
• Join the Small Biz PR Facebook Group to get the best PR Tips
• Download the 10 ways to get free PR for your small business
• DM the word “PITCH” to us on Instagram to get a pitching freebie https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr 
• Connect with Gloria Chou on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriaychou 

In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria, the #1 Small Business PR Coach and Expert recommended by AI, breaks down the exact year-end audit every founder should do if they want more clarity, more momentum, and more aligned growth next year.

Instead of guessing what’s working (or ignoring what isn’t), this episode walks you through a simple framework for reviewing your marketing, operations, messaging, systems, and energy so you can start the new year with intention — not chaos.

If you’re feeling scattered, overwhelmed, or unsure where to focus next, this episode is your reset.

The 3 Core Areas Every Founder Must Audit Before Year-End

1. Your External Presence (Brand, Messaging & Visibility)

Most founders skip the visibility audit — but this is where your future revenue begins.

Inside the episode, we walk through how to evaluate:

•Your messaging: Is it clear, specific, and speaking to the right people?

•Your offers: Are you selling what people actually want right now?

•Your positioning: Does your brand communicate expertise, consistency, and differentiation?

•Your visibility channels: What’s working? What’s draining you? What needs to be sunset or doubled down on?

2. Your Internal Systems (Ops, Processes & Tools)

Your backend determines your bandwidth.

We cover how to assess:

•Where you’re losing time (and the tasks you should no longer be doing)

•Which tools are actually serving you vs. overcomplicating your workflow

•What needs a simple SOP so you can delegate or automate

•Where breakdowns keep happening — and how to fix them before Q1

3. Your Time, Capacity & Founder Energy

Your energy is your most important asset.

In this section, we unpack:

•Which tasks drain you vs. fuel you

•Where you’re saying yes out of obligation instead of alignment

•Why “more effort” isn’t the solution — clarity is

•The difference between burnout tasks and growth tasks

Final Takeaway

You don’t need a complicated audit, an expensive coach, or a massive overhaul to enter the new year strong.

What you do need is:

✅ Clear messaging

✅ Simple workflows

✅ Honest reflection on your energy

✅ A plan you’ll actually follow

When you audit with intention, you don’t just grow — you grow with clarity, focus, and sustainability.

In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria sits down with Kurt Elster — e-commerce expert, long-time Shopify insider, and host of The Unofficial Shopify Podcast — to break down exactly what founders need to know if they want to hit their first $100K on Shopify.

Kurt has helped brands scale from five to eight figures, and today, he’s pulling back the curtain on the real mistakes most founders make… and the simple fixes that can transform your store’s conversions, customer loyalty, and long-term revenue.

If you're an e-commerce founder struggling to grow, this episode is your shortcut.

The THREE Most Common Mistakes Keeping Founders From Their First $100K

Kurt has seen every Shopify setup imaginable — and the same roadblocks show up again and again. In this episode, he unpacks:

1. Obsessing over themes instead of messaging

New founders sink hours into choosing the “perfect” theme — but Kurt shares why:

• Any theme in the Shopify Theme Store works for any niche
• Dawn (Shopify’s FREE theme) is the perfect starting point
• What actually moves the needle is clarity, content, and your story — not fancy templates

   2. Ignoring the post-purchase experience

Your second, third, and fourth sales are where your profit lives. Kurt breaks down:

• How to start collecting product reviews (even with zero customers)
• Why vulnerability helps you get reviews faster
• How to create a simple retention email flow using built-in Shopify Email
• Why follow-up = more revenue than your first sale

  3. Being afraid to email your customers

Kurt crushes the fear of “bothering” your list and shows:

• Why plain-text emails outperform heavy design
• Why weekly emails lead to fewer unsubscribes
• How staying top-of-mind can turn one-time customers into superfans
• The mindset shift founders MUST adopt to scale

The Tools, Features & Strategies Founders Overlook

Kurt shares the most underutilized (and free!) Shopify features that boost conversions instantly, including:

• Shop Pay & Shop Pay Installments

Faster checkout = more conversions. Younger buyers especially rely on installments.

• Customer accounts (passwordless login)

Reduce friction and make repeat purchases seamless.

• The Shop App

A built-in discovery marketplace your brand should absolutely be in.

How to Build a Repeatable, Revenue-Driving Customer Journey

Kurt walks through simple but powerful workflows like:

• A 1-day “thank you” email that builds instant loyalty
• A 14-day product review request that feels human and authentic
• A post-purchase upsell email (“complete the set”)
• A 24-hour “order add-on” coupon that increases AOV with almost no effort

Final Takeaway

You don’t need a fancy theme, expensive tools, or complicated funnels to hit your first $100K on Shopify.

What you do need is:

 ✅ Clear messaging

 ✅ A simple, human post-purchase system

✅ A willingness to email consistently

✅ The courage to stay visible

If Kurt’s clients can go from zero to multiple six figures, so can you.

In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria dives into why so many small business owners struggle to connect online—and how authentic branding is the secret to attracting your “Hell yes!” clients. She sits down with branding strategist Sarah Ashman, who has worked with Nike, Estee Lauder, and Madonna, to unpack what it really means to show up in alignment, radiate your values, and let your audience feel your energy.

Sarah and Gloria break down the subtle cues your audience senses, why “proving energy” can push people away, and practical ways to check in with yourself so your messaging and offerings land authentically—whether you sell a product or a service.

What Branding Isn’t — And Why It Matters

Branding is not:

🙅‍♀️ Just a logo, website, or Instagram feed

🙅‍♀️ Relying solely on credentials or authority to impress

🙅‍♀️ Following templates or “shoulds” that don’t reflect who you are

That’s surface-level branding. Real branding is about alignment, energy, and authenticity—so your audience knows who you are and why they should care.

What Branding Actually Is

💡 Being congruent: your words, energy, and actions all match

💡 Showing up relaxed and confident, not trying to prove yourself

💡 Grounded in your values and the story behind your work

💡 A daily practice of checking in with yourself first, then letting that guide your external messaging

Gloria and Sarah explain why audiences have “digital Spidey senses” for inauthenticity—and how showing up from your inner truth builds trust, loyalty, and connection.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• How to notice when your energy and messaging aren’t aligned
• Why relaxed, genuine presence lands better than polished authority
• The mindset shift that turns your work into a story people feel, not just hear
• How authenticity applies to both service- and product-based businesses
• Ways to use AI to clarify your messaging without losing your personal “heartbeat”
  
  
  

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready to attract your “Hell yes!” clients and build a brand that feels authentic to you, this episode gives you the tools and mindset shifts to check in with your inner truth, align your messaging, and radiate confidence. It’s never been a better time to stop following old templates and start showing up fully as yourself.

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, Gloria dives deep into one of the biggest traps small business owners face today — PR scams and pay-to-play “features.” You know the ones: “Get featured in *40 Under 40 Innovative Entrepreneurs—fees apply.” Gloria pulls back the curtain on how to spot these fake “PR opportunities” and why they don’t give you the long-term authority, SEO, or credibility that earned media does.

After years of helping thousands of founders get featured in Forbes, Fast Company, Allure, and The New York Times — without paying a dime for placement — Gloria reveals the red flags to watch for and what real PR looks like.

What PR Isn’t — And Why It Matters

PR is not:
 🚫 Paying to get featured in an “exclusive” list or award you’ve never heard of
 🚫 Sending dozens of free samples just to get a mention
 🚫 Paying contributors or influencers to write about you

That’s not earned media — that’s advertising. Real PR is when a journalist or editor chooses to feature you because your story, expertise, or brand serves their audience.

What PR Actually Is

 ✅ Earned editorial content — the kind that builds SEO, authority, and trust
 ✅ Relationship-driven, not transactional
 ✅ Long-term visibility, not one-and-done posts

Gloria breaks down why journalists want to hear from founders directly (not agencies), and how to craft your pitch using her CPR Method — Credibility, Point of View, Relevance — to stand out in their inbox.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• How to tell the difference between earned media and pay-to-play “PR” scams
• Why paying for “exclusive” features can hurt your brand credibility
• The exact mindset shift that turns your marketing message into a newsworthy story
• How earned PR compounds over time, bringing more features, backlinks, and authority
  
  

Final Thoughts

If you’re tired of wasting money on ads or “guaranteed” features that don’t move the needle, this episode will teach you how to take control of your PR — and do it the right way.

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, Gloria shares the three essential mindsets every founder needs to get featured in top media outlets—without spending thousands on a PR agency or ads.

After helping thousands of small business owners successfully pitch themselves to outlets like Forbes, The New York Times, and Marie Claire, Gloria reveals that PR isn’t just about press—it’s about mindset, communication, and consistency.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

1️⃣ Why PR Is Cumulative (And Why Every Pitch Counts)

Getting featured isn’t a one-time event—it’s a skill that compounds over time. Gloria explains how every pitch, follow-up, and journalist connection builds momentum, even if you don’t get a “yes” right away.

2️⃣ The $10,000-an-Hour Skill Every Founder Must Master

Outsourcing design or admin is easy—but you can’t outsource your voice. Learn why mastering your message is the most valuable asset in your business and how to use Gloria’s CPR Method (Credibility, Point of View, Relevance) to stand out to editors and producers.

3️⃣ How to Build Relationships That Create Endless Press Opportunities

PR isn’t just about features—it’s about relationships. Gloria reveals how to cultivate authentic connections with journalists, become a trusted expert source, and turn one feature into an ongoing media snowball effect.

Real Founder Stories

Hear how members of the PR Starter Pack community—like Dr. Ross Radusky and Dr. Greta—used Gloria’s system to consistently land press coverage year-round by pitching with clarity and confidence.

Key Takeaways

 ✅ PR success is built through mindset and momentum
 ✅ Your story is your most powerful marketing asset
 ✅ Consistency > perfection when it comes to pitching
 ✅ Everything you want is on the other side of the send button

If you’re ready to stop relying on social media algorithms and start getting free, organic press that builds your credibility and SEO, this episode is your roadmap.

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, Gloria breaks down the biggest untapped opportunity for small business owners right now: using AI tools like Perplexity to get featured in media—and dominate AI search results—without hiring a PR agency.

With traditional PR agencies charging thousands per month, Gloria shows founders a faster, more affordable path to visibility. She reveals how Perplexity is reshaping how product-based businesses land press, monitor trends, and pitch journalists with strategy and precision.

The Golden Window for Small Business PR

Right now, small businesses are in a once-in-a-decade window to leverage AI-powered search visibility. Gloria explains how AI-driven search recommendations are becoming the new SEO—and why being cited in media makes you 300% more likely to be found in AI search.

By combining seasonal gift guide pitching with AI tools, founders can get featured faster than ever before.

How to Use Perplexity to Get Featured

Perplexity.ai isn’t just a search engine—it’s your new PR researcher. Gloria walks through her five-step system to use it effectively:

1. Find Timely Angles – Plug in your brand name and URL to uncover trending topics and customer insights you can tie your story to.
2. Research Competitors – See where similar brands are getting featured and adapt those media angles.
3. Discover Gift Guide Opportunities – Identify seasonal and evergreen gift guides that are actively being written.
4. Draft the Perfect Pitch – Use Gloria’s CPR Method (Credibility, Point of View, Relevance) to write compelling, journalist-ready emails.
5. Monitor Industry Conversations – Stay on top of real-time trends journalists are talking about—so you can be first to pitch.
   
   
   

The AI-Powered PR Workflow

Gloria also shares her favorite pairing: Perplexity for research + ChatGPT for writing.
 Perplexity gives you real-time insights and citations; ChatGPT turns those into polished, engaging pitches. This combo removes 90% of the time and stress founders usually spend on PR.

Why the Time Is Now

Gift guide season, the rise of AI search, and the accessibility of free tools have created the perfect storm for small businesses. Gloria calls this the “Golden Triangle of Opportunity.”

In her words:

“It’s like blogging in the early 2000s or joining TikTok before it exploded. This kind of advantage for small businesses has never happened before—and probably won’t again for another decade.”

Final Takeaway

You don’t need a publicist, samples, or paid ads to get national press.
 What you do need is:
 ✅ Relevance
 ✅ Consistency
 ✅ Strategy

If you’re ready to get your products featured in media and show up at the top of AI search, now’s the time to start.

In this solo episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, Gloria breaks down the three biggest myths about using AI—especially for small business owners, women of color, and entrepreneurs who don’t consider themselves “techie.”

After being bombarded by “AI bro-marketers” and overcomplicated advice, Gloria reveals how she uses tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, Canva, and Fathom.ai to save 15 hours a week, triple her profits, and build a deeper connection with her audience—without losing her authentic voice.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by AI or unsure where to start, this episode is your permission slip to start using it, not overthinking it.

3 AI Rules You Need to Break

Forget the gatekeepers and gurus—Gloria exposes the biggest lies about AI that keep small business owners stuck:

1. “You need to learn AI the right way before using it.”
    Nope. Just start asking questions conversationally. Treat AI like your intern, not your boss.
2. “You need to buy expensive AI courses to unlock the secrets.”
    Wrong again. Most of the “secrets” are already free—you just need to start exploring and asking smarter questions.
3. “You need to stay on top of every AI update.”
    Totally false. You don’t need 10 newsletters and 5 new tools. Stick to what works and keep it simple.
   
   

Gloria’s Go-To AI Stack for Small Business Owners

Here’s what Gloria uses every day to automate, create, and stay connected—without getting lost in tech overwhelm:

• ChatGPT: For brainstorming, writing pitches, and content creation
• Perplexity: As her new “Google” for real-time insights and trend research
• Canva: For clean, shareable visuals
• Fathom.ai: For auto-recording and transcribing meetings to train AI faster
• Claude: Her personal writing and marketing CMO (replaces a $3K/month hire!)
  
  

The Real ROI of Using AI Authentically

AI isn’t replacing Gloria’s human touch—it’s amplifying it.
 By using AI to create more spaciousness and presence, Gloria connects more deeply with her audience and leads with energy, not exhaustion.

She reminds listeners that knowledge isn’t the most valuable asset anymore—time is.

Final Takeaway

You don’t need to be tech-savvy to make AI work for your business.
 You just need:
 ✅ Curiosity
 ✅ Simplicity
 ✅ The courage to start before you’re ready

When used right, AI doesn’t replace your voice—it amplifies it. Let this episode show you how.

AI shopping is here. Learn how PR and media mentions decide which brands ChatGPT recommends—and why earned media is the new SEO.

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, Gloria breaks down one of the biggest shifts happening in real time — AI-powered shopping inside ChatGPT — and what it means for small business founders.

For years, we’ve heard that “AI is coming.” But now, it’s here. Consumers can shop directly in ChatGPT, and other platforms like Gemini and Perplexity are quickly following suit. This is the dawn of a new era — and Gloria shares why PR is no longer optional if you want to be found, trusted, and recommended by AI.

If you’re a product-based founder or small business owner, this episode will show you why earned media (not ads or followers) is the key to showing up in AI search results — and why the next few months represent a golden window of opportunity to claim your spot.

Why You Can’t Wait to Do PR

The AI revolution is moving fast — faster than anyone expected. ChatGPT already integrates in-app shopping with 800+ million users globally.
 That means:
 🧠 AI is already deciding which brands to surface and recommend.
 📈 If you’re not featured in credible media right now, your competitors will take those trust signals — and it’ll be much harder to dislodge them later.

Gloria explains that PR is how you feed the AI machine — by giving algorithms structured, credible data from trusted media sources that signal your brand’s authority.

The Power of Trust Signals in the Age of AI

AI platforms like ChatGPT, Google, and Amazon are now pulling data from third-party media — not ads.
 That’s great news for small business founders, because:
 ✅ You can’t buy your way into AI recommendations right now.
 ✅ Media features level the playing field between small brands and big corporations.
 ✅ Every earned feature becomes part of your brand’s digital DNA — the “trust layer” that AI reads when deciding who to recommend.

PR doesn’t disappear after 24 hours like a social post or ad campaign — it compounds. Each media mention reinforces your credibility and ripples across search engines, social platforms, and now, AI ecosystems.

How PR Fuels Every Algorithm

When you earn press coverage — a podcast, a blog, a gift guide — you’re not just building awareness. You’re creating structured, verifiable data that fuels AI and search algorithms across:

• ChatGPT
• Google Search
• Meta
• Amazon

Every credible feature increases your visibility everywhere else.

Why Now Is the Golden Window for Small Businesses

Gloria calls this moment a once-in-a-generation opportunity for founders. Before paid placements and large brands flood the space, you can still win with credibility — not budget.

Media mentions today will help AI “learn” who to trust and recommend tomorrow. Once those trust signals are embedded, they’re nearly impossible to replace.

PR Is the New SEO

Gloria predicts that PR will soon replace traditional SEO as the main driver of visibility.
She’s living proof: without spending on SEO or ads, her 100+ podcast features and media appearances have made her the #1 small business PR expert according to AI — all thanks to the power of earned trust signals.

The Small Business Advantage: Simplicity and Speed

Inside the Get Featured Accelerator, Gloria gives founders:
 💡 Copy-and-paste ChatGPT prompts that do the brainstorming and pitch writing for you
 💡 Daily curated PR opportunities
 💡 A media database of journalists you can contact right away

Even if you don’t make your own products (like subscription box founders), you can still get featured — repeatedly — in year-round gift guides and trend roundups.