The PR Maven Podcast

In this episode of The PR Maven® Podcast, Nancy hosts Carolyn Delaney, founder and CEO of Journey Enterprises. Carolyn shares her transformative journey from leading IT departments to founding a media company dedicated to making recovery from addiction visible and reducing stigma through inspiring stories, resources, and community events. Journey Enterprises, primarily through its print magazine and various engagements, seeks to offer hope and practical insights into the multiplicity of recovery paths beyond traditional programs like AA. Carolyn discusses her deep-rooted mission to spread awareness and accessibility of recovery options, her vision for a world that celebrates recovery, and how personal branding and strategic PR have been instrumental in amplifying her message and building a supportive community around Journey's mission.

00:00 Introduction to The PR Maven® Podcast 00:43 Special Guest: Carolyn Delaney's Journey and Mission 01:57 Carolyn's Career Shift and the Birth of Journey Enterprises 05:39 The Impact of Personal Branding and The PR Maven's Influence 10:20 Utilizing Public Relations for Social Impact 13:55 Building a Community Around Recovery 23:09 The Power of Print in a Digital Age 28:05 How to Connect with Journey Magazine 29:18 Closing Thoughts and Contact Information

About Carolyn Delaney: Carolyn Delaney is the visionary founder and CEO of Journey Enterprises, a pioneering media company dedicated to making recovery from addiction visible and accessible in everyday places. With a remarkable career transition from leading IT departments to championing recovery stories, Carolyn brings a wealth of experience and a deep personal connection to the mission. Her leadership at Journey Enterprises encompasses producing a celebrated print magazine, organizing community events, and engaging in vital speaking engagements to promote a message of hope and diminish the stigma around addiction. Having witnessed the transformative power of sharing recovery stories and resources, Carolyn aims to create a world where recovery paths are well-known and celebrated, inspiring others with her optimistic, mission-driven approach.

Get $200 off your first month of Pitchcraft using the code PRMAVEN.

https://pitchcraft.media/checkout/default

Free download about the top ways to build relationships with journalists.

https://youtu.be/_TjcEBpNuIU

This episode is sponsored by:

Pitchcraft - joinpitchcraft.com

After beginning her career as a journalist, Cheryl Broom got her start in public relations as a public information officer. Her career led her to higher education, which has been her focus ever since. In this episode, Cheryl describes the types of clients she works with, the challenges they face and what role marketing can play to overcome those challenges. Cheryl also talks about the changes marketing has seen since the beginning of her career, including her work with diversity, equity and inclusion.

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast

01:32 Introducing Guest: Cheryl Broom

03:12 Transitioning From Journalism to Public Relations

07:11 Public Relations for Community Colleges

10:31 The Role Marketing Plays in Bringing Students Back to College

13:54 What Has and Has Not Changed in Marketing Over 20 Years

19:36 Including Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in PR

25:14 Why Cheryl Focuses on Marketing Higher Education

29:26 The Biggest Challenges Clients Face

30:41 Helpful Resources

Related Episodes

Episode 146: Public Relations and Marketing in the Arts With Raffi DerSimonian

Episode 11: Stephen Woessner, CEO of Predictive ROI

Episode 264: Conversion Rate Optimization Explained, With Marty Greif, President of SiteTuners

About Cheryl

Cheryl Broom is a national community college leader with a passion for student success and a deep commitment to serving her clients with integrity and passion. For 20 years, Cheryl has worked for and served community colleges across the nation on projects ranging from bond passages to complex marketing campaigns. A former television news reporter, Cheryl brings her knack for storytelling to everyday projects as well as to her presentations. An accomplished speaker, Cheryl has keynoted higher education conferences across the nation. You'll also catch her teaching Communications 101 (the dreaded public speaking class) at community colleges across San Diego. In her free time, you'll find her lifting weights, spending time with her family and golfing.

In this episode of The PR Maven® Podcast, host Nancy Marshall welcomes guest Delaney Vetter, an independent PR strategist and copywriter specializing in the food and beverage and consumer packaged goods (CPG) sector. Delaney shares her journey from a food-obsessed kid to a PR expert, her experience interning at a marketing agency in Portland, Oregon, and her unexpected transition to freelance work due to the pandemic's impact on the job market. With a focus on helping brands connect with their community and media through strategic, creative actions, Delaney discusses her passion for working with food brands, the importance of understanding a brand's voice, and her personal enjoyment of exploring her Brooklyn neighborhood's culinary scene. The conversation also covers essential PR strategies, the significance of building relationships with journalists and clients, and leveraging personal branding in the PR field. Delaney's approach to securing media coverage and her tips for PR professionals on effective pitching are highlighted, alongside a discussion on the power of word-of-mouth marketing and the invaluable role of research before pitching to journalists.

00:00 Welcome to The PR Maven® Podcast With Delaney Vetter

00:30 Meet Delaney Vetter: PR Strategist and Food Lover

01:44 Delaney's Journey into PR and Freelancing

06:56 The Art of Branding and Storytelling in PR

13:07 Building Relationships in the PR World

25:33 Effective Pitching Strategies for PR Success

32:54 Delaney's Inspirations and How To Connect

About Delaney Delaney Vetter is a beacon of innovation and strategic communication in the PR and copywriting sphere, particularly within the food and beverage and CPG industries. As an independent consultant, Delaney excels in elevating brands through her expert navigation of media relations, event curation and brand voice development. With a lifelong passion for the culinary world, she brings a unique blend of experience and enthusiasm to the table, making her the go-to specialist for food brands aiming to connect with new audiences. Delaney's journey from a college intern at an integrated marketing agency, through the tumult of entering the job market during a global pandemic, to establishing herself as a sought-after freelance professional, highlights her adaptability, creativity and unwavering dedication to her craft. Whether she's hunting for the perfect croissant in Brooklyn or helping a client become a household name, Delaney's passion for her work shines through, making her a distinguished voice in the world of PR and brand storytelling.

This episode is sponsored by: Pitchcraft - pitchcraft.media Get $200 off your first month of Pitchcraft using the code PRMAVEN. https://pitchcraft.media/checkout/default

Innovative products are not always immediately accepted by customers. This was the case for Allagash Brewing Company owner Rob Tod who explains his journey to success in this episode. After shifting customer tastes, Allagash was hit with another challenge – COVID-19. With seventy percent of their business coming from bars and restaurants, Allagash started to focus on employee wellness while riding out the COVID-19 storm. Rob also explains how supporting local grain farmers improved sustainability. Innovation, sustainability and focusing on employees comes together to build the brand and makes for great stories to share with the media.

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast

01:21 Introducing Guest: Rob Tod

04:52 The Role Breweries Play in the Maine Brand

08:11 Breaking Into the Beer Industry

15:33 How Allagash Focused on Employee Wellness During COVID

24:31 The Process of Becoming a B Corp Business

38:42 The Role of Public Relations for Sharing Allagash's Stories

40:45 Allagash Brewing's Awards and Where to Buy

46:11 Helpful Resources

Related Episodes

Episode 133: Mental Health During COVID-19, With Lindy Graham, LCSW, Founder and Director of WellSpace Maine

Episode 222: Will You Really Make Money by Doing What You Love? With Michael Katz, Chief Penguin at Blue Penguin

Episode 134: Why Maine is Not Just Vacationland, With Katie Shorey, Director of Engagement at Live + Work in Maine

About Rob

After graduating from Middlebury College with a major in geology, Rob headed west. Following a couple of years in Colorado, he suspected his track would eventually lead him either back to geology or woodworking. Before heading down one of those paths, he took a detour to Vermont where he washed kegs at Otter Creek Brewery.

While at Otter Creek, he happened upon the beers of Belgium. In these inventive and surprising brews, Rob saw an opportunity to give American beer drinkers an experience they'd never had before. He left steady pay and founded Allagash Brewing Company in 1995.

The brewery has since grown from a one-man operation into one of the top 50 craft breweries in the United States (by sales volume) and has earned a spot on Maine's Best Places to Work list for seven years running. Rob is the past chair of the Brewers Association trade group and received the James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine, Beer or Spirits Producer in 2019.

This episode is sponsored by:

Pitchcraft - pitchcraft.media

In this episode of The PR Maven® Podcast, host Nancy Marshall welcome Kelsey and Derrick Ogletree, founders of Pitchcraft, a people-focused PR platform that aims to restore integrity and accountability in the media industry. Founded in 2021 and based in Florence, Alabama, Pitchcraft distinguishes itself by integrating a journalist's perspective into PR strategies, emphasizing relationship building among PR professionals, writers and editors. The platform offers membership to PR professionals, providing resources, content and community support to foster better connections and earned media placements. The founders discuss their journey from conceiving Pitchcraft during the pandemic to moving from Chicago to rural Alabama and the challenges they faced. They also highlight Pitchcraft's unique approach to PR, including focusing on lifestyle sectors, offering flexible payments and fostering a supportive community. Additionally, they share useful tips for crafting effective pitches and stress the importance of developing genuine relationships with media professionals. The episode concludes with a special offer for PR Maven podcast listeners and insights into the future of PR and media relations.

00:00 Introduction to The PR Maven® Podcast

02:07 Meet the Founders of Pitchcraft: Kelsey and Derrick Ogletree

03:30 The Origins and Mission of Pitchcraft

04:50 Pitchcraft's Unique Approach to PR and Media

09:04 The Evolution of Pitchcraft: From Pandemic Idea to PR Platform

12:43 The Future of PR

15:50 Building Relationships in PR

24:25 Crafting the Perfect Pitch: Tips and Strategies (continued at 34:15)

29:10 What Defines Newsworthiness

31:03 Walking The Line Between Being Helpful and Annoying With Journalists

37:00 Closing Thoughts and How to Connect with Pitchcraft

Get $200 off your first month of Pitchcraft using the code PRMAVEN.

Free download about the top ways to build relationships with journalists.

https://youtu.be/_TjcEBpNuIU

Related Episodes

Episode 135: How To Borrow Credibility and Build Relationships, With Beth Nydick, Publicity Strategist at Beth Nydick Media

Episode 230: How To Infuse Storytelling Into Your Brand, With Mads Hanna, Founder of Curated Compass

Episode 130: How Small Businesses Can Earn Media Coverage, With Sabina Hitchen, Founder of Press for Success

About Kelsey and Derrick Pitchcraft was co-founded in 2021 by husband-and-wife team Derrick and Kelsey Ogletree, who live in Florence, Alabama, with their 1-year-old son Asher. Having grown up in small towns and with strong family values, they're passionate about bringing people together in meaningful, authentic ways. Through Pitchcraft, they aim to help restore integrity and accountability to the media industry through putting people first.

Kelsey, CEO of Pitchcraft, is a Medill-trained independent journalist whose work has appeared in many print and digital outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Travel + Leisure, AARP The Magazine and others. Derrick, COO of Pitchcraft, is a graduate of the University of Alabama who previously spent over a decade in corporate finance.

This episode is sponsored by:

Pitchcraft - pitchcraft.media

In this podcast episode, host Nancy interviews Lisa Steele, the founder of Fresh Eggs Daily and a fifth-generation chicken keeper, about her journey from a career on Wall Street to becoming an authority on backyard chicken keeping and her recent pivot to the culinary world. Lisa shares insights into her childhood, her initial hesitance towards chickens, and how she turned her passion into a successful brand with a massive following, multiple best-selling books, and a television show. The conversation also delves into Lisa's strategic approach to personal branding, the importance of building a solid foundation beyond social media, her tips on avoiding burnout, and exploring new projects like a second cookbook and another season of her TV show. Additionally, Lisa talks about the significance of directly connecting with her audience through an email list and provides advice on building and maintaining a strong brand.

00:00 Welcome to the Podcast: A Chat with Lisa Steele

01:36 The Journey from Chicken Keeping to Cookbook Author

03:31 Diving into the Culinary World: From Chickens to Cookbooks

05:34 Personal Branding and the Power of Connection

07:52 Navigating Business Success and the Importance of Pivoting

08:35 Exploring Future Dreams and Expanding Horizons

11:18 The Strategic Approach to Blogging and Social Media

12:42 The Value of an Email List in Direct Marketing

16:25 The Art of Avoiding Burnout and Embracing Change

21:53 Considering the Future: Potential Sale and Brand Evolution

26:20 Final Thoughts and How to Connect with Lisa Steele About Lisa Lisa Steele is a fifth-generation chicken keeper, author, and founder of Fresh Eggs Daily. With nearly a million followers worldwide, Lisa has been dubbed the queen of the coop and is known for her expertise in raising backyard chickens. She has written several top-selling books on raising backyard poultry and recently released her debut cookbook, the Fresh Eggs Daily Cookbook. Lisa's career transitioned from chicken keeping to the culinary world through her passion for natural preventives and herbs, and she continues to focus on product development and brand marketing.

This PR Maven Podcast® episode features Nancy's conversation with Kaylin (Kay) Kerina, the Maine Career Exploration program manager in Portland, Maine. Kay shares her journey from a varied career background to youth workforce development, emphasizing the importance of helping young Mainers find meaningful employment opportunities. She discusses her work in social justice, youth advocacy and community outreach, aiming to implement systemic change and support communities through a trust-based approach. The Maine Career Exploration program, part of the Department of Economic and Community Development, aims to connect 6,000 young people to work experiences in various industries, fostering passion and providing mentors. Kay also touches on her personal joy in gardening and how Maine employers and young people can get involved with the career exploration program.

00:00 Welcome to the PR Maven Podcast with Kaylin (Kay) Kerina

00:34 Kay Kerina's Journey: From Social Work to Career Exploration

04:25 The Mission of Maine Career Exploration

06:39 Personal Stories of Career Guidance

09:12 Engaging Young People in Maine's Workforce

11:30 The Importance of Passion in Career Choices

19:35 A Gardening Detour: Kay's Personal Passions

22:15 How Employers and Young People Can Get Involved

25:00 Back to Business: Expanding Career Opportunities in Maine

27:24 Tools for Productivity and Contact Information

Related Episodes

Episode 134: Why Maine is not just Vacationland, with Katie Shorey, director of engagement at Live + Work in Maine

Episode 91: Why living and working in Maine will be valued more after COVID-19, with Edward McKersie, founder and president of ProSearch, Inc. and founder of Live and Work in Maine

Episode 86: How your network can help during hard times, with Martin Grohman, executive director of E2Tech and host of the GrowMaine Show

About Kay Kaylin (Kay) Kerina is the Maine Career Exploration Program Manager, with a background in social work, human services and alternative education. With over seven years of experience, Kay is dedicated to serving students with barriers to employment and advocating for youth in the community. Her work in Youth Workforce Development focuses on supporting youth to find meaningful work opportunities and implementing systemic change for the communities she supports.

In this episode, Michelle Hood, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the American Hospital Association and former CEO of Northern Light Health, talks about her career in academic, national faith-based and rural healthcare integrated systems. In addition to talking about her career, Michelle gives career advice on risk-taking, establishing a pattern of lifelong learning and having enthusiasm for your work. Michelle and Nancy also talk about marketing and PR including the doors that can open through social media, the importance of a brand promise and measuring success.

04:35 Developing Leadership Skills

08:39 Risk-Taking Advice for Young People

9:42 Doors That Can Open Through Social Media

15:05 Why Politics Can Be an Obstacle to Success

24:14 How Digital Activity, Surveys and Patient Satisfaction Can Measure Success

26:47 The Importance of a Brand Promise.

34:12 Helpful Resources

36:42 Establishing a Pattern of Lifelong Learning and an Enthusiasm for the Work

37:38 A Parting Thought About the Privilege of Living in Maine

Related Episodes

Episode 71: Top 10 PR Maven® Podcasts of 2019

Episode 223: Building a Strong Brand Community, With Gale Auclair, Senior Development Director for the Trek Across Maine

Episode 99: How AI is changing the world of health care, with Piali De, CEO of Senscio Systems

About Michelle

Michelle Hood is executive vice president and chief operating officer of the American Hospital Association. During the recording of this episode, Michelle was the president and CEO at Northern Light Health in Brewer, Maine. At Northern Light Health, she focused on healthcare policy and design models at the state and national levels, positioning the system to be successful in a rapidly changing healthcare environment. Michelle is the past chair of the Maine Hospital Association Board, the University of Maine System Board of Trustees, Vizient New England Board and Health Insights. Michelle received a Bachelor of Science from Purdue University and a Master of Health Care Administration from Georgia State University.

In this episode, Annie Mahle shares some of the lessons of intention she learned from working in a tiny kitchen on her windjammer and how those lessons can spread to your life overall. Annie defines what a tiny kitchen is and how working in a tiny kitchen inspired her to write a cookbook, "The Tiny Kitchen Cookbook: Strategies and Recipes for Creating Amazing Meals in Small Spaces," to help others with tiny kitchens. Annie also talks about how she has built her personal brand around intention, from using all the food in the fridge, to what she brings into her home, to her morning routine. In addition to discussing the benefits of PR, Annie shares how she puts together her social media calendar.

00:00 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast

01:47 Introducing Guest: Annie Mahle

03:05 Getting Into Cooking Through Windjamming

06:41 Cooking in Small Kitchens

11:00 Annie's Favorite Way To Cook

13:29 A Personal Brand Focused on Intention

19:59 PR Lending an Outside Perspective

22:16 The Benefits of PR When Compared to Advertising

25:48 Creating a Social Media Calendar

27:35 Helpful Resources

Related Episodes

Episode 219: Growing Your Passion Into a Brand, With Cherie Scott, Founder and Owner of Mumbai to MAINE

Episode 198: How To Combine PR and Personal Branding To Create Success for Your Business, With Amber Lambke

Episode 212: The Difference Between PR And Advertising, And Where the Lines Are Fading

About Annie

Annie Mahle has been cooking professionally for over 30 years in her own kitchens and other people's kitchens. Annie trained at The Culinary Institute of America and owned and ran the Schooner J. & E. Riggin, a Maine Windjammer, with her husband. In that tiny galley, she prepared three meals a day for guests all summer long. Her cooking, recipes and cookbooks have been highlighted on TODAY and Throwdown! with Bobby Flay. Her food and the Riggin have been featured in the Food Network, Family Circle, Woman's Day, the Boston Globe and more. Her award-winning cookbook, "The Tiny Kitchen Cookbook: Strategies and Recipes for Creating Amazing Meals in Small Spaces," has been well received in the tiny space community, but also in larger kitchens where home cooks are looking for healthy, smart recipes for two.

In this episode, Nancy's mentor, Chip Carey, shares his top tips from his 40+ year career in marketing and public relations. Find out why it is important to treat your hometown paper well, how to build relationships with reporters and journalists, and the benefits of telling a visual story and making it easy for the media to share those visuals. The most impactful tip for your career: don't be afraid of change. Stay on top of changing technologies. Don't be afraid to change how your brand is perceived. The ability to adapt and change will help you stay in touch with your audience. Speaking of audience, make sure you know who your customer is, so you don't waste time and money targeting the wrong people. All this and so much more as Nancy and Chip reminisce and share special stories from their work together.

00:00 Introducing Guest: Chip Carey

01:52 Introduction to the PR Maven Podcast

02:53 How a Love of Photography Led Chip to PR

07:32 How To Build Strong Relationships With Reporters and Journalists

14:15 A Lesson of Making a Story Visual

16:31 Why Social Media Shouldn't Fall Under PR

21:34 Chip's Time at Sugarloaf and Jackson Hole

29:17 The Battles Between Sugarloaf and Sunday River

39:32 The Legend of Paul Schipper

50:27 The Importance of Events in Attracting Media Attention

55:31 Being a Student of the Game

Related Episodes

Episode 104: How To Grow an Already Established Brand With Karl Strand

Episode 10: Bill Green, Reporter, Anchor and Executive Producer at NEWS CENTER Maine

Episode 164: How To Adapt to Changing Customer Preferences, With Dana Bullen

About Chip

With 46 years of experience in the ski industry, Chip Carey has held positions at many ski resorts across the country. Carey worked at Sugarloaf for 26 years, filling roles in sales, marketing and public relations. He also took on a position at The Canyons resort in Utah, where he was responsible for the NBC Today Show live coverage for 14 days of the Salt Lake Olympics in 2002. For four years, Carey worked across a network of eight resorts as senior VP of marketing for the American Skiing Company using his wide range of skills to build brands and revenues. From his experience building Sugarloaf as a skiing destination, despite the mountain's remote location, to the launching of new brands, Carey has been involved in many aspects of ski resort operation.