On Top of PR with Jason Mudd

Jason Mudd, Axia Public Relations
  • 4.9 (47)
  • MARKETING
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On Top of PR is a podcast dedicated to helping corporate communications leaders leverage the power of PR to build a strong brand and great reputation. Each episode features guests to discuss PR and marketing topics, tips, and trends. We want to help every active and aspiring communication professional stay on top of PR.   It is one of the top 3% most popular podcast shows globally, according to Listen Notes' Listen Score, and among the top 100 marketing podcasts in the world on Apple Podcasts.   We've featured guests from Disney, Wells Fargo, Tyson Foods, Mall of America, Priceline, Southwest Airlines, and more. About Jason MuddJason Mudd is a professional public speaker, accredited public relations practitioner, published author, podcaster, and entrepreneur. The World Communication Forum named him North America’s top PR leader. He’s the CEO and managing partner of Axia Public Relations. Forbes Magazine named Axia as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. He is a trusted adviser and dynamic strategist to some of America’s most admired and fastest-growing companies. His past PR work includes American Airlines, Budweiser, Dave & Buster’s, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, and Verizon. 

  1. When a crisis hits, say this or stay silent

    4D AGO

    When a crisis hits, say this or stay silent

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, University of Memphis expert Michele Ehrhart joins host Jason Mudd to discuss crisis communication, leadership preparedness, reputation management, and how organizations can navigate high-pressure situations with clarity and confidence. Tune in to learn more! Meet our guest: Our guest is Michele Ehrhart, senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer at the University of Memphis. Michele is a crisis communications expert with three decades of experience in corporate affairs, executive communications, and PR strategy. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why crisis preparation must happen before a crisis occurs 2. How leaders can use “what if” scenario planning to prepare for high-risk situations 3. Why silence can be a strategic communication choice depending on context 4. How reputation is built slowly but can be damaged quickly during a crisis 5. Why defining roles and responsibilities in advance improves crisis response execution Quotables “The day you have a crisis should not be the first day you've thought about what you'll do.” — Michele Ehrhart “Planning the work and working the plan.” — Michele Ehrhart “Silence is a strategy. If the story isn't yours, don't talk about it.” — Michele Ehrhart “The brand is what you put out there; reputation is what they think of you.” — Michele Ehrhart “When PR is at its best, it's building a reputation for your company — just not visibility, but also the reputation. You could have great visibility, but it's not positive.” – Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review. More About Michele Ehrhart Michele Ehrhart is a crisis communications expert with three decades of experience in corporate affairs, executive communications, and PR strategy. After 22 years with FedEx, she now serves as the University of Memphis's senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer. She is a bestselling author, speaker, and industry expert helping leaders navigate crises with confidence and clarity. Guest’s contact info and resources: Michele Ehrhart on LinkedIn Michele Ehrhart’s website Get the “Crisis Compass: How to Communicate When It Matters Most” book Axia’s CrisisPoint service Axia’s Reputation Restoration service Additional Resources: How to recover from a PR crisis and manage Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

    45 min
  2. How PR influences recruiting, retention, and workforce quality

    MAY 5

    How PR influences recruiting, retention, and workforce quality

    Send us Fan Mail In this solocast, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd dives into how PR shapes recruiting, retention, and workforce quality through reputation. Tune in to learn more!  Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. How candidates evaluate your reputation before your careers page 2. Why PR influences recruiting outcomes before HR gets involved 3. The role of visibility, credibility, and interpretation in hiring decisions 4. Why employer brand perception is formed in search and media results 5. How PR reduces hiring friction and improves talent quality   Quotables “Candidates don't start with your careers page; they start with your reputation.” — @jasonmudd9 “Your careers page doesn't create perception. It confirms or contradicts what they already perceive or believe.” — @jasonmudd9 “Recruiting is a reputation-driven system.” — @jasonmudd9 “PR didn't create demand; it removed the friction that prevented their growth.” — @jasonmudd9 “Public relations doesn't just influence how customers see you, it influences who wants to work for you, who shows up, and how they perform.” — @jasonmudd9 If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review. Contact info and resources: Jason Mudd on X Jason Mudd on LinkedIn LinkedIn Talent Solutions - Employer’s brand matters Glassdoor - Employer Branding 101: Why, How and Proven ROI ratethispodcast.com/ontopofpr  Additional Resources: Case study: Improving a company’s recruiting How to turn award wins into long-term assets Warning signs your online reputation management is failing How to improve your company’s Glassdoor reviews Find out more about Axia Public Relations. Axia Public Relations resources Axia’s NewsBureau Service Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast. If you like this episode, you're going to love this: Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

    8 min
  3. Stop agency pitches: Build better client partnerships

    APR 28

    Stop agency pitches: Build better client partnerships

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Brand Revolt’s Camden Bernatz joins host Jason Mudd to discuss why traditional agency pitches often fail, how clients can build better partnerships, and why diagnosis must come before solutions. Tune in to learn more! Meet our guest: Our guest is Camden Bernatz, creative director and strategist at Brand Revolt and author of “Stop Asking for Pitches: 10 Rules to Fix the Client-Agency Relationship.” Once drawn to psychiatry, he now applies that same curiosity to branding, helping organizations diagnose challenges and build stronger brands. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why traditional agency pitches often prioritize performance over real problem-solving 2. Why diagnosing the problem must come before prescribing any solution 3. How treating agency relationships as strategic investments improves outcomes 4. How shifting from vendor transactions to partnerships leads to better results 5. What a true client-agency partnership looks like in practice Quotables “You want that agency that helps you develop the brief [to] help you figure out what we actually need. What are we trying to accomplish? What would success look like?” — Camden Bernatz “The reason you have a need for an RFP or to hire a firm and hire an agency is because you don't totally know what you need.” — Camden Bernatz “It’s just having things on the table early, talking about like, ‘We think that you're prescribing something that's going to cost more than you say you have money for.’”  — Camden Bernatz “There's a difference in the way it feels to spend money on an agency versus spending the money with the agency.” — Camden Bernatz “Your agency is like an engine to fuel as opposed to a resource to drain. You will treat it differently, and they will perform differently.” — Camden Bernatz “Buying agency services is about buying a creative class of expertise, experience, guidance, and consulting that is much different than buying staples, pencils, and other supplies.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review. Guest’s contact info and resources: Camden Bernatz on LinkedIn Camden Bernatz on YouTube Brand Revolt website “Stop Asking For Pitches: 10 Rules to Fix the Client-Agency Relationship” book The Win Without Pitching Manifesto Clients behaving badly: Video store, hair salon haggling Additional Resources: Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

    54 min
  4. Behavioral science secrets behind top brands

    APR 21

    Behavioral science secrets behind top brands

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Richard Shotton joins host Jason Mudd to discuss the behavioral science behind some of the world’s most successful brands and how to apply those principles in marketing and PR.  Meet our guest: Our guest this episode is Richard Shotton, founder of Astroten. Richard is a behavioral scientist and best-selling author of “The Choice Factory,” “The Illusion of Choice,” and “Hacking the Human Mind.” He specializes in applying behavioral science to marketing and works with global brands to solve real-world challenges. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Why what people say influences them vs. what actually drives behavior 2. How “effort storytelling” can increase perceived product value 3. Why simplicity in messaging increases perceived intelligence and trust 4. How timing and “fresh start” moments influence behavior change 5. Why social proof remains one of the strongest drivers of decision-making   Quotables “Behavioral science is what people say influences them and what actually influences them. They are wildly different.” — Richard Shotton “If you ever need someone to make a really big change in their life, don't target them randomly.” — Richard Shotton “The more effort that goes into something, the better it is. People have got that as a rule of thumb in their head. And the interesting thing is, the rule of thumb takes on a life of its own.” — Richard Shotton “If you want to convey strong brand values, the argument from Oppenheimer is to speak in a simple, clear way.” — Richard Shotton “The simplest answer is usually the best answer. If it’s focused on one thing, it's clear, easy to digest.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review. More About Richard Shotton Richard Shotton is a behavioral scientist and founder of Astroten. He is a best-selling author of three books, including “The Choice Factory” and “The Illusion of Choice.” His latest book, “Hacking the Human Mind,” explores the behavioral science underpinning the success of 17 leading brands. He specializes in applying behavioral science to marketing, helping brands like Google solve real-world challenges through consultancy, copywriting, and training. Guest’s contact info and resources: @rshotton on X Richard Shotton on LinkedIn Astroten’s website Consumer Behavior Lab website ”Hacking the Human Mind” book Additional Resources: Earned authority + emotional resonance = brand wins Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

    44 min
  5. Ageism in the workplace: Hiring bias, careers, and the future of work

    APR 14

    Ageism in the workplace: Hiring bias, careers, and the future of work

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Carly Roszkowski joins host Jason Mudd to discuss ageism in the workplace, how it affects job seekers over 50, hiring bias, and strategies for multigenerational teams. Tune in to learn more! Meet Our Guest: Our guest on this episode is Carly Roszkowski, vice president of financial resilience at AARP. She leads strategy and outcomes within AARP’s Work and Jobs and Financial Resilience initiatives, helping individuals over 50 strengthen their competitiveness in the labor market and access meaningful employment opportunities. Carly also works to eliminate age discrimination and promote inclusive hiring practices across organizations. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. How ageism in the workplace impacts job seekers and employees over 50 years old 2. The biggest challenges experienced professionals face when seeking new opportunities 3. How department leaders can effectively support and manage multigenerational teams 4. Best practices hiring managers can use to better support experienced talent 5. Practical ways employees and coworkers can help create a safe, inclusive, and high-performing workplace Quotables “AARP is fighting every day to end age discrimination in the workplace and educate consumers, knowing their rights, as well as educating employers on the value that older workers bring to an organization.” — Carly Roszkowski “Networking and knowing someone is still a really great way to start your job search.” — Carly Roszkowski “60% of workers 50 and older have said that they would love to learn new skills for their job or on the job.” — Carly Roszkowski “Research shows that there's increased innovation, increased creativity, better problem solving when you have a mix of ages, mix of different backgrounds, or from different points of view.” — Carly Roszkowski “Mirror the language; reflect the terminology that you see in the job description in your application.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review. Guest’s contact info and resources: Carly Roszkowski on LinkedIn AARP website AARP Works and Jobs Resources  AARP Employer Resource Center Older Workers are Building Tech Skills Research Additional Resources: How to calculate the true cost of hiring an employee Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR with Jason Mudd podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relation Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

    44 min
  6. Embedded AI: The future of PR and communication workflows

    APR 7

    Embedded AI: The future of PR and communication workflows

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Muck Rack CEO Greg Galant joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how embedded AI is transforming PR and communications workflows. Tune in to learn more! Meet Our Guest: Our episode guest is Greg Galant, CEO and cofounder at Muck Rack. A returning guest on On Top of PR, he is a leading voice at the crossroads of PR, technology, and media. Greg is also recognized as an early champion of generative engine optimization, shaping the emerging frontier of brand visibility in an AI-driven world. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: Why embedded AI is more effective than standalone assistants in PR workflowsHow AI preserves messaging consistency and insight accuracy across teamsWays to make PR teams more adaptable in real time using AIHow AI-powered media intelligence predicts trends and shifts in reputationStrategies to integrate AI into every stage of PR: discovery, outreach, monitoring, and reporting Quotables “Being able to take advantage of AI is knowing what everyone's doing right now and figuring out which stages of our workflow can benefit from AI and having the right tooling to do that.” — @Greg Galant“The PR profession's been doing generative engine optimization even before generative AI came to be because when these AI systems were built, they were all trained on news data.” — @Greg Galant“The work we did a year ago or two years ago is even more valuable today than it was then.” — @Greg Galant“There's two big buckets. One is: How does AI influence PR, and how does PR influence AI?” — @Greg Galant“We have to look at this from a macro and a micro level and keep testing and tweaking what we're doing and improving upon it.” — @Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review. Guest’s contact info and resources: @gregory on X@gregory on InstagramGregory Galant on LinkedInMuck Rack websiteMuck Rack DailyGenerative Pulse by Muck RackThe State of Journalism and PR 2022 reports with Greg GalantIf you like this episode, you're going to love this: 95% of AI citations come from PR contentHow generative AI uses earned media coverage (fueling PR’s resurgence)Getting more media coverage by making journalists’ lives easierThe PR playbook for getting recommended by AI with UnusuaSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

    22 min
  7. Why isn’t your press release getting any coverage?

    MAR 31

    Why isn’t your press release getting any coverage?

    Send us Fan Mail In this solocast, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd dives into why most press releases fail and how to craft news releases that capture attention, clicks, and engagement. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. Five reasons your news release isn’t getting coverage 2. Understanding the move from “press releases” to news releases 3. Common mistakes that cause press releases to be ignored 4. How to write headlines and content that attract attention and clicks 5. Adopting an audience-first mindset to make your news releases effective  Quotables “A journalist or reader is asking, ‘Why should I care?’ ‘Why now?’ and ‘Why does this matter now?’ And if you don't answer that in the first few lines of your pitch or your news release, you lose that audience.” — @jasonmudd9 “Safe content doesn't get shared; it gets ignored.” — @jasonmudd9 “Your content now competes in search, AI, and social feeds. Structure matters. You need clear headlines, direct language, and answer-driven content.” — @jasonmudd9 “Shift your mindset from ‘What do we want to announce?’ to ‘What would someone care [about], click, and share?’ Define your audience, validate your angle with data, and write like a journalist.” — @jasonmudd9 “Coverage isn't requested; it's earned. It starts with how you think about the story before writing.” — @jasonmudd9 If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review. Guest’s contact info and resources: Jason Mudd on X Jason Mudd on LinkedIn Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast. Find out more about Axia Public Relations. Axia Public Relations resources 1:1 consultations and training with Axia 10 2026 press release tips marketers aren’t going to like Additional Resources: What's the difference between press releases and public relations? What’s the difference between newswire and press release distribution wire agencies? How press releases are powering generative engine optimization and answer engine optimization 3 elements of an effective news release Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

    17 min
  8. Shaping the future of PR with AI: Insights from Microsoft’s Frank X. Shaw

    MAR 24

    Shaping the future of PR with AI: Insights from Microsoft’s Frank X. Shaw

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Microsoft CCO Frank Shaw joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how AI is reshaping PR workflows, strategy, and corporate communications. Tune in to learn more! Meet Our Guest: Our episode guest is Frank X. Shaw, chief communications officer at Microsoft. Frank leads global communications strategy, product PR, media and analyst relations, executive and employee communications, and global agency partnerships. He shares insights on how communicators can leverage AI to focus on high-value work and improve efficiency. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. How to identify high-value PR work and apply AI to repetitive tasks 2. Practical AI applications for media monitoring, analyst engagement, and internal communications 3. How autonomous AI agents can enhance predictive insights for communications teams 4. The mindset needed to embrace AI tools without fear of job loss 5. How efficiency gained through AI can drive growth rather than just cost-cutting Quotables “It's not like you can outsource your judgment, but you can augment it.” — Frank Shaw “I don't look at all this technology as something that is going to cut costs. It's going to allow us to do the things that are in front of us that we want to do that we can't get to right now because we don't have the resources and the time.” — Frank Shaw “The mindset has to be one of experimentation, curiosity, trying new things, being willing to fail, at some, grabbing every tool that comes out there and thinking about how we can apply it to the work that we do. “ — Frank Shaw “I think everybody should be experimenting with stuff at home and at work because it's moving really fast, and the way you stay on top of it is just to play.” — Frank Shaw “People say the corporate communication profession has changed over the years. And my argument is it really hasn't changed. We just have better tools. But those same tools require us to be even better practitioners, more strategically minded.” — Jason Mudd If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review. Guest’s contact info and resources: Frank X. Shaw on LinkedIn Microsoft website LinkedIn Learning: Communicator’s Guide to AI Tools and Mindsets for Modern PR and Media course Additional Resources: Axia’s AI Relations service Microsoft Copilot Studio Microsoft Bing Get to Know Microsoft Edge Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

    40 min
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4.9
out of 5
47 Ratings

About

On Top of PR is a podcast dedicated to helping corporate communications leaders leverage the power of PR to build a strong brand and great reputation. Each episode features guests to discuss PR and marketing topics, tips, and trends. We want to help every active and aspiring communication professional stay on top of PR.   It is one of the top 3% most popular podcast shows globally, according to Listen Notes' Listen Score, and among the top 100 marketing podcasts in the world on Apple Podcasts.   We've featured guests from Disney, Wells Fargo, Tyson Foods, Mall of America, Priceline, Southwest Airlines, and more. About Jason MuddJason Mudd is a professional public speaker, accredited public relations practitioner, published author, podcaster, and entrepreneur. The World Communication Forum named him North America’s top PR leader. He’s the CEO and managing partner of Axia Public Relations. Forbes Magazine named Axia as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. He is a trusted adviser and dynamic strategist to some of America’s most admired and fastest-growing companies. His past PR work includes American Airlines, Budweiser, Dave & Buster’s, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, and Verizon. 

Information

  • Creator
    Jason Mudd, Axia Public Relations
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    176
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Axia Public Relations
  • Show Website
    On Top of PR with Jason Mudd

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