On Top of PR with Jason Mudd

• The future of PR in the age of AI with Agility PR

  Send us a textIn this episode, Pragya Dubey, Agility PR’s VP of Global Services & Analytics, joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how AI is reshaping PR, media intelligence, and measurement for smarter, data-driven strategies.Tune in to learn more!Meet Our Guest:Our episode guest is Pragya Dubey, Agility PR Solutions’ VP of Global Services & Analytics. With more than 20 years of experience across three continents, she helps organizations transform media data into meaningful insights that demonstrate ROI and elevate the impact of communications.Five things you’ll learn from this episode: 1. How AI is changing the media intelligence landscape and how we can measure it2. Ways PR professionals can use AI to make smarter, data-driven decisions3. What the emerging AI landscape means for PR professionals4. How to use AI to enhance productivity and creativity in PR5. How press releases are regaining power as vital tools for AI-driven search visibilityQuotables“AI is really reshaping the way we are accessing information and our need for information.” — Pragya Dubey“PR teams can be empowered with more data-driven decisions as opposed to basing their decisions on anecdotes, or an impression, or simply instincts – that’s the biggest shift.” — Pragya Dubey“AI is the assistant that PR never had that can help public relations professionals work smarter.” — Pragya Dubey"The question to ask is how AI is getting its information. AI is getting that information from the web, from Google, Yahoo, all those aggregator websites and media. So if you're not putting yourself out there more and more, you're missing out on that opportunity to be read and analyzed by AI.” — Pragya Dubey“The press release that we all thought was on life support and losing credibility year after year is suddenly the new sexy PR tool that everybody's talking about again and getting excited about.” — 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.More About Pragya DubeyPragya Dubey is Vice President of Global Services and Media Analytics at Agility PR Solutions, where she leads strategy and client success for media monitoring, measurement, and insights. With over 20 years of experience across Canada, the U.S., and India, she specializes in turning complex media data into actionable narratives that demonstrate ROI and drive smarter decision-making.Since joining Agility in 2006, she has helped clients — including Fortune 500s, governments, and nonprofits — align media analysis with strategic goals. Pragya is a passionate advocate for using meaningful metrics to elevate the role of communications.Guest’s contact info and resources:Pragya Dubey on LinkedInAgility PR Solutions websiteAdditional 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.

  --------  

  39:41

  --------

  39:41
• Common mistakes publicly traded companies make when working with the news media – Mark Basch

  Send us a textIn this episode, Mark Basch joins host Jason Mudd to discuss the common media mistakes publicly traded companies make.Tune in to learn more!Meet our guest:Our episode guest is Mark Basch, a seasoned business journalist with decades of experience covering publicly traded companies. He provides insights on economics, business trends, manufacturing, real estate, and unemployment, drawing from data releases and press statements.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:1. Consequences of companies mishandling bad news2. Best practices for publicly traded companies to work effectively with journalists3. Why preparation and anticipation are key to effective media interactions4. Why understanding media evolution is critical for PR5. The difference between embargoes and advance news, and how to use them strategically Quotables“When something is happening, it's a good idea to preemptively get together with the key people and have a response ready because one of the things that could happen in today's world is the story is going to be posted online and nobody is ready to respond.” — Mark Basch“Clever is great, but it better be accurate.” — Mark Basch“The headline … is designed to get you to read the story but also should tell you what the story is.” — Mark Basch“If you want to make this newsworthy, if you want to get media coverage about your company, its success and its growth, we've got to have credible indicators of how quickly you are growing.” — Jason Mudd“Always prepare, always assume the worst, and have proper preparations.” — Jason Mudd“Have a plan, but have a plan in case the plan fails of what you're going to do secondarily.” — 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.More about Mark BaschMark Basch is a seasoned business journalist who’s covered publicly traded companies for decades. His reporting focuses on economics, business trends, manufacturing, real estate, and unemployment, drawing regularly from data releases and press statements.Guest’s contact info and resources:Mark Basch on LinkedInAdditional resources:The best and worst media relations efforts from public relations professionalsHow to speak with clarity and authority during a crisis11 crisis management tactics to avoid or prepare for a PR disasterThe 4 R’s of media relatSupport 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.

  --------  

  1:04:24

  --------

  1:04:24
• Corporate Gifting Done Right with The Expressory

  Send us a textIn this episode, Jamie Shibley, CEO of The Expressory joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how to strengthen relationships through thoughtful, strategic corporate gifting.Tune in to learn more!Meet Our Guest:Our episode guest is Jamie Shibley, CEO of The Expressory, a strategic engagement agency helping businesses strengthen relationships through thoughtful, relationship-first strategies. She’s a best-selling author and recognized expert in strategic gifting and relationship marketing, with insights featured on “Entertainment Tonight” and Forbes.com.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:1. Strategic and themed gift giving for internal and external audiences2. How to redefine “gifting” beyond presents3. The three emotional pillars that build strong business relationships4. Ethical considerations and best practices for corporate gifting programs5. Why systems and consistency are essential to meaningful engagement Quotables“To form a relationship with somebody, that person needs to feel three things. They need to feel that you understand them, they need to feel that you validate what's important in their world, and they need to feel that you care.” — Jamie Shibley“You recognize that it's not only the people that you already know and have some sort of relationship with. It's about nurturing the ones you want for the long term as well.” — Jamie Shibley“When your vendor partners feel valued and seen, they will work harder for you.” — Jamie Shibley“Sometimes a gift is your smarts. Sometimes a gift is just something that's simply helpful to someone so you don't have to spend. The budget does not matter.” — Jamie Shibley“We would be better off not sending a gift or not sending a note card to somebody if it has something that has a negative unintended consequence or ramifications.” — 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.More About Jamie ShibleyJamie Shibley is the CEO of The Expressory, a strategic engagement agency that believes the key to accelerating business growth and profitability in the post-COVID era lies in your ability to maintain personal connections and build emotional loyalty in your relationships. Jamie is the best-selling author of “Relationship-First Strategic Engagement” and is widely respected as a market leader. Her work has been featured on “Entertainment Tonight” and Forbes.com.Guest’s contact info and resources:Jamie Shibley on LinkedInThe Expressory website“Relationship-First Strategic Engagement” bookRecorded: June 23, 2025Support 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.

  --------  

  40:49

  --------

  40:49
• Market Insights Shape PR – Habitat for Humanity

  Send us a textOur Guest:Our episode guest is Amy Dunham, chief communications officer at Habitat for Humanity International. Overseeing the organization’s global brand, marketing, and communications strategy, she helps reach audiences across all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries. Amy is a seasoned communications leader passionate about using market insights to shape strategy and strengthen engagement worldwide.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:1. How to leverage market insights to shape and guide PR strategy2. The balance of art, science, and passion in effective strategic planning3. Practical ways communicators can advocate for audiences at the strategy table4. How messaging and strategy must stay in lockstep to maintain credibility and consistency across audiences5. How brand perception gaps create opportunities for stronger audience engagement Quotables“The human brain always absorbs things best in threes. And communications know if you’ve got 15 priorities, you have no priorities. When setting priorities, it has to be a clear way to say yes and to say no. If it doesn’t give you the ability to say no, then it’s not really helping you set a strategy.” — Amy Dunham“You can't have good communication or public relations strategy without messaging. They're in lockstep together.” — @JasonMudd9“To really stand out in PR, whatever you're doing, is to make sure you're saying things that are provocative, contrary, and have a unique point of view from what everybody else is saying because otherwise, you're just going to blend in and not stand out.” — @JasonMudd9“It's not a conversation about ‘I know better’ versus ‘you know better.’ It's much more about ‘Here's what the data indicates, and now here's the flexibility to be able to use it in the way that works best in your market.’” — Amy Dunham“It's really through the lens of ‘How can I add value in a way to enable their work?’ rather than to direct how things should get done.” — Amy DunhamIf 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.About Amy DunhamAmy leads Habitat for Humanity’s brand, marketing campaigns, and communications efforts across its global footprint in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 70 countries. Before joining Habitat in 2022, she held brand and communications roles at the NCAA, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and US Airways.Guest’s contact info and resources:Amy (Kudwa) Dunham on LinkedInHabitat for Humanity websiteFact Fullness by Hans RoslingCrucial ConversationsAdditional 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.

  --------  

  29:42

  --------

  29:42
• 95% of AI citations come from PR content

  Send us a textIn this solocast episode, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd discusses why 95% of AI citations come from PR content and how brands can lead with media relations in the age of AI.Tune in to learn more!Five things you’ll learn from this episode:1. Why 95% of AI citations come from PR-driven content2. The six types of content AI trusts most for brand visibility3. How earned media, thought leadership, news coverage, and press releases shape AI search results4. Why reviews, social media, and web content boost generative discovery5. Seven steps to ensure your brand and not your competitors gets cited  Quotables“PR has become the front door to artificial-intelligence-powered discovery.” — @JasonMudd9“PR isn't just part of the marketing mix anymore. It's the backbone of your visibility in 2025, the age of AI.” — @JasonMudd9“AI is shaping first impressions of your brand, and PR determines what AI learns and repeats back to them.” — @JasonMudd9“When you combine earned PR content with the supporting signals, you're feeding AI the content it needs to cite your organization.” — @JasonMudd9“You must feed AI platforms the content they crave that's credible, quotable, and consistent.” — @JasonMudd9If 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.About Jason Mudd, Axia Public RelationsJason Mudd is a trusted adviser and dynamic strategist for some of America’s most admired brands. Since 1994, he’s worked with brands including American Airlines, Budweiser, Dave & Buster’s, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, and Verizon. Jason founded Axia Public Relations in 2002. Forbes named Axia one of America’s Best PR Agencies. At Axia, Jason oversees strategic communications for national clients and leads top PR talent. Clients love his passion, innovation, candor, commitment, and award-winning team. He consults with leadership teams at billion-dollar global business-to-business and business-to-consumer brands, advising them on spokesperson training, crisis communications, analytics, social media, online reputation management, and more. In an increasingly tech-forward world, Jason’s grasp of the technological demands companies face helps his multiple-sector clients reach their target audiences. After teaching himself HTML in 1994, Jason helped pioneer internet marketing strategies as an early adopter of e-commerce, search engine optimization, and social media, inspiring tech giants like Yahoo. He speaks to corporations and industry groups and writes about PR trends and best practices for American City Business Journals and other national outlets.Contact info and resources:Axia AI VisibilitySupport 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.

  --------  

  16:26

  --------

  16:26

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About On Top of PR with Jason Mudd