How Real PR Works w/ Cathy Cardenas :: Ep 284 The Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast

Publicist and entertainment manager Cathy Cardenas joins the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast to unpack how real PR works in 2024: word-of-mouth over ads, picking the right clients, protecting reputations in the internet age, and keeping faith at the center through brutal personal seasons.Cathy and Jim swap radio war stories, talk about WWE and NFL stars, dig into hard lessons from bad clients, and break down what it actually takes to be “PR ready” as a brand or business. Cathy also shares how she built her agency almost entirely on referrals, launched a clothing line and a faith-based podcast, and walked through a year that included losing her mom and her son’s cancer battle.Timed highlights:00:00 Self-employed life and intro to the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast05:00 Launching a PR firm in a financial crisis and the Lucha Libre breakthrough07:18 Why her entire PR business is built on word-of-mouth10:33 Turning people away: “You’re not ready for PR yet”18:22 The “Ferrari principle” of being selective with clients26:45 The “I want a Gary V content machine on a $60K salary” conversation30:41 From Lucha Libre to TNA Wrestling and working with Hulk Hogan33:38 NFL, NBA, WWE, Danica Patrick, Danica McKellar, and Donovan McNabb42:33 How the internet changed crisis and reputation management51:24 Thank-you notes, fan engagement, and the Taylor Swift playbook58:00 Hope Wear Clothing, Grace Begins podcast, and giving back59:43 Losing her mom and her son’s cancer year – and which clients stayed1:03:43 Her son’s cancer-free update and why she added consultingmmtbp.comCathyCardenas.com@GraceBeginsThePodcast on Youtube