Take #71 - PR 101, Part 2: Earned Media, Creator Careers & the Truth About the Guest List

PR insiders Megan Taylor (SVP, Faulhaber Communications) and Rob Loschiavo (Partner, Pomp & Circumstance) return for PR 101, Part 2: the no-hedging, behind-the-curtain conversation on where PR and the creator economy really stand in 2026. This week they get into the stuff most brands won't say out loud — why your relationship with a brand matters more than your follower count, how "different levels of access" can be built on purpose without making anyone feel like a second-class guest, and what earned media actually means today. Megan and Rob also break down how to launch a creator career from a standing start with a test-and-learn mindset, and why management agencies can quietly inflate your costs (and where they genuinely earn their keep). Plus: an inside look at the Footy Fade studio they built for FanDuel Canada during the World Cup, the ROI shift from awareness to performance, and the one thing AI still can't touch — the human element that keeps this whole industry running. If you want the honest version of how brands, creators, and PR really work in 2026, this is it. In this episode: (09:05) Have a relationship with the brand — why specificity beats "can I come to the party?" (14:04) What earned media actually means today (17:12) Different levels of access, on purpose — without a second-class baseline (21:12) Starting from zero: the test-and-learn playbook for new creators (26:25) Inside the Footy Fade studio for FanDuel Canada (35:05) Are management agencies worth it? Where they add value vs. inflate cost (38:39) The one thing AI can't replace New here? Start with PR 101, Part 1. Follow the show so you don't miss what's next, and share this one with a creator or brand marketer who needs the honest version.