Why Most PR Fails and How Earned Media Builds Trust - Mickie Kennedy on The Leader’s Mindset Podcast

Most leaders think they understand PR.They don’t.In this episode of The Leader’s Mindset, I sit down with Mickie Kennedy, founder and CEO of eReleases, to break down why most press releases fail, why paid placements quietly destroy credibility, and how real earned media can become one of the most powerful growth levers for executives, founders, and HR leaders.Mickie has helped thousands of companies generate legitimate media coverage — not ads disguised as articles, but real stories written by journalists who care about their audience. In this conversation, he pulls back the curtain on how the media actually works and why storytelling, not promotion, determines who gets coverage and who gets ignored.You’ll learn why “as seen in Forbes” doesn’t always mean what you think it means — and how journalists instantly spot (and discard) press releases that are written for the company instead of the reader. Mickie explains the critical difference between paid media and earned media, and why third-party credibility consistently outperforms advertising when it comes to trust, conversions, and long-term authority.We dive deep into how great PR mirrors great leadership communication. Whether you’re announcing a product, launching a company, rolling out an initiative, or positioning yourself as an industry expert, the same rule applies: if your message doesn’t educate, entertain, or emotionally engage an audience, it won’t land.This episode is packed with real examples — including how small businesses and startups have used story arcs, case studies, industry surveys, and even contrarian viewpoints to land national media coverage, increase conversion rates, reduce customer churn, and differentiate themselves in crowded markets.Mickie also shares powerful lessons from decades in PR, including:• Why journalists prefer underdogs over big brands• How to turn customer success stories into media-ready narratives• When news-jacking works — and when it backfires• Why surveys are one of the most underused PR tools in business• How earned media can directly impact sales, retention, and pricing powerIf you’re a corporate executive, people manager, HR professional, or founder trying to build trust, authority, and visibility — this conversation will fundamentally change how you think about PR and communication.💬 Join the ConversationWhat’s one story inside your business that you’ve been overlooking? Drop a comment below and let’s talk about it.Onward and Upward! 🚀✅ If you got value from this episode, do these 3 things:1) Like this video – It helps more people find these insights.2) Subscribe – New leadership content every week!3) Share this episode with a leader who needs to hear this!📌 Exclusive Leadership ProgramsWant to take your leadership development to the next level?📖 Take charge of your own leadership development with our online program: https://www.leducleadership.com/bethebossprogramIf you’re a Human Resources or Learning and Development professional and have a bunch of leaders you’d like to get trained, check out our corporate Leadership Academy for Tech Managers program: https://www.leducleadership.com/leadershipacademy📅 Ready to elevate your leadership skills? Book a discovery call: https://link.marketingmoneymachine.co/widget/bookings/training-discoveryLet’s create the leaders your team deserves.How to reach Mickie:Website: https://www.ereleases.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/publicity/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ereleasespr/How to reach Jason LeDuc:Email: [email protected]: https://www.leducleadership.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-leduc-3469823/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leducleadership