Smart in Public

If you've been quietly doom-scrolling job boards and wondering if it's just you — it's not. The communications job market is genuinely hard right now, and nobody's being fully honest about why and what to do.Daniel Méndez Aróstica built #CommsJobs because he lived it. After making the leap from Chile to the US, he found himself navigating an overwhelming system and decided to fix it for everyone else too. What started as a hashtag became one of the most useful communities for communicators in transition.In this episode, Daniel gets real about what's actually happening in the market, why job descriptions are becoming increasingly disconnected from reality, and what the hidden job market actually means in 2026.What we get into:🌎 How Daniel built a global community of comms pros 20k+ strong💼 The brutal truth about the current communications job market — and why the "it'll bounce back" crowd might be wrong🤝 Why "network when you don't need anything" isn't just a platitude and what that actually looks like in practice🤖 AI's real impact on hiring in communications (and how to use it before it uses you)🎯 How to find the jobs that never get posted and why following real people beats job boards every timeThe candidates landing roles right now aren't the most qualified — they're the most prepared. There's a difference, and Daniel explains exactly what it looks like.Whether you're actively searching, quietly considering your options, or trying to future-proof your career, this one's worth your full attention.Connect with us on:InstagramTikTokWebHave a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

What does it actually take to build an AI product for an industry that's still figuring out what AI means for its future?Michelle Masek and Nadia Jamshidi didn't wait around for someone else to answer that question. As co-founders of Honey Jar — an AI co-pilot built specifically for PR and communications — they're in the middle of one of the most interesting experiments in the industry right now: betting that the practitioners who feel most disrupted by AI are actually the ones who'll benefit most from it.In this episode, the Katies get into the real story behind Honey Jar including the messy, honest account of what it's like to build a comms tool while navigating a VC landscape that doesn't always understand what communications professionals actually do all day.We cover:🍯 Why Honey Jar exists — and what early users are saying about it (including the feedback that stung)🤖 The hallucination problem nobody wants to talk about — LLMs are impressive and unreliable in equal measure. Michelle and Nadia are refreshingly direct about what that means for PR practitioners trying to use AI tools responsibly.📱 Who this is actually built for — solo PR pros and early-stage founders are the underserved sweet spot here, and the case they make is hard to argue with💰 What it's like pitching a PR tool to VCs — spoiler: investors who've never had to write a press release at 11pm have some... interesting takes on the market opportunity🔄 The evolving role of young professionals — how the next generation of comms practitioners is already reshaping what this work looks like"The future is applied AI for every profession." Not AI as a replacement — AI as infrastructure. The comms professionals who figure out how to build on top of that infrastructure are the ones who'll matter in five years.We're in a moment of rapid AI-driven change, and the tools are still catching up to the vision. Honey Jar is an early bet on where the industry is going — and this conversation is a useful window into both the opportunity and the very real challenges of getting there.Whether you're a solo practitioner trying to compete with larger agencies, a founder who can't afford a full comms team yet, or a communications leader figuring out your AI strategy, this episode has something uncomfortable and useful for you.Connect with us on:InstagramTikTokWebHave a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

This week, the Katies sit down with Michael O’Brien, CEO of Highwire, and Cortney Stapleton, Chief Strategy & Business Officer at Highwire (and former CEO of The Bliss Group), to unpack what really happens when PR agencies merge.We go behind the January acquisition of The Bliss Group by Highwire and explore:Why agency consolidation doesn’t mean the agency model is dyingHow they managed talent through the transition (and avoided the typical post-acquisition talent exodus)What clients cared about most during this kind of changeHow AI and technology are reshaping PR work, tech stacks, and junior rolesWhat the agency of the future looks like — from mid-sized independents to global behemothsIf you’re an agency leader, an in-house comms pro, or a junior practitioner wondering what an acquisition means for your job (and your career), this conversation is a candid, practical look at the future of PR agencies.Chapters00:00 - Introduction to the Future of PR Agencies01:19 - The Acquisition Journey: Insights from Highwire and Bliss Group06:26 - Cultural Integration and Team Dynamics Post-Acquisition08:42 - Managing Talent During Transitions: Transparency is Key14:56 - Client Reactions and Expectations During Acquisitions20:39 - The State of the Agency Model: Myths and Realities23:44 - Navigating the Talent Market in a Changing Landscape23:54 - Navigating Agency Consolidation and Talent Retention27:55 - The Role of AI in Agency Innovation34:10 - Future of Agency Landscape and Technology Integration40:44 - Evolving Roles and Skills in the Agency World43:40 - Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of AIConnect with us on:InstagramTikTokWebHave a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

In this episode of Smart in Public, The Katies sit down with Kerry Flynn, reporter at Axios, to unpack the seismic shifts reshaping media, marketing, and communications and try to understand what it all means for PR professionals, founders, and marketers trying to figure it all out.Kerry brings a rare insider perspective on how the creator economy, AI, and media consolidation are colliding to create an entirely new playbook for communications peeps.What we cover in this episode:The power shift from institutions to individuals — Why individual journalists and creators now hold more influence than legacy media brands, and how to build relationships in this new realityCreators as strategic partners — The evolution from treating creators as distribution channels to recognizing them as sophisticated marketing operators (hint: "Creators are the best operators")AI's real impact on journalism and PR — Beyond the hype, what AI is actually changing about content creation, pitching, and the future of SEO vs. generative searchThe long-form content comeback — Why quality, in-depth content is more valuable than ever in an AI-saturated landscape, and where YouTube fits into the equationB2B creators on the rise — The emerging class of niche industry creators that smart brands should be partnering with nowAgency consolidation and the boutique advantage — How media agencies are restructuring and what it means for how brands access communications expertiseRethinking your pitching strategy — Why the fragmented media landscape demands an entirely new approach to media relationsWhether you're a communications professional rethinking your media strategy, a founder figuring out how to tell your story, or a marketer navigating the creator economy, this conversation is packed with actionable insights you can use right now.Chapters00:00 - Introduction 02:41 - Shifts in the Media Landscape10:03 - The Role of Creators in Marketing18:45 - The Future of Advertising and Creator Partnerships28:54 - AI's Impact on Content Creation and Journalism30:00 - Legal Precedents in AI and Fair Use32:58 - The Shift from SEO to Generative AI35:49 - AI in Content Creation: Opportunities and Pitfalls39:00 - The Evolving Role of Journalists in an AI-Driven World42:00 - The Future of Long-Form Content46:00 - Agency Consolidation and the Rise of Boutique Firms51:01 - Understanding Media Professionals' Needs53:58 - The Fragmented Media Landscape56:59 - Predictions for the Future of Media and PRConnect with us on:InstagramTikTokWebHave a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

This week, Brooke Hammerling, founder of The New New Thing, joins the Katies for a Pop Culture Monday x Smart in Public mashup episode.Brooke has seen the PR industry from every angle -- from building reputations for founders before "founder brand" was a thing, navigating crisis moments when social media didn't exist yet, being in the ear of some of the world's most important executives, and decoding culture weekly for thousands of newsletter subscribers. In this episode, she dissects how we're going in the world through the lens of pop culture.We cover:🎯 Super Bowl ads — Which brands actually landed and which ones burned millions on forgettable creative (Brooke doesn't hold back)🔥 The tech trust collapse — Why the playbooks that built Silicon Valley's reputation are now actively working against it💡 Crisis PR in the social media age — How the speed and scale of online culture has fundamentally broken traditional crisis management📱 Culture as a communications skill — Why understanding pop culture isn't a nice-to-have, it's the new competitive advantage for PR professionals🧠 Looksmaxxing and the future of our youth — Social media's impact on young people, shifting beauty standards, and what communicators need to understand about the next generation of audiencesChapters02:56 - Reflections on Loss and Cultural Impact05:59 - Navigating Celebrity Culture: LA vs. New York08:59 - Brooke Hammerling's Journey in PR and Communications15:00 - The New New Thing: Strategic Advisory for Founders18:02 - The Teflon Founder: A Case Study on Mark Benioff21:52 - Pop Culture Mondays: The Birth of a Newsletter26:06 - Navigating the Speed of Culture27:45 - Pop Culture Monday Highlights28:37 - Bad Bunny's Impact at the Super Bowl30:16 - Cultural Representation and Misunderstandings32:55 - The Role of Social Media in Public Perception34:56 - The NFL's Global Branding Strategy36:35 - Super Bowl Ads: Hits and Misses39:53 - AI in Advertising: A Double-Edged Sword42:14 - Communication Strategies in Crisis46:00 - Transparency and Trust in Tech Companies47:24 - The Erosion of Trust in Tech50:00 - The Role of Relationships in PR52:00 - The Impact of Outrage Culture53:58 - Fashion and Pop Culture in the Olympics56:01 - Looks Maxing and Its Implications01:01:01 - The Changing Landscape of MasculinityAbout Brooke: Brooke Hammerling is the founder of The New New Thing, a strategic communications advisory firm that she launched in 2020, working with clients across tech and media. She has spent more than 25 years helping tech entrepreneurs and business leaders shape their communications strategies. In 2005, Brooke started Brew PR, a pioneering media relations agency that represented some of the most renowned and disruptive tech companies. Brew was sold to London-based PR firm Freuds in 2016. Brooke also created the “Pop Culture Mondays” newsletter, a weekly round-up of the biggest news and trends in pop culture, and hosts the accompanying “Pop Culture Mondays… on Thursdays” podcast. Brooke divides her time between New York and Los Angeles.Connect with us on:InstagramTikTokWebHave a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

In the spirit of Season 3's unofficial theme of 'are we helping or hurting', The Katies take to Reddit to uncover some of the questions that are on our fellow comm's folks minds. Did we give some good advice? Hopefully! Did we have fun pretending like we're not both individual contributors in our day jobs? Definitely!Whether you're an intern trying to break into PR, a mid-level pro feeling stuck, or an agency leader managing impossible client demands, this episode might be just what you needed to hear to turn on your heels and change careers -- lol, JK. We do our best to try to navigate every question the same way we would if we were in a off-the-cuff career conversation in the hallway. It's a Katie & Katie Special after all, so this one guarantees to be fun!Hot topics include:🔥 Have client expectations have gone off the rails? 💼 Is the internship-to-job pipeline is broken?🚪 Can gatekeeping kill careers? 📱 Is paid media ownership a comms land-grab? Connect with us on:InstagramTikTokWebHave a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

What happens when one of tech's sharpest communications minds crosses over to the investment side? Ashley Mayer, co-founder and GP at Coalition, made the  leap from leading comms at some of the most talked-about startups to backing them and the Katies want to know what she's learned sitting in both seats. Ashley unpacks the messy reality of startup storytelling, why the "chief storyteller" title usually falls on founders whether they want it or not, and how the tech industry's current anti-hero moment is forcing communicators to completely rethink their playbooks. We covered some pretty awesome shit:🔥 The VC perspective flip - Sitting on the investor side completely changed her understanding of what communications actually delivers for businesses🎭 The anti-hero era explained - Why tech's moral complexity moment requires a totally different communications approach than the "change the world" narrative from 5 years ago🛡️ Psychological safety for founders - Founders need a safe space to explore their company's story before they can tell it publicly📊 Active operators vs. traditional VCs - How Coalition's model of actual operators creates different (and better) support for portfolio companies🧭 Navigating narrative shifts - Practical advice on adapting your messaging to the current zeitgeist without abandoning your core valuesConnect with us on:InstagramTikTokWebHave a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

We're back, baby. Season 3 kicks off with what we're now calling a Katie & Katie Special. We felt like the distinction was necessary considering how many guests we have coming your way, so sit back, relax, and listen to us argue about localizing events, AI, and a bunch of other shit.We cover two case studies about the future of events without people in mind & what it actually means to build a personal brand when everyone is screaming for attention. You'll hear a lot of...🎙️ Real talk about the real stuff - From twin parenting chaos to holiday survival stories, this isn't your typical season premiere corporate speak (you should know this about us by now though, right??)🤖  Arguing about AI - How do you stay genuinely you when AI can now mimic your voice, style, and expertise? (Hint: it's harder than you think)📱 Questions about personal branding - The landscape shifted while we were on break, and what worked six months ago is already outdated🎬 Ideas on how to earn attention in the attention economy - Why the old media playbook is officially dead and what's replacing it💼 Agreeing to disagree on the content creation crisis - Traditional media jobs are vanishing, but new opportunities are emerging for people who get itPLUS authenticity just became your only competitive advantage. In a world where AI can generate technically perfect content at scale, being actually yourself (aka messy, opinionated, human) is the only thing machines can't replicate. We break down why this matters more for communications professionals than any tactical tip you'll hear this year.PLUS PLUS: What government funding for South x Southwest reveals about the future of media events, why adaptability isn't optional anymore, and how to balance maintaining your individual voice while building something bigger.Connect with us on:InstagramTikTokWebHave a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

Hello from down unda! We're on the same time zone for the first time for a year and wanted to take a quick moment to wrap up Season 2 with a gratitude bow. Thank you to everyone for tuning and chiming in -- we still can't believe that our little passion project has turned into the platform that it has! We'll be back for Season 3 mid-January 2026 with some guests that we're extremely excited about!! Until then, have a very happy holidays and in the meantime we'll be photoshopping our heads onto Sydney Sweeney's body.xoxo,The KatiesConnect with us on:InstagramTikTokWebHave a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com

Crisis communications expert Tara Goodwin has seen it all: executives freezing under pressure, companies making bad situations catastrophically worse, and the rare leaders who actually nail it when everything's on fire. In this no-BS conversation with the Katies, Tara shares why most organizations are dangerously unprepared for inevitable crises and what actually works when your reputation is on the line.Most CEOs don't have a dedicated crisis plan. They're operating on vibes, crossing their fingers, and hoping their "strong company culture" will save them. In theory, this type of CEO sounds like a fun person who you'd want to have a beer with. But in reality this mentality is a bomb waiting to go off.Why this episode slaps:🚨 The preparation gap - Why "we'll figure it out when it happens" is the most expensive strategy in business (and why most executives still believe it)👥 Your employees are your crisis team - How the most underutilized asset in crisis communications is sitting in your Slack channels right now⚡ Speed vs. perfection - Why social media has made your 24-hour response window obsolete, and what crisis communicators are doing instead💰 Accountability is your superpower - The counterintuitive reason why owning your mistakes faster actually limits damage (not extends it)🧠 The executive toll nobody talks about - The emotional and psychological impact on leaders during crises that changes how you should structure your crisis team🤖 AI's crisis planning advantage - How smart teams are using AI for scenario planning without letting robots write their actual crisis responsesThe Hot Takes That'll Make You Rethink Everything:Tara and the Katies dive deep into three recent crisis case studies that reveal exactly what works (and what fails spectacularly):Astronomer's Coldplay Gate and the slow responsesThe Tylenol autism litigation crisis - When letting lawyers control communications for too long undermines your public credibilityJimmy Kimmel's FCC showdown - Perfect crisis PR in action: emotional accountability without full apology, thanking enemies, and flipping the narrativeSydney Sweeney's response strategy - Why ego and perception management can make or break your crisis comebackWhy Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni just can't seem to let it go.Crisis management isn't about avoiding mistakes—it's about having the infrastructure, team diversity, and emotional resilience to respond effectively when (not if) things go sideways. Proactive planning and backwards mapping from worst-case scenarios prevents escalation that reactive organizations never recover from.Your crisis plan needs to account for the fact that transparency isn't just expected anymore—it's demanded. Your employees will talk, social media will accelerate everything, and your window for controlling the narrative gets smaller every year.Read Tara's book: Manage the Message, Change the Outcome: An Executive’s Guide to Crisis ManagementThank you Tara for coming on the show!!!!!!Connect with us on:InstagramTikTokWebHave a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com