What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about publicity? After I think about celebrities, perfume ads, TMZ, and shameless attention-seekers, I say, “I guess it’s not for me.” Thankfully, today’s guest is on the show to make me laugh and correct my thinking because PR is for everyone. KJ Blattenbauer is a publicist, author, and speaker who helps founders and experts move from overlooked to in-demand through credibility-driven visibility. In our conversation, she gives actionable steps on making sure your visibility is connected to your goals and your audience; it’s about service and storytelling. She also shares the importance of not giving up when someone says no, that all you need is a sprinkling of audacity to make a difference, why it doesn’t hurt to try something a million times, and why you can never have too much passion.

• Hearsay PR
• Pitchworthy: The No-Fluff Playbook to Publicity That Pays Off by KJ Blattenbauer
• Aaron Rodgers: Enigma (TV Series 2024)
• “Untold” – The Fall of Favre (TV Series 2025)
• I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not (2025)
• Three Amigos! (1986)
• Tree Paine – Taylor Swift’s Publicist
• P.T. Barnum
• We Need Your Art: Stop Messing Around and Making Something by Amie McNee
• Threads

Rejection is on my mind today. Yes, it’s because I got rejected for something I actually wanted. But there’s also a deeper reason: Somewhere along my creative journey, I learned to minimize rejection by playing-it-safe, making my dreams small, and maximizing my chameleon tendencies. Recently, Shae Omonijo shared a short video on Substack about her plan for 2026: “Collect 1K rejections.” A lot ran through my mind after seeing the video, “1,000 rejections? One hurt enough! Are you a glutton for punishment?” I think my brain short-circuited when I watched it, but it didn’t take long for the truth to be revealed: I’m a chicken and I’m tired of being scared. If you are someone who has big dreams, but shove them aside because you have an unhealthy relationship with rejection, then this episode’s for you. Oh, and don’t worry, I’m preaching to the choir here because this is the work I need to do for myself as well.

1. Know what you actually want.
2. Adopt a rejection mindset.
3. Stop waiting and start moving.
4. Dream bigger and share often.
5. Allow yourself to change.
6. Learn to separate rejection from failure.
7. Become an advocate for yourself, your wants, and needs.

• Shae O. – “Collect 1K Rejections” video
• Finding Mastery
• Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D.
• Episode photo by Jan Antonin Kolar on Unsplash