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In this episode, Jessica Pantages joins host Jason Mudd to explore how AI is reshaping storytelling and public relations

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Our Guest:

Our episode guest is Jessica Pantages, Egnyte’s chief communications officer. With more than 20 years of experience in aerospace, construction, consumer tech, and agriculture, Jessica leads the global corporate marketing team at Egnyte, a B2B software company focused on collaboration, governance, and AI-enhanced solutions. She brings deep insight into how marketing and PR professionals can responsibly and strategically integrate AI into their communications work.

Five things you’ll learn from this episode:

1. How AI is enhancing PR storytelling and content workflows

2. Why marketers must understand prompt crafting and data literacy

3. Ways PR pros can use AI to develop personalized media pitches and optimize translation at scale

4. The importance of AI governance, including style guides, usage policies, and compliance tracking

5. How communications professionals can evolve into “story systems architects”

Quotables

“Humans will set the narrative arc and the ethics. Machines will handle the infinite micro stories.” — @JessicaPantages

“If you try to avoid AI now, you're just going to find yourself in a heap of trouble in the future.” — @JessicaPantages

“Treat AI like any other vendor. You need a usage log, disclosure rules, and a style guide.” — @JessicaPantages

“We're just at the beginning of figuring out the prompts that give us usable drafts.” — @JessicaPantages

“AI is a great beginning, but a terrible ending. It still needs human oversight.” — @JasonMudd9

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.

About Jessica Pantages

Jessica Pantages is the chief communications officer at Egnyte, where she leads the company’s global corporate marketing and communications strategy. With over two decades of experience across aerospace, construction, consumer tech, and B2B software, Jessica brings a deep understanding of how to connect complex technology with real-world audiences.

At Egnyte, she helps teams leverage AI to streamline workflows, enhance storytelling, and maintain brand integrity at scale. Her leadership has been instrumental in navigating major company milestones, including a recent acquisition, and in guiding her team through the evolving landscape of content creation, governance, and digital engagement. Jessica is passionate about blending human creativity with machine insight to shape the future of PR and marketing.

Guest’s contact info and resources:

Jessica Pantages on X

Jessica Pantages on LinkedIn

Egnyte

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• On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.
• On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

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In this episode, Vannyda Thach joins host Jason Mudd to discuss expert strategies for media pitching and journalist relationships

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Our Guest:

Vannyda Thach is the Head of Media Success at Qwoted. With a background in media relations and digital communications, Vannyda helps journalists find trusted sources and build meaningful relationships through the Qwoted platform. Her experience spans PR campaign management, social media strategy, and work with major entertainment events, including Disney’s “Big Hero 6” premiere.

Five things you’ll learn from this episode:

1. Why building relationships (and not just landing placements) is the foundation of good media pitching

2. The difference between cold pitches and media query responses — and how to craft both effectively

3. Best practices for using Qwoted to match sources with journalists quickly and accurately

4. How personalization, clarity, and relevance impact whether journalists notice or ignore a pitch

5. The role of urgency and profile optimization in earning top-tier media coverage

Quotables

“You want to be unique. You want to have your own take on the topic.” — @VannydaThach

“Remember to call the journalist by their name. If your pitch isn’t personalized, they’ll see right through it.” — @VannydaThach

“Pitching media is about being helpful, not selling. Focus on building the relationship.” — @JasonMudd9

“Don’t ghost reporters. Communicate early if something changes. It’s all about respect.” — @JasonMudd9

“Journalists are busy and under pressure. The more complete your profile, the more credibility you have.” — @VannydaThach

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us though Buy Me a Coffee or by leavinging us a quick podcast review.

About Vannyda Thach

Vannyda Thach is the Head of Media Success at Qwoted, a platform dedicated to connecting journalists with expert sources. Based in Los Angeles, she leads a team committed to supporting media professionals — including journalists, freelancers, podcasters, and producers by facilitating connections with the right experts for their stories, even under tight deadlines.

With a journalism and public relations background, Vannyda earned her bachelor's degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from California State University, Long Beach. Her career began with roles such as a communications intern at AARP and public relations manager for DisneyExaminer. She later joined Citizen Relations, progressing from a junior account executive to senior account executive, managing PR campaigns and fostering media relationships.

At Qwoted, Vannyda leverages her PR experience to assist journalists in finding trusted sources and building meaningful relationships through the platform. She emphasizes the importance of being helpful over selling in media pitching and building genuine connections with reporters.

Guest’s c

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• On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.
• On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

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In this episode, Bill Zimmerman joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how the creator economy is transforming public relations and marketing strategy.

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Our Guest:

Our episode guest is Bill Zimmerman, a professor in the College of Communications at Penn State University. With a background in journalism and public relations, he recently authored a textbook on the creator economy. His academic work focuses on preparing students for the evolving landscape of influencer marketing, content creation, and digital media strategy.

Five things you’ll learn from this episode:

1. Why brands must understand the difference between influencers and content creators

2. The power of evaluating creators’ niche audiences instead of just follower count

3. Why trust, disclosure, and transparency are crucial in influencer partnerships

4. How to build an effective creator brief and why it matters for brand alignment

5. Tools and trends shaping the future of influencer marketing and PR education

Quotables

“Trust is the currency of the creator economy. It must be earned and maintained.” — @BillZimmerman

“A million followers doesn’t mean a million buyers. Engagement matters more.” — @BillZimmerman

“Creators are trusted more than institutions because they deliver real talk and transparency.” — @BillZimmerman

“You hire a creator for their voice. Over-directing the message kills authenticity.” — @JasonMudd9

“Disclosure isn’t optional. It’s ethical, smart, and legally required.” — @JasonMudd9

“The creator brief is quickly becoming the backbone of successful campaigns.” — @BillZimmerman

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.

About Bill Zimmerman
Bill Zimmerman is an assistant teaching professor at Penn State University’s College of Communications. He brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles as a newspaper reporter and PR professional. Bill holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and another in higher education from Penn State, along with accreditation in public relations.

A thought leader in the evolving world of digital media and PR education, Bill authored a textbook on the creator economy and is launching a content creator certificate program at Penn State. His work is helping shape how future PR and marketing professionals approach influencer strategy, creator partnerships, and audience trust in the digital age.

Guest’s contact info and resources:

Bill Zimmerman on LinkedIn

Understanding the Creator Economy: Making Digital Media Work for You

Additional Resources:

Influential.co

Support the show

• On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.
• On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.