How to DIY PR headlines with AFR, The Australian, ABC and Mamamia with Melissa Reader | Ep 106
Release Date: 03/30/2025
DIY PR pitching to US media with Brett Farmiloe, CEO of HARO | Ep 115
Hack Your Own PR
In this episode of Hack Your Own PR, the podcast that helps founders and change-makers tell their story, build credibility without needing a big PR budget, we’re chatting with Brett Farmiloe, the Founder and CEO of Featured, and the owner of the iconic Help a Reporter Out — HARO. Brett is literally in the thick of the AI world right now. What I love about Brett is that he sits at this fascinating intersection between expert sourcing, media opportunities, and the evolving world of AI visibility. He’s seen every mistake people make when pitching themselves. He knows what...
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How to pitch to Sunrise with Laura Francis | Ep 114
Hack Your Own PR
In this episode of Hack Your Own PR! with Odette Barry, we take you inside one of the most dynamic, fast-paced environments in Australian media — breakfast television. Odette is joined by Laura Francis, the Managing Editor of Sunrise, where she oversees the editorial direction, content strategy, and daily rhythm of the country’s highest-rating morning show. She’s the one shaping the stories you sip your coffee to every morning — from breaking news and political hot topics, to consumer segments and yes, the occasional tap-dancing dachshund. If you’ve ever wondered what it...
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Pitching 6pm Nine News features with Meredith Marks | Ep 113
Hack Your Own PR
In this episode of Hack Your Own PR, the podcast where we pull back the curtain on what actually works in modern PR and media, host Odette Barry, publicist, and the founder of Odette & Co chats with someone who sits at the coalface of mainstream television journalism, Meredith Marks, Features & Investigations Producer at Nine News in Sydney. Meredith has spent over 20 years in news from the trenches of 4am radio starts and election campaign media rooms, to the high-pressure deadlines of 6pm news bulletins. These days, she’s the powerhouse behind many of the feature stories you...
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Lucy Asker on Cultivating Influence at MECCA | Ep 112
Hack Your Own PR
Today’s Hack Your Own PR guest is someone who has built one of the most enviable PR careers in Australian beauty! Joining us is Lucy Asker, Head of PR & Influencer at MECCA Brands, an enviable role she’s earned through more than a decade of strategic, creative, and deeply connected work in the world of communications. From her early days cutting her teeth at Two Birds Talking and AMPR, through to her time in London leading beauty accounts and business development at b. the communications agency, Lucy’s career has spanned continents and some of the world’s biggest beauty brands....
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How to Pitch to Ready or Not with Lucinda McKimm
Hack Your Own PR
In this episode of Hack Your Own PR, Odette Barry is joined by Lucinda McKimm, journalist-turned-podcaster, producer, and co-host of Ready or Not. Lucinda has built one of Australia’s most dynamic podcasts exploring the collision of motherhood, career, and feminism. With her background in sports media and branded content at Cricket Australia, plus years of freelancing and yoga teaching on the side, she brings both grit and creativity to a rapidly growing platform that now spans three weekly shows. We dive into the reality of producing high-calibre, independent content while raising kids,...
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How to pitch to Today Extra with Cosi Toni | Ep 110
Hack Your Own PR
In this episode, I’m joined by Cosi Toni, Executive Producer of Channel Nine’s Today Extra and all-around legend of live television. With nearly a decade of experience across producing, segment wrangling and live control room chaos, Cosi brings an infectious energy and razor-sharp editorial instinct to one of Australia’s longest-running lifestyle programs. We talk about what really goes on behind the scenes of a two-and-a-half-hour daily live show, how she maps out a week of segments across celebrity, consumer, health, real-life stories and news — and what makes a pitch...
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How to pitch to SBS Food with Sudeshna Ghosh | Ep 109
Hack Your Own PR
In this episode, I’m joined by Sudeshna Ghosh, cross-platform content wizard and current Managing Editor at SBS Food. With a career spanning TV, print, magazines and digital across India, Dubai and Australia, Sudeshna brings a global sensibility to local storytelling — and a deep appreciation for the way food connects us across cultures. At SBS Food, Sudeshna leads the online and social ecosystem, where recipes, editorial, and digital content come together to celebrate Australia’s rich multicultural identity. From commissioning features and developing social video, to championing...
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How to pitch to Two Doting Dads with Jessica Smalley | Ep 108
Hack Your Own PR
In this episode, I’m joined by Jessica Smalley — producer, storyteller and comedic strategist behind , a weekly parenting podcast hosted by Matty J and Ash that’s reshaping the way men talk about fatherhood. After producing business deep-dives for Mark Bouris, Jess pivoted to the parenting aisle — bringing her systems brain, strategic storytelling and creative intuition to a show that’s part chaos, part catharsis, and entirely relatable. With a growing audience of mostly 29–35 year old women (and their partners), Two Doting Dads offers the kind of parenting convos you’d usually...
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How to pitch to 9Honey with Jo Abi | Ep 107
Hack Your Own PR
In this episode, I’m joined by Jo Abi, senior writer at 9Honey and one of the most refreshingly honest and compassionate voices in Australian media. With a background in radio, over a decade in digital journalism, and a side-hustle writing from the trenches of parenting three neurodivergent kids, Jo has a deep understanding of what makes a story resonate. At 9Honey, Jo writes across consumer, lifestyle, and real-life content — often drawing on her own lived experience and relentless curiosity (yes, she once wrote a whole article sparked by chickpeas on sale at Woolies). She’s known...
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How to DIY PR headlines with AFR, The Australian, ABC and Mamamia with Melissa Reader | Ep 106
Hack Your Own PR
In this episode of Hack Your Own PR, we’re joined by Melissa Reader, CEO of Violet, whose journey from profound personal loss to leading social change is nothing short of inspiring. Through Violet, Melissa is helping us all navigate life’s final chapters with grace, humanity, and proactive planning. Over the past year, Melissa’s voice has been everywhere, from AFR, The Australian and ABC to SmartCompany, Mamamia, and Women’s Agenda. Her work is not just about practical end-of-life planning but about igniting broader social conversations on ageing, living well, and preparing...
info_outlineIn this episode of Hack Your Own PR, we’re joined by Melissa Reader, CEO of Violet, whose journey from profound personal loss to leading social change is nothing short of inspiring. Through Violet, Melissa is helping us all navigate life’s final chapters with grace, humanity, and proactive planning.
Over the past year, Melissa’s voice has been everywhere, from AFR, The Australian and ABC to SmartCompany, Mamamia, and Women’s Agenda. Her work is not just about practical end-of-life planning but about igniting broader social conversations on ageing, living well, and preparing for what lies ahead.
Melissa shares how learning to DIY her PR, including her experience with Authority Brand and Meet The Media, and working with Hack Your Own PR host Odette Barry as a mentor, has amplified her message and driven real impact. We dive into the strategies behind her media wins, her approach to thought leadership, and why being proactive—whether for your media presence or your life—is a game-changer.
In this episode, Melissa shares:
- The importance of proactive planning: Whether it’s for end-of-life care or PR strategy, preparing early can prevent stress and ensure clarity.
- How to DIY your PR effectively: Melissa explains why founders and social change leaders should learn the PR ropes themselves before outsourcing.
- Why testing and iterating is critical: She reveals how experimenting with messaging and being open to feedback helped her find a narrative that resonated widely.
Key Lessons:
- Plan ahead: Like preparing a birth plan, planning for life's final chapters or your PR strategy can make all the difference.
- Stay authentic in PR: Don’t fully outsource your voice. Keeping close to your messaging ensures it remains true to your mission.
- Embrace feedback: Testing your messaging and refining it based on responses can lead to stronger, more effective communication.
Melissa Reader suggests avoiding:
- Vanity metrics in PR: Instead of chasing meaningless numbers, focus on measurable, tangible results.
- Avoidant language around death: Using direct and honest language helps normalise important conversations.
- Over-extending yourself as a change maker: Self-care and setting boundaries are essential to avoid burnout.
With her thoughtful approach to both social change and PR, Melissa Reader offers invaluable insights for changemakers, social entrepreneurs, and anyone looking to build a meaningful media presence.
Watch the Big Ideas Masterclass
https://diyprhub.mykajabi.com/Big-Ideas-Masterclass
Find Odette Barry online:
https://www.odetteandco.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/odetteandco/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/odette-barry/
Find Melissa Reader online: