The PR Whisperer

Author, Crisis Communications Expert, Strategic Communications Advisor

Blog

What Can the Uncle Nearest Farm Credit Lawsuit Teach Us?

I have been completely captivated by Fawn Weaver and the Uncle Nearest brand, which Weaver and her husband Keith built from the ground up. For years, I was blown away by their meteoric rise, purported $1.1 billion valuation, and impact on the bourbon industry. I actually wanted to interview Mrs. Weaver on a podcast I …

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What To Make of the Uncle Nearest Lawsuit

In 2024, Forbes noted that Uncle Nearest, founded by Fawn and Keith Weaver, was valued at $1.1 billion. This is a point of pride for many in the Black community; a Black woman at the helm of a billion-dollar enterprise that she and her husband built from the ground up. Even for Black people who …

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Here’s How to Maximize Your Relationship with Your PR Pro

You have work to do. And your trusted public relations professional wants to help. In order to maximize the relationship, there are a couple things to keep in mind. Clearly define your goals and expectations. At the start of any new working relationship – and any new campaign – it is important to clearly state …

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I’m a Crisis Communications Expert: Here’s How I Would Have Advised Shannon Sharpe

Some people spend their lifetimes trying to get rich. Persons who are wealthy and wise spend their time thinking about how to protect what they’ve amassed. For this reason, what good is wealth without wisdom? That’s why I was dumbfounded by the crisis involving Shannon Sharpe. People at Sharpe’s level need to spend  more time …

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We Should Not Give in to Despair

When I read about the civil rights movement as a teen, I often marveled at the courage of freedom fighters. I tried to place myself in the shoes of those who participated in the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Freedom Rides, Mississippi Freedom Summer, or other campaigns for justice. I thought about the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, …

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The Two Most Stressful Parts of a Church Service

For a lot of people, there are two particularly stressful components of a church service: the offering and the altar call. For people who have been members of churches that were aggressive when it came to raising funds or an offering, the offering can be stressful. There are also people who want to give, but …

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Jess Hilarious and Loren LoRosa: There’s Room for Us All

Comedian and radio personality Jess Moore, publicly known as Jess Hilarious, went viral after publicly hashing out concerns with her co-hosts on The Breakfast Club (TBC). In an Instagram live, Moore compared the eponymous morning show to high school. Chief among her concerns was returning from maternity leave and realizing the person whom she selected …

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DEI Reversals a Reminder that Companies Will Do What’s Convenient

Companies who value equity must also stick with marginalized communities even when the wealthy oppose their doing so. A number of people are in an uproar over major corporations’ decision to roll back policies that advance diversity, equity and inclusion. In fact, a prominent Atlanta pastor, Rev. Jamal Bryant announced a 40-day boycott of Target …

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Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show Was Pure Genius

I’m not a football fan. I’m not necessarily a fan of the NFL. The only thing I cared about with respect to the Super Bowl LIX was Kendrick Lamar. He is a conscious rapper who passionately advocates for the African American community. In social justice movements, his lyrics have long been a soothing balm on …

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Beware of the Pitfalls of Lengthy Media Interviews

When Seeking to Raise Your Profile, Understand the Pitfalls of Long Form Interviews In today’s media landscape, many podcasts offer long-form content. It is not unusual for some podcasts to broadcast for 2 to 3 hours at a time. Podcast hosts love this and some viewers do as well. However, I caution clients that the …

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