Publicist and entertainment manager Cathy Cardenas joins the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast to unpack how real PR works in 2024: word-of-mouth over ads, picking the right clients, protecting reputations in the internet age, and keeping faith at the center through brutal personal seasons.

Cathy and Jim swap radio war stories, talk about WWE and NFL stars, dig into hard lessons from bad clients, and break down what it actually takes to be “PR ready” as a brand or business. Cathy also shares how she built her agency almost entirely on referrals, launched a clothing line and a faith-based podcast, and walked through a year that included losing her mom and her son’s cancer battle.

Timed highlights:
00:00 Self-employed life and intro to the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast
05:00 Launching a PR firm in a financial crisis and the Lucha Libre breakthrough
07:18 Why her entire PR business is built on word-of-mouth
10:33 Turning people away: “You’re not ready for PR yet”
18:22 The “Ferrari principle” of being selective with clients
26:45 The “I want a Gary V content machine on a $60K salary” conversation
30:41 From Lucha Libre to TNA Wrestling and working with Hulk Hogan
33:38 NFL, NBA, WWE, Danica Patrick, Danica McKellar, and Donovan McNabb
42:33 How the internet changed crisis and reputation management
51:24 Thank-you notes, fan engagement, and the Taylor Swift playbook
58:00 Hope Wear Clothing, Grace Begins podcast, and giving back
59:43 Losing her mom and her son’s cancer year – and which clients stayed
1:03:43 Her son’s cancer-free update and why she added consulting

mmtbp.com
CathyCardenas.com
@GraceBeginsThePodcast on Youtube

John Myers of Alliance Family Services joins Jim to talk candidly about faith, church hurt, and the hard conversations around abortion and real-world ministry.

They dive into John’s journey from missionary kid to youth pastor to working with Alliance Women’s Clinic, why honesty and trust matter more than polished church branding, and how men must step up in the pro‑life conversation. Jim shares deeply personal stories about grief, divine nudges, and what it really means to hear from God in everyday life.

If you or someone you know is facing an unplanned pregnancy, or wrestling with doubts about church, faith, or the pro‑life movement, this conversation is raw, honest, and full of hope.

Timed highlights:
1:42 Football, rugby, and late‑night baby cardio
7:36 Ice cream, Ninja Creami, and nutrition struggles at 50
10:48 Eggnog, alcohol, and learning moderation
12:21 John’s missionary‑kid upbringing and moving all over the world
15:11 Church hurt, trusting pastors, and putting faith in Jesus instead of people
19:04 Jim’s journey into apologetics and the case for Christ
25:05 Prophecies, Bible credibility, and why the details matter
31:26 Meeting his British wife, moving to England, and life in ministry
47:14 Leaving a church staff role over leadership issues
52:16 Branding, church shopping, and when church becomes an idol
58:00 Marketing candor, Avis vs. Hertz, and why people crave honesty
1:11:05 How John ended up at Alliance Women’s Clinic in Tennessee
1:13:32 What Alliance actually does for women and families
1:17:10 Abortion, the Holocaust comparison, and the numbers no one wants to talk about
1:19:50 Why John believes unborn children have God‑given value
1:38:41 Services Alliance offers, including abortion pill reversal
1:44:54 Post‑abortive care and why Jesus still wants the rose
1:49:38 How to connect with Alliance Women’s Clinic and support the work

Alliance Women’s Clinic (local site): https://alliancewomensclinic.org

Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast: https://mmtbp.com

Studio: https://itsyourshow.co

Jim McCarthy sits down with Babcox Media’s Brian Ankney to talk about how a 106-year-old automotive media company keeps reinventing itself with video, AI search, and niche-focused content. They dive into the real future of car dealerships, F&I, EVs, and what “good” selling actually looks like in 2026.

If you’re in automotive, real estate, or any small business that lives on leads and relationships, this episode is loaded with practical perspective and stories from the trenches.

Highlights
00:00 Sales vs “being pushy”: reframing what selling really is
03:30 E-bikes, safety, and 50-year-old-guy workouts
04:27 Who is Brian Ankney and what is Babcox Media?
05:38 How a 106-year-old print company reinvented into video and podcasts
06:25 Building a garage studio right before COVID (and what it did for the business)
08:05 Letting the market tell you where to go (niche media and product pivots)
13:21 How Babcox uses AI instead of editorial calendars
15:11 AI search, car shoppers, and why “traditional” search is quietly shrinking
18:16 Why not paying attention to AI search could cost 30–40% of your market
20:53 What the next generation dislikes about AI (and why)
21:14 Tech shortages in dealerships, body shops, and repair facilities
24:42 Subscription car services and the future of vehicle ownership
28:21 Cars as rolling storage units and the “junk trailer” idea
30:38 New battery tech and the truth about “clean” energy
32:21 EVs, coal plants, and how emissions are really measured
33:54 Leasing vs buying EVs and the resale value problem
37:17 Full-serve gas in New Jersey and post-COVID fuel lines
38:21 Third-generation leadership at Babcox and staying “100 years young”
41:03 Inside culture at Babcox: open doors, mandatory AI, and cross-brand collaboration
42:05 Why Brian now hosts multiple industry podcasts
43:19 How much engineering goes into tire tread
43:58 Early career: selling cars, consulting, and flying every day pre-9/11
47:34 High-pressure window sales, 65% first-night close, and getting thrown out of houses
52:33 Lessons from the Honda and Mercedes showroom floors
55:10 Why most people are still going to need a human in the car-buying process

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