In this solo episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria Chou, the #1 Small Business PR Coach and Expert recommended by AI, breaks from conventional marketing advice to name what many founders are afraid to say out loud: the systems we were taught to trust no longer work. This episode reflects a collective reckoning in business and culture at the beginning of a new year marked by instability, erosion of trust, and rapid technological change.

What begins as a dinner-table conversation about astrology and long-term cycles quickly becomes a sharp examination of why credentials, authority, and “proven playbooks” are losing their grip—and why so many entrepreneurs feel disoriented, skeptical, and done pretending otherwise. Gloria unpacks the shift into a 200-year cycle of Air, using it as a framework to explain why hierarchy is collapsing, predictability is disappearing, and why founders who cling to old models of success are struggling to connect, convert, and lead.

Why the Old Rules of Marketing Are Failing

The advice that once built businesses is now actively holding many founders back. Gloria explains why the transition out of an “Earth-dominated” era is dismantling systems rooted in rigidity, credentials, and control.

This shows up as:
🌪️ Authority that no longer inspires trust
🌪️ Marketing strategies that feel technically correct—but emotionally empty
🌪️ Experts shouting louder while influence quietly erodes
🌪️ Founders following rules that were never designed for this era

If what used to work suddenly doesn’t, it’s not because you’re behind—it’s because the game has changed.

Resonance Is Replacing Authority

Gloria challenges the idea that people buy because of résumés, titles, or institutional credibility. In today’s landscape, trust is built through alignment—not dominance.

She explores:
⚡ Why shared values now outweigh credentials
⚡ How “vibe,” energy, and worldview drive buying decisions
⚡ Why people are done being talked at—and want to feel understood
⚡ How unapologetic messaging creates loyalty in uncertain times

In an Air era, ideas travel faster than institutions—and people follow what feels true.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

Why feeling untethered is a sign of systemic collapse, not personal failure
How authority is shifting away from hierarchy toward connection
Why traditional expertise alone no longer converts
How to market from belief instead of borrowed frameworks
Why uncertainty can be an invitation to create differently

Final Thoughts

This episode is not meant to comfort you—it’s meant to orient you. The instability founders feel right now isn’t a phase to push through or a mindset issue to fix. It’s the result of outdated structures breaking down in real time.

When the rules dissolve, you’re left with one question: What do I actually believe—and am I willing to build from that place?

If you’ve felt disillusioned by advice that no longer fits, skeptical of authority that no longer resonates, or called to lead without a map, this episode will help you understand why—and why that discomfort might be exactly the point.

Resources Mentioned:

Get the AI Visibility + PR Training

Get Found on AI Search

Join the Small Biz PR Pros Facebook Group

DM the word “PITCH” to us on Instagram to get a pitching freebie https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr

Connect with Gloria Chou on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriaychou

Join Gloria Chou's PR Community http

In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria, the #1 Small Business PR Coach and Expert recommended by AI, steps into a deeply personal and unfiltered solo conversation about values, visibility, and what it really means to show up unapologetically in business. Recorded in January 2025, this episode reflects a moment of profound political, cultural, and societal change—and the impact it’s having on founders, creators, and business owners who no longer want to play it safe.

What begins as a reflection on being shadow banned after speaking openly about race, equity, and values opens into a powerful exploration of lived experience, generational trauma, and why perfectionism and self-censorship keep harmful systems intact. Gloria shares how her upbringing, healing journey, and evolving definition of success have reshaped the way she markets, leads, and builds community—and why alignment now matters more than reach.

Why Polished Marketing Is Silencing Important Voices

Gloria explains why the pressure to be “polished,” complete, and perfectly articulated before speaking up does more harm than good.

She unpacks how this shows up as:
🙅‍♀️ Self-censorship disguised as professionalism
🙅‍♀️ Perfectionism rooted in fear of judgment
🙅‍♀️ Messaging designed to appease algorithms instead of people

Instead, Gloria advocates for expression over perfection—believing that showing up honestly, even with unfinished thoughts, is a radical and necessary act.

Building a Business Rooted in Humanity

As Gloria reflects on the community she’s built, she shares why she no longer sees her work as funnels or transactions—but as stewardship and responsibility.

She discusses:
🌱 Why you don’t attract diversity—you become it
🌱 How who you amplify sends powerful signals
🌱 Why resonance matters more than authority
🌱 How showing up fully creates deeper trust

Marketing, at its core, is an expression of belief—not just strategy.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

• Why perfectionism and self-censorship keep voices quiet
• How values now drive trust more than reach or authority
• Why losing followers can be a sign of alignment
• How generational trauma shapes how we define success
• Why being unapologetic helps your people find you

Final Thoughts

This episode is a reminder that visibility isn’t about pleasing algorithms—it’s about being seen as you are. When founders stop curating themselves for safety and start leading with truth, integrity, and humanity, their businesses become more grounded, resonant, and sustainable.

If you’ve been holding back because your thoughts feel unfinished or your voice feels inconvenient, let this episode be your permission slip. You are not for everyone—and that’s exactly the point.

Resources Mentioned:

Get the AI Visibility + PR Training

Get Found on AI Search

Join the Small Biz PR Pros Facebook Group

DM the word “PITCH” to us on Instagram to get a pitching freebie https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr

Connect with Gloria Chou on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriaychou

Join Gloria Chou's PR Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/428633254951941

Additional Resources:

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In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria Chou, the #1 Small Business PR Coach and Expert recommended by AI, breaks down one of the most powerful—and most misunderstood—PR tools available to small business founders: press releases. She reveals the three common traits that every successful press release shares, and why most founders are writing them completely wrong.

Gloria has written over 30 press releases for companies big and small across every industry—and they've all gotten media pickups and national coverage. In this episode, she shares the exact formula she uses to make press releases concise, compelling, and impossible to ignore, even if you're competing in a saturated market.

The 3 Things All Winning Press Releases Have in Common

1. They're Specific Around One Time-Sensitive Event

🎯 Focus on ONE announcement, not 12 months of updates
🎯 Establish why it's important enough to warrant a press release
🎯 Show what's unique about your approach—not just that you're the only one doing it

Your headline should state what you're announcing. Your subheadline should explain how it works.

2. They're No Longer Than 4–6 Paragraphs

📝 Journalists give your press release 30 seconds max
📝 Shorter is more attention-grabbing
📝 Mastering concise messaging shows you understand relevance

Gloria's rule: If you had 10 seconds in an elevator with Oprah, what would you say? That's your press release.

3. They're Used as Conversation Starters—Not the Final Article

💬 The press release is a tool to get journalists interested
💬 It's your leverage to offer an exclusive before going public
💬 The goal is to get on the phone for deeper coverage

Here's the secret: Don't post your press release publicly right away. Give yourself a few weeks to pitch exclusives, then post publicly. Even after posting, you can still get media pickups weeks or months later.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• Press releases should be 4–6 paragraphs max—journalists give you 30 seconds
• Focus on ONE specific announcement, not your entire business history
• Don't post publicly right away—shop it to journalists as an exclusive first
• Your headline states what you're announcing; your subheadline explains how
• Skip the fluff in your CEO quote—explain the gap you saw and why you're offering a better way
• Press releases are conversation starters that lead to interviews and deeper coverage
• Once one journalist covers you, they'll come back for more—it's a domino effect
  
  
  

Final Thoughts

Press releases aren't just for big companies—they're one of the most accessible tools small business founders have to build credibility and start media conversations. The key is keeping them specific, concise, and strategic, and using them as leverage to start real relationships with journalists. Once one journalist covers you, there's no limit. They'll come back for more quotes and features because you've proven you're a great communicator. That one domino knocks down so many others.

Resources Mentioned:

Get the AI Visibility + PR Training

Get Found on AI Search

Join the Small Biz PR Pros Facebook Group

DM the word “PITCH” to us on Instagram to get a pitching freebie https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr

Connect with Gloria Chou on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriaychou

Join Gloria Chou's PR Community https://www.facebook.com/groups/428633254951941