We are excited to introduce you to our incredible graphic designer Hannah Cline - who makes all of our shit look good.  Hannah and Maddie talk about agency life, how she comes up with designs, and the next big thing in the industry.  

We are back this week with part two of our conversation with Jen VanSkiver of Special Olympics Michigan - this time, making the economic case for inclusion in the workforce and beyond.  Jen, Kim and Maddie talk about some of the startling statistics behind the issue, how people with disabilities are currently treated as they look to enter the work force, and how Special Olympics Michigan is hoping to change things with its new Unified Sports & Inclusion Center.

When it comes to inclusivity, it's so important we do more than just talking. That's why Kim and Maddie sat down with Jen VanSkiver of Special Olympics Michigan. The nonprofit is changing the game in inclusivity and empowering athletes far beyond sports.  In part one of their conversation, Jen dives into her journey as a parent of a child with a cognitive disability, and how the systems built to accommodate those with intellectual disabilities need to do a hell of a lot better. 

We are deep in the heart of event season right now, which is both a fun and crazy time for 8THIRTYFOUR. As we head out on yet another flight, Kim and Maddie sit down to talk about the importance of showing up - and why it's one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your business. 

At 8THIRTYFOUR, we are lucky to have an incredible network of freelancers and contractors we work with to get the job done. But how do you best work with someone who isn't on your staff full-time?  Maddie sat down with Jenna Brooks, a freelancer and Graphic Design BA from Calvin University, to talk about how she manages those relationships, her client's expectations and what advice she has for anybody who wants to work with a freelancer in the future.   

As a woman-owned business, we put a lot of stake in supporting other women as they work to grow their careers. This week on Happy Hour Hustle, we sit down with Shannon Burkel and Kaitlyn Olson of Axios HR to talk about women in leadership, the importance of mentorship, and so so much more.

Small businesses already deal with enough, and now this. The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) forces small businesses to provide their personal information to the federal government or face fines and even imprisonment if they don't.  We've written about it before, but there is still a lot at stake. That's why Kim brought in Kelli Saunders, Vice President of Policy and Engagement for the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM). They are one of several groups across the country fighting to put an end to the CTA. Kim and Kelli touch on what the law means for small businesses, why it's so detrimental and what we all can do to help.

It's no secret that the local news world has been changing, from how journalists connect with the community to how they combat misinformation online (which is no easy task). Maddie and Alayna are once again joined by Lauren Kummer, a reporter and anchor at FOX 17, to talk about how her station and other local reporters are working through the changing social media landscape, building relationships with viewers, and much more.

Happy Olympics, Hustlers! This week we got the chance to talk to real-life Olympian, Ben Jefferies, and his coach, Scott Barnes. We asked them about what it takes to get to that level, what they are looking forward to the most, and advice for anybody else who wants to compete on the world's largest stage.

Maddie and Alayna sit down with Lauren Kummer, a reporter and anchor at FOX 17 in West Michigan, to talk about all the do's, don'ts and the definitely don'ts of pitching. Lauren gives advice to PR pros on how they can best grab the attention of a TV journalist. They also discuss the importance of relationships when dealing with reporters.   

Kim and Maddie sit down with Renee Bauer, author of She Who Wins and owner of Happy Even After Family Law. They talk about leadership, strength and what it takes to ditch your inner 'good girl.'

Are you up to date with Google's latest rollout? How is your business using AI? Did you hear what LinkedIn is doing now?  The digital team at 8THIRTYFOUR walks through the latest in the Digital Marketing space. 

Big or small, every company faces a crisis at some point. How you handle it could mean the difference between irreparable reputation damage and moving forward. Kim and Maddie talk about what it takes to manage a crisis, who's done it well and the importance of making a plan.

We just could not get enough of our conversation Aly Zuiderveen and Chelsea Sinke, known by their usernames @helloalymay and @mygrandrapidslife. Hear what these Grand Rapids influencers had to say about their red and green flags, and where they think the influencer marketing industry is headed.

Is anything moving faster than the influencer world? Probably not.  We sat down with Aly Zuiderveen and Chelsea Sinke, known by their usernames @helloalymay and @mygrandrapidslife, for a look behind the curtains. Hear what they had to say about what marketers are doing right, what they're doing wrong, and much more in Part 1 of our deep dive into Influencer Marketing.

Here at 8THIRTYFOUR, we are all about supporting other small businesses. Because let's face it, we're badass. Ahead of Small Business Saturday, we talked to two small business owners here in Michigan (who happen to also be our incredible clients). Amy Sparks, president of Goldie, and Kelly Stroburg, publisher of nearlywed, share their stories of how they got started, and what it's like to be a small business owner. 

Burnout has become a bit of a buzzword since the pandemic, but what is it really? Why do more women experience it? What can we do to overcome it?  Dr. Dominique Pritchett, a nationally recognized mental wellness strategist and keynote speaker at this year's Inforum Capstone Dinner, joined us to talk about how to break the cycle. 

Federal employees are not the only ones hurt by a government shutdown. Small businesses and government contractors are also forced to reevaluate when our lawmakers can't agree on a budget. Kim talks with Sue Tellier, the CEO of JetCo Federal, about how the looming shutdown is already impacting small businesses and what we can do about it.

It's a core belief here at 8THIRTYFOUR... the future is female. And women are definitely having a moment.  From our changing representation in the media to female stars taking over the world (looking at you Taylor), we're talking about the power of women and the power of female rage. If you want to read more, make sure to check out our blog.

If you didn't already know, the 8THIRTYFOUR team loves a good drink... and patio... and rooftop... aaand the list goes on. In this episode, Derek, Emma, and Savannah sit down to chat about their favorite places to crack open a cold one and enjoy all the summer vibes. So, what do you say? Grab a drink and join us!   If you want more recommendations, check out our blog on the Best Grand Rapids Dive Bars.

When people mention SEO do you find your brain empty? We can help with that.    Emma sits down with Rowan, one of 8THIRTYFOUR's Account Managers and Knower of All Things, to discuss the basics of SEO... and a little bit more. From site ranking to keywords, we're covering all the bases.   If you're still looking for more SEO knowledge after this episode, check out some of our blogs & recommended resources: SEO Doesn't Happen Overnight SEO for Dummies Beginner’s Guide to SEO Moz SEO Guides Moz Whiteboard Friday  

Remember when we had to remind people not to eat Tide Pods? What about Chris Pine's iconic stare during the Don't Worry Darling press tour?   Well, lucky for you, the 8THIRTYFOUR team sat down to chat about all things social media trends, our favorites, plus some random tangents along the way. If you're looking for more social media insights & tips, check out these blogs: 2023 Social Media Trends Social Media Design Trends Creating a Social Style Guide 2023 Social Media Image Sizes 7 Tips for Setting Up a Social Media Campaign How to Conduct a Social Media Audit

You shouldn't wait for a crisis to happen before you have a crisis communications plan. That's why we're here to chat through every step. Simplified, it's all about OAF. Own it, apologize, fix it. Obviously, there are other details, but we'll let you listen in for the extra advice.    Need some reading material on the subject? We've got that covered too: The Evolution of Crisis Communications Presidential PR Blunders Brands Behaving Badly Earning Trust Back After Your Brand F*cks Up

We're talking about one of our favorite things — PR. The relationship between a journalist and a PR pro is an important one, so the team is breaking down what it means to be authentic, why pitching is hard work, and some of our favorite journalist stories. So, want to make the media love you? Get listening.   And, as we promised, you can find some PR blogs below: Back to Basics: Authenticity in Pitching Our PR Lifelines (Must-Haves) PR Professionals Need to Demand More The Rise of Affiliate Marketing

Kim sits down with Emma and Amberly to talk all about anti-resolutions for 2023. Plus, there's some margarita and chicken sandwich talk too — We love to keep you guessing.   If you love this episode and want more of our insights on why resolutions aren't the move, check out our blog.

We have a lot to say... especially about women-owned businesses. Kim chats with Jeffrey, 8THIRTYFOUR's Lead Graphic Designer, about what working for a women-owned business really looks like. So, grab a drink and get listening. 

Move over, Happy Hour Hustle listeners. Our Gen Z team members are front and center in this episode. Kim chats with Emma and Amberly about internship takeaways, the "real world", and Gen Z lingo. We're pretty sure you'll vibe with this one.    Want more 8THIRTYFOUR? Check out our blogs. You know you want to.

Get the balloons and birthday cake ready... We're celebrating! 8THIRTYFOUR has been around for sixteen years, so we're sitting down with Kim to talk about the adventure it's been to get here today.   You know what to do. Grab some iced red wine and get ready to listen to some pretty badass advice.

Looking for tips on account management AND beer recommendations? You're in luck. Kim sat down with Derek, 8THIRTYFOUR's Marketing Specialist. From project management tools, to the best fall beers, and a little childhood story thrown in the mix, we promise you'll be entertained.

Emma and Lauren sit down to chat all about the lovely neighborhood that is Creston. Since the 8THIRTYFOUR crew joined the community last year, we've had plenty of time to check out all of the best features: food, art, coffee, and more.    Give it a listen and tell us your personal Creston highlights. And of course, check out our blog.

8THIRTYFOUR's Social Media Specialist, Kelsey, joins for an episode of Happy Hour Hustle to go all in on social media campaigns. We're talking about target audiences, building strategy, and misconceptions about social media management.    Kelsey lays it out for you, but if you're looking for more details you should check out our blog "7 Tips for Setting Up a Social Media Campaign." Seriously. Go read it.

When Kim discovered EOS, she knew she had found what worked for running her company. And when she met Amy Courter, EOS implementor and wise leader, there wasn't a doubt she had made the right decision.    Listen in as Kim and Amy discuss what makes EOS different and why they recommend it (plus, tips from 8THIRTYFOUR's own journey using EOS). 

At 8THIRTYFOUR, we take culture pretty seriously. We don't just mean having potlucks and bringing our dogs to work with us (which is also crucial to our workplace success, let's be honest). When we talk about culture, we mean accountabilty, honesty, and everyone doing their part.   Listen in as Kim gives her take on what culture means to a small business and how to do it right. For more of our stellar opinions, check out our blogs. 

On this episode of Happy Hour Hustle, our PR Manager Jules breaks down how we hit the ground running this past holiday season with our lovely client, Stormy Kromer. We're talking public relations, influencer campaigns, and social media ads. You heard it right. We went all out. If you want more Stormy Kromer or case studies, check out our blog.

The past couple weeks in media have been a doozy. Jules and Emma sit down and break down our blog, This Week in Media, while giving their own takes on all the Spotify drama, Leslie Jones and her Olympics updates, and the Tampon Tax.   And for those who have listened and are interested, mountain dews baby! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-1D_MJzsNU    To read our blog, visit https://8thirtyfour.com/2022/02/11/this-week-in-media-2-22/ 

Our next guest is a Real Influencer who has been a trailblazer for gender equality. Kate Germano, veteran (Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel) and author of Fight Like a Girl: The Truth Behind How Female Marines Are Trained, knows what it's like to fight hard for truth and equality. Listen in on as she discusses her journey to making change and wisdom gained along the way.   For more information and contact info, visit https://www.kategermano.com/

Here at 8THIRTYFOUR, we like to talk about what matters and how we feel about it. From gendered marketing to The Great Resignation, this episode features Kim giving our top 5 opinions from this past year. We know how to make our opinions known, so enjoy this episode full of them. Interested in reading the blogs behind the opinions? Check them out here.

The Real Influencer series is about shedding light onto people who make lasting impact on their community. Salvador Lopez of KConnect is constantly striving to better the lives of others. Listen in while he chats with Kim about his background, what KConnect does on the daily, and exciting upcoming projects.   For more information, visit https://k-connect.org/. 

8THIRTYFOUR's PR Interns, Emma and Lauren, sit down to talk all about their internship experience. From what college hasn't taught them, coworker advice, and best working from home tips, these two cover it all. According to them, learning from the best of the best can never be too much fun.

What wisdom do you wish you would've known years ago? Our Marketing Specialist, Meg Chittenden, joins us to share her advice. From preserving energy to using the Peloton for self care, Meg walks through what she would've told her younger self.

Have you heard about The Great Resignation and have no clue what it is? Let us help you. Kim goes into the history, why people are leaving their jobs, and how simple it is to retain employees. Just listen and show them you care. Seriously. 

8THIRTYFOUR is now residing in the heart of the Creston neighborhood of Grand Rapids. Owner Kim Bode has quite a history with Creston, so listen up as she shares her take on one of the best little corners GR has to offer.

Are you retiring work from home and heading back to the office? This episode is for you. Listen in as Kim discusses her thoughts about the high expectations that come with going back to in-person work.

This week Kim discusses the many benefits of working with a small agency, like us. The bottom line? You're kind of a big deal.

Vittorio Florio, Trade-outs Producer at the Drew Barrymore Show, chats about the ins and outs of "TV Magic" and gives some advice on how PR professionals can create lasting relationships.

Nathi Gcabashe, a Grammy-Nominated Orlando musician joins us on Happy Hour Hustle to talk about his story, new music as well as his passion for unity and equality.

In this week's Week in Media blog, we tackle the royals, burgers and crayons. It’s about to get interesting.

As a PR professional, your days are filled with research, media lists, interview coordination, segment rundowns, media kits, pitches, press releases, follow-up, emails, client calls and more. What we often put last is ongoing education and learning. It needs to be a top priority, and these kickass PR newsletters are a great place to start.