Author, marketing and PR powerhouse Don McLean is back on Tales From the Beat to discuss with host Ed Garsten, his new platform for democratizing PR for those who can't afford to pay for a PR agency, how AI has changed story pitching and release creation and its limitations.
TTAC Creator Ed Garsten hosts " Tales from the Beat," a podcast about the automotive and media worlds. A veteran reporter and public relations operative, Garsten worked for CNN, The Associated Press, The Detroit News, Chrysler's PR department and Franco Public Relations. He is currently a senior contributor for Forbes.
The TTAC Creators Series tells stories and amplifies creators from all corners of the car world, including culture, dealerships, collections, modified builds and more.
An AI-summarized transcript and edited by a staffer is below.
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Summary: Tales from the Beat – Don McLean on LinkedIn, AI, and Democratizing PR
In this episode of Tales from the Beat, host Ed Garsten welcomes back Don McLean, founder of McLean Media and author of The In Crowd for LinkedIn Mastery, to discuss the evolution of LinkedIn, the changing role of AI in communications, and his upcoming platform, Press Hustle, designed to make public relations accessible to entrepreneurs and small businesses.
LinkedIn Has Become More Than a Job Search Tool
McLean reflects on the success of his LinkedIn book, which has led to speaking engagements across the U.S. and internationally. He emphasizes that LinkedIn should be viewed as a long-term career development and thought leadership platform rather than a site people visit only when job hunting. He also discusses his LinkedIn Live workshops, where participants receive personalized profile rewrites, headshots, content strategies, and branding advice.
The conversation explores LinkedIn's evolution, noting that as many executives and brands have reduced their activity on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn has become the preferred platform for professional networking, executive visibility, and industry conversations. McLean believes there is no comparable platform for business professionals seeking credibility and influence.
Introducing Press Hustle
The centerpiece of the discussion is Press Hustle, McLean's new AI-assisted PR platform aimed at startups, creators, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs who cannot afford traditional PR agencies.
The platform combines:
- AI-assisted press release creation.
- Proprietary PR templates developed from McLean's experience.
- Educational training modules.
- Industry-specific media lists.
- Hosted online media kits.
- Guided workflows that teach users effective public relations practices.
Rather than replacing PR professionals, Press Hustle is intended to bridge the gap until businesses are large enough to hire an agency. McLean plans to price the subscription between $50 and $100 per month, making professional PR tools accessible to smaller organizations.
The Missing PR Education Gap
McLean argues that entrepreneurship programs often teach marketing but rarely teach practical public relations. As a result, many founders struggle to earn media attention despite having compelling products or ideas. He believes accessible PR education can improve the survival rate of small businesses by helping them generate awareness and credibility early in their growth.
AI's Role in Communications
A major portion of the interview focuses on artificial intelligence.
Both Garsten and McLean acknowledge AI's usefulness for:
- Brainstorming ideas.
- Conducting research.
- Overcoming writer's block.
- Drafting initial content.
However, both caution against relying on AI to create finished communications without human oversight. McLean argues that audiences are increasingly able to recognize generic AI-generated writing and are beginning to crave authentic voices instead. He believes excessive dependence on AI risks damaging both credibility and trust.
AI and Journalism
Garsten expresses concern about AI-generated search summaries and how many users accept them without verifying the original sources. As a journalist, he uses AI-generated summaries only as a starting point before consulting primary sources.
The discussion also touches on:
- Copyright concerns surrounding AI training data.
- The reliability of AI-generated information.
- AI's impact on music, journalism, and creative industries.
- The growing importance of media coverage and high-quality press releases as AI search engines increasingly draw information from reputable news sources.
Using AI Responsibly
McLean explains that Press Hustle is designed to combine AI efficiency with decades of professional PR expertise. Instead of allowing users to generate generic press releases from a single prompt, the platform asks structured questions and uses customized prompts to produce more strategic, authentic communications tailored to each company, industry, and brand voice.
Launch Plans
Press Hustle is expected to launch during Q3, with beta users invited through McLean Media's website. Interested users can sign up for updates while development is completed.
Overall Takeaway
The interview presents a balanced view of AI's growing role in communications. While both Garsten and McLean see AI as a valuable productivity tool, they stress that authenticity, strategic thinking, and human judgment remain essential. Press Hustle represents McLean's effort to combine those human strengths with AI technology, making professional-quality public relations attainable for businesses that previously lacked the resources to pursue it.
via Autobuzz Today
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