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The Podcast Effect: What Steve Madden’s Viral Interview Teaches Us About PR Strategy

By July 1, 2025No Comments

When fashion icon Steve Madden appeared on The Cutting Room Floor podcast, the result was more than a compelling conversation. It was a viral media moment. As reported by Axios, clips from the interview received more than 24 million views on TikTok, generated over 600 media stories, and coincided with a noticeable uptick in the footwear company’s stock price.

This reflects what Durée & Company refers to as the podcast effect — when authentic storytelling and strategic placement align to deliver powerful visibility and real business impact.

Podcasts as a modern PR tool

In today’s communications landscape, podcasts are more than a trending format. They serve as platforms for building brand credibility, connecting with engaged audiences, and shaping long-form narratives that traditional media may not offer. For executives, founders, and brands across industries, the right podcast interview can drive both awareness and action.

Axios described the Madden interview as “a case study in how brands should just be themselves.” While authenticity resonates, unfiltered conversations also carry reputational risk. Strategic preparation and message development are essential to ensure that the conversation aligns with brand identity and broader business goals.

Durée & Company’s podcast-focused services

Durée & Company provides comprehensive support for brands seeking to leverage podcast opportunities effectively. Through tailored strategies, the agency ensures every appearance is purpose-driven, well-prepared, and positioned for success. Services include:

  • Identifying relevant podcast opportunities based on audience alignment and strategic fit
  • Developing customized messaging and talking points specific to each podcast format
  • Providing executive media training to guide tone, delivery, and response confidence
  • Coordinating all logistics, including host communication, briefing documents, and recording support
  • Repurposing podcast content for extended use across blogs, press releases, social media, and digital newsletters

With experience across sectors including real estate, retail, wellness, legal, and hospitality, Durée & Company has helped amplify thought leadership through a variety of top-rated podcast appearances.

The importance of amplification beyond the episode

As Axios noted, much of the impact from Madden’s interview came not from the full-length audio itself, but from video clips shared across TikTok and YouTube. With 76 percent of Gen Z listeners discovering podcast content through social media, amplification across digital platforms is a vital part of the strategy.

Durée & Company works with brands to build integrated campaigns around podcast interviews. These efforts may include:

  • Creating short-form video snippets and teaser graphics
  • Featuring podcast appearances in newsletters and blogs
  • Engaging media contacts to secure additional coverage based on interview topics

A single interview, when amplified effectively, can generate weeks of relevant, brand-aligned content across multiple channels.

Where authenticity meets intention

While Steve Madden’s candid conversation resonated with audiences, the success of the interview stemmed from more than just honesty. It aligned with the company’s public identity, reinforced the founder’s personal brand, and capitalized on current conversations in fashion, business, and media.

Durée & Company helps ensure that every podcast appearance tells a story that is not only compelling but also consistent and strategically sound.

Podcasts offer a distinct opportunity to reach niche audiences, humanize leadership, and establish long-form credibility. But like all public relations efforts, success depends on preparation, positioning, and the ability to extend impact across platforms.

To learn more about podcast placement and media training services, visit dureeandcompany.com or contact us today.

About Durée & Company, Inc.

Founded in 1999, Durée & Company is a full-service, well-respected and highly creative public relations and marketing agency serving a diverse client base of local, national and international consumer brands, landmark industries, business leaders, and philanthropists from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Aspen, Colorado. Practice areas include nonprofit, hospitality, business, lifestyle, health and wellness, legal, real estate, yacht and marine as well as cannabis, psychedelics, and other emerging industries. Durée & Company is a member of some of the nation’s most elite professional organizations including PR Boutiques International™ (PRBI) and The Cannabis Marketing Association, and is a corporate partner of Cannabis LAB. To learn more, call 954-723-9350; go to dureeandcompany.com; cannabismarketingpr.com; or psychedelicpr.com. Join the social conversation and follow Durée & Company on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and LinkedIn at @DureeCoPR

 

 

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Five Things That Need to be in Your Resume or Cover Letter

To paraphrase Jerry Maguire, help us help you. As we sift through the paperwork, here’s what we are looking for:

1. What you love to do and why.

In PR, you may love writing, editing, interviewing, pitching the media, researching, coordinating events, networking, posting to social media … whew! While we would love it if you had a passion for it all, we’d never believe you if you said as much.

What part of this zany, crazy, whirlwind, yet meticulous, tedious, detail-oriented, profession calls to you and why? Help us make the connection as to how PR is really for you, and call it your Professional Summary.

2. Something you did that changed something or someone else.

If you never showed up to your last job, what wouldn’t have happened? That’s right. Erase yourself. Now which clients disappeared with you? Which articles just fade away? What press releases cease to exist? How much social media did NOT get liked?

We are just meeting you. So take a moment to spell out your impact, and it will be easier for us to see what you can do for the clients of Durée & Company. Share this under your Job Responsibilities.

3. Anything you created.

Feeling humble? Well, stop it. This is the part where you brag. If you craft a delightful blog, master a mind-blowing website, shoot crazy video or direct wonderful events, show us.

Then tell us a bit of how you did it, so we trust that it was your brilliance and not the intern’s. Let’s dub this Your Portfolio.

4. An indication of why you belong here.

At PR firm Durée & Company, we have a culture. Really, all companies do. To learn about ours, do some legwork. At this point, if you’re on our blog, you are in the right spot to begin learning. Hate pink? Not good with women? Live in Kansas? Low energy? Then you might want to reconsider applying. However, if we resemble a group that you’d like to hang out with, share why. You can do that in the Cover Letter.

5. Correctly spelled words – all of them.

Do more than hit spell check. Know how to spell or ask someone to proofread. Correctly spelled words work everywhere, all the time. Consider them the Little Black Dresses of resumes.

So consider these five tips – we’ve just given you a “cheat sheet” about what we’re watching out for. Even if our position may not be for you, feel free to use our advice for another – it may just get you the job!