In this episode, Nicole sits down with Liz Brooks — a PR strategist with agency experience at some of the world's leading firms, now working at Interview Valet helping C-suite executives build authority through strategic podcast guesting. From working with major global brands in traditional PR to becoming an early champion of podcast interviews as a thought leadership tool, Liz has spent her career helping executives get discovered — and stay credible — in a crowded market.

Liz breaks down the real difference between PR and advertising, why "bigger isn't better, better is better" when it comes to picking which podcasts to guest on, and how AI-driven search is changing what counts as a credible authority signal online. Whether you're weighing starting your own podcast versus guesting on other people's shows, or just trying to figure out how to stand out instead of blend in, this conversation lays out exactly what it takes to become what Liz calls a "category of one."

This conversation will change how you think about PR, podcasting, and personal branding.

What We Cover:

• The real difference between PR (earned) and advertising (paid) — and why PR is never guaranteed
• What Interview Valet looks for before placing a guest on a show
• How to become a "category of one" instead of just another competitor
• When to add podcasting to your PR and marketing strategy
• Own podcast vs. guesting on other shows — the real tradeoffs
• Why AI and search platforms reward consistent, attributable expertise signals
• Why niche, well-matched shows can outperform big-name podcasts (the client case study inside)
• The farmers market vs. niche nightclub analogy for resonance over reach
• Why the interview isn't the finish line — it's the input for a month of content
• How Interview Valet vets both guests and shows before making a match

Connect with Liz:

🌐 Website: https://interviewvalet.com/liz/

Work with Nicole: https://calendly.com/nicolealicea

Follow Create Brand NV:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createbrandnv

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolealicea

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createbrandnv

If this episode sparked an idea, shifted your thinking, or gave you something to take into your business — think of it as buying me and the team a cup of coffee each month. It helps fuel the time and care that goes into producing these conversations, keeps new voices and new episodes coming your way, and helps us stay completely ad-free so you can stay focused on growing your business.

Become a monthly supporter — thank you for being part of this community. https://donate.stripe.com/fZu14nblHeLLgtCf1x0Ny00

At 55, Ravi Teja Bommireddipalli walked away from a 30-year career leading global tech companies — including Robosoft Technologies, which built platforms for Warner Bros., Disney, ESPN, and McDonald's — to bootstrap his own AI startup from scratch.

What he's building might change how your entire company operates.

Ayatt AI is an agentic AI platform that goes far beyond ChatGPT. It observes your business across every system, predicts what's coming, recommends what to do — and with your permission, acts. Think of it as a digital chief of staff that never sleeps, never forgets, and knows your CRM, your finances, and your team performance in real time.

In this episode we cover:

— Why most businesses are only using 10% of what AI can actually do

— What "agentic AI" means and how it's different from chatbots

— Ayatt's 7-layer AI nervous system and its 5 levels of autonomy

— How Ravi built his MVP with paying clients before raising a dollar in VC funding

— The "digital chief of staff"

— Matrix — and how it briefs CEOs every morning

— How AI handles data privacy, hallucinations, and staying inside your organization

— Why the companies that win in the next 2 years will be the ones that move fastest

— What to tell young people entering the workforce right now

Connect with Ravi:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raviteja-bommireddipalli

Ayatt AI: https://www.ayatt.ai

Work with Nicole: https://calendly.com/nicolealicea

Follow Create Brand NV:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/createbrandnv

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolealicea

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/createbrandnv

If this episode sparked an idea, shifted your thinking, or gave you something to take into your business — think of it as buying me and the team a cup of coffee each month. It helps fuel the time and care that goes into producing these conversations, keeps new voices and new episodes coming your way, and helps us stay completely ad-free so you can stay focused on growing your business.

Become a monthly supporter — thank you for being part of this community. https://donate.stripe.com/fZu14nblHeLLgtCf1x0Ny00

In this episode of the Create Brand NV podcast, Nicole Alicea and Maria Daly sit down with Jayme Ribeiro Neto, longtime media executive and now franchise owner of School of Rock Clearwater, for a thoughtful conversation about reinvention, leadership, entrepreneurship, and building something meaningful after a major career transition.

Jayme shares his journey from Brazil to the U.S., from an MTV internship to leadership roles with Telemundo, where he helped transform the Tampa station into one of the most profitable in the ZGS station group. After nearly 17 years in television and navigating the NBCUniversal acquisition, Jayme faced an unexpected layoff that forced him to rethink what the next chapter of his life could look like.

That next chapter became School of Rock Clearwater — a performance-based music education franchise that blends private instruction, group collaboration, confidence-building, and real live performances. Jayme opens up about the risks of entrepreneurship, the discipline required to launch a brick-and-mortar business, the difference between corporate leadership and small business ownership, and why presence, work ethic, humility, and passion still matter at every level of success.

This conversation is especially valuable for business owners, leaders, career changers, franchise seekers, and anyone wondering whether it is too late to start over with purpose.

Enjoying the Create Brand NV Podcast? Say thank you with a Virtual Cup of Coffee! Subscribe to sending us a cup of coffee every month to help keep fueling this show. Thank you!

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