On this episode of The Press Playbook, I sat down with Brenda Manea, Managing Director of BAM’s People and AI practice, to talk about how she helped her client, Lanai, land a podcast appearance on Fund/Build/Scale with Walter Thompson.
This episode breaks down why founder-led podcast appearances are such a strong visibility play, especially in crowded markets like AI, and how relationships and thoughtful pitching made this placement an easy yes.
Below are the key moments and takeaways from the episode, or listen where you please:
Guest: Brenda Manea, Managing Director of BAM’s People and AI practice
Client Featured: Lanai
Key Placement: Fund/Build/Scale Podcast
Episode Focus: Founder-led podcast strategy and relationship-driven pitching
I introduce Brenda and her role at BAM, where she leads the People and AI practice. She shares background on Lanai and what the company does, along with the goals they had coming into PR.
Brenda explains that Lanai didn’t have a funding announcement or big product launch coming up. Instead, the focus was on building awareness and trust with enterprise buyers in a crowded AI market.
Podcasts became the right format to tell that story without waiting for hard news.
One of Lanai’s biggest strengths was its founder, Lexi. Brenda talks through Lexi’s background and why her experience immediately stood out to podcast hosts and journalists.
Rather than pitching Lanai as just another AI platform, the story centered on Lexi’s perspective and leadership.
This placement wasn’t cold. Walter, the host of Fund/Build/Scale, had previously attended one of BAM’s AI media dinners where he met Lexi in person.
Because that relationship already existed, the pitch felt natural and timely, not forced.
Brenda walks through how she structured the pitch:
a clear subject line highlighting who Lexi is
a short explanation of why she would be a good guest
bullet points with podcast topics tailored to Walter’s past episodes
Everything was intentional and easy to digest.
We talk about why podcasts are so valuable beyond the initial recording. Episodes often turn into show notes, articles, social clips, and searchable content across platforms.
That kind of distribution helps founders stay visible long after the episode airs.
Brenda’s advice is straightforward. If you are a founder without a big announcement, don’t wait.
Lean into your story, build relationships early, and show up in conversations where your audience is already listening.
This episode is a great reminder that PR doesn’t always start with headlines.
Founder-led podcast appearances can be one of the most effective ways to build trust, explain complex ideas, and stand out in competitive markets.
By focusing on the right spokesperson, building real relationships, and pitching with intention, BAM helped Lanai earn meaningful visibility without waiting for a major news moment.