Rachel Thexton is many things. An animal lover, a mother, a PR industry expert and most recently, the host of her very own podcast show.
Rachel is the principal of public relations firm Thexton PR. With two decades of PR experience, Rachel Thexton excels at building creative communications campaigns that help brands to tell their story effectively in a cluttered media landscape.
Already well established and respected in the PR industry, Rachel went on to launch and host her own podcast, Rachel Thexton Connects in January of 2023, where she hosts discussions with media, bloggers +influencers, locals doing amazing things, while prioritizing dialogue about what matters to those who call BC home.
Tell us about your experience in the PR industry and how you came to start Thexton Public Relations
“Yes, so I studied journalism in Indiana and I wanted to be a broadcast reporter, maybe a sports reporter or an anchor. I soon found in my university work and within the university coverage/newspaper that I am a very sensitive person and I never wanted sources to look bad.
I always saw the best in them or tried to and that is not a good journalist. A journalist needs to see the facts, and present a balanced piece. It doesn’t mean that they can’t showcase a great person and story, but you need someone that is going to present things factually unless you’re doing an opinion piece. I realized very early on that I was not cut out for that.
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I was better suited for communications and PR, which was, you know, working with clients to find their best stories , projects, initiative angles, etc., in order to showcase the best of who they are as a brand. That’s how I kind of switched over. I interned in Toronto with an agency. They sent me out here to Vancouver to co-manage their Vancouver office, which I did for about five years and then I branched out on my own with a mentor who had retirement plans and who retired in 2015.
We were partners initially but, since 2015, it’s been just myself and others who work as contractors alongside me, but me running the business. I have little ones, so I keep it very personalized and specialized.”
How did you start your podcast and what was your inspiration?
“I started the podcast in January of 2023, so it’s only one year old. My husband, who produces the podcast, has been encouraging me to do the podcast for a long time because I advocate in certain areas that I am passionate about.
I do a lot of writing. I love to write, but he thought that having these discussions and in-depth talks around these issues would be great and I have never practiced journalism. I certainly have been trained in it and I love to speak with people and have those conversations. So finally, I said, okay, let’s do this thing.
My inspiration was the 6+ people that we’re losing daily to drugs in BC. That was the dial for me that really changed things. I felt like even if there was some small change that I could make there, and I know it’s going to be small, but I hope that it will be something. I just don’t see how this can continue the way that it has for years with very little being done about it.
I have a history with substance use disorder, and I’ve been public about that. Thank goodness it happened before I had my children and before I grew my family and was married, but I know the pain, the shame, the stereotypes, the stigma that go along with mental health and substance use. That’s really what got me going on the podcast.
I wanted to present that, but I didn’t want it to be just about that. I also mix in the PR bit. I have journalists and content creators on the show. I also wanted to amplify under-represented voices and tell stories about issues that affect our city. So that is the goal of the podcast.
Having BC’s former Chief Corner, Lisa LaPointe on the podcast, it was such an honor. I mean, I’m a new podcast. I don’t have millions of people listening. I don’t know the numbers, but I know it’s not millions. For her to agree to come on, I was just so humbled and honored. I think it just speaks to the fact that, you know, I provide a safe and honest environment. It’s an authentic space to have an in-depth discussion.”
What are some of your favourite local podcasts to listen to?
“I am a huge fan of Krissy Vann. I just find she is the opposite of me in a lot of ways.. Krissy’s podcast, All Things Fitness and Wellness, it’s her personality and who she is. It’s about how she presents fitness and not only how it helps your physical health, but also your mental health. Her vibrant positivity is something I strive for.
I also listen to the Vancouver Real Estate Podcast on a regular basis. I work a lot within the real estate industry, and I like hearing from different people in that space. I think the hosts have done a great job of growing that platform and making it into a great place where people feel comfortable opening up about different industry topics. CEOs feel comfortable opening up about who they are as people and also how they became developers, how they built their business and things that you may not otherwise learn about in a media story.”
What advice do you have for someone looking to enter the PR industry or starting a podcast?
“Getting into the PR space, I would say that there are now a lot of journalism programs that have switched over to multimedia, where you can really focus on PR and hone those skills.
The industry is changing, and it’s changed throughout my career so drastically. I think it’s a matter of developing different skills, a lot of visual skills. We have such information overload online right now that developing photography, video skills, and your own personal brand is important.
We’re really in a digital world, even traditional media is adapting to that. Looking at alternative skills to develop to really bring you into that digital space is key. Also, get ready to work hard because PR is not for the faint of heart.. I have to say!
To answer the second part of your question, starting a podcast is a lot of work. It is a tremendous amount of work. My producer/husband spends hours and hours producing and perfecting the episodes, and I spend a lot of time making sure that my questions and my content are different and personalized. I want to ask questions that others have not asked, and I want to make it a different experience for the guests than they have had while being interviewed anywhere else. That’s my goal. With those things mixed, you have to be passionate about what you’re doing because it’s a labour of love. If you love it and you’re passionate about it, you will do well.
Jump in, do what you love and be authentic!”