Tales from the Dirt Road is the preeminent podcast showcasing seasoned public relations and marketing pros by discussing past experiences as well as thoughtful perspectives and opinions. Listeners looking for added incite about the ever-changing strategic communication industry will increase their knowledge and give a new point-of-view which they may use in their daily professions. #TalesFromtheDirtRoad #StrategicCommunications #PRPros #DirtRoadGroup
About Your Hosts:
Liz Hersh is an Ohio native and has lived her entire life in Cleveland. As a type-A communications professional, she has partnered with small businesses for more than a decade. At the age of 23, Liz was determined to create and execute a better approach to attracting and retaining customers. She has quickly built a reputation for itself based on our understanding of and ability to capitalize on digital media. Liz helps clients generate leads and increase their revenue. She loves to cook, participate in outdoor activities and is active in her community supporting a variety of non-profit organizations.
Tony Vann, grew up in Denver, Colorado, moved to Plano, Texas and finally landed in Oklahoma in 1989. Educated as a political scientist, he has always been an early-adopter of technology including bulletin board systems (BBS), online marketing places and website development. His mentor was a rural Oklahoma newspaper publisher who taught him "the ropes" of both journalism and public relations. He has since honed his craft over the past three decades working for high-profile organizations and companies. In his free time, he roots for the ever-disappointing Denver Broncos, the Chicago White Sox and the National Champion Oklahoma Sooners! An aviation nut, he loves going to air shows and anything having to do with aerospace! He too loves to crack jokes, laugh and make those around him laugh. He is a bit of a culinarian and can often be found cooking, grilling and eating delights anywhere he travels.
This is our non-resolution, resolution podcast! Liz and Tony discuss their respectives philosophies on resolutions, how they each intent to tackle 2026 and what their travel habits and future wishes for Taylor Swift will be. Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com Download and Subscribe to all episodes at: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com/podcast
23 Dec 2025
Going Deep on Branding the Right Way
When we say branding, you say logo - NOPE! That's only a very small part of the more grand process of branding. Liz and Tony chat about a class Liz teaches about successful branding processes, how to systemize your branding and what questions companies and organizations should ask before, during and after the process. Let's go DEEP! Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http...
16 Dec 2025
The Dead Internet Theory Discussed
Have you heard about the "Dead Internet Theory?" Liz and Tony discuss the basics of the theory and how some factors may seem far-fetched, but others concepts may be a road map to where AI and bots are leading us. Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com Download and Subscribe to all episodes at: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com/podcast
9 Dec 2025
Email Marketing: Still Alive and Well
As annoying as email marketing may be to you, a well-crafted email marketing strategy can engage, entice and encourage current and new leads to convert. Liz and Tony discuss the importance of on-going email marketing campaigns and a few tactics one should use to be successful. Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com Download and Subscribe to al...
11 Nov 2025
Differences Between Marketing, Advertising and Sales
Spoiler alert, they are NOT the same! Liz and Tony chat about the differences between marketing, advertising and sales. This week, the discussion focuses not only on defining the tactics, but also how to effectively use them and in which order they should be implemented. Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com Download and Subscribe to all episodes a...
29 Oct 2025
Content Is King, No Matter How You Get There.
In a wild plot twist, Liz and Tony discuss the importance of engaging content. The two hosts chat about the creation of content, how it can help a brand tell stories and a change in heart by one of our hosts as they discover no matter how you slice it, content is always king. Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com Download and Subscribe to all episo...
14 Oct 2025
A Review of Changes in PR and Marketing
Liz and Tony take a deep dive into the evolution of the public relations and marketing industry as it relates to protocol, technology and user/client needs and wants. Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com Download and Subscribe to all episodes at: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com/podcast
23 Sept 2025
What is ROI and how to you can best use this benchmark your progress.
This week, Liz and Tony discuss return on investment (ROI) and how business owners and marketing professionals can utilize a specific formula to calculate and leverage ROI for progress. Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com Download and Subscribe to all episodes at: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com/podcast
9 Sept 2025
Did Cracker Barrel Just Serve Us New Coke?
It's been all over the news, social and in our psyche of pop culture, the recent Cracker Barrel rebrand. With a mea culpa issued only seven days after launch, many view this as one of the worst mis-steps in recent corporate branding. Today, Tony and Liz discuss similarities between the launch of New Coke in 1985 and how it followed the same fate. There are connections to be made - and maybe, just maybe, they were BOTH brilliant marketing strategies, not massive failures! Liz Hersh and Tony Va...
2 Sept 2025
What the Heck is a KPI?
Ever get confused with all of the acronyms marketers used to describe campaigns, measure results and then provide data? Well, KPI is one of the greatest of those confusion creators! Liz and Tony discuss what KPIs are, how to use them effectively and what they can mean for both a marketer and business owner. Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com Dow...
26 Aug 2025
Analytics: The Science of Understanding and Listening to Consumers
Marketers need to embrace the importance of analytics in their daily lives. Whether a simple vanity telephone number, survey or more advanced tools such as Google Looksee or Lucky Orange, the voodoo behind marketing can all be revealed through understanding the importance of listening to a consumer. Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com Download an...
19 Aug 2025
A Swifty Discusses the Brilliance of Taylor Swift's Albums, Songs and Branding
Well, if you didn't know it, it is the dawn of a new ERA! Specifically, the Orange and Glitter Era. Our resident Swifty, and co-host, Liz Hersh is ready to share all of the Swifty she has within her as she and Tony Vann discuss the many layers of how the Taylor Swift empire has given a masterclass as to how carve a path for marketing, branding and industry disruptors should now follow. Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relation...
12 Aug 2025
Battling the Temptations of Distractions and Marketers and Entrepreneurs
This week, Liz and Tony discuss the ever-growing temptations of marketing and communicating along with the importance of maintaining focus while growing a business through thoughtful and measurable implementation of critical tools. Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com Download and Subscribe to all episodes at: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com/podcast
5 Aug 2025
How AI is changing the landscape of strategic communications
For the first-ever episode of Tales from the Dirt Road, co-hosts Liz Hersh and Tony Vann dive into one of the most prevalent and somewhat controversial topic of artificial intelligence and the tech's impact on strategic communicators. Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com Download and Subscribe to all episodes at: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com/podcast
17 Jul 2025
First Episode Promo 1
Meet your hosts of Tales from the Dirt Road, Liz Hersh and Tony Vann! The first episode drops on July 29, 2025. Make sure you listen and subscribe so you can catch each new episode as they drop each Tuesday! Liz Hersh and Tony Vann are strategic communicators who practice marketing, public relations, media relations and digital strategies. Learn more by visiting: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com Download and Subscribe to all episodes at: http://www.DirtRoadPR.com/podcast
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