In this episode of Hack Your Own PR, Odette Barry is joined by Lucinda McKimm, journalist-turned-podcaster, producer, and co-host of Ready or Not. Lucinda has built one of Australia’s most dynamic podcasts exploring the collision of motherhood, career, and feminism. With her background in sports media and branded content at Cricket Australia, plus years of freelancing and yoga teaching on the side, she brings both grit and creativity to a rapidly growing platform that now spans three weekly shows.
We dive into the reality of producing high-calibre, independent content while raising kids, setting boundaries in business partnerships, and why personalisation matters more than ever when pitching to Ready or Not.
On Hack Your Own PR, we unpack the art and science of media relations, publicity, and storytelling so you can DIY PR, amplify your voice, and share your message.
In this episode, Lucinda breaks down:
Her journey from journalism student to Cricket Australia, then into podcasting during parental leave
How Ready or Not evolved from an interview series into three shows a week (Ready or Not, Witching Hour, and Ask Ready or Not)
What it takes to run a podcast brand at professional standard while balancing freelancing and parenting
How she and co-host Loz divide roles, manage workflows, and set boundaries (including “no WhatsApp on Wednesdays”)
The importance of diversity in guest selection and why she actively seeks different motherhood and career stories
What makes for a great pitch, and the red flags that guarantee a “no”
A strong pitch balances both story and audience: either a killer narrative or an engaged following (ideally both).
Tailoring matters — if you’ve never listened to Ready or Not and send a generic pitch, you won’t get far.
Guests who amplify their own episode can drive as many downloads as “big name” talent.
Honesty and openness make for the most compelling conversations — you don’t need to have lived through tragedy to tell a meaningful story.
Boundaries protect creativity and longevity: clear roles, set days for work, and rules about when not to message are part of their survival strategy.
Spray-and-pray press releases with no reference to Ready or Not’s themes or audience.
Long, attached PDFs — put the essentials in the email body.
Overlapping pitches during book tours without disclosing where else the guest is appearing.
Ignoring the importance of story amplification post-release.
This episode is a candid masterclass in independent podcasting, building a brand with integrity, and pitching to a show that’s fiercely loved by mums navigating the messy middle of ambition and motherhood.
This episode is a masterclass in live TV pitching, producer relationships, and how to turn a great story into a compelling segment on Australia’s breakfast screens.
Access the Big Ideas Masterclass: https://diyprhub.mykajabi.com/Big-Ideas-Masterclass
Find Odette Barry online:
https://www.odetteandco.com.au/
https://www.instagram.com/odetteandco/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/odette-barry/
Find Lucinda McKimm online:
https://www.instagram.com/lucindamckimm_
https://www.instagram.com/readyornot.pod
