In this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, host Galen Hair sits down with Austin Holmes, CEO of Signal Raptor and President of Publicity for Good, to break down how storytelling, earned media, and authentic communication help businesses stand out in an increasingly noisy, AI-driven world.

Austin shares how his background in the military shaped his leadership and communication style, why most business owners struggle to build trust at scale, and how PR can be transformed from a vague expense into a predictable growth tool. From scaling a seven-figure PR agency while raising a family on the road to building systems that replace "hope-based PR," this conversation delivers a practical, no-fluff framework business owners can apply every day.

Highlights

· Austin Holmes' journey from military leadership to scaling PR companies

· Why authenticity and storytelling are essential in modern marketing

· How AI has increased noise—and why story cuts through it

· Turning your customer's story into a trust-building asset

· Why "hope-based PR" doesn't work for growing businesses

· Earned media vs influencers vs advertising: what actually matters

· How Austin grew his company more than 50x with mentorship and systems

· Building a business while traveling full-time with a growing family

· Why systems—not hustle—create sustainable growth

· Breaking down the COMPARE framework for business communication

· The importance of omnipresence across platforms