Social Media Decoded Podcast

Episode: "Your Story Deserves the Spotlight: Visibility + Legacy-Building with Lyndsey Akers"

Host: Michelle Thames
Guest: Lyndsey Akers, PR Strategist & Founder of Akers and Company
Date: August 22, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode is a motivational deep dive into personal brand visibility, storytelling, and the importance of legacy-building for entrepreneurs—especially women. Host Michelle Thames sits down with Lyndsey Akers, a “visibility architect” and public relations expert, to discuss actionable PR strategies, overcoming imposter syndrome, and how to authentically build your brand both on and beyond social media. Lyndsey candidly shares her journey from corporate America and Capitol Hill to entrepreneurship, weaving in lessons of resilience and alignment over hustle. The episode is geared toward listeners ready to elevate their presence, claim their expertise, and strategically get their stories seen.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lyndsey’s Journey: From Corporate to Purpose-driven Entrepreneurship

[02:15–05:11]

• Lyndsey shares her “non-linear” career path, driven by ambition and shaped by the demands of military spouse life and motherhood.
• After years working on Capitol Hill and in corporate roles, a pivotal moment came with motherhood, altering her priorities.
• She began by supporting military spouse entrepreneurs, noting their high unemployment rates and need for visibility, eventually founding Akers and Company.
• Quote:

  “I always saw myself as a ladder climber... I wanted the title and the corner office and the salary that came with it. And I had that for so long... In 2019, everything changed. That moment when I became a mom... I really reevaluated how I spent my time.”
  — Lyndsey [02:29–03:45]

• The agency has grown to help a broader base of female-led, impact-driven businesses.

2. Alignment Over Hustle: Building a Business That Fits Your Life

[05:11–06:50]

• Both Michelle and Lyndsey emphasize the burnout linked to constant social media posting and the need to seek alignment.
• Lyndsey’s approach is rooted in defining one’s personal version of success before pursuing PR or visibility strategies.
• She encourages discernment: choosing visibility opportunities that truly matter to your brand and audience.
• Quote:

  “We all have our own unique version and definition of success... So it’s just about being discerning and ensuring that the time you’re spending building your brand is in the right places.”
  — Lyndsey [05:43–06:50]

3. Overcoming Self-Doubt & Claiming Your Spotlight

[07:04–08:39]

• Many women hesitate to pitch themselves, limited by doubts or a sense of not being “ready.”
• Lyndsey highlights how less qualified, but more confident, individuals are often the ones getting featured.
• Quote:

  “We have this hesitation to put ourselves out there. What if I’m not ready? What if I’m not the best? ... The people who operate with less integrity, maybe have lesser values... are leading with their confidence, and they’re just going for it, and they’re getting it.”
  — Lyndsey [07:26–08:08]

• The big takeaway: You have to get out of your own way and share your expertise, or someone else will take the stage.

4. Practical Steps for Visibility Beyond Social Media

[09:04–11:38]

Michelle prompts actionable steps; Lyndsey delivers a “mini masterclass”:

• Audit your digital presence: Ensure your website and channels are credible and reflective of your expertise.
• Polish your positioning: Update your bio, headshots, and outline your areas of expertise.
• Media kit/press page: Create and hyperlink (not attach) a kit with your photo, bio, key topics, features, and awards.
• Leverage platforms: Sign up for Qwoted (“Q-W-O-T-E-D”) to get on journalists’ radar for media opportunities.
• Relationship-building: Cultivate real connections with podcast hosts, journalists, and event organizers.
• Quote:

  “Hyperlink the heck out of your email and prove to people that you are who you say you are... Relationships move the needle in just about every industry, but especially in this one.”
  — Lyndsey [09:04–11:38]

5. Maximizing Media Features for Ongoing Credibility

[11:47–13:19]

• When you secure media coverage: repurpose and share it everywhere—newsletters, social posts, your website.
• Use the content of the coverage as jumping-off points for your own posts (“content with purpose”).
• Third-party validation changes perceptions—don’t let it just sit; amplify it!
• Quote:

  “Whenever you land a media feature, think of all the content you have at your disposal... use the images, the video, the headlines, the ‘as seen in’ logo... The third-party validation of being featured in the media, you’ve checked, again, a credibility marker.”
  — Lyndsey [12:08–13:11]

6. Infusing Authentic Stories Into Your Brand

[13:19–14:39]

• Share personal stories and resilience openly—integrate them into everyday content for relatability and deeper connection.
• Confidence and community are fundamental—surround yourself with supporters who’ll advocate for you.
• Quote:

  “Pursuing [opportunity] with confidence is step one... Surround yourself with people who are going to champion you, who are going to speak your name in rooms that you’re not currently in.”
  — Lyndsey [13:42–14:24]

7. Redefining Success & Encouragement for Listeners

[14:39–16:14]

• Lyndsey acknowledges the challenge of juggling business, motherhood, and self-doubt.
• Her advice: define your own metrics of success, make business decisions that enable the life you truly want, and don’t be ashamed of what matters most to you.
• Quote:

  “Just really being confident and certain in what is important and valuable to you as an individual and for your family today.”
  — Lyndsey [16:06–16:12]

8. How to Connect with Lyndsey Akers

[16:14–17:23]

• Connect on Instagram and LinkedIn—she also hosts a podcast for women balancing demanding careers and family.
• Lyndsey encourages all listeners, “don’t discount yourself.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Someone less qualified is getting the spotlight that you were made for.”
  — Michelle paraphrasing Lyndsey [07:04]
• “You have to get out of your own way because... they’re leading with their confidence, and they’re just going for it.”
  — Lyndsey [07:26]
• “Relationships move the needle in just about every industry, but especially in this realm.”
  — Lyndsey [11:28]
• “Pursuing [visibility] with confidence is step one.”
  — Lyndsey [13:42]
• “Just really being confident and certain in what is important and valuable to you as an individual and for your family today.”
  — Lyndsey [16:12]

Main Action Steps & Tactics

• Audit your online presence for credibility.
• Craft a compelling media kit/press page.
• Pitch with hyperlinks, not attachments.
• Set up a Qwoted profile for inbound opportunities.
• Invest in relationships with media gatekeepers.
• Repurpose any press or media wins across all platforms.
• Cultivate a supportive community; confidence is non-negotiable.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode is a rallying cry for women and entrepreneurs who’ve hesitated to share their stories or felt unready for visibility. Lyndsey Akers demonstrates, with compassion and actionable wisdom, how anyone can move beyond self-doubt, leverage their experiences, and authentically claim the spotlight. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to elevate your brand, this conversation is packed with real-world strategies and heartfelt encouragement—plus a reminder that your story is needed, now.

For more details or to connect with Lyndsey Akers:

• Instagram: @lindseyakers
• LinkedIn: Lyndsey Akers
• Podcast: [Search “Lyndsey Akers” in your podcast app]