FAQ
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What is media training and what does it include?
Media training prepares you to deliver your message with clarity, confidence and credibility in any interview. Led by Emmy-winning journalist Olivia Smith, sessions include message development, mock interviews on camera with playback and notes, teleprompter practice, and coaching on body language and tone. You leave with a written prep guide. We also cover media relations: how to confidently manage press inquiries, build relationships with journalists and position yourself as a credible, go-to expert. Explore our full services in this Media Training PDF, or see our training packages on the Services page. -
Who do you work with?
Everyone with a story to tell or a message to deliver. Our clients include executives, founders, entrepreneurs, influencers, nonprofits, advocacy groups, scientists, authors, educators, athletes, actors, comedians, musicians, fashion stylists, TV hosts, podcasters, journalists, media professionals, financial institutions and technology leaders. We've trained institutions like the University of Southern California and the United Nations, as well as companies like Simply Salad and Slate Auto, and performers preparing for televised specials. If you talk to the press, an audience or a camera, we can help. We also offer AI strategy consulting (see AI consulting below). -
What happens in a session?
It depends on the training. In media training, we build your key messages, run mock interviews on camera, review the playback together and send you home with a prep guide. In AI training, sessions are hands-on: your team works with the tools live and builds workflows on real work. Content creation sessions are practical shooting and editing labs. Every program starts with your goals, so no two sessions are identical. -
How much do your services cost?
Our pricing varies based on the type of service and session length. We offer in-person or virtual sessions for individuals or groups with flexible training durations — choose from hourly, half-day, full-day or week-long options. Because every client’s goals are unique, we customize each plan accordingly. Contact us for a personalized quote and availability. -
How do I book a session and where are you located?
You can book a session through our website. We also encourage you to book a 15-minute complimentary call so we can better understand your goals in order to recommend the best plan of action. Feel free to text or call us at (818) 275-1846.We are located in Los Angeles, CA, and offer in-person consultations in and around the area. We are available to travel as well for an additional fee. We also offer virtual trainings to clients in any location.
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How is Media Consulting Coaches different from other media trainers?
We're Emmy Award-winning journalists with decades at ABC News, Good Morning America, CNN, 60 Minutes and more. We've asked the questions, so we know how the press thinks, and we use that insider perspective to prepare you for exactly what interviewers will do, whether you're in L.A. or joining us virtually. -
Who leads the trainings?
Co-Founder Olivia Smith is an Emmy Award-winning journalist, AI specialist and a professor at USC. She has more than 20 years of experience in media, including working for top-tier outlets like ABC News, Good Morning America, CNN, 60 Minutes and Meta. As a journalist, she knows how to think like one — giving her a unique edge in preparing clients to confidently navigate any interview or media appearance. The same instinct shapes her AI work. She teaches clients to use AI ethically, the way a journalist would: verify everything, disclose when it matters.Co-Founder Michael Murray develops strategic plans and oversees business operations, ensuring clients receive customized, high-impact training that aligns with their goals.
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How do you make me sound natural instead of rehearsed?
Our training goes beyond theory. We provide hands-on coaching to help you craft clear talking points, deliver them confidently and connect with your audience across any platform — from TV to podcasts to social media.We help you define your key messages, develop story-driven narratives backed by facts and rehearse delivery until it feels natural and authentic. Our media trainers also focus on critical non-verbal skills like body language, tone of voice and eye contact, ensuring you show up polished and persuasive in any interview or speaking engagement.
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How do I prepare for a TV or podcast interview?
Start with three messages you want the audience to remember, and practice saying them out loud, not just reading them. Know your interviewer's style before you sit down. And prepare for the question you're dreading, because a good journalist will ask it. The rest, from bridging techniques to body language, is what we train. -
What kind of trainings and services do you offer overall?
We provide customized on-camera training, public speaking workshops, executive coaching and interview preparation. We also incorporate media relations strategies, teaching you how to confidently manage press inquiries, build strong relationships with journalists and position yourself as a credible, go-to expert in your field.We offer courses on content creation and AI training and workshops to help you stay ahead in today's digital landscape. And for businesses that just want it handled, we also offer AI Business Setup & Integration — a done-for-you service where we audit your workflow, set up the right tools and build everything around the way you already work.
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Do you offer public speaking coaching?
Yes. Public speaking is one of our core services, covering speech writing, keynote preparation, delivery technique, audience engagement and body language. Whether it's a conference keynote, a panel or your first time presenting to leadership, you'll walk on stage knowing exactly what to say and how to hold the room. -
What does your AI consulting include?
Our AI consulting helps organizations move from feeling overwhelmed by AI to using it confidently in their day-to-day work. We offer two services depending on what you need.AI Training & Workshops are personalized sessions built around how your team operates: how tools like ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini actually work, what they do well and where they fail, and which workflows make your work easier. For organizations without an AI framework, we design one from the ground up with clear guidelines and guardrails.
AI Business Setup & Integration is our done-for-you service. We audit how you work, select the right tools, build custom prompts and templates, and integrate it all into your existing workflow.
We've trained businesses, professional athletes, fashion stylists, educators, and organizations like the United Nations and USC, and every engagement covers the ethics that matter: deepfakes, privacy and data. Explore our AI Strategy PDF or take our AI Business Setup Audit.
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Do you teach content creation?
Yes. Our content creation training covers mobile video storytelling, videography, photography, editing, writing and social media, all using the phone or camera you already own. Learn to create high-impact content for any platform, from journalism to business to marketing, and grow your audience and brand. Explore our full services in this Content Creation PDF. -
What is executive coaching?
Executive coaching strengthens communication, presence and decision-making under pressure. We blend public speaking development with executive media training: mastering interviews, sharpening on-camera skills, preparing keynotes and crafting persuasive messaging for internal and external audiences. -
Do you handle crisis PR services?
While we don't provide traditional crisis PR such as managing press outreach or issuing public statements, we do offer media training for high-pressure situations. If you're facing a tough interview or public appearance, we coach you on what to say, how to say it and how to stay composed, so you feel confident and in control when it matters most. -
Do you offer any digital resources or downloads?
Yes! Visit our resources page to explore our toolkits and guides. They're perfect for anyone looking to grow their skills and take action between consulting sessions. We also include a section there on equipment we recommend for producing content and appearing on camera.