Monthly Archives: November 2025

Confessions of a Former Chef: Mastering Your Thanksgiving Turkey 

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Thanksgiving is just about here, and as people spruce up their homes for guests and brave last minute grocery trips, there is an annual wave of dread and anticipation among hosts and guests alike. No, it’s not the once-a-year conversation with your distant uncle, or your grandmother’s intrusive questions. It’s the age-old tell of a successful Thanksgiving: The turkey.  

From Hollywood’s depiction of an overcooked bird puffing into smoke upon carving, to news stories of fried turkeys gone wrong, the art of cooking a turkey can place immense pressure on home chefs. Turkeys are fickle birds, with meat on multiple parts that cook at different temperatures. That paired with the mere size of most hens makes the task feel like an annual moving target.  

Now, you may be wondering why a public relations agency is publishing an article about cooking turkeys. Prior to starting my career in public relations, I was fairly deep into a culinary journey when I hung up my apron as a chef de cuisine in Chicago. If there’s one commonality I’ve noticed across these two careers, it is that there are a myriad of ways to reach a goal. There is no one way to build a brand’s public relations profile, and there is certainly no one way to cook the perfect turkey. But, with a strong understanding of the factors at play and technique that allows you to pivot when things don’t go to plan, you too can inch closer to achieving the dream of satisfied table guests and the words you’ve always longed to hear: That turkey was incredible. 

There are three factors to keep in mind when cooking a showstopper of a turkey:  

  • Preparation: Cooking a frozen turkey can be the quickest way to a dry end-product. While there are techniques that suggest it can help lock in moisture, it’s a gamble as to whether it will cook evenly and the odds are not on chef’s side. Ensure the turkey is fully thawed and brought to room temperature prior to cooking.  
  • Moisture: Before cooking, consider the tactic you would like to use to aid with moisture. There are several options to help with this such as wet or dry brines, rubbing butter under the skin or spatchcocking the turkey in which you remove the backbone allowing it to lay flat while cooking. You can practice some of these techniques with a roast chicken ahead of the holiday and test options before the main event. While it won’t be exactly the same, given a turkey’s size, it will get you familiar with the process.  
  • Rest: Arguably one of the most important steps to cooking any meat is allowing time for the cooked bird to rest. Often, people will assume this step is “just a formality” when it’s extremely important to ensure juices do not drain and dry out the turkey. Even if it’s cooked to perfection.  

With these important factors in mind, you can determine how you want to cook a turkey. Let’s look at a couple of options to really bring it home:  

  • Roasted: Tried and true, roasting is the most common way to cook a turkey. With your oven at 325-350 degrees, you will cook it for about 15 minutes per pound. The biggest risk with this approach is the potential dryness. Consider brining the bird prior to cooking as well as basting it, in which you cover it with its own juices throughout cooking.  
  • Backyard fried: The riskiest of options, frying your turkey can lead to a juicy center with crispy skin. Unfortunately, mis-steps in the deep-frying process are all too common and the risks of fire or injury are certainly something to consider. Given the risks, I usually do not recommend this approach. However, if you choose to deep fry your bird, make sure the turkey is at room temperature and patted completely dry. Water or ice entering into a fryer could cause your bird to combust.  
  • Smoked: The least common of the three methods, some people opt for a smoked turkey. This method requires you to cook at a much lower temperature, about 225 degrees, for about double the time. While this method is more time intensive, it can yield moist meat that falls-off-the bone bound to be a crowd pleaser.  

As you prepare for this holiday, don’t let the stress of preparing the turkey stop you from appreciating the day alongside your loved ones or from acknowledging all for which you are grateful. This could be the year you dazzle the crowd with an award-worthy turkey and if it doesn’t quite go to plan, there’s always next year.  

From all of us at Kimball Hughes Public Relations, we wish you a safe, happy and turkey-filled Thanksgiving.  

Get to Know PR Manager Logan Thompson 

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Public relations is all about relationships—the people behind the stories. That’s why periodically offer blog content about our team members who work with and represent our clients. This isn’t about our professional accomplishments but who we are as people. We hope you have as much fun reading along as we do interviewing each other. 

What got you interested in public relations? 

I’ve always loved to write. In kindergarten, I wrote a two-page essay on how much I loved my dog. While I’m sure it was barely legible and probably made little-to-no sense, it’s been clear to me from that moment on that I should follow that passion. Luckily, my writing has evolved since that “essay”, but my love for putting thoughts into words has never wavered. So, when it came time for me to choose my major in college, communications was an easy choice. From there, I stumbled across an amazing internship at a PR agency where I had the opportunity to run multiple client accounts for local small businesses. I was able to put my passion for writing into practice while helping small business owners grow their presence in the community, which was very gratifying. After that experience, I knew public relations was something I’d genuinely enjoy pursuing as a career. 

Tell us about your favorite movie and what appeals most to you about it? 

As a former choir kid, one of my favorite movies is Mamma Mia! Everything from the catchy ABBA soundtrack to the picturesque Santorini cinematography is whimsical and alluring. It’s one of those movies that makes you want to drop everything, move across the world and start an entirely new life. I think that’s what appeals to me the most about some of my favorite movies, shows and books: they make you feel something. 

What was the last, best book you read and what about it spoke to you? 

One of my most recent reads was Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica. It’s a mystery about two women who go missing around the same time. The book follows multiple timelines and is told from the perspective of a few different characters, making it highly engaging. It kept me guessing from page one, and I didn’t want to put it down. The constant plot twists left me wondering where the story would end, and when it did come to a close, it left me just as intrigued as when I started it. Thrillers and mysteries are always my favorite because they keep you on your toes until the very last second. Highly recommend Local Woman Missing! 

Tell us about a meaningful hobby or “outside of work” commitment that is important to you? 

Admittedly, I don’t have very many hobbies. I love to read, binge-watch the latest Netflix original and occasionally paint, but my favorite thing to do outside of work is spend time with my fiancé, CJ, my orange tabby, Phil, and my family. I’m the youngest of four and am extremely close with my family, so most of my free time is spent in the company of my sisters or visiting my parents on the coast of Delaware (a free beach vacation is definitely a plus). Quality time with the people I love is my biggest commitment outside of work! 

Share a fun fact about you. 

A fun fact about me is that I used to run my own reselling business where I sold vintage and pre-loved clothes online. It started as a way to clear out my closet but quickly turned into a passion project (that also happened to help me pay the bills). While it eventually fell to the wayside with work and other commitments, I hope to pick up that side gig again in my downtime and eventually have my own booth at a local market. 

You Wrote It, But Do You Own It?

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Beware trade media bearing your byline; the work you see may not be your own.

This is a universal caution Kimball Hughes Public Relations provides to all organizational leaders, business executives and subject matter experts who create and submit articles to trade media for publication. While the resulting published article may represent hours of research and thoughtful wordsmithing on behalf of these individuals, in most cases, that intellectual property—at least in part—belongs to the publishing outlet regardless of who is credited as the author. Why? Because of copyright laws.

Let Me Explain

It’s important to note I’m not a lawyer, although I have represented hundreds or more of them as a public relations practitioner. Therefore, nothing here should be considered legal advice. (This is the disclaimer that also keeps the lawyers happy.)

I was, however, a trade magazine editor for several years. And back then, when writers (many of them lawyers, by the way) would contribute articles for publication, whether compensated or not, the magazines I ran would assume First North American Serial Rights. This is just one sector of the more than 700 sections of Title 17 of the U.S. Code encompassing U.S. copyright law. Under First North American Serial Rights, a common right asserted by third-party publishers, our publications maintained the one-time right to publish a work first in the U.S. Our agreements, although this isn’t necessarily standard, also required the author to note in second and subsequent publications of the same content (sometimes on their own website or blog) that the article was first published in our magazines.

This is just one example of the intricacies of U.S. copyright law.

Why Is This Important?

According to the October 2025 findings from McKinsey, 50% of consumers are using AI-powered search already, and numerous sources note AI search will overtake traditional online search by 2028. Those AI searches are driven by third-party content.

This means trade outlet articles, Tier One media content and well-optimized podcasts and streaming platforms will form the basis of how business and non-profit leaders and subject matter experts show up. In many cases, organizations will put an increased emphasis on earned media placements and contributed content going forward. And when organization leaders have contributed articles published that highlight their deep understanding of industry trends or certain sectors of the economy, those same leaders and those who employ them are going to want to share those articles. This is where copyright law becomes important.

Those third-party publishers of contributed content may obtain, purchase or assert exclusive rights, First North American Serial Rights or full copyright transfer—among other options, where a contributed article is concerned. Republishing these works, without understanding the rights involved, can put the organizations that republish them, and/or their authors, in legal jeopardy. At a minimum, it is possible to so deeply damage a relationship with the third-party publisher that the author, as well as their employer, may be banned from ever again contributing to the outlet at issue.

How To Address Copyright with Trade Outlets

With content continuing to remain king, contributed or otherwise, authors who submit contributed articles or opinion pieces for publication should work closely with their public relations representatives to understand what, if any, copyright matters may be at issue. This is a frequent, and typically ongoing conversation editors and PR pros have when content is submitted for publication.

Additionally, most outlets will provide Writers’ Guidelines that can explain what copyright, if any, may be asserted around published, contributed content. Other outlets provide a writer’s agreement for signature prior to publication that details what rights may be assumed or assigned.

Most importantly, when uncertain, consult an attorney to avoid ambiguity, the potential for damaged relationships with important trade media as well as the possibility of costly litigation. That’s not legal advice; just smart advice.

The Value of Podcasts for Brand Awareness

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In today’s crowded digital landscape, companies are constantly competing for visibility. From improving SEO via AI platforms like ChatGPT to increasing engagement on LinkedIn, leaders must find ways to boost the reputations of their brands. While traditional earned media placements help build awareness, brands must diversify their public relations efforts to distinguish themselves among their competitors and reach their target audiences.

Enter podcasts.

The number of U.S. podcast listeners is expected to hit 630.9 million by the end of 2025. Growing in popularity for their convenience and conversational nature, these long- and short-form audio sessions provide a direct, sometimes unfiltered conduit to reach their audiences.

The Value of Podcasts

Once known for mainstream genres like comedy and true crime, today you can find a podcast on nearly any topic. Myriad trade publications, for example, now offer podcasts to complement their print, online and other efforts. This allows brands to reach highly targeted and engaged audiences through the media sources they already know and trust.

Additionally, podcasts provide a valuable quality for PR pros and brands alike: listeners actually pay attention to them. In a world of goldfish-like attention spans, lengthy articles are sometimes skimmed (or even skipped) by busy readers, sending your carefully crafted messaging to the bottom of an algorithm’s totem pole. Podcasts, on the other hand, provide a more passive way for audiences to consume information, making your brand’s message more digestible than a long-winded article.

Podcasts also allow for a conversational tone, which helps to demystify and humanize your brand. And like with trade media, podcasts often have loyal followings. This helps position your brand as more credible among your target audience.

How to Leverage Podcasts

Securing a podcast interview is a huge win, but amplifying that coverage once it goes live is vital for a brand’s return on time. Once you have landed a podcast interview, sharing and repurposing the content can help to increase listeners and amp up your brand exposure. Here are some best practices to amplify a podcast interview:

  • Share social media posts leading up to the interview to encourage followers to listen and interact using appropriate links and tagging the podcast and its hosts.
  • Post a public thank you to the host with a link to the interview once it is live. This will help further raise visibility among the podcast’s audiences.
  • Incorporate the podcast into internal marketing materials like your newsletter, blog, website and—if possible—the email signatures of the brand’s team members for at least one week after the podcast is live.
  • You can even turn the podcast interview into a Q&A article or social media content. You should always source and link to the original content but first be sure to check with the podcast host to get permission to stay on the right side of copyright law.

As podcasts continue to grow in popularity, they offer a strong platform for brands to share their messages in an authentic and conversational way. By leveraging this medium, companies can effectively grow their media presence and reach highly targeted and engaged audiences.

Trick-or-Treat: The Kimball Hughes PR Team’s Favorite Halloween Memories

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From pumpkin patches to iconic costumes, the Kimball Hughes PR team knows how to do Halloween right and to celebrate the spooky season, we’d like to share some of our team’s favorite memories around the holiday.

Eileen: Several years back, my three boys dressed up as The Three Amigos – Dusty Bottoms, Lucky Day and Ned Nederlander – for Halloween. It remains one of my favorite Halloween memories. The comedy classic is regularly quoted in our house and the sombreros from these costumes will likely clutter my basement for years to come.

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Rod: My childhood Halloween costumes were always homemade by my Mom. The Wizard of Oz held my attention as a young boy, so one of my early Halloween costumes was the beloved Scarecrow. I had some terrific PTSD when I saw Wicked on Broadway in New York many years later.

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Cassidy: Halloween quickly became a favorite holiday in my household growing up as my mother hand made every costume with a passion. This was the year of the leopard, which became appropriate when I became a Lafayette College Leopard years later.

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Sara: To celebrate the season, I wanted to share a throwback photo of my childhood Halloween days, where I dressed as a clown, complete with red cheeks and a big smile.

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Kate: My best Halloween memory is trick-or-treating with family and friends. Here is a photo of me dressed as a ghost with my brothers and cousins circa 2002!

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Alex: My favorite part of the season is spending time with my family at the pumpkin patch.

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Bianca: One of my favorite Halloween activities as a kid was visiting the pumpkin patch. Ahead of trick-or-treating, I’d go with my siblings and cousins to pick out pumpkins, travel through the corn maze, eat apple cider donuts and ride the haunted hayride.

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Logan: Last year, my sisters and I dressed up as the Power Puff Girls and even got our brother-in-law in on it (he dressed as the professor). This year my fiancé and I are going as Mark S. and Helly R. from Severance, one of our favorite shows.

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John: As a fan of sideshow performers, I loved getting to dress up as Jo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boy. Though be warned, being Jo-Jo for a night wasn’t easy because having real human hair glued to your face is itchy!

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Conference Insights: Discussions & Opportunities from the Insurance Convention Circuit

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Recently I was invited to speak at the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) Annual Convention in San Diego. It was a robust agenda, with a few standout presentations including my own on crisis communications where I talked about threat awareness and shared best practices to help every comms or marketing professional better protect their organizations.

Increased capacity among reinsurers and much improved balance sheets for mutual insurers were the underlying themes of most conversations at the NAMIC Convention. Another topic that bubbled up among attendees, media interviews and breakout sessions, included the talent challenge faced by insurers. As senior leaders across the industry retire, recruiting new talent—from the high school level upward—as well as succession planning, are becoming clearer priorities for many insurers.

Getting the Most Out of Your Conference Attendance

NAMIC’s Convention is one of several conferences on my calendar this year. While conferences like this one offer a range of benefits to attendees and the companies for which they work, one of the most overlooked benefits I see as a communications professional, is the opportunity for industry leaders to take advantage of a captive and often eager conference audience: journalists. Media attendance at most conferences across a range of industries has expanded significantly since 2021 and for companies who don’t proactively engage with them, I see missed opportunities.

Our team works closely with trade and business media. They are there to interview well-versed subject matter experts (SME), not merely to produce a summary of the conference agenda. These discussions are sometimes on background, often on the record and frequently include interviews that result in print/online stories, podcasts, video streaming interviews and more. They also help build critical relationships with the media, for the SME and their employers.

For companies interested in burnishing their reputations and raising their brand visibility, these on-site media conversations are potentially the best and most productive opportunities to do so. Yet so many organizations fail to prioritize these meetings despite leadership-mandated reputational goals for the business. Those same leaders, however, must insist that their non-sales executives make time for these interviews. Lacking a leadership mandate, these opportunities will continue to be missed as these same organizations otherwise strive to increase their reputational awareness.

I urge all business leaders: As you plan your 2026 conference schedules, require each of your attending non-sales executives to block one to two hours (not much in the grand scheme of a conference) for media opportunities. The return on investment can be significant and propel your new or existing public relations efforts well beyond what you thought possible both during and after these events.