When it comes to good media industry publicists, Cathrine Mahoney would be in the A-team. Her career in the music, TV and radio sectors saw Mahoney help the content creators at all those companies reach bigger audiences.
In the past few weeks she has been hyping a new product. It’s a little different this time though, she’s been spruiking her own product.
Here Cathrine Mahoney writes for Mediaweek about the transition from the PR sidelines to the spotlight.
As a publicist of 20 years, I was well versed in compiling promotional schedules from everyone from JLo, to sports commentators through to breakfast duo Fitzy & Wippa over the years, but for the last month the shoe has been on the other foot.
I now have so much empathy for everyone I have worked with over the years when I was trying to squeeze one more phone interview into an already packed schedule! I have loved all the chats I have had about my new book but blimey I’m talked out!
Cathrine with Jonesy and Amanda
After 20 years as a publicist, I landed in Sydney from the UK in 2000 and had a run of dream jobs. I quit to follow my passion for writing and telling stories.
From Sony Music, to Channel Nine, the NRL community team, a touch of fashion and then my last 4.5 years as the publicist for the Fitzy & Wippa show.
With Fitzy, Wippa and Sarah
As a self-confessed over-sharer, I started a website to share my stories and quickly found my columns picked up by online women and family-focused sites.
I scored a column at the now-defunct WHIM (TMI with Cathrine Mahoney) but the big dream was to write a book. Breakfast hours sounded like the perfect gig to write in the afternoons but as a solo mum and someone who quite liked an arvo nap it wasn’t to be.
With Richard Wilkins (left) and Sylvia Jeffreys
In August 2019 I made the tough choice of leaving the Nova family to give this writing lark a proper go. Sidenote: It also set me up perfectly for working from home and the lockdown that 2020 brought. Once I left my day job I started a podcast called So, I Quit My Day Job following my journey to write a book and talking to guests weekly (130 eps now and counting) who had made the career leap. The podcast also sparked a publisher’s interest keen to know what the book I quit my job was about.
Fast forward 18 months and Simon & Schuster have just published my first book, a memoir called Currently Between Husbands. The past three weeks have been an amazing publicity whirlwind!
With Erin Molan
The media rollout started with an exclusive with Stellar magazine on May 29th. It featured the most amazing photos thanks to an incredible team (great for my dating app profile) and best of all an interview with the marvellous Angela Mollard, a writer I have loved for many years. I was happy for the chats to stop with Angela to be honest as she relayed the book back to me, bits that made her laugh, cry and spit her tea out while reading!
The book launched on June 1 and it was fabulous to chat to Jonesy & Amanda live in studio, especially after talking to Amanda throughout the writing process. Amanda and Tim “Rosso” Ross wrote forewords for the book.
With Rosso
It was quite fitting that Nova’s Fitzy & Wippa had me on for a chat, especially after I said on my last day with the team that they better have me back on once the book was out (there was no book at that point!!).
And it is always magic being behind a mic with Sarah McGilvray (my co-host on our Nova podcast Not Another Parenting Podcast).
Kerrie Elstub (Editorial Director Nine Digital) and Lisa-Davies (CEO AAP)
After the radio chats it was back to my former stomping ground (not at the Willoughby studios anymore, now in the six-star North Sydney studio) to chat to Richard Wilkins and Sylvia Jeffreys at TodayEXTRA.
Wow, TV is tougher than radio, super quick and you spend your whole time thinking about sucking your tummy in!!
The next day was interviews with the likes of The Daily Telegraph, New Idea, Daily Mail, Wentworth Courier and WHO magazine as well as some podcast chats. The day finished with the book launch surrounded by friends from the media world and hosted by my foreword-writers Amanda Keller and Tim Ross.
With Ben Fordham
Friday saw me talk about popping my cherry to the 2GB audience when the incredible and very generous Ben Fordham had me join him for Friday breakfast.
The following week saw me chat to so many people in the media I have loved watching and listening to. Hughesy, Ed and Erin; Ash, Luttsy and Susie at Nova Brisbane; Triple M Drive Brisbane with Leisel, Liam and Dobbo, Sea FM Gold Coast with Bianca Dye, Triple M Newcastle, Hit Newcastle, ABC Newcastle, 9Honey, Mamamia and smoothfm.
Podcaster and writer Kim Kerton and Tom Ivey, Fitzy & Wippa EP
Also the Canberra Time and Newcastle Herald Weekender. I was lucky enough to be a guest on the following podcasts – Sam Armytage, Healthyish, The Juggling Act, Kinda Sorta Dating, Forty Divorce and Separation.
For me, the career change dream continues after landing my first monthly column ‘Cathrine Mahoney – tales from an over-sharer’ which starts this Sunday in Body+Soul in News Corp Sunday papers around Australia from this weekend. My first column is all about dipping my toe (and other parts of my anatomy) into the world of dating apps!
I now have so much empathy for everyone I have worked with over the years when I was trying to ‘squeeze’ one more phone interview into a packed schedule! I have loved all the chats I have had about my book but blimey I’m talked out!
Producer Carlie Millican with Wippa
Order Currently Between Husbands here
Listen to the podcasts So, I Quit My Day Job and Not Another Parenting Podcast