Category Archives: Matt Baron in the News

The Inside Edge on Substack

Since late March 2023, I have shifted my writing to Substack. Visit me there, where you can find my wide-ranging essays, including: *Essays about my often-homeless (and always-remarkable) brother *How I parlayed a trip to Italy into quitting coffee *The time I interviewed a most curmudgeonly Mickey Rooney. *And the wacky way I met Congressman Adam […]

After a Fraught 4th, a Plea for Leaders to Make a Free Throw

The horrific Fourth of July violence in Highland Park has surely had an impact on all of us, and for some it is particularly personal and difficult. After 30 minutes of trying to write on Monday afternoon, I thought I might have to throw in the towel on stringing together enough coherent thoughts for a […]

Set Goals, Keep Score…One Free Throw at a Time (x 100,000)

“Set goals, keep score, break records. Anything else is just exercise.” Fifteen years ago, I met a man named George E. Hood who not only introduced me to those words but embodied them from head to toe. We met shortly after Five Seasons Family Sports Club retained Inside Edge PR + Media to provide public relations […]

‘A Beer With Baron’ Marathon Prompts a Round of Reflection

For over a decade, I have had the honor of interviewing some of the most fascinating, accomplished, all-around cool people who hail from Oak Park, Illinois, the community that has been my home for over 25 years. Some guests I had the pleasure of knowing already; others–thanks to the show–I have been fortunate to get […]

Confessions of a sports trivia nut: recalling my surreal Sports Jeopardy! experience

The question: “What is the most surreal experience I have ever experienced?” The answer: Competing in May 2015 on Sports Jeopardy!, an offshoot of the immensely successful Jeopardy! television game show. Of course, in the inside-out world of the program, the art is coming up with the question to an answer that is already, if […]

‘Stretch Your Comfort Zone’ is my key message to Concordia University Chicago students

Yesterday, as part of the Concordia University Chicago College of Business Guest  Speaker Series, I shared key principles that have been integral to my professional and personal journey. Among those principles: *Stretch beyond your comfort zone on a regular basis;*Ask for help and seek out mentors in your field of endeavor:*Value all people–not only those you think […]

A Beer With Baron: Enjoying a 10th Round With Mark Bazer, Creator/Host of The Interview Show

The brilliantly stupid film Zoolander…ESPN’s Mike Greenberg…and the topic of vandalism—all make cameos in a sprawling chat that I had last week with Mark Bazer of The Interview Show. As I mentioned to Mark in my opening remarks, he was on my list of candidates in part because he has blazed the trail so well for interview shows […]

Inside Edge PR, `PR Secrets’ Workshop Receives Testimonial from Suze Solari

Testimonials are a great way to build your brand and build trust with your target market. Anyone can toot their own–it’s much more convincing when someone else does it for (and about) you. Along with other pointers last month, the above message was part of what I conveyed to about 20 local business owners and […]

On October 16th in Oak Park: “PR Secrets From a Media Insider”

Since 2001, associations and companies across the United States have hired Matt Baron of Inside Edge PR to train thousands of journalists, publicists and other professionals to develop immediately applicable, improved story-telling skills.   On Tuesday, Oct. 16th, through an Oak Park – River Forest (OPRF) Chamber of Commerce Lunch and Learn at Adam Doe State Farm, he […]

Sharing the Story of StorySlam: A Benefit for Farther Foundation

Honored to be serving as the emcee, and to be providing some media relations support, for StorySlam: A Benefit for Farther Foundation. It’s coming up fast–on Thursday, October 11th, at FitzGerald’s Nightclub. Tickets are $50 and include food and all the entertainment. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to www.fartherfoundation.org or call 708-497-7240. Founded in 2008, the […]