From Rick Rubin to Gene Simmons: The Wild PR World of Brian Gross
In this episode, Reed sits down with Brian Gross, a 32-year veteran of PR, entertainment, and cultural storytelling. Brian has worked with some of the most iconic — and often infamous — names in music, pop culture, and media. From Rick Rubin to Gene Simmons, Vixen Media to Amarosa, Brian has been the guy behind the megaphone shaping how artists and brands show up in the world.
You’ll hear how he went from a 17-year-old intern riding elevators with Rick Rubin…
…to launching BSG PR…
…to becoming the go-to publicist for edgy, unconventional, and high-impact clients.
Brian shares unfiltered insights on the aggressive side of PR, why brands shouldn’t overthink their publicity strategy, and how today’s media landscape rewards boldness more than ever.
If you want to understand the mindset behind modern publicity — and how to stand out in a chaotic content world — this one is packed.
🧠 What You’ll Learn
How Brian accidentally launched his PR career thanks to a lucky phone call
The difference between strategic PR and aggressive PR — and why most brands need the latter
Why “trying stuff fast” beats overthinking every marketing move
The one thing Gene Simmons taught him that changed his entire work ethic
Why AI won’t replace PR — but will challenge the industry
Why every brand, even “boring” ones, needs to outshine their competition
How word-of-mouth has powered Brian’s 500+ client roster
Why PR wins almost always come from taking creative risks
Why podcasts are one of the smartest discovery tools for any brand today
💬 Memorable Quotes
“You don’t hire a publicist and become famous the next day. This is a build.”
“The worst thing that can happen in PR? Nothing.”
“I’m not a gatekeeper — I want to find out what sticks just as much as my clients.”
“PR requires fearlessness. Aggression is part of the job.”
“AI will change things, but media still needs humans.”
🔗 Connect With Brian Gross
Website: https://bsgpr.com
Instagram: @bsgpr
Twitter/X: @bsgpr
🔗 Connect With MarketSurge
Website: https://marketsurge.io
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
Twitter/X: https://x.com/marketsurging
Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm
Book a strategy/sales call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
You’ll hear how he went from a 17-year-old intern riding elevators with Rick Rubin…
…to launching BSG PR…
…to becoming the go-to publicist for edgy, unconventional, and high-impact clients.
Brian shares unfiltered insights on the aggressive side of PR, why brands shouldn’t overthink their publicity strategy, and how today’s media landscape rewards boldness more than ever.
If you want to understand the mindset behind modern publicity — and how to stand out in a chaotic content world — this one is packed.
🧠 What You’ll Learn
How Brian accidentally launched his PR career thanks to a lucky phone call
The difference between strategic PR and aggressive PR — and why most brands need the latter
Why “trying stuff fast” beats overthinking every marketing move
The one thing Gene Simmons taught him that changed his entire work ethic
Why AI won’t replace PR — but will challenge the industry
Why every brand, even “boring” ones, needs to outshine their competition
How word-of-mouth has powered Brian’s 500+ client roster
Why PR wins almost always come from taking creative risks
Why podcasts are one of the smartest discovery tools for any brand today
💬 Memorable Quotes
“You don’t hire a publicist and become famous the next day. This is a build.”
“The worst thing that can happen in PR? Nothing.”
“I’m not a gatekeeper — I want to find out what sticks just as much as my clients.”
“PR requires fearlessness. Aggression is part of the job.”
“AI will change things, but media still needs humans.”
🔗 Connect With Brian Gross
Website: https://bsgpr.com
Instagram: @bsgpr
Twitter/X: @bsgpr
🔗 Connect With MarketSurge
Website: https://marketsurge.io
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035121171654
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/15wpKr1WmN/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
Twitter/X: https://x.com/marketsurging
Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm
Book a strategy/sales call: https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/marketsurge/demozvwcxw
Creators and Guests
Host
Reed Hansen
Reed Hansen is a seasoned digital marketing executive with a proven track record of driving business growth through innovative strategies. As the Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, he focuses on leveraging AI-powered marketing tools to help businesses scale efficiently. Reed's expertise spans from leading startups to Fortune 500 companies, making him a recognized authority in the digital marketing space. His unique ability to combine data-driven insights with creative solutions has been instrumental in achieving remarkable sales growth for his clients.
