What do you do when your carefully built business is knocked down—again and again?

If you’re Larissa Banting, you dust yourself off, pour a strong gin and tonic, and reinvent. Then you do it again. And again. And again.

In this episode of Penny for Your Shots, I sat down with Larissa to unpack her wild, inspiring journey from Canadian publicist to Costa Rican wedding mogul to PR expert and digital entrepreneur. And let me tell you—her story is packed with real talk, business wisdom, and those “if she can do it, maybe I can too” kind of moments.

From Red Carpets to the Rainforest

Larissa started her career as a publicist on Hollywood film sets, wrangling actors and assembling press kits. But a chance job on a shoot in Costa Rica led to something unexpected: love. She met her future husband, an actor-turned-tourism entrepreneur, and before she knew it, she was trading studio lots for surf spots.

But in 2002, remote work wasn’t exactly a thing. There was no Instagram, no Zoom, and definitely no “laptop lifestyle.” So Larissa pivoted—first into tourism, then destination weddings, eventually launching one of the first wedding planning firms in Central America.

She didn’t have money for magazine ads or glossy brochures, so she turned back to what she knew: public relations. That strategic choice landed her spreads in top wedding magazines and earned her a spot on the A-list of global destination wedding planners. Within four years, her business hit seven figures.

Success, Setbacks, and Starting Over

The glamorous part is real—but so is the grit. Larissa openly shared the parts we don’t always talk about: losing over $100,000 to employee theft, navigating the 2008 financial crash with a newborn, and managing a business with 14 employees in a country she was still learning to call home.

She sold part of her business when it got too heavy. Then COVID hit, wiping out 10 months of bookings overnight.

But here’s where the story turns.

Just before the pandemic shut everything down, Larissa leaned into her PR roots and launched a $27 “self-liquidating offer” (SLO) teaching entrepreneurs how to pitch themselves to the media. That simple offer not only covered ad spend—it gave her a new path forward. She turned her hard-won expertise into a digital PR agency, offering courses, coaching, and done-for-you media strategy.

Why Reinvention Isn’t a Restart

Larissa’s story is a reminder that pivoting doesn’t mean starting over. It means building on your strengths, listening to the season you’re in, and taking what you’ve learned with you.

Her wisdom applies whether you're launching a new venture, scaling back to reclaim your time, or learning to ride horses at midlife (true story—she’s doing that too).

“There’s no one jumping out of the bushes yelling, ‘Who do you think you are?’ That’s just your inner voice trying to keep you small.”

Ready to Be Seen?

If you’ve ever felt like your story wasn’t ready, your business wasn’t big enough, or your voice didn’t matter—this episode is your permission slip to step forward.

Larissa reminds us that the media doesn’t care about your follower count. They care about your message and the value you bring to their audience. Whether it’s a podcast, a blog, or a glossy magazine, your story deserves a seat at the table.

And if you need help making your pitch? She’s got a freebie for that.

Grab Larissa’s free Podcast Palooza guide: https://thepodcastpalooza.com/podcastpaloozaall-in-one

Website: larissabanting.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larissa_banting/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@larissabantingpr
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larissabantingbiz
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/larissabanting/