Public Relations Episodes

Last week was a big week for breaking news. From the departure of CEO Chris Licht to wildfires, last week was an example of the dynamic nature of breaking news. With technology and social media, headline news can now spread at unprecedented rates on a global scale. There is a spillover effect resulting from breaking news that companies and brands can utilize to identify threats regarding reputation during a public relation crisis. Using the events that unfolded last week, gain insight into how ...

What does it take for a brand to successfully navigate the delicate waters of LGBTQ+ marketing during Pride Month? Join us as we explore the challenges and rewards of inclusive marketing and branding, sharing various experiences from companies like Bud Light (messy) and Adidas (did anyone notice?) in their 2023 campaigns, we discuss the importance of having values and initiatives in place - and crisis communication plans - to avoid costly PR crises and the potential backlash from embracing this ...

On this episode of Indestructible PR Podcast with Molly McPherson, the focus is on the challenge of regaining a lost reputation after a crisis. Molly discusses the importance of acknowledging mistakes and taking steps to prevent recurrence, highlighting the recent statement by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an example of a strong PR crisis response. The discussion centers around the importance of reconciling with groups affected by the crisis, offering sincere apologies, engaging in dialogue, and sh...

In this episode, discussing the growing importance of understanding racial insensitivity online. We discuss the recent car chase story involving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, as well as the press accounts and possible long-play strategy behind their media statement. As well as how Meghan Markle's biracial identity impacts press coverage and public opinion, both positively and negatively. Additionally, the importance of taking responsibility for our words and content and to better understand th...

In today's episode, we delve deep into the realm of public relations (PR) and perception management. Step behind the curtain with us as we uncover the hidden strategies and tactics that PR professionals and Hollywood publicists employ to shape narratives and mold public opinion. Join your host, Molly McPherson, as she ventures into the realm of crisis management, where PR professionals truly showcase their mettle. From high-profile scandals to corporate disasters, we examine real-life case stud...

A digital intimidation campaign is only as effective as your fear of it. Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. How does that apply to Public Relations and strategic communications? Online attacks have become a pertinent problem for public relations clients but are not impossible to thwart. The best defense against an online attack is a strong offense, starting with your strong and trustworthy digital presence. By monitoring online conversations,...

As seen on NBC News, exploring the phenomenon of manufactured outrage and how it is used by celebrities and brands to generate buzz and profit. Molly discusses her contribution to the broadcast news story about the business implications of this practice, as well as its impact on politics and culture. We take a look at the intersection of celebrity, marketing, and social issues. We're back to Dylan Mulvaney and Bud Light, as well as a discussion on Meghan Trainor (rightfully) being lectured by t...

Employee well-being should be at the forefront of every CEO’s mind, not only because it is the right thing to do from a humanistic perspective, but also because your reputation as a leader and the longevity of your company depends on it. Since the pandemic, employees are no longer willing to put up with being treated disrespectfully, and many customers are no longer willing to buy from companies who treat their employees in such a manner. In this episode, you’ll hear about the tirades that the ...

It’s not often that one of the world’s most admired spiritual leaders who describes himself as an advocate for warm-heartedness, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, and self-discipline finds himself in the midst of a PR crisis. A video filmed in February 2023 of the Dalai Lama asking a young boy to ‘suck’ his tongue went viral in April. Although some people have argued that there has been a cultural misunderstanding, the overwhelming majority of responses have been vehemently critical. In this ...

In this episode, discussing how celebrities can turn scandal into opportunity and leverage their time in the spotlight to create positive change. We will explore different ways in which celebrities have used their platform to redeem themselves and make a positive impact on society. Key Points From This Episode: The Anatomy of a Scandal What are the different types of scandals that celebrities may find themselves in and how these scandals can affect their public image. We will also explore how...

Sweeping layoffs were big news in 2022, and this shows no sign of slowing down in 2023. From Amazon to Salesforce, Twitter, Google, and more, major tech companies are making large numbers of employees redundant. Recently, Meta announced that it would be cutting 10,000 jobs (or roughly 10% of its workforce) in response to what CEO Mark Zuckerberg describes as “challenging market conditions.” While layoffs can be challenging and emotional for both the employees affected and the leaders of those c...

As AI continues to advance and become more accessible, the question of using it to write press releases is becoming more relevant. After a tweet posted by Molly on the topic of using AI for this purpose received almost 19,000 views, this episode breaks down the pros and cons of doing this. You’ll learn about how these tools can be helpful to you and what safeguards you can use to limit the damage you can cause through them. You’ll also learn about the legal, copyright, and privacy implications o...

Gwen Stefani recently made headlines after an interview with Allure magazine in which she claimed to be Japanese. The pop star received a lot of backlash for these comments and has been accused of cultural appropriation. The controversy raised a lot of questions about what it means to be respectful when engaging with other cultures. This week’s episode unpacks the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. In order to do this, it draws on the expertise of Melissa Vela-...

A powerful public relations strategy can help you recover from a crisis and build an indestructible reputation. Restoring your reputation after a serious allegation is a circumstance that everyone should be prepared for. This week's episode uses the recent sexual misconduct allegations surrounding Andrew Callaghan as a real-world example of dealing with a crisis and analyzes his response from a PR lens. Hear about the allegations made against Andrew from TikToker Caroline Elise, his response to...

Today, the Golden Globes 2023 edition of the Indestructible PR® Podcast takes a look at the people and the brands that haven’t successfully overcome their PR crises of the past and examines what the ceremony reveals about their failings. Tune in to find out why these brands still haven’t recovered a year later and discover some helpful tips to avoid becoming a PR loser. Key Points From This Episode: Today’s topic: How the Golden Globes sheds light on the brands that haven’t successfully overco...

Today’s podcast sheds light on a new dirty trick used by special interest groups and people who are activist-minded. It takes a look at an article by NPR, “She Was an ABC News Producer. She Also Was a Corporate Operative,” and reveals how Kristen Hentschel used her previous work experience as a journalist to challenge Toby Overdorf, a candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, while working as an advocate for a political consulting firm. This episode covers a brief overview of the stor...

In this episode, discussing some of the worst PR crises that happened in 2022 based on an informal poll on Twitter. It's no secret that 2022 was a year full of PR disasters. From celebrities getting caught up in scandals to brands making massive mistakes, here are some of the worst PR crises that happened last year. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: What are some of the worst PR crises that happened in 2022? - Twitter 12/27/22 The Top 10 PR Crises in 2022 - Tik Tok 1/2/2023 212: Why The Term...

ChatGPT is here and is making waves globally for its ability to generate human-like written text. This episode of the Indestructible PR® Podcast delves into some of the risks and benefits of using this new platform. It provides a bit of background into what ChatGPT is, how it works, and how it’s different from other IA programs. It also explains how it can be especially useful to those in communications and public relations before providing a list of some of the many things it can be used for, i...

Everyone has been in a situation where they’re asked a question and don’t know how to answer it. Whether it be during an interview, a meeting, or a media interview, being able to provide clear, concise answers can make all the difference. Here are some tips to help you give good answers to any question: Mastering the art of giving good answers takes time and practice; however following these tips should help ensure that no matter what type of question is put forth, you can confidently provide a...

These days news happens in milliseconds and with the social media algorithms functioning the way they do, a negative comment can result in a disruption that can damage your public image in a very short space of time. This episode takes a look at the public relations strategy that effectively got two of Molly’s clients out of crises. It breaks down the three elements of the 'Social Media Checklist' and covers why you need to consider the intent of the person attacking you or your brand, the diff...

If you say the wrong thing in front of the press, it could live online for years to come and greatly damage your reputation. This episode takes a look back at a previous podcast episode and webinar with media trainer extraordinaire Warren Weeks, where he broke down the three mistakes that most spokespeople make in media interviews, why these faux pas can be so damaging, and how to avoid them. From not treating an interview like it’s a conversation to identifying and avoiding the traps set by rep...

How a leader handles layoffs can have a major impact on the future success and reputation of their company. This episode takes a look at some of the recent layoffs that have made the news before breaking down five tips on how to handle layoffs during this time of year. It unpacks how Mark Zuckerberg handled the Meta layoffs differently from how Elon Musk handled the Twitter layoffs and what we can learn from both these situations. From managing expectations to supporting your employees, and ongo...

While you may think it’s unlikely that you will end up on a live television interview, with webinars, streaming, short-form videos, and other channels, there are so many opportunities for you to find yourself on screen. This episode breaks down five tested prep tips for appearing on camera for a live interview on very short notice, from the perspective of someone who understands this experience well. Hear about how Molly ended up on NOW Tonight with Joshua Johnson at short notice, and how she ...

Kanye West (better known simply as Ye) has always been a contentious figure, but after his latest string of racist and anti-Semitic remarks, major brands like Adidas are dropping their endorsements with the rapper. This episode delves into this controversy to explain what happened, how Ye redefined the term 'cancel culture' and how the use of it can actually damage your brand. You’ll hear about Adidas’ termination of their partnership of Ye, as well as what they did wrong and what they did righ...