Public Relations Episodes

This episode of the Indestructible PR Podcast looks at the public relations crisis created by Joy Gendusa, CEO of PostcardMania in Clearwater, Florida, when she claims she underestimated the severity of Hurricane Ian and insisted her staff continue to work through the storm. This podcast unpacks exactly what was communicated in that Zoom meeting when Gendusa addressed her staff before the arrival of Hurricane Ian and the media crisis that resulted, before it delves into Gendusa’s response. We ...

Anyone who lives in Florida will have heard a hurricane warning recently, well today’s episode is a hurricane content warning. At the time of this podcast’s recording, Hurricane Ian was close to making landfall. This episode looks at President and CEO of the Red Cross Gail McGovern’s warning to those in Florida, why some people did not heed her advice, and what social media has to do with the problem. Discover why Hurricane Ian is the first social media hurricane and how both ordinary citizens ...

In today's digital age, with the constant posting, sharing, and posts going viral, PR crises can spiral out of control in the blink of an eye. This week’s Indestructible PR Podcast shares some key takeaways from how Adam Levine responded to his PR crisis in the aftermath of the video posted by Instagram model, Sumner Stroh. You’ll learn more about the one big mistake he made, a mistake you never want repeated in a PR crisis. Also discussed are the details released by Sumner and the importance ...

Recently, Rudy Giuliani, formerly known as ‘America's Mayor,' sat down for a media interview with Newsmax, and likely it did not go as intended. One unprepared quote later, and the resulting gaff ended up all over social media. This type of thing can happen to anyone, and this week’s podcast looks at why this interview was such a train wreck. Tuning in, you’ll find out how Giuliani started off on the wrong foot, why the biggest mistake he made was treating a media interview like a conversation,...

Movie actor Ezra Miller recently issued an apology for a series of legal issues and assault and abuse allegations, published as an exclusive in Variety Magazine. With the DC Comics film The Flash opening in theaters next summer, there's a lot riding on this apology. This week’s episode takes a look at Ezra Miller’s apology to evaluate whether the elements of the perfect public apology are present in it. It also includes speculation on how Warner Bros. may be trying to approach the situation and...

Ever wondered how to deliver a knock-out public speaking performance? Well, this episode of the Indestructible PR Podcast is all about 10 tips for overcoming fear and how, by doing this, you’ll be able to give a great speech. Molly uses her own public speaking experiences to give simple, meaningful, and applicable advice on how to feel confident and prepared. From the power of constant practicing, feeling confident with your speaking material, understanding the audience and keeping them engage...

Instagram has changed, and not everyone is happy about it. This week on the Indestructible PR Podcast, we look at the video created by Head of Instagram Adam Mosseri in response to this crisis, and analyze the value of using video responses to deal with PR crises. Tuning in, you’ll hear how Instagram has changed, why so many content creators have objected to this change, and how this has led to a crisis. We then break down Adam Mosseri’s video. We talk about the visual components and how they ...

Examining the recent incident at Sesame Place in Philadelphia. In a video that went viral, a performer dressed as the beloved Sesame Street character Rosita appears to snub two Black children after high-fiving other visitors to the park. In this episode, we discuss what happened, how the park responded, why the initial response didn't work, and why they needed a second response to clean it up. We break down Sesame Place’s first official response and explain exactly what was wrong with it and wh...

We are going back to the 90s to look at a presidential apology to help us learn a PR lesson for today. Learn the importance of apologizing for mistakes, why the right use of words is imperative, and why you need to action an apology rather than just hinting at one. We also dissect other public apologies to see who was successful in the their aapology and who botched it. Key Points From This Episode: Bill Clinton’s apology for the inappropriate relationship he had during his time of office. W...

An inside look at how a PR crisis manager helps a client with disenfranchised customers. In this episode, we explore the triggers that make an unsatisfied customer seek retribution. We discuss the journey from victim to activist, and why campaigns are being branded as calls to action for other victims. Also discussed are the different stages of the victim-to-activist cycle and how companies can restore trust while maintaining their credibility. Key Points From This Episode: Today we will be d...

When there are victims involved in a crisis, they need to be shown compassion and assured that there will be no more victims. In this episode of the Indestructible PR Podcast we discuss the good, the bad, and the ‘even worse’ of how Daily Harvest handled their food poisoning crisis. Influencers took to TikTok to post about the gastrointestinal issues she experienced after consuming one of Daily Harvest’s products, the world of social media went up in arms and more victims came out of the woodw...

There is more to you than your worst moment. This week we are joined by educator, speaker, and consultant Dan Farkas to discuss Bill Simmons’ Jalen Green blunder on his podcast, the Ringer Podcast. Tuning in, you will hear exactly what happened during the incident and what Dan thought of it. We also discuss how Bill and Jalen handled it and Dan’s opinion of Bill’s response. Next, we discuss the successful crisis management framework Bill followed and how that led to them both coming out on top....

In our digital age, it’s hard to hide from the ugly side of life. Social media has allowed us all to bear witness to some of the most tragic moments in human history. From videos of natural disasters to intimate updates from people in the midst of personal crises, we are constantly barraged with images and stories that are hard to stomach. Amidst this onslaught of sadness and suffering, it can be hard to know how to cope with our own grief. How do we balance our need for solace with our desire...

So you've had a misstep at some point in your career. It made news, maybe it made the press or it just created news in your ecosystem? If you have ever made a poor choice on a job, off the job, were fired publicly, were involved in a sticky situation, or had a professional relationship that adversely affected your reputation or the reputation of your employer, this episode is for you! in this epsiode we cover how to explain a public blip that impacts your professional reputation. Tuning in you...

Making regrettable choices is inevitable for anyone but, when you're in the public eye, the stakes are higher and the risks are greater if you refuse to answer certain questions pertaining to your misdeeds. The purpose of today’s episode is not to help you respond when you are asked about divorce, infidelity, or being palsy with a convicted sex offender. This episode is about strategy; the strategy you need to employ to answer the questions you don’t want to answer. In it, we discuss Microsoft ...

Social media has made it exponentially easier for activists to share their grievances and find like-minded individuals online to join their cause. In today’s episode, we take a look at the root cause of dissent, why it happens, and how you can respond. Learn how to identify the typical activist who might target your business and what you can do about it. Remember that it’s not necessarily about ego or malice, but rather, a desire for control. Tune in to learn more about what drives activists, ...

By now most people will be somewhat familiar with the controversial events of the 2022 Oscars. Apart from the awards and winners, the incident in which Will Smith hit Chris Rock after a joke aimed at Jada Pinkett Smith, has clearly stolen the headlines and overshadowed the entire night. The situation provides a great opportunity to look at how a crisis unfolds in real-time in the contemporary climate and the role of social and digital media in the process of public response. One of the main que...

Ever wondered what it takes to get your own Wikipedia page? Here's the short answer: it's not as easy as you think. In this episode, we get into the details about one of the most visited websites in the world and why outsourcing might be your best option for getting a Wikipedia page of your own. Andrew Burnett, co-founder of Lumino Digital, talks about why many people struggle with the rules and guidelines for creating a Wikipedia page, as well as why many people are even eligible to have a W...

What happens when self-help influencers can't seem to help themselves? In the spring of 2020, Rachel Hollis announced her divorce from her husband of 14 years, Dave Hollis. Neither Hollis has yet to recover from the PR fallout triggered by that announcement. From a viral bikini photo to a failed book tour that led to a two-hour manic rant, what transpired from a business and PR perspective that negatively impacted the joint Hollis brand? In this episode, David Irwin, a marketing and social me...

When a brand is dealing with a crisis of their own making, one aspect of the response must be absolute - the apology. An apology that is heartfelt can quickly reduce a crisis, while an apology that is unclear and half-hearted can create an entirely new one. This week we examine two recent apologies from Whoopi Goldberg and Joe Rogan for actions that caused ABC News and Spotify executives to issue official statements. How did Goldberg and Rogan's comments help or harm their respective brands? ...

There's no question that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are important topics for communicators to share on behalf of their companies. But where do you start? In this episode we help you get started with your DEI communications. We will define what DEI means, cover some basics on how to get started and the benefits when you do. Mentioned in this episode: Join Indestructible Online for monthly communication trainings Listen + Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts © Molly McPherson 202...

Do you use phrases you know are overwrought and overused? Many people do, according to Lake Superior State University in Suite St. Marie, Michigan. The university has released their annual list of banished words as a way to uphold, protect and support excellence in language by encouraging avoidance of overused words that are ineffective or irritating for readers. Well said! Mentioned in this episode: Lake Superior State University Banishes Those and Other Familiar but Problematic Words and T...

Do you work for a brand, company or organization that has been attacked online? Social media has made bullying easier than ever before. In this episode of the Indestructible PR Podcast, we’ll discuss how social media bullies attack brands online and how you can turn their attacks into a net positive for your brand. You will learn how the cyberbully attacks, why it is important to respond quickly when attacked, and some strategies that work well in turning negative attention into positive resul...

Twitter can be a great way to connect with customers and show off your brand’s personality. But is it safe to be sarcastic? There’s a thin line between being clever and sounding mean, and you don’t want your brand to cross it. My guest, Dusty Weis from Podcamp Media - a branded podcast production company - joins me to discuss tips for having a snarky Twitter account without damaging your brand. Mentioned in this episode: Pabst Blue Ribbon Is Facing Backlash Over This Now-Deleted Tweet, Mashed...