Episodes
Dec. 2, 2025
The Essay That Split a Kennedy Dynasty: What Tatiana Schlossberg Revealed
A close look at Tatiana Schlossberg's viral New Yorker essay, A Battle with My Blood. It is an emotional piece that blends grief, legacy, and quiet fury, and it signals a deeper shift inside the Kennedy family. The episode walks through the layers of the essay and the choices behind it. From the sh…
Nov. 26, 2025
Trump, Summers, Spacey, and Markle: Who Owned It and Who Faked It
This week’s episode dives into a crowded lineup of public figures who all managed to confuse PR maneuvering with actual accountability: President Trump’s “quiet piggy” moment on Air Force One and the broader pattern behind hi...
Nov. 19, 2025
Michael Wolff’s Messy Attempt to Explain Why He Was Helping Epstein
This episode starts with a line that should make anyone in communications sit up a little straighter. Michael Wolff, a bestselling Trump biographer and longtime access journalist, emailed Jeffrey Epstein with strategic advice...
Nov. 12, 2025
PR in the Age of GEO: How to Make Sure AI Gets Your Story Right
You saw “GEO” in the title and almost tuned out, didn’t you? Hold that thought. If you work in communications, PR, media, or journalism, this episode might just change how you think about your job. GEO, or Generative Engine O...
Nov. 5, 2025
The Anatomy of a Royal Fallout: The PR Behind the Prince Andrew Statement
This episode goes behind the polished words of Buckingham Palace to unpack the public relations machinery that managed the downfall of Prince Andrew. In October 2025, King Charles III formally removed all of Andrew’s titles a...
Oct. 29, 2025
PR Meets Politics: Cheryl Hines Learns the Kennedy Spin
When your marriage becomes a media strategy, what do you say—and what do you not say? In this episode, Molly McPherson breaks down Cheryl Hines’ carefully crafted response to rumors surrounding her husband, RFK Jr., and journalist Olivia Nuzzi. Fresh off her appearance on the Katie Miller Podcast, …
Oct. 22, 2025
If Your Group Chat Praises Hitler, You Don’t Have a PR Problem, You Have a You Problem
When Politico dropped nearly 3,000 pages of leaked Telegram messages from the Young Republican National Federation, it revealed a disturbing culture behind closed doors. In this episode, Molly McPherson unpacks why private ch...
Oct. 15, 2025
From Panic to Power: The 90-Second Rule for Handling Haters
When the internet comes for you, your instinct is to fight back or disappear. Neither helps. In this episode, Molly breaks down her simple, proven 90-second rule for handling online hate without losing your cool or your credi...
Oct. 8, 2025
When Sports and Scandal Collide: Inside the Biggest Controversies and Comebacks
In this episode, Molly sits down with Jim Rocco and Thom Weidlich, co-authors of Sports Crisis Communications: Cases and Controversies , to explore how the worlds of sports and crisis PR collide. From Tiger Woods’ redemption ...
Oct. 1, 2025
Behind the Scenes of Greg Floyd’s Interview: Son Admits Killing Parents on Camera
This episode of The PR Breakdown examines a viral crime case out of Albany, New York, that drew national attention when a suspect confessed on camera to killing and burying his parents. Guest Greg Floyd, veteran journalist an...
Sept. 24, 2025
Breaking Down the Media Statements: Kimmel, Trump, Tylenols Counterpunch
When three statements drop within the same hour, it’s not just news, it’s a case study. Disney walks back Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension with a vague, deflective release.Donald Trump grabs headlines in the Roosevelt Room, suggesting Tylenol in pregnancy raises autism risk — without evidence.Tylenol fire…
Sept. 17, 2025
When Words Become Weapons: Speech, Consequences, and the Charlie Kirk Fallout
Outrage isn’t random anymore, it’s a playbook. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, what started as shock turned into a communication crisis that exposed how words can either shape narratives or ignite division. Here’...
Sept. 10, 2025
From Phillies Ball Snatch to US Open Hat Grab: Outrage, Backlash, and Blowback Explained
Outrage isn’t new, but the way it plays out in 2025 feels like a full-time industry. This week, it’s Phillies fans brawling over a foul ball, a CEO swiping a signed hat at the US Open, Bruce Willis’ family facing judgment in ...
Sept. 3, 2025
What Was Said at the Mic: Press Conference Analysis After the Annunciation Catholic School Shooting
A shooting inside a Minneapolis church during a back-to-school gathering left two children dead and several others injured. The Annunciation Catholic School community was shattered. The country watched. And almost immediately...
Aug. 27, 2025
The First Mistake That Will Sink You in a Crisis
The Breakdown: The first move most people make in a crisis is often the one that causes the most damage. It happens when emotion outruns strategy, and the brain mistakes public pressure for personal danger. The result is impulsive action, usually in the form of a rushed post, a scrambled statement,…
Aug. 20, 2025
Beyond the Easter Eggs: What Taylor Swift Really Did on New Heights
Taylor Swift didn’t just pop onto her boyfriend’s New Heights podcast for fun. She executed a masterclass in brand strategy. With over 16 million views and endless headlines, her first-ever appearance alongside Travis and Jas...
Aug. 13, 2025
South Park's Savage Trump Administration Takedown
This week’s PR Breakdown isn’t about a corporate crisis or a press release gone wrong. It’s about satire — and the way it forces a reaction. In the latest season of South Park , Matt Stone and Trey Parker have turned their ai...
Aug. 6, 2025
The Strategic Timing of Justin Timberlake's Lyme Disease Revelation
Justin Timberlake ended his tour and dropped a bombshell on Instagram—he’s been battling Lyme disease. The post was emotional, reflective, and full of gratitude. But was it also a PR move? In this episode of The PR Breakdown ...
July 30, 2025
Why Gwyneth’s Viral Ad Won’t Save Astronomer
After NPR called me to weigh in on the Coldplay concert scandal and Astronomer’s new viral ad starring Gwyneth Paltrow, a listener to the time to email to call me a “fussbucket.” You know what? I’ll take it. Because here’s th...
July 23, 2025
The Coldplay Concert Scandal That Took Down a CEO
Seventy thousand five hundred twenty-one. That’s how many news stories included Andy Byron’s name after one juicy Jumbotron moment at a Coldplay concert. In this episode of The PR Breakdown , dissecting how a viral moment spi...
July 16, 2025
Flood Warning Failures: The Texas Tragedy
When the flood came, the warnings didn’t. In this episode, a deadly cascade of communication breakdowns and the consequences of delay. At least 129 people are dead, with dozens still missing, after historic flash flooding swe...
July 9, 2025
The PR Trap of July: Scandals, Silence, and the Setup for September
July appears quiet. It isn’t. This episode outlines why summer is a high-risk period for reputation management. With newsroom staffing reduced and audience attention low, deeper stories start brewing. Reporters have more time. Leadership is often distracted. That’s when reputational cracks start to…
July 2, 2025
When Journalists Become the Story: Who Really Controls the Narrative?
In this live edition of The PR Breakdown, Molly McPherson is joined by Warren Weeks and John Perenak, the hosts of the Reputation Town podcast, to explore the widening gap between journalism and public trust. The conversation...
June 25, 2025
The Tyler Perry Allegations: Why 'Scam' Claims Make Everything Worse
Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million sexual harassment lawsuit from actor Derek Dixon—and his legal team wasted no time calling it a “scam” and “shakedown.” That move may work in court. It won’t hold up in the court of public...