Episodes
July 4, 2023
248: Colleen Ballinger's Miranda Sings: Behind the Headlines of this PR Crisis
The following episode is a replay of Molly's live chat broadcast on YouTube on Thursday, June 29th at 12pm EDT. Join us for a special replay of Molly's live chat, where she delves into the captivating world of Colleen Balling...
July 3, 2023
BONUS: Colleen Ballinger's Troubling Silence Before Picking Up the Ukulele
An episode that explores the Colleen Ballinger PR crisis before she released the ukulele apology song. In episode 248 of "Behind the Headlines," we delve into the gripping case of Colleen Ballinger, the renowned YouTube star ...
June 27, 2023
247: Under Pressure: OceanGate's Titanic Struggles with Media and Public Perception
The captivating story of the missing Titanic submersible and the PR crisis that ensued for OceanGate. We unravel the media coverage, public perception, and the different strategies employed by Ocean Gate, the US Coast Guard,...
June 20, 2023
246: Breaking the Paywall: A Free Membership Offering in the Cancel Culture Era
What if you could connect with your audience and experts like never before? Discover the incredible new platform called Five that's backed by big names like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Bill Gates. I'm your host, Molly Mc...
June 13, 2023
245: Crisis Control: Unraveling Breaking News Stories for Tips on Mastering Public Relations Blowback
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 a...
June 6, 2023
244: Lessons Learned: Promoting Pride Events and Merchandise – Insights from Target, Bud Light, Adidas, and the L.A. Dodgers
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 experien...
May 30, 2023
243: Unfiltered Inbox: Your Questions, My Replies
The current level of discourse on social media has created a pretty strained environment for users (and that’s putting it mildly). Even a simple analysis can trigger intense responses from viewers, creating an inordinate amou...
May 23, 2023
242: Home Run for a Press Statement: LA Dodgers Welcome Back LGBTQ+ Group for Pride Night
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 prev...
May 22, 2023
241: Promoting Racial Sensitivity, Demoting Weaponized Misinformation, and Reflecting on My Recent Mistake on TikTok
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-...
May 16, 2023
240: Between Spin and Wag the Dog: Uncovering the Dark Arts of PR and Perception Management
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 publicis...
May 9, 2023
239: Beating the Bullies: 5 Expert Tips for How Organizations Can Thwart Online Attacks
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 communicat...
May 2, 2023
238: The Art of Manufactured Outrage: How Celebrities and Brands Court Controversy for Buzz and Profit
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 i...
April 25, 2023
237: The Fallout: MillerKnoll and Clearlink's Pitiful Employee Town Halls
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 de...
April 18, 2023
236: The Dalai Lama Responds: Analyzing the Intent Behind the PR Statement
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 crisi...
April 11, 2023
235: Turning Scandal into Opportunity: How Celebrities Can Leverage Their Time in the Spotlight
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...
April 4, 2023
234: Sorry, Not Sorry: Exploring How CEOs Apologize During Employee Layoffs
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, Met...
March 28, 2023
233: PR Distraction and the Power of Goop: How Gwyneth Paltrow Shifted the Focus Ahead of Her Ski Crash Trial
The Academy Award-winning actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow recently made headlines for a comment she made on a podcast about her daily wellness routine. This episode explains how information taken out of context is of...
March 21, 2023
232: Breaking Down the Pros and Cons of Using AI to Write Your Press Release
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...
March 14, 2023
231: The Social Dilemma 2.0: Navigating the Next Generation of the Social Media Crisis
Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate, connect, and consume information, and will continue to do so. The world of social media is ever-changing and, as we enter the next generation of social media, we need to...
March 6, 2023
230: Dilbert Done: Creator Scott Adams Dropped After Racist Rant
Context is everything. February 22nd, 2023, cartoonist Scott Adams aired an episode of his nightly podcast that would turn his career on its head. The creator of the beloved character, Dilbert Done, surprised us all with the ...
Feb. 28, 2023
229: When a Disliked Staff Member Causes PR Chaos: Don Lemon and CNN
Recently, Don Lemon, co-anchor of CNN This Morning, went off script and made news by stating that presidential candidate Nikki Haley was past her prime at the age of 51. This episode covers the things you should do immediatel...
Feb. 21, 2023
228: Grieving for a Social Media Influencer: Exploring Parasocial Relationships on Reddit with Emily Rose
The rise of social media influencers means it is easier than ever to form parasocial relationships with celebrities or online influencers. Although parasocial relationships are one-sided and don’t involve any contact in the r...
Feb. 14, 2023
227: How to Write the Crisis Communication Plan You Need Right Now
No matter the scale of your business, you need to have a strategy in place in case of a PR crisis. If someone takes it upon themselves to attack you on social media, or you experience an actual operations meltdown, you need t...
Feb. 7, 2023
226: PR Disaster: How A Woman's Stand Against Inappropriate Company Chat On TikTok Went Viral
When Boston-based staff executive, Whitney Sharpe, outlined the actions she took to address her disturbing experience of sexual harassment on TikTok, she had no idea that it would become viral overnight and be viewed by over ...