The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

Episodes

Aug. 9, 2022

200: The Pull of Pop Culture with Emily Rose

For all of social media’s ills, there’s an equal amount of things to love. When I think of Emily Rose, I think of a light, fun, intellectual, critically thinking millennial who has deservedly exploded on TikTok. Not only that...
Aug. 2, 2022

199: How to Respond When Everyone Hates You: Instagram's Damage-Control

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 ...
July 26, 2022

198: Can You Tell Me How to Get (Out of a Crisis) Sesame Place

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 ...
July 19, 2022

197: Listener Question: Crisis Leadership Among Incumbents and Successors

Today, on the Indestructible PR podcast, we respond to a listener question about crisis leadership among incumbents and successors. A listener wants to know if there are any key distinctions in the guidance for crisis communi...
July 12, 2022

196: Words and Phrases to Avoid in an Official Apology

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 ...
July 5, 2022

195: Why Your Customer Is Coming After You: Behind-The-Scenes From My Clients’ Pain

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 activ...
June 21, 2022

193: Why Lizzo's Lyric Change is About Damn Good PR

When music artist Lizzo released her new single ‘Grrls’ she was faced with backlash from the disabled community about a specific lyric used. Lizzo was labeled as an ableist, and fans of her work quickly pointed out why the wo...
June 21, 2022

194: Ingredients in a Social Media Crisis: Daily Harvest’s Crumbling Credibility

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’...
June 15, 2022

192: A Week in Press Conferences: The Good and Not So Good with Warren Weeks

Focusing on who you are speaking to and what they want to hear before stepping into the public eye can help prevent press conference mishaps. Media trainer Warren Weeks to discuss Matthew McConaughey’s reaction to the Texas s...
June 14, 2022

191: How Bill Simmons Recovered from the Jalen Green Ding on the Ringer Podcast

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 ex...
June 7, 2022

190: The Patterns of Bad Planning in a Crisis: The Uvalde School District Police Response

In any crisis, the first 48 hours are make-or-break. Things can quickly spiral out of control if you don't have a solid plan in place. Police Chief Pedro Arredondo's failure to respond to the CNN crew when they stopped unanno...
May 31, 2022

189: Should You Hide Your Grief?

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 ...
May 24, 2022

188: How to Write an Opinion Piece for a Newspaper

Have you noticed the benefits of writing an opinion piece for expressing yourself? Do you want to start writing an opinion piece but don’t know where to start? Then today’s episode of Indestructible is for you! The power of o...
May 17, 2022

187: How To Explain A Public Blip In Your Career That Affects Your Reputation

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 invol...
May 10, 2022

186: How to Respond to Questions You Don’t Want to Answer: Bill Gates on the Today Show

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 tod...
May 3, 2022

185: When Past Tweets Come Back to Haunt You: Tinx and Twitter

The unfortunate circumstance of a social media storm is part of modern life on the internet. We have all seen the high-profile cases of cancellations and controversy that occur as a result of tweets and videos, and these may ...
April 26, 2022

184: Protest PR: The One Thing to Watch Out For When Someone Targets Your Business

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 happen...
April 19, 2022

183: Delete or Not Delete That Tweet

Today’s topic is relevant to everyone who dares to engage in online dialogue, no matter our standing in the public eye. Using the ever-relevant example of ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s controversial tweet following the untimely pass...
April 5, 2022

182: Public Speaking Tips No One Ever Tells You

There is no quicker way to make an impact on your reputation than standing on stage in front of a room of people staring at you, listening to your every word. Here are the lesser known tips on public speaking to help set you ...
April 5, 2022

181: When Will Smith Slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars in Real Time

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 c...
March 29, 2022

180: The Real Scoop on How to Get a Wikipedia Page

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 outsourc...
March 22, 2022

179: TikTok: Waste or Worth Your Time?

Let's start here: TikTok is not for everyone. One of the newer social media apps on the block is distracting, addictive, and potentially dangerous if you overshare information. However, the app has some advantages over its c...
March 15, 2022

178: Why Zelensky’s ‘Selfie Game’ is Helping Ukraine Win the PR War Against Russia

President Zelensky knows how to work a medium to his advantage. Volodymyr Zelensky, then a comedian playing the president of Ukraine in a TV series, won the very first season of the popular dancing show in 2006. Now he is win...
March 8, 2022

177: Is it Okay to Post on Social Media During the Ukraine-Russia Conflict?

Wondering if it's okay to keep marketing during times of unrest? Social media is a helpful way to get a snapshot of the public's mood. And right now, it's safe to say that people feel uneasy watching the horrific scenes from ...