The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

Episodes

93: Tell-Tale Signs Someone is Lying to You in Text or Email
Aug. 4, 2020

93: Tell-Tale Signs Someone is Lying to You in Text or Email

As much of our communication nowadays shifts to remote platforms, we are having more conversations via text, email, instant message, and chat. Even if there is no personal interaction in communication, you may be exposed to d...
92: How to Win an Argument Every Time
July 28, 2020

92: How to Win an Argument Every Time

For many people , arguing is something they would rather avoid. Confrontation is stressful and it sometimes seems like a waste of time. However, in a cultural climate more divisive than ever, it is not unusual to be drawn int...
[BONUS] Rethinking Success with J. Douglas Holladay
July 26, 2020

[BONUS] Rethinking Success with J. Douglas Holladay

If the quarantine has you feeling a little lost; like you’ve lost your sense of direction, then it’s time for a mental reset to find out matters to you in work and life. Listen to Molly’s conversation with J. Douglas Holladay...
91: How to Avoid Writing a Social Media Post You'll Regret Later
July 21, 2020

91: How to Avoid Writing a Social Media Post You'll Regret Later

The political meme posted to Facebook. The tone-deaf tweet. The clip of your video rant. The indiscreet post. If you’re on social media, then the odds are you’ve posted something regrettable online. It may seem obvious that p...
90: How to Run a First-Class Virtual Presentation or Meeting
July 14, 2020

90: How to Run a First-Class Virtual Presentation or Meeting

As organizations scramble to turn their in-person meetings into virtual events, the session moderators are scrambling as well, transitioning their in-person presentations for the small screen. For these presenters delivering ...
89: Six Phrases to Make Your Emails More Upbeat
July 7, 2020

89: Six Phrases to Make Your Emails More Upbeat

The first half of 2020 has been a challenge to live through, let alone work through, so it is no surprise that the stress and anxiety of coping with the upheaval could be reflected in our emails. Too much of a negative tone i...
88: Being Black in the White Workplace. A perspective on race-related challenges from Cedric Brown
June 30, 2020

88: Being Black in the White Workplace. A perspective on race-related challenges from Cedric Brown

The month of June in the year 2020 will always be known as the month that racial inequality was recognized at a global level and discussed on a digital level like never before in history. One area of the discussions that aros...
87: Celebrating Juneteenth: Why organizations should have noted the day on social media
June 23, 2020

87: Celebrating Juneteenth: Why organizations should have noted the day on social media

In the week leading up to June 19, 2020, many communicators were faced with the question: to celebrate Juneteenth or not to celebrate Juneteenth on the company's social media feed. For big brands, the choice was an easy one t...
86: What To Say About the Lack of Diversity in Your Boardroom
June 16, 2020

86: What To Say About the Lack of Diversity in Your Boardroom

As organizations grapple with their responses over recent racial injustice issues, many boards of directors are recognizing the need to change policies at practices at the organizations they govern. However, one overlooked po...
85: How to Build a Sense of Belonging with Rajkumari Neogy
June 9, 2020

85: How to Build a Sense of Belonging with Rajkumari Neogy

A sense of belonging is a human need. People need personal connections to feel accepted and supported. Without it, the feeling of exclusion can create toxic environments at home and at work. According to my guest, the key to ...
84: A Crisis Response Case Study: Minneapolis Police & George Floyd
June 2, 2020

84: A Crisis Response Case Study: Minneapolis Police & George Floyd

The emotions are raw, the disbelieving television coverage from the protests and riots over George Floyd's death is fresh. In such a tragic and confusing time, one thing is clear - the actions from four officers from the Minn...
83: How to Bridge the Technical Divide Between Leaders and Employees with Colleen McFarland
May 26, 2020

83: How to Bridge the Technical Divide Between Leaders and Employees with Colleen McFarland

For leaders, it's not always an easy task to figure out their employees' needs, wants, or struggles in their job, especially if there is a significant age gap. The risk of losing employees who don't feel connected to the lead...
82: Eating Your Words: Cookbook author Alison Roman's recipe for an apology
May 19, 2020

82: Eating Your Words: Cookbook author Alison Roman's recipe for an apology

“Like, what Chrissy Teigen has done is so crazy to me.” That statement, in part, was one of the reasons why food writer and New York Times cooking columnist, Alison Roman, faced a severe backlash and a place in the Twitter Ha...
[Bonus] Creative Pivots for Small Businesses During COVID-19 with Marketing Expert, Krista Fabrick
May 14, 2020

[Bonus] Creative Pivots for Small Businesses During COVID-19 with Marketing Expert, Krista Fabrick

As the impact of the coronavirus quarantines forced many small businesses to close their doors to customers, many small businesses have served up news ways to continue to serve customers and expand their offerings. On this bo...
81: What You Need to Be Telling Your Audience Right Now About Your Pandemic Plans
May 12, 2020

81: What You Need to Be Telling Your Audience Right Now About Your Pandemic Plans

If you turn on the television or spend any time on social media, there is no doubt you've heard from numerous companies sharing their concerns about the coronavirus outbreak. The ad copy is heavy; the music - somber. Now more...
80: How to Be an Exceptional Podcast Guest with Kelly Glover
May 5, 2020

80: How to Be an Exceptional Podcast Guest with Kelly Glover

Podcasting has become one of the most effective communication mediums today. Whether it's a weekly internal program for employees or sitting in as a guest in an area of focus, leaders can utilize podcasting for optimal reach ...
79: How to Write During COVID-19: 3 Steps to Communicate Better During the Pandemic
April 28, 2020

79: How to Write During COVID-19: 3 Steps to Communicate Better During the Pandemic

As leaders and communicators head into month three of responding to the coronavirus outbreak, many are starting to feel the stress creating content. I know I feel it. However, writing would feel far more overwhelming to me if...
78: The Do’s and Don’ts of Video Conferencing
April 21, 2020

78: The Do’s and Don’ts of Video Conferencing

With over 200 million people now using Zoom to connect (btw, that’s up from 10 million users from just a couple of months ago), this signals a major shift in the acceptability of using tech to communicate. If you’re using the...
[Bonus] Connecting and Branding in a Time of Crisis with Kathleen Lucente
April 17, 2020

[Bonus] Connecting and Branding in a Time of Crisis with Kathleen Lucente

Yes, Virginia, you can still brand your company during a crisis. On this special BONUS episode of the podcast, learning how to market, brand and skirt a crisis in the time of the Coronavirus. As the owner and founder of Red F...
77: How to Navigate Through a Crisis: Leadership for a turbulent time with special guest Rear Admiral (ret.) Timothy Sullivan
April 14, 2020

77: How to Navigate Through a Crisis: Leadership for a turbulent time with special guest Rear Admiral (ret.) Timothy Sullivan

In a time of crisis, most of us look to our leaders for both guidance and inspiration. In the turbulence of the current COVID-19 crisis, it helps to tap into the minds of former leaders. With over 36 years serving in the U.S....
[Bonus] How CEOs Can Lead the Way Through a Crisis with Julia Angelen Joy
April 9, 2020

[Bonus] How CEOs Can Lead the Way Through a Crisis with Julia Angelen Joy

Molly McPherson, the creator of the COVID-19 Communication Response Kit, speaks with public relations expert Julia Angelen Joy from Z Group PR, about the best leadership values for CEOs to possess during the coronavirus crisi...
76: Torpedoing the Commander of the USS Roosevelt: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
April 7, 2020

76: Torpedoing the Commander of the USS Roosevelt: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

If someone is between the devil and the deep blue sea, they are in a difficult situation where they have to choose between two equally unpleasant courses of action. Capt. Crozier made a decision, and it wasn't "stupid" or "na...
75: How to Write a Memorable Quote
March 31, 2020

75: How to Write a Memorable Quote

You know a memorable quote when you hear it. You see it published repeatedly or going viral on social media, you have a quote for the ages. We are weeks into a global pandemic and there are multiple heads of organizations att...
[Bonus] The Cooperative Way of Operating During a Pandemic with Adam Schwartz
March 31, 2020

[Bonus] The Cooperative Way of Operating During a Pandemic with Adam Schwartz

Adam Schwartz, the founder of The Cooperative Way , speaks with Molly McPherson, creator of the COVID-19 Response Kit about the best practices for cooperatives to follow during the first stages of the coronavirus crisis. Inte...