Episodes

I love giving presentations, workshops and keynotes because I love helping people. I love giving virtual presentations because they are incredibly convenient, interactive and easy to use. What I know is that people no longer love (perhaps even despise), is sitting through virtual presentations. "Zoom" fatigue has certainly set in for most people when they have to log in to another - ugh - meeting. Although we are so close to returning to those in-person meetings, many of us still have months of ...

Simply put, companies in 2021 should have a diversity statement. When Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was charged with killing George Floyd in May 2020, it triggered a national wave of protests throughout the country. The protests eventually simmered down, but the call for more diversity and inclusion gained the necessary traction to make diversity and inclusion a priority for companies. A strong statement shows a company's commitment to building an inclusive workplace that welcomes peo...

The pandemic has created many problems for businesses and organizations, but it has also created a greater need for PR and communication practitioners to find ways to think beyond the challenges of 2020 to solve issues dealing with social distancing, diversity, and inclusion in 2021. Gini Dietrich shares how she advises her clients to update their PR and communication plans to meet public expectations. She's also sharing her take on the shrimp in the Cinnamon Toast Crunch fiasco. Dietrich is the...

Mega-influencer and bestselling self-help author Rachel Hollis found herself in her fan's crosshairs again(!) after sharing a blunt assessment of one of her follower's comments that rubbed her the wrong way. After seemingly comparing herself to Harriet Tubman among other notable and "unrelatable" women on a Tik-Tok video, Hollis faced a severe backlash online with calls for her cancelation and people calling her out for her views on a work ethic tied to a person's worth - not to mention how she...

As many business leaders come to recognize that online media is an important part of any reliable business plan, many are reluctant to take the leap onto social media for many reasons including: fear of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. However, there is a significant push for turning to public relations to help boost the visibility and credibility of not only the business, but of the CEO. However, PR today usually means social media. How can CEOs make that leap? Public relations pract...

Mastering the on-camera presentation is a skill that can benefit anyone working in today's virtual environment. (Look no further than Governor Andrew Cuomo. He got an Emmy for it for crying out loud. First discussion point of the episode.) The need to convey trust and leadership via a computer screen isn't going away - ever. Brad Phillips is a master at understanding how to convey a message to the media, whether in person or a virtual interview. In this episode, he offers three objectives for an...

The value of social media in a crisis skyrockets when you know how to use the different platforms to boost your PR response efforts. Molly shares tips from her social media playbook, which she uses for her clients, as well as examples of major brands that use social media to manage and issue or crisis. Listen for PR response tactics for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Clubhouse. Mentioned in the episode: E pisode 125: Build an Indestructible Social Media Crisis Plan in 3 Easy...

Social media's effect on crisis communication is powerful. A growing number of crises not only start on social media, but its viral power fuels the communication crisis as well. This episode explains the difference between a social media fail and a social media crisis, and why the latter is so damaging to a brand or organization. Learn the three categories of a crisis based on responsibility and how social media contributes to each level. Then, three easy steps for how to build a social media cr...

Whether you work as a public speaker or occasionally find yourself giving a speech in front of a room, there is an outcome you are likely trying to achieve: Persuasion ? Sales ? Inspire change ? At the end of this episode, I promise you that the next speech you make in front of an audience or speak for a live video presentation will be the best you have ever made. Allison Shapira, author of Speak with Impact: How to Command the Room and Influence Others , is our guide in this episode, which guar...

Whenever there is a crisis, there is often the truth, and then there is the story we hear. Managing a crisis in the age of social media isn't easy, especially when there are so many people with an opinion and a Twitter account. To get it right means you need to respond in a manner that makes it go away. Fall into this trap that so many people ensnarled in a crisis do, and you'll never survive. On this episode, the one crisis response tactic that so many people have used to get themselves out of ...

Power outages and no running water have left Texas and other parts of the South reeling from the effects of a deep freeze in mid-February that has created a huge communication need for services that meet the most basic needs. The recent natural disasters have shown that social media is an integral part of the crisis response. When leadership and communications work together to plan the right response to reach stakeholders, the most effective plans optimize social media. In this episode, three ke...

Just found out your dear friend or family member was giving a scary diagnosis? Do you not know how to deal with it? Wondering how to respond? This episode is here to help. A deeply personal episode about how to respond to a friend or loved one who has recently been diagnosed with a shocking and serious diagnosis. Although there may not be a set script for the best words to say to a friend or loved one who is dealing with a frightening diagnosis, there are words of comfort that are the right word...

The first day of February opens a month that offers many opportunities to acknowledge the achievements and struggles of this group, both past and present. In this episode, why many companies and organizations may choose to overlook this important communication opportunity in February, and the potential negative impact if they do not. A must-listen for communicators who are struggling how to approach the topic of communicating about this historic month to their leaders. Mentioned on the podcast: ...

Sometimes the hardest part of dealing with a bad news story for communicators, is dealing with a boss whose opinions or behavior become the story. In an episode inspired by the recent story of the CEO of a restaurant group wading in on the 2020 election results with disastrous results, Dr. Abby Medcalf offers a guide for people who need to navigate complicated situations with a difficult boss. From being selfish and self-centered to constantly seeking praise and assurance, people can react negat...

Is there anything worse than having to deliver a message to someone when you know they don’t want to hear it? Not only is it one of the most dreadful conversations you can have, it can also lead to permanent pain if not handled properly. On this episode of the podcast, how to deliver bad news and not be left in a position where the recipient wants to shoot the messenger - you. Whether in an official statement to the press or when sharing bad news with employees, listen to three tips to help you ...

There does come a point when someone’s behavior puts them in a place of no return when it comes to the acceptance of the public. But where is that line? And who draws it? Was it wrong to attend President Donald Trump’s speech on the National Mall, in Washington, D.C. on January 6th? Did a person cross the line if they climbed the steps and crossed the threshold of the U.S. Capitol? One of my favorite media trainers joined me on the podcast to discuss damage control in January 2021. Warren Weeks,...

There were a lot of questions surrounding the storming of the U.S. Capitol last week. Of the many—what should my company say, if anything, about the events in Washington, D.C.? My guest, Anthony Hayes, sets out a strategy for how executives can respond to any political or social issue without experiencing the backlash. Anthony Hayes has spent more than 15 years in communications, crisis and issue management and political and legislative campaigns. He founded The Hayes Initiative to apply his exp...

After Hilaria (ahem, Hillary) Baldwin became the subject of a huge, trending news story during one of the slowest news weeks of the year—she and husband Alec needed a solid response plan. One course of action, of course, would be to admit that she has misrepresented herself over the past decade by faking a Spanish accent, and then take an extended break from Instagram. The other—fight back. Turns out the latter choice blew up the story. This episode is a case study for what the Baldwins should h...

The third part of a series on the best communication tactics during COVID-19, these are episodes I am replaying that are still relevant today as they were in the spring of 2020.* I have assembled a group of savvy professionals working in crisis and risk management, public relations, strategy & planning to offer their take on how to communicate for COVID-19, still! *Except for the mention of presidential candidate, Joe Biden. My contributors: 1. Mary Beth West of Fletcher Marketing PR Listen to t...

The second part of a series on the best communication tactics during COVID-19, these are episodes I am replaying that are still relevant today as they were in March 2020. The focus is on leadership during the pandemic. Even months later, it's easy to spot the leaders who get how to lead in public, and the ones who are missing the mark. Here are seven different tactics leaders can use to build confidence and trust during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. (Original episode aired on March 24, 2020) © Mo...

Communicators who have been responding to the outbreak of the coronavirus since last spring know how stressful it can be to write the content about your organization's ongoing response. I hear you. That is why I launched the COVID 19 communication series at the end of 2020 to recount episodes from the first months of the pandemic that still provide valuable insights and tactics that can be used now, months later. In this episode, my favorite writing coach Ann Wiley discusses with me how to write...

Knowing how to respond when a friend mourns the loss of a loved one can be confusing. People struggle to find the right words to say or to the right thing to do to help a friend cope with grief. Many do not know how to help ease the burden of grieving, especially with quarantine restrictions imposed by the pandemic. This episode is for the person who wants to understand what to say, what to do, and what not to do, for a friend mourning the recent death of a loved one. © Molly McPherson 2020 Join...

A holiday primer for sending a holiday card on behalf of your business—the 2020 edition. Should you send a holiday card this year? Do you send a Christmas, holiday, or E-card? And Hanukkah and Kwanza? Who to send a card to, where, and what to say. Plus, easy-to-remember, easy-to-apply tips for getting through a task that many of us put off every year. Don't forget to download your holiday gift from me: How to Properly Address a Holiday Card © Molly McPherson 2020 Join Molly on Patreon for even d...

We’re all over-talkers. But not knowing when to shut up can lead to bigger problems. In this episode Molly shares the importance of knowing when to stop talking in a discussion, argument or negotiation so that you don't create an undesirable outcome for yourself. Plus, an easy-to-follow method for how to do it. Listen + Subscribe Spotify or Apple Podcasts © Molly McPherson 2020 Join Molly on Patreon for even deeper dives into celebrity PR strategies and exclusive live sessions! Follow Molly for ...