The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

Episodes

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...
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...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
March 24, 2020

74: How to Lead In a Time of the Coronavirus: Seven Ways to Inspire Confidence

You can’t make it very far in March 2020 without seeing some kind of news article or social media post regarding COVID-19. This also makes it very easy to identify the leaders who get it, and the ones who are missing the mark...
March 17, 2020

73: Communicating COVID-19: The Best Advice for Informing Your Stakeholders During The Pandemic

If you’re struggling with how to communicate your way through the coronavirus crisis, then this episode is for you. I’ve assembled a group of savvy professionals working in crisis and risk management, public relations, strate...
March 10, 2020

72: Help! I lost my voice. Now what?

It can happen to anyone. You’re out of town at a conference or event, and less than 24-hours before you’re set to take the stage for a talk, your voice decides to completely give out. Without access to your kitchen or a pharm...
March 3, 2020

71: 6 Secrets for Starting a Conversation with Anyone

All wonderful relationships began with a conversation. That’s why having a conversation starter handy is the gateway for a future connection with a person, whether it be for networking or in a new friendship. These are my six...
Feb. 25, 2020

70: How to Conduct an Astronomically Bad Press Conference

Imagine planning a press conference to address a widely publicized cheating scandal and rebuild your baseball team’s reputation. You’ve got your lineup set for what should be a home run, but you end up striking out. In this p...
Feb. 18, 2020

69: 5 Words & Phrases to Remove from Your Emails Immediately

Where do you do most of your communicating in your work and in your life? Chances are it’s mostly email and text. You’ve probably noticed that some correspondence sounds confident and some make you want to say “get to the poi...
Feb. 11, 2020

68: How to Keep Your Passwords and Online Information Safe

When is the last time you updated your passwords? If you answered never or not sure , take a listen to this episode for tips on how to protect your online identity. Cybersecurity breaches are a real threat to many businesses ...
Feb. 4, 2020

67: Generation Z Explained with Special Guest Sarah Weise

Trust me when I tell you that Generation Z matters. Especially if you’re a parent of teens, you want to figure out how their brains are working. If you own or run a business, they matter because you’re going to need to learn ...
Jan. 28, 2020

66: 6 Simple Tips to Improve Your Handwriting

If you’re like most of us, any communication you do through the written word is via the keyboard - either on your phone or at your computer. It’s no wonder that when it’s time to sit down and put pen to paper, the outcome can...
Jan. 21, 2020

65: “Megxit” Decoded: Why Harry and Meghan’s Exit Matters

It’s official. Harry and Meghan have left the royal family to become financially independent. They can now "Chip and Joanna Gaines" their way into brand royalty, à la the likes of former presidential couples Barack and Michel...
Jan. 14, 2020

64: The 7 Grammar Mistakes You Should Never Make

This week I’m sharing my 7 deadly sins of grammar. These are some of the mistakes you might be unknowingly making in your writing that’s causing you to lose credibility - especially online. The goal of this episode is to give...