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The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

Episodes

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 pre…
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 publici…
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 communica…
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 …
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 d…
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 cris…
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 t…
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, Me…
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 o…
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 19,00…
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 t…
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 immediate…
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 …
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 …
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…
Jan. 30, 2023

225: The Gwen Stefani Allure Interview: Public Relations Backlash

Gwen Stefani recently made headlines after an interview with Allure magazine in which she claimed to be Japanese. The pop star received a lot of backlash for these comments and has been accused of cultural appropriation. The…
Jan. 24, 2023

224: Analyzing the Apology Statement: the Andrew Callaghan example

A powerful public relations strategy can help you recover from a crisis and build an indestructible reputation. Restoring your reputation after a serious allegation is a circumstance that everyone should be prepared for. Thi…
Jan. 17, 2023

223: Who are the Biggest Golden Globe PR Losers of 2023?

Today, the Golden Globes 2023 edition of the Indestructible PR® Podcast takes a look at the people and the brands that haven’t successfully overcome their PR crises of the past and examines what the ceremony reveals about th…
Jan. 10, 2023

222: To Catch a Corporate Operative: The "Network News" Hit Piece

Today’s podcast sheds light on a new dirty trick used by special interest groups and people who are activist-minded. It takes a look at an article by NPR, “She Was an ABC News Producer. She Also Was a Corporate Operative,” a…
Jan. 2, 2023

221: Top 10 Public Relations Crises of 2022

In this episode, discussing some of the worst PR crises that happened in 2022 based on an informal poll on Twitter. It's no secret that 2022 was a year full of PR disasters. From celebrities getting caught up in scandals to …
Dec. 27, 2022

220: What is ChatGPT and Why Is Everyone Obsessed With It?

ChatGPT is here and is making waves globally for its ability to generate human-like written text. This episode of the Indestructible PR® Podcast delves into some of the risks and benefits of using this new platform. It provi…
Dec. 19, 2022

219: How to Give a Good Answer to Any Question

Everyone has been in a situation where they’re asked a question and don’t know how to answer it. Whether it be during an interview, a meeting, or a media interview, being able to provide clear, concise answers can make all t…