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PODCAST

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

www.mollymcpherson.com

The PR Breakdown reveals the moves behind the mess. Crisis communication expert Molly McPherson dissects the viral scandals, celebrity meltdowns, and corporate disasters dominating headlines to show you the strategic mistakes and desperate moves that destroy reputations - so you never make them yourself.

society & culture

All Episodes

35:04

PR in the Age of GEO: How to Make Sure AI Gets Your...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/11/12

You saw “GEO” in the title and almost tuned out, didn’t you? Hold that thought. If you work in communications, PR, media, or journalism, this episode might just change how you think about your job.GEO, or Generative Engine Optimization, is not another passing buzzword. It is the next major shift in how information is found, shared, and trusted. It shapes how AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini decide which stories and brands get surfaced.In this episode, Muck Rack’s CEO and Co-Founder,

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29:50

The Anatomy of a Royal Fallout: The PR Behind the...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/11/05

This episode goes behind the polished words of Buckingham Palace to unpack the public relations machinery that managed the downfall of Prince Andrew.In October 2025, King Charles III formally removed all of Andrew’s titles and evicted him from his Windsor residence.On the surface, it looked like accountability.But beneath the royal phrasing lay a carefully timed communications plan.We’ll walk through the anatomy of that plan: how one resurfaced email reignited the scandal, how two precisely timed

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11:46

If Your Group Chat Praises Hitler, You Don’t Have a...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/10/22

When Politico dropped nearly 3,000 pages of leaked Telegram messages from the Young Republican National Federation, it revealed a disturbing culture behind closed doors. In this episode, Molly McPherson unpacks why private chats are never really private, how weak apologies deepen a crisis, and what this scandal teaches every leader about accountability, ethics, and reputation in the digital age.Key Discussion Points:The leaked Telegram chat that destroyed the Young Republican National Federation’s

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3:38

From Panic to Power: The 90-Second Rule for Handling...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/10/15

When the internet comes for you, your instinct is to fight back or disappear. Neither helps. In this episode, Molly breaks down her simple, proven 90-second rule for handling online hate without losing your cool or your credibility.You’ll learn:Why outrage online is a revolving door (and why it’s never really about you).How to recognize when your brain has flipped into fight-or-flight mode—and what to do about it.The golden rule of when not to apologize (and where to respond instead).How to move

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48:37

Behind the Scenes of Greg Floyd’s Interview: Son...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/10/01

This episode of The PR Breakdown examines a viral crime case out of Albany, New York, that drew national attention when a suspect confessed on camera to killing and burying his parents. Guest Greg Floyd, veteran journalist and anchor, recounts how the investigation evolved from a financial-crimes lead into a homicide revelation, and reflects on the ethics, accountability, and human weight behind the interview.In this episode:How the case surfaced and escalated from a backyard dig to a double

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16:16

Breaking Down the Media Statements: Kimmel, Trump,...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/09/24

When three statements drop within the same hour, it’s not just news, it’s a case study.Disney walks back Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension with a vague, deflective release.Donald Trump grabs headlines in the Roosevelt Room, suggesting Tylenol in pregnancy raises autism risk — without evidence.Tylenol fires back fast with a direct, science-based denial.In this episode, dissecting how each statement was crafted, what it reveals about the motives behind it, and why credibility — not spin — decides who wins the

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18:08

When Words Become Weapons: Speech, Consequences, and...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/09/17

Outrage isn’t random anymore, it’s a playbook. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, what started as shock turned into a communication crisis that exposed how words can either shape narratives or ignite division.Here’s the problem: in 2025, speech doesn’t live in a vacuum. Every comment, post, and soundbite ricochets through algorithms, institutions, and public opinion. And when words turn into weapons, the fallout is swift—firings, censures, and reputational scars.This episode explores:Nancy

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17:02

From Phillies Ball Snatch to US Open Hat Grab:...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/09/10

Outrage isn’t new, but the way it plays out in 2025 feels like a full-time industry. This week, it’s Phillies fans brawling over a foul ball, a CEO swiping a signed hat at the US Open, Bruce Willis’ family facing judgment in a Diane Sawyer interview, and American Eagle cashing in on controversy with its headline-grabbing campaign.Here’s the problem: every headline slaps the same word on these stories—backlash. But backlash and blowback aren’t the same thing. If you don’t know the difference, you’re

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21:49

What Was Said at the Mic: Press Conference Analysis...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/09/03

A shooting inside a Minneapolis church during a back-to-school Mass left two children dead and several others injured. The Annunciation Catholic School community was shattered. The country watched. And almost immediately, public officials and school leaders stood in front of microphones, tasked with speaking into heartbreak.In this episode, examining what was said—and how it was said—during the press conferences that followed.Joining the conversation with Molly is Greg Floyd, evening anchor and

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9:13

The First Mistake That Will Sink You in a Crisis

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/08/27

The Breakdown:The first move most people make in a crisis is often the one that causes the most damage. It happens when emotion outruns strategy, and the brain mistakes public pressure for personal danger. The result is impulsive action, usually in the form of a rushed post, a scrambled statement, or a desperate attempt to make the backlash go away. But the real problem isn’t public. It’s neurological.This episode explains why the body’s threat response takes over during high-stakes moments, and how

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14:15

South Park's Savage Trump Administration Takedown

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/08/13

This week’s PR Breakdown isn’t about a corporate crisis or a press release gone wrong. It’s about satire — and the way it forces a reaction.In the latest season of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker have turned their aim on the Trump administration, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and the culture of punditry. It’s not subtle. It’s not sanitized. And it’s definitely not for the thin-skinned.The second episode, “Got a Nut,” skewers both sides of the aisle while delivering a masterclass in what happens

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15:48

The Strategic Timing of Justin Timberlake's Lyme...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/08/06

Justin Timberlake ended his tour and dropped a bombshell on Instagram—he’s been battling Lyme disease. The post was emotional, reflective, and full of gratitude. But was it also a PR move?In this episode of The PR Breakdown, examining the timing, language, and strategy behind Timberlake’s statement and why it dropped when it did. This isn’t about questioning the diagnosis. It’s about asking the right questions, like why fans were left disappointed for months and only got an explanation after the

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20:54

Why Gwyneth’s Viral Ad Won’t Save Astronomer

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/07/30

After NPR called me to weigh in on the Coldplay concert scandal and Astronomer’s new viral ad starring Gwyneth Paltrow, a listener to the time to email to call me a “fussbucket.”You know what? I’ll take it.Because here’s the thing: clever marketing isn’t a substitute for accountability. In this epsiode ofThe PR Breakdown, I explain why Astronomer’s ad (produced by Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and fronted by Gwyneth Paltrow) is a classic case of PR deflection wrapped in celebrity glitter.This

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16:54

The Coldplay Concert Scandal That Took Down a CEO

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/07/23

Seventy thousand five hundred twenty-one. That’s how many news stories included Andy Byron’s name after one juicy Jumbotron moment at a Coldplay concert. In this episode of The PR Breakdown, dissecting how a viral moment spiraled into a corporate PR disaster that exposed a CEO, an HR chief, and a total breakdown in communication control.What made this story explode? Not just the video, but the silence that followed a hoax. Molly breaks down the viral ingredients:A real-life HR entanglement caught on

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22:38

Flood Warning Failures: The Texas Tragedy

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/07/16

When the flood came, the warnings didn’t. In this episode, a deadly cascade of communication breakdowns and the consequences of delay. At least 129 people are dead, with dozens still missing, after historic flash flooding swept through central Texas. The timeline reveals a gap between federal alerts and local action. Lives were lost in those hours.We examine what went wrong, why the local warning system never materialized despite years of requests, and how messaging from state and national leaders

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12:06

The PR Trap of July: Scandals, Silence, and the Setup...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/07/09

July appears quiet. It isn’t.This episode outlines why summer is a high-risk period for reputation management. With newsroom staffing reduced and audience attention low, deeper stories start brewing. Reporters have more time. Leadership is often distracted. That’s when reputational cracks start to widen.The timing is rarely accidental. Many of the biggest PR crises in recent years—from Lizzo’s lawsuit to Drew Barrymore’s strike backlash—began simmering in July and erupted by September.What’s

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29:19

When Journalists Become the Story: Who Really...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/07/02

In this live edition of The PR Breakdown, Molly McPherson is joined by Warren Weeks and John Perenak, the hosts of the Reputation Town podcast, to explore the widening gap between journalism and public trust. The conversation centers on CNN’s Jake Tapper and his new book with Alex Thompson, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. Is this book a mea culpa? A career pivot? Or a strategic move to rebuild credibility? The reputation st...

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11:25

The Tyler Perry Allegations: Why 'Scam' Claims Make...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/06/25

Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million sexual harassment lawsuit from actor Derek Dixon—and his legal team wasted no time calling it a “scam” and “shakedown.” That move may work in court. It won’t hold up in the court of public opinion.In this episode, I break down:How aggressive legal statements create reputational damageWhy pattern recognition is the biggest risk to Perry’s brandThe Christian Keyes video circulating online and its unspoken implicationsWhat Perry’s team should have said instead—and

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29:13

Defamation as a Crisis Strategy: What the Blake...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/06/11

A $400 million defamation lawsuit, a full dismissal from a federal judge, and reputations still in question. This week, we’re breaking down the legal loss—and PR fallout—of It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni’s case against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their team. Spoiler: no one comes out clean.This episode goes beyond the legal headline to unpack what really happens when public figures weaponize defamation law to manage backlash. We cover:Why most defamation suits failWhat the law

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21:20

Original Sin: The Five Communication Sins That...

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson ·

2025/05/28

Jake Tapper’s new book Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again is making headlines—but not just for what’s in it. The backlash, the omissions, the PR fallout—it’s all part of a larger failure in messaging that started long before the first leak.In this episode, I’m breaking down the five communication sins at the core of the Biden coverup. It’s not about politics. It’s about power, spin, and what happens when leaders forget that concealment

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