Podcasts about substack subscribe

A New Jersey congressman has been missing for 77 days. His office keeps posting like he's at his desk. His father is fielding press calls. And almost no one is talking about it.Tom Kean Jr. hasn't cast a vote since March 5. His team's answer? "Personal medical issue." "Back soon." "Trust us."That's not transparency. That's a cover-up with better branding.This episode breaks down the four things Kean's team is doing wrong, why "simulated presence" on social media erodes trust faster than silence ever could, and four predictions about where this story goes the second the news cycle quiets down.Inside the episode:Why "personal medical issue" stopped working around day 50The four specific moves Kean's team is making, and what each one signalsWhy "simulated presence" is the new crisis comms failureThe Princess Catherine parallel and what Kensington Palace eventually figured outFour predictions about what breaks next, including which party turns on him firstThe minimum disclosure every public figure owes the people who hired themPrivacy is a boundary. Secrecy is a strategy. When you confuse the two, you don't protect yourself. You hand the story to everyone else.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Kelsi talks with church historian, professor, and author, Carl Trueman about his newest book, The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity. Carl R. Trueman (PhD, University of Aberdeen) is professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College. He is an esteemed church historian and previously served as the William E. Simon Fellow in Religion and Public Life at Princeton University. Trueman has authored or edited more than a dozen books, including The Creedal Imperative; Luther on the Christian Life; and Histories and Fallacies. Trueman is a member of The Orthodox Presbyterian Church.Show Notes:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support 1517 Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Events Schedule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Academy - Free Theological Education⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More from Kelsi:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelsi Klembara⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kelsi on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kelsi on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelsi's Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the Show:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠Order The Desecration of Man: How the Rejection of God Degrades Our Humanity by Carl Trueman

When a celebrity files a lawsuit citing harassment and a hostile work environment, her PR team is supposed to make her the sympathetic figure. Blake Lively's team did the opposite.Everyone is covering the lawsuit. Molly is covering the PR collapse underneath it, and the numbers tell a story the legal coverage is missing entirely.We dissect:Why the "grab your friends, wear your florals" press tour was a five-alarm fire from week oneHow cross-promoting Betty Buzz during a domestic violence film became the first crack in the foundationWhat 22,000+ tracked articles reveal about who is actually winning this fight (it is not the plaintiff)Why Ryan Reynolds' word cloud has more Wrexham than lawsuit, and what that meansThe Met Gala moment that exposed who is really being protected in this marriageWhy "crisis publicist" is a contradiction in terms, and the mistake business owners keep repeatingWhat every public figure should learn from watching this strategy collapse in real timeThis is not a recap of the case. It is a forensic look at the PR machine behind it. When publicity becomes the strategy instead of the byproduct, reputation is what pays.What you'll learn:How to spot the difference between a publicist and a crisis manager before you need oneWhy winning the news cycle and losing the reputation are not mutually exclusiveWhat "narrative substitution" looks like when one spouse uses the other as a shieldHow to read sentiment data and word clouds to know if your strategy is actually workingThe full six-segment deep dive, with all the data, the Leslie Sloane and Bryan Freedman breakdowns, and Molly's full theory on who actually drove this from day one, is up now on Substack for members. Watch now; https://open.substack.com/pub/mollymcpherson/p/the-lively-v-baldoni-post-mortem?r=dvpkq&utm_medium=iosWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

What do a Patriots head coach, a country legend, and a Hollywood power couple have in common? They all just gave us a master class in what trust actually is. Or isn't. The thread connecting this week's stories is the difference between managing a message and actually meaning it.This week's roundup isn't about three scandals. It's about one question every leader eventually has to answer: Did you tell them the truth, or did you tell them what you thought would work?The cases:Mike Vrabel and the Patriots are managing three crises stacked on top of each other, and they're treating it like one. Dolly Parton released a direct-to-camera health update because her sister Frida was already posting prayer requests on Facebook. Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds quietly settled with Justin Baldoni. No money, ten of thirteen claims thrown out. Same day, Blake walks the Met Gala carpet in archival Versace with a thirteen-foot train and a bespoke purse that turned out not to be bespoke.The thread: Each crisis fell apart for the same reason. The response didn't match the record. Dolly's worked because she's never faked it. Vrabel's hasn't because everything keeps dripping. Blake and Ryan haven't because the machine they built to make themselves beloved finally turned on them.The takeaway: Trust isn't a strategy. It's a track record. When you've never faked it, you don't have to prove you're being real. When you have, every move you make in the moment looks like another move.Mentioned in this episode:May 14th Substack deep dive on Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and Justin Baldoni (Thursday, 12:00 PM). Members get the replay.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

1517 Executive Director Scott Keith joins Kelsi to discuss his new book, Being Family: Passing Down the Faith Through the Generations. Show Notes:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Support 1517 Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Events Schedule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Academy - Free Theological Education⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠More from Kelsi:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelsi Klembara⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kelsi on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kelsi on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelsi's Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the Show:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠Order Being Family by Scott Keith

Certified Feng Shui Practitioner Candice Berlanga provides a energy update for May, covering Feng Shui, flying stars, zodiac forecasts, and seasonal shifts. This episode offers practical tips for aligning with seasonal energies, and understanding astrological influences for personal and environmental harmony.Read the full newsletter on Substack ---------Subscribe on Substack! https://learnfengshui.substack.com/?r=442rsj&utm_campaign=pub-share-checklistSend questions here: ⁠info@learnfengshui.com    Connect on social media & contact me HERE ⁠https://linktr.ee/learnfengshuinow⁠----------Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Feng Shui and Energy Update00:10 Energy Tones 04:12 Zodiac Forecast for May08:13 Flying Stars for May16:42 Renovation Sectors and Conclusion

When a presidential interview goes off the rails, it is rarely an accident. It is a pattern.A man tried to kill the president on Saturday. By Tuesday, the dominant news story was a court filing about a ballroom.That is not a glitch in the news cycle. That is a Trap working exactly as designed.This week, I am introducing the fourth Trap in the Crisis Doctrine. The Deflection Trap. The four-move playbook leaders run when they cannot afford to answer the question they were asked. I pulled 8,706 articles from the week of the White House Correspondents' Dinner attack. The data shows it. Trump's 60 Minutes interview demonstrates it. And once you can name the four moves, you stop falling for them.This episode is for anyone who has watched a leader dodge a hard question and felt something was off without being able to say what.Now you can say what.WHAT YOU'LL LEARNHow to spot the four faces of deflection in real time, in any conversationThe difference between a lie and a deflection, and why one is more dangerous than the otherWhy audiences detect non-replies less than half the time on first hearingThe Ownership move that ends a crisis instead of prolonging itRead the full essay on Substack. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

"Your product is not the features, the specs, it's not what you ship. The product is the experience, the transformation that your customer goes through. It's the change in their lives. That's what you're selling." — Rain BennettYou can have a bold vision, a clear mission, and a brand people believe in... and still fail. Because none of it matters if your product doesn't deliver. In this solo episode, Rain breaks down the fourth layer of the Narrative Operating System: Product, the moment where your story is either proven or broken. Using Nike's grassroots origins and screenwriting software Highland Pro as case studies, Rain shows how the best brands don't build products for their customers—they build them with them. He also introduces the Hub and Spoke Model as a practical framework for keeping every feature and offering tied back to your core brand narrative, and walks through the most common product traps (feature bloat, trend chasing, and data misreading) that cause brands to drift and fracture over time.In this episode, you will learn to:Reframe your product as the moment your brand story is proven, or exposedUse the Hub and Spoke Model to keep every product feature tied to your core narrativeBuild with your customers instead of for them by treating listening as a storytelling strategyUnderstand where the Chief Storytelling Officer sits in the product conversation and why it mattersAvoid the three biggest product traps: feature bloat, trend chasing, and misreading data without contextEpisodes Referenced:EP 216 → Vision: The Big Future Story (https://www.thestorytellinglabpodcast.com/items/the-real-reason-your-brand-feels-disconnected)EP 220 → Mission: How You're Going to Get There (https://www.thestorytellinglabpodcast.com/items/%E2%80%9Cvision-is-what-inspires-your-people.-mission-is-what-activates-and-organizes-them.%E2%80%9D)EP 225 → Brand: How It Feels to Be Part of Your Story World (https://www.thestorytellinglabpodcast.com/items/the-real-brand-difference)Guest Referenced → Nelson Farris, first Chief Storytelling Officer at NikeGuest Referenced → John August, screenwriter and founder of Highland ProPodcast Referenced → Scriptnotes with John August and Craig MazinSoftware Referenced → Highland Pro → https://www.highland.appBook → The Chief Storytelling Officer by Rain Bennett → Coming August 25th (https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-chief-storytelling-officer-b-rain-bennett/1149080177?ean=9781636988115)Substack → Subscribe for more NOS content → https://rainbennett.substack.comFor more storytelling tips and strategies, visit:Website → https://rainbennett.comPodcast → https://thestorytellinglabpodcast.comOr follow along at:TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@chiefstorytellingofficerTwitter/X → https://twitter.com/rainbennettInstagram → https://www.instagram.com/rainbennettFacebook → https://www.facebook.com/thestorytellinglabYouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@RainBennett Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a leader is under pressure, the first move tells you everything. Kash Patel sued The Atlantic for $275 million. Mike Vrabel called it a "private and personal matter." Both responses were designed to control the story. Both made it worse.This week on PR Breakdown, two leaders, two crises, one shared mistake. They tried to outrun trust instead of rebuilding it.Molly Breaks DownWhy Kash Patel's $275 million lawsuit against The Atlantic is the loudest possible signal that the story landedThe verbal tic that gave him away at the podium and what "what this means is" actually meansHow Mike Vrabel's crisis team ran four stages of containment and watched every one of them failWhy "private and personal matter" stops working the moment the photos are publicThe Robert Kraft suppression attempt and why ownership interference always becomes the second scandalHow Dianna Russini's separate statement turned Vrabel's silence into her amplifierThe Deflategate shadow Vrabel inherited and confirmed in a single press conferenceWhat both men should have said in one paragraph, and why their crisis teams refused to let them say itThe Through LineThis is not a story about a lawsuit and an affair. It is a story about what leaders reach for when trust starts to crack. Patel reached for litigation. Vrabel reached for vagueness. Both reached for control. Neither reached for accountability.The first move is always the tell. And the tell is almost always the same one. The belief that you can manage your way out of a trust problem without ever naming it.What You Will LearnHow to spot a crisis containment strategy in real time, before the audience doesThe difference between a statement that protects a leader and a statement that protects their leadershipWhy verbal tics, lawsuits, and "private matter" framing are all symptoms of the same failureWhat "own it, explain it, promise it" actually looks like when a leader gets it rightWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

When serious allegations land, a public figure's opening move is supposed to signal steadiness, accountability, and command of the facts. Eric Swalwell's first move did the opposite. Within hours, he reached for lawyers, labeled his accusers politically motivated, and went rogue on Instagram against his own staff's advice. The first move told us the intent. Everything that followed confirmed it. This isn't a story about one congressman's resignation. It's a diagnostic for how contempt reveals itself under pressure. When the first instinct is to fight instead of lead, survival mode takes over, and survival mode rarely survives.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Melania Trump didn't walk to that podium to defend herself. She walked there to distance herself. From Epstein. From the male executives around her. And quietly, unmistakably, from her husband.This wasn't a press conference. There were no questions. No reporters. Just a controlled, produced, lawyer-crafted statement delivered at exactly the right time to own the news cycle and put narrow legal points on the record before something drops.In this episode, Molly breaks down the full PR read on Melania's statement, including the fixer fingerprints in the language, why the double-spaced White House document tells you who wrote it, what the "fake image" defense reveals about the strategy, and why Ivanka Trump quietly did the same thing one week earlier on a podcast.This is a preemptive statement. The tells are everywhere. And when you know what to look for, the pattern is unmistakable.What Molly covers:- Why this was a legal statement dressed as a PR moment- The distancing language lawyers use to sever relationships on the record- Why Ivanka's podcast appearance is the same playbook, quieter execution- What Trump's crashing on Truth Social signals about what's coming- Pam Bondi connection, and why these women are watching each other's movesThe crisis is always about more than the statement. It's about the timing.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Graham Tomlin joins Kelsi to discuss the influence and faith of 17th-century polymath, Blaise Pascal, based on Tomlin's most recent book, "Blaise Pascal: The Man Who Made the Modern World." The two discuss his similarities and differences with Martin Luther, his views of 17th-century French society (and how this culture offers many lessons for our modern world), and his contributions to Christian apologetics. Graham is the editor-in-Chief of Seen & Unseen, and a former Bishop of Kensington. He is a regular contributor to national publications and has written many books and articles, both academic and more popular. He founded the Centre for Cultural Witness, home to Seen & Unseen, in 2023. He taught theology within Oxford University for many years before founding St. Mellitus College.Show Notes:⁠⁠⁠Support 1517 Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Events Schedule⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Academy - Free Theological Education⁠⁠⁠More from Kelsi:⁠⁠⁠Kelsi Klembara⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kelsi on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kelsi on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelsi's Substack⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the Show:⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠More from Graham: Order Blaise Pascal:The Man Who Made the Modern WorldSeen & UnseenGraham's Substack

Two coaches. Two losses. Two press conferences. Same signal. Villanova's Kevin Willard threatened to fire his staff on live television, doubled down in the post-game press conference, then called it a joke when the backlash hit. UCLA's Mick Cronin dismissed a reporter's question, called it the worst he'd ever been asked, then accused him of raising his voice — on camera — in front of a room full of people. Neither apologized. Both made the questioner the problem. That's not frustration. That's contempt.Here's what these press conferences actually reveal: crises don't start with headlines. They start with tone, word choice, and the instinct that kicks in before you've had time to think. Reputations don't collapse overnight. They erode slowly, one moment of contempt at a time.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Your reputation isn't being shaped by what you say anymore. It's being shaped by everything everyone else says, organized by AI, before you've had a chance to respond. Crisis communication has a new first mover, and it isn't you.Molly McPherson breaks down the shift that most leaders still haven't internalized: waiting is no longer a strategy, it's a surrender. Using the TSA staffing crisis and Delta's response as a real-time case study, we look at how AI aggregates noise into narrative, why organizations in proximity to a crisis are in it whether they caused it or not, and how trust leaks before it breaks. The old playbook, pausing to gather facts, buying time, controlling the story, doesn't exist anymore. What does exist is the window before AI builds the version of events without you.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

What does it mean for Paul to claim that if Christ has not been raised, our preaching and faith is in vain as he states in 1 Corinthians 15? Adam Francisco joins Kelsi to talk about the importance of centering Christian apologetics on the resurrection of Christ as a historically reliable event. The two also discuss helpful responses to many of the common objections to the resurrection and how the apologetic task has shifted in a post-Christian and post-enlightenment age. Adam Francisco is Director of Academics and Scholar in Residence at 1517. He earned his DPhil from the University of Oxford in 2006 and served as Professor of History, Dean, and Assistant Provost in the Concordia University System for nearly two decades.Show Notes:⁠⁠Support 1517 Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 on Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Events Schedule⁠⁠⁠⁠1517 Academy - Free Theological Education⁠⁠What's New from 1517:⁠⁠Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith⁠⁠⁠⁠A Reasoned Defense of the Faith by Adam Francisco⁠⁠More from Kelsi:⁠⁠Kelsi Klembara⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kelsi on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Kelsi on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠Kelsi's Substack⁠⁠Subscribe to the Show:⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠More from Adam: The Resurrection Fact: Responding to Modern Critics Defense of the Faith: Collected Essays in Christian ApologeticsAdam's Recent Talk at the Faith and Reason ConferenceAdam's 1517 Academy Course on Faith and Reason

What actually breaks first in a scandal?Not the headline. Not the viral clip. Not the backlash. It's trust.In this episode, Molly McPherson breaks down three stories where trust was fractured long before the public ever reacted. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos keeps inserting himself into the news cycle while Nancy Guthrie is still missing. Oprah scores a viral interview with Kristin Cabot and misses the only question that matters. And ABC's The Bachelorette production collapses under the weight of a casting decision everyone should have seen coming.Each case exposes the same mistake in a different form. A leader who confused visibility with control. A media icon chasing relevance instead of values. A network that profited from someone's visible instability and then acted surprised when it blew up.The takeaway is direct. You cannot out-message a trust collapse. You can repair it and rebuild it, but only if you're willing to name the thing that actually broke. Most people avoid doing exactly that.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Molly McPherson opens this episode not with a scandal, but with a pair of pants. It's a disarming entry point into a much bigger question: what happens to trust when an expert starts to monetize? Drawing on her own decision to join the affiliate platform LTK as a mirror, Molly unpacks a real client crisis involving a content creator whose audience turned on them—not because of what they did, but because of what had quietly eroded. This episode introduces the Crisis Doctrine, Molly's new framework that distills years of crisis communication work into foundational principles. At its core: trust is the benchmark for reputation, and a crisis almost never begins when you think it does.What You'll LearnWhy joining an affiliate platform forced Molly to confront the social contract she has with her audience—and what that has to do with crisis communicationHow a content creator's monetization shift quietly weakened trust with followers long before the public backlash beganThe first two doctrines of the Crisis Doctrine framework: why trust is the currency of reputation, and why crises begin before the headlinesWhy “the medium is the message” is one of the most underused ideas in crisis communication—and how social media algorithms accelerate the collapse of trustWhat transparency actually looks like in practice when you're someone who teaches it for a livingWhy the real work in a crisis isn't the statement or the PR campaign—it's restoring what was broken long before the story went publicJoin me on March 18 at 12pm ET for a members-only deep dive into something I've been itching to talk about: how credibility gets manufactured online.We'll examine the mechanics behind the modern self-help and influencer economy—looking at figures like Mel Robbins, Tony Robbins, Jay Shetty, Peter Attia, Rachel Hollis, and others to understand how authority gets built, amplified, and monetizedWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Kelsi chats with author, Laurie Krieg, about her newest book (coauthored with her husband Matt), Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World, to answer how we keep the gospel as our foundation as we teach and guide our children through increasingly complex sexual issues today. Laurie Krieg is the director of parent programs and discipleship for The Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender. Laurie and her husband, Matt, are cohosts of the Hole in My Heart podcast, coauthors of An Impossible Marriage, and live in West Michigan with their three kids.Show Notes:⁠Support 1517 Podcast Network⁠⁠1517 Podcasts⁠⁠1517 on Youtube⁠⁠1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts⁠⁠1517 Events Schedule⁠⁠1517 Academy - Free Theological Education⁠What's New from 1517:⁠Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith⁠⁠A Reasoned Defense of the Faith by Adam Francisco⁠More from Kelsi:⁠Kelsi Klembara⁠⁠Follow Kelsi on Instagram⁠⁠Follow Kelsi on Twitter⁠⁠Kelsi's Substack⁠Subscribe to the Show:⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠Youtube⁠More from Laurie: Raising Wise KidsLaurie's WebsiteLaurie's Instagram

Episode SummaryWhen Ryan Murphy's Love Story dropped in 2026, it didn't just revive a 25-year-old story; it rewrote the reputation of two women for a streaming audience of millions. Molly McPherson breaks down what the show got wrong, what the sourced record actually says, and why Daryl Hannah's New York Times op-ed was a textbook crisis communications move. This is a case study in narrative power, media accountability, and what it costs when the story gets told wrong the first time.What You'll LearnWhy the 1990s media environment was built to villainize women like Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, and how that same machinery is running inside a 2026 streaming seriesWhat data reveals about Daryl Hannah's coverage after her New York Times op-ed and why the numbers tell a story the headlines missedThe three reasons Daryl Hannah's op-ed worked when most public responses don'tWhy a producer's candid quote about needing a narrative villain is the most honest and damaging thing said about Love StoryWhat Once Upon a Time, the 2024 biography by Elizabeth Beller, actually documents about the night of July 16, 1999, and how it dismantles the airport mythThe behavioral pattern that turns private people into public villainsWhy silence is not a neutral strategy when a story already has momentumResources MentionedOnce Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy by Elizabeth Beller (2024)Daryl Hannah's guest essay in the New York Times, March 6, 2026Join me on March 18 at 12pm ET for a members-only deep dive into something I've been itching to talk about: how credibility gets manufactured online.We'll examine the mechanics behind the modern self-help and influencer economy—looking at figures like Mel Robbins, Tony Robbins, Jay Shetty, Peter Attia, Rachel Hollis, and others to understand how authority gets built, amplified, and monetized.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

Kristi Noem sat before a congressional committee and was asked a yes-or-no question. She talked for four minutes without saying yes or no. That non-answer told us everything we needed to know — not about the question, but about her judgment.In this episode:Why the hearing room was already loaded before the question was asked, and how a fired Coast Guard pilot, a missing bag, and a cover story about a weighted blanket built the case against herHow Noem's pattern of refusing to retract, refusing to apologize, and refusing to answer direct questions finally collapsed in one four-minute exchangeThe moment a congresswoman said, "that should have been the easiest question," and why she was exactly rightWhat contempt looks like as a crisis driver, why it's the most self-destructive one, and how to recognize it in the conversations happening in your own lifeWhat you'll understand after listening:Why performing offense instead of answering a direct question is always the wrong move, in a hearing room or a kitchen conversationHow to tell the difference between a real answer and a dodge, and what the dodge actually communicates to everyone watchingThe three-word response that would have ended this story in thirty seconds, and why the instinct to give a speech instead is so human and so damagingThis isn't a political story. It's a story about what happens when someone in power decides a question is beneath them — and why contempt never protects you in a crisis. It exposes you.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

Has the internet always been a magical space?Shira Chess, a Professor of Entertainment and Media Studies at the University of Georgia and a leading scholar of digital folklore, dive into her new book, The Unseen Internet: Conjuring the Occult in Digital Discourse, to explore the hidden spiritual architecture of our digital lives.From the open-source creation of digital cryptids like Slender Man on early forums to the summoning of AI entities in latent space, Chess argues that technology and magic have become indistinguishable. Rushkoff and Chess discuss how the countercultural, techno-shamanic roots of the 1990s internet (including the Mondo 2000 era) transformed into today's algorithm-driven corporate landscape, and how we might reclaim our agency by finding subversive ways to use these technologies.They also unpack algorithmic conspirituality, exploring why we treat our social media feeds like modern-day oracles, and how meme magic has evolved from an online joke into a force that shapes political reality. Ultimately, is our digital occultism a path to liberation, or just a new way to decorate our corporate cages?Substack: Subscribe to The Unseen Internet at https://unseeninternet.substack.com/Book: Get The Unseen Internet: Conjuring the Occult in Digital Discourse wherever books are sold.Team Human is proudly sponsored by Everyone's Earth.Learn more about Everyone's Earth: https://everyonesearth.com/Change Diapers: https://changediapers.com/Cobi Dryer Sheets: https://cobidryersheets.com/Use the code “rush10” to receive 10% off of Cobi Dryer sheets: https://cobidryersheets.com/Support Team Human on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/teamhumanFollow Team Human with Douglas Rushkoff:Instagram: https:/www.instagram.com/douglasrushkoffYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@douglasrushkoffTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/douglasrushkoffBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/rushkoff.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prince Andrew was arrested on his 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released hours later, but this investigation is far from over. Today I'm breaking down what actually happened, what it means legally, and what a decade of crisis avoidance looks like when it finally runs out of road.In this episode:What "released under investigation" means in the U.K. system and why it's not good news for AndrewThe two separate police investigation tracks, including a 2010 Windsor allegation being assessed with U.S. law enforcementWhy King Charles's response to this crisis is the exact opposite of what Queen Elizabeth would have doneThe Wexner, Pritzker, Botstein, and Wasserman cases — and the crisis patterns connecting all of themFive transferable frameworks for recognizing these patterns in real timeWhat you'll understand after listening: How to identify the moment an institution stops protecting someone and starts protecting itself. Why specific denials are more dangerous than broad ones. And what the Continued Association Problem means for anyone navigating proximity to a scandal.This isn't celebrity gossip. It's a real-time case study in what happens when avoidance becomes a crisis strategy and why it always eventually fails.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

Thirteen days into a missing persons case that has captivated national media, the story isn't the search anymore—it's the searchers. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has turned a crisis investigation into a reputational implosion, and former ABC News correspondent Clayton Sandell walks me through exactly how it happened.Guest: Clayton Sandell covered high-profile missing persons and mass casualty events for ABC News, including the Aurora theater shooting and numerous FBI-led investigations. He knows what institutional competence looks like during a crisis—and what we're watching in Arizona isn't it.In this episode:The press conference mistake that telegraphed weakness to every reporter in the roomWhy showing up at a basketball game wasn't a harmless decompression—it was a strategic failure that signaled misplaced prioritiesHow the sheriff's defensive one-on-one interviews with outlets like People Magazine actively undermined the investigation's credibilityThe moment the FBI stopped coordinating and started competing with local law enforcement over evidenceWhy armchair internet detectives are producing better investigative questions than official press releasesWhat you'll understand after listening: How to spot when crisis response shifts from serving the mission to protecting the messenger. Why defensive quotes ("I had to decompress") reveal someone who's lost control of their narrative. The difference between information vacuums that build suspense versus those that breed conspiracy theories and erode institutional trust.This isn't celebrity gossip. It's a case study in how law enforcement creates secondary crises by prioritizing self-protection over transparency.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

When law enforcement calls a press conference, they're supposed to provide clarity and control the narrative. Last week's Pima County Sheriff's press conference about missing 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie—mother of Today Show anchor Savannah Guthrie—did the opposite.I brought on Emmy-winning former network correspondent Clayton Sandell to break down what went wrong. He spoke with me during a live chat on Substack on February 6, 2026. Clayton spent 25+ years covering major breaking news for ABC and Scripps, and now trains leaders on crisis communication. If anyone knows what a press conference should look like, it's him. We dissect:Why Sheriff Nanos appeared defensive and disorganized from the startThe critical mistakes: "Your guess is as good as mine" and "mistakes will be made"How the FBI agent's composure highlighted the sheriff's strugglesAshley Banfield's controversial reporting on a "person of interest"Whether the $50,000 reward press conference was even necessaryWhy the family's ransom video echoes Silence of the LambsHow NBC is managing tragedy during Olympic coverageThis isn't a true-crime episode; it's crisis communication. However, the discussion does shed light on how an investigation can lose its way. When a press conference becomes part of the crisis instead of the solution, every misstep gets magnified. This case study shows exactly how that happens in real time.What you'll learn: How to spot when officials are scrambling versus strategically withholding information, the difference between media training for one-on-ones versus press conferences, why "focusing on process" signals a lack of substantive leads, and what reporters are really looking for when they're in that room.Guest: Clayton Sandell, Emmy Award-winning former ABC News and Scripps correspondent, crisis communication trainerWatch the press conference here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzPe6wG3GY0Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

This week, Molly breaks down Peter Attia's public response after his name appears more than 1,700 times in recently released Epstein-related documents. The documents include emails and calendar references tying Attia to Jeffrey Epstein over multiple years. While the files do not allege Attia participated in Epstein's criminal sexual conduct, the relationship and tone of the correspondence raise serious questions about judgment, proximity to power, and credibility.Attia, a high-profile longevity figure with a paid membership and major online influence, posted a statement on X that he says was originally written to his staff and shared with patients. Molly walks through the statement nearly line by line to show why a response that leans on legal framing and denial language can fail to meet the public's real concern, which is moral discernment and ethical boundaries.In this episodeWho Peter Attia is and why his credibility is core to his brandWhat it means to be referenced 1,700 times in the Epstein filesThe reputational problem of sustained contact after Epstein's 2008 convictionWhy using one internal letter for public consumption can backfireThe danger of treating a values crisis like a facts-only crisisHow denials and courtroom-style phrasing can read as calculatedWhy intent and explanation rarely repair trust on their ownThe spillover effect occurs when the public starts scrutinizing everything elseThe bottom line lesson for anyone building a reputation onlineWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

This episode was recorded for my UK Column show.American economist Scott, who lives in China (and with whom I met up when I was in Shanghai in 2025), discussed Austrian economics, focusing on individual choice, voluntary exchange, and the damaging effects of money printing which is ultimately theft.The short story is that Austrian economics is superior to other schools of economics, and offers the most amount of prosperity and freedom.➡️ Scott's Substack✉️ Subscribe to my newsletter. It's better than sex.

Most leaders hide behind surprise when disaster strikes. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara did the opposite.In a January 2025 interview with The New York Times' Michael Barbaro, O'Hara said the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent was "predictable and entirely preventable"—and that he'd said so publicly the day before it happened. Days after I recorded this episode, federal agents killed Alex Pretti, a VA nurse, in another operation that has drawn national outcry.This episode isn't about policing. It's about what leadership looks like when:The crisis you predicted happens anywayYour people are exhausted and under-resourcedYou're caught between powerful institutions and community griefOne bad moment could erase years of progressO'Hara doesn't perform. He doesn't spin. He names fear, admits fragility, and refuses to let federal agencies off the hook for dangerous tactics—even when it would be easier to stay quiet.If you lead anything—a team, a company, a movement—this interview will show you what accountability sounds like when the performance stops and the real work begins.LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW: The Daily, January 13, 2025: "Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara" with Michael BarbaroKEY MOMENTS:Why saying "this was predictable" is the hardest—and most important—leadership moveThe F-bomb that built trust instead of breaking itHow O'Hara critiques ICE without collapsing into blameWhat it means to hold both empathy and accountability at the same timeWhy "turn the heat down" isn't neutrality—it's survivalTRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses police violence, federal enforcement operations, and community trauma.Recorded January 2025. Updated following the killing of Alex Pretti on January 25, 2025.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

How do you write a future that feels real? We sit down with environmental scientist and war correspondent Paul E Hardisty to discuss the conclusion of his “The Forcing” trilogy and why literacy is our last defense against a new feudalism.The Road to Writing: From 5-Year-Old Typist to Front-Line Witness.Paul E Hardisty didn't take the traditional path to becoming a critically acclaimed novelist. Though he began typing stories at age five, he hit a wall at eighteen. Inspired by Hemingway's advice to “Write what you know,” Paul realized he didn't know anything yet.He spent the next 30 years gaining that knowledge as an environmental scientist and journalist, reporting from dangerous regions like Yemen, Ethiopia, and most recently, the battlefields of Ukraine.“I want to write fiction that comes as close to truth—conveying essential truth—as possible. I think that is the purpose of literature.” — Paul E Hardisty.Confronting “The Hope”: A Vision of 2082.The interview centers on the release of The Hope, the explosive conclusion to a trilogy that started with The Forcing and The Descent.Set in a windswept, contracted world where the global population has plummeted below a billion, The Hope introduces us to Boo, a 16-year-old with a photographic memory living in a society where books are illegal and literacy has vanished.BUY IT HERE.Writing Advice: The Iceberg Principle.For the writers in our community, Paul shares his “anti-course” philosophy. Having never taken a creative writing class, he advocates for:* Finding your own path: “Be yourself, because everyone else is already taken.”* The Iceberg Principle: Focus on immediacy—sights, smells, and tactile feelings—rather than being didactic.* Biting on the Nail: Inspired by Hemingway, Paul's Substack name refers to the discipline of getting up and doing the hard work of writing, no matter what happened the night before.Key Themes from the Episode:* The Science of Fiction: Paul explains how he used robust IPCC climate projections to build a plausible 2082, focusing on “refugia”—pockets of the planet that remain habitable.* The New Feudalism: A chilling warning about how plummeting literacy rates and the rise of the smartphone era could mirror the dark ages, making society easier to dominate.* Authenticity in Action: Paul discusses his three trips to Ukraine (with a fourth planned) and how bearing witness to trauma and stoicism informs the emotional core of his work.

In this episode, I share the Year of the Horse yearly energy update, covering the themes that shape the year ahead.Topics include:The yearly hexagram and how it sets the overall tone for the yearSocietal impact Weather and climateAnnual Flying Stars, including which areas can be activated and which need cures or cautionEarth Sha and no-renovation sectors, and how to work with these areas mindfully throughout the yearThis episode is designed for both beginners and returning listeners who want a practical overview of how Feng Shui influences the year as a whole. Full written update available on Substack:[Subscribe and read here]Send questions here: ⁠info@learnfengshui.com   Or Connect on social media & contact me HERE ⁠https://linktr.ee/learnfengshuinow⁠Time Stamps: 00:00 Intro00:39 Year of the Fire Horse- When  does it arrive. 01:39 Tone for the Year03:16 Societal Impact06:08 Weather and climate 07:08 Flying stars, how to use them, how they impact your home. 09:28 Positive Stars to activate 17::17 Negative Star to cure23:35 Earth Shas25:25 Outro/ Final thoughts 

Brooklyn Beckham just torched his parents on Instagram, and the timing? Impeccable. Devastating. Strategic.In this episode, breaking down the Beckham family crisis as it unfolded in real time (Literally! Molly was doing a live BBC interview about the drama while it was still erupting). From Brooklyn's calculated Instagram story to David Beckham's suspiciously polished CNBC damage control, this is a masterclass in reputation warfare dressed up as family dysfunction.This isn't just celebrity gossip. It's a case study in power, perception, and the brutal calculus of crisis management when the stakes are both personal and public.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

When Renee Goode was killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, two completely different stories emerged from the same event. One side called her a domestic terrorist who weaponized her Honda Pilot, while the other saw a mother trying to escape. As a crisis manager from the Twin Cities, I break down the competing narratives from President Trump, JD Vance, Kristi Noem, Governor Tim Walz, and Mayor Jacob Frey to reveal the five hidden cues in any crisis communication: who gets humanized first, how they treat uncertainty, what the process looks like, what they ask you to do with your anger, and what happens to people who disagree. This isn't just political analysis, it's a framework you can apply to workplace drama, family conflict, or any situation where someone's trying to control the narrative. You'll learn why Walz's calm messaging worked after he learned from past mistakes, how Frey's profanity-laced response was strategically brilliant, and why the administration's gaslighting playbook falls apart under scrutiny. Once you learn to spot these patterns, you can't unsee them—in politics or in your personal life.Trigger Warning: This episode discusses a fatal police shooting and contains strong language.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

This week, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz abruptly ended his bid for a third term. This episode was recorded four days earlier during a live conversation and, in hindsight, it explains exactly why this outcome was almost inevitable. Amid a sprawling welfare fraud crisis that Republicans and former President Donald Trump turned into a national political flashpoint, the pressure escalated, division deepened, and Walz found himself trying to govern while defending his political future at the same time. Walz ultimately said he could not justify campaigning while confronting systemic fraud and the blowback it was generating, choosing to focus on governing instead. What looks like a Walz versus Trump showdown is really a cautionary tale about how leadership falters when distraction becomes the strategy and noise replaces accountability.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

This is the most downloaded episode of the year, resurfaced for the holiday week because the fallout is still unfolding in real time. Breaking down the Hollywood power struggle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, with Ryan Reynolds playing a pivotal and controversial role, all sparked by a single voicemail that cracked open a much larger conversation about control, narrative management, and reputation at the highest level. This episode lays the groundwork for understanding the strategies, missteps, and PR decisions shaping the legal battle and the court of public opinion. If you want my latest take on where this saga stands now, you can read it in this week's People Magazine, where I was featured by writer Elizabeth Rosner, analyzing the reputational stakes as they continue to ripple outward."Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni "Will Be Tied Together in History's After Legal War as Battle Hits 1 Year: PR Expert." People, December 23, 2025Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

This is the main event of Molly's Top PR Wins and Fails of 2025 series, recorded live on Substack (aired Friday, December 19) and built around the stories that truly owned the year: culture-war outrage that turned into real market impact, celebrity reputations getting torched (sometimes by their own silence), late-night becoming a political battleground, and the kind of persona erosion that turns “brand equity” into “lawsuit energy.” If you listened to Part Two (ranks 10 through 6), this episode is the payoff: sharper, bigger, and way messier in the best possible way.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

The audio from the Sixth Annual Holiday Ukulele Sing A Long Livestream, recorded this past Saturday, December 20th.Yo! That's My Jawn on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the Y!TMJ Newsletter!⁠⁠⁠Y!TMJ Instagram ⁠| ⁠Y!TMJ Bluesky⁠ | ⁠Y!TMJ YouTube

This week's episode kicks off Part One of The Top PR Wins and Fails of 2025 by pulling straight from the headlines and social media feeds that dominated the year. Instead of rehashing scandals, it digs into the decisions behind them: who understood the moment they were in, who badly misread their audience, and who confused being everywhere online with being trusted. From cultural power plays to celebrity miscalculations, the pattern is clear and a little uncomfortable. You can win the attention economy and still lose credibility. Part Two, covering the top five PR wins and fails of the year, drops next week.If you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi's memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg's essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

This week's episode gives you a front row seat to my Friday live sessions, where culture, crisis, and community collide in the best possible way. Think of it as a sampler plate of reputational highs and lows. Some hits. Some misses. A few absolute disasters. And plenty of sharp commentary from the people who show up ready to spar.We dug into the stories bubbling across media, politics, entertainment, and news. Here's what we got into:• The tightening screws around Pete Hegseth and the trip wires Trump keeps casually laying in public. • Signal Gate, and why the smallest digital habits always tell the biggest story. • The American Eagle campaign, Pantone's baffling color of the year, and the new era of rage bait. • Spotify Wrapped's identity crisis, including why the app suddenly thinks everyone is eighty. • The Lizzo Substack pivot and why her cancellation narrative leaves out the part that actually mattered. • The Belichick and Jordan Hudson saga that refuses to stop producing plot twists. • Erica Kirk's full rebrand tour and what happens when an influencer decides to shed the bling. • The royal chaos machine that somehow keeps spinning even when no one is asking it to. • The early contenders for 2025's best and worst crises, including a few names the audience threw in with real enthusiasm.If you want the unfiltered version, join us live next Friday. Right now, the streams run through Substack, but soon you'll be able to watch on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. The room always warms up fast. The opinions never stay polite for long.Until then, pay attention to what people actually react to, not what the talking points tell you. That's where the truth hides.If you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi's memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg's essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

A close look at Tatiana Schlossberg's viral New Yorker essay, A Battle with My Blood. It is an emotional piece that blends grief, legacy, and quiet fury, and it signals a deeper shift inside the Kennedy family. The episode walks through the layers of the essay and the choices behind it. From the shock of Schlossberg's leukemia diagnosis, to the way she describes the strained healthcare system, to her understated but unmistakable criticism of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., this story becomes both a personal account and a moral document. This episode explores why the timing mattered, why the family dynamics matter, and why this essay reshapes the public conversation around RFK Jr. as Olivia Nuzzi's forthcoming book adds another external blow. The episode closes with a look at the media cycle, the political stakes, and the long arc of the Kennedy legacy. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

In this episode of AGE BETTER, I sit down with Dr. Mike Studer—one of the world's leading neuroplasticity experts and author of The Brain That Chooses Itself—to talk about something every woman in midlife needs to hear: your brain is far more adaptable than you've ever been told.  We dig into what it really means to “choose” your health, why personal values amplify every wellness practice, and how the science of dopamine and reward pathways shapes the decisions we make every single day. Mike breaks down the overwhelming flood of health information we're all navigating and shares how to cut through the noise by grounding your choices in what matters most to you.  This is a conversation about clarity, empowerment, and understanding the brain science behind everyday decisions—so you can age better, starting now.  Takeaways  We are inundated with health and wellness information—and it's not always helpful.  Understanding choice is foundational to effective healthcare.  Personal beliefs and values amplify the impact of health practices.  Dopamine plays a powerful role in decision-making and motivation.  The brain's reward pathways guide our habits more than we realize.  Clear values help cut through information overload.  Scientific principles can strengthen your health decisions.  Effective healthcare begins with aligning choices to your priorities.  Health regulations and recommendations can be overwhelming—so knowing your values matters.  Prioritizing choice and values leads to more meaningful, sustainable wellness.  Links & Resources  Dr. Mike Studer's Book – The Brain That Chooses Itself  Age Better Cheat Sheet on Substack – Subscribe for weekly science-backed tips  Email your questions or comments: agebetterpodcast@gmail.com  Watch full episodes on the Age Better YouTube channel  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Create! Podcast, host Kat (Ekaterina Popova) sits down with creative visionary Amy Griffith. Best known for founding the iconic pink Eaton House Studio in the UK, Amy shares the journey behind her latest, soul-stirring project: The Star Seed House in Marrakesh, Morocco. Amy opens up about the massive transition from creating a playful, celebrity-favorite party house in Essex to renovating an ancient, spiritual sanctuary in the heart of the Medina—a project requiring patience, donkeys for transport, and deep trust in the process. This conversation is a masterclass in letting faith be stronger than fear. Amy and Kat discuss the practicalities of funding long-term creative visions, the importance of diversifying income to protect your artistic joy, and how to design spaces that engage all the senses. Whether you are an artist planning a massive installation or an entrepreneur looking to pivot, Amy's intuitive approach to life and business will inspire you to take the leap. In this episode, we cover: From UK to Marrakesh: The serendipitous story of how Amy fell in love with Morocco and decided to build her second immersive art installation there. The Star Seed House: Renovating a centuries-old property without cars, learning local craftsmanship, and honoring the "soul" of a building. Faith vs. Fear: How to navigate the anxiety of big, expensive creative projects and why Amy painted "Let your faith be stronger than your fear" on her walls. Creative Process & Neuroscience: Amy discusses her photographic memory, sensory filing system, and how she visualizes spaces before they exist. Financial Sustainability for Artists: The importance of having non-creative income streams to relieve pressure on your art practice. Slowing Down: What living in the Medina has taught Amy about patience, devotion, and the spiritual side of creativity. Guest Bio: Amy Griffith is an artist, creative director, and the founder of Eaton House Studio, a world-renowned, pink-hued art installation and location hire in the UK. Most recently, she founded the Star Seed House in Marrakesh, Morocco, a spiritual sanctuary and immersive design project. Amy is known for her intuitive design process, creating spaces that are not just visually stunning but emotionally resonant. She is currently launching a curated shop in Marrakesh featuring vintage caftans and natural perfumes. Connect with Amy Griffith: Website: Eaton House Studio Instagram: @eatonhousestudio Resources & Links Mentioned: Create! Magazine on Substack: Subscribe for fresh articles, art tips, and insights at createmagazine.substack.com Call for Art: Apply to our latest open calls, exhibitions, and publishing opportunities at createmagazine.co/call-for-art Create! U: Explore our online learning platform for artists at createu.co Support the Podcast: If this episode lit you up, please share it with a friend! We would also be so grateful if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts to help more artists find the show. Website: createmagazine.co Instagram: @createmagazine

This week's episode dives into a crowded lineup of public figures who all managed to confuse PR maneuvering with actual accountability: President Trump's “quiet piggy” moment on Air Force One and the broader pattern behind his attacks on women in the press, Larry Summers' fog-filled non-apology after his Epstein emails resurfaced, Pope Leo XIV's straightforward call for human dignity contrasted with a White House response that dodged the moral point entirely, Kevin Spacey's nightclub comeback performance and his ongoing attempt to swap personal suffering for responsibility, and Meghan Markle's Harper's Bazaar profile, complete with an Upper East Side house manager announcing “Meghan, Duchess of Sussex” to an empty room. It's a week full of case studies in what happens when leaders and celebrities choose optics over truth, and why audiences, voters, and stakeholders are paying closer attention to who names their missteps and who tries to PR their way out of them.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider's hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

Nate talks Turkey, teases the upcoming Holiday episodes of the show and then sits for a chat with comedian/writer Josh Gondelman. They chat about the RISK! Podcast, Josh's childhood in Massachusetts, his exposure to comedy in his early years, finding ways to still appreciate the art of awful people, reconciling old material, being responsible while writing, his path into comedy writing, working on Billy On the Street, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver & journalism, his latest standup special, Positive Reinforcement, and releasing a comedy special on YouTube. Then, Josh tries on The Jawntlet for size.Josh Gondelman websitePositive Reinforcement (Full Special - YouTube)WXPN Welcomes The Aimee Mann Ted Leo Christmas Show (Tickets)That's Marvelous newsletterJosh Gondelman InstagramJosh Gondelman BlueskyYo! That's My Jawn on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the Y!TMJ Newsletter!⁠

This episode starts with a line that should make anyone in communications sit up a little straighter. Michael Wolff, a bestselling Trump biographer and longtime access journalist, emailed Jeffrey Epstein with strategic advice about how Epstein could handle questions about Donald Trump. Not expose him. Not confront him. Advise him.And now, those emails are a crisis in themselves.Today's episode focuses on the messaging behind Wolff's interactions with Epstein. Not the salacious details, not the conspiracy theories, not the internet rabbit holes. We're talking about messaging, influence, framing, and the ethical gray zones revealed in more than 20,000 Epstein-related documents released by the House Oversight Committee.To break this down, we look closely at a long on-air conversation from The Daily Beast's emergency podcast episode featuring Wolff and host Joanna Coles. She pressed him hard. He tried to explain, defend, and reframe. And what he said on that podcast is, frankly, a crisis-communication case study in real time.In this episode:• How Wolff's emails show him acting less like a journalist and more like a strategist• The moment Wolff tells Epstein how to "let Trump hang himself"• Why Wolff's "I was the lone truth-teller" explanation is classic crisis reframing• The ethical tension between ingratiation and complicity• Why these emails matter for media credibility at a moment when Pew Research shows public trust is scraping the floor• How Wolff's relationship with Epstein may have shaped four Trump books• The danger of access journalism becoming influence management• Why everyone else in Epstein's orbit is silent, and Wolff is the only one talking• The deeper question: what happens when the people tasked with revealing power start acting like they're part of it?This episode is about messaging and the moral tradeoffs behind it.It's about the ugly truth of proximity to power.And it's about what happens when a journalist crosses the line from observing a crisis...into participating in one.Links Mentioned:• The Daily Beast interview with Michael Wolff and Joanna Coles• Pew Research Center: "Americans' Views of the News Media" (2023)Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider's hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

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, Greg Gallant, joins me to explain how GEO is reshaping public relations. He walks through how Muck Rack evolved from the early social media boom to the frontlines of AI-driven communications. We dig into how data and generative tools can help communicators strengthen media relationships, measure real impact, and stay relevant in an industry that is changing fast.We talk about:How PR missed the SEO wave and what GEO means for catching upWhy journalists and AI platforms are now gatekeepers of reputationWhat Muck Rack's new Generative Pulse feature reveals about how AI “reads” the newsIf you work in PR, communications, or reputation management, this is not a someday conversation. It is happening right now.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider's hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

Back with an all new episode, Nate chats with songwriter/author Chris Dalla Riva about his new book, Uncharted Territory: What Numbers Tell Us about the Biggest Hit Songs and Ourselves. They discuss the relationship between music and data, growing up, first songs on guitar, going to college and studying math, early songwriting, writing, Chris's viral key change article, starting the Billboard listening project that would become the basis for the book, letting the data speak, the data points he compiled, what surprised him to discover in his findings, the saxophone, the demise of bands/groups on the charts, songs that were number one that he did not remember, poptimism and fandom, the value of music in the streaming era, Life of a Showgirl, new favorites found while working on the project, the best decade for music, the lost art of the instrumental, cultural stagnancy, and the recommendation algorithm. Then, Chris crunches the numbers of The Jawntlet!Uncharted TerritoryChris's Book Launch Event (tickets)Can't Get Much Higher newsletterYo! That's My Jawn on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to the Y!TMJ Newsletter!⁠

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 statements reframed it, and how the Palace's language turned a personal disgrace into an institutional act of duty.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider's hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

When your marriage becomes a media strategy, what do you say—and what do you not say?In this episode, Molly McPherson breaks down Cheryl Hines' carefully crafted response to rumors surrounding her husband, RFK Jr., and journalist Olivia Nuzzi. Fresh off her appearance on the Katie Miller Podcast, Hines offered a masterclass in polished PR talk, leaning on trust, communication, and a dash of Kennedy-style deflection.But was it authenticity or choreography?Molly dissects:The Kennedy family's long history of narrative controlHow Hines framed her marriage as a story of trust and composureWhat her phrasing reveals about modern political spouse PRThe difference between personal grace and public messagingWhy sometimes the smartest media move is saying less (with confidence)Tune in for an unfiltered look at how Hollywood charm meets political spin—and what it teaches us about image, loyalty, and the art of public denial.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider's hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

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 credibilityWhy “kids will be kids” is not a defense when adults hold positions of powerThe myth of online privacy and how “anonymous” messages are always traceableHow a values gap—what an organization says publicly vs. what it allows privately—leads to crisisDissecting the failed apologies that followed the leakMolly's five “PR truths” for digital-age leadership:The difference between genuine accountability and PR spinWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider's hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

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 from panic to power in less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee.If you've ever dealt with critics, trolls, or just plain mean people online, this one's for you.Bonus: Want to learn how to respond to any crisis with confidence?Join Molly's free live training: The First Hour: How to Respond to Any Crisis Before It SpiralsYou'll discover:The 3 critical steps every communicator must take in the first hour of a crisis.The biggest mistakes that tank trust (and how to avoid them).How to draft a holding statement in minutes instead of hours.Spots are limited—grab yours now HERE. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, exclusive member chats, weekly lives, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It's the insider's hub for communicators who want strategy with spine—and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

We share a treasure trove of creative, easy parenting hacks from our listeners, as well as a happiness hack about creating a "prep station" bin to stay organized for trips and special events. In our "Know Yourself Better" segment, we explore how the desire to manage our own worry can lead us to burden or try to control others. Plus, we share some ideas related to reading. Resources & links related to this episode: Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood Subscribe to Secrets of Adulthood on Substack Subscribe to Happier in Hollywood on Substack Check out the Libby app Elizabeth is reading: Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas (Amazon, Bookshop) Gretchen is reading: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (Amazon, Bookshop) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.