Talking Shop Podcast

We debate Walmart's recent settlement of a class-action lawsuit claiming the company had discriminatory hiring practices because of a physical test used to screen candidates. Ewan looks at the thorny issues of candidate screening, what Walmart did wrong, and what other companies should be careful of during the hiring process.

US President Donald Trump's health is making headlines around the world, but communications from the White House have left a lot of questions unanswered. Cam dives into the chronology of events and looks at the performance of doctor Sean Conley, the president's physician, during media briefings.

Plus: the history of militias in the US and the widening education gap as a result of COVID-19.

Don't miss any future episodes and get updates about the podcast by signing up to the PR & Law Podcast newsletter. We promise: no spam. Ever.

If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend or family member. It's the best way to get the word out and we are very grateful! We also frequently post updates to the stories we discuss on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• Walmart settles female applicants' hiring-bias complaint for $20 million - Society for Human Resource Management
• President Trump has COVID-19: A timeline of his travels leading up to a positive coronavirus test - USA Today
• Sean Conley: Who is the Trump doctor whose updates are raising questions - The Guardian

Check This Out

• The students left behind by remote learning - New Yorker
• Street Food Asia - Netflix
• Ezra Klein Show: A dark, dangerous debate - Apple Podcasts
• Armed and Dangerous - WNYC Studios

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

We hit the quarter century mark by looking closely at the internal strife at Facebook after audio from staff meetings was leaked to reporters. Ewan looks at the situation from an employment lawy point of view, but it also raises several big questions about how the company deals with PR challenges both internally and externally -- made even more complicated by CEO Mark Zuckerberg's relationship with President Donald Trump.

Then we dive into some tips and advice for managing a PR crisis related to cyberattacks, which are on a steep rise. Nearly all companies collect data of some kind, and understanding how that data is stored and managed in advance is critical to reporting quickly and accurately if there happens to be a breach. We discuss the questions you should be asking of your own IT and business teams and how to put a crisis communications plan together.

Then we offer up an album recommendation for the fall, along with a podcast series that may not make relax you, but will definitely capture your attention.

If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend or family member. We are very grateful!

Don't miss a new episode or an update to topics discussed on the show by following us on social media. You can find our accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the account name PRLawPodcast. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• The election that could break America - The Atlantic
• The Atlantic Daily: A Q&A with Barton Gellman - The Atlantic
• Mark in the Middle - The Verge
• Steering a Cybersecurity PR Crisis in 2020 - Forbes
• Hong Kong Airline Cathay Pacific Apologizes Over Data Breach but Denies Cover-up - Hong Kong Free Press

Check This Out

• Fleet Foxes Release New Album Shore - Pitchfork
• Locked Up Abroad - Wondery

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

While America continues to wrestle with racism, most people would be shocked at how tolerant other countries are of overt discrimination. Case in point: the removal of Star Wars actor John Boyega from Jo Malone's advertisements in China -- because he's black. It's not the first time this has happened to black actors in China, and not even the first time it's happened to John Boyega! Cam looks at what went wrong, why this is not a situation with easy answers, and what PR teams can consider before signing off on a global ad campaign.

Ewan dives into the issue of public access to case law and other legal documentation in the United States, and explains why this seemingly mundane issue is so critically important to people everywhere.

Also: looking again at Enya and the Beastie Boys, TikTok's combative PR statement, and the thorny issue of intellectual property.

If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend or family member. We are very grateful!

Don't miss a new episode or an update to topics discussed on the show by following us on social media. You can find our accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the account name PRLawPodcast. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• Travel bubble for Hong Kong: will overtures to 11 countries get the city anywhere amid COVID-19 pandemic? - South China Morning Post
• The class of RBG - Slate
• Bill to tear down federal courts' paywall gains momentum in congress - Ars Technica
• What should brands do when they're 'cancelled'? - The Drum
• John Boyega drops Jo Malone after being cut from brand's China ad - The Drum
• John Boyega gets apology from perfume brand Jo Malone after being cut out of Chinese commercial - Variety
• 'Star Wars' China poster sparks controversy after shrinking John Boyega's character - Variety
• The 'racist' China washing powder ad and the truth about Afrophobia in China - Quartz
• Black man is washed whiter in racist Chinese detergent advert - The Guardian
• TikTok says Trump ban attempt shows 'no adherence to the law' - The Verge

Check This Out

• Enya is everywhere - Pitchfork
• The 'Beastie Boys Story' documentary is both a history lesson and a raw live experience - Pitchfor
• QAnon explained with NBC's Ben Collins - Recode Media Podcast
• Buying myself back: when does a model own her own image? - The Cut

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

It's not widely known outside of China, but the country's food delivery services are already light years ahead of everyone else. The food delivery market - estimated at US$45 billion per year, or double the size of the U.S. market - has grown by cutting costs to the bone and promising shorter and shorter delivery times. Then a magazine's expose looked at the safety shortcuts drivers were taking, pushing the issue into the forefront of news coverage and online discussion. Both Meituan and Ele.me found themselves in the midst of a PR crisis, but they handled it completely differently. We look at what worked -- and what didn't.

COVID-19 has obviously taken a huge toll, forcing millions of people out of work and giving national economies a massive body blow. As bleak as it's been, some people are suffering a lot more than others. We look at what's wrong and how to fix it.

Also: 12 Hongkongers flee to Taiwan but are nabbed by China's coast guard before they reach their destination, Ewan recommends a new podcast from Serial and the New York Times, and much more.

If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend or family member. We are very grateful!

Don't miss a new episode or an update to topics discussed on the show by following us on social media. You can find our accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the account name PRLawPodcast. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• Beijing labels 12 Hongkongers caught at sea as separatists, as Shenzhen Police confirm group under criminal detention - South China Morning Post
• When it comes to the pandemic economy, we are not all in this together - Globe and Mail (paywall)
• Why China's food delivery is better than yours - Radii China
• "A painful read": New report on the dangers facing China's Delivery Drivers Goes Viral - Radii China

Check This Out

• Nice White Parents - Apple Podcasts
• Once Upon a Time... in the Valley - Apple Podcasts
• Why are conservatives obsessed with pedophilia right now? - David M. Schell

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter.

We open the show talking about renewed protests in both the United States and Hong Kong, then dive right into the confounding issue of workplace cultures after Netflix's strange unique work environment became public. How do office cultures form? Are they top down or bottom up? Regardless, they are contentious because workplace cultures can often be fodder for legal cases. Ewan talks about what to look out for.

Cam then goes into some foundational PR lessons with some help from former US presidents Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, including why spokespeople should never, ever, say "no comment".

Then we find an ideal escape from the doom and gloom with the quirky and lovable Poolside FM.

If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend or family member. We are very grateful!

Don't miss a new episode or an update to topics discussed on the show by following us on social media. You can find our accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the account name PRLawPodcast. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• Netflix's company culture is not for everyone, and that's how it should be - Business Insider
• Why Netflix's uncomfortable office culture works - Globe and Mail
• How to say "no comment" without actually saying it - PR News Online

Check This Out

• The Eco-Yogi Slumlords of Brooklyn - New York
• Poolside FM - Poolside FM
• Poolside FM is the most fun you will have on the internet today - TechCrunch

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

What a week! Another senseless killing of a black man in America by law enforcement, an historic boycott by NBA players, more violent protests in U.S. cities, and the 2020 Republican National Convention thrown in too. We get through all of it, looking for PR wins and tough lessons, particularly for companies looking to find the right words to communicate to their employees, the community, and their customers.

Then Ewan dives into hairstyles, and why a growing number of U.S. states and Canadian provinces have already made clear that employers can't discriminate based on hairstyle. He explains what this means for both employers and employees.

Plus: why the NHL was a day late from their NBA counterparts in boycotting games, E. Jean Carrol's remarkable story and new series with The Atlantic, and even a reminder to be on the lookout for colorectal cancer in light of the tragic death of Chadwick Boseman.

If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend or family member. We are very grateful!

Don't miss a new episode or an update to topics discussed on the show by following us on social media. You can find our accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the account name PRLawPodcast. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Show Notes and Links

• RNC 2020: Kimberly Guilfoyle's speech makes waves on social media - New York Post
• Virgina's new law against hair discrimination and how we got here - Forbes
• The Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism - Osler (PDF)
• A black AGO worker was told her hair could 'scare' customers. The gallery agreed that was discrimination and promised to do better. A year later, she's still fighting for justice - The Star
• How leaders should address racially charged events - and what to avoid - according to a crisis PR expert - Business Insider
• Chris Webber gets emotional addressing NBA player protests: 'It's the young people leading the way, and I applaud them' - Mediaite

Check This Out

• Colorectal cancer statistics 2020 - The American Cancer Society
• Hideous Men: Donald Trump assaulted me in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room 23 years ago. But he's not along on the list of awful men in my life - New York Magazine
• 'I moved on her very heavily': Part 1 - The Atlantic

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also writes his own blog.

Uber and Lyft drivers in California are demanding to be treated as employees, with all the benefits and protections that entails -- but will it work? Could the ride sharing companies survive? We tell you what the law says, dissect the PR battle being waged, and explain why it's a fascinating case that could reverberate across the entire gig economy.

Then we hear some shocking audio from a live, televised baseball broadcast and the surreal apology interrupted by a home run. Should Cincinnati Reds on-air guy Thom Brennaman lose his job? And is his legacy be ruined? Is "Cancel Culture" a thing?

We also dissect President Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention, find some lessons in the movie Groundhog Day, and useful tips on navigating the internet. Plus: never forget that Google is your friend.

If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend or family member. We are very grateful!

Don't miss a new episode or an update to topics discussed on the show by following us on social media. You can find our accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the account name PRLawPodcast. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Show Notes and Links

• Watch Obama's full speech at the Democratic National Convention - New York Times
• Uber and Lyft say the battle over AB-5 is about preserving flexibility for part-time gig workers. The reality is their businesses have become dependent on full-time drivers and they can't afford to pay them like Employees - Business Insider
• Episode #12: A raucous debate over the 'gig economy', Uber driver sues Uber, when doxxing goes too far, VIP parties and root bear - PR & Law Podcast
• Cincinnati Reds suspend broadcaster Thom Brennaman after he uttered an anti-gay slur on air - CNN
• Thom Brennaman's slur was wrong, but so is selective justice - New York Post
• Mike Milbury off NHL playoff broadcasts after insulting comment about women - ESPN

Check This Out

• What Ellen's Kindness Concealed - The Atlantic
• Groundhog Day (1993) - IMDB

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also writes his own blog.

We dissect the fascinating case of former McDonald's CEO Steve Easterbrook, who was fired last year for having a consensual relationship with an employee in violation of the company's policies. Fast forward to this week, when McDonald's management announced they uncovered other relationships and sued Easterbrook to claw back his severance package. We'll explain why this case is groundbreaking, and take a look at the fascinating legal and PR implications.

Then Cam dives into social media, particularly how companies should plan for a crisis. He shares a number of tips to lower risk and make sure companies are communicating effectively online.

Also: a look at Norsemen on Netflix, an incredible podcast on the 1980s adult film industry and scandal that nearly brought it to its knees, and a few jokes at Quibi's expense!

If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend or family member. We are very grateful!

Don't miss a new episode or an update to topics discussed on the show by following us on social media. You can find our accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the account name PRLawPodcast. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Show Notes and Links

• McDonald's Steve Easterbrook: A New Approach to Sacking? - BBC
• Ellen DeGeneres Scandal (Discussed on Episode #18) - PR & Law Podcast
• Americas are Wary Over the Role Social Media Sites Play in Delivering the News - Pew Research Center
• How to Use Social Media for Crisis Communications and Emergency Management - Hootsuite
• China Law Blog
• 'We're All Being Fired! Exciting!': HMV Staff Take to Official Twitter Account to Liveblog Their Own 'Mass Execution' - The Independent

Check This Out

• Norsemen - Netflix
• The Porn Industry's Biggest Scandal is Also an Unsolved Mystery - Vanity Fair
• Once Upon a Time... in the Valley - Apple Podcasts
• Is Anybody Watching Quibi? - Vulture
• 'You guys, we have three new shows out today. (thread)" - Quibi on Twitter
• Ryan Renolds Now Owns Mint Mobile - CNET

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is the director of global communications with one of the biggest technology companies in the world, which is listed in Hong Kong. He is also the curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter and blogs at CamMacMurchy.com.

The scandal engulfing Ellen DeGeneres has been a PR nightmare for the popular talk show host, but also creates a significant challenge for the brightest minds in PR. We dissect what has transpired so far, where mistakes were made, and sift through advice from PR professionals on what to do next to save the show -- and her own reputation.

COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the economy, pushing 40 million people out of a job in the US alone. But while layoffs and furloughs are common, those aren't the only tools in management's toolbox. More employees are finding themselves facing pay cuts or demotions, some of which leave employees in very different roles from what they were hired to do. If this sounds like you, Ewan has some excellent advice -- so listen up!

Then we look at how some of the lowest paid jobs turned out to be the most "essential" during the pandemic, how Canadian comedian Jim Carrey overcame his own fears to become a star, and some wrenching photos from ground zero in Hiroshima and Nagasaki mere weeks after nuclear bombs utterly destroyed both cities.

If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend or family member. We are very grateful!

Don't miss a new episode or an update to topics discussed on the show by following us on social media. You can find our accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the account name PRLawPodcast. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Show Notes and Resources

• Former Employees Say Ellen’s “Be Kind” Talk Show Mantra Masks a Toxic Work Culture - Buzzfeed
• Dozens of Former “Ellen Show” Employees Say Executive Producers Engaged in Rampant Sexual Misconduct and Harassment - Buzzfeed
• Dakota Johnson YouTube
• How Ellen will Try to Fix Her Scandal, According to Crisis PR Experts - Vice

Check This Out

• Red Lobster is Not Essential - New Yorker
• Evil Geniuses: The Unmaking of America - Kurt Anderson
• I Was a Useful Idiot for Capitalism - The Atlantic
• After Atomic Bombings, These Photographers Worked Under Mushroom Clouds - NYT
• Jim Carrey - WTF Pod with Marc Maron

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter.

The author of "Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies" Edward Segal shared practical advice for companies communicating with staff about COVID-19, including how to manage layoffs or furloughs in a caring, empathetic way. He also critiqued Facebook's communications performance from the Cambridge Analytica scandal in 2016 to today, and why companies currently boycotting the service could find themselves with their own scandals to manage. The 30-year communications veteran also shared tips on preparing a great speech, how to stay calm before facing the media, and why keeping up with technology is important.

We also discuss some changes to employment contracts as a result of COVID-19 that gives employers much more room to layoff staff. Ewan encourages people to read their contracts carefully.

Also: the death of Regis Philbin, Hong Kong's embarrassing reversal on restaurant closures just one day after implementation, and why 'success addicts' are choosing being special over being happy.

A transcript of the entire episode has been published on CamMacMurchy.com.

If you enjoy the podcast, please tell a friend or family member. We are very grateful!

Don't miss a new episode -- or an update to topics discussed on the show -- by following us on social media. You can find our accounts on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook with the account name PRLawPodcast. You are also welcome to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Sources

• Crisis Ahead: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies - Amazon
• Crisis Ahead Podcast - EdwardSegal.com
• Hong Kong Bans Eating in Restaurants. And then it Doesn't - New York Times
• Regis Philbin, Legendary TV Host, Dies at 88 - People
• Wilford Brimley, 'Cocoon' Star and Quaker Oats Pitchman, is Dead at 85 - New York Times
• A Brief History of 'Karen' - New York Times
• 'Success Addicts' Choose Being Special Over Being Happy - The Atlantic
• The World Quietly Inches Closer to War - CamMacMurchy.com

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter.