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 credibility
• Why “kids will be kids” is not a defense when adults hold positions of power
• The myth of online privacy and how “anonymous” messages are always traceable
• How a values gap—what an organization says publicly vs. what it allows privately—leads to crisis
• Dissecting the failed apologies that followed the leak
• Molly’s five “PR truths” for digital-age leadership:
• The difference between genuine accountability and PR spin

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 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 Spirals

You’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...

In this episode, Molly sits down with Jim Rocco and Thom Weidlich, co-authors of Sports Crisis Communications: Cases and Controversies, to explore how the worlds of sports and crisis PR collide. From Tiger Woods’ redemption arc to Aaron Rodgers’ vaccine controversy and Brett Favre’s legal troubles, this candid conversation dissects how athletes, teams, and brands handle scandal when the spotlight turns harsh.

The trio also dives into how social media, fan loyalty, and corporate interests shape the playbook for managing reputation in modern sports. Whether it’s Tom Brady’s conflict of interest, the NFL’s uneasy dance with gambling, or the Dodgers’ Pride Night flip-flop, this episode pulls back the curtain on how power, money, and morality intersect on and off the field.

In this episode:

• Tiger Woods’ image makeover: from scandal to super-dad
• How Aaron Rodgers’ “immunized” comment tested State Farm’s crisis strategy
• Brett Favre, welfare funds, and the price of silence in litigation PR
• The NFL’s resilience (and denial) through scandal after scandal
• When betting meets ball: why gambling is the next big PR minefield
• The Dodgers’ Pride Night controversy and the danger of corporate flip-flopping
• What brands can learn from Dick’s Sporting Goods’ values-based stand
• Why vulnerability (and a good apology) can save an athlete’s reputation
• Tom Brady’s latest “conflict of interest” and the ethics of sports media
• Advice for rising athletes and a few words of wisdom for Bill Belichick

Key takeaway:
Reputation is built long before the crisis hits. Whether you’re a star athlete or a CEO, your credibility bank determines how hard you fall, and how fast you recover.

The media tool I use to track stories, monitor coverage, and help clients get their message in the right hands. Click here to learn more. 

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...

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

In this episode:

• How the case surfaced and escalated from a backyard dig to a double homicide
• The email that led to an on-camera interview and an unexpected confession
• Techniques for guiding high-stakes interviews without sensationalism

Watch/Read:

• Watch the Molly McPherson and Greg Floyd conversation on YouTube. 
• Interviews and coverage on CBS 6 Albany’s YouTube and website
  • Full video: Man confesses to killing his parents during news interview, arrested in front of station
  • Full video: Lorenz Kraus speaks from jail after confession to parents' murder

Live & Archive:

• Substack Live: Friday, Oct 3 at 12:45pm ET — Greg Floyd joins for an extended Q&A.
• Substack members will have access to the archived live conversation after the event.

Content note: This episode discusses homicide and may be distressing for some listeners.

The media tool I use to track stories, monitor coverage, and help clients get their message in the right hands. Click here to learn more. 

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 three statements drop within the same hour, it’s not just news, it’s a case study.

• Disney walks back Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension with a vague, deflective release.
• Donald Trump grabs headlines in the Roosevelt Room, suggesting Tylenol in pregnancy raises autism risk — without evidence.
• Tylenol fires back fast with a direct, science-based denial.

In this episode, dissecting how each statement was crafted, what it reveals about the motives behind it, and why credibility — not spin — decides who wins the narrative.

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...

Outrage isn’t random anymore, it’s a playbook. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, what started as shock turned into a communication crisis that exposed how words can either shape narratives or ignite division.

Here’s the problem: in 2025, speech doesn’t live in a vacuum. Every comment, post, and soundbite ricochets through algorithms, institutions, and public opinion. And when words turn into weapons, the fallout is swift—firings, censures, and reputational scars.

This episode explores:

• Nancy Mace’s explosive remarks and how her pivot from tragedy to blame became a masterclass in political narrative-building.
• The response from institutions like NASDAQ, Ole Miss, and the Washington Post as they enforced “zero tolerance” speech policies.
• The Pentagon’s crackdown on service members’ posts—and the chilling gray area between personal opinion and professional consequence.
• Why communicators must recognize that every word carries weight, every platform is a stage, and every policy has teeth.
• The fine line between accountability and overreach—and what fairness actually looks like in a polarized digital age.

The September takeaway? Speech has consequences. Some create clarity. Others create chaos. The difference lies in whether words are used to connect or to divide.

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...

Outrage isn’t new, but the way it plays out in 2025 feels like a full-time industry. This week, it’s Phillies fans brawling over a foul ball, a CEO swiping a signed hat at the US Open, Bruce Willis’ family facing judgment in a Diane Sawyer interview, and American Eagle cashing in on controversy with its headline-grabbing campaign.

Here’s the problem: every headline slaps the same word on these stories—backlash. But backlash and blowback aren’t the same thing. If you don’t know the difference, you’re missing the real story.

In this episode:

• The Phillies “Ball Snatch” dad who turned a viral mess into a lesson in staying calm.
• The US Open “Hat Grab” CEO who folded fast—and why it saved his business.
• Bruce Willis’ family’s media strategy, turning online judgment into strategic storytelling.
• American Eagle’s outrage marketing proves that some brands script backlash into their budget.
• Why the age of the public apology is over—and what leaders are doing instead.

The September takeaway? Backlash reveals character. Blowback reveals strategy. And knowing which one you’re seeing could be the difference between chaos and control.

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...

A shooting inside a Minneapolis church during a back-to-school Mass left two children dead and several others injured. The Annunciation Catholic School community was shattered. The country watched. And almost immediately, public officials and school leaders stood in front of microphones, tasked with speaking into heartbreak.

In this episode, examining what was said—and how it was said—during the press conferences that followed.

Joining the conversation with Molly is Greg Floyd, evening anchor and investigative reporter at WRGB-TV in Albany. A six-time Emmy winner with multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards, Greg brings deep experience in live coverage, newsroom leadership, and the complexity of reporting local stories with national weight.

Together, we break down the structure, tone, and delivery of each speaker—from elected officials to faith leaders—and explore what communicators can learn from how these moments were handled.

What We Cover:

• The context behind the headlines: children, a church, and the first week of school
• Mayor Jacob Frey’s restrained approach, and why one line (“These children were praying”) shaped the narrative
• Police Chief Brian O’Hara’s directness, structure, and use of the repeated-question technique
• Principal Matt DeBoer’s calm, clarity, and emotional authority—including a powerful reflection on older students protecting younger ones
• The possible public misstep by Archbishop Bernard Hebda, and the risk of correcting others in a crisis moment
• How local media elevated the story’s tone, and why Twin Cities press markets matter in national perception
• The visual language of crisis: from rolled-up sleeves to school-branded t-shirts
• Why the absence of scripts—and the presence of emotion—can carry more weight than any prepared statement

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...

The Breakdown:

The first move most people make in a crisis is often the one that causes the most damage. It happens when emotion outruns strategy, and the brain mistakes public pressure for personal danger. The result is impulsive action, usually in the form of a rushed post, a scrambled statement, or a desperate attempt to make the backlash go away. But the real problem isn’t public. It’s neurological.

This episode explains why the body’s threat response takes over during high-stakes moments, and how that hijack shuts down the very part of the brain responsible for leadership, regulation, and long-term thinking. It’s not about judgment. It’s about biology.

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...

Taylor Swift didn’t just pop onto her boyfriend’s New Heights podcast for fun. She executed a masterclass in brand strategy. With over 16 million views and endless headlines, her first-ever appearance alongside Travis and Jason Kelce wasn’t casual. It was calculated.

In this episode of The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson, a look at the strategy behind the appearance. Why it mattered, what Swift accomplished, and how it ties into her broader narrative of album rollouts, relationship optics, and reputation management. 

What You’ll Hear About in This Episode

• The Optics: Why Swift’s on-camera presence, couple dynamics, and emotional stories humanized her brand at just the right time.
• Message Control: How choosing New Heights over legacy media gave her total control of the conversation.
• Redirection Strategy: How this appearance quietly shifted headlines away from Blake Lively’s legal mess and back onto Swift’s album.
• Cross-Brand Boost: Why this was just as beneficial for the Kelsey brand as it was for Swift.
• The Long Game: How this single appearance sets up Taylor’s reputation, her relationship, and her album narrative for the months ahead.

Why This Episode Matters
Swift’s appearance is a case study in modern communication—blending personal storytelling, platform control, reputation management, and viral timing. It’s the kind of move every communicator, marketer, and leader should pay attention to.

The media tool I use to track stories, monitor coverage, and help clients get their message in the right hands. Click here to learn more. 

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...