When Boston-based staff executive, Whitney Sharpe, outlined the actions she took to address her disturbing experience of sexual harassment on TikTok, she had no idea that it would become viral overnight and be viewed by over 14 million people. The original incident had taken place while on a work call with potential vendors, during which, Whitney captured a profoundly unprofessional incident. Thanks to the ill-advised (and highly consequential) misuse of the screen-share function, Whitney was exposed to a company chat wherein staff members had made crude sexual remarks about her. Whitney’s recent TikTok demonstrates how one company was completely unprepared to handle a massive vulnerability within their organization and the fallout that is taking place as a result. Hear about the company’s lack of response online, what was missing from their apology email, how to ensure that your company is prepared for this type of exposure, and the importance of honoring your values as a company.

Key Points From This Episode:

• How Whitney Sharpe, a Boston-based executive at a large staffing firm, took a stand against sexual harassment and went viral on TikTok.
• The inappropriate company chat that Whitney was exposed to.
• How Whitney captured the interaction and went viral on TikTok.
• What happens when an HR crisis collides with a PR crisis.
• The key vulnerabilities that Whitney’s viral TikTok exposes within the company she is confronting.
• The email Whitney received from the company in response to her complaint.
• Why the email fell short and felt like an ‘insincere’ apology.
• The company’s choice not to respond to Whitney’s viral TikTok.
• The growing trend of companies not responding to public outcry.
• How to ensure that your company is ready for this type of exposure.
• Recommendations on the social media guidelines that companies should be implementing.
• An Indestructible PR® tip on honoring your values as a company.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Whitney Sharpe: It’s Rough Being a Woman in a Male Dominated Field

Whitney Sharpe: How Not To Apologize in Co

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Gwen Stefani recently made headlines after an interview with Allure magazine in which she claimed to be Japanese. The pop star received a lot of backlash for these comments and has been accused of cultural appropriation. The controversy raised a lot of questions about what it means to be respectful when engaging with other cultures. 

This week’s episode unpacks the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. In order to do this, it draws on the expertise of Melissa Vela-Williamson, an award-winning PR practitioner, national PR columnist, author, and podcast host, who has a rich and deep background in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and how this relates to communication. Tune in to find out whether Gwen is guilty of cultural appropriation or cultural appreciation and hear an important list of some of the dos and don’ts of multicultural practices for anyone in communication.

Key Points From This Episode:

• What Gwen Stefani said about her Harajuku era in an Allure interview that caused such a backlash.
• How Molly’s recent workshop with guest Melissa Vela-Williamson relates to the question of cultural appropriation.
• The difference between the full context of the entire article and the pull-quote.
• Molly’s definition of culture and how it relates to her work of drawing lessons from pop culture.
• How Molly hopes that this episode will help people gain cultural competence.
• Melissa’s definition of the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation.
• Where Gwen Stefani falls in light of this definition.
• A list of some of the dos and don’ts of cultural appreciation for those in communication.
• How Gwen should have handled the question.
• The Indestructible PR® Tip regarding cultural appropriation and awareness.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Molly's TikTok about Gwen Stefani

Allure - "Gwen Stefani: "I Said, 'My God, I'm Japanese'"" 

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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.

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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:

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• ...

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

This week's episode uses the recent sexual misconduct allegations surrounding Andrew Callaghan as a real-world example of dealing with a crisis and analyzes his response from a PR lens. Hear about the allegations made against Andrew from TikToker Caroline Elise, his response to the allegations, and the outcome. This episode unpacks how he said it, why he said it, and how it was accepted by the public. Hear about writing apologies to the public and not your critics, the framework to navigate a public relations crisis, what not to do in a video response, and what an appropriate apology is. 

Tune in to find out if Andrew’s response was suitable and if he will recover his career and reputation.

Key Points From The Episode:

• Introduction to today’s topic, the allegations made, and the response.
• The impact of video and why it is more powerful than words. 
• Outline of Caroline Elise’s allegations and the video she made.
• Find out why the allegations made were so believable. 
• The steps to take when faced with serious allegations made against you. 
• Analysis of Andrew’s video response and apology.
• The definition of a genuine and appropriate apology.
• Important legal considerations regarding apologies in a PR crisis. 
• The Indestructible PR® Tip

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Andrew Callaghan on Instagram

Channel 5 with Andrew Callaghan

All Gas No Brakes with Andrew Callaghan

Join 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/
• ...

Today, the Golden Globes 2023 edition of the Indestructible PR® Podcast takes a look at the people and the brands that haven’t successfully overcome their PR crises of the past and examines what the ceremony reveals about their failings. Tune in to find out why these brands still haven’t recovered a year later and discover some helpful tips to avoid becoming a PR loser. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• Today’s topic: How the Golden Globes sheds light on the brands that haven’t successfully overcome their PR crises. 
• Why Will Smith was still the biggest PR loser of the night.
• The backstory of what happened between Will Smith and Chris Rock last year.
• What Will Smith should have done immediately after last year’s incident.
• The current state of Will Smith and his brand and what this indicates about his PR response. 
• Why Will Smith’s video apology wasn’t enough.
• Why the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was also a PR loser.
• Tom Cruise as a PR loser and the backstory behind this.
• The Indestructible PR® tip for the day about managing PR crises.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Molly's TikTok about the Golden Globes 

Molly McPherson 

Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis

Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis - Audiobook Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Molly McPherson on Patreon

© 2023 Indestructible PR® Podcast with Molly McPherson

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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.

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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/
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• https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/
• ...

Today’s podcast sheds light on a new dirty trick used by special interest groups and people who are activist-minded. It takes a look at an article by NPR, “She Was an ABC News Producer. She Also Was a Corporate Operative,” and reveals how Kristen Hentschel used her previous work experience as a journalist to challenge Toby Overdorf, a candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, while working as an advocate for a political consulting firm.

 This episode covers a brief overview of the story, why you need to be aware of this dirty trick if you work in communication, media, news, or a leadership-related position, and what you should bear in mind if facing an activist-minded foe. A second twist follows...

Key Points From This Episode:

• Insight into the article  “She Was an ABC News Producer. She Also Was a Corporate Operative,” and why it’s relevant to listeners of this podcast. 
• A brief overview of the story.
• How this story reveals a new tactical strategy used by activists.
• The statement released by ABC denying that Kristen Hentschel worked for them.
• The twist of Kristen Hentschel working as a journalist while simultaneously working as an advocate.
• How this relates to a situation faced by one of Molly’s clients with an activist-minded foe.
• An interesting twist relating to Kristin’s previous career as a journalist under a different name.
• The Indestructible PR® tip for the day for identifying or dealing with fake or former journalists.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

"She was an ABC News producer. She also was a corporate operative"

Kristen Hentschel on LinkedIn

Molly McPherson 

Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis

Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis - Audio Book Listen and Sub

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/
• ...

In this episode, discussing some of the worst PR crises that happened in 2022 based on an informal poll on Twitter. 

It's no secret that 2022 was a year full of PR disasters. From celebrities getting caught up in scandals to brands making massive mistakes, here are some of the worst PR crises that happened last year.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

What are some of the worst PR crises that happened in 2022? - Twitter 12/27/22

The Top 10 PR Crises in 2022 - Tik Tok 1/2/2023

212: Why The Term Cancel Culture is Dangerous And How It Can Hurt Your Brand: Kanye West Explains

Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis

Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis - Audio Book Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Molly McPherson on Patreon

Join 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/
• ...

ChatGPT is here and is making waves globally for its ability to generate human-like written text. This episode of the Indestructible PR® Podcast delves into some of the risks and benefits of using this new platform. It provides a bit of background into what ChatGPT is, how it works, and how it’s different from other IA programs. It also explains how it can be especially useful to those in communications and public relations before providing a list of some of the many things it can be used for, including content creation, language translation, copywriting, and others. You’ll learn what to consider if you are using ChatGPT for external communications and how to harness its benefits without jeopardizing your reputation. 

Key Points From This Episode:

• An introduction to what ChatGPT is and how it works.
• What makes ChatGPT different from other IA programs. 
• The limitations of ChatGPT.
• How it can be useful to you in terms of communications and public relations. 
• A list of the many things you can use it for including responding to customer inquiries, content creation, language translation, etc.
• How this can be used by students to cheat and evade plagiarism. 
• What to consider if you are using Chat GPT for external communications.
• The Indestructible PR® tip for the day regarding your reputation and ChatGPT. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

ChatGPT

Molly McPherson 

Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis

Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis - Audio Book Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Molly McPherson on Patreon

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/
• ...

Everyone has been in a situation where they’re asked a question and don’t know how to answer it. Whether it be during an interview, a meeting, or a media interview, being able to provide clear, concise answers can make all the difference. Here are some tips to help you give good answers to any question: 

Mastering the art of giving good answers takes time and practice; however following these tips should help ensure that no matter what type of question is put forth, you can confidently provide an effective response.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Molly McPherson 

Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis

Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis - Audio Book Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts

Molly McPherson on Patreon

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/
• ...

After body cam footage emerged showing Mary O’Connor, the Police Chief of Tampa, Florida, trying to get out of a traffic violation by showing her badge and the internal affairs investigation that followed, she was ultimately forced to resign. 

This episode takes a look at this incident to see what can be learned from a PR perspective, and breaks down three easy choices in ethical leadership that can save your reputation. Hear the entire body cam clip and learn what guilt sounds like, how guilty people behave, and how this sheds light on unethical leadership. Also covered is the statement that was released when the truth came out and how Mary tried to protect the lie instead of taking responsibility for her actions. Hear more about what it means to be an ethical leader in any organization and how to build an indestructible reputation.

Key Points From This Episode:

• The traffic stop incident that resulted in Mary O’Connor’s resignation as Police Chief of Tampa, Florida.
• What guilt sounds like and how this relates to a media interview.
• How this sheds light on unethical leadership.
• Assessing the ethical ramifications of her actions
• A sense of relief, and insight into how guilty people behave.
• The statement that was released when the truth came out and how she tried to protect the lie.
• How the first statement tells you the intent of the person. 
• A previous incident and speculation that she may be driving under the influence of alcohol.
• What it means to be an ethical leader and how this relates to an organization’s core values.
• The Indestructible PR® tip for the day about taking responsibility.\

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

YouTube: "#Tampa #Police Chief Resigns After Flashing Badge To Get Out Of Golf Cart Stop" 

Official statement: "Incident involving chief of police" 

"Tampa police Chief Mary O’Connor resigns amid traffic stop controversy" 

Molly McPherson 

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/
• ...

These days news happens in milliseconds and with the social media algorithms functioning the way they do, a negative comment can result in a disruption that can damage your public image in a very short space of time. 

This episode takes a look at the public relations strategy that effectively got two of Molly’s clients out of crises. It breaks down the three elements of the 'Social Media Checklist' and covers why you need to consider the intent of the person attacking you or your brand, the different intentions someone may have for attacking you, and whether you should delete a post or reply to it. 

You’ll learn what to consider when responding to a post like this, why you want to reply early, and why you should build your statements around key messaging. It also explains exactly how the Indestructible PR® response framework can be implemented into your response to make for an indestructible reputation.

Key Points From This Episode:

• Patreon and other platforms where Molly engages with her followers.  
• A question from one of Molly’s Patreon subscribers about what Molly does behind the scenes.
• How what Molly talks about on TikTok translates into her work.
• The definition of a social media disruption and how this is different from a crisis.
• The social media disruption checklist that Molly created for one of her clients.
• How she applied this same checklist to the disruption faced by another client.
• The three elements of the Social Media Checklist. 
• Why you need to consider the intent of the person attacking you before replying. 
• The different types of people who may attack or challenge you on social media.
• Why Molly’s belief that you should never delete anything on social media has changed.
• What to delete and what to respond to. 
• Other things to consider when responding to a post like this. 
• Why you wan

Join 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/
• ...