We're Still Spinning

(Recorded 2/17/25) - America's Favorite PR team is back with a new episode. Following Disney's DEI cancellation, we take a look at the company's recent removal of the once-apologetic introduction card to its classic vault movies for the portrayal of Indigenous cultures and non-white ethnicities. Was the former intro card performative, or is this a brand evolution? Poppi "soda" also got itself into some hot Apple Cider Vinegar with its recent Super Bowl vending machine stunt. We talk about what went wrong with the brand's crisis communications plan and pitch a better way to use their Super Bowl funds. Next, airplanes are crashing daily. What does this mean for the aviation industry, and what can commercial airlines communicate to consumers amidst the tragic headlines? Lastly, Luigi Mangione took a page from the PR playbook of Justin Baldoni and launched a new website to communicate with his followers. Are websites the new notes app? We talk about it. (And please leave us 5 stars if you enjoy this show).

(Recorded 2/6/25) - America's Favorite PR Team is back with a new episode of We're Still Spinning. In this episode, we discuss the introduction of a new PR play - launching a website of receipts to make your case in the court of public opinion. Who is guiding Baldoni now, and is it working? Where does Blake go from here? We touch on The Grammys and discuss the wildest theory about Bianca Censori that is in the ether. Then, we discuss the resurfaced tweets of Karla Sofía Gascón and her apology. Lastly, we pitch a rebrand for DEI to help all parties. If you enjoy this show, please leave us FIVE stars!

(Recorded on 1/7/25) - In this episode, we continue to monitor Meghan She-Dropped-The-Markle's PR image journey. She made her return to Instagram and launched a new Netflix Series with a notable trailer to boot. Where is she going with her public persona, and is it working? We talk about it. We then discuss Allison Holker's recent press push for her book, which appeared to hinge on disclosing her late husband's secrets. We recorded this episode before Allison's follow-up statement, which ended up being exactly what we predicted it would be...and then...we circle back to Justin vs. Blake. Part 1 of this saga was our most listened-to episode of 2024. Lastly, we solve the origin of Walmart's Wirkin Bag as part of our ongoing coverage of Hermes and its PR attempts to become profitable again.

Hello again, did you miss us? America's Favorite PR team is back from an unexpected hiatus (blame it on the timeline shift), and now we are diving into the last 6 weeks of this simulation we call Life on Earth. The election, the aliens, Luigi, Jay Z, Coachella's record early presale to try to save the festival, etc...we talk about it all through our usual EXCEPTIONAL PR lens. And we, of course, look at some 2025 cultural forecasting and explore how brands need to speak to consumers moving forward to stay alive. Thank you for listening!

We are America's Favorite PR team. This week, we discuss the roll-out of self-driving cars and ways in which they can cultivate trust with the consumer. This brings us to the question, "To robot, or NOT to robot?" - and we look at Etsy's recent communications push towards "Keep Commerce Human." We get it, and we have some questions. Next, McDonald's has been in the press this week, and it's safe to bet...they aren't Lovin' It (oop!). We look at their negative news cycle and internal communications statements and forge a path for them. Lastly, Diddy's children put out a joint PR statement. We take a close look and reveal the larger strategy at hand.

This is We're Still Spinning, a news-based show hosted by America's Favorite PR team. News about the tragic passing of Liam Payne broke shortly before we hit record for this episode, and we talk about TMZ's coverage in real time. Next, Ari Lennox announced her plans to leave social media permanently to focus on her personal growth and maturity. We look at her statement and discuss the implications for her career and the broader industry. Next, Bath & Body Works recently released and recalled a "Snowed In" candle that Reddit deemed a "Klandle" - for its uncanny resemblance to a traditional Ku Klux Klan white robe. We look at the PR statement around this recall and pitch our version of crisis comms. Lastly, Disneyland & Disney World raised its prices 3x in 18 months and just now launched a new add-on. For approximately $400 on top of the cost of admission ($225), you can skip the lines. What would Walt say?

A brief memo from your favorite PR team.

This episode addresses the recent investigation into Naomi Campbell's nonprofit expenses. How many cigarettes can you buy with 1 million US dollars? We discuss the release of Will & Harper and forecast its influence on the nationwide trans conversation. The CEO of Weight Watchers (WW), Sima Sistani, was recently forced out of the company. We look at the news cycle around it and talk about how WW moved forward in a climate that is anti-diet culture and riddled with trigger warnings. Lastly, we talk about Moo Deng and come up with a PR campaign centered around the internet sensation that just might save the planet. (And if you like this show, please leave us 5 stars!).

In this episode, we look at the PR fallout around Diddy and examine TikTok theories around his connections to 50 Cent and Jay Z. We also look into the recent resignation of 23andMe's entire board behind the personal genomics and biotechnology company that sources and stores the DNA of its customers. Also in tech headlines this week, OpenAI's Sam Altman teams up with Apple's longtime design lead, Jony Ive, and the late wife of Steve Jobs to form the next gen of smart technology...2 days later, OpenAI's CTO resigns along with two other top executives. What's the tea? We touch on Janet Jackson's reaffirmation of Donald Trump's claims about Kamala Harris' race, specifically that Ms. Harris is "not Black." Lastly, we reexamine Chappell Roan's trajectory and highlight a timely PR moment between Eve and Nicki Minaj.

In this episode, our weekly "cold open" inadvertently becomes...the episode. We look at race (and racism) in America through the lens of current news and headlines, and as black and white co-hosts of this show, we have a completely unplanned, un-edited and unfiltered conversation about the black and white female experience in the United States of America in 2024, and where we go from here. (We talk about Diddy, too, obviously).