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What if your entire job was to imagine the worst-case scenario?
In this first episode of Accidentally Brilliant by Be Broadcast, Josh Wheeler is joined by Kate Hartley – co-founder of Polpeo, author of Communicate in a Crisis, and one of PR’s leading experts in how organisations respond under pressure.
Kate didn’t plan a career in crisis communications. In fact, she started out temping at Edelman stuffing envelopes before finding herself at the heart of the BSE crisis, major travel emergencies, and later, preparing IT systems for the Olympics. Fast-forward, and she’s built Polpeo, a pioneering crisis simulation company working with some of the biggest brands in the world.
In this episode, you’ll hear: Why so many brands get crisis response wrong – and how to do better.
The hidden pressures inside the boardroom: legal vs. comms vs. public perception.
How agency life in the 90s shaped her values (and why she refused certain clients).
The importance of authenticity and saying sorry, even when lawyers say you can’t.
How to protect your own wellbeing in a career built around adrenaline and pressure.
Why businesses must use their voice to stand up for diversity and inclusion.
This is an honest, funny, and insightful conversation for anyone in PR, marketing, or communications – and a reminder that the best careers often happen accidentally.
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About Kate Hartley Co-founder, Polpeo – the crisis simulation company.
Author of Communicate in a Crisis.
Named twice in Provoke Media’s Innovator 25 list.
Co-host of the podcast What Just Happened.
🔗 Connect Follow Kate Hartley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katehartley/ Learn more about Polpeo: https://polpeo.com/ Follow Josh Wheeler & Be Broadcast: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwheelerbroadcast/ Chapter Markers
00:00 Intro – Accidentally Brilliant begins
01:19 Falling into PR at Edelman
02:48 Early crisis work – BSE & travel emergencies
05:25 Why brands fail in crises
07:50 Founding Polpeo & the Nestlé moment
09:14 Hardest moments in PR & staying true to values
11:26 LGBTQ+ rights, DEI & business responsibility
16:30 The psychology of crisis work (catastrophising)
20:59 Recovery, downtime & the power of choir singing
24:13 Advice to a younger Kate
26:15 Podcasting, curiosity & lifelong learning
28:50 What makes Kate “accidentally brilliant
