Home
Categories
EXPLORE
True Crime
Comedy
Society & Culture
Business
Sports
Technology
Health & Fitness
About Us
Contact Us
Copyright
© 2024 PodJoint
Loading...
0:00 / 0:00
Podjoint Logo
US
Sign in

or

Don't have an account?
Sign up
Forgot password
https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts211/v4/d0/d6/19/d0d619a9-b21c-fae2-944f-d5bd4e8f512f/mza_5501786232064993001.jpg/600x600bb.jpg
The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
www.mollymcpherson.com
341 episodes
6 days ago
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 doubl...
Show more...
Society & Culture
Business,
News
RSS
All content for The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson is the property of www.mollymcpherson.com and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
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 doubl...
Show more...
Society & Culture
Business,
News
Episodes (20/341)
The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
Behind the Scenes of Greg Floyd’s Interview: Son Admits Killing Parents on Camera
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 doubl...
Show more...
1 week ago
48 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
Breaking Down the Media Statements: Kimmel, Trump, Tylenols Counterpunch
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 ...
Show more...
2 weeks ago
16 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
When Words Become Weapons: Speech, Consequences, and the Charlie Kirk Fallout
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 explo...
Show more...
3 weeks ago
18 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
From Phillies Ball Snatch to US Open Hat Grab: Outrage, Backlash, and Blowback Explained
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,...
Show more...
4 weeks ago
17 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
What Was Said at the Mic: Press Conference Analysis After the Annunciation Catholic School Shooting
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...
Show more...
1 month ago
21 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
The First Mistake That Will Sink You in a Crisis
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...
Show more...
1 month ago
9 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
How Taylor Swift Turned New Heights Into a Smart PR Play
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, ...
Show more...
1 month ago
27 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
South Park's Savage Trump Administration Takedown
This week’s PR Breakdown isn’t about a corporate crisis or a press release gone wrong. It’s about satire — and the way it forces a reaction. In the latest season of South Park, Matt Stone and Trey Parker have turned their aim on the Trump administration, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, and the culture of punditry. It’s not subtle. It’s not sanitized. And it’s definitely not for the thin-skinned. The second episode, “Got a Nut,” skewers both sides of the aisle while delivering a masterclass in what...
Show more...
1 month ago
14 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
The Strategic Timing of Justin Timberlake's Lyme Disease Revelation
Justin Timberlake ended his tour and dropped a bombshell on Instagram—he’s been battling Lyme disease. The post was emotional, reflective, and full of gratitude. But was it also a PR move? In this episode of The PR Breakdown, examining the timing, language, and strategy behind Timberlake’s statement and why it dropped when it did. This isn’t about questioning the diagnosis. It’s about asking the right questions, like why fans were left disappointed for months and only got an explanation after...
Show more...
2 months ago
15 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
Why Gwyneth’s Viral Ad Won’t Save Astronomer
After NPR called me to weigh in on the Coldplay concert scandal and Astronomer’s new viral ad starring Gwyneth Paltrow, a listener to the time to email to call me a “fussbucket.” You know what? I’ll take it. Because here’s the thing: clever marketing isn’t a substitute for accountability. In this epsiode ofThe PR Breakdown, I explain why Astronomer’s ad (produced by Ryan Reynolds’ Maximum Effort and fronted by Gwyneth Paltrow) is a classic case of PR deflection wrapped in celebrity glitter. T...
Show more...
2 months ago
20 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
The Coldplay Concert Scandal That Took Down a CEO
Seventy thousand five hundred twenty-one. That’s how many news stories included Andy Byron’s name after one juicy Jumbotron moment at a Coldplay concert. In this episode of The PR Breakdown, dissecting how a viral moment spiraled into a corporate PR disaster that exposed a CEO, an HR chief, and a total breakdown in communication control. What made this story explode? Not just the video, but the silence that followed a hoax. Molly breaks down the viral ingredients: A real-life HR e...
Show more...
2 months ago
16 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
Flood Warning Failures: The Texas Tragedy
When the flood came, the warnings didn’t. In this episode, a deadly cascade of communication breakdowns and the consequences of delay. At least 129 people are dead, with dozens still missing, after historic flash flooding swept through central Texas. The timeline reveals a gap between federal alerts and local action. Lives were lost in those hours. We examine what went wrong, why the local warning system never materialized despite years of requests, and how messaging from state and national l...
Show more...
2 months ago
22 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
The PR Trap of July: Scandals, Silence, and the Setup for September
July appears quiet. It isn’t. This episode outlines why summer is a high-risk period for reputation management. With newsroom staffing reduced and audience attention low, deeper stories start brewing. Reporters have more time. Leadership is often distracted. That’s when reputational cracks start to widen. The timing is rarely accidental. Many of the biggest PR crises in recent years—from Lizzo’s lawsuit to Drew Barrymore’s strike backlash—began simmering in July and erupted by September. What...
Show more...
3 months ago
12 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
When Journalists Become the Story: Who Really Controls the Narrative?
In this live edition of The PR Breakdown, Molly McPherson is joined by Warren Weeks and John Perenak, the hosts of the Reputation Town podcast, to explore the widening gap between journalism and public trust. The conversation centers on CNN’s Jake Tapper and his new book with Alex Thompson, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again. Is this book a mea culpa? A career pivot? Or a strategic move to rebuild credibility? The reputation st...
Show more...
3 months ago
29 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
The Tyler Perry Allegations: Why 'Scam' Claims Make Everything Worse
Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million sexual harassment lawsuit from actor Derek Dixon—and his legal team wasted no time calling it a “scam” and “shakedown.” That move may work in court. It won’t hold up in the court of public opinion. In this episode, I break down: How aggressive legal statements create reputational damageWhy pattern recognition is the biggest risk to Perry’s brandThe Christian Keyes video circulating online and its unspoken implicationsWhat Perry’s team should have said inst...
Show more...
3 months ago
11 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
PR Wars: Trump vs. No Kings
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 → @MollyMcPherson Subscribe to PR Breakdown on Substack → prbreakdown.media Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers th...
Show more...
3 months ago
19 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
Defamation as a Crisis Strategy: What the Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni Case Reveals
A $400 million defamation lawsuit, a full dismissal from a federal judge, and reputations still in question. This week, we’re breaking down the legal loss—and PR fallout—of It Ends With Us director Justin Baldoni’s case against Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, and their team. Spoiler: no one comes out clean. This episode goes beyond the legal headline to unpack what really happens when public figures weaponize defamation law to manage backlash. We cover: Why most defamation suits failWhat the law...
Show more...
3 months ago
29 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
Betrayals, Backpedals, and Broadcast Blowups: This Week in Reputation Damage
This week delivered a crash course in reputational damage. From a celebrity divorce to a DOGE(Y) dodge, and newsroom blowback, this episode highlights five real-time PR failures that exposed deeper internal fractures. Mentioned in this episode: Hugh Jackman & Deborra-Lee Furness: When a “conscious uncoupling” narrative veers into betrayalJeff Bezos & Lauren Sánchez: The media quote provided about their pre-wedding press tour. Previous episode for context: (Houston, Gayle King and...
Show more...
4 months ago
18 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
Original Sin: The Five Communication Sins That Created the Biden Cover-Up
Jake Tapper’s new book Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again is making headlines; not just for what’s in it. The backlash, the omissions, the PR fallout—it’s all part of a larger failure in messaging that started long before the first leak. In this episode, I’m breaking down the five communication sins at the core of the Biden cover-up. It’s not about politics. It’s about power, spin, and what happens when leaders forget that concealment...
Show more...
4 months ago
21 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
The Reputation Cliff: Why Some Celebrities Never Recover: Featuring the Sean Combs Trial and My NBC News Interview
This episode examines the sharp edge of celebrity scandal and why some reputations teeter over the cliff while others, against the odds, manage a comeback. With Sean Combs (Diddy) serving as the case study, this episode reveals PR moves public figure make when they are close to the edge of the “reputation cliff.” Comparing a trio of notorious comebacks and collapses—Robert Downey Jr., Tiger Woods, Ellen DeGeneres—the episode shares how two made it through the crisis while one fell victim to i...
Show more...
4 months ago
14 minutes

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
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 doubl...