In March 2022, Florida’s Senate passed a bill to ban discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity in primary schools. The so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill stirred up major controversy at Disney, which has a complex history with the LGBTQ+ community, when it stayed silent despite having a significant presence in the state and being a major employer at the Disney World theme park.

In this episode of ‘What Just Happened?’, hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton explore Disney’s LGBTQ+ history, from early bans on same-sex dancing to the evolution of “Gay Days” at its parks, and how its values have often conflicted with its behaviour.

They look at how Disney’s then-CEO Bob Chapek’s argument that corporate statements rarely change opinions resulted in the corporation remaining silent after the “Don’t Say Gay” bill was passed. ANd how, after a backlash from employees and the public, he apologised, halted political donations in Florida, and pledged $5 million to support LGBTQ+ rights groups.

They are also joined by founder of the Diversity Standards Collective Rich Miles, who explains that neutrality is not an option when it comes to human rights. He stresses that brands must align behaviour and policy with their stated values, review outdated internal policies, and engage both employees and consumers in open dialogue.

The conversation underscores that authenticity, clarity of values, and proactive communication are essential to avoid reputational crises in an increasingly polarised environment. And it highlights the risks brands face when trying to remain neutral on human rights issues.

A full transcript of today's show is available to read here.

Until 2014 Shell had enjoyed a 50-year-long brand partnership with LEGO. But it came to an abrupt and high profile end after Greenpeace’s “Everything is Not Awesome” campaign, which targeted the long-standing partnership due to Shell’s Arctic drilling activities. Initially reluctant to end the deal,

LEGO faced mounting public pressure after Greenpeace released a viral, emotionally powerful video that used LEGO imagery to highlight environmental damage. The backlash ultimately led LEGO to announce it would not renew the arrangement.

In this episode of ‘What Just Happened?’, hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton are joined by PR consultant and brand activism expert Sara Collinge to unpack why the Greenpeace campaign was so effective.

They discuss Greenpeace’s ability to creatively invert LEGO’s own brand values and slogans, and to strategically involve children and social media to drive emotional engagement. And they look at how LEGO’s initial corporate response lacked humility and failed to acknowledge responsibility.

The discussion expands into how brands can avoid becoming targets of activism, emphasising the need for organisations to align their internal actions with their public values, examine historical partnerships, and be honest about where risks lie.

They argue that authentic brand activism must involve sacrifice, not just PR, and urges companies to do the hard work of auditing their values, supply chains, and communications before crisis hits. Transparency, accountability and timely action are key to staying on the right side of public opinion.

A full transcript of today's show is available to read here.

During the medal presentation at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, Luis Rubiales, then-president of the Spanish Football Federation, forcibly kissed Spanish player Jenni Hermoso on the lips. The act, which Hermoso did not consent to, led to widespread condemnation and calls for his resignation. Rubiales initially defended his actions, but eventually faced suspension by FIFA and later was found guilty of sexual assault.

In this episode of ‘What Just Happened?”, hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton are joined by Emma Woolcott, a partner at Mishcon de Reya, to explore the fallout from the incident. They discuss power imbalance, Rubiales' lack of remorse, and the cultural issues that enabled his behaviour, including previous allegations and inappropriate conduct.

The episode discusses the importance of organisational culture, the need for leaders to accept feedback, and the role of internal communication in preventing misconduct. It also highlights why businesses must monitor culture to spot warning signs, and reflects on the broader impact of the scandal, including Hermoso’s bravery in pressing charges, the role of public backlash, and the Spanish women’s team’s solidarity.

A full transcript of today's show is available to read here.

In January 2009, US Airways Flight 1549 suffered a dual engine failure shortly after take-off from LaGuardia Airport due to a bird strike. Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger and First Officer Jeff Skiles conducted an emergency landing on the Hudson River and, remarkably, all 155 passengers and crew survived.
In this episode of “What Just Happened?”, hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton are joined by aviation psychologist Jill Green to discuss the extraordinary calm and leadership demonstrated by ‘Sully’, who made the critical decision to land on the Hudson, executing it flawlessly with support from his co-pilot and crew.
The conversation explores key themes including decision-making under pressure, the importance of flight training, and the psychological and physiological responses to crisis. It highlights Crew Resource Management (CRM), a system fostering communication, cooperation, and trust among flight crew, which proved essential in the successful outcome. Communication strategies, such as Sully’s deliberate use of words like “brace” and “evacuate,” illustrate the power of clarity in crisis.
The episode underscores the value of leadership, teamwork, psychological safety, and preparedness, offering insights applicable not only in aviation but across industries facing high-pressure decision-making.
A full transcript of today’s show is available to read here.

This episode of “What Just Happened?” explores the widespread abuse committed by former Harrods owner Mohammed Al Fayed and its lasting impact on the Harrods brand. Decades of sexual assault allegations came to light after Al Fayed’s death in 2023 and, despite previous media investigations and survivor reports, systemic failures – including legal threats, NDAs, and a culture of fear – prevented accountability. Harrods has since accepted vicarious liability and faces compensation claims from hundreds of women.
Hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton are joined by Anne Marie Blake to discuss how the scandal has significantly damaged Harrods’ public reputation, with YouGov data showing declines in brand favourability, pride, and recommendation scores.
We look at how organisations can prevent such abuse by fostering psychological safety, encouraging whistleblowing, and listening meaningfully to staff. And we explore the need for leaders to act with integrity, confront wrongdoing, and create environments where employees feel safe to speak up, stressing that silence or complicity can make individuals enablers.
The conversation also covers transparency and cultural change, and how leaders need to see speaking up as vital to organisational success, rather than being a threat. The Harrods case stands as a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the urgent need for accountability at every level.
A full transcript of today’s show is available to read here.

This episode of “What Just Happened?” explores the growing threat of deepfake technology in corporate settings. In 2024, a major incident involving engineering company Arup saw a finance employee tricked into transferring £20 million after a video call with deepfaked colleagues.
Hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton are joined by legal expert Emma Woollcott to discuss the criminal side of the activity and the current gaps in legislation. The episode looks at the increasing sophistication and accessibility of deepfakes, particularly in video form, and how this poses significant risks to businesses worldwide. While once limited to fake images or audio, real-time face morphing software now makes it nearly impossible for the human eye to detect manipulation.
We discuss how fraudsters exploit trust, hierarchy, and urgency to manipulate staff, particularly targeting overseas or newly acquired subsidiaries. And we look at how, as deepfake tools become more widespread, both fraud prevention and legal reform are urgently needed, and why businesses need to update risk registers and adopt proactive strategies to detect, challenge, and mitigate deepfake threats across operations.
A full transcript of today’s show is available to read here.

In this episode of “What Just Happened?”, hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton talk to the whistleblower at the heart of one of the biggest corporate bribery scandals in history, Jonathan Taylor.
A former lawyer for SBM Offshore, Taylor uncovered and reported a $240 million bribery scheme involving governments and oil companies worldwide. Despite alerting the authorities, he faced years of retaliation, including legal battles, extradition attempts, and personal hardship.
Taylor reflects on the role of corporate culture in enabling corruption, explaining how SBM’s long-standing bribery practices were ingrained in its operations, and he stresses the need for robust internal compliance departments to prevent misconduct and protect whistleblowers from external risks.
Despite the toll on his life, Taylor remains an advocate for whistleblower protections and compliance reforms. He discusses the importance of challenging entrenched corporate cultures and ensuring accountability. Now working with charities and compliance organisations, Taylor uses his experience to push for systemic change. His story highlights the ongoing challenges whistleblowers face and the urgent need for stronger protections within corporate governance.
A full transcript of today’s show is available to read here.

The TalkTalk data breach of 2015 was one of the most high profile cybersecurity incidents in the UK. Initially attributed to sophisticated hackers and feared to have exposed the personal data of over 4 million customers, it was later revealed to be the work of teenagers using basic techniques to exploit vulnerabilities in the company’s database. But the damage was already done for TalkTalk.

In this episode of "What Just Happened?," hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton are joined by seasoned crisis specialist Catherine Colloms to talk about how the breach highlighted systemic failings in TalkTalk’s cybersecurity measures.

TalkTalk CEO Dido Harding faced intense media scrutiny throughout the crisis, beginning with an appearance on Newsnight that set the tone for what was to come. While praised for taking responsibility and showing empathy, Harding was criticised for her lack of technical knowledge and for revealing sensitive details in interviews. The fallout included reputational damage, customer losses, and a halving of profits the following year.

A full transcript of today's show is available to read here.

In 2011 Wells Fargo bank was thrown into the centre of a scandal that resulted in it being fined $185 million for creating over 2 million fraudulent accounts without customers' knowledge. Driven by aggressive sales targets, the bank saw a 43% drop in new account openings and a 55% drop in credit card applications. Over 5000 employees were fired.

In today’s episode of ‘What Just Happened?’, hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton are joined by corporate culture expert Jane Fordham to discuss how Wells Fargo responded and the wider issues around a culture that drove fraud on such a large scale.

The crisis underscored the importance of fostering a culture that encourages ethical behaviour and supports whistleblowers, and the discussion highlights how companies must prioritise psychological safety, transparency, and consistent values from leadership to avoid similar crises. Effective cultural change requires clarity, communication, and a commitment from top to bottom to uphold ethical standards, ensuring that employees feel safe to report concerns without fear of retribution.

A full transcript of today's show is available to read here.

In March 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 completely disappeared and became one of the greatest mysteries in aviation history. The Boeing 777, carrying 239 people, lost contact with air traffic control shortly after takeoff from Kuala Lumpur and, despite extensive search efforts, the plane was never found.

In today’s episode of ‘What Just Happened?’, hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Liitleton are joined by Rod Cartwright, who was directly involved in the crisis response. They discuss the many challenges faced by the crisis team, including a total lack of information coupled with widespread speculation and conspiracy theories.

Dealing with an information vacuum made managing public expectations and misinformation particularly difficult, and this was not aided by the coordination between Malaysia Airlines and the Malaysian government or the media, which had a role to play in fuelling speculation. The search for MH370 is expected to resume ten years after the incident, offering a glimmer of hope for the families of those on board still seeking closure a decade later.

A full transcript of today's show is available to read here.

This week’s show discusses the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, the largest marine oil spill in history. Hosts Tamara Littleton and Kate Hartley, along with special guest Zaiba Malik, look at how the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed 11 workers and caused a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, severely impacting the environment and local communities.

BP faced financial collapse, paying $65 billion over eight years in compensation, fines, and cleanup costs. The disaster exposed significant flaws in BP's safety measures and leadership, particularly with regard to CEO Tony Hayward, whose public statements and actions during the crisis were widely criticised for lacking empathy and effective communication.

We discuss the importance of having prepared, empathetic spokespersons during crises, proper delegation, and learning from past incidents to better predict and manage future crises. And we address the need for genuine apologies and thoughtful preparation for leaders facing public scrutiny.

A full transcript of today's show is available to read here.

In this episode of "What Just Happened?," hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton, with special guest John Brown, explore the enduring relevance of the Nestlé versus Greenpeace controversy over palm oil and deforestation.

We delve into how Greenpeace’s campaign against Nestlé in 2010 highlighted the broader issue of palm oil production's impact on rainforests. Nestlé made several missteps in handling the crisis, including attempts to suppress Greenpeace’s video and failing to meet their sustainability commitments.

We also discuss the broader implications for corporate transparency and accountability, emphasising the importance of genuine action over superficial promises. And we provide insights into how brands can better navigate these challenges by being transparent, admitting faults, and taking a human approach to communication and sustainability efforts.

A full transcript of today's show is available to read here.

The horse meat scandal that erupted in 2013 had a huge impact on major UK food brands and supermarkets. And in this episode of "What Just Happened?," hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton, with special guest Dr Mukta Das, discuss how horse meat came to be found in food products and what the impact was.

‘Horsegate’ began when the Food Safety Authority in Ireland discovered horse DNA in meat products sold as beef, leading to widespread recalls and public outrage. The scandal exposed the complexity and fragility of the food supply chain, revealing the presence of horse meat in beef products due to fraudulent practices by suppliers. Major supermarkets like Tesco and suppliers such as ABP Food Group faced significant financial and reputational damage.

Horsegate led to improved food safety measures, including better legal controls, enhanced DNA testing, and increased cooperation across borders. But food fraud remains a concern, and we look at the cultural and systemic issues within the food industry and the need for transparency and sustainability in food supply chains.

A full transcript of today's show is available to read here.

In this episode of "What Just Happened?," hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton, with special guest Aby Hawker, talk about the 2023 Bud Light controversy involving trans rights activist and influencer Dylan Mulvaney. Bud Light sent a special edition can to Mulvaney to celebrate her transition, but this led to a massive backlash from conservative groups and right-wing media. Notably, Kid Rock posted a video of himself shooting Bud Light cans in protest.

Despite the severe online abuse Mulvaney faced, Bud Light distanced itself from her, issuing a lukewarm statement and failing to support her publicly. The backlash affected Bud Light's sales and led to layoffs.

We discuss how and why Bud Light failed to stand by Mulvaney, and we talk about campaign preparation and planning for any potential negative response. We also look at the importance for brands of aligning their actions with their core values and being prepared to support their partners through potential controversies.

A full transcript of today's show is available to read here.

In this episode of "What Just Happened?," hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton, with special guest Mark Fritz, discuss the 2017 United Airlines crisis, where passenger Dr. David Dao was forcibly removed from a flight to make room for United employees.

The incident was filmed and widely shared on social media, and United's initial response blamed Dao, further fueling outrage. This led to a significant backlash, including a drop in United's stock price and calls for a boycott. CEO Oscar Munoz later issued a more sincere apology, which helped mitigate the damage.

In the show we look at the importance of strategic intent, strong leadership, and effective communication during crises. We look at why leaders must focus on clear communication, listening, and maintaining strategic patience to navigate crises successfully. And we also discuss the importance of having core values and behaviours that guide the organisation in such situations.


A full transcript of today's show is available to read here.

In this episode of "What Just Happened?," hosts Kate Hartley and Tamara Littleton, with special guest Jonathan Hemus, discuss the 1982 Tylenol murders in Chicago, where seven people died after ingesting cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules. The crisis placed Johnson & Johnson at the centre of a murder investigation, severely impacting brand trust.

CEO James Burke made the unprecedented decision to recall 31 million bottles of Tylenol, costing over $100 million. This action, guided by the company’s credo prioritising customer safety, helped restore consumer trust.

In the show we look at the importance of strategic intent and strong organisational values in crisis management, and we discuss how strategic intent provides a vision of success, aiding decision-making and prioritisation during crises. We also look at how deeply embedded values enable effective crisis responses and strengthen organisational resilience and employee loyalty.

A full transcript of today's show is available to read here.

In What Just Happened? hosts and co-founders of Polpeo, Tamara Littleton and Kate Hartley, delve into a different corporate crisis, what it meant for the brand, and how it shaped our thinking in crisis communications.

Along the way, they have help and insight from some of the most prominent thinkers in the crisis communications industry, who share their expertise on why people behaved the way they did during the crisis in question, how leaders responded and even how the market changed as a result. And they help answer the biggest question of all - could it have been avoided in the first place?