The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

You saw “GEO” in the title and almost tuned out, didn’t you? Hold that thought. If you work in communications, PR, media, or journalism, this episode might just change how you think about your job.GEO, or Generative Engine Optimization, is not another passing buzzword. It is the next major shift in how information is found, shared, and trusted. It shapes how AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Gemini decide which stories and brands get surfaced.In this episode, Muck Rack’s CEO and Co-Founder, Greg Gallant, joins me to explain how GEO is reshaping public relations. He walks through how Muck Rack evolved from the early social media boom to the frontlines of AI-driven communications. We dig into how data and generative tools can help communicators strengthen media relationships, measure real impact, and stay relevant in an industry that is changing fast.We talk about:How PR missed the SEO wave and what GEO means for catching upWhy journalists and AI platforms are now gatekeepers of reputationWhat Muck Rack’s new Generative Pulse feature reveals about how AI “reads” the newsIf you work in PR, communications, or reputation management, this is not a someday conversation. It is happening right now.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 on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. 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. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

This episode goes behind the polished words of Buckingham Palace to unpack the public relations machinery that managed the downfall of Prince Andrew.In October 2025, King Charles III formally removed all of Andrew’s titles and evicted him from his Windsor residence.On the surface, it looked like accountability.But beneath the royal phrasing lay a carefully timed communications plan.We’ll walk through the anatomy of that plan: how one resurfaced email reignited the scandal, how two precisely timed statements reframed it, and how the Palace’s language turned a personal disgrace into an institutional act of duty.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 on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. 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. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

When your marriage becomes a media strategy, what do you say—and what do you not say?In this episode, Molly McPherson breaks down Cheryl Hines’ carefully crafted response to rumors surrounding her husband, RFK Jr., and journalist Olivia Nuzzi. Fresh off her appearance on the Katie Miller Podcast, Hines offered a masterclass in polished PR talk, leaning on trust, communication, and a dash of Kennedy-style deflection.But was it authenticity or choreography?Molly dissects:The Kennedy family’s long history of narrative controlHow Hines framed her marriage as a story of trust and composureWhat her phrasing reveals about modern political spouse PRThe difference between personal grace and public messagingWhy sometimes the smartest media move is saying less (with confidence)Tune in for an unfiltered look at how Hollywood charm meets political spin—and what it teaches us about image, loyalty, and the art of public denial.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 on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. 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. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

When Politico dropped nearly 3,000 pages of leaked Telegram messages from the Young Republican National Federation, it revealed a disturbing culture behind closed doors. In this episode, Molly McPherson unpacks why private chats are never really private, how weak apologies deepen a crisis, and what this scandal teaches every leader about accountability, ethics, and reputation in the digital age.Key Discussion Points:The leaked Telegram chat that destroyed the Young Republican National Federation’s credibilityWhy “kids will be kids” is not a defense when adults hold positions of powerThe myth of online privacy and how “anonymous” messages are always traceableHow a values gap—what an organization says publicly vs. what it allows privately—leads to crisisDissecting the failed apologies that followed the leakMolly’s five “PR truths” for digital-age leadership:The difference between genuine accountability and PR spinWant 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 on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. 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. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

When the internet comes for you, your instinct is to fight back or disappear. Neither helps. In this episode, Molly breaks down her simple, proven 90-second rule for handling online hate without losing your cool or your credibility.You’ll learn:Why outrage online is a revolving door (and why it’s never really about you).How to recognize when your brain has flipped into fight-or-flight mode—and what to do about it.The golden rule of when not to apologize (and where to respond instead).How to move from panic to power in less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee.If you’ve ever dealt with critics, trolls, or just plain mean people online, this one’s for you.Bonus: Want to learn how to respond to any crisis with confidence?Join Molly’s free live training: The First Hour: How to Respond to Any Crisis Before It SpiralsYou’ll discover:The 3 critical steps every communicator must take in the first hour of a crisis.The biggest mistakes that tank trust (and how to avoid them).How to draft a holding statement in minutes instead of hours.Spots are limited—grab yours now HERE. 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 on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. 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. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

In this episode, Molly sits down with Jim Rocco and Thom Weidlich, co-authors of Sports Crisis Communications: Cases and Controversies, to explore how the worlds of sports and crisis PR collide. From Tiger Woods’ redemption arc to Aaron Rodgers’ vaccine controversy and Brett Favre’s legal troubles, this candid conversation dissects how athletes, teams, and brands handle scandal when the spotlight turns harsh.The trio also dives into how social media, fan loyalty, and corporate interests shape the playbook for managing reputation in modern sports. Whether it’s Tom Brady’s conflict of interest, the NFL’s uneasy dance with gambling, or the Dodgers’ Pride Night flip-flop, this episode pulls back the curtain on how power, money, and morality intersect on and off the field.In this episode:Tiger Woods’ image makeover: from scandal to super-dadHow Aaron Rodgers’ “immunized” comment tested State Farm’s crisis strategyBrett Favre, welfare funds, and the price of silence in litigation PRThe NFL’s resilience (and denial) through scandal after scandalWhen betting meets ball: why gambling is the next big PR minefieldThe Dodgers’ Pride Night controversy and the danger of corporate flip-floppingWhat brands can learn from Dick’s Sporting Goods’ values-based standWhy vulnerability (and a good apology) can save an athlete’s reputationTom Brady’s latest “conflict of interest” and the ethics of sports mediaAdvice for rising athletes and a few words of wisdom for Bill BelichickKey takeaway: Reputation is built long before the crisis hits. Whether you’re a star athlete or a CEO, your credibility bank determines how hard you fall, and how fast you recover.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 on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. 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. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

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 double homicideThe email that led to an on-camera interview and an unexpected confessionTechniques for guiding high-stakes interviews without sensationalismWatch/Read:Watch the Molly McPherson and Greg Floyd conversation on YouTube. Interviews and coverage on CBS 6 Albany’s YouTube and websiteFull video: Man confesses to killing his parents during news interview, arrested in front of stationFull video: Lorenz Kraus speaks from jail after confession to parents' murderLive & Archive:Substack Live: Friday, Oct 3 at 12:45pm ET — Greg Floyd joins for an extended Q&A.Substack members will have access to the archived live conversation after the event.Content note: This episode discusses homicide and may be distressing for some listeners.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 on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. 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. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

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 wins the narrative.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 on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. 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. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

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 explores:Nancy Mace’s explosive remarks and how her pivot from tragedy to blame became a masterclass in political narrative-building.The response from institutions like NASDAQ, Ole Miss, and the Washington Post as they enforced “zero tolerance” speech policies.The Pentagon’s crackdown on service members’ posts—and the chilling gray area between personal opinion and professional consequence.Why communicators must recognize that every word carries weight, every platform is a stage, and every policy has teeth.The fine line between accountability and overreach—and what fairness actually looks like in a polarized digital age.The September takeaway? Speech has consequences. Some create clarity. Others create chaos. The difference lies in whether words are used to connect or to divide.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 on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. 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. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...

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, you’re missing the real story.In this episode:The Phillies “Ball Snatch” dad who turned a viral mess into a lesson in staying calm.The US Open “Hat Grab” CEO who folded fast—and why it saved his business.Bruce Willis’ family’s media strategy, turning online judgment into strategic storytelling.American Eagle’s outrage marketing proves that some brands script backlash into their budget.Why the age of the public apology is over—and what leaders are doing instead.The September takeaway? Backlash reveals character. Blowback reveals strategy. And knowing which one you’re seeing could be the difference between chaos and control.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 on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. 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. This podcast is supported by Muck Rack, the PR management platform I use to monitor media coverage, track journalist activity, and inform high-stakes strategy with real-time data. Click here to try Muck Rack for yourself. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymc...