

The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
www.mollymcpherson.com
The PR Breakdown reveals the moves behind the mess. Crisis communication expert Molly McPherson dissects the viral scandals, celebrity meltdowns, and corporate disasters dominating headlines to show you the strategic mistakes and desperate moves that destroy reputations - so you never make them yourself.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 27, 2018 • 20min
04: How to Be a Great Conversationalist
With our daily communications frequently moving to the online world, we have forgotten some of the nuances of face to face interaction. Improving our conversation skills, both as a speaker and a listener, allows us to sharpen our message and get a better understanding from those we communicate with.This episode features a recent NY Times article about NPR's Terry Gross and the art of a good conversation. In this episode, you’ll learn:The only icebreaker you'll ever need.How to prepare for a great conversation.When to pivot, when to dodge and when to push back.Mentioned in this Episode:Terry Gross on The Tonight Show with Jimmy FallonKerr, Jolie “How to Talk to People, According to Terry Gross. The NPR host offers eight spicy tips for having better conversations.” New York Times, November 18, 2018. Print. 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.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. 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 ...

Nov 19, 2018 • 60min
03: Interview Secrets from the Other Side of the Desk. Lessons from Harvard Business School H.R.
Interviews don’t have to be stressful. Chances are you’ve been in many job interviews over the course of your career, and maybe even interviewed some candidates for your organization. Ellen Mahoney, chief human resources officer of Harvard Business School, has more than 30 years of experience interviewing applicants from a wide background, and she’s seen it all.Ellen dives into interview secrets from the interviewer’s perspective so you can nail your next interview--whether you’re looking for a corporate job, trying to land a freelance gig or even interviewing candidates for an opening you have. This episode runs the gamut.In this episode, you’ll learn:How the interview process has changed over the last century (or has it?)How to explain gaps in your employment historyWhether to divulge you lack technology skillsHow to answer questions about being let goWhat your appearance has to do with your competencyWhat you need to do to walk away knowing you’ve aced the interview Mentioned in this episode:The Confidence Gap About EllenEllen is the chief human resources officer of Harvard Business School and the executive director of HBS Initiatives. She is responsible for managing HBS’s human resources functions for the more than 1200 administrative staff who support the school’s mission. The media tool I use to track stories, monitor coverage, and help clients get their message in the right hands. Click here to learn more. 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.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. 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 ...

Nov 13, 2018 • 26min
02: Um...So, Let's Discuss Filler Words
If you want to project confidence and competence, you need to eliminate filler words from your vocabulary. Filler words. They’re a pesky tic that everyone uses. But if overused, filler words can undermine the potential for your success. We use them to take up space in a conversation, give us time to think up a response or simply because it’s a habit we’re not even aware of.In this episode, I’m sharing the different types of filler words and how you can (and should) eliminate them from your vocabulary. It’s become an epidemic and the types of filler words you use can be a dead giveaway for your age and your confidence.In this episode, you’ll learn:My own least favorite filler word(s) and how it’s changed over timeThe four types of filler wordsThe one filler that all women seem to use and why we need to stopTools you can use to get rid of the filler wordsThe connection between filler words are similar to a profanity Mentioned in this Episode:Valley GirlKeeping Up with the Kardashians About MollyMolly McPherson, M.S., APR, combines her knowledge of current communication practices with years of news and PR experience to help people become modern-age communicators in their industry and help build crisis-proof businesses. From her work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the cruise line industry in Washington, D.C, Molly develops the right plans and messaging for clients to protect and build their reputations. Molly founded Confident Communications executive learning program and frequently speaks on crisis communications, public relations and social media.Listen + subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever you listen to your podcasts.The media tool I use to track stories, monitor coverage, and help clients get their message in the right hands. Click here to learn more. 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.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. 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 ...

Nov 13, 2018 • 34min
01: Your Guide to Communication "Tells"
No matter your age or professional level, you need a guide to communication so you can be seen, heard and relevant. Today’s episode gives you the “tells.”Do you know that you can tell how old someone is just by how they communicate? It’s true, and many marketers and other professionals are savvy at using this information to determine whether you’re a good fit for a product or even a job.In this first episode of the podcast, I’m sharing my background in communication and how I used my status as a Gen-Xer and communications professional to understand both sides of the technology spectrum. And I’m also sharing my faux pas in my very first email address as a non-digital native. Here’s a hint: My maiden name is Baker. Molly Baker. (If this doesn’t resonate with you, I can tell you’re likely a Baby Boomer.)In this episode, you’ll learn:The 3 “tells” in your communication styleHow you can tell the age of others simply by how they communicateThe one question I ask every audience, so I can adjust my messaging accordinglyWhat the fastest growing language of our time isThe magic number for social media platforms in your organizationAnd most importantly, you’ll learn why this all matters. Because it does matter if you want to be a good communicator and remain relevant online and offline.About MollyMolly McPherson, M.S., APR, combines her knowledge of current communication practices with years of news and PR experience to help people become modern-age communicators in their industry and help build crisis-proof businesses. From her work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the cruise line industry in Washington, D.C, Molly develops the right plans and messaging for clients to protect and build their reputations. Molly founded Confident Communications executive learning program and frequently speaks on crisis communications, public relations and social media.Listen + subscribe on Apple Podcasts, The media tool I use to track stories, monitor coverage, and help clients get their message in the right hands. Click here to learn more. 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.mediaClick here to subscribe to Molly's live events. 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 ...