Communication Breakdown

Communication Breakdown

Author: Observatory on Corporate Reputation LLC Language: English Episodes: 86
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Communication Breakdown is a sharp, fast-moving podcast for PR and communications pros who want to understand what really happens when reputations are on the line. Hosted by OCRs Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling, each postgame-style episode breaks down how organizations navigate high-visibility crises, product launches, policy debates, and other make-or-break moments in the public eye. Drawing on experience from institutions like USC Annenberg, UNC Chapel Hill, OpenAI, and Apple, the hosts dissect real-world cases, exploring what worked, what failed, and why. Listeners can expect candid analysis of messaging, leadership, media strategy, stakeholder management, and internal alignment, all grounded in current events across news and business. Whether youre in marketing, management, or corporate communications, listen episodes of Communication Breakdown to sharpen your judgment, stress-test your own strategies, and better anticipate how communications decisions play out when it matters most.
Episodes
Risky Business: Apologies, Silence, and Spin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:53
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine how companies are navigating the volatile communications landscape under Donald Trump’s renewed political influence. From Home Dep…
So I Wanted To Show You Something [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:29
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll break down Taylor Swift’s meticulously orchestrated rollout of her 12th studio album, The Life of a Showgirl. Far more than a standard pro…
What Harvard Teaches Us (about dealing with Trump) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:21
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll explore two high-stakes showdowns—one rooted in strategic restraint, the other in narrative failure. First, they unpack Harvard's quiet bu…
Thank You For Your Interest In Transparency [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:47
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll return to the ongoing saga at Astronomer—the data pipeline company whose PR tailspin took a surprising detour into celebrity marketing. Just whe…
L’Affaire Astronomer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack the viral scandal that cost Astronomer CEO Andy Byron his job after a kiss cam moment at a Coldplay concert set the internet ablaze. What…
Elmo Hacked, Budgets Whacked, and Coke Sidetracked [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:21
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack one of the strangest PR weeks in recent memory—where Elmo becomes collateral damage in a public broadcasting funding fight, and Coca-Cola…
Paging “Some Comms Person” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:19
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack three reputational firestorms that reveal deeper cracks in the comms industry. First up: Melinda French Gates’ jab at CEOs “pivoting to w…
2025 First Half: Visibility, Values, and the Volume Dial [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:59
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll mark the halfway point of 2025 with a look back at some of the most instructive communications moments of the year so far. From automakers…
2025's First Half: Flatter, Fold or Fight [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:38
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll take a halftime look at 2025, recapping six months of communication pivots, power plays, and reputational landmines. They revisit Ford's dramati…

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