Get it on Google Play

Full Court Press

Full Court Press

Author: Observatory on Corporate Reputation LLC August 6, 2026 Duration: 33:17
Communication Breakdown
Business NewsNewsBusinessManagementMarketing
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine how the WNBA has become the latest battleground in America's broader cultural debate after Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham's comments about transgender athletes ignited national controversy. Rather than debating the underlying political issue, the hosts focus on the league's communications challenge, exploring how outside groups can redirect public attention and force organizations into conversations they did not initiate. They introduce concepts like "narrative arbitrage," attention management, and governance infrastructure, offering a thoughtful framework for how organizations can maintain focus when external controversies threaten to redefine their identity.

Takeaways
  • Silence is not always inaction. Strategic restraint can prevent organizations from amplifying controversies beyond their proper scope.
  • Public goodwill creates stakeholder expectations, making it critical to clarify the difference between organizational values and organizational policy.
  • Leaders can lower the temperature of contentious debates by reframing where discussions belong 
Topics Mentioned
WNBA, Sophie Cunningham, Caitlin Clark, transgender athletes, sports communications, corporate reputation, stakeholder expectations, narrative arbitrage, governance, crisis communications, organizational boundaries, public trust, culture wars, attention management, leadership communication, framing, media strategy

Companies Mentioned
WNBA, Indiana Fever, ESPN, White House, NCAA, Seattle Storm, Minnesota Lynx, SiriusXM


Episode Hashtags
#WNBA #IndianaFever #ESPN #WhiteHouse #NCAA #SeattleStorm #MinnesotaLynx #SiriusXM #CorporateCommunications #PublicRelations #CorporateReputation #CrisisCommunication #Leadership #StakeholderManagement #NarrativeStrategy #SportsBusiness #MediaRelations #ReputationManagement #StrategicCommunications #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetwork

Communication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.
Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.
Produced in partnership with Advocast Leadership Advisory and  Shawn P Neal.

For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcasts@ocrnetwork.com

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.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Official website RSS
linkedinspotify
Communication Breakdown
Podcast Episodes
Comms on Three Continents [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:21
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll move across three communication flashpoints on three continents: the evolving influence economy at Cannes Lions, Lululemon’s cultural miss…
Beast Mode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:50
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine MrBeast’s 500 million YouTube subscriber milestone and the reputation challenges that come with creator scale. They look at how Jimmy Do…
Missives You Might’ve Missed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:41
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll revisit recent essays from Craig and Steve on corporate communications, media scrutiny, and the strategic role of the comms function. Crai…
bp’s Big Problem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:43
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll return to BP’s boardroom battle with former chairman Albert Manifold. After being dismissed over governance, oversight, and conduct concer…
“Lower-Value Human Capital” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:50
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack two corporate reputation problems where leadership, governance, and messaging collided under pressure. First, they examine Standard Chart…
The AI Commencement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:28
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine a string of AI-related commencement speech misfires and what they reveal about executive communication, audience awareness, and the limi…
Of Maersk and Men [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:25
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two high-stakes corporate communication moments with direct lessons for CEOs, communications executives, public affairs leaders, and rep…
GameStop’s faceplant, Wells Fargo’s comeback [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:00
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different corporate reputation moments: GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen’s awkward CNBC interview after announcing an unsolicited $56 bi…
United plants a flag, IBM waves one [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:33
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack two corporate reputation stories where the real action sits beneath the headline. First, they analyze United CEO Scott Kirby’s reported p…
Chief Exposure Officer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:47
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different versions of executive exposure: Palantir CEO Alex Karp’s 22-point manifesto and the renewed push to put CEOs directly…

«12345»