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Long-time listeners, first-time callers

Long-time listeners, first-time callers

Author: Observatory on Corporate Reputation LLC September 3, 2026 Duration: 36:04
Communication Breakdown
Business NewsNewsBusinessManagementMarketing
In this special listener-driven episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll answer questions from communications leaders and longtime supporters of the podcast. The conversation covers corporate silence, credible storytelling, misinformation, CEO transitions, professional development, artificial intelligence, and how the hosts select the stories they analyze each week.

Guest Callers
  • Hannah Wong
  • Dominic Carr
  • Abby Hayes
  • Farzana Baduel
  • Kim Sample
  • Marcia Dawkins
  • Keith Berman
  • Traci Klein
  • David Gallagher
Topics Mentioned
corporate storytelling, warranted communication, organizational behavior, corporate apologies, strategic silence, narrative control, communications measurement, strategic subtraction, misinformation, disinformation, media scrutiny, corporate credibility, public-interest communication, US public relations, UK public relations, communications careers, mentorship, curiosity, artificial intelligence, creative judgment, CEO succession, leadership transitions, stakeholder confidence, internal communications, story selection, corporate reputation

Companies Mentioned
OpenAI, United Airlines, American Airlines, Starbucks, Amazon, Home Depot, BBC, Apple, Cracker Barrel, TikTok, Twitter, Reese’s, Sky News

Episode Hashtags
#OpenAI #UnitedAirlines #AmericanAirlines #Starbucks #Amazon #HomeDepot #BBC #Apple #CrackerBarrel #TikTok #Twitter #Reeses #SkyNews #CorporateCommunications #PublicRelations #CorporateReputation #StrategicCommunications #LeadershipCommunication #StakeholderTrust #Misinformation #Disinformation #MediaRelations #CEOSuccession #ArtificialIntelligence #InternalCommunications #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

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Communication Breakdown
Podcast Episodes
50 Ways to Botch Your Layoffs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:26
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll break down two corporate communication failures shaping headlines this week. First, they explore the Wall Street Journal’s catalog of mass-layof…
Make Palantir Make Sense [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:40
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine Alex Karp’s high-volume media tour and the communications strategy behind Palantir’s recent spotlight moment. They break down Karp’s con…
PR in the Age of Rage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:36
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack the major themes from the 2025 PRovoke Global Summit in Chicago — from the rise of the “Richilante” to the paradoxes shaping corpor…
Toyota’s Truth-Telling, Shutdown Comms Playbook [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:46
When the President rewrites your press release, how fast do you fact-check him?In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll break down how Toyota calmly but firmly corrected Donald Trump af…
Salesforce Majeur [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:56
Last week’s misstep made headlines. This week’s silence made it worse.In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll revisit the unraveling of Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff’s leadership narrati…
Benioff's Unforced Error [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:06
When your CEO lands a New York Times profile to kick off your flagship conference, the headlines shouldn’t be about the National Guard.In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll analyze S…
Who Framed Bad Bunny [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:51
The headlines say outrage.The data says: not a thing.In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll break down two cases where reputation was on the line — and how silence, when strategic, ca…
Signals and Noise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:42
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll dissect how companies are mistaking noise for signal—and paying the price. From the surprising data behind Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension fallout at…
Kimmel’s back. Does Disney Have His Back? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:43
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll mark the podcast’s one-year anniversary with a deep dive into two high-stakes moments in corporate communications. First, they break down…

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