Welcome to the latest compelling episode of Crisis Beat! Join hosts Brady Wood and Dr. Mark Crowther as they delve into the most recent and intriguing stories in crisis communications and public relations.

Hosts Introduction

• Brady Wood: Business owner and public relations professional.
• Dr. Mark Crowther: Chair of Medicine at McMaster University.

Main Event: Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar

Drake: A Global Superstar Under Fire

• Accomplishments: Drake is one of the world's best-selling music artists, with over 170 million records sold, numerous awards including five Grammys, and 13 number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
• Feud Background: The beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar dates back years, with Kendrick winning a Pulitzer for his album 'Damn'.
• Controversial Claims: Kendrick Lamar's songs accuse Drake of being a 'pedophile,' cultural appropriation, and colonization, with references to Drake's controversial friendship with Millie Bobby Brown and other concerning details.
• Current Struggles: Drake's personal and business life is under scrutiny, from security concerns to multiple company ventures and issues with corporate lobbying.

Other Updates

Airlines Under Fire

• Air Canada’s Cultural Insensitivity: Backlash for mishandling the traditional headdress of a Chief of the National Assembly of First Nations.
• Boeing’s Quality Control Issues: A door panel fell off an Alaskan Airlines flight, raising deeper concerns about Boeing's safety standards and the mysterious deaths of whistleblowers.

Corporate Apologies and Controversies

• Apple Apologizes: Addressing a misstep in their advertising campaign.
• Panera Bread: Phasing out their controversial caffeinated lemonade linked to two deaths.
• Bumble’s Advertising Blunder: Another company apologizing for a poorly received ad campaign.

Political Communications

• Kristi Noem’s Downfall: Analyzing why some political figures fail to maintain public trust despite bold, often false statements.
• RFK Jr.’s Shocking Admission: Revealing a parasitic worm ate part of his brain, sparking discussions on health and credibility.

Breaking News Briefs

• Harvard’s New Measures: Introducing checks and balances in public statements.
• Satire on Harvard’s New Comms Director: Highlighting the lighter side of serious institutions.

Why You Can't Miss This Episode:

• In-Depth Analysis: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest crises in various high-profile sectors.
• Expert Commentary: Listen to expert breakdowns on how these entities are managing—or failing to manage—their public relations challenges.
• Engaging and Informative: Stay informed with engaging stories that offer both serious insights and lighter cultural notes.

• AND... learn more about Mark's love of Electronic Dance Music (EDM), in particular Deadmaus :)

Tune in now for an episode packed with drama, expert analysis, and the practical tools you need to navigate the complex world of crisis communications. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from the latest high-stakes situations in business and public life.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the latest grrrrrreat episode of Crisis Beat! Join hosts Brady Wood and Dr. Mark Crowther as they tackle the most recent and riveting stories in crisis communications and public relations.

Hosts Introduction

• Brady Wood: Business owner and public relations professional.
• Dr. Mark Crowther: Chair of Medicine at McMaster University.

Episode Focus

• Examining the "Stick the Landing" theory of public relations.
• Analyzing how public perception and media portrayal affect stock performance, using Meta and Tesla as case studies.

In This Episode:

Airlines Under Fire

• Air Canada’s Cultural Insensitivity: Discover the backlash Air Canada faced for mishandling the traditional headdress of a Chief of the National Assembly of First Nations.
• Boeing’s Quality Control Nightmare: Dive into the details of a Boeing door panel falling off an Alaskan Airlines flight and the deeper issues of quality control at Boeing.
• Whistleblower Tragedies: Uncover the mysterious deaths of Boeing whistleblowers and the dark theories surrounding their potential murders.

Hospital Crisis

• Vancouver Island Health Authority: Learn about the shocking cockroach infestation at a hospital under the Vancouver Island Health Authority and how it’s being handled.

Royal Family Insights

• Health Crises: Understand how the Royal Family is managing the recent illnesses of public leaders.
• Fashion Highlight: A lighter note on why Prince Charles is being celebrated as one of the best dressed in public life.

Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg Showdown

• MMA Match in Rome?: Hear about the surprising plans for an MMA match between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg at the Colosseum in Rome.
• Tesla’s Financial Turbulence: Analyze the criticism Tesla faced during its investor call about earnings and how Elon Musk pivoted to address the concerns.
• Meta’s Bullish Outlook: Contrast the bearish narrative on Tesla with the bullish analysis on Meta, highlighting the boost in Mark Zuckerberg’s image and profile.
• Tesla’s PR Woes: Discuss the implications of Tesla firing its PR team and operating without a dedicated public relations department.

Why You Can't Miss This Episode:

• In-Depth Analysis: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the latest crises in various high-profile sectors.
• Expert Commentary: Listen to expert breakdowns on how these entities are managing—or failing to manage—their public relations challenges.
• Engaging and Informative: Stay informed with engaging stories that offer both serious insights and lighter cultural notes.

Tune in now for an episode packed with drama, expert analysis, and the practical tools you need to navigate the complex world of crisis communications. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from the latest high-stakes situations in business and public life.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the latest electrifying episode of Crisis Beat! This week, hosts Brady Wood and Dr. Mark Crowther dive deep into two of the most compelling stories in the world of public relations and business.

Featuring:

Dr. Andrew Huberman: The Neuroscientist Under Fire

• Discover the story of Dr. Andrew Huberman, a renowned Stanford neuroscientist and wellness influencer.
• Unpack the allegations of dishonesty and personal controversy that have shaken his massive following.
• Get the inside scoop on how Huberman’s crisis management strategies might save or sink his public image.
• Explore the balance between personal integrity and professional credibility in today’s media landscape.

Canoo: The EV Company’s Turbulent Ride

• Delve into the financial rollercoaster of Canoo, the ambitious electric vehicle startup.
• Learn about the eyebrow-raising $1.7 million CEO spending spree on private jets, amidst staggering losses.
• Understand the challenges of the EV market slowdown and investor scrutiny.
• Hear expert analysis on what Canoo must do to turn the tide and win back investor confidence.

Plus:

Air Canada: Discover why Air Canada has mysteriously disappeared from the headlines, possibly heeding advice from previous episodes.

Southwest Airlines: Get the latest on Southwest's emergency landing in Denver after an engine part fell off a Boeing 737, and what it means for airline safety.

Tesla: Understand the implications of Tesla eliminating its PR department and how CEO Elon Musk's social media communications are shaping the company's public image.

Why You Can’t Miss This Episode:

• Actionable Insights: Get practical tips on avoiding PR disasters from industry experts.
• Real-World Analysis: Understand how high-profile figures and companies manage—or mismanage—public crises.
• Engaging Stories: Dive into the human side of business controversies, from personal betrayals to corporate excess.

Tune in now for an episode packed with drama, insights, and the tools you need to navigate your own crisis communications! Don't miss out on this chance to learn from the high-stakes world of public relations.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey Now!

In this Episode of The Crisis Beat, Brady and Mark again explore who can defy communications gravity.

Kate Middleton's seeming disappearance caused a great deal of upset and speculation metastasizing into conspiracy theory, briefly dominating the news and social media sphere cycles. Tempest in a teapot? Kate recently cleared up all the fuss quite effectively by releasing a 'cover all' video explaining the circumstances of her cancer diagnosis, and what comes next. We parse the issues and review what led to a communications mess, and what went extremely well in this recent clean-up effort. We also review analysis of the issue by other PR experts like Drs. Terry Flynn and Alexandre Sévigny, as well as Molly McPherson.

In other Royal Family news, The Netflix product 'Scoop' starring Gillian Anderson about Prince Andrew's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein will also look at how 'The Firm' (mis)handles a previous crisis. We also discuss the HBO show Succession.

Other things we touch on this week:

The finding that Amazon's AI store checkout was actually manned by humans in India reviewing the camera feeds.

An update on the recent story Instagram enables exploitation of child influencers, attracting pedophiles.

An incident where a woman lost her Planet Fitness membership for filming a trans woman getting dressed in the changeroom.

More updates on the Airlines - United and Alaskan airlines have differing reputation results handling safety issues; Boeing quality issues continue.

We also discuss Quebec Hospital where woman gave birth outside because security wouldn't open a locked door, and Brady's similar experience running communications on an incident at a hospital where a woman fell in the lobby and the staff from Emergency said something to the effect of 'you'll need to call an ambulance.'

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 16 - Get the Lead Out

Heavy metal episode: Stanley Mugs and Baby Food contain concerning contamination

We thought we were well past lead poisoning in the North American food supply, but there are still holes in our quality controls. Baby food and Stanley mugs are the culprits. In this episode we explore what offending organizations could do to recover trust.

Other news and topics covered:

• Elon Musk sues OpenAI
• Harvard Business School and DEI
• Media Bias
• Airlines continue to be in the news for safety and quality control issues
• The “Dude Chill” approach to crisis communications
• The "Mind Bomb" concept from Dr. Terry Flynn
• Two members of the Royal Family withdraw from family life

And...the Word of the Day was Renumerative versus Remunerative...

Tune in next time for Episode 17 where we pick up where we left off re: how Kate Middleton disappearing from public life created a communications catastrophe.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meta - the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp - led by Mark Zuckerberg, is in the news for the wrong reasons, specifically the alleged exploitation of children.

Mark Zuckerberg recently presented at a US Senate hearing and was forced into an awkward apology by leaders of the the committee, following testimony on harms caused by social media. A New York Times Article also highlighted exploitation faced by children influencers on Instagram: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/22/us/instagram-child-influencers.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

This episode, Mark and Brady dissect these moments as well as related media coverage and issues.

Other News this week:

• Conestoga College - John Tibbits, called Sioux College President a whore and made comments about international students; the issue of funding related to international students
• Funny Beaverton satire article about Rogers Communications; discussion of duopoly of Bell and Rogers in Canada https://www.thebeaverton.com/2021/02/rogers-cant-fucking-believe-theyre-the-less-evil-telecom-giant/
• In news about the Airlines, Air Canada was lambasted in the House of Commons for poor Accessibility outcomes, and Alaska Airlines handled an in-air mishap quite well, and offered insight on a communications best practice for drumming up good news stories

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Crisis Beat Podcast Episode 14: "Year In Review - Career Killing Flubs"

Date: January 7, 2023

Hosts: Brady Wood and Dr. Mark Crowther

Main Topic:

Celebrity Downfalls - Case Studies in Apologetics:

Our main topic revolves around a detailed discussion inspired by a New York Post article highlighting celebrities whose careers took significant hits in 2023.

https://nypost.com/2023/12/27/entertainment/celebrities-whose-careers-imploded-in-2023-jonathan-majors-more/

Harvard President's Resignation:

The episode takes a turn to academia with the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay. This segment delves into the complexities of her departure, initiated by a plagiarism scandal and exacerbated by her handling of sensitive campus issues. Gay's resignation prompts a broader discussion on the interplay between legal counsel and leadership decisions in times of crisis.

Read this highly recommended Forbes article.

Other Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

A Contrast in Leadership - Columbia's President:

In juxtaposition to Harvard's leadership crisis, we discuss how Columbia University's president adeptly managed a potential crisis.

The Epstein Controversy:

While not the focus of our episode due to time constraints, the ongoing revelations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and his connections to high-profile individuals continue to cast a long shadow, emphasizing the enduring impact of his case on public perception and trust.

Safety in the Skies - Aircraft Incidents:

The episode also touches on notable safety concerns in the aviation industry, including a critical incident involving a Boeing 737-900.

Other Dimensions:

Mark and Brady also continue their digressions about the English language.

WORD OF THE DAY: effluvium https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/effluvium

RUNNER UP: detritus

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In this Episode, Mark and Brady explore the recent events concerning University Presidents appearing before Congress and failing to say clearly that calling for the genocide of Jewish people would be harassment on campus.

A few weeks ago, Presidents of esteemed universities Harvard, Penn State, and MIT appeared before a committee of US Congress to answer to lawmakers about a rise in antisemitic events on campuses. When asked directly whether calls for the genocide of the Jewish people constituted a violation of the code of conduct or constituted harassment, all 3 Presidents failed to say unequivocally that this was a violation of their schools' rules.

* Since we recorded this Episode, Claudine Gay of Harvard has resigned her post, something we will pick up in the next Episode.

In this Episode explore some of the fallout of these events, as well as other topics including:

- Telsa recalls, compared to other recalls by Ford and Toyota

- President Zelensky of Ukraine and his handling of their country's communications

- 'Leave the World Behind,' a dystopic near-future film on Netflix produced by the Obamas

- Open AI's recent communications since restoring Sam Altman to the CEO role

Brought to you by words of the day 'equivocate' and 'invigilate'...

Some links:

Tesla recalls nearly 2M vehicles https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/13/tech/tesla-recall-autopilot/index.html

Elon Musk says DEI initiatives must die https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/12/15/elon-musk-says-dei-must-die-and-criticizes-diversity-schemes-as-discrimination/?sh=113d74464e71

OPENAI - Sam Altman returned to CEO, Board Implications

https://gizmodo.com/openai-s-new-board-members-are-now-the-boss-of-sam-altm-1851109038

University Presidents Under Fire https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/12/25/university-presidents-under-fire

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/20/us/harvard-claudine-gay-plagiarism.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/opinion/harvard-claudine-gay.html?partner=slack&smid=sl-share

https://nypost.com/2023/12/21/news/billionaire-len-blavatnik-yanks-donations-to-harvard/

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