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Communication Breakdown

Observatory on Corporate Reputation LLC

Communication Breakdown is a postgame show for PR pros. In each episode, hosts Craig Carroll (Founder of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation, Editor of the SAGE Encyclopedia of Corporate Reputation, Lecturer at Rice University’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business) and Steve Dowling (former head of communications at OpenAI and Apple) discuss the strategies and tactics companies are using in high-visibility crises and PR initiatives, giving listeners unique insight into how key decisions are made.

The podcast offers two unique perspectives on communications theory and practice, drawing on Craig’s research and teaching on reputation at USC Annenberg, UNC Chapel Hill, and universities worldwide, and Steve’s two decades of experience as a comms leader at some of the world’s most influential companies.

Whether you’re a PR professional, marketing executive, or just curious about how companies make key communications decisions, you’ll find these discussions insightful and valuable.

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29 episodes
weekly
Avg 30 min
English

Episodes 29

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#105
Yesterday · 33 min
Mixed Messages and Second Takes
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine Microsoft’s response to a White House attack on its immigration practices, followed hours later by presidential recognition for CEO Satya Nadella. They debate...
#104
October 8 · 35 min
Cornell’s Reckoning, Algorithmic ‘Gouging’
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different crises connected by a common question: what happens when trust in an institution or company is already under strain? They begin with Cornell...
#103
September 30 · 24 min
Reorg, Reject, Retouch
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll start with Microsoft’s decision to move communications under its corporate, external, and legal affairs organization, asking what reporting lines reveal about a company’s...
#102
September 24 · 26 min
All Apologies
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine three very different responses to public pressure. Converse apologizes for disturbing imagery in an ad campaign, while Ed Sheeran addresses the removal of Macklemore...
#101
September 17 · 31 min
You Ought Not Be In Pictures
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine what happens when Hollywood turns corporate leaders into central characters. With new productions focused on Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, and Elon Musk, they explore...
#100
September 10 · 29 min
Episode 100
In this 100th episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll revisit the major forces that have shaped corporate communications over the past two years. They examine how political pressure drove companies to reconsider diversity...
#99
September 3 · 36 min
Long-time listeners, first-time callers
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,...
#98
August 27 · 31 min
Return on Mission
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll explore a different way to measure the value of corporate communications, public affairs, and stakeholder engagement. Building on Dell’s use of “return on mission,” Craig...
#97
August 20 · 28 min
Fixing Flock’s Blind Spot
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine Flock Safety’s attempt to reset its reputation amid growing criticism of its automated license plate reader network. They assess the company’s new safeguards,...
#96
August 13 · 33 min
Manifesto Mania!
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine what happens when powerful executives go direct in an effort to reshape public perception. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg uses a sweeping AI manifesto to argue for...
#95
August 6 · 33 min
Full Court Press
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...
#94
July 30 · 33 min
Off the Menu
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different corporate communications challenges. First, they explore why Cracker Barrel's business appeared to be recovering while CEO Julie Masino's leadership...
#93
July 23 · 34 min
A Midsummer Night’s Clip Show
In this special summer edition of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll revisit three of the season's most impactful conversations, each offering enduring lessons for corporate communicators. From eBay's decisive rejection of...
#92
July 16 · 33 min
Defenestration
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine how Ryanair reduced a terrifying in-flight emergency to the language of a routine scheduling disruption. They compare the airline’s statement with the more human...
#91
July 9 · 28 min
I Do / Undo
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different reputation plays: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s highly controlled wedding event in New York, and Ford’s media blitz around quality, American...
#90
July 2 · 39 min
…and the home of the brave
In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine why America’s 250th birthday feels smaller, flatter, and more complicated than a milestone this large should feel. They look at how companies are approaching the...
#89
June 25 · 28 min
Comms on Three Continents
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 misstep at the Great Wall of China,...
#88
June 18 · 30 min
Beast Mode
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 Donaldson managed a live-stream...
#87
June 11 · 34 min
Missives You Might’ve Missed
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. Craig breaks down his argument that...
#86
June 4 · 22 min
bp’s Big Problem
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 concerns, Manifold fires back with a...

Showing 1–20 of 29 episodes