Communication Breakdown

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different European stages where reputation, power, and communication collide. First, they unpack Davos 2026 and what the World Economic Forum now reveals about the shifting burden placed on corporate affairs leaders, less about influence and more about absorbing ambiguity, political risk, and reputational spillover. Then they turn to a transatlantic spat between Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary and Elon Musk, using the clash to explore when public conflict reinforces a brand and when it backfires. Across both cases, the conversation probes a central question for communications leaders, what does visibility actually buy you when legitimacy, trust, and accountability are under strain.TakeawaysDavos now functions less as a decision-making forum and more as a sensing mechanism for elite psychology and reputational risk.The rising profile of corporate affairs leaders reflects load-bearing responsibility, not a clean transfer of power or influence.Off-the-record spaces increasingly serve as containment zones, processing political and reputational risk away from CEOs and boards.Topics MentionedWorld Economic Forum, Davos, corporate affairs, elite psychology, trust and legitimacy, political risk, off-the-record communications, reputational insulation, social media amplification, CEO behavior, brand alignment, outrage economicsCompanies MentionedWorld Economic Forum, Ryanair, SpaceX, Starlink, X, BlackRockEpisode Hashtags#WorldEconomicForum #Davos #Ryanair #SpaceX #Starlink #X #BlackRock #CorporateCommunications #PublicRelations #ReputationManagement #CrisisComms #Leadership #BrandStrategy #ElitePower #SocialMediaDynamics #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different corporate communication challenges playing out in real time. First, they break down how Target is being pulled into the spotlight as ICE enforcement activity unfolds in and around its Minneapolis-area stores, and why silence has become a reputational liability rather than a shield. Then they turn to ExxonMobil, where CEO Darren Woods calmly contradicted President Trump’s claims about Venezuela, using precision, technical language, and published remarks to control the narrative. Together, the cases illustrate how companies can either lose control of the stage or deliberately script the record.TakeawaysStrategic ambiguity works only when paired with clear operational governance and visible standards.Companies that articulate how enforcement activity must occur can avoid being cast as either complicit or oppositional.Publishing prepared remarks is a powerful way to eliminate spin and control replay in politically charged environments..Topics MentionedICE enforcement, protest optics, corporate silence, strategic ambiguity, operational governance, employee safety, reputational risk, political pressure, narrative control, executive communication, precision language, public opinion pollingCompanies MentionedTarget, Walmart, Home Depot, Caribou Coffee, ExxonMobil, JP Morgan ChaseEpisode Hashtags#Target #Walmart #HomeDepot #CaribouCoffee #ExxonMobil #JPMorganChase #CorporateCommunications #PublicRelations #ReputationManagement #CrisisComms #PoliticalRisk #StrategicAmbiguity #OperationalGovernance #Leadership #BrandTrust #TrumpAdministration #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two stories where companies get assigned roles before they choose them. First, they look at U.S. oil companies caught in the wake of the Trump administration’s Venezuela operation, with the White House publicly narrating “ready and willing” corporate intent while executives stay largely non-committal. Then they break down Hilton’s rapid termination of a franchisee after an alleged DHS booking cancellation became a viral storyline, and why one loaded word in Hilton’s response escalated the situation. Across both cases, the core lesson is the same: in high-pressure environments, silence and precision can protect you, but only if you actively manage the boundary between what government says you want and what you have actually committed to.TakeawaysWhen political leaders publicly “assign” corporate intent, the company’s main job becomes boundary-setting, not brand-building.Neutral holding statements buy time, but extended silence can still harden attribution, especially when anonymous background quotes drift more critical than on-record language.Industry voice matters, either via a credible operator like Chevron or a trade body like the American Petroleum Institute, to correct errors and reduce narrative hijack risk without picking a fight.Topics MentionedCorporate intent attribution, narrative capture, boundary management, regime-change optics, stakeholder trust, holding statements, trade associations, operational control in franchise models, platform-driven escalation, asymmetrical information warfare, crisis word choice, civil-rights framing, internal escalation protocolsCompanies MentionedChevron, ConocoPhillips, Conoco, Saudi Aramco, American Petroleum Institute, Hilton, EverSpeak Hospitality, Hampton Inn, FortuneEpisode Hashtags#Chevron #ConocoPhillips #Conoco #SaudiAramco #AmericanPetroleumInstitute #Hilton #EverSpeakHospitality #HamptonInn #Fortune #CrisisCommunications #CorporateReputation #PublicRelations #CorporateAffairs #NarrativeControl #StakeholderTrust #Geopolitics #BoundaryManagement #FranchiseRisk #IssuesManagement #StrategicCommunications #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack how companies navigated a volatile year under Trump’s return to power — chasing access, dodging landmines, and managing the optics. From tech’s full-throated alignment to Coke’s non-denial denial, to Harvard’s quiet defiance, it’s a masterclass in when to perform, when to retreat, and when to just shut up. The big theme? Holding ground without lighting fires. This is your postgame on narrative control in a year where even silence spoke volumes.TakeawaysAlignment without hedging creates exposure, not just opportunity.Proximity to power can produce policy wins but risks reputational erosion if not translated across stakeholders.Performative signaling amplifies reputational risk — especially when it grants authorship to a polarizing figure.Topics Mentionedalignment signaling, narrative control, stakeholder management, reputational exposure, crisis containment, performative support, political proximity, institutional resilience, communications strategy, narrative authorship, role clarity, reputation vs. access, strategic restraint, media framingCompanies MentionedTrump Administration, New York Times, Coca-Cola, Harvard University, Costco, NFLEpisode Hashtags#TrumpAdministration #CocaCola #Harvard #Costco #NFL #CorporateCommunications #ReputationManagement #CrisisPR #NarrativeControl #StakeholderTrust #PoliticalComms #BrandRisk #StrategicSilence #LeadershipMessaging #StudiouslyBland #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine the fallout from a rare, high-access Vanity Fair profile of White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. What looked like unprecedented transparency quickly turned into a reputational stress test, raising questions about intent, narrative control, and internal alignment. Steve and Craig move past the headline-grabbing quotes to analyze what they call “wedge warfare,” how third-party storytelling can disrupt relationships even without factual errors. The conversation offers practical lessons for communications leaders operating in high-salience, high-risk environments where perception often matters more than explanation.TakeawaysHigh-access profiles create cumulative risk, every quote, image, and anecdote compounds meaning.Defending intent or tone can worsen a wedge by reinforcing doubt rather than stabilizing trust.Images function as narrative events and must be managed with the same rigor as interviews.Topics MentionedWhite House communications, corporate reputation, wedge warfare, narrative control, media access, high-risk interviews, photojournalism, alignment signaling, claims-perceptions-reality framework, crisis communications, leadership visibilityCompanies MentionedVanity Fair, CNN, The Atlantic, New York Post, AxiosEpisode Hashtags#VanityFair #CNN #TheAtlantic #NewYorkPost #Axios #WhiteHouse #CorporateReputation #StrategicCommunications #PublicRelations #MediaStrategy #NarrativeControl #CrisisCommunications #LeadershipMessaging #StakeholderTrust #ReputationRisk #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine Elon Musk’s return to the podcast circuit amid reports of a possible SpaceX IPO. They question whether Musk’s more restrained media appearance signals a real reputational reset or simply another tactical pause without governance discipline. The conversation then turns to McDonald’s AI-generated holiday ad backlash in the Netherlands, using it as a case study in creative judgment, brand standards, and accountability when AI enters the production pipeline. The episode closes with insights from Craig’s 10th annual Senior Corporate Affairs Summit, where executives focused on AI as real headcount, narrative drift as enterprise risk, and the fragmentation of influence beyond traditional media.TakeawaysMedia moderation without behavioral change does not equal a reputation reset.Pre-IPO signaling requires cadence, discipline, and visible.AI failures in advertising are often judgment failures, not technology failures..Narrative drift is an early warning signal of enterprise risk, not a messaging problem..Topics MentionedElon Musk, reputation management, IPO signaling, CEO behavior, governance discipline, AI advertising, brand judgment, holiday advertising standards, narrative drift, enterprise risk, AI agents, communications workflows, influence fragmentation, Substack, corporate affairs leadershipCompanies MentionedTesla, SpaceX, Twitter, Reuters, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, DisneyEpisode Hashtags#ElonMusk #Tesla #SpaceX #Twitter #McDonalds #CocaCola #Disney #CorporateReputation #PublicRelations #CrisisCommunications #AIinMarketing #BrandGovernance #NarrativeRisk #Leadership #StrategicCommunications #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two distinct communication strategies playing out in the same political environment. First, they look at Costco’s decision to sue the Trump administration to recover tariff payments, a move that positions the retailer as a disciplined, process-driven actor defending its business model and its promise of predictable low prices. Then they break down the tech-sector backlash to a New York Times profile of David Sacks, highlighting how Silicon Valley elites turned a contained story into a governance and credibility problem through overreaction. For PR and corporate affairs professionals, the contrast delivers a clear lesson in how organizations either reinforce or erode trust depending on their posture toward scrutiny, institutions, and accountability.TakeawaysCostco’s lawsuit is a model of restraint, clarity, and institutional trust, aligning with its reputation for predictability and customer value.High-trust brands gain influence when they work within established processes and let filings speak for themselves.The Sacks backlash shows how tech elites can escalate a story by treating scrutiny as a personal attack rather than a governance issue.Topics Mentionedtariffs, emergency powers, corporate reputation, institutional trust, narrative defense, political risk, media strategy, backlash dynamics, governance, conflicts of interest, influencer amplification, tech industry communications, legal timing, crisis response, stakeholder expectationsCompanies MentionedCableSoup, Airbus, Amazon, Target, Southwest Airlines, Costco, Trump Organization, Nvidia, New York Times, SpaceX, Salesforce, Andreessen Horowitz, OpenAI, CoinbaseEpisode Hashtags#CableSoup #Airbus #Amazon #Target #SouthwestAirlines #Costco #TrumpOrganization #Nvidia #NewYorkTimes #SpaceX #Salesforce #AndreessenHorowitz #OpenAI #Coinbase #CorporateCommunications #PublicRelations #CrisisManagement #ReputationManagement #MediaStrategy #TariffPolicy #TechIndustry #Governance #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll serve up their second annual Thanksgiving roundup of the year’s biggest corporate comms stories. They revisit three defining moments: the tariff turmoil that forced CEOs into strategic silence, Mark Benioff’s abrupt and confusing political pivot, and the astronomer CEO’s viral kiss-cam crisis. Across each case, they examine why timing, intent, and internal preparedness shape whether silence protects or exposes a company. For PR and corporate reputation professionals, this episode highlights how leaders can manage vacuum moments, avoid improvisation disasters, and maintain credibility when stakes are high.TakeawaysSilence only works when it is managed, signaled, and backed by a clear internal stance.Trade groups can offer insulation, but individual CEO voices still carry more narrative impact.CEO improvisation creates reputational risk when personal commentary blurs with corporate messaging.Topics Mentionedstrategic silence, tariff communications, political alignment, CEO freelancing, corporate values, crisis governance, resignation sequencing, reputational recovery, timing strategy, stakeholder expectations, brand signalingCompanies MentionedS&P, American Eagle, Salesforce, Tesla, ICE, AstronomerEpisode Hashtags#SP500 #AmericanEagle #Salesforce #Tesla #ICE #Astronomer #CorporateCommunications #CrisisManagement #ReputationStrategy #LeadershipCommunication #StakeholderEngagement #PublicAffairs #CrisisPlaybook #StrategicSilence #NarrativeControl #PRStrategy #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

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-layoff missteps, analyzing why companies keep choosing speed over dignity and how media coverage is normalizing inhumane practices. Then they turn to Marriott’s collapsed partnership with Sonder, where guests were evicted mid-stay with little warning. Steve and Craig examine how a breakdown in partner communication became a direct reputational hit to Marriott and what it reveals about the CPR triangle of claims, perceptions, and reality. For PR and communications pros, the episode offers a clear look at how operational failures become communication crises when empathy and continuity disappear.TakeawaysMass emails and glitchy digital notifications turn layoffs into dignity failures, eroding internal trust long after the cuts.Companies misread cautionary tales as permission structures.Telegraphing layoffs creates prolonged fear, productivity collapse, and early attrition of top performers.Topics Mentionedlayoff communications, digital notifications, employee dignity, internal trust, media normalization, trend reporting, telegraphing layoffs, employee anxiety, rumor dynamics, partnership risk, customer continuity, CPR triangle, hospitality communications, brand liability, crisis amplification, operational incompatibility, integration risks, narrative controlCompanies MentionedAmazon, Target, Southwest Airlines, Marriott, Sonder, BloombergEpisode Hashtags #Amazon #Target #SouthwestAirlines #Marriott #Sonder #Bloomberg #CorporateCommunications #CrisisComms #InternalComms #ReputationManagement #Layoffs #Leadership #BrandTrust #HospitalityIndustry #StrategicComms #PublicRelations #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

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 contradictory messaging, his embrace of grievance politics, and the reputational risks of keeping a company’s core narrative intentionally opaque.The hosts also turn to Walmart’s downsized Thanksgiving basket, the political firestorm that followed, and how transparency and timing collided in today’s hyper-charged information environment. This episode maps two very different cases that reveal the tension between controlling attention and maintaining trust, a dynamic every communications leader faces.TakeawaysKarp’s communication approach relies on narrative contradiction, which can generate attention but undermines clarity and credibility.Palantir’s CEO is framing skepticism as moral persecution, which reshapes market pressure into identity politics.Walmart’s Thanksgiving basket shows how operational decisions can become political signals in a low-friction information environment.High visibility forces companies to anticipate how even neutral actions get pulled into political debate.Topics MentionedNarrative contradiction, CEO communication, AI valuations, grievance messaging, media strategy, retail inflation, symbolic pricing, political perception, transparency, reputation managementCompanies MentionedPalantir, Nvidia, WalmartEpisode Hashtags#Palantir #Nvidia #Walmart #CorporateCommunications #PublicRelations #ReputationManagement #CrisisComms #CEOComms #MediaStrategy #PoliticalCommunication #StakeholderTrust #BrandPerception #NarrativeStrategy #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

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 corporate reputation today. Craig recaps the week’s standout panels, exploring how PR leaders are navigating cynicism, privilege, and fairness in what was called “the age of rage.” Together, the hosts examine why communicators must balance speed with restraint, clarity with coherence, and outrage with empathy — and why the future of reputation management might sound more like conducting than controlling.TakeawaysThe newly coined “Richilante” reflects a growing class of privileged consumers who wield outrage to influence social and corporate agendas.Fairness — not just price or policy — is at the heart of today’s consumer reactionsThe K-shaped economy mirrors a communications divide: both wealthy and struggling consumers feel disenfranchised but express it differently.Communicators must reconcile contradictions — between purpose and cultural relevance, speed and reflection, clarity and coherence.Topics MentionedCorporate reputation, PRovoke Global Summit, privilege and outrage, fairness, K-shaped economy, consumer cynicism, AI in communication, misinformation, integrity, coherence, purpose vs. cultural relevance, crisis communication, ethics in PR, outrage culture, media trust, corporate valuesCompanies MentionedMaslansky & Partners, UnitedHealth, McDonald’s, Deloitte, American Eagle, Cracker BarrelEpisode Hashtags#MaslanskyAndPartners #UnitedHealth #McDonalds #Deloitte #AmericanEagle #CrackerBarrel #ProvokeGlobal #CorporateCommunications #PublicRelations #CrisisCommunication #ConsumerTrust #AIinPR #EthicalLeadership #BrandReputation #Fairness #Cynicism #Integrity #ReputationManagement #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

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 after he exaggerated the company’s U.S. investment plans — live from an aircraft carrier in Tokyo Bay. With global reputations on the line, Toyota showed how to reclaim narrative ownership without picking a fight. It’s a masterclass in precision, tone, and institutional discipline.Then, the hosts turn to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown and the growing economic ripple effects for business. From delayed IPOs to unpaid TSA workers, what role should companies play in projecting stability — or pushing for resolution? Steve and Craig explore how corporate credibility gets redefined in moments of national dysfunction, and why empathy and operational resilience might be the only playbook that matters.TakeawaysToyota responded with speed, facts, and composure — a case study in credibility controlIn high-stakes messaging, tone is what makes truth believableInternal communications drive external trust — especially in uncertain timesBusinesses don’t need to be saviors, but they do need to be steadyTopics Mentionednarrative arbitrage, leadership communications, corporate fact-checking, reputational resilience, government shutdown, employee empathy, economic confidence, business leadership, corporate tone, stakeholder trustCompanies MentionedToyota, Salesforce, Coca-Cola, United Airlines, Hilton, Unilever, ICE, SEC, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business RoundtableEpisode Hashtags#Toyota #NarrativeIntegrity #Trump #GovernmentShutdown #CorporateLeadership #CrisisComms #BusinessInfluence #EmployeeComms #StakeholderTrust #PoliticalRisk #ReputationalResilience #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

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 narrative and why his five-day pause during Dreamforce may have done more reputational damage than the quote that started it all. When values-led leaders start hedging, audiences don’t just get confused, they recalibrate trust.Then, a sharp turn to Disney’s spin on subscriber loss. After 1.7 million users reportedly canceled Disney+ and Hulu, internal voices tried to downplay the data. But without clear numbers or a confident narrative, spin isn’t a strategy — it’s a spotlight on uncertainty.Takeaways● You can’t walk back a values inversion with a vague tweet● Silence after a crisis is its own kind of statement● When stakeholders act faster than leadership, they become the moral center● Fuzzy messaging around basic facts creates narrative riskTopics Mentionednarrative integrity, leadership messaging, walkback strategy, stakeholder alignment, crisis communication, subscriber churn, framing risk, media relations, moral branding, communications missteps, brand perceptionCompanies MentionedSalesforce, Disney, Hulu, ABC, New York Times, ICE, FCC, Antenna, NBC, Time MagazineEpisode Hashtags#Salesforce #MarcBenioff #Dreamforce #DisneyPlus #Hulu #CorporateReputation #NarrativeIntegrity #CrisisComms #LeadershipMessaging #SubscriberChurn #MediaRelations #StakeholderTrust #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

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 Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff’s stunning off-script moment — suggesting Trump send armed forces to San Francisco — just days before Dreamforce. What was meant to be a curtain-raiser turned into a narrative collapse. From mixed messaging to an awkward walk-back tweet, the team dissects what happens when a brand built on moral leadership suddenly echoes law-and-order politics… from a private jet.Later in the episode,Craig previews a new OCR report: 10 Landmark Cases Every Board and CCO Must Know, highlighting how narrative consistency is no longer just a comms best practice — it’s a legal expectation.And finally, a rare PR win: United Airlines pulls off a broadcast-quality live shot from 30,000 feet using Starlink. Why it worked, and what the industry can learn.Download the Cast Law Tracker, “10 Landmark Cases Every Board and CCO Must Know. How Courts and Regulators Are Turning Narrative Contradictions Into Oversight Failures ” here: https://ocrnetwork.com/briefing/10courtcasesforccosTakeawaysWalking back a quote is not the same as undoing the damageComms guardrails aren’t constraints — they’re credibility insuranceCourts are treating contradictions in public messaging as legal liabilitiesNarrative integrity is the new material risk — boards ignore it at their perilTopics Mentionedleadership misalignment, narrative integrity, Dreamforce, brand trust, PR walkbacks, CEO media training, stakeholder expectations, legal risk, board governance, AI strategy, live broadcasting, Wi-Fi innovationCompanies MentionedSalesforce, New York Times, Time Magazine, United Airlines, Starlink, NBC, TeslaEpisode Hashtags#Salesforce #MarcBenioff #Dreamforce #NarrativeIntegrity #BoardGovernance #CorporateCommunications #CrisisComms #CEOComms #PublicRelations #LegalRisk #UnitedAirlines #Starlink #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

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, can say more than any statement. 🏈 First, the NFL names global superstar Bad Bunny as its Super Bowl 60 halftime act. The political right lights up with criticism — but the league, its sponsors, and its broadcast partner NBC all stay quiet. No walk-backs. No clarifications. Just disciplined alignment. Why? Because the numbers don’t just justify the choice — they demand it. 🤖 Meanwhile, Deloitte Australia is caught using generative AI to help draft a $300K government report — complete with a fabricated quote from a federal judge. Their response? A partial refund and a few footnotes. No apology. No public process improvement. And no trust-building.This week, Steve and Craig explore:Why sponsors’ silence around Bad Bunny is a case study in strategic stillnessHow symbolic nostalgia distorts brand risk perceptionWhat Deloitte’s AI misfire reveals about cultural readiness and credibility gapsWhy communicators must now own AI traceability — not just output polish👂 Two stories, one core lesson: in the age of AI and outrage, credibility is earned by how you manage the moment, not just how you message it.Topics Mentionedculture wars, strategic silence, Super Bowl halftime shows, stakeholder alignment, AI hallucinations, enterprise governance, reputation risk, brand sponsorship, cultural proximity, transparency, symbolic nostalgia, credibility management, traceability, disclosure, trust erosionCompanies MentionedNFL, Roc Nation, NBC, Deloitte, Microsoft, Newsmax, Spotify, YouTube, NielsenEpisode Hashtags#NFL #Deloitte #RocNation #Microsoft #Newsmax #Spotify #YouTube #Nielsen #SuperBowl #ArtificialIntelligence #CorporateReputation #CrisisComms #StakeholderTrust #AICompliance #CulturalRelevance #PublicRelations #StrategicSilence #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetwork #BadBunnyCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

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 Disney to the bot-fueled backlash against Cracker Barrel’s rebrand, the hosts explore how misreading public sentiment and failing to align values with action opens the door for reputational damage. They introduce the concept of “narrative arbitrage”—a new kind of reputational risk where bad actors weaponize corporate messaging gaps for cultural or political gain. With real-time case studies and predictive insight, Steve and Craig lay out a roadmap for communicators navigating reputational minefields in the age of bots, culture wars, and chaos agents.TakeawaysCustomer behavior—not social media volume—is the real reputational signal.Disney’s 5X subscriber churn during Kimmel’s suspension was the clearest signal of consumer sentiment.Bots amplify backlash but rarely invent it—Cracker Barrel’s mistake was ignoring real diners.Narrative arbitrage describes when outsiders weaponize a brand’s contradictions for political or personal gain.Topics MentionedNarrative arbitrage, brand alignment, bots and amplification, reputational risk, cultural backlash, stakeholder trust, brand identity, narrative contradiction, chaos agents, crisis communicationCompanies MentionedDisney, Cracker Barrel, Target, Meta, Washington Post, YouTube, Microsoft, NFL, AlphabetEpisode Hashtags#Disney #CrackerBarrel #Target #Meta #YouTube #NFL #Microsoft #BrandReputation #CrisisCommunication #NarrativeControl #PublicRelations #StrategicMessaging #StakeholderAlignment #NarrativeArbitrage #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkProduced by Shawn P Neal at AdvoCastCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

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 Disney’s handling of Jimmy Kimmel’s abrupt suspension and return to air—an event that raised profound questions about corporate neutrality, free speech, and leadership under political pressure. Then they contrast that with Starbucks’ swift, quiet containment of a viral misinformation incident involving a barista, a teacup, and the memory of Charlie Kirk. Together, the two stories illuminate what happens when companies lean into—or away from—clarity, speed, and principle in emotional public moments. This episode offers a sharp look at the cost of corporate silence, the “Kimmel Effect,” and why even quiet moves can speak volumes.TakeawaysThe “Jimmy Kimmel Effect” shows how attempted censorship can amplify a message and a brand.Disney’s attempt at neutrality backfired by failing to articulate values or principles.In contrast, Starbucks executed a textbook response: fast, transparent, and proportionate.Topics MentionedFree speech, censorship, narrative contradiction, crisis containment, corporate values, leadership clarity, affiliate backlash, political pressure, reputation risk, internal trust, public perception, workplace statements, brand safety, misinformation, suppression effectsCompanies MentionedABC, Walt Disney Company, ACLU, Nextstar, Sinclair, StarbucksEpisode Hashtags#Disney #ABC #ACLU #Starbucks #JimmyKimmel #FreeSpeech #CrisisCommunication #ReputationManagement #CorporateLeadership #MediaStrategy #BrandTrust #CharlieKirk #SuppressionEffect #KimmelEffect #NarrativeContradiction #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack the reputational risks of corporate silence in a post-Kimmel suspension media landscape. With Jimmy Kimmel pulled off-air by ABC following political pressure and regulatory threats, Steve and Craig explore the convergence of communicative caution, alignment signaling, and narrative contradiction. The conversation spotlights the emerging corporate trend of “strategic silence” as identified in the Ipsos Reputation Council report, and questions whether silence remains a viable risk strategy—or simply becomes complicity by omission. Disney becomes a central case study in this episode, where the fallout from its hasty and opaque decision-making offers critical lessons in stakeholder trust, regulatory pressure, and reputational consequence. For PR pros, CCOs, and corporate leaders, this episode is a deep dive into why and how silence communicates—and who gets to fill in the blanks when you don’t speak.TakeawaysSilence is never neutral- it communicates alignment, intention, or omission depending on the audience.Disney’s failure to explain or defend its actions regarding Jimmy Kimmel reveals a deeper narrative contradiction.Regulatory pressure, especially from politically aligned bodies, can reshape corporate communications in real time.Topics Mentionedcorporate censorship, regulatory pressure, strategic silence, narrative contradiction, alignment signaling, communicative caution, corporate reputation, media ownership, free speech, stakeholder perception, internal communications, SEC disclosure, scientists (legal standard), quarterly earnings, corporate strategy, political influence, reputational risk, legal exposure, employee trust, corporate values, FCC influence, crisis communicationCompanies MentionedABC, Disney, Ben & Jerry’s, Unilever, Ipsos, Nextstar, Sinclair Broadcast Group, FCC, Turning Point USA, Cracker BarrelEpisode Hashtags#ABC #Disney #BenAndJerrys #Unilever #Ipsos #Nextstar #SinclairBroadcastGroup #TurningPointUSA #FCC #CrackerBarrel #StrategicSilence #CorporateReputation #CrisisComms #NarrativeContradiction #PoliticalPressure #RegulatoryRisk #PRStrategy #StakeholderTrust #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll dig deep into the growing risk of narrative contradiction—when a company’s claims, perceptions, and reality stop aligning. Craig introduces the idea of “narrative governance” as the next frontier for communications leaders, urging companies to track and reconcile their messaging with the same rigor used in financial reporting. The discussion offers a practical, high-stakes guide for communicators navigating the blurred lines between framing and fraud in today’s environment of radical transparency.TakeawaysNarrative contradictions are not lies—they're truths that no longer add up.Drift happens when messaging evolves; contradiction happens when that drift breaks coherence.Claims, perceptions, and reality must align—or trust begins to erode.Topics Mentionednarrative contradiction, messaging alignment, narrative governance, stakeholder trust, disclosure risk, PR strategy, corporate reputation, internal vs. external messaging, complexity, drift vs. contradiction, ESG communication, SEC rule 10b-5, CSRD compliance, activist investors, leadership credibility, operational paralysis, contradiction registersCompanies MentionedCracker Barrel, Vale, PepsiCoEpisode Hashtags#Target #CrackerBarrel #Vale #PepsiCo #NarrativeGovernance #CorporateReputation #CrisisComms #DisclosureRisk #StakeholderTrust #ESGStrategy #LeadershipMessaging #CommunicationStrategy #ComplianceRisk #InternalComms #PublicRelations #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCreditsProduced by Shawn P Neal at AdvoCast for the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Connect with us: podcast@ocrnetwork.com • LinkedIn: Observatory on Corporate ReputationCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll dissect activist investor Elliott Management’s $4 billion stake in PepsiCo — and the rival business plan they rolled out to reframe the company’s strategy. The hosts analyze how activists weaponize contradictions, use timing to hijack the news cycle, and tell Pepsi’s story better than Pepsi itself. They also look at Harvard’s restraint in the face of a legal victory over the Trump administration, and the reputational freefall of a Polish CEO who sparked global outrage by snatching a souvenir hat from a child at the US Open. Together, the cases highlight the stakes for communicators in reclaiming narrative control and protecting credibility under fire.TakeawaysActivist investors often compete through narrative, not just capital.Shadow strategies succeed by simplifying contradictions companies ignore.Preempting reputational fault lines is more effective than defending them later.Topics Mentionedactivist investors, shadow strategy, corporate contradictions, credibility, transparency, restraint strategy, reputation risk, viral outrage, apologies, narrative control, crisis managementCompanies MentionedNestlé, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Starbucks, Southwest Airlines, Harvard University, Trump Administration, DrogbrookEpisodeHashtags#Nestlé #PepsiCo #CocaCola #Starbucks #SouthwestAirlines #Harvard #TrumpAdministration #Drogbrook #CorporateCommunications #CrisisManagement #Reputation #PublicRelations #Leadership #NarrativeControl #StakeholderTrust #Apologies #MediaRelations #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetworkCreditsProduced by AdvoCast for the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Connect with us: podcast@ocrnetwork.com • LinkedIn: Observatory on Corporate ReputationCommunication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.Produced by Shawn P Neal and the team at AdvoCast.For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcast@ocrnetwork.com