{"podcast":{"title":"Communication Breakdown","slug":"communication-breakdown-7019931","podcast_index_feed_id":7019931,"rss_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/6301456/episodes/feed","website_url":"https://corporateobservatory.com/podcasts/communication-breakdown","image_url":"https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/bb1654c4c2ff3f77a3c1f292f51b3d52.jpg","author":"Observatory on Corporate Reputation LLC","episode_count":100,"summary":"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.","last_synced_at":"2026-09-11T02:22:07.181025+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/communication-breakdown-7019931"},"episode":{"title":"Fixing Flock’s Blind Spot","slug":"fixing-flock-s-blind-spot","published_at":"2026-08-20T13:00:03+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/communication-breakdown-7019931/fixing-flock-s-blind-spot","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/communication-breakdown-7019931","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/fixing-flock-s-blind-spot--74357302","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74357302/utf_8_q_ep_97_fixing_flock_e2_80_99s_blind_spot_mp3.mp3","summary":"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, CEO Garrett Langley’s media tour, and Flock’s effort to reposition itself from a surveillance provider to the industry’s leading watchdog. Steve and Craig explore the difference between controlling a story and completing it, particularly when a company acknowledges harm without clearly defining its own responsibility. The discussion offers communications and governance leaders a timely case study in accountability, independent oversight, media preparation, and the limits of a policy announcement without operational proof. Takeaways Operational changes must become more credible than the communications announcing them. Companies that build infrastructure at scale assume responsibility for its foreseeable operating conditions, even when customers commit the misconduct. An apology can express empathy while avoiding accountability if it never identifies the company’s own agency. Topics Mentioned Automated license plate readers, mass surveillance, police misconduct, data privacy, crisis communication, corporate accountability, systemic responsibility, product governance, audit logs, independent verification, data retention, facial recognition, drone technology, stakeholder trust, media framing, narrative control, apology strategy, activist engagement, media training, regulatory standards, permission to operate, reputation management Companies Mentioned Flock Safety, HBO, The Washington Post, Bloomberg News, CBS News, CNN, Lowe’s, InvestigateTV Episode Hashtags #FlockSafety #HBO #WashingtonPost #BloombergNews #CBSNews #CNN #Lowes #…","meta_description":"In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine Flock Safety’s attempt to reset its reputation amid growing crit…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1681,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/communication-breakdown-7019931/episodes/fixing-flock-s-blind-spot/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/communication-breakdown-7019931/fixing-flock-s-blind-spot.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}