{"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://ocrnetwork.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":86,"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":"2026-06-05T04:21:27.467075+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/communication-breakdown-7019931"},"episode":{"title":"GameStop’s faceplant, Wells Fargo’s comeback","slug":"gamestop-s-faceplant-wells-fargo-s-comeback","published_at":"2026-05-07T13:00:02+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/communication-breakdown-7019931/gamestop-s-faceplant-wells-fargo-s-comeback","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/communication-breakdown-7019931","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/gamestop-s-faceplant-wells-fargo-s-comeback--71901285","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/71901285/ep_82_gamestop_s_faceplant_wells_fargo_s_comeback.mp3","summary":"In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different corporate reputation moments: GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen’s awkward CNBC interview after announcing an unsolicited $56 billion bid for eBay, and Wells Fargo’s quieter emergence from nearly a decade of regulatory restrictions. Steve and Craig unpack why Cohen’s media appearance raised more doubts than confidence, especially when the deal narrative could not withstand basic questions about financing, execution, and credibility. They then turn to Wells Fargo, asking whether regulatory remediation actually equals reputational recovery. The episode offers a sharp lesson for communicators: visibility can accelerate evaluation, but only operational substance can sustain trust. Takeaways Media visibility can amplify confidence, but it cannot replace strategic coherence. Ryan Cohen’s CNBC interview exposed unresolved questions about GameStop’s proposed eBay acquisition. Wells Fargo’s regulatory closure does not automatically mean reputational closure. Topics Mentioned GameStop, Ryan Cohen, eBay acquisition bid, CNBC Squawk Box, media training, meme stocks, institutional credibility, virality, investor confidence, deal financing, strategic coherence, Wells Fargo, fake accounts scandal, regulatory remediation, consent orders, asset cap, corporate rehabilitation, reputational recovery, stakeholder trust, post-remediation drift, operational substantiation, governance, growth expectations Companies Mentioned GameStop, eBay, Amazon, TD Bank, CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Wells Fargo Episode Hashtags #GameStop #eBay #Amazon #TDBank #CNBC #WallStreetJournal #WellsFargo #RyanCohen #CharlieScharf #CorporateReputation #PublicRelations #CorporateCommunications #CrisisCommunication #MediaTrai…","meta_description":"In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different corporate reputation moments: GameStop CEO Ryan Coh…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1800,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/communication-breakdown-7019931/episodes/gamestop-s-faceplant-wells-fargo-s-comeback/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/gamestop-s-faceplant-wells-fargo-s-comeback.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}