{"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":"ICE paints a target on Target","slug":"ice-paints-a-target-on-target","published_at":"2026-01-15T14:00:08+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/communication-breakdown-7019931/ice-paints-a-target-on-target","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/communication-breakdown-7019931","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/ice-paints-a-target-on-target--69449703","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69449703/ep_66_ice_paints_a_target_on_target.mp3","summary":"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. Takeaways Strategic 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 Mentioned ICE enforcement, protest optics, corporate silence, strategic ambiguity, operational governance, employee safety, reputational risk, political pressure, narrative control, executive communication, precision language, public opinion polling Companies Mentioned Target, Walmart, Home Depot, Caribou Coffee, ExxonMobil, JP Morgan Chase Episode Hashtags #Target #Walmart #HomeDepot #CaribouCoffee #ExxonMobil #JPMorganChase #CorporateCommunications #PublicRelations #ReputationManagement #CrisisComms #PoliticalRisk #StrategicAmbiguity #OperationalGovernance #Leadership #BrandTrust #TrumpAdministration #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetwork Communication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation . Ho…","meta_description":"In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine two very different corporate communication challenges playing ou…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1666,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/communication-breakdown-7019931/episodes/ice-paints-a-target-on-target/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/ice-paints-a-target-on-target.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}