{"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":"Missives You Might’ve Missed","slug":"missives-you-might-ve-missed","published_at":"2026-06-11T13:00:03+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/communication-breakdown-7019931/missives-you-might-ve-missed","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/communication-breakdown-7019931","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/missives-you-might-ve-missed--72451242","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72451242/ep_87_missives_you_might_ve_missed.mp3","summary":"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 many communications teams are doing valuable work in the wrong order, adding tools, reports, and activity before clearing out low-value work and building repeatable strategic access. Steve then pushes into the risks of bypassing the press, the value of editorial scrutiny, and why Pope Leo’s communication style offers a timely lesson in speed, authenticity, and disciplined message control. For PR and corporate reputation professionals, the episode is a sharp reminder that credibility depends on sequence, scrutiny, and sustained alignment between what an organization says and what it can actually support. Takeaways Communications teams cannot earn strategic influence by simply adding more dashboards, reports, tools, or meetings. The real opportunity is moving from high effort and low impact toward work that creates judgment, access, and organizational influence. Boeing shows the risk of a widening gap between public claims and operating reality, especially when communications enters only after the crisis forms. Episode Hashtags #ProvokeMedia #Boeing #AlaskaAirlines #Shell #Greenpeace #Axios #Meta #DoorDash #GameStop #CNBC #Pfizer #Amazon #Wirecutter #NewYorkTimes #RealMadrid #CorporateCommunications #PublicRelations #CorporateAffairs #MediaRelations #CrisisCommunication #ReputationManagement #StakeholderEngagement #LeadershipCommunication #StrategicCommunications #MediaScrutiny #GoDirect #PopeLeo #VaticanCommunications #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetwork Communication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate…","meta_description":"In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll revisit recent essays from Craig and Steve on corporate communications,…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2081,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/communication-breakdown-7019931/episodes/missives-you-might-ve-missed/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/missives-you-might-ve-missed.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}