The Crisis Beat Brady Wood

Episode 16 - Get the Lead Out 
Heavy metal episode: Stanley Mugs and Baby Food contain concerning contamination
We thought we were well past lead poisoning in the North American food supply, but there are still holes in our quality controls. Baby food and Stanley mugs are the culprits. In this episode we explore what offending organizations could do to recover trust.  
Other news and topics covered: 
Elon Musk sues OpenAI Harvard Business School and DEI Media BiasAirlines continue to be in the news for safety and quality control issuesThe “Dude Chill” approach to crisis communicationsThe "Mind Bomb" concept from Dr. Terry Flynn Two members of the Royal Family withdraw from family life
And...the Word of the Day was Renumerative versus Remunerative...
Tune in next time for Episode 17 where we pick up where we left off re: how Kate Middleton disappearing from public life created a communications catastrophe.  

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Meta - the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp - led by Mark Zuckerberg, is in the news for the wrong reasons, specifically the alleged exploitation of children. 
Mark Zuckerberg recently presented at a US Senate hearing and was forced into an awkward apology by leaders of the the committee, following testimony on harms caused by social media. A New York Times Article also highlighted exploitation faced by children influencers on Instagram: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/22/us/instagram-child-influencers.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare
This episode, Mark and Brady dissect these moments as well as related media coverage and issues. 
Other News this week: 
Conestoga College - John Tibbits, called Sioux College President a whore and made comments about international students; the issue of funding related to international students Funny Beaverton satire article about Rogers Communications; discussion of duopoly of Bell and Rogers in Canada https://www.thebeaverton.com/2021/02/rogers-cant-fucking-believe-theyre-the-less-evil-telecom-giant/In news about the Airlines, Air Canada was lambasted in the House of Commons for poor Accessibility outcomes, and Alaska Airlines handled an in-air mishap quite well, and offered insight on a communications best practice for drumming up good news stories 
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Crisis Beat Podcast Episode 14: "Year In Review - Career Killing Flubs"
Date: January 7, 2023
Hosts: Brady Wood and Dr. Mark Crowther
Main Topic:
Celebrity Downfalls - Case Studies in Apologetics:
Our main topic revolves around a detailed discussion inspired by a New York Post article highlighting celebrities whose careers took significant hits in 2023.
https://nypost.com/2023/12/27/entertainment/celebrities-whose-careers-imploded-in-2023-jonathan-majors-more/
Harvard President's Resignation:
The episode takes a turn to academia with the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay. This segment delves into the complexities of her departure, initiated by a plagiarism scandal and exacerbated by her handling of sensitive campus issues. Gay's resignation prompts a broader discussion on the interplay between legal counsel and leadership decisions in times of crisis. 
Read this highly recommended Forbes article.
Other Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
A Contrast in Leadership - Columbia's President:
In juxtaposition to Harvard's leadership crisis, we discuss how Columbia University's president adeptly managed a potential crisis.
The Epstein Controversy:
While not the focus of our episode due to time constraints, the ongoing revelations surrounding Jeffrey Epstein and his connections to high-profile individuals continue to cast a long shadow, emphasizing the enduring impact of his case on public perception and trust.
Safety in the Skies - Aircraft Incidents:
The episode also touches on notable safety concerns in the aviation industry, including a critical incident involving a Boeing 737-900.
Other Dimensions:
Mark and Brady also continue their digressions about the English language.
WORD OF THE DAY: effluvium https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/effluvium
RUNNER UP: detritus



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In this Episode, Mark and Brady explore the recent events concerning University Presidents appearing before Congress and failing to say clearly that calling for the genocide of Jewish people would be harassment on campus.
A few weeks ago, Presidents of esteemed universities Harvard, Penn State, and MIT appeared before a committee of US Congress to answer to lawmakers about a rise in antisemitic events on campuses. When asked directly whether calls for the genocide of the Jewish people constituted a violation of the code of conduct or constituted harassment, all 3 Presidents failed to say unequivocally that this was a violation of their schools' rules.
* Since we recorded this Episode, Claudine Gay of Harvard has resigned her post, something we will pick up in the next Episode.
In this Episode explore some of the fallout of these events, as well as other topics including:
- Telsa recalls, compared to other recalls by Ford and Toyota
- President Zelensky of Ukraine and his handling of their country's communications
- 'Leave the World Behind,' a dystopic near-future film on Netflix produced by the Obamas
- Open AI's recent communications since restoring Sam Altman to the CEO role
Brought to you by words of the day 'equivocate' and 'invigilate'...
Some links:
Tesla recalls nearly 2M vehicles https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/13/tech/tesla-recall-autopilot/index.html
Elon Musk says DEI initiatives must die https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/12/15/elon-musk-says-dei-must-die-and-criticizes-diversity-schemes-as-discrimination/?sh=113d74464e71
OPENAI - Sam Altman returned to CEO, Board Implications
https://gizmodo.com/openai-s-new-board-members-are-now-the-boss-of-sam-altm-1851109038
University Presidents Under Fire https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2023/12/25/university-presidents-under-fire
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/20/us/harvard-claudine-gay-plagiarism.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/21/opinion/harvard-claudine-gay.html?partner=slack&smid=sl-share
https://nypost.com/2023/12/21/news/billionaire-len-blavatnik-yanks-donations-to-harvard/

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Hey now, Happy Holidays, dear listeners!
Here's a quick summary of Episode 12:
In this episode, Mark and Brady explore the recent crisis involving Elon Musk, a well-known figure due to his leadership in companies like SpaceX, Tesla, and others. The backdrop of this crisis is the global tension following the events of October 7 between Hamas and Israel.
Inciting Incident: The controversy began with Musk's response on his social media platform, X.com, to a post discussing antisemitism in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Musk agreed with a comment that echoed the 'great replacement' theory, a concept linked to white supremacist ideology.
Advertiser Reaction and Consequences: Musk's comments led to a significant advertiser withdrawal from X.com, including major companies like Warner Bros. Discovery and Apple. This exodus poses a severe financial and reputational risk to the platform.
Musk's Response to Backlash: Musk reacted confrontationally, threatening legal action against critics and deviating from typical crisis management strategies, which usually involve conciliatory measures.
Public and Industry Response: The response from the public and industry has been largely critical. Calls for Musk's resignation and disappointment from investors signify a shift in perception of Musk's personal brand.
Recent Developments: Musk's comments at The Times's DealBook Summit further escalated the situation. His dismissive response to advertisers' concerns exacerbated the crisis, leading to increased reputational risks for X.com. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo's decision to leave the platform and label it a 'Global Sewer' highlights the growing backlash.
Discussion Points covered by Mark and Brady:
- The impact of a CEO's personal conduct on their company's reputation and operations.- Best practices for handling rapidly evolving online crises.- The role of empathy and cultural sensitivity in crisis response, especially in ethically charged situations like antisemitism.- Balancing swift crisis responses with comprehensive, well-thought-out statements.- Long-term strategies for rebuilding trust and repairing stakeholder relationships post-crisis.Key Takeaways:
- The importance of initial responses in crisis communications.- The need for clarity, empathy, apology, and action in crisis management.- The role of positive leader reputation in crisis outcome and company bottom line.- The challenges posed by digital media in crisis escalation and management.- The significant impact of a leader's personal brand on their company.This episode not only dissects the ongoing crisis around Musk but also provides broader insights into effective crisis communication strategies, emphasizing the interplay between personal conduct, public perception, and corporate responsibility.
Also discussed: Sam Altman/OpenAI Board and Leadership Updates, Kate Middleton and King Charles being revealed as 'the Royal Racists' mentioned in Prince Harry's memoir, and new missteps by airlines.
With word of the day 'Melofluous,' and runner-up 'Bollard.'
Don't forget to subscribe!

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In this Episode, Brady and Mark examine the consequences of public missteps by important leaders.

President Biden made a potentially major diplomatic flub by answering a journalist's question in the affirmative when asked if China's President Xi Jinping was a dictator. Elon Musk also made a controversial move on X.com where what he wrote was perceived as antisemitic, Substantial fallout ensued in both cases, with important learnings from both these multi-dimensional case studies. Both cases are analyzed through the lens of crisis communications, focusing on the impact on Musk's businesses and the potential long-term effects on his public image and industry dominance, and also the potential ramifications for diplomacy of President Biden's flub.

Books discussed include: Walter Isaacson's biography 'Elon Musk', Arnold Schwarzenegger 'Be Useful' and his ecosystem of subscription self-help and bodybuilding advice called ‘Arnold's Pump Club.'

Other matters discussed include:
- Sam Altman's firing at OpenAI the creators of ChatGPT
- Elon Musk Space X Starship launch
- Air Canada's approach to failures related to disabled persons
- Recent business and personal dealings of Prince Harry and Megan Markle


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