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Communication Breakdown

Communication Breakdown

Written by: Observatory on Corporate Reputation LLC
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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.2026 Economics Management Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Missives You Might’ve Missed

    Missives You Might’ve Missed
    Jun 11 2026
    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 Reputation.
    Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.
    Produced in partnership with Advocast and Shawn P Neal.

    For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcasts@ocrnetwork.com
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    35 mins
  • bp’s Big Problem

    bp’s Big Problem
    Jun 4 2026
    In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll return to BP’s boardroom battle with former chairman Albert Manifold. After being dismissed over governance, oversight, and conduct concerns, Manifold fires back with a nearly 800-word statement accusing BP of mischaracterizing his behavior and framing himself as a disciplined reformer focused on shareholder value. Steve and Craig examine how Manifold is trying mto prevent BP’s version of events from becoming the only version, while BP’s restrained response risks leaving a narrative vacuum. The conversation also brings in Craig’s justice framework, including distributive, procedural, interpersonal, and informational justice, to unpack why this dispute is no longer just about conduct. It is now about credibility, process, power, and who gets to define the story

    Takeaways
    • Manifold’s statement shifts the communication problem from an executive departure to a battle over competing narratives
    • The strongest and riskiest claim in Manifold’s statement is that no one raised conduct concerns with him during his tenure
    • For BP, the danger is that unanswered claims could harden into conventional wisdom before the company speaks again.


    Topics Mentioned
    BP, Albert Manifold, executive departures, corporate governance, board communication, reputation defense, counter-narrative, shareholder activism, cost discipline, crisis communication, image rehabilitation, conduct allegations, narrative vacuum, board legitimacy, procedural justice, distributive justice, interpersonal justice, informational justice, stakeholder trust, media strategy, leadership communication

    Companies Mentioned
    BP, Bloomberg, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal

    Episode Hashtags
    #BP #Bloomberg #FinancialTimes #WallStreetJournal #CorporateCommunications #PublicRelations #CorporateReputation #CrisisCommunication #BoardGovernance #ExecutiveLeadership #LeadershipCommunication #StakeholderTrust #NarrativeStrategy #ReputationManagement #ShareholderValue #CorporateGovernance #MediaStrategy #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetwork

    Communication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.
    Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.
    Produced in partnership with Advocast and Shawn P Neal.

    For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcasts@ocrnetwork.com
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins
  • “Lower-Value Human Capital”

    “Lower-Value Human Capital”
    May 28 2026
    In this episode of Communication Breakdown, Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll unpack two corporate reputation problems where leadership, governance, and messaging collided under pressure. First, they examine Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters’ “lower value human capital” comment and the three cleanup attempts that followed. Then they turn to BP, where chairman Albert Manifold was removed after less than a year, setting off a governance fight that threatens to prolong the company’s instability narrative. Across both stories, Steve and Craig show how communications teams lose ground when leaders treat high-stakes moments as messaging problems instead of trust, governance, and stakeholder problems.

    Takeaways
    • Bill Winters’ cleanup attempts focused too much on explaining context and not enough on clearly rejecting the idea that people are “lower value.”
    • A CEO press briefing can create unnecessary risk when the official investor message has already been carefully scripted and vetted.
    • BP’s chairman removal shows how a governance problem quickly becomes a communications problem when the process is unclear.

    Topics Mentioned
    AI and workforce displacement, executive communication, internal communications, investor relations, employee trust, crisis communication, CEO apologies, stakeholder management, governance failures, board accountability, reputation risk, leadership credibility, corporate instability, media strategy, press briefings, narrative control, strategic communications


    Companies Mentioned
    Standard Chartered, NVIDIA, Wall Street Journal, Air Canada, BP, Bloomberg


    Episode Hashtags
    #StandardChartered #NVIDIA #WallStreetJournal #AirCanada #BP #Bloomberg #CorporateCommunications #PublicRelations #CrisisCommunication #InternalCommunications #ExecutiveCommunication #AICommunication #WorkforceDisplacement #EmployeeTrust #InvestorRelations #CorporateGovernance #BoardAccountability #LeadershipCredibility #ReputationRisk #StakeholderManagement #NarrativeControl #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetwork


    Communication Breakdown is a production of the Observatory on Corporate Reputation.
    Hosted by Craig Carroll and Steve Dowling.
    Produced in partnership with Advocast and Shawn P Neal.

    For questions, feedback, or episode suggestions, reach out at podcasts@ocrnetwork.com
    Show More Show Less
    31 mins
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