The Leading in a Crisis Podcast
What really happens when a crisis hits an organization—and how technology is influencing decisions and reputation impacts. Come hear what happened when experienced leaders were actually in the middle of a crisis—and capture the lessons before it happens to you. Email the show at Tom@leadinginacrisis.com.
Your host, Tom Mueller, is a veteran crisis manager and trainer with more than 30 years in the corporate communications and crisis fields. Tom currently works as an executive coach and crisis trainer with WPNT Communications, and as a contract public information officer and trainer through his personal company, Tom Mueller Communications LLC.
Our goal is to help you grow your knowledge and awareness so you can be better prepared to lead should a major crisis threaten your organization.
Music credit: Special thanks to Nick Longoria from Austin, Texas for creating the theme music for the podcast.
#crisis #crisismanagement #crisiscomms #crisiscommunications
#BusinessContinuity #LeadingThroughCrisis
#CrisisResponse #management #leadership
Episodes
101 episodes
EP 51 Battling ISIS and the media when death touches a military team
Join us for an engaging conversation with Katy O'Hara, a seasoned public information officer and firefighter, who shares her formidable experiences in crisis communications. With a background in both wildland firefighting and military service, ...
EP 50 Wildfire Response: The Life of a Wildfire PIO
Wildfires are not just a devastating force of nature; they are a crisis that tests the limits of communication and collaboration. In this episode, we engage with Katy O’Hara, a fire management specialist with a wealth of experience in crisis co...
EP 49 The Role of Family Liaison Officers in Search and Rescue: Insights from Yosemite's Moose Mutlow
Discover the critical role of the Family Liaison Officer in search and rescue operations with our guest, Moose Mutlow, a seasoned expert in the field. Moose sheds light on how this pivotal role serves as the communication lifeline between the i...
EP 48 Harnessing AI for Crisis Communication: a conversation with Philippe Borremans
Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing crisis communication management alongside our esteemed guest, Philippe Boremans. With his extensive experience in public relations, particularly in crisis and risk communication, Philippe ...
EP 47 Tips for leveraging social media in a crisis: and analogue vs virtual command posts
Discover the secrets of crisis management on social media with our special guest, Destin Singleton, a seasoned corporate communications expert. Recognized as one of the top 20 business management podcasts in Texas, we're thrilled to bring you D...
EP 46 Risks of hosting a high profile personality, and building challenging crisis exercises
Destin Singleton joins us on the Leading in a Crisis podcast to unravel the complex dynamics of hosting high-profile figures at your organization. Imagine receiving a call from the White House with just 72 hours to prepare for a presidential vi...
EP 45 Spring cleaning your crisis plan - considerations and lessons learned
On this episode Marc and Tom are joined again by Destin Singleton and we discuss the value - and surprises - that can come from a periodic refresh of your crisis plan. We call it spring cleaning. And a spruced up plan smells so much nicer, don'...
EP 44 American Airlines plane collision at Reagan National Airport - review of initial communications response
On January 29, an American Airlines commuter plane collided with an Army Blackhawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport. All aboard both aircraft were killed, in what is our nation's worst airline incident in 11 years. How did Am...
EP 43 PTSD after a major incident response - part 2
In part 2 of our conversation about PTSD in the crisis management realm, we continue our conversation with Sara McKeown White, executive director of the Mental Health Coalition of Teton Valley. Sara shares tips for avoiding PTSD and other...
EP 42 Dealing with PTSD after a major crisis response, with Sara McKeown White
PTSD or post traumatic stress disorder is most often associated with combat veterans returning home after a lengthy, risk-filled deployment in battlefield conditions. But PTSD can also affect team members who deploy out to a major crisis incide...
EP 41 Why surge capacity matters in a crisis - the Centerpoint Energy Houston story
One of the key tenets of crisis planning is having a surge capacity that allows you to scale up your available resources when a crisis strikes. Most companies struggle with this over time, as it can be costly to keep a PR firm or other resource...
EP 40 Ariana Grande concert bombing part 2: crisis response at the Manchester Arena with Amanda Coleman
How do you keep your team going when every second counts and the stakes couldn't be higher? Join us as Amanda Coleman, a press officer with the Greater Manchester Police at the time the incident occurred, shares her gripping experience managing...
EP 39 Bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in England, part 1: navigating the police response and incident communications with Amanda Coleman
On today's episode we take you back to a terrorist bombing at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England in 2017. A suicide bomber detonated a backpack bomb loaded with nails just after the concert ended, killing 22 concertgoers and ...
EP 38 Lahaina wildfire response - part 2 of our conversation with Michael Brogan
Ever wondered how coordinated disaster response efforts come together in the face of devastating wildfires? Join us on this week's Leading in a Crisis as we sit down with Michael, who has firsthand experience on the ground during the Lahaina wi...
EP 37 Listen to the elders - mass casualties and lessons learned from the Lahaina wildfire with Michael Brogan
How does one navigate the chaos of a natural disaster while ensuring cultural respect and effective communication? Join us as we dive into the compelling and heart-wrenching story of the Lahaina wildfire in Hawaii through the eyes of Michael Br...
EP 36 Artificial Intelligence for crisis planning and support: Entrepreneur Justin Snair and Preppr.ai
Can AI really revolutionize crisis management? Today, we're joined by Justin Snair, the brilliant mind behind Preppr.ai, to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the landscape of emergency preparedness. From his roots in the Marin...
EP 35 Leading in a crisis - lessons and advice from a first time PIO and Deputy (Part 2)
On this episode, we continue our conversation with Will Fitzgerald and Celina Cardenas from Occidental Petroleum recounting their first time serving in leadership roles for a major crisis exercise. Ever wondered how leaders maintai...
EP 34 Inside Occidental Petroleum's Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Drill with Will Fitzgerald and Celina Cardenas
On this episode, two first time leaders in a major oil spill response drill share their experiences, thoughts, and insights into leading during a major crisis. Occidental Petroleum tapped Will Fitzgerald and Celina Cardenas to serve as pub...
EP 33 John Breed on counseling CEOs and leading in a crisis
Unlock the secrets of crisis leadership with the wisdom of corporate communication maestro, John Breed, manager of community and external affairs at ChampionX. We think John wins the award for working with most CEOs in a career, and he sh...
EP 32 Mastering Crisis Leadership with Incident Commander Dan Smiley
Emergency situations don't come with a playbook, but when they strike, it's leaders like incident commander Dan Smiley who orchestrate the chaos into coherence. In our latest episode, Dan reveals the behind-the-scenes drama when multiple agenci...
EP 31 Incorporating Artificial Intelligence into a crisis response, with Dan Smiley
Prepare to navigate the stormy seas of crisis management as we welcome the unparalleled expertise of Dan Smiley, whose storied career has taken him from the decks of the Coast Guard to the forefront of oil spill response. Now, as a consultant a...
EP 30 Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Review of the Communications Response
On this episode, Tom and Marc review the communications coming out from the various parties involved in the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.This is a complex response involving numerous federal, state, and local agencies,...
EP29 Silly season in America: protecting your brand during the presidential election
Steer clear of the political quagmire and keep your brand afloat during election season! Join host Tom Mueller and guest Kathy Leach from Brand Insights as we traverse the complex terrain of brand risk management amidst the uproar of political ...
EP 28 Risk Communication vs. crisis communication - say what? With Ann Hayward Walker
Join us for an engaging conversation around risk communication - not the same as crisis communication - with Ann Hayward Walker, a seasoned scientific advisor who has worked major incidents including Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez. Ann has ...
EP 27 Forging Unshakeable Trust: The Role of Community Advisory Panels in Crisis Management with Marysue Knowles
Unlock the secrets to building unshakeable trust between companies and communities with our expert guest, Mary Sue Knowles. With over two decades of expertise, Mary Sue unravels the significance of community advisory panels (CAPs) for effective...