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 26 Driving engagement (and adrenaline) using live social media simulations for crisis training, with Geoff Paddock
On this episode, we discuss the value of using live, interactive social media simulation for a realistic experience during crisis training exercises. We're joined by Geoff Paddock, a journalist-turned-communications expert based in the UK...
EP 25 Crisis response for nonprofits - Part 2 with Randy Sumner
Crisis strikes without warning, and the mettle of non-profits is tested in the heat of the moment. This is part 2 of our sit down with Randy Sumner, the seasoned crisis management expert with a wealth of experience from his days as a television...
EP 24 Crisis response for nonprofits - when trust is on the line, with Randy Sumner
Discover the crucial elements of crisis management for nonprofits as Randy Sumner of WPNT Communications joins us to unravel the complexities these organizations encounter during turbulent times. Our enlightening discussion ventures into the ne...
EP 23 Reviewing crisis communications around Alaska Airlines in-flight emergency Part 2
Join the conversation with Tom Mueller and Mark Mullen as we dissect the high-stakes world of crisis management, offering a rare glimpse into Boeing's strategic playbook during the Alaska Airlines incident. Through the lens of crisis communicat...
EP 22 Case study: Alaska Airlines and Boeing response to the door plug incident
This week Marc and Tom review a case study Tom prepared around the recent Alaska Airlines in-flight emergency involving a suddenly missing door plug on the aircraft.Tom pulled together a case study around early phase crisis communicatio...
EP 21 Ambassador Lewis Lucke Part 2: The Challenges of International Disaster Management
We continue our conversation with retired US Ambassador Lewis Lucke around his experiences managing huge crisis responses in Iraq and Haiti. Find the ambassador's entertaining memoir of his career as a foreign service officer, Duck ...
EP 20 Behind the Scenes of International Disaster Response with US Ambassador Lewis Lucke
We're privileged to have an engaging conversation with retired US Ambassador Lewis Lucke. Now, he's not just any ambassador. This man is a seasoned crisis leader who has been at the helm of some of the most challenging situations around the wor...
EP19 Supply chain disruption during Covid - a case study with XOM alum Jeff Zudock
Are you prepared to navigate a supply chain crisis? Will you crack under the pressure, or will you lead like a seasoned captain navigating through a storm? Join us as we share the mic with Jeff Zudock, a supply chain maestro with three decades ...
EP18 Supply chain disruptions: leadership insights from XOM alum Jeff Zudock
On today's episode we talk about managing a crisis in the form of a unique supply chain disruption and the leadership skills required to deliver fast and effective solutions. Our guest is Jeff Zudock, a 35-year veteran of ExxonMobil and an expe...
EP17 Leading a retail giant through the pandemic crisis, with Polly Flinn
Imagine steering a colossal retail business, like the family-owned Giant Eagle, through the stormy seas of a global pandemic. Our guest, the remarkable Polly Flinn, takes us on that voyage. With her at the helm, they navigated treacherous water...
EP16 Business in crisis: when an acquisition goes awry, with Polly Flinn
When a company buys another firm, the expectation is for profits and revenues to increase. But what if the opposite occurs? This is what happened after energy giant bp acquired Castrol, the global leader in premium lubricants produc...
EP 14 What would you do if asked to lie to the media? Also, dealing with disingenuous politicians and feeding the media beast - with Adam Wine
In this episode, we continue our conversation with Adam Wine, a 30-year veteran of the US Coast Guard. Adam discusses the frustration of being on the response team when politics get in the way and politicians seeking the spotlight lie to ...
EP 13 When leadership fails - the consequences and workarounds; community meeting formats and guidance; winning over the local community - with Adam Wine
Today we share exploits from the front lines of crisis response with Adam Wine, a seasoned crisis professional with over three decades of experience in the US Coast Guard.Adam has worked with many incident commanders and other leaders, ...
EP 15 Teamwork between PIO and Liaison; the perils of releasing info to politicians; coaching writing skills in a JIC; dealing with an underperforming team member; characteristics of a good PIO - with Adam Wine
In this episode, we continue our conversation with Adam Wine, a 30-year veteran of the US Coast Guard. We cover a lot of interesting topics in this discussion, including:the relationship between PIO and Liaison Officer during ...
EP12 The role of research and third party voices in recovering a brand in crisis; Part 2 of our conversation with Kathy Leech.
In part 2 of our conversation with brand and marketing expert Kathy Leech, we discuss the role research can play in helping reposition a damaged brand. She conducted extensive polling and focus group research during the Deepwater Horizon oil sp...
EP11 Rebuilding a brand after a crisis: navigating the minefield with brand and marketing expert Kathy Leech.
History is rife with examples of companies that have suffered major crises. But how do you recover your brand in the aftermath of a major incident or reputation issue? Does advertising work? Should you apologize? How do you gain insight into pu...
EP 10 Networking to maintain a deep personnel roster, with Lynne Miller
Today we're joined by Lynne Miller, former public information officer and regional communications manager for King County, Washington. Lynn is a seasoned professional with over 35 years of experience in the field of crisis communication and eme...
EP 9 Crisis exercises - tips for success
Are you ready to seize the reins and lead in a crisis? Today, we pivot to a podcast short that lasers in on prepping for your upcoming crisis exercise. As we head into the fourth quarter, when many firms stage their annual crisis drills, we tho...
EP 8 Best practices in Liaison and PIO: A Conversation with Sam Sacco
On this episode, Tom and Marc chat with Sam Sacco of Strategy and Communications, a public affairs and crisis firm based in Oakland, CA. We discuss best practices for effectively managing the liaison and public information officer roles w...
EP 7 Dealing with a simmering crisis and looking for the red flags with Daren Beaudo
Prepare to unlock the secrets of managing simmering crises with our expert guest, Daren Beaudo. A simmering crisis is one that starts small - a passenger dragged from an overbooked aircraft, or a routine permitting issue that suddenly becomes a...
EP 6 Cooperation, valuing people, and keeping morale up - Part 2 with Ed Thompson
On this episode, Ed Thompson - who has worked crises from both the federal agency and the industry sides - shares his wisdom gleaned from years of emergency response. A former incident commander and deputy incident commander, Ed discusses how m...
EP 5 The Human Element in Crisis Leadership: An Interview with Ed Thompson, Part 1
On this episode, we speak with seasoned crisis management leader, Ed Thompson. With 26 years in the US Coast Guard and a second career as a crisis manager in the energy sector, Ed's journey offers a trove of insights—from tactical incident comm...
EP 2 The Tug and Pull of Crisis Leadership with Alaska's Jeff Johnson
Join us for an entertaining conversation with our guest, Jeff Johnson, president of the Cook Inlet Tug and Barge Company in Anchorage, Alaska. A born and bred Alaskan with a wealth of experience in the shipping industry, Jeff shares with us his...
EP 3 Board of directors view - Crisis Management Insights with Anita Perry
Imagine having the power to diffuse a crisis before it spirals out of control. In this riveting episode, we are joined by Anita Perry, a seasoned corporate communications manager and board member, who empowers us with the tools and strategies t...
EP 4 Surviving Business Crises in Venezuela: A Conversation with Maria Eugenia Fuenmayor
Ever wondered how crisis management operates in a country like Venezuela? Join us in a riveting conversation with Maria Eugenia Fuenmayor, a seasoned PR executive and crisis counselor based in Caracas. Maria transitioned from law to corporate c...