logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2019
35m 48s

20: Your Name Went Viral - But Not in a ...

www.mollymcpherson.com
About this episode

Your Name Went Viral - But Not in a Good Way. Now What?

Going viral isn’t always a good thing. Just ask Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, who both had a rough week in court and online because of their involvement in the college cheating scandal. No one wants to go viral like that.

The thing is, in today’s digital age, you’re at risk whether you know it or not. It’s important to be prepared and to know what to look for when you're headed for digital infamy, which is exactly what I’m talking about in this week’s Confident Communications podcast.

I’ll share the two categories of viral coverage, how it impacts you on a smaller scale and how you can avoid that digital death spiral. I’ll also give you a number of examples you can use to help you identify where the person went wrong--and where it was online lookie-loos who took something and ran with it.

Whether you’re a business owner, a corporate executive or someone who is working to the top, you need to protect yourself from those negative viral spirals.

Mentioned in This Episode

 

About Molly

Molly McPherson, M.S., APR, combines her knowledge of current communication practices with years of news and PR experience to help people become modern

Join Molly on Substack for even deeper dives into celebrity PR strategies and exclusive weekly live sessions!

Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Her high-energy keynotes blend edge-of-your-seat PR war stories with actionable communication strategies that resonate with leaders, communicators, and teams alike. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting.

Follow Molly for daily updates and more PR insights:

© 2025 The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

Up next
Yesterday
The PR Trap of July: Scandals, Silence, and the Setup for September
July appears quiet. It isn’t.This episode outlines why summer is a high-risk period for reputation management. With newsroom staffing reduced and audience attention low, deeper stories start brewing. Reporters have more time. Leadership is often distracted. That’s when reputation ... Show More
12m 6s
Jul 2
When Journalists Become the Story: Who Really Controls the Narrative?
In this live edition of The PR Breakdown, Molly McPherson is joined by Warren Weeks and John Perenak, the hosts of the Reputation Town podcast, to explore the widening gap between journalism and public trust. The conversation centers on CNN’s Jake Tapper and his new book with Ale ... Show More
29m 19s
Jun 25
The Tyler Perry Allegations: Why 'Scam' Claims Make Everything Worse
Tyler Perry is facing a $260 million sexual harassment lawsuit from actor Derek Dixon—and his legal team wasted no time calling it a “scam” and “shakedown.” That move may work in court. It won’t hold up in the court of public opinion.In this episode, I break down:How aggressive l ... Show More
11m 25s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2020
How to think about coronavirus risk in your life
Coronavirus has turned life into an endless series of risk calculations. Can I take my child to see his grandparents, even if it means getting on a plane? Is it okay to begin seeing friends or dating? Should I attend religious services even if they are held inside? Do I have to w ... Show More
1h 9m
Sep 2023
Politics Collection: The Brothers Cuomo | Part 1
This episode will be released for free starting September 7th. In the confusing, scary early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, one question captured the imagination of millions: Does New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo have nipple rings? Vanessa talks to several journalists, including ... Show More
37 m
Jan 2024
From Victim to Victor: How to Kick Some Toxic Ass | Mariel Buque PT 2
Welcome back for part 2 of this mind-blowing conversation on Women of Impact, where my homie, trauma-informed psychologist, Mariel Buque PhD continues to expose the world of manipulation. Stick around and dive deep with us into the idea of holding a relationship funeral to ensure ... Show More
47m 43s
Mar 2020
Taking Care In The Time of Coronavirus
“Restriction kindles creativity; and crisis the opportunity for growth.”Rich RollA diversion from my typical format, today I sit down with my wife Julie Piatt to discuss the coronavirus pandemic.For those unfamiliar, Julie is an accomplished yogi, healer, musician, and mom to our ... Show More
1h 11m
Apr 2023
How to Stand Up for yourself when someone is disrespectful or inappropriate | Tracy Tutor
Being disrespected by the people closest to you is never easy to handle. You’re more likely to make excuses, ignore it or give the people you love most a pass when something they say or do blatantly offends you.When was the last time a close friend or family member said something ... Show More
1h 16m
Mar 2023
#268: You Were Lied To - Solo Episode
Themes: Politics, COVID, Individualism, Fear, Health, Government, Accountability, Truth, News & Media, Misinformation, Authenticity, Belonging, Transformation, Conflict, Mental Health Summary:  In this solo episode, I share my thoughts and grief on what has occurred over these la ... Show More
25m 24s
Mar 2023
1690: The Gossip Virus: What It Is and 5 Steps to Kill It by Vironika Tugaleva
Vironika Tugaleva discusses how gossip is a virus and what we can do to prevent it.Episode 1690: The Gossip Virus: What It Is and 5 Steps to Kill It by Vironika TugalevaVironika Tugaleva was born in Donetsk, Ukraine in 1988. Her early years as a misfit began her painful struggle ... Show More
12m 7s
Jan 2021
The Truth About Increasing Your Chances of Going Viral
Today’s episode is a GaryVee TV Classic! Everybody wants to work on one video, have it go viral, and gain a million followers overnight. The truth is that is so unlikely and is not a realistic or practical way of building your following. There are no shortcuts or a secret formula ... Show More
11m 6s
Sep 2016
Ep. 114: Leverage What Knocks You Down with Faydra Koenig
Faydra Koenig is an Amazon Best-Selling Author, Podcaster, lover of Starbucks and the television show Scandal. She is determined that no one facing a crisis feel alone. Known in pop culture as America’s Crisis Coach™, Faydra interviews high-achievers who have faced unimaginable o ... Show More
33m 30s
Dec 2023
S03 E14: Media Circus
This week Andrea examines how the harrowing and complex story of the Maya Kowalski case turned into a pop culture moment, and spread dangerous misinformation in the process.  We continue our conversation with Ethen Shapiro, lead attorney for Johns Hopkins All Childrens, about how ... Show More
47m 37s