The Crux of the Story

Jon Weisman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Nancy Elder, of the New York Mets join The Crux to discuss leading comms for two of the world's leading sports franchises. From working with team execs to dealing with team execs to players’ social media habits, Nancy and Jon provide a fascinating inside look at their roles as communicators in major league baseball.

D. Graham Burnett, director and co-founder for the Institute for Sustained Attention, says the problem of fragmented attention has reached “catastrophic proportions.” He is helping lead a fight against “powerful systems” that are “fracking” society’s attention. How? By building a school and community on the topic, and his writing and teachings, including a Princeton course, “Attention Economy.” Fo...

In this episode of “The Crux of the Story,” highly respected communicators Tom Martin and Gary Grates cover all things mentoring. From the role of technology, to “official” mentoring programs, to building informal relationships, Tom and Gary discuss how potential mentees can maximize their networking opportunities. Tom and Gary's mentorship experiences stem from their extensive careers as practiti...

What defines a “crisis” in 2024? Crisis consultant Molly McPherson joins The Crux to discuss the evolution of reputation and crises. From working in the “crisis cauldron” that is FEMA to her hugely popular TikTok posts on high-profile crises, Molly has become a leading and insightful voice in what it take to manage crises in a volatile environment. Plus, she’s a Boston University College of Commun...

Martin Reeves of Boston Consulting Group and Tomas Kellner of Amazon discuss how constructing a compelling story around your business strategy will catalyze action internally and create advantages in the marketplace.

NYU Stern professor Alison Taylor joins the Crux to discuss the “do’s and don'ts” of business ethics from her newest book, Higher Ground, How Businesses Can Do the Right Thing. She focuses on how companies should focus on addressing their imperfections, rather than realizing statements on problems they can’t solve. From the UN Climate Week, to Levi’s corporate, she comments how key leaders can imp...

The Ocean Outlaw Project’s Ian Urbina on Non-Profit Journalism on the Open Ocean by Gary Sheffer and Mike Fernandez

Boston University’s professors Marni Zelnick and Meghan Irons join the Crux to talk about the importance of social responsibility in film-making and journalism. Marni emphasizes the importance of “pulling back the curtain” on real world topics within creative filmmaking as she does in her film Druid Peak. Meghan focuses on how her experience working on writing a narrative on the violence in Dorche...

What are the “four corners” companies can employ to conquer stakeholder engagement? How can companies employ expertise when releasing statements on the conflict in Gaza? How can AI be the “cure” for economic disease? Matt McDonald, President of the “data native” business consulting firm Penta Group, joins the Crux on today’s episode to provide profound insight on stakeholder engagement to economic...

Don Spetner, senior corporate advisor at Weber Shandwick, talks about the evolution of the Chief Communications Officer role. Where the core of public relations was once media relations, now the internet has allowed everyone to have their own “bullhorn”. Gary, Mike and Don break down two of the most controversial PR flops such as the BP oil spill live cam, as well as the newest Bud Light Campaign....

Have you ever heard of “forced morality?” Why do companies like Patagonia and Chick-fil-a stick to their values? How can employers show more kindness to employees experiencing grief and loss in their personal lives? On this episode of the Crux, Bradley Akubuiro talks about dexterity and nimbleness within the workplace. He tackles topics such as showing courage in corporate settings, especially dur...

How do public policy, business and journalism all come together to shape corporate culture in today’s climate? Today's episode tackles just that. On this episode, we are joined by Judd Legum the author and founder of Popular Information, a newsletter that is described as “unfiltered, unbought and unbossed.” He breaks down how shoplifting policies, such as the one’s in San Francisco, really relate...

Jargon is at the very essence of every current corporate climate, but what do all these terms mean? On this episode of the Crux of the Story we are joined by editor, Veronica Majerol, and contributing writer, Jordyn Holman of the New York Times’s column “Shop Talk”. They break down the essence and importance of clarifying the often confusing jargon within the business world. From “dogfooding” to “...

Scientist and award-winning communicator Chris Reddy from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute joined us on The Crux to talk about effective science communication in a crisis. For more than 25 years, Chris has been called on for high profile ocean disasters including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He shares with us lessons learned, such as keeping the humanity of those affected in the forefront of...

The power of trust can transform a business from top to bottom, and is proven to affect the bottom line as well. Trust is more than just a coms issue, but a strategic business issue as well. Join us for a fascinating discussion with Russell Dubner from Boston Consulting Group about his work with the C-suite to evaluate and establish trust in leading companies.

PRLab celebrates its 45th anniversary--It is the longest-operating student-run PR agency in the country. Creating a synergy between clients and students that benefits both is a key to success, leading to multiple awards through the years. Join our conversation to discuss what has changed, and what remains the same as the next generation prepares for careers in communication.

According to a recent Gallup poll, 71% of Americans approve of unions, the highest point since 1965.This week we sat down with Roy Bahat and Tom Kochan to discuss the best strategies for business leaders to deal authentically and respectfully with an organized workforce.

How can a leader remain authentic in the face of controversy or public criticism? Navalent’s Ron Carucci offers four key factors for success. Listen for a fascinating discussion on leadership, honesty, and finding satisfaction in the top spot.

As the Crux Celebrates its 100th episode, we sit down with three pros to discuss podcasts and the evolution of corporate communication. We look at the importance of technology and its many new uses to reach stakeholders. We discuss storytelling as an essential, enduring component of our work.

Pfizer’s Sally Susman joined “The Crux” to talk about her new book, “ “Breaking Through: Communicating to Open Minds, Move Hearts, and Change the World” chronicling the journey of vaccine development and offering guidance for other communicators. “I always thought the data would win the day. But it was the storytelling that won the day and not the storytelling of celebrities or rock stars or sport...

ChatGPT is a hot topic these days, often with more questions than answers. Dr. Wildman, professor of Philosophy, Theology, and Ethics at Boston University, and his “Data, Ethics, and Society” class put together the first-ever blueprint for the academic use of Chat GPT and similar AI models. The Generative AI Assistance (GAIA) Policy “stresses transparency, fairness, and obligations for both studen...

As communicators, it is important to understand world events from multiple perspectives. The New Humanitarian partners with local news sources to get in-depth, long term coverage of significant events from the people directly impacted by the events including the recent earthquake in Syria and Turkey.

A discussion with Richard Bowman and David Boyle about their new book “Prompt: A Practical Guide to Brand Growth Using Chat GPT,” which offers tips and insights for communicators on how to use human creativity to curate effective content to boost your brand.

“We are not going to let one week in December define us.” Southwest Airlines’ chief administration and communications officer, Linda Rutherford, gives Mike and Gary a “behind the scenes” perspective on the challenges faced and on the ground strategies implemented during Southwest Airlines’ winter storm disruption. Decision-making “in the fog of battle” is tough, and Rutherford offers clear advice...

As communicators are increasingly tasked with engaging all of their stakeholders, organizational listening becomes essential, whether in corporations or non-profits. Quinnipiac University strategic communication professor and senior research fellow at The Page Center, Katie Place explains her research on organizational listening and marginalized publics and how companies can engage all stakeholder...