The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson
www.mollymcpherson.com
The First Mistake That Will Sink You in a Crisis
9 minutes Posted Aug 27, 2025 at 7:00 am.
Crisis Doesn't Sleep
The Pattern in Crisis Calls
Amygdala Hijack Explained
Signs of Emotional Processing
Five Steps to Regain Clarity
The Biggest Risk: Overreaction
0:00
9:13
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Show notes

The Breakdown:

The first move most people make in a crisis is often the one that causes the most damage. It happens when emotion outruns strategy, and the brain mistakes public pressure for personal danger. The result is impulsive action, usually in the form of a rushed post, a scrambled statement, or a desperate attempt to make the backlash go away. But the real problem isn’t public. It’s neurological.

This episode explains why the body’s threat response takes over during high-stakes moments, and how that hijack shuts down the very part of the brain responsible for leadership, regulation, and long-term thinking. It’s not about judgment. It’s about biology.

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