Do you remember when we were told the world was heading inexorably towards globalisation?
That technology would dissolve borders, that liberal stability was the model forevermore, and that everything was, more or less, under control?

Yeah. About that.

In this episode of The Little Questions, we're not here to solve geopolitics (there are people far better qualified doing that already). Instead, we take a grumpy, passionate look at how recent stories have been handled - or more accurately, mishandled - from a PR and communications perspective.

From accidental emails and executive ego clashes to corporate silence and spectacularly bad judgment calls, this episode is a masterclass in what not to do when things go wrong.

Joining Apella's Matt Young to mutter into the microphone is Andrew Brown.

• Amazon's accidental email nightmare
  What happens when job losses are revealed by mistake and why leaning in might not always be the right communications strategy.
• Musk vs O'Leary: PR genius or performative chaos?
  Ireland's greatest-ever swearer meets Silicon Valley's biggest ego – grab the popcorn for a PR cage-fight masterclass
• Quelle horreur!
  Why banning children from first class on French high-speed trains tells us more about brand values than policy documents ever could.
• Trust, values and social fracture
  New research suggesting most Britons don't trust people with "different values" and what that means for brands trying to speak to everyone.
• The Spotify star who might not exist
  AI artists, manufactured authenticity, and what happens when the audience realises the emperor may have no clothes.
• South East Water's communications disaster
  Yes, the operational failure was bad. The CEO hiding made it worse. A reminder (again) that visibility, accountability and clarity matter.
• Holiday Inn's 'Waitrose moment'
  When a brand says "no" to homeless people and why it might be a sign that something more serious is amiss.

If you enjoy a slightly exasperated take on PR failures, corporate ego, and avoidable messes, this one's for you.

Andrew Brown; formerly Director of Communications and Public affairs at Ageas Insurance, Andrew has more than ten years' experience leading the corporate affairs functions for global, listed, multifaceted firms across a range of regulated and unregulated sectors. He has considerable experience in issues, crisis and change management as well as reputation sentiment analysis and insight. Formerly Director of Communications at Drax Group plc and Group Corporate Affairs Director at Regus plc.

Matt Young has 25 years of experience across media relations, public affairs, regulatory development, employee engagement, brand development, competition and CSR. Group corporate affairs director at Lloyds Banking Group, part of the senior team which rescued the bank and rebuilt its reputation following the financial crisis. Formerly communications director at Santander UK and board member of the BBA.

You can get in touch by emailing podcast@apellaadvisors.com and please consider leaving us a review.

This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.

505 years ago, on this day in 1521, a German monk named Martin Luther stood before the Holy Roman Emperor, representatives of the Pope, and the assembled powers of church and state at the Diet of Worms.

He was asked a simple question: Would he recant his writings?

Luther had already nailed his Ninety-Five Theses to a church door several years earlier. Those ideas had spread. They had caused discomfort. They had challenged authority. And now, at Worms, he was being asked to take them back.

His response, according to tradition, ended with the line: "Here I stand. I can do no other."

In this episode of The Little Questions, Apella partners Andrew Brown and Matt Young mark the anniversary by doing something mildly unwise: convening our own modern-day Diet of Worms. Not the intestinal complaint, but the moment where you're asked to look back at what you've written, said, and believed… and decide whether you still stand by it.

Over the years, it's been suggested - sometimes quietly, sometimes after a drink - that we might harbour a few heretical thoughts about the communications and PR industry. Rather than deny it, we're leaning in.

Some of these theses are provocative.
Some are uncompromising.
Some may be deeply inconvenient.

And like Luther before the authorities at Worms, we invite challenge, debate, and disagreement. Just don't ask us to recant. Because today, of all days, it feels right to say:

Here we stand.

Andrew Brown; formerly Director of Communications and Public affairs at Ageas Insurance, Andrew has more than ten years' experience leading the corporate affairs functions for global, listed, multifaceted firms across a range of regulated and unregulated sectors. He has considerable experience in issues, crisis and change management as well as reputation sentiment analysis and insight. Formerly Director of Communications at Drax Group plc and Group Corporate Affairs Director at Regus plc.

Matt Young has 25 years of experience across media relations, public affairs, regulatory development, employee engagement, brand development, competition and CSR. Group corporate affairs director at Lloyds Banking Group, part of the senior team which rescued the bank and rebuilt its reputation following the financial crisis. Formerly communications director at Santander UK and board member of the BBA. Y

ou can get in touch by emailing podcast@apellaadvisors.com and please consider leaving us a review.

This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.

Welcome to the fourth annual Little Questions PR Heroes and Villains. This is our excuse to look back over the year that was and consider who nailed their comms and who jumped straight into the proverbial pile of steaming.

In previous years we've considered 'Shania Train', Elon Musk, Flaco the Eagle Owl, Bradford and even Ryan Gosling, well for pretty much just being Ryan Gosling! Joining Jenny Scott to peruse this years shortlist are the Grinches of the comms world, Andrew Brown and Matt Young.

This podcast was hosted by:

Jenny Scott; This episode is hosted by Jenny Scott, partner at Apella. Jenny is a former Executive Director of Communications at the Bank of England and former advisor to the Governor. Jenny was economics and politics correspondent for the BBC and presenter of the Daily Politics. Trustee of Pro Bono Economics.

Andrew Brown; formerly Director of Communications and Public affairs at Ageas Insurance, Andrew has more than ten years' experience leading the corporate affairs functions for global, listed, multifaceted firms across a range of regulated and unregulated sectors. He has considerable experience in issues, crisis and change management as well as reputation sentiment analysis and insight. Formerly Director of Communications at Drax Group plc and Group Corporate Affairs Director at Regus plc.

Matt Young has 25 years of experience across media relations, public affairs, regulatory development, employee engagement, brand development, competition and CSR. Group corporate affairs director at Lloyds Banking Group, part of the senior team which rescued the bank and rebuilt its reputation following the financial crisis. Formerly communications director at Santander UK and board member of the BBA. You can get in touch by emailing podcast@apellaadvisors.com and please consider leaving us a review.

Find out more at apellaadvisors.com.

This podcast is produced by The Podcast Coach.