When It Hits the Fan Podcast
Inside the world of crisis managers and spin doctors as David Yelland and Simon Lewis watch the week's biggest PR disasters unfold.
Inside the world of crisis managers and spin doctors as David Yelland and Simon Lewis watch the week's biggest PR disasters unfold. In each episode our hosts go behind the scenes of the latest news stories and find out how, where and when it all began to hit the fan.
When It Hits The Fan is hosted by two of the most influential and experienced people in the game; David Yelland is the former editor of the Sun and alongside him is Simon Lewis, former trouble-shooter for the Queen and Gordon Brown, as well as for major corporations like the Nat West, Vodafone and British Gas. Together they bring decades of experience in both creating and managing crises. They'll share all they know about what's keeping those big stories in and out of the news.
Episodes to download
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PR is a virus
Yesterday
David Yelland is joined by PR guru Phil Elwood, who blames their industry for everything.
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China's meme warfare, rats and rockets
Last Wednesday
David and Simon discuss if China is out-PRing the US, rats' media appeal and Jeff Bezos.
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Quick Wins: How to deal with redundancies
Tue 8 Apr 2025
David and Simon share their tips on how to manage making people redundant.
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The truth about ‘no comment,’ managing expectations and cost-effective PR
Tue 1 Apr 2025
David and Simon discuss 'no comment' and the traits that make a great PR pro.
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Heathrow special: inside the crisis
Tue 25 Mar 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss the PR optics of sleeping CEOs.
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Thames Water’s PR gamble, Tesla backlash and William’s Villa in The Sun
Tue 18 Mar 2025
David and Simon discuss the Thames Water documentary, Elon Musk and Prince William.
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Carney’s Canada v Trump, Abrdn’s U-turn and Ambassador Suzuki
Tue 11 Mar 2025
David and Simon discuss Canada’s PR fightback, a reverse ferret and Japanese diplomacy.
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Trump, Zelensky, the King and Mummy Pig
Tue 4 Mar 2025
David and Simon discuss the US and Ukraine, a wise use of royal PR and Peppa Pig's news.
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PR in the disinformation bubble, Mandelson’s doorstep and breaking cover
Tue 25 Feb 2025
David and Simon discuss lines in the sand, when to say nothing and spilling the beans.
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BP’s PR battle, Jamie Dimon’s rant, and two men and a baby
Tue 18 Feb 2025
David and Simon discuss corporate raiders, remote working and the Elon Musk baby drama.
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Inside the woke war room, puff quote PR and WhatsApp comms
Tue 11 Feb 2025
David and Simon discuss 'sunsetting' diversity goals, book blurbs and group chat PR.
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Rachel Reeves’ PR pivot, how to talk to Trump and Bill Gates’ memoir
Tue 4 Feb 2025
David and Simon discuss the chancellor's vibe shift, dealing with Donald, and Bill Gates.
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Inside the Sun's historic apology to Prince Harry
Tue 28 Jan 2025
David and Simon discuss Prince Harry's settlement with the publishers of The Sun.
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Power and influence in the (medieval) court of Trump
Tue 21 Jan 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis decode Donald Trump’s inauguration.
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California in crisis and is the UK running out of gas?
Tue 14 Jan 2025
David Yelland and Simon Lewis discuss Blake Lively, LA insurers and Centrica’s PR.
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Quick Wins: How to quit a new job
Tue 7 Jan 2025
David and Simon share their advice on how to leave a job when you've only just started.
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Quick Wins: How to use storytelling
Tue 31 Dec 2024
David and Simon share their advice on using the power of storytelling.
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Quick Wins: How to recover from embarrassment
Christmas Eve 2024
David and Simon share their tips on navigating embarrassing situations in the workplace.
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2024: the big ideas that shaped our year
Tue 17 Dec 2024
David and Simon reflect on Prince Andrew's China crisis and the defining trends of 2024.
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Quick Wins: Office Parties
Fri 13 Dec 2024
David Yelland and Simon Lewis share their advice on how to survive the office party.
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Murdoch loses 'succession’ battle, killing of a US CEO and why tycoons get up at 4am
Tue 10 Dec 2024
David and Simon discuss Murdoch's lost legal case, Brian Thompson and early risers.
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Gregg Wallace, ‘casting doubt’ PR and Ed Davey’s Christmas single
Tue 3 Dec 2024
The MasterChef crisis, Australia’s social media ban and is Ed Davey a PR genius?
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Jaguar’s rebrand, John Prescott and Meet the Rees-Moggs
Tue 26 Nov 2024
Jaguar’s risky rebrand, Prescott’s precarious PR and Jacob Rees-Mogg’s reality TV debut.
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Has business lost the argument? X versus Bluesky, and Coleen’s jungle PR
Tue 19 Nov 2024
Why business should get political, migrating from X, and a PR coup.
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Why Trump means boom times for PR, and a Rivals spat
Tue 12 Nov 2024
The power of PR under a second Trump presidency and how public Rivalry can backfire.
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Telling the truth, being on TV and the best PR comebacks
Tue 5 Nov 2024
David and Simon answer listeners' questions on honesty, flies on the wall and comebacks.
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Inside prestige PR, Starbucks and a cheese heist
Tue 29 Oct 2024
David and Simon discuss the art of influence, Starbucks messaging and Neal’s Yard Dairy.
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Could PR have helped Liam Payne?, Thomas Tuchel and the Trump biopic
Tue 22 Oct 2024
David and Simon discuss protection in PR, leaning into an own goal, and The Apprentice.
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Kamala Harris, Man City v the Premier League and LinkedIn
Tue 15 Oct 2024
David and Simon discuss the power of opening up, football PR and unvarnished job updates.
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Why Keir needs Bikeshed PR, Strictly’s tabloid battle and Undo Send!
Tue 8 Oct 2024
David and Simon discuss Number 10 comms, knowing when to stop battling and email gaffes.